Hey guys!
So yesterday I arrived back in the UK after having an absolutely wonderful week's holiday in Austria! More specifically I stayed in this lovely town named Zell am See, in the state of Salzburg. My friends and I rented an apartment halfway up one of the mountains, so I was treated to some stunning views of snow-capped mountains and ice-covered lakes (not a common sight in the UK I might add!!!
), with the scent of mountain pines in the air and the songs of woodland birds to serenade me as I sat on the balcony. It felt like I had been transported into a fairytale land, I don't think my friends or I could quite believe that a place that beautiful could really exist! Needless to say, it got my creative juices flowing!!! 
Sadly I didn't see any in real life (apart from a stuffed one in the Haus der Natur
), but I decided to make an Austrian Noriker for you guys! I was inspired to create a horse with appaloosa markings after looking at the snowy mountains, with the rocks breaking through the snow to break up the white. I almost went with a jet black base coat, but to reflect the browns (and greens, though horses can't be green lol ) of the trees on the mountainside I went with seal bay instead.
I did see some Haflingers pulling carriages in Salzburg city itself, so I might make one of those guys next...
So yesterday I arrived back in the UK after having an absolutely wonderful week's holiday in Austria! More specifically I stayed in this lovely town named Zell am See, in the state of Salzburg. My friends and I rented an apartment halfway up one of the mountains, so I was treated to some stunning views of snow-capped mountains and ice-covered lakes (not a common sight in the UK I might add!!!
), with the scent of mountain pines in the air and the songs of woodland birds to serenade me as I sat on the balcony. It felt like I had been transported into a fairytale land, I don't think my friends or I could quite believe that a place that beautiful could really exist! Needless to say, it got my creative juices flowing!!! Sadly I didn't see any in real life (apart from a stuffed one in the Haus der Natur
), but I decided to make an Austrian Noriker for you guys! I was inspired to create a horse with appaloosa markings after looking at the snowy mountains, with the rocks breaking through the snow to break up the white. I almost went with a jet black base coat, but to reflect the browns (and greens, though horses can't be green lol ) of the trees on the mountainside I went with seal bay instead. I did see some Haflingers pulling carriages in Salzburg city itself, so I might make one of those guys next...
ScarletFang wrote:AAAAAAAH oh my gosh Immy, I'm so sorry! I know you prefer forms to be completed ASAP but I saw this guy and couldnt resist TwT I shall finish it up in the morning I promise! (It's super late where I live and I'm about to faceplant xD)
Edit: Thank you for the patience, I've been sick for 3 weeks straight and hacking up a lung, blurgh xP
Username: Scarletfang
Show Name: Großglockner's Formidable Peak
Barn Name: Tyrol
Age: 9 years
Gender (delete the option you don't want please!): Stallion
Height: 15.2 hh
Breed: Noriker
Colouration: Seal bay semi-leopard appaloosa
Markings: Irregular blaze, half-cannon (RF), fetlock (LH) and coronet (RH)
Genetics: EE/Ata/LPNlpn/PTN1ptn1/PTN2ptn2
Story: Tyrol shifted in his stable impatiently waiting to be fed. The sun had barely crested over the mountains that morning and still the stallion was at a loss for patience as he paced the paddock, plumes of heated breathe drifting up through the crisp mountain air and into the sunlight that lazily crept through the darkened row of stalls. Kal, the landowners son who had bought the stallion, was the first to rise each morning even before the sun thought to do so itself. He heaved flakes of hay over each stable door much to the delight of the other barn residents... all save for Tyrol. "Hooo buddy, you dont eat, you dont work. That was our deal, remember"? The young man muttered in a slightly disapproving tone. The stallion flicked his tail irritably and kicked the flakes as if in protest before pinning his ears and reluctantly lowering his head to eat. Kal patted the stallions flank in light praise before moving on to gather the stubborn steeds tack. The boy had known Tyrol since foalhood, promising to take care of him even if his own mother would not. From birth, the foal would fight for his life for months, clinging to any hope of a future as his scrawny build caused his knees to shake and feet to wobble. His mother had refused him only a few hours after birth, sensing her new offspring was not long for their world, but kal knew better. He had first heard rumors of a young horse a couple villages down that was foaled to a pair of regal show horses, but once born it was obvious by his frail frame and small stature that he was not fit for the ring. He had convinced the stable owner to take the young colt, the man in question utterly confused as to why anyone would want such a flimsy thing. The boy did now hesitate as he swept the foal back to his stables and reared him by hand, waking every morning to feed the little orphan until the day came where he was old enough to be left alone while kal went to fell trees in the forest. There was one problem, however... Whenever the lad left, the colt would refuse to eat... Even after he returned the boy would have to entice him again with fresh hay and oats. Then one day, about a year after his arrival, the young colt began to show signs of true distress when the logging tack was taken from its hanger and the horses were fitted while he was sure to be left behind. Kal watched on with concern, worried that something may happen in his absence, and finally conceded to have the colt join them in the forest. The young horse was ponied behind the pair of elder workers, enthralled with his new surroundings as he watched the birds fly overhead and twigs snap and crack under-hoof. His ears flicked forward at the sound of knocking and the ruckus only grew until they happened upon a group of men hidden amongst the dense forest around them, swinging axes and pushing saws until a crack rang out and all scattered afore the mighty tree that whined and buckled under its own weight. The tree landed with a thunderous boom, causing the colt to rear and kick while the elder pair simply watched on, unaffected. The boy handed the youngster off to another worker before clicking the team into action as he pulled them up beside the log and wrapped the chains around its enormous girth. He whistled sharply and with all their might the pair ahead of him leaned and drove their hooves into the forest floor, tensing and driving until slowly the tree began to move. The colt saw this and watched with wonder as if the team was moving the very mountains themselves. He whinied as Kal walked by, following and directing the team with various clicks and directions. He smiled at the eager youngsters rising energy when a thought struck him. "Bring me the smaller harness" Kal called to another logger, "I want to try something". He coaxed the colts head through the collar ever so slowly before letting the weight rest fully on his shoulders. Tyrol didnt seem to mind. With a grin, the boy lead the horse over to a smaller tree, about a quarter the size the others had dragged. "Pull"! He demanded, a fiery snap to his words, "Pull, Tyrol! Hah! Lead on"! The horses ears pinned and he stood for a moment, unsure of the command before he began to lean forward. The feeling of the harness across his chest made the youngster fidget and stomp his feet irritably, growing ever more annoyed the harder he tried to move forward until the moment when the harness' pressure began to ebb on his joints and a crackling of twigs could be heard behind him. With one foot forward and then another, the colt picked up his pace and before long kal was at a jog beside him with reigns at the ready, laughing triumphantly as Tyrol, the foal with no future, bounded over rock and branch like the majestic beast he was. The days work drew to a close quickly with the extra force of Tyrol's determination and soon the team was back at the stables and settled in. The boy examined the colt from tip to tail for any sign of injury or fatigue and to his astonishment there was nothing. He brought the horses head up in his hands and whispered to him, "You dont want to be left behind, yeah? Fine. You've shown everyone that you can endure, now let's see how long you can hold onto it. You eat your food and be a good lad and I'll take you out again. If not, then you wont have the energy to work and you'll stay behind. Understood"? He chuckled as the colt knickered and tried to chew his shirt, "I'll take that as a yes". Kal assumed the youngster would grow weary of the laborious task within a few weeks, but when weeks turned to months and then months to years, the pair found themselves in the present. Tyrol was no longer the wobbly kneed little colt, but a formidable force of nature that threatened to challenge even the mountains mighty heights with every passing year as his sheer immensity made the earth quake beneath him. Both had grown stronger and more stubborn with age, but still their deal persisted. The stallion would eat impatiently every morning just as the sun rose over the peaks and the boy, now a young man and ever grateful for his dogged friend, arose every morning just the same before the suns rays and readied the horses for another day of honest work.
Other (optional): His favorite snack is Apple Strudel and will essentially do anything for the sugary morsel ever since he stole a full tart from Kal's plate once at an anniversary party for Kal's dad.... He has also been known to chase after people at the smell of the pastry only to stop and stare at them as if asking 'You gunna finish that'?!
