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Description
Casa Bonita Ranch's Winter Jubilee 2019

Horse Name, Ref, & Age: PR Quicksilver , 8y
Rider/Handler Name & Age: Sophia Richards, 27y
Country: Canada
Class(es): Show Jumping
Registration: 116

Previous | Next

Beginning

December 2019

Sophia sighed as she locked up the horse trailer, finally taking a moment to look around. It had been a long, lonely drive down to Texas, but the warmth and lack of snowbanks made it worthwhile. She could see why people routinely took trips south every winter. Raising her face toward the sun she could almost feel her freckled skin starting to burn, but that wasn’t going to stop her from soaking it in.
Hearing an engine getting closer she opened her eyes and looked for the source. Spotting a little green car turning into the parking lot she grinned and raised a hand to wave. Waiting for the car to pull into a nearby spot, she slowly walked forward to greet the driver.

“Nigel!” Sophia laughed, enveloping the young man in a big hug. He stiffly hugged her back. Obviously he hasn’t grown out of his awkwardness she grinned, letting him go. “How was your drive?”

“Good ma’am,” he smiled, glancing around the property.

“Dude. I might be your boss, but I’m only 7 years older than you. Cut that ‘ma’am’ shit out.”

Eyes flashing wide the blonde quickly nodded, a red blush blooming across his cheeks. Oh god, she thought. How is he going to handle being in the same apartment with Miranda? He hasn’t changed a bit.
“Well,” she placed a hand on her hip. “I just finished settling the horses in their stalls. You’ll be riding Rosé. Have you met her?”

Looking up at the sky the young man’s brow crinkled. “She’s the red dun right? I believe you purchased her right before….I headed home. So I haven’t worked with her. I’m glad we came a couple days early. I’d hate to ride her blind in the competition.”
She smiled gently at the way he sidestepped bringing up the barn fire. It still shot a pang through her heart, but things were better now. “My cousin Olivia has been helping us work the horses, but she’s heading off to Australia for her own internship shortly. I’ll be glad to have you back.” Turning she started to walk toward the barn. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to Rosé. Olivia put a good start on the mare but she’ll need your more focused touch to help her improve.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Moving to check Buck’s girth once more Sophia flinched when Nigel growled.

“He’s fine. You’re fine. Just mount up already and get him warmed up.”

Glancing back at the blond man holding her mount’s reins she squirmed under his raised brow. He’s right. “It’s been a while since I’ve competed,” she muttered. “I actually have butterflies about this. It’s been ages since a show got me nervous.”

“If you keep fiddling you’re going to get Buck nervous. He’s already wired, look at him.”

She grumbled, not wanting to admit that the younger man was right. But the stallion was antsy. Ears pricked, he resembled a giraffe in the way he watched the others in the warm up ring, and he couldn’t stay still for a moment. Taking a deep breath Sophia strode forward, jammed her foot in the stirrup and nearly launched herself up into the saddle. If Nigel hadn’t been holding the stallion’s bridle he likely would’ve launched himself forward. “Sorry,” She mumbled, gathering up her reins.

Lifting her leg she watched as Nigel adjusted her stirrup before fully settling in. “Now remember,” he looked up at her. “You’re just getting back into things, you’ve had a couple years off. Buck had a shit trainer while you were gone. Your goal isn’t to win.” He jerked his chin toward the arena. “Your goal is just to ride cleanly and let Buck get used to the show ring with you on him. Make jumping fun. That’s it. Got it?”

She grimaced at him, then gave a short jolt of her head. “Got it. He’s a good boy.” Watching the first rider enter the ring she took a breath. “I really just have to point him at a jump, and keep him from rushing it.”

“Exactly,” Nigel nodded, stepping back. “He knows what he’s doing. Now get into that warm up ring, or he’ll fly away at the first jump.”
Letting out a soft laugh Sophia took another deep breath. Closing her eyes for a moment she let the warmth of the sun soak into her jacket and the sound of the show wash over her. Slowly letting out her breath she urged the stallion forward. Guiding the prancing giraffe into the sand of the warm up ring she whispered to him. “We’ve got this bud.”

This is the first HARPG piece I've done in what feels like ages that I actually enjoyed. Is there a tonne that I wish I did differently/better? Yes, but I'm trying to learn to relax and just enjoy art again. So while Sophia looks a little -broken-, Buck looks bouncy and happy to be in the ring and that's the main thing, right?
No main ref used. Trying to improve the look of my tack so I stalked saddlery sites for both styles and leather shades. I think the light brown/orangey shade looks quite fetching on my boy <3

Description
Casa Bonita Ranch's Winter Jubilee 2019

Horse Name, Ref, & Age: PR Quicksilver , 8y
Rider/Handler Name & Age: Sophia Richards, 27y
Country: Canada
Class(es): Show Jumping
Registration: 116

Previous | Next

Beginning

December 2019

Sophia sighed as she locked up the horse trailer, finally taking a moment to look around. It had been a long, lonely drive down to Texas, but the warmth and lack of snowbanks made it worthwhile. She could see why people routinely took trips south every winter. Raising her face toward the sun she could almost feel her freckled skin starting to burn, but that wasn’t going to stop her from soaking it in.
Hearing an engine getting closer she opened her eyes and looked for the source. Spotting a little green car turning into the parking lot she grinned and raised a hand to wave. Waiting for the car to pull into a nearby spot, she slowly walked forward to greet the driver.

“Nigel!” Sophia laughed, enveloping the young man in a big hug. He stiffly hugged her back. Obviously he hasn’t grown out of his awkwardness she grinned, letting him go. “How was your drive?”

“Good ma’am,” he smiled, glancing around the property.

“Dude. I might be your boss, but I’m only 7 years older than you. Cut that ‘ma’am’ shit out.”

Eyes flashing wide the blonde quickly nodded, a red blush blooming across his cheeks. Oh god, she thought. How is he going to handle being in the same apartment with Miranda? He hasn’t changed a bit.
“Well,” she placed a hand on her hip. “I just finished settling the horses in their stalls. You’ll be riding Rosé. Have you met her?”

Looking up at the sky the young man’s brow crinkled. “She’s the red dun right? I believe you purchased her right before….I headed home. So I haven’t worked with her. I’m glad we came a couple days early. I’d hate to ride her blind in the competition.”
She smiled gently at the way he sidestepped bringing up the barn fire. It still shot a pang through her heart, but things were better now. “My cousin Olivia has been helping us work the horses, but she’s heading off to Australia for her own internship shortly. I’ll be glad to have you back.” Turning she started to walk toward the barn. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to Rosé. Olivia put a good start on the mare but she’ll need your more focused touch to help her improve.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Moving to check Buck’s girth once more Sophia flinched when Nigel growled.

“He’s fine. You’re fine. Just mount up already and get him warmed up.”

Glancing back at the blond man holding her mount’s reins she squirmed under his raised brow. He’s right. “It’s been a while since I’ve competed,” she muttered. “I actually have butterflies about this. It’s been ages since a show got me nervous.”

“If you keep fiddling you’re going to get Buck nervous. He’s already wired, look at him.”

She grumbled, not wanting to admit that the younger man was right. But the stallion was antsy. Ears pricked, he resembled a giraffe in the way he watched the others in the warm up ring, and he couldn’t stay still for a moment. Taking a deep breath Sophia strode forward, jammed her foot in the stirrup and nearly launched herself up into the saddle. If Nigel hadn’t been holding the stallion’s bridle he likely would’ve launched himself forward. “Sorry,” She mumbled, gathering up her reins.

Lifting her leg she watched as Nigel adjusted her stirrup before fully settling in. “Now remember,” he looked up at her. “You’re just getting back into things, you’ve had a couple years off. Buck had a shit trainer while you were gone. Your goal isn’t to win.” He jerked his chin toward the arena. “Your goal is just to ride cleanly and let Buck get used to the show ring with you on him. Make jumping fun. That’s it. Got it?”

She grimaced at him, then gave a short jolt of her head. “Got it. He’s a good boy.” Watching the first rider enter the ring she took a breath. “I really just have to point him at a jump, and keep him from rushing it.”

“Exactly,” Nigel nodded, stepping back. “He knows what he’s doing. Now get into that warm up ring, or he’ll fly away at the first jump.”
Letting out a soft laugh Sophia took another deep breath. Closing her eyes for a moment she let the warmth of the sun soak into her jacket and the sound of the show wash over her. Slowly letting out her breath she urged the stallion forward. Guiding the prancing giraffe into the sand of the warm up ring she whispered to him. “We’ve got this bud.”

This is the first HARPG piece I've done in what feels like ages that I actually enjoyed. Is there a tonne that I wish I did differently/better? Yes, but I'm trying to learn to relax and just enjoy art again. So while Sophia looks a little -broken-, Buck looks bouncy and happy to be in the ring and that's the main thing, right?
No main ref used. Trying to improve the look of my tack so I stalked saddlery sites for both styles and leather shades. I think the light brown/orangey shade looks quite fetching on my boy <3