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Description
Whimsy placed 12th in this class which isn't bad considering the number of incredible entries she was up against. Congrats to this team on their first international embark in the name of CandleWick!!!

Horse: Whimsy
Rider: Jamie Rians
Stable: CandleWick Equine Facility
Country: United States
Class: Dressage
Show: Canadian Equestrian Championships

It was the evening on the third day. Jamie's and Whimsy's nerves were still high, but with a seasoned pro by their sides, Ashley continued to pave the way for their success. Early that morning they woke and entered the warm up ring for some last minute practicing. Jamie was a trainer an obviously knew what she was doing in the saddle, but it didn't hurt to have a pair of eyes on the ground telling her what it looked like from down there.

It was a little chilly that morning. And it was still dark outside. The women were both wearing their new CandleWick athletic jackets and Whimsy kept warm with an exhilarating ride. They went over only the big moves. They didn't want to strain poor Whimsy for their most enduring day. Canter pirouette, half pass, flying changes every stride. Those were the ones the practiced, and though they were executed, the performance was quite lack-luster. Whimsy, with all her American Paint Horse blood lines, was a clear underdog at the CIEC. She didn't fit in, and though not a mutt, she was barely capable of the dressage movements. Despite that, however, she always put forth everything she had.

As the morning grew light, the cross country riders emerged from their trailers and RVs. They tacked up their horses and wrapped their legs, pinned their numbers to their vests and placed the colorful helmets on top of messy mops of hair. The athletes randomly entered the ring as their rides approached, and when the arena grew to crowded, the trio's session ended and they traveled back to their corner of the trailer grounds. Whimsy was put back into her trailer's stall with a large net stuffed with hay and water bucket filled to the brim. After a couple treats, Jamie and Ashley left her to doze in the late morning and they headed off to watch the indoor cross country.

Neither of them had ever witnessed an indoor cross country course in person and each ride was short like show jumping, but the obstacles proved to be much more challenging. Foliage sprung from each log in green array and disguised where the solid portions of the jumps were.

"I'm so glad we weren't entered in this class", Jamie nudged Ashley while they were at lunch. For a show concession stand, they had great food - they each held a practically gourmet hamburger with freshly cut crinkle fries. They had great seats since one of them was a competitor, almost right behind the front wall with the advertisements and they sat there for the entire lunch break watching the colorful horses warm up on the sample jumps.

They had to miss the last few rides, though, and returned to tack up Whimsy who whinnied at them from behind the bars of her trailer stall. She stood quietly while they did some touch up grooming and sewed the braids in her mane. They left her tail undone and proceeded with the tacking up process. The maroon trimmed saddle pad popped on her red toned coat and eyes. As Ashley finished bridling she handed Jamie the reins. Jamie gazed into those deep brown eyes and stroked the mares bay face. Whimsy closed her eyes in happiness, but opened them again when Jamie said something.

"We've got this girl. All we can do is give it our all and there is no shame when you have done that", she whispered and Whimsy gazed at her intently. With those final words whispered in the mare's fuzzy ears, they were ready to go. They stepped down the ramp yet another time and Ashley gave the the rider a leg up. They had a short warm up session, practicing the same session they did earlier that morning.

Jamie's name boomed over the intercom. They were on deck.

They walked to the stadium's entrance and Ashley took her spot next to the fence. Jamie and Whimsy entered as the last rider left. The big black Swedish Warmblood stood hands above the little tobiano, but she stood resolute under her confident rider. Their names boomed again and they entered, warming up around the outside of the arena. The rustling of the audience in the grandstands was muffled through Jamie's filtering ears. She stared ahead, numb under the piercing eyes of the crowd.

The shrill bell rang out. The pair took tender, cantering steps towards A. She could see the judges staring at her from their box on the opposite end of the ring.

They took the first step in.

Description
Whimsy placed 12th in this class which isn't bad considering the number of incredible entries she was up against. Congrats to this team on their first international embark in the name of CandleWick!!!

Horse: Whimsy
Rider: Jamie Rians
Stable: CandleWick Equine Facility
Country: United States
Class: Dressage
Show: Canadian Equestrian Championships

It was the evening on the third day. Jamie's and Whimsy's nerves were still high, but with a seasoned pro by their sides, Ashley continued to pave the way for their success. Early that morning they woke and entered the warm up ring for some last minute practicing. Jamie was a trainer an obviously knew what she was doing in the saddle, but it didn't hurt to have a pair of eyes on the ground telling her what it looked like from down there.

It was a little chilly that morning. And it was still dark outside. The women were both wearing their new CandleWick athletic jackets and Whimsy kept warm with an exhilarating ride. They went over only the big moves. They didn't want to strain poor Whimsy for their most enduring day. Canter pirouette, half pass, flying changes every stride. Those were the ones the practiced, and though they were executed, the performance was quite lack-luster. Whimsy, with all her American Paint Horse blood lines, was a clear underdog at the CIEC. She didn't fit in, and though not a mutt, she was barely capable of the dressage movements. Despite that, however, she always put forth everything she had.

As the morning grew light, the cross country riders emerged from their trailers and RVs. They tacked up their horses and wrapped their legs, pinned their numbers to their vests and placed the colorful helmets on top of messy mops of hair. The athletes randomly entered the ring as their rides approached, and when the arena grew to crowded, the trio's session ended and they traveled back to their corner of the trailer grounds. Whimsy was put back into her trailer's stall with a large net stuffed with hay and water bucket filled to the brim. After a couple treats, Jamie and Ashley left her to doze in the late morning and they headed off to watch the indoor cross country.

Neither of them had ever witnessed an indoor cross country course in person and each ride was short like show jumping, but the obstacles proved to be much more challenging. Foliage sprung from each log in green array and disguised where the solid portions of the jumps were.

"I'm so glad we weren't entered in this class", Jamie nudged Ashley while they were at lunch. For a show concession stand, they had great food - they each held a practically gourmet hamburger with freshly cut crinkle fries. They had great seats since one of them was a competitor, almost right behind the front wall with the advertisements and they sat there for the entire lunch break watching the colorful horses warm up on the sample jumps.

They had to miss the last few rides, though, and returned to tack up Whimsy who whinnied at them from behind the bars of her trailer stall. She stood quietly while they did some touch up grooming and sewed the braids in her mane. They left her tail undone and proceeded with the tacking up process. The maroon trimmed saddle pad popped on her red toned coat and eyes. As Ashley finished bridling she handed Jamie the reins. Jamie gazed into those deep brown eyes and stroked the mares bay face. Whimsy closed her eyes in happiness, but opened them again when Jamie said something.

"We've got this girl. All we can do is give it our all and there is no shame when you have done that", she whispered and Whimsy gazed at her intently. With those final words whispered in the mare's fuzzy ears, they were ready to go. They stepped down the ramp yet another time and Ashley gave the the rider a leg up. They had a short warm up session, practicing the same session they did earlier that morning.

Jamie's name boomed over the intercom. They were on deck.

They walked to the stadium's entrance and Ashley took her spot next to the fence. Jamie and Whimsy entered as the last rider left. The big black Swedish Warmblood stood hands above the little tobiano, but she stood resolute under her confident rider. Their names boomed again and they entered, warming up around the outside of the arena. The rustling of the audience in the grandstands was muffled through Jamie's filtering ears. She stared ahead, numb under the piercing eyes of the crowd.

The shrill bell rang out. The pair took tender, cantering steps towards A. She could see the judges staring at her from their box on the opposite end of the ring.

They took the first step in.