#equestrian!lock

Blaze

Digital Art using Procreate

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Sometimes I run into a place with a project where I know that it’s not what I envisioned, but it’s the best I can do with where I am right now...

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Autumn always makes me nostalgic. A month and a year ago, I decided to give *that* show on Netflix another try. A year ago, I was ears deep in some of the most incredible fics I’ve ever read on AO3. Among them were AUs and case fics about a posh boy who rides English, dressage even, on a black Friesian, or in one case, said posh boy was the Friesian... my long dormant artistic senses began to tingle.

I used to draw horses incessantly as a child. I’m talking reams upon reams of copy paper devoted to my love of all things equine. And I read up on all things horse too. I practically memorized my copy of Judith Draper’s Horse Breeds of the World. But there’s truth in the statement that riding, especially the gleaming horses with their manes and tails braided in the dressage ring, is a sport for society’s upper crusts...

Still, one can dream and draw, can especially dream and draw and read about beautiful horses ridden by beautiful consulting detectives and his ilk. This fandom has given me so much this past year, not just equine-related, but I’d like to give a shout out to a few horse-related fics that were on my mind whilst drawing this.

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@7-percent‘s Musgrave Blaze is possibly the fic that started it all. Not only was this the first fic in the “7-percent-verse” that I read (it’s not the first one folks, so if you plan to start, start at the beginning and get ready to have the world shift under your feet), the story’s respect of past trauma reframed a lot of those cliched “overcoming one’s fear of riding” stories that I think kind of define the “genre,” if you will. Sherlock and Pirate will always have a bit of my heart.

I don’t think one can talk about horse-related sherlock fanfic without bringing up @khorazir‘s The Horse and his Doctor? I will admit to being a bit skeptical at first (is this story really going where I think it is?), but I was quickly enamored (it really is going there! and it’s incredible!!!). The gorgeous artwork certainly didn’t detract. (can we talk about the illustration at the end of this chapter?) Khorazir really does justice to luscious Friesian curls in a way which I have clearly opted out of...

And finally I can’t post this without talking about one of my current favorite WIP obsessions. We don’t really see much of Sherlock in his jodhpurs (or breeches) and hunt coat, but I’m definitely not complaining about the getups of equestrian!lock and cowboy John featured in @dulcimergecko​‘s absolutely brilliant The Devils’ Blaze. I just can’t wait to see what John’s reaction to Sherlock in those tight white pants will be when we (hopefully) get there.

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Phew. Long post. These are just a few that I’ve read and loved. I’m sure there must be more. Please send more horse related fic recs my way if you have them!

Sherlock is a top eventing rider currently training at Baker Farms. John is the new groom who's been told to steer clear of the surly rider and his horses. Rating: Explicit Words: 107845

A year later, codenamemeretricious finished her epic, 43-chapter Equestrian!lock AU. I know literally nothing about horse-related sports, but just like with other amazing sporting AUs this fandom has, it really doesn’t matter. The author does a great job of sliding in the info you need, without feeling like they’re dumbing it down for you. At some points the johnlock relationship made me want to strangle some people, with all the soap-opera vibes, but I guess you have to keep people guessing if you’re trying to go for 43 chapters. This fic is seriously amazing, and is probably going to end up being talked about just like A Study in Winning and The Bang and the Clatter (which is pretty much the nicest thing I could possibly say about it :D).