Show time

[femalefred]

It was a lovely day, for once. In Ella's experience, show days tended to either be horribly windy or extremely rainy, but instead today was sunny and mild and the show ring looked stunning.

She'd told all the competitors to meet in the jumping ring, as the jumping competitions were first, followed by the dressage and then the games to finish off the day. She had now got two large bags, one containing the more advanced riders and the other containing the beginners, and she was just waiting to draw them out so that the competitors would know their valentine's partners. There really wasn't anything romantic about the situation, but it was nice all the same.

Duke, groomed and with his mane and tail braided up, was standing next to her watching proceedings expectantly. Sure, she was organising the show and so wasn't competing, but he needed to get used to show rings all the same, and he was looking with some apparent fascination at a girl who'd just arrived wearing a bright red jumping jacket. It was a little formal for a fun show, and it almost seemed as if the gelding knew that, from the look of horror in his eyes.

Well, if people were arriving, that was a good sign. She'd start drawing names soon.

((If you would like to take part but did not enter please post here in an OOC post.

The dressage tests and jumping courses will be posted on the respective posts for those specific events, and you will be messaged your score before you post. The order of competitors will also be posted on the event post.

Have fun ))

[Bree]

OOC: Are we supposed to wait here or wait until the order of riding is posted?

[femalefred]

OOC: Wait here so you can have your partner assigned =)

[Bree]

OOC: Got it.

Micheal posted to Piceous' bumpy gait up to the jumping arena.
"Hope I'm not late.", she whispered into Pie's ears. The horse's mane was up in tiny standing braids and tied with white dressage tape. Her coat was gleaming in the sun the warmth bounced off Pie's black coat and stung Micheal in the face. Pie's tail bounced along behind the elegant gait. Micheal's hair was up in a tight bun her GPA helmet was not usual dressage attire but then again neither was her polo shirt. Her gloved hands gripped the the leather lines of the bridle, providing gentle contact with the Pie's mouth.

She trotted up to the gate and let herself in. Seeing Ella she smiled and nodded, her usual greeting when she was riding. She felt better seeing as she was one of the only ones in the ring. Trotting up she stayed a distance from the dapple.
"I'm guessing that's Duke?", She smiled and released pressure off of Pie's bit and let her horse relax.

[Arya]

Liz was mounted on Song, her bay mare. Song's mane was in tiny braids and her coat was shining. Her blonde hair was up in a bun and her velvet helmet was confortably on her head. She had the mare walking to Ella and Micheal. Uh, this ought to be fun. she thought once she saw Micheal on Pie. Liz ignored them and stopped near Ella and Duke. Hey, I'm ready. she spoke to Ella. A wide grin was on her face, and she could hardley wait until it was her time to compete. Since it was her first time, she wasn't going to get upset if no first place was won. Liz patted the mares shoulder, and Song stood still. The wheather was nice, but Liz was hot. Song would be sweating later, but she didn't know about herself.

[S.tormy]

Amara led Gallant onto the field, then to the ring. He pranced around, nostrils flared, ears pricked, eyes bright and tail held like a banner in the wind. Amara smiled and spoke soothing words. She was in a smart navy light fleece, her dark blonde hair was in a single braid down her back, her beige jods cleaned and her brown jod boots and chaps cleaned and shiny. Gallants mane and tail were plaited neatly, his mane in a running plait and his tail in a typical french braid. She stood next to Micheal and Pie, not to close and smiled. She turned to the woman who was obviously in charge.

"I entered both jumping classes on Gallant"

she said with a polite smile.

[DJ]

Hope strode up to the gate with a clipboard under her arm.

She met Ella with Duke. "Hello. What's up? Need any help yet?" She smiled and stroked Duke's neck. "Nice job," Hope studied the braids and admired them. "I'll need to have you braid some of the showers this year. You've certainly done a nice job on Duke. She winked at the girl.

Hope gazed at all of the horses mingling around the arena. There was a nice turn out so far. There'd hopefully be even more riders.

[femalefred]

At the approach of other horses, Duke naturally got a little excited. He was always sociable, but he'd had to stand effectively on his own - Ella had been dealing with other humans he didn't know and thus wasn't all that interested in - for a while now and he was somewhat bored. As Piceous approached, he lifted his head and whinnied sharply, ears firmly pinned on the dark mare, before his attention had to divide between her and Song, and then her, Song and Gallant.

"Hush, beast," Ella murmured, raising the hand holding the leadrope to give the gelding a gentle pat on the shoulder. "This is the first real thing we've done here, behave."

Before she had a chance to have any more of a conversation with the apparently oblivious horse, though, Micheal had arrived, and she grinned and gave a little wave of welcome before the other girl had halted her horse. "Yup, this is he."

Before she had a chance to carry on, there seemed to be a sudden rush of people. Ella recognised Liz, but there was a small flood of younger riders and then another girl with a palomino that she didn't recall and finally Hope.

"If you all wait for a little while, we'll draw partner names in 10 minutes!" she called before turning and smiling modestly at Hope's compliment. "Well, I've had practice. Three sisters and one brother, and I swear we got his hair into braids at least once!"

[femalefred]

This is an OOC post because I'm tired, but this is the list of partners. Some of you will have NPC partners, a brief blurb is given about them =) Remember that there are also a few other NPCs in the show. The class posts will be made tomorrow

Micheal on Piceous paired with Jamie on Apple
Alli on Java paired with Liz on Song
Amara on Gallant paired with Jen on Tick
Timmy on Talent paired with Amara on Gallant

Pairs go advanced with beginner

Jamie is 13 and has been riding for nearly 3 years. He is riding the barn horse, Apple.
Jen is 10 and has been riding for 2 years. She is riding her haflinger pony mare, Ticking Time Bomb or Tick.
Timmy has been riding since he was 4 and is 24 years old. He is riding his dapple grey dutch warmblood gelding Sunrise Talent, or Talent.

[S.tormy]

sounds good. what now? just post a thread on our round? (or will you draw out names to pick the winner - second-third ect...then we just post?)

[femalefred]

Just post on the event thread. Your score will be messaged to you =)

The games will be posted once the other three (as we don't have any actual players entering elementary dressage) events have run.