Express Yourself

ARTIST'S NOTES

2ND PLACE / RESERVE CHAMPION 

Edit: I darkened the cracks in between the stone on the jump and repainted the medallion from the reference photo because I hated the way the fence looked before. I realized I forgot Express's bonnet and number before, so those have been added along with a little color change to his coat color around the muzzle. Jamie's upper half has been changed to be a more two-point like position. Overall I think it looks and feels better. I changed the background jump as well to be one of the other fences provided as examples.

Honestly, I hate how the jump turned out and how Jamie's face looks, so I will probably rework those things a bit before the deadline. Wish us luck in the last phase!

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ENTRY FORM

Horse: Expression
Handler: Jamie Rians
Class: 3DE [Inspection] (#110)
Show: 2016 Rolex Kentucky 3DE
Stables: CandleWick Equine Facility

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STORY

Ariel patted her friend's leg as she sat on Expression's back, "You got this. Last round and you've got this hooked."

Jamie nodded. "50 seconds and it's all over. Oh god."

"You have done incredibly so far. Stay confident. You don't need nervous energy to effect your boy", Ariel patted Expressions veiny neck, his nostrils already flaring.

"You're right, we've got this Expresso", Jamie used his pet name, nudging him on as a voice came over the loud speaker to queue their entrance into the ring. Another pair of competitors were just leaving, smiling on endorphins and excessive sweat mixing with the splatters of raindrops just beginning to fall. It was going to be a muddy round.

Express entered the ring and looked around before Jamie got his attention and began a brisk canter. They were going to take the tight turn from the two options at jump 6, but that didn't mean they shouldn't try to speed through the rest of the course. Carefully though, Express didn't need to slip and strain a tendon. So many things were swirling through Jamie's mind, but after a canter circle, she focused.  A careful, but quick 50 seconds were ahead of them.

And it was time to finish what this pair started. They approached jump one...

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SPECIFICATIONS

Reference:  Several photos from The Equestrian horse magazine (not traced)

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