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Description
I kinda hate and love this picture at the same time... couldn't be bothered with a BG so I used one of my own photos. Kinda works, I think.

Sonnet in training for endurance racing. She was trained in America, but Lee thought she'd need to brush up on her skills for up-coming competitions. Unfortunately she was trained in western tack, much to Lee's annoyance, and that's the only tack she responds to.

Story
The October morning was cold and damp as Lee led Sonnet out of her stable and onto the yard. He had been training her in endurance over the last few months, building up her stamina steadily. He had started by rides in the manege, then he carried on to ride out on the trails for hours at a time. Now it was time to take her for day long rides to test her stamina. He tacked her up and checked his pocket for his phone. He didn't need to take any luggage other than a hoof pick, his rides only ever taking him around the Firelight estate. He would be back for dinner before heading out again.

The mare chewed on her bit quietly, sighing softly to herself. "Right then, girl," the man said brightly as he pushed himself up onto her back. "Let's get to it." He waved goodbye to Zoe as she came out of a stable and she nodded in return. The yard was unbelievably quiet with Aithne gone on her holiday, but they were managing. Lee rode Sonnet out through the fields and into the meadows beyond the fences. Firelight stretched a long way, some of the land rented out to farmers for them to let their cattle graze on. Sonnet plodded through the herds of dairy cows without a problem, her gait sure and steady as she walked up the hills with ease.

As the day wore on, Lee hummed to himself as he let Sonnet walk at her own pace. There was no reason in making her rush yet, she would learn to trot and canter on her trails later on. He was more interested in getting her used to being ridden all day again. He had heard that Diego used to ride her all the time, out in the herds of cattle, but since she had come to Firelight everyone had been too busy. They reached the crest of a hill and the landscape spanned out in front of them. A storm was coming in from the north, and Lee was suddenly glad he was wearing his coat. He halted the mare and took in the scenery. It never ceased to amaze him to see the rolling hills and deep little valleys with tiny villages in them. He smiled and nudged Sonnet into a canter down the hill. She obeyed, her hooves eating up the ground as she surged forwards. She had a smooth, level gait and moved with ease over the uneven ground. Lee could see why she had been one of Diego's favourites. He urged her to gallop as they broke onto a long, flat stretch of field. She grunted and sped forwards once more, her mane whipping back against Lee's hands. He grinned to himself and settled back in his saddle as she led him across the field. It was cold and damp, but it felt so good.

Image & characters © =mapal

Ref: [link]

Description
I kinda hate and love this picture at the same time... couldn't be bothered with a BG so I used one of my own photos. Kinda works, I think.

Sonnet in training for endurance racing. She was trained in America, but Lee thought she'd need to brush up on her skills for up-coming competitions. Unfortunately she was trained in western tack, much to Lee's annoyance, and that's the only tack she responds to.

Story
The October morning was cold and damp as Lee led Sonnet out of her stable and onto the yard. He had been training her in endurance over the last few months, building up her stamina steadily. He had started by rides in the manege, then he carried on to ride out on the trails for hours at a time. Now it was time to take her for day long rides to test her stamina. He tacked her up and checked his pocket for his phone. He didn't need to take any luggage other than a hoof pick, his rides only ever taking him around the Firelight estate. He would be back for dinner before heading out again.

The mare chewed on her bit quietly, sighing softly to herself. "Right then, girl," the man said brightly as he pushed himself up onto her back. "Let's get to it." He waved goodbye to Zoe as she came out of a stable and she nodded in return. The yard was unbelievably quiet with Aithne gone on her holiday, but they were managing. Lee rode Sonnet out through the fields and into the meadows beyond the fences. Firelight stretched a long way, some of the land rented out to farmers for them to let their cattle graze on. Sonnet plodded through the herds of dairy cows without a problem, her gait sure and steady as she walked up the hills with ease.

As the day wore on, Lee hummed to himself as he let Sonnet walk at her own pace. There was no reason in making her rush yet, she would learn to trot and canter on her trails later on. He was more interested in getting her used to being ridden all day again. He had heard that Diego used to ride her all the time, out in the herds of cattle, but since she had come to Firelight everyone had been too busy. They reached the crest of a hill and the landscape spanned out in front of them. A storm was coming in from the north, and Lee was suddenly glad he was wearing his coat. He halted the mare and took in the scenery. It never ceased to amaze him to see the rolling hills and deep little valleys with tiny villages in them. He smiled and nudged Sonnet into a canter down the hill. She obeyed, her hooves eating up the ground as she surged forwards. She had a smooth, level gait and moved with ease over the uneven ground. Lee could see why she had been one of Diego's favourites. He urged her to gallop as they broke onto a long, flat stretch of field. She grunted and sped forwards once more, her mane whipping back against Lee's hands. He grinned to himself and settled back in his saddle as she led him across the field. It was cold and damp, but it felt so good.

Image & characters © =mapal

Ref: [link]