Daïquiri - Trail
Next on the agenda was the trail class. Despite some fatigue starting to quick in from the multiple classes she had participated in already, Kass could feel a reinvigorating excitement rise in her chest. Trail was always fun, with multiple tasks to complete as a team with your horse. But she was also eager to ride her mare Daïquiri for the first and only time today.
William was registered as the palomino mare’s rider in all of the other categories they were set to perform in at the Summer Show. This next class would be Kass’s only occasion to enjoy her for herself. Daïquiri was, simply put, a gem of a mare. She was the one that Kass would trust with the smallest and most inexperienced rider. Prior to her arrival at Maple Creek, Daïquiri had been a riding pony at a barn specialised in hippotherapy for several years. Given her sweet and trustworthy nature, Kass could not think of any horse better suited for it and she wondered how many children she had helped over the years. She was glad to have such a treasure of a mare in her program. But between lessons and rest days, it meant that the woman rarely had the pleasure of riding the teddy mare for herself.
Kass made quick work of refreshing the pinto pony’s brushing and switching out her English attire for a western saddle. Before long, she was standing with the tall mare outside of the arena’s fenceline. The young trainer watched the previous contestant complete their circuit, seizing the opportunity to make sure she had the pattern well memorised. The course was mainly comprised of several sets of poles and logs, a bridge and even a gate. Once the previous team finished their run, Kass dusted her pants then climbed in the saddle, guiding her mount closer to the arena’s gate.
‘’Now entering the ring is Kassandra Peregrine, coming all the way from Canada, and ridding Sweet Strawberry Daïquiri.’’
After an affectionate pat to Daïquiri’s neck, Kass composed herself before they stepped into the arena. Starting the palomino mare to a collected trot, they made their way to their first obstacle.
A set of striped poles were placed on the ground, flanked by pots filled with shrubbery on each side. Kass Daïquiri stepped over them with ease, her knees lifting high and hooves avoiding contact with the bars. As soon as they had made it over all of them, Kass turned the mare around in a small circle, passing over the poles a second time.
Once they were done, Kass started her mount at a leisurely lope. The mare galloped calmly to their next obstacle; a square made out of four logs. They ran over it once in a manner similar to the poles, then twice after looping to step over it from the opposite side. The woman then turned her pony around a third time before slowing it down to a walk. When Daïquiri had made it over the first log, Kass commanded her to halt before she could do the same with the next one. Standing in the middle of the square, Kass brought both of the reins to the right and pushed slightly with her left leg, guiding the palomino mare into a pivot. They spinned to the right twice, then repeated the same maneuver on the opposite side and spinned to the left.
With that done, Kass started the tall pinto to a slow trot to continue on. So far, the woman had no complaints whatsoever on Daïquiri’s performance - the mare was as attentive to her rider as ever and responding to the slightest of cues.
They reached a bright blue tarp spread over the sand of the arena, framed by wooden poles to weigh it down and keep it from getting blown away by every gust. Kass transitioned her pony down and guided her over the crinkling fabric at a quiet walk. Daïquiri unfazed by the sound and movement of the tarp, they moved on from the obstacle rather quickly.
Along the way to the next obstacle was a raised wooden bridge to step over. Daïquiri climbed on readily with the sharp sound of hooves hitting timber ringing across the arena. Up then down the other side, they were done with most of the course now.
The duo then stepped up to a couple of long poles touching at the tips, forming a large ‘’L’’. Kass stopped her mare at the end of the first pole, then asked the pony to side pass over it. Daïquiri walked sideways perpendicular along the length of the wooden rod, her left legs crossing over the right. At the elbow of the L, Kass readjusted her pony’s angle then proceeded the same way until they had side passed over both of the poles.
Then they made their way over to their last task at a collected canter. The final test was a closed gate made of white wooden panels that sat at the edge of the arena. Horse and rider were expected to maneuver past it without the latter having to dismount. As they approached, Kass slowed her mount. Once they were near enough, she guided her mare to side step right up to the gate where she was able to undo the door’s locking mechanism. With a hand holding onto the upper-most plank to control its opening, the duo moved in and passed the gate. Daïquiri was then instructed to rotate parallel and close to the wood once more, so that Kass could shut it again.
With that, cheers and claps from the onlookers raised from the little stadium where a few dozens of people were watching the ongoing class. A smile split Kass’ face as she bent down to stroke the palomino mare’s neck - Daïquiri had been exemplary! They walked over to the arena's entrance to exit and the woman shot a friendly nod to the next contestant as they passed by.
When William came up to meet them as Kass dismounted, she teased him with a grin that maybe she would not be returning his mare afterall.
