HOME | DD

mapal — Preparation by-nc-nd

Published: 2012-07-07 22:29:51 +0000 UTC; Views: 1319; Favourites: 58; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description So this is essentially Fru preparing for what is preparation xD but yeah, she's back on her feet, and Firelight has big plans for her. But who was in the horse truck? find out in the next episode of poorly written FLS stories!

Story
Previously: [link]
It was early, just 7am, but the summer sun was already making its climb towards the heavens. Lee had been awake for some time, thinking and working. He had finally decided to go onto the yard at 5am, after laying awake for a few hours, listening to Amber's breathing. He still couldn't believe she was still with him. She had even had a fight with Aisha in the stallion barn, leading to a nasty sprain for Parry and a smarting bite wound for Bow. Luckily Lee had managed to patch them up, but the relationship would take more than bandages to be fixed. The man had already done the morning feeds and skipped out the stallion barn as he headed towards the mare barn. He had purposefully skipped Fru's morning feed, having bigger plans for her at the minute. He headed to her stable and looked over the door to see her snoozing at the back of her stall, head drooping lazily. “Fru,” he said softly, watching her ears flicker around as she lifted her head to look at him. He grinned and took her head collar from the hook, moving into the stable with her. “Hey there, sleepy head,” he muttered as he ran a hand down her muscular neck. They had been working her on the flat, trying to get her fit again, and it was starting to show. She was looking healthy once more, her body lithe and well toned as it once had been. She had put weight back on, not much, but enough to show. “Come on, we're gonna do some work.” Lee slipped the head collar over her head gently and fastened it into place, taking a soft grip on the lead rope as he led her from the stall. Her hooves clapped loudly against the concrete as they walked towards the tying area outside the tack room, the mare's head low and her gait smooth and swinging.

The vet tied up Fru and went to fetch her tack, the assortment of various leather parts and her brushing boots. She was waiting for him as he rounded the corner from the tack room door, her ears perked forwards but her stance relaxed. He laughed and rested the saddle on the rack near her, arranging the martingale and bridle carefully. “You look eager,” he murmured, preparing the tack so it was ready to just slip on. “Maybe you won't be so ready when we get in the ring.” She seemed to roll her eyes slightly at him and his words, letting out a deep sigh as he approached her with the bridle. Still, she put up no fuss, allowing him to slip the bit into her mouth and arrange her bridle and martingale. “I'm gonna try something different with you today. I'm hoping you'll like it,” he said casually. Talking to the horses was not the strangest thing they did at Firelight. He placed the saddle on her back and fastened her girth before stretching out her legs gently. He picked up her boots and then gathered her reins, turning her towards the door. “We'll put these on outside, hmm?” The mare bobbed her head slightly as she strolled alongside him, enjoying stretching her legs on the walk to the school.

Fru stood patiently as the man fastened her boots into place gently, smoothing them down over the hair on her legs and ensuring they were strapped firmly, but not too tight. She lowered her head to see what he was doing for a moment before lifting it again to look around, ears perked and alert. “There,” he said as he straightened up to be greeted by her vivid blue eyes watching him closely. “Now, I think I'll need a helmet,” he chuckled, walking to the fence to pick up the hat that was hooked over one of the posts. He heard the soft footfalls of the mare behind him as she followed, and he glanced back to see her watching him curiously, reins hanging loose around her neck. “You know, you could have stayed there,” he chuckled. He picked up the hat and placed it on his head, glancing towards the drive as a small horse box pulled down and into the carpark. He wondered briefly who it was, but a lot of people arrived randomly at Firelight these days. Still, he hoped it was another staff member, as they were sorely in need of the extra help. After pulling his stirrups down, Lee hopped up easily onto Fru's back. Even after the flat work they had been doing, there was still something thrilling about being on her once again, especially with what was coming up. He started to walk her around the school, and that was when she caught sight of the small arrangement of jumps at one end of the school. She snorted and lifted her head, ears straight forwards. “I know, girl, but not yet,” he said softly, squeezing the reins gently to calm her. “Patience, dear.”
Next: [link]


Image © =mapal
Refs: Lee - lost it... will find it, but all my bookmarks have reorganised D:
Fru: [link]
Related content
Comments: 26

SomersetRaven [2012-10-14 16:22:19 +0000 UTC]

Wow... Fru's legs are sooooo long! She's gorgeous...

Her back legs look a little odd but I just checked out the ref and that's the same so I guess the horse is just stood a little strange and the picture was taken at an odd angle.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Dark-FaNtAsY-Farms [2012-07-11 16:03:35 +0000 UTC]

So much detail! Very nice!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

amour-interdit [2012-07-08 15:48:15 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad to see her finally up and about. Now you've not only got me interested about the trailer, but about Fru finally getting to jump again!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

mapal In reply to amour-interdit [2012-07-08 19:01:42 +0000 UTC]

haha the next picture will reveal all or... a lot xD

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Lyd2000 [2012-07-08 10:39:03 +0000 UTC]

Awesome picture

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

mapal In reply to Lyd2000 [2012-07-08 19:01:49 +0000 UTC]

thank you

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Lyd2000 In reply to mapal [2012-07-08 19:24:16 +0000 UTC]

Your welcome ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Skyfaxi [2012-07-08 08:33:19 +0000 UTC]

That's awesome

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

mapal In reply to Skyfaxi [2012-07-08 09:39:38 +0000 UTC]

thank you ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

saphiraly [2012-07-08 06:50:15 +0000 UTC]

Fruuuu!!! She looks awesome X33

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

mapal In reply to saphiraly [2012-07-08 09:39:34 +0000 UTC]

awww thank you x3

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

saphiraly In reply to mapal [2012-07-10 04:18:22 +0000 UTC]

Welcomes^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Ready-Or-Not [2012-07-07 23:29:35 +0000 UTC]

Overall I really like this artwork! I especially like Fru's head, very nicely done, and I love the attention to detail you've put into the tack. Lee looks great too, the position looks natural and fits the picture perfectly. I only have two small critiques, I hope you don't mind. To me, Fru's hind end looks a little tall, specifically her hind cannon bones. They could be a tad shorter. Also, Lee could use a little bit longer neck, however I haven't seen his refrence so I'm not sure if that's just how the refrence looks. Despite those two tiny things, you've done a wonderful job!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

mapal In reply to Ready-Or-Not [2012-07-08 09:39:26 +0000 UTC]

Just so you're aware, if I don't ask for crit I normally really don't want it ._. I'm very self conscious about my art, and I hate Lee and the background in this image. His face is all wrong, his neck's all wrong, he looks fat... Fru was the only thing I was proud of, and she was right by the ref, but now I'm paranoid about those legs

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Ready-Or-Not In reply to mapal [2012-07-08 09:57:07 +0000 UTC]

Oh God, I feel really, really bad now...
I swear, my intentions were good. I felt bad for being mad about people not commenting much on my art, so I wanted to go out and give the people I watch what I want to recieve from my watchers. Just know that I still look up to you so much as an artist, if that means anything... Wow, this really backfired.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

mapal In reply to Ready-Or-Not [2012-07-08 10:43:45 +0000 UTC]

Haha it's fine, you were only trying to be constructive. I'm not mad or anything. There's like an unwritten code around me xD

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

cheddarbug [2012-07-07 22:50:26 +0000 UTC]

FRU!!!!! OMG! She is coming back!!!! I am gonna cry!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

mapal In reply to cheddarbug [2012-07-08 09:38:27 +0000 UTC]

xD It'll be quite the comeback.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

cheddarbug In reply to mapal [2012-07-08 11:56:42 +0000 UTC]

I bet!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Thoroughbreds4Me [2012-07-07 22:42:03 +0000 UTC]

This looks great mapal! Fru looks so good! I wish her luck!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

mapal In reply to Thoroughbreds4Me [2012-07-08 09:38:17 +0000 UTC]

Awwww thank you ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

dropkiick [2012-07-07 22:41:12 +0000 UTC]

AJHDSBAHSDAHSD!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

mapal In reply to dropkiick [2012-07-08 09:38:11 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

dropkiick In reply to mapal [2012-07-08 14:10:11 +0000 UTC]

FOREVA

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

EquineRibbon [2012-07-07 22:41:11 +0000 UTC]

Fruuuu I was wondering when you'd finish this off, I remember the ref hunting for Lee's postition xD It's turned out fantastic, really perfectly drawn!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

mapal In reply to EquineRibbon [2012-07-08 09:38:07 +0000 UTC]

Haha I've been working on it on and off xD Lee still bugs me, but oh well, I kinda needed it finished.
Thank you ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0