Hoofprints in the Sand...

[Sudsies]

The soft thudding of hooves on sand could be heard to anyone who approached the hunter ring. A young rider on a pony cantered a circle, establishing a moderate, steady pace. The pony was large, just under horse size, with the appearance of a small warmblood.

A course of jumps had been set up, their heights varying between 2'3" and 2'6". The rider, who went by the name of Ally, pointed the dark bay mare at the first of the jumps, a simple vertical. The mare, whom Ally had dubbed Licorice, balked slightly at the sight of it, attempting to rush and run out. Determined, Ally set the mare straight, keeping her collected and counting strides down to the jump. Licorice popped over it, slightly off balence from her brief change in pace. "Whoa...whoa....whoa..." Ally muttered under her breath, using half-halts to keep the mare under control. The bay strained but jumped the second jump cleanly, the pair showing much better style.

The next three jumps were fairly low and went cleanly, each jump perfectly executed. The sixth jump was trickier, a 2'6" oxer. Pricking her ears, Licorice snatched at the reins, the leather sliding through Ally's hands. As her rider scrambled to retrieve them, Licorice took that oppertunity to give a small buck, sending the unprepared girl flying over her shoulder and into the dirt in front of the jump, before taking off at a mad gallop around the hunter ring.

Ally rose to her feet, unhurt though her face burned in shame and disappointment. She stood there for a moment, simply needing to let go of her anger. With a sigh, she then walked slowly over to Licorice, who stood in the corner, ready to try again.

[*Zeb*]

A deep rumbling chuckle came from the edge of the arena, near the entrance. Ayoung man looked at the pair, green eyes holding a spark of a amusement. Medium length blond hair was naturally spiked and still wet from the day's bath. Adorned in a light blue short-sleeve shirt, a pair pf dark blue Levi's, and old worn black riding boots, Michael looked easy and calm while still retaining the look of a professional.

Eagle, the stock gray Quater horseX mustang beneith teh firm legs of the rider, snorted and pinned his black ears towards the short pony mare. A newly polished bridled gleamed against the silken gray head while the brown leather English saddle made the stud look elegant, even if he was anything but.

Michael pressed his heels firmly against Eagle's sides and the stallion moved forward relucantly. Eagle proceeded inot a collected trot and Michael stopped him a few yards from ally.
"Everything all right?" he asked, eyeing both the pony and the rider, mentally checking for any injuries.

[Jazzi]

Cadence and Bounty approached the pair, Cadence topping her gelding's back bare. The reins of a hackamore sat gently in her fingers, Bounty's head low and relaxed as she halted outside of the arena that she spent half of her life in.

She eyed the deep bay mare easily, sharp, clever eyes scanning her proportions, her face, her eyes..

Lotta potential there. Nice proportions. Tad bit high withers, but not that bad. Not bad at all..

Cadence looked out over Ally and Michael. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the girl, then flicked to Eagle, the top western stud of the barn. He stood, ears pinned, gaze locked on the mare.

A hint of amusement flickered across her solemn face, then died away as if it were the last ember of a dying fire.

You guys want to join me and Bountyboo for a quick trek through the Shady Woods Trail?

[/b]

she asked casually, lifting a hand from the reins and resting it on Bounty's hindquarters, propping herself up as she leaned back.[/size][/center]

[Sudsies]

Ally looked up at Michael, cheeks burning with embarrassment. "Everything's good, thanks," she said quietly, taking Licorices dangling reins in her hands. The mare snorted and shook her head as if taunting the girl. She glared at her. "None of that now," Ally murmered, though she found it hard to stay mad at the pony for long. Why did she have to be so darn cute?


She turned her gaze away from the pony and looked over at Cadence. "I'd enjoy that," she said, jumping forward as Licorice pushed her in the back. "We're not making very much process here..."

[Jazzi]

Cadence nodded and flicked her gaze onto Michael, waiting contentedly for his answer.

[*Zeb*]

Michael considered it for a moment, hands unconsiously reatching forward and mussing with Eagle's mane. After a moment of considering both Canence and Ally, he nodded.
"Sure. Why not? Sounds like fun." he gave a charming smile to them both.

Eagle simply snorted and tried, without much conviction, to bite the smallish mare. At Michael's firm cue, he turned and trotted towards the exit, ears pircked towards Bountry. He gave an excited snort and tossed his ehad in an unspoken challage to the other equine.

[Sudsies]

Ally blushed as she met Michael's smile and turned away quickly, busying herself with checking over Licorice's tack to see that it hadn't shifted in the escapade around the ring. Why did Michael have to be so darn attractive. She knew she shouldn't develop a crush on a guy that was two years older then herself but she knew it was too late. -I'll just have to try and avoid him, to stop myself from doing anything embarrassing in front of him,- she thought to herself, swinging easliy onto Licorice's back and looking over at Cadence, waiting for her to take the lead.

[Jazzi]

Cadence nodded and turned Bounty in a tight U-turn, clucking to him to get him to lengthen his stride. Without halting, she turned to see that the others were following, then guided Bounty toward the Lazuli Creek.

Hesitantly, Bounty crossed the bridge, audits perked to catch the thudding of his own hooves on the boards. He grew tense beneath her, and Cadence loosened the reins, scratching his neck reassuringly until they reached the other side, where they halted and waited for the others.

[*Zeb*]

Michael waved his hand for Ally togo ahead of him. Eagle was, after all, a stallion and Michael wanted to keep him a good distance from the others, especially Bountry.

[Sudsies]

Ally acknowledged Michaels wave with a nod of her head and she pushed Licorice into a trot to catch up with Bounty and Cadence. The mare balked slightly as they reached the bridge, but continued across to halt beside gelding.

ooc|| should we head to the 'Shady Woods Trail' board now?

[*Zeb*]

Michael followed at a relativly good distance, keeping Eagle's attetion focused on him. Eagle's ears perked at the bridge and he snorted, speeding his trot. They sped over the bridge with relative easy and Michael halted Eagle next to Licorice with a gentle tug on the reins.
"Where to?" he asked.

[Jazzi]

&ooc;

Yeah, I'll start a board there.

&in character;

Cadence lifted herself forward a bit, grasped some of Bounty's wind-whipped mane, and cued him into a long-strode, yet some-what lofty trot.

The gelding lowered his head, audits swiveling as he caught the wind whizzing by his head. Overhead, the trees began to thicken as they neared the beginning of the Shady Woods Trail.