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Description
EDIT: Minnie and Gwen came in 7th! Not too bad for Minnie's first show.

Oops... the fence was supposed to be white. Stupid me. But anyway, I'm very satisfied with this piece! I've started doing highlights before shadows when shading the horse, and it really helps. I'm also quite proud of the bridle, Minnie's eye, and the background. The title is a play on "Show Day", which is the title of another show entry I did.
Look out, show jumping world, here comes Minnie! She's never competed before, but she shows some natural jumping talent, so we wish her luck at Rosenhill!

Horse: MS Riverside Minuet
Rider: Gwyneth Thompson
Show: *Rosenhill 's Rosenhill Horse Event
Class: Show Jumping
Representing: Mystic Seaside Stables

The frosty air nipped at Gwen's face as she sat astride Minnie, the stable's gold champagne mare, waiting outside the arena for her turn. Highwayman and Courtney were sailing around the course; their every move was being scrutinized by the judges. Despite the chilly weather, the stands around the arena were packed with spectators. Gwen tugged at her brown show coat- she was far more accustomed to riding in a loose sweatshirt. Despite the busy atmosphere, Minnie was perfectly quiet and still, standing calmly with one leg cocked. A dark green fleece blanket covered her hindquarters to keep her warm.
"Hey Charlotte," Gwen hissed to the stable owner, who was standing beside her, watching Courtney in the ring.
"Yeah?"
"Can you adjust Minnie's flash? I think it's too tight."
"Sure thing." Charlotte ducked under the mare's neck and undid the buckle on her flash noseband. "I highly doubt it's too tight," she said. "I can fit my whole hand under here!"
"I know, but Minnie does better with it loose."
"Okay," Charlotte shrugged, redoing the buckle. She returned to her spot at the fence at the sound of Courtney and Highwayman's score being announced. They had done pretty well, but she wasn't entirely sure if it was good enough. Highwayman skittered out of the arena gate, clearly spooked by all the noise and activity. Charlotte grabbed his reins and calmed him down as Courtney dismounted.
"Great job!" Charlotte exclaimed.
"The first lead change was way too late, though," Courtney grumbled.
"Yes, but this is a jumper class- they don't care about lead changes, just as long as you make it over the jumps," Charlotte reassured her. Courtney had previously ridden in hunter classes, and she often forgot how much you can get away with in show jumping. Charlotte threw a light blue quarter sheet over Highwayman's steaming hindquarters. "Go walk him around and untack him," she said. Courtney nodded and led the grullo stallion away from the arena.
"Gwen," Charlotte said softly. "You're after this horse." She pointed to a flashy dark bay who was charging around the arena. "You know the drill; you've done this before. Just make sure you count out the strides and don't jump too early- Minnie sometimes does that. The time to beat is 1:18, but don't rush yourself. Getting a clean round is more important than having the fastest time. And just remember, you know what you're doing. Minnie doesn't, so she'll be relying on you."
Gwen nodded slowly. Even though she was an experienced show rider, she still felt butterflies in her stomach before her turn in the ring.
"Charlotte?" she asked. "Did you register me under 'Gwen', or 'Gwyneth'?"
"Gwyneth," her friend replied.
"How dare you!" Gwen exclaimed, but there was no time for games- the bay horse had just finished the course with four faults, and was heading toward the gate. Charlotte pulled Minnie's quarter sheet off and folded it neatly.
"Good luck!" she said, hoping her friend would do well.
"And next up is Miss Gwyneth Thompson and Riverside Minuet, from Mystic Seaside Stables," boomed the announcer over his loudspeaker. Gwen cringed at the fact that everyone now knew her dreaded full name, and pushed the mare into a canter. "Riverside Minuet is a ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare. She's new to the show ring this year, so we'll just have to wait and see how she does." Gwen was glad to be riding Minnie, with her smooth canter and responsiveness to aids. As they headed around the corner to the first jump, she noticed that her breath came out in frosty puffs which were perfectly synchronized with Minnie's. The first jump was a menacing green-and-gold Swedish oxer, but Minnie flew over it without hesitating. Gwen exhaled in relief when the mare's hooves hit the ground. Her golden coat gleamed in the sun, hopefully catching the judges' eyes. All the previous competitors had been varying shades of bay, chestnut, and gray. Minnie executed a perfect flying change after landing, and headed to the next obstacle.

Good luck, Minnie and Gwen!

The reference photo I used was found on Google, but I can't seem to find it. I'll keep looking, though.

This artwork is © *Sky-of-Silver and is not to be used in any way, shape, or form without my written permission.

Description
EDIT: Minnie and Gwen came in 7th! Not too bad for Minnie's first show.

Oops... the fence was supposed to be white. Stupid me. But anyway, I'm very satisfied with this piece! I've started doing highlights before shadows when shading the horse, and it really helps. I'm also quite proud of the bridle, Minnie's eye, and the background. The title is a play on "Show Day", which is the title of another show entry I did.
Look out, show jumping world, here comes Minnie! She's never competed before, but she shows some natural jumping talent, so we wish her luck at Rosenhill!

Horse: MS Riverside Minuet
Rider: Gwyneth Thompson
Show: *Rosenhill 's Rosenhill Horse Event
Class: Show Jumping
Representing: Mystic Seaside Stables

The frosty air nipped at Gwen's face as she sat astride Minnie, the stable's gold champagne mare, waiting outside the arena for her turn. Highwayman and Courtney were sailing around the course; their every move was being scrutinized by the judges. Despite the chilly weather, the stands around the arena were packed with spectators. Gwen tugged at her brown show coat- she was far more accustomed to riding in a loose sweatshirt. Despite the busy atmosphere, Minnie was perfectly quiet and still, standing calmly with one leg cocked. A dark green fleece blanket covered her hindquarters to keep her warm.
"Hey Charlotte," Gwen hissed to the stable owner, who was standing beside her, watching Courtney in the ring.
"Yeah?"
"Can you adjust Minnie's flash? I think it's too tight."
"Sure thing." Charlotte ducked under the mare's neck and undid the buckle on her flash noseband. "I highly doubt it's too tight," she said. "I can fit my whole hand under here!"
"I know, but Minnie does better with it loose."
"Okay," Charlotte shrugged, redoing the buckle. She returned to her spot at the fence at the sound of Courtney and Highwayman's score being announced. They had done pretty well, but she wasn't entirely sure if it was good enough. Highwayman skittered out of the arena gate, clearly spooked by all the noise and activity. Charlotte grabbed his reins and calmed him down as Courtney dismounted.
"Great job!" Charlotte exclaimed.
"The first lead change was way too late, though," Courtney grumbled.
"Yes, but this is a jumper class- they don't care about lead changes, just as long as you make it over the jumps," Charlotte reassured her. Courtney had previously ridden in hunter classes, and she often forgot how much you can get away with in show jumping. Charlotte threw a light blue quarter sheet over Highwayman's steaming hindquarters. "Go walk him around and untack him," she said. Courtney nodded and led the grullo stallion away from the arena.
"Gwen," Charlotte said softly. "You're after this horse." She pointed to a flashy dark bay who was charging around the arena. "You know the drill; you've done this before. Just make sure you count out the strides and don't jump too early- Minnie sometimes does that. The time to beat is 1:18, but don't rush yourself. Getting a clean round is more important than having the fastest time. And just remember, you know what you're doing. Minnie doesn't, so she'll be relying on you."
Gwen nodded slowly. Even though she was an experienced show rider, she still felt butterflies in her stomach before her turn in the ring.
"Charlotte?" she asked. "Did you register me under 'Gwen', or 'Gwyneth'?"
"Gwyneth," her friend replied.
"How dare you!" Gwen exclaimed, but there was no time for games- the bay horse had just finished the course with four faults, and was heading toward the gate. Charlotte pulled Minnie's quarter sheet off and folded it neatly.
"Good luck!" she said, hoping her friend would do well.
"And next up is Miss Gwyneth Thompson and Riverside Minuet, from Mystic Seaside Stables," boomed the announcer over his loudspeaker. Gwen cringed at the fact that everyone now knew her dreaded full name, and pushed the mare into a canter. "Riverside Minuet is a ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare. She's new to the show ring this year, so we'll just have to wait and see how she does." Gwen was glad to be riding Minnie, with her smooth canter and responsiveness to aids. As they headed around the corner to the first jump, she noticed that her breath came out in frosty puffs which were perfectly synchronized with Minnie's. The first jump was a menacing green-and-gold Swedish oxer, but Minnie flew over it without hesitating. Gwen exhaled in relief when the mare's hooves hit the ground. Her golden coat gleamed in the sun, hopefully catching the judges' eyes. All the previous competitors had been varying shades of bay, chestnut, and gray. Minnie executed a perfect flying change after landing, and headed to the next obstacle.

Good luck, Minnie and Gwen!

The reference photo I used was found on Google, but I can't seem to find it. I'll keep looking, though.

This artwork is © *Sky-of-Silver and is not to be used in any way, shape, or form without my written permission.