HOME | DD

Enjoy the Ride — Description

Show: SDE Spring Zen Show

Rider
Name: Natasha Viridian
Age: 25
Stable: Trifolio
Country: Germany
Entrant: Nr. 001 (shown on the arm)
Horse
Horse Name + Ref: Luna
Age: 9 years
Breed: Irish Draught Horse
Class Entering: Mounted archery

Extras:

Night Sky

Ambient Distractions

Sharing is Caring

Story:

Angel rarely saw her friend that ecstatic, but Mounted Archery in Spring Blossom Japan took the cake - mhh, cake. Whoops, head back in the game, Angel!
Refocusing she scanned the grounds for the red curls of her friend. Eventually, she found Natasha leading Loun'ha her way.
Relieved she ran up to them, "there comes my number one!"
"How very flattering," shook Nat their head with a faint smile. "Are you going to buy me dinner next?" they added with a wink.
"Well," Angel pondered, "I can make you toast with eggs and bacon?"
"I do love me some scrambled eggs with toast and bacon."
"Talking about food makes me hungry." The blonde groaned, or perhaps it was her stomach commenting.
"Brunch is approaching, maybe you can still grab something to snack?"
"And miss your splendid performance? Never!"
"Pff, right, no pressure, eh?" Natasha rolled her eyes sarcastically.
Noticing a tinge of self-doubt in her friend's voice, Angel put on her best enthusiasm: "Don't worry, you've got this! I'll be cheering you on!"
Louh'na nodded her head in agreement. "See? Louh'na knows you've got this too! You guys are practising archery day in and day out! Seriously, sometimes you could cut me some slack and make it back to dinner on time so that I don't have to always collect you from the Practising Course."
"You're exaggerating. That happened maybe five times."
"I bet you a cupcake that it'll happen again!"
"Oh, it will for sure happen again," mumbled the redhead.
The blonde didn't seem to hear that, instead realising that she should probably collect Maggie to be on time. Hopefully Rafi didn't lose her. As she rushed off, she shouted over her shoulder, "don't forget: you're awesome!"
Nat watched her back disappear before they let out a sigh they were holding. "I.. don't know about that..."

Louh'na had spent enough time with the other curly-maned one to sense their growing uncertainties. Encouragingly she bonked her head into Nat's nape of the neck.
"Sorry. I know I shouldn't be so glum. It's about having fun, isn't it? And yet..."
The mare responded by embracing her human with a hug, pulling her as close as possible. An embrace she greatly appreciated. She took a deep breath, soaking in the lingering smell of hay with faint notes of cherry blossom tea.
Closing their eyes, Nat allowed themselves a few moments of silence. "Deep breaths," is what she told herself.
She focused on her breathing, matching their rhythm to that of Loun'ha. She took note of how the mare's coat felt against her skin, how her gentle warmth washed over her. She visualised the doubts flowing off of them like a waterfall. Spring greens and cherry blossom trees sprouting in their place, representing the cheerful confidence of her equestrian companion.
─ Angel was right, they've done this plenty of times! Besides, they're not here to worry about competing, this is the opportunity to finally ride through Japanese woods. That combined with their love of archery? A dream come true!

With newfound spirit Natasha took the reins that her mare had already picked up.
"Thank you, darling. Now, what do you say we go ahead and enjoy the ride?"
The chestnut bay nickered in bewilderment, making a little excited jump kick and shaking their mane.

Featuring:
so many layers
so many different mediums
a really nice birch tree

Art and Story by nat