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Description
Horse: Phoenix
Rider: Noah Scott
Show: Race with Death 2022
Justification for absence of tack: Horse was previously abused and refuses to wear any
Story:
Noah shivered as he slipped Phoenix's brand new neck rope over her head. He'd ordered it online and it had arrived just in time for the race. It was bright blue in color, contrasting starkly with her bright orange coat. After almost a month of practicing on his sister's horse, Fungus, Phoenix had finally deemed his riding ability acceptable. Of course, her patience was nowhere near that of his other mare, Mercy, and she was much less compliant than Fungus, but they made it work. Even though most of their riding sessions ended with him in the dust, Noah was amazed with the progress they'd both made.
He'd wanted to wait until his riding improved more, but competitions that don't require tack are few and far between. It would've been a missed opportunity not to enter, even if Noah's chances of staying on for the entirety of the race weren't great.
He shivered again, though it was quite warm for an October day. When he was parking his truck, he could've sworn he saw someone leading an absolutely MASSIVE cat, but they'd disappeared around a corner before he could get a good look. Probably a trick of the light. That wasn't the only strange thing about this place. Normally, when he and Phoenix start walking around without tack or a lead they attract a lot of unwanted attention. The people here didn't seem to notice anything was out of the ordinary.
Apparently, Noah had missed the part on the registration about wearing costumes. As he mounted his horse and began the trek towards the start of the race, he noticed many of the horses and riders were dressed up for Halloween. Not your usual cheap costumes either, these people had obviously gone all out. Some of them looked almost real...
A jingling sound behind him caused him to turn and he was met with one of the most amazing costumes he'd ever seen. A cloaked man was approaching on a black horse. He was wearing some sort of fancy contacts that made his eyes glow. Noah wondered how well he could see through them. As he neared, Noah could see his saddle and bridle were adorned with tiny bells and what looked like carved bones. Suddenly, the horse reared, letting out a sound that was closer to a roar than a neigh. The rider spoke in a voice that seemed to vibrate the very ground Phoenix stood on, “Hello, one and all, and welcome if you dare, to the race. The Race with Death. May the odds be ever in your favor.” What had Noah gotten himself into?
Word count: 438

Artist note:
This took me 10 freaking hours! It's not even shaded! I really need to figure out how to get things done quicker

TheRanchRegistry points: 15

References:
Brown thoroughbred gallop stock
Hand Reference Picture Pack

Description
Horse: Phoenix
Rider: Noah Scott
Show: Race with Death 2022
Justification for absence of tack: Horse was previously abused and refuses to wear any
Story:
Noah shivered as he slipped Phoenix's brand new neck rope over her head. He'd ordered it online and it had arrived just in time for the race. It was bright blue in color, contrasting starkly with her bright orange coat. After almost a month of practicing on his sister's horse, Fungus, Phoenix had finally deemed his riding ability acceptable. Of course, her patience was nowhere near that of his other mare, Mercy, and she was much less compliant than Fungus, but they made it work. Even though most of their riding sessions ended with him in the dust, Noah was amazed with the progress they'd both made.
He'd wanted to wait until his riding improved more, but competitions that don't require tack are few and far between. It would've been a missed opportunity not to enter, even if Noah's chances of staying on for the entirety of the race weren't great.
He shivered again, though it was quite warm for an October day. When he was parking his truck, he could've sworn he saw someone leading an absolutely MASSIVE cat, but they'd disappeared around a corner before he could get a good look. Probably a trick of the light. That wasn't the only strange thing about this place. Normally, when he and Phoenix start walking around without tack or a lead they attract a lot of unwanted attention. The people here didn't seem to notice anything was out of the ordinary.
Apparently, Noah had missed the part on the registration about wearing costumes. As he mounted his horse and began the trek towards the start of the race, he noticed many of the horses and riders were dressed up for Halloween. Not your usual cheap costumes either, these people had obviously gone all out. Some of them looked almost real...
A jingling sound behind him caused him to turn and he was met with one of the most amazing costumes he'd ever seen. A cloaked man was approaching on a black horse. He was wearing some sort of fancy contacts that made his eyes glow. Noah wondered how well he could see through them. As he neared, Noah could see his saddle and bridle were adorned with tiny bells and what looked like carved bones. Suddenly, the horse reared, letting out a sound that was closer to a roar than a neigh. The rider spoke in a voice that seemed to vibrate the very ground Phoenix stood on, “Hello, one and all, and welcome if you dare, to the race. The Race with Death. May the odds be ever in your favor.” What had Noah gotten himself into?
Word count: 438

Artist note:
This took me 10 freaking hours! It's not even shaded! I really need to figure out how to get things done quicker

TheRanchRegistry points: 15

References:
Brown thoroughbred gallop stock
Hand Reference Picture Pack