It's a beautiful day

[freebird]

Jen stood in the barn, largely deciding which of her mares she should ride on this day. The sky was blue and the sun was large and lovely, making promises for a beautiful day outside. The two bay mares were stabled right next to each other, although their personalities could not be more different. Bella, the Oldenburg, was a gentle mare and eager to please. Meanwhile, Maddy, the Thoroughbred, was a bit more high strung and head strong. Jen had already decided to ride a trail today, so she soon decided to ride Bella out instead of Maddy. Slipping a carrot over the stall door for Maddy, she walked to Bella's stall and slid the door open. Come on beautiful Bella began walking towards the opening, and Jen took a grip on her halter.

The day was amazingly not cold, so she was in a lacy back tank top, happy she could wear it this late in the year. She also wore her tan breeches, with her tall boots over it. Clipping the bay mare to the crossties, she began to lightly brush her coat. She rubbed her white nose, and then turned to gather the mare's tack. When she returned, she put the white saddle pad on her back, followed by the saddle. She quickly buckled the girth, then proceeded to remove her halter and replaced it with a figure 8 bridle. Bella snorted slightly, and Jen plopped the helmet on her head, before leading her out of the barn.

She quickly decided on the Woodlands trail, and pulled down the stirrups and swung herself onto the mare's back. Swiftly, she gathered herself and nudged the mare slightly, asking for a smooth trot. There were a few downed logs, and Jen decided to have a little jump with the mare. Pressing her forward slightly, she lifted in the saddle right before take off, and sat back when the mare landed. Bella landed in a canter, and Jen relaxed, enjoying the pace.

Outfit:Click!

[Cara]

Alex headed down to the stables. Her hands rested on her not-so-slightly rounded belly as she walked. The day wasn't too cold so she wore a light-weight grey jacket over the t-shirt she wore. Her jodhpurs didn't fit her well anymore so today she wore track pants to go riding in. Her gut was telling her that riding was possibly a stupid idea - especially trail-riding which she wanted to do - but she needed to get in the saddle.

"Hey Mo. Let's go!" She called as she walked into the stable, her hands automatically leaving her stomach so not to draw attention to the bump that was pretty much hidden under the jacket.

She led the skewbald from his stall and put him into a set of cross-ties. After giving him the necessary groom, she quickly tacked him up. Today he was wearing a light-weight synthetic saddle and a simple snaffle bridle. She was happy that the gelding was quite placid and he seemed to understand that he needed to be gentle with her.

Once they were ready, she led him out of the stables. After tightening the girth and pulling the stirrups down, she used the mounting block to swing abroad.

It wasn't long before they were on the woodlands trail, and they followed it at a very sedate pace. "Just wait until you're all warmed up." She told the gelding who began to pull at the reins as he grabbed hold of the bit and pulled his head down.

It wasn't long before she squeezed the gelding forward into a trot, which she remained sitting to as she didn't think her bladder would handle the movement of posting.

Ahead of them, she could see the flash of another horse who was moving at a faster pace than her. She knew that she would need to wait until they slowed down before she could catch up.

However, Moment had also caught sight of another horse and the gelding let out a trumpeting whinny to let his presence be known.

[freebird]

Jen faintly heard another horse and rider enter the trail behind Bella. Although Bella had landed the jump cantering, Jen let her canter for a few strides before collecting the mare. Bella snorted, flickering her ears briefly back to Jen before slowing her pace. Jen sat back, sitting to the bay mare's even paced trot. Allowing to turn her head towards the horse behind her, she spied a skewbald with a girl riding him trotting on the trail easily.

Slowing Bella down even more, she let the reins run long and allowed the mare to reach her head down. The other horse and rider were probably going to reach them quickly, but there was no need to rush her mare. Bella walked quietly, before completely stopping and lowering her muzzle to the grass. As the mare relaxed, so to did Jen as she allowed her feet to slide out of the stirrups.

[Cara]

Alex rubbed Moment's neck as the gelding bounced his head up and down as he saw the downed log not too far away. Alex eyed the log as well. There was room for them to go around the log without having to go over it, but she could feel the excitement rippling through the gelding between her legs and she wanted to try him over a jump.

Asking the gelding to move into a trot. There was enough room between them and the jump for the teen to turn the gelding around the log should she suddenly realize that she was making a mistake. No chance of that though as the gelding got closer and she asked him to move into a canter. Two strides out, she gave the gelding his head and moved forward. She held her breath as the skewbald flew over the log and landed on the other side. "No!" She exclaimed as she fought to keep the horse's head up as he tried to put it down and buck. Jumping was bad enough, but she didn't think that she would handle a buck as well.

Yanking on the left rein, she got the gelding to circle around before she pushed him forward again. Moment stretched out his neck as they walked down the trail. His head sot up though as they approached the other horse and rider. "Coming up behind you." Alex said. Her tone gentle but loud enough to be heard.

[freebird]

Bella was walking slowly along the path, head stretched down and ears flickered slightly back. In fact, if Jen did not know much better, she would of thought the horse was sleep walking. Jen heard the horse and rider approaching behind her quickly, and before she knew it, the horse was directly behind them. The other rider called out, but Bella had heard them approaching before Jen could collect her. Her head shot up quickly, and Bella began trotting away from the other horse quickly.

Thrown forward slightly, Jen attempted to shorten the reins considerably on the mare. Bella's ears were flickering back and forth nervously, and sweat was starting to appear on her bay neck. Easy girl.. easy.. Jen called out to the mare, but she was still thrown forward in her position.

Nervously, Bella's ears flickered back to Jen, and snorting, she began to slow her pace. When Bella finally slowed enough, Jen was able to sit back and collect her stirrups once more. Jen circled the mare once, making a large circle and watched as the mare slowed her pace even more. Shaking her head, she slipped a hand down to pat the mare's neck. She would of expected that freakout from Maddy, but not Bella. Shooting a glance back at the other rider, she offered a friendly smile. It was not the other rider's fault, but Jen's stupidity for relaxing so much.