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Rain... again?

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Seems shadows not had much luck with the weather at the AUSe-Olympics this year he was the 2nd last to start the cross country course and the heavens have opened up on him once again. But hes used to the rain we get a lot of it in ireland.

Anywho Just about got this finished in time - Showing Missing shadow and his rider clement approaching the beach hut jump (with giant deck chair and ball)


 

Please note the helmet does include the stable colours 
Story - 1395 words 
 
Clement awoke early on the 4th day show he glanced around dazed as to what time it was 04:30am his digital alarm read, he still haden't got quite used to the complete reversal of time and season after stumbling into the bathroom taking a shower and getting dressed he kicked open the door of the trailer and plodded down the steps, he hadent gotten much sleep in the night and he was meant to do the cross country course later that afternoon. he grumbled as the sunrise caught him in the eyes, it was warm and awfully humid today really was going to be a joy he thought. He decided to dander over to the stables and start getting shadow groomed ready for the event  "looks like i'm the first up" he said glancing at his watch "05:10 am " as he entered the barn, the opportunistic horses pricked up their ears and popped their heads over the stall doors in hopes that it would be their groom arriving early with some food. "Shadow boy" clement called quietly as he walked through the barn not quite remembering how far along his horse was located he then spotted a familiar blaze and set of blue eyes staring at him from the distance. he nickered as clement approached as he entered the stable the black stallion nuzzled clements pockets in attempts to find polos his favorite minty treat, "no boy i don't have any on me" he said as he stroked his neck "thank god i don't have to braid your mane or tail today, too much fuss if you ask me " shadow threw his head up and down as if in agreement, as clement began to groom him ready for showing later that day. 

Soon it the stables were beginning to get busier grooms and handlers were bustling about dragging food about carrying mountains of tack and equipment and horses were being lead here, there and everywhere, some had left going to the wash station a bit late and there was now a cue forming around the area, the temperature was picking up rightly outside clement could see the heat rising off of the tarmac at the door "hope it doesn't stay this hot all day boy we'll melt out there" clement said a few seconds later he heard a "grrrrugguggrrgle" coming from his stomach and realised he hadn't  had anything to eat yet. It was about 07;30 when he reached the trailer and was greeted by the smell of bacon  cooking "Hey, i heard you get up early this morning thought you might be hungry now" Sarah said "Hows Shadow" "Ah hes looking on form i've been over to groom him and his tack is all ready to go too i d avoid the rush over there for the mean time if i were you everyone's left it all to the last minute" clement replied "how are you feeling about the cross country then" sarah asked "No point getting worried about it, i mean shadow will give it his best after a good warm up you know what hes like with jumping and me, well i keep a level head out there sure the jumps may be big but at least it feels like less pressure than in the show jumping ring i guess its being out in the open that does it " he said whilst devouring his bacon sandwich. "I'm going to go and get dressed into my riding gear now and then head out have a good warm up in a while wanna come along ?" clement asked "Sure sounds good" 

The trio headed down to the oval arena which as being used for cross country warm up there were a few other horses cantering around and several jumps had been set up in the center of the arena to practice over "they all must be afternoon competitors too" clement thought to himself as he mounted shadow and entered the arena he checked around quickly to see if there were any warning ribbons in the horses tails, nope we should be okay , not that they were pushed for space. The weather had now reached about 33C and dark clouds began to build up in the distance a stark contrast compared to the winter back at home It was hot and humid and clement felt sticky under his body protector "I think there's a storm brewing shadow" Clement said as he asked for canter there was not long left now until it was time for them to start he could see 'Arm full of tiger Lilies' leave the arena meaning there were only 10 horses between now and the his turn, He cantered towards the smaller of the three jumps shadow leaped over it with a lot of enthusiasm  bucking a few times before cantering on " like that?" clement laughed knowing to expect this behavior for the first jump or two soon he heard the steward call him forward it was time for him to line up at the start box as he arrived he watched "Fly me to the moon" and their rider Lily Star gallop into the distance, clement thought he felt something fall on his hand, nope? then again, then the realisation hit him it had begun raining "great" he mumbled "this is going to make the ground churn up.

"Here standing in the starting box now we can see Missing Shadow a 10 year old Hollendart Stallion Ridden by the renound Clément Marcoux These two have traveled over from Blacktyde Stables ....blah....blah....blah" Clement heard the commentator mumbling on it was game time he was determined to do well for everyone watching back at home, he quickly pressed the stop watch as the buzzer sounded he nudged shadow forward from a canter into a gallop it was a fairly long straight toward the first obstacle the course was lined with people behind fence featuring sponsor banners on it and a camera followed them along stretches f the course first up was the skinny Vegemite box it was bright it was bold but shadow took it in his stride he was loving the attention of the crowd and the rain added an extra level of shine to his coat , the next few jumps were relatively standard a bank a two log jump a drop fence into pink water clement though that was a nice touch and the shark jump did throw off shadow a little but he managed to get him over it safely the raced on with the conditions worsening the rain began to get heavier and the temperature began to drop "Just like home boy eh" clement called out urging the stallion on you could hear the thundering hooves and snorting as shadow passed by the crowds began to thin off at this point  maybe there had been an accident and the crowds had been stopped  or maybe the weather had proved too much for them to bother coming this far along the course. Shadow and clement cantered along a straight lined with a hedge on one side and the sponsor fence on the other there was a sharp turn on this corner and shortly after was the beach house jump with it rigged roof and bright colour clement just about managed to get shadow turned in time for this tricky jump he was glad there were no crowds here in case he embarrassed himself, shadow tapped his hoof off of the roof as he passed over. "were homeward bound now just the ditch, kangaroo and a few other jumps remained between them and the finish line..............They were approaching the final brush fence crowds of onlookers waved their flags as shadow and clement passed through the brush and galloped off over the finish line. 

Clement walked shadow to an arena to cool him down a little he was breathing heavily and was covered in mud and sweat the rain hadn't eased up either but it was done and in great time with no faults, sarah ran up to shadow and patted him "OMG you two did amazing out there everyone at home was watching they just rang they're so proud"Sarah squealed, Clement looked down hair stuck to his face from the rain a smiled he couldent believe the rush he got from the whole thing.


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Comments4
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bellequine's avatar
this is so gorgeous! I love the info box at the bottom!