HOME | DD

Description
Horses:
S130 Latte a l'erable (8yo Canadian Donstrupper Stallion) (front, side pictures)
Apology of Socrates (5yo Canadian Donstrupper Stallion) (main image on the right)
La Nuit Est Une Panthere (8yo Canadian Donstrupper Stallion) (main image on the left)

Handlers:
Ophelia Chevereaux (28yo Female) (on and with Latte a l'erable)
Alexa Grazzianni (31yo Female) (helping Ophelia)
Juliana (on La Nuit Est Une Panthere)
Zemira Bousse (24yo Female) (on Apology of Socrates)

Activity: Autumn Auction + Clinic Event - Art Auction Bid
Points: N/a

Ophelia hadn't expected her parents to take her all the way to Canada to look at horses, but the trip had been absolutely magical. She hadn't expected her parents to be só supportive of her seemingly sudden goal to become a known name in the equestrian world, she hadn't been able to work with horses much, after all. After her grandfather left her the cabin, their Gingerbread House as her grandmother always so lovingly had called it, she had been at a loss for words. The cabin wasn't large, but it had become a tradition to celebrate christmas there and her grandparents always had made sure to make it a cozy place you could destress at. She had converted the large ched like space underneath the cabin into a horse stall, big enough to fit at least four horses confortably if the book she had read was accurate, and fenced off some areas for a pasture and a riding arena. Her father had been a great help with that, assisting her in building the fence and driving her to get supplies.
She smiled at the memory as she picked up one of the pictures she had received in the mail. Her parents had told her in the plane that even though Windchime was a lovely horse, she should keep an eye out for an older, bit more experienced horse so she could practise before starting Windchime under saddle and a few hours later at the hotel her father had handed her his laptop with a site open. Canadian Donstruppers were up for sale and the next day there was a clinic and opportunity to try out the horses. She had scrolled through the listings, and her eye had immediately caught on Latte a l'erable. A beautiful stallion, very tall. She had initially scrolled past. It would be inconvenient to stable a stallion with her mare. She would have to make adjustments to the stall. Better look for a mare, she had thought. But the moment she stepped into the stable and saw him, she was sold. The stallion was increadibly sweet and allthough the ride was awkward, she definitely had the least experience out of everyone attending she felt like, she had enjoyed it tremendously. The stallion had been an absolute gentleman and had been incredibly patient with her while she scrambled onto his back, had to adjust her stirrups multiple times as the last person that had ridded in the saddle probably had way longer legs than her and then set him off in a slow walk while stiff as a board from the nerves. She chuckled to herself. In hindsight she shouldn't have been so nervous as no-one really cared she had less experience. She had managed to stay out of everybody's way and once she relaxed the Stallion had been an amazing ride, uncomparable to the ponies she had ridden at the riding school more than 10 years prior.
Ophelia picked up the other two pictures as well and walked over to her wall, where her collection of pictures had grown over the years. She pinned the pictures next to a selfie she had taken with her parents during the same trip and pulled on her boots. It was time to feed the horses again.

Phewww it is finished!
I also uploaded the images seperately without the filters and effects for those interested!
Also a very big thank you to Jeangal247 and conversett for lending me your boys and girls, I had a ton of fun drawing them and I hope I did them some justice <3

UPDATE DECEMBER 6th (please skip this next part for the art auction considerations as this was added after deadline)

okay, so I had an idea to write ophelia's storybits as diary entries and I thought this would be the perfect piece to start on

Dear Diary,

Long time no talk! We just got back from the trip to canada a few days ago. I still can't believe I forgot to take you! The trip was absolutely amazing.

Today I got some pictures in the mail that mom and dad took at the stables. I still feel slightly embarrassed by how awkward I looked getting on; I'm really grateful Alexa was there to help me, otherwise I would probably have gotten nowhere. What a tall horse he is! He is beautiful, though. We have yet to hear if we can bring him home. Ofcourse they have to carefully consider the new owners for these horses, there was quite a lot of interest. I still hope I can have him, though. He is such a sweet boy and I think he would be a wonderful horse to learn from. He also didn't seem that into training; we stayed behind a bit and I spotted him riding later. He didn't seem to enjoy having to really put in the effort. I guess it matches how they described him.

I still can't believe mom and dad planned this for me. I really hope I can make it work, but their support makes it seem less out of reach. Dad is coming over next weekend with some supplies and we'll get started on a round pen. I was advised to get one, as lunging in your riding arena is apparently really bad for the sand base? I guess it's because the ground gets more packed in some places and looser in the others which makes it uneven, but dad immediately offered to just make one.
I didn't know grandpa and grandma owned so much of the ground around Gingerbread House. It's really astounding. Dad and I went to map out the borders of the place before the trip, and even with the arena and the pasture in addition to the house, we still have so much space. Dad suggested maybe building an indoor arena too so I can ride with bad weather without getting soaked, but I'm afraid that'll take a bit more than my current savings. I would like to, though. I might sit down with dad next weekend to make a list on what kind of expansions we can make and what they would cost. I had been thinking that a covered place to groom the horses might be really nice as well, and it would also be good to move the tack out of the house and into a dedicated tackroom downstairs. But we'll have to see.

But I digress; so the trip. Mom and dad had told me they were taking a trip to canada and wanted me to tag along if I was free. I have asked a friend to take care of chime for the five days we were away and we went. In the plane my parents started with their advice, as ofcourse only parents can, that I should have a second horse maybe, since chime was still so young. That it might be good to have one that's a little bit older and that I an learn and improve on as well. I do agree, but honestly I don't really want to invest my savings into another horse right now. Which I have told them. The rest of the planeride was really long. It took 8 hours to get there, and then I am not even talking about the travel to and wait on the airports.
The hotel they had booked was really nice, though. We shared a room with the three of us, showered and dressed ourselves in the plush bathrobes they provided and then sat down with a movie and roomservice. while it was only the afternoon when we arrived it would have been around midnight at home. While I was flipping though the available movies my dad suddenly handed me his laptop with a site with horse listings open and mom and dad told me they wanted to sponsor me my first competition ready horse, that I would just have to pick it out. I cried, not going to lie. I sobbed like a baby and we hugged for a while. My mom's favorite was a really lovely stallion called 'Creme Fouettee' and my eye immediately caught on 'Latte à l'érable', but I told them a stallion would be a bad idea. The stall is big enough to house a few horses, don't get me wrong; but I don't want Chime to get pregnant this young because I wanted to keep my horses in the same space, so I would then have to divide the stall ánd make a separate pasture, and I am not sure if that's worth the hassle.

On the second day we went shopping together. We had some nice foods and I purchased this really cute christmas pad for chime. I shouldn't buy more though, before I know it I have an entire stack of them! I also got her a new, thicker blanket and my mom got me a really nice pair or genuine leather ridingboots 'for when you start riding competitions' she had said. Oh! I also purchased myself a new pair of chaps (no, not the assless kind) and a really nice new helmet, since I didn't have those yet. I doubt the ones from my teenage years still fit. I also got another pair of riding pants. I figured that if I do start riding more often it might be nice to have a spare or two.

the third day is when the clinic happened and I couldn't. sleep. the night before. I was so incredibly nervous. I had made no choice on a horse yet and since it was a clinic and horse test drive so to say I expected there to be a lot of good riders. I haven't sat on a horse in at least 10 years. We got there and everyone was so nice, however. The clinicician (is that even a word?) was so incredibly helpful and kind, and no-one commented on my clunky ways. I do definitely have to practice some more, but wow. Just wow. I did instantly fall in love with Latte à l'érable, as expected, so I had asked to try him out. What an absolute gentleman! They did saddle him for me so he was all ready to go, but he was incredibly gentle and even with my little experience he was incredibly responsive and even got on the bit for small periods every now and then. He does have a really long stride which is so weird. The last time I rode, it was on a pony. Afterwards I did get to take of the saddle and bridle myself and he was so cute; he leaned his head against me as I was taking my helmet off (despite the cold I was working so intensively that everything under my helmet got wet and sweaty) and I thought it was just the most adorable thing.

That's it for now, however. I can hear chime getting antsy in her stall so it must be getting close to feeding time again, and I haven't filled the wheelbarrow yet.

I'll talk to you soon!

Much love,
Ophelia

Description
Horses:
S130 Latte a l'erable (8yo Canadian Donstrupper Stallion) (front, side pictures)
Apology of Socrates (5yo Canadian Donstrupper Stallion) (main image on the right)
La Nuit Est Une Panthere (8yo Canadian Donstrupper Stallion) (main image on the left)

Handlers:
Ophelia Chevereaux (28yo Female) (on and with Latte a l'erable)
Alexa Grazzianni (31yo Female) (helping Ophelia)
Juliana (on La Nuit Est Une Panthere)
Zemira Bousse (24yo Female) (on Apology of Socrates)

Activity: Autumn Auction + Clinic Event - Art Auction Bid
Points: N/a

Ophelia hadn't expected her parents to take her all the way to Canada to look at horses, but the trip had been absolutely magical. She hadn't expected her parents to be só supportive of her seemingly sudden goal to become a known name in the equestrian world, she hadn't been able to work with horses much, after all. After her grandfather left her the cabin, their Gingerbread House as her grandmother always so lovingly had called it, she had been at a loss for words. The cabin wasn't large, but it had become a tradition to celebrate christmas there and her grandparents always had made sure to make it a cozy place you could destress at. She had converted the large ched like space underneath the cabin into a horse stall, big enough to fit at least four horses confortably if the book she had read was accurate, and fenced off some areas for a pasture and a riding arena. Her father had been a great help with that, assisting her in building the fence and driving her to get supplies.
She smiled at the memory as she picked up one of the pictures she had received in the mail. Her parents had told her in the plane that even though Windchime was a lovely horse, she should keep an eye out for an older, bit more experienced horse so she could practise before starting Windchime under saddle and a few hours later at the hotel her father had handed her his laptop with a site open. Canadian Donstruppers were up for sale and the next day there was a clinic and opportunity to try out the horses. She had scrolled through the listings, and her eye had immediately caught on Latte a l'erable. A beautiful stallion, very tall. She had initially scrolled past. It would be inconvenient to stable a stallion with her mare. She would have to make adjustments to the stall. Better look for a mare, she had thought. But the moment she stepped into the stable and saw him, she was sold. The stallion was increadibly sweet and allthough the ride was awkward, she definitely had the least experience out of everyone attending she felt like, she had enjoyed it tremendously. The stallion had been an absolute gentleman and had been incredibly patient with her while she scrambled onto his back, had to adjust her stirrups multiple times as the last person that had ridded in the saddle probably had way longer legs than her and then set him off in a slow walk while stiff as a board from the nerves. She chuckled to herself. In hindsight she shouldn't have been so nervous as no-one really cared she had less experience. She had managed to stay out of everybody's way and once she relaxed the Stallion had been an amazing ride, uncomparable to the ponies she had ridden at the riding school more than 10 years prior.
Ophelia picked up the other two pictures as well and walked over to her wall, where her collection of pictures had grown over the years. She pinned the pictures next to a selfie she had taken with her parents during the same trip and pulled on her boots. It was time to feed the horses again.

Phewww it is finished!
I also uploaded the images seperately without the filters and effects for those interested!
Also a very big thank you to Jeangal247 and conversett for lending me your boys and girls, I had a ton of fun drawing them and I hope I did them some justice <3

UPDATE DECEMBER 6th (please skip this next part for the art auction considerations as this was added after deadline)

okay, so I had an idea to write ophelia's storybits as diary entries and I thought this would be the perfect piece to start on

Dear Diary,

Long time no talk! We just got back from the trip to canada a few days ago. I still can't believe I forgot to take you! The trip was absolutely amazing.

Today I got some pictures in the mail that mom and dad took at the stables. I still feel slightly embarrassed by how awkward I looked getting on; I'm really grateful Alexa was there to help me, otherwise I would probably have gotten nowhere. What a tall horse he is! He is beautiful, though. We have yet to hear if we can bring him home. Ofcourse they have to carefully consider the new owners for these horses, there was quite a lot of interest. I still hope I can have him, though. He is such a sweet boy and I think he would be a wonderful horse to learn from. He also didn't seem that into training; we stayed behind a bit and I spotted him riding later. He didn't seem to enjoy having to really put in the effort. I guess it matches how they described him.

I still can't believe mom and dad planned this for me. I really hope I can make it work, but their support makes it seem less out of reach. Dad is coming over next weekend with some supplies and we'll get started on a round pen. I was advised to get one, as lunging in your riding arena is apparently really bad for the sand base? I guess it's because the ground gets more packed in some places and looser in the others which makes it uneven, but dad immediately offered to just make one.
I didn't know grandpa and grandma owned so much of the ground around Gingerbread House. It's really astounding. Dad and I went to map out the borders of the place before the trip, and even with the arena and the pasture in addition to the house, we still have so much space. Dad suggested maybe building an indoor arena too so I can ride with bad weather without getting soaked, but I'm afraid that'll take a bit more than my current savings. I would like to, though. I might sit down with dad next weekend to make a list on what kind of expansions we can make and what they would cost. I had been thinking that a covered place to groom the horses might be really nice as well, and it would also be good to move the tack out of the house and into a dedicated tackroom downstairs. But we'll have to see.

But I digress; so the trip. Mom and dad had told me they were taking a trip to canada and wanted me to tag along if I was free. I have asked a friend to take care of chime for the five days we were away and we went. In the plane my parents started with their advice, as ofcourse only parents can, that I should have a second horse maybe, since chime was still so young. That it might be good to have one that's a little bit older and that I an learn and improve on as well. I do agree, but honestly I don't really want to invest my savings into another horse right now. Which I have told them. The rest of the planeride was really long. It took 8 hours to get there, and then I am not even talking about the travel to and wait on the airports.
The hotel they had booked was really nice, though. We shared a room with the three of us, showered and dressed ourselves in the plush bathrobes they provided and then sat down with a movie and roomservice. while it was only the afternoon when we arrived it would have been around midnight at home. While I was flipping though the available movies my dad suddenly handed me his laptop with a site with horse listings open and mom and dad told me they wanted to sponsor me my first competition ready horse, that I would just have to pick it out. I cried, not going to lie. I sobbed like a baby and we hugged for a while. My mom's favorite was a really lovely stallion called 'Creme Fouettee' and my eye immediately caught on 'Latte à l'érable', but I told them a stallion would be a bad idea. The stall is big enough to house a few horses, don't get me wrong; but I don't want Chime to get pregnant this young because I wanted to keep my horses in the same space, so I would then have to divide the stall ánd make a separate pasture, and I am not sure if that's worth the hassle.

On the second day we went shopping together. We had some nice foods and I purchased this really cute christmas pad for chime. I shouldn't buy more though, before I know it I have an entire stack of them! I also got her a new, thicker blanket and my mom got me a really nice pair or genuine leather ridingboots 'for when you start riding competitions' she had said. Oh! I also purchased myself a new pair of chaps (no, not the assless kind) and a really nice new helmet, since I didn't have those yet. I doubt the ones from my teenage years still fit. I also got another pair of riding pants. I figured that if I do start riding more often it might be nice to have a spare or two.

the third day is when the clinic happened and I couldn't. sleep. the night before. I was so incredibly nervous. I had made no choice on a horse yet and since it was a clinic and horse test drive so to say I expected there to be a lot of good riders. I haven't sat on a horse in at least 10 years. We got there and everyone was so nice, however. The clinicician (is that even a word?) was so incredibly helpful and kind, and no-one commented on my clunky ways. I do definitely have to practice some more, but wow. Just wow. I did instantly fall in love with Latte à l'érable, as expected, so I had asked to try him out. What an absolute gentleman! They did saddle him for me so he was all ready to go, but he was incredibly gentle and even with my little experience he was incredibly responsive and even got on the bit for small periods every now and then. He does have a really long stride which is so weird. The last time I rode, it was on a pony. Afterwards I did get to take of the saddle and bridle myself and he was so cute; he leaned his head against me as I was taking my helmet off (despite the cold I was working so intensively that everything under my helmet got wet and sweaty) and I thought it was just the most adorable thing.

That's it for now, however. I can hear chime getting antsy in her stall so it must be getting close to feeding time again, and I haven't filled the wheelbarrow yet.

I'll talk to you soon!

Much love,
Ophelia