As the Roo Bounces

Luna is discovering her passion for horses and riding, and is in need of a teacher willing to give her the basic idea. Julian, as always, is busy with his stud farm and training horses, but might have time to squeeze a student in.

Hearing the car, Julian looked up from his paperwork, wondering who the visitor was. He'd had a few conversations with one of his neighbours about taking on a student, and guessed that this would be the one. She certainly had the fancy looking car for it. Leaving the paperwork on the verandah table, he tugged his hat on and wandered over to the edge, leaning on the supporting post as he watched her. First impression was a naïve city slicker, but he was open to have his mind changed.

"Miss Luna." He headed down the stairs to shake her hand. "Just Julian is fine. You're the one who's uncle spoke to me then." He studied her, his sharp gaze sweeping over her body before settling on her face. "What do you want to get out of this, missy?" It was the standard question he asked of his students, using it to gauge just how committed they would be to learning to ride, and how well they'd deal with his instructions.

He considered her. "Alright, I'll give you a few lessons on trial, we'll see how you go. What's your experience with horses? Anything?" He knew the answers to most of his questions from talking to the girl's uncle, but she should tell him as well. He tipped his hat back, pushing his hair out of his face. He'd get her on old Ned first, see how she went with the gentle easy going gelding. Judging her strength, he wrinkled his nose slightly. She probably wouldn't be able to lift the heavy saddles he used.

He nodded, beginning to head to Ned's paddock. "Alright, at least you're honest. This way." Ducking into the shed to get a rope halter, he showed t to the girl, explaining as he walked. "I tend to use these ones, they're easier and quicker than buckle halters. Now, my horses are stock horses. That means I've trained them a specific way to round up my cattle and sheep. Depending on what you eventually want to go into, I can only teach you so much with them." Getting to the paddock, he ducked through the fence, and handed her the halter. "First lesson is catching him. You want the dark bay gelding over there. Don't go near the grey, he's a stallion." He pointed out the horses, intending to follow her to make sure she did it right. "Pat him between the eyes when you get over to him, and slide the lead rope over his neck. He'll stay with you then. Slip this bi of the halter over his nose," he pointed to the noseband. "And the long bit goes behind his ears. I'll tie the knot for you this time."

"He won't," Julian said simply, watching her critically. "No need to be scared of them, they're pretty much bombproof." Reaching over her, he tied the knot off, nodding sharply. "Alright, take him over to the gate. I'll be with you in a moment." Not wait for a response, he veered off to greet the stallion, scratching the powerful horse's neck in affection as he spoke quietly to him. The horse nickered in greeting, prancing on the spot as he showed off, and nudged Julian, looking for treats. The man only laughed and pushed him away. "No treats today, big fella. Gotta do some work first." Leaving the stallion there to graze, he caught up to the girl, opening the gate for her and the horse. "Ever brushed a horse before, sheila?"

"Aright then." He moved in front of her, pointing to the hitching area he used. "He'll go to his spot, just let him. Hold him there a moment, I'll grab your brushes then show you how to tie him up." Ducking back into the shed, he came out with the needed tools, and balanced them on the crossways post before taking the rope. "Okay, like this." He showed her how to tie it slowly, and then released it, handing her the rope. "Show me."

Pushing the gelding's head away as he nuzzled the back of his neck, Julian undid the knot. "Almost. Try again. You need to be able to release it fast in case something goes wrong." As the horse nudged him again, he absently scratched the dark neck, watching the girl critically.

Luna nodded when she was told to do it again as it wasnt quite right and she bit her lower lip as she ran though his actions in her mind again before attempting the knot for a second time. "Is that better?" She asked dropping her hands off the lead rope. She looked up at Julian with a hopeful look in her blue eyes.

"Passable," he told her. "You'll get better with practice." Pushing the gelding's head out of his hair again, he indicated the brushes. "Show me what you've read, we'll see how right you are." He didn't bother talking to her about pricing yet, the first lesson was only a trial in case either one of them decided that it wouldn't work out.

Luna nodded as her second knot was deamed passable and she knew that she would be practicing the knot until she had it perfect. Picking up the soft brush she stepped up to the bays left side and began to run it over him in brisk short strokes following the lay of his pelt.

Picking out a piece of straw from his hat band, Julian chewed on it as he leaned against the wooden fencing that Ned was tied to. His green-gold eyes stayed on the girl, watching her as she brushed the horse, not saying anything for a while. Eventually he spoke. "No need to make it perfect, as long as there's no mud or brambles tangled in the coat he's fine."

Luna paused blushing as Julian pointed out her careful brushing. "Ok Julian." She replied and went back to her work that went much faster now that she wasn't trying to get the gelding's coat perfectly clean. Running a careful eye over the bay she couldn't see any bumbles or clumps of mud left and so looked over at Julian briefly as she placed the brush down and picked up the hoof pick. She hesiated less confident with it than the brush but yaking a deep breath she stepped forward and ran her hand down the front leg of the horse before asking for his hoof with light pressure.

He lifted an eyebrow. "Let me show you. He's stubborn." Taking the hoof pick from her, he leaned on the horse's leg hard, pushing him off balance so that he could pick the hoof up. "I did them all this morning regardless, so he's pretty clean." Picking out the meagre amount of mud there in quick strokes, he let the hoof go. "I'll do the rest, be quicker." He kept going, swiftly finished, he shoved the pick in his back pocket for safe keeping. "Let's see how strong you are. Come on." He led her into the shed, pointing out Ned's bridle. "That one." Hauling the heavy stock saddle off the rack, he headed back outside, resting it on the fence next to the horse. "Never saddled a horse?"

Luna handed the pick over and watched as he forced his weight against the geldings side so he could pick the hoof up. "Do you always have to be that forceful?" She asked curiously as he cleaned the hoof before tending to the rest. She stuck close to him as they entered the shed and she looked around with wide eyes. Seeing Julain pointing to a bridle she grabbed it, making sure she was also holding the reins before hurrying after him as he carried the saddle. "No but i know it needs to sit just behind the weither." She replied still holding the bridle.

"With him, yeah. They're not high strung horses, stockhorses. More on the lazy side, and rather stubborn." He flashed her a quick grin. "I've trained them to be bombproof and unfussed by movements around them. So because of that, they tend to need a bit more encouragement on the groundwork side of things. Each horse is different though. I've had a few that would pick up their feet as soon as they saw the pick." Picking up the saddle pad, he rested it on the horse's back, explaining what he was doing as he did it. "You want this further forward than the saddle, it protects their shoulders and rubs." Getting the saddle, he heaved it over the horse's back in a smooth movement, settling it nicely on the blanket. "Good point of reference is the girth. If it's right in their armpits, you got it in roughly the right position. It'll settle into the right spot as they keep moving." Finished with the tacking up, he picked up the bridle. "You'll tack him up if we continue lessons. Today's just a trial." Showing her how to bridle him, finally the horse was ready, and he handed the reins to her. "Round yard, let's go."

Luna nodded slowly and returned his smile. "By bombproof you mean they arent jumpy right? So that if something goes wrong they remain calm." She said with a tilted head. She moved closer to watch him as he placed the saddle blanket on and explained its perpose before following it with the saddle. "So it needs to sit just behind the front legs. How do you know if its tight enough?" She questioned hoping he didnt mind her questions as she watched him put the geldings bridle on before handing her the reins. Holding like she did the lead rope she clicked her tongue and started towards the round yard. "How heavy is the saddle? It looks heavy." She mentioned as they walk. She knew that if it was to heavy she would most likely end up on her ass if she wasnt used to lifting its weight and there would be nothing more embarrassing than that especially in front of a hit guy like Julian.

"Yep, they're trained to deal with anything that'll startle them. The girth, you just need to be able to slip your hand flat between it and the skin, and that's tight enough." He nodded at her, taking her hand and sliding it down the reins a bit more. "Give him his head a bit, leave a good distance between your hand and his chin. Lets them feel more comfortable, so will stay calmer." Opening the round yard gate, he led her in, closing it behind them. "Fairly heavy. it's all leather, and got more additions on it than the typical english saddle you'll in riding schools."