ShopDreamUp AI ArtDreamUp
Deviation Actions
Description
For those not in the know, this is for the 
(1) Mandatory: Reference
(2) Mandatory:Introductory Image
(3) Optional:Resistance
(4) Optional:To The Lorries
(5) Mandatory:Groundwork/First Steps
(6) Optional:Learning To Lead
(7) Mandatory: Mishap/The Fall
(8) Optional: The Journey Home
(9) Optional: Quarantine
(10) Optional: Travel Buddies
(11) Optional: Grooming Session
(12) Optional: A Step Too Far
(13) Optional: First Saddle
(14) Mandatory: Backing <-------
(15) Optional: Hacking
(16) Optional: Trust
Edit: We won!
-------------------
‘It seems like only yesterday we were looking at him for the first time in that muddy lake of a paddock, doesn’t it?’ said David, stroking the smooth, speckled coat of the roan beneath him. ‘Who’d have thought he’d take to the domesticated life so well?’
Nikolai, standing at Toa’s head, smiled softly to himself. He’d thought.
He’d known as soon as he locked eyes with Toa’s electric blue irises that he would make a fine riding horse, though he also knew the journey there wouldn’t be easy. He’d been proved right; Toa had come to the yard full of fear, yet as ironically as he had been named, his bravery was always close to the surface and it showed whenever he was encouraged to be confident.
As David was considered to be the lightest member of staff (in Abigail’s words ‘You’re so skinny you’re barely there at all!’) he was volunteered to be the first to sit on Toa. Nikolai would have loved the honour, but as Toa trusted him the most, it made more sense to have him on the ground where he could keep an eye on things. He’d had a few weeks of increasingly heavy objects being laid on his back, including, but not limited to, three folded up stable rugs, six jackets, a very fluffy sheepskin rug, a half filled sack of feed, two small dogs and a somewhat staggering number of brushes. David and Nikolai had also spent a lot of time just leaning on him, to get him used to compensating for the weight and the accompanying loss of balance. At last, the fated day came and after a few minutes of walking round with David draped over his back like one of the aforementioned feed bags, Nikolai brought him to a halt and David swung his leg round and over until he was sitting astride.
Toa raised his head slightly and looked back at his new passenger with curiosity. He shifted his weight from leg to leg but did nothing else as Nikolai offered him a mint which he snuffled down greedily. Considering everything that had happened to him as a wild horse, there was just so much trust in Toa, and he could still scarcely believe he had done everything that was asked of him so easily. He’d heard about some of the other Kaimanawas from the muster – most were doing well, but a few were nigh on untouchable, even now.
‘Are you ready for a walk round?’ he said, grinning up at David, who nodded enthusiastically as he picked up the knotted leadrope reins.
‘Whenever you’re ready! I’m quite happy up here, you know, on a wild horse’
Nikolai rolled his eyes and clicked to Toa, who started walking with him. At first he took short, slow steps, cautiously trying to understand how best to move with a weight upon him, but after a few minutes he settled back into his more usual stride. They did a few laps, with David doing the steering on the last. Toa was still a little unsure about that part, but did well regardless. Finally, once back in the middle, David slid off and planted a massive kiss on the stallion’s nose.
‘BRILLIANT horse - absolutely brilliant! Oh you’ll love it up there Niko, such smooth gaits, he’s going to have one hell of a gallop, I can promise you!’
Toa snorted and rubbed his nose against a foreleg. He didn't seem to care that he'd just had a human on his back and Nikolai hoped he'd stay with that attitude...
------------
Lines drawn traditionally, then coloured in photoshop. No refs.
(1) Mandatory: Reference
(2) Mandatory:Introductory Image
(3) Optional:Resistance
(4) Optional:To The Lorries
(5) Mandatory:Groundwork/First Steps
(6) Optional:Learning To Lead
(7) Mandatory: Mishap/The Fall
(8) Optional: The Journey Home
(9) Optional: Quarantine
(10) Optional: Travel Buddies
(11) Optional: Grooming Session
(12) Optional: A Step Too Far
(13) Optional: First Saddle
(14) Mandatory: Backing <-------
(15) Optional: Hacking
(16) Optional: Trust
Edit: We won!
-------------------
‘It seems like only yesterday we were looking at him for the first time in that muddy lake of a paddock, doesn’t it?’ said David, stroking the smooth, speckled coat of the roan beneath him. ‘Who’d have thought he’d take to the domesticated life so well?’
Nikolai, standing at Toa’s head, smiled softly to himself. He’d thought.
He’d known as soon as he locked eyes with Toa’s electric blue irises that he would make a fine riding horse, though he also knew the journey there wouldn’t be easy. He’d been proved right; Toa had come to the yard full of fear, yet as ironically as he had been named, his bravery was always close to the surface and it showed whenever he was encouraged to be confident.
As David was considered to be the lightest member of staff (in Abigail’s words ‘You’re so skinny you’re barely there at all!’) he was volunteered to be the first to sit on Toa. Nikolai would have loved the honour, but as Toa trusted him the most, it made more sense to have him on the ground where he could keep an eye on things. He’d had a few weeks of increasingly heavy objects being laid on his back, including, but not limited to, three folded up stable rugs, six jackets, a very fluffy sheepskin rug, a half filled sack of feed, two small dogs and a somewhat staggering number of brushes. David and Nikolai had also spent a lot of time just leaning on him, to get him used to compensating for the weight and the accompanying loss of balance. At last, the fated day came and after a few minutes of walking round with David draped over his back like one of the aforementioned feed bags, Nikolai brought him to a halt and David swung his leg round and over until he was sitting astride.
Toa raised his head slightly and looked back at his new passenger with curiosity. He shifted his weight from leg to leg but did nothing else as Nikolai offered him a mint which he snuffled down greedily. Considering everything that had happened to him as a wild horse, there was just so much trust in Toa, and he could still scarcely believe he had done everything that was asked of him so easily. He’d heard about some of the other Kaimanawas from the muster – most were doing well, but a few were nigh on untouchable, even now.
‘Are you ready for a walk round?’ he said, grinning up at David, who nodded enthusiastically as he picked up the knotted leadrope reins.
‘Whenever you’re ready! I’m quite happy up here, you know, on a wild horse’
Nikolai rolled his eyes and clicked to Toa, who started walking with him. At first he took short, slow steps, cautiously trying to understand how best to move with a weight upon him, but after a few minutes he settled back into his more usual stride. They did a few laps, with David doing the steering on the last. Toa was still a little unsure about that part, but did well regardless. Finally, once back in the middle, David slid off and planted a massive kiss on the stallion’s nose.
‘BRILLIANT horse - absolutely brilliant! Oh you’ll love it up there Niko, such smooth gaits, he’s going to have one hell of a gallop, I can promise you!’
Toa snorted and rubbed his nose against a foreleg. He didn't seem to care that he'd just had a human on his back and Nikolai hoped he'd stay with that attitude...
------------
Lines drawn traditionally, then coloured in photoshop. No refs.
Image size
2530x2748px 8.15 MB
© 2014 - 2024 ElreniaGreenleaf
Comments10
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Oh how I love your bgs ;_: