Riding with Autor

[not_his_pa]

William has tack, brushes and everything needed to get Duncan ready to be ridden near his stall as well as the same for Diana. If everything goes well, he and Autor will go for a small ride.

Now he's sipping some coffee and eating a biscuit outside the stable door as he watches the morning mist rise off the lake.

Comments

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, but that's fine, relax, keep your heels down and try to feel comfortable. We're goin' to keep goin' around the paddock and stables. The ground's flat, no demon bunnies come out this way."

[herr_bookman]

"That's good at least," Autor says, trying to feel his way through the stirrups. "It'd be a disaster if demon bunnies attacked us here."

He eases up on his grip on the pommel, settling into the saddle as much as he can. After a while of walking, Autor finds himself as relaxed as he's going to get while on a giant, powerful animal. "So, what's next?"

[not_his_pa]

"Squeeze him once and go like this and then you'll go into a trot,"

William easily shifts Diana into a trot.

[herr_bookman]

It takes Autor a little bit to go into a trot. He squeezes with his legs and manipulates the reins, but Duncan doesn't respond until he gets it just right. The trot is uncomfortable, to say the least, and Autor begins to regret asking what's next as he bounces in the saddle. "Well, I'll be sore tomorrow."

[not_his_pa]

"Move with him and if you do this, you'll get into a lope which is a little easier,"

William doesn't laugh just smirks because that's how it goes when you learn to ride as he shifts Diana into a lope.

[herr_bookman]

It's easier for Autor to shift into a lope than it was to shift into the trot. "I'm trying to move with him, but it's really difficult."

[not_his_pa]

"Its kind of like dancing, he's movin' the same way all the time and he's your partner. It takes time but you're doin' fine."

[herr_bookman]

Autor shifts on Duncan's back, trying to get comfortable again. He holds onto the pommel loosely in one hand and clings to the reins with the other. "Just a big cat," he murmurs, reminding himself that he shouldn't be scared of the animal. "William, how di we get down?"

[not_his_pa]

"When you're ready, we'll go to where we mounted up and you get off the opposite of how you got on. Swing your leg over and get on the ground. You about done for today?"

They're nearing where they began.

[herr_bookman]

"I think so," Autor says, nodding. "Thank you for taking me out riding and teaching me to curry the horse."

[not_his_pa]

"You're welcome and we're not done yet. Need to unsaddle them and rub them down. But now you know that you can ride and I'm glad to go ridin' with you whenever you'd like."

[herr_bookman]

Autor smiles at him. "All right, fair enough. We'll unsaddle them and rub them down. How do I stop the horse?"

[not_his_pa]

"Say whoa and gently pull back on his reins like this,"

He stops Diana by the fence and dismounts before coming over to see how much help Autor needs.

[herr_bookman]

Autor pulls back on the reins. "Whoa," he says, and then says it again a little louder. Duncan stops, and Autor looks around, trying to figure out how to get down. He slides one leg around the horse, sitting side saddle, and slips off, landing in a crouch.

"Oh, goodness," he says, brushing his hands off. He skitters away from Duncan so that he doesn't get kicked. "Well, that was an adventure. Thank you, William."

[not_his_pa]

"Its a good start. Come on, we're goin' to do the saddlin' part in reverse and then go inside and get somethin' to eat,"

Since Autor's done it all once, this time should be easier.

[herr_bookman]

"Sounds like a plan," Autor says, moving to unsaddle Duncan. "I had a good time today. Thanks."

[not_his_pa]

"I did too and we can do it another time,"

As they leave the horses in their stalls, William feeds them both some sugar.