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Description
Rosewood Studs Story
< prev Chapter 6.3: Last Out next >

Event: Millbrook Farm Spring Event *REGISTRATION OPEN* - 2nd Place
Rider: Hayden Carnedas
Horse: IRE Letterbox

Hayden watched the skies from inside the truck. Bennett sat next to her, sipping coffee, cool as a cucumber. Aveline was off doing god knows what, likely stressing over some last minute detail for her Brigette's liberty class. The clouds had shifted carefully away, blowing away as quickly as they had appeared.
"You know you're last out, right?"
"Yeah." Hayden wasn't usually this nervous, but she wasn't always riding the newest horse at the stables in a discipline she didn't even like. Showjumping was much more forgiving, and her gelding was serious and fast. Lottie, the new mare, was built like an absolute tank and ran like one. The ground was a mess, and she knew running last would mean the ground would be awful. She sucked her cheeks in and took a breath.
"Why couldn't you at least get Aveline to run cross country?" Bennett looked at her like she had suggested she run naked.
"Because she's inexperienced with any other horse except her own. And her horse happens to be a tiny Arab she can boss around over the fences. Lottie is too big for her right now. Don't be stupid. And don't suggest I do it either, I don't compete with mares." It was such a weird thing to be averse to. Bennett rode mares at home, but never competed them. She had figured it was just so he could concentrate on the two stallions but he was bent on it. She opened the door and jumped onto the damp dirt. The seal bay mare looked at her with ears pricked. She pulled the waterproof cover off her back and patted her absentmindedly. The thick mare sniffed turned and sniffed her jumper. Hayden pulled the black bridle out of the tackbox inside the trailer quietly placed the reins over Lottie's head.

Hayden sat in the startbox with Lottie standing at the ready. The woman before her had walked endless circles through the start box before being told she could leave, but Lottie parked herself square in the middle. Hayden was in no mood to argue. She bridged her reins over and checked her girth, before sitting up and taking a deep breath. Fuck.
"Off you go!" The ground steward snapped her out her own head and Hayden kicked into autopilot. She leaned forward and urged Lottie forward while thanking the steward, all in one breath. The mare's stride opened up quickly after the bog at the start box. Hayden knew she had to keep to the grass as much as possible, the worn track had turned into a churned mess. The first jump, a simple solid log, appeared ahead. Hayden shifted her weight backwards and lifted her hands. Lottie brought her nose up and pulled against her. Don't even... Hayden pulled back against the big mare and growled. Lottie collected herself and flicked two ears to the jump and locked on. Hayden gritted her teeth and counted the strides, hoping to avoid the mess by the fence by pushing for one less stride. Lottie gladly obliged and took off just before ripped up ground. They landed easily and Hayden clicked the mare forward.

Passing through the fields, the track was thankfully sandy with the grass largely intact. She aimed down the centre where the grass was and let the mare go. The next jump wasn't for a few minutes, so Hayden figured she should at least enjoy going fast. The mare's thick legs beat down rhythmically and she seemed to also enjoy the open space and Hayden's relaxed breathing.

The pair finished their round without a hitch. Bennett greeted them at the finish line and grasped the reins. Hayden sat up straight and stretched, letting the reins slip through her fingers.
"Converted?" Bennett asked quizzically, as the three walked back to the trailer.
"Not even a little."

Resources
Reference Cross 005

Description
Rosewood Studs Story
< prev Chapter 6.3: Last Out next >

Event: Millbrook Farm Spring Event *REGISTRATION OPEN* - 2nd Place
Rider: Hayden Carnedas
Horse: IRE Letterbox

Hayden watched the skies from inside the truck. Bennett sat next to her, sipping coffee, cool as a cucumber. Aveline was off doing god knows what, likely stressing over some last minute detail for her Brigette's liberty class. The clouds had shifted carefully away, blowing away as quickly as they had appeared.
"You know you're last out, right?"
"Yeah." Hayden wasn't usually this nervous, but she wasn't always riding the newest horse at the stables in a discipline she didn't even like. Showjumping was much more forgiving, and her gelding was serious and fast. Lottie, the new mare, was built like an absolute tank and ran like one. The ground was a mess, and she knew running last would mean the ground would be awful. She sucked her cheeks in and took a breath.
"Why couldn't you at least get Aveline to run cross country?" Bennett looked at her like she had suggested she run naked.
"Because she's inexperienced with any other horse except her own. And her horse happens to be a tiny Arab she can boss around over the fences. Lottie is too big for her right now. Don't be stupid. And don't suggest I do it either, I don't compete with mares." It was such a weird thing to be averse to. Bennett rode mares at home, but never competed them. She had figured it was just so he could concentrate on the two stallions but he was bent on it. She opened the door and jumped onto the damp dirt. The seal bay mare looked at her with ears pricked. She pulled the waterproof cover off her back and patted her absentmindedly. The thick mare sniffed turned and sniffed her jumper. Hayden pulled the black bridle out of the tackbox inside the trailer quietly placed the reins over Lottie's head.

Hayden sat in the startbox with Lottie standing at the ready. The woman before her had walked endless circles through the start box before being told she could leave, but Lottie parked herself square in the middle. Hayden was in no mood to argue. She bridged her reins over and checked her girth, before sitting up and taking a deep breath. Fuck.
"Off you go!" The ground steward snapped her out her own head and Hayden kicked into autopilot. She leaned forward and urged Lottie forward while thanking the steward, all in one breath. The mare's stride opened up quickly after the bog at the start box. Hayden knew she had to keep to the grass as much as possible, the worn track had turned into a churned mess. The first jump, a simple solid log, appeared ahead. Hayden shifted her weight backwards and lifted her hands. Lottie brought her nose up and pulled against her. Don't even... Hayden pulled back against the big mare and growled. Lottie collected herself and flicked two ears to the jump and locked on. Hayden gritted her teeth and counted the strides, hoping to avoid the mess by the fence by pushing for one less stride. Lottie gladly obliged and took off just before ripped up ground. They landed easily and Hayden clicked the mare forward.

Passing through the fields, the track was thankfully sandy with the grass largely intact. She aimed down the centre where the grass was and let the mare go. The next jump wasn't for a few minutes, so Hayden figured she should at least enjoy going fast. The mare's thick legs beat down rhythmically and she seemed to also enjoy the open space and Hayden's relaxed breathing.

The pair finished their round without a hitch. Bennett greeted them at the finish line and grasped the reins. Hayden sat up straight and stretched, letting the reins slip through her fingers.
"Converted?" Bennett asked quizzically, as the three walked back to the trailer.
"Not even a little."

Resources
Reference Cross 005