Leaping Bounds

The young rider was doing her best to hold Tess back, but she was too excited to contain herself fully. She pawed at the ground outside the arena, waiting for the previous competitors to finish jumping the carefully crafted course. Tess didn't have patience, she just wanted to jump. It was her favourite activity to do with her handlers, and she excelled at it. Hunter jumpers, however, weren't her scene, far too slow paced for her liking. All Georgia needed to do was give her the cue with the gentle squeezing pressure of her legs, and she would be off over the jumps before you could even hear the announcer read out their names.
Georgia knew her pony, though. She held the reins in one hand while adjusting her helmet with her other. This was the ten year old's first time showing outside of her home country, and she could feel the excitement and nerves clashing within her body. Tess felt this too, and the pent up energy felt electrifying.

The steward gave a nod to the pony and rider, and Tess shot forward into the arena in a strong canter, flicking an ear back to the young girl every now and then. Once they arced over the first jump, Tess quickly settled and the two of them matched each other flawlessly despite Tess' tenacity over jumps in such a control-demanding atmosphere. Georgia had done everything in training with her pony growing up, and it showed as Tess didn't bat an eye at any prop in her sight. Georgia could feel the gaze of the photographer as she neared the last obstacle, a vertical with birch poles and a box adorned with seasonal flora. She did her best to focus on her breathing and remain a straight approach.
They cleared the jump with not a single ounce of difficulty, Tess flicking her adorable bobbed tail up in midair. Tess did one last lap of the arena after the round, slowing down to a trot and eventually a walk as she gave her pony all of the scratches she deserved. Now Georgia just had to complete the in-hand and flat classes.