Saying hi to Ruben

JULIA ESTONIA

Age: 26
Traits: bubbly, patient, kind, energetic, excitable, outgoing, overenthusiastic
Played By: Amber Marshall

Julia wandered down the wide aisle between the stalls, smiling at the horses who stuck their heads out to greet her. She spotted a young man farther down and deduced he must be her newest student.

Julia had been riding horses practically since birth. Her parents had taught her almost before she could walk. Her and her twin brother Raymond. A twinge of sadness still remained when she thought of her brother and her parents, who had died in a car crash when she was sixteen. She didn't like to think about it too much. She'd been in the car too, but had come out miraculously unscathed.

Julia shook her head to clear it of dark thoughts and continued towards her student. He seemed nervous. His application said he had ridden before, even done a bit of jumping, so Julia guessed he was nervous in general. She smiled at him when he stepped back and spoke to her.

"Of course not, dear. I believe you are my newest student? Aidan?" She asked, her Kentucky accent obvious as she reached out to stroke Ruben, the dark horse Aidan had chosen.

JULIA ESTONIA

Age: 26
Traits: bubbly, patient, kind, energetic, excitable, outgoing, overenthusiastic
Played By: Amber Marshall

Julia smiled sympathetically at the poor man. He was obviously nervous. Perhaps he didn't have as much experience as she's previously thought. It was very upsetting to hear that his previous stable had simply put him on the harder horses because he was less likely to fall off. Talk about lack of concern for the rider himself.

"Don't worry, dear, Ruben should be just fine for you. Sure, he's got a stubborn streak, but he can behave himself." She told him comfortingly, then turned to the horse, "Right, Ruben? You'll be nice to Aidan, right?" She asked him, tugging on his mane affectionately.

"My name is Julia. And yes, I will be teaching you." Julia confirmed. Then she looked for the tack and brushes kept next to Ruben's stall.

"First things first, I'm a firm believer in a rider grooming and tacking up their own horse. It builds a bond of trust. And you should now how a saddle works before sitting in it." She said with a laugh. She opened the stall door and clipped a lead rope to the horse's halter. "Now, I'll put him in the cross ties and we'll get started. Just let me know if you have any questions." She added, as she led the horse out of the stall and attached the ropes hanging from each wall to either side of the gelding's halter.

"There. You know which brush to start with?" Julia asked Aidan, ready to help if he needed it.

JULIA ESTONIA

Age: 26
Traits: bubbly, patient, kind, energetic, excitable, outgoing, overenthusiastic
Played By: Amber Marshall

Julia shook her head and walked over to the bucket of brushes. She pulled out two similar looking brushes, one plastic and one rubber. She walked back to Ruben and Aidan.

"Close but not quite." She told him. Then she held up the two brushes. "You always start with the curry comb. Curry combs come in plastic and rubber. Personally, I prefer the rubber ones, they are, in my opinion, gentler on the horse and get more dirt out. The purpose of a curry comb is to bring the packed in dirt, and mud, to the surface. You do not use the curry comb on the face, lower legs, mane or tail of a horse, as it is too rough for those sensitive areas. Ruben will let you know if you are hurting him, so feel free to be a little rough. You should start at the neck, like this." Julia then put the plastic curry comb back and stepped around to stand by Ruben's neck. "You should move the curry comb in a circular motion, to bring out the dirt hiding under the surface of his coat." She demonstrated, moving the curry comb in a tight circular motion, traveling down the horses neck. Ruben snorted and leaned towards her.

"The horses like this part, its like a massage for them. Here you try." She added, holding the rubber curry comb out to Aidan.

JULIA ESTONIA

Age: 26
Traits: bubbly, patient, kind, energetic, excitable, outgoing, overenthusiastic
Played By: Amber Marshall

Julia smiled as she watched Aidan begin to groom. He still seemed unsure.

"The best way to gage a horse's mood is by their ears. His ears should be forward slightly, with one or both ears swiveling around the listen to those around him. That shows he's calm and paying attention. If his ears are slightly back and unmoving, he's calm, but not paying attention. Watch how far his ears go back. If they press against his skull, be careful, he is either angry, upset or scared. To know which of those three he is, watch his mouth and eyes. If his lips are curled back he is angry and could lash out at you. If you can see the whites of his eyes he is upset or scared. If his ears are back but his mouth and eyes are relaxed, he's just a bit annoyed at you." Julia explained, pointing to each part of Ruben's face as she spoke, and stroking his muzzle.

"Also, if you go around the back of a horse, always have one hand on him to let him know you are there. Horses are naturally skittish creatures and will lash out at unknown things when frightened. Keep talking to him, like you are doing, it helps let him know where you are and forms a bond between the two of you." She added.

JULIA ESTONIA

Age: 26
Traits: bubbly, patient, kind, energetic, excitable, outgoing, overenthusiastic
Played By: Amber Marshall

Julia couldn't help but laugh when Aidan asked about Ruben's stillness.

"Around people, yes. He's not such a big fan of other horses though. He kicks up quite the storm in group lessons." She explained.

"Once you finish with the curry comb, grab a stiff brush from the bucket. Same rules as the curry comb location wise, but instead of circles, use short hard flicks, to get the worst of the dirt off him. Then use a soft brush to get the rest and give him a nice shine, using long strokes, with a small flick at the end. You can use the soft brush on his face and legs, as well. Then I'll show you how to pick out his hooves and comb out his mane and tail." Julia continued to give Aidan grooming instructions, still stroking Ruben's muzzle, making sure he stayed calm. He didn't want the already nervous young man to get spooked by a frightened horse.