2024 Beltane - Show Jumping Wood Nymphs

Horse: AVS Countess of Cosmology

Rider(s) Name and Age: Nadya Ryder, 23 y.o.

Show: 2024 ILB Annual Beltane Show

Class: Show Jumping (Day 2, 5-8 pm)

Country: USA
Stable: Artistik Vale Stables
Extra:

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Story:
As soon as the girls discovered the Beltane Show it was immediately decided that they would attend.  Crazy schedules and prior engagements prevented the entire coven from travelling together to Ireland to celebrate this Celtic festival celebrating the start of summer and the changing of seasons.  But Nadya and Kat, with their dear friend Occa, had been able to make arrangements to be present for the cleansing and protection rituals, displays of fresh greenery, and bonfire dancing that would leave them energized throughout the upcoming year.  

Kat helped Nadya pack up all Celestia’s tack for travelling, while Nadya finished putting the shipping boots and padded travel halter on the darkly colored mare.  They would be travelling first to Chevalier’s Dream Stables, where they would join with Occa and her beautiful grey mare Kim.  Occa had arranged first class transportation for the girls, and the horses, to Ireland.  Kat wanted to be there to support her wiccan sisters, without any of the pressure of performing herself, and would be an extra set of hands during the show classes. 

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Northern Ireland was as scenic and magical as Nadya had envisioned.  And once they arrived to the ILB facilities it was like walking into another time – a long-forgotten piece of European Folk history – with all the Mayflower decorations and May Bushes.  They had arrived just in time to attend the Opening Ceremony, where they were given a lovely tour of the grounds and assistance getting the horses all settled into their stalls.  Nadya stayed with Celestia for a while, as Kat and Occa set up Kim in an adjacent stall.  The large seal bay Faimé mare bobbed her head as she munched a fresh carrot and leaned into the comforting touch as Nadya massaged her athletic muscles.  The flight had been long and she wanted to make sure her mare was as comfortable as possible before their performance. 

With the horses settled, Kat, Occa, and Nadya went to watch the Halter show, and admire all the beautiful and brightly decorated horses with streamers and ribbons.  The girls chatted together, making plans to enter their horses in more of the classes next year and participate in the event to the fullest.  Then they picked up some traditional Irish food from an on-site caterer and sat down to a picnic-styled lunch to enjoy the fair weather and beautiful flower petals that were floating on the light breeze all around them.  Nadya had opted for a soda bread sandwich with a lime soda and was pleasantly surprised at how lovely the flavors melded into her mouth.    

The next event was a child’s scavenger hunt, which was perfectly timed before Occa’s Dressage class.  Kat and Occa used the time to return to the stables and put the finishing touches on everything (costumes and tack) and make sure that Kim was ready to shine during her performance.  Nadya used the time to check in on her beloved mare and take her for a light hack to an exercise arena, so the mare could stretch her legs while Nadya took in more of the iconic setting and festive décor. 

Then they returned to the stables, where Celestia was set up with a light dinner and bucket full of cold, refreshing water.  Seeing her mare contented, Nadya checked in on Kat and Occa to see if the girls needed any other help to finish getting ready.  Occa and Kim looking absolutely breathtaking in their performance attire.  Kat was snapping pictures of both horse and rider, making sure Occa had everything she could possibly need for social media updates later that evening.  Nadya was excited to wear her outfit during tomorrow’s show, but she had to admit that she had nothing on Occa, who straight-up looked like European folk royalty.  She was a queen.

Kat kept her phone at hand, recording the entire time Occa and Kim danced around the arena.  And when it was over the girls burst out in cheers and claps.  Then it was time to get changed/dressed for the last event of the day – the Beltane bonfire.  Occa settled Kim back into the stables while Nadya did one more check on her mare, who looked quite comfortable in a corner of her stall lying on a pile of hay.  Then the girls went back to their rooms and got changed.  This was truly their element – dressed in soft flowing and earthy gowns with sprigs of flowers/twig adornments.  Nadya left her contacts out, allowing the silver moonlight in her eye to shine true as the girls went out celebrate and dance around the fire. 

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Day 2 of the event was cooler, with clouds that had moved in overhead and hints of pending rain.  The girls had recovered from the frivolities of the night before and went to watch the liberty performances.  The arena was coated with fiery colored petals that gusted about as the horses played and ran to their handler’s chosen music.  Kat and Occa could not help but get excited at the prospect of bringing their both of their horses to such a fun class next year.  Meanwhile, Nadya’s enthusiasm became more subdued, as she began to focus on the performance before her.  She recited the course she had walked, over and over in her head, making sure she remembered the strides between each jump and where she wanted to give Celestia her head. 

There was another on-site caterer providing lunch for Day 2, and a large tent had been erected to provide people a dry place to sit and enjoy their meals.  This time Nadya opted for the soup and potato bread – something simple that would not upset her pre-show-stomach before her ride.  Then she took leave from her friends, and headed over to the stables with more than enough time to make sure everything was ready to go for her ride.  She double checked the plaited braids she had done in Celestia’s mane in the morning, making sure each one remained in place still.  Then she grabbed her accessories box and began to weave small, floral ribbons into each plait, adding a touch of festivity to the mane and base of the tail.  She wanted Celestia to have some decorative elements to her show-look, but still have full freedom of movement so she could fly over the jumps effortlessly. 

Then she regroomed the mare, until every single bit of her body gleamed with shine.  She pulled the brown leather tack out of its carrying case, and double checked it for any dirt spots.  It was a modified bridle, one that a local tack maker back home had created specifically for this event.  It combined the necessary safety elements of a showjumping tack set with an elaborative, almost baroque-looking, bit of flair.  The supple leather had been engraved with Celtic symbols for authenticity.  Delicate silver chains connected the headgear together, and gave a bit of elegance to the breastplate.  Lightweight, foam antlers were painted and attached to the bridle just near Celestia’s ears.  The saddle pad and boots matched as well, but lacked any décor to remain strictly functional for their ride. 

She tacked up Celestia, who looked striking with the purple and earthy green colors against her dark coat.  As she finished, Kat and Occa returned from their lunch break and offered to help with the finishing touches.  Kat held onto a fully decorated Celestia, while Occa helped Nadya slip into her costume.  She had kept a pale pair of riding breeches on beneath her renaissance skirt, just in case any “flashing” or costume mishaps happened while they were out flying over jumps.  Occa zippered up Nadya’s dress, then added painted foam antlers atop Nadya’s helmet.  They were strapped on with dark leather, matching and fading into the color of the helmet itself.  Then Occa finished the look with a beautiful floral crown, with long flowing ribbons that cascaded down Nadya’s back. 

Nadya’s silver eyes flashed with a spark when she caught her reflection.  She never imagined she could look so pretty, when getting ready for a show-jumping competition.  Leave it to Occa to find a way to acquire the perfect outfit for her, and touch up her makeup so that her mystical eyes almost looked magical with their silver gleam.  Her little friend was truly a fashionista through and through.  The girls then had her pose with Celestia, as both of them looked truly enchanted now, while Kat went back to snapping lots of photos.  Then Nadya mounted up.

The rain had pushed the showjumping class indoors.  Ribbons and flowers decorated all the beams and columns.  It was truly gorgeous.  The glass windows showed the sun attempting to peak through the clouds, with the possibility of a rainbow forming before the sun finally set for the evening.  Nadya waited for the previous contestant to exit the arena, and then coaxed Celestia forward.  She knew her friends were there in the stands, but kept her eyes focused forward.  Right now it was all about this mare, and how they would work together to tackle each jump.  The jumps were gorgeous, all decorated with the festival’s theme, and she was excited at the prospect of clearing each and every one of them in record time.  

They received their start signal, and moved forward.  Nadya remembered walking the course and knew exactly how many strides they would need between each jump.  They came up to a beautiful jump, with a wooden-looking Celtic pattern suspended between two ancient-appearing tree stumps.  Flowers and early summer greenery decorated the ground around the base.  And a mystical mist loomed around the sides of the jump, from what Nadya could only assume was fog machines placed within the mossy trees (using a safe, non-toxic mist) to create this mythical atmosphere.  Celestia stepped perfectly, gathering her momentum as she leapt into the air…

(Word Count = 1643 words)

Didn't know if I was gonna finish in time - RL has been insane. But so grateful for the extension through the end of the month. I love the fun vibes of this show's themes and hope to come back next year with even more entries <3

Pose ref: Warmblood - Bay - Showjumping

Background inspo: Event Journal
Art/Characters © ReQuay, and may not be used or reproduced in any way.