Description
Entry Number: 021
Stables: Firelight Stables, England
Horse: VH Daredevil
Rider: Ryan Reid
Recommended Listening: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA9bOv…
I SAW WE WERE ALL DOING DRAMATIC LIGHTING, YES? 8D
Ryan complained so much about not being able to go to AUSe that I threw him in on Daredevil as soon as she was ready xD
Oh hey it's Anonymous-Shrew's Brendan again and a little RP
Story
Mark tried to read the pamphlet about the happenings around the showgrounds as the entrant in the ring below finished up their dressage performance to a smattering of applause and started to walk out of the arena. Just a couple more, and then it would be Ryan’s turn. Mark had watched him practicing the routine over and over, but to see it from this perspective, up in the bleachers with a large audience, was making his nerves start to tingle.
“I hope Devi behaves herself,” he grumbled, more to himself than the kid sitting beside him, as his knee bounced lightly. Always the fidget, never quite sitting still, Ryan had told him many times that he seemed to have too much energy to stay in one spot for too long unless he had burned it off during a hard day’s work.Mark’s bundled up energy was probably rubbing off on Brendan since the kid could feel he was rather nervous as well as he watched the contestant exit the arena, barely remembering to applaud for them. He glanced around briefly, mostly to scan the crowd again, then looked over at Mark.
“I’m sure she will, she wouldn’t dare throw a fit in front of all these people,” he sniggered while shaking his head. He wasn’t sure why he was nervous in the first place if he used that kind of reasoning, but he doubted that anything out of the ordinary would happen. Probably he was just worried for some kind of small mistake, or some kind of tiny little mess up that only the keenest of eyes would catch up on that would do its damage to Ryan’s final score.“Unless she does that weird sideways jig thing she does when he’s not paying attention properly,” Mark murmured. He glanced to his other side as Izzy and Aisha plopped down, holding snacks and drinks, and rolled his eyes a little. Those two never got nervous. They took everything in their stride and went at things head-on. Mark was so pent up he was sure he wouldn’t be able to eat if he tried.
Ryan was a good rider, sure, but normal horses weren’t always as cooperative as Spirit Horses. Riding an ordinary Hanoverian instead of an intelligent being like Vera had proved difficult at shows already.
“Did you see him practicing?” Mark asked as the next competitor entered the ring and their music started up.
“Yeah, only a few times though,” Brendan smiled, looking at him, “You shouldn’t worry so much about it, it’ll all be just fine.” He grinned, playfully prodding the man’s arm. He could see how pent up Mark was, since his knee was still bouncing and he was fidgeting every few seconds, and although there wasn’t much he could do about that it was still worth it to try and calm him down. Imagine, if there was some kind of telepathic connection between Mark and Ryan now then it certainly wouldn’t do any good for the performance. He shook that thought away quickly, however, sniggering to himself.
“You two get so nervous when you watch each other perform. It’s cute,” he hummed, leaning back in his chair as he watched the contestant in the arena absently.Mark swatted his hand away easily and finally stopped his knee from bouncing. “He doesn’t get nervous when I perform,” he said with a small huff of laughter, “he gets downright terrified.” He sat back in his seat and slung an arm across the back of Brendan’s, crossing his legs loosely and watching the competition with a keen eye. “I just want to see him do well, that’s all. His practice sessions were incredible, but this is different.”
Brendan grinned, folding his hands in his lap loosely, and kept his eyes on the rider in the arena for a few moments.
“He’ll do great, don’t you fret,” he purred, giving the man a smile as he slid into a comfortable slouch in the chair. Of course Ryan would do well, but if he would do really well was what was nagging at the kid a bit. Either way, he’d still admire his riding, even if he didn’t get first - if that meant anything, of course.Mark ruffled Brendan’s hair with his long fingers before settling down a bit more, listening idly to Izzy and Aisha chatting beside him quietly. Neither of them had much interest in dressage, despite Aithne making everyone learn at least the basics when they became part of the staff. They were only there to cheer Ryan along.
It didn’t seem long at all before Ryan’s name and number were being announced along with Daredevil and the pair were trotting into the arena. Mark sat forwards, eyes glued on the figures below, as Ryan halted and saluted before the music started to play. He had been there for all the agonising hours where his partner had tried to decide what to perform to, and, as Devi started forwards and her motions matched the music, Mark knew he’d picked right. Of course he had.
Devi moved as effortlessly as always, her rider barely seeming to give her cues as they worked together like they did at home. Mark would never understand how the likes of Ryan and Aithne made such complex movements look so effortless - eventing dressage taking all of his brain power and energy to get right.
Brendan watched in silence, clasping his hands together tightly without realizing as he did. Watching Ryan always made his heart soar and he hoped that perhaps one day he’d be able to ride half as well as he did. Sometimes he wasn’t sure quite why he was at Firelight, though that was the last thing on his mind right now as he watched the pair down in the arena work together to the music. Although the song wasn’t his taste, it went together with their routine well.
Mark found himself lost in it, even though it wasn't one of Ryan's most elaborate performances. Any time the man rode, it was like poetry in motion, a perfect union between him and the horse.
Ref: Dressage Stock - VI
