Blue Ridge is a fictional town located deep in the heart of Kentucky. It is home to one of the most well known equestrian academies in the United States. Students and staff from all over the world join the academy for what it has to offer. Do you have what it takes to join us and learn from the Academy?
Smilys were made by Sapphire Heaven of LiveJournal.
The mini-profile hover follows a tutorial by Kagney of Adoxography.
Photos in the skin used under CC from Flickr.
Ben patted Rowen's neck as they waited near the trail arena. He wasn't too worried about the gelding being warmed up for this event - They had cooled off enough after jumping, and trail was hardly a strenuous competition. Since their show jumping go, Ben had changed into jeans and a button-up shirt with a subtle pattern, green to match Rowen's headstall and paracord reins. He didn't take this class too seriously, and so had no issues with the fun colors, also represented on the gelding's saddle pad.
Finally, it was time for the class to begin, and Ben mounted, walking Rowen over to the gate since they would be first. The gate was easy enough, Rowen a steady, interested mount. They had some trouble with the barrels - More due to Ben's lack of ability to steer - but navigated the obstacle eventually, and then it was on to weave through the cones. The bridge was no concern to the Lusitano, but he perked up at the poles, more from excitement. He was all too happy to lope over them, but getting him to stop before the last one was a challenge.
He did, though, and then straddled it before sidepassing to the left and clearing the final obstacle. Ben patted his gelding on the neck and left the arena on a long rein, nodding at the steward and the next competitor to enter the ring.
Post by Cara-Jean Kitchi on May 29, 2018 0:51:49 GMT -8
Cara rubbed Tex's neck as the gelding shifted under her as they arrived at the trail arena. Her heart was pounding, as were her temples, but she only had this class to go, and then she could collapse in her pony's stall once she had seen to them both.
She bowed her head toward Ben as he exited the ring. The test here was simple enough, needed the same grace as that of a dressage test, yet without all the stress that dressage had to go with it. She confidently rode the pony to the gate, he happily stood as she opened it with her right-hand and using her seat and legs had the pony turn on his forehand so that she could close the gate again without letting it go.
She shook her head as Tex's ears flickered back and forth as she asked him to start backing up when they were at the barrels, and after a bit of a stand-off, the pony seemed to do the equine equivalent of a should shrug and started backing up. Using her seat and legs, she guided him around the barrel so they could move on. Moving forward, the pony happily picked up the trot and worked around the cones easily before circling the last one and halting at the bridge.
The pony had no issues with the bridge, though he did kick the first pole with his hind leg but picked them up after that. Picking up the right lead canter was easy enough and then halted smoothly before straddling the pole. "We're almost done, behave." Cara breathed as Tex flattened his ears and raised his head as he was asked sidepass, but with a shake of his head, he did as was asked and then it was over.
Rubbing his neck, Cara graced the gate steward a smile as they exited the arena, bowing her head toward Sina as they rode past. Her shoulders slumped slightly, the day was almost over.
Post by Bruce Ropata on Jun 6, 2018 1:17:11 GMT -8
Bruce stepped back and looked at the large horse, who was almost asleep in the cross-ties, and laughed. No matter what he did, there was really nothing that was going to make the horse look like anything other than a working horse. Boss just wasn't pretty, and nothing would ever make him look that way.
When they were both ready; the Stationbred in a close contact saddle, espresso coloured saddle pad, with beige pipping, and a plain snaffle bridle, which had the noseband on it just because it was a show. The man wore beige breeches, an off-white shirt and pulled his black jacket over the top. It wasn't often that he got to wear his show clothes, and it felt a little strange, since he spent so much time in casual wear. Bruce led the horse out of the barn and they made their way down to where they needed to be, before he swung into the saddle and began to work the horse in. And Boss? He still looked half asleep. While he warmed his horse up, Bruce watched the students in the arena.
As they rode toward their starting point, the gelding was suddenly awake, neck arched as he pranced along. Being a station horse, opening gates was something the gelding had been doing since he was broken in, and, if given the chance, Bruce was sure that Bruce could do it without help.
There were parts of the pattern where Bruce was sure the horse was going to walk out of the arena, like when he was asked to back through barrels, but Bruce was happy with the way the gelding took everything in his stride and did as he was asked; it was a good thing the horse liked to preform. Bruce rubbed the horse's copper shoulder as they exited the arena on a loose rein.
As soon as they were out of the arena, the gelding went back to looking half asleep and Bruce laughed as they headed toward their next class.