Now that Riley was old enough, Assana wanted him to start riding and help her train her horses. But before he got in the saddle she gave him a book to study on the basics of riding.
He studied it diligently for several days before and after school.
He studied it diligently for several days before and after school.
Assana spent more time training Dancing Cloud and refining her gaits and transitions as well as her speed. Her jumping was flawless and needed no further training. Dancing Cloud was also still a ways off of being completely saddle broken so Assana took every opportunity to expose the mare to traffic and people and other scary situations.
After a few days, Riley was ready for his first real ride. Assana put him on Top Deck, knowing the lazy but obedient horse would be perfect for him.
She also rode along side him on Dancing Cloud, just to make sure nothing unexpected went wrong.
Riley's posture was bad, and he didn't move with Top Deck's motion, but he held on and stayed on despite being nervous.
She also rode along side him on Dancing Cloud, just to make sure nothing unexpected went wrong.
Riley's posture was bad, and he didn't move with Top Deck's motion, but he held on and stayed on despite being nervous.
They stayed out all day, and went out all the next day, coming home when it was dark.
Riley's confidence didn't seem to be growing, despite riding the placid and slow Top Deck. Assana was disappointed that his Posture and balance didn't seem to be improving either.
After their second ride she made him return to his books to study more. She also had him tack and untack Top Deck several times, and get on him and just sit there, practicing balance and boosting his confidence in any small way she could think of.
Riley's confidence didn't seem to be growing, despite riding the placid and slow Top Deck. Assana was disappointed that his Posture and balance didn't seem to be improving either.
After their second ride she made him return to his books to study more. She also had him tack and untack Top Deck several times, and get on him and just sit there, practicing balance and boosting his confidence in any small way she could think of.
Later that night when they got back from their ride and had fed and put away their horses, Snow Magic aged up and matured into a pretty young mare.
The next day while Riley was at school, Assana received a phone call from the equine rescue group. They had a stallion that was causing problems, he was reported to have thrown riders, kick out at people, bite, and just general unpleasant behavior. They asked if she would take him, and retrain him and help find a home for him.
Assana agreed to take him in, and Troy was delivered late that night.
Assana agreed to take him in, and Troy was delivered late that night.
As Winter really started to hit, and the snow started falling, Assana worked with Troy and focused most of her energy on the stallion. She started slowly to get him used to her presence. Just being around him, then feeding him treats to associate her as non threatening.
She spent a long time grooming him, re-acclimatizing him to brushes and hoof picks and to being touched. Occasionally he would lash out at her, but these events happened less and less.
She spent a long time grooming him, re-acclimatizing him to brushes and hoof picks and to being touched. Occasionally he would lash out at her, but these events happened less and less.
After establishing good ground work and some trust, she finally started putting tack on him. He took it well so she took the next step and mounted. This however, he did not take so well.
With a rider, he kicked out, reared and did his best to shake her. Every time she was knocked down she got right back up and tried again. She would not let him win this. He had to understand that throwing his rider would not work or accomplish anything.
With a rider, he kicked out, reared and did his best to shake her. Every time she was knocked down she got right back up and tried again. She would not let him win this. He had to understand that throwing his rider would not work or accomplish anything.
Troy soon realized that his normal behaviour wasn't working, so once he had thrown her one more time he spun around and faced her. He lashed out with his front hooves and bit at her and tried to terrorize her like he had so many other people in the past.
But Assana wasn't having any of it. She put her hands on her hips and stood her ground. What ever his past was, she didn't care. This behaviour wasn't going to be tolerated.
But Assana wasn't having any of it. She put her hands on her hips and stood her ground. What ever his past was, she didn't care. This behaviour wasn't going to be tolerated.
She told him off, and told him exactly what would happen to him if he didn't cut the aggressive behaviour out. She told him that even her foals acted with more maturity and went on and on about all the good things that could come from having a rider and from trusting people.
Troy stood and listened, he kept his ears back not pleased with the situation but he listened.
Troy stood and listened, he kept his ears back not pleased with the situation but he listened.
Eventually Troy calmed and then began to relax, and Assana moved in and started petting him as she talked. Talking about what a wonderful home he would find and the wonderful people that would love him one day.
As she slowly regained his trust, she mounted him one more time. He didn't throw her, just waited patiently. She asked him to move off and they went for a ride, with no incidents.
As she slowly regained his trust, she mounted him one more time. He didn't throw her, just waited patiently. She asked him to move off and they went for a ride, with no incidents.
Assana worked with Troy everyday, but she also started Snow Magic's training. The mare had little skill in jumping and had mediocre speed at best, so she spent time working on improving both.
Every few days she'd work on Dancing Cloud's skills too as she was working on getting the black mare into some competitions.
Every few days she'd work on Dancing Cloud's skills too as she was working on getting the black mare into some competitions.
Later that week, Assana entered Dancing Cloud into the Slack Classic, and International show jumping event.
Mocha was there with Tori Steel, in fine form. Sadly Dancing Cloud was no match for them and came in 4th. Assana was pleased to see Mocha doing so well with her new owners though.
Mocha was there with Tori Steel, in fine form. Sadly Dancing Cloud was no match for them and came in 4th. Assana was pleased to see Mocha doing so well with her new owners though.
Assana tried again the next day, entering Dancing Cloud into another international showjumping competition, this one the Rouya Royal Horse Show. This time she saw her previous stallions Denali and Drifter with their respective riders. It was great to see them, but again Dancing Cloud came 4th.
Assana took Riley out for another ride that weekend. He had improved enough to be comfortable to to trot. So she graduated him to riding Dancing Cloud while she rode the pushier mare, Snow Magic.
They rode down to the training grounds to work on both horses as well as Riley's skills.
They rode down to the training grounds to work on both horses as well as Riley's skills.
Snow Magic still lacked jumping skill and confidence, and despite having worked on it the previous week, Assana still could not get the mare to jump every obstacle.
When confronted with the water jump, the mare freaked out and reared. Thankfully Assana was prepared for it and managed to stay on.
When confronted with the water jump, the mare freaked out and reared. Thankfully Assana was prepared for it and managed to stay on.
Riley stayed on Dancing Cloud and worked with her around the racing track. He focused on mainly keeping his balance and not falling off though.
Dancing Cloud was a good sport though and didn't do anything unexpected or cheeky. She ran her laps until she was tired and then she took him home of her own accord.
Dancing Cloud was a good sport though and didn't do anything unexpected or cheeky. She ran her laps until she was tired and then she took him home of her own accord.
Now that Riley was comfortable riding Dancing Cloud, Assana took Top Deck to the center to be sold. She had a few people eyeing him off and let them highest bidder take him home. She received $13,209 for the placid stallion, which was more then she had expected.
As she was getting home, Cloud magic gave birth to a small gray colt. Assana named him Troic.
Despite the heavy snow, both mother and son preferred to sleep by the hay under the trees.
((Pronounced Tro-ick, rhymes with stoic))
As she was getting home, Cloud magic gave birth to a small gray colt. Assana named him Troic.
Despite the heavy snow, both mother and son preferred to sleep by the hay under the trees.
((Pronounced Tro-ick, rhymes with stoic))
After spending a few weeks training Troy, she finally deems him fit to return to the rescue center where they can find an appropriate home for him.
The rescuers insist on giving her something for her time spent on the stallion for his wonderful transformation, they want to pay Assana for her magical services, but Assana refuses to accept payment for him.
She takes him for one last ride along the river before the Adoption people come and take him away to his new home.
The rescuers insist on giving her something for her time spent on the stallion for his wonderful transformation, they want to pay Assana for her magical services, but Assana refuses to accept payment for him.
She takes him for one last ride along the river before the Adoption people come and take him away to his new home.