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Description

I got this in my head just yesterday and literally just scribbled it onto the page XD.

EDIT: Already, I know. XD I forgot her fleshmark

There's a ton of preset brushes, and a really bad background, but I like it

This is Mossy's first training picture - I hope. Twitch is doing the Circle game of the Parelli seven games with her, but I just have to get confirmation from the AHA that natural ground games count, as they are training in a form.

And for those who don't really do natural or know much, a lot of it is about body language, and the stick isn't used for punishment. Curling the body inward is submissive and non threatening, encouraging the horse closer. With horses that are used to the techniques, they can learn to respond to just a finger, pointing the direction they should go, as Twitch is.

The stick is used as a 'back up', encouraging motion, depending on where abouts it is positioned. Sorry if none of that made sense...

This takes place in Wickerwood, at Lakewood. It was originally going to be the outdoor arena, but grass happened instead

Mossy's ref: [link] (for once you can actually see the chestnut spot at the front of her hoof )

"See that?" Chess asked, pointing towards Mossy. The little mare had her head lowered, her eyes half closed and she was softly licking and chewing as her tail idly flicked away the stray flies.

Twitch had done enough of these sessions with Chess to know what it meant. She stopped gently swinging the string at the end of the long stick over Mossy's back and stood away from her, lifting the rope.

Mossy's ears swivelled and her head lifted.

"See if you can get her to back to the end of the line," Chess instructed, walking a short distance off to where Becca, Austin and Twitch's mother had set up a picnic and camping chairs in the long grass. Ace and peanut were darting through the trees and hedge at the back of the field - trying to find rabbits - while Bagel, who was rarely out of the Farmhouse in her old age was being happily fussed on the picnic mat. Moby had fallen asleep under Becca's chair.

Twitch stood tall, lifting her hand and beginning to tap her index finger rhythmically on the rope. Mossy shifted, but didn't take a step back. Twitch gave her a moment before moving up, and beginning to move her wrist side to side. The tremors sent down the rope had Mossy taking a slow step away.

"Good stuff!" Becca called out, around a large baguette of tuna mayonnaise.

Twitch wrinkled her nose, starting again and getting Mossy to slowly move off another step. "She always seems to take forever," she said, voice lilted so the others would detect the question in it.

Chess nodded, tossing a kernel of popcorn high into the air and catching it in her mouth. "Mossy's sweet as anything, but even with her, you have to earn your respect. Its because you're unsure. As you gain confidence, she'll respond quicker."

Twitch nodded, turning back to focus on the Arabian. She knew that, really. Chess was the natural person on the farm - Aphie was so incredibly sensitive that you could have trouble on your hands if you approached her wrong sometimes - and she'd been teaching Twitch some of the techniques for the last couple of months. It was at least going better than Chess' last attempt to teach Austin - who had ended up looking perplexed as Toeki happily grazed away, a smug glint in his eyes.

The weather had been a little all over the place, but that morning had dawned warm, sunny and with the taste of summer in the air. A picnic was announced at breakfast, and Twitch's mother had been invited to stay and watch, as she had offered to stop at the store for them.

Twitch got Mossy out to the end of the line and then curled herself in as she'd been taught. Mossy being the people horse she was, needed less encouragement to trot back in.

Chess turned to Becca as the teenager experimented with some of the other things she'd been taught.

"Hey, How are we doing on finances?"

Becca contemplated as she finished her lunch. "We're good. The loan's being paid off; we've not spent too much on show entries lately - oh, and we got some entries for the Festival in the post so I'd say we have a bit spare. Why?"

"I want a round pen," Chess answered, smiling brightly. Becca groaned.

"Haven't you been using the Circle?"

Chess snickered. "Yes. But every time we try to change the rein at liberty, I end up running into the tree. Its not urgent - just a thought. But if we're seriously considering Austin's genius plan, it might come in really handy if we need to work with peoples' seat and balance."

Becca nodded approvingly as Austin dropped into his seat next to them.

"I know I'm a genius, but why this time, exactly?"

Twitch's mother chuckled at them, her eyes still trained on her daughter now running alongside Mossy, who was happily cantering along, her stride gathered so she never pulled ahead.

Chess sighed theatrically. "Well...I wouldn't say genius..."

"I would," he answered, winking and knowing it would earn a dark look. "I heard you say it distinctly. Genius. Me. You said it."

"You were hearing things," Chess waved off. "Just like last night, when you banged on mine and Becca's doors saying that the phone was ringing."

Austin smiled abruptly, eyes glazing as though the memory was of great amusement to him. Chess smacked him across the leg - the part of him within easy reach from her seat on the picnic mat. He pulled himself back to the present.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Liar," Chess shot back.

"You're avoiding the topic," Austin replied, apparently ignoring her and beaming innocently. "Come on. Am I a genius because I suggested we start offering lessons?"

Now came the dark look. Chess turned away from him. "Might be."

"So I should probably get an award for when I suggested we could also take school groups for days - teach them about handling, tack, duty of care...?"

"Oh, look, I'm needed over there," Chess said brightly, hopping up and heading towards Twitch and Mossy.

Austin laughed, "Chicken."

"That's Duck," Chess called back - referring to one of their Rhode Island red hens in the Farmyard.

"Goose," Becca joined in again - face betraying her amusement at another typical fight.

Twitch's mother looked around. "Swan?"

Becca blinked at her for a moment, then both she and Austin burst into laughter.

"Wow, Mrs. Caullen. You really fit in here," Becca said once she'd calmed. She picked up a tub of fresh strawberries and began popping them in her mouth, one after the other like they were sweets.

"Well, Ryan seems to love it, so I'll take that as a compliment," the woman said, smiling fondly.

Becca beamed back at her.

"Try it," Chess said, across the field. The group at the picnic looked up to see Chess hand over the long stick and walk back to them.

Twitch lifted herself, raised the line and pointed to the right. Mossy tossed her head and jumped to a trot, putting herself out on a small circle around the slight girl.

"Now!" Chess called.

Twitch switched the line and stick over in her hands and curled herself in, stepping into the mare's quarters. Mossy spun them away in an instant, turning obediently into the circle as the girl's hunched form beckoned - but the stick was there to block her.

Lifting the line, Twitch pointed out to the left, raising the stick to guide the mare's forequarters. Mossy snorted, ears flickering as she understood, and kept turning, trotting straight past Twitch and back onto the circle, now going in the opposite direction.

Twitch stood tall again, smiling brilliantly as she lowered the stick and let Mossy pick up a happy canter.

Chess smiled as she sat back with her friends.

"Isn't that high level?" Becca asked, frowning.

"Kinda," the blonde girl shrugged. "Mossy knows what she's doing, and having a go is good for Twitch, too. They both love this."

Becca nodded, not even noticing as Austin snatched away her tub of strawberries. They were half gone.

"So," Chess wheedled again. "About that roundpen..."

"Have you worked out what you're taking to Italy, yet?" Becca asked instead, non too subtly changing the topic.

Chess took it up gladly, though. "Kind of. I mean, we're going to be doing field and paper based research, I think, so pairs of jeans and some t-shirts, right?"

Becca whacked her across the arm.

"Ow! What was that?"

"Are you nuts? You're going to Italy. The research is wicked and all - it'll be cool to know more about Tessa and Tyke - but my god, Chess. You could meet some Italian guy. Aren't they really cute? I think it's the gene pool out there..."

Chess quirked an eyebrow at her. "Well, I'm sticking with Bean and keeping to the horses - but if I find a guy who doesn't give off a 'serial killer' vibe and isn't gay, I'll toss him in my suitcase for you, okay?"

"Just as long as you promise," Becca beamed. She settled back in her seat again. "Hey, who took my strawberries?"

Time a few hours?
Got a new book - 101 horsemanship exercises - and used a small illustration for an idea of poses.
Art, characters and story copyright to ~Tattered-Dreams (me)
Do not take, copy, edit, redistribute or manipulate.

Description

I got this in my head just yesterday and literally just scribbled it onto the page XD.

EDIT: Already, I know. XD I forgot her fleshmark

There's a ton of preset brushes, and a really bad background, but I like it

This is Mossy's first training picture - I hope. Twitch is doing the Circle game of the Parelli seven games with her, but I just have to get confirmation from the AHA that natural ground games count, as they are training in a form.

And for those who don't really do natural or know much, a lot of it is about body language, and the stick isn't used for punishment. Curling the body inward is submissive and non threatening, encouraging the horse closer. With horses that are used to the techniques, they can learn to respond to just a finger, pointing the direction they should go, as Twitch is.

The stick is used as a 'back up', encouraging motion, depending on where abouts it is positioned. Sorry if none of that made sense...

This takes place in Wickerwood, at Lakewood. It was originally going to be the outdoor arena, but grass happened instead

Mossy's ref: [link] (for once you can actually see the chestnut spot at the front of her hoof )

"See that?" Chess asked, pointing towards Mossy. The little mare had her head lowered, her eyes half closed and she was softly licking and chewing as her tail idly flicked away the stray flies.

Twitch had done enough of these sessions with Chess to know what it meant. She stopped gently swinging the string at the end of the long stick over Mossy's back and stood away from her, lifting the rope.

Mossy's ears swivelled and her head lifted.

"See if you can get her to back to the end of the line," Chess instructed, walking a short distance off to where Becca, Austin and Twitch's mother had set up a picnic and camping chairs in the long grass. Ace and peanut were darting through the trees and hedge at the back of the field - trying to find rabbits - while Bagel, who was rarely out of the Farmhouse in her old age was being happily fussed on the picnic mat. Moby had fallen asleep under Becca's chair.

Twitch stood tall, lifting her hand and beginning to tap her index finger rhythmically on the rope. Mossy shifted, but didn't take a step back. Twitch gave her a moment before moving up, and beginning to move her wrist side to side. The tremors sent down the rope had Mossy taking a slow step away.

"Good stuff!" Becca called out, around a large baguette of tuna mayonnaise.

Twitch wrinkled her nose, starting again and getting Mossy to slowly move off another step. "She always seems to take forever," she said, voice lilted so the others would detect the question in it.

Chess nodded, tossing a kernel of popcorn high into the air and catching it in her mouth. "Mossy's sweet as anything, but even with her, you have to earn your respect. Its because you're unsure. As you gain confidence, she'll respond quicker."

Twitch nodded, turning back to focus on the Arabian. She knew that, really. Chess was the natural person on the farm - Aphie was so incredibly sensitive that you could have trouble on your hands if you approached her wrong sometimes - and she'd been teaching Twitch some of the techniques for the last couple of months. It was at least going better than Chess' last attempt to teach Austin - who had ended up looking perplexed as Toeki happily grazed away, a smug glint in his eyes.

The weather had been a little all over the place, but that morning had dawned warm, sunny and with the taste of summer in the air. A picnic was announced at breakfast, and Twitch's mother had been invited to stay and watch, as she had offered to stop at the store for them.

Twitch got Mossy out to the end of the line and then curled herself in as she'd been taught. Mossy being the people horse she was, needed less encouragement to trot back in.

Chess turned to Becca as the teenager experimented with some of the other things she'd been taught.

"Hey, How are we doing on finances?"

Becca contemplated as she finished her lunch. "We're good. The loan's being paid off; we've not spent too much on show entries lately - oh, and we got some entries for the Festival in the post so I'd say we have a bit spare. Why?"

"I want a round pen," Chess answered, smiling brightly. Becca groaned.

"Haven't you been using the Circle?"

Chess snickered. "Yes. But every time we try to change the rein at liberty, I end up running into the tree. Its not urgent - just a thought. But if we're seriously considering Austin's genius plan, it might come in really handy if we need to work with peoples' seat and balance."

Becca nodded approvingly as Austin dropped into his seat next to them.

"I know I'm a genius, but why this time, exactly?"

Twitch's mother chuckled at them, her eyes still trained on her daughter now running alongside Mossy, who was happily cantering along, her stride gathered so she never pulled ahead.

Chess sighed theatrically. "Well...I wouldn't say genius..."

"I would," he answered, winking and knowing it would earn a dark look. "I heard you say it distinctly. Genius. Me. You said it."

"You were hearing things," Chess waved off. "Just like last night, when you banged on mine and Becca's doors saying that the phone was ringing."

Austin smiled abruptly, eyes glazing as though the memory was of great amusement to him. Chess smacked him across the leg - the part of him within easy reach from her seat on the picnic mat. He pulled himself back to the present.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Liar," Chess shot back.

"You're avoiding the topic," Austin replied, apparently ignoring her and beaming innocently. "Come on. Am I a genius because I suggested we start offering lessons?"

Now came the dark look. Chess turned away from him. "Might be."

"So I should probably get an award for when I suggested we could also take school groups for days - teach them about handling, tack, duty of care...?"

"Oh, look, I'm needed over there," Chess said brightly, hopping up and heading towards Twitch and Mossy.

Austin laughed, "Chicken."

"That's Duck," Chess called back - referring to one of their Rhode Island red hens in the Farmyard.

"Goose," Becca joined in again - face betraying her amusement at another typical fight.

Twitch's mother looked around. "Swan?"

Becca blinked at her for a moment, then both she and Austin burst into laughter.

"Wow, Mrs. Caullen. You really fit in here," Becca said once she'd calmed. She picked up a tub of fresh strawberries and began popping them in her mouth, one after the other like they were sweets.

"Well, Ryan seems to love it, so I'll take that as a compliment," the woman said, smiling fondly.

Becca beamed back at her.

"Try it," Chess said, across the field. The group at the picnic looked up to see Chess hand over the long stick and walk back to them.

Twitch lifted herself, raised the line and pointed to the right. Mossy tossed her head and jumped to a trot, putting herself out on a small circle around the slight girl.

"Now!" Chess called.

Twitch switched the line and stick over in her hands and curled herself in, stepping into the mare's quarters. Mossy spun them away in an instant, turning obediently into the circle as the girl's hunched form beckoned - but the stick was there to block her.

Lifting the line, Twitch pointed out to the left, raising the stick to guide the mare's forequarters. Mossy snorted, ears flickering as she understood, and kept turning, trotting straight past Twitch and back onto the circle, now going in the opposite direction.

Twitch stood tall again, smiling brilliantly as she lowered the stick and let Mossy pick up a happy canter.

Chess smiled as she sat back with her friends.

"Isn't that high level?" Becca asked, frowning.

"Kinda," the blonde girl shrugged. "Mossy knows what she's doing, and having a go is good for Twitch, too. They both love this."

Becca nodded, not even noticing as Austin snatched away her tub of strawberries. They were half gone.

"So," Chess wheedled again. "About that roundpen..."

"Have you worked out what you're taking to Italy, yet?" Becca asked instead, non too subtly changing the topic.

Chess took it up gladly, though. "Kind of. I mean, we're going to be doing field and paper based research, I think, so pairs of jeans and some t-shirts, right?"

Becca whacked her across the arm.

"Ow! What was that?"

"Are you nuts? You're going to Italy. The research is wicked and all - it'll be cool to know more about Tessa and Tyke - but my god, Chess. You could meet some Italian guy. Aren't they really cute? I think it's the gene pool out there..."

Chess quirked an eyebrow at her. "Well, I'm sticking with Bean and keeping to the horses - but if I find a guy who doesn't give off a 'serial killer' vibe and isn't gay, I'll toss him in my suitcase for you, okay?"

"Just as long as you promise," Becca beamed. She settled back in her seat again. "Hey, who took my strawberries?"

Time a few hours?
Got a new book - 101 horsemanship exercises - and used a small illustration for an idea of poses.
Art, characters and story copyright to ~Tattered-Dreams (me)
Do not take, copy, edit, redistribute or manipulate.