Lesson number one. (Open)

[Sync]

Finn leaned heavily against the door of Ripple's stall. The shy mare had her maw pressed affectionately into the area between his shoulder blades. He smiled, reaching around to fuss the mare. She'd only arrived yesterday, the same day as himself, and the pair had hit it off. She was tacked up, which looked peculiar when the only person in the barn with her was a kid with his leg plastered up to his thigh. He chuckled quietly, the sound vibrating off the walls. Ripple looked at him curiously, but then went back to enjoying the attention he was giving her. He was here as he'd been told he was giving another student a riding lesson. Yeah, he was only supposed to be a groom and he still wouldn't be able to ride for a month and a half, so they were putting him to use. Apparently his name was recognizable to a few people around the academy, not that he cared. But they knew that he was capable of teaching a young girl the basics. He'd been warned by the head mistress that the girl was a nervous wreck when it came to adults, so he was the next best thing. He tried to recall her name, but it wouldn't come to him. With a slight sigh, he strummed his fingers on top of the stall door. Ripple's audits flickered forward, interest marring her pretty face. Apparently she hadn't heard that sound before. She began to lip at his fingers intently, causing him to laugh happily. He knew which horse he would be spoiling while working.

Charlie was hesitantly pulling on the jodhpurs that had been sent to her from her uncle. They were a little too big and hung loosely on her narrow hips. She frowned, and then pulled her chestnut hair into a pony tail at the base of her neck. Jock was watching her intently, wondering what on earth was going on. She allowed a slight smile to pull at her lips, but it fell flat when she realized where she should be right this second. She was running late. She'd been informed that a male was to be teaching her the basics of riding. On one hand, she was excited. At least she'd have something to do instead of sitting in the dorm, surrounded by mind numbing silence. On the other hand, she'd have to communicate with a strange male. This made nerves ball fiercely in the pit of her stomach. Taking a deep breath, she noted that her skin had regained a little color. As she'd been getting ready, her pallor was deathly pale. This pleased her, maybe the excitement was a good thing. She tried to let it overtake the bad emotions, but the nerves still sat firmly in the center, refusing to budge. Giving Jock a fond pat, she picked up the helmet she'd also been sent and left the dorm room. Her pace was swift, not wanting to pause and have unwanted eyes upon her skinny frame. She had a jacket pulled as tight as it could around her boyish upper body. It still sat heavily on her shoulders though, swamping her frame. A sigh emitted from her barely parted lips. She drew nearer and nearer the barn she was told to go to. Letting herself inside, her oracles scanned the yard. They fell upon a male, who looked about eighteen or nineteen. She immediately began to shake, but was a little comforted by the fact that he had his leg in plaster. At least he wouldn't be able to chase her if she ran.

Finn looked up when he heard the rattling of a gate, his own mocha eyes meeting the murky green ones of a small female. He rose a brow, they'd told him she was 16. She looked more like 12. A genuine smile pulled at his lips before he noticed how nervous she was. Her approach was slow and cautious, obviously she was sizing him up. A flash of sympathy crossed his features before he parted his lips to speak. "You must be Charlie?" he smiled softly, earning a short nod from the girl. He didn't reach out to shake her hand as he would have with anyone else, he'd been told she hated human contact. Charlie looked visibly relieved when he didn't offer his hand, her oracles suddenly falling on the mare behind him. A smile tugged at her lips. She was adorable. "That's Ripple. You'll be riding her today. She'll take good care of you." Finn informed Charlie as she approached the mare. Ripple looked to Finn for reassurance, and Finn nodded gently. Ripple then leaned over to press her maw softly into Charlie's cheek. The girl giggled in delight, causing Finn to smile too. He liked the girl already.

Charlie was now sat on top of the mare, having reluctantly accepted Finn's help to get there. Ripple had been patient, which pleased Charlie immensely. She trusted the mare already. Finn informed the girl that they were going to the indoor arena, and he was now leading her slowly toward it. Charlie knew it was mostly due to the fact that he had to hobble, using just one of his crutches, but she was happy with the pace. Ripple seemed unaffected by the noise of the crutch, just kept plodding along beside Finn as if she saw it every day. They eventually got to the arena, pleased to see it empty. Finn had a lunge line attached to Ripple's bridle, due to the fact that his leg wouldn't be able to handle him walking around with Charlie all the time. He would have walked with her otherwise. They entered the arena silently, and Ripple gave a soft snort. She went into business mode instantly. Finn walked the pair over to one half of the arena, and then stood in the center of the semi circle. Ripple knew she had to stay where she was. "Charlie, heels down and relax your hands a little. I know your nervous, but Ripple will respond better if she doesn't feel the tension coming from you." he told her wisely. It took her a second to do what was asked, but was then ready. "We're going to go into a walk now, don't jolt too much when she starts up. She's not going to harm you in any way." he told her. "Now tell her to 'walk on' while digging your heels a little into her sides." he instructed. Charlie pursed her lips, and then parted them. "Walk on." she said hoarsely, digging in her heels softly. Ripple instantly obeyed, and Charlie took to it perfectly. Finn smiled happily, watching as Ripple carried the girl carefully. It was like she knew Charlie was a beginner.

[Cara]

Cara stifled a yawn as she entered Stylish Mistress' stall, slipped the halter over the mare's nose, fastened the poll strap. led her from the stall and over to the set of cross-ties where she had the mare's gear already waiting.

The skittish mare was slowly calming down and life in a busy school really seemed to be her thing as she seemed to be enjoying the thrill and rush of everything that was going on around her. "Settle down." The girl laughed as she clipped the ties into place as the mare danced around, lifting her front feet off the ground a couple of inches.

She shook her head as she bit back another yawn. The day had started... well when had yesterday finished? She had already tended to the mare and foal she was working with in the reproduction class, pleased with how the baby was developing. L'éclat de Lumière is so smart, and learns things so quickly that she had to be careful about what she do so that the filly didn't pick up the wrong thing.

After the broodmare barn, Cara had gone to the yarn where her rescue horse lived. The mare was slowly coming around, and she would allow Cara to groom her without moving away after only a few moments. The girl had been researching the Highland Pony's past, and it seemed that what Miss Carr had been told about the mare's past and what the girl had managed to get from the pony's breeder were very different. It seems that Snazzy Showgirl had been quite the competitor once, and the young pony had picked up many ribbons before her owner needed more and sold the pony to the first buyer, not caring. Which also explained the pony's fear of humans.

Before she had ended up here with Missy, she had been working Truss in the outdoor arena, just working the pretty mare through her dressage movements and getting her moving smoothly over trotting poles. And now, she was grooming her pretty chestnut halfbreed and saddling her up.

When they were ready and the girl had a helmet on her head, she led the mare toward the indoor arena. She was hoping to have a nice quiet work out with the pony, just sorting out what the mare needed to work on and what she knew she was good at. "Gate." She spoke up before she opened the gate and led the mare into the arena, keeping an eye on the girl riding down the other end of the arena with a man on the ground. "Excuse me?" Her soft voice trembled a little as she watched horse and rider. "May we please use the arena with you?"

She pushed the gate closed behind them, but didn't lead the pony too far from the gate until they had the reply, as she didn't see the need in crossing the arena if they were not wanted. She was dressed in spotless beige jodhpurs, even though she had already done so much, with a light grey jersey over a white polo shirt, a black and grey Charles Owen helmet on her head and black field boots on her feet. Her blacker than black hair - under the helmet - was pulled into a tight french braid and wound into a tidy bun that was held in place with a hair net.