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Description

Alt Title: Into the Unknown...

Event: AusWBA Trials 2023

Horses Reference: AVS Starstruck Silvyr

Proof of Registration: LINK

Handler: Kathrynne "Kat" Rothschild

Class Entering: Hardiness Trial aka Clancy's Ride

Extra Image:

Featured Character/s: NA

Show Sponsorship: COMMENT

AusWBA Merch: Saddle Pad , Weatherproof Jacket (under safety vest), and Sulfur Crested Cockatoos
Mandatory Inspection Class: HERE

Placing: They got third:

Story:
It was as if Mother Nature herself had decided to intervene for the Hardiness Trial, and really test out the “hardy” part of the course. The overnight windstorm had left all sorts of downed branches and bushes across the Khan Cohban property, and Kat knew it could only mean that the trail was likely to have increased difficulty as well. The recent rainstorms had resulted in flooding, and updates were announced that the Ungorn River was going to be treacherous. Kat dressed warmly, with her weatherproof jacket bundled beneath her safely vest. Her helmet was fastened securely, and she wore warm gloves to keep her fingers from freezing in the chilly air.
Silvyr was ready to go in his endurance tack and the event merchandise saddle pad Kat had picked up on her arrival . Kat double checked the safety stirrups, and mounted up. Silvyr snorted with enthusiasm, and she was glad that he’d be able to stretch his legs and work off some of that extra energy. The large bay stallion had done as well as he could in the Inspection Trial, but now Silvyr was ready to tackle something requiring a bit more endurance and stamina.
____
The low-lying clouds seemed to have grown darker throughout the morning as they continued on the route. Kat constantly monitored for the white rope fencing and reflective tags to make sure they stayed on the correct path. The wide coastal trails had been beautiful way to start the Trial, and the cliffs overlooking the bay had provided an incredibly scenic backdrop. Silvyr was excited to explore it all, and Kat allowed him to find the best foothold with his solid legs. She had contemplated using shoe studs to aid in the footing, but Silvyr had strong hooves, and was not accustomed to shoes, and she was afraid the last-minute change would be more disturbing to him than allowing the stallion to find his own way safely through the muddy course.
Her judgement had proved right as Silvyr galloped confidently along the beach, while staying cautious of any debris on the sandy shore. He let loose; his competitive nature kicking in as his long legs stretched out to fly across the beachfront. His barefoot hooves moved rhythmically, soaring with joy and speed, as clumps of sand flew behind them. Kat kept him reined in just a tad, knowing how difficult the course ahead of them would be and making sure the stallion did not exert all his energy before they reached the water and jump obstacles. She let Silvyr’s instincts guide them through the rocky cliffs of The Reach, and jumps of the Saltmarsh. Even in the muted, grey atmosphere Silvyr’s coat began to develop a sheen to it, as the stallion exerted himself with each new challenge they came across.
Kat and Silvyr continued on, working on a balance between speed and safety. Silvyr’s ears were alert, flicking back and forth as he listed to sounds on all sides of him, as well as Kat’s voice. He crossed the stone bridge confidently, and Kat knew that was probably in part to their trail practice back home (where they had crossed many bridges on hiking paths through the Pacific Northwest [USA]). They rode along the Ungorn River, which looked just as impressive as it did dangerous. Kat was not interested in getting any closer than necessary, and she kept Silvyr on the trail as far away from the edge of the water as possible. Then they maneuvered through the muddy pastures and jumps that lead to the Halfway Point.
____
Being at the Halfway Point was exciting. Kat enjoyed being able to dismount and momentarily stretch her legs. She was grateful for the vet check, to make sure that Silvyr was still doing incredibly well, and to clear them both for the next part of their grueling ride. They both guzzled fresh water to satiate their thirst. Then Kat collected the satchel that she was supposed to deliver safely to the finish line. She tucked it gently between her jacket and safety vest, zipping the vest closed over it, so it would be sure to make it without getting snagged on any stray branches or bushes as they got ready to enter the National Forest. And with an ‘all-clear’ from the veterinarians, Kat swung back up into the saddle and nudged Silvyr towards the Forestry trails.
____
Even if they had participated in nothing else, just being in the National Forest was reason enough to have made this trip. She had been told it had a harsh and rugged beauty, but that did not even begin to come close to describing the wild exquisiteness of it all. Dense clouds rolled in low through the hillside, creating a magical and subdued environment. The earth practically felt alive here – each tree and bush so full of history and stories that they could almost speak. Silvyr moved surefootedly through the muddy tracks, facing each obstacle with a new level of energy and focus that continued to amaze Kat. He waded through submerged portions of the trail while always looking ahead to see what else was coming. He jumped over downed branches as if he was a bird with wings.
And speaking of birds, there were plenty of them singing and calling to one another throughout the remote areas of the forest. Kat almost wished she had brought a camera, even though she knew they were both better off with her focusing solely on riding, as she watched a flock of silver crested cockatoos fly right next to them through the air with exotic splendor.
They were exploring the unknown, and creating memories that would last Kat a lifetime…
____

Bonuses:

- Extra Image (linked above)

- Including 2 other member's horses (linked in Extra Image above)

- Story (above)

- Event Merchandise (linked above)
- Prize Donation (linked above)

Class Specific Bonuses:

- for depicted a Support Staff member, Jump or Water obstacle in the image.

- for depicting a farm or wild animal in the image (linked in Merch-section above).

As I imagined Kat and Silvyr charging through the low clouds & fog of the hills, I couldn't help but keep hearing "Into the Unknown " play over and over in my head as I worked on this one.

Tried more of a pop-out/cut-out background for this one, for a bit more of the creativity aspect. Not sure I nailed it exactly, but hopefully it still captures Silvyr flying out of the low-clouds-up-in-the-hills-with-the-fallen-tree-and-muddy-track vibe of the Hardiness Trials.

References:
- Silvyr: Jumping stock 130
- Background refs/inspo and Wildlilfe list provided by HOST
Art/Characters © ReQuay
Word Count: 952

This class entry ended up being a spontaneous entry for me. I was home with covid and covid-related symptoms for the last 3 weeks (my lungs took a bit of a severe hit)... and I had time to do nothing but sit in front of a computer (or sleep). So I was able to put in the finishing details on my planned two entries, and find time to get one more class (this one) done for Silvyr. I know as I prep to go back to work that I'm probably not gonna get a ton of art done over the next few weekends (mostly just recovering from work so I can go back again the following week). I would love to get Silvyr into the last class, but am going to listen to my body instead, and work on recovering between work shifts for the duration of this month.

Description

Alt Title: Into the Unknown...

Event: AusWBA Trials 2023

Horses Reference: AVS Starstruck Silvyr

Proof of Registration: LINK

Handler: Kathrynne "Kat" Rothschild

Class Entering: Hardiness Trial aka Clancy's Ride

Extra Image:

Featured Character/s: NA

Show Sponsorship: COMMENT

AusWBA Merch: Saddle Pad , Weatherproof Jacket (under safety vest), and Sulfur Crested Cockatoos
Mandatory Inspection Class: HERE

Placing: They got third:

Story:
It was as if Mother Nature herself had decided to intervene for the Hardiness Trial, and really test out the “hardy” part of the course. The overnight windstorm had left all sorts of downed branches and bushes across the Khan Cohban property, and Kat knew it could only mean that the trail was likely to have increased difficulty as well. The recent rainstorms had resulted in flooding, and updates were announced that the Ungorn River was going to be treacherous. Kat dressed warmly, with her weatherproof jacket bundled beneath her safely vest. Her helmet was fastened securely, and she wore warm gloves to keep her fingers from freezing in the chilly air.
Silvyr was ready to go in his endurance tack and the event merchandise saddle pad Kat had picked up on her arrival . Kat double checked the safety stirrups, and mounted up. Silvyr snorted with enthusiasm, and she was glad that he’d be able to stretch his legs and work off some of that extra energy. The large bay stallion had done as well as he could in the Inspection Trial, but now Silvyr was ready to tackle something requiring a bit more endurance and stamina.
____
The low-lying clouds seemed to have grown darker throughout the morning as they continued on the route. Kat constantly monitored for the white rope fencing and reflective tags to make sure they stayed on the correct path. The wide coastal trails had been beautiful way to start the Trial, and the cliffs overlooking the bay had provided an incredibly scenic backdrop. Silvyr was excited to explore it all, and Kat allowed him to find the best foothold with his solid legs. She had contemplated using shoe studs to aid in the footing, but Silvyr had strong hooves, and was not accustomed to shoes, and she was afraid the last-minute change would be more disturbing to him than allowing the stallion to find his own way safely through the muddy course.
Her judgement had proved right as Silvyr galloped confidently along the beach, while staying cautious of any debris on the sandy shore. He let loose; his competitive nature kicking in as his long legs stretched out to fly across the beachfront. His barefoot hooves moved rhythmically, soaring with joy and speed, as clumps of sand flew behind them. Kat kept him reined in just a tad, knowing how difficult the course ahead of them would be and making sure the stallion did not exert all his energy before they reached the water and jump obstacles. She let Silvyr’s instincts guide them through the rocky cliffs of The Reach, and jumps of the Saltmarsh. Even in the muted, grey atmosphere Silvyr’s coat began to develop a sheen to it, as the stallion exerted himself with each new challenge they came across.
Kat and Silvyr continued on, working on a balance between speed and safety. Silvyr’s ears were alert, flicking back and forth as he listed to sounds on all sides of him, as well as Kat’s voice. He crossed the stone bridge confidently, and Kat knew that was probably in part to their trail practice back home (where they had crossed many bridges on hiking paths through the Pacific Northwest [USA]). They rode along the Ungorn River, which looked just as impressive as it did dangerous. Kat was not interested in getting any closer than necessary, and she kept Silvyr on the trail as far away from the edge of the water as possible. Then they maneuvered through the muddy pastures and jumps that lead to the Halfway Point.
____
Being at the Halfway Point was exciting. Kat enjoyed being able to dismount and momentarily stretch her legs. She was grateful for the vet check, to make sure that Silvyr was still doing incredibly well, and to clear them both for the next part of their grueling ride. They both guzzled fresh water to satiate their thirst. Then Kat collected the satchel that she was supposed to deliver safely to the finish line. She tucked it gently between her jacket and safety vest, zipping the vest closed over it, so it would be sure to make it without getting snagged on any stray branches or bushes as they got ready to enter the National Forest. And with an ‘all-clear’ from the veterinarians, Kat swung back up into the saddle and nudged Silvyr towards the Forestry trails.
____
Even if they had participated in nothing else, just being in the National Forest was reason enough to have made this trip. She had been told it had a harsh and rugged beauty, but that did not even begin to come close to describing the wild exquisiteness of it all. Dense clouds rolled in low through the hillside, creating a magical and subdued environment. The earth practically felt alive here – each tree and bush so full of history and stories that they could almost speak. Silvyr moved surefootedly through the muddy tracks, facing each obstacle with a new level of energy and focus that continued to amaze Kat. He waded through submerged portions of the trail while always looking ahead to see what else was coming. He jumped over downed branches as if he was a bird with wings.
And speaking of birds, there were plenty of them singing and calling to one another throughout the remote areas of the forest. Kat almost wished she had brought a camera, even though she knew they were both better off with her focusing solely on riding, as she watched a flock of silver crested cockatoos fly right next to them through the air with exotic splendor.
They were exploring the unknown, and creating memories that would last Kat a lifetime…
____

Bonuses:

- Extra Image (linked above)

- Including 2 other member's horses (linked in Extra Image above)

- Story (above)

- Event Merchandise (linked above)
- Prize Donation (linked above)

Class Specific Bonuses:

- for depicted a Support Staff member, Jump or Water obstacle in the image.

- for depicting a farm or wild animal in the image (linked in Merch-section above).

As I imagined Kat and Silvyr charging through the low clouds & fog of the hills, I couldn't help but keep hearing "Into the Unknown " play over and over in my head as I worked on this one.

Tried more of a pop-out/cut-out background for this one, for a bit more of the creativity aspect. Not sure I nailed it exactly, but hopefully it still captures Silvyr flying out of the low-clouds-up-in-the-hills-with-the-fallen-tree-and-muddy-track vibe of the Hardiness Trials.

References:
- Silvyr: Jumping stock 130
- Background refs/inspo and Wildlilfe list provided by HOST
Art/Characters © ReQuay
Word Count: 952

This class entry ended up being a spontaneous entry for me. I was home with covid and covid-related symptoms for the last 3 weeks (my lungs took a bit of a severe hit)... and I had time to do nothing but sit in front of a computer (or sleep). So I was able to put in the finishing details on my planned two entries, and find time to get one more class (this one) done for Silvyr. I know as I prep to go back to work that I'm probably not gonna get a ton of art done over the next few weekends (mostly just recovering from work so I can go back again the following week). I would love to get Silvyr into the last class, but am going to listen to my body instead, and work on recovering between work shifts for the duration of this month.