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Description
...will there ever be a time I choose to stick to one design of the indoor arena of Zdarloch? Yes. Yes, now is this time Here you finally have it, after various revisions over the years, lol... ..for now, anyway. ZOUB WHY.

Also, if you're only going to comment 'OH NO BEHIND THE VERTICAL!!!11 ZOUB U SUCKKK!!11' please don't. Read the story And then... please don't do it either, actually. You'll see what's up further ahead.

Previously:

Few people had an ego like Simon Kvark Guldborg. In spite of the guy’s relative shortness of stature he was a towering stronghold of arrogance and ruthless ambition; a master in the fine arts of manipulation and superficial charm - and a veritable whirlwind of self-important, self-satisfied, self-inflated selfishness. In the trail of his heedless wake he had left a series of flattened friendships, rotten rivalries and trampled trusts… and immense, sparkling successes. He was brilliant. Indeed, his ability in the saddle was only surpassed by his own estimation of his ability in the saddle.

…So it was with a certain uncharacteristic smugness that Gideon watched Sagadir employ his finest trick in the art of not working harder than necessary: curling up in the front and avoiding Simon’s hand instead of lifting his back and seeking contact on the bit. False collection – a classic Zlesdin move.
Gideon watched them out of the corner of his eye while Kaisa trotted Kvantespring in large, loose circles around him as part of the warm-up. The pattern was subtle for those who did not know what to look for, but clear for him who knew Sagadir through-and-through: every time they reached a corner the horse tucked. On each long side he uncurled again, following Simon’s cue forward. Contact on, off, on, off…
Gideon knew this stunt quite well – he had been involved with Sagadir since the horse was a lanky hooligan of 5 years and Andy had asked for help to solve this issue and others. Now, at almost 10 years and approaching his Grand Prix debut, Sagadir was well-muscled and well-balanced – but it seemed only a few months of Kaisa’s riding had allowed this particular old flaw to return. Good thing Gideon knew the solution for it. Sharing a few tips would no doubt spare Simon some frustrations in the process of fixing it. They were on the same team now, after all, and riding a new horse was always a bit experimental during those first months.
,,Simon,” he called out. ,,More impulsion round the bends. Schenkel, not seat. Driving your seat into his back will only discourage him from lifting it.”
Simon’s gaze fixed on him, much akin to the way someone might stare down a mosquito after locating the source of its incessant, anxiety-inducing buzzing.
,,Don’t attempt to force contact on his mouth when he evades you – let him seek contact with your hand. He’s not used to being ridden very rein-heavy.”
Simon circled closer, forcing Kaisa to evade him as he pulled up on the centerline close to where Gideon had chosen to stay.
,,How dare you?!” Simon all but hissed at him. His shoulders were angrily drawn upwards; his entire form staring down from the back of the tall, grey stallion exuded an acid-like animosity: sharp and corrosive.
,,Excuse me?”
,,You think you’re some kind of Besserwisser dressage authority around here; entitled to micromanage every aspect of other people’s riding?” Simon went on with a searing undertone of boiling anger in his voice. ,,You think I can’t feel what he’s doing? I’m working on it. You’re not better than me.”
Gideon, knowing the stubborn nature of his old rival, should perhaps have anticipated a backlash like this. If there was one thing Simon despised it was getting critique from others – especially useful critique. It was an attitude Gideon has always found uninspired and arrogant.
,,With that horse, I am better than you.” he stated drily. ,,I know him. I rode him for four years.”
,,Oh?” one of Simon’s eyebrows lifted mockingly. ,,By all means, master Besserweiser, perhaps you would like to give a demonstration of your superior methods, then?” He gestured to the saddle and drew out the ensuring silence for a few seconds longer than necessary.
,,No? You can’t? What a shame, I forgot you need two functioning legs for that.”
...Ouch. Gideon drew a long breath.
,,You don’t have to get nasty about it.”
,,Oh please; don’t tell me I hurt your feelings?” Simon smiled and for a second his smile looked genuinely apologetic. ,,I meant no offense. Thought gallows humor was very much your thing.”
,,’Gallows humor’ is only humor when you’re the one at the gallows.” Gideon decided to skip the subject. Appealing to Simon’s better nature was usually a long shot. ,,In any case – only trying to help you out here. Same team, as you put it.”
,,Yeah, well,” Simon clicked his tongue impatiently. ,,I don’t need your ‘help’. There are more than one ways to fix a problem. Your method isn’t the only one that works. So mind your own business.”
He gave the cue to trot. Sagadir complied but lifted his head an inch, confused at the choice of direction – without breaking the rhythm stallion took a step sideways and barely avoided knocking his former rider down. Gideon, felt the silky while-tipped tail trailing across his arm as the horse passed so close past him, and took notice of the fact that the cue to step sideways had not come from Simon.
,,Wow.” Kaisa said next to him, unimpressed. ,,What a dick.”
Gideon made a saying roll of his eyes as in ‘told you so’, though quite honestly even he was surprised at the extent of Simon’s dick-ish tendencies today.
,,Right, back to work,” he told Kaisa. ,,20 meter circle again. Let’s work on that stretch…”

He shot a glance to Simon and Sagadir once more. Simon, knowing he was being watched, had indeed decided to give another method a try: good old hyperflexion. Tried and tested by elite riders around the globe. Nothing could uncurl a horse quite like the liberty of being allowed a longer rein after a session of hyperflexion.
…nothing, except of course, for proper loosening and correct riding. Gideon bit his tongue and sighed with annoyance at what he was seeing. Simon should know better than this. Gideon knew that Simon knew better than this. What game was he playing?
It did not matter. Discussing anything with Simon was useless- no, if you wanted something done you had to discuss it with the right authorities. And Andy, highest authority and equine veterinarian, would surely not be happy to hear his beloved grey was being ridden this way.

To be continued ~
Next: 3.5: How did you do that?

These kiddoes reside with me
So do Sejrbank Sagadir and ZS Kvantespring
Ground texture: own
Wood texture: cgtextures

Description
...will there ever be a time I choose to stick to one design of the indoor arena of Zdarloch? Yes. Yes, now is this time Here you finally have it, after various revisions over the years, lol... ..for now, anyway. ZOUB WHY.

Also, if you're only going to comment 'OH NO BEHIND THE VERTICAL!!!11 ZOUB U SUCKKK!!11' please don't. Read the story And then... please don't do it either, actually. You'll see what's up further ahead.

Previously:

Few people had an ego like Simon Kvark Guldborg. In spite of the guy’s relative shortness of stature he was a towering stronghold of arrogance and ruthless ambition; a master in the fine arts of manipulation and superficial charm - and a veritable whirlwind of self-important, self-satisfied, self-inflated selfishness. In the trail of his heedless wake he had left a series of flattened friendships, rotten rivalries and trampled trusts… and immense, sparkling successes. He was brilliant. Indeed, his ability in the saddle was only surpassed by his own estimation of his ability in the saddle.

…So it was with a certain uncharacteristic smugness that Gideon watched Sagadir employ his finest trick in the art of not working harder than necessary: curling up in the front and avoiding Simon’s hand instead of lifting his back and seeking contact on the bit. False collection – a classic Zlesdin move.
Gideon watched them out of the corner of his eye while Kaisa trotted Kvantespring in large, loose circles around him as part of the warm-up. The pattern was subtle for those who did not know what to look for, but clear for him who knew Sagadir through-and-through: every time they reached a corner the horse tucked. On each long side he uncurled again, following Simon’s cue forward. Contact on, off, on, off…
Gideon knew this stunt quite well – he had been involved with Sagadir since the horse was a lanky hooligan of 5 years and Andy had asked for help to solve this issue and others. Now, at almost 10 years and approaching his Grand Prix debut, Sagadir was well-muscled and well-balanced – but it seemed only a few months of Kaisa’s riding had allowed this particular old flaw to return. Good thing Gideon knew the solution for it. Sharing a few tips would no doubt spare Simon some frustrations in the process of fixing it. They were on the same team now, after all, and riding a new horse was always a bit experimental during those first months.
,,Simon,” he called out. ,,More impulsion round the bends. Schenkel, not seat. Driving your seat into his back will only discourage him from lifting it.”
Simon’s gaze fixed on him, much akin to the way someone might stare down a mosquito after locating the source of its incessant, anxiety-inducing buzzing.
,,Don’t attempt to force contact on his mouth when he evades you – let him seek contact with your hand. He’s not used to being ridden very rein-heavy.”
Simon circled closer, forcing Kaisa to evade him as he pulled up on the centerline close to where Gideon had chosen to stay.
,,How dare you?!” Simon all but hissed at him. His shoulders were angrily drawn upwards; his entire form staring down from the back of the tall, grey stallion exuded an acid-like animosity: sharp and corrosive.
,,Excuse me?”
,,You think you’re some kind of Besserwisser dressage authority around here; entitled to micromanage every aspect of other people’s riding?” Simon went on with a searing undertone of boiling anger in his voice. ,,You think I can’t feel what he’s doing? I’m working on it. You’re not better than me.”
Gideon, knowing the stubborn nature of his old rival, should perhaps have anticipated a backlash like this. If there was one thing Simon despised it was getting critique from others – especially useful critique. It was an attitude Gideon has always found uninspired and arrogant.
,,With that horse, I am better than you.” he stated drily. ,,I know him. I rode him for four years.”
,,Oh?” one of Simon’s eyebrows lifted mockingly. ,,By all means, master Besserweiser, perhaps you would like to give a demonstration of your superior methods, then?” He gestured to the saddle and drew out the ensuring silence for a few seconds longer than necessary.
,,No? You can’t? What a shame, I forgot you need two functioning legs for that.”
...Ouch. Gideon drew a long breath.
,,You don’t have to get nasty about it.”
,,Oh please; don’t tell me I hurt your feelings?” Simon smiled and for a second his smile looked genuinely apologetic. ,,I meant no offense. Thought gallows humor was very much your thing.”
,,’Gallows humor’ is only humor when you’re the one at the gallows.” Gideon decided to skip the subject. Appealing to Simon’s better nature was usually a long shot. ,,In any case – only trying to help you out here. Same team, as you put it.”
,,Yeah, well,” Simon clicked his tongue impatiently. ,,I don’t need your ‘help’. There are more than one ways to fix a problem. Your method isn’t the only one that works. So mind your own business.”
He gave the cue to trot. Sagadir complied but lifted his head an inch, confused at the choice of direction – without breaking the rhythm stallion took a step sideways and barely avoided knocking his former rider down. Gideon, felt the silky while-tipped tail trailing across his arm as the horse passed so close past him, and took notice of the fact that the cue to step sideways had not come from Simon.
,,Wow.” Kaisa said next to him, unimpressed. ,,What a dick.”
Gideon made a saying roll of his eyes as in ‘told you so’, though quite honestly even he was surprised at the extent of Simon’s dick-ish tendencies today.
,,Right, back to work,” he told Kaisa. ,,20 meter circle again. Let’s work on that stretch…”

He shot a glance to Simon and Sagadir once more. Simon, knowing he was being watched, had indeed decided to give another method a try: good old hyperflexion. Tried and tested by elite riders around the globe. Nothing could uncurl a horse quite like the liberty of being allowed a longer rein after a session of hyperflexion.
…nothing, except of course, for proper loosening and correct riding. Gideon bit his tongue and sighed with annoyance at what he was seeing. Simon should know better than this. Gideon knew that Simon knew better than this. What game was he playing?
It did not matter. Discussing anything with Simon was useless- no, if you wanted something done you had to discuss it with the right authorities. And Andy, highest authority and equine veterinarian, would surely not be happy to hear his beloved grey was being ridden this way.

To be continued ~
Next: 3.5: How did you do that?

These kiddoes reside with me
So do Sejrbank Sagadir and ZS Kvantespring
Ground texture: own
Wood texture: cgtextures