Don and his best buddy, the other side of the XO

Posted on 19 Jun 2010 @ 7:56am by

961 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: M3: Shore Leave
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: Current

Even after a whole life riding and around horses, Donovan still felt a thrill every time he entered any place they were around, whether it was for real, or the holodeck. The smells of hey, horse sweat, tack and even manure soothed him. They were his passion and he could imagine a life without them.

Don had started competing when he was 7 years old on his pony, Buster. It was a Shetland and with all the attitude the small ponies had. Buster was probably the best school master he could have had. One had to ride, otherwise he did just what he wanted. That was where Don learned the art of asking, not forcing and it had won the pony's trust.

To Don's heartbreak, he had outgrown the pony all to soon and he had to move on to a bigger sized pony, names Zulu, a Welsh Section A . With him he competed for 4 years, but grew too tall. This time he started on a small warm blood, whom he rode throughout his teenage years.

Now he owned 3 holodeck horses. In order to be able to compete from where ever a rider was, the FEI (Federation, Equestre International) had designed holographic programs with unchangeable specifications built into them, which a rider could purchase. This program would have the life cycle of a real horse and would respond to training, food and environment as a real horse would. In the same way, a holographic version of a competition held on location would be sent to competitors around the Federation and they would ride under the exact circumstances the competitors rode in the real location. Judging took places, once the rider had recorded his ride and had sent it in. Such a holodeck program could only be used once and a certified security person, like a CO, XO or Security chief on a ship, had to be present and would have to verify that the ride took place within the parameters stipulated.

Don had entered a prelim dressage test with him, Stagar's second competition and he had less than three weeks to prepare. This was with his youngest horse and was Stager's first. He took a risk when he bought the Frisian/Thoroughbred mix. But he fell in love with the dark, clumsy three and a half year old gelding. His eyes were large and soft, as was his back, offering no resistance to Don's weight when he rode him. He was still on a rubber bit, which Don preferred at this age.

After carefully saddling him, he lead him outside towards the 60m X 20M dressage arena. Without using the stirrups, Don swung himself in the saddle, using the German method to get on him. He preferred it that way, as otherwise, putting weight continually on the one side will cause the horse to eventually develop an imbalance, even if it was only a little bit. When he was going to work on complicated lateral work like half passes in a few years, that can become a problem.

Once in the arena, Don let the reigns be loose and let Stager walk freely. With his knees, he turned to do serpentine loops through the length of the arena. After a few rounds, he pushed him gently to a trot, still not taking up the reigns, and in a light seat position. Only after about ten minutes of trotting loops, did he do a rising trot. Stager's head was now low as he was seeking the bit, chewing it. Snorting and starting to foam at his mouth he showed that he was relaxed and ready to work.

Slowly Don took up the reigns and started to work in twenty meter circles, before he did transitions. All this worked towards shortening and rounding the frame of the horse to get him between the hand and the leg and on the bit, although he will still young too be truly on the bit. In that position he would be completely balanced and light to work, without straining his back.

His own seat had scored him many point. Long straight legs wrapped around the horse, his back straight and relaxed, shoulders back and hands sympathetic. He became one with the horse, lost in concentration and focus.

Once he was warmed up, Don began to work on accuracy and lateral paces from the center line of the arena to the track into a circle and then repeating the exercize to the opposite side. The horse's head was slightly flexed to the opposite of the movement, just so you could see the eye. It was a far less complicated move than the advanced half pass.

[What this move looks like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HcA5bw2Pqs&feature=related]

After Don had accomplished what he wanted, he lengthened the frame of his horse again and let him stretch, again doing surpentines, first in a trot and then at a walk. Once Stagar was completely relaxed, Don dismounted at took the saddle and bridle off.

Stagar shook his head and trotted playfully, sniffing the ground for an appropriate place to do one of his favorite things. Roll. He sank down on a knee and grunting and groaning rolled his heart out.

He got up, shook himself and waited for Don. Now they were going to play. Ears pricked he watched his master with the hose, stamping the ground impatiently with a foreleg. When was the water going to come out??

Don laughed at Stagar and opened the tap, letting a stream of water out right at the waiting horse, who reared and shook and snorted.

Being the Executive Officer an a Prometheus class starship was the furthest thing from Don't mind.


OFF

Lt Cmdr Don Killian
XO

 

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