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Description
Horse Reference: Phoenix
Horse Breed: Arabian
Rider Name: Noah Scott
Show: HARPG 2022 Expo
Class: Liberty
Extras:
1. Exploring Cloverfield
2. Spooky, Scary ...Saddles?
3. Phoenix, No!
Results: 1st
Story:
"Don't mind me Phoenix, just go back to sleep." Noah whispered as he shuffled into his horse's stall. He plopped down in the corner farthest from the mare, giving her room to stretch out on the floor. She grunted in response, laying her head back down. Noah sighed and leaned back against the wall, scrubbing a hand over his face.
It was still so surreal. If someone had told him a year ago that he'd be napping in a horse stall after a 14 hour drive in order to compete against some rich kids in a horse show he would've laughed in their face. When he bought the farm he had imagined spending his days training and rehabilitating abused dogs, not worrying about where his next paycheck was coming from because of some traumatized equine.
He thought they'd made so much progress. He thought they were ready for this, but the dirty looks he'd received as he pulled up in the rusty two-horse trailer and unloaded Phoenix without a halter or lead in sight said otherwise. Noah considered turning around and going home right then but Phoenix was exhausted from the trip and needed to be fed and watered. She walked quietly at Noah's side toward her stall, just as they had practiced at home. He had sighed with relief once the door was closed behind her. They'd made it this far without incident.
Once most of the competitors had arrived and settled their horses they began to mingle, seeking out friends and rivals. Noah couldn't help but feel a bit isolated from the excited crowds. Most of them knew each other or, at least, they knew their way around a show circuit. When the whispering started about his lack of gear and trashy trailer he had retreated back to the barn. Phoenix had been asleep in her stall, sprawled out comfortably in the fresh bedding. She'd sat up when she heard the creak of the stall door being opened, whickering softly in greeting.
He checked his phone. One thirty-eight. He had plenty of time before the liberty competition. He contemplated going out to explore the trails but quickly decided against it. He didn't want to explain his situation to some rich snob just so they could gossip about him. The last thing he needed was training "advice" from a stuck-up horse girl. He stuffed his phone into his back pocket, shutting his eyes and leaning against the wall once more.
Noah awoke with a start. Cold water splashed his face as he struggled to regain his bearings. Oh. Right. He was in Phoenix's stall. The mare in question was standing over him, leg cocked and lip drooping. Another drop of water fell from her muzzle onto his face. Or was that drool? He groaned and sat up, body loudly protesting from sleeping against the hard wall. He fumbled for his phone, cringing in the sudden brightness of the screen.
Five fifteen. Noah's heart stopped. Phoenix was supposed to be groomed and ready by now! Why didn't he set an alarm? Noah leapt to his feet, startling the drowsy mare. "Sorry, girl! We're late!" With that, he flung open the stall door and took off toward his truck to get his grooming supplies.
Phoenix, sensing her human's distress, trotted closely at his heels, ready to offer assistance. "Wait- no, I just need to get your things. Just- Stay- okay?" Stay? Phoenix could do that. She planted her feet firmly on the barn floor and watched her human disappear from sight. Another human nearby was watching her closely, reaching for a lead rope. It made her nervous. Maybe she should go find Noah. Just as she'd decided to follow her human, he rounded the corner, holding a familiar bucket. "Good girl! Good stay!" he praised, clumsily digging through his pockets for a treat. He grabbed her hoof pick and tapped her leg. "Pick it up." She obeyed immediately and lifted her leg into his waiting hand.
After Noah had finished grooming the mare, he tossed the brushes haphazardly into her stall. "Heel!" he barked, racing out of the barn towards the schooling arena with Phoenix cantering beside him. Noah watched his beautiful mare running beside him, chestnut coat gleaming in the afternoon light. Moments like these were what made it all worth it. All the work they had done was finally going to pay off. If everything went well, they had a real shot at winning. Noah watched her muscles ripple underneath her coat, bright white scars shining like stars. No. Like sparks. Whatever horrors happened in her past, she was about to show everyone that given the chance, even the most hopeless cases can recover. Phoenix will rise from the ashes.
Word Count: 791

Artist Note:
I'm super happy with how this turned out! This took me about five hours total but it was definitely worth it in the end. I struggled with the background, especially with the sand texture and shadows. I rarely draw backgrounds so this was definitely a new challenge for me.

TheRanchRegistry points: 35.5
References:
Arabian Stock
Cloverfield Fence Reference

Description
Horse Reference: Phoenix
Horse Breed: Arabian
Rider Name: Noah Scott
Show: HARPG 2022 Expo
Class: Liberty
Extras:
1. Exploring Cloverfield
2. Spooky, Scary ...Saddles?
3. Phoenix, No!
Results: 1st
Story:
"Don't mind me Phoenix, just go back to sleep." Noah whispered as he shuffled into his horse's stall. He plopped down in the corner farthest from the mare, giving her room to stretch out on the floor. She grunted in response, laying her head back down. Noah sighed and leaned back against the wall, scrubbing a hand over his face.
It was still so surreal. If someone had told him a year ago that he'd be napping in a horse stall after a 14 hour drive in order to compete against some rich kids in a horse show he would've laughed in their face. When he bought the farm he had imagined spending his days training and rehabilitating abused dogs, not worrying about where his next paycheck was coming from because of some traumatized equine.
He thought they'd made so much progress. He thought they were ready for this, but the dirty looks he'd received as he pulled up in the rusty two-horse trailer and unloaded Phoenix without a halter or lead in sight said otherwise. Noah considered turning around and going home right then but Phoenix was exhausted from the trip and needed to be fed and watered. She walked quietly at Noah's side toward her stall, just as they had practiced at home. He had sighed with relief once the door was closed behind her. They'd made it this far without incident.
Once most of the competitors had arrived and settled their horses they began to mingle, seeking out friends and rivals. Noah couldn't help but feel a bit isolated from the excited crowds. Most of them knew each other or, at least, they knew their way around a show circuit. When the whispering started about his lack of gear and trashy trailer he had retreated back to the barn. Phoenix had been asleep in her stall, sprawled out comfortably in the fresh bedding. She'd sat up when she heard the creak of the stall door being opened, whickering softly in greeting.
He checked his phone. One thirty-eight. He had plenty of time before the liberty competition. He contemplated going out to explore the trails but quickly decided against it. He didn't want to explain his situation to some rich snob just so they could gossip about him. The last thing he needed was training "advice" from a stuck-up horse girl. He stuffed his phone into his back pocket, shutting his eyes and leaning against the wall once more.
Noah awoke with a start. Cold water splashed his face as he struggled to regain his bearings. Oh. Right. He was in Phoenix's stall. The mare in question was standing over him, leg cocked and lip drooping. Another drop of water fell from her muzzle onto his face. Or was that drool? He groaned and sat up, body loudly protesting from sleeping against the hard wall. He fumbled for his phone, cringing in the sudden brightness of the screen.
Five fifteen. Noah's heart stopped. Phoenix was supposed to be groomed and ready by now! Why didn't he set an alarm? Noah leapt to his feet, startling the drowsy mare. "Sorry, girl! We're late!" With that, he flung open the stall door and took off toward his truck to get his grooming supplies.
Phoenix, sensing her human's distress, trotted closely at his heels, ready to offer assistance. "Wait- no, I just need to get your things. Just- Stay- okay?" Stay? Phoenix could do that. She planted her feet firmly on the barn floor and watched her human disappear from sight. Another human nearby was watching her closely, reaching for a lead rope. It made her nervous. Maybe she should go find Noah. Just as she'd decided to follow her human, he rounded the corner, holding a familiar bucket. "Good girl! Good stay!" he praised, clumsily digging through his pockets for a treat. He grabbed her hoof pick and tapped her leg. "Pick it up." She obeyed immediately and lifted her leg into his waiting hand.
After Noah had finished grooming the mare, he tossed the brushes haphazardly into her stall. "Heel!" he barked, racing out of the barn towards the schooling arena with Phoenix cantering beside him. Noah watched his beautiful mare running beside him, chestnut coat gleaming in the afternoon light. Moments like these were what made it all worth it. All the work they had done was finally going to pay off. If everything went well, they had a real shot at winning. Noah watched her muscles ripple underneath her coat, bright white scars shining like stars. No. Like sparks. Whatever horrors happened in her past, she was about to show everyone that given the chance, even the most hopeless cases can recover. Phoenix will rise from the ashes.
Word Count: 791

Artist Note:
I'm super happy with how this turned out! This took me about five hours total but it was definitely worth it in the end. I struggled with the background, especially with the sand texture and shadows. I rarely draw backgrounds so this was definitely a new challenge for me.

TheRanchRegistry points: 35.5
References:
Arabian Stock
Cloverfield Fence Reference