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Live and Learn

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Description

:iconharpg-mentors:

Because England's not always sunny.

For HARPG-Mentors 2011 Challenge. You can see how I drew the lines here: [link]

My use of red is simple I guess. I'm lucky to have a horse with a red coat, but in the end I had the idea of his coat being the brightest thing in the image, the only real hint of colour.

Ref: [link]

Story

As the clouds rolled in overhead and blocked out the late summer sun, Mark headed to Devil's stable with a bridle and lung line in hand. The two year old was not taking to the bit very well, and it was impossible to show him in a halter. Everyone had had a go and so far Devil was defiant to the end. Mark was the only one left who had not tried to put a bridle on the animal and get him to do some work that did not involve him bucking, rearing, galloping, spinning, rolling, leaping sideways or ramming into fences. Mark let himself into the stable quietly, and Devil eyed him suspiciously from the back wall. Mark left the lunge line rested on the stable door and approached with the bridle. The young stallion knew what was coming as he heard the loose ring clink gently, and straight away his head shot up into the air. Mark hushed him and ran a hand down his neck. "Here, boy, nothing to worry about," he murmured, continuing to speak to him softly as he placed a hand firmly on Devil's nose to hold his head in place. He shot backwards into the corner of the stable, but Mark stayed with him, close to his shoulder and grip form on his nose so he couldn't rear up. He pressed the rubber bit gently against the young horse's mouth and coaxed him with his finger and thumb at the back of his mouth. "Come on, boy," he grumbled, keeping a firm hold on the Harlequine's nose at the same time. After a few minutes of fighting, Devil finally opened his mouth and took the bit. He chewed on the rubber and snorted as Mark fastened the rest of the bridle into place.

Devil pranced as he left the stall and his hooves pattered on the concrete floor of the barn. He tried to barge as usual, but, being used to much larger and heavier horses trying the same trick, Mark was on top of it. Devil fought the control with every effort, tossing his head and arching his neck, swinging his rump out and trying to barge forwards. It was a fight all the way to the roundpen, and Mark found himself sweating despite the chilled air. He opened the gate to the pen and led the young stallion in, shutting it behind them and, picking up the whip from the gate, leading him to the middle of the circular school. Devil's nostrils flared and he stretched up to his full height, letting out a shrill whinny to the horses in the paddocks. "Stop being a nuisance," Mark growled as he sent Devil out to the edge of the school. The young horse squealed and bolted away with a joyful buck. It was the usual routine as he bolted around the edge with a few bucks thrown in for good measure. Mark let him run, glancing up at the dull sky as it threatened rain. Devil's coat seemed like the only ounce of colour in the scenery, everything else drained to a desaturated hue by the dull afternoon. As sweat began to gather on his sides, Mark felt the horse's speed start to slow, his hooves steadying to a solid rhythm. "Good," Mark sighed, soothing the stallion with a few murmured words. He settled into a steady canter, starting to stretch into his gait and work with the bit. A small smile spread onto Mark's face. it seemed like patience was going to be the best policy. There was no point in fighting with the horse, trying to slow him down and make him do something, you just had to let him go a bit crazy. He slowed Devil to a trot and brought him in, switching the lunge line over before sending him out on the other rein. This time the horse set off at a swift trot, tossing his head as the rain began to fall from the darkening sky. The drops were cold and heavy, and Mark felt it stating to soak through his t-shirt. Still, Devil had a session to finish, and he had to learn that the weather wasn't going to stop them.


Image & characters © =mapal
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