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Description

Stable: Lakewood Farm
Horse Number: 1
Horse Name: Kiwi
Entry: Optional

Storyline:
1. Mandatory: First Meeting
2. Optional: The First Steps
3. Optional: Interlude - Things for the Future
4. Optional: Breakthrough
5. Optional: Building Trust
6. Mandatory: Mishap - Halter Training
7. Optional: Progression
8. Optional: Mishap - Early Saddle Sessions
9. Mandatory: Backing
10. Optional: Mounting Up
11. Mandatory: Flat Training
12. Optional: Jump training
13. Optional: Christmas Hack
14. Optional: Kaimanawa Hack
15. Optional: Beach/water riding: You are Here
16. Optional: The Future

Its so long since you guys have had a Kiwi Update, and I'm sorry about that. Life's been a little nuts, and since she's officially trained/backed/ridden away, the little things she still has to get used to don't really take up their own stories. I've had to knock off a few things I wanted to do - like interval training - and I may not have time for some of the ones still left. I'll see if I can't find time for a few last minute pictures to fill the gaps before the first phase of the challenge closes.

So, as a small catch up - Kiwi's been backed. She's also, at this point, had jump sessions and improved with her cross country and hacking out (enough that she was entered into a night time XC class, and went on the Lakewood Christmas Hack with a billion guest horses and riders). So she's fairly rounded off now, with a bit of a varied career ahead of her and already some experince under her hooves.

But I love the sea, and the beach, so I like to think that the Lakewood crew are frequent visitors at the coast closest to the farm, and because of that, Getting Kiwi used to the surf is a bit of a must. But then, she was a wild pony, so she'll be well used to lakes and natural water, so this is more of a fun afternoon than it is a training session. Never mind that I still suck at water. I'll master it one day

And I will just point out again, that just because you see/read something here, doesn't mean its always a brilliant idea, or the best way to do something, so do your research before taking your horse out to sea. Though the bit about horses swimming straight and not turning easy is true - its been known for horses to just swim out to sea and drown or be pulled under with the currents because they can't steer in water to get back to shore.

I'm sorry for huge length, but I guess I've subconsciously wanted to write this for ages, so its a day at the beach for you

"This is going to be *great*!" Chess exclaimed, leaping out of the side of the horse box and clapping her hands.

Becca leapt out after her, catching her friend around the neck and getting an impromtu piggy back as they staggered around to the back. Becca slid to the floor and Chess tied back her abundant hair in a knot. Twitch was pulling at the bolts of the ramp already.

Not far off, just across the small gravel carpark, the battered pickup truck was parked, their old trailer still hitched. Austin was already Djali down the ramp, and Alec was working between the two vehicles, piling all their picnic food and extra supplies into the flat bed of the truck.

The girls got moving on the lorry, finally getting the ramp down and beginning to lead out their crew.

Selly, Tyke and Toeki were all aboard, since they were all good with the sea and each other. They were hoping it would be a fun afternoon at the beach, even if Kiwi was technically training.

They made short work of brushing off the horses and distributing the tack so that everyone was kitted out. They were nearly ready to go when another car pulled into the lay-by. Austin's mum was sat at the wheel, her ash blonde hair tied back and she was wearing a thick woollen sweater. In the passenger seat was Candace Applin, pulling on her muckers, her pale blonde hair loose and in her face. In the back - separated by a wall of inflatable pool toys and more picnic baskets were Austin's two younger sisters, Lara and Sofie, who were nine and seven respectively.

Becca waved and hurried over as the others began trading horses.

"Hi!" she said cheerfully, pulling down the scarf she'd had over her nose and mouth. The air was still a bit chilly, but it was far warmer than it had been lately, and they were expecting more sun in the afternoon, so it wasn't a bad day for a beach ride. Plus, Chess' Grandmother was up at the farm to dote on Aphie and said she'd hold the fort if they wanted an afternoon off. "We're heading down now," she said. "You can walk with us, or hop in the pick up." The pick up had big enough wheels that it parked safely higher up on the beach where there was gravel mixed into the sand.

Austin's mum cut the engine. "Sounds good; I think we'll hop in the truck. Come on, Girls!"

They all disembarked, and while Lara and Sofie dutifully helped their mother move the supplies to the truck, Candace skirted them, jamming on her hat.

"We've claimed this one!" Becca called over, before steering the younger girl away.

They got her mounted up on Djali, who always looked slightly wilder at the seaside. Her mane was whipping crazily, her ears pricked and eyes bright, and she snorted loudly into the wind.

Austin climbed up on Toeki, who was now dithering on the spot. Becca hopped into the front of the pick up, Chess climbed up on Tyke and Twitch settled into Selly's saddle. Alec was sat on board Kiwi looking relaxed, despite how she kept turning around, first to face the sea, then away, then back again.

"Ready?!" Becca called.

A cheer went up.

"See you down there!" She started the engine. The two girls in the back grabbed onto the haybale seats and waved as Becca steered them out and down the rocky road to the shore. Austin led the horse parade away from the car park on the other side so they could use a bridle path down to the seafront.

The horses always got there last. The pick up was parked on a rise well out of reach of the water where the sand was mixed with gravel, so it wouldn't sink. The tide was out and the sand was packed nicely, leaving plenty of space for some good gallops and fun later. The beach spread for miles, but their section was maybe two acres long, marked off at either end by algae covered breakers that speared out towards the horizon and sank beneath the waves.

They kept together for a trot up and back once, just to give Kiwi some reassurance the first time. The others were all well used to days at the beach, other than Djali, but the last and first time she'd been, it hadn't bothered her in the slightest (though she did get scarily good when racing in the surf).

Alec sat deep in Kiwi's saddle and kept her on the edge of the pack, so that should she freak out, there wasn't going to be trouble. She was a little skittish; her ears were all over the place like helicopter blades with each Shhhhhhhhh Shhhhhhhhhh of the sea and whistle of the wind, but she didn't seem fearful. They began to break up, then. Twitch cantered away on Selly, straight across the beach, lifting out of her saddle and hovering over his withers with her hair tossed back behind her. Chess gave chase, and the slightly heavier built Timekin reared up as he sailed after them, Chess leaning over his neck, too.

Djali and Candace dropped behind, content to walk out to the surf. Alec watched them for a moment, smiling fondly as the younger girl let the reins go slack, even with Djali stood up to her knees in the foaming water, and pat the little Chincoteague mare on the neck. Djali looked right at home.

Toeki remained alongside Kiwi for another run, and then, at Alec's nod, also drifted away to start on some circles and school movements. Even on a fun day, Austin made sure Toeki did some schooling on the dry sand first. Kiwi's stride turned choppy as she was abandoned. She was too distracted by everything around her, but then, Alec was, too. He could remember going on exactly one beach ride before, back when he was on Easter holiday from boarding school. He'd gone with a local stable, and it was a huge event for them. The problem was, it showed; everyone spent the day so wary of the waves that they were tense in their saddles, and the horses were clearly no more aclimatised, and they couldn't do a walk down the beach without someone freaking out.

It was safe to say Alec had never been on a ride quite like this. The people were having fun, the horses were having fun and they had brought all kinds of things for games later on. Chess had been helping him with Kiwi around all kinds of water, and they'd ridden through streams and lakes around the farm, so Alec was sure the mare wasn't afraid. It was more like a little insecurity, coupled with too much to look at.

Alec looked over at the pickup and after a second, steered Kiwi towards it.

Candace, who had been cantering through the surf and was now splashed with the sea, overtook him and raced up. For a second, Kiwi tossed her head over the reins and skipped, wanting to follow on. Alec smiled but all too soon she'd lost interest and returned to marching sideways, closer to the vehicle.

They stopped by it eventually. Austin's mum was standing on the flat bed, arranging their picnic. Becca was throwing all their inflatables over the side where Sofie was running around, laying weighted ropes over them so they wouldn't be blown away. Candace was giving Lara a leg up onto Djali, who, true to her reputation as a sweetheart, was standing stock still, gazing at the sea patiently.

It didn't take long for the others to pile up around the truck, and Mrs. Fielding started handing out sandwiches, packets of crisps and chocolate bars. Tyke was in one mindset, and that was *forward* so Chess had to snatch a sandwich as he trotted past, yelled a thanks behind her, and then was eating it as she tried to rein him in one handed. Toeki was craning his neck, trying to steal Austin's bagel and Twitch alone had parked Selly closest while she munched on a pack of hula hoops, and occasionally held one out for the horse to woffle up.

Chess finally sat down to actually eat while Becca mounted Tyke and turned him for the sea.

"Don't head straight out!" Chess, Austin and Twitch all yelled after her, laughing.

Alec sniggered, even as Candace leapt over the side of the truck, still holding Djali's reins while Lara sat in her saddle. "Horses can't turn easy in deep water," the younger blonde said. "Something about the way they hold their heads and paddle. But if you run straight out, some of them can't turn back to shore and end up just swimming themselves to exhaustion."

"What happens to them?" Sofie asked in wonder, plucking a piece of cucumber from her sandwich and feeding it to Djali behind her mother's back.

Chess shot Candace a quick, amused look. "They keep swimming, all the way to the next country and run up on their beach instead. That's how we're not the only country in the world who have horses."

Sofie nodded seriously, accepting this as fact while Austin's mum hid a smirk behind her thermos.

All too soon the lunch was being stashed away so they could snack on it later, and there had been another switch around with the horses. Alec remained on Kiwi but Chess was mounted on Selly and racing against Toeki, ridden by Twitch. Sofie was having a go on Djali while Lara led her and Candace was once more riding through the surf on Tyke.

Becca was sat on the roof of the truck, holding binoculars and yelling out scores if someone caused a good splash or won a race. She shot him a look, as he brought Kiwi back down from a trot again and let her walk past the truck.

"What's up, Alec?" she asked, kindly.

Alec turned back to her with a sigh. Sometimes she and her two best friends acted so young and...well, insane, that it was easy to forget they were older than him by a couple of years. They often had really useful insights and Alec had to remind himself that asking for help wasn't failing.

"She's really distracted," he said at last. "There's so much going on, and I'm distracted too. She's not afraid but she feels unpredictable and I'm not used to it."

Becca watched him quietly, then tilted her head. "She's getting all this from you," she said finally. "She will have dealt with natural water in New Zealand, so there is no fear, but she needs you to help her like you always have. What do you want to do here today, Alec?"

Alec shrugged, and looked out. Chess was laughing her head off, folded over on Selly's neck, far enough out that the water broke into white spray higher than his knees and hocks. She was watching Twitch, who had also stopped Toeki and was wading through the surf, her boots only just higher than the lapping water, apparently trying to pick something up as Toeki followed her in confusion.

"I don't know," he said finally. "To have fun; to ride in the sea..."

Becca smiled softly, proudly. "You can't flounder on her because you're not schooling towards something. There's no lesson plan here, but she needs you to give her something to focus on. Go stand in the sea. That's your new task; walk, trot, whatever - get her out there, stand in the sea, then canter back here for your next challenge."

Alec smirked, seeing what she was doing. "Yes, Mom."

She threw a carrot stick at his head as he trotted Kiwi away.

They made it out there and back, though. With Alec given a drive, Kiwi put away many of her distractions and became all too willing to take up a new challenge. She skittered at the cold spray of the sea, but walked into it with high steps and loud snorts, watching the splashes she created with foal-like wonder. She raced away from it in glee, ears fixed firmly forwards. In no time, the others were yelling out more challenges than he could keep up with.

"Touch the mile marker and gallop back!" Chess shouted out.

"Find a seashell and draw a circle around it on horse back!" Austin joined in, handing him a long stick.

The challenges began to taper away, and now the games were out. Everyone still swapping horses - now including Alec who found himself on Tyke while Chess adjusted Kiwi's stirrups to fit her smaller height - they started pulling out the inflatables. Tyke and Toeki had a miniature puissance over a cartoon whale and a crocodile with duct tape over an eye so it didn't pop. Then they switched again and had a relay race (Djali went twice with two different riders) as to who could take their blow up toy to the surf - they had to get wet - and back to the truck and hand it off the fastest. Djali was practically smaller than the orca whale, but her little legs could be seen flying over the sand beneath the whale's face anyway.

Finally, the games finished up. They walked out the horses and finished off the remains of the picnic.

Alec found himself back on Kiwi, who was blowing hard but looked happy and relaxed. It was a good workout for them, Alec realised. Lakewood didn't do beach rides to slack off with the horses, nor was it like a gymkhana, where ponies sometimes got run into the ground. They used it just as more training. They took the horses that needed it, either because they were good with the ocean, or because they weren't, and they gave them a good workout, both in the water, for their muscles, and on the sand for their bones, and used the games to lessen their fear of a variety of spooky looking objects. And the horses were kept so busy, any fear of the sea was shortlived.

The tide was at last coming in. They had been out for hours. The sky was still light out here, with a vast spread of it all the way to the edge of the world, but the clouds had stretched out and were tinted with pink.

"Tide's up!" Becca yelled out. Tyke started underneath her. Chess sat up on the roof. Lara and Sofie were both exhausted in the back of the truck. Austin and Twitch gathered their reins. Tyke, Selly and Toeki all seemed to know what was coming, and immediately began pawing at the sand.

"Wave jumping time," Chess said, smirking at him. She climbed up, stood on the roof and pulled out the binoculars. "Okay, folks. Do your best, I'll see anybody wipe out from here!"

Everyone galloped for the water. At this point, Alec knew better than to ask, so he gave Kiwi her head and let her follow.

They were aimed straight out to sea, but they never went far enough that they lost their footing and couldn't turn. Alec watched the first round.

Twitch, Austin, Candace and Becca spaced out down the coast and trotted in as the first wave rushed to the shore. The three old hand horses leapt at it like they'd been faced with a show jump. Djali stood back and let it rain down on her.

"Four faults!" Chess yelled behind them. "Dice, that was dreadful. No, you know what? Five faults!"

Candace waved a fist at her in light humour, but the incoming tide was already bringing a new wave. The three at the front all leapt again, still trotting strongly. There was a long, shallow run here, so they were safe. Selly swerved away from a wave that broke on a smaller one, and Twitch squealed in laughter as she caught the blast. She trotted back to shore, soaking wet and smiling, her grey eyes lighter than ever.

"Come on," she said to him, as the others finished their rounds and headed back. Chess was yelling that Twitch had four faults. "Kiwi's a natural jumper, you might even win."

Alec didn't take much talking into it. As they started round 2, he lined up with them. It turned out Twitch was right; Kiwi watched the wave come at her and seemed to clock it, before leaping instinctually. A cheer went up, and then a huge groan as Toeki got caught and Austin trotted him back, his cherry red coat now dark mahogany.

Before long, Alec was laughing as they all walked back up the beach, all of them dripping wet and the horses stretching their necks. Kiwi looked exhausted, but he'd still had a hard time turning her from the water.

Lara and Sofie had crashed and were asleep on haybales. All their things had been gathered up and Austin's mum was back in the truck. Chess waved at them and climbed in, steering the pick up back to the rocky slip road, while the five of them on horses turned for the bridlepath.

Now soaking wet, the chill was really setting in, but by the time they corralled in the car park, a camp was set up.

Mrs. Fielding was handing out thick blankets and hot water bottles and Chess was already wielding an armful of rugs and towels for the horses. The living compartment in the lorry became a temporary changing facility while everyone pulled off the worst of their wet clothes and tugged on Lakewood hoodies and sweat pants. Warm welly boots were passed around and the horses' rugs changed over again when the ones they had on were damp.

The sky was falling dark by the time everyone was well on their way to being warm and dry again, and the horses were cool and dry enough to have their haynets. The carpark was empty but for them - in fact, it often was, since there were far better spots for tourists and dog walking further up the coast - so they pulled out deck chairs and huddled around a glowing space heater, laughing over the day, changing topics like the wind and making sure all the food really was gone.

But eventually, Chess rang her Gran and said they'd be home soon. They stood and packed up again; loaded the horses and split themselves between the cars. Candace headed back with Austin and Becca in the pick up. Austin's mum was going to head straight home and Chess said she'd drive the lorry back, with Alec and Twitch.

Alec was shattered as he climbed into the cab, but he was thrilled at how things had turned out. Chess fired up the engine and turned on the radio as Twitch climbed in last and pulled the door closed. They led the procession back onto the road and towards the farm.

"So, what do you think?" Chess asked, keeping her eyes on the road as they hit the motorway.

Alec smiled. "That I'm not going to be able to walk tomorrow," he said. "But its great. How often do you do that?"

Chess shrugged. "More often in summer. If we don't have too many shows, and we get some great weather we try to go every couple of weeks. Its good for the horses, too. A few times we've camped out there. Oh, hey, grab the pillow behind you and put it against the window."

"Wh-" Alec looked around.

Twitch had fallen asleep, curled in her blanket next to him, her head resting on the doorframe. Alec felt his breath catch, and he didn't even look for the pillow. Gently, so he didn't wake her, he lifted her off the window and turned her into himself instead. She burrowed into his side and his warmth on instinct, resting her head on his shoulder instead.

When Alec looked up, Chess was beaming out of the windshield.

"What?" he asked, smirking. "Pillow's slip."

Chess nodded seriously. "Oh, yes. They do. Can't be trusted at all." It was silent for a moment. And then- "You are so never living this down."

Alec turned up the radio.

Yep, let's not look at the utter failure of this. I did it pretty fast and spastically so its a bit all over the place. That said, I had such fun with the bad splashes and I'm pretty happy with how Kiwi came out.

A couple hours total for this.
No refs
Art and characters copyright to *Tattered-Dreams
Character design copyright to *LeavingNeverland
Do not take, copy, edit, redistribute or manipulate.

Description

Stable: Lakewood Farm
Horse Number: 1
Horse Name: Kiwi
Entry: Optional

Storyline:
1. Mandatory: First Meeting
2. Optional: The First Steps
3. Optional: Interlude - Things for the Future
4. Optional: Breakthrough
5. Optional: Building Trust
6. Mandatory: Mishap - Halter Training
7. Optional: Progression
8. Optional: Mishap - Early Saddle Sessions
9. Mandatory: Backing
10. Optional: Mounting Up
11. Mandatory: Flat Training
12. Optional: Jump training
13. Optional: Christmas Hack
14. Optional: Kaimanawa Hack
15. Optional: Beach/water riding: You are Here
16. Optional: The Future

Its so long since you guys have had a Kiwi Update, and I'm sorry about that. Life's been a little nuts, and since she's officially trained/backed/ridden away, the little things she still has to get used to don't really take up their own stories. I've had to knock off a few things I wanted to do - like interval training - and I may not have time for some of the ones still left. I'll see if I can't find time for a few last minute pictures to fill the gaps before the first phase of the challenge closes.

So, as a small catch up - Kiwi's been backed. She's also, at this point, had jump sessions and improved with her cross country and hacking out (enough that she was entered into a night time XC class, and went on the Lakewood Christmas Hack with a billion guest horses and riders). So she's fairly rounded off now, with a bit of a varied career ahead of her and already some experince under her hooves.

But I love the sea, and the beach, so I like to think that the Lakewood crew are frequent visitors at the coast closest to the farm, and because of that, Getting Kiwi used to the surf is a bit of a must. But then, she was a wild pony, so she'll be well used to lakes and natural water, so this is more of a fun afternoon than it is a training session. Never mind that I still suck at water. I'll master it one day

And I will just point out again, that just because you see/read something here, doesn't mean its always a brilliant idea, or the best way to do something, so do your research before taking your horse out to sea. Though the bit about horses swimming straight and not turning easy is true - its been known for horses to just swim out to sea and drown or be pulled under with the currents because they can't steer in water to get back to shore.

I'm sorry for huge length, but I guess I've subconsciously wanted to write this for ages, so its a day at the beach for you

"This is going to be *great*!" Chess exclaimed, leaping out of the side of the horse box and clapping her hands.

Becca leapt out after her, catching her friend around the neck and getting an impromtu piggy back as they staggered around to the back. Becca slid to the floor and Chess tied back her abundant hair in a knot. Twitch was pulling at the bolts of the ramp already.

Not far off, just across the small gravel carpark, the battered pickup truck was parked, their old trailer still hitched. Austin was already Djali down the ramp, and Alec was working between the two vehicles, piling all their picnic food and extra supplies into the flat bed of the truck.

The girls got moving on the lorry, finally getting the ramp down and beginning to lead out their crew.

Selly, Tyke and Toeki were all aboard, since they were all good with the sea and each other. They were hoping it would be a fun afternoon at the beach, even if Kiwi was technically training.

They made short work of brushing off the horses and distributing the tack so that everyone was kitted out. They were nearly ready to go when another car pulled into the lay-by. Austin's mum was sat at the wheel, her ash blonde hair tied back and she was wearing a thick woollen sweater. In the passenger seat was Candace Applin, pulling on her muckers, her pale blonde hair loose and in her face. In the back - separated by a wall of inflatable pool toys and more picnic baskets were Austin's two younger sisters, Lara and Sofie, who were nine and seven respectively.

Becca waved and hurried over as the others began trading horses.

"Hi!" she said cheerfully, pulling down the scarf she'd had over her nose and mouth. The air was still a bit chilly, but it was far warmer than it had been lately, and they were expecting more sun in the afternoon, so it wasn't a bad day for a beach ride. Plus, Chess' Grandmother was up at the farm to dote on Aphie and said she'd hold the fort if they wanted an afternoon off. "We're heading down now," she said. "You can walk with us, or hop in the pick up." The pick up had big enough wheels that it parked safely higher up on the beach where there was gravel mixed into the sand.

Austin's mum cut the engine. "Sounds good; I think we'll hop in the truck. Come on, Girls!"

They all disembarked, and while Lara and Sofie dutifully helped their mother move the supplies to the truck, Candace skirted them, jamming on her hat.

"We've claimed this one!" Becca called over, before steering the younger girl away.

They got her mounted up on Djali, who always looked slightly wilder at the seaside. Her mane was whipping crazily, her ears pricked and eyes bright, and she snorted loudly into the wind.

Austin climbed up on Toeki, who was now dithering on the spot. Becca hopped into the front of the pick up, Chess climbed up on Tyke and Twitch settled into Selly's saddle. Alec was sat on board Kiwi looking relaxed, despite how she kept turning around, first to face the sea, then away, then back again.

"Ready?!" Becca called.

A cheer went up.

"See you down there!" She started the engine. The two girls in the back grabbed onto the haybale seats and waved as Becca steered them out and down the rocky road to the shore. Austin led the horse parade away from the car park on the other side so they could use a bridle path down to the seafront.

The horses always got there last. The pick up was parked on a rise well out of reach of the water where the sand was mixed with gravel, so it wouldn't sink. The tide was out and the sand was packed nicely, leaving plenty of space for some good gallops and fun later. The beach spread for miles, but their section was maybe two acres long, marked off at either end by algae covered breakers that speared out towards the horizon and sank beneath the waves.

They kept together for a trot up and back once, just to give Kiwi some reassurance the first time. The others were all well used to days at the beach, other than Djali, but the last and first time she'd been, it hadn't bothered her in the slightest (though she did get scarily good when racing in the surf).

Alec sat deep in Kiwi's saddle and kept her on the edge of the pack, so that should she freak out, there wasn't going to be trouble. She was a little skittish; her ears were all over the place like helicopter blades with each Shhhhhhhhh Shhhhhhhhhh of the sea and whistle of the wind, but she didn't seem fearful. They began to break up, then. Twitch cantered away on Selly, straight across the beach, lifting out of her saddle and hovering over his withers with her hair tossed back behind her. Chess gave chase, and the slightly heavier built Timekin reared up as he sailed after them, Chess leaning over his neck, too.

Djali and Candace dropped behind, content to walk out to the surf. Alec watched them for a moment, smiling fondly as the younger girl let the reins go slack, even with Djali stood up to her knees in the foaming water, and pat the little Chincoteague mare on the neck. Djali looked right at home.

Toeki remained alongside Kiwi for another run, and then, at Alec's nod, also drifted away to start on some circles and school movements. Even on a fun day, Austin made sure Toeki did some schooling on the dry sand first. Kiwi's stride turned choppy as she was abandoned. She was too distracted by everything around her, but then, Alec was, too. He could remember going on exactly one beach ride before, back when he was on Easter holiday from boarding school. He'd gone with a local stable, and it was a huge event for them. The problem was, it showed; everyone spent the day so wary of the waves that they were tense in their saddles, and the horses were clearly no more aclimatised, and they couldn't do a walk down the beach without someone freaking out.

It was safe to say Alec had never been on a ride quite like this. The people were having fun, the horses were having fun and they had brought all kinds of things for games later on. Chess had been helping him with Kiwi around all kinds of water, and they'd ridden through streams and lakes around the farm, so Alec was sure the mare wasn't afraid. It was more like a little insecurity, coupled with too much to look at.

Alec looked over at the pickup and after a second, steered Kiwi towards it.

Candace, who had been cantering through the surf and was now splashed with the sea, overtook him and raced up. For a second, Kiwi tossed her head over the reins and skipped, wanting to follow on. Alec smiled but all too soon she'd lost interest and returned to marching sideways, closer to the vehicle.

They stopped by it eventually. Austin's mum was standing on the flat bed, arranging their picnic. Becca was throwing all their inflatables over the side where Sofie was running around, laying weighted ropes over them so they wouldn't be blown away. Candace was giving Lara a leg up onto Djali, who, true to her reputation as a sweetheart, was standing stock still, gazing at the sea patiently.

It didn't take long for the others to pile up around the truck, and Mrs. Fielding started handing out sandwiches, packets of crisps and chocolate bars. Tyke was in one mindset, and that was *forward* so Chess had to snatch a sandwich as he trotted past, yelled a thanks behind her, and then was eating it as she tried to rein him in one handed. Toeki was craning his neck, trying to steal Austin's bagel and Twitch alone had parked Selly closest while she munched on a pack of hula hoops, and occasionally held one out for the horse to woffle up.

Chess finally sat down to actually eat while Becca mounted Tyke and turned him for the sea.

"Don't head straight out!" Chess, Austin and Twitch all yelled after her, laughing.

Alec sniggered, even as Candace leapt over the side of the truck, still holding Djali's reins while Lara sat in her saddle. "Horses can't turn easy in deep water," the younger blonde said. "Something about the way they hold their heads and paddle. But if you run straight out, some of them can't turn back to shore and end up just swimming themselves to exhaustion."

"What happens to them?" Sofie asked in wonder, plucking a piece of cucumber from her sandwich and feeding it to Djali behind her mother's back.

Chess shot Candace a quick, amused look. "They keep swimming, all the way to the next country and run up on their beach instead. That's how we're not the only country in the world who have horses."

Sofie nodded seriously, accepting this as fact while Austin's mum hid a smirk behind her thermos.

All too soon the lunch was being stashed away so they could snack on it later, and there had been another switch around with the horses. Alec remained on Kiwi but Chess was mounted on Selly and racing against Toeki, ridden by Twitch. Sofie was having a go on Djali while Lara led her and Candace was once more riding through the surf on Tyke.

Becca was sat on the roof of the truck, holding binoculars and yelling out scores if someone caused a good splash or won a race. She shot him a look, as he brought Kiwi back down from a trot again and let her walk past the truck.

"What's up, Alec?" she asked, kindly.

Alec turned back to her with a sigh. Sometimes she and her two best friends acted so young and...well, insane, that it was easy to forget they were older than him by a couple of years. They often had really useful insights and Alec had to remind himself that asking for help wasn't failing.

"She's really distracted," he said at last. "There's so much going on, and I'm distracted too. She's not afraid but she feels unpredictable and I'm not used to it."

Becca watched him quietly, then tilted her head. "She's getting all this from you," she said finally. "She will have dealt with natural water in New Zealand, so there is no fear, but she needs you to help her like you always have. What do you want to do here today, Alec?"

Alec shrugged, and looked out. Chess was laughing her head off, folded over on Selly's neck, far enough out that the water broke into white spray higher than his knees and hocks. She was watching Twitch, who had also stopped Toeki and was wading through the surf, her boots only just higher than the lapping water, apparently trying to pick something up as Toeki followed her in confusion.

"I don't know," he said finally. "To have fun; to ride in the sea..."

Becca smiled softly, proudly. "You can't flounder on her because you're not schooling towards something. There's no lesson plan here, but she needs you to give her something to focus on. Go stand in the sea. That's your new task; walk, trot, whatever - get her out there, stand in the sea, then canter back here for your next challenge."

Alec smirked, seeing what she was doing. "Yes, Mom."

She threw a carrot stick at his head as he trotted Kiwi away.

They made it out there and back, though. With Alec given a drive, Kiwi put away many of her distractions and became all too willing to take up a new challenge. She skittered at the cold spray of the sea, but walked into it with high steps and loud snorts, watching the splashes she created with foal-like wonder. She raced away from it in glee, ears fixed firmly forwards. In no time, the others were yelling out more challenges than he could keep up with.

"Touch the mile marker and gallop back!" Chess shouted out.

"Find a seashell and draw a circle around it on horse back!" Austin joined in, handing him a long stick.

The challenges began to taper away, and now the games were out. Everyone still swapping horses - now including Alec who found himself on Tyke while Chess adjusted Kiwi's stirrups to fit her smaller height - they started pulling out the inflatables. Tyke and Toeki had a miniature puissance over a cartoon whale and a crocodile with duct tape over an eye so it didn't pop. Then they switched again and had a relay race (Djali went twice with two different riders) as to who could take their blow up toy to the surf - they had to get wet - and back to the truck and hand it off the fastest. Djali was practically smaller than the orca whale, but her little legs could be seen flying over the sand beneath the whale's face anyway.

Finally, the games finished up. They walked out the horses and finished off the remains of the picnic.

Alec found himself back on Kiwi, who was blowing hard but looked happy and relaxed. It was a good workout for them, Alec realised. Lakewood didn't do beach rides to slack off with the horses, nor was it like a gymkhana, where ponies sometimes got run into the ground. They used it just as more training. They took the horses that needed it, either because they were good with the ocean, or because they weren't, and they gave them a good workout, both in the water, for their muscles, and on the sand for their bones, and used the games to lessen their fear of a variety of spooky looking objects. And the horses were kept so busy, any fear of the sea was shortlived.

The tide was at last coming in. They had been out for hours. The sky was still light out here, with a vast spread of it all the way to the edge of the world, but the clouds had stretched out and were tinted with pink.

"Tide's up!" Becca yelled out. Tyke started underneath her. Chess sat up on the roof. Lara and Sofie were both exhausted in the back of the truck. Austin and Twitch gathered their reins. Tyke, Selly and Toeki all seemed to know what was coming, and immediately began pawing at the sand.

"Wave jumping time," Chess said, smirking at him. She climbed up, stood on the roof and pulled out the binoculars. "Okay, folks. Do your best, I'll see anybody wipe out from here!"

Everyone galloped for the water. At this point, Alec knew better than to ask, so he gave Kiwi her head and let her follow.

They were aimed straight out to sea, but they never went far enough that they lost their footing and couldn't turn. Alec watched the first round.

Twitch, Austin, Candace and Becca spaced out down the coast and trotted in as the first wave rushed to the shore. The three old hand horses leapt at it like they'd been faced with a show jump. Djali stood back and let it rain down on her.

"Four faults!" Chess yelled behind them. "Dice, that was dreadful. No, you know what? Five faults!"

Candace waved a fist at her in light humour, but the incoming tide was already bringing a new wave. The three at the front all leapt again, still trotting strongly. There was a long, shallow run here, so they were safe. Selly swerved away from a wave that broke on a smaller one, and Twitch squealed in laughter as she caught the blast. She trotted back to shore, soaking wet and smiling, her grey eyes lighter than ever.

"Come on," she said to him, as the others finished their rounds and headed back. Chess was yelling that Twitch had four faults. "Kiwi's a natural jumper, you might even win."

Alec didn't take much talking into it. As they started round 2, he lined up with them. It turned out Twitch was right; Kiwi watched the wave come at her and seemed to clock it, before leaping instinctually. A cheer went up, and then a huge groan as Toeki got caught and Austin trotted him back, his cherry red coat now dark mahogany.

Before long, Alec was laughing as they all walked back up the beach, all of them dripping wet and the horses stretching their necks. Kiwi looked exhausted, but he'd still had a hard time turning her from the water.

Lara and Sofie had crashed and were asleep on haybales. All their things had been gathered up and Austin's mum was back in the truck. Chess waved at them and climbed in, steering the pick up back to the rocky slip road, while the five of them on horses turned for the bridlepath.

Now soaking wet, the chill was really setting in, but by the time they corralled in the car park, a camp was set up.

Mrs. Fielding was handing out thick blankets and hot water bottles and Chess was already wielding an armful of rugs and towels for the horses. The living compartment in the lorry became a temporary changing facility while everyone pulled off the worst of their wet clothes and tugged on Lakewood hoodies and sweat pants. Warm welly boots were passed around and the horses' rugs changed over again when the ones they had on were damp.

The sky was falling dark by the time everyone was well on their way to being warm and dry again, and the horses were cool and dry enough to have their haynets. The carpark was empty but for them - in fact, it often was, since there were far better spots for tourists and dog walking further up the coast - so they pulled out deck chairs and huddled around a glowing space heater, laughing over the day, changing topics like the wind and making sure all the food really was gone.

But eventually, Chess rang her Gran and said they'd be home soon. They stood and packed up again; loaded the horses and split themselves between the cars. Candace headed back with Austin and Becca in the pick up. Austin's mum was going to head straight home and Chess said she'd drive the lorry back, with Alec and Twitch.

Alec was shattered as he climbed into the cab, but he was thrilled at how things had turned out. Chess fired up the engine and turned on the radio as Twitch climbed in last and pulled the door closed. They led the procession back onto the road and towards the farm.

"So, what do you think?" Chess asked, keeping her eyes on the road as they hit the motorway.

Alec smiled. "That I'm not going to be able to walk tomorrow," he said. "But its great. How often do you do that?"

Chess shrugged. "More often in summer. If we don't have too many shows, and we get some great weather we try to go every couple of weeks. Its good for the horses, too. A few times we've camped out there. Oh, hey, grab the pillow behind you and put it against the window."

"Wh-" Alec looked around.

Twitch had fallen asleep, curled in her blanket next to him, her head resting on the doorframe. Alec felt his breath catch, and he didn't even look for the pillow. Gently, so he didn't wake her, he lifted her off the window and turned her into himself instead. She burrowed into his side and his warmth on instinct, resting her head on his shoulder instead.

When Alec looked up, Chess was beaming out of the windshield.

"What?" he asked, smirking. "Pillow's slip."

Chess nodded seriously. "Oh, yes. They do. Can't be trusted at all." It was silent for a moment. And then- "You are so never living this down."

Alec turned up the radio.

Yep, let's not look at the utter failure of this. I did it pretty fast and spastically so its a bit all over the place. That said, I had such fun with the bad splashes and I'm pretty happy with how Kiwi came out.

A couple hours total for this.
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