Horse Jumping on a Cross Country course
Cross country horse jumping is an endurance test, and is one of the three phases of the sport of eventing. Horse jumping may also be a competition in its own right, known as hunter trials or simply "cross-country" - these tend to be lower level, local competitions. The cross-country course covered an acre of ground with eight jumps dotting the course. Outside in the holding arena a brunette girl circled a dapple coated buckskin mare with black points, which was too excited to stand still. She tossed her head against the restrictive reins. The rider smiled slightly; she was as ready to explode onto the course as her mount. They both craved the adrenalin rush. “Good we made it in time, Heather is about to take Mariah on the course.” Jessie nodded her head towards the pair. At a nod from the gatekeeper Heather turned Mariah towards the gate and then loosened the reins and leaned slightly forward. Mariah burst through the gate, having gone from a walk to a gallop in one stride. Heather allowed Mariah her freedom for a few seconds then pulled her back to a collected canter. She lined up on the first jump, a single rail. Mariah cleared with inches to spare. Mariah’s back legs touched the ground, and then her powerful Quarter Horse haunches pushed her into a headlong gallop. Heather stayed leaning slightly forward, enjoying Mariah’s speed. At that speed the next jump quickly loomed in front of them. Heather slowed her racing mare and they leaped over the double oxer. Mariah, seeing a long straight away ahead of her, galloped, braided mane flapping against her neck. Heather, having studied the course, knew a water jump lay ahead, unseen by Mariah. Heather repeatedly instructed Mariah to slow down. Mariah reluctantly slowed to a collected canter. Her hooves hitting the ground with more force now, as some of the restrained energy spent itself into a forceful shortened stride. Mariah now saw the water jump, a one-foot rail on each side of a four-foot span. Heather took full control of her mare’s last three strides, then cued her when to jump. Mariah folded her black front legs against her buckskin body. The thrust of her hind legs sent her flying above the water jump. Mariah landed, grabbing for the bit, wanting control. Heather laughed gleefully, her adrenalin rushing along with Mariah’s. She controlled Mariah just enough to turn her. The next three jumps lay on the other side of the course opposite from the first three. The next jump was another rail; Heather barely slowed Mariah, knowing she would clear it easily. Ears flattened, neck arching towards the jump, Mariah leaped. Upon landing Heather once again fought Mariah for control, their partnership a precarious balance of who was in control and when. They were meant for each other. Some riders would be intimidated by Mariah’s need for speed, Heather thrived on it. Despite the appearance of reckless abandonment, Heather carried fifty-one percent of the vote. The next jump, a bank jump, consisted of a rail on a small cliff. The rail was only two feet high, but Mariah landed four feet lower than where she had taken off. Heather kept Mariah to a canter as a double rail laid ahead. A quick pop over it and Heather turned Mariah down the middle of the stretch. The first jump a triple rail was a ways off. Mariah and Heather raced toward it at breakneck speed. Six strides away Heather called for collection and Mariah responded. She sailed over the triple, a tall wide rail jump. The final jump was a simple gate, so Heather allowed Mariah to choose her own speed and takeoff. Upon landing, Heather turned Mariah towards the entrance gate, then grinning from ear to ear she leaned forward, urging the racing mare to even greater speed. At the rapid approach of the entrance Heather slowed in time to hear the announcer state, “a clear round and extremely fast! As most of you already know, cross-country jumping is based on time as well as jumps performed. This team just set the time to beat.” Heather flashed a smile at Tony on Rocky Top as they passed them at the gate. In contrast to Heather and Mariah, Rocky stood quietly as a relaxed Tony stroked his neck waiting for their turn. A nod from the gatekeeper and Tony nudged Rocky forward. Rocky trotted into the ring, golden palomino coat gleaming, flaxen mane and tail braided. Tony lined Rocky up on the first jump and asked for a canter. Rocky responded with a powerful collected canter, muscles rippling. Though much slower than Mariah, Rocky cleared each jump precisely, maintaining a collected canter the entire course. Tony and Rocky would compete in stadium jumping and dressage as well. Their partnership based on a desire for precision. Caitlin had watched the cross-country course with intensity. “Jessie, have you done that?” “Yes.” “I have got to try that!” “First learn to jump, then you can try the cross-country course,” the practical Jessie replied. “I wish Jim and Susie would start me on jumps.” “They will when you are ready.” “I’m ready now.” Caitlin’s voice had taken on a tense controlled tone. “Time to go back to the ring, the stadium jumping will have started.” Jessie wisely decided to change the subject. “I think you have met Amber, she owns Indy, they will be competing.”
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