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Description

Rider: Mark Turner | 7 years old | AUS

Horse: Firestorm | Waler mare | 7 years

Class: U18 Junior Dressage

Show: Imperial Winter Dressage 2018

Reader: Mikayla Turner

Mikayla finished adjusting the mare's dark bridle. The mare wasn't nearly old enough for the more advanced classes and Mark had stated his interest in trying to compete in dressage, which his mother and 'Nana D' had always stated is the basis for anything and everything you can do with a horse outside of ground work. It was something he'd been practicing since he could ride a horse without being constantly lead by a handler on the ground. He rode his mother's current Olympic prospect mostly casually, sometimes during group lessons when his own horse decided to act up. He worked well with the roan mare, most people did. Firestorm was a people pleaser, just like her sire, and was particularly fond of the dark haired child.

Mark came out of the changing room, adjusting his blue jacket as he walked over to his mother.

"It feels weird and kind of stiff."

"Well, you've never worn it before." Mikayla chuckled, snapping on her son's helmet, careful not to get his hair tangled in the buckle or any skin.

"How old do I have to be to start wearing the funny hat?"

"Twenty."

"Nu uh! Siobhan said eighteen, and Sophie said sixteen!"

"Are they your mother?"

".... No." He huffed, crossing his arms. " But maybe they're right?"

"You've got a good ten years before then- when the time comes, we'll talk about it."

"Kay." He stood next to the mare's side. Firestorm looked over, before lowering her head and licking her lips. Mikayla adjusted the stirrups, before handing the reins to her son. They walked to vet's arena. Someone was leaving just as they entered. The darker horse tried to nip at Firestom, but Mikayla deliberately walked in the way of the strange horse's face, which made the horse jerk it's face back and look away from the group. Mikayla grimaced, patting her mare's back.

The vet knelt to to introduce himself to Mark, glancing at Mikayla as he talked to the 'little man' about his horse. Mark smiled and nodded, patting the roan mare's leg, before leading her into a quick walk to show off her pace- proving the mare wasn't limping or lame in anyway. He broke out into a run to get the mare to trot, her head low as she followed her human- doing her best to not trot too fast and accidentally outrun him.

"Well, she's certainly not lame, but you might need to get a little faster, little man." The vet grinned as Mark huffed and puffed next to the roan mare. Firestorm snorted as she allowed the vet to check her hooves, running his hands over the silvery shoes.

"New shoes?"

"Yes, walers don't normally need shoes, but she's been competing in a larger variety of terrain recently so it's mostly precautionary measures." Mikayla said, patting the mare's neck as she handed Mark a water bottle.

"She's got good strong hooves, well shaped. I might need your farrier's number."

"Well, I live in Australia, so it might be a little odd just flying over to work on your horses' hooves. It's a little cheaper and easier to catch things after you learn to do your own farrier work if you've got the time."

"Nice. Lucky for those horses." The vet felt down the mare's limbs, checked the back for any soreness, and ran his hands over her neck and chest checking for anything off. "Good sound bone, no lumps, no signs of drugs. She's a well-made mare by any standards." He took the mare's face in his hands, checking her eyes. The mare snorted, but stood still. "Clear eyes, alert." He checked her mouth. "Seven or so years, doesn't need any floating. Good good. " He released her mouth, rubbing the mare's bright bay face.

"You guys have the good to go. Good luck with the competition." He smiled, handing them the card. They returned to the stables, and finished tacking up the roan mare. Mikayla walked Mark to the warm-up arena. A lot of the other riders were older than him.

"Nervous?" Mikayla smiled up at him.

"A little. Is it always this busy?"

"Always, but you get used to it with practice. Just mind the other riders, take her through her paces. I'll be reading to you if you need it in the competition."

"I.. I think i have it memorized, but thank you." He took up the silver bay roan mare's reins and urged her forward, keeping to outside until he was sure the mare was warmed up enough to practice actual dressage moves. It wasn't thirty minutes later before his and Firestorm's names were called and they entered the dressage arena. Mark let out a woosh of breath, before bowing to the judges and began riding the routine that had been set up for him.

Word Count: 803

I tried a few different things with the shading this time. It still ended up a bit too shiny for a roan coat as far as I'm concerned, but it looks nice. Maybe next time, instead of doing Luminosity under two multiply layers and one overlay I'll try a greyscale instead? I wanted something a little more realistic than the normal cell/soft mix. Snow is weird.

References:
Dressage Stock - XVIII
Dressage Stock - XXVIII

Background References

Description

Rider: Mark Turner | 7 years old | AUS

Horse: Firestorm | Waler mare | 7 years

Class: U18 Junior Dressage

Show: Imperial Winter Dressage 2018

Reader: Mikayla Turner

Mikayla finished adjusting the mare's dark bridle. The mare wasn't nearly old enough for the more advanced classes and Mark had stated his interest in trying to compete in dressage, which his mother and 'Nana D' had always stated is the basis for anything and everything you can do with a horse outside of ground work. It was something he'd been practicing since he could ride a horse without being constantly lead by a handler on the ground. He rode his mother's current Olympic prospect mostly casually, sometimes during group lessons when his own horse decided to act up. He worked well with the roan mare, most people did. Firestorm was a people pleaser, just like her sire, and was particularly fond of the dark haired child.

Mark came out of the changing room, adjusting his blue jacket as he walked over to his mother.

"It feels weird and kind of stiff."

"Well, you've never worn it before." Mikayla chuckled, snapping on her son's helmet, careful not to get his hair tangled in the buckle or any skin.

"How old do I have to be to start wearing the funny hat?"

"Twenty."

"Nu uh! Siobhan said eighteen, and Sophie said sixteen!"

"Are they your mother?"

".... No." He huffed, crossing his arms. " But maybe they're right?"

"You've got a good ten years before then- when the time comes, we'll talk about it."

"Kay." He stood next to the mare's side. Firestorm looked over, before lowering her head and licking her lips. Mikayla adjusted the stirrups, before handing the reins to her son. They walked to vet's arena. Someone was leaving just as they entered. The darker horse tried to nip at Firestom, but Mikayla deliberately walked in the way of the strange horse's face, which made the horse jerk it's face back and look away from the group. Mikayla grimaced, patting her mare's back.

The vet knelt to to introduce himself to Mark, glancing at Mikayla as he talked to the 'little man' about his horse. Mark smiled and nodded, patting the roan mare's leg, before leading her into a quick walk to show off her pace- proving the mare wasn't limping or lame in anyway. He broke out into a run to get the mare to trot, her head low as she followed her human- doing her best to not trot too fast and accidentally outrun him.

"Well, she's certainly not lame, but you might need to get a little faster, little man." The vet grinned as Mark huffed and puffed next to the roan mare. Firestorm snorted as she allowed the vet to check her hooves, running his hands over the silvery shoes.

"New shoes?"

"Yes, walers don't normally need shoes, but she's been competing in a larger variety of terrain recently so it's mostly precautionary measures." Mikayla said, patting the mare's neck as she handed Mark a water bottle.

"She's got good strong hooves, well shaped. I might need your farrier's number."

"Well, I live in Australia, so it might be a little odd just flying over to work on your horses' hooves. It's a little cheaper and easier to catch things after you learn to do your own farrier work if you've got the time."

"Nice. Lucky for those horses." The vet felt down the mare's limbs, checked the back for any soreness, and ran his hands over her neck and chest checking for anything off. "Good sound bone, no lumps, no signs of drugs. She's a well-made mare by any standards." He took the mare's face in his hands, checking her eyes. The mare snorted, but stood still. "Clear eyes, alert." He checked her mouth. "Seven or so years, doesn't need any floating. Good good. " He released her mouth, rubbing the mare's bright bay face.

"You guys have the good to go. Good luck with the competition." He smiled, handing them the card. They returned to the stables, and finished tacking up the roan mare. Mikayla walked Mark to the warm-up arena. A lot of the other riders were older than him.

"Nervous?" Mikayla smiled up at him.

"A little. Is it always this busy?"

"Always, but you get used to it with practice. Just mind the other riders, take her through her paces. I'll be reading to you if you need it in the competition."

"I.. I think i have it memorized, but thank you." He took up the silver bay roan mare's reins and urged her forward, keeping to outside until he was sure the mare was warmed up enough to practice actual dressage moves. It wasn't thirty minutes later before his and Firestorm's names were called and they entered the dressage arena. Mark let out a woosh of breath, before bowing to the judges and began riding the routine that had been set up for him.

Word Count: 803

I tried a few different things with the shading this time. It still ended up a bit too shiny for a roan coat as far as I'm concerned, but it looks nice. Maybe next time, instead of doing Luminosity under two multiply layers and one overlay I'll try a greyscale instead? I wanted something a little more realistic than the normal cell/soft mix. Snow is weird.

References:
Dressage Stock - XVIII
Dressage Stock - XXVIII

Background References