~ Daylight's Inspection
After the final notes were taken and the judges nodded their thanks, Taylor clipped the lead rope back to August's halter and led her quietly from the ring, the red roan tobiano mare walking beside her with an air of triumph, and the woman finally let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. This was going to be a long day. Finally back at the trailer, the blonde gave August a well-earned carrot and a rub behind the ears; and then she untied her, led her gently into her stall in the trailer, and secured her safely. It was time for the next diva: Taylor stepped up into the trailer and was greeted by a gentle nicker from the far corner. There stood Daylight, her fluffy, elegant belted Perlino mare with a coat like champagne satin and eyes the color of faded sea glass, her tail swishing softly as she turned to face Taylor, her fluffy ears pricked forwards in gentle curiosity.
The mare stepped out of the trailer into the sun with all the fluff and quiet elegance of a cloud come to earth, her light coat shimmering with ivory and gold, and her signature light cream-colored belt that circled her body looking like it had been painted on with purpose. She was softness and grace wrapped in a winter coat of plush velvet, yet beneath the fluff was a well-trained body accustomed to elegance, precision, and applause. Taylor had brushed her down meticulously before leaving home, but she gave her another quick once-over now - smoothing the mane, giving the thick tail a final comb-through, brushing away a bit of dust from one white pastern, and finally polishing her hooves until they gleamed and adjusting the braid that framed her forelock. Daylight stood quietly, as she always did, her ears turning towards the sound of other horses, of stewards calling names, of judges murmuring to one another from across the field.
But something shifted as the young woman led her towards the ring. There were more people now. Spectators had gathered behind the ropes; more than Daylight was used to outside of the dressage ring. Children leaned on fences, cameras clicked, and a cluster of stallions nearby were snorting and calling out, their handlers struggling to keep them steady. Taylor felt the mare's lead rope tighten as Daylight's head rose slightly, her pink nostrils flaring. Her walk, once confident and fluid, grew stiff as her ears darted this way and that, scanning the crowd, the banners flapping gently in the breeze, the cluster of horses behind the ring. "It's okay, sweetheart.", Taylor murmured, giving her a reassuring rub on the neck, "You've seen crowds before. This is just... different noise." But Daylight was listening less to Taylor and more to everything else, like the noise of a child dropping something behind the ropes, of another stallion letting out a shrill neigh, or one of the judges laughing a little too loudly.
Daylight flinched, and the blonde immediately slowed her steps. She kept her voice soft and constant, her movements slow and predictable, but she could feel it in the mare's frame - her whole body humming with nerves; her eyes weren't wild, but they weren't soft either, instead darting around, constantly assessing. The inspection ring was now just ahead, and Taylor paused for a moment. "You're okay, darling.", she whispered again, touching her nose gently, "I'm here." Daylight blinked, took a breath to calm down, yet her tail cotninued flicking anxiously, her hooves pawing at the earth. Taylor glanced towards the steward, who was already motioning her forward. It was time, and Daylight, despite the tension pulling tight across her body like a wire about to snap, followed her forward... but the blonde could feel it; the mare's nerves.
Taylor stepped into the ring next to Daylight, her hand steady on the lead rope, though she could still feel the tension coiled inside the mare like a wire waiting to snap. The judges gave a nod, pens at the ready, their expressions expectant, and the mare stood still. For a heartbeat, she quivered, her ears flicking, her nostrils twitching again, but then, almost as if something shifted inside her, she took a breath. Her head lowered ever so slightly. Her stance squared, and the tension began to ease like the last notes of a held chord. Taylor exhaled with her as the judges began their walk-around. They moved in silence, circling her like a constellation, their strict eyes darting from hip to withers, from chest to hocks. Her compact build, feathered legs, and fluffy body stood in contrast to the less feathered cobs being evaluated in the other ring. Her belt gleamed around her middle like a sash, her deep-set eyes calm now, thoughtful and alert. A judge paused to study her shoulder angle while another ran a hand gently along her neck, fingers brushing across the slight rise of muscle where Taylor had spent months developing strength and flexibility. They noted her symmetry, her clean pasterns, the set of her ears, and even the straightness of her legs.
When the signal came, Taylor nodded once, quietly clicking her tongue, and Daylight stepped forward into a trot. Her hooves struck the ground in perfect rhythm, light and sure as her neck arched into a graceful curve, her long mane shifting like silk with every stride. Her tail lifted naturally behind her, not in defiance, but in sheer elegance, and oh she moved with effortless power - every step of hers a blend of softness and strength. Her gaits were balanced, uphill, and fluid, the kind of movement that didn't exactly scream for attention but demanded it anyway. Taylor ran besides her with ease, but the woman barely had to do anything as it appeared Daylight was in her element now. And finally, the crowd, the noise, and all of the distractions - they no longer mattered to the mare. By the time they came to a halt and turned back to the judges, Daylight stood poised once again, as if she had been born in that ring and nowhere else. Taylor gave her a small pat, brushing her fingers against her shoulder. "You nailed it, girl.", she whispered under her breath, and the mare gave a slow blink in agreement.
The judges exchanged quiet glances and subtle nods before one lifted a hand towards the steward, who then turned towards Taylor and gave the signal that it was time for the free jump. The blonde unclipped Daylight's purple lead and gave her a gentle pat between the withers, whispering softly, "You've got this. Go show 'em.", but it seemed as though Daylight wasn't so sure. She stepped into the chute with tentative steps, her fluffy ears flicking back and forth. The narrow lane of poles and fencing looked far more confining than the open ring. The first jump loomed ahead - not too high, not imposing by standard - just a simple cross-rail to start, but the mare's muscles bunched and her eyes darted. The calm she'd worn so gracefully during the conformation and trot-up began to peel away like the top layer of a delicate painting. Then, with a sudden jolt of energy, she broke into a gallop. Her hooves thundered down the lane, her mane flying, her tail lifted high behind her... but just before the first jump, she faltered.
Her strides shortened, her ears flattened slightly, and then she just stopped. She didn't stop with a skid, but a calculated ducking out, swerving gracefully to the side and trotting right back to Taylor, her head low and her breath quick. There were murmurs from the sidelinesm and a few pens paused in the air. The blonde didn't care about the people though, and instead stepped forward with a calm she didn't quite feel, meeting Daylight halfway. The mare pressed her nose into Taylor's chest like a child seeking shelter, and the woman rubbed the mare gently between the eyes, her voice barely a whisper, "It's okay, girl. You're okay. That jump isn't going anywhere. You don't have to be perfect, you just have to try. You can do this." Daylight blew out a breath, long and slow, and Taylor stroked the length of her neck, "You're braver than you think, girl. Just give it one more go."
With a little coaxing, she turned Daylight back towards the chute. The stewards quietly reset the jump, and the arena stilled once more. This time, Daylight walked in slowly. Her tail swished, her nostrils flared, but she didn't panic. She picked up a canter, and her strides stretched. Her ears locked on the jump as she gathered herself. And then she soared; an elegant clear - her knees tucked tight, her arc flawless, and then she landed with balance and fluidity, continuing on down the lane like nothing had ever rattled her. Cheers broke out softly from a cluster of spectators, but Taylor only exhaled. Thank the Teddy Gods. Eventually, Daylight circled back to her at the end of the lane, puffing but proud. There was a glint in her eye now, as if her hesitation had been replaced by confidence. Taylor's lips curled into a thin line as she scratched the mare behind her ear, "Told you you'd do just fine."
