A Distinctive Smell [self-mod training, horse riding]

[Andavariel]

Timestamp: Second Cycle of Cryxatum, Era XI.

Mr. Worthing had been most accomadating after he got over the initial shock of Andavariel's brusque manners. She was referred to as a Lady by all and sundry, but those nobile manners had made little appearance while they had haggled over his price as a teacher. The whole situation bemused him, as most nobiles learned to ride as youngsters, if at all. He had been retained for a while at the Lylles palace to teach a brat or two who was not of de lylles blood, and he had then taught in Riparia and Zinn'sunn for a while. He had arranged for a horse, and a field suitable for the first set of lessons, and had carried suitable tack along with him

The horse he had brought with him was not the finest looking of beasts. A stocky dun mare from the province of Arium, still shedding her winter coat. She was a good match for Andavariel in many wasy; at the very least the Lady Klen-Ais would find her as stubborn as others found the Lady. While not vicious, the mare certainly liked her own way. S

When Andavariel finally arrived, she was dressed as he had suggested. A pair of well worn breeches that had definitely seen better days, a pair of brown boots with a slight heel, and a grubby tunic and jacket. She had a pair of woven gloves tucked into one pocket, and her hair was pulled back into the single fat braid that she favored, although she had doubled it up so that it did not hang to her bottom as per usual.

Mr. Worthing himself was leaning against the wooden fence that surrounded the field, and was watching out for her. He jumped forward and opened the gate for her, letting it shut with a clang as the locking mechanism clipped shut.

"Right missie. We'll be doing this every day for the next couple o' weeks, so you may find that arse of yours a little sore. Best think about running yoursel' a nice long bath after this. But first thing's first; ye need to learn how to take care of thy mount a'fore ye expect ta sit 'pon 'er back"

Mr Worthing did not seem to be eager to stick to one recognisable accent. He seemed to dip in and out of Frigid River colloquialisms as it pleased him. Interesting chap, she noted to herself as he introduced her to the dun mare that stood tied to the fence.

"This fine girl is called Melody..." He said, having the decency to blush as Andavariel's expression showed that she was aware of who the horse was named after. High Queen Melody, no less. Another Lylles loyalist, not that that was a bad thing with Audrey as the Empress. "She's a bog-standard beast, you might say. Been a mother to a fair few fine foals, and she rare spooks at things. Now, I'll show you some of the basics about the 'natomy of an horse."

He briefly ran through some basic facts about horses, using Melody as an example. Firstly how horses were generally measured, and how high Melody was.

"We horsey types measure them in hands, from the floor to the top of their withers, which is the part where the neck meets the back and shoulders, here" He continued, tapping Melody on her withers with his hands. Melody did not flinch at all, being much too interested in the small haynet he had tied near her nose in order to keep the silly thing quiet. "Melody is 15.2 hands high, respectable, but small for a horse. Ponies are 14.2 hands high and under, although they tend to be a little hardier than many horses. It would be good for you to read up on breeds, and styles of riding, but there is no need to clutter up your head with the difference between a war horse, a plough horse, and a palfrey now, is there?"

Mute for once, Andavariel silently assented to his suggestions. There was no way she was going to remember all of this straight away. Her thoughts on this grew steadily surer as he led her through a dizzying amount of procedures for grooming and tack checking. Her main fear hadn't surfaced though; the mare had not taken the instant dislike to her than most horses tended to. Either this mare was more intelligent, or infinitely more stupid; she didn't react as one might to the faint wrong smell that covered Andavariel.

Mr Worthing assured her that she would pick up the grooming and tacking in no time, but quickly corrected her mistakes and glanced up at the suns to check the time. Mid afternoon, and he had a dinner date with a local lass he'd been walking out with for a few years this evening. His expression was sour as he gave Andavariel a leg up from the left hand side.

" 's traditional to mount from the left. Always done it like that. Horses used to it." He said by way of explanation, as he showed her how to hold the reins, threaded between her little fingers, and then coming out through the top of her fist. "As if you're holding a teapot, miss. Delicate like. Can you feel her chewing at the bit like that? You need to keep the reins just taunt enough to feel the mouth, but no so taunt that you're pulling all the time. They're a line of communication with the animal, much as the way you sit is, and where you put your centre of balance. Though a herdsman might tell ye different."

With a lead rope still attached to the head collar under the bridle, he lead the pair of stubborn women away from the fence and began a circuit of the field, correcting her seat and posture as they went. Andavariel found it enjoyable. It was a nice day for once, now that summer had come, and the feel of the horse below her was natural. The movement itself was comforting too, Melody was ambling along to match pace with Mr. Worthing. She found that his suggestions made her more comfortable, although her leg muscles were beginning to ache.

"I'm going to let you try and ride in a circle now. Don't kick her, give her a gentle squeeze with your calves, and LOOK where you want to go, not at the horse."

[Andavariel]

Andavariel did as she was told, perhaps for the first time in the life of this persona. Well, that wasn't strictly true, but she managed to get her legs to obey. Her squeeze was so faint at first that Melody just stood there, looking around at Mr Worthing with a rather puzzled expression on her face. So Anda squeezed harder, and finally Melody began ambling forward aimlessly, her unshod hooves making a pleasant sounding thump as they hit the grass.

"So, how do I make her....go somewhere, Mr Worthing?" She said in a slightly hushed and shakey voice. Nervous was she at this very moment, for she was aware in a way that few aren't of the power that lay within Melody's muscles.

" Ye 'member what Oi said about keeping them reins taunt? Well, you want her to turn left, look towards where you want to go, and then push harder with your leg which is on the opposite side of the horse, so you're pushing the horse towards your target, and direct the head with the rein closer to the target."

This was not an instruction that she was going to get immediately by any means, and for now she settled for a gentle pressure on the reins. Melody was behaving pretty well, responding to the aids she had given with no fuss. Edgar was rather suspicious of this, but said nothing to Andavariel; no point in upsetting the lady after all.

It took the rest of the afternoon, but eventually she was directing Melody comfortably. They had even tried a quick go at the trot, but Andavariel had tensed up so much that she bounced around in the saddle like a strangely shaped rubber ball. Edgar decided to call it a day, talking her through dismounting, and steadying her as she jumped to the ground, her tired legs making her stumble.

She had a go at removing the tack, and rubbing Melody down with a dandy brush while he again went through the anatomy of the horse, pointing out the hocks, brisket, poll, fetlocks, and other bits and pieces. He explained parts of the tack too, but looking at her tired face he told her not to worry, but to read up on it later in the week. She would soon learn, he figured, especially as they were doing this every day.

They wished each other a good night, and he took Melody back to his lines, while she headed back to the Kaldres manor for one of her last nights there.

[Andavariel]

The second lesson was not going to be going as planned, for the weather was abysmal on the second day. He sent a messenger to Andavariel, and they met up at one of the few Inns that had stables attached. Melody was there again, beast and pupil eyed each other suspiciously. Andavariel was not so happy about being so close to the animal in such a confined space, but she said nothing.

So, her preparation and grooming skills needed a lot of work. Feth, right, work she would then. He set her to work brushing the mud from Melody's coat with a dandy brush, and then going over with a softer, finer brushe to give the coat a shine. He had a whole box full of gadgets and widgets for horse care, including a thick, gloopy liquid used for the hooves when preparing an animal for aristocracy.

"So even Lylles children will learn this?" She asked, while she was busy ensuring there was no dirt in the saddle area.

"Aye miss. Not that they ever use the skills again, but its a useful skill for them that wish to join the cavalry, or travel faster than their own two feet will carry 'em. Gotta look after your horses legs, for a horse with one bad one is worse than no horse at all. Sits there eatin' 'is 'ead off and does no work"

Next he showed her the bridle and saddle again, and made her name the different parts until he was happy wouldn't forget.

"Now, when you put the saddle on you'll be wanting to make sure it's not going to pinch 'er withers." He indicated the part he meant, and swung a heavy blanket that was not much larger than the saddle on to the horses back, moving it far forward. He indicated she should try putting the saddle on, and after shifting her grip around a bit, she hefted it onto the horses back in the same manner he had put the blanket on.

"No need to slap it down so 'ard" He said, not saying anything more while she attempted to shift the saddle into place, and do the girth up as he had told her. Tight enough that the saddle wouldn't slip, but comfortable enough for the horse that she wouldn't get sores from a days riding.

They went through a similar malarky with the bridle. He showed her how to measure the correct fit with her fingers. By the third cycle through everything, he was fairly happy, though he would be springing a surprise test on the woman tomorrow. If she thought Melody was going to be ready and tacked every time they had a lesson, she had another thing coming.