[BRUCE TANE ROPATA]

While his lessons so far had been in the outdoor arena, being later in the day for the private lesson, Bruce booked the indoor arena.

"Please behave?" He said as he rubbed the Warmblood's forehead as he unclipped his lead, leaving the gelding where he was standing while the man gathered the things he needed. Leaving a selection of rope halters on the arena fence - because he wasn't sure what size the horse attending the lesson would need - as well as a carrot stick and 12-foot lead rope. "Are you going to listen today?" He asked Ash as he returned to his mare, smiling as she gently butted him in the chest with her nose. "I think you'll be fine."

He gave a welcoming smile as a man entered the arena with his horse. "Welcome." He said. "You must be Tristian and Arizona. I'm Bruce and this is Fain." He patted the bay tobiano on the neck. "Over there you will find everything you will need, a rope halter, a long lead and a carrot stick. It may look like a riding crop, but the stick is an extension of your arm, rather than something to use to discipline. Once you've swapped halters and found a space for the two of you we'll get started."

While he waited, he clipped the lead back onto Fain's halter, unlike the mare he'd used for his other lessons, Fain was more likely to walk over to the pair and see what they were doing and why, rather than just standing and waiting for the next instructions. "The first game is quite simple, it's called the friendly game. What you are going to do is run your hands all over your horse." He demonstrated by running his hand down and over Fain's back and down his hind leg, tsking when the gelding lifted his foot, keeping his hand where it was as the gelding lowered his fot again and his continued down the horse's leg until he reached the heel and straightened up again, rubbing the horse's sweet-spot to reward Fain for listening. "It may seem silly, but it helps create a strong bond between horse and human, and it will give you a good idea of any no-go zones your horse may have." And those no-go zones, was what the carrot stick was for, but he'd go onto to that if there were any places that Everett couldn't touch.br]

Dice roll

Odd number - lesson goes poorly
Even number - lesson goes well

TRISTIAN IVAN PARKER