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]

"Not exactly, come watch me put the bridle on Diana,"

This is the trickiest part of saddling and William picks up the bridle and gestures Autor over to watch him slip the bridle over Diana's head and slip it into her mouth.

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, so it has to go into her mouth," Autor says, watching William handle Diana. "Interesting. Is that the bit?"

[not_his_pa]

"Yes, see in the back of her mouth, there are no teeth so it ain't actually botherin' her that much,"

Diana adjusts to the bridle and neighs, "Think you can manage that with Duncan? You might get some drool on you."

[herr_bookman]

"I can try it," Autor says, eyeing Duncan. He picks up the bridle and manages to slide it over the horse's head, but he hesitates when he gets to the bit. "I didn't know there were no teeth back there. It makes sense, though, that it doesn't bother them."

He finagles the bit into place, tearing his hands away from Duncan's mouth when it's done. "Like that?"

[not_his_pa]

"Just like that and he wasn't bothered by you, was he?"

Duncan's a well behaved horse and that's why William has Autor dealing with him.

[herr_bookman]

Autor eases into a smile. He's still jumpy around the horses, but he seems to relax with William's praise. "No, he wasn't," Autor says, beaming. "What's next?"

[not_his_pa]

"Now you put on the blanket and watch me again. You're settlin' it on his withers like this,"

On Diana, he sets the blanket so that it keeps her comfortable with the saddle.

[herr_bookman]

Autor takes a moment to find the blanket, which he makes sure is folded the right way. He drapes it across Duncan's back, patting him on the neck as he does so. "Well, that was easier than the bridle for sure. What's next?"

[not_his_pa]

"Now the saddle which will be heavier. We'll be ridin' on ones like I do,"

That means western saddles and William lifts his up and sets it on Diana then starts to bring the girth under her.

[herr_bookman]

Autor finds Duncan's saddle and hauls it out. It's a more modern saddle, dark brown with hand tooling. Autor appreciates that there's a pommel to hold on to, though he doesn't know what to call it. He settles it over the blanket on Duncan's back, following William's lead to bring the girth under Duncan. "Like this?"

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, loosely secure it for now. We're goin' to lead 'em outside and I'll get you settled, get your stirrups the right length and all before you mount up. That's hard to do for yourself,"

William's saddle is already set for him which means he doesn't have to worry about that step.

[herr_bookman]

Autor does as instructed and manages to buckle the saddle around Duncan's middle. He takes the reins in a sweating palm, petting the horse on the neck. "Ready when you are."

[not_his_pa]

"Now follow us out,"

He leads Diana out as Duncan gives Autor a nuzzle. Outside, William loops the reins around the paddock fence and waits for Autor.

[herr_bookman]

Autor draws a breath through his nose. "Just a big cat, that's all, a really big cat," he mutters to himself, tugging gently on the reins. Duncan follows, to Autor's relief, and the boy takes him outside to where William is. "Do I put the reins on the fence like you did?"

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, you do. Once you're settled I'll hand them up to you. Do you think you'll need a step to mount?"

Duncan's not the tallest horse but mounting is always tricky at the beginning.

[herr_bookman]

Autor loops the reins around the fence post, and shakes his head. "I should be okay. I can stretch my legs out pretty far if necessary."

[not_his_pa]

"That ain't quite it with mountin', but we'll see,"

He walks over and checks the girth, tightening it a little more then gestures to Autor, "Alright, from this side, get yourself up."

[herr_bookman]

Autor jumps in place for a bit, psyching himself up to approach the horse. "Just a big cat," he mutters. "Just a big cat."

He places one foot in the stirrup and holds onto the pommel, swinging himself upward. He nearly falls, and sets his foot on the ground again. "Whoa! I didn't make it," he says, furrowing his brow. "Let me try again."

This time he swings himself up into the saddle, but nearly falls on the other side. He flails, dragging himself back with the pommel. "Whew."

[not_his_pa]

Duncan turns his head to give him a look and William pats his head,

"Good, now get your feet in the stirrups and keep your heels down. I need to get 'em where they need to be."

[herr_bookman]

Autor squeezes Duncan's back with his legs, placing his feet in the stirrups.

"I did it, William," he says, his voice bordering on near hysteria. "I did it. I'm sitting astride a horse."

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, you are and soon you'll even be movin',"

He adjusts the stirrups, taking his time before handing the reins up to Autor, "Now don't rely too much on the reins, he'll listen to you better if you shift your weight and use your legs."

[herr_bookman]

"Shift my weight and use my legs," Autor repeats, testing Duncan's back with his legs again. "Got it. How do I make him move forward?"

[not_his_pa]

"You don't just yet, cause that would mean goin' into the fence," William checks that they seem to be secure and then easily mounts up on Diana.

"Now, I'm goin' to move her to face forward with a light turn then you'll do the same. We'll ride around the stables and paddock."

Gently he turns Diana until they're facing away from the fence. He's forgotten that what he's doing isn't as obvious as it could be. William holds the reins in one hand and seems to barely shift them.

[herr_bookman]

"How did you do that?" Autor says, trying to follow his lead. He ends up tugging on the reins a little hard, and Duncan whinnies. "Oh, goodness. What do I do now?"

[not_his_pa]

"Be gentle and move the reins over like this and move yourself that way too,"

He leads Diana in a circle to show Autor.