Water Jump

Full veiw works best

My entry for First Annual Outback Stables showjumping. [link]

and my first ever HARPG entry

Horse - Okarnill Wardance
Breed - British Warmblood stallion 16.2hh
Rider - Sue Beard

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It was the third and final day of the Event, Wardance passed the trot up early in the morning, the heavy rain that had so affected the XC and dressage was set in for another day by the look of it. Wet horses and grooms trotted through the gloom and puddles, after the gruelling xc and the difficult dressage conditions it was a tribute to the skill of the respective teams that all the horses made it though the final vet check.

Wardance was on his toes - hanging grimly to his leadrope Sue wondered when War was NOT on his toes. He had to go back in his stable to await warmup for his round - that wasn't going to go down too well with his Highness either.

Sure enough he came out of the stable at a high stepping trot, scornful of the weather - his tack had been thoroughly dried, cleaned and oiled, and the boots changed for fresh ones, with number attached she made her way over to the collecting ring and warmup area - warm - hah! The beautifully kept rings were showing signs of too much rain, it was coming down faster than the dirt surface could absorb it and small puddles were forming, the jumps ran with water and after only a few minutes outside the horses and riders were soaked, the wind alternated between horizontal gusts and general hard blowing.

Sue spotted several fellow competitors standing in a lee formed by two buildings, their grooms were in attendance with warm rugs for the horses and steaming hot drinks for the riders. every now and then the riders would circle the horses and return to their spots, keeping warmed up and avoiding the worst of the wind were the two problems.

It was suprising the number of spectators who had made the effort, not all of them were team members or family of competitors - the stand had a good crowd and some braver souls were actually at ringside - behind them the path to the stables had heavy traffic of horses coming and going, the occasional competitor owned dog also braved the elements. Sue was willing to bet the toasted sandwich van would be doing a roaring trade in hot food and beverages.

Keeping War moving she hoped he would listen to her cues while in the ring. His problem was not the rain or the conditions underfoot it was his sheer exuberance and conviction that nothing could stop him - trying to correct his striding had to be done tactfully as though he was doing it himself.

Sue joined the general milling around the practice jump, she was grateful for the plaited reins and her gloves, the tack was very slippery and she tightnened her grip with a mental note to keep a tight hold in the ring, losing contact at the wrong time due to a rein slipping could end them up in the stand rather than over the jumps!

The competitor two before her came cantering out scattering a few overkeen spectators in mud and woodchips, Sue put War over the jump one last time, turned him towards the entrance and kept him circling, the rain if anything was getting heavier and it was difficult to see the far end of the ring. The course was a lovely one, big and inviting with a couple of places where one would need to be very in control. The competitor before her rode out after a good round, Sue nudged War into his long striding canter and entered the wet arena, the tannoy system crackled it's objection to the wet as the commentator announced '' number eleven enters the arena - Sue Beard riding her own Okarnill Wardance' an electronic howl of pain ended anything else he may have had to say as the tannoy speaker nearest to the ring finally gave in to the conditions. A nearby steward got on the walkie talkie system to request a loudspeaker PDQ.

War's head came up at the sight of the course, he started his keen bouncing stride and she sat down hard, the bell pinged for the start of her round and she let him go through the start in his rocking horse canter, bounce, bounce BOUNCE and they were over the first - clear - phew... after that the jumps kept coming and War kept leaping, the rain and the wind were forgotten in the joy and concentration of the round. Rounding the top of the arena they were clear and going well, War slipped and recovered quickly and headed for the Kangaroo Crossing jump, a set of planks with two V poles in front of it and a water 'ditch' under it - as if more water was needed on a day like this! War lauched himself skyward and cleared it exuberantly with his ears pricked.

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Coloured pencils on cartridge paper, some watercolour pencil work and paint for highlights. I think this is only the second time I've tried to draw something in the rain, so I was very glad of the challenge.

Ref - photo in Horse and Hound magazine - horse shape and rider shape only.
All other is from my imagination.
Music - A musical Joke by mozart - brits will know it as the BBC Showjumping theme. Hear it on Youtube here [link]