When I Say Jump, You Say How High <Jack>

[whirleybird86]

Let's Ride- www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=71968483

Hannah skipped out of her staff housing, and was almost running down the stairs while zipping up her riding vest. There was a little chill in the air, so a small vest wouldn't hurt as she walked to the barn to fetch her mare. She had been dying to test some of the new jumps that were built last week on the cross country course, but with the crummy weather last week it was hard to. It had rained most of last week, and Hannah didn't want to risk cantering or galloping through the fields on the soggy ground. Nope, not cool if Firefly should injured herself. Right now, Firefly was her main ride, so if she got injured Hannah would pretty much be grounded unless she could show someone else's horse.

She greeted the morning barn workers as she briskly walked in and grabbed her riding gear before going to get Firefly. She walked to her stall door, and dug out a small peppermint out from her pocket. " Hey pretty girl," she said softly and smiled when her mare approached her. She got her out, and hooked her to the ties. After gearing up Firefly in her jumping apparel, she put on her helmet and gloves, and strapped on her watch. She adjusted the cross country vest, and felt like she was ready to rock! She walked to the mounting block, and got on and turned Firefly to go down the road to the cross country field. Inside, there are about twenty jumps for all skill levels, so all riders could have fun. Hannah took a deep breath and tapped Firefly's sides and the mare picked up a good paced walk before picking up a trot.

[Jack Cooper]

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[ Horse: Desperado ] [ Outfit: Click ] [ Tagged: Hannah ]

Jack squeezed Desperado's sides, asking him for a working canter. He knew his stallion wasn't ready for the cross country course yet, since his canter wasn't his normal rhythmic 1-2-3 beat. The Trakehner tossed his head impatiently, but finally settled into the gait. Still, Jack kept him on a wide circle in front of the first fence, a solid 3 foot wall. Des was notorious for acting ready when all he really wanted to do was jump. Since he'd owned the stallion for 3 years, Jack was used to these fake-outs and kept circling him until the seal bay lowered his head and relaxed. "Good boy," Jack murmured, stroking his sleek neck. Although he could still feel the power behind the horse's stride, Jack was excited to get to jumping as well. The cross country course at Saving Grace was magnificent, and he couldn't wait to break it in for the first time. He took Des off the circle, and pointed him towards the wall. The stallion's ears perked forward happily as he lengthened his stride, bounding over the jump as if it'd been a cross rail. The pair landed with a soft thump, Des flicking his long tail as if to say "piece of cake". Although he would have loved to continue the course, it was important to make sure that the horse knew not to bolt out of control after they landed, so Jack reluctantly circled him back around one more time. He could feel the resentment in Des' actions, so he stroked his powerful neck again to show his appreciation. He made his students and their horses do it, and he'd be a hypocrite if he didn't implement his own training with his horses. They approached the jump again, this time with a tad more precision. Leaping over it again, he felt Des falter after they'd landed. Another horse and rider were approaching. Quickly, he pulled Des up, tightening on the reins just in case. Normally, his Trakehner was very goal oriented when they were working, but he was a stallion, and it was impossible to tell how he'd react to a new horse. The horse looked familiar, he realized. Maybe he'd seen the pair at a few shows.

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[whirleybird86]

Once Hannah felt that Firefly had warmed her muscles at the trot, she sat up in the half seat, and eased Firefly into a canter. She placed her hands on Firefly's neck, and leaned forward. Firefly perked her ears forward, and lengthened her canter and came up a hill. " Ease down big girl, no need to get ahead of ourselves," she said softly and sat back in the saddle as the mare ease the pace. There we go. Now Hannah felt more comfortable in knowing that Firefly wasn't going to go so fast that she'd be clumsy and fall on her face. Hannah was pretty sure that she wouldn't but you could never be to sure of accidents happening.

Hannah was so glad to have a few hours to herself to just enjoy riding Firefly, and letting her be a horse. She came to the top of the hill and went over a log pyramid jump, and then down into the water. Hannah held onto her mane as her rhythm was uneven from cantering in the water. Once out of the water, Hannah patted her neck and eased her down to a trot. As she rounded the corner around the great oak, she came to another jump, and saw another rider on his horse. She looked from the rider to the jump, must not lose focus, and she went over the jump nearby. She eased Firefly down and slowly approached the pair, and stopped. She smiled when she saw who it was. It was Jack! " Hey Jack, glad to see you out today," she greeted him.

[Jack Cooper]

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[ Horse: Desperado ] [ Outfit: Click ] [ Tagged: Hannah ]

Indeed, the horse was familiar. It was Firefly, his friend Hannah's Trakehner mare. Des tossed his head and whinnied in greeting, but didn't move. Jack relaxed his grip on the reins slightly, knowing that Des would behave himself with that particular horse. He watched, impressed, as the pair flew over a jump nearby before heading over to him and Des. Being an instructor and a competitor, he knew a good rider when he saw one. As she drew closer and called out to him, Jack returned her smile, "You too, Hannah. How's my second favorite Trakehner doing?" He knew Firefly had recently foaled, twins no less, and he wondered how she was dealing with the separation. Jack knew it could be tough on first time dams. His mare Tali had given birth to a colt a few years back, and separating the two of them had been one of the hardest things he'd ever done. But, Tali was fine eventually, and the colt even sooner before that. Hannah was one of the few people he truly felt comfortable with in Harrisbury. They'd bonded over friendly competition during show season, and he was happy to have a friend now that he'd moved. He nudged Des closer to Firefly before speaking again. "Are you and Firefly entered in the upcoming show?" He smiled deviously, trying to strike up some friendly competitive banter. Although he was normally very shy and reserved, once he felt comfortable with a person, his sense of humor started to shine through.

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[whirleybird86]

Hannah got Firefly from a working trot, then slowed her down to a walk. What a good girl she was! She always loved to work, but since having the two foals recently, she had been a little sluggish since she had been out of work. She had to work a little extra harder to work up the hills, hopefully it won't take her that long to get back into shape. She was a fit horse as it was, but being not worked for several months she put on a few pounds. Time to make this lady trim again! She patted her neck, and gave her loose reins as she approached Jack and Des. Firefly was breathing hard, and Hannah was trying to catch her breath.

She smiled at Jack and replied, " She's good, just getting her out on the cross country course before the next big show. It is so gorgeous out today, and who better to share it with than my favorite girl," she smiled and looked at Firefly as she reached out her nose to Des and nickered. Was she seriously trying to flirt with him? Such a little flirt she was. " I have to keep Firefly and the filly apart of course, but so far she's handling it like a champ. She sometimes wonders where she is. I still need to name the filly, but she is so gorgeous. I am hoping, fingers crossed that she turns out like Firefly," she said crossing her fingers.

" Oh we'll see. I might just have to, you need some hard competition for you and Dessy. I mean, we both know secretly that blue looks so fitting on the bridle of a grey," she said and acted modest and grinned. She laughed and asked if Jack wanted to join her for a ride on the course.

[Jack Cooper]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: dddddd; border: #cccccc solid 8px; width: 420px; padding: 15 5 15 5px;] [ Horse: Desperado ] [ Outfit: Click ] [ Tagged: Hannah ] [/style][style=width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: justify; color: 272727; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: 9px; overflow: auto;] Jack's grip tightened on the reins again as Des flipped his head up excitedly when Firefly drew closer. The man sat steadily as his horse jigged underneath him, pawing the ground and snorting. Perhaps he had spoken too soon when he'd thought Des would behave himself. Jack kept firm contact on the reins, sitting deeply in the saddle. He clucked to the black stallion, trying to refocus his attention back on his rider, instead of the mare in front of him. Finally, with a resigned sigh, Des stood still. Jack patted his now sweaty shoulder as a reward. Now able to focus on what Hannah was saying, he nodded at her words about Firefly. "Yeah, I hear you. Des and I needed some practice too," He admitted to her. As Firefly thrust her nose towards Des, Jack immediately tightened up on his reins again, squeezing them gently to remind the horse to pay attention to him, and not the flirtatious mare. Des snorted back at the gray eagerly, his dark tail swishing, ears pricked forwards towards her. He was about to stick his nose out to touch hers when Jack turned the stallion in a quick circle, effectively refocusing the stallion's mind. He halted the Trakehner a bit farther away. "I'm sure she'll turn out just as great as Firefly," He assured his friend. Jack chuckled at her playful comment. "Really? Because I've always thought blue stands out much more on a black coat..." He retorted playfully. created by ADE! Pb-ified by WILL

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[whirleybird86]

Hannah groaned as Firefly toyed with Des, and shook her head. She patted Firefly's neck and tapped her sides to get her attention. She rarely sees her act like this. Only when she's around Des. Maybe Firefly is trying to tell her something. ' Breed me to Des next time!' She was not going to let Firefly get her way, so she turned her towards the rest of the course. " How about we go explore the rest of the course together. We can jump the snot out of them," she smiled and rode Firefly down the hill. As they rode, Hannah kept Firefly a horse length from Des, and she held the reins firmly. " I'm not sure what to name her. I was thinking Solo, or Aspen. Something unique that you don't hear very often," she said and sighed. She really shouldn't be in a rush to name the filly, but she was getting her a personalized leather halter, and needed to have a name on it. " No, you are mistaken Jack. Blue looks better on Gray, and Red looks better on Black," she said and laughed and picked up a trot. " Remember when I kicked your butt that one year at the Regionals. I believe I saw a tear..." she teased and laughed.