The Jump
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He prances gracefully into the ring at a collected trot. His coat gleams in the late afternoon sun. His dark mane braided and tucked under in neat little bumps. His dark tail braided and flung high as his rider circles him at a walk trot and canter before turning him towards the starting line. His muscles tense, his rider tells him to relax with her body movement and quiet hands. A course of thirteen jumps are spread out before him. It is the final round of the competition and if he jumps clean he will win the gold medal.
There’s the signal. He rockets forward, unsteady and too fast at first, but his rider gently settles him using her hands and seat, instantly he obeys and settles into a nice rocking canter. He’s done this before. He remembers all his rider has taught him. He approaches the first jump, a simple vertical but of medium height. He unsteadily launches himself in the air.
Oh-no! His left rear hoof skimmed the top rail. It rocks back and forth in the cup but it doesn’t fall. Whew! He has to remember to tuck his feet up next time.
Here comes the next jump, a brush fence. He jumps clean. The next jump is the in and out. He clears the first one then takes a stride and takes the second, he made it. The next jump is a double oxer, he clears it with room to spare. A full rollback into the next jump a low inviting but long spread. Once again he clears it with ease. He came off the jump on the wrong lead and went into the next turn at a counter canter, thankfully his rider has schooled him in dressage and he was used to this. After a flying lead change he sees the next jump, a water jump. He clears the jump and the water pool that all the other horses landed in. The next jump is a hogsback, he clears it with un comprehensible simplicity. The following jump is a square oxer, he sees the first set and prepares to jump it small, but his rider urges him on and asks for a longer jump. He obeys and was glad he did when he saw the second set. His rider sets him up straight down the line for the triple. Jump, stride, jump, stride, jump and canter away, he clears it swiftly and clearly. The next jump is a ditch, it was wider than any he had jumped before, his rider urged him forward. He jumped long and with obvious ease. The next is a narrow V shaped jump. He approaches the jump at the point and leaves through the wide part leaving it standing. Eyeing the next jump he sees it for what it is. A trick, the jump is consists of a single pole set at a daunting height. Most horses would run through the flimsy jump but he used his powerful hind quarters to clear the pole. He comes in sight of the last jump. He slows to an unsteady canter, his strides are shorter than they should be.
This is the biggest jump he has ever seen, a large solid rose before him.
His rider sensing his uneasiness, urges him to lengthen his stride and go faster. He hears his rider gently whisper “come on boy we can do it”. He picks up speed determined not to let his rider down. Soon he is in a nice smooth canter waiting for the signal from his rider. There it is, he jumps with all he has left. He tucks his feet under him, careful not to hit the top rail. He clears it with amazing grace and height. After crossing the finish line he gave a small buck of sheer joy before his rider asked him to walk. The time was almost five seconds faster than the allotted time and three seconds faster than the next fastest horse and rider pair. They won individual gold medal at the FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships. The watching crowed erupts in a mass of whistles, cheers and applause. But all he hears is his rider whisper
“good job boy, you did it”.
Images provided by Mystic Valey |
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BME Sports
i LOVE this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i LOVE this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Dec 11, 2010
• 2,136 views
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Dreamer100
This is an amazingly, wonderful story! You should be an author for books from the horses point of view someday. God Job! I love it! I love everything about it! I would love to have more stories by you on here! Thank you for sharing this grand story! I hope to hear more and talk to you later!
This is an amazingly, wonderful story! You should be an author for books from the horses point of view someday. God Job! I love it! I love everything about it! I would love to have more stories by you on here! Thank you for sharing this grand story! I hope to hear more and talk to you later!
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Dec 12, 2010
• 2,154 views
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8 days ago
• 2,166 views
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Untamed Heart
This is a wonderful story
This is a wonderful story
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7 days ago
• 2,131 views
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