The Hardest Part About Riding [OPEN]

[Sheari]

...is generally the ground.

R'men shifted himself to a sitting position, positively glaring at the runner that had just thrown him for the third time. His hind end was sore and his leg hurt in a way that suggested it would be sore for a while after this, but he was determined. He was determined to learn how to ride and eventually purchase a runner of his own. After getting some help saddling and bridling this one up, the beastcrafter had led the two into a round pen for them to get "acquainted" in. The bronzer now had his suspicions that the man had specifically chosen this beast for him, knowing it would buck him off with ease.

R'men grumbled, stood up, and limped over to the creature that stared at him with guileless eyes. It seemed smugly pleased with itself as it allowed the man to gather the reins and hoist himself back into the saddle. R'men gripped with his legs as he'd been tipped off to do, and directed the animal with the reins. The runner did a lazy circle just as it had been guided to do by the dragonrider on it's back, as if nothing had happened.

Then suddenly, it stopped.

"Oh no, oh no!" R'men cried out, holding on harder with his legs, hands fumbling with the reins so he could grab the horn of the saddle for support. The runner lurched forward and then dodged to one side, trying to unseat it's rider. His hind legs kicked out and his front legs jumped up, stiffly landing again. It's head went down, ripping the reins through R'men's hands and pulling him forward as he tried to pull back. The beast lurched again, pulling its head up and circling agitatedly around. After a very bouncy experience, the beast reared up, effectively dumping the bronzerider out of the saddle and back on the ground. R'men landed with a thud, a small cloud of dust swirling up around him.

You lasted longer that time, R'menmine,[/i] came the voice of his nearby dragon. The runner snorted toward Weith as if it heard him, unafraid of the large creature so near it. Maybe I did, R'men retorted, a bit beaten in his "tone". He knew it'd sound out in his voice so he chose not to speak the reply on the off chance the runner would hear him. It pawed at the ground. Are you keeping track? Four.[/i] "Shard it!" R'men rose again, stiffly this time. He'd definitely feel this come morning. He gathered the reins again and climbed on. It was a slower climb this time, though a little more deft than in the beginning. If anything, R'men was learning how to mount these awkward creatures, so unlike his dragon.

Without preamble, the runner ran halfway around the ring, stopped and then jerked to the side. R'men lost a stirrup and was hanging half out of the saddle. The runner began lowering itself as if to roll and R'men allowed himself to fall and rolled away. With its passenger off of it, the runner trotted to the other side of the ring, switching its tail, proud that this wiggly creature hadn't the skill to ride it. Once on the other side, it shook itself, a small cloud of dust roiling off of it. Five.[/i] R'men turned and glared at Weith, starting over to the beast with the saddle once more.

[Tashe]

Watching this man was... well painful to be exact. He'd been given a Runner that needed a strong leg to ride and it didn't look like the guy had much training in a saddle before. Ithanna winced as he fell from the saddle again. She'd have to have a talk with the Beastcrafter who gave the man this Runner, the prank was funny but she was worried that the Man would be turned off of Runners if he kept this up. Plus, the Runner was being allowed to get away with horrible behavior, which did not settle well with the girl. "Oh my lovely, this needs to end for their sake and ours." Deciding to interfere she opened the gate and led Tika in, tying her to the fence post so she couldn't wonder. Not like the mare would do so, she had been well trained by her owner. Moving quietly along the fence as the man was once again deposited on the ground Ithanna made her way toward the Runner, arriving at it's side before the man had gotten up. The knew her and he showed it too. His ears flicked back and he shook his head, mane flailing around as it was sent flying. Grabbing the reins, she lead him over to the man. "I'm very sorry sir, that they gave you this particular ass to ride." Her eyes pretty much shone with amusement. "I'm pretty sure that the other Stablehands wanted to have a good laugh, since not many people who can't ride come down here to do so. If you will give me a moment with this Runner? He knows throwing people is not okay, but it looks like I'll have to show him again."

She did not wait for an acquiescence and swung up into the saddle. "If you will wait by the fence? If not, I can work around you. It might even be exciting." Kicking the Runner gently she moved him forward. A few moments passed before he tried to do anything. She felt him tense beneith her and she countered by forcing him into a trot. The change of stride made him concentrate on that rather than squirming. Again he tried to mess with Ithanna, but this time she slid her hand down the inside rein and pulled his nose sharply around so that it nearly touched her boot, forcing him to turn in a circle and then stop. She left his head there for a few moments before giving it back to him. "Good boy." Walk. Trot. One rein stop. She did this process several times when ever the Runner acted up before the gelding understood that /she/ wasn't going to stand for any of his horrible antics and was able to get him into a canter without any problems. Dismounting in the center of the arena, she led the Runner back to the man. "The most important thing to do, is ask what level a Runner is at. No matter how many times you got back on, he would buck you off because he knows you can't handle him." Rubbing the male's muzzle she looked back to the man with a smile. "I'm sorry Dragonrider, I have been rude. I am Senior Apprentice Beastcrafter and Candidate, Ithanna." The guy would probably tell from her heavy accent, that she was from the North.

She paused momentarily to wave over at the large Dragon who lounged near by. "I think it would be wise, if we traded Runners. I was going to warm-up Tika, but I believe you could do with a nice experience Master Bronzerider. She is a gentle mare who will not buck, rear or try and dislodge you. In other words, a beginner friendly Runner." There was no superiority in her comments only advice. She did not look down on this man for not being able to ride, instead she wished to help match him with a better partner. She was the daughter of Runner Merchants, she new a good pairing when she saw one. "Here. I'll give you a choice, I think that would be best." She moved and tied the male to the fence and left them together for a moment, returning with Tika on her lead line. Tying her a Runner's length away from the male, Ithanna stood between them. "If you choose Tika," She motioned to the black, "I can help teach you how to ride. If you choose this gelding," again she made a gesture, "you will never learn how to ride properly, and the Runner will become unfit." Unfit. The nicest definition of destroying a Runner with the allowance of bad habits. She winked. "The hardest part about riding, is having the patience to learn how to do it."

Did she mention she was a strict Runner Instructor? No, of course not. Fortunately for the Dragonrider, he had been given the saddle for the easiest and most common style of riding.

[Sheari]

R'men watched as a girl came in with a runner and tied her nearby. He was wondering if she'd come here to publicly laugh at him but instead she approached and he allowed her to grab the offending gelding's reins. He let her take him after asking if she could; it wasn't like she'd given him a choice. The man limped over to the fence and climbed to sit upon it. With an intent gaze he watched as the gelding tried to pull the same tricks but was thwarted every time by his new rider. He took mental notes on the counter-trick of pulling his nose around and making him do something else to change the course of his squirming.

She's good,[/i] commented Weith.
You think?
I do. At least I don't need to keep count anymore, you know I can't count too high,[/i] the Bronze teased.
The dragon was afforded a smug scowl.
I would have eventually gotten the hang of it.

As a non-rider, some of what she did didn't make sense at first and he wouldn't have thought to do himself. It hurt his pride a bit to be shown up by someone younger than him, but she'd been polite about telling him he was unskilled so he bit his tongue and kept watching. He was jealous that the runner behaved so well under her "command" but he was still determined to learn. The girl rode to the middle and dismounted, leading the runner the rest of the way. R'men met her halfway. What...level? The term "beginner friendly" explained that bit and he was offered the girl's mare to ride instead of the beast that had a decidedly glum look at his discipline for treated the dragonrider as he had. Was he sorry for what he did, or sorry he'd gotten caught and corrected?

Tika? R'men absently reached out an patted the mare's nose. "I think I'll take Tika, since you've offered," he said. Yes, his sore body could use a good "easy" ride. Granted his bruised pride could take the hit of being shown up, he'd rather learn how to ride properly as opposed to...the other option. He looked at the gelding, I'll ride you someday, he thought. Patting the mare again he untied her and walked her in a circle. Stopping her, R'men walked to the side and mounted, quite ungracefully, using the horn for support. He was glad the runner's had the same saddle. He'd seen the others, without the horn and with a different cantle. He didn't think he'd be able to use one of those yet.

Once atop the mare, R'men tentatively walked her in a large circle before guiding her back to Ithanna and stopped her. Oh it felt good to have the beast listen to him, even if it wasn't the one he'd been on originally. "Yeah, I think I'd like to have your help with this type of riding," nodding to the runner. "I'm used to a very different sort," and he indicated Weith, who lounged rather undisturbed. Sheepishly, he remembered that he hadn't given the girl his name. Well then, who was he to be rude?! "I'm R'men, and that is Weith."

Amended.

[Tashe]

"Marvelous!" As the man walked the mare away Ithanna watched him with a judging eye as he mounted and walked her out in a circle. When he returned she offered him a smile. "Yes, from what I've seen riding Dragons is terribly different from riding a Runner." Moving to the mare's neck the girl gave her a good pat before looking up at the Rider and then to Weith. "Nice to meet cha both." She flicked a bug out of the coarse hairs that made up the mane. "Alright well! Since I'm going to be your instructor, lets get down to the basics. And remember, if I go to fast just tell me. Also don't be afraid of asking me questions." It had been a while since she had actually taught someone but it was like rowing a boat, you always got back into the rhythm. Going to retrieve the gelding, she brought him up parallel to Tika. They were facing the other direction so that the Bronzer could see what she was going to demonstrate.

"First off, I'm going to show you how to mount a little more smoothly. Watch me." Putting the reins over the Gelding's neck she slid her hand down them so the loop was hooked around her hand loosely. "Never let go of the reins, but make sure you don't pull on them when you mount." Grabbing the horn with her left hand and the edge of the cantle with her right she slid her boot into the stirrup. "Instead of just dropping into the saddle, try jumping three times to increase momentum. But don't put too much pressure on the stirrup because you aren't hopping up until the third jump." One. Two. Three. Pushing her body up and over the gelding's back, she swung her hand and leg in unison so that she slid cleanly into the saddle. Turning to face R'men she smiled. "When your legs get strong enough, you'll be able to cut out the extra two jumps and it will look just as smoothly. Now, dismounting." She gathered the reins in her left hand and preformed the actions as she spoke. "Drop your feet from the stirrups, lean forward, swing your right leg over and slide down."

Ithanna lead and tied the gelding up at the fence once more before returning to R'men. "Now your posture. See how your legs aren't almost straight? That means your stirrups are too short. I had the stirrups set to my leg length. I would have stopped you before you got on, but you took Tika before I could." Waving dismissively she patted the Rider's calf. "Legs out of the stirrups please, but just let them hang. I'll show you how to adjust them while you're still on a Runner. If you like this lesson and want another, next time we'll start in the Stables and I'll show you how to tack up Runner." She paused as she waited. "So, R'men. Why do you want to learn, eh? If you don't mind me askin'."

[Sheari]

More mental notes.

R'men watched, glad to have some (miniscule) experience under his belt before taking on the runners. It was refreshing, though unlike for some, it wasn't just requiring a refresher course, he needed instruction. With envy he watched her swing up effortlessly. Even in his caravan days he'd never been able to do that! When she dismounted the gelding he listened as Ithanna spoke; yes, his legs were, in fact, uncomfortable at the shorter length. With a tap, he shifted his leg so she could adjust them.

"I traveled with a caravan when I was younger, and I rode then," as unbeleiveable as it may sound. "However, it was always on some of the easiest mounts, and they were usually old so I just sat there while we moved," he said. It felt odd and slightly nostalgic to recall those days, the ones with Fuiley and his mother. "More often than not, however, I was walking or sitting in one of the carts." Yeah, good times were those. Always on the road, always moving with the sun beating down on you, and when the weather was particularly dry, the dust from the road kicking up and clinging to you. Your skin, your hair, your airways, nothing was safe from the dust except the edible goods, which were covered. "I never really learned to ride properly, and I'm hoping to get one for myself soon, at least next Gather that has them, if I can."

Do you remeber any of their names?[/i]
...?
The runners on the trains[/i]
Uhm...

R'men distraced himself with that, trying to recall any of the names. Most of the runners had gotten too old to really be of much worth when he was given the chance to sit on them. Often bareback with a bridle enough to guide them and no real reason to have to hold on too much. They were often sold and slaughtered, the meat being worth more than the animal itself. He'd either never been told a name or hadn't cared enough, knowing the fate most common for the older beasts. He rarely got a shot at one of the younger ones, except Fuiley's runner, which the two boys had shared until R'men had been called in by his father.

[Tashe]

Now that was interesting, she hadn't pegged the Bronzerider as a previous Caravaner. Either she was getting rusty, or he had been away from the Caravan long enough to loose most of the signs. "I'm the daughter of a Runner Merchant, my family works for one of the Ruathan Breeders. So I know what its like to travel openly like that. If I had been any other Merchant's daughter I wouldn't have learned properly either. Growing up as part of a herd has its advantages." There was a momentary pause as she chuckled. "Well, if you're going to buy a Runner, you should really bring along one of the Stablehands or Beastcrafters. I haven't had much dealings with the Runner Merchants here in the South but if they're anything like the stubborn Northerners, you'd best make sure that you get the right Runner for the correct price. Inside information," She flicked a finger in the air, "Some Runner Merchants try and show off Runners that are subpar in personality but beautiful. Don't be tricked, yeah? I wouldn't want to see you get a Runner like him, " She jerked her thumb at the gelding, "and be stuck with the conciquences."

"Anyway. This is called the fender." She tapped the length of leather between the stirrup and the seat. "This is the jocky." Ithanna moved her finger to touch the flap below the seat. "Under the fender and the jocky is the strap you use to shorten or lengthen the stirrups. Much like a belt." Flipping the entire thing up so that it rested near the horn, she explained to R'men how to fix the length from in his saddle. Then had him repeat the process himself on the other side. "See how your legs only have a slight bend in them? This is how long your stirrups need to be." Nodding as she checked that the stirrups were the same length, she patted Tika on the nose with a 'good girl' to go along with the praise. "Alright since this is mainly a saddle for pleasure riding or cattle herding, it has a more relaxed stance than that of a messenger saddle." She thought R'men would fit well with this style of saddle.

"If you're right handed keep both of the reins in your right hand for now, and if you're a lefty in your left. Once you have the basic steering commands down, you should be able to shift hands at will. Lean back slightly," She gently pushed at his abdomen so that he'd lean back (she was only so tall you know!) until she told him to stop. "If this feels uncomfortable you can adjust to better suit your body's natural tendencies. Unless they are bad tendencies which force me to crop you." She grinned an oh-so-innocent smile, her eyes flicking teasingly at the crop bucket near the fence. "Go a head and start walking Tika around the ring to warm her up. Give her a nice kick, not a terribly hard one and she'll be happy to move for you." She stepped back so the Rider could move the horse without clipping her. When they began to walk she strode happily beside them.

"Now steering is really simple. The Runners trained in this tack have sensitive mouths. All you have to do is move your hand right or left to go in either direction. So if you want to go left, move your hand left so that the right rein is flat against her neck. Always look at where you want to go. Don't look down or that's were you'll end up. And when you want to stop, pull back and say 'hoa' firmly." Glancing a head she counted the posts until the bend. "So when you reach the next post I want you to turn her left, go straight toward the middle and then turn right. Lead her back to the fence and stop her there." Peeling away from the pair, she planted herself in the middle of the arena. "Once you do that, go a head and walk her out for her warm up and we'll do a few more turns, circles and stops. Then we'll see how you feel about trotting." The candidate gave the older man a hopeful thumbs up.

"How long have you been a rider? And do you like it?"

[Sheari]

Oh, he fully intended to take someone along with him...if he could. "It certainly won't be who ever gave me him," he commented, nodding to the gelding. He didn't know who had given him the runner; he hade walked in, asked if he could ride, and the man had pointed him out and threw on bridle and tack. Dragonrider has thought he was safe.

R'men listened and took note of the different parts she pointed out. Some he was familiar with: horn, cantle, seat, stirrup. Others, not so much, which made him slightly confused when she asked him to adjust the other side. In the end, he fixed everything and relaxed, rather comfortable in the seat. At her words, he shifted the reins and at the pressure, leaned back. "Crop...?" but his words were unheard as Ithanna began speaking again. With a tap from his heel the mare plodded on and R'men's "instructor" followed.

He sifted the reins right, hand moving out more than it should, but he would learn economy of movement later. Afterall, there was no mental link between him and Tika, as there was with Weith and he couldn't simply ask her to go somewhere or do something as he could with the lounging bronze. At the next post R'men executed what his "instructor" wanted of him, having a feeling tika already knew what she was doing. He let her continue until she was a good legnth from the fence gently stopping her before he directed her in a large circle around the ring. It felt much better than with the other and helped him feel good about it.

"Rider? Like a Runner-rider or a Dragonrider?" he asked. "I was never really what one could consider a Runner-rider." Hadn't they already gone over this? "As for Dragonrider," he said, "I've been on just longer than a Turn, long enough for Weith to chase," there was a slight begrudge in his voice at that. "Jingth, the Queen on the sands, is his clutchsister, but they won't admit it," he wasn't sure how long this northerner had been down here. She was obviously the type that kept Selenitas on speaking terms. If not for the talkative, friendly ones, the south might not exist. "I love being a Dragonrider, can't imagine life otherwise." R'men was sure she'd heard it before. But really, who wouldn't? It felt natural when he was on Weith, like he'd been born to do it. Once he might have thought old dragonriders to be crazy, giving their lives up after their dragon...now he understood.

He gently directed Tika towards the center to Ithanna and stopped her. The mare was so gentle with her stop that it took his body a second to realize it wasn't moving. So different.

[Tashe]

She chuckled. "Some of the hands like to play pranks. You can't blame them much, it gets boring down here sometimes. Especially after you've worked out all the Runners and done all the chores that need to be done. We've taken to playing card games when there's nothing to do." She paused with a grin. "I meant Dragonrider. I prolly won't call you a Rider and mean a Runner-rider, until you're at least able to ride him." She jerked a thumb over her shoulder at the gelding. Ithanna listened quietly as she watched R'men maneuver Tika, making note of certain things and disregarding others. "Brother and sister? That's cool. But why do they refuse to accept it? Some kind of siblings rivalry or something like that?" Reaching out to play with Tika's nose as they stopped in the middle, Itha smiled before tucking her thumbs into the waistband of her breaches. "Well you've got a natural movement which is good. But you like to lean forward though, when you're not thinking about it. Its important that you remember to lean back slightly when you're trotting." Spinning around in a quick circle she thought of what she was going to have the Bronzerider do next.

"Alright. I want you to start at that end of the ring," She pointed to the end closest to them since they weren't exactly in the middle. "And walk Tika around twice in the opposite direction that we've been going so far. When you reach the opposite end, I want you to move her into a trot. When you reach the middle of that side," seeing as the 'ring' was an elongated oval, she pointed to one of the long straight-ish lengths of fence, "...slow her into a walk and then stop her at the end where you began."

Rocking back on her heels, she tucked some of her short hair behind one of her ears. "Why do you like being a Dragonrider?" In her opinion, Dragons were interesting at best. She'd grown up at Ruatha, a Hold destroyed by the Dragon War going on up in the North. Honestly she didn't hate dragons, otherwise she would have never agreed to be a Candidate as per her work contract stated she had to, but she didn't necessarily love them either. They weren't like animals, who did bad things because their masters told them to. They were almost as intelligent or as intelligent as their Riders, therefore aware of the destruction they could create.