1st day (Anne Bennet & Apollo's Mystery)

[Maggie]

Weather: Cold with few snow flakes falling.

Indoor/outdoor: Indoor

Limit: You have two days to complete your post, if you do not make the limit you will be disqulaified from the event.

Course: Dressage Test

Tips: You may add in flying lead changes pirrowets and so forth to earn judges attention. Make post longer 150 words.

[Maggie]

Anne Bennet & Apollo's Mystery
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Dressage Test Intermediate

x

I began to touch up Apollo's dark bay sleek coat before I came into the ring. I grabbed a rag from my grooming box before rubbing it along his neck to his withers and finally down towards his back hocks. I stopped as I eyed my work, Apollo stood handsomly next to the trailer his head turned towards me his dark pools eyeing me as he wondered what I was doing. I smiled at him and walked over grasping onto his leather show halter and hugging his massive head bigger man than that of mine. I took a deep breathe before taking off the bridle I had on my shoulder and unhooking him from the hitch on the trailer. I skillfully slipped off his leather halter and let him take the bit before sliding the head ocloar over his auds. I quickly buckled up his bridle before adjusting his dove white saddle pad and the black leather dressage saddle. I ran my hand down his legs to where he had white wraps, wrapped around his legs. I had braided his mane and tail earlier that morning before the event.

The first event was Dressage, I warmed up in the sandy warm up ring away from other competiters, it still had snow on the sides of the area but other than that it was safe enough to ride around in. The snow was banked up on the sides of the ring sort of like a barrier as I brought Apollo through his works. When I led him out of the ring I was one competiter away from the arena. I breathed in before giving a pat on his sleek coat neck. I smiled down at him as he turned his head around to look up at me. "We'll do fine, big guy." I said as I gave a smile and patted his shoulder. Apollo seemed to understand what I was saying and gave a snort before walking along towards the trailer where Layla stood next to a pretty chestnut mare. Even though I have competed all of my life the thrill of competition still sent butterflys all over me, but the adreniline of the cross country field sent them away the next day.

Number 56, Apollo's Myster. Owned and ridden by Anne Bennet. A light applause came from the indoor ring and I urged Apollo into a fluent trot towards the opening of the arena. When we came to the opening I slowed him down to a walk into the ring. A crowd of people sat upon the bleachers in the stands, all the nervousness vanished as I halted Apollo in the middle. I could feel he was perfectly squared under me and I felt pride for having such a talented youngster. I saluted to the judges before they alowed me to carry on with the course. I squeezed lightly with my calves letting Apollo go into a working walk. My hands settled nicely inches over his withers as we walked from X to M. Apollo responded quickly to my command and I could tell he loved the thrill of the competitions just as much as I did.

We turned the corner towards C at a walk, I thought over the letter combinations to come and ready myself for a easy transition from a walk to a trot. C came up three strides and Apollo instinctively casually went into a easy going trot. I sat to his strides keeping balance with him as he lifted his hooves off the ground, not as high as I would of liked but good enough. We rounded to H and I signaled for him to cut across the ring at a trot to F. Towards the middle I squeezed with my inside leg and he lifted off the ground changing strides with a flying change as we finally rounded the corner of F to A. I sat deeper in the saddle as we came up to A and Apollo slowed down to a walk unwillingly. I scolded him under my breathe but more towards me since we were after all having some unwillingness before the competion with going back to a walk.

We rounded K in the corner and up towards E where I squeezed both calves to urge Apollo into a trot. He almost step pas K with a walk but hurriedly collected his stride as we passed into a trot. I sat deeper settling down his strides as they were becoming over powering. He obeyed and I sighed with relief. We turned from E to M at a trot but we didn't need to change strides as I turned at M to the right down the line to B. I judged Apollo's strides with caution as we came to B and I cued him into a canter. He eagerly stepped into the canter on the spot and just at the letter. I smiled though it decreased into a competitive frown.

We rounded F at the fluent and flowing canter and around half the arena all the way to C when I slowed him down to a trot. He tossed his head slightly and I frowned knowing that could cost us some points. Though Apollo's obeyed and dropped down to a slow moving trot where I made him walk just before X and then halted him infront of the judges. He was squared and I sighed with another relief as I smiled and saluted to the judges. The crowed cheered and I let my reins go slack as I gave Apollo a pat on the neck. I smiled brightly as I let Apollo walk out of the arena at a long rein, and I could see white speck of foam from his maw on his chest and neck. As he came out of the arena I smiled brightly towards my younger cousin Layla who beamed next to Lacey the chestnut mare. Apollo snorted loudly and flicked his head up and down wanting to do more. I smirked and rubbed his damp neck before hopping down and taking off my top hat. My white gloves weren't as dirty as usual as I slipped the gloves off my hands and hugged Apollo. "Good boy! I think I hear brand mash for tonights dinner huh big guy?"