Description
4SS Kalbarri and 4SS Shahin at 2022 Canberra Spectacular
Horses Reference: 4SS Kalbarri
Futurity ticket: #88
Handler: Opal Blanchard
Handler age: 25ish
Class entering: Agility class
Horses Reference: 4SS Shahin
Futurity ticket: #22
Handler: Sirus Blanchard-Hunt
Handler age: 33
Class entering: Agility class
Story: 321 words Opal and Sirus had watched Jamie and Saffron during the halter class happily enjoying their later start to the morning. Coffee in hand they had watched their eldest son beaming working with Saffron in the morning light.
They had happily chatted to other entrants as the sun rose higher turning every pale pastel hues as the fog seemed to glow in the morning before burning off as the sun climbed higher.
Preparing their young horses had started off perfectly fine with Red and Shahin fed, groomed and ready to compete in the agility course. They had practiced most of the obstacles at home, enjoying giving all their young horses exposure to common obstacles both natural and man-made as well as doing extensive ground work.
So it was no real surprise when Shahin behaved for Sirus. The colt happily trotting over the low jumps and pushing through streamers of coloured carpet without complaint. Sha had been working well with Sirus happily following the man's directions at home and trusted him to lead them in this new environment.
Even Red who's endless energy and desire to entertain usually caused Opal some work was behaving. The red filly stepped through the hoop calmly, tackled the L shaped backup poles with easy precision, the tarp without hesitation and it wasn't until after the small cross poles that she started getting worked up.
She had realised what a fun game these obstacles were and when Opal pointed her towards the low bridge Red saw it as a drop to be jumped like the banks at home and sprang up the first ramp before launching off the downside ramp yanking on the leadrope and hauling Opal forward.
Pulling on the leadrope Opal circles the excited filly, bringing her to a walk and circling back to the ramp to try again with slightly less enthusiasm. She'd never been more certain that this filly would absolutely be an eventer.
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References:
2022 AusWB Futurity: Entrant Polo for Opal and Sirus's shirt
AusWB Merch: Halter + Lead for Halter and lead
Banner references: AusWBA Banner , HARPG SPONSOR: PremiumPRO Feeds , HARPG SPONSOR: Pegasus Transportation
for location/background
Balloons at Sunrise for balloons
No reference used for Kalbarri and Opal, own reference used for Shahin and Sirus