[HowlingHooves]

Username: Suatrone
Show Name: Sand der versteckten Lagune
Barn Name: Ranta
Gender: Stallion
Height: 18 hh

Sire: Foundation
Dam: Foundation

Phenotype: Flaxen Golden Chestnut
Genotype: ee aa ff
Eye Color: --
Breeding Notes:
- Dominant for recessive Flaxen.

[Suatrone]

Show Name: Sand der versteckten Lagune
Barn Name: Ranta
Eye Color: turquoise lagoon (#04B4AE)

[Suatrone]

Required Daily: - Link an image of a single Flaxen horse.

proud Flaxen


Optional Daily: - List one fact about Flaxen in horses.

On the current state of scientific research, flaxen is seen as beeing inherited trough a homozygous recessiv genotype. On top of that, it only only shows on chestnut-based horses, so horses with at least one E may carry flaxen, but don't express it.


Optionals:

1.

• Saltatio Mortis - Nachts weinen die Soldaten
• Saltatio Mortis - Abschiedsmelodie
• Saltatio Mortis - Erinnerung

2.

the Name
Colour of your coat,
Memory of happy days,
Remind us always.

3.

the rainbow bridge
When Ranta was a little foal, his Kingdom had a severe controversy with its neighbours. One day, the King called for a fight, to finally end this.
Rantas mother, a fierce mare that would protect her family no mather what, was one of the horses called for. But Ranta was afraid. What, if hs mother doesn't come back? What should he do then, where should he stay?
His mother cuddled Rante as he told her his concern. "Don't worry, my beloved son." answered his mother. "My sister will take care of you. And even if I don't come home, we will see each other again. On the other side of the rainbow bridge."
"The rainbow bridge?" asked Ranta, wondering what this could be. He never heard of such a bridge. All bridges he knew where made of wood and stone, and for that grey or brown. There was no rainbow-coloured bridge among them, so how could such a thing possibly exist?
"Yes, my dear." His mother smiled. "When an animal dies, we go across the rainbow bridge, in a land where no harm can happen to us, where we can live free and happily. Because of this, no one of us needs to be afraid of this or any other fight. So even if we can't meet again in this world, live your life. I'll be waiting for you on the other side of the rainbow bridge when it's time."
Altough Ranta still was afraid that he could loose his beloved mother, he also felt relief. Because now he knew, that even if his mother doesn't come home, they someday will meet again.
And so, Ranta is living his life happily, waiting for the day he also crosses the rainbow bridge and is united again with every beeing he loves. But until that day comes, he enjoys his living days.

[Suatrone]

Required Daily: - Link an image of a small group or herd of horses.

Group of Horses


Optional Daily: - Link to the first Flaxen Rajarshi Draft.

The first flaxen Raj - #2 Persephone


Optionals:

1.

• Oomph - Bis der Spiegel zerbricht
• Oomph - Auf Kurs
• Oomph - Die Geister die ich rief

2.

Your own Decicion
"Hide, they're coming!" The older stallion shoved Ranta deeper into the cave, until he was completely covered in darknes. How could he have let it come this far? Ranta should have known that they would search for him! No Arena would let go one of their best stallions so easily.
Bur how could he continue? Of course, Ranta loved being a champion, loved fighting in an arena, loves the atmosphere. Thats why he became a professional arena stallion after all.
But over time, with many friends retiring due tue age or injuries, Ranta startet loosing his happines in this way of fighting. He felt anxious, wanting to quit, but no one let him. The only thing they agreed on was a holiday. But after Ranta found this place, this littele herd.... he immediately knew he found his true home and would only come back to the arena to visit some old friends.
And now? They came after him.
Ranta didn't know what do do. Would they harm his new family if he showed up? Or should he go out and protect his new home? In a way, this decision felt even more severe than the one to stay here and finally quit arena-fighting. Becase before, it where just words. it was just like an extended holiday. Now, the situation was real and concrete. Would he have the power, bodily and mental, to stand up and make his point? To take back his freedom?
Ranta heard them rummaging outside. He knew he was good at fighting, his parent where true war-horses. But there where plenty of other good stallions at the arena, especially under the younger ones. So why did they want to keep him that desperately? Why couldn't he stop fighting there?
Other horses mumured outside the cave. Complaining voices, laughter, noices as if someone was shoved around. They were threatening his family! Ans he was here, hidden and unable to do anything.
No, he wouldn't allow any of them to hurt his family. Ranta was a fighter, and he would take back his freedom and protect his new family and home! This was his decision, and no one was able to take it from him.
Strong-willed, Ranta left the shadow of the cave. He faced the people that came after him upright and pride, angrily whinnying. They should stay away from his family!
Some members of Rantas new family tried to hide him, pushing him back into the cave. But Ranta made his decision, he wont hide. And if this meant he had to fight one more time, that was it. But like his mother protected him by going to war, he would protect his home and family no mather what.
"Ranta, there you are!" one of the man yelled, sounding happy that the found him. "We came to bring you home!"
Unwillingly, Ranta shaked his head. He WAS already home!
The man lifted one of his brows, surprised that Ranta refused to come with them. They already gave him a holiday, he had to come back! They needed him at the arena, he was still young and healthy enough to fight, there was no reason for him to retire!
Ranta stomped on the ground, starting to show signs of aggression. He meant it, he would protect them, even if that means he had to fight!
The other horses became agitated, nervously watching what would be happening.
The man came nearer, holding a halter meant for Ranta. At least, he meant it for Ranta, but the stallion refused it. Instead, Ranta started to rise and stomp with both hooves on the ground, over an over again. The Ears were nearly invisible.
Before anything worse happened, an olderly man turned his horse. "C'mon, lets go."
"What?!" answered the man that spoke before. "We came here to bring him home!"
"But we need him! What is the will of one horse about the future of our arena? He ha no choice!"
"Of course he has! Can't you see? He doesn't want to come, and I bet he found a new home here."
"The we have to destroy it!"
"Are you crazy? That won't make him fight again. An unwilling fighter isn't a good fighter. If he ever comes to visit, he can still have a guest appearance at the arena. And now, lets go."
That was a solution, Ranta could definitely live with.
No one of the other man said something against the last words of the elderly man, knowing that he was right.
Ranta watched the people riding away, back to where the arena was. He was at home here, and hopefully would be for the rest of his live.

3.

link because large

[Suatrone]

Required Daily: - Link an image of a mare and foal.

mother and child


Optional Daily: - List full instructions for a DIY younger children’s activity.

baking cookies

Baking cookies with kids is easy, there are only a few things additional to baking cookies alone:
1. help as less as possible, but as much as needed (younger kids / ones with less experience might need more help) - from mixing the ingredients to dispersing the dough to shape the cookies.
2. choose a recipe where it is unimportent if the exact weight of the ingrediences is met or not (= recipe you can do on intuition)
3. if your recipe uses eggs, take fresh ones, so that nothing will happen if the kid nibbles
4. choose the generall amount of ingrediences large enough that nibbling won't take too much from the dough

a possible recipe for easy cookies: (they can also be decorated afterwards)
250g flour
125g butter or margarine
65g suggar
1 Egg
1 knife point paking powder
1 pinch vanilla suggar
1 pinch salt

Mix the ingredients together. Form the cookies (free forming, or trough rolling the dough out and using a cookie cutter, for example with christmas motives). Bake the cookies by 200°C for 10-12 minutes.

The additional instructions for baking with kidas can also be used for many other kinds of recipes, for example a chocolate cake. But because it's only two months until december, I settled for cookies here.


Optionals:

1.

• ASP - Beschwörung
• ASP - Krabat
• ASP - zutiefst

2.

Watching the Voice
Life was peacefull at Rantas new home. Relaxing. From time, to time, there were some visitors. People that lived in a village nearby, sometimes coming over to ask for help or offer some gifts. Life was friendly and happy, and Ranta enjoyed watching his foals iddling on the herds ground.
From time to time, there was a voice. Whispering, calling, promising. None of the horses were affected by it, altought they could clearly hear it, but for some people this voice seemed irresistable.
One day, Ranta decides to follow a young woman, that was bewitched by this voice. He was curious where the voice might come from, and why they could resist it but not certain humans.
It turned out she walked to a mill not far from the village. Ranta had seen this mill before, but ne never tought that the voice came from here. But now, it kinda made sence. The other horses, especially the older ones, had warned Ranta of this mill. He shoul interact with its inhabitants as less as possible. Did watching count as interacting?
Before the mill was a tall, black clothes person that welcomed the woman. It seemed as if that person was expecting her.
A cold shiver ran down Rantas spine. What was this? He could he this person talking, the wind blowing up there voices to him. It was THAT voice. They was calling these people! What did that mean?
Furious, Ranta retouned to his home.
Back there, he talked to the first elderly horse he could find.
"I've a question. You told me not to get too close to the mill, but what is this place? I discovered that it's linked to this strange voice, but why? How?"
The old mare sighed. "I would have prefered if you had not followed them, but since you had... there is an old myth, that this mill is the connection to the fairy world. The people this man lure to him are going to serve there for seven years, but no one ever returned after that like they was. Not, if they hadn't found love until then, and that love was stronger than their loyalty towards the miller. Some foundet their own mill somewhere across the country, some disapeared. Wen might hear the voice but are not affected, so we just stay away. That is the unspoken contract between this herd and the mill. And I hope you will keep it."

Ranta did keep the unspoken contrakt, but that didn't stop him from watching the young woman. He watched how she managed her apprenticeship as a miller, watched her secretly meeting a men she loved.
Over time, Rante grew friends to the man, helped him secretly meet with his love. But as the years passed, the woman seemed to become more and more sad. Ranta new her reason, as her seventh year of serving had started. And then, she finally told her love what he need to do, in order for them to be together.
Ranta helped his friend prepare, was his moral assistance, even if the other members of his herd told him not to. But this whas his friend, he needed to do something! And if he couldn't protect him, that was the only way to help.
As the day came by, Ranta fearingly watched the man going, going to free his love. Ranta waited, waited for hours, but nothing happened. Then, the door opened.

He came back, but she didn't. Near the mill, Ranta saw a woman that seamed to cry, watching the man go away before she returned inside. And the golden stallion decided to help the man trough this dark hour of his life - his love was not strong enough to overcome her loyalty for her master.
But as Ranta expieriences himself, one loss wouldn't mean life is over, and that was something he would defenitely teach his new friend. His new friend, and his child, that the woman gave him some days ago.

3.

link because large

[Suatrone]

Required Daily: - Link an image of an in-hand draft horse.

in-hand draft


Optional Daily: - Write a short story in your Raj’s point of view.

thereafter

Frostiness. Not only around me, but also inside. It had been minutes, hours, days. Days that formed to weeks and months, until around half and a year had passed. Half and a year away from home, half and a year of fear and distruction. Half and a year of war.
I saw other falling, disapearing. One moment they were by my side, and the other... gone. But there was no moment to rest, no moment to remember. Not until now.
The war is over, but I, I feel empty. Cold and empty, burnt out. Like something was wiped out of myself. Like a shell, living but innerly fallen too.
Somehow, it doesn't matter if I get home, I don't care. What would it change? No one could take back what I've seen, what I've experienced.
I'm broken.
Never, fighting was the same like the last one and a half year. My time at the arena seems like a play compared to it.
I wish my mother was here and could give me an advice. Never, never in my life I was in need of it so desperatedly.


Optionals:

1.

• Coppelius - Sternenstaub
• Coppelius - Butterblume
• Coppelius - Harmonie

2.

The journey of Hope
The days passed, one seeming like the other. The Humans worried about Ranta, as he seemed to fade away each day more.
It was an especially cold day, when he suddenly stopped near a destroyed village, rising his head as high as possible, listening. Then, he started to move, faster and faster, towards one of the stables.
Ranta broke trough the door, rummaging hectically trough the rubble. A relieved snuffle has been heard, then Ranta calmed down.
Carefull, he made the last centimeters to the young foal. It was weak and hurt, but it was alive. It was alive, like a miracle happened and protected it. And in this very moment, Ranta decided that he had to live, to survive. Not for himself, but for this foal, to help it to grew and become stronger. Just like his aunt did after his mother didn't came back after the war when Ranta was a foal.
The humans came, helped him bring the foal out as he refused to got without it. It was a little filly, and the Humans named her: Hope. Hope, because of the hope she seemed to had given to Ranta.
Without any thought, Ranta laid himself next to the foal to warm it up and keep it warm. He was very caring, using all his energy to coddle the filly up. And over that, his hope and trust into live came back. He had a meaning, something he was needed for.
It took some time, but week after week Hope became better. She played with Ranta, casted out his dark thoughts.
But then, thy came across another village, altought it coulnd't be called that anymore. For Ranta, it was like a deja-vu, throwing him metally back into the war.
He was trapped, no way to escape, nothing he could to except to hide and .... a small foal head rubbed over his chest, brought him back into the reality. Hope. She was here, she was alive. He may had lost many friends, but this little filly survived. He needed to protect her. Ranta may had been unable to protect his friends, but he could protect her.
With sad eyes, Ranta leaned his head against Hopes. The little filly seemd to smile.
"Don't be sad, Ranta." She said. "Mom told me, I will see her someday again at the other side of the rainbow bridge. I'm sure you'll meet you friends there, too."
Ranta freezed. The rainbow bridge, sure! How could he have forgotten what his mother told him, what helped him trough the time he realised she would never be coming back? What he told the foals and young horses, when an old one had been gone from them?
"You should never forget that, Hope." Ranta said, rubbing his head against Hopes and slightly smiling. He might still feel guilty for not beeing able to save his friends, but he kinda was... able to make his peace with it. Because he had something where he could make up, he had to protect Hope.
It took another few weeks until Ranta finally was on the ground of his family-herd again. Young and old mares and stallions, fillys and colts. Mourning and sadness als all realized that he was the only one that came back.
It was an elderly mare that first saw Hope. "Who is this?" she asked. "Where did you find this filly, Ranta?"
Hope, as friendly as she was, seemed to smile. "I'm Hope! And Ranta is my Protector, my Hero, my Friend. He saved me when everyone else was already gone."
Ranta shooked his head. "It was not me who saved you, it whas you who saved me. Without you, I too may have never come back."
Hope jumped around him. "But you are! And that's what counts. And now, can we play something? Pleaaaaase?"
"Let Ranta rest my dear. I'm sure one of the other colts and fillys will gladly pay with you, look at this curious pack." The elderly mare was right, the younger fillys and colts already surrounded them, watching what Hope did."Ohhhhhh, Ranta, can I?"
Ranta nodded. "Of course you can. I'll watch from over here, okay?" His word was enough for Hope to go playing with the other young horses.
"She truely is good for you. I saw many horses return from war in my life, broken, hurt. Compared to them, you are dooing good. Stick to that Ranta, so you will survive. And, if I can give you any advice: speek about it, so it never gets glorified."
Ranta nodded. "I will. And if I ever see a war comming again, I'll do anything to prevent it, so something like this won't happen again."

Over the next months, a few others came back. And Hope not only helped Ranta to overcome his experiences from the war, but she helped the other ones too.
And altoghether, they worked hard to keep the peace that was achieved and strongen it, so it would last as long as possible.

3.

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Note: the playlist today is splitted - the text of the first song also contributes to the daily optional, the texts of the other two contribute to the tale below. (Instead of all three songtextes contributing to the text below loke the other days.)

[Suatrone]

Required Daily: - Link an image of a horse of your choice!

Hhm, like what does this smell?


Optional Daily: - Create a personality color palette for your Raj.




Optionals:

1.

• In Extremo - Mein Kind
• In Extremo - Siehst du das Licht
• In Extremo - Frei zu Sein

2.

Crossing the Bridge
It was a fresh and friendly springday, many years after the war where Ranta found Hope. She grew into a beautifull mare, and Ranta enjoyed watching her foals during his old days.
But today was different, Ranta could feel it. So he bid farewell to the other horses of his herd, and went on a walk to find a calm and quite place. Soon during the way, he noticed someone following him. It was Hope.
"Where do you go?" She easked, coming closer. "To the start of the Rainbow Bridge.", answered Ranta.
Hope eyes grew wide. "You - what?!" she was shocked."
"It is time, I can feel it. But don't worry my child - I'll wait for you." He rubbed his head against hers, and then continued his path. Hope stayed behind, lookind sad. But she knew that time was something unstoppable. And that, as Ranta went away, he wwanted to start his last journey alone.

It was a bright bridge - colourfull and shining. And not hard like most bridges, but like soft gras. Ranta had not even crossed half the rainbow bridge, as he saw something. Horses. That were his friends! Members of his family and... his mother?
Happily, Ranta whinnied, and stormed to them. It was a joufull reunion, and the others took him with them to the land where everone can life happy, peacefull and free.

3.

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And at the end: a hug for da Hooves for organising that event