A HeeHaw presentation

A entery for Silver Wing Stable's Summer Show!
Results: SWS Show Results!

Class: Breed Special
(worked with this at the same time of the jumping one. Might do more...not sure...might just as well go go go when I have inspiration...not sure what to do next.... Are you in on this show too? Want to collab on something? Just let me know

Rider: "Georgie" (Georgiana) D
'Horse':


C-003 Asthor - Tracker


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WC: 2000 (miiiiight have gone a little overboard...ups)


It was finally her turn. She did a last look over, both of herself and Asthor. He wasn't bored out of his ass yet. His eyes was still alert and his ears topped. It was much to look at - but as of yet - no real interaction with others - but he had done it vocally instead. Georgie understood the reason, even if all contestants were up to paar with shots and what not, one never knew - especially when so many different equines was gathered at the same place. The head of the show seemed to have tried to gather all kinds of contests to join in and thus all kinds of people as well. They even had something for the daredevils - those would do things without a helmet! That was something Georgie never would do, partly for her own scaredy cat self, partly for the - in her opinion - stupidity of doing it. So what if your hair got squashed or mushed together - she rather had her hair become that way rather than her brain. It didn't matter how good you were as a rider - or how calm and talented your horse was. Accident happened for no reason and out of the blue.

If your hair got messy it was just to brush it, wash it or simply let it be. How vain had you be to care about your hair when dealing with horses. It wasn't a photoshoot. Then of course, there was people like one of her former classmates who claimed she was such a experienced rider but could hardly tell a jumping saddle from a dressage one, nor what the difference was between a bay and a chestnut horse.

Then of course the helmet issue was also partly due to her brother. A very big part in fact. Being about ten, almost eleven years her senior, she had always been the baby in the family weather she liked it or not, especially treated like one by her big brother. She had always been protected, sheltered and supervised. No wonder she was so nervous most of the time, now when she tried to do things. It was a miracle that she had been able to handle all these school years at the boarding school so far away from her family. Of course she knew it was because they cared, or so she hoped, and not just because it was so the family name was kept pristine at all time, with no risk of being shamed.

All the jumps was tucked away now she noted as she came into the arena, Asthor following close to her right side. His long ears flicked back and forth as he listened to the murmur of the people sitting at the middle of the arena on what looked to be folding chairs. There was also a little rickety table but that was just sturdy enough to allow the secretary to have something to keep their papers as well as a laptop on. There was also a person that had to be the supervisor of the breed special. Then of course the crowd of spectators - not to forget. The big faceless foe in her mind. She took a deep breath and tried to focus on those that ‘had a face’, the people at the little table. Or rather the one who wasn't seated in front of the computer.

The woman was blonde, dressed in a very smart looking set of white breechers and a deep purple shirt. Her smile was so big and inviting it almost made Georgie wonder if the other thought she was someone special, like one of the celebrities she swore she had seen the vans in the area where those was kept.

“Hello there, I'm Cadice, please state your entry number, the name of your animal, and what breed it is as well a little about it.” The woman, Cadice, gave a glance to the one next to her to confirm they were ready to type in on the computer.

“Um...yes, hello...” Georgie tried to collect herself, as she did a weird impression that was meant to be a smile but probably looked more like she was doing a failed funny face in a photo booth. Once more the nerves getting the better of her. The blood felt like it was rushing past her gut down to her feet. She could swear she was sweating worse than an hippo in the sun. She felt like one too, even if she had to tighten the belt as far as it was able to go just to make these pants to stay up. Then she met his dark, almost brown black eyes. He carefully nibbled at her fingers that held the reins. While he could be a total ass at times, as soon as Asthor noted she had any problems he was just a darling, stopping whatever mischief he had been up to prior. The pony she had before him had not cared much at all. Not in the same attentive way as Asthor did at least. Sometimes she could swear that he just knew how she felt. She hardly reflected on that the donkey had squared up all on his own, his left side facing the judges.

“Number 18, Asthor, Drabardi donkey...” Then it was like everything just became blank. A quick look of horror was given in the supervisors way before she looked down. What was she supposed to say next? Everybody would say just their animal no matter what the breed was the best. She wasn't certain what would make Asthor or any Drabardi donkey better than any other longear - or horse. He was simply Asthor, a friend who understood her, that made her relax, to not hurt herself as she tried to get rid of the pain inside of her. That he was someone who had made her dare to go outside her room, little by little. To live. How he was supposed to be for one of the horses, but how Joe, their old stable manager had advised her father to let her to be introduced to the donkey instead.

“Just say whatever comes to mind, sweetie...” she heard Cadice say kindly “... it don't have to be a masterpiece presentation, just so we get a short personal description of your friend...in the breed books it's often so generalistic and to be honest a bit bland. I want to know from your perspective as a owner about this breed. For example, are..., Asthor having the perfect conformation for his breed? Do Asthor have all the typical moves for the breed is known for?  What makes him special? Things like that...”

Georgie took a deep breath. It all sounded so easy. Looking up she looked into the donkeys eyes again. It was like they had never stopped looking at her. If she hadn't known better it almost looked like he was smiling. It made her smile too.

“The Drabardi donkey is a rather old breed but it hasn't been until recently it have been brought to the general public. The island from where it is native is while not totally old fashion they still mostly rely on the old way of life. There are for example not many cars there, but they use a larger type of the Drabardi for most of the farmwork.”

“A larger type?” Cadice asked as she stood and started to look at Asthor in all angles before approaching them and greeting the donkey. As the woman had walked around them he had followed her movements with just an ear but kept most of his focus on Georgie.

“Yes, the Drabardi come in four sizes, and this type that Asthor belong to is called Baro and is to the second to largest type. The largest size is called Barri. The smallest is called Pasha and the second to smallest is called Kalpana. All but the Barri is ‘true wild forms’ meaning the different sizes are something that have been developed naturally and due to the different places where the specific type have lived. Like the Pasha live on a smaller island southeast of the large main island. There isn't much food there and like on many other island with not much food the animals have adapted their size. The Kalpana is from the center of the island where it's more true desert and very hot. Of all the types they are more resistant to heat and can survive longer than the other types when it's dry since they rarely sweat and lose moisture. From what I've heard it isn't a good riding animal but a better animal for driving. The Pasha is mostly a kids donkey or driving. If an adult want to ride a Drabardi, the Baro and Barri is the best. The biggest Barri can become up to 15.4hh at the withers. “

Cadice nodded but didn't say much. She looked at the clover like marking on Asthors rump. “And what is this? It don't like the other specks of color he has on his back...”

“That is correct, ma’am...that is one reason why some call them ‘lucky asses’ or...well...lucky donkeys at least because it looks like a shamrock, ...all Drabardi donkeys has it somewhere on their bodies.”

The woman in purple chuckled and looking up Georgie saw the secretary was smirking too. Perhaps there was some from the audience as well. Cadice hid her smile behind her hand. “I'm sorry...I just never thought I would see the day when I would see a real ‘lucky ass’ and not just say that to someone. You learn something everyday I guess. So...what can you use this breed for...I know that many donkeys are mostly, historically seen anyway, as a pack animal even if you can ride it.”

Georgie nodded ”That is true...it have mostly been used as that, the Kalpana at least, and a pulling animal. On the Drabardi island there are no horses, and these days you aren't allowed to take any livestock there, just to protect the native flora and fauna. That said I can tell you that there are actually both a native cattle and sheep breed on the island but they aren't so big. Still, there are many parts of the land where the wild donkey have been driven off to give room for giant herds of these cattle and sheep herds. To herd these, the ‘cowboys’ most often use the Barri or Baro. Since you can breed over the types I know some drops of Kalpana are wanted in the best due to their resistance on the heat issue.”

Next she got to show Asthor in all gaits, so she was a little bit winded and pink on her cheeks when she got him to stand again. Now most of her nervousness had gone away - for now. She smiled towards the judges. “For being a longear they are decent in normal equine games, they are obviously not like a thoroughbred, draft, sporthorse or pony, but like a mix of those types put in a donkey's body. Some say they are especially good as companion animals for stressed horses or horses that seem to need a firm point in life.” She nibbled her lip “Some say they are really good for troubled humans too...no matter what they are suffering from mentally.” She petted Asthors nose.

Cadice smiled at her. “Sounds interesting, much better described than in a breedbook I say, I don't even know if I ever have seen this type of donkey in one of those either... You have anything else to add?”

From have being a good boy for the presentation Asthor now turned his head and looked Cadice straight in the eye. He almost seemed to smile.

“Heeeeee-haaaaawww!”

Georgie facepalmed. It all had gone so well.