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Description
ANIMATED!

SECOND PLACE DEAR GOODNESS. --->

So here it, finally and fantabulous in all its glory. Dudes, this was the most fun thing ever I think. 8D

So, y’all know we joined up for ’s sw33t Team Chase back in December, and here we are finally finished with this gorgeous thing. 8D Man, this was tons of fun I say. 8] And we're at the 27th jump, the last water one, as according to this map . ^^

We be called the Chasers, and we be Harry Potter themed, which is just awesome, even if I’ve never read/watched the HP epicness. See those awesome wands! And the lion! AND THE COOL SWEATERS. Dude, we are awesome. ^^

So, ~Tattered-Dreams created the ALL the incredible lines, and then painted the horses; manes, eyes and tails included.
~NightingaleStables painted the sparkly water and awesome splashes AND the lads’ sweaters, helmets, hair and skin.
I, *MissDudette , painted the tack, jump and background.

SO yawp, there it is. Tattered did great details, she has an amazing eye for tack, and made sure to give each of our horses the proper tack that each of our stables assigned them. Because I’m a bit of a simplicity nut for my horses, she put on bell boots and my favorite full cheek snaffle for my seal bay, and then gave Nightingale’s palomino a plain snaffle because he’s so good, but didn’t forget to add a flash noseband for her cherry bay. Plus, because we’re all safety nuts, Tattered put on boots, standing martingale/breastplates AND belly guard girths for all of our horses. Seriously, I learned so much about English tack this project, it’s the most awesome thing ever. 8D

Nightingale did some sweet sweaters, I say. They look like rich and warm riding sweaters, I mean, that is so cool! Can't you just practically run your hand over those? 8] And her water is just gorgeous, those sparkles remind of the animated film Wind in the Willows.

I had ball making that BG; I left it sketchy to showcase the horses, and because I'm lazy, and because I love sketchy! And does anyone notice those butterflies??? Because they are orange tips, and Europe has lots of them. I added their native cuckoo flowers too. 8]

Oh yeah! Who these guys are, from left to right:
Jameson Craith aboard DGR Charlie’s Angels , a 12 year old seal bay Quarter horse.
Juan Sancho aboard NS Caballero , a 12 year old palomino Lusitano.
Austin Fielding aboard Lakewood’s Mistletoe Kisses , a 8 year old cherry bay Belgian Warmblood.

So yawp, that's us. It's been an awesome ride, I say. ^^ Wish us luck!

Rachel and Anna? Thank you SO MUCH for jumping into this crazy endevour with me, I had a ball, and I hope you guys did too.

Refs: [link]
Pencils: None
Paper: None
Digital Program: Photoshop CS
Digital Tools: Bamboo Fun tablet and pen
Time: 2 months on and off
Date: 2-27-2012
Music: A lot of different tracks for this one.
's submission ---> :thumb287515012:
's submission ---> :thumb287655663:

Story 1, from

My name is Charlie, DGR Charlie’s Angels to be correct. I jump, “a’cross country,” so my riders say. It’s a wonderful job, to feel your heart leap at every fence is nothing short of exhilarating. My mistress once said, “He understands jumping like no other.” I took pride in that then, I take pride in it now! I am a pure bred Quarterhorse from Texas in the US, and I am smack in the middle of my prime at 12 years old, I have been jumping about 5 years or so. I arrived here in Sweden with my mistress’ boss, and the new rider on the block, Jameson Craith. I understand he will be riding me in this Swedish contest across the ocean. I’m rather excited, he has a way of going through the fences with me so that I don’t have to make sure all of the time that he’s safe.

Across the stall from me came a strong neigh. A palomino it belonged to, an Iberian by the name of Caballero, he just started competing in a’cross country. I neighed, “Howdy, Portuguese fellow! A bit nervous this time around?”
He shied, then his eyebrows furrowed a bit, “Hai, I guess I am. Got any tips for nerves, Yankee?”
“Yep, eat your hay.”
He huffed, and then chomped a big patch of flaky stems.
The cherry bay in the stall beside me, my other team mate for this odd Swedish contest, whickered, “As if hay stops nerves!”
Caballero’s jaw dropped, hay spilling out his jaw. I laughed, a bit loudly though. Several other horses answered the neigh. “Toeki, I didn’t say it stops nerves,” I looked back at Caballero, “It helps calm them.” The palomino grinned and started munching again.
The bay huffed again, “I’ve never heard of such a thing.” His British accent clipped the already clipped sentence.
“But it does help, son! Try it, you just might be surprised.” I grabbed some remaining stems from my hay net and wiggled them at him.
“Son?!” He stomped, “I’ll have you know- Treat?“

Toeki’s rider had appeared out of nowhere and was holding a under his nose. Caballero and I both laughed, though it was more like a cough since the two of us were both finishing our mouthfuls. James had stepped in my stall, patting my neck. “Careful laddie, can’t be hacking for the competition, aye?” I blowed into his hand. He rubbed my back, the start of the ritual that always began right before tacking up. Caballero was being bridled as well by his rider, so it wasn’t long before the three of us we being led side by side out of the fine stables.

The palomino shook his head, holding it high as he eyed some pretty mares to the wayside. “Toeki, you think they dig me? I can has an awesome coat, yes?”
Toeki strutted a little more, “Posh, girls love red coats, red stands for passion you know.”
I didn’t take one step out of turn, “Fell’ers, girls love experience.” I turned my dappled neck clear around to look at the mares, and then winked at each one.

Cabllero tripped. Toeki’s jaw dropped. They looked at each other while their riders mounted up on their backs, then back at me.
“But you're a gelding!”

I laughed.

Story 2, from

Oomph! Toeki caught his balance and tossed his head, trying to help his human - Austin - shift his slight weight back where it was supposed to be.

"Sorry, Boy," Austin's contrite voice murmured. Toeki's back-turned ear caught the sound easily, despite the fast canter, two horses at his side and sound of the breeze whistling through the buckles on his bridle. The young Belgian horse also felt the swift pat on the side of his neck.

He curled his neck in and snorted, skipping a beat and changing canter leads. 'Not your fault' Toeki tried to impart. 'Just wasn't expecting that divot. Completely ruined my striding'. But of course, it was too much to expect that a human would hear this.

Still annoyed that he'd nearly missed a stride - and Toeki hated being shown up by anyone - it took a moment longer than usual for the gentle sponging on the right of Toeki's mouth to register. He tossed his head high - 'Where? Where? Let me at it!' And then there was sponging on the left, too. Toeki snorted, flicking his ear back to show he understood. He lowered his head obediently and kept his stride long, obeying the soft pressure either side of his ribs.

The french link bit settled on his tongue - warm metal and familiar - consistent against the bars of his mouth. Toeki knew he was a dominant sort. It was his job to do the jumping - the human should just hold on for the ride - but Austin was different. Toeki grudgingly had come to accept that sometimes - just sometimes, mind you - the lean-built human knew not just how to hang on, but was helpful, too.

Just like he understood the gentle two-way pressure on his bit, Toeki understood that a quick pull-release check on the right rein meant it was time to focus. He looked up and clocked straight on to the approaching fence.

A large, inviting hedge (if Toeki didn't love winning so much, he might have been tempted to take a chunk out of it instead) set in the middle of a body of water; rippling only faintly in the light breeze and reflecting the wide open sky.

'Oh...is that it?' Just like he knew the jumping was his job, he made it his job to know his course. Humans all said they shouldn't let their horse learn or they'd anticipate. Pfft; like they could stop him learning something if he was set on it. But this was the last fence.

There was a whisper of pressure at his sides again, and the right rein opened up. Toeki glanced over - Caballero, the keen Palomino and Charlie, the happy and sweet natured bay - were both half a stride ahead and he'd veered to the left to take the inside line. Snorting again, and flicking his ear ('Yes, I get it') Toeki moved his shoulder into the open space under the rein and lined himself up with his team-mates again. 'That one is your fault,' he tried to say, with a playful tail flick. 'You're the one who did all that corner cutting practice last week for the coloured pole days. How am I supposed to know it's different for food jumping days?'

But, predictably, Austin wasn't listening. Though, at least he was focusing on their stride - Toeki could be happy with that. Almost in a bored manner, but underneath determined to show off and get it right, Toeki counted himself in. They were nine legs away, and off by a fraction.

He flared his nostrils around the cradle of the flash band and neighed, letting his stride surge out. Austin gave him the rein and stayed light, something Toeki was thankful for. He was also pleased to see that Caballero and Charlie had made the distinction and followed him, lengthening out.

They launched into the water ('Yikes! Cold!') but kept counting.
2. 1. Up and over. Land. Splash.
Perfect.
With their round completed well, Toeki was free to focus on the next most important thing. 'Now, once we've finished, can you take me back over there? I want a taste of that nice hedge...'

Story 3, from

Caballero was getting excited.

He knew what was coming; he could feel how nervous the people around him were. Too anxious to pick on the remaining food in his hay net, the Lusitano peeked through the stall door, his golden coat glistening in the sun.

He searched the area, his ears moving as he looked for a familiar voice. He found what he was searching for: next to one of the stalls, Juan talked to a blond boy. The horse paid attention, but he still couldn’t make out what they were saying. Confused, he retreated back to his stall, and settled for sniffing the horse next to him.

A few hours later, with two unknown horses by his sides, Caballero scraped the ground, impatient. When the starting signal was given, he launched himself forward, momentarily forgetting the rider in his back. He slowed down right on time to take the first jump synchronized with the other two horses. Now more controlled, Caballero quickly adjusted his speed to his companions’ pace. He had done this already, in Russia, and this wasn’t much different. The three horses jumped the other obstacles side by side, and by the time the expanse of sparkling water came into his vision, the Lusitano was completely ready for it.

Description
ANIMATED!

SECOND PLACE DEAR GOODNESS. --->

So here it, finally and fantabulous in all its glory. Dudes, this was the most fun thing ever I think. 8D

So, y’all know we joined up for ’s sw33t Team Chase back in December, and here we are finally finished with this gorgeous thing. 8D Man, this was tons of fun I say. 8] And we're at the 27th jump, the last water one, as according to this map . ^^

We be called the Chasers, and we be Harry Potter themed, which is just awesome, even if I’ve never read/watched the HP epicness. See those awesome wands! And the lion! AND THE COOL SWEATERS. Dude, we are awesome. ^^

So, ~Tattered-Dreams created the ALL the incredible lines, and then painted the horses; manes, eyes and tails included.
~NightingaleStables painted the sparkly water and awesome splashes AND the lads’ sweaters, helmets, hair and skin.
I, *MissDudette , painted the tack, jump and background.

SO yawp, there it is. Tattered did great details, she has an amazing eye for tack, and made sure to give each of our horses the proper tack that each of our stables assigned them. Because I’m a bit of a simplicity nut for my horses, she put on bell boots and my favorite full cheek snaffle for my seal bay, and then gave Nightingale’s palomino a plain snaffle because he’s so good, but didn’t forget to add a flash noseband for her cherry bay. Plus, because we’re all safety nuts, Tattered put on boots, standing martingale/breastplates AND belly guard girths for all of our horses. Seriously, I learned so much about English tack this project, it’s the most awesome thing ever. 8D

Nightingale did some sweet sweaters, I say. They look like rich and warm riding sweaters, I mean, that is so cool! Can't you just practically run your hand over those? 8] And her water is just gorgeous, those sparkles remind of the animated film Wind in the Willows.

I had ball making that BG; I left it sketchy to showcase the horses, and because I'm lazy, and because I love sketchy! And does anyone notice those butterflies??? Because they are orange tips, and Europe has lots of them. I added their native cuckoo flowers too. 8]

Oh yeah! Who these guys are, from left to right:
Jameson Craith aboard DGR Charlie’s Angels , a 12 year old seal bay Quarter horse.
Juan Sancho aboard NS Caballero , a 12 year old palomino Lusitano.
Austin Fielding aboard Lakewood’s Mistletoe Kisses , a 8 year old cherry bay Belgian Warmblood.

So yawp, that's us. It's been an awesome ride, I say. ^^ Wish us luck!

Rachel and Anna? Thank you SO MUCH for jumping into this crazy endevour with me, I had a ball, and I hope you guys did too.

Refs: [link]
Pencils: None
Paper: None
Digital Program: Photoshop CS
Digital Tools: Bamboo Fun tablet and pen
Time: 2 months on and off
Date: 2-27-2012
Music: A lot of different tracks for this one.
's submission ---> :thumb287515012:
's submission ---> :thumb287655663:

Story 1, from

My name is Charlie, DGR Charlie’s Angels to be correct. I jump, “a’cross country,” so my riders say. It’s a wonderful job, to feel your heart leap at every fence is nothing short of exhilarating. My mistress once said, “He understands jumping like no other.” I took pride in that then, I take pride in it now! I am a pure bred Quarterhorse from Texas in the US, and I am smack in the middle of my prime at 12 years old, I have been jumping about 5 years or so. I arrived here in Sweden with my mistress’ boss, and the new rider on the block, Jameson Craith. I understand he will be riding me in this Swedish contest across the ocean. I’m rather excited, he has a way of going through the fences with me so that I don’t have to make sure all of the time that he’s safe.

Across the stall from me came a strong neigh. A palomino it belonged to, an Iberian by the name of Caballero, he just started competing in a’cross country. I neighed, “Howdy, Portuguese fellow! A bit nervous this time around?”
He shied, then his eyebrows furrowed a bit, “Hai, I guess I am. Got any tips for nerves, Yankee?”
“Yep, eat your hay.”
He huffed, and then chomped a big patch of flaky stems.
The cherry bay in the stall beside me, my other team mate for this odd Swedish contest, whickered, “As if hay stops nerves!”
Caballero’s jaw dropped, hay spilling out his jaw. I laughed, a bit loudly though. Several other horses answered the neigh. “Toeki, I didn’t say it stops nerves,” I looked back at Caballero, “It helps calm them.” The palomino grinned and started munching again.
The bay huffed again, “I’ve never heard of such a thing.” His British accent clipped the already clipped sentence.
“But it does help, son! Try it, you just might be surprised.” I grabbed some remaining stems from my hay net and wiggled them at him.
“Son?!” He stomped, “I’ll have you know- Treat?“

Toeki’s rider had appeared out of nowhere and was holding a under his nose. Caballero and I both laughed, though it was more like a cough since the two of us were both finishing our mouthfuls. James had stepped in my stall, patting my neck. “Careful laddie, can’t be hacking for the competition, aye?” I blowed into his hand. He rubbed my back, the start of the ritual that always began right before tacking up. Caballero was being bridled as well by his rider, so it wasn’t long before the three of us we being led side by side out of the fine stables.

The palomino shook his head, holding it high as he eyed some pretty mares to the wayside. “Toeki, you think they dig me? I can has an awesome coat, yes?”
Toeki strutted a little more, “Posh, girls love red coats, red stands for passion you know.”
I didn’t take one step out of turn, “Fell’ers, girls love experience.” I turned my dappled neck clear around to look at the mares, and then winked at each one.

Cabllero tripped. Toeki’s jaw dropped. They looked at each other while their riders mounted up on their backs, then back at me.
“But you're a gelding!”

I laughed.

Story 2, from

Oomph! Toeki caught his balance and tossed his head, trying to help his human - Austin - shift his slight weight back where it was supposed to be.

"Sorry, Boy," Austin's contrite voice murmured. Toeki's back-turned ear caught the sound easily, despite the fast canter, two horses at his side and sound of the breeze whistling through the buckles on his bridle. The young Belgian horse also felt the swift pat on the side of his neck.

He curled his neck in and snorted, skipping a beat and changing canter leads. 'Not your fault' Toeki tried to impart. 'Just wasn't expecting that divot. Completely ruined my striding'. But of course, it was too much to expect that a human would hear this.

Still annoyed that he'd nearly missed a stride - and Toeki hated being shown up by anyone - it took a moment longer than usual for the gentle sponging on the right of Toeki's mouth to register. He tossed his head high - 'Where? Where? Let me at it!' And then there was sponging on the left, too. Toeki snorted, flicking his ear back to show he understood. He lowered his head obediently and kept his stride long, obeying the soft pressure either side of his ribs.

The french link bit settled on his tongue - warm metal and familiar - consistent against the bars of his mouth. Toeki knew he was a dominant sort. It was his job to do the jumping - the human should just hold on for the ride - but Austin was different. Toeki grudgingly had come to accept that sometimes - just sometimes, mind you - the lean-built human knew not just how to hang on, but was helpful, too.

Just like he understood the gentle two-way pressure on his bit, Toeki understood that a quick pull-release check on the right rein meant it was time to focus. He looked up and clocked straight on to the approaching fence.

A large, inviting hedge (if Toeki didn't love winning so much, he might have been tempted to take a chunk out of it instead) set in the middle of a body of water; rippling only faintly in the light breeze and reflecting the wide open sky.

'Oh...is that it?' Just like he knew the jumping was his job, he made it his job to know his course. Humans all said they shouldn't let their horse learn or they'd anticipate. Pfft; like they could stop him learning something if he was set on it. But this was the last fence.

There was a whisper of pressure at his sides again, and the right rein opened up. Toeki glanced over - Caballero, the keen Palomino and Charlie, the happy and sweet natured bay - were both half a stride ahead and he'd veered to the left to take the inside line. Snorting again, and flicking his ear ('Yes, I get it') Toeki moved his shoulder into the open space under the rein and lined himself up with his team-mates again. 'That one is your fault,' he tried to say, with a playful tail flick. 'You're the one who did all that corner cutting practice last week for the coloured pole days. How am I supposed to know it's different for food jumping days?'

But, predictably, Austin wasn't listening. Though, at least he was focusing on their stride - Toeki could be happy with that. Almost in a bored manner, but underneath determined to show off and get it right, Toeki counted himself in. They were nine legs away, and off by a fraction.

He flared his nostrils around the cradle of the flash band and neighed, letting his stride surge out. Austin gave him the rein and stayed light, something Toeki was thankful for. He was also pleased to see that Caballero and Charlie had made the distinction and followed him, lengthening out.

They launched into the water ('Yikes! Cold!') but kept counting.
2. 1. Up and over. Land. Splash.
Perfect.
With their round completed well, Toeki was free to focus on the next most important thing. 'Now, once we've finished, can you take me back over there? I want a taste of that nice hedge...'

Story 3, from

Caballero was getting excited.

He knew what was coming; he could feel how nervous the people around him were. Too anxious to pick on the remaining food in his hay net, the Lusitano peeked through the stall door, his golden coat glistening in the sun.

He searched the area, his ears moving as he looked for a familiar voice. He found what he was searching for: next to one of the stalls, Juan talked to a blond boy. The horse paid attention, but he still couldn’t make out what they were saying. Confused, he retreated back to his stall, and settled for sniffing the horse next to him.

A few hours later, with two unknown horses by his sides, Caballero scraped the ground, impatient. When the starting signal was given, he launched himself forward, momentarily forgetting the rider in his back. He slowed down right on time to take the first jump synchronized with the other two horses. Now more controlled, Caballero quickly adjusted his speed to his companions’ pace. He had done this already, in Russia, and this wasn’t much different. The three horses jumped the other obstacles side by side, and by the time the expanse of sparkling water came into his vision, the Lusitano was completely ready for it.