A Double Dose of Elegance

I was going to shade this but I decided I liked it so much without shading that I'd just leave it their next pictures will be better.

So! You guys, meet VH Tyr and VH Daredevil! Two Hanoverian beauties I bought from Prettybold 
Tyr will be starting his career as a show jumper while Daredevil will be spending some time in dressage before retiring happily. Read the story to find out what is going onnnn!

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   It was a hot day, summer fast approaching in the middle of June, and Aisha found herself retreating briefly to the house to douse her face in water and drink two glasses of lemonade. It was about three in the afternoon and not much had been done around the yard. Everyone was struggling to adjust to the sudden change in temperature, from miserable rain to unrelenting heat. Of course, their Australian friends were laughing heartily at them and calling them wusses, but still.

   She was drinking the second glass of lemonade when she saw the truck slide past the front of the house, easing its way along the in-road and making its way to the car park. Her eyes darted to the calendar quickly, hung above the desk in the lounge, to see 'VH Delivery' circled on today's date. Aisha didn't know much about it. No one had told her what was being delivered her asked her to be involved.

   That was until Aithne poked her head in from the front hallway.
 
   "Aisha, could you give me a hand with this one?"

   "Sure," she said as she finished her lemonade and put the glass on the coffee table before following Aithne out of the house.

   The driver was just unfastening the ramps when they got into the car park. There was the dull thud of hooves on the trailer floor as a horse shifted inside and Aisha went to help the driver. They were soon lowering the ramp the ground to reveal the two horses inside, stood one behind the other. She couldn't see the horse at the back very well but the mare at the front was elegant looking with a dark coat and friendly, brown eyes.

   Aithne stepped forwards to unhook the mare's lead rope and lead her down the ramp. She was a calm horse, walking beside Aithne at ease and stopping a few feet from the ramp to look around at her new surroundings with perked ears and curious eyes. "The other one's yours," Aithne called over as she walked the mare in a circle. "His name is Tyr."

   Aisha looked at the stallion who was peering his head over the partition, nostrils flaring and bright blue eyes wide. She calmly opened the partition, sliding it out of his way. He stood, rooted to the spot, and took in a long, loud breath before exhaling it in a snort. He looked like he could be a handful if he wanted to, but he wasn't fidgeting to get off the trailer as fast as possible. Aisha untied him and stood firmly at his shoulder as he started to turn and walk towards the mare.

   He was a brisk walker, strolling down the ramp in strong, purposeful strides. Ever step he made was powerful and long and he walked with his head held high and proud. He soon stopped, standing stock still and looking around with curiosity. Every breath drank in the scent of the new yard, his ears perked so far forwards they could almost meet. He looked bright and intelligent, but sensitive. Aisha turned to look at Aithne as the other woman stopped beside them with the mare.

   "He's massive," she said with a laugh, "and gorgeous." Tyr let out a shrill, excited whinny. "And loud." The whinny was answered by a few of the Firelight horses and Tyr seemed to enjoy that, letting out another, high-pitched call that left Aisha's ears ringing.

   "Well, he's all yours," Aithne said with a laugh. "He's only five, he's got a long way to go."

   "Great, I'll get him trained up." Aisha looked up at the stallion and gave him a pat on the neck. He was chuntering to himself, little whickers escaping him as he listened to all the returning calls from the other horses. The mare was listening too, her head lifted in curiosity.

   "Aisha," Aithne said, drawing her attention away from the fine animal in front of her. She raised an eyebrow and Aithne grinned before she spoke again. "He's actually yours. I bought him for you."

   She froze and looked back to Tyr, to his noble head and strong shoulders, his clean legs and well-built rump. "What?" she said quietly.

   "He's a gift, for your new life."

   Aisha didn't know what to say. She had Paranoia, a gift from her father from before she started to transition, and he meant a lot to her. As much as she adored him, looking at him always reminded her of where she came from. Tyr was the mark of the start of her new life. Looking at him, even in that moment, she could see where she was going, what her life had and could become. A gift to mark the start of her womanhood, for real.

   Lost for all words, Aisha moved over to Aithne, letting Tyr stand but keeping hold of the rope, and dragged her into a tight hug. Aithne returned it with a small laugh, wrapping one arm around her while the other held onto the mare. "I expect good things from him," Aithne muttered. Aisha nodded and pulled away, feeling tears prickling at her eyes.

   "We're gonna rule the world," she said with a laugh, rubbing at her eyes as she moved back to Tyr's side. "Okay, boy, let's go check out your paddock."


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