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Darkseeker
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Hayden nodded, his eyes down. "If you remember how to brush him down, go ahead. There's a bag of brushes on his door." Once he was sure that Sky was settled, he was gone in a flash, heading down into the pastures to fetch a different horse. While down in the sprawling meadows, he gathered his emotions, and lowered them into the deepest pits of his mind, hiding them away. Once he was bringing Versailles up, he was like a blank piece of paper, unfeeling and cool. Versailles was attached to the cross-ties behind Justin, and Hayden busied himself with snappily brushing off the dirt and dust the equine had gathered while wandering in the morning. The silence was comfortable, and Hayden was still too self-conscious of his French accent to carry on a conversation, although he knew he must. He took his time cleaning off his gelding, and even then, he took even longer to fetch all the proper tack. Once he came back, and had settled the tack on holders, he turned to Sky. "I'll help you learn how to clean his hooves, alright? I'll do the back ones, and you can do the front ones." The young man used his own hoof pick, and ran his hand down the inside of the other gelding's leg. "Foot," he murmured, and Justin picked up his foot. Hayden stood slightly to the side, and showed Sky how to clean the rocks and dirt out of the curved hoof. "Alright," he muttered, stepping back. "You try on the other side."
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Darkseeker
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Skylar grabbed the brushes and began to brush the gelding. He was pretty comfortable with brushing, it felt almost natural now. He finished brushing as Hayden came back with everything. He looked over at Hayden as he came over to show him how to clean the hooves. He grew a bit nervous as Hayden showed him but he listened intently. He grew even more nervous at the thought of him watching him do it. What if I mess up or do it wrong he thought but then told himself we would be just fine if he listened and watched. Once Hayden was done it was his turn. He went over to the other hoof and did was Hayden did, running his hand down the inside of the horse's leg. "Foot." He said as Justin lifted his hoof. He picked up the hoof pick Hayden used and then started to clean out the hoof. He made sure it was clean before slowly letting the hoof down. He looked up at Hayden then straightened out again. "Did I do good?" He asked as looked at Hayden then at the horse pick.
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Darkseeker
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Hayden gave him a cool smile. "You did fine." He cleaned the horse's other feet, and gestured towards the tack. "Feel free to start saddling him. I'll finish with Versailles, and then I'll check everything just to be safe. We'll probably just work on walking again today, because you're still a beginner." The young man turned back to his own gelding, easing the saddle and saddle pad onto the palomino's back. The whole time, he murmured soft French to the gelding, preferring to speak in his mother tongue most of the time. Even at home, his mother and him still spoke French, despite having lived in the US for a very long time. Hayden ran his fingers along Versailles neck, and the horse stamped his feet as Hayden found a large bug bite. "Oh, mon ami," he murmured. "Did a bug find you? I'm so sorry." He went and found a cream to soothe the itch and pain of the bite, and tossed it on the floor by the crossties. "Are you finished?" Once he'd gotten the affirmative, Hayden carefully checked every buckle, and only had to fix a few. "Well done." His words were clipped and quiet. "We can go out to the ring you were in yesterday, and you can get on him. I think he'll be a good fit for you."
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Darkseeker
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Sky finished saddling Justin up, by that time Hayden was done. He smiled a bit when the boy told him his job was well done. He liked that, it made him feel good. They took the horses to the arena and Hayden opened the gate. Sky led the painted horse into the arena. Once he was situated he hopped on with ease. He then grabbed the reins steering the gelding to the right and then straight. "Good boy." Sky praised the horse as he pats the side of his neck. He then began to walk around the arena with a steady walk. Justin felt more smooth than Lovey and Sky could tell. He smiled looking over at Hayden who was now getting on. Sky was feeling more comfortable with horses and Hayden. He was wondering if they could maybe hang out but without horses. Maybe it's too early he thought letting his shyness to ask get to him. He continued to walk around with Justin, getting a feeling of him.
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Darkseeker
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Once Hayden had warmed up Versailles, he worked on some more fun things with the gelding, and then turned to Sky. "How does he feel? It looks pretty good, even better than Lovey, I'd say." Hayden listened to the other boy's answer, and nodded, leaning back in his saddle, turning his face skyward. "The weather is so nice here. I almost hate it actually. It doesn't seem fair." "Do you want to try going faster, or would you rather go out on the trails? It really depends on how much time you have, and how comfortable you are on this horse. I know that it takes a while to truly understand a horses's mind, and it's fine with me if you want some more time just riding in the arena."
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Darkseeker
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"Yeah, He actually feels really smooth and like I feel really comfortable." He answered as he pats Justin. "I want to try to go faster, how does that sound Justin." He said partly talking to the boy. "I have the whole day honestly. Im doing nothing so it's really when you say." He said as he looked over at him. "I want to at least try to get up to a trot today." He confirmed as he was still looking at Hayden. He listened to the boys instructions on how to get Justin to trot. (I act don't know how, either by telling him to trot or how I did when I rode a horse we would click or sum and kick our feet against its sides) So he did one of those and Justin moved into a trot. Sky stayed calm as he felt this new feeling. He stayed balanced and calm while trotting. He made his way around the arena and then turned. He kicked his feet again making him go into a canter. He knew he shouldn't make Justin full-on gallop just yet. Now cantering he grew a little scared but then maintained balance and calmed down. He then turned and made his way to the fence where Hayden was. He then slowed the horse before coming to a stop. He smiled at Hayden as he pat Justin. "Good boy." He said to the horse.
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Darkseeker
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Hayden's gaze was cold as he stalked into the ring, pulling the reins into his own hands with a snap. After a brief second to calm himself, he turned to the other boy. "That was *not* acceptable. You've been riding for one day, and you think you're a natural? You haven't learned the proper techniques, and you don't fully know how to keep Justin under control. The worst part is that you don't know how to hold your seat, to roll with him, which means you were just bouncing up and down, right on his back. That could lead to huge issues. And you never *kick* a horse. You should be nudging with your heels." The young man turned away, trying to bring his heaving emotions under control, trying to soothe both himself and the geldings. Justin was simply irritated by his non-experience rider, and was trying to stamp his feet and rear. Versailles could sense his owner's high emotions, and was beginning to be nervous. Usually, Hayden was a very calm person, and the geldings didn't like the constant lack of control that they could tell he was feeling. Hayden turned away. "Maybe I shouldn't give you lessons," he muttered. "I can't explain things well enough." Hayden held Justin's reins tightly. "I'm going to *lead* you inside, at a walk. Once we're in the stables, I want you to just brush him down, and put him in the pasture. I didn't warm him up enough for him to be working that hard, and I don't want him to pull a muscle or worse." True to his word, Hayden walked the pair inside, and then gritted his teeth as he turned away, heading to where he'd left Versailles. (Sorry, I love drama!)
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Darkseeker
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Sky listened to Hayden as he carried on. He knew he was just trying to let him know he couldn't do that. "Okay sorry, I know I shouldn't of done that but like I felt pretty fine. You are doing good it's my bad. I get a little impatient but I know I have to be because things like this take time." Sky calmed his breath after saying that. His heart racing still from the tension between them. Atlough he didn't want to stop riding he listened and obeyed to what Hayden has said. They walked back to the barn and Sky hoped off of the horse. He clenched his jaw as he passed Hayden to get the brushes, not even slightly glancing his way. Sky knew he wasn't going to be a pro anytime soon but it did come naturally to him. It didn't seem that Hayden could tell but Sky could, because it's his body. He didn't speak a word and started brushing Justin. "Hey I'm sorry if I pushed you to much." He said softly as he brushed the dust and dirt off the gelding. He tried to shrug off what happened but he knew there would be tension for the rest of the lesson. He looked back at Hayden as he went to go get his horse, furrowing his brows. He didnt like it when people told him what to do but he cooperated.
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Darkseeker
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Hayden stormed back to Versailles, burying his face in the gelding's neck. How could that boy possibly think that he was a natural? He'd been riding for *one* day. It was dangerous for him to think that he knew exactly what he was doing, because he didn't, and Hayden could tell. He gritted his teeth. He'd already been a bit unsure on the boy, feeling like Sky had acted like because he liked horses, he knew them perfectly. He led the gelding back up, brushing him down a little more harshly than he normally would have, and slipped a halter over the equine's ears, walking out towards the pastures. "You can put Justin back in the pasture," he said, his words cold and clipped. "And then you can go home. I don't think I can give you lessons anymore. It just isn't working."
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Darkseeker
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With Hayden's words, he clenched his jaw, getting angry with himself. Unless he got his way out of this he was going to be so mad at himself for screwing this opportunity up. His heart raced as he put Justin back. He still had the money in his pocket and he wasn't planning on giving it to him. He then quickly walked by Hayden furrowing his brows giving him a rude stare but then looking towards his car. He needed to cool off before talking to him. He also did not want to beg to keep doing lessons if Hayden really didnt want to. As he walked he ran his hands through his hair. "Fuck." He said angrly as he got in his car. He put his face into his hands trying to keep his cool. He then looked up and got his car started. He gave Hayden a quick glance before turning his music up. He then began to drive home. As he arrived home he went to his room straight away, his cat was laying on his bed so he decided to join him. He took the riding gear that he had on previously and changed to something more comfortable. He laid beside his cat and almost began crying. He hated crying but sometimes he just did. He wanted this so bad and he royally fucked it for himself. He was also scared if Hayden did take him back that the tension would be too much and his anxiety would be through the roof.
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