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Description
CS Angel Dust showing in Hunter Jumping at the ISI Jumping Classic
Rider: Flossy Nightingale
Stable: Ciwi (Kiwi) Sun
Country: New Zealand
Number: 591

Place: 1st!
(out of one though, because none of the other entries made it in on time. Still counts... I think? lol)
Dusty worked her hooves nervously into the dirt that crowned the foreign area's floor, and a twitch shook her polished withers. Flossy could sense the mare's uneasiness, and gave her a light pat on the neck as she straddled her, silently praying the hyperactive young mare wouldn't panic and make a break for it. She took a deep breath, trying to sooth her own nerves -- her stomach always churned before a show as her very imaginative mind went through all the ways she could possibly fail, from sliding over Dusty's shoulder to trampling an onlooker beneath the hooves of a terrified young arabian. It was all right with Doc, her mount of choice -- he was the antithesis of her. He was constantly calm and relaxed, and always completely confident in what he did. With Dusty under the saddle though, her mood could be nothing less than destructive, the kindling that fed the mare's own fears.

Flossy couldn't blame her for being nervous; this was Dusty's first REAL show. Her first official show; the mini ones they held at Ciwi didn't count, considering the only ones in the audience were enthusiastic mothers and agitated brothers who could think of an infinite number of places they'd rather be. She had students on her back then, and familiar horses all around her, and worked in her own arena. Here, she knew no one except Floss, and the smells were overwhelming, the setting alien, and all the horses completely foreign. It was a lot for a horse, she had no doubt, especially considering Dusty had only been 'showing' for the past two months. She was still uneasy in front of a crowd, but Flossy had learned that she fed off of her rider's vibes quite a lot, which was a good thing. Usually. Except, not now, because Flossy was failing miserably at calming herself down, and thinking of the effect she was having on the mare only made her even more nervous.

The fact that she had very nearly missed her cue tensed Floss up even more as she spurred Dusty out into the arena. The arabian lurched into action, and it was all Floss could do to keep her from breaking into a full gallop. The mare resisted a moment as she took in the audience with wide eyes, and the arena before her, and for a few terrifying seconds, Flossy thought she wasn't going to perform; but Dusty began pulled herself together after a little urging and finally decided to pay attention as Floss steered her toward the first jump.

The first one was sloppy, and though they cleared it (by a hair), Dusty landed hard and messy, costing them a moment or two as she recomposed herself. After that mess up, she began to remember her training, and the countless times she'd flown over jumps precisely like this at home. The next jump was better, and by the third she was at her best again, leaping over the hurdles with her old vigour, her proud tail up and streaming out behind her.

It was clear by the time they finished the course that Dusty was feeling very proud of herself, and it seemed to Flossy as though she were guiding a very different horse out of the arena than the one she'd led in; Dusty's head was high, her tail held up triumphantly and her movements quick and smooth instead of erratic and shaky, despite the fact that she was panting. As they left the arena behind, Floss dismounted and gave the mare a pat on the neck. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" she said reassuringly, and she was sure the mare gave her a poisonous look as Flossy led her off to cool down.
YAY DUSTY'S FIRST SHOW!!!! :whee: We're cutting it a bit close with this one, considering the deadline is TODAY, but better right on time than never right?! Not as catchy a saying as the original, but serves it's purpose.

Description
CS Angel Dust showing in Hunter Jumping at the ISI Jumping Classic
Rider: Flossy Nightingale
Stable: Ciwi (Kiwi) Sun
Country: New Zealand
Number: 591

Place: 1st!
(out of one though, because none of the other entries made it in on time. Still counts... I think? lol)
Dusty worked her hooves nervously into the dirt that crowned the foreign area's floor, and a twitch shook her polished withers. Flossy could sense the mare's uneasiness, and gave her a light pat on the neck as she straddled her, silently praying the hyperactive young mare wouldn't panic and make a break for it. She took a deep breath, trying to sooth her own nerves -- her stomach always churned before a show as her very imaginative mind went through all the ways she could possibly fail, from sliding over Dusty's shoulder to trampling an onlooker beneath the hooves of a terrified young arabian. It was all right with Doc, her mount of choice -- he was the antithesis of her. He was constantly calm and relaxed, and always completely confident in what he did. With Dusty under the saddle though, her mood could be nothing less than destructive, the kindling that fed the mare's own fears.

Flossy couldn't blame her for being nervous; this was Dusty's first REAL show. Her first official show; the mini ones they held at Ciwi didn't count, considering the only ones in the audience were enthusiastic mothers and agitated brothers who could think of an infinite number of places they'd rather be. She had students on her back then, and familiar horses all around her, and worked in her own arena. Here, she knew no one except Floss, and the smells were overwhelming, the setting alien, and all the horses completely foreign. It was a lot for a horse, she had no doubt, especially considering Dusty had only been 'showing' for the past two months. She was still uneasy in front of a crowd, but Flossy had learned that she fed off of her rider's vibes quite a lot, which was a good thing. Usually. Except, not now, because Flossy was failing miserably at calming herself down, and thinking of the effect she was having on the mare only made her even more nervous.

The fact that she had very nearly missed her cue tensed Floss up even more as she spurred Dusty out into the arena. The arabian lurched into action, and it was all Floss could do to keep her from breaking into a full gallop. The mare resisted a moment as she took in the audience with wide eyes, and the arena before her, and for a few terrifying seconds, Flossy thought she wasn't going to perform; but Dusty began pulled herself together after a little urging and finally decided to pay attention as Floss steered her toward the first jump.

The first one was sloppy, and though they cleared it (by a hair), Dusty landed hard and messy, costing them a moment or two as she recomposed herself. After that mess up, she began to remember her training, and the countless times she'd flown over jumps precisely like this at home. The next jump was better, and by the third she was at her best again, leaping over the hurdles with her old vigour, her proud tail up and streaming out behind her.

It was clear by the time they finished the course that Dusty was feeling very proud of herself, and it seemed to Flossy as though she were guiding a very different horse out of the arena than the one she'd led in; Dusty's head was high, her tail held up triumphantly and her movements quick and smooth instead of erratic and shaky, despite the fact that she was panting. As they left the arena behind, Floss dismounted and gave the mare a pat on the neck. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" she said reassuringly, and she was sure the mare gave her a poisonous look as Flossy led her off to cool down.
YAY DUSTY'S FIRST SHOW!!!! :whee: We're cutting it a bit close with this one, considering the deadline is TODAY, but better right on time than never right?! Not as catchy a saying as the original, but serves it's purpose.