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Description
Red, our finest Irish Sport Horse, makes his first appearance in a top level showjumping event.

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"Holy...Beth, are you alright?" Graham rushed over to where Beth Williams cradled her arm in a heap. Red stood snorting on the other side of the jump, his bright eyes worried. This was the second time this morning he'd thrown her in his excitement, and it was getting painful. Beth was a good rider, and it took a lot to unseat her. The stallion's exuberance wasn't catching. Graham sighed and clasped a hand around the young rider's, pulling her up from the ground. She sucked her breath through her teeth, wincing as she felt the effects of the tumble.

"I'm...I'm okay. I'll be fine, Graham, honestly!" Tottering on her feet, she tore her hand from his grasp, staggering to catch Red's reins. Her scowl deepened as he nosed her side, seeking treats and pats. "Stop it, you. I'm not in a good mood with you."

Graham hovered around, then decided that he must take charge. "Beth, don't you dare get back in the saddle. I mean it." Another jump like that and she'd be off for sure. Red's overeager style was hard to get used to, and it required a sure mind and confident hand, plus an high alertness. He rushed jumps and took no care, but thankfully he possessed endless scope and generally overjumped.

Beth shook her blond head. "There's no way I'm getting back on him today. He's a mad horse, mad." She muttered angrily, but stroked his ear all the same. "Come on, you. We'll try again tomorrow." She waved Graham goodbye, and supported herself on the stallion's withers, walking slowly out of the arena. Red seemed to realise she needed help, and walked extra slowly, measuring his stride.

"Oh, horse."

---

Red nickered in his stall, pressing his nose into her hand. It was three months later, and the two had formed a bond. He curbed his enthusiasm (just) and she anticipated his every move. They were ready to debut together. Four long years of care and training would culminate in the first showjumping event Red would ever go to - a little thing, not too high up in ranks or anything, but not a local.

He was loaded and vanned over easily, his nostrils wide, ears up, eyes darting. He walked out perfectly, even if he was a little skittish when being brushed and tacked. Their number was #11, out of 23. Twenty three horses who perhaps had a lot more experience than Red. Twenty three horses to beat. Red pranced over to where the horses were warming up, and Beth mounted efficiently. "Don't let me down now, boy," she sighed, and steered him towards a free jump, pressing him gently into a slow canter.

That was the plan, anyway. Instead of a soft canter she got a springbok-like leap, and a mad dash at the obstacle. Forelegs out, hindquarters bunched; knees under, back hooves up; forelegs down and out, back legs tucked; gait resumed. Rider? Check - still there.

Just.
---

"Number Eleven, Beth Williams and Hello Seattle, please enter the ring." The announcer rang out, and Red sprang into the arena, aimed himself at the first jump, and jumped it. Fast. Beth attempted to pull him up after that, her red reddening by the second, but to no avail. He took the bit in his mouth and appeared to shy from every watching crowd member, every banner. He huffed and puffed, his neck taught. Foam began to fleck his chest, far too quickly, as he propelled himself onwards, up, and over. Second jump: over. Third, forth, fifth. She felt like a passenger on a high speed train, keeping her seat with greatest concentration. What had happened to the bond? She fumed in the back of her mind.

"GET HIM UNDER CONTROL, BETHANY WILLIAMS!" Graham Roberts cupped his hands and yelled out over the stands, ignoring the stares of the audience. "Jesus," he muttered quietly to me.

Thirteen jumps left; and Beth had composed herself and was having no more of his boyish grins and colt-like exuberance. She took the reins up harder, and half succeeded to pull him up to a slower pace. She relaxed them and kept him under her leg, under her control. His canter evened out, his attention less on the crowd than the jumps now, and his breathing easier. With this new technique and comfortable style, they sailed over the remaining jumps, managing a miraculous clear round.

---

Name: Hello Seattle.
Barn Name: Red.
Breed: Registered Irish Sport Horse.
Gender: Stallion.
Height: 17hh.
Age: Five (born 2004).
Bloodlines: Foundation.
Colour: Bright bay with a small star, and dapples across his back, shoulders and rump. Four black legs. Black mane and tail. Bright, colourful eye.
Genotype: EE/Aa
Build: Lighter and faster type of horse, long lean legs, a long and graceful neck. He carries his tail quite high, and gives an overall impression of elegance and speed.
Disciplines(s): Eventing, showjumping.
Temperament: In four words: he loves to jump. Every time he sees a jump, he’ll fight to get over it, although with training we are hoping to curb this problem. He’s got a big, scopey jump, and tends to overjump a lot. When he’s on the cross country course it’s a battle to keep him at a steady pace; he wants to rush flat out over each fence. Red’s a fantastic jumper, though. He’s not too careful over them, but he seems to be alright, and clears them well. The main thing we are worried about is him injuring himself in cross country.
History: We saw him at a horse show – in a mares and foals class in the USA. He showed great promise even then. Having seen his papers after inquiring in to his availability, we were astounded when we saw that his sire was Slew City Slew - a racehorse descended from Seattle Slew himself. His dam, Gloster Hill, showed a hunter's conformation, but was also sleek and fast, too. So, without a doubt, the little colt would be coming home to R&S to begin his training. We paid the stud farm at the show, and a few months later, a stunning long-legged and nosy colt arrived at the stables, having been imported from his home country. He began his training with Anna, and showed willingness and determination to succeed in everything he was tasked with, becoming irritated and grumpy when he had difficulty. He’s still in training and light shows, and is getting ready for competing at a higher level.
Awards: None yet.
Available for stud/lease: No.
Progeny:

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Image and character: *zeunicorn1o
Background image and reference: *ChildOfAtlas

Description
Red, our finest Irish Sport Horse, makes his first appearance in a top level showjumping event.

---

"Holy...Beth, are you alright?" Graham rushed over to where Beth Williams cradled her arm in a heap. Red stood snorting on the other side of the jump, his bright eyes worried. This was the second time this morning he'd thrown her in his excitement, and it was getting painful. Beth was a good rider, and it took a lot to unseat her. The stallion's exuberance wasn't catching. Graham sighed and clasped a hand around the young rider's, pulling her up from the ground. She sucked her breath through her teeth, wincing as she felt the effects of the tumble.

"I'm...I'm okay. I'll be fine, Graham, honestly!" Tottering on her feet, she tore her hand from his grasp, staggering to catch Red's reins. Her scowl deepened as he nosed her side, seeking treats and pats. "Stop it, you. I'm not in a good mood with you."

Graham hovered around, then decided that he must take charge. "Beth, don't you dare get back in the saddle. I mean it." Another jump like that and she'd be off for sure. Red's overeager style was hard to get used to, and it required a sure mind and confident hand, plus an high alertness. He rushed jumps and took no care, but thankfully he possessed endless scope and generally overjumped.

Beth shook her blond head. "There's no way I'm getting back on him today. He's a mad horse, mad." She muttered angrily, but stroked his ear all the same. "Come on, you. We'll try again tomorrow." She waved Graham goodbye, and supported herself on the stallion's withers, walking slowly out of the arena. Red seemed to realise she needed help, and walked extra slowly, measuring his stride.

"Oh, horse."

---

Red nickered in his stall, pressing his nose into her hand. It was three months later, and the two had formed a bond. He curbed his enthusiasm (just) and she anticipated his every move. They were ready to debut together. Four long years of care and training would culminate in the first showjumping event Red would ever go to - a little thing, not too high up in ranks or anything, but not a local.

He was loaded and vanned over easily, his nostrils wide, ears up, eyes darting. He walked out perfectly, even if he was a little skittish when being brushed and tacked. Their number was #11, out of 23. Twenty three horses who perhaps had a lot more experience than Red. Twenty three horses to beat. Red pranced over to where the horses were warming up, and Beth mounted efficiently. "Don't let me down now, boy," she sighed, and steered him towards a free jump, pressing him gently into a slow canter.

That was the plan, anyway. Instead of a soft canter she got a springbok-like leap, and a mad dash at the obstacle. Forelegs out, hindquarters bunched; knees under, back hooves up; forelegs down and out, back legs tucked; gait resumed. Rider? Check - still there.

Just.
---

"Number Eleven, Beth Williams and Hello Seattle, please enter the ring." The announcer rang out, and Red sprang into the arena, aimed himself at the first jump, and jumped it. Fast. Beth attempted to pull him up after that, her red reddening by the second, but to no avail. He took the bit in his mouth and appeared to shy from every watching crowd member, every banner. He huffed and puffed, his neck taught. Foam began to fleck his chest, far too quickly, as he propelled himself onwards, up, and over. Second jump: over. Third, forth, fifth. She felt like a passenger on a high speed train, keeping her seat with greatest concentration. What had happened to the bond? She fumed in the back of her mind.

"GET HIM UNDER CONTROL, BETHANY WILLIAMS!" Graham Roberts cupped his hands and yelled out over the stands, ignoring the stares of the audience. "Jesus," he muttered quietly to me.

Thirteen jumps left; and Beth had composed herself and was having no more of his boyish grins and colt-like exuberance. She took the reins up harder, and half succeeded to pull him up to a slower pace. She relaxed them and kept him under her leg, under her control. His canter evened out, his attention less on the crowd than the jumps now, and his breathing easier. With this new technique and comfortable style, they sailed over the remaining jumps, managing a miraculous clear round.

---

Name: Hello Seattle.
Barn Name: Red.
Breed: Registered Irish Sport Horse.
Gender: Stallion.
Height: 17hh.
Age: Five (born 2004).
Bloodlines: Foundation.
Colour: Bright bay with a small star, and dapples across his back, shoulders and rump. Four black legs. Black mane and tail. Bright, colourful eye.
Genotype: EE/Aa
Build: Lighter and faster type of horse, long lean legs, a long and graceful neck. He carries his tail quite high, and gives an overall impression of elegance and speed.
Disciplines(s): Eventing, showjumping.
Temperament: In four words: he loves to jump. Every time he sees a jump, he’ll fight to get over it, although with training we are hoping to curb this problem. He’s got a big, scopey jump, and tends to overjump a lot. When he’s on the cross country course it’s a battle to keep him at a steady pace; he wants to rush flat out over each fence. Red’s a fantastic jumper, though. He’s not too careful over them, but he seems to be alright, and clears them well. The main thing we are worried about is him injuring himself in cross country.
History: We saw him at a horse show – in a mares and foals class in the USA. He showed great promise even then. Having seen his papers after inquiring in to his availability, we were astounded when we saw that his sire was Slew City Slew - a racehorse descended from Seattle Slew himself. His dam, Gloster Hill, showed a hunter's conformation, but was also sleek and fast, too. So, without a doubt, the little colt would be coming home to R&S to begin his training. We paid the stud farm at the show, and a few months later, a stunning long-legged and nosy colt arrived at the stables, having been imported from his home country. He began his training with Anna, and showed willingness and determination to succeed in everything he was tasked with, becoming irritated and grumpy when he had difficulty. He’s still in training and light shows, and is getting ready for competing at a higher level.
Awards: None yet.
Available for stud/lease: No.
Progeny:

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Image and character: *zeunicorn1o
Background image and reference: *ChildOfAtlas