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Description
Dusty knew that Sio would do just about anything if he thought it was a game. Ever since the first day he met the little Prince, he recognized that playful glint in his eyes. The two of them had spent many hours playing together. So when his sweet little bub grew up and became a handsome stallion, Dusty knew that riding was going to have to be a game. It wasn’t hard to get started. In fact, Dusty found that all that time teaching Sio to bow was actually paying off now. But even with Sio being ponied behind Fen for long and fast paced rides, and allowing Dusty to lay across his back, it was when Dusty entered a relay endurance race that he suddenly felt the pressure to be able to actually ride the young stud. Sio was four and had yet to be actually ridden, which wasn’t a big deal until now.

Dusty always started each training session with a quick free lunge, during which Sio kept one ear firmly pointed at Dusty, ready for any hint of another command. Then they did some stretching with carrots. And finally, Dusty would ask Sio to bow and lay across his back. It didn’t take long for the red and white stallion to learn that he had to wait for Dusty to lay on him before standing. It was almost like he was carefully thinking about it.

Then, on one particular day, Dusty slid his leg over the horse’s back. Sio stood up from his bow and then turned his head to glance at Dusty. The young man stroked Sio’s neck and reassured him. He seemed okay, so Dusty gave him a little squeeze with his legs and said, “Walk, Sio.” The first four steps were hesitant, and he stopped pretty quickly, but Dusty praised him anyways. The next time, it was ten steps. Before long he had bumped Sio up into a pleasant trot around the arena. The stallion seemed uncertain, but trusting, and Dusty felt nothing but love for the little pinto colored colt. So as a reward, he rode Sio down the dune path and let the horse play in the chilly water.
“You’re my perfect bud,” Dusty mused to him as he let the colt paw in the shallow water. “I knew you would be.”

Meanwhile, Miru was having considerably less luck in her training of the young Zlesdin mare with the serious attitude. It was almost as if Kumara was playing her own set of games, only Miru felt as if she was never allowed to know the rules. She would get bit at while putting on the halter, then the mare would move out nicely on the lunge line, only to suddenly dart into the circle, tossing up a hoof so close to Miru’s face that she felt like she may have seen a grim reaper checking in just to be certain. Sometimes Kumara would take the saddle like a pro, other days Miru would spend a few hours after the training session with leather string and needles, attempting to patch up the bite marks. The mare was like playing Russian roulette. Miru just never knew what she was going to get. Usually, she got the dirt. If she was lucky, she just left the barn with stiff legs and tired arms; that was considered a good day. It seemed like every ride resulted in bucking and rein chomping and random jaunts across the arena at high speeds.

Every ride left the young woman feeling increasingly discouraged. Miru would scowl at the mare as she walked past her, hissing, “I knew you were going to be a royal pain.”

Kumara, for her part, would pin her ears at Miru, as to say “ditto!”

Refs used:
www.deviantart.com/phelandavio…
And
www.deviantart.com/eluhfunt-st…

Description
Dusty knew that Sio would do just about anything if he thought it was a game. Ever since the first day he met the little Prince, he recognized that playful glint in his eyes. The two of them had spent many hours playing together. So when his sweet little bub grew up and became a handsome stallion, Dusty knew that riding was going to have to be a game. It wasn’t hard to get started. In fact, Dusty found that all that time teaching Sio to bow was actually paying off now. But even with Sio being ponied behind Fen for long and fast paced rides, and allowing Dusty to lay across his back, it was when Dusty entered a relay endurance race that he suddenly felt the pressure to be able to actually ride the young stud. Sio was four and had yet to be actually ridden, which wasn’t a big deal until now.

Dusty always started each training session with a quick free lunge, during which Sio kept one ear firmly pointed at Dusty, ready for any hint of another command. Then they did some stretching with carrots. And finally, Dusty would ask Sio to bow and lay across his back. It didn’t take long for the red and white stallion to learn that he had to wait for Dusty to lay on him before standing. It was almost like he was carefully thinking about it.

Then, on one particular day, Dusty slid his leg over the horse’s back. Sio stood up from his bow and then turned his head to glance at Dusty. The young man stroked Sio’s neck and reassured him. He seemed okay, so Dusty gave him a little squeeze with his legs and said, “Walk, Sio.” The first four steps were hesitant, and he stopped pretty quickly, but Dusty praised him anyways. The next time, it was ten steps. Before long he had bumped Sio up into a pleasant trot around the arena. The stallion seemed uncertain, but trusting, and Dusty felt nothing but love for the little pinto colored colt. So as a reward, he rode Sio down the dune path and let the horse play in the chilly water.
“You’re my perfect bud,” Dusty mused to him as he let the colt paw in the shallow water. “I knew you would be.”

Meanwhile, Miru was having considerably less luck in her training of the young Zlesdin mare with the serious attitude. It was almost as if Kumara was playing her own set of games, only Miru felt as if she was never allowed to know the rules. She would get bit at while putting on the halter, then the mare would move out nicely on the lunge line, only to suddenly dart into the circle, tossing up a hoof so close to Miru’s face that she felt like she may have seen a grim reaper checking in just to be certain. Sometimes Kumara would take the saddle like a pro, other days Miru would spend a few hours after the training session with leather string and needles, attempting to patch up the bite marks. The mare was like playing Russian roulette. Miru just never knew what she was going to get. Usually, she got the dirt. If she was lucky, she just left the barn with stiff legs and tired arms; that was considered a good day. It seemed like every ride resulted in bucking and rein chomping and random jaunts across the arena at high speeds.

Every ride left the young woman feeling increasingly discouraged. Miru would scowl at the mare as she walked past her, hissing, “I knew you were going to be a royal pain.”

Kumara, for her part, would pin her ears at Miru, as to say “ditto!”

Refs used:
www.deviantart.com/phelandavio…
And
www.deviantart.com/eluhfunt-st…