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Description
Hermes (Richie) and Cas (Katie) this time. Tried a quicker version of painting for casual images like this and don't dislike it, though not thrilled with the footing.

Story:

Kate pulled on her old, holey boots, then stood and bent them around a bit. After sitting for two years, despite daily wear for something like 6 years, the boots were a bit stiff and felt odd on her legs. She pulled on her helmet, then walked out the tack room door. Kate wasn't sure which part felt the most out of place - riding after two years, riding a horse that wasn't her C, the only horse she had ridden for 9 years before navicular retired him, or knowing she was walking up to a fully groomed and tacked horse. Despite working as a groom on and off, she had always groomed for herself and was thoroughly awkward around grooms her got her horse ready for her. As she approached the cross ties, Kate was a little curious of which horse Richie was havign her ride. Maybe Cecilie, she was pretty broke, would be safe enough while she got her riding legs back.

To Kate's surprise, it was a new chestnut head that looked over as she approached. Confused, Kate walked up and let the big horse sniff her as se rubbed his neck and head. "Well who're you?" she asked. Richie didn't have a lot of horses, a handful of young ones and his FEI string, so she certainly knew all of them. The big horse didn't react much, and truthfully seemed half asleep once he had finished looking her over.

"Oh great, you found Cas," came a familiar voice behind her. Kate turned and smiled at her boyfriend. "I did. Where'd he come from?"
"A friend of mine in Ireland. I've been on the fence about buying him as a sales prospect, but when you said you wanted to ride again, he seemed perfect." Kate let that sink in a second. "You...bought me a horse?"

And Richie clearly saw nothing wrong with it, but Kate was all flustered. She hadn't ridden in years, what if she ended up not sticking with it? What sort of horse did Richie even buy, he had never seen her ride. If they didn't get along? Was he broke or old and seasoned or green? Head spinning, she pulled on his bridle (a very simple double jointed loose ring, she noticed), and led him out to the ring. The big horse walked steadily next to her, not looking at anything around him even though Kate was reasonably certain he probably hadn't been in the ring yet. She got to the mounting block, and swung up and over, sitting a little harder than she meant to after misjudging the height. Oops. Green mistake. Cas didn't seem phased though and stood like a rock. Did Richie get her some old child-proof thing to pack her around? Is that what he thought of her riding?

Out of habit, she held the reins on the buckle and nudged Cas on. Cas went easily off her leg, first walking the ring, then jogging with a nice swinging gate. As Kate added leg, he went more forward easily, moving around and keeping his light, long contact on the bit. Despite feeling super rusty (and breathing a touch harder than she wanted to admit), Kate so far had to admit she liked this horse. After taking a lap to walk, she cued him up to canter. Without any hesitation, he stepped in to a slow, lopey canter. A little more leg and it was a steady, unrushed but productive canter, and Kate still didn't have any real contact. She was impressed - he was responsive without being reactive, and clearly secure enough in himself that she didn't have to hold him or give a lot of input. She crossed the ring diagonal and though she was reasonably surprised to learn he didn't auto-change, the second she asked, she received. Well this was fun. After a lap she walked around a little while, catching her breath and rubbing the big horse's neck.

The rest of the ride went just as well. Kate picked up the reins and found the big horse reasonably easy to put together and collect or extend, and he knew all the dressage basics she could throw at him. He also didn't mind her occaisonal fumble when a big step jumped her loose or her cues were less tham optimal. Kate finally dropped back to a walk and dropped the reins, reaching down to rub his neck thoroughly. She had to admit, Cas reminded her of her old horse, without a lot of his quirks and the years of greenness she had to train through. As they (ok, she) were walking and catching their (her) breath, Richie came out on the young stallion, Hermes. Cas turned a curious eye on him then continued his steady walk.

"You looked good on him," Richie smiled. Kate looked over at him, rubbing Cas's neck. She was still a little on edge that Richie had just up and bought her a horse after one semi-casual statement of maybe wanting to ride again, but she definitely enjoyed the ride and already couldn't wait to come back tomorrow. "Thanks Richie," she finally said, smiling back. The pair watched Richie and Hermes start their work for a while, then Kate took him back to the barn. She wasn't sure how Richie managed to find probably the most perfect horse for her, but she was glad he had.

Description
Hermes (Richie) and Cas (Katie) this time. Tried a quicker version of painting for casual images like this and don't dislike it, though not thrilled with the footing.

Story:

Kate pulled on her old, holey boots, then stood and bent them around a bit. After sitting for two years, despite daily wear for something like 6 years, the boots were a bit stiff and felt odd on her legs. She pulled on her helmet, then walked out the tack room door. Kate wasn't sure which part felt the most out of place - riding after two years, riding a horse that wasn't her C, the only horse she had ridden for 9 years before navicular retired him, or knowing she was walking up to a fully groomed and tacked horse. Despite working as a groom on and off, she had always groomed for herself and was thoroughly awkward around grooms her got her horse ready for her. As she approached the cross ties, Kate was a little curious of which horse Richie was havign her ride. Maybe Cecilie, she was pretty broke, would be safe enough while she got her riding legs back.

To Kate's surprise, it was a new chestnut head that looked over as she approached. Confused, Kate walked up and let the big horse sniff her as se rubbed his neck and head. "Well who're you?" she asked. Richie didn't have a lot of horses, a handful of young ones and his FEI string, so she certainly knew all of them. The big horse didn't react much, and truthfully seemed half asleep once he had finished looking her over.

"Oh great, you found Cas," came a familiar voice behind her. Kate turned and smiled at her boyfriend. "I did. Where'd he come from?"
"A friend of mine in Ireland. I've been on the fence about buying him as a sales prospect, but when you said you wanted to ride again, he seemed perfect." Kate let that sink in a second. "You...bought me a horse?"

And Richie clearly saw nothing wrong with it, but Kate was all flustered. She hadn't ridden in years, what if she ended up not sticking with it? What sort of horse did Richie even buy, he had never seen her ride. If they didn't get along? Was he broke or old and seasoned or green? Head spinning, she pulled on his bridle (a very simple double jointed loose ring, she noticed), and led him out to the ring. The big horse walked steadily next to her, not looking at anything around him even though Kate was reasonably certain he probably hadn't been in the ring yet. She got to the mounting block, and swung up and over, sitting a little harder than she meant to after misjudging the height. Oops. Green mistake. Cas didn't seem phased though and stood like a rock. Did Richie get her some old child-proof thing to pack her around? Is that what he thought of her riding?

Out of habit, she held the reins on the buckle and nudged Cas on. Cas went easily off her leg, first walking the ring, then jogging with a nice swinging gate. As Kate added leg, he went more forward easily, moving around and keeping his light, long contact on the bit. Despite feeling super rusty (and breathing a touch harder than she wanted to admit), Kate so far had to admit she liked this horse. After taking a lap to walk, she cued him up to canter. Without any hesitation, he stepped in to a slow, lopey canter. A little more leg and it was a steady, unrushed but productive canter, and Kate still didn't have any real contact. She was impressed - he was responsive without being reactive, and clearly secure enough in himself that she didn't have to hold him or give a lot of input. She crossed the ring diagonal and though she was reasonably surprised to learn he didn't auto-change, the second she asked, she received. Well this was fun. After a lap she walked around a little while, catching her breath and rubbing the big horse's neck.

The rest of the ride went just as well. Kate picked up the reins and found the big horse reasonably easy to put together and collect or extend, and he knew all the dressage basics she could throw at him. He also didn't mind her occaisonal fumble when a big step jumped her loose or her cues were less tham optimal. Kate finally dropped back to a walk and dropped the reins, reaching down to rub his neck thoroughly. She had to admit, Cas reminded her of her old horse, without a lot of his quirks and the years of greenness she had to train through. As they (ok, she) were walking and catching their (her) breath, Richie came out on the young stallion, Hermes. Cas turned a curious eye on him then continued his steady walk.

"You looked good on him," Richie smiled. Kate looked over at him, rubbing Cas's neck. She was still a little on edge that Richie had just up and bought her a horse after one semi-casual statement of maybe wanting to ride again, but she definitely enjoyed the ride and already couldn't wait to come back tomorrow. "Thanks Richie," she finally said, smiling back. The pair watched Richie and Hermes start their work for a while, then Kate took him back to the barn. She wasn't sure how Richie managed to find probably the most perfect horse for her, but she was glad he had.