[LivingLethal]

Username;; LivingLethal
Show Name: A Penny for Your Thoughts
Barn Name: Coin
Age: 9 years
Height: 15.3hh
Halter: Charcoal gray <3
Discipline: Pleasure riding and a bit of cross country
Competition:

“He’s 19—as far as I know, he’s been riding his whole life. He does… you know, the jumps and rides on the street. Something like that. His parents will only do a gentle-natured horse, and they don’t want to waste their money on any average looking brown horse. Got anything to offer?”

“…”

“You’re sure she’s real pretty and nice? If so, we’ll arrange a company to pick her up and bring her to the barn Grey’s always disappearing off to.”

“…”

“Then it’s a deal.”


---

This was Grey’s first time back to the stables since what had happened. His parents were adamant to not let him back at first—he wasn’t even sure why, frankly, because the stable was the only reason he bothered breathing—but they’d conceded today. Their motive remained unclear to him, but he was weary when his phone didn’t ring when he left the manor and the maids didn’t question his whereabouts. So, he left to his favorite release: the stables.

His tires rolled over the familiar gravel as he entered the gates of the stable he’d been sneaking off for as long as he remembered. Grey almost couldn’t believe it; it’s been nearly four months since he’d been. As he stepped out, his favorite sights, sounds, and smells greeted him in waves. It was his true home—the place he felt most himself. Even though time had passed and things had happened since he’d last driven away, the stable still eased his heart in a way even the doctors he’d been entertaining for the past few months couldn’t.

“Grey! Look at you—I almost thought they’d never let you come back!” The stable owner—a woman he considered more of a mother than his own—peeked out from the stable’s office. She was smiling a wide smile, an honest smile; it was a breath of fresh air he didn’t know he needed. He’d gotten used to the fake, worried smiles of the people who’d simply been hired to care about him. “I thought that was your car driving up. Come on, follow me! Someone came the other day and dropped… something off for you.”

With not a moment of extra chat, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him along towards the stable. He went along with it, perhaps a habit he’d picked up after these past few months. He was pulled along the stalls. Some horses he’d known for as long as he could remember remained. Deville and Badger were still in the same place, as were Bennett, Razzie, and Tobias. He didn’t recognize some, perhaps new purchases or leases. Some faces were gone altogether. She pulled him past all of the horses he’d usually work to ride, and this was what made him meekly question, “Where are you taking me to?”

His question was answered not by words, but by the stall they stopped before. The horse who occupied it was out in the run, but the golden, engraved, tacky plaque said more than enough.


Greyson Lemmi
A Penny for Your Thoughts

“The men who dropped her off called her Coin. Your parent’s secretary called me before they dropped her off yesterday.”

Grey sighed; it was what he was expecting. Some kind of bribery to start behaving again. He simply wished they wouldn’t have brought a living being into it.
He rubbed his eyes—it was tiring, always having your behavior bought. “That’s probably why they didn’t stop me,” he sighed. He rested his arms on the stall’s door, glancing out at the horse who was grazing at the scarce grass that had grown in her run. “Has she been exercised since she was dropped off?”

“Nah, the secretary told us not to touch her. Something prissy like she’s more expensive than us. You know, the usual,” she teased, rolling her eyes.

That evoked a chuckle from Grey. He opened his chest—it’d been moved in front of this stall, rather than its usual in front of Zeph, who he usually rode; from it, he grabbed the extended lead line and halter he’d had for as long as he remembered. “I’ll go ahead and give her some lunging time. You go ahead and get back to what you were doing… thank you for the warm welcome back. It means a lot, hey?”

With his reassurance, she went off, leaving Grey with only himself and this strange, new horse. The sight of the plaque evicted another sigh, as it meant they were simply trying yet another bribe to pacify him into behaving as he should. Nonetheless, the horse was innocent; he wasn’t about to take out his disappointment on a mare who’d done nothing.

Grey whistled, and for the first time, Coin’s gaze locked onto this new figure before her stall. Her look was incredible—probably the most unique horse he’d ever looked upon—but it was her soulful brown eyes that intrigued him. With her preliminary check passing, Coin ambled up to Grey with ears perked. He was among the first to give her attention since she arrived; needless to say, she was grateful for the interest. Her head popped over the stable door and into Grey’s arm without a second thought.

“Friendly, aren’t you? Would you like to go out for a walk?” He inquired gently, stroking her velvety muzzle to Coin’s gratitude. He slipped on the halter without Coin’s notice and hooked on the rope, then unlatched her stall door. She waiting for his confirmation to walk out; Grey snickered at her obedience. “You act like a dog, don’t you?” He remarked, patting her neck. “Come on out,” he motioned, tugging the lead rope gently. She responded in second, eager to please this kind, new stranger.

Together, they walked out of the stable to the fenced pastures. Coin’s interest was piqued by all the novel sights; she’d not gotten acquainted with any of the horses, nor the views offered by the area. Her prance gave off her fascination; Grey couldn’t help but be amused. He grinned gently. The mare was charismatic, he had to admit. He walked them both into the pasture and unhooked her from the lead rope.

“What do you want to do?” He asked, facing Coin. “Want to walk off? Run? Do whatever.”
Coin’s look was comically human; Grey couldn’t help but chuckle. She bumped his shoulder with her muzzle, asking for his guidance. To that, he outstretched his hand to the open pasture. “Do what you want!”

The mare threw her head, still gazing at Grey with expectation. He began walking, beckoning her to follow. “C’mon, then, we’ll just walk around here.”

With his permission, she strode forward. This entertained him even more—she was almost more peculiar in personality than in looks. He decided to start a jog, to see if she’d follow his lead even then. As soon as he picked up in speed, Coin responded instantly. She trotted along him, her easy eyes fixed on his face. He stopped; she stopped. Grey bolted out in a run, and Coin reared up and ran after him.

This mare’s a riot!, he thought.

But she’s meant to buy my obedience, Grey remembered. The air of cheer he’d amassed from their frolic dissipated near-immediately. Coin glanced at him with concern, lipping his shirt. He couldn’t help but feel relief—even though she was a bribe, she was at least something they’d keep out of from then on.

Plus, she was sweet… and his. Grey caressed her face, noticing her intricate markings and even more so her perceptive, hazel eyes. Perhaps this set-up wouldn’t be so bad.



From that day forward, Grey was allowed to sneak out to the stable again just like before. The reason for his parents’ loosened grip on him wasn’t a secret anymore, at least; he knew they just expected him to behave now that they’d bought him something pretty and expensive. He couldn’t care less. Coin was an incredible mare, not even in the technical sense, but in the sense that she was so incredibly observant. She was intrigued by people, and she cared for Grey.
Grey’s first ride on Coin was interesting, to say the least. Coin may have been a gentle mare, but she certainly had a mind of her own. Grey would lead left, and she’d go left. Grey would lead right, and she’d go right. Grey would lead forward, and she’d go backwards. Coin knew what Grey was asking, but she simply didn't listen. The pattern continued until Grey was frustrated—even more than he was when he started.

“What, Coin? What in the world are you pulling today. I know you’re a better mare than this for god’s sake,” he fumed, glaring at his horse. Coin snorted, pawing the ground with discontent at Grey’s loss of his temper. Grey grabbed her reins, but Coin refused; she threw her head, backing up out of Grey’s range. Immediately, Coin’s extreme reaction provoked the sense within him. He backed up, putting his hands over his mouth and gasping as his irritation abated.

“I’m so sorry,” he croaked, reaching his hand out in regret. “I didn’t mean to—I’m sorry, Coin.”

The mare pawed at the ground once more, but sensing the tension within Grey dissipate, she approached him cautiously. When his hand grazed her muzzle, she leaned in with trust, fully feeling his relaxation. Grey’s stress melted off knowing that the mare forgave him for the sudden outburst.

Coin’s anxiety similarly dispersed when she knew her handler was under control of himself again. She trusted him; he was always there for her, and he truly cared for her and all of the other horses in the barn. Grey was the first human who’d shown her such wide-eyed adoration, even if he came in to the stables on occasion unwilling to open up to her or some weeks wasn’t able to get out of bed to come in at all. He was there for her and always would be.



---


Grey took Coin out for spontaneous rides often. He found it to be calming to simply navigate the terrain outside the stable, and as Coin usually was quite in tune with his movements, they could make a lot of ground and enter some tricky territory. It was during these rides that Grey discovered her exceptional skills at jumping. Coin was magnificent: she jumped massive logs without hesitation and over small streams almost without thought. She was much like Zeph, Grey's former cross country lease, although upon later questioning he discovered she was simply trained as a show jumper. This discovery led to the occasional cross country show when Grey felt up to it, but it was these rides that the duo enjoyed most. It was when they could quietly connect without the barriers or language coming between their understanding of each other.

[♔Voltaire♔]

Username;; ♔Voltaire♔
Show Name: Blind Faith
Barn Name: Nessa
Age: 6
Height: 15hh
Halter: (#F7E7CE) with silver buckles
Discipline: Trail (Guide Horse)
Competition:

The moment my fingertips touched the velvet of her nose I knew I had met my match.

"She's a fine young lady, she'll do you some good and keep you out of the house," my sister whispered softly behind me, her boots thumping against the flimsy wooden boards of the barn floor. I felt her hand touch my shoulder, gliding down to rest on my inner forearm. I managed a smile, then, allowing her to guide my hand across the silky expanse of Nessa's neck and over the curve of her back. The mare remained still, patiently so, the occasional sound of her hooves clicking against the floorboards every time she shifted her weight. The sound of birds had suddenly got louder after a few beats, to which I chalk up to be sparrows in the rafters- however the mare continued to remain motionless, allowing me to map out each muscle in her shoulders for as long as I pleased.

Being legally blind comes with many grievances: you cannot drive yourself, relying on everyone else to chauffeur you around, lead you through stores, and choose goods for you. There isn't much I can do on my own, dressing myself is one of the small luxuries I can say I take delight in still being able to perform, however the pros are quite far and few amidst the whirlwind of cons of being completely dependent on others. I am not completely blind, for I can see small smudges and faint specs of color when trying to look at objects, however, it isn't enough for me to be able to confidently say I can function alone. My sister works long hours during the weekdays and spends her days off caring for her four children and myself, leaving me a prisoner in my own home until she arrives. It's depressing, having to solely rely on another person, which is why I now have Nessa.

Nessa, though much larger than the guide ponies that work with the blind, has worked with multiple other blind people before me. Her patience and gentle demeanor were a perfect match for my needs, so when her picture was shared in the newspaper, my sister jumped at the opportunity to give me a more fulfilling purpose than keeping my love-seat warm. Pulling into the gravel driveway and introducing myself to her sellers was an awkward, but wonderful experience, the young man patiently holding the door open for me as my sister slowly ushered me into the barn. The smell immediately hit me, though it wasn't as repugnant as I had assumed prior to arriving- it was homey, an earthen undertone sprinkled under the scent of fresh hay and silage, and I breathed in, relishing in the comforting aroma. Meeting Nessa was like coming up for air after almost drowning, her steady breath calming as much as it was a blessing. She was patient, ever so tolerant, letting me take in the texture of her ears down to her legs. She was paid for in full the moment a smile broke my usual solemn demeanor, and we took her home the very same day.

We board Nessa at a wonderful establishment called Sonata Stables, where they happily took her into their fold and allow me to come and care for her specifically. They always offer me their assistance, to which I always deny for the most part- having Nessa has given me more freedom than I thought I would ever have, and I haven't felt this needed in a very long time. They were excited to find out I wanted to learn how to ride, so after a few assisted lessons they found her and I both fit to hit the trails, to which we both enjoy immensely. The clear air and sereneness of the forest dotting the property give me a sense of clarity and allow me to have something to look forward to every day when I walk through those doors.

I remember clearly during one autumn afternoon, the trail riding group I participated in set off on one of their unmarked trails, which winded through multiple acres of apple orchards. We were all handed a small basket, and as we rode through we were allowed to pick as many apples as we could fit inside, in which some would be used for making apple cider for us to enjoy after our ride. The sun was warm and comforting when it hit just right, and Nessa enjoyed grabbing a few bites of fallen apples every time i stopped to pluck on from a tree. The ground wasn't too hard nor too soft, the perfect amount of both for a comfortable trek, and hearing the laughter and excited chattering of the people riding around me only made the experience that more fulfilling. The ride lasted around and hour, the trail winding back into the woods and merging with one of the more known trails open to those who ride at the stables. Arriving back at the stables, we dismounted and began our regular cleanup protocol, washing down and disinfecting tack and cleaning up our horses before leading them into their stalls. We all talked as the apple cider was made, and we relished in the cool and sweet flavor when it was done.

As I have mentioned before, Nessa has given me a purpose I thought I would never have again. After the accident, I thought I would remain a captive of my own living room, struggling to move to different rooms and fumbling for the doorknobs. I wake up now and the first thing on my mind is Nessa, and how I cannot wait to see her that day- and when the day has finally concluded, she's the last thing I think of, excited to go back and see her the next. I sometimes feel as if I am slowing her down- she is a fairly young mare and and so much potential, however she doesn't seem to really mind going at my pace, waiting an extra few minutes for me to find her bridle and fidget with the buckles. I truly do believe Nessa knows how I am feeling more often than not, and I wish every day that I could see her beautiful face just once, to know how she looks rather than how she feels.

But to see is one thing, to feel is another. To memorize the contours of another through touch alone allows for a closeness beyond measure, one that looks beyond the realm of vision and taps into the very depths of the tangible. Our bond runs deeper than what can be seen, our love and regard for each other professed in our ability to touch.

[ExVenor]

Username;; LivingLethal
Show Name: A Penny for Your Thoughts
Barn Name: Coin
Age: 9 years
Height: 15.3hh
Halter: Charcoal gray <3
Discipline: Pleasure riding and a bit of cross country
Competition:-snip-

Congrats! I could really feel the connection between these two, they got completely stuck in my head. <33

Thank you, everyone, for entering! I enjoyed reading all the forms.

[SpartanAmethyst]

Congrats Lethal, you're welcome to keep the solo art piece I did, but I need to keep the other two with the rider.
Take good care of her!

[LivingLethal]

omg !! 🥺 tree thank you so so much, i adore this girl to pieces and i’m so happy you could tell through my form !! <3 this girl is gonna be spoileddd

thank you as well spartan! i really appreciate that <3