~ Nightmare - Western Pleasure

Just as Taylor dismounted and handed Tartarus back to the handler, Aarya walked up with a look that straddled fondness and exasperation. "You're like literally glowing.", she giggled, raising an eyebrow. It was quite obvious that her best friend had fallen in love.

Taylor also didn't even bother denying it, "Aarya... he's amazing..."

The dark-haired woman crossed her arms, shaking her head, "Yes, I could see. You, however; have multiple classes to ride in this afternoon, which means it's time to shift out of your heart-eyes mode and into show mode."

Taylor blinked, "Right. Right, the competitions." In-Hand, English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Trail and Driving. So many classes, which she was entering with multiple ponies, too. It wasa good thing Aarya had offered to enter FOR her, else the blonde wouldn't be able to get her three entries per class in. So, she gave Tartarus one last look - he had already returned to his paddock, his head high and his tail flicking like he'd just won something - and then turned towards the trailer area with a groan. "Alright-", she gulped, "Let's go wake the beast."

Nightmare was waiting. The mare stood tied to the trailer, her sleek coat gleaming like polished gold in the sun. Her long mane had already been braided into a flowing ribbon of dark silk, and her ears flicked back the moment she saw someone approaching. She wasn't really mean - just highly opinionated, and those opinions often came with a swift nip or a look that could kill. "Don't even think about trying anything.", Taylor warned affectionately, and the mare narrowed her eyes but remained still. She was a vision; like something straight out of a midnight fairytale, with a body built for elegance and power and a face that radiated both beauty and mischief... but make no mistake: Nightmare had edge. Her hooves were weapons, her tail a whip of sass, and her personality sharp enough to slice through steel.

Taylor began tacking her up for the Western Pleasure competition, brushing a few strands of hay from her flanks before settling the gleaming leather saddle across her back. Nightmare huffed. "I know, I know-", Taylor murmured, "Shows are annoying. But you look good and you love the attention."

Aarya stood nearby, her arms folded, clearly enjoying the spectacle, "You sure she's not going to bite the judge this time?"

Taylor smirked, shrugging, "She probably won't." The mare shifted her weight as the blonde tightened the girth, arching her neck in protest but otherwise staying still. She tolerated exactly one human being in the world - and that person was currently cinching her saddle. Once she was tacked up and shining with last-minute polish, Nightmare looked every bit the menace-in-disguise: her hooves perfectly trimmed, her tail brushed to a glossy wave, dark hair catching the sun. As Taylor finally adjusted the reins and clipped on the final decorative tassel, she whispered, "Just don't eat anyone out there.", and Nightmare only flicked an ear but otherwise offered no promises. Together, they eventually stepped out of the prep area and towards the show ring, which was nestled between the main show barns and a grove of tall cottonwoods, their leaves fluttering in the afternoon breeze like paper fans.

The announcer's aggravating voice crackled through the speakers as the next class was called, and conversations all around quieted in anticipation. Taylor led Nightmare through the gate with practiced calm, the mare's ears swiveling, taking in the crowd, the bright banners flapping in the wind, the competitors already circling the ring. The Dunskin moved with a quiet confidence, each hoof placed with intention, her entire body coiled like a spring of velvet and steel. Western Pleasure wasn't about speed or flash; it was about poise, responsiveness, and that signature smooth-as-butter gait that looked effortless. Nightmare might have preferred chaos in her downtime, but in the ring, she could turn on the charm like flipping a switch. The woman mounted smoothly, adjusting her reins as she settled deep into the saddle, her posture relaxed but attentive. As the judges gave the signal, the competitors began to move off the rail, each horse falling into a slow, collected walk.

Nightmare's ears flicked once before locking forward, settling into the walk like she owned it - her head perfectly low, her body swinging fluidly from hip to shoulder, her hooves whispering over the dirt in perfect rhythm. Her bridle jingled softly, and Taylor barely needed to cue her, the pair moving together like an extension of the same thought. "Now jog your horses, please.", came the next call over the speakers, and with a light squeeze, Taylor brought Nightmare into a jog - a floating, steady two-beat gait that showed off the mare's incredible balance and training. The mare constantly kept her frame relaxed, her movement collected and her speed consistent - just as they'd practiced. The judges watched closely as the riders passed, and Taylor made sure to keep her cues subtle, her posture poised. Nightmare's dark russet eyes flicked towards the stands once, but she didn't break rhythm.

“Lope your horses.” The blonde took a breath and shifted her weight slightly, to which Nightmare responded instantly, flowing into a slow, rolling lope with a graceful transition that drew a murmur of approval from the spectators nearby. Her stride was long and unhurried, her body curved in a perfect arc with her head tucked slightly and the reins loose. The silver on her bridle and conchos glinted as she passed the judges, and her tail flowed like dark water behind her. Taylor smiled to herself_ Nightmare was behaving. For once. They changed direction, reversed at the walk, then repeated the patterns on the other lead, every single movement more precise than the last. And when the announcer finally called, "Back your horses, please.", Nightmare slid into the backward steps as if it were a dance, controlled in her movements as always. Taylor gave the Dunskin one last pat before lining up in the center with the other competitors, her heart beating steadily as pride bloomed in her chest.

One class down, multiple still to go.