Winter pastorale with Barzoi

The last entry for the Suomi Winter Event. ^^
Meet our newest family member the barzoi Ivan. Isn't he a well trained dog? There's a field full of deers and he's following his masters like there's nothing. xD

Louis and Ron take him with them to protect them from the wovles during the night. ^^

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Story:

“Ivan! Come here!”, Louis called the dog and the barzoi followed its master’s call immediately. “Wow Rick did a great job on him.”, Ronald said as he saw how the dog was following Louis order. “Yes. He has a hand for dogs and for horses too. It’s sad that he couldn’t take part at the barrel race. I’m sure he would enjoy it. He and Shiva fit so well together.”, Louis replied while he was checking the way with his compass. Suit was trotting through the snow like he never did something else and Michabo followed him. “We are on the right way.”, Louis said. The slowly followed the path they have to ride. The landscape was beautiful, covered by snow like somebody put a giant blanket over it. The trees seemed to be covered by cotton candy and snow on the branches was sparkling like crystals when the light touched it. I was calm and peaceful. Like an old oil painting.

After a while they reached an open field. “Look Louis!”, Ronald said and pointed at the horizon. There was a small group of deer’s standing, trying to find something eatable under the snow. A big bull was their guard. He watched out if something dangerous was around. The barzoi saw the deers and he stopped for a moment. He lifted one path but he didn’t run over to hunt them. “Stay Ivan.”, Louis said and the dog sat down in the snow while he looked up to his master. “They are so calm.”, Ronald said. “We don’t look like a danger because we are sitting on our horses. That’s the reason why they don’t run away.”, Louis explained. Louis looked around. The landscape was so pretty. He took his little camera out of the saddle bag and took a picture. Suddenly he saw a little chapel between two trees. “Let’s take a little break.”, he said, ”We are good in time.” “Oh yes! I’m so hungry.”, Ron replied and jumped off Michabo’s back. The Mustang stretched his legs and shook his mane. Louis climbed off Suit’s back and took the stallions reins to guide him over to the trees.
He fixed Suit’s reins on a branch and walked over to the chapel. It was a small building made of stone and painted in white. Louis could see some paintings on the sides that look like frescos but they were old and it was impossible to say what they could show. The small iron door wasn’t closed so that Louis could enter the little chapel. It was warm inside. Through the heath of the candles Louis guessed. The stained glass window that nearly covered the whole backside of the little building painted the room in hundreds of colors. Louis took a deep breath. He wished he had a candle that he could enlighten but there was no candle that didn’t burn already. Slowly he put his gloves out and took off his bobble cap. He opened the breast pocket of his coat and took his rosary out. Since there was no bench to sit one Louis kneeled down to pray. He made the sign of the cross and closed his eyes slowly.

Ronald was waiting outside eating one of the sandwiches the got as lunch pack. He stroke Michabo’s head and the stallion snorted. “It’s our first big competition Amigo. Are you also so excited?”, he asked the mustang and the stallion nodded his head. Ronald smiled and hugged the horse. He felt so good. Michabo snorted.

After a while Ronald got nervous. It was a long break and he was unsure if they didn’t spend too much time here. He slowly approaches the little chapel because was scared to disturb Louis. He knew that Louis was a really religious person. He sometimes spends a lot of time in the little chapel near the cemetery on the isle. Sometimes he was really impressed how strong the trust in higher forces could make people. How strong Louis was all the time when his mother was missed. How strong Julienne was who lost so many family members to the sea. She explained him that her believe helped her to go on. It gave her the straight to don’t give up. “Louis?”, he asked carefully. “Come in.”, the older boy replied. “Isn’t it time to leave?”, Ronald asked and Louis nodded his head. “Yes.”, Louis answered. He slowly got up and made the sign of the cross again. He gently kissed his rosary in his hands before he wanted to put it back into his pocket. “That’s a beautiful rosary Louis.”, Ronald said as he saw it. Louis looked at the rosary and smiled. “Thank you. It was my father’s rosary. He gave it to me before he went to the sea. He always did it and took it back when he returned. But…sadly he never returned to take it back.”, the dark haired boy said and his eyes were full with sadness. “Oh ehm…I’m so sorry.”, Ronald said as he wanted to defend himself but Louis shook his head. “It’s alright. Last year when I joined the endurance race, I cried a whole night into Amour’s fur because I missed him and had to think on him. The landscape and the solitude are really touching the soul I think. It’s like a pilgrimage. You are alone with your horse and your thoughts in the middle of the wilderness. Lot of time to think about yourself and your life.”, Louis said. “Louis?”, Ronald asked. “Yes?”, he replied. “Are you sure that you are seventeen? You sound like a hundred year old hermit that lives in a cave somewhere high up in the mountains. Like a Sensei if you know what I mean.” Louis had to laugh. “But the gong is missing. Normally there’s always a gong noise if the Sensei stops speaking.”, he said and put the rosary back into his pocket. “Hm. True thing. If you want I can carry a gong with me next time and ring it every time you end a sentence.”, the blond boy giggled.

The boys left the chapel together and returned to their horses. Suit and Michabo were waiting for their arrival and Ivan was lying on the floor between them like he wanted to guard them until his master returns. Louis patted the dog’s head and gave him a treat before he mounted Suit. So that they could continue their ride.

They left the little chapel behind them. “We need to speed up a bit.” ,Louis said after a while and looked back at Ron. “Ready for a little race?” The blond boy smiled and answered, “Sure!” “Ok. Let’s see who the first at the end of the field. is”, Louis said and he and Suit dashed away so that snow flew in all directions.

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Horse: HSLG Suit (ref will follow)
Breed: Cross Breed (TB/Warmblood/something unknown)
Gender: stallion

Rider: Louis De Mane
Stable: Haras Ste. Lucile de la Groix

Event: Suomi Winter Event
Class: Endurance Race

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Horse: EH Michabo [link]
Breed: Mustang
Gender: stallion

Rider: Ronald Parker
Stable: Haras Ste. Lucile de la Groix

Event: Suomi Winter Event
Class: Endurance Race

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credits:
horses and riders [link] and [link] © ~ByMelody
for Ivan a pic out of a dog breeds book
Louis, Ronald,Ivan and Suit © *DatNachtmaehre
Michabo © *Okami-Haru