Jules Aveline's Horses [Brigantia & Swarovski]

[Jules 'Jojo' Aveline]

I ~ II ~ III ~ IV ~ V ~ VI ~ VII ~ VIII
AVELINE'S B R I G A N T I A

I feel these 4 walls closing in
My face up against the glass
I'm looking out... hmm

The Basics;;

Registered Name;; Aveline's Brigantia
Barn Name;; Bree
Age;; 6
Birthdate;; February 28th, 2006
Breed;; Welsh Cob
Colour;; Chestnut
Height;; 15.0 1/2 hh
Gender;; Mare
Discipline;; English - Dressage, Show Jumping, Cross Country & Trails (recreational), used to western tack/basic western style
Owner//Rider;; Jules Aveline

Is this my life I'm wondering
It happened so fast

The Inner Description;;

Personality;;

-- DARLING: Bree loves attention, and in return loves the person giving her the attention. Gentle and caring as Bree is, don't be surprised if she gently nudges you when you seem to lose your focus. She is a bit of a one-man horse - there's only one she truly gives her heart for, once she watches out for, one she'll get herself killed for. That dedication shows in everything; she'll go the extra step for that (wo)man, kneel a bit deeper, rear a bit higher, run a bit faster. She'll try to read that persons thoughts and act as if they were her own.

-- FORWARD: Although Bree is sweet as candy, she's got a strong head on her body and she's pretty fierce in her own way. Stubborn and spirited, convincing this mare to do something she absolutely doesn't want to do is nearly impossible. Under the saddle, she always wants to walk for herself; no need to poke and prod to keep her going. Nevertheless, her golden heart always shines through. It's hard to defeat this optimistic mare - and occasionally that means a sprint home even if you don't want it.

-- INTELLIGENT: This mare is truly intelligent. Opening doors, unfastening blankets, even the saddle, unzipping pockets in coats, Bree can do it all. Due to this, she learns incredibly fast - both good and bad things. Unfortunately, it also means that she's quick to be bored. However, games are something she truly likes and as such 'anti-boredom therapies' are always a joy with Brigantia; not to mention the simpler solution of a lot of time in the pasture with another horse. She picks it up easily and actually seems to get the bigger picture as well, playing along with others. When you talk to her, it's almost as if she understands, on occasion even neighing in response.

Likes;;
-- Attention
-- Speed
-- Pears
-- 'Breaking free' of her halter/leadrope
-- Being washed

Dislikes;;
-- Intense dressage practice
-- Carrots
-- Being ignored
-- Being alone
-- Rap music

Strengths;;
-- Strong
-- Athletic
-- Very healthy

Weaknesses;;
-- Stubborn
-- Easily bored
-- Rushes - jumps, the way home, a simple canter... Everything has to go faster in her mind

Fears;;
-- Frogs
-- Metal name signs on stable doors
-- Barbed wire

Vices;;
-- Speed devil
-- Tries to get control of the bit
-- Paws
-- Rushes fences
-- Escape artist

How do I turn this thing around
Is this the bed I chose to make

The Outer Description;;

Physical Description;;
In each and every way Brigantia looks like the pony she is. She stands at a respectable 15.0 1/2 hh, and is build a bit slighter than old-fashioned Welsh Cobs. Bree is light on her feet and surprisingly agile for her still somewhat sturdy posture - as well as fast for said height and build. She's a chestnut with mane and tail a teint or two lighter than her body, as well as two stockings (left fore & right hind), a sock (right fore) and a bald face. As a true cob, not only does she have lush manes, she also has feathers on all four legs, though not as wild as regular draft horses.

Her gaits are all typical Welsh Cob - lots of knee action, one hell of an extended trot, and a less than perfect walk: she tends to not-walk most of the time, preferring a half-trot that is bloody annoying to the rider.
Scars;;
-- Several (thin) scars over her left hind leg and low on both fore legs from barbed wire, one thicker one over her breast
-- A half-bald hoof print square on the right side of her (sizeable) butt
-- A thin scar just above her right eye from where she was slighty too impatient when she had to wait in her stall as her rider got her tack
Branding;; N/A

Its greener pastures I'm thinking about hmm
Wide open spaces far away

The Past is the Past;;

Medical History;;
-- All vaccinations up to date
-- Treated for the cuts suffered during a panicked run from a barbed wire fence (through said fence)

The Life Story;;
Brigantia's birth wasn't entirely planned, but rather the result of an overeager stallion escaping at the alluring scent of a ready, willing mare. Regardless, the bright young filly was very welcome at the the farm. It was an unanimous decision from the adult Aveline's that the foal should be Jules', and so she was given the young mare.

The first six months were spent training Bree; handling her, walking her, picking up her feet, all that stuff. After that, she spent nearly three years on the pasture before she was brought back in together with the other horses her age. Jules was an important part of the breaking in of the chestnut mare, and ever since her care and training was mainly in the hands of the blond teenager, resulting in a strong bond between mare and owner. She was started under saddle rather easily, the pace picking up pretty slow until she herself took the initiative. As soon as it was clear that Brigantia had found her balance back, training intensified a little until she was as steady on her feet as ever. July 2012 she was first started in a dressage competition, and ever since competitions and training gradually keep getting more intense. Shortly after her competition debut show jumping became part of her training, an exercise the mare picked up rather fast and enjoyed immensely, as did the introduction of natural obstacles six months later.

The last year has mainly been dedicated to training in all three fields - dressage, show jumping and cross country with once, sometimes twice a month a competition, though so far no cross competitions yet.

This form was made by CARA for this site! Do not steal!
Lyrics used are from Wild Horses by Natasha Bedingfield

[Jules 'Jojo' Aveline]

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11

S H A T T E R E D S W A R O V S K I

I feel these 4 walls closing in
My face up against the glass
I'm looking out... hmm

The Basics;;

Registered Name;; Shattered Swarovski
Barn Name;; Rover, Ski
Age;; 13
Birthdate;; April 24th, 1988
Breed;; Trakehner
Colour;; Black
Height;; 17 hh
Gender;; Gelding
Discipline;; English - Three Day Eventing (Dressage, Show Jumping & Cross Country), trails (recreational)
Owner//Rider;; Jules Aveline

Is this my life I'm wondering
It happened so fast

The Inner Description;;

Personality;;
With a name as Shattered Swarovski, people have certain less-than-brilliant expectations. Swarovski ain't that way. Well, unless you count a sensible, sensitive and strong-willed horse as less-than-brilliant expectations. Yes, Ski can be a difficult horse, not always allowing riders to take control, but there's not an ounce of mean-ness in him. His big heart is made of gold and even if he tries to test his riders a bit, once you've convinced this big gelding you are worth his loyalty, he'll do everything in his power to please you. Well, as long as you are confident. If you hesitate, so will he, but when it is easy enough (beginner jumps, for example) he'll be a gentleman and take you over it. Only (other) downside of him is that, when he is in a certain mood, he loves to spook away from things only he can see - and when he spooks from every single twitching leaf, he tends to get creative in his escape routes.

Don't mistreat him, though, because mister here has quite a memory when it comes to those who have done him wrong. And while he may not kick them out of his stall (don't tempt him!) they will receive a cold shoulder - Rover will do a lot to not have to work with or for them.

In the pasture he's rather well-mannered, but the stall isn't his favorite place - he tends to be 'nervous' there, pacing, neighing and in general working up a sweat. It's almost as if he's claustrophobic. Along with that, he's obviously not too fond of trailers and such.

Rover is quite picky about who he likes or not when it comes to other horsey companions - stallions seldom are welcome and when around other geldings he tries to play the dominant card, which often works. He's fair in that, though - not the petty chasing around of poor other horses just because he can. When handled on the ground he's surprisingly well-mannered, even if he on occasion 'spooks' at nothing in particular and tries to pull a fast one.

Likes;;
-- Being out in the pasture
-- Horsey company
-- Sandwiches
-- Light blue things
-- Resting his head on your head or shoulder

Dislikes;;
-- New handlers
-- Cramped places (small stalls, trailers)
-- Loud music
-- Peeing when he is already saddled
-- Cooing people

Strengths;;
-- Strong and agile horse
-- Good technique

Weaknesses;;
-- On occasion spooks easily
-- Isn't good with trailers and (strange) stalls

Fears;;
-- Flying
-- Loud thunder(storms)
-- Cattle

Vices;;
-- Spooky
-- A little head shy
-- Testing his rider(s)

How do I turn this thing around
Is this the bed I chose to make

The Outer Description;;

Physical Description;;
A well built athletic gelding, this 17 hh horse is all black - not a single white or other-colored hair on his body. His conformation is up to par with the 'standard' Trakehner horse, including not only a slender, long neck that ends in high withers, continuing in a strong yet supple back and legs right where they should be, but also the floating trot and the strong hindquarters - though not the advanced jumps, mediocre obstacles can be taken from a (collected) trot if the need arises. He has an almost oily sheen over his coal black coat, not (yet) turning brown due to exposure to the sunlight.
Scars;;
-- Some small bite- and kick marks, but nothing major
Branding;; The Ostpreußische Elchschaufel - moose antlers

Its greener pastures I'm thinking about hmm
Wide open spaces far away

The Past is the Past;;

Medical History;;
-- Standard check-ups and vaccinations
-- A few weeks of only walking and a few vet checks when he was five due to an inflammated wound to his ankle, but it healed just fine
-- A colic attack when he was seven
-- A vet castrated him soon after he was sold to the Avelines.
-- A miscalculated jump resulted in a few weeks off and again several vet visits due to the equivalent of a twisted, bruised ankle

The Life Story;;
Not much of Ski's history is known until he was six years old, when he sired a few foals that drew attention because of their size. What is known, though, is that he was a Trakehner stallion, well kept and well trained by a retired show jumper that refused to do much mroe with the black horse before that.

Two years later, he popped up in an auction. It was obvious he was a high strung horse. However, Richard Aveline bought the big stallion from that auction because he saw some potential in him. With some time in the pasture to unwind and some 'snip snip' to make him a gelding, he saw it as an excellent challenge for the resident trainer. That went pretty well - so well, in fact, that soon it was decided that Swarovski should go out to competitions.

Well, the story is pretty well known by now - it clicked between the trainer (Ben) and Ski, he trained him for three day eventing and together they excelled, drawing a lot of attention. Now, it was unfortunate that Ski was a gelding even if it had majorly improved his behavior. Starring in several big competitions, Ski's name was set (as was that of his rider). And then the track was slippery during training and Ski jumped into rather than over a fence, which left him lame for a few weeks. A few weeks that a distraught Jules spent walking with him and cuddling with him, before she took over his training once he was healthy enough again. Since then, she has taken him along as her competition horse, even going as far as taking him to the other side of the Atlantic.

This form was made by CARA for this site! Do not steal!
Lyrics used are from Wild Horses by Natasha Bedingfield