Swift as an Arrow

Lamest title everrrrr 8D

Entry for this show:

Suomi Winter Event ' 12 (eng)DEADLINE: December 31st
Event Type:  Mixed
Classes: Halter, Dressage, Show Jumping, Barrel Race, Cross Country, Endurance Race, Rodeo
Restrictions: none

Für eine deutsche Version, klickt hier: https://auldale.deviantart.com/journal/Suomi-Winter-Event-12-deu-323332428

:thumb208910531: :thumb217377268:

We will again welcome you to this years Suomi Winter Event.
Together with our partner Stables the Ranch of Suomi, we, the Schattenwald Stables, will organize the 7-day SWE again. Again, there will be different discilines, waiting for you and your horses.
We will wish you all luck and have fun with us in Finland.

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Everyone should give it a look, it's got a lot of disciplines and the deadline is still far away!

Stable name: Silver Stone Stables [link]
Riders name: Lillian Grey
Horses name: Arrow [link]
Horses age: 10
Discipline: Endurance

Reference: I did use a reference for horse and rider from Tumblr and am trying to find it
BG Ref: [link]

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Lillian posted through the quiet forest, urging her tired mount on. It was almost nightfall and the snow had begun to flurry again, small flakes hitting her cheeks and nose that were now numb to the touch. Every breath stung, feeling like someone was taking an icicle and jamming it down her throat. Arrow breathed hard, too, and each time he exhaled it created a visible frost that puffed up and then dissipated slowly away. She rubbed the silver dapple's neck, encouraging him with a hoarse voice, a cough finding its way between a few words. It was getting harder and harder to hold onto the reins even though she had gloves on, her fingers freezing up and refusing to move, so she made sure to wiggle them every few minutes along with her toes.

She had trained so hard for this, getting up at the crack of dawn to do loops that lasted miles, lifting weights and running with Gabe, who had volunteered as her trainer, at his house, as well as putting herself on a rigorous diet. The climate of Kentucky was nothing like this snowy landscape, though, and nothing could have really prepared her for what she faced now. Luckily, Gabe had called up a friend, Mika, who lived in Finland and they had arranged for her to come a few weeks early, giving herself and her stallion time to adjust to the weather as well as the jet lag from the long flight. He had also given her plenty of tips for surviving the cold. She wasn't looking forward to tonight...when she would have to pitch a small tent and attempt to sleep in the falling temperatures. She felt even worse for Arrow, though, who would have to stay outside. Thankfully, the competition host would provide him with a thick winter blanket; the Arab cross wasn't exactly accustomed to this.

Soon, they came upon a small creek in a copse of birch trees and she quickened her mount's pace, extending his trot so that he would have some momentum to jump the small patch of water. He took off good, his back hooves finding a nice footing despite the snow and he wasn't his usual wriggly self in the air, too tired bother, she guessed. Booted front hooves contacted the ground on the other side, sinking up to his fetlocks in fresh snow. His hind end came shortly after, and she was about to let out a small sigh of relief when she felt Arrow's back end shoot out from underneath him. She pulled up, trying to help him balance, but it was too late and he went stumbling to his knees in an attempt to right himself. He stood back up, letting out a distressed snort, feet slightly splayed out underneath of him like he wasn't sure what he was standing on. Lillian cursed under her breath and got off quickly, going around to his front to check his knees. Bending down, she touched one gingerly and let out a relieved breath as she saw that it wasn't as bad as she had imagined. He had still lost the hide off of both knees, but there were no open wounds or blood. Standing up, she asked for one of his legs and stretched it out in front of him, then behind him, meeting no resistance, then did the same to the other. With any luck nothing would be swollen come morning...she was going to have to keep an eye on him. Petting his nose with fingers that didn't want to uncurl she murmured some comforting words to her teammate. Then, beginning to walk, she led the stallion behind her, determined to make it to their next checkpoint on time.


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Art and characters (c) *Hathien603
Gabriel 'Gabe' Delacroix (c) =decors