Raja lowered his head and easily allowed himself to be bridled. Melanie patted her horse on the neck and led him to the warmup ring. She tightened his girth and led him to the mounting block. She swung on to the calm gelding and asked him to walk on.

Melanie and Raja walked on a loose rein as they began their warm up. After a few laps in each direction, she shortened her reins and asked her horse to trot. After a few laps of a relaxed trot, they began a forward canter. Raja calmly and eagerly listened to each cue his rider gave him.