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Description
I spent the entire of today on this picture, and I am so fed up of it, but I absolutely adore how Archie looks and that the human isn't terrible! I actually named the human five minutes ago, so I'm introducing her to myself as well as you all. xD

This is my first show entry!! *u* And also my first drawing of Bree, and my first non-ref picture of either of the Zlesdins, and my first attempt at the Zlesdin tack (which is very smexi) aND my first picture of an endurance ride. I forgot to enlarge my canvas at the start sooo Archie's outline is horribly thick, but it makes him stand out so I'll forgive that. Also he's so gorgeous.

Horse: Archimedes
Rider: Bree Alexandre
Stable: Majestly Sands
Show: Devils Night Estate
Class: Endurance
Placing: 1st!

~

Bree swore to herself that she'd never pick favourites between her two horses. For one, the loser would get testy and she'd be bucked during the next three (at least) rides, possibly well-timed from the tip of a canyon stone whilst trying to photograph the view. But mostly because it would be like choosing between your children - it's very morally wrong and can cause damage emotionally and mentally (but we do it anyway, secretly).
Not that Archie's ego couldn't do with a hit every so often.
During hacks to the nearby town or through the grassy bridlepaths, where they'd meet other horses and people and animals along the way, Archie was never the favourite child. His relentless snorting and 'manly whinnying' as he attempted to casually side step over the fences, plus the sudden growth of two extra hands high and his feet doing impossible Olympic standard passage, or whatever that move was, always a second away from potentially flinging himself five foot in the air to catch the attention of that damn gelding that still isn't looking -
But right now, Archie was the favourite. An unfair comparison considering Callie was probably still sleeping in the field whilst the red dun was thoroughly enjoying himself, but an endurance ride on Archimedes was the best feeling in the world.
They'd spent the previous day travelling, slept the night in a borrowed field, and were ready and raring to go that morning. Archie called his agreement through a mouthful of breakfast when his owner stood to get ready. Bree's favourite tack set was quickly brushed off, the saddle easily lifted on, chestplate fixed, and simple bridle slipped over his head. Lightweight but comfortable, it was perfect for a long endurance ride - plus it was in the gorgeous, rich crimson and gold that were Majestly Sands' stable colours.
Last but not least, Bree fastened his freshly polished collar around his neck, smoothing out the red tassel. Superstitious protection was the traditional reason, but she could swear they brought good luck too.
He predictably messed about at the starting line, dancing from side to side and knocking hips with the competitors standing too close (his rider, of course, received the answering glares), so Bree kicked him into a flat out gallop for the first stretch of grassland to ditch some extra energy and distance themselves from the others.
Once they were off, the stallion focused whole-heartedly on his task. The sun was barely rising and the sky left a glow of deep pinks on everything it reached, making Archie's stunning desert coat shine extra bright as they swept through the increasingly tall foliage, the frosty dew cooling his legs in preparation for a hard day's work. Her own tanned Native American skin was turned a mottled orange, she noticed whilst pulling a sheet of paper from a saddlebag. The map showed the route to be reasonably flat, only waning at a few dips of streams and a couple of hillside paths. Bree knew it'd be relatively easy compared with the violent peaks in the Utah canyons and they'd keep a steady canter through the majority of it, slowing to a skeggas on the rocky areas.
They came to one of the higher parts only thirty minutes into the ride, when the sun had lightened the landscape to tans and yellows. The dirt path, softened by the recently melted snow, lead up a thin trail with a small cliff face either side - not far to fall, but difficult to get back up. Just as it turned steeper a nice sized pile of rocks blocked the road.
Archie didn't even blink as he collected his stride on command and bounced off his powerful hindquarters, springing onto the flat top and over as if it were a mole hill. Bree leant right forward to avoid being pulled off balance, getting a glance at the natural jump; on one side, the hosting stable's logo had been meticulously painted on a flatter ledge, a directional arrow scrawled beneath it. To her right were a series of scrapes and muddy prints, proving they were perhaps the third competitor in line and someone had dismounted to manage the obstacle.
~
As the pair trotted from a declining hill some time later, when the sun had risen and the clouds whitened, a wide stretch of tall grass came into view. It was nearly the end of the race at mid afternoon, with a few miles to go. This huge field could be travelled along either side, each leading over a different and unknown surface of the same distance, offering everyone a chance to switch the order before the final stretch. Bree guided her Zlesdin to the left and let him extend his canter to a longer stride. Before long the ground became uneven with large cobblestones that fit together in messy patterns, providing countless gourged holes and protruding edges for tripping over.
They kept pace, familiar with the desert-like ground, and passed a nervous rider on a speedy little pony who'd been pulled to a careful jog. The rocks continued slightly downhill until they suddenly came upon a rather wide river. Archimedes slipped back into his ground-eating skeggas gait to walk through, the rocks coming in handy as stepping stones so the water barely covered his white fetlocks. The other path, Bree guessed, would be marshy or something similar.
The ground was back to firm mud and knee high grass as soon as the water was cleared. The tall red dun sped up to reach the top of the bank at the sound of clattering hooves behind him, and the sun was abruptly glaring in their eyes. Bree squinted, tilting her head for her hat to block the light, and then she could see the reason Archie had begun to tug on his reins - the finish line! A long, narrow field of perhaps ten acres separated them, and just beginning to cross it were a couple of Thoroughbred types coming from the other path. She noticed with some satisfaction that the entire length of their legs were green from wading through the river.
Giving in to her mount's incessant jolting, they were soon among the to-be winners, a full speed gallop with Bree leaning into a jockey position and their hair and tail simultaneously flowing back like banners.
Yes, Archie was definitely the favourite (for now).

Ref used: something from here , possibly several, and a quick glance at some Teke portraits. Also thank you to a tutorial that you can find in my favourites for the bloody rocks and clouds!
Archimedes is aaaall miiiine and you cannot steal him. Also Bree. (:

Description
I spent the entire of today on this picture, and I am so fed up of it, but I absolutely adore how Archie looks and that the human isn't terrible! I actually named the human five minutes ago, so I'm introducing her to myself as well as you all. xD

This is my first show entry!! *u* And also my first drawing of Bree, and my first non-ref picture of either of the Zlesdins, and my first attempt at the Zlesdin tack (which is very smexi) aND my first picture of an endurance ride. I forgot to enlarge my canvas at the start sooo Archie's outline is horribly thick, but it makes him stand out so I'll forgive that. Also he's so gorgeous.

Horse: Archimedes
Rider: Bree Alexandre
Stable: Majestly Sands
Show: Devils Night Estate
Class: Endurance
Placing: 1st!

~

Bree swore to herself that she'd never pick favourites between her two horses. For one, the loser would get testy and she'd be bucked during the next three (at least) rides, possibly well-timed from the tip of a canyon stone whilst trying to photograph the view. But mostly because it would be like choosing between your children - it's very morally wrong and can cause damage emotionally and mentally (but we do it anyway, secretly).
Not that Archie's ego couldn't do with a hit every so often.
During hacks to the nearby town or through the grassy bridlepaths, where they'd meet other horses and people and animals along the way, Archie was never the favourite child. His relentless snorting and 'manly whinnying' as he attempted to casually side step over the fences, plus the sudden growth of two extra hands high and his feet doing impossible Olympic standard passage, or whatever that move was, always a second away from potentially flinging himself five foot in the air to catch the attention of that damn gelding that still isn't looking -
But right now, Archie was the favourite. An unfair comparison considering Callie was probably still sleeping in the field whilst the red dun was thoroughly enjoying himself, but an endurance ride on Archimedes was the best feeling in the world.
They'd spent the previous day travelling, slept the night in a borrowed field, and were ready and raring to go that morning. Archie called his agreement through a mouthful of breakfast when his owner stood to get ready. Bree's favourite tack set was quickly brushed off, the saddle easily lifted on, chestplate fixed, and simple bridle slipped over his head. Lightweight but comfortable, it was perfect for a long endurance ride - plus it was in the gorgeous, rich crimson and gold that were Majestly Sands' stable colours.
Last but not least, Bree fastened his freshly polished collar around his neck, smoothing out the red tassel. Superstitious protection was the traditional reason, but she could swear they brought good luck too.
He predictably messed about at the starting line, dancing from side to side and knocking hips with the competitors standing too close (his rider, of course, received the answering glares), so Bree kicked him into a flat out gallop for the first stretch of grassland to ditch some extra energy and distance themselves from the others.
Once they were off, the stallion focused whole-heartedly on his task. The sun was barely rising and the sky left a glow of deep pinks on everything it reached, making Archie's stunning desert coat shine extra bright as they swept through the increasingly tall foliage, the frosty dew cooling his legs in preparation for a hard day's work. Her own tanned Native American skin was turned a mottled orange, she noticed whilst pulling a sheet of paper from a saddlebag. The map showed the route to be reasonably flat, only waning at a few dips of streams and a couple of hillside paths. Bree knew it'd be relatively easy compared with the violent peaks in the Utah canyons and they'd keep a steady canter through the majority of it, slowing to a skeggas on the rocky areas.
They came to one of the higher parts only thirty minutes into the ride, when the sun had lightened the landscape to tans and yellows. The dirt path, softened by the recently melted snow, lead up a thin trail with a small cliff face either side - not far to fall, but difficult to get back up. Just as it turned steeper a nice sized pile of rocks blocked the road.
Archie didn't even blink as he collected his stride on command and bounced off his powerful hindquarters, springing onto the flat top and over as if it were a mole hill. Bree leant right forward to avoid being pulled off balance, getting a glance at the natural jump; on one side, the hosting stable's logo had been meticulously painted on a flatter ledge, a directional arrow scrawled beneath it. To her right were a series of scrapes and muddy prints, proving they were perhaps the third competitor in line and someone had dismounted to manage the obstacle.
~
As the pair trotted from a declining hill some time later, when the sun had risen and the clouds whitened, a wide stretch of tall grass came into view. It was nearly the end of the race at mid afternoon, with a few miles to go. This huge field could be travelled along either side, each leading over a different and unknown surface of the same distance, offering everyone a chance to switch the order before the final stretch. Bree guided her Zlesdin to the left and let him extend his canter to a longer stride. Before long the ground became uneven with large cobblestones that fit together in messy patterns, providing countless gourged holes and protruding edges for tripping over.
They kept pace, familiar with the desert-like ground, and passed a nervous rider on a speedy little pony who'd been pulled to a careful jog. The rocks continued slightly downhill until they suddenly came upon a rather wide river. Archimedes slipped back into his ground-eating skeggas gait to walk through, the rocks coming in handy as stepping stones so the water barely covered his white fetlocks. The other path, Bree guessed, would be marshy or something similar.
The ground was back to firm mud and knee high grass as soon as the water was cleared. The tall red dun sped up to reach the top of the bank at the sound of clattering hooves behind him, and the sun was abruptly glaring in their eyes. Bree squinted, tilting her head for her hat to block the light, and then she could see the reason Archie had begun to tug on his reins - the finish line! A long, narrow field of perhaps ten acres separated them, and just beginning to cross it were a couple of Thoroughbred types coming from the other path. She noticed with some satisfaction that the entire length of their legs were green from wading through the river.
Giving in to her mount's incessant jolting, they were soon among the to-be winners, a full speed gallop with Bree leaning into a jockey position and their hair and tail simultaneously flowing back like banners.
Yes, Archie was definitely the favourite (for now).

Ref used: something from here , possibly several, and a quick glance at some Teke portraits. Also thank you to a tutorial that you can find in my favourites for the bloody rocks and clouds!
Archimedes is aaaall miiiine and you cannot steal him. Also Bree. (: