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Description
Autumn Clinic and Auction 2023
Horse: S192 Nous irons jusqu’au soleil
Rider: Chloe Martin

Priority: S194 Black Tears, S192 Nous irons jusqu'au soleil

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“I really do wish it’d stop raining,” Chloe said, dodging yet another rippling puddle as she tried to keep up with her trainer.

“I really do wish you’d stop complaining every time the weather wasn’t seventy degrees and sunny,” Marcus drawled wryly, turning to grin at her.

Chloe rolled her eyes, but a smile broke across her face. “Vanishingly improbable,” she laughed. She pulled her hood back as they slipped into the stables, sliding the door shut behind them. She stopped to admire the barn’s interior; rich, dark wood with black and brass accents formed spacious stalls, and horse after gorgeous horse could be seen hanging their heads over the stall doors or munching steadily on the hay in their racks. The trial horses were marked with a green tag attached to their nameplates, as well as a brief factsheet reiterating what had been in the prospectus sent out to the riders the week before. A couple of them had red tags; they’d already found their new home, it seemed.

Marcus started down the aisle, skimming the information sheets outside each horse’s stall. “Jumper, eventer, dressage, dressage/hunter, endurance, and a handful with no specialty yet. Looks like you’ve got a pretty big selection still left.”

“They said we’d have to check the roster to make sure the horse wasn’t going out more than twice a day for trials,” Chloe said. “I checked earlier. I think it’s between these three.” She stopped at their stalls, peering in at the occupants. “That one,” she said, “looks as miserable as I am about the rain. And he’s a hunter. I’ll try him.”

The horse in question was champagne and wearing a stable sheet. His refined face was lightly mottled with white hairs, hinting at further white markings hiding under the blanket. A striking snip crossed his pink muzzle. He seemed to be standing as far from the window as possible, avoiding the droplets that splattered from the window pane into the shavings below. He raised his head as Chloe unbolted his stable door and slipped inside, offering him a hand to sniff before rubbing his forehead. Her fingers unbuckled his blanket deftly, and she folded it back to reveal the rest of the horse.

“Wow- I knew he was going to have some white, but wasn’t expecting that,” Marcus said from the doorway. “What a looker.”

The stallion’s coat was heavily spotted from withers to rump, the white edge fading into the lightening around his belly and groin; his legs were striped at his darker knees and hocks, silver mane and tail complementing the rest of his colouring.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Chloe stroked the horse’s neck, feeling his soft coat. She scratched his withers where his mane ended, and the stallion raised his head, lip lifted in pleasure. “Itchy, hey? What’s your name?”

“It’s Sunny,” Marcus said as he passed her the halter that had been hanging just outside the door. “I’m not even going to try and pronounce his show name – it’s in French.”

Chloe took the halter from him, reading the brass nameplate. “Nous irons jusqu’au soleil,” Chloe read as she slipped it over the stallion’s ears. “’We’ll go as far as the sun’. Seems fitting for a day like today.” She clicked softly, and the horse followed without complaint towards the cross-ties at the end of the aisle.

Marcus strode off towards the tack room, returning with a saddle and bridle in hand as Chloe was picking the last of the horse’s hooves. They tacked up quickly, checking each piece of tack for signs of wear and tear – god knew they’d had one too many close calls with previous trials – and headed towards the barn exit again.

The clean chime of Sunny’s shoes on the herringbone brick aisle stopped abruptly as they reached the doorway, taking Chloe by surprise. “Come on, boy,” she said, tugging gently on the reins. “It’s only rain.” The stallion stared out at the grey sky and persistent drizzle, refusing to move forward. A large puddle shimmered in front of the exit.

It took a few more tries and some coaxing before Sunny heaved an enormous sigh and clopped wetly into the puddle. Despite herself, Chloe giggled. “We’re in the same boat about the rain. It’s a shame we’re going to be in the outdoor- I almost feel like it’s not going to be a fair comparison if he’s ridden in the rain.”

Marcus shrugged. “Unfortunate timing with that clinic in the indoor, but realistically, you can’t have a horse performing so drastically different depending on the weather.”

“I can,” Chloe said, as both she and Sunny carefully picked their way across a narrow path between puddles, “because I’m the same. Anyway, it doesn’t matter- it’s not like the weather’s usually rainy in California. Quite the opposite, actually.”

“I guess,” Marcus said. He swung the gate open to let them in, closing it behind them. The light patter of rain against the colourful autumn trees lining the arena was the only other sound. It was particularly peaceful. A few jumps had been set up at the far end of the outdoor in case riders wanted to try their horses over fences.

Chloe checked the girth, then was boosted into the saddle by Marcus. She settled gently on the stallion’s back, shivering slightly as the droplets that clung to the saddle soaked through her breeches. She shortened the stirrups a hole and gave him a pat on the neck before they moved off, using the half of the arena with no jumps in it to put him through his paces.

“He moves nicely,” Marcus said. “You can tell he’s well-bred. Get him on the other rein and go for another canter.”

The pair crossed the short diagonal and Chloe cued a walk-to-canter transition. Sunny moved into a canter, his tail swishing in annoyance as they splashed through puddles on the outside rail. Chunks of sand flicked up by his hooves splattered his belly, and he shook his mane, though he maintained his steady pace around the arena.

Chloe slowed him to a bouncy trot, sitting deep in the saddle to bring him back to a walk. “He’s doing alright- I like how responsive he is. He feels a little hollow in the canter, but I think he’s just uncomfortable in the wet. The rain’s letting up, though- we should do some jumps.”

A streak of sun poked through the clouds, lighting the edges of the trees to beautiful hues of gold and orange. Chloe sighed in appreciation as the light warmed her back, chasing the last of the chill away and brightening until the whole arena was bathed in sunshine.

“Oh my god, look at him,” Chloe laughed. Sunny’s ears were relaxed and floppy, his head low and eyes half-closed as he soaked in the warmth and light. “He’s so much happier.”

Marcus smiled at the sight. “Let’s get going, then. Warm up first, then do a course.” He rattled off the order of jumps they should take.

Chloe nudged Sunny into a walk, then picked up a trot. “Holy cow. It’s like he’s a different horse entirely!” Sunny seemed to float above the ground, each trot stride driving them powerfully down the long side of the arena. He paid no mind to the puddles now, sending cascades of water flying with every step. Chloe asked for a canter, and Sunny moved seamlessly forward in a steady three-beat gait. “It’s like riding a cloud,” Chloe laughed, stunned by the difference in the horse beneath her.

Sunny proved as diligent over fences as he did on the flat. With each jump, he snapped his knees up square, taking off at the right moment to form a perfect bascule. Chloe found it easy to sit his stride, folding easily over his neck at each takeoff.

It didn’t take long for her to decide. “I don’t think I need to try anyone else,” she said, beaming from ear to ear.

“Yes, you absolutely do,” Marcus replied with a laugh. “You know what we agreed about not falling in love with the first horse you try.”

“Fine,” Chloe said, “But I’m smitten with this one.” She reached down to give Sunny a hearty pat on his neck, and the stallion’s head craned towards her foot to lip at her boot.

“You can try him again later this week, just to confirm. But in the meantime, down you hop, and let’s put him away.”

“Alright,” Chloe agreed, sliding down from the saddle. “Let’s go.”

Description
Autumn Clinic and Auction 2023
Horse: S192 Nous irons jusqu’au soleil
Rider: Chloe Martin

Priority: S194 Black Tears, S192 Nous irons jusqu'au soleil

----------------------------------------------

“I really do wish it’d stop raining,” Chloe said, dodging yet another rippling puddle as she tried to keep up with her trainer.

“I really do wish you’d stop complaining every time the weather wasn’t seventy degrees and sunny,” Marcus drawled wryly, turning to grin at her.

Chloe rolled her eyes, but a smile broke across her face. “Vanishingly improbable,” she laughed. She pulled her hood back as they slipped into the stables, sliding the door shut behind them. She stopped to admire the barn’s interior; rich, dark wood with black and brass accents formed spacious stalls, and horse after gorgeous horse could be seen hanging their heads over the stall doors or munching steadily on the hay in their racks. The trial horses were marked with a green tag attached to their nameplates, as well as a brief factsheet reiterating what had been in the prospectus sent out to the riders the week before. A couple of them had red tags; they’d already found their new home, it seemed.

Marcus started down the aisle, skimming the information sheets outside each horse’s stall. “Jumper, eventer, dressage, dressage/hunter, endurance, and a handful with no specialty yet. Looks like you’ve got a pretty big selection still left.”

“They said we’d have to check the roster to make sure the horse wasn’t going out more than twice a day for trials,” Chloe said. “I checked earlier. I think it’s between these three.” She stopped at their stalls, peering in at the occupants. “That one,” she said, “looks as miserable as I am about the rain. And he’s a hunter. I’ll try him.”

The horse in question was champagne and wearing a stable sheet. His refined face was lightly mottled with white hairs, hinting at further white markings hiding under the blanket. A striking snip crossed his pink muzzle. He seemed to be standing as far from the window as possible, avoiding the droplets that splattered from the window pane into the shavings below. He raised his head as Chloe unbolted his stable door and slipped inside, offering him a hand to sniff before rubbing his forehead. Her fingers unbuckled his blanket deftly, and she folded it back to reveal the rest of the horse.

“Wow- I knew he was going to have some white, but wasn’t expecting that,” Marcus said from the doorway. “What a looker.”

The stallion’s coat was heavily spotted from withers to rump, the white edge fading into the lightening around his belly and groin; his legs were striped at his darker knees and hocks, silver mane and tail complementing the rest of his colouring.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Chloe stroked the horse’s neck, feeling his soft coat. She scratched his withers where his mane ended, and the stallion raised his head, lip lifted in pleasure. “Itchy, hey? What’s your name?”

“It’s Sunny,” Marcus said as he passed her the halter that had been hanging just outside the door. “I’m not even going to try and pronounce his show name – it’s in French.”

Chloe took the halter from him, reading the brass nameplate. “Nous irons jusqu’au soleil,” Chloe read as she slipped it over the stallion’s ears. “’We’ll go as far as the sun’. Seems fitting for a day like today.” She clicked softly, and the horse followed without complaint towards the cross-ties at the end of the aisle.

Marcus strode off towards the tack room, returning with a saddle and bridle in hand as Chloe was picking the last of the horse’s hooves. They tacked up quickly, checking each piece of tack for signs of wear and tear – god knew they’d had one too many close calls with previous trials – and headed towards the barn exit again.

The clean chime of Sunny’s shoes on the herringbone brick aisle stopped abruptly as they reached the doorway, taking Chloe by surprise. “Come on, boy,” she said, tugging gently on the reins. “It’s only rain.” The stallion stared out at the grey sky and persistent drizzle, refusing to move forward. A large puddle shimmered in front of the exit.

It took a few more tries and some coaxing before Sunny heaved an enormous sigh and clopped wetly into the puddle. Despite herself, Chloe giggled. “We’re in the same boat about the rain. It’s a shame we’re going to be in the outdoor- I almost feel like it’s not going to be a fair comparison if he’s ridden in the rain.”

Marcus shrugged. “Unfortunate timing with that clinic in the indoor, but realistically, you can’t have a horse performing so drastically different depending on the weather.”

“I can,” Chloe said, as both she and Sunny carefully picked their way across a narrow path between puddles, “because I’m the same. Anyway, it doesn’t matter- it’s not like the weather’s usually rainy in California. Quite the opposite, actually.”

“I guess,” Marcus said. He swung the gate open to let them in, closing it behind them. The light patter of rain against the colourful autumn trees lining the arena was the only other sound. It was particularly peaceful. A few jumps had been set up at the far end of the outdoor in case riders wanted to try their horses over fences.

Chloe checked the girth, then was boosted into the saddle by Marcus. She settled gently on the stallion’s back, shivering slightly as the droplets that clung to the saddle soaked through her breeches. She shortened the stirrups a hole and gave him a pat on the neck before they moved off, using the half of the arena with no jumps in it to put him through his paces.

“He moves nicely,” Marcus said. “You can tell he’s well-bred. Get him on the other rein and go for another canter.”

The pair crossed the short diagonal and Chloe cued a walk-to-canter transition. Sunny moved into a canter, his tail swishing in annoyance as they splashed through puddles on the outside rail. Chunks of sand flicked up by his hooves splattered his belly, and he shook his mane, though he maintained his steady pace around the arena.

Chloe slowed him to a bouncy trot, sitting deep in the saddle to bring him back to a walk. “He’s doing alright- I like how responsive he is. He feels a little hollow in the canter, but I think he’s just uncomfortable in the wet. The rain’s letting up, though- we should do some jumps.”

A streak of sun poked through the clouds, lighting the edges of the trees to beautiful hues of gold and orange. Chloe sighed in appreciation as the light warmed her back, chasing the last of the chill away and brightening until the whole arena was bathed in sunshine.

“Oh my god, look at him,” Chloe laughed. Sunny’s ears were relaxed and floppy, his head low and eyes half-closed as he soaked in the warmth and light. “He’s so much happier.”

Marcus smiled at the sight. “Let’s get going, then. Warm up first, then do a course.” He rattled off the order of jumps they should take.

Chloe nudged Sunny into a walk, then picked up a trot. “Holy cow. It’s like he’s a different horse entirely!” Sunny seemed to float above the ground, each trot stride driving them powerfully down the long side of the arena. He paid no mind to the puddles now, sending cascades of water flying with every step. Chloe asked for a canter, and Sunny moved seamlessly forward in a steady three-beat gait. “It’s like riding a cloud,” Chloe laughed, stunned by the difference in the horse beneath her.

Sunny proved as diligent over fences as he did on the flat. With each jump, he snapped his knees up square, taking off at the right moment to form a perfect bascule. Chloe found it easy to sit his stride, folding easily over his neck at each takeoff.

It didn’t take long for her to decide. “I don’t think I need to try anyone else,” she said, beaming from ear to ear.

“Yes, you absolutely do,” Marcus replied with a laugh. “You know what we agreed about not falling in love with the first horse you try.”

“Fine,” Chloe said, “But I’m smitten with this one.” She reached down to give Sunny a hearty pat on his neck, and the stallion’s head craned towards her foot to lip at her boot.

“You can try him again later this week, just to confirm. But in the meantime, down you hop, and let’s put him away.”

“Alright,” Chloe agreed, sliding down from the saddle. “Let’s go.”