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Description

Show: HCL MOSCOW

TEAM: Space Shuttles

Rider: Laura Bassett

Horse: SLS Malakai

Representing the team or riding as an individual? Representing! #BACKONBOARD

Beginning | Previous

‘On those days where you feel like you haven’t achieved anything, you have. Your happiness is your success.’

Amongst the touristic chaos that shrouded the early-evening streets of the Russian capital, Laura walked alone. Completely surrounded by people and their busy plans but, at the same time, alone. The exhilaration of the crowd was hard to explain; it was a lonely feeling, a somewhat melancholy feeling. Bruised clouds were beginning to seep their way overhead, teasing to burst as the forecast predicted, yet Laura wouldn’t have minded if they did. She quite liked the rain. They pinned the previously sunlit city into darkness and sent down the musky smell that is familiar to everyone of the moments before you encounter the rain; a countdown to the inevitable.

It reminded her of the damp day that summer where she found herself rummaging through old belongings in the loft of her family home. Rain tapped on the windows and it was strangely cold so she had been forced to sport a jumper, however the sleeves turned up. She couldn't really explain why she was wasting time going through items instead of packing everything away as needed, she just did.

She came across childhood toys, clothes and photo albums, one of which was titled “Graduation.” She recalled the day perfectly, it hadn’t been long ago after all; her parents and two older brothers present, all happy, all laughing, just as they were pictured in front of her now.

Another album was called ‘Cayman Islands,’ from a family holiday when she was a kid. She and her brothers loved exploring the beaches and disappearing out of their parents’ eyesight, much to their parents’ dismay. They inspected rock pools and uselessly tried catching fish that swam too close to the shore with their hands. On one of the last days by their table at lunch, Laura observed a hummingbird on neighbouring flowers and she was mesmerised by the jewelled green and blue colours it flashed in the sun, along with its ability to maintain a perfect hover. The day after that, her mum surprised her with a necklace with a hummingbird pendant on it. The same necklace that was taped to the last page of the album, which she gently removed and hung around her neck. The memories of laughter filled her with stupid longing that she felt she’d never get back, so she clung desperately to the necklace to this day.

She was pulled back into the present when a group of people wildy pushed past her in their haste to find cover from the imminent rain. What was it with people barging into her? She adjusted the bag strap back across her body but a chill sent its way down her spine... It was gone. She grasped at her chest frantically for the hummingbird necklace that had previously settled around her neck. It was gone. She stopped dead in the crowd, her heart thumping, and searched her bag, her jacket, the floor, but there was no sign of the silver jewellery. It left her in shock; looking around, disorientated in a paralytic drowsiness as the first spits of rain descended.

-

Upon returning to the Red Square, she was met by Josie who held Laura’s raincoat in her hands. “It’s gonna rain during your round, you might need this-" She paused. "What’s wrong?”

“I thought I could forget,” Laura swallowed hard, finally losing the months-long war against her tears. “ I tried so hard to forget that after Caesarea I picked up my phone and tried to call her.” Josie’s stomach dropped and she pulled her friend into a deep hug. “Dad’s selling the house, too,” Laura added, the words muffled in Josie’s shoulder. She and her brothers weren’t at home often anymore which meant her Dad had no real reason to live in the the 5 bedroom semi by himself, and it killed her to say goodbye to that place. No one ever told you how to prepare for circumstances like this. In movies, it brought families together. In Laura’s case, it spit them.

Her eyes were distracted by the small coated figure stood behind them, watching them. Through her hazy vision, she was just able to make out that the figure was Suri.

“I found this,” Suri held out her hand, a glistening white shining from it. “It was handed into Lost & Found and I figured it was yours. How often do you come across someone with a hummingbird necklace anyway?”

Laura peeled herself from Josie and stood with her arms hung heavily at her sides, saying nothing. She was full of regret for what had happened in Korea and couldn’t quite work out why Suri had come back to her and was here, of all places.

Suri dangled the silver in front of her and broke the momentary silence. “'The hummingbird. Given that they inhabit regions that are not exactly arid, they are almost certain to be forced to fly in the rain at some point.'” These scripted words weren’t her own, though. They were from an extract in a book about the birds that she and Laura had read together, hidden deep in their blanket-fort in Suri’s room when they were children.

“'They hover well even under heavy precipitation with no apparent loss of control,'” Laura finished, recalling the book. She felt like she couldn’t quite relate to that sentence today, however. She looked down ruefully as she was handed the necklace and clutched it in her hands. “Thank you.”

There was no shortage of awkward pauses for the next minute. Josie, who had moved a short distance away from the pair, chimed in. “Are you sticking around?”

Suri shrugged and looked at Laura, “If you’ll have me.”

Laura fained a smile, “Of course.”

The trio sludged through the rain-ridden sand together back to where the floodlights of the competition grounds shouted from beyond the buildings.

“What are you doing on the other side of the world, anyway?” Laura asked.

Word count: 999

Next
--

Everyone else is out here with their beautifully coloured entries and I come barging in taking advantage of the rain like "MUST.DESATURATE.EVERYTHING" But bold colours just don't fit the story this time round!

--
Commentary notes:
- This month, Laura brings the Trakehner stallion Malakai, owned by her trainer Josie Appleby and sired by EDS Erlkönig. He has been found to not fair well when travelling alone (is restless, wont eat etc) so if he is their only horse competing at an event, they have to bring a little grey gelding by the name of Motley to keep him company (maybe they would have been seen unloading together or in neighbouring stalls.)
- Malakai mirrors Laura's previous ride, Jantar, in that he has a fast, long stride on the flat, however he has a slower, scopey jump to contrast.
- He and Laura take a careful approach with their round this time as they are struck with the rain; they are already quite sodden by the time they begin.
- Laura's aids are quieter and more collected than usual.

Characters reference
Architecture reference
All freehanded using eye-to-hand

--
Laura, Josie, Suri & Malakai © EquineRibbon
Art © EquineRibbon

Description

Show: HCL MOSCOW

TEAM: Space Shuttles

Rider: Laura Bassett

Horse: SLS Malakai

Representing the team or riding as an individual? Representing! #BACKONBOARD

Beginning | Previous

‘On those days where you feel like you haven’t achieved anything, you have. Your happiness is your success.’

Amongst the touristic chaos that shrouded the early-evening streets of the Russian capital, Laura walked alone. Completely surrounded by people and their busy plans but, at the same time, alone. The exhilaration of the crowd was hard to explain; it was a lonely feeling, a somewhat melancholy feeling. Bruised clouds were beginning to seep their way overhead, teasing to burst as the forecast predicted, yet Laura wouldn’t have minded if they did. She quite liked the rain. They pinned the previously sunlit city into darkness and sent down the musky smell that is familiar to everyone of the moments before you encounter the rain; a countdown to the inevitable.

It reminded her of the damp day that summer where she found herself rummaging through old belongings in the loft of her family home. Rain tapped on the windows and it was strangely cold so she had been forced to sport a jumper, however the sleeves turned up. She couldn't really explain why she was wasting time going through items instead of packing everything away as needed, she just did.

She came across childhood toys, clothes and photo albums, one of which was titled “Graduation.” She recalled the day perfectly, it hadn’t been long ago after all; her parents and two older brothers present, all happy, all laughing, just as they were pictured in front of her now.

Another album was called ‘Cayman Islands,’ from a family holiday when she was a kid. She and her brothers loved exploring the beaches and disappearing out of their parents’ eyesight, much to their parents’ dismay. They inspected rock pools and uselessly tried catching fish that swam too close to the shore with their hands. On one of the last days by their table at lunch, Laura observed a hummingbird on neighbouring flowers and she was mesmerised by the jewelled green and blue colours it flashed in the sun, along with its ability to maintain a perfect hover. The day after that, her mum surprised her with a necklace with a hummingbird pendant on it. The same necklace that was taped to the last page of the album, which she gently removed and hung around her neck. The memories of laughter filled her with stupid longing that she felt she’d never get back, so she clung desperately to the necklace to this day.

She was pulled back into the present when a group of people wildy pushed past her in their haste to find cover from the imminent rain. What was it with people barging into her? She adjusted the bag strap back across her body but a chill sent its way down her spine... It was gone. She grasped at her chest frantically for the hummingbird necklace that had previously settled around her neck. It was gone. She stopped dead in the crowd, her heart thumping, and searched her bag, her jacket, the floor, but there was no sign of the silver jewellery. It left her in shock; looking around, disorientated in a paralytic drowsiness as the first spits of rain descended.

-

Upon returning to the Red Square, she was met by Josie who held Laura’s raincoat in her hands. “It’s gonna rain during your round, you might need this-" She paused. "What’s wrong?”

“I thought I could forget,” Laura swallowed hard, finally losing the months-long war against her tears. “ I tried so hard to forget that after Caesarea I picked up my phone and tried to call her.” Josie’s stomach dropped and she pulled her friend into a deep hug. “Dad’s selling the house, too,” Laura added, the words muffled in Josie’s shoulder. She and her brothers weren’t at home often anymore which meant her Dad had no real reason to live in the the 5 bedroom semi by himself, and it killed her to say goodbye to that place. No one ever told you how to prepare for circumstances like this. In movies, it brought families together. In Laura’s case, it spit them.

Her eyes were distracted by the small coated figure stood behind them, watching them. Through her hazy vision, she was just able to make out that the figure was Suri.

“I found this,” Suri held out her hand, a glistening white shining from it. “It was handed into Lost & Found and I figured it was yours. How often do you come across someone with a hummingbird necklace anyway?”

Laura peeled herself from Josie and stood with her arms hung heavily at her sides, saying nothing. She was full of regret for what had happened in Korea and couldn’t quite work out why Suri had come back to her and was here, of all places.

Suri dangled the silver in front of her and broke the momentary silence. “'The hummingbird. Given that they inhabit regions that are not exactly arid, they are almost certain to be forced to fly in the rain at some point.'” These scripted words weren’t her own, though. They were from an extract in a book about the birds that she and Laura had read together, hidden deep in their blanket-fort in Suri’s room when they were children.

“'They hover well even under heavy precipitation with no apparent loss of control,'” Laura finished, recalling the book. She felt like she couldn’t quite relate to that sentence today, however. She looked down ruefully as she was handed the necklace and clutched it in her hands. “Thank you.”

There was no shortage of awkward pauses for the next minute. Josie, who had moved a short distance away from the pair, chimed in. “Are you sticking around?”

Suri shrugged and looked at Laura, “If you’ll have me.”

Laura fained a smile, “Of course.”

The trio sludged through the rain-ridden sand together back to where the floodlights of the competition grounds shouted from beyond the buildings.

“What are you doing on the other side of the world, anyway?” Laura asked.

Word count: 999

Next
--

Everyone else is out here with their beautifully coloured entries and I come barging in taking advantage of the rain like "MUST.DESATURATE.EVERYTHING" But bold colours just don't fit the story this time round!

--
Commentary notes:
- This month, Laura brings the Trakehner stallion Malakai, owned by her trainer Josie Appleby and sired by EDS Erlkönig. He has been found to not fair well when travelling alone (is restless, wont eat etc) so if he is their only horse competing at an event, they have to bring a little grey gelding by the name of Motley to keep him company (maybe they would have been seen unloading together or in neighbouring stalls.)
- Malakai mirrors Laura's previous ride, Jantar, in that he has a fast, long stride on the flat, however he has a slower, scopey jump to contrast.
- He and Laura take a careful approach with their round this time as they are struck with the rain; they are already quite sodden by the time they begin.
- Laura's aids are quieter and more collected than usual.

Characters reference
Architecture reference
All freehanded using eye-to-hand

--
Laura, Josie, Suri & Malakai © EquineRibbon
Art © EquineRibbon