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Description
Cross placed 9th! Alright for his first jumping class.

Horse: Cross Check
Rider: Ariel Bakers
Stables: CandleWick Equine Facility
Class: Show Jumping
Show: Mountainview's Second Annual Show

It seems like just last month Cross Check was strictly a dressage horse... Oh wait, it was just last month. One day after a draining dressage session, they cooled down with some trot poles and a cavaletti. What they then discovered was untapped potential into Cross' jumping ability. Throughout the following weeks, they've prepared for Mountainview's Second Annual show jumping class. He was a quick learner and easily made it to the 3 foot jumping level. After that, though, it was a bit of a wild card. He would begin to scramble over jumps much higher due to his lack of experience. Even still, Ariel figured the show was worth a shot.

They arrived on show day to wonderful sunny weather. With the sun, though, came the heat and she was thankful that the jumping class was indoors. The solid black horse would surely appreciate it too. It was fun only being entered in one class. There were less worries about getting to classes on time and it allowed for a relaxing lunch break as well as some strolling in between trailers and down the stall aisles over in the barn. Ariel loved exploring the grounds. All of the fantasy breeds were gorgeous, with their bright colors, grazing in the pastures.

As her ride time approached, though, she headed back to the trailer where Cross stood, mane already braided. She tacked him up and swept last flecks of dirt off his coat with a soft brush. She then re-placed her riding jacket over her torso and lowered the stirrups. She stepped on the portable mounting block. The pair headed off to the warm up arena and Cross stumbled over the first few jumps, he was gradually getting better as they went, but not as quickly as Ariel would've liked. Their ride was coming up and she was afraid he wouldn't be ready in time.

Their names were called and nerves grabbed Ariel by the neck. Cross walked steadily into the indoor wear an entire course of colorful jumps were set up. They picked up the trot, then the canter, and made a circle before the time started. Feeling his rider's nerves, Cross tensed too and rushed towards the first jump. A bump with the outside rein caught him just in time before he fell into the first jump. With a reminder that Ariel was still in control, Cross straightened up and did his job. Now, he was improving. And improving fast. They cantered and switched leads and turned on a dime and weaved between obstacles, and more importantly... they flew over fences. The last was blue like the beams of the arena and had a miniature mountain range titled "Mountainview Farms" and it was the tallest on the course. Cross took to it like a pro and they soared over, his front hooves pounding into the dirt on the other side.

"Olympics here we come", Ariel thought jokingly.

Description
Cross placed 9th! Alright for his first jumping class.

Horse: Cross Check
Rider: Ariel Bakers
Stables: CandleWick Equine Facility
Class: Show Jumping
Show: Mountainview's Second Annual Show

It seems like just last month Cross Check was strictly a dressage horse... Oh wait, it was just last month. One day after a draining dressage session, they cooled down with some trot poles and a cavaletti. What they then discovered was untapped potential into Cross' jumping ability. Throughout the following weeks, they've prepared for Mountainview's Second Annual show jumping class. He was a quick learner and easily made it to the 3 foot jumping level. After that, though, it was a bit of a wild card. He would begin to scramble over jumps much higher due to his lack of experience. Even still, Ariel figured the show was worth a shot.

They arrived on show day to wonderful sunny weather. With the sun, though, came the heat and she was thankful that the jumping class was indoors. The solid black horse would surely appreciate it too. It was fun only being entered in one class. There were less worries about getting to classes on time and it allowed for a relaxing lunch break as well as some strolling in between trailers and down the stall aisles over in the barn. Ariel loved exploring the grounds. All of the fantasy breeds were gorgeous, with their bright colors, grazing in the pastures.

As her ride time approached, though, she headed back to the trailer where Cross stood, mane already braided. She tacked him up and swept last flecks of dirt off his coat with a soft brush. She then re-placed her riding jacket over her torso and lowered the stirrups. She stepped on the portable mounting block. The pair headed off to the warm up arena and Cross stumbled over the first few jumps, he was gradually getting better as they went, but not as quickly as Ariel would've liked. Their ride was coming up and she was afraid he wouldn't be ready in time.

Their names were called and nerves grabbed Ariel by the neck. Cross walked steadily into the indoor wear an entire course of colorful jumps were set up. They picked up the trot, then the canter, and made a circle before the time started. Feeling his rider's nerves, Cross tensed too and rushed towards the first jump. A bump with the outside rein caught him just in time before he fell into the first jump. With a reminder that Ariel was still in control, Cross straightened up and did his job. Now, he was improving. And improving fast. They cantered and switched leads and turned on a dime and weaved between obstacles, and more importantly... they flew over fences. The last was blue like the beams of the arena and had a miniature mountain range titled "Mountainview Farms" and it was the tallest on the course. Cross took to it like a pro and they soared over, his front hooves pounding into the dirt on the other side.

"Olympics here we come", Ariel thought jokingly.