Rider of Legends

[Lidija Rotherford]

"The best mind-altering drug is truth. (Lily Tomlin)

As her mother always used to say - her life would become perfect one day. She moved from her hometown to a whole other continent, but to her it seemed like she moved to another world. As she turned 18, her parents sat her down and told her about an aunt that owns an equestrian estate, and that she's looking for young trainees and competitors. Back home Lidija passed a couple of riding schools and is licensed to compete in dressage, show jumping, racing and endurance. She wanted to live the life of an equestrian, but the fast city life doesn't allow that. Hearing about her aunt looking for someone to compete for her stables and train with her seemed like an opportunity that must not be skipped! Lidija knew about her aunt's existence, but nothing ever could have prepared her for the luxurious facilities and locations her aunt owns! She thought it was just a barn with three or four horses, when much, much more awaited for her arrival.

In this thread I'll post Lidija's story, but the start is somewhat "in medias res" because a lot of things already happened!

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> June 12th, 2012
A week ago all of our horses left Equestria to be relocated to the new island that my aunt Ella got from the Estalloren family. Caren and I were off Equestria a month, or so, ago, we've been staying with a friend of my aunt's in Sunset Valley. She has been keeping our new Belgian Warmblood stock safe, alongside with a few more newly purchased horses and a unicorn stallion! Getting off Equestria sooner was very hard for me as I had to leave "my" mare behind. I wrote 'my' with the quotation marks because she's my aunt's, I'm just riding her and competing with her. I hope that if one day I move away, that she'd give me Belle... a funny wish, right?

Anyhow, Caren and I arrived to the new island yesterday around 2.30AM! We were dead tired and went straight to bed! It was night so I didn't see how it was all built, all I knew is that I wanted sleep and that the island is so peacefully quiet from all the city-like noises!
"Before you fall asleep, I must tell you that in this stable you'll have to do some work." Ella told me as she turned on the lights in the bedroom and helped me with my suitcases "I know it's late, but tomorrow you must be up at 7AM and let the horses out of their stalls. After that you're done for the day. You can go back to bed or try out the new training arenas with Belle or Ranato?" I had a hard time looking away from the pillows on the bed.
"Sure. Of course." I mumbled and shooed my aunt out of the room so that Caren and I could get some sleep. She just smiled and pointed out how happy she is to have us here.

I slept like never before. Best. Bed. Ever.

As my alarm clock hit 6:40AM I practically rolled out of bed. It was so comfortable! I looked through the window and remembered where I was. Immediately a smile came to my face! I dressed quickly and ran to the sunny morning to see which horses were in the outdoor english stalls! Kissin The Sky, Reining In Ranato, Midnight Patrol and Vibrant Parallel!



I couldn't have been more happier to see them! Across the street I also saw a familiar face - Conaire! He was already out of the stall, prancing around and just being a stallion, so I felt a bit embarrassed as the horses I'm responsible for still weren't out!



I rushed to check their nameplates with the feed and pasture time schedules to see which horse goes first! Interesting enough, the stallions didn't still have any schedules plates and the one Vibrant had was empty. I approached the mare and greeted her with all my love! I haven't seen her for a long time and she looked even more beautiful than before! I still couldn't wait to see my mare after seeing Vibrant!
"Good morning dear, how are you? Do you like the new stalls? Yes you do, they're so comfortable and... lush!" I talked silly things while preparing to get the mare out of her stall.





As I released her into the pasture, the first thing that came to my mind was "Belle!" I rushed to the main stable! I had no idea in which stall was she! As I took a step into the stable area I heard a familiar voice calling out! At the other end of the stable I saw Pearl and Adamant, and as I looked to my right - there she was!



"I missed you SO much, hun!" and indeed I did! She welcomed me with a nuzzle, I can swear she missed me too! She looked even prettier than Vibrant did! I was just so happy that she's at the main stables and not at the Irish Draught facility! What was more interesting, we have a competition on the 16th, and she hasn't seen a saddle for over a month!

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Here's my attempt at storytelling. I used to do this for Zoo Tycoon 2, a couple of years ago, so I'm a bit rusty. This is just the first post so things are a bit wobbly At least my photos compensate for the poor writing! Tell me if I should keep this up or just move it all totally to the "Scrapbook" and never post here again haha

Enjoy!

[Vicentia Estates]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee <3

Keep it up here, please! So much easier to keep track of in a seperate thread, heh.

[Ann Taylor]

Awwww. Love the beginning. Please post some more soon.

[Lexi House]

Beautiful so far.

[Alicia Joy]

OMG, Lidija I used to play Zoo Tycoon 2, too! xD

Anyways, back on topic...Truth Is Beauty <3 Still glad I sold her to you :3

[Lidija Rotherford]

A huge thanks to everyone!

Btw my birthday is today! Wooo!

[Grace Rosen]

Love it! You and Belle are too cute together

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY! <3

[Alicia Joy]

Happy Birthday!

[Evangeline Kane]

Happy birthday!
And a great story, I love Belle <3

[chloebarlow]

Happy birthday to when ever it was ( hard for me as this forum has different times..) guess what I have little Shameless in my game! ( pics in my album and there is still more to come as sorta stormy..) he is such a beauty oh and he's training is going well especially leader as he does little dressage prances everywhere

[Lidija Rotherford]

Thanks girls for both the birthday wishes and nice compliments about the story

[Lena Varberg]

Lovely story! Belle is so beautiful.

[Lidija Rotherford]

Thank you Lena An update should be up today, school ends today, woo!

[Lidija Rotherford]

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> June 16th, 2012
Belle and I have been training hard since I came to the island of Ardorwen (yup, I finally found out what it's called!). As I was not with her, there are now lots of open competitions we didn't enter in time, and now we must rush from one location to another. Ella says that we could get very famous. I don't know if I should really go in that direction? It's a really tough decision between such intermediate competitions and lazy afternoons with all of Ella's horses and then on the other side there's fame and fortune, but a lot of pressure on the horse I would be riding... but I know Ella's aiming on Belle... Our last competition was the The Hunter/Jumper Club Inaugural Show, we entered in the Intermediate Hunter Over Fences, I think we did well.



She received several sale offers and lots of people are offering their stallions to cover Belle and the young mare Hridine (out of DHS Hridayesh and RFE Vibrant Parallel, so no wonder!). I overheard her talking to Caren and Josephine how she might find a stallion for Belle. I just hope she'll ask me first, as Belle getting pregnant would mean an at least a year without competitions, and at this point I don't think it's the best idea.
I got into a fight with her about it so she didn't allow me to show Belle at the June Halter Show for Warmbloods. She must have forgotten how I hate halter shows xD



But let's put that aside! Three days ago, on the 13th, was my birthday! I got lots of nice presents from all staff members and my family! Even a present from my mom arrived, precisely on the 13th! Oh boy does she know her way around organisation
However, one present arrived almost on the 14th - a few minutes before midnight! It was a blue horse trailer, but as I was just leaving to go to the "mainland" to celebrate it with my friends, I didn't even peek in.
"Are you going somewhere?" I saw Ella and Caren smiling like they knew something, but I didn't think twice because horses come in and out of RFE on a daily basis, so I thought it's a new unicorn or another horse for the Belgian Warmblood stock. I didn't even know I was half right!
In the morning - I had something to see!
"Lidija! Lidija!" Vienna rushed towards me "There's something in the Mixed Stable that you got to see!" she smiled, grabbed my hand and started running! I was still... "sleepy", from last night and couldn't really follow, but I gave my best. Arriving to the Mixed Stables I saw that the blue trailer was there, but I didn't see any new horses out on the pastures. But instead of taking me to the stalls, Vienna dragged me to one of the pastures where Prair, Heavensent and Beautiful Lie are. Then I realized - of course I didn't see anything new - it was a little foal, not higher than the fences! And it was a unicorn!
"Wh--what?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes "A unicorn foal? From where? And why? I mean, we just got Mefistofeles and Heavensent, there's no need for new bloodlines! Gosh that Ella and her purchase of horses she does not need!" I basically screamed, still being nervous over Ella's decisions for Belle.
"No, no, no!" Vienna tried to calm me down "This one... he's yours!"

I shut up and looked right at Vienna.
"You're joking, right?" I said without belief as my heart started filling with joy and love!

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[Lexi House]

omg love this so far. THat foal is breathtkaing.. <3