Loch was not at all perturbed by the battle of wills that seemed to be happening on the phone just outside of the barn. She had been working with teenagers - and their parents- long enough to know how both parties could be. She did however, speak Japanese. Having a Japanese mother and growing up on a military base in Tokyo had gifted her with being multilingual. She was not however, interested in overhearing the conversation that Akiko was having. She continued smiling, and kept her attention on Sanders. “Don’t worry,” she sang as she checked the straps again. She had a habit of double and triple checking the bearings, especially when it came to other people’s children. “I’ll shape you and Akiko into jump riding experts in no time.” Winking at Sanders, she patted an appreciative hand against the side of the gorgeous painted stallion.
She couldn’t help the turn of her head and the arch of one brow as Akiko’s shrill whine carried through the barn. It was becoming harder for Loch not to eavesdrop when the child sounded so momentarily distressed, but the call was drawing to a close. Dark eyes returned to Sanders as he spoke to her again. “Competitions are a possibility, but those will be months away, if she really takes an interest. As much as I hate to say it, the idea loses its novelty for some riders when they’re faced with how much training is involved.”
It was true, but Loch hoped that wasn’t the case with Akiko. Not because she thought the father was attractive and appeared to be single, but because Akiko seemed hardworking and determined. She hoped that neither she nor the girl would be disappointed. As they spoke she continued getting the horse ready for Akiko’s lesson. “You don’t use bits,” she observed, reaching for the bosal and hackamore hanging from the rung near Artax’s saddle. Her expression read surprised, but her tone sounded pleased. She easily worked the braided rawhide cords around the horse’s snout, and cooed calming compliments to keep him from trying to fight her.
Akiko’s head snapped upwards to look at her dad. “She knows I’m having fun,” Akiko shot back, not quite having shaken off the attitude her mother had prodded out of her. “That’s why she won’t leave me alone,” she finished under her breath. Pushing up her glasses with one hand, Akiko seemed content to let the call with her mother drop when the attention was brought back to her lesson.
Loch’s quick fingers smoothed out any twists in the reins before she held them out for Akiko, who took them from her with tentative excitement. “So, lesson one: walking with your horse.” Loch smiled as she began instructing Akiko on the proper way to lead a horse. As they led Artax from the bar. The entirety of lesson was very basic, she verbally reviewed how to saddle and bosal a horse since Akiko had missed the process before. Within forty-five minutes Akiko was mounted and leading Artax through gentle paces.
It was impossible for Akiko to keep the smile off her face for the entirely of her two hour lesson. She listened intently to everything Loch explained, and asked a million insightful and curious questions in return. Loch was a patient teacher, answering all of her questions and quelling any nervousness that appeared while the young girl rode.
“We’re done? Already?” Akiko asked surprised when she was told the lesson for the day was finished. It didn’t feel like two hours had passed already. Lochellen nodded and smiled. “Yep, and you did great today.”
Akiko dismounted as she had been taught, boots kicking up dust as she made contact with the ground. “Walking feels weird, now,” she observed, shifting on her feet to relieve the tingling sensation in her legs.
Loch laughed lightly, walking with Akiko back towards the bar. “You’ll get used to it. Did you enjoy it?”
“Yeah! It was so much fun, thank you!”
She couldn’t help the turn of her head and the arch of one brow as Akiko’s shrill whine carried through the barn. It was becoming harder for Loch not to eavesdrop when the child sounded so momentarily distressed, but the call was drawing to a close. Dark eyes returned to Sanders as he spoke to her again. “Competitions are a possibility, but those will be months away, if she really takes an interest. As much as I hate to say it, the idea loses its novelty for some riders when they’re faced with how much training is involved.”
It was true, but Loch hoped that wasn’t the case with Akiko. Not because she thought the father was attractive and appeared to be single, but because Akiko seemed hardworking and determined. She hoped that neither she nor the girl would be disappointed. As they spoke she continued getting the horse ready for Akiko’s lesson. “You don’t use bits,” she observed, reaching for the bosal and hackamore hanging from the rung near Artax’s saddle. Her expression read surprised, but her tone sounded pleased. She easily worked the braided rawhide cords around the horse’s snout, and cooed calming compliments to keep him from trying to fight her.
Akiko’s head snapped upwards to look at her dad. “She knows I’m having fun,” Akiko shot back, not quite having shaken off the attitude her mother had prodded out of her. “That’s why she won’t leave me alone,” she finished under her breath. Pushing up her glasses with one hand, Akiko seemed content to let the call with her mother drop when the attention was brought back to her lesson.
Loch’s quick fingers smoothed out any twists in the reins before she held them out for Akiko, who took them from her with tentative excitement. “So, lesson one: walking with your horse.” Loch smiled as she began instructing Akiko on the proper way to lead a horse. As they led Artax from the bar. The entirety of lesson was very basic, she verbally reviewed how to saddle and bosal a horse since Akiko had missed the process before. Within forty-five minutes Akiko was mounted and leading Artax through gentle paces.
It was impossible for Akiko to keep the smile off her face for the entirely of her two hour lesson. She listened intently to everything Loch explained, and asked a million insightful and curious questions in return. Loch was a patient teacher, answering all of her questions and quelling any nervousness that appeared while the young girl rode.
“We’re done? Already?” Akiko asked surprised when she was told the lesson for the day was finished. It didn’t feel like two hours had passed already. Lochellen nodded and smiled. “Yep, and you did great today.”
Akiko dismounted as she had been taught, boots kicking up dust as she made contact with the ground. “Walking feels weird, now,” she observed, shifting on her feet to relieve the tingling sensation in her legs.
Loch laughed lightly, walking with Akiko back towards the bar. “You’ll get used to it. Did you enjoy it?”
“Yeah! It was so much fun, thank you!”
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Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 11-07-2016, 10:41 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 11-08-2016, 12:08 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 11-08-2016, 07:24 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 11-09-2016, 04:33 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 11-10-2016, 04:05 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 11-10-2016, 05:35 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 11-11-2016, 12:46 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 11-16-2016, 01:07 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 11-16-2016, 04:30 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 12-01-2016, 08:54 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 12-03-2016, 07:03 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 12-04-2016, 12:29 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 12-07-2016, 03:38 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 12-08-2016, 01:49 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 02:44 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 12-24-2016, 04:13 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 02-05-2017, 09:45 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 04-30-2017, 12:24 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 04-30-2017, 06:44 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 05-12-2017, 11:21 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 05-15-2017, 11:00 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 05-18-2017, 01:11 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 05-21-2017, 04:53 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 05-27-2017, 06:25 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 05-29-2017, 03:46 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 06-09-2017, 10:03 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 06-24-2017, 09:15 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 06-27-2017, 12:44 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 07-23-2017, 08:57 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 08-03-2017, 05:52 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 08-08-2017, 05:53 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 08-13-2017, 06:56 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 10-09-2017, 07:32 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 10-24-2017, 12:20 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 11-06-2017, 01:58 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 11-22-2017, 01:43 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by saronym - 03-15-2018, 12:41 AM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 01-05-2018, 07:52 PM
RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - by megs - 04-01-2018, 04:35 AM