Clip Clop

Entry for [link]

Team Name - Team Okarnill
Stable Name - Okarnill EC
Riders Name - Peter McNab
Ponies Name - Okarnill Thika - 14.2hh British Spotted Pony mare - 9yo.

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On the morning of the Show Peter ambled out of bed, ambled through his morning ablutions and presented himself at the yard in reasonable time. The yard was alive with bustle - female bustle Peter noticed - Ammellie ran past with Firefly's monogrammed day rug, Maisie was quivering in the corner - Peter wisely kept out of this frenetic activity and proceeded to attend to his own pony in relative solitude and quiet. At fifteen years old Peter liked to act the adult and the over excited show mornings as seen by say, Maisie for instance were not his thing.

Thika was always pleased to see him, the spotted mare was the closest thing he had to a best friend - she stood contentedly while he thoroughly groomed her, covered her with her rug and travel gear, and went to find out about travel arrangements. 'All in together' he was told - the big box that could take the entire team in one go.

The horsebox rumbled into the show site and bumped over the grass to park up, immediately the 'flapping' of females started again, Peter sighed and let the others get unboxed first - he took himself off to walk the courses and get the lay of the land.

Returning to the box to tack up he was pleased to see Thika as relaxed as he had ever seen her, she had her ears pricked taking in the scenery without getting upset.

Over in the rings the proceedings were gaining momentum with ponies in action in all the rings, after discussion with Sue - yard owner and team manager - he had been entered into the Trail class, something he was really looking forward to.

With her lovely spotted coat he'd been wanting to try western ridden for a while, and while Thika was coping well with early lessons in the new discipline he'd decided it was kinder to put her in her english tack for this show, it would be new enough doing the western style trail without doing it in as yet unfamiliar tack.

He entered the ring and carefully took her over to the start box, the judge and stewards were all friendly and as he waited for the 'go' the judge said she liked the mares spots.

Next second the judge sent him off, he opened the gate with easy ability, neatly steered Thika through, turning her with his seat and dropping the bar back over the post with ease.

He approached the bridge, Thika had practiced this at home with a bridge they'd had Matty the handyman make up, this one was a lot neater and had greenery by the ramps as well, sitting deep he let Thika stretch her neck out, relying on seat to drive her forwards. His heart sang as she put a hoof on the ramp, then seemed to consider it safe and walked calmly up to the top, her hooved boomed rather louder 'clip clop' as they walked along the level part and the mare lowered her head a little to see the off ramp, so far so good thought Peter.

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Coloured pencil on cartridge paper - no refs (apart from checking google images for trail bridges)

I am soo pleased with this one, I think Thika is going to be a lot of fun to draw and Peter is going to be a fun character. So far the only boy on the team (although we're still not sure who's riding our last pony)