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Description
10th Place!

Okay I'm actually pretty happy with this one- I intended the water to be less choppy to better match the weather description but that foam is SO FUN and I've not really drawn water like this before so it got a bit out of hand oops. The way I shaded Harry also makes him look like a bodybuilder but AH WELL.
I had a lot of fun with this, Sea Dragon Stables is such an amazing setting!
__________________________________________

Show: Sea & Sky International 2023
Horse: Occupational Hazard
Representing: Acacia Grove Equestrian Centre, AUS
Handler: Marigold Rook
Class: Seaside: Salty Waters / Individual Cross Country

__________________________________________

As they had many times before, Hamlyn dismounted Occupational Hazard , slipping the reins over his huge head, and handed them to his sister. Thoroughly warmed up and relaxed in the yard, the horse was ready for his event. The 10yo Dutch Warmblood was Hamlyn's absolute favourite, it always made them nervous to hand him over- but less nervous than riding the course itself would make them. Hamlyn only rode events on very special occasions, and this one was far too busy and far too crowded.
Sea & Sky had turned out to be one of the biggest shows in Australia this year. Madison and Calamity had already done one of their best dressage tests yet only a few days before, and as Hamlyn looked over the well-clipped stallion, he wondered if the limited work he'd been able to put into him this year would carry through well enough. There were young foals on the ground, and yearlings and two year olds to handle and work with- Hamlyn and Harry hadn't spent nearly as much time together in the last six months as they would have liked. Even so, the stallion was looking very neat and coordinated in his brand new teal tack set. After a thorough brushing, both the horse and the saddle were shining. And by the time Marigold had raided both her wardrobe and the wardrobes of everyone else at the stable that was roughly her size, the pair looked a shimmery ocean picture.
"Hopefully there won't be any dramas, the track is really nice and the ground is perfect."
"Well, let's get this big spud out into the water, hey boy?" Marigold chuckled, gently slapping the horse on the neck with an encouraging pat.

Show jumping was one thing, but where Harry excelled was over difficult terrain. Marigold had never seen a horse run into water with such enthusiasm and carefree spirit the way Harry did. Hamlyn always claimed it was his training that made him so brave in water- making a point to bring up all the pool work he did with him as a youngster every time someone mentioned his aquatic finesse.
As the two stood at the starting fence, she ran her head over the course again. A sudden bundle of nerves built up in her stomach as she started to second-guess herself. Was that table before or after the brush fence? She looked down at Harry's gently pointed ears, relaxed neck and smooth shoulders beneath her. Once, the young colt would be dancing on the spot like an out-of-time ballerina, having to be held in his place for the start whistle before a run. Now, the mature stallion was calm and attentive, and flicked his ears back casually to listen for any of Marigold's commands. He was growing into his hooves and his head- and if he was calm, she could be too.

Once the pair left the start, any remaining anxiety Marigold had was left in the mud behind them. Fear was replaced with thrill as adrenaline pulsed through her veins as the young The course was fast, challenging, and exactly what Marigold wanted. Hamlyn was right- the ground was perfect and Harry eased into his quick, nimble gallop with no trouble at all. The fences flew beneath them, mud spraying and the wind whipping in Marigold's ears. There were absolutely no troubles, until the sand came. Changing from soil to sand had always upset Harry a little, and today was going to be one of those days. With a snort, and a slam on the breaks, the pair lost a few seconds as Marigold held on and then quickly pulled up to keep the horse from spiralling into a fit of rearing, or a bolt in the wrong direction.
"C'mon mate, Hammy's gonna be real upset if you have a panic attack on me now," she growled, gathering the reins and urging the stallion onwards.
With a half-buck, he started on moving again. They sailed back into rhythm, flying with a splash into the shallow waters along the beach, following the white fences across the picturesque bay. Marigold gasped and giggled as the freezing cold water surprised her and took her breath as the beating of hooves splashed it back onto her. As they whipped up the ocean over the first few obstacles, the movement immediately lathered up a foam on Harry's sweaty coat. He sailed over a final boat-shaped obstacle, and let out a sea-water filled snort as he landed with a mighty splash on the other side.

They continued out of the water, and off up the hill to the encouraging applause of the spectators where they crossed the finish line, and the judges clicked their stopwatches. Marigold was unsure of how much time Harry's spook had lost them, but couldn't wipe the smile off her face regardless. She dismounted and looked back down the hill over the track and the trail of muddy water in the shallow bay before her. What a beautiful place to be.

__________________________________________

CREDITS:
Pose reference: Novice eventer stock
Setting guide: Cross Country Course Beach
10ish hrs Medibang Paint Pro.
Simple round brush only.

Description
10th Place!

Okay I'm actually pretty happy with this one- I intended the water to be less choppy to better match the weather description but that foam is SO FUN and I've not really drawn water like this before so it got a bit out of hand oops. The way I shaded Harry also makes him look like a bodybuilder but AH WELL.
I had a lot of fun with this, Sea Dragon Stables is such an amazing setting!
__________________________________________

Show: Sea & Sky International 2023
Horse: Occupational Hazard
Representing: Acacia Grove Equestrian Centre, AUS
Handler: Marigold Rook
Class: Seaside: Salty Waters / Individual Cross Country

__________________________________________

As they had many times before, Hamlyn dismounted Occupational Hazard , slipping the reins over his huge head, and handed them to his sister. Thoroughly warmed up and relaxed in the yard, the horse was ready for his event. The 10yo Dutch Warmblood was Hamlyn's absolute favourite, it always made them nervous to hand him over- but less nervous than riding the course itself would make them. Hamlyn only rode events on very special occasions, and this one was far too busy and far too crowded.
Sea & Sky had turned out to be one of the biggest shows in Australia this year. Madison and Calamity had already done one of their best dressage tests yet only a few days before, and as Hamlyn looked over the well-clipped stallion, he wondered if the limited work he'd been able to put into him this year would carry through well enough. There were young foals on the ground, and yearlings and two year olds to handle and work with- Hamlyn and Harry hadn't spent nearly as much time together in the last six months as they would have liked. Even so, the stallion was looking very neat and coordinated in his brand new teal tack set. After a thorough brushing, both the horse and the saddle were shining. And by the time Marigold had raided both her wardrobe and the wardrobes of everyone else at the stable that was roughly her size, the pair looked a shimmery ocean picture.
"Hopefully there won't be any dramas, the track is really nice and the ground is perfect."
"Well, let's get this big spud out into the water, hey boy?" Marigold chuckled, gently slapping the horse on the neck with an encouraging pat.

Show jumping was one thing, but where Harry excelled was over difficult terrain. Marigold had never seen a horse run into water with such enthusiasm and carefree spirit the way Harry did. Hamlyn always claimed it was his training that made him so brave in water- making a point to bring up all the pool work he did with him as a youngster every time someone mentioned his aquatic finesse.
As the two stood at the starting fence, she ran her head over the course again. A sudden bundle of nerves built up in her stomach as she started to second-guess herself. Was that table before or after the brush fence? She looked down at Harry's gently pointed ears, relaxed neck and smooth shoulders beneath her. Once, the young colt would be dancing on the spot like an out-of-time ballerina, having to be held in his place for the start whistle before a run. Now, the mature stallion was calm and attentive, and flicked his ears back casually to listen for any of Marigold's commands. He was growing into his hooves and his head- and if he was calm, she could be too.

Once the pair left the start, any remaining anxiety Marigold had was left in the mud behind them. Fear was replaced with thrill as adrenaline pulsed through her veins as the young The course was fast, challenging, and exactly what Marigold wanted. Hamlyn was right- the ground was perfect and Harry eased into his quick, nimble gallop with no trouble at all. The fences flew beneath them, mud spraying and the wind whipping in Marigold's ears. There were absolutely no troubles, until the sand came. Changing from soil to sand had always upset Harry a little, and today was going to be one of those days. With a snort, and a slam on the breaks, the pair lost a few seconds as Marigold held on and then quickly pulled up to keep the horse from spiralling into a fit of rearing, or a bolt in the wrong direction.
"C'mon mate, Hammy's gonna be real upset if you have a panic attack on me now," she growled, gathering the reins and urging the stallion onwards.
With a half-buck, he started on moving again. They sailed back into rhythm, flying with a splash into the shallow waters along the beach, following the white fences across the picturesque bay. Marigold gasped and giggled as the freezing cold water surprised her and took her breath as the beating of hooves splashed it back onto her. As they whipped up the ocean over the first few obstacles, the movement immediately lathered up a foam on Harry's sweaty coat. He sailed over a final boat-shaped obstacle, and let out a sea-water filled snort as he landed with a mighty splash on the other side.

They continued out of the water, and off up the hill to the encouraging applause of the spectators where they crossed the finish line, and the judges clicked their stopwatches. Marigold was unsure of how much time Harry's spook had lost them, but couldn't wipe the smile off her face regardless. She dismounted and looked back down the hill over the track and the trail of muddy water in the shallow bay before her. What a beautiful place to be.

__________________________________________

CREDITS:
Pose reference: Novice eventer stock
Setting guide: Cross Country Course Beach
10ish hrs Medibang Paint Pro.
Simple round brush only.