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Post by John Berkeley on Oct 10, 2011 2:37:09 GMT -5
Course:
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Post by Audrey Felicia McHenry on Oct 11, 2011 9:13:46 GMT -5
---------------------------------------------------------well it’s a big big city and it’s always the samecan never be too pretty, tell me your name--------------------------------------------------------- Audrey stroked Callie's neck just under the row of perfect braids that had been put in earlier that morning. This was the second time she had ever ridden the mare, and they were two trips away from going in the Junior Jumper Classic. Hindsight 20/20, maybe she should have entered the low junior jumpers instead, but Audrey didn't want to scratch. Besides, 4'3" was well within Callie's ability, and Audrey trusted herself to hold on.
The rider before her put in a solid round, scoring a time fault, but no rails. Audrey shivered a little, but pushed away the feelings of doubt quickly. She had a round to jump.
"Next up, number 2981, Calista. Audrey McHenry up, riding for Leya Berkeley." Audrey passed the other rider on her way into the ring. She guided Callie through the maze of jumps, letting her get a look at the scarier ones, on her way to the other end of the arena. Halfway there, the bell rang, but Audrey knew better than to rush into jumping. Within fifteen seconds, she was coming around fence five at a collected canter. As she turned the corner, Audrey shifted a little forward in her seat and adjusted her reins. hey, take care of me, okay? she asked Callie silently.
The first jump was picture perfect on Callie's part. From the view of a person on the rail, Audrey looked a little frazzled, just a little behind the motion and with just a little too much release. She recovered quickly, though, and guided Callie in a slight curve toward the second jump. She had already made the decision to ride carefully; if she got a time fault, that was fine. Audrey picked a line that brought her to jump two almost straight-on; she didn't want to risk being crooked over an oxer, even if Callie probably had enough scope to clear it with room to spare. This jump was better by far than the first, at least for Audrey. Callie kept on being the wonderful introduction to jumpers that she was.
As soon as Callie had all four feet on the ground again, Audrey was turning around seven and twelve on her approach to three. An uneventful vertical, followed by Audrey opening up Callie's stride to get to jump four within four strides. The mare had shortened up a little bit, probably as a result of Audrey's defensive riding technique. The oxer came quickly, and they were over it even more quickly. Callie needed more rein than Audrey initially expected, so her short crest release turned into more "slipping the reins and hoping to get them back in time." The last thing she wanted to do was catch the brown mare in the mouth. As well-schooled as she was, Audrey wasn't sure how the mare reacted to bad riding.
Audrey picked up the slack in her inside rein first, guiding Callie around the turn to fence five and thanking whoever trained this mare for the slight leg yield she gave while completing the turn to the free-standing vertical. They weren't totally prepared for the jump, but Audrey tried as hard as she could to stay out of the way and let Callie do her job. She knew she was riding slow and not taking risks, but this was a class to get to know the horse. The real challenge would come later, in the Mini Prix.
The double came next. This was the second most worrying part of the course. As a hunter girl, Audrey wasn't too skilled at judging distances in combinations, but that was why she was riding a schoolmaster. Even with no help from Audrey (who found herself getting into an easy rhythm with the horse who knew what she was doing), Callie got herself clear of both fences, even considering the long spot before the oxer.
Audrey felt really, really good about her round so far. So good, that she started to take control of the rest of the round. Even if she screwed it up completely, she'd know what to do for later. She put her leg on and increased the pace down to the vertical. She tried out an automatic release and found Callie respected her guidance even in the air. They were starting the quick turn around to fence eight even before they landed.
The line was oxer, four strides, then vertical. Audrey looked down the arena, finding a spot to watch, and pushed through the turn. She didn't want a simple clean round anymore; she wanted a round with no faults, rails down or otherwise. Callie complied with vigor, and Audrey could feel her excitement through her seat and reins. They cleared the vertical, but the four strides in between were a bit of a struggle. Audrey knew it was a short four, but Callie wanted to pull through her for a long three. They fought for a bit, until it was too late and Callie was launching herself over the fence from a short spot, chipping the top rail with her front hooves. Audrey scowled at herself as she heard it fall, but didn't lose sight of the goal John had: get around the course, don't embarrass us.
Audrey tried to recover, and it didn't take much effort. The turn to fence ten was a tricky one, taking all her concentration. She was determined not to let another rail fall. Callie didn't let her down; in fact, she gave a bigger jump than was strictly necessary, causing Audrey to fall a little on her neck, but it wasn't a big deal. The big deal was the scariest part of the course, the triple combination.
Audrey worried the whole way through the five strides to the first vertical. There wasn't a specific target of her discontent, just general worry about getting over everything without embarrassing herself further. Callie seemed to sense her discomfort and bobbed her head before taking one last strong stride and pushing herself over the first vertical. Audrey folded to meet her at the apex of her flight, moving in harmony with the dark bay as she landed, took another stride, and jumped again. Audrey laid her leg on and urged Callie forward to the last oxer, encouraged by her success. Callie pricked her ears forward and balanced herself between Audrey's hand and leg for the two strong strides before jumping the oxer. Audrey was left behind again by her enthusiastic form, but recovered her form by the time Callie landed and then they were off, around the short end of the arena, turning around to the final fence.
Audrey started celebrating one stride out. It was perfect - the approach left them at a spot in the middle of the oxer, six feet from the base. She folded with Callie's jump, the first supremely perfect fence of the course for both horse and rider. Upon landing, Audrey pushed the bay mare forward through the timers and gave her a pat for getting through the course safely.
They broke to a trot and exited the arena. "That was Calista with Audrey McHenry, riding for Leya Berkeley. One rail down, just within time. Next up..." Audrey didn't hear who was going next; she was too busy giving Callie all the scratches she could manage.
--------------------------------------------------------- so if you’re crazy, i don’t care you amaze me if you’re lonely, why’d you say you’re not lonely --------------------------------------------------------- word count: 1 2 3 1 outfit: here lyrics from: whistle for the choir by the fratellis graphics from: coti-tastic of caution 2.0 template made by: ayla of north creek academy [/color][/sup][/size][/font][/blockquote]
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Post by Oliver Dalton on Oct 11, 2011 16:09:32 GMT -5
Your image here [/img][/center] A HORSE GALLOPS WITH ITS LUNGS PERSEVERES WITH ITS HEART AND WINS WITH ITS CHARACTER [/b] Oliver Dalton entered the ring with his gelding, Words Away. The announcer was speaking, but all that was girmly tuned out. The only thing that mattered was the rider and the horse. C'mon Ollie. We'll show them what made us famous. Nothing is going to stand between us and that blue ribbon, got it? A clear round and a fast round. The bell sounded and Oliver pressed his horse for the canter. The first jump was easy--a simple vertical. Oliver decided to turn the nine stride slice into a nine stride bending line. He let his gelding open up and bring them to the oxer. Ollie didn't so much as flinch at the scary oxer. There was a hard turn and a lead change to fence three going around seven and twelve. The gelding skip changed, but had enough tim to straighten for the four stride line. Three cleared and Oliver pulled, bringing his horse back to him. The fourth jump looked intimidating and besides, it would be bad for the warmblood to get too strung out. Oliver carefully navigated the turn to the fifth jump, lining himself up to jump it at somewhat of a slice. It would save seconds turning to the six a. Worlds Away responded well and listened closely to his rider's guidance. Still, the gelding launched himself at the fifth jump, rubbing it, but not knocking a rail. Over the jump, the horse switched leads and was ready to listen to the next set of instructions. It was a sharp turn to the two stride, but Oliver wasted no time in getting there. The line wasn't perfectly straight and six b was jumped at a slight angle, already preparing for seven. The gelding opened up his stride and carried the rider to the seventh jump, chipping in slightly. So far, all the rails had stayed up. Next was a hard turn and a lead change back to jump eight. The gelding turned fine, but missed the lead change, In the next corner, Oliver asked again and this time, Ollie responded. The horse was bracing against the bit, trying to go faster. Worlds Away flat out galloped to the oxer and jumped it like it was grand prix. They raced through the line in three and a half strides, rubbing jump nine and getting dangerously close to making it fall. Coming out of the ninth jump, Oliver kicked his horse into his hand, using the impulsion to collect for the turn and another lead change. This time, the horse wasted no extra strides in getting the job done, perfectly balanced for jump ten. The pair sailed over it smoothly and into the five stride bending line. The rider held his horse, letting the big stride carry them to the bottom of eleven a, land, stride, eleven b, land, stride, stride, jump! The horse overjumped the oxer at eleven c, but cleared with plenty of room to spare. It was a wider turn to jump twelve and Oliver used that space to rebalance his horse even if cost an extra second or two. They were still within the time limit. Approaching the final jump, Oliver held his horse togther for the oxer. The pair finished cleanly and the boy let his gelding race away from the jump before pulling him back down a slower gait and exiting the arena. Maybe the announce said something more, but Oliver was busy patting his horse lavishly on the neck for yet another clean round "Good boy, Ollie. Good boy."
"This is you speaking. Say Whaat?!" This is you thinking.IN RIDING A HORSE WE BORROW FREEDOM[/size][/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center] ------Tags: ------Notes: Well, seems as though this is my show post template. ------Outfit: Show attire ------Word Count: 589 ------Template made by: Koney of Caution 2.0 // Edits by Eliza of North Creek Academy // Quotes by Tessio and Helen Thompson
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