Post by wildthing on Jan 28, 2007 12:48:29 GMT -5
Kelly had settled in well, going to school on the week days, spending her afternoon with the horses, and doing her homework in the evenings. She liked Dan, but was still careful about what she did, not knowing him very well and not wanting to get sent back home or to some stranger's house without Buzz. The pony had settled into ranch life just fine and loved all the long trail rides they went on. They never went on the trails alone since it was new territory and there were so many large predators. The Indian Matt went with them a lot. Kelly had liked him right off, even though he didn't say much. His dog was really cool and seemed to like her, though Rebel didn't take to kindly to strangers. Matt was teaching her lots of stuff, about the land and horses and even his culture. He still didn't talk much, but he would point things out, like a plant name or an animal track.
Today, Matt was busy and so were the other people she usually rode out with, so she couldn't go on the trail. There was one thing she'd wanted to try though. She'd seen some people practicing in the gaming arena and had been reading a book about barrel racing. Buzz wasn't really built for it, but it would be fun to try. Buzz wasn't really built for any sort of ranch work, except maybe pulling a cart, but that was kind of outdated. Kelly gave the dun pony a good grooming and then tacked him up. She led him to the arena where the barrels were set up. What she really needed for this kind of stuff was a Quarter Pony or a POA, but she loved Buzz and couldn't ask Dan for another pony. She would be big enough to ride the ranch horses eventually. She was a good rider, but she didn't really have the strength to handle a big horse. Kelly swung up easily into the little western saddle and urged Buzz into a walk. She warmed him up going around the barrels at a walk, then a trot, unti lshe had the pattern down. Before this, she'd only read about it in a book and seen one other person do it. Buzz seemed bored, but did his part.
When Buzz was warmed up and Kelly was more sure of herself, she urged the dun into a fast canter and went around the barrels. Buzz had a wide turning radius and would never make a barreler, but Kelly had fun and knew what she wanted to learn how to do. There were poles set up too and she remebered watching a rodeo on TV where they had done pole bending. She took Buzz through it, but he didn't seem all that thrilled.
Today, Matt was busy and so were the other people she usually rode out with, so she couldn't go on the trail. There was one thing she'd wanted to try though. She'd seen some people practicing in the gaming arena and had been reading a book about barrel racing. Buzz wasn't really built for it, but it would be fun to try. Buzz wasn't really built for any sort of ranch work, except maybe pulling a cart, but that was kind of outdated. Kelly gave the dun pony a good grooming and then tacked him up. She led him to the arena where the barrels were set up. What she really needed for this kind of stuff was a Quarter Pony or a POA, but she loved Buzz and couldn't ask Dan for another pony. She would be big enough to ride the ranch horses eventually. She was a good rider, but she didn't really have the strength to handle a big horse. Kelly swung up easily into the little western saddle and urged Buzz into a walk. She warmed him up going around the barrels at a walk, then a trot, unti lshe had the pattern down. Before this, she'd only read about it in a book and seen one other person do it. Buzz seemed bored, but did his part.
When Buzz was warmed up and Kelly was more sure of herself, she urged the dun into a fast canter and went around the barrels. Buzz had a wide turning radius and would never make a barreler, but Kelly had fun and knew what she wanted to learn how to do. There were poles set up too and she remebered watching a rodeo on TV where they had done pole bending. She took Buzz through it, but he didn't seem all that thrilled.