BSTC - Armand, Dressage

Horse: Armand
Owner: *Tigra1988
Breed: Hanoverian
Height: 17.1hh
Discipline: Dressage
Rider: Kalib Beaumont

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I've actually had the sketch for weeks, only got around to finishing it now!
Can't say it turned out exactly how i'd have liked it, but it's good enough ^^
Anyone spot TLK influence with the faded zoomed legs on top?

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It was instantly obvious that Kalib was dealing with a different type of horse when it came to Armand.
The stallion carried himself with an air that, when a natural trait, only occurred in horses with exceptional blood and the potential of a true champion. He was tall, muscular, with the aura of a growing top competitor, and the arrogance of a horse who already believed he was a top competitor.
Undersaddle he was fluid, strong and very, very arrogant. Kalib found him a good ride, but the improvements that needed to be made were what Kalib was pretty sure he’d have to fight to make. Not that a challenge wasn’t something that Kalib enjoyed, but having such a tall, physically and mentally strong stallion was something that would pose more than just a ‘challenge’, he believed.
Armand’s father was the great Ambassador; any stable would happily tell their stories of the incredible stallion’s talent at Dressage, and it was easy to see that the younger stallion had inherited his natural talent and bold temperament.

Armand walked with a long, lollopy stride, his head naturally tucked back towards his chest, his profile perfectly vertical. At a trot, his strides swung and he swept across the arena like a ballerina would with long, sweeping movements – he was just as graceful as a dancer. His canter was naturally collected, his head hooked elegantly in an outline, weight shifted to his quarters, powering forward, looking as if he would have the strength to smash straight through a brick wall.
“Good lad,” Kalib muttered, fighting for the bit a little with the stallion and pushing him on into a collected canter, to which Armand… didn’t ‘object’, but simply decided it was in his best interest to plough forward at a beautiful extended canter instead. “Armand!” He groaned, pulling him up sharply; Evie, Kalib’s African Wild Dog daemon growled, her ears lying back a little. “Listen to me!” and he pushed Armand on, the stallion agreed, pacing forward, eager to get back up into a canter.
“You can tell he knows he’s famous…!” Evie barked from the other side of the arena, her big, round ears pricked.
“Got the ego of Bullet.” Kalib replied with a grin and gave Armand a little tug on the reins as he lifted his head up defiantly and let out a snort. “Be-have!”
Armand then put in a little buck, as if he was trying to elaborate his reply of ‘not a chance!’

They trotted and cantered around in ever-decreasing circles, serpentines and across the arena in all directions. Kalib held the stallion firmly, getting only the very best from him, riding like the one he was – a truly new horse – rather than how he’d act with a horse he’d known for years, like Blackie. The young stallion was bold and fearless, not afraid to act up and test his rider, but his sheer willingness to learn was unparalleled. From the first day they began to form a partnership – but a partnership between teacher and student, for Armand knew he would always belong at Wilkenburg, and BS was just a ‘bump in the road’ as he referred to it.
Kalib had him trotting over polls, working on his striding and balance, and Armand constantly had his ears trained either forward or on the odd patchwork-of-orange-and-brown dog that watched him with dark blue eyes. At that time, he was pushing his head too far into the bit, his weight tipping forward too much, completely one-minded in his actions. Kalib resolved internally not to let the stallion stop working until he was acting as a proper Dressage should – regardless of how long that would take or whether Armand would hate him afterwards.

With heaving red and brown flanks, a neck streaked with sweat and muscles big and trembling, Armand cavorted around the inside arena. He was a vision of power, talent and energy, throwing out his legs and flicking his tail marvelously, his pale blue eyes hard and intense.
The man atop him was tall, muscular and now shirtless. His hair was pushed up his forehead so it sat in a mess of sweat on his crown and his hands were slick, he fought to hold onto the reins as Armand pulled against them so diligently.
Frankie, Theyn and Grant sat in spectator’s seats, munching on some sandwiches that Lucie had made earlier, Theyn had two in her hands and one in her tail, Grant tentatively nibbled at his PB&J, his darkly framed eyes locked on his boss.
“That’s incredible.” He mused out loud. Frankie gave a chuckle.
“That’s called a natural Dressage rider paired with a naturally talented horse. You know who his sire is, right?”
Grant shook his head absently, he only really knew about Lillan and Abby, since he’d been entrusted with their training.
“Ambassador.” Theyn said the singular word and Grant’s jaw dropped just a little. Theyn removed the sandwich from her tail and then pressed his jaw back up with a swish. “No need to get all dramatic.”
“Bu-but!” He gawped, and then his eyes slipped into recognition as he saw how the marvelous young horse was the splitting image of the larger-than-life legend that was Ambassador.
Frankie shifted his weight, slipping forward on the seat and he propped his legs up on the railings. Honor, his daemon, hopped out of his way from where she’d been scrutinizing Kalib’s riding with literal hawk eyes. “He’s doing remarkably well for a first day’s work.”
“I second that,” Theyn said.
Grant stayed quiet, still gawping.

Kalib grunted as he shifted his weight back and gave a gently tug on the reins, having Armand pull up from a canter to a small, collected trot, and then a Piaffe. “Good lad,” he praised, lowering his hands just enough to pet him a little. “You’re starting to really get it.”
Armand snorted in reply, one ear forward, one ear back at Kalib, his tail held up high. Just tell me what to do.


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<sub>Art & Beaumont Stables ©: =Baringa-of-the-Wind
Armand ©: *Tigra1988

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Please keep your own opinions to yourself unless I ask for it - I will not be happy to hear you bashing my work.
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