Harusame Yabusame

For the

Summer Pony Show 2015

Horse name + ref:  HM Blue Nataska
 
Placed 2nd.
Rider/Handler name and age:  Ralaar Darksea, age 28
Class:  Mounted Archery
Style:  Yabusame, reflecting "jinba ittai" or horse and man together as one.  The pronged arrowhead is meant to shatter on contact with a distinct noise if the target is hit.

Ralaar and Blue, reflecting much practice and work, take their skills to Castle in the Sky Stables to compete in the mounted archery class.  Ralaar, being a warrior by birth and long training, believes the samurai of Terra walk the same path and has been making a study of their traditions.  His decision to learn yabusame makes Saki Harusame very happy.  Given the fact that Blue is a mustang, in another time his rider may have been a Native American hunting bison with bow and lance. 

Media:  Grumbacher dry pan watercolors, pencil, pen and brush, and watercolor pencil.
Creation time:  8-10 hours from concept, sketch, and painting
References:  for horse and rider, my own bendy models: Old Skool Art Models - Humans and Horses
For the look of the Apuseni mountains of Romania:  All the photos on wikipedia here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apuseni_…;
For general reference for yabusame, the article here:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yabusame