Started out with breeding two of my striders to see how I want breedings to be done, and I'm extremely satisfied!
<33
Owner: Neon Phoenix
Name: Katniss
Height: 18 hh
Gender: Mare
Age: 1
Rarity: Rare
Parents: Tobias X Flutter
x 
Tier 3 Training
Personality: She doesn't let others push her around or tell her what to do. She has a mind of her own and knows how to use it. Katniss is strong-willed and does what she wants, when she wants. Nothing will stand in her way.
Like / Dislike: ♥ Strawberries, archery, mocking jays, jumping, and flowers.
✘ Stages, screens, wasps, halters, and corn.
First training experience: None of the trainers were interested in training Katniss. She is too stubborn and irritable. She would not take well to getting a halter on let alone a harness. Any time something went around her belly she would buck uncontrollably until it came off. So chuck wagon was out of the question. Katniss would refuse to jump over obstacles when told to go a certain pattern; she jumped the way she wanted to go which made it impossible for competition. She was not interested in dressage either as that also required certain steps in a particular pattern. Really anything needing direction was not her forte. This is why no one wanted to train her. If Katniss was to compete in a sport, it would need to be something with spontaneous action. Cutting was out of the question as cows frightened her. One of the trainers thought back to how she bucked during harness training and thought maybe that could be something she did with how high she would buck to get it off.
Competition: The arena's electric atmosphere crackles with anticipation. As Katniss stands in the holding pen, she can sense the eyes of the crowd on her, brimming with expectation and excitement. She dreads the next part. The flank strap is swung under her belly, but still loose enough for comfort. Katniss waits in anticipation as it gets tighter, her adrenaline kicking in. The gate swings open in a burst of motion; instinct surges through her as she leaps into the open arena. Her back arches: muscles coil tightly as she explodes into a powerful buck. Dust rises beneath her hooves as she kicks and spins, feeling the pulse of rhythm and raw energy coursing through. Each leap is a statement, a wild dance with gravity that stretches moments into an eternity. The world becomes a blur of movement, a whirlwind of effort and exhilaration.
The crowd’s cheers fuel her momentum, pushing her to express every ounce of spirit and strength she possesses. The clamor is a melody, urging her onward, igniting every fiber of her being. Katniss bucks with vigor, twists and turns. The higher she bucks the more the crowd cheers. As seconds stretch, the buzzer finally sounds—a signal that time is up. With a final leap, she slows, feeling the triumph of collective effort to release the strap. The energy from the crowd envelops her, a celebration of display.
As Katniss makes her way out of the arena, she is met with admiration and respect. Handlers pat her neck, murmuring their appreciation, adrenaline still coursing through. She created something spectacular—a moment of wild beauty and skill, an accomplishment forged in the heat of competition.
Katniss watches from the sidelines, where handlers bustle about, adjusting equipment, whispering encouragements to their striders. The air is thick with a mix of anticipation and dust, weaving together the stories of each participant. Young striders with wide eyes and seasoned veterans share the space, each focused on their unique competition.
And as the twilight blankets the grounds, bull riding takes the stage. The air thrums with tension; the spirit of the rodeo finds its crescendo here. Bulls emerge, fierce and powerful, their riders hanging on with every ounce of grit they can muster. Time is a slippery creature in the arena, where seconds stretch and taut muscles contest wills. It makes her think back to her bucking, and how glad she doesn’t have someone on her back.
The closing ceremony draws near, a celebration of what the rodeo stands for—heritage, spirit, community. Around campfires and stalls, stories are spun, laughter and camaraderie weave through the night air, echoed by the sounds of tethered striders and humans being together. The winners are announced for each competition, and Katniss hears her name for second place.
Back in the stable, the world quiets down. The memory of her performance lingers; the energy of the crowd and the thrill of those exciting seconds play softly in her mind. Reflecting on the day, pride swells within her. Despite competition's demands, there's a sense of unity, where diversity of events and characters forms a rich tapestry of tradition.
Breedings:
1. Open
2. Open
3. Closed
4. Closed
5. Closed
6. Closed
7. Closed
8. Closed
9. Closed
10. Closed
11. Closed
12. Closed
1. Open
2. Open
3. Closed
4. Closed
5. Closed
6. Closed
7. Closed
8. Closed
9. Closed
10. Closed
11. Closed
12. Closed
