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Training has started... Kinda — Description
Story:
A few days after the arrival, when the horses had settled in, Nina decided it was time to begin the training. Or, maybe not training, more like riding in general. The last days had been warm, to warm for her liking, and she had spend every moment she could in the shadows. At some point she actually got in the car, just so she could enjoy the air condition. Apparently they didn’t have such things in 100 year old houses, or stables for that matter. The horses seemed to agree with her. They seemed more lazy than usual, not that either of them normally where lazy, and stood in the shadow most of the time. On this day however, Nina figured out that she had to break the circle. Had it been up to her, she would have continued her lazy ass lifestyle her at Nattvik, but they had a competition to prepare too. Just so that she wouldn’t send Imogen into a state of shock with a workout in the heat. She asked Syver to show her around, on horseback of course.
“You know, even though I’m in the same country, it feels different here. It’s so much more… open. Sure you have mountains, but they’re not like a wall right outside your house. They both had decided to go bareback, Syver with only a rope around Hope’s neck. Nina admired his control over horses. Or… that would be wrong. He didn’t control them, he worked with them. Sometimes she felt like she was forcing Ex into doing things he didn’t want to, but had to because he had a metal stick in his mouth, and leather strapped around his head and body. “How do you do that?” she asked, nodding at Hope’s neck. “I mean, what if a bird is flying up from the bushes and she spookes, and runs off, how can you stop her?” she looked down at the reins between her fingers. It was the only way she really knew how to ride. With unnatural helpers that controlled the horse for you.

Syver had mentioned for Helena several times that maybe the stable should be upgraded with an air conditioner, but Helena had shook her head and said it cost too much at the moment, and they had to finance new roof bricks on the guest house first. Their money situation had stabilised after the tourism plans had convinced the bankman, but surely, the money was still scarce. He had joined Nina to ride around the Nattvik grounds. It was always nice to skip the saddle and the bridle, one saved a lot of time when you only had to put a leather ring around the horse's neck. They rode over the bridge towards the old racetrack, when Nina spoke. Syver nodded. "The scenery sure is different from other places in Norway" he replied and looked at the mountains stretching in all directions with Rondeslottet visible behind the pastures at Nattvik. He had to laugh a little when she pointed out the risky leather ring around Hope's neck. "Oh, it's not hard. You just need a lot of time to get used to it, and so does the horse" he answered gently. "The secret is showing your horse what you want by teaching him to walk away from preassure, - it's an old western technique. And if she spookes, all I have to do is simply stop riding and lean back. She will notice the change of my position and slow down. But of course, to ride a horse like this, you need to trust your horse just as much as you trust yourself, else, the horse will pick up your weakness and become a leader. I think that's some of the problem between you and Ex. You dont have enough trust in yourself, so you automatically don't trust him to follow your lead." Syver spoke thoughtfully while he looked at the little ''poof'' Nina had created by his bangs. "Poor Imogen" He patted the stallions neck. "What on earth has she done to your manly bang?"

Nina nodded, listening carefully to Syvers words. So what she had to do was train, train, train. Not just on the technique, but also on trusting herself and Ex. They would after all enter the Au Natural class in SDS, something she did not look forward too. She got torn away from her thought my Syvers voice again. “What?” she asked, looking down at Imogens bang. “Pff… It’s just as manly now” she grinned and petted the brown coat on his neck. “Right Imogen? You’re a manly man?” The stallion just shook his head and neighed, as if he didn’t quite agree. “Sure you are…” Nina continued with a smile. “Well, just be glad I didn’t give you a pink elastic… with little hearts on it. I think it would look nice on you too” she said, the last think to Syver, as she leaned over and lifted some of his bang with her index finger.

Syver looked at Nina while she had her little argue with the stallion. Poor guy, he thought, but couldn't help but laugh of the stallion's look. The guy was kinda cute, and it sure was okay for him to get his bangs away from the eyes. Syver looked over at Nina again, a little smirk on his lips. "Just as manly as Bjørn Borg" he teased without taking his eyes off of Nina. He noticed she leaned towards him so he met her midways. One eyebrow bent over his eye in a sceptical smile. "hearts you say? - Im more into rainbows and pink ponies" He answered with a grin and felt her finger against his forehead, an easy, soft feeling. He placed a hand over her cheek and pulled her face towards him and kissed her lips. "Don't get the wrong idea, Missy" he laughed, still looking at her face. He thought to himself what lucky guy he was. The perfect lifestyle training and competing horses, and a gorgeous woman by his side.

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Tools:
Paint Tool SAI
Wacom Bamboo Fun
Ref: None

Artwork © Joybird
Syver and Lenins Hope © *cyprussian
Nina and Imogen © Joybird