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Description

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Rider: Sky Svenson
Horse Reference: Marlo

Stable: Dead River Equestrian Center

Discipline: Jumping

Pose Ref

Sky and Marlo getting to know each other, while Aashi begins planning her several month journey to the Olympics.

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“No offense, but I’d really rather travel with any other stable hand than Logan,” Aashi protested, folding her hands on her lap as she sat across from Cal at the large, oak desk of the main office.

“First,” Cal looked up from her pile of contracts and training schedules, a hint of irritation in her voice at the nonsensical request, “he’s not a stable hand. He’s our stable manager. Second, he’s the only one who has the experience and requirements to act as roadie. You and Kona couldn’t be in better hands.”

“I respect your opinion, but perhaps it would be possible to find my own accompaniment?” the younger woman argued, pleaded almost. Aashi would rather travel alone than with the heavily inked man, but she knew that was simply an impossibility with her health.

“Aashi,” the darker skinned woman tilted her head, fighting the habitual urge to chew at her bottom lip as she found the firm, but professional words she needed to get the point across. “You signed a training contract with us. You travel on our dime, under our name, with our staff. You are just going to have to reconcile whatever it is you hold against Logan. He’s a good man that works hard.”

Aashi inhaled a deep breath, her dark, defiant eyes like black marble under her furrowed brow. “Fine,” she sighed her exhale. “But just to be clear, he needs separate lodging. My parents and I have arranged to stay at a family home outside of Hanover, where I can board Kona between shows. You’ll understand they won’t want a stranger in their home. And should he act unprofessional in any way, you can be sure his assistance will no longer be needed.”

“Fair enough,” Cal agreed, already exhausted with the woman’s demands. Deep down, she knew Aashi was appreciative of everything DREC was offering her; giving her the opportunity to travel and achieve an incredible goal, but Cal had little patience for high maintenance people. The conversation had her tattered personal resolve holding on by a thread after having already dealt with Vanessa earlier that morning. "I'll tell you what... you'll be travelling soon for Pemberly, yes? Then coming back for the Australian Warmblood Association event. We'll use Pemberly as a test run. See how things go. If all goes well, Logan will accompany you when you head back to Germany for your qualifiers. Now, if that’s everything, I have a lesson scheduled with Sky and your new mare, and I believe you have a lesson at 4:30.”

Aashi simply nodded. Getting to see Sky work with her new warmblood mare would be a welcome distraction from the thought of spending several months on the road with Logan. Excusing herself, she wheeled herself around to the door and made for the main stable isle. The floor was busy with activity; Tabby was discussing today’s lesson with Sky, the stable hands were grooming and doing the day’s final feed. The air smelled of oats, hay, bedding, horse and manure. It was all welcome.

Her attention turned to the large grooming stall where the golden dun mare stood in her cross ties, ears flicking to attention at every little sound. At her side stood Logan, working a curry comb down the mare’s ribs and flank. “I trust she’s behaving for you,” Aashi made her presence known, lifting herself from her wheelchair.

Logan’s eyes darted across the mare’s withers as Aashi made her way to the dun’s other side, brush in hand, and began to work her already sleek, groomed mane. “She is, yes, more than most days.”

“Good,” Aashi nodded, avoiding direct eye contact with the man as she combed the mare’s flaxen hair. “I assume Cal has already discussed the travel arrangement with you.”

“She has,” Logan answered matter of factly. “It should be an interesting experience.”

“Indeed…” Aashi finally looked up, her hands still working at the mare’s mane. “We’ll be spending a lot of time in the truck together, and I’ll have Bohdi with me. I hope you don’t mind dogs.”

“Oh, uhm,” he paused, the enjoyable thought of time alone on the road suddenly shattered, “no I don’t, but I figured you’d be travelling with your parents? Wouldn’t that be more comfortable?”

“Yes, but Kona is more important and I’d rather travel as close to her as possible. Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s no problem at all,” he smiled halfheartedly, giving the mare a pat. “If you’ll excuse me, she’s ready to be tacked.” Ducking away from the uncomfortable cornering, Logan rounded the groom stall and disappeared within the tack room.

Aashi stood a moment longer with the mare before returning to her wheelchair. She’d yet to ride the mare herself, but with everything upcoming, she couldn’t risk an injury by riding an excitable horse unused to her cues. At least Sky seemed to be settling in with her, and the steady routine of a lesson plan was playing out as Aashi had hoped. Marlo was adjusting well. Now only time would tell if she would be become a well suited para prospect.

Description

Previous | Next

Rider: Sky Svenson
Horse Reference: Marlo

Stable: Dead River Equestrian Center

Discipline: Jumping

Pose Ref

Sky and Marlo getting to know each other, while Aashi begins planning her several month journey to the Olympics.

::///----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“No offense, but I’d really rather travel with any other stable hand than Logan,” Aashi protested, folding her hands on her lap as she sat across from Cal at the large, oak desk of the main office.

“First,” Cal looked up from her pile of contracts and training schedules, a hint of irritation in her voice at the nonsensical request, “he’s not a stable hand. He’s our stable manager. Second, he’s the only one who has the experience and requirements to act as roadie. You and Kona couldn’t be in better hands.”

“I respect your opinion, but perhaps it would be possible to find my own accompaniment?” the younger woman argued, pleaded almost. Aashi would rather travel alone than with the heavily inked man, but she knew that was simply an impossibility with her health.

“Aashi,” the darker skinned woman tilted her head, fighting the habitual urge to chew at her bottom lip as she found the firm, but professional words she needed to get the point across. “You signed a training contract with us. You travel on our dime, under our name, with our staff. You are just going to have to reconcile whatever it is you hold against Logan. He’s a good man that works hard.”

Aashi inhaled a deep breath, her dark, defiant eyes like black marble under her furrowed brow. “Fine,” she sighed her exhale. “But just to be clear, he needs separate lodging. My parents and I have arranged to stay at a family home outside of Hanover, where I can board Kona between shows. You’ll understand they won’t want a stranger in their home. And should he act unprofessional in any way, you can be sure his assistance will no longer be needed.”

“Fair enough,” Cal agreed, already exhausted with the woman’s demands. Deep down, she knew Aashi was appreciative of everything DREC was offering her; giving her the opportunity to travel and achieve an incredible goal, but Cal had little patience for high maintenance people. The conversation had her tattered personal resolve holding on by a thread after having already dealt with Vanessa earlier that morning. "I'll tell you what... you'll be travelling soon for Pemberly, yes? Then coming back for the Australian Warmblood Association event. We'll use Pemberly as a test run. See how things go. If all goes well, Logan will accompany you when you head back to Germany for your qualifiers. Now, if that’s everything, I have a lesson scheduled with Sky and your new mare, and I believe you have a lesson at 4:30.”

Aashi simply nodded. Getting to see Sky work with her new warmblood mare would be a welcome distraction from the thought of spending several months on the road with Logan. Excusing herself, she wheeled herself around to the door and made for the main stable isle. The floor was busy with activity; Tabby was discussing today’s lesson with Sky, the stable hands were grooming and doing the day’s final feed. The air smelled of oats, hay, bedding, horse and manure. It was all welcome.

Her attention turned to the large grooming stall where the golden dun mare stood in her cross ties, ears flicking to attention at every little sound. At her side stood Logan, working a curry comb down the mare’s ribs and flank. “I trust she’s behaving for you,” Aashi made her presence known, lifting herself from her wheelchair.

Logan’s eyes darted across the mare’s withers as Aashi made her way to the dun’s other side, brush in hand, and began to work her already sleek, groomed mane. “She is, yes, more than most days.”

“Good,” Aashi nodded, avoiding direct eye contact with the man as she combed the mare’s flaxen hair. “I assume Cal has already discussed the travel arrangement with you.”

“She has,” Logan answered matter of factly. “It should be an interesting experience.”

“Indeed…” Aashi finally looked up, her hands still working at the mare’s mane. “We’ll be spending a lot of time in the truck together, and I’ll have Bohdi with me. I hope you don’t mind dogs.”

“Oh, uhm,” he paused, the enjoyable thought of time alone on the road suddenly shattered, “no I don’t, but I figured you’d be travelling with your parents? Wouldn’t that be more comfortable?”

“Yes, but Kona is more important and I’d rather travel as close to her as possible. Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s no problem at all,” he smiled halfheartedly, giving the mare a pat. “If you’ll excuse me, she’s ready to be tacked.” Ducking away from the uncomfortable cornering, Logan rounded the groom stall and disappeared within the tack room.

Aashi stood a moment longer with the mare before returning to her wheelchair. She’d yet to ride the mare herself, but with everything upcoming, she couldn’t risk an injury by riding an excitable horse unused to her cues. At least Sky seemed to be settling in with her, and the steady routine of a lesson plan was playing out as Aashi had hoped. Marlo was adjusting well. Now only time would tell if she would be become a well suited para prospect.