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Description
MM Only a Fools GoldNugget's sluggish, but clean show jumping round.

It was late in the day, AJ and Nugget were the last entry to go in the jump off. She had watched some of the other rounds earlier and AJ knew she had some tough competition. As the sun started to move to the west over the thin layer of clouds that had overcast all day and the short winter day start to dip into the evening. The light breeze had slightly picked up steadily over the day and the settled snow would be picked up in gusts and spun through the air in ribbons of sparkling white powder. The majority of the spectators had moved to the west side of the arena with the wind to their backs.

Nugget's performance in the first round was interesting to AJ. She had owned the horse now for most of his life, but found herself realizing that she'd yet to ride him in a competition outdoors during the winter months. He was obviously affected by the cold and wasn't half the horse he usually was. His breathing was labored and he lacked his usual spark of defiance. AJ concluded that he hated the cold just as much as she did.

But even with the handicap, Nugget put on his best and finished the first round clean and with in the time restrictions. Now the two walked into the ring once more. AJ could feel him gnawing on the bit irritatedly and his ears were plastered to his skull as usual. Looking around at her shortened course, she went through the maze in her head once more before hearing the soft 'ding' of the start time and pushed Nugget into an up-beat canter.

They cantered toward the first jump, a daunting wall vertical with the RPS logo inscribed into the brick. Nugget's ears flickered forward and his tempo slowed, collected naturally and looking for his distance. Then found, he took three powerful strides forward and thrust himself over the wall. They cleared it, no problem.

As his feet touched down on the ground again, they were sat back and turning tightly to the second fence which would then roll-back to a airy vertical. The course was clean and not exactly spectacular to watch - Nugget would do his job, but lacked the enthusiasm he generally did, the elements clearly taking their tool on the stallion. As they turned toward the last fence, another airy vertical that was painted to look like ice blocks, Nugget was breathing heavily as was AJ. The icy cold air burned her lungs and she could only assume that it was why Nugget seemed to be fatiguing so quickly. She gave the horse his head and rolled her heels into his side once more, "Come on boy! One more!" He pinned his ears at her leg, but focused in on the fence, ears rotating forward as they closed in on the last jump. He took a long spot back falling flat as he ascended over the fence, AJ kept herself centered, trying not to hinder him at all as he sailed over. She didn't know if he'd make this one, the top pole precariously close to his underline. But it was up to him now, AJ could only wait until they landed.

--

Show: JFS Winter Show
Class: Show Jumping CCI *** - Shown at the fence 10.
Placing: 7th
Horse: MM Only a Fools Gold
Rider: AJ Weghcoth
Entry Number: 21
Stable: Double M Stables of DMA
Country: United States
Artists CommentYet again, the colors are ALL wrong... Really disappointed.

Art © =Jag6201
References: Used off of my own photograph
Tools Used: Wacom Tablet, Adobe Photoshop CS5; 4 hour

Description
MM Only a Fools GoldNugget's sluggish, but clean show jumping round.

It was late in the day, AJ and Nugget were the last entry to go in the jump off. She had watched some of the other rounds earlier and AJ knew she had some tough competition. As the sun started to move to the west over the thin layer of clouds that had overcast all day and the short winter day start to dip into the evening. The light breeze had slightly picked up steadily over the day and the settled snow would be picked up in gusts and spun through the air in ribbons of sparkling white powder. The majority of the spectators had moved to the west side of the arena with the wind to their backs.

Nugget's performance in the first round was interesting to AJ. She had owned the horse now for most of his life, but found herself realizing that she'd yet to ride him in a competition outdoors during the winter months. He was obviously affected by the cold and wasn't half the horse he usually was. His breathing was labored and he lacked his usual spark of defiance. AJ concluded that he hated the cold just as much as she did.

But even with the handicap, Nugget put on his best and finished the first round clean and with in the time restrictions. Now the two walked into the ring once more. AJ could feel him gnawing on the bit irritatedly and his ears were plastered to his skull as usual. Looking around at her shortened course, she went through the maze in her head once more before hearing the soft 'ding' of the start time and pushed Nugget into an up-beat canter.

They cantered toward the first jump, a daunting wall vertical with the RPS logo inscribed into the brick. Nugget's ears flickered forward and his tempo slowed, collected naturally and looking for his distance. Then found, he took three powerful strides forward and thrust himself over the wall. They cleared it, no problem.

As his feet touched down on the ground again, they were sat back and turning tightly to the second fence which would then roll-back to a airy vertical. The course was clean and not exactly spectacular to watch - Nugget would do his job, but lacked the enthusiasm he generally did, the elements clearly taking their tool on the stallion. As they turned toward the last fence, another airy vertical that was painted to look like ice blocks, Nugget was breathing heavily as was AJ. The icy cold air burned her lungs and she could only assume that it was why Nugget seemed to be fatiguing so quickly. She gave the horse his head and rolled her heels into his side once more, "Come on boy! One more!" He pinned his ears at her leg, but focused in on the fence, ears rotating forward as they closed in on the last jump. He took a long spot back falling flat as he ascended over the fence, AJ kept herself centered, trying not to hinder him at all as he sailed over. She didn't know if he'd make this one, the top pole precariously close to his underline. But it was up to him now, AJ could only wait until they landed.

--

Show: JFS Winter Show
Class: Show Jumping CCI *** - Shown at the fence 10.
Placing: 7th
Horse: MM Only a Fools Gold
Rider: AJ Weghcoth
Entry Number: 21
Stable: Double M Stables of DMA
Country: United States
Artists CommentYet again, the colors are ALL wrong... Really disappointed.

Art © =Jag6201
References: Used off of my own photograph
Tools Used: Wacom Tablet, Adobe Photoshop CS5; 4 hour