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Post by Riddermark Equestrian Center on May 25, 2012 13:43:33 GMT -5
Love that you use my lots. Love even more how the roof is red XD
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Post by Rena Humble on May 25, 2012 22:26:21 GMT -5
Love that you use my lots. Love even more how the roof is red XD Oh jeez, that would be my fault, haha. I didn't bother with the CC roof and didn't even notice until you pointed it out! I'm pretty sure I can use whatever green roof I used on Rena's house. Thank you for pointing that out though, haha
Rena’s Diary: Entry 10
Sven says I’m improving as I practice but I don’t think I am. We were practicing more flat work (that’s basically just looking pretty without jumping) and Maybel, in my opinion, makes everything that she does look good so it just makes me look terrible in comparison.
I feel like I should be more comfortable on a horse but it’s hard… I don’t have the time to dedicate 100% of my effort toward riding. I’m not doing that well in school (I’m not failing though, so I guess that’s a silver lining) and no matter how hard I work I feel like my head just isn’t in it.
Forgot to menton, the filly is now called Maybel. It took me a few days but I found a name I liked a lot. As soon as I say ‘Mabel’ I thought it was perfect! Then I altered a spelling a tiny bit and there you go.
I’m hoping Sven lets me practice jumping soon, I’ve done a bit of trot work over poles and I’ve done some groundwork with Maybel over jumps but I haven’t actually gotten up on her and jumped. Oh god, now I’m nervous.
This is probably a really really really really really really really bad idea :c
Well, good night.
The filly has a barn name! Took me forever but I stumbled up Mauve and I sat there and I was like, "What other names start with Ma-" and as soon as I saw Mabel, I knew that was the name. Then I just got advice on which variation of the spelling to use
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Post by Walden@Equus on May 25, 2012 23:01:24 GMT -5
Sven... the guy? He looks exactly like walden...
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Post by Rena Humble on May 25, 2012 23:28:40 GMT -5
Sven... the guy? He looks exactly like walden... Actually he doesn't really look like him, just the outfit (going by his profile photo). Facial features & body-wise, not at all Sven isn't my character though, Emelia created him.
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Ann Taylor
Approved Member
Straight thinking is the way to success.
Posts: 1,498
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Post by Ann Taylor on May 26, 2012 6:56:15 GMT -5
Awwww, Maybel is a beautiful name. it really fits her.
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Post by Lidija Rotherford on May 26, 2012 8:14:34 GMT -5
Awwww, Maybel is a beautiful name. it really fits her. Agreed! It's kind of funny to read that they never jumped and then to see the schooling hunter entries
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Post by Vicentia Estates on May 26, 2012 9:43:33 GMT -5
Actually, that's what this practice is leading up to. The show closes June 8th so a lot of the posts from now until then will cover practice for that show in particular. Then a few posts will cover Rena actually "at the show" (so to speak, haha) and competing in the schooling hunter show.
Though, if the pose pack in released by then, I might end up using those novice jumping poses in the posts for Rena's story just to make it a bit more obvious that she's still very much a beginner. But I'm too lazy to change my entry later on so yeah, that won't change, haha.
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Post by Amanda@Equus on May 26, 2012 10:03:08 GMT -5
Actually, that's what this practice is leading up to. The show closes June 8th so a lot of the posts from now until then will cover practice for that show in particular. Then a few posts will cover Rena actually "at the show" (so to speak, haha) and competing in the schooling hunter show. Though, if the pose pack in released by then, I might end up using those novice jumping poses in the posts for Rena's story just to make it a bit more obvious that she's still very much a beginner. But I'm too lazy to change my entry later on so yeah, that won't change, haha. I finished making the pose list for the horse poses. I have to make the sim pose list after work, but it will be released tonight.
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Post by Rena Humble on May 28, 2012 22:28:16 GMT -5
Update time! I'm going to try to post to coincide with the hunter show that Rena is entered in but this means that between now and roughly the judging date, I need some ideas for posts. I've got training posts in mind but I can't fill up that time with only training posts so I'm asking you guys for help: If you have anything you want Rena to do/see Rena doing, post it here and I'll give it a shot Looking forward to the next update because the shots turned out really pretty, heh.
Terry wandered into the kitchen to make the usual breakfast before work and something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. Stepping toward the window, he peered out and couldn’t help but smile at what he saw.
She really was dedicated.
He knew how she was doing in school and it hadn’t been much of a change from before she began riding so that never concerned him. It was never about how she did in school, it was about her enjoying what she did. She enjoyed going to school now because it meant she’d come home and see Maybel.
She reminded him of how he acted when he was younger and he vowed she would never have to make the sacrifices that he made.
Stepping away from the window, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number he knew very well.
“Hey Mags, it’s Terry Humble. I think it might be a good idea to try to get Rena back into taking lessons but I’m at a loss as to how to get her to go back. Think you can help me out? Awesome, I’d appreciate it a lot.”
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Post by Walden@Equus on May 28, 2012 22:42:02 GMT -5
Oooo Yay!
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Post by Rena Humble on May 29, 2012 22:55:04 GMT -5
To say that Rena was nervous about meeting Mags was an understatement. She was certain she’d faint before she actually got down to the stable. Her hands clutched the reins tightly as she led Maybel down the road.
“Mags? I’m… here,”
Rena called out, clearing her throat when she realized her voice sounded timid. It was a split second before she saw Mags’ head pop out of the open barn door and she jogged over, leading an energetic (and massive!) stallion.
“Hey Rena! So glad you could make it!”
Mags replied with a grin, slowing to a halt. She seemed to realize Rena looks petrified before glancing at the horse she was leading.
“Oh, I keep forgetting you haven’t met him yet. This is my baby, Troy. He’s a registered American Warmblood and we compete in 3-day eventing together. Maybe one day we can train together,”
She ended up explanation with a wink before mounting Troy and trotted past a dumbstruck Rena.
“Come on, we’ve got somewhere to go!”
***
Rena could only guess that they had finally reached their destination as Mags slowed Troy to a walk and relaxed the reins to let him drink water.
“Your dad called. He wanted me to convince you to take lessons again,”
Rena refused to look at her. Her gaze focused on her grip on the reins as Maybel lowered her head to drink water. She didn’t want to discuss this.
“Would you be up for private lessons? I think it might be less stressful for you if we take advantage of the environment that we have here rather than forcing you to be somewhere you aren’t comfortable. Besides, I need somebody to train with me,”
Mags offered, receiving nothing in reply. A quick tug on the reins brought Troy’s head back up and Mags glanced at Rena.
“Race you to the end of the beach!”
“W-wait, what?!”
Rena tugged on the reins to get Maybel’s attention before Maybel took off after Troy, wanting to join into the excitement. Rena cluttered pieces of her mane and shifted in the saddle as they galloped down the beach.
“Wait up!”
Rena called out, laughing. The fresh, stark air felt refreshing, especially after the humid week that they had had. It was perfection, at least in Rena’s mind. To ride along the beach or even just outside of a confined ring was something she never even considered. She’d definitely be doing more of this.
“Let’s watch the sunset and then go home, okay?”
Mags asked as Rena caught up with her at the end of the strip, just before it curved and continued along a different part of the beach. Rena’s hands clenched and unclenched around the reins before she nodded.
“I’m up for it.”
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Post by Lidija Rotherford on May 30, 2012 9:28:17 GMT -5
Love this story so much <3
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Post by Rena Humble on May 30, 2012 21:57:31 GMT -5
Love this story so much <3 It's comments like these that make me love doing what I do, haha. But a new update! Just want to preface this by saying part of the idea for closing her eyes came from a novel and partially from googling. I considered having Rena stare at Mags to have a point of reference but Maybel actually has Level 10 Jumping so I figured she would already know enough to be able to jump "automatically" so Rena can stop micro-managing her because of nerves (I figured she would definitely be the type to do that). Also super grateful to Amanda's pose pack because I wouldn't be able to get a variety in jumping heights/techniques without it, haha.
Rena’s Diary: Entry 11
Today we’re [Maybel and me] are going to try jumping! Maybel has improved in jumping while doing groundwork so Mags decided that it would be time for me to learn how to properly sit in the saddle while jumping and learn the technical stuff about it. I’ve never jumped before so I’m excited!
***
“Okay, bring Maybel around and steer her toward the jump. It shouldn’t be anything she hasn’t already tackled in terms of height but keep an eye on her in case she decides it’s a complete foreign jump and refuses,”
Mags instructed, watching the duo from her spot which was a few feet away. Rena was getting the hang of riding, she definitely rode more confidently and was opening up more to her but this was a foreign concept and, while Mags felt confident that they could tackle it, it was seeing their reactions that kept Mags focused.
Rena obediently circled the mare around before heading into a turn and lining the mare up. Her grip tightened on the reins and she shifted her grip, pulling them in more. Maybel’s head lifted up and tucked in almost awkwardly as she lifted off of her front legs and almost hopped over the jump, front legs bumping the rail and it dropped to the ground.
This was a disaster.
Mags was over there and replacing the rail in a split second and she reached out to grip the reins gently.
“Rena, look at me. Do it again and let’s see where you’re not doing as strongly, okay?”
Rena nodded silently before circling Maybel around again and straightening her out as they approached the jump. Again, her grip tightened and she unconsciously pulled in the reins as she bit her lip. And again, Maybel’s head was pulled in and she jumped almost up and over, but in a way that wasn’t at all graceful; it looked forced.
“Alright, Rena, let’s try something. Maybel knows how to jump, she didn’t come to you untrained, so I think you might be nervous and that’s throwing her off. I’ve got a slightly taller jump that Maybel might prefer so let’s try that but I want you to do something for me, okay? Close your eyes. It sounds crazy you need to feel what she’s doing, not focus on what you’re doing,”
Rena trusted Mags, she trusted that this would end well. Or, at the very least, Mags would be here to call an ambulance if she broke every bone in her body. Somehow that still didn’t reassure her.
This time they had more room to line up for the jump and Rena carefully circled Maybel to line her up and began their approach. Oh god oh god oh god this was going to be a complete failure. Still, she obeyed. As they came closer to the jump, Rena closed her eyes and focused on Maybel; focused on the power beneath her.
Everything was silent and all she could focus on was Maybel’s steady breathing as she approached the jump and then it happened; they jumped. Rena’s hands clutched the reins as she had been when they approached and her fingers tangled in the strands of Maybel’s short mane. She felt free and yet like she was meshing perfectly with Maybel.
And then they landed and Rena opened her eyes. Her mind registered that Mags was saying something but all Rena could focus on was Maybel. The words kept tumbling out of her mouth as she wrapped her arms around the mare’s neck, burying her face into her mane.
“You’re the best you know that right? Good girl, good girl!”
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Lexi House
Approved Member
A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care.
Posts: 1,292
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Post by Lexi House on May 31, 2012 1:55:58 GMT -5
man i am IN love with this <3
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Post by Amanda@Equus on May 31, 2012 9:19:48 GMT -5
Also super grateful to Amanda's pose pack because I wouldn't be able to get a variety in jumping heights/techniques without it, haha. You're very welcome
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