Horseback Riding | Closed

[billyrocks]

who: Billy Rocks & Rey (talentedscavenger)
what: Billy tries to teach Rey how to ride a horse.
when: March 9, during the day.
where: Buttercup Farms
warnings: None atm

[It still felt a bit odd to make an honest living after getting by with (hustled) gambling winnings for so long, but Billy was content with the peace surrounding the farm. Then if things got too quiet, a wild horse that was difficult to break in would appear, or he would venture outside the wall to look around. As long as it involved being outside, Billy had little reason to complain. Another definite plus was that there was plenty of room for Jina to run around, so long as she didn't bother the other animals.

Billy had been tending to a little painted colt in the barn while Jina rested with her head down just outside the entrance. Suddenly, her ears twitched and she abruptly lifted her head to see whose footsteps she heard. She booms out a deep bark before getting up and running over to the approaching figure. Billy looked up from the colt upon hearing Jina's bark, but then a small smile appeared on his lips and he tipped his hat.]

Hello there, Rey.

Comments

[billyrocks]

Just about, maybe even bigger, but there's also smaller breeds. We call those ponies. Some can be ridden, and others are so small that they'd be crushed if a human mounted them.

[Like the appropriately-named miniature horses that were kept in a separate corral from the bigger ones. When Billy had first laid eyes on them at Buttercup Farms, his thoughts ranged from seeing them as kind of cool to how the hell did they manage to make such a small horse.]

You'd be surprised.

[It was an honest answer, said with a small smile. They were only riding today, but Billy remembered how tedious it was when he bought his own horse back home, especially since he needed it to last a good number of years. Horses were not cheap animals.

He leaned back against the fence patiently with Jina sitting beside him, panting. He didn't miss the way Rey watched the colt reunite with its mother, and a flash of what he saw in her dreams swept through his mind. He's sort of glad when she asks for his opinion, helping to distract him from that memory.]

Well, to name a few, Thoroughbreds are a favorite for their speed, but Arabian horses are just as fast and usually well-tempered, but they can also be hot-blooded. Appaloosas are the ones with the spotted coats and good jumpers with the right training. If you want something a little smaller, there's the Fjord horse. It's strong and muscular for heavy work, but also light and agile enough to be good for riding. Shetland ponies are even smaller, but just as hardy. The really big ones are the Shire horses, but they're more known for their strength rather than their speed.

[He points to each group of the mentioned breeds as he names them. He hadn't known all their names on the first day, but he quickly grew familiar with them as time went on.]

[talentedscavenger]

[Rey's followed to where Billy was pointing, trying to keep those names in her mind. There were many different choices, and each had its own benefits. The ponies were instantly ruled out in her mind. Not that she had anything against smaller horses, but if they weren't done growing, she wasn't going to put her weight on them, regardless of how light she might be.]

You're right, this isn't easy. But, maybe one of the Appaloosas?

[There was one who caught her eye, a spotted mare who looked like she was fully grown (or as best as Rey could tell. Spots that went over her face, reminding Rey of her own little freckles, but the Jedi in training could sense something about the horse's spirit: strong willed, and determined looking.]

[billyrocks]

[Billy's eyes followed Rey's own gaze and landed on the particular horse in question. He nodded his head approvingly.]

Pretty one, isn't she? She's already used to humans, which is good on your end, but I don't think it'd hurt if you gave her a treat. It'll make her like you more. I already had something prepared, just let me find it...

[One hand disappeared into the satchel attached to his belt to pull out a fresh carrot, which he handed to Rey.]

I'll bring her over for you. Just watch your fingers when you give it to her. Horses don't have sharp teeth, but they are big.

[He walked through the herd until he reached the spotted mare. Using the same halter and rope from before, he lead the Appaloosa towards Rey until she was standing right in front of her. The animal regarded her curiously, flicking her ears. Billy continued to hold onto the rope just to make sure she didn't wander off too soon.]

[talentedscavenger]

She is beautiful, but she has a strong spirit. I can see it in her eyes.

[It was good to know the horse was used to humans, dealing with a wild animal wouldn't be in their best interest. She supposed if the horse wasn't used to people, it would be placed elsewhere, and slowly introduced to other people rather than have it forced upon them. That would only cause headaches and have a high possibility of someone getting hurt.

But a treat? If that's what Billy thought would be the best way of going about things, then Rey wouldn't complain. She blinked in surprise to have a carrot placed in her hand.]

Didn't think they could eat these, but okay. [She'll watch her fingers and be careful around the horse.

She watched Billy go into the stables, bringing out the spotted horse. The horse was bigger than the colt they saw, much bigger, taller than her, but Rey remained calm. Rey held out her hand with the carrot. There was another sniff from the horse before it leaned in to start taking bites of the carrot. Rey felt the warm lips of the horse's mouth on her palm, being mindful about her fingers as Billy warned.

With her free hand, she carefully reached up to gently touch the side of the horse's face, lightly petting it until the carrot was gone.]

I think she's okay with me? She ate all of the carrot. [And sort of licking Rey's hand to try to see if another carrot would magically appear.]

[billyrocks]

Oh yeah, they really like apples too, but we don't want to spoil 'em too much. They get most of their food from eating grass, or hay, and sometimes grains.

[From where Billy was watching by the horse's side, it didn't look like Rey was nervous, which was a good thing. When people were nervous, their anxieties seemed to leech into the horses as well, making them more skittish than usual.

He pats the horse's side.]

I think your calm is helping to soothe her, too. Horses are sensitive to our emotions. She's already saddled if you think you're ready to get on, and I'll show you how.

[Because it's a long way up.

The saddle in question was a leather brown color. No fancy engravings, just a good solid color to get the job done for both horse and rider. They did have more gaudy saddles in storage for when certain entertainers wanted to rent the horses for an act or event, but Billy always preferred the simpler ones. Brighter colors had the tendency to attract attention from bandits and highwaymen back home.]

[talentedscavenger]

[Apples, okay. That's something Rey will keep in mind and if she comes back, maybe she'll bring an apple. They're pretty good, depending upon the color she picks. The green ones were more sour than those of the red variety. Still, it won't be a treat she brings often, just something to appease these creatures so they don't throw her off their backs.]

I'll keep that in mind. I'll try not to do that, would hate to cause trouble for them.

[There's a faint smile on her lips hearing her calm demeanor is helping the horse.]

If you could show me, that would be great. I've only ridden my speeder but that's much different than this.

[billyrocks]

I'll ask you what a speeder is later, but for now let me just double check that everything's attached correctly...

[His hands are already moving to inspect the saddle before he's done talking. He wouldn't want it to slip to one side while Rey mounts the horse, but he didn't want it too tight for the horse either. Thankfully, everything checks out and Billy turns the horse so they're at an angle where Rey can best see everything.]

For a beginner, it's best to do it on the horse's left side.

[He instructs Rey on where to put her hands and points out how the horse prepares her stance, already aware of what's about to happen.]

You put one foot in the stirrup and then use the momentum of hoisting yourself up to help swing your other leg over the horse, just be careful not to accidentally kick her. Try not to slam all your body weight onto her back either.

[As Billy speaks, he demonstrates to show what he means, going slowly so Rey can see. Truth be told, though, it was kind of hard for him to go slow since his own body knew the motions so well. Before long, he's looking down at Rey from atop the horse, holding the reins in both hands.]

Nothing to it once you do it enough times.

[talentedscavenger]

[It's moments like these that Rey is pulled back into the reality that both of them come from vastly different worlds. Billy didn't know what a ship was--one that flew in space and to different planets, not one that sea bound. For Rey, she would've thought any vehicles or transportation from Billy's time to be...simple. She tilted her head down, letting out a soft, slightly embarrassed chuckle.]

Sure, you can ask me questions about the world I'm from.

[Rey listened, watching Billy's demonstration and nodded her head. Approach and try to climb up on the horse's left side. Use her body's momentum to pull herself up. A bit different from mounting her speeder, but the principle was more or less the same. She did as he instructed her, placing her hands in the same spots he showed up and carefully got up. The first attempt, she didn't swing her leg all the way, and the second attempt she managed to get herself on the horse.

The reigns were in her hand and she was now higher than she had been before.]

How do you stay steady and not fall of?

[Because there was a big height difference now, and the horse was an actual creature versus a machine that she knew how to control.]