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Description
Climax Stables
EDIT: He came first! [link]
This picture is my entry for ~alvija 's Sagittarius Stables Grand Opening Festival jumping show. The horse is my thoroughbred stallion Vivace, and the rider is his owner and trainer James Westward.
Background lined by ~Icetaon . Thanks, Icetaon! It was fun to collab. Vivace and James are part of the show jumping team Icetaon and I formed for the show, the Silver Sun Climax Team. Icetaon will also be using this background on her entries for our team, which you can check out here: [link] and [link] .

My drawing of Vivace and James was referenced from [link] by ~Sooty-Bunnie .

Vivace's past competition picture (2 points): [link]
Vivace's training picture for this show (10 points): [link]

Story (and if I overwrote it, what can I say? We all think our horse is the best...):

“So is he infertile?” a man asked, clapping Vivace on the neck. The bay stallion jumped at the sudden contact, but quickly returned to watching the people streaming past. Everyone was on their way to watch Sagittarius Stables’ show jumping competition. The man who had spoken appeared to be one of the spectators, from his tidy clothes and the program and camera he carried. The man was middle aged, and his build did not look suited to frequent riding.

James Westward, the owner of Climax Stables and of Vivace, had been walking Vivace to the warm up arena. James, halfway through putting on his riding helmet, frowned at the stranger and said, “What gave you that idea?”

“Well,” the man said, squinting in the sunlight, “As a thoroughbred breeder myself, I know you’ve been advertising Vivace as a sire of racehorses, and I know his foals are no mean shakes on the track, but they’re hard to find. Now Vivace’s out here, show jumping. This isn’t exactly the retirement of a big deal sire. I just figured there’s no other reason you’d bring him here when he could be making you rich at stud.”

“I’m afraid you’re mistaken,” James said with a cold smile. “Vivace has done very well in the breeding shed, and, as you mentioned, his foals are successful racehorses. Now that breeding season’s over, there is no reason Vivace shouldn’t have some fun in the show ring.”

“He could injure himself out there,” said the man. “And you could have shipped him south for the southern breeding season.”

“Climax Stables doesn’t do that,” James said. He mounted his stallion and nodded to the visitor. “Please excuse me.”

The man snorted and wished them good luck, but James already had Vivace trotting on the rail of the warm up arena. Vivace’s stride was stiff and staccato, and he tossed his head every time he passed the corner of the arena where some orange traffic cones were stacked. It took several minutes of exercise before James got the stallion to soften and collect himself on cue, not only because of Vivace’s nerves, but because the man’s comments had left James tense and irritable. James forced himself to breathe deeply and concentrate on his horse, but he was still more abrupt than usual when his wife, Kathleen Westward, arrived a few minutes later to see them off. Kathleen was a petit woman with wavy brown hair that was just beginning to grey. She had dressed up for the show, but she already had horse hair all over her shirt.

“Is everything all right?” Kathleen asked as she stroked Vivace and handed James a bottle of water.

James nodded. “Vivace is adjusting. He’ll be ready.”

“What about you? You look upset.”

“Well, it’s like I warned you.” James took a gulp of the water and tried to shrug, but the motion became more of a jerk. “People are already saying we’ve only got Vivace out here because he’s infertile. Before we know it the rumours will be everywhere. Our breeding operation can’t afford this!”

Kathleen seemed to shrink as she stroked Vivace’s face. She didn’t meet James’ eyes. “Firebolt will retire soon. Vivace won’t have to support us alone.”

“Sure, Firebolt – the son an ‘infertile’ allowance horse. It won’t work.”

“We knew we’d be criticised for giving Vivace a second career,” said Kathleen. She continued to stroke the thoroughbred stallion’s face. In a mechanical voice, she said, “So this will be his last show. We’ll give in to the critics.”

“What else can we do?” James turned Vivace away, less gently than usual, and finished their workout. At thirteen years of age, Vivace looked just as fit and majestic as when he crossed the finish line in races across two countries. James remembered those races. The only difference now was the muscle Vivace had put on, and the discipline age and training had taught him. Somehow – by luck or genetics – the thoroughbred had escaped the injuries that plagued his breed. He deserves to pass on that toughness, James thought. But it was Vivace’s vigour that carried him into the arena that day, and what a waste it seemed to keep him on a stud farm. Should they keep Vivace at stud, keep him safe and sound, make some extra money?

Vivace and James were called into the arena. Scores of people watched them from behind white rails as they cantered across the freshly raked sand. James was pleased with the arrangement of colourful jumps; it would challenge his horse without discouraging him. As they approached the first jump Vivace seemed to forget the spectators, and he responded to every shift of James’ weight, concentrating, but still alert to his surroundings and looking for the first jump with pricked ears. His strides were long and elastic. He might not have been the classiest jumper, but James knew he would never find a horse more dedicated to his job. Vivace had been that way on the race track, too. No one who saw his performance would doubt his worth as a stud. They approached the first jump and cleared it. When their approach to the second jump was a little fast, James, smiling at his horse’s exuberance, brought them back to a steady rhythm. The third jump came. Vivace took off, putting all his heart into the action. If a horse could be purely happy, James thought Vivace was then. Forget the critics, James decided. Forget the money. If the horse wants to spend his life jumping, then so be it. James would not deny his horse that joy.

Image: [link]
Registered Name: Vivace
Stable Name: Vivace
Gender: Stallion
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age: 13
Colour: Dark bay
Markings: White star and snip on face, white sock on right hind leg
Genotype: Ee Aa
Height: 16.2hh
Sire: Foundation
Dam (damsire): Foundation
Best offspring: None the Less
Offspring: Firebolt, Kick Start, Take Heart, None the Less , Simulation Game , Wishing Well , Dangereuse , Quick Ginger, Affetuoso, Wish Chip
Running Style: Stalker
Owner: Climax Stables
Breeder: Climax Stables
Trainer: James Westward
Rider: James Westward
Personality: Vivace is gentle but energetic, eager to please and loves competing. He will always try his best for a rider and has a big heart. He adjusts slowly to new situations and needs a calm and steady hand to make him comfortable.
Breeding Status: Open

Art and characters (c) Copperdragon

Description
Climax Stables
EDIT: He came first! [link]
This picture is my entry for ~alvija 's Sagittarius Stables Grand Opening Festival jumping show. The horse is my thoroughbred stallion Vivace, and the rider is his owner and trainer James Westward.
Background lined by ~Icetaon . Thanks, Icetaon! It was fun to collab. Vivace and James are part of the show jumping team Icetaon and I formed for the show, the Silver Sun Climax Team. Icetaon will also be using this background on her entries for our team, which you can check out here: [link] and [link] .

My drawing of Vivace and James was referenced from [link] by ~Sooty-Bunnie .

Vivace's past competition picture (2 points): [link]
Vivace's training picture for this show (10 points): [link]

Story (and if I overwrote it, what can I say? We all think our horse is the best...):

“So is he infertile?” a man asked, clapping Vivace on the neck. The bay stallion jumped at the sudden contact, but quickly returned to watching the people streaming past. Everyone was on their way to watch Sagittarius Stables’ show jumping competition. The man who had spoken appeared to be one of the spectators, from his tidy clothes and the program and camera he carried. The man was middle aged, and his build did not look suited to frequent riding.

James Westward, the owner of Climax Stables and of Vivace, had been walking Vivace to the warm up arena. James, halfway through putting on his riding helmet, frowned at the stranger and said, “What gave you that idea?”

“Well,” the man said, squinting in the sunlight, “As a thoroughbred breeder myself, I know you’ve been advertising Vivace as a sire of racehorses, and I know his foals are no mean shakes on the track, but they’re hard to find. Now Vivace’s out here, show jumping. This isn’t exactly the retirement of a big deal sire. I just figured there’s no other reason you’d bring him here when he could be making you rich at stud.”

“I’m afraid you’re mistaken,” James said with a cold smile. “Vivace has done very well in the breeding shed, and, as you mentioned, his foals are successful racehorses. Now that breeding season’s over, there is no reason Vivace shouldn’t have some fun in the show ring.”

“He could injure himself out there,” said the man. “And you could have shipped him south for the southern breeding season.”

“Climax Stables doesn’t do that,” James said. He mounted his stallion and nodded to the visitor. “Please excuse me.”

The man snorted and wished them good luck, but James already had Vivace trotting on the rail of the warm up arena. Vivace’s stride was stiff and staccato, and he tossed his head every time he passed the corner of the arena where some orange traffic cones were stacked. It took several minutes of exercise before James got the stallion to soften and collect himself on cue, not only because of Vivace’s nerves, but because the man’s comments had left James tense and irritable. James forced himself to breathe deeply and concentrate on his horse, but he was still more abrupt than usual when his wife, Kathleen Westward, arrived a few minutes later to see them off. Kathleen was a petit woman with wavy brown hair that was just beginning to grey. She had dressed up for the show, but she already had horse hair all over her shirt.

“Is everything all right?” Kathleen asked as she stroked Vivace and handed James a bottle of water.

James nodded. “Vivace is adjusting. He’ll be ready.”

“What about you? You look upset.”

“Well, it’s like I warned you.” James took a gulp of the water and tried to shrug, but the motion became more of a jerk. “People are already saying we’ve only got Vivace out here because he’s infertile. Before we know it the rumours will be everywhere. Our breeding operation can’t afford this!”

Kathleen seemed to shrink as she stroked Vivace’s face. She didn’t meet James’ eyes. “Firebolt will retire soon. Vivace won’t have to support us alone.”

“Sure, Firebolt – the son an ‘infertile’ allowance horse. It won’t work.”

“We knew we’d be criticised for giving Vivace a second career,” said Kathleen. She continued to stroke the thoroughbred stallion’s face. In a mechanical voice, she said, “So this will be his last show. We’ll give in to the critics.”

“What else can we do?” James turned Vivace away, less gently than usual, and finished their workout. At thirteen years of age, Vivace looked just as fit and majestic as when he crossed the finish line in races across two countries. James remembered those races. The only difference now was the muscle Vivace had put on, and the discipline age and training had taught him. Somehow – by luck or genetics – the thoroughbred had escaped the injuries that plagued his breed. He deserves to pass on that toughness, James thought. But it was Vivace’s vigour that carried him into the arena that day, and what a waste it seemed to keep him on a stud farm. Should they keep Vivace at stud, keep him safe and sound, make some extra money?

Vivace and James were called into the arena. Scores of people watched them from behind white rails as they cantered across the freshly raked sand. James was pleased with the arrangement of colourful jumps; it would challenge his horse without discouraging him. As they approached the first jump Vivace seemed to forget the spectators, and he responded to every shift of James’ weight, concentrating, but still alert to his surroundings and looking for the first jump with pricked ears. His strides were long and elastic. He might not have been the classiest jumper, but James knew he would never find a horse more dedicated to his job. Vivace had been that way on the race track, too. No one who saw his performance would doubt his worth as a stud. They approached the first jump and cleared it. When their approach to the second jump was a little fast, James, smiling at his horse’s exuberance, brought them back to a steady rhythm. The third jump came. Vivace took off, putting all his heart into the action. If a horse could be purely happy, James thought Vivace was then. Forget the critics, James decided. Forget the money. If the horse wants to spend his life jumping, then so be it. James would not deny his horse that joy.

Image: [link]
Registered Name: Vivace
Stable Name: Vivace
Gender: Stallion
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age: 13
Colour: Dark bay
Markings: White star and snip on face, white sock on right hind leg
Genotype: Ee Aa
Height: 16.2hh
Sire: Foundation
Dam (damsire): Foundation
Best offspring: None the Less
Offspring: Firebolt, Kick Start, Take Heart, None the Less , Simulation Game , Wishing Well , Dangereuse , Quick Ginger, Affetuoso, Wish Chip
Running Style: Stalker
Owner: Climax Stables
Breeder: Climax Stables
Trainer: James Westward
Rider: James Westward
Personality: Vivace is gentle but energetic, eager to please and loves competing. He will always try his best for a rider and has a big heart. He adjusts slowly to new situations and needs a calm and steady hand to make him comfortable.
Breeding Status: Open

Art and characters (c) Copperdragon