#i might be projecting onto rahu a little. maybe. just a little

[shalomniscient]

A 'Path to Nowhere' Equestrian AU sounds really interesting. I'm most intrigued by Dressage Rider Shalom and especially Dressage Rider Rahu. You're 100% correct in thinking that Rahu would be an incredible Dressage Rider. So, if it's possible and you want to write it, could I request PTN Equestrian AU Headcanons primarily centered around / focused on both Dressage Rider Shalom and Dressage Rider Rahu? Thank you!

a little fast and loose on this one anon, since in truth i don’t have that many thoughts just yet? in terms of what would actually happen in this au in terms of plot/conflict (which might be a strange thing to be hung up about but i can’t help but want all my bases covered when i write shdhskdkjc 🥹🥹)

EQUESTRIAN AU HEADCANONS || ptn

cw. none

SHALOM

Right off the bat, I’d say Shalom doesn’t actually ride competitively all that often due to her consitution. She used to ride more, before an incident occured that left her physically weaker than before.

Nonetheless, she’s a damn good rider. Her horse, Rebel, a blue-roan thoroughbred is monstrous to anyone other than her. It’s a little funny—the stables she learned riding at gave Rebel to her in an effort to discourage her from starting dressage. After all, who would take a hot-blooded horse like a thoroughbred into a dressage arena? And in what world would some Syndican brat lucky enough to be adopted by a Paradeisian family actually be able to tame such a creature, when even the best trainers in Eastside have failed?

Of course, Rebel and Shalom prove all their detractors very wrong when they end up taking to one another, forming a bond that carried them all the way to national championships.

Rebel is innately tuned to Shalom’s emotions. Shalom is always calm, and seems almost detached, but Rebel is an excellent way to gauge how she’s really feeling. If Rebel’s agitated, best believe Shalom is also secretly plotting your death. If Rebel is calm, then you’re in the clear. Rebel is also very protective of his rider, and will obediently follow Shalom around like an oversized dog whenever he can.

As a rider, Shalom is just picture-perfect. Part of dressage that riders are evaluated for is encouraging the horse to do something with the least amount of effort possible—the judges shouldn’t be able to, or it should at least be very subtle, see you direct your horse. And Shalom is incredibly good at that.

Also, Shalom has never fallen off Rebel. Firstly because Rebel would never buck her, and secondly because she’s surprisingly sticky (difficult to dismount) in the saddle.

RAHU

To Rahu, I’d feel like riding is a form of therapy. A way to destress from the weight of the world and disconnect from whatever that’s haunting her by making her focus on something else.

She got her start simply by working as a stablehand mucking stalls until one of the stable managers, Varna, offered to teach her how to ride using her own horse. Rahu would end up showing immense potential as a rider, and after Rahu wins her first rookie dressage tournament on Varna’s horse, the older woman manages to strong-arm management into getting Rahu her own horse—Rain, a beautiful black Swedish Warmblood around 16 hands tall.

Rahu and Rain didn’t bond immediately like Rebel and Shalom. It was more of a slow, natural progression. Rain, as a Swedish Warmblood, has a naturally calm disposition, which makes her a good foil to Rahu’s sometimes feral nature. Rain won’t let Rahu on until Rahu relaxes properly. It took a while, but Rain and Rahu eventually form a really strong bond.

Rain and Rahu, together, won several local dressage tournaments. Rahu even becomes somewhat of a local celebrity, with droves of girls coming to watch her compete and catch the legendary ‘dressage prince’ in action. Apparently the combination of coat, gloves and breeches was something the town girls found very attractive—but Rahu wouldn’t know, too preoccupied on winning as she is.

As a rider, Rahu is the kind that’s too stubborn to quit. She’s fallen off many, many times, but she always finds her way back into the saddle. I feel like Rahu is the hard work kind of rider more than a naturally talented rider, who gets up earlier than everyone else to tack up and get some rounds in the arena before dawn, and it pays off, of course, when she ends up winning competition after competition.