flying lessons [naylor]

[cordelia robin evans]

There was a nice breeze tugging little pieces of hair from Robin's long braid as she jogged down to the barn. It was one of those rare days when it wasn't too hot, but there was still sun. Robin had just got out of class and she wanted to ride before it either started raining or the rings got too crowded.

In favor of speed she had skipped changing into riding clothes, and instead still had on the black pair of short athletic shorts and white tank top she had worn to class. Because of Puck's habit of stomping on toes she had spent a few precious minutes pulling on her boot socks and tall boots. Of course it had the downside of making her look ridiculous, but frankly Robin didn't care.

Once in the barn she grabbed Puck's bridle out of his trunk, along with a soft brush and a hoof pick. Luckily she had curried him when she had exercised Batman that morning so he wasn't really dirty. It only took her a few moments to brush off the shavings and pick his hooves. Then it was a simply matter of slipping the bit into his mouth and buckling up the bridle. As she exited the stall Robin grabbed her scuffed, schooling Charles Owen helmet and a crop.

The pony was quite willing to jog the short distance from the barn to the outdoor arena; he was less willing to stand still for Robin to clamber up bareback, but that was only to be expected.

Once on board Robin nudged Puck into a nice swinging walk, letting him stretch his muscles and work the kinks out of his aging joints. After a couple minutes of this the pair moved on to a trot. Robin didn't even try to post without a saddle; Puck's trot had the typical Mustang bounciness. It was possible to post but not exactly comfortable.

They worked on bending for a bit, making large circles at each end of the ring, and then smaller serpentines. Puck repeatedly attempted to break into the canter as they came out of each turn, but Robin was used to that and gave a brief half-halt at each attempt. When she finally allowed the pony to canter, and really all it took was a thought to get a smooth transition, Puck went flying around the ring. To most people the little Mustang looked, and felt, uncontrollable, but Robin knew all his little quirks and trusted him more than even her mother's lesson horses.

Which is why she decided to try some of the jumps that were already set up. There were a couple smaller ones that looked about 2'6-2'9, as well as a few that looked to be over 3 foot. Robin guided her pony toward one of the smallest ones, asking him to collect a bit as they straightened out. The jump itself went smoothly; Robin folded neatly against the pony's neck, sliding her hands forward in a simple release, and sat up slowly as he landed.

The bucks were a surprise though. Two strides after landing the little Mustang popped two small bucks in, and then veered right over a 2'6 bounce before Robin could get her seat back. As the pony landed she somersaulted over his right shoulder and landed on her butt in the sand.

Puck continued over the second jump before realizing he was riderless, and turning to trot back over to her. Robin sat there for a minute, chuckling at herself. Well that was stupid. "I'm fine." She muttered to the pony, who was shoving her with his nose as if to say; 'I'm sorry, are you okay?'.


ooc: UHUM. Edited it cause I had extra muse XD And now the title makes more sense. Soyeah. He can be riding, or on foot, whatever you want ^^