What We Do [B e s t]

[S y m p h o n y]

Cameron slipped her black Ariat filed boot into her stirrup and mounted easily onto her nicely clipped and groomed appaloosa’s back. Cameron had arrived early due to the fact her parents we’re leaving on vacation, celebrating her leave of absence. At least that was her definition of why they we’re going on vacation. It’d been bad enough she’d had to sell some of her old horses to come here, but be stuck here alone with just the principal? Okay, she had to admit it sounded worse then it was. Alexis was pretty cool, and she’d even given her a couple of riding tips, but still she was the principal. And being alone in a huge dorm room, let alone an even bigger campus, got pretty boring after awhile. She’d heard another girl was coming a bit early too, so hopefully she’d show up pretty soon. Cameron’s thoughts were interrupted by Chance’s impatient snort. Cameron smiled, he was getting better. Usually he would have just up and walked off well she was in a daze.

Cameron clipped her IRH black velvet helmet on her head and then squeezed her calves lightly into Chance’s sides. Chance responded with an eager walk, and she had to half halt to get him to lower his head and relax. Cameron wondered why she’d bother putting makeup on, blow drying her beautiful wavy blonde hair, putting on her crisp tan breeches and baby blue polo. It’s not liked anybody would see her- but their was a small chance somebody could show up. And Cameron figured that’s why she’d bothered, either that or she really wanted to impress Chance. Either way, it was pretty much pointless.

Cameron cantered towards a blue and white oxer, about two feet high. She leaned forward into jumping position, making sure to keep her heels down and to not let her reins go too slack. Chance gave a big jump over the jump and then let out a playful buck as he landed. Cameron luckily knew a lot of his tactics and sat deeply in her seat to avoid falling to the sand. She cantered Chance on, practicing some simple lead changes well doing a serpentine. Once Chance was cantering easily and nice and relaxed, she turned him toward a green and yellow vertical with flower boxes underneath. Cameron half halted him softly, keeping him collected. He jumped over it nicely, a lot more like a real jumper this time. Cameron smiled, he was being a really good boy today. She had to admit she loved jumping here, well riding here actually, because everything was so neat and well kept that it was like riding at a show. She’d never heard of schooling jumps with flowers before, now she was jumping over them. It was nice to feel like you were that special, that you were good enough to have all this fancy stuff. Cameron slowed Chance to a walk and felt him have a loose rein, they’d continue their work in a bit, she just wanted to take all this in.

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Miranda walked to the barn, tired from a night of no sleep. Somebody below her dorm room had their radio blaring into the wee hours of the morning, making sleep difficult.
She knew of only one thing that could possibly wake her up, and that would be to ride her horse, Moon. The roan gelding hadn't been ridden since the pair had arrive here, and both horse and rider could use the exercise.
Andy walked into the barn and was met with several whinnies from horses anxiously awaiting their morning feed. One whinny, however, was warm and familiar-Moon's. The gorgeous blue roan mustang had his head over his stall door, forelock hanging in his eyes, peering at Andy hungrily.The girl quickly fed him, then when he finished, brought him to the cross ties for a thorough grooming. He was groomed in about 10 minutes, coat shining and hooves polished under the light of the barn.
Andy tacked him up after grooming him, and the pair were outside and walking to the arena within minutes. The handsome gelding was ready to get to work, and it showed. His nostrils were large, eyes big and alert, ears pricked forward. He was taking in any new sights and sounds he already hadn't seen. His owner was just as happy to be riding, especially here. She wanted to see the arenas the facility offered, and eventually she'd get on the trails for a ride. But for now, she would settle for the outdoor arenas for some jumping.
It was a beautiful day, the sky was blue and the sun was shining down, shining on the horses coat and nearly blinding Andy. But the girl didn't mind, the cool weather was what she was really thankful for,and she'd take full advantage of it.
The pair finally arrived at the arena, and Andy was slightly dismayed to see another horse and rider in the arena. Not because she wanted the arena to herself, but she'd been putting off meeting people and didn't really want to interact with anyone just yet. Oh well.
She also hoped the rider would let her join them in the arena, or else they would have to go inside the indoor arenas, which the girl thought would be too stuffy.
So, she walked to the gait and asked, Do you mind if we join you? in a calm, quiet tone, so as not to disturb the other pair in the arena.

[S y m p h o n y]

“Yeah, of course you can” said Cameron with a soft smile. She was so used to people just expecting things it was almost a shock to be asked. She’d spent the whole summer living in the same house s her sister- she’d pretty much gotten used to the whole ‘I’m better so you should do what I say thing’. Cameron had learned to come home to sleep and well sleep. Half the time she hadn’t even came home for that- she’d just stayed at a friends house. Cameron and her parents more or less tolerated each other- well they supposedly liked her and she tolerated them. But they’d left her here basically a week before most people showed up- but oh yes, they loved her to death. Cameron was sick of people that thought money could by everything- and the annoying thing was there’d be plenty of them here. Or at least she figured there would be. Her last boarding school had, and it wasn’t near as big or nice as this place.

“Oh I’m Cameron” said Cameron with a soft smile- she’d gotten so caught up in her thought’s she’d forgot to introduce herself. Cameron decide to shrug the thought off- It’s not like it’d been any extremely long time. She looked at her sparkling Appaloosa’s white coat in admiration and realized she hadn’t introduced him- “This is my man, Chance. Well Chance of a Lifetime, but he prefers Chance” said Cameron with her usual soft yet perfect looking smile. She rubbed the geldings neck lightly and then collected her reins and pushed him into a smooth forward trot. She did a few circles and serpentines, trying to enhance his bending. He stayed pretty calm, but she had to keep a crop on his shoulder to keep him from making a bee line for the colorful jumps.

Finally Cameron put him into a canter, and he rushed eagerly. Cameron sat deep, making it obvious he was still in training. She half halted easily and after two twenty meter circles and 10 meter circle he slowed into a nice canter. Cameron rode him towards a three foot green and yellow oxer and he popped over it, Cameron had to sit deep and half halt immediately to keep him from returning to his excited rush. “Easy Chance, you can do this buddy” she said softly to him, and did another circle. His head dropped and finally she headed to a bounce of a two foot vertical then a three foot oxer. Chance did it with ease. He could really be a great boy, if he could behave.

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Thanks. Andy said with a smile. She let herself in the arena, and made sure the gate was shut and locked. She'd seen what could happen with a runaway horse and a rider not able to do anything to stop it. It'd happened to her-once. When she was 5, on a stubborn little pony called Teacup. Of course, he only got out of the arena at a trot and tried walking into the barn, but it had terrified the little Andy. She'd gotten over it though, and started riding again like it had never happened.
The girl stopped reveling in her memories and led Moon to the middle of the ring. She checked his girth and the stirrups, making sure they were right, and mounted up.
I'm Miranda Karter, but I go by Andy. This is Once in a Blue Moon. I just call him Moon for short.The horse snorted as if in appreciation of being introduced. Andy smiled and stroked the roans neck, fluffing up his mane which was clipped a bit short from a recent show. She nudged her horse forward gently and into a walk, starting to warm up. After a few minutes she asked for a trot, and the two moved around the arena in a smooth as velvet motion.
How long have you been here? She asked, keeping her eyes on the rail between her horses ears. After a bit more trotting, she asked for a canter and urged her horse toward the jump at the furthest end of the arena. Andy crouched low in a two-point position and horse and rider sailed over the top rail with inches to spare. The girl smiled and stroked her horse, slowing him back to a trot once they got to the rail of the arena. She glanced back at the jump, which could have been almost 4 feet.Good boy. She praised with a kind smile and a pat on her horses neck.

[S y m p h o n y]

“Nice to meet you- both of you” she said with a soft smile, her usual greeting. Cameron was an over all happy person. Also a person that didn’t fit in with her so called family- she was one of those kids people were sure were adopted. Her mom was so plastic Cameron called her Barbie behind her back. Then again she called her sister Kelly and her dad Ken, but at least they looked somewhat realistic. Cameron on the other hand was au natural- she liked her body how it was and she definitely didn’t want to be part plastic- she was no Polly pocket.

“Two weeks I think - my so called parents had to go on a cruise that started before my school year. But here beats the Barbie house- er home anyways” said Cameron smiling but feeling a tad odd she’d said Barbie house out loud- she usually just added that in her head. Cameron pushed Chance into more lengthened canter and pushed him towards a three foot five vertical. He flipped his nose but after a half halt stuck to being a well behaved boy and popped over the fence easily, giving a good two or three inches above the poll. He was doing a lot better, keeping himself more controlled and not jumping four feet over a cavaletti. He’d come a long way- no matter how green he looked like some days.

Cameron collected Chances stride again, then popped over a three foot 8 vertical that was gold with red roses painted on it. The sides has fake rose bush in between the wooden décor. Together the pair soared over it, and landed on the other side with a soft thud of hooves in the sand. Cameron gave him a loose rein and leaned back slightly and relaxed. He immediately walked. She gave him a good scratch over his white mane that was a little longer then show length. He leaned his neck into it slightly, enjoying the attention as if he’d never had it before. But judging by his white glistening coat with speckles of copper colored brown on it he’d been groomed recently. Which he had, Cameron had scrubbed long an hard to get a manure stain out of his coat on his left hip- and the straw that he’d decorated his tail with. Thank god for show sheen.

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I just got here a couple days ago. It seems life a lifetime, though. So much has been going on, it's crazy. Andy said with a wistful sigh. But, at least she'd already gotten all the preparations for school finished, her horse was settled completely and she was starting to feel at home as well.

The girl turned her horse back to the same jump, collecting Moon's stride, which was a bit off, before going over the jump. The pair popped over it, but this time Moon's hooves nearly came down on the pole. Thankfully, he only clipped it. Andy turned him around and they went around the arena, rider trying to get her horses stride just right. Finally, his stride was even and eating the ground up at a smooth, easy speed. They went towards the jump again, this time, soaring over it perfectly.
Andy then saw cavaletti's in the center of the arena. Deciding they would be good practice, she took her horse over them at a trot, making sure his hooves never even came close to tapping the poles.
Is Chance your only horse? She asked, turning Moon towards a small oxer.

[S y m p h o n y]

[n] “I’m leasing to own a horse from the school- American Gangsta”[/b] said Cameron, a hint of excitement in her voice. She loved the thought of owning him, he was so talented and cute. “Is Moon your only horse?” asked Cameron, wondering if she’d bought a horse from the school or from one of the town auctions. She knew they were only allowed to bring one horse from home to the school but they were allowed to buy horses from the school or town auctions. She was in a way glad fro the rule- it gave her a reason to work hard to be able to afford her horses. She liked that. It may sound stupid, but Cameron liked knowing she had to pay for it.

Cameron watched the two jump, they were really good. She smiled, happy they weren’t cantering around and jumping six foot jokers. She didn’t want to feel totally stupid- Cameron could jump that high but she preferred training her horse to get to his best- no just fork over a load of cash and buy a machine. But many people did that, and she had to admit they stole the ribbons from her a lot. But Cameron was fine with that- for there was always another show. And she couldn’t get mad at Chance- he was learning. She loved him and he loved her back- even if he had a funny way of showing it sometimes.

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Yeah, I'm saving up some money to buy a new one. But for now I'm perfectly happy with just one horse. He's a handful just by himself. Andy laughed as she stroked her geldings neck. The horse was good for the most part, but sometimes he was hard to handle and difficult to train.
Andy had been looking in the classifieds and such for a new horse for a while now, but hadn't found any horses that had caught her eye. Yet. She was still looking, but money was the issue.
While her parents did send her money, they said she could only buy a new horse using her own money. Which was a problem because Andy didn't have a job. She would have to get one, but that was a bit difficult with her schooling and training.
I think I've seen American Gangsta around the barn before. He's handsome, and seems like a nice horse. Andy said, wondering if she was thinking of the right horse.

[S y m p h o n y]

“I know what you’re talking about- I mainly bought Gangsta so I could have something I little less snazzy to ride on days I don’t have a great amount of time” said Cameron easily. “And if he’s almost pony size, almost black and the opposite attitude of a horse you’d think would be called Gangsta then you definitely have the right horse. He’s very flashy too” said Cameron laughing at the thought of Gangsta- who really was the opposite. Cameron felt Chance side step underneath her and moved him back to where he was- wanting to roll her eyes at how much of an impatient horse he was.

Cameron pushed him into a trot and then a canter and took him towards a small vertical, He over jumped slightly but Cameron just rode it easily. He got excited- a lot. Cameron drove him on towards a double, half halting and keeping her legs on his sides strong. Together they soared over it- and it was moments like this that made Cameron so happy she put up with his attitude. Cameron pushed him over a ground pole and had to half halt and keep him collected so he’d just canter over it instead of jumping over it as if it were a three foot 8 vertical.

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Andy nodded, listening to Cameron talk.
Eventually I'll get one. But for now, I can wait. She said thinking back to horse options. Maybe she could ask for a new horse for her birthday present...as if that would work.
She concentrated back on the course and jumped Moon over a few more of the jumps before pulling him to the rail and cantering again.
Do you have any other pets, like dogs or something? she asked, missing her dog back at home. The golden retriever puppy would no doubt be a lot bigger the next time Andy saw her. She once again missed home, thinking how life would go on and change without her there. When she would go back, she'd feel out of the loop and lost at her own house. She sighed and turned her horse in the opposite direction, slowing him to a trot.

[S y m p h o n y]

“ I wish- I only get away with owning horses because they aren’t in the house. I’ve always wanted a dog though” said Cameron as she trotted Chance around the arena before trotting him over a few ground poles to force him to pick up his feet and stay collected. Cameron wondered if he’d behave well enough to show- or if she’d always have to compete on Gangsta. She would really like to compete on Chance- but his moods were so iffy- so out there and unpredictable. She’d always be able to show green classes with him- for they weren’t overly hard. And she wouldn’t be the only one to have a horse act up. But the equestrian team would probably need her on Gangsta- not on Chance. Chance showed of her skills- but Gangsta made her look a lot more put together for competition. She hated the thought of not taking Chance- but she knew that’s what it would probably come down to.

Cameron cantered Chance toward a bounce, two 3ft verticals. She allowed him to jump the first one without a lot of contact but the second one she collected him so he wouldn’t rush after. She headed towards a a three foot five double and had to make him gather his hindquarters so he could take himself over the jump. Cameron smiled as he landed and slid on hand down to give him a quick pat before taking him around the ring at a canter before asking for a trot.

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