HOME | DD

Description
Show: Rising Star Farm's 2023 Pride Show
Horse: 1715 SDE Blinded By The Sun
Rider: Faye Barlow

Loshenka XP Breakdown
Art: 9 (fullbody) + 6 (polished background) + 3 (polished shading) + 2 (rider) + 10 (sponsored show entry) = 30xp
Lit: 10 (base xp) + 2 (handler) = 12 xp
Total XP: 30 + 12 =42xp

~~
Word Count: 1022
~~

The rain thudded aggressively against the roof of the barn as they put the final touches on Helios. The weather had managed to hold out for most of the morning but of course, just before Faye’s round the clouds decided to steal the show.

“You guys will be fine. You’ve competed in the rain before and you did fine. Hell, you’ve done cross country in the rain so this should be no problem.” Niamh chuckled, referencing a previous escapade at Farfield Equestrian a few months prior.

Ele poked her head up from where she was tightening one of the stallions splint boots, “Okay, am I the only one who remembers Faye almost falling at Farfield?”

Niamh spun on her heel, her curly ponytail swished behind her with emphasis, “I was trying to avoid mentioning that, thank you,” Before turning back to face Faye. “You’ll be fine.” She said, ignoring a snicker from the teasing blonde.

Faye groaned and went to lean against the near stall before being roughly yanked away, “Not in your show coat.” Kat yelped, aggressively dusting off the small part of Faye that made contact with the wooden door. Faye groaned.

Kat, or Katherine, was a new addition to the Snowdrift working student group, who ultimately put the pan in panic, especially on show day. She was a willowy girl, long and lanky where Faye was short and tough. She had rich, dark skin that was starkly contrasted with bright near-white hair and dark, dark eyes.

This was Snowdrift Equestrian’s first year competing at the Rising Star Farm’s Pride Show and they were making the most of it. The entire team was there. Which was great, Faye assured herself. There were just definitely some growing pains. With five people from Snowdrift and four from Driftwood, Niamh’s family’s stables up in California, there were sure to be some slight run-ins.

“Ele, is he almost ready?” Niamh asked as she glanced at the clock. She was always at best organized, and at worst mildly obsessive when it came to timetables and itineraries. Especially at shows.

The girl glanced over from where she was adjusting Helios’s bridle, the stallion was snoozing easily in the cross ties, eyes closed and lip droopy, “Uhhhhh. Yes?”

Faye smothered a laugh at her friend's unsure tone, “Are ya sure?” A teasing smirk quirked the corners of her mouth.

“Uhhhh. Yes?”

The group couldn’t help but laugh, Ele was predictably uneasy in tense scenarios so the companionable laugh was greatly appreciated.

“Not sure how you plan on beating me when your own groom isn’t even confident in how you turn out.” A young male voice chuckled from down the aisle.

Niamh narrowed her eyes at her younger brother, “Theo.”

“Yes?”

“Shut up.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Thwack. The classic sound of a magazine making contact with someone’s body echoed through the barn.

“Hey!”

“That was deserved and you know it.”

“Mhmm.”

“You wish you had a groom as nice as me.” Ele scowled at the boy as he sauntered closer, presumably to inspect the freshly cleaned stallion.

“I don’t know, I think Ayla does one hell of a job.” He said, unimpressed.

“It’s still a wonder why she puts up with you,” Faye grumbled, finally deciding it was time to have a look at Helios herself.

“I ask myself that question everyday.” Ayla, the girl in question, muttered as she shuffled out of the tack room. Her slick black hair was plaited gracefully down her back. Faye, with her slightly frizzy curls, was wildly jealous of the older girl's smooth locks that always seemed to do what she wanted.

Niamh, feeling the tension amongst the teenagers, glanced at her watch, “Okay enough chatting. Faye, you’re on in eight minutes. Theo, to be honest I have no idea when it’s your turn but I know you’re soon as well.”

“Doesn’t Morgan have one of her girls competing today as well?” Faye asked as she stepped up to face Helios, his eyes brightened as his rider neared.

“Uhm, maybe? Honestly I’ve been so preoccupied with you-lot that I haven’t had much time to worry about what my mother happens to be up to.” Niamh muttered.

“I take offense to being lumped in with them. I am your loving brother.” Theo groaned, finally having gone over to get his own Loshenka, affectionately named Concrete.

Niamh didn’t even spare him a glance, “Would it help if I said you’re worse?”

Theo huffed in response. Faye would’ve made a comment to help kick him while he was down but she was to focussed on the handsome stallion waiting for her. Helios’s broad pink snip was polished to perfection, his golden coat gleamed under the artificial lights, and his tack was as shiny as the day it was made.

“You. Look. So. Handsome.” Each word was punctuated with a light kiss to his forehead. His nostrils fluttered in the palm of her hand in return.

Theo slowly seemed to be meandering over, Concrete’s reins lightly held in his hand. “See girl, aren’t you glad I don’t treat you like that? An overgrown puppy?” The mare did not look impressed.

Faye had to give it to Ayla, the grey Loshenka was turned out to perfection. Her mottled coat was plush and sparkling, her salt and pepper tail was tangle-free and her amber blood-mark was stark and crisp.

“I know right. She’s impeccable.” The boy smirked as he watched Faye examine his mount.

The girl put on a face of false indifference, not ready to concede anything to the annoying boy, “eh.”

“Alright alright. Let’s get you two out there before you bite each other's heads off.” Niamh signed. Faye noticed there was a fresh mug of coffee clutched in the woman’s hands. Good choice.

Faye and Theo held back as the group dispersed into the rain. The two glanced towards each other.

“Good luc-“ They both began before startling into laughter.

Once she had composed herself, Faye smoothed a hand down the front of her navy show coat, pressing out any last minute wrinkles, “May the best rider win.”

Theo grinned, “May the best rider win.”

~~

Description
Show: Rising Star Farm's 2023 Pride Show
Horse: 1715 SDE Blinded By The Sun
Rider: Faye Barlow

Loshenka XP Breakdown
Art: 9 (fullbody) + 6 (polished background) + 3 (polished shading) + 2 (rider) + 10 (sponsored show entry) = 30xp
Lit: 10 (base xp) + 2 (handler) = 12 xp
Total XP: 30 + 12 =42xp

~~
Word Count: 1022
~~

The rain thudded aggressively against the roof of the barn as they put the final touches on Helios. The weather had managed to hold out for most of the morning but of course, just before Faye’s round the clouds decided to steal the show.

“You guys will be fine. You’ve competed in the rain before and you did fine. Hell, you’ve done cross country in the rain so this should be no problem.” Niamh chuckled, referencing a previous escapade at Farfield Equestrian a few months prior.

Ele poked her head up from where she was tightening one of the stallions splint boots, “Okay, am I the only one who remembers Faye almost falling at Farfield?”

Niamh spun on her heel, her curly ponytail swished behind her with emphasis, “I was trying to avoid mentioning that, thank you,” Before turning back to face Faye. “You’ll be fine.” She said, ignoring a snicker from the teasing blonde.

Faye groaned and went to lean against the near stall before being roughly yanked away, “Not in your show coat.” Kat yelped, aggressively dusting off the small part of Faye that made contact with the wooden door. Faye groaned.

Kat, or Katherine, was a new addition to the Snowdrift working student group, who ultimately put the pan in panic, especially on show day. She was a willowy girl, long and lanky where Faye was short and tough. She had rich, dark skin that was starkly contrasted with bright near-white hair and dark, dark eyes.

This was Snowdrift Equestrian’s first year competing at the Rising Star Farm’s Pride Show and they were making the most of it. The entire team was there. Which was great, Faye assured herself. There were just definitely some growing pains. With five people from Snowdrift and four from Driftwood, Niamh’s family’s stables up in California, there were sure to be some slight run-ins.

“Ele, is he almost ready?” Niamh asked as she glanced at the clock. She was always at best organized, and at worst mildly obsessive when it came to timetables and itineraries. Especially at shows.

The girl glanced over from where she was adjusting Helios’s bridle, the stallion was snoozing easily in the cross ties, eyes closed and lip droopy, “Uhhhhh. Yes?”

Faye smothered a laugh at her friend's unsure tone, “Are ya sure?” A teasing smirk quirked the corners of her mouth.

“Uhhhh. Yes?”

The group couldn’t help but laugh, Ele was predictably uneasy in tense scenarios so the companionable laugh was greatly appreciated.

“Not sure how you plan on beating me when your own groom isn’t even confident in how you turn out.” A young male voice chuckled from down the aisle.

Niamh narrowed her eyes at her younger brother, “Theo.”

“Yes?”

“Shut up.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Thwack. The classic sound of a magazine making contact with someone’s body echoed through the barn.

“Hey!”

“That was deserved and you know it.”

“Mhmm.”

“You wish you had a groom as nice as me.” Ele scowled at the boy as he sauntered closer, presumably to inspect the freshly cleaned stallion.

“I don’t know, I think Ayla does one hell of a job.” He said, unimpressed.

“It’s still a wonder why she puts up with you,” Faye grumbled, finally deciding it was time to have a look at Helios herself.

“I ask myself that question everyday.” Ayla, the girl in question, muttered as she shuffled out of the tack room. Her slick black hair was plaited gracefully down her back. Faye, with her slightly frizzy curls, was wildly jealous of the older girl's smooth locks that always seemed to do what she wanted.

Niamh, feeling the tension amongst the teenagers, glanced at her watch, “Okay enough chatting. Faye, you’re on in eight minutes. Theo, to be honest I have no idea when it’s your turn but I know you’re soon as well.”

“Doesn’t Morgan have one of her girls competing today as well?” Faye asked as she stepped up to face Helios, his eyes brightened as his rider neared.

“Uhm, maybe? Honestly I’ve been so preoccupied with you-lot that I haven’t had much time to worry about what my mother happens to be up to.” Niamh muttered.

“I take offense to being lumped in with them. I am your loving brother.” Theo groaned, finally having gone over to get his own Loshenka, affectionately named Concrete.

Niamh didn’t even spare him a glance, “Would it help if I said you’re worse?”

Theo huffed in response. Faye would’ve made a comment to help kick him while he was down but she was to focussed on the handsome stallion waiting for her. Helios’s broad pink snip was polished to perfection, his golden coat gleamed under the artificial lights, and his tack was as shiny as the day it was made.

“You. Look. So. Handsome.” Each word was punctuated with a light kiss to his forehead. His nostrils fluttered in the palm of her hand in return.

Theo slowly seemed to be meandering over, Concrete’s reins lightly held in his hand. “See girl, aren’t you glad I don’t treat you like that? An overgrown puppy?” The mare did not look impressed.

Faye had to give it to Ayla, the grey Loshenka was turned out to perfection. Her mottled coat was plush and sparkling, her salt and pepper tail was tangle-free and her amber blood-mark was stark and crisp.

“I know right. She’s impeccable.” The boy smirked as he watched Faye examine his mount.

The girl put on a face of false indifference, not ready to concede anything to the annoying boy, “eh.”

“Alright alright. Let’s get you two out there before you bite each other's heads off.” Niamh signed. Faye noticed there was a fresh mug of coffee clutched in the woman’s hands. Good choice.

Faye and Theo held back as the group dispersed into the rain. The two glanced towards each other.

“Good luc-“ They both began before startling into laughter.

Once she had composed herself, Faye smoothed a hand down the front of her navy show coat, pressing out any last minute wrinkles, “May the best rider win.”

Theo grinned, “May the best rider win.”

~~