The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.10 - Kaora's Task: Horsin' Around

This is my second time completing the challenge! It is difficult for me to complete in the other seasons because I spend so much time outside. When I’m not reading I’m riding horses! I compete in an equestrian sport called Eventing, which is a triathlon for horses. There are three phases, and for my task I’ve decided to base it off of these three phases.

Choose one of these phases and read book 1 and book 2. This is a two book task.

Required: Indicate the option.

Option 1. DRESSAGE
Dressage is a test of harmony between horse and rider. The team is expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements. The entire goal of dressage is to show a relaxed and willing horse.

Book 1. Surrounding the dressage arena are letters evenly spaced, which determine where the movements should start and end. Those letters are: A-K-V-E-S-H-C-M-R-B-P-F and the letters in the middle are D-L-X-I-G. Read a book written by a single author whose initials are found in these letters. All initials count.

Book 2. Before exiting the arena the rider will typically stop and salute the judge at X. Read a book written by a single author with an X in the TITLE or the author's name. Subtitles are excluded.

Option 2. CROSS COUNTRY
This is my favorite stage. It involves galloping through open fields over jumps you would find in nature. Logs, ditches, water elements, etc. It is a test of endurance, athleticism and speed.

Book 1. Last year I competed at my first Novice level. It is the second level of competition. Read a book where the first word in the title starts with one of the letters in NOVICE.
EXAMPLE: E - Eyes to See, I - In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner, C - Circe

Book 2. In cross country to mark an obstacle there are flags. White flag on the left. Red flag on the right. Read a book where the cover includes both red and white.
Required: Point out the red and white on the cover.
Examples:
white background, red shoe
white silhouettes, red rays
white title, red line

Option 3. STADIUM JUMPING
Stadium jumping involves jumping over obstacles in an arena setting. The course is predetermined, and you must follow the sequence of jumps or be eliminated.

Book 1. Stadium jumping can involve combinations of jumps where two to three jumps are spaced relatively close together on a straight line. If your horse stops at any point in the combination you must redo the entire combination. For this task read a book that is book 2 or 3 of a series.

Book 2. Stadium jumping is judged solely on "time and faults" - that is, the fastest time around the course with the fewest number of penalties. It is your turn to avoid a fault. Read a book that does not have ANY of the letters in FAULT in the title or subtitle.
ex. Who She Is, Sherwood, Room

This help thread is open.

nice task Kaora!! I love watching the equestrian events on tv

Would be okay for book 2 from the 2nd option? Red rectangle and white title.

This has a red chair and white text as well as a white carpet. Is this ok for option 2 book 2?

Seeking approval for Option 1 Dressage

Book 1-The Enchanted Places by Christopher Milne

Book 2-The Malta Exchange by Steve Berry

Is OK for Option 2 Book 2 (red background and white text)?

in option 1 A, can we reuse letters, if our author has the same initial (eg Max Monroe)
And does that author count as a single author, as they are writing under one name? (see also Ilona Andrews)

(I did look at the Rules & FAQs but what constitutes a single author wasn't obvious to me :-/ )

Mod Note:

A single author for name and initial tasks is a single name. If the task does not specify, the author must use two or more names.

Thanks re single author info :)

The task - and Rules - is silent about whether the letters AKV etc can only be used once for the author initials or if they can be duplicated.
Probably a moot point now, as I'll in all likelihood sue an Ilona Andrews book, but I'd be interested to know :)

For Option 3 Book1. would Alice In Wonderland; And, Through The Looking Glass work? It is a compendium which includes both the 1st and 2nd books of the series.

I'd like to know the answer to the opt1, bk1 question that Cat posed in messages 15 & 17:

If the author has the same initials (e.g., Cathy Callen), does that count for this one?

I would think it does, since there's no restriction and the letters are simply listed.

Kathy wrote: "I'd like to know the answer to the opt1, bk1 question that Cat posed in messages 15 & 17:

If the author has the same initials (e.g., Cathy Callen), does that count for this one?

I would think it..."

Please see the FAQs:

"4. If I have to find an author's initials, a title word, etc., in a specified word (such as author's initials found in ANCIENT), how many times can I use each letter in the target word?
Only once - so if the word is ANCIENT, you could not use Aravind Adiga, since there is only one A in the target word. On the other hand, you could use Nele Neuhaus, since the target word has 2 N's."

Since the task did not specify otherwise, the general rule applies, and you can only use a letter as often as it appears in the list.

I appreciate your message. The confusion came because this task has just a collection of letters; no words or phrases. Since no one is going to list the letters more than once, this made it seem a special case. I felt it needed to be clarified.

Will these work for option 1?

Book 1: The Atlantis Gene by A.G. Riddle
Book 2: The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton

For option 2.2 can you please look at this cover and confirm the house/barn in the background as being red and white. The red isn't that vibrant but compared with the brown livestock i think it is clear that it's red. I'd prefer to double check before posting though.

I'm still waiting on an answer for my above question.