Rugs-in-the-snow

 COS Event - Winter Coat Event
8415 Rugs from me to you
Nordanner Stallion
Class: Halter

Kaaring breakdown:
FB full bkg: 2
Animation: 2
show entry: 1
607 word story 1 
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                  6 kaaring

+1 kaaring to 7346 Behr for mention in story

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Jenny grumbled at the young stallion as she dragged him away from his grain pail. The pail was empty, had been empty since the morning feeding 3 hours ago, and he was still licking it.  Rugs wasn’t very tall, 14.3hh,  but he was bulky and strong.  He strained at the decorative show halter to reach hay, pocketed treats and even a dog cookie as she walked.  “Knock it off,” Jenny cursed and tugged sharply at the chain attaching his lead to his bit.  Rugs eyed her and narrowed his eyes. She couldn’t fault him for intelligence; he was a glutton but a smart one.

 

Sulking, the stallion walked a step behind her to the entrance of the show field. He stared longingly at a wheelbarrow full of hay but made no move to drag Jenny to it. He lipped at the back of her shirt and tugged on her ponytail. Rugs was like a big puppy dog, and was often mistaken for a gypsy cob for his heavy set and tendency to grow feathering. The vet had recently had to jam his thumbs deep into rugs side just to find his ribs. RDR was ordered to take 50 lbs off their horse and it was slow going. Rugs hated the diet and whinnied and kicked at this stall when he finished eating before his companions.  Jenny was having a long week with him at the show and knew that other competitors were annoyed by his dramatics. She wished she had been allowed to take their other Nordanner stallion in place of Rugs but Maddie had insisted on building up his kaaring as fast as possible. Their other Nordanner, Behr, looked like a war horse. He was big and muscular with a closely cropped mane and proud set.  Behr didn’t throw temper tantrums or kick at his stall door. Behr certainly would not be trying to pickpocket her for sugar outside the show ring.

 

“8415 Rugs for You and Me entering the ring for Royal Dauphin Ranch,” The announcer called over the loudspeaker. Jenny led Rugs into the field and moved him about. She noticed his cranky expression and sneaked him a tiny bit of carrot.  He perked up immediately and followed her with more vigor. Convinced that she had more where that taste had come from he jogged quickly after her. Jenny feared briefly that he would run her over in his enthusiasm but he remembered his ground manners . When the judge ran his fingers over Rugs and through his mane and tail, checking for extensions, Rugs lipped at his pockets and pants.

 

“he’s cute,” said the older man as he looked at the stallions feet, pulling them free of the snow. “You might want to cut back on his feed though, his body score is a big high,” He added, poking Rugs in the butt.

 

“it’s…uhhh… winter weight,” Jenny stammered and smiled politely. The man nodded and went on to the next horse. As she led Rugs from the ring she whispered at him fiercly, “If I lose a ribbon because you can’t lose a few pounds I’m going to beat you with a lead pipe.” Rugs just blew at her. He knew she was all bluster and wouldn’t harm a fly.  She groomed him fresh and popped him back into his stall next to Regis. Their American Warmblood stallion was due in the ring in 20 minutes and she had to get him ready. Rugs leaned out over the door and made a pitiful noise, “oh all right,” she sighed and handed him the rest of the carrot. It was gone in three gulps.