Pay Day

Horses Name: 9843 SFR's Home-style Apple Pie
Riders Name: Piper Harding
Show: White Blood Stables Winter Races
Class: Cross Country
Registration Number: 5
Extra Images: Such Cold and Lunge Out
Placings: 1st (WBS Winter Races RESULTS)

-----Story-----
"You've got this."
"I don't got this."
"No, no, you've got this."
"I'm telling you Rain, I don't got this. This kinda thing is supposed to be your job! I'm the western expert; I barrel race and chew hay!"
"Nooo, its supposed to be India's job. She's the one who rides like hell. I just jump stuff."
"Still, I-"
"Piper, who is the one who rode the half-crazy dragon horse monstrosity we call Mino?"
"Well me, but-"
"Anddddd, who did a week long trek with said half-crazed dragon horse?"
"Me. And, well, Riley. And India."
"Yes, but who rode him?"
"Me."
"And where did you all trek?"
"Cross-country."
"Good girl. Amy isn't nearly as bad as Mino is and you've totally done this before. There aren't even any monsters out there. So have fun! I'm going back to bed. Night!"
    Piper glared down at her phone. Of course Rain would be so flippant about this sort of thing. She didn't actually have to ride. Piper stuffed her phone back into her pocket and walked back towards her waiting horse. Amy's ears pricked up at her rider's approach. Her tack shined in the morning sun. Piper had inspected and polished each piece before they'd left Westwood, and double-checked it this morning. There were no breaks or tears. The equipment was brand new; Cece had purchased the set for this very event. Amy nuzzled her rider's hands in search of treats. Piper absentmindedly scratched the mare's nose.
"Start slow... Steady up...Keep on solid ground. Sound easy enough, eh, girl?"
Amy neighed in agreement.
-----
    It was not so easy. Piper clung to Amy's mane in a blind panic. The wind streaked past her face, stinging her eyes and whipping her hair into an angry mess of red strands. The forest ahead was a blur of brown wood and white snow. The sensation reminded her a lot of the time Mino had taken off with her. She'd wound up with broken ribs, a broken leg, and who knows how many fractures. That had not been a fun time. A tree branch dipped in front of their path. Without slowing down, Ammy charged down the path. Piper ducked to avoid the branch. This was not currently a fun time.
    Piper took a deep breath. You have to stay calm. Now is NOT the time to panic. Piper shortened her reins, slowing Amy's mad gallop as her rider regained her seat. You can do this. It's going to be fine. Piper ducked below another tree branch. India was right; this was less dangerous than trying to ride Mino cross-country. Amy actually listened.
    By the half-way point of the race, Piper could honestly say she was enjoying herself. The pair bounded up and down the snowy hills in perfect harmony. Piper gave the horse her head when they reached flat ground. Amy took off at a flat gallop, leaving a large cloud of white powder in their wake. Piper laughed as she stood a bit higher in her stirrups, sticking her tongue out to catch a stray snowflake. This was easier than she thought.
(520 words)----------------

And this is why I hate having to shade. DID ALL THAT WORK AND AMY ATE ALL OF IT. GROSS SOBBING.

But I am actually very pleased with how this came out! Snow is still a pain to draw. Its kinda impossible to tell that Amy and Piper are coming down a hill because of their snow cloud. Still, this was all a lot of fun to do! Very pleased with it <3

Edit: Added another jump after the hill because the hill was too hard to see.

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