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Description
2nd!

Blue Ram 2017- Third Time's the Charm
-horse name and reference: OBS Kissing In The Rain and Ludkhannah
-rider name: Eleanor Gray and Anna Nordstrand
-Stables & country: Oak Brooke Stables (Scotland), Falken Stud (Sweden)
-Class: Dressage
Training
Arrival
Vet check
Extra extra
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Everything seemed... soft. Sunlight flooded a pale blue sky, illuminating the clouds that seemed so ethereal and fluffy despite their earlier downpour and bathing the landscape in a gentle pastel glow. Droplets of water still clung to the lavender blossoms, springing free as the horses' legs brushed past. The mares moved like liquid sunlight themselves, responsive and fluid, their silky dark coats absorbing the colors around them. Between the rolling hills dotted with sheep, and the sprawling lavender fields, Anna felt as if she had been lifted out of reality and deposited in a fae realm.

Ludkhannah was still green, and Kit even more so. Anna had not been unjustified in preparing for a disaster event; young and inexperienced horses were generally unpredictable, and now they'd had the bright idea to throw two of them together in the ring - or field - at once. However, the mares got along beautifully, and seemed to find reassurance rather than distraction in the presence of each other. Ludkhannah had initially hesitated to step into the flowerfield, but bravely followed her companion, and within a minute acted as if the plants brushing against her legs didn't disturb her at all. Earlier, Anna had regretted leaving Saigon at home, finding her far more prepared for this level of competition, but Ludkhannah needed the practice if she was ever to follow in the chestnut's hoofprints. So far, she had proved pleasantly surprising. Perhaps she would be a worthy successor after all.

Elly was delighted to be meeting again with Anna from Falken Stud, and even more delighted to have Charm returned to the stables. It seemed Elly was just as apprehensive as Anna for their outing. Kit had never experienced an atmosphere like this, having only competed in-hand, and the lavender field was an interesting plot twist to this competition as well. They had been practicing out on the peatlands in the long grasses to try and mimic the arena, but they soon became too wet to ride in as the winter months encroached.

In the warm up arena, bustling full of focussed riders and well trained horses, it dawned on Elly that she had never ridden a horse other than Rain at a competition since the accident, almost five years ago now. Kit could obviously feel Elly's anxieties and was noticeably a little less forward and eager than normal, but Elly was worried that as soon as they got into that field everything could change quite quickly, and the last thing she wanted was to be dumped in front of all these spectators.
As they walked into the lavender field Elly's anxieties were quickly dismissed. It seems that this horse was perhaps was unflappable. She didn't flinch as she walked among the plants, which gave Elly some hope that this test might not end in disaster after all.

More collaaaaab This has been in progress for quite some time, as several extras were sketched by hand on paper and mailed to Elantair in Scotland for traditional collabing We stuck with digital on the main entry to be sure we'd get things done in time and do all the necessary adjusting, and the combination of both methods has been a fun process. I did the base sketching and most of the background work with some oaky assistance, and oak cleaned up those ponies something marvelous and did all that gloriously fancy painty shading. I had something else I was going to say but it is once again ridiculously late because I will never be able to finish anything several days before a deadline, nooo, I have to post it all in the middle of the night on the day it's due :')

Image and characters © Helsinge and Elantair
References: Elantair 's own photos

Description
2nd!

Blue Ram 2017- Third Time's the Charm
-horse name and reference: OBS Kissing In The Rain and Ludkhannah
-rider name: Eleanor Gray and Anna Nordstrand
-Stables & country: Oak Brooke Stables (Scotland), Falken Stud (Sweden)
-Class: Dressage
Training
Arrival
Vet check
Extra extra
Advertisement

Everything seemed... soft. Sunlight flooded a pale blue sky, illuminating the clouds that seemed so ethereal and fluffy despite their earlier downpour and bathing the landscape in a gentle pastel glow. Droplets of water still clung to the lavender blossoms, springing free as the horses' legs brushed past. The mares moved like liquid sunlight themselves, responsive and fluid, their silky dark coats absorbing the colors around them. Between the rolling hills dotted with sheep, and the sprawling lavender fields, Anna felt as if she had been lifted out of reality and deposited in a fae realm.

Ludkhannah was still green, and Kit even more so. Anna had not been unjustified in preparing for a disaster event; young and inexperienced horses were generally unpredictable, and now they'd had the bright idea to throw two of them together in the ring - or field - at once. However, the mares got along beautifully, and seemed to find reassurance rather than distraction in the presence of each other. Ludkhannah had initially hesitated to step into the flowerfield, but bravely followed her companion, and within a minute acted as if the plants brushing against her legs didn't disturb her at all. Earlier, Anna had regretted leaving Saigon at home, finding her far more prepared for this level of competition, but Ludkhannah needed the practice if she was ever to follow in the chestnut's hoofprints. So far, she had proved pleasantly surprising. Perhaps she would be a worthy successor after all.

Elly was delighted to be meeting again with Anna from Falken Stud, and even more delighted to have Charm returned to the stables. It seemed Elly was just as apprehensive as Anna for their outing. Kit had never experienced an atmosphere like this, having only competed in-hand, and the lavender field was an interesting plot twist to this competition as well. They had been practicing out on the peatlands in the long grasses to try and mimic the arena, but they soon became too wet to ride in as the winter months encroached.

In the warm up arena, bustling full of focussed riders and well trained horses, it dawned on Elly that she had never ridden a horse other than Rain at a competition since the accident, almost five years ago now. Kit could obviously feel Elly's anxieties and was noticeably a little less forward and eager than normal, but Elly was worried that as soon as they got into that field everything could change quite quickly, and the last thing she wanted was to be dumped in front of all these spectators.
As they walked into the lavender field Elly's anxieties were quickly dismissed. It seems that this horse was perhaps was unflappable. She didn't flinch as she walked among the plants, which gave Elly some hope that this test might not end in disaster after all.

More collaaaaab This has been in progress for quite some time, as several extras were sketched by hand on paper and mailed to Elantair in Scotland for traditional collabing We stuck with digital on the main entry to be sure we'd get things done in time and do all the necessary adjusting, and the combination of both methods has been a fun process. I did the base sketching and most of the background work with some oaky assistance, and oak cleaned up those ponies something marvelous and did all that gloriously fancy painty shading. I had something else I was going to say but it is once again ridiculously late because I will never be able to finish anything several days before a deadline, nooo, I have to post it all in the middle of the night on the day it's due :')

Image and characters © Helsinge and Elantair
References: Elantair 's own photos