[Gift] 1.1 Mirrors - Alistair and Satin

Alistair’s eyes focused on the mirror as he approached. He felt the mare under him shift her attention as well while his gaze drifted away from where they were riding. As he came up alongside the set of panels holding the mirrors he tried to keep an eye on them, watching for the various notes Harry barked at him from across the arena. Carefully he adjusted his posture and hands before returning his attention back to the mare who let out a deep snort and finally collected her head now.

“Good! She’s finally paying attention and you’ve got the exact form you need now. Head back and let’s give it a go!” Harry called out from where he stood in the middle of their newly made arena. It had just been completed that summer and was certainly an upgrade from the lit up pasture they had tried training in for the past year. Alistair’s mind wandered over everything that had happened since Harry had gotten back into the horse business. How much had changed just by getting Satin and how far he himself had come as a rider.

Alistair smiled, both from the praise and the thought of his progress. He had now returned to the entrance of the arena and at a command from Harry he picked up a working trot and followed the first pattern. His body rose and fell to Satin’s natural beat which he had come to realize wasn’t as bad as he thought at first. The mare could be quite energetic but with a firm hand, he and Harry had managed to rein her in and had created quite the promising show horse.

That was what tonight was for, it was yet still early September and the chill night air had only just begun. However at the end of October would be the fall festival hosted in Lexington by the city’s equine council. It took quite a bit of prodding and praising but Harry had eventually convinced his lover to participate in the novice dressage show. Once Alistair gave in they began the process of training that summer for his first show. Tonight the stars twinkled overhead at what would have been sunset before the darkness fell as he began the first of many attempts leading up to that fateful day.

He soon found himself rounding the mirrors again, his eyes drawn to them as he tried to correct any issues in his and Satin’s movements. Carefully he changed his grip on the reins, maintaining contact as needed but by now he understood how to avoid pulling on her mouth and head unnecessarily. His eyes left the mirrors and returned to their path. Already Alistair knew what Harry was going to ask for next and he could feel Satin’s body shift as they rounded the corner.

“Maintain your working trot and circle left 20 meters at E!” Harry called from where he stood, arms crossed as his eyes watched Alistair approach the marker. A proud smile spread over his lips as he watched his pupil pull off a fairly clean circle and moved onwards to his next position. “Between K and A pick up a working canter on left lead!” Satin’s ears flicked towards him before returning to focusing on the rider on her back. Seeing her take up the movement and smoothly glide across the arena was a delight. Alistair did his next circle without prompting just as Harry had hoped. “Alright, return to working trot between F and B then back down to medium walk between M and C!”

Alistair could feel the energy in the mare beneath him, she snorted as she slowed down and tried to toss her head as he brought her back to a walk. However he kept her focused on the task at hand and guided her through their next patterns. It didn’t quite look effortless yet but they would get there together. When they approached the mirrors again he gave them a quick glance before returning his attention back fully on his path around the arena. He could feel Harry’s eyes on him and as they approached the end it made his heart pick up a bit. This would be it, Harry would tell him how he did.

The taller man walked to the far end of the arena as Alistair rounded the opposite end and returned to the center line. He finally halted from a walk and practiced his salute, keeping his face neutral as he would be expected for the show. When Harry began clapping he finally let a smile slide back over his lips. Satin huffed and her ears flicked forward towards her other owner.

“Excellent work love, we’ll make a horseman out of you yet.” Harry strode forward and gave the mare some pets as he went over his feedback with Alistair. The doctor was grinning as he went on, his cheeks flushing from the praise and his heart swelling. As Harry said, it was night and day how far he had come compared to his first attempts at riding years ago now.