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August (i)
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"Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it."
-Winston Churchill
"A horse is dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle."
-Ian Fleming
"Black Beauty - he's a dark horse."
-Tim Vine
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The drive to the 3rd Annual Lilium Arabian Show had been a long one, but the big horse van was roomy enough for no one to be at eachother's throats. The horse area of the van held 10 horses at most, while the human area had a bathroom, a queen size bed, and three twin size beds (bunk bed, and a separate one), along with a small kitchen area, eating area and a table that could fold into another queen bed. Therefore all the people needed for the show could fit into one vehicle. The people could even open one of the inside doors to squueze down one of the aisles where the horses were to check on them or refill water. Of course, they still stopped at safe rest areas every few hours to unload the horses and let them stretch their legs. Once the majestic arabains started to be unloaded, a crowd always gathered. The horses managed to stay relatively calm even with the crowds and traffic sounds because they were used to traveling. There were only a few incidents of a horse really spooking, and every time the person holding the lead rope was able to calm the horse.
Upon arrival at the show grounds, it took a good 40 minutes to actually get to the place where the horse vans and trailers were to park. Jake chose a choice space, near the water pumps but a bit away from the really cramped areas. The crew got out of the van and hurried to set up the portable mini pastures they had brought- four separate ones. They also set up a rope line that lead ropes could hook to in order for the horse to be able to graze without wandering. Only then could the precious cargo be unloaded. Blood in Thy Coffee was led out first, surprisingly docile, with her tail all wrapped in tail wraps to protect it from getting dirty, chewed on, caught in anything, or tangled. Matt unclipped her lead rope as he let her go into one of the small paddocks they had just set up. Next out was her half-brother, Tea Time Terror. This handsome stallion could be difficult, too, but wasn't as naturally violent as Blood. He got clipped to the grazing line. Then Gwendolyn and Vintage Design, along with Vintage's yearling colt, were put into one of the pastures together. Helios was still young enough to be calmed by his mother's presence, even he had been weaned a long time ago. Next, Classic Class, the striking black stallion, Vintage's older son, was let into another pasture. Belinda Bliss also got clipped to the grazing line. Battle Cry and Titanic's Design also got led out and let into the last empty pasture. Mount Briar was the last of the horses out, and he got clipped to the grazing line, too. It wasn't easy to keep 10 highstrung horses, 2 with subpar personalities, happy and quiet- but the group was determined to do it.
Once the horses were settled outside, Matt and Jake went to work moving the dividers in the horse van to make it into four box stalls, with a wider aisle in the middle. This way, some of the horses with their class the next day could sleep in a stall where they were less likely to get completely filthy. After moving the dividers, bedding had to be laid down to be ready for tonight.
"I'm exhausted, how about you guys?" Shelby sighed once they finished getting everything set up, collapsing onto a few spare haybales waiting to be used.
"Yup- and we still have to go check in and do paperwork at the office..." Maria sighed. She had come to help with caring for the horses and grooming them, she was the groom for the trip.
"You guys can stay here- only one owner needs to be present," Jake offered, standing up from where he'd been sitting. "But it would be awesome if you three girls could have dinner ready for when Matt and I get back..."
"Sounds like a plan!" Mary laughed, heading for the door to the van already.
The kitchen was too small for three people to be working in it at the same time, so Shelby told them to go take a shower or something while she at least put the pasta into the water. There was no way she was going to make anything fancy, she'd only packed things like pasta, steamed vegetables, premade pizzas to pop in the oven and that sort of thing for the time they were at the show. Mary didn't mind, she went off to take a shower in the bathroom- afterall, they had worked pretty hard all day, loading and unloading horses at rest stops, unloading portable pastures, oats, hay, water buckets, and everything else imaginable.
The guys got back about an hour later- and the small table was set for four, and some bar stools had been pulled up to the kitchen counter for more eating arrangements. Surprisingly, it felt so cozy and nice to be with all your best friends, eating dinner together after a hard day's work- like a big family. They had the windows open to listen to the horses outside, so the air conditioning was off, but it was comforting to know that the air conditioner would be turned on that night. After dinner everyone was exhausted, so they went outside to give each of the horses a quick grooming and put the ones who would be sleeping in the stalls in the van in for the night. It was decided that Blood, Tea, Titanic, and Vintage would take the stalls that night. Helios would go in the same stall as his mother for the time being, because even though he was a yearling now, he'd still be nervous as this was his first long distance showing trip. They fed and watered the horses in the stalls, and then went out to water the horses still outside and give them a bucket of grain and some hay to munch on during the night, even though there was plently of grass.
The crew then went in to watch a little tv before going to bed. Mary decided to go straight to bed, taking the twin bed that wasn't a bunk bed. After watching for a bit, Shelby and Jake went to bed, too, taking the queen bed.
They could hear everyone talking and the tv faintly, as they shut off the light above their bed. It was so cozy. Jake rolled over to face his wife.
"Glad we're finally here?"
"Oh yes, it's nice in here- everyone together, the horses outside, air conditioner on, no Max..." Shelby smiled slightly at mentioning the absense of Max. He didn't have anything to do with the arabians, so he and the other jockeys and grooms were still at Fanfare Farm caring for the other horses and training. Matt had come only because he was Blood's handler, as he was the only person she would cooperate for.
"Definitley. No Max." Jake smiled, kissed his wife, and they went to sleep.
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3rd Annual Lilium Stables Arabian Horse Show
[link]
Name of horse: Blood in Thy Coffee
Age: 8
Gender: Mare
Link to horses main reference: [link]
Handler/Stable name: Matt Stevens/ Fanfare Farm
Class entering: Mares 5+ Halter/In-hand Purebred Realistic
Placed 1st!------------
Previous in storyline: [link]
Next in Storyline: [link]
I like how this turned out- especially the tail. It took a loooooong time, though. I'm gonna try a lot more lineless stuff in the future to work on shading more.
Constructive criticism welcome!
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Pose refs used
(one for neck and head, one for body, one for tail)
Background Brushes: :devadonhis:
Text: [link]
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All comments, favs, etc are appreciated!
Image size
1000x700px 252.11 KB
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Comments24
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awesome job! I was hoping to enter the big arab show too 