HOME | DD

Description
LAST MINUTE ENTRY AAAYYYYY

Fourth Place!

_______________________________________________________

Horse Reference: Calamity
Horse Breed: Hanoverian
Rider Name: Madison Ellis
Stable: Acacia Grove Equestrian Centre (AUS)
Show: HARPG Expo 2022
Class: Novice Dressage
Extra/Participation Images: N/A
_______________________________________________________

The decision to bring Calamity along to compete in the Expo was a last minute decision. There had been back and forward debate between Madison and Rosa about her readiness, but her recent first prize winning convinced Rosa enough that Madison was allowed to take her.
Madison had been training harder than she ever had with Calamity. The two were very well suited to one-another, they were both learning, and seemed to find some kind of connection through that. They were building trust over time, and it was definitely showing. Their communication had improved, and Callie was slowly learning to pull off some more advanced manoeuvres. She was by no means proficient, but she was definitely learning to be confident.

They barely had time on the first morning of the expo to get the horses settled into their barns and fed and groomed, before Madison had to start getting Calamity ready. Thankfully, she'd braided the mare's mane first thing that morning, since she was still jetlagged and couldn't sleep. While she was thankful for the braiding, she was definitely regretting not trying to force herself to get an extra hour or so of sleep, as she lead the mare toward the event grounds. She was one of the first competitors there, and she began to get nervous as the other horses began to pull up around her. Calamity playfully nickered to another young mare as she approached the arena, and Madison gently pulled her head back around, "I need you to focus," she whispered to her.

Aiden arrived shortly after Madison, and that helped settle her nerves. She made quiet small-talk with him while they waited for the first competitor to get set up, discussing what they would wear to the ball later in the week. Madison scanned her eyes over the crowd as they chatted. There were so many people, spectators from all walks of life here to see the horses compete. She couldn't pretend she wasn't nervous.

"It'll be fine," Aiden said, noticing her hand-wringing, "Callie's in top shape, and she's been listening really well lately."

"I know, she's a real good girl" she said stroking her neck and collecting the reins a little, Callie reaching back and trying to lick at Madison's boot, "I just hope she does well enough to impress mum, it's been a nightmare trying to convince her to let me take her anywhere."

"You're not here to impress anyone, just get out there and have some fun with her, that's the important thing," Aiden reassured her.

When it came to the test, Madison kept what Aiden had said in mind. She couldn't help but smile she heard Mason whistle excitedly from the side-line somewhere as Calamity smoothly moved into a canter. Less tense than usual, the pair bounced across the sand with fluency and grace; at least it felt that way to Madison. Rosa, on the other hand, watched on from the spectator area, reconsidering her decision to allow Madison to take Calamity all the way from Australia for this. Shaking her head softly, she carefully watched the mare lazily stomp across the sand, and held her head too far from her body. There was definitely a lot to work on before their next event.

_______________________________________________________

CREDITS:
Story featuring characters owned by DumpyDonut (Aiden, Mason)
Reference: Dressage Cup_50
Banners: sta.sh/2x7c4y4turi

Description
LAST MINUTE ENTRY AAAYYYYY

Fourth Place!

_______________________________________________________

Horse Reference: Calamity
Horse Breed: Hanoverian
Rider Name: Madison Ellis
Stable: Acacia Grove Equestrian Centre (AUS)
Show: HARPG Expo 2022
Class: Novice Dressage
Extra/Participation Images: N/A
_______________________________________________________

The decision to bring Calamity along to compete in the Expo was a last minute decision. There had been back and forward debate between Madison and Rosa about her readiness, but her recent first prize winning convinced Rosa enough that Madison was allowed to take her.
Madison had been training harder than she ever had with Calamity. The two were very well suited to one-another, they were both learning, and seemed to find some kind of connection through that. They were building trust over time, and it was definitely showing. Their communication had improved, and Callie was slowly learning to pull off some more advanced manoeuvres. She was by no means proficient, but she was definitely learning to be confident.

They barely had time on the first morning of the expo to get the horses settled into their barns and fed and groomed, before Madison had to start getting Calamity ready. Thankfully, she'd braided the mare's mane first thing that morning, since she was still jetlagged and couldn't sleep. While she was thankful for the braiding, she was definitely regretting not trying to force herself to get an extra hour or so of sleep, as she lead the mare toward the event grounds. She was one of the first competitors there, and she began to get nervous as the other horses began to pull up around her. Calamity playfully nickered to another young mare as she approached the arena, and Madison gently pulled her head back around, "I need you to focus," she whispered to her.

Aiden arrived shortly after Madison, and that helped settle her nerves. She made quiet small-talk with him while they waited for the first competitor to get set up, discussing what they would wear to the ball later in the week. Madison scanned her eyes over the crowd as they chatted. There were so many people, spectators from all walks of life here to see the horses compete. She couldn't pretend she wasn't nervous.

"It'll be fine," Aiden said, noticing her hand-wringing, "Callie's in top shape, and she's been listening really well lately."

"I know, she's a real good girl" she said stroking her neck and collecting the reins a little, Callie reaching back and trying to lick at Madison's boot, "I just hope she does well enough to impress mum, it's been a nightmare trying to convince her to let me take her anywhere."

"You're not here to impress anyone, just get out there and have some fun with her, that's the important thing," Aiden reassured her.

When it came to the test, Madison kept what Aiden had said in mind. She couldn't help but smile she heard Mason whistle excitedly from the side-line somewhere as Calamity smoothly moved into a canter. Less tense than usual, the pair bounced across the sand with fluency and grace; at least it felt that way to Madison. Rosa, on the other hand, watched on from the spectator area, reconsidering her decision to allow Madison to take Calamity all the way from Australia for this. Shaking her head softly, she carefully watched the mare lazily stomp across the sand, and held her head too far from her body. There was definitely a lot to work on before their next event.

_______________________________________________________

CREDITS:
Story featuring characters owned by DumpyDonut (Aiden, Mason)
Reference: Dressage Cup_50
Banners: sta.sh/2x7c4y4turi