Companion Valera

I'm a member of and seeing as they were having a contest when I joined I figured I'd better draw my character for it! So this is Valera, my unBonded Companion mare. I started drawing this the day it was due, and figured I had time to either draw an untacked Companion or base it off one of my recent drawings and give her really elaborate tack. Seeing as without their tack it's really easy to think a Companion was just a white horse with blue eyes (which, since I don't have time to color her for the contest, makes it even harder) I went for the tacked version. Even though she's unBonded and shouldn't tolerate tack at all I figure I can shrug it off and say she's out on Search. I had so much fun designing the elaborate tack. And I'm such a little fangirl, it's got the crest of Valdemar (in 4 places no less!), bridle bells and even her name etched into the saddle (I'll always remember that scene from Arrows of the Queen). I figured it would be a good idea to use a style similar to the US cavalry saddle, so the saddle is based off the trooper/mclellan one I use when I'm riding, but it's got some modifications- including english stirrups.

Man, I'm such a Valdemar fangirl.

EDIT: She's no longer unBonded. made up her Chosen, a girl named Tierra, and drew her take on the two, which can be found here: [link]

based off the books by Mercedes Lackey
fancharacter and art © sara kate sams