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Description

|| Sweet Spots + Autumn Aspirations || Auction Entry Collab || Donstrupper Autumn Clinic & Auction 2022 ||

Autumn Auction Clinic Event 2022

September 27th to November 30th (Extended to 4th December)

Art Auction Entry: Collab with CeleanaSilvestr

Participating Breeds:

Canadian-Donstrupper

—

First Collab EVER with Mi Hermana CeleanaSilvestr !! Can’t believe we never thought about doing a Collab before (being twins and all its kind of natural to share stuff) and both looking for the perfect first @CanadianDonstrupper, we couldn’t help but dive right in!

🤞Best of luck to everyone!🤞

—

!Priority Pon!

M143 Sucre à la Crème

Hoping this lovely beauty will be my first Don! She reminds me of everything I had wanted as a youngster and even more so her temperament reminds me of perhaps one of the most significant mares in my life, one I had come to know and love and still do!

Alongside Amazing Dons Such As:

M134 Reglisse Noire | S130 Latte à I’érable | S126 La Banquise | M140 La Plus Belle Fille De La Prison
————————————

Storyline:

The journey had been long. Hours upon hours of flying, waiting for flights and more flying had left us with sparse time to spare for sleep.

Fuelled by caffeine in the form of the tea we had indulged in on the way over to Canada, we were ready to drop by the time Eris and Lucien had come to pick us all up.

It was late.
Or should I say early, if my blurred eyesight was correct, the barely made out time suggested 23:17, Atlantic Standard Time, when we landed in Montreal.
That meant it was just past 3 in the morning back in the U.K.

We had jumped planes from Gatwick in the U.K. to Toronto to Ottawa to Montreal and would drive the last leg with Eris and Lucien to drive the last leg of the journey to a small Inn sort of building. I was too tired to think what the real name was for such a place, it wasn’t a hotel nor a pub, so Inn seemed to suit best.

Paying for our rooms, we left whatever luggage we didn’t truly need and abandoned anything that didn’t include pyjamas, clothes for tomorrow’s exciting endeavour, and of course, toiletries.
There was little spoken word between all of us as we murmured to each other ‘Night’ and slumped into our covers, I was out like a light as soon as my head hit the pillow.

~~~

The morning arrived quickly, but I was awake well before that.
Jet lag didn’t have nearly as strong a hold as the iron grip of excitement that clasped my shoulders, I couldn’t sleep too long, but that didn’t seem to matter as I relished in the thoughts of what might transpire as I awoke the rest of the slumbering lumps, got dressed and worked through the rest of a boring morning routine before finally getting through the hullabaloo and out the door.

The drive wasn’t too long, only a couple of hours that paled in comparison to that experienced by seven of the nine yesterday, and once again, the lifeblood of caffeine allowed most of us to hold onto reality for a little longer, but due to its abilities, it also became a large player in the other’s excitement.

As for myself, all I could say for it was that it broke the leash of my excitement, resulting in an overflow of emotions that bubbled like a boiling pot on a stove, mainly due to the fact I was super excited to meet the mare of my dreams.
Absolutely ecstatic, in fact.

As there were so many of us attending this adventure, Eris and Lucien opted to bring two cars, one held the gaggle of girls, who led the way of the convoy, the other with the four blokes. The later was treated to the ability to hear the blaring music of the lasses, who, from the rebound of two wing view mirrors, could be seen to be reimagining the carpool karaoke sessions of James Corden, singing along wholeheartedly, no thanks to the teas and coffees that were surly littered in their footwells, to a range of music like highlights from The Greatest Showman, Adele, Artic Monkey,s Mumford & Sons, Madness, Bear’s Den, even LINKIN PARK, the Foo and Sting.

The guys couldn’t help but grin and sign along themselves when they heard the old classic Sweet Caroline begin, Hugo even going as mad as to reach across Wolfgang as he spread his arms in sporadic gesture, the young singer trying to lean away from the Scandahooligan that occupied the seat next to his.

~~~

Eventually turning off the road and onto the driveway, Eris going slightly hell for leather along the stretch, before slowing to find the chaos hat the Clinic had behold. They had desperately tried to arrive early in order to beat such a problem, but it seemed others had the same idea.

Our cars circled the space allotted for cars, passing the overcrowded area filled with sleek looking horse boxes of all shapes and sizes, but where we tried to find space, there seemed to be none. Eventually, with the eagle eyes of Wolfgang and a commentary over the phone, we managed to each find some spots, annoyingly on two sides of the makeshift car park but at least we had found spaces in the first place.

Gently sussing out the area before attempting to squeeze in my gut and slink out of the car, squishing my fingers against the body of another neighbouring car and slamming the door, very narrowly missing my fingers.

I had for one the need to put on normal attire and change later, so crawled out of the car already wearing my full riding gear, riding hat and gloves in the boot alongside a plethora of tack we had been able to bring with us on this quest for the perfect spotty champion.

The next love of my life it seemed.

Upon voicing such when we met up with the rest of lads across the other side of the car park, I revived a rather sly and cheeky grin with a fairly dramatic hand gripping his heart like I had shot Kyo, as he said “Ah, I’m to be replaced by a horse now am I? How my heart wrenches at such a prospect.” His feigned theatrics making us all chuckle a little.

I couldn’t hold back the feeling of experienced by a child in a sweet shop at Christmas on a Yes Day as I peered around to see a collaboration of spotty bums and amazing people as they busied themselves around dotted parts of the awe-inspiring Mercury Stables, I couldn’t help but gape a little at the breathtaking collection of horses and stables.

But my attention was immediately drawn by the woman that strode over to us with an unhurried but powerful gait, I immediately recognised the beauty in front of me and had to fight to keep my normal facade on. Famous for her abilities as a rider and owner of not only some amazing horses, but also the very land and buildings we walked through currently. Also known as Queen of the resting face among our group, her ‘Mare Stare’ almost present, but the coolness boasted a regal aura.

It was none other than Alexa Grizziani that stood before us.

All eyes were on her when she passed, even just a side glance.

She sported a burgundy and black base layer and gloves, with wonderful tan jods accented by the gold and Havana belt and matching long boots, her mahogany flowing over her shoulders and down behind her, her golden skin portraying her Italian heritage.

I couldn’t help but notice Haranae glowering in the corner of the group, having found someone who she believed could challenge her beauty. I myself couldn’t even think about competing such, but the golden hair and pale skinned noble thought otherwise as she pushed her way to the front of group, cutting my sister off as she introduced each of us with a beckon of her hand.

The static atmosphere of the scene around us seemed to still as Haranae interrupted, moaning about the flights but at least managing to remember the wisp of manners when she requested to see “…one Reglisse Noir, Sucre á la Crème, Latte à I’érqble, La Banquise and La Plus Belle Fille De La Prison. Please and Thank you.”

Her accent strongly but delicately Swedish, yet clipped and cold as she spoke to Alexa, who handled her well whilst my sister shook her head which she had dipped with embarrassment, replying to the sassy blonde with a bittersweet, perhaps even slightly venomous smile “Right this way.”

I hoped to the high heavens that this wouldn’t turn sour and Haranae wouldn’t ruin the entire day with a pointless rivalry.

~~~

We parted from Alexa with another of those award winning smiles before watching her saunter over to another group of people who were yet to realise where they wanted to be.

But each and every worry washed away from me quicker than the speed of light as we turned the corner into the bustling stables, poking my head over each door to see an abundance of fluffy wood shavings, a full sweet smelling haynet and water buckets in the corner.

Yet it wasn’t the sight of the stables that caused me such ease and sudden content, it was the beautiful mare that gazed down the aisle towards me with knowing eyes full of loving kindness.

My heart melted right there and then.

The mare that gazed at me was the one I had been wanting to purchase, and as I laid eyes on her, no one else seemed to matter nearly as much. Each horse was stunning, but she stole my heart, I couldn’t even think about purchasing another horse with the lovely Sugar existing.

Words couldn’t describe what it felt like to find such a mare.
She was the one.
Without a shadow of a doubt.

Everyone else parted ways to look over their mounts for the session, but as I made my way past the impressive stallions and magnificent mares, the Strawberry Roan with that bewitching blaze, stockings and smattering of spots over her well-rounded hindquarters was all I could think about.

She stood at 16.2hh the ideal height for anything and everything, the perfect height for myself, the 7 year old left me without words.

Sucre á la Créme had stolen my heart.

I took advantage of the ability to access a grooming kit, and with a softer-bristled, wooden-bodied brush in hand, I began to work my way over her streamlined physique and drank in each and every aspect of the mare.

One thing I couldn’t draw my attention from were her eyes. A gorgeous chocolaty brown, I could see her intelligence and kindhearted nature as they shined hues of bronze and sepia in the autumn light that infiltrated the stables.

When I went to brush down her hind legs and quarters, she stretched her neck around to look at me, as if to look at what I was doing, it dawned on me as I remembered the feeling of being looked on like this as a younger child, bent over an old mares hind hooves to pick them out on the top of an upturned bucket.

It was a motherly and watchful eye that met mine, her eyes telling of a wisdom more relatable to a mother hen or elderly woman looking over her grandchildren rather than a mare in her prime and ready to take a leap into the world and all it’s adventures and perils. But there was something else in those eyes also, not just that loving temperament, for in those burnt sienna eyes was a burning and fiery passion that seemed twin to my own, she was ready to take over the world.

I was 22, much older than the mare that gazed down at me, but in that moment, I felt like that little child again, ready to take on the world but stopped on my mischievous steps whenever I came across this mare, who would lull me into a relaxed contentment and would lie with me in the field or deep within a stall of shavings, listening and watching as I tucked myself into her and opened a book, reading to her and myself on a quite Sunday morning.

Snapped back into reality as I heard Mi Hermana, Celeana, beckon for us to finish so we could get out there, I finished up brushing her before being greeted by Kyo. I hadn’t noticed his presence until Sugar had moved to greet him, where he handed me, in turn one at a time, the dusky maroon bandages, saddlecloth and then the sleek Stygian saddle and girth.

He watched me work whilst absentmindedly stroking the mare’s muzzle, she fell asleep with a bottom lip lowered until I apologetically awoke her to place the ear bonnet over her felty and still-alert ears before asking her to take the bit, of which she received without a murmur of dispute, accepting the pieces of metal constructed onto a golden coloured, sweet-iron snaffle with a gentleness I found myself grateful for.

~~~

Ambling out way into the far corner of the arena, away from the Hubble and bubble of the others currently learning from the instructors of the clinic, Alexa and Gabriel.

I had been able to get a glance at what was occurring and how each of them taught, only discerning Gabriel, a tawny-haired bloke who seemed to always be concentrating with those piercing and keen icy blue eyes, but, similarly to Alexa, he still had a smile on his face as he conversed with those surrounding him.

Turning back to my conversation with Celeana, who was astride the wonderfully ominous Grullo Spotted Blanket, a tad taller than Sugar, Twizzlers, or Reglisse Noir, seemed to be as laid back as Sugar did as we walked them around the perimeter of our portion of the outdoor arena. Twizzlers was adorned with a beautiful hues of Cerulean blue, perfect to matching her bluish tinted coat, accenting her in a way that made her seem like a Norwegian black sand beach amidst the rise of a storm.
The perfect suit for both rider and mare.

We had opted not to take to the Cross-Country course today, but I yearned for the feel of this mare flying across such a course, could almost envision what she would be like darting across fences and braving murky waters and muddy hills akin to the Steppes.

I observed my surroundings, drinking in each of the truly delightful features that caught my eye, the autumnal allure was invigorated by the swaths of leaves that had been swept aside by both hand and wind, so that activity could continue without large amounts of difficulty due to youngsters or horses picking for an excuse from the chill to spook at the straying leaves of sienna, auburn and russet that crept their way across and crunched underfoot.
I savoured the sound whenever autumn finally found its way to the world. Canada’s autumn was one I had not experienced often and whilst the Uk had the same brightness, it was often taken over by the rain and the mud that weighed upon the country heavily. It was not the same here, it had only been spitting when we arrived and the light rain served more as a refresher than a downplaying downpour that dampened one’s spirit.

The trees bordering the sand school, manège and stables were almost like a foal using its baby fluff as they witnessed their first summer, patchy with the adorning leaves and bare branches of paled wood. You would guess that the fence was la most of the same wood as the trees that framed the picture, for they almost had the same colour and the lacquer applied to the wood seemed to have given it that extra liveliness.
Perhaps it was maple…I wouldn’t be surprised if such wonderful wood had been able to be crafted into post and rail format.

Continuing our laps, I observed the rest of the girls, who had the honour and happiness of riding the horses. It almost seemed the men came more for the journey and the adventure than for the horses, for Kyo and Hugo sat outside of the arena to avoid overcrowding the already stuffed arena.

Haranae was waiting patiently aboard the sneaky little Jailbird, or La Plus Belle Fille De La Prison, of whom had nicked Haranae’s phone out from her pocket previously, and in the nicest terms, the lil shite was enjoying the extra attention from her actions. The phone itself had been handed to Wolfgang, who currently held a travel cup of coffee in one hand whilst allowing said Kleptomaniac to snuffle around in his palm, for the loudly spotted mare seemed to know that the device was indeed hidden within his pockets, and she was ready to take it back once again.
Hara herself was smiling smugly aboard her equally smug mare, two fitting partners in crime, both seeming sassy and loving of finicky and shiny objects, like a pair of magpies. They were outfitted in a lilac shade, with trademark white rimmed bridle, black silver-adorned leatherwork, natural sheepskin half pad and atypical dressage bandages. Haranae sported her usual strutting white jodhpurs and gloves, with matching mauve base layer and coat.

Eris was the next one my vision swing too, currently practising collection in the trot and a few other lateral movements along the long side, talking and seemingly coaching Wolfgang who stride alongside her as she collected Latté, a tall and outrageously gorgeous stallion as Latté á l’érable, his name sounding as true as his irresponsibility. I felt a warm smile widen across my face as I remembered catching them cuddling in the stable, perhaps in an attempt to evade the bridle she was trying to slip into his mouth. The future family Labrador for certain. They danced along the fence line Gold clad, fitting for an aureate horse like Latté.

On the other side of the arena, Morgana tried coaxing a striking Red Dun Snowflake stallion, by the name of La Banquise or Banqui, over some poles that led up to some Cavaletti. The pair stood out, not just due to the loud colouring of the boyo beneath her, but also the flash of green amongst the autumnal hues that captured the scene, for they worse the colours of spring with Havana tack and hues of forestry adorning their threads.
Banqui was the youngest by far, 6 years of age and slightly smaller at 16.1hh, but what he didn’t have in age or height he certainly made up for in pizazz and talent. And and unusual personality, for sure.

They hadn’t even properly approached the poles before he cat-leapt over the poles, making a certainly artistic choice of gait in his bounding deer and continuing to make an even more unusual bascule over the small Cavaletti, but the air he left to spare suggested of immense talent. A rough diamond.

~~~

The session grew as we each took turns over the Cavaletti to warm up their limbs before progressing into Lateral movements or jumps, some combinations had fake hedging that could be fixed into a skinny or a brush fence if put underneath the lovely wooden poles, painted with luscious and royal colours of Burgundy, Gold and Alabaster.

I decided that testing both waters of Jumping and Lateral was a good option, not only perfect for seeing the potential of the wonderful Sugar, but also as it would make a wonderful and hopefully fun experience for Sugar.

With the intervention of Alexa every now and then to suggest how we might change our hands, perhaps lighten or deepen our seats, more pressure on the girth or less leg, we had constructed a sort of system so that we didn’t tangle in each other lines.

I began working on Sugar, filling out her stride by asking for more reach with her acceptance of the bit, collecting her neck and top line into an outline, using pressure with my leg and a deeper seat so that she engaged the hindquarters, her walk progressing from a laid back swaggering stroll into a purposeful March.

Taking the opportunity, I slipped the sheet from her back, that had been kept on to avoid the chill getting her, and handed it to Kyo as we passed the boys on the fence. Sugar didn’t even flinch at the movement, totally concentrated and coolheaded on the task at hand.

Now rid of anything that could be used as a hindrance, I used my heel on her girth with a little more pressure alongside giving more with my hands, to usher her into a Trot, feeling her equal and balanced strides stretching, comfortable and not jarring as some horses tend to be when pushed for more extension in the trot.
Experimenting further, we transitioned through collected and extended trot, both having a wonderful cadence and were opulently impressive to ride, and even it seemed from the ground, due to the comments I received from Kyo and even Haranae.

Next I inquired to her, by depth of seat, lightness of hands and a tad more leg on my right, for an adventure in possibly my favourite gait, the canter.
Starting off with a typical right lead working anti-clockwise, her tempo was perfect. It was flowing and easy in the hands, but with no encouragement needed for the passionate and bold rhythm.

Collecting her to take our shot across the poles, she understood perfectly my aids and slowed, her uphill canter becoming more pronounced as we bounced over the canter poles with ease before stretching out to continue. The entire movement was perfect and smooth and just flawless to ride, like the molten sugar she received her namesake from.

Happy to to have warmed up properly with the flatwork, I managed to bargain my way into the small course of jumps that Morgana had had set up for her and Banqui. They were only a metre, maybe a metre-ten with a white arrange of sponsored fillers, colourful poles and even the skinny hedges had been integrated into the course.

I approached the first, a small upright with the Canadian Donstrupper Logo present on both wings and filler, of which she took to without an inch of uncertainty in a clean movement before taking a combination of two, one an oxer and the other a six rail, both she took too perfectly, her striding without hesitation and trusting in me as the rider to show her where she wanted to be and how.

Another couple of jumps, a Liverpool and a Skinny being some of the most exciting ones, Sugar didn’t so much as bat an eyelid at each of them and left plenty of air to spare over the fences, being smaller, I couldn’t wait to see what she would be like over larger and more repelling monsters in comparison to these enticing ones.

But, as the saying goes, time flies by when your having fun, so we had to finish up our turn so that the newest group could also take their time with tacking up the horses they wanted to take a turn with and also for the next section of the clinic to group in our side of the arena.

~~~

We received feedback on both the mishaps or trips and the strengths that she shone through from both instructors and the little audience of our group. It was interesting to hear their different opinions, more specifically on how I use my seat as a more subtle aid and are still able to acclimatise when necessary if there were any shies (she may have taken an ear and a snorting flutter of her nares to wild attacks of the leaves at some easily points after her blanket had been removed) so it wouldn’t hinder us in cross country.
But also some would think I was a little handsy on the bit, lessening and lessening and sometimes taking back the bit a little too quickly when recovering after a fence or readying for the next.

Now walking her off, I was content with how the session went, and complexity certain my first Canadian Donstrupper had to be this lass, so I had everything crossed, including my slightly heavy heart as we finished up and made our way back to the stables.

It was a bittersweet moment saying my goodbyes to the wonderful Sugar, but I had all the hope I could muster swelling up in my heart as I dismounted and led her through the stable block, almost smothering her with affection and I was even allowed to give her a few treats, which she took from my palm lightly with a gentleness that I adored.

Sponging her off and thoroughly brushing her down after removing her tack, I kissed her delicately on the snoz before I was dragged away by Kyo and the others, for none of the girls wanted to leave these wonderful horses.
I couldn’t wait to see how our bond would bloom if, fingers crossed, she came home with us when we had to leave the continent, to learn her little mannerisms and perks, every nook and cranny of her personality so that we could both enjoy our times together, for I was sure there would be many to come.

Packing the tack back into Eris’ boot, we doubled back to the stables as to find Alexa having just finished with another class and taking a quick break before the next one and made her way over to us, “How was your ride?”

Celeana erupted with her gratitude, voicing how each of us had adored our mounts and were more than interested, then apologised profusely for taking up her break. All I could do was try and convey my gratitude through eye contact and body language, a smile making its way onto my face with a slight dip of my head in thanks as she looked at me whilst chatting to my sister.

“Good good.” Was all she said as we parted.

We made a day of it watching the other clinicians taking their turns on the horses and trying them out as we had, or attending one of Gabriel and Alexa’s many classes.

And every single day since I had met the wonderful Sugar, I hoped and wished like a child at Christmas preying for Santa to bring them a pony for Christmas this year, everything crossed, we could only wait and hope.

So my gaze didn’t leave the stables of Mercury Stable until it was far behind us, no longer in sight, as we parted and headed over to Eris and Lucien’s stud, another long journey was ahead of us, but all I had in my heart was hope the entire journey, even with the karaoke and our singing all along the trip.

————————————
Word Count: 4,350
Featuring:
Sucre à la Crème (aka Sugar)
Reglisse Noir (aka Twizzlers)
Latte à I’érqble (aka Latté)
La Banquise (aka Banqui)
La Plus Belle Fille De La Prison (aka Jailbird)
Celeana Silvestr
Celest Silvestr
Hugo Først
Kyo Fenwicks
Haranae Dietrich
Morgana Kiera Scafell
Wolfgang Ó Faoláin
Eris Sloane-Laurent
Lucien Gavril
Alexa Grizzianni
Gabriel Carter

~

Celest, Kyo, Morgana, Wolfgang, Eris & Lucien belong to me!
Celeana, Hugo & Haranae belong to CeleanaSilvestr
Twizzlers, Sugar, Latté, Banqui & Jailbird belong to Canadian-Donstrupper
Alexa & Mercury-Stables belong to Emii-M
Gabriel Carter belongs to To-flower

~
During the Autumn Auction Clinic Event 2022 (This is an Entry)
~

Who Is Entering For Who?

I’m Entering for the beauties…
- Sucre à la Crème (aka Sugar)
- La Banquise (aka Banqui)
- La Plus Belle Fille De La Prison (aka Jailbird)

Most Interest, Hope & Priority is towards winning the sweet Sucre à la Crème (aka Sugar)

Mi hermana (@CelanaSilvestr) is entering for:
- Reglisse Noir (aka Twizzlers)
- Latte à I’érqble (aka Latté)

(With the most Interest, Hope & Priority is towards winning the Smokey Reglisse Noir (aka Twizzlers))

Description

|| Sweet Spots + Autumn Aspirations || Auction Entry Collab || Donstrupper Autumn Clinic & Auction 2022 ||

Autumn Auction Clinic Event 2022

September 27th to November 30th (Extended to 4th December)

Art Auction Entry: Collab with CeleanaSilvestr

Participating Breeds:

Canadian-Donstrupper

—

First Collab EVER with Mi Hermana CeleanaSilvestr !! Can’t believe we never thought about doing a Collab before (being twins and all its kind of natural to share stuff) and both looking for the perfect first @CanadianDonstrupper, we couldn’t help but dive right in!

🤞Best of luck to everyone!🤞

—

!Priority Pon!

M143 Sucre à la Crème

Hoping this lovely beauty will be my first Don! She reminds me of everything I had wanted as a youngster and even more so her temperament reminds me of perhaps one of the most significant mares in my life, one I had come to know and love and still do!

Alongside Amazing Dons Such As:

M134 Reglisse Noire | S130 Latte à I’érable | S126 La Banquise | M140 La Plus Belle Fille De La Prison
————————————

Storyline:

The journey had been long. Hours upon hours of flying, waiting for flights and more flying had left us with sparse time to spare for sleep.

Fuelled by caffeine in the form of the tea we had indulged in on the way over to Canada, we were ready to drop by the time Eris and Lucien had come to pick us all up.

It was late.
Or should I say early, if my blurred eyesight was correct, the barely made out time suggested 23:17, Atlantic Standard Time, when we landed in Montreal.
That meant it was just past 3 in the morning back in the U.K.

We had jumped planes from Gatwick in the U.K. to Toronto to Ottawa to Montreal and would drive the last leg with Eris and Lucien to drive the last leg of the journey to a small Inn sort of building. I was too tired to think what the real name was for such a place, it wasn’t a hotel nor a pub, so Inn seemed to suit best.

Paying for our rooms, we left whatever luggage we didn’t truly need and abandoned anything that didn’t include pyjamas, clothes for tomorrow’s exciting endeavour, and of course, toiletries.
There was little spoken word between all of us as we murmured to each other ‘Night’ and slumped into our covers, I was out like a light as soon as my head hit the pillow.

~~~

The morning arrived quickly, but I was awake well before that.
Jet lag didn’t have nearly as strong a hold as the iron grip of excitement that clasped my shoulders, I couldn’t sleep too long, but that didn’t seem to matter as I relished in the thoughts of what might transpire as I awoke the rest of the slumbering lumps, got dressed and worked through the rest of a boring morning routine before finally getting through the hullabaloo and out the door.

The drive wasn’t too long, only a couple of hours that paled in comparison to that experienced by seven of the nine yesterday, and once again, the lifeblood of caffeine allowed most of us to hold onto reality for a little longer, but due to its abilities, it also became a large player in the other’s excitement.

As for myself, all I could say for it was that it broke the leash of my excitement, resulting in an overflow of emotions that bubbled like a boiling pot on a stove, mainly due to the fact I was super excited to meet the mare of my dreams.
Absolutely ecstatic, in fact.

As there were so many of us attending this adventure, Eris and Lucien opted to bring two cars, one held the gaggle of girls, who led the way of the convoy, the other with the four blokes. The later was treated to the ability to hear the blaring music of the lasses, who, from the rebound of two wing view mirrors, could be seen to be reimagining the carpool karaoke sessions of James Corden, singing along wholeheartedly, no thanks to the teas and coffees that were surly littered in their footwells, to a range of music like highlights from The Greatest Showman, Adele, Artic Monkey,s Mumford & Sons, Madness, Bear’s Den, even LINKIN PARK, the Foo and Sting.

The guys couldn’t help but grin and sign along themselves when they heard the old classic Sweet Caroline begin, Hugo even going as mad as to reach across Wolfgang as he spread his arms in sporadic gesture, the young singer trying to lean away from the Scandahooligan that occupied the seat next to his.

~~~

Eventually turning off the road and onto the driveway, Eris going slightly hell for leather along the stretch, before slowing to find the chaos hat the Clinic had behold. They had desperately tried to arrive early in order to beat such a problem, but it seemed others had the same idea.

Our cars circled the space allotted for cars, passing the overcrowded area filled with sleek looking horse boxes of all shapes and sizes, but where we tried to find space, there seemed to be none. Eventually, with the eagle eyes of Wolfgang and a commentary over the phone, we managed to each find some spots, annoyingly on two sides of the makeshift car park but at least we had found spaces in the first place.

Gently sussing out the area before attempting to squeeze in my gut and slink out of the car, squishing my fingers against the body of another neighbouring car and slamming the door, very narrowly missing my fingers.

I had for one the need to put on normal attire and change later, so crawled out of the car already wearing my full riding gear, riding hat and gloves in the boot alongside a plethora of tack we had been able to bring with us on this quest for the perfect spotty champion.

The next love of my life it seemed.

Upon voicing such when we met up with the rest of lads across the other side of the car park, I revived a rather sly and cheeky grin with a fairly dramatic hand gripping his heart like I had shot Kyo, as he said “Ah, I’m to be replaced by a horse now am I? How my heart wrenches at such a prospect.” His feigned theatrics making us all chuckle a little.

I couldn’t hold back the feeling of experienced by a child in a sweet shop at Christmas on a Yes Day as I peered around to see a collaboration of spotty bums and amazing people as they busied themselves around dotted parts of the awe-inspiring Mercury Stables, I couldn’t help but gape a little at the breathtaking collection of horses and stables.

But my attention was immediately drawn by the woman that strode over to us with an unhurried but powerful gait, I immediately recognised the beauty in front of me and had to fight to keep my normal facade on. Famous for her abilities as a rider and owner of not only some amazing horses, but also the very land and buildings we walked through currently. Also known as Queen of the resting face among our group, her ‘Mare Stare’ almost present, but the coolness boasted a regal aura.

It was none other than Alexa Grizziani that stood before us.

All eyes were on her when she passed, even just a side glance.

She sported a burgundy and black base layer and gloves, with wonderful tan jods accented by the gold and Havana belt and matching long boots, her mahogany flowing over her shoulders and down behind her, her golden skin portraying her Italian heritage.

I couldn’t help but notice Haranae glowering in the corner of the group, having found someone who she believed could challenge her beauty. I myself couldn’t even think about competing such, but the golden hair and pale skinned noble thought otherwise as she pushed her way to the front of group, cutting my sister off as she introduced each of us with a beckon of her hand.

The static atmosphere of the scene around us seemed to still as Haranae interrupted, moaning about the flights but at least managing to remember the wisp of manners when she requested to see “…one Reglisse Noir, Sucre á la Crème, Latte à I’érqble, La Banquise and La Plus Belle Fille De La Prison. Please and Thank you.”

Her accent strongly but delicately Swedish, yet clipped and cold as she spoke to Alexa, who handled her well whilst my sister shook her head which she had dipped with embarrassment, replying to the sassy blonde with a bittersweet, perhaps even slightly venomous smile “Right this way.”

I hoped to the high heavens that this wouldn’t turn sour and Haranae wouldn’t ruin the entire day with a pointless rivalry.

~~~

We parted from Alexa with another of those award winning smiles before watching her saunter over to another group of people who were yet to realise where they wanted to be.

But each and every worry washed away from me quicker than the speed of light as we turned the corner into the bustling stables, poking my head over each door to see an abundance of fluffy wood shavings, a full sweet smelling haynet and water buckets in the corner.

Yet it wasn’t the sight of the stables that caused me such ease and sudden content, it was the beautiful mare that gazed down the aisle towards me with knowing eyes full of loving kindness.

My heart melted right there and then.

The mare that gazed at me was the one I had been wanting to purchase, and as I laid eyes on her, no one else seemed to matter nearly as much. Each horse was stunning, but she stole my heart, I couldn’t even think about purchasing another horse with the lovely Sugar existing.

Words couldn’t describe what it felt like to find such a mare.
She was the one.
Without a shadow of a doubt.

Everyone else parted ways to look over their mounts for the session, but as I made my way past the impressive stallions and magnificent mares, the Strawberry Roan with that bewitching blaze, stockings and smattering of spots over her well-rounded hindquarters was all I could think about.

She stood at 16.2hh the ideal height for anything and everything, the perfect height for myself, the 7 year old left me without words.

Sucre á la Créme had stolen my heart.

I took advantage of the ability to access a grooming kit, and with a softer-bristled, wooden-bodied brush in hand, I began to work my way over her streamlined physique and drank in each and every aspect of the mare.

One thing I couldn’t draw my attention from were her eyes. A gorgeous chocolaty brown, I could see her intelligence and kindhearted nature as they shined hues of bronze and sepia in the autumn light that infiltrated the stables.

When I went to brush down her hind legs and quarters, she stretched her neck around to look at me, as if to look at what I was doing, it dawned on me as I remembered the feeling of being looked on like this as a younger child, bent over an old mares hind hooves to pick them out on the top of an upturned bucket.

It was a motherly and watchful eye that met mine, her eyes telling of a wisdom more relatable to a mother hen or elderly woman looking over her grandchildren rather than a mare in her prime and ready to take a leap into the world and all it’s adventures and perils. But there was something else in those eyes also, not just that loving temperament, for in those burnt sienna eyes was a burning and fiery passion that seemed twin to my own, she was ready to take over the world.

I was 22, much older than the mare that gazed down at me, but in that moment, I felt like that little child again, ready to take on the world but stopped on my mischievous steps whenever I came across this mare, who would lull me into a relaxed contentment and would lie with me in the field or deep within a stall of shavings, listening and watching as I tucked myself into her and opened a book, reading to her and myself on a quite Sunday morning.

Snapped back into reality as I heard Mi Hermana, Celeana, beckon for us to finish so we could get out there, I finished up brushing her before being greeted by Kyo. I hadn’t noticed his presence until Sugar had moved to greet him, where he handed me, in turn one at a time, the dusky maroon bandages, saddlecloth and then the sleek Stygian saddle and girth.

He watched me work whilst absentmindedly stroking the mare’s muzzle, she fell asleep with a bottom lip lowered until I apologetically awoke her to place the ear bonnet over her felty and still-alert ears before asking her to take the bit, of which she received without a murmur of dispute, accepting the pieces of metal constructed onto a golden coloured, sweet-iron snaffle with a gentleness I found myself grateful for.

~~~

Ambling out way into the far corner of the arena, away from the Hubble and bubble of the others currently learning from the instructors of the clinic, Alexa and Gabriel.

I had been able to get a glance at what was occurring and how each of them taught, only discerning Gabriel, a tawny-haired bloke who seemed to always be concentrating with those piercing and keen icy blue eyes, but, similarly to Alexa, he still had a smile on his face as he conversed with those surrounding him.

Turning back to my conversation with Celeana, who was astride the wonderfully ominous Grullo Spotted Blanket, a tad taller than Sugar, Twizzlers, or Reglisse Noir, seemed to be as laid back as Sugar did as we walked them around the perimeter of our portion of the outdoor arena. Twizzlers was adorned with a beautiful hues of Cerulean blue, perfect to matching her bluish tinted coat, accenting her in a way that made her seem like a Norwegian black sand beach amidst the rise of a storm.
The perfect suit for both rider and mare.

We had opted not to take to the Cross-Country course today, but I yearned for the feel of this mare flying across such a course, could almost envision what she would be like darting across fences and braving murky waters and muddy hills akin to the Steppes.

I observed my surroundings, drinking in each of the truly delightful features that caught my eye, the autumnal allure was invigorated by the swaths of leaves that had been swept aside by both hand and wind, so that activity could continue without large amounts of difficulty due to youngsters or horses picking for an excuse from the chill to spook at the straying leaves of sienna, auburn and russet that crept their way across and crunched underfoot.
I savoured the sound whenever autumn finally found its way to the world. Canada’s autumn was one I had not experienced often and whilst the Uk had the same brightness, it was often taken over by the rain and the mud that weighed upon the country heavily. It was not the same here, it had only been spitting when we arrived and the light rain served more as a refresher than a downplaying downpour that dampened one’s spirit.

The trees bordering the sand school, manège and stables were almost like a foal using its baby fluff as they witnessed their first summer, patchy with the adorning leaves and bare branches of paled wood. You would guess that the fence was la most of the same wood as the trees that framed the picture, for they almost had the same colour and the lacquer applied to the wood seemed to have given it that extra liveliness.
Perhaps it was maple…I wouldn’t be surprised if such wonderful wood had been able to be crafted into post and rail format.

Continuing our laps, I observed the rest of the girls, who had the honour and happiness of riding the horses. It almost seemed the men came more for the journey and the adventure than for the horses, for Kyo and Hugo sat outside of the arena to avoid overcrowding the already stuffed arena.

Haranae was waiting patiently aboard the sneaky little Jailbird, or La Plus Belle Fille De La Prison, of whom had nicked Haranae’s phone out from her pocket previously, and in the nicest terms, the lil shite was enjoying the extra attention from her actions. The phone itself had been handed to Wolfgang, who currently held a travel cup of coffee in one hand whilst allowing said Kleptomaniac to snuffle around in his palm, for the loudly spotted mare seemed to know that the device was indeed hidden within his pockets, and she was ready to take it back once again.
Hara herself was smiling smugly aboard her equally smug mare, two fitting partners in crime, both seeming sassy and loving of finicky and shiny objects, like a pair of magpies. They were outfitted in a lilac shade, with trademark white rimmed bridle, black silver-adorned leatherwork, natural sheepskin half pad and atypical dressage bandages. Haranae sported her usual strutting white jodhpurs and gloves, with matching mauve base layer and coat.

Eris was the next one my vision swing too, currently practising collection in the trot and a few other lateral movements along the long side, talking and seemingly coaching Wolfgang who stride alongside her as she collected Latté, a tall and outrageously gorgeous stallion as Latté á l’érable, his name sounding as true as his irresponsibility. I felt a warm smile widen across my face as I remembered catching them cuddling in the stable, perhaps in an attempt to evade the bridle she was trying to slip into his mouth. The future family Labrador for certain. They danced along the fence line Gold clad, fitting for an aureate horse like Latté.

On the other side of the arena, Morgana tried coaxing a striking Red Dun Snowflake stallion, by the name of La Banquise or Banqui, over some poles that led up to some Cavaletti. The pair stood out, not just due to the loud colouring of the boyo beneath her, but also the flash of green amongst the autumnal hues that captured the scene, for they worse the colours of spring with Havana tack and hues of forestry adorning their threads.
Banqui was the youngest by far, 6 years of age and slightly smaller at 16.1hh, but what he didn’t have in age or height he certainly made up for in pizazz and talent. And and unusual personality, for sure.

They hadn’t even properly approached the poles before he cat-leapt over the poles, making a certainly artistic choice of gait in his bounding deer and continuing to make an even more unusual bascule over the small Cavaletti, but the air he left to spare suggested of immense talent. A rough diamond.

~~~

The session grew as we each took turns over the Cavaletti to warm up their limbs before progressing into Lateral movements or jumps, some combinations had fake hedging that could be fixed into a skinny or a brush fence if put underneath the lovely wooden poles, painted with luscious and royal colours of Burgundy, Gold and Alabaster.

I decided that testing both waters of Jumping and Lateral was a good option, not only perfect for seeing the potential of the wonderful Sugar, but also as it would make a wonderful and hopefully fun experience for Sugar.

With the intervention of Alexa every now and then to suggest how we might change our hands, perhaps lighten or deepen our seats, more pressure on the girth or less leg, we had constructed a sort of system so that we didn’t tangle in each other lines.

I began working on Sugar, filling out her stride by asking for more reach with her acceptance of the bit, collecting her neck and top line into an outline, using pressure with my leg and a deeper seat so that she engaged the hindquarters, her walk progressing from a laid back swaggering stroll into a purposeful March.

Taking the opportunity, I slipped the sheet from her back, that had been kept on to avoid the chill getting her, and handed it to Kyo as we passed the boys on the fence. Sugar didn’t even flinch at the movement, totally concentrated and coolheaded on the task at hand.

Now rid of anything that could be used as a hindrance, I used my heel on her girth with a little more pressure alongside giving more with my hands, to usher her into a Trot, feeling her equal and balanced strides stretching, comfortable and not jarring as some horses tend to be when pushed for more extension in the trot.
Experimenting further, we transitioned through collected and extended trot, both having a wonderful cadence and were opulently impressive to ride, and even it seemed from the ground, due to the comments I received from Kyo and even Haranae.

Next I inquired to her, by depth of seat, lightness of hands and a tad more leg on my right, for an adventure in possibly my favourite gait, the canter.
Starting off with a typical right lead working anti-clockwise, her tempo was perfect. It was flowing and easy in the hands, but with no encouragement needed for the passionate and bold rhythm.

Collecting her to take our shot across the poles, she understood perfectly my aids and slowed, her uphill canter becoming more pronounced as we bounced over the canter poles with ease before stretching out to continue. The entire movement was perfect and smooth and just flawless to ride, like the molten sugar she received her namesake from.

Happy to to have warmed up properly with the flatwork, I managed to bargain my way into the small course of jumps that Morgana had had set up for her and Banqui. They were only a metre, maybe a metre-ten with a white arrange of sponsored fillers, colourful poles and even the skinny hedges had been integrated into the course.

I approached the first, a small upright with the Canadian Donstrupper Logo present on both wings and filler, of which she took to without an inch of uncertainty in a clean movement before taking a combination of two, one an oxer and the other a six rail, both she took too perfectly, her striding without hesitation and trusting in me as the rider to show her where she wanted to be and how.

Another couple of jumps, a Liverpool and a Skinny being some of the most exciting ones, Sugar didn’t so much as bat an eyelid at each of them and left plenty of air to spare over the fences, being smaller, I couldn’t wait to see what she would be like over larger and more repelling monsters in comparison to these enticing ones.

But, as the saying goes, time flies by when your having fun, so we had to finish up our turn so that the newest group could also take their time with tacking up the horses they wanted to take a turn with and also for the next section of the clinic to group in our side of the arena.

~~~

We received feedback on both the mishaps or trips and the strengths that she shone through from both instructors and the little audience of our group. It was interesting to hear their different opinions, more specifically on how I use my seat as a more subtle aid and are still able to acclimatise when necessary if there were any shies (she may have taken an ear and a snorting flutter of her nares to wild attacks of the leaves at some easily points after her blanket had been removed) so it wouldn’t hinder us in cross country.
But also some would think I was a little handsy on the bit, lessening and lessening and sometimes taking back the bit a little too quickly when recovering after a fence or readying for the next.

Now walking her off, I was content with how the session went, and complexity certain my first Canadian Donstrupper had to be this lass, so I had everything crossed, including my slightly heavy heart as we finished up and made our way back to the stables.

It was a bittersweet moment saying my goodbyes to the wonderful Sugar, but I had all the hope I could muster swelling up in my heart as I dismounted and led her through the stable block, almost smothering her with affection and I was even allowed to give her a few treats, which she took from my palm lightly with a gentleness that I adored.

Sponging her off and thoroughly brushing her down after removing her tack, I kissed her delicately on the snoz before I was dragged away by Kyo and the others, for none of the girls wanted to leave these wonderful horses.
I couldn’t wait to see how our bond would bloom if, fingers crossed, she came home with us when we had to leave the continent, to learn her little mannerisms and perks, every nook and cranny of her personality so that we could both enjoy our times together, for I was sure there would be many to come.

Packing the tack back into Eris’ boot, we doubled back to the stables as to find Alexa having just finished with another class and taking a quick break before the next one and made her way over to us, “How was your ride?”

Celeana erupted with her gratitude, voicing how each of us had adored our mounts and were more than interested, then apologised profusely for taking up her break. All I could do was try and convey my gratitude through eye contact and body language, a smile making its way onto my face with a slight dip of my head in thanks as she looked at me whilst chatting to my sister.

“Good good.” Was all she said as we parted.

We made a day of it watching the other clinicians taking their turns on the horses and trying them out as we had, or attending one of Gabriel and Alexa’s many classes.

And every single day since I had met the wonderful Sugar, I hoped and wished like a child at Christmas preying for Santa to bring them a pony for Christmas this year, everything crossed, we could only wait and hope.

So my gaze didn’t leave the stables of Mercury Stable until it was far behind us, no longer in sight, as we parted and headed over to Eris and Lucien’s stud, another long journey was ahead of us, but all I had in my heart was hope the entire journey, even with the karaoke and our singing all along the trip.

————————————
Word Count: 4,350
Featuring:
Sucre à la Crème (aka Sugar)
Reglisse Noir (aka Twizzlers)
Latte à I’érqble (aka Latté)
La Banquise (aka Banqui)
La Plus Belle Fille De La Prison (aka Jailbird)
Celeana Silvestr
Celest Silvestr
Hugo Først
Kyo Fenwicks
Haranae Dietrich
Morgana Kiera Scafell
Wolfgang Ó Faoláin
Eris Sloane-Laurent
Lucien Gavril
Alexa Grizzianni
Gabriel Carter

~

Celest, Kyo, Morgana, Wolfgang, Eris & Lucien belong to me!
Celeana, Hugo & Haranae belong to CeleanaSilvestr
Twizzlers, Sugar, Latté, Banqui & Jailbird belong to Canadian-Donstrupper
Alexa & Mercury-Stables belong to Emii-M
Gabriel Carter belongs to To-flower

~
During the Autumn Auction Clinic Event 2022 (This is an Entry)
~

Who Is Entering For Who?

I’m Entering for the beauties…
- Sucre à la Crème (aka Sugar)
- La Banquise (aka Banqui)
- La Plus Belle Fille De La Prison (aka Jailbird)

Most Interest, Hope & Priority is towards winning the sweet Sucre à la Crème (aka Sugar)

Mi hermana (@CelanaSilvestr) is entering for:
- Reglisse Noir (aka Twizzlers)
- Latte à I’érqble (aka Latté)

(With the most Interest, Hope & Priority is towards winning the Smokey Reglisse Noir (aka Twizzlers))