Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2013 16:59:14 GMT -8
Savannah stood in the barn aisle, finishing her off her mare, Dutchess, before they would compete in the Show Jumping trials. Once each piece of dust was off the mare's black and white piebald coat, Savannah took a step back to admire the beauty of a horse. Her hunter green ear net which matched her breast plate and saddle pad, as well as Savannah's show coat, looked perfect as her ears swiveled underneath the material. Her Hermes Brasilia Saddle sat atop the mare's back, underneath of it a pristine white quilted pad, with an Ultra Thinline Sheepskin Halfpad to give her some added comfort. The Veredus Nero Carbon Gel Open Front Horse Boots gripped the mare's cannon bones to ensure support. Dutchess was a picture perfect competitor, always looking her best and always focused on the goal. Now, however, the mare stood lazily, eyes drooping and head dropped as low as the cross ties would allow her.
Savannah double checked her girth, knowing that she would triple check it again once she was aboard, and once satisfied, she pulled on her Charles Owen Gr8 helmet in Black, and secured the claps on the tops of her boots, running a hand along her white breeches to get rid of any dirt or dust that might have crept up on her. This was it. She was ready for her first show in Kentucky. No, it wasn't a big show like she was used to, but it was a school-wide show, so that was okay with her. She would get to see all of her peers in their element and, of course, they would see her in the zone. She took Dutchess' left rein and lead her down the aisle, feeling her crop sticking out of her boot as she walked out of the barn and down towards the show rings.
When they reached the Show Jumping Arena, she watched as a headstrong mare was getting a bit too riled up towards the end of her course with her male rider, one whom she was sure she'd seen around the campus, but never heard his name. She let out a sigh of relief as the pair made it across the finish line, since she knew very well that anything could go wrong during a show.
Another girl and her horse were to go next, so Savannah would go after her. She used the mounting block to get into the saddle, pushing back her right leg as she triple checked the girth, wanting to make sure that it wouldn't slip while they were out in the arena. Once sure it was tight enough, she let the mare walk around a bit before they entered the sand arena. She'd already walked the course earlier, and memorized it, so she just did another run through in her mind as she looked at the fences and Dutchess simply stretched her legs more before she would be asked to work.
She steered her mare into the arena, thanking the person who opened the gate for her, and then asked the mare for a trot as they made their way to the front side of the arena where she could do her circle. Once as the corner, she asked her mare for a canter, which Dutchess did gladly, picking up her correct lead and Savannah could feel the contact nice and early as they did their opening circle. They crossed the starting point and it was all business. She pointed her mare at the first jump, an upright, followed by another right after, and Savannah felt the mare's muscles bind up, preparing for the jump. They found the right distance, and Dutchess bounced right over it, taking the next few strides and taking another distance which could have been considered a bit long, but Dutchess handled it well, soaring over it, taking Savannah's leg cues to turn towards the third jump, the brick wall. Dutchess had tackled a few of these jumps before back home, but since coming here, they hadn't had much time to practice on one, so Savannah set her up as best she could, giving her a half halt to add in an extra stride before they reached their distance. Three, two, one, take off.
They landed on the other side with a rather hard impact, but Dutchess picked her head back up and continued moving, right for the hogsback jump which was coming up fast. It was no jump to phase the two, and the pair leaped over it, Dutchess stretching out over it once she was high enough to clear the middle bar, and then started cantering as soon as they landed, and turning for the next upright. Savannah found the distance for this jump, but may as well have not even been looking, for she was already focused on the liverpool up ahead. Dutchess was always a little skittish around water, so Savannah made an attempt to collect the mare before she got too spooked. Half halt, half halt, leg on. Dutchess responded and sailed over the liverpool, calm and collected, just the way she had hoped.
Next was the square oxer, which Dutchess saw and in response, swiveled an ear back to listen for Savannah. "You're good, girl. Keep it up." Savannah said to her quickly before giving her added pressure in her calves as they came up. Three, two, one, spring! The pair took the square oxer well, but a small misjudgment on Dutchess' part caused for a heart stopping moment where Savannah could hear the rail rattling in the cups which were shallow enough to not even be there. She pushed Dutchess faster, hoping with all her might that the rail stayed up.
She couldn't dwell on it. She was racing the clock. She couldn't look back. She'd mess it all up. She urged Dutchess towards the fan jump, which was cleared with ease. Dutchess knew that she may have cost them the round with her little mishap, and she was not a mare to disappoint. She cleared the distance between the fan and the triple combination in less strides than Savannah would have wanted, but the girl prepared herself for an upright shot and a few bounces between the other two jumps, and within seconds, she was crossing the finish line, biting her lip.
As she pulled her mare up, trotting her in a circle, and then walking back towards the gate, she glanced over to the square oxer, letting out a sigh of relief as she saw that the pole had settled in the cups, sparing them a fault. She smiled, patting her mare on the neck in thanks for her hard work, and they exited the arena after their clear round which was well within the time limit.
Savannah double checked her girth, knowing that she would triple check it again once she was aboard, and once satisfied, she pulled on her Charles Owen Gr8 helmet in Black, and secured the claps on the tops of her boots, running a hand along her white breeches to get rid of any dirt or dust that might have crept up on her. This was it. She was ready for her first show in Kentucky. No, it wasn't a big show like she was used to, but it was a school-wide show, so that was okay with her. She would get to see all of her peers in their element and, of course, they would see her in the zone. She took Dutchess' left rein and lead her down the aisle, feeling her crop sticking out of her boot as she walked out of the barn and down towards the show rings.
When they reached the Show Jumping Arena, she watched as a headstrong mare was getting a bit too riled up towards the end of her course with her male rider, one whom she was sure she'd seen around the campus, but never heard his name. She let out a sigh of relief as the pair made it across the finish line, since she knew very well that anything could go wrong during a show.
Another girl and her horse were to go next, so Savannah would go after her. She used the mounting block to get into the saddle, pushing back her right leg as she triple checked the girth, wanting to make sure that it wouldn't slip while they were out in the arena. Once sure it was tight enough, she let the mare walk around a bit before they entered the sand arena. She'd already walked the course earlier, and memorized it, so she just did another run through in her mind as she looked at the fences and Dutchess simply stretched her legs more before she would be asked to work.
She steered her mare into the arena, thanking the person who opened the gate for her, and then asked the mare for a trot as they made their way to the front side of the arena where she could do her circle. Once as the corner, she asked her mare for a canter, which Dutchess did gladly, picking up her correct lead and Savannah could feel the contact nice and early as they did their opening circle. They crossed the starting point and it was all business. She pointed her mare at the first jump, an upright, followed by another right after, and Savannah felt the mare's muscles bind up, preparing for the jump. They found the right distance, and Dutchess bounced right over it, taking the next few strides and taking another distance which could have been considered a bit long, but Dutchess handled it well, soaring over it, taking Savannah's leg cues to turn towards the third jump, the brick wall. Dutchess had tackled a few of these jumps before back home, but since coming here, they hadn't had much time to practice on one, so Savannah set her up as best she could, giving her a half halt to add in an extra stride before they reached their distance. Three, two, one, take off.
They landed on the other side with a rather hard impact, but Dutchess picked her head back up and continued moving, right for the hogsback jump which was coming up fast. It was no jump to phase the two, and the pair leaped over it, Dutchess stretching out over it once she was high enough to clear the middle bar, and then started cantering as soon as they landed, and turning for the next upright. Savannah found the distance for this jump, but may as well have not even been looking, for she was already focused on the liverpool up ahead. Dutchess was always a little skittish around water, so Savannah made an attempt to collect the mare before she got too spooked. Half halt, half halt, leg on. Dutchess responded and sailed over the liverpool, calm and collected, just the way she had hoped.
Next was the square oxer, which Dutchess saw and in response, swiveled an ear back to listen for Savannah. "You're good, girl. Keep it up." Savannah said to her quickly before giving her added pressure in her calves as they came up. Three, two, one, spring! The pair took the square oxer well, but a small misjudgment on Dutchess' part caused for a heart stopping moment where Savannah could hear the rail rattling in the cups which were shallow enough to not even be there. She pushed Dutchess faster, hoping with all her might that the rail stayed up.
She couldn't dwell on it. She was racing the clock. She couldn't look back. She'd mess it all up. She urged Dutchess towards the fan jump, which was cleared with ease. Dutchess knew that she may have cost them the round with her little mishap, and she was not a mare to disappoint. She cleared the distance between the fan and the triple combination in less strides than Savannah would have wanted, but the girl prepared herself for an upright shot and a few bounces between the other two jumps, and within seconds, she was crossing the finish line, biting her lip.
As she pulled her mare up, trotting her in a circle, and then walking back towards the gate, she glanced over to the square oxer, letting out a sigh of relief as she saw that the pole had settled in the cups, sparing them a fault. She smiled, patting her mare on the neck in thanks for her hard work, and they exited the arena after their clear round which was well within the time limit.