[Henry is Bae]

Username:
Tolter's Name:Proud to be a American
Gender:America
Halter:can it have stars and stripes like the american flag?
Significant Day:

America's first Indapendance day.

America's First Independence day seemed magical. The coltwas born on Independence day. Soon after he was born he whinnied as he snorted as there was fireworks. America smiled and played around with the other colts then stopped to watch the fireworks again. America loved his first independence day. It seemed he could do this forever this was a very special day. The colt was enjoying this day and would be his favorite day, because he had fun and was born on this very special day.

[Good.Pointe]

Username: Rose Rivervalley
Tolter's Name: I Saw The Flares "Flare"
Gender: Stallion
Halter: Galaxy print with a shooting star
Significant Day:

WIP

[ExVenor]

Username: Stumpy STMP
Tolter's Name:
Gender:
Halter:
Significant Day:

wip this is absolutely gorgeous Bentley. ;o;

[Ianite]

Ahhh this bab is gorgeous! Good luck to everyone entering!

Just gonna casually stalk this thread

[mewmew.]

Username: kels.
Tolter's Name:
Gender:
Halter:
Significant Day:

Torn on if I wanna enter or not. This horse is so beautiful. ♥

[broken*]

Username: broken*
Tolter's Name: Shine Bright Like A Diamond - "Diamond"
I chose this name, because this song by rihanna was the opening number song for my state's pageant, so I thought, with my significant day being my first pageant, it was an appropriate name.
Gender: Mare
Halter: I was thinking something inspired by this, aka rihanna's "diamonds" album cover
Significant Day:
my very first pageant

wow. so to explain my significant day, I first have to explain the events leading up to it. be prepared for a bit of a story, haha.

so, I want to go to college, preferably a private university. I want to, hopefully, get a double major. my parents don't have that much money, so they won't be able to help pay for it much. these three things add to the cost of furthering my education after graduation this year; the burden entirely on my shoulders. so, I was trying to figure out how to get scholarships to help me be able to afford college without going into a crazy high amount of debt; and that's when my dad started talking to a woman he knew through our local county fair. she had been in the miss America pageant system when she was a teenager and a young adult, and had been able to pay for her education through all of her various winnings. the miss America organization is the largest scholarship provider to young women in the united states, offering over $45 million dollars total every year in scholarships nationwide. she suggested I help out at her local pageant, to see how it went, and then compete in my first teen pageant the following month. so, I agreed, obviously. several months later, it was the day of her local pageant, and so I put on some nice clothes and made my way to the pageant location. that day was full of a lot of learning experiences; from zipping up dresses, to helping stick on swimsuits with buttglue, to listening to some amazing talents, it was a day to remember. and it helped me prepare(mentally) for my pageant to come; the following month.

so now that I've caught you up on the backstory, i'll finally be able to begin with my actual "significant day". are you ready? I'm excited to tell you! okay, so here we go.

it was a cold Saturday morning, and I convinced my parents to stop, that early morning, at the nearby starbucks; I got myself a frappe, a refresher, and I bought a latte for the pageant director. my parents help me get all of my stuff out of the car and into one of the two dressing rooms; I was one of the first people there, so I managed to get the perfect spot; right in the corner, by the hangers. that morning was spent learning, practicing, and perfecting three things; the fitness routine, the opening number routine, the evening gown walk pattern, and two talent rehearsals. by noon, lunch arrived, and so many of the girls were unwilling to eat the yummy pizza; mainly the misses, who had to wear bikinis. as a teen, I, as well as the other teens, could cover up much more easily than they in my athletic/fitness wear if need be; so we had at the yummy pizza. then it was time to redo hair and makeup, where one of my new Miss friends helped me out ALOT, then get dressed for our individual interviews; I was number four. I was terrified, but I had a feeling this would be my easiest category; public speaking and thinking on the spot are two skills that I am both good at and rather enjoy doing. I walked in that room confident, and it went amazingly. after that was over, we helped set a few things up for the director, had dinner, then went to get ready for the show. from there, everything just flew by. backstage was a mess, everyone rushing around to get changed and get on stage, etc etc. but it was amazing and fun. then we were all on stage, holding hands and holding our breath. the judges had given the results over to another man, who tallied everything up to make sure that the points were correct, before giving the envelope to the director/spokesperson. the nerves were insane, they were real, they were jumping everywhere. and that's when I heard my name being called out for the local teen title being given away at the pageant. I was in shock. I don't even remember if I cried, but I'm pretty sure I did. they gave me flowers, put on my sash and crown, pictures were taken, the whole production. I was going to have an amazing year of service, I was going to receive a small scholarship, and I was going to be competing at the state pageant that june. that was one of the best days of my life.

so yeah, that's my story. and, in case you were wondering, I went and competed at the state level. no, I didn't win, this year, but that's okay; I had so much less experience than most of the other teens there. but that doesn't mean I'm not going to compete again next year, and someday, my hope and dream is to be "Miss America".

[.Foxtrot.]

Username: SpeednGrace
Tolter's Name: Golden Glory // Glory
Gender: Stallion
Halter: Possible the colour palette could be a blazing fire
Significant Day:

Glory was fooling around in his paddock. He had woken up early, since it was the day his rider was going to ride him again. His rider had a few years ago fallen off Glory's back while doing a quite a big jump. The fall had left his rider with only a few injuries but had left the rider gasping for air. Blory's rider was only young and had become fearful of him and didn't want to ride him or any other horse. But today Glory's rider, Rose, bucked up the forage to ride him. Glory sees Rose walk out the house and walk straight up to him. He sees the girl smile and stroke his muzzle gently. She then walks away. The girl comes back but with Glory's halter, saddle and his other riding accessories. He whinnies happily. The girl fits his halter into place and goes round strapping everything else on. She then delicately jumps on Glory's back. The girl whispers into Glory's soft golden ears "Come on Glory let's Finnish that jump unlike last time." She trots Glory round to the jump, she lines him up and sets off at a trot. They make the jump, she pats Glory on the side of his neck before turning the stallion to face the jump again. She sets off at a canter this time. They make it. The girl lines Glory up again but this time the girl gets too cocky and sets off at a gallop. Glory hits the bar and trips over. Rose lands on her back and cries for help. Glory staggers to his feet, he had landed weirdly.

***

A few days have passed and Glory's legs gone lame. He staggers around and cries out in pain. It's in the middle of the night and no one can hear him. He starts to get hot. He lies in his stall, uncomfortably.

***

The next day the girl's father comes out to check on Glory. Once he sees the horse lying on the floor he walks over to him. Glory's on his side now and whinnying in pain. The father calls the vet. Glory reluctantly lets the vet see to him. The vet diagnoses him. Glory is taken to the veterinarian clinic.

***

A few weeks have passed and his health has detrained. The vets haven't worked out whats wrong yet. Then this new vet walks up to Glory. He checks Glory over and starts speaking to this other vet. Glory doesn't recognise him. The new vet looked young and slightly scruffy. He snorted slightly, what was going on? Glory was extremely ill now and could hardly walk. His heart was failing and he could hardly hold himself up. He wasn't an old stallion, he was actually fairly young.

***

Glory can't remember much about this day since he was taken into surgery but all he can remember was he felt like he was on death's bed in the morning and in the evening he felt like a ray of sunshine, a golden ray of sunshine. He was reunited with his owner and they went on to compete in a jumping competition that same year. Furthermore they managed to win a blue ribbon in it.

[Arrows]

Username: Arrows
Tolter's Name: Forgotten Riches // Aurum
Gender: Stallion
Halter: Plain, shiny black; I believe it will sharply contrast and stand out against his beautiful, golden coat.
Significant Day: The Day He was Left Behind
It was a sunny, warm day in Autumn - an odd day, as winter was very near and there was talk of snow the next week. Aurum was a young and bright colt, happy in his home. It was a new world for him. He spent his days playing and romping with two other colts, awaiting the first snow. Aurum loved to explore, but found it was getting boring in the same old pasture. He wished for something new.
Little did he know, things were changing - and had been for a long time. Two large trucks had rolled past the barn just that morning, heading for the house. Days before, some horses from the huge stables had been trailered out and never returned. Come to think of it, the barn had grown quieter and quieter in the past month. He hadn't seen his own mother in a week. A sign had been put up outside the driveway. Oblivious Aurum paid no mind to these changes - he was safe, happy, and well-fed, so there was no problem; right?
Everything was about to change. That afternoon, when Aurum's owner entered the pasture to fetch the colts, he hid, like he always did. The woman was in a rush today, and hurriedly threw on the two other colts' halters and led them off, not even bothering to shut the gate. Aurum was confused; had she forgotten about him? That couldn't be possible! But the odd occurrence still didn't faze him. He eagerly trotted out the gate, sneaking around the barn and other structures, keeping out of sight. As he explored the land he'd never seen, Aurum never noticed every last horse being loaded onto multiple trailers - ever horse besides him at least. He didn't hear the loud, resounding 'goodbye' his owner said to nothing, it seemed.
It wasn't until the loud clang of the gate that Aurum realized - he was completely alone. The colt entered the open barn. It was empty - of horses, of food, and of people. Nothing. The stalls were bare, the arena empty. All the pastures were the same way - the electric fence was even turned off. For the first time, Aurum felt a little afraid. His stomach dropped. Where had everyone gone? What would he do?
The young horse made his way up the driveway to the quaint little ranch home, which was quiet and dark. He nosed at the door, and there was no movement from inside the home. It was nearly dark at this point, so the colt made his way back down to the barn. After countless evenings spent inside the barn, there were none like this. Aurum entered his old stall and laid down, eyes wide open, staring into the darkness. There was no warm sawdust for him, no occasional snort from the stall beside him, or swish of the tail. He had no water, hay, or grain. Aurum was alone. Left behind.
- - -
Early, early the next day, the colt was awoken from his light sleep by a car's rumble. Normally, he would've gone back to sleep, simply annoyed a car had woken him from his slumber, but today Aurum leapt up and skidded outside. He came face to face with a truck, which was pulling into the barn. He'd never seen this truck before. Who was in it?
Immediately, the truck was shut off and a man jumped out. Aurum took a step back. "Hey there, boy. What's a little guy like you doing around here all alone?" He stared at the man with his large, piercing green eyes. But then, the new man produced a carrot, and Aurum forgot about his caution and remembered his hunger. The colt lunged forward and devoured the treat, and was given another one. He didn't even notice the man placing a halter on his head.
The man held the colt's lead rope as he ate some hay from his pickup and he made some calls. Soon enough, a trailer pulled in. Aurum was lead inside and taken to a new place - his new home. Not with the man, but with a kind lady with some other tolters. He was well taken care of there and not forgotten - ever.
- - -
Perhaps the day was odd, and frightening for Aurum, and seemingly silly. But perhaps it was a little blessing, a little act of fate. Perhaps Aurum needed something a little out of the blue and a little unnerving to happen for him to reach where he's meant to be.

[Desmond]

Mooshbrain finally let me put together more than just herbablurb nonsense and comprehend actual words as words and not gobbledegook. :D
That being said, we've a winner~!

iBrevity
The Resplendent Quetzal // Quetzalcoatl "Quetzal"
Agender (bio male; uses they/them pronouns)
If at all possible something like this but with the base black and the jewels the same green as their eyes? (original publisher on image) Or maybe with the jewels a dark red, like the quetzal's chest feathers. Surprise me using this, how's that cx


Quetzalcoatl was nearly a year old when they finally met their twin. It was always strange to come across the other gods because they did not look quite right; Quetzalcoatl could see their body, of course, no matter what sort they were, but stretched out behind them was the shadow of something else, something bigger. When Xolotl approached them Quetzalcoatl could see a smear of black behind him like the long body of a salamander.

“Quetzalcoatl,” Xolotl said warmly. He was human this time around; he switched species quite a lot, unlike most of the other gods. Quetzalcoatl themselves quite liked horses and didn't so much mind the captivity when they had the freedom of a strong body. Sometimes Xolotl would join them and they would be born twins again, in a strange mimicry of their original birth. Those were always the best lives, with Xolotl at their side.

“Hello Xolotl,” Quetzalcoatl replied, lifting their small head so Xolotl could stroke their nose. They were about the same age in these bodies, which wasn't unusual; Xolotl was still tottering about on feet he made more unsure than necessary. He had always enjoyed dramatizing growing up.

Xolotl pet their face and said, “I'm Viggo this time around.”

“Viggo,” Quetzalcoatl repeated dryly. “That's hilarious.” An Icelandic name meaning 'lightning', they knew. Xolotl never could help himself with influencing his parents to choose a name he preferred.

Xolotl—Viggo—laughed. “Just wait,” he said, patting his chubby child fist on Quetzalcoatl's nose. “I may or may not have whispered a name in the ear of the owner here.”

Quetzalcoatl lifted their head. “My name?” They asked. “You always pick terrible ones.”

“Just wait,” Xolotl said again with a grin far too mature for his face. “I did good this time around, I promise.”

They snorted. “Somehow I don't believe you,” they said, but Xolotl only laughed and eventually it coaxed a smile from Quetzalcoatl too.

Back before, in the period Quetzalcoatl remembered more like a dream than a memory, Xolotl and them had been close friends. They could never quite forget that, even when other things faded: the chanting of prayer and the smell of fresh blood, the vibrant colors of the Mayan Empire and the celebrations performed in their name. Those things became more smeared than realistic, a mess of colors and sensations. They could not quite separate stories they had actually experienced and stories that had been just that.

But their soul knew Xolotl, and always would. He had left an impression within them that would not fill, not even when enough centuries passed that everything else vanished.

Xolotl drew them back to the conversation by saying suddenly, “A boy, huh?”

Quetzalcoatl laughed. To the surrounding humans it sounded like a foal's happy whinny. “You know I don't care either way,” they said when they'd recovered. They swished their short tail and considered the gold hue of their legs. “I was more excited about being a palomino than a stallion.”

Xolotl chuckled. “I can't believe that doesn't bother you more,” he said, “But I suppose that's the difference between us, brother.”

Quetzalcoatl smiled at him. It had always been the difference between them; Quetzalcoatl had never cared about the genders of their vessels, their sacrifices. They had little preference either way; they did not see themselves as being more male than female, and so they'd divorced from the idea of gender eons ago. Xolotl had yet to let go of that lingering conception of being male, though Quetzalcoatl had seen him in other genders before—it was more so that he had a preference rather than a necessity (their brother Tezcatlipoca however, demanded to be male each time he reincarnated, no matter the species).

Xolotl's human parents called for their son. “Viggo!” His mother sang. She was a kind-faced pudgy woman, with lank brunette hair that looked nothing like her son's pale blonde crown. (That in itself wasn't unusual. Quetzalcoatl was often gold and bright; Xolotl was often pale and ashen. Quetzalcoatl was quite sure they'd never seen him anything but blonde.)

Xolotl winked at them. “I'll come back,” he promised, and pressed a messy kiss to Quetzalcoatl's whiskery nose.

Quetzalcoatl nodded. To both the horses and the humans that had heard them speak their conversation had been nothing but nonsense; something in another language perhaps, one too old for any of them to understand. It passed unnoticed. Xolotl allowed his mother to fasten him into the car seat in the back of their car and waved at Quetzalcoatl out the window as they drove away. He mouthed something that looked like, “It's fabulous.”

Later that evening the owner signed off on a certificate that named them The Resplendent Quetzal, and Quetzalcoatl could not even bring themselves to be annoyed. (Xolotl had given them worst names before, they supposed. This one was at least tolerable. The memory of wings had not gone as far away from them as others, and they could imagine the weight of feathers lying on their shoulders easily enough. It was kind of nice, even, to think of birdsong they had not heard in many years.)

general notes:
Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl are twins and allies in Mayan mythology; Quetzalcoatl is god of wind,
the dawn, merchants and knowledge and Xolotl is god of fire and lightning and deformities and
death. (That's what the reference to his human name is; he's the god of lightning, so naming
himself an Icelandic name for 'lightning' is funny.)
(If I win Quetzal I'll order a custom from the Challenge Center to be Xolotl cx)
the reference to a salamander-esque shadow stretching behind Xolotl is a reference to this
wee creature; Xolotl had an animal form in which he
turned into an axolotl in mythology
the resplendent quetzal (the birds above) was often linked to the god Quetzalcoatl in
Mayan religion and were seen as representatives of him (in fact they were named after
the god!)
(first photo source is here
second photo source is here)

Vita... you're writing more of this, right? I need the rest of this story. I need a novel, a sidestory, and a sequel. So far, anyway. <3
Congrats!
I'll do the halter for this one tomorrow or Tuesday, unless something comes up with RL - that's when I'll also judge the halter-based competition tolt.
Thanks for your patience with me, guys!

[iBrevity]

!!!

I can't even formulate real words right now, I'm so happy <33 Thank you B, and yes of course I plan to write more with them! Eeep I'm so excited, thank you thank you cx

p.s. no rush on the halter, just get to it whenever <3