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Freight Train — Description

1st PLACE
Horse: BRIs King Kardinal
Horse Age: 8 Years
Horse Breed: Traaker
Rider/Handler: Jenoah Ranaldi
Rider/Handler Age: 27 Years
Stable/Country: Ranaldi Estates, Italy
Class: Show Jumping (Advanced)
Word Count: 537

   King chomped and chewed on the O ring snaffle in his mouth as he and Jenoah jigged into the large turf arena. He was ready and wanted to go. The last rider had only two or three jumps to go and Jenoah squeezed King into a briskly canter.
   Jenoah was surprised at King’s extra spunk and friskiness. Keeping the large, headstrong horse under wraps in the warm up had been tricky, and as soon as he picked up the canter, he knew he was going to plow around the course. Maybe those two girls had been sneaking him extra sugar cubes.
   The pair weaved in and out of the jumps, staying well out of the on course rider’s way. When they had finished their round, Jenoah steered his large mount between the buzzers and off they went.
   One, two, three strides, take off. King thundered around the course, kicking up clods of grass in the process and hooves not even coming close to the poles that sat up in their cups. When Jenoah lined him up for the tricky line consisting of a tight bounce and a triple oxer, King tossed his head in protest, as he wanted to run straight at it. Jenoah worked to keep him steady and even all the way through it. It was like piloting a freight train.
   White flecks of foam splattered against King’s broad, pale chest as they pounded around to the last fence. Despite ignoring his riders requests, King decided to take the long spot, leaving the ground a touch too soon. Regardless, he still cleared the fence like it was nothing. Jenoah quickly gathered his reins back up in surprise then patted his horse’s neck. “You knucklehead…” he muttered with a smile.
   Antonio waited at the gate with wide, worried eyes. “Well, that was quite something, wasn’t it? He must have studied the course last night, because, boy, did he not listen to an ounce of you! He took you for a whole ride and a half right there!”
   Jenoah sighed and shook his head. “What are we going to do with you?” He asked the horse, whose head was lowered. “Looks like he wore himself out.”
   “Why don’t you go get cleaned up? I can cool him out.” Antonio said, glancing up at the sky after getting smacked in the face by a large raindrop. “Is it going to rain?”
   “That’s alright. I can walk him out. Thank you, though.” Jenoah replied kindly before looking up at the sky. “Hard to say. Maybe?” The sky was blue with some darker clouds drifting by, but nothing to be worried about.
   Antonio tilted his head to the side. “If you are sure. I’m going to watch the other rider’s rounds, then if you don’t mind.” Jenoah nodded, loosed the girth a hole or two, kicked his feet free from the stirrup irons, and let King walk on with a loose rein.
   King seemed to enjoy checking out the show grounds, looking around calmly and curiously as they clip clopped down the path. Jenoah was enjoying it was well. People watching was one of his favorite things to do, and here, there were plenty of people, and horses, to watch.

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