Welcome to Hickstead, home to both Seven Oak Stables, and Blue Acre - two rival stables. Both offer opportunities for their clients to reach the highest level of excellence. Each stable differs from the other, so choose wisely and never forget, loyalty is everything... Meanwhile as the stables battle it out, there's trouble brewing at the university. Be careful, if you don't pick a side you may get caught in the cross-fire...
This is an chilled out rpg with a super friendly and relaxed atmosphere! Remember to sign up with your characters full name in all caps and don't forget to do your claims! Thank you and Welcome, we've been established since 10th March 2009 but unfortunately have had to close guest view of our boards due to multiple sites ripping off our hard work, such a shame! Come chat to us in Discord before joining if you like!.
His shift was over for the day, having clocked off at little after one from the station once his replacement came on. With some soft civil banter exchanged, he decided that he would take Tobi and Cap out for a few hours. He'd had a feeling that he would go for a ride after work, so it was a good thing that he'd packed spare clothes for the barn in the trunk of his car.
It didn't take him long to get changed from his work uniform and get Captain saddled, it was like a well-oiled, well-timed machine. The bay gelding was a sweet heart as much as he was a stubborn bugger to deal with, but Shannon loved him all the same. Calling Tobi to follow, they started out for the trails, deciding that the flat meadows were what he wanted to traverse for the afternoon.
Whilst the other trails were fun, they weren't suitable for relaxing - in his mind. He had to be very aware of where they were stepping and what was before them. The meadows however were made for whatever you felt at the time, and for him, it was just a gentle mosey along the flat land so he could reconnect with his horse outside of active work.
Tobi for his part stayed at a respectful distance from the horse, yet was never out of Shannon's line of sight. He trusted his canine companion just as much as he trusted in Cap to keep his footing in a chaotic place like the city. It was even more trust than he'd ever had in his old Quarter Horse back home - how River had loved to chuck a fit when he didn't feel like working. But somehow that sour palomino gelding had mellowed out with a young lady who was interested in him for western pleasure classes. But to each their own.
He let Cap have his head, the reins loose against his neck as he cropped grasses in passing, being a lazy plodder for the time being. Shannon almost wanted to see the gelding open up, see how fast he could cover the ground, but there was a risk he'd hurt himself long before Shannon could prevent it, so he skipped over it. Maybe another day.
"Ah stop being a plonker!" He warned but the words were accompanied by laughter as the chestnut attempted to stick his head between his front legs to bronc. Leo sat upright easily and held on to his head, but the grin plastered on his face made it obvious he didn't mind, he was glad the horse was feeling fresh. Phoenix had seemed a little quiet recently and though everything seem well - his legs all sound, no sore points that Leo had been able to locate, he was getting older and Leo was unsure if it was that the horse was finally maturing or if something was a little off. He'd given him a week off out in the field to chill, wondering if his brain needed a break before the show season started, and then he'd implored the use of the chiropractor to check him over and the dentist and farrier - everything was all great.
And hopping back on today for an easy hack, Phoenix certainly felt wonderful. Lovely and loose through his back, strong and supple through his shoulders and hind quarters. He was just keeping it nice and simple for the day, a 45 minute walk with a little trot and canter to bring him back into work after his week off. The thoroughbred would not have lost any fitness from just a week but he didn't need anything to go 'ping' following time off. Still laughing, the horse refused to walk as they entered a field he usually cantered through, jogging sideways in excitement and tossing his head. "Settle down, lad," He gave the chestnut a pat, his hand still light on the reins - Phoenix could be strong when he wanted but when he was excited he didn't tend to take any hold of the bit. Up ahead, he caught sight of another horse and realised he was following another rider - and quickly catching up with Phoenix's excitement. He couldn't tell who it was from behind, he didn't recognise the horse. "Hey!" He called out in warning, not knowing if they knew Phoenix was jogging up behind them. "Am I alright to come upsides?" He always checked first, some didn't like it.
Shannon turned to look behind himself in the saddle upon the shout. He wasn’t alarmed, if anything, mildly surprised. He was not used to sharing trail space with other riders - but that was solely because he had such wonky hours at times that seeing other people was not all that common.
“Tobi, right side,” he said, making a hand gesture that brought the black canine over to his right hand side.
Whilst he generally trusted his dog around horses, it still paid him to be at the very least a little bit mindful that other horses might not share the same ideas or training.
“You’re alright to come up side mister,” Shannon called back as he double checked his own horse.
Cap for his part merely had an ear back to listen to the blustering of the other horse and kept walking along unphased by what was going on around him. Picking more grass as they walked along, reassured by Shannon’s presence and alertness to be slightly more at ease. Carefully Shannon readjusted his seat in the western saddle he’d thrown on Cap’s back; it was an old thing, his original saddle from back home, and whilst it was old and had a slight tear in the skirt he couldn’t bear to have fixed, it was still a good saddle. He hadn’t felt like fumbling around with an English saddle, wanting to be comfy.
He saw the guy turn, and though he was still a little far, he was pretty sure the face was familiar. Not surprising considering how many people Leo knew - not just from the stables but from town where he made himself a well-known nuisance. He ran a hand down Phoenix's neck again, the horse beginning to sweat in his excitement but he managed to hold himself together into a light jog as they approached - a walk was not going to happen. “Tobi, right side,” Leo just caught the words as he got nearer, and saw the flash of a dog beneath feet as the animal was waved over. Leo had no issue with dogs, Phoenix was well adjusted to them as he often brought his own out on the trails with it - depending on the day. Today, with his horses excitement, he had left Bear behind; the dog was getting older and Phoenix was not going to make this an easy ride.
“You’re alright to come up side mister,” Nodding, even though he knew the guy probably wouldn't see, Leo carefully maneuvered Phoenix to come alongside the other horse. Tossing his head wildly, Phoenix pranced as he drew up next to him. Leo looked to the person he was passing with a curious eye, sure he knew the face.. and then it clicked and his eyebrows went up. "Oh, it's you!" He exclaimed, hanging onto Phoenix to stop him from taking off in his keen-ness to overtake. He was quite a competitive little thoroughbred. "Is this your police horse?" He joked with an easy grin.
"Oh, it's you!" He exclaimed, hanging onto Phoenix to stop him from taking off in his keen-ness to overtake.
"Is this your police horse?" He joked with an easy grin.
Shannon didn't think too much of the other rider, content to let them be and do as they wished. If he was honest, he half expected for the man to ride right on by at the speed of light from the excited jigging of his horse. But instead he was recognized and was slightly surprised at how friendly the tone was, not that he was going to look a gift horse in the mouth - he knew well enough that police weren't always faces one wanted to see.
He smiled and looked over the man, studying the face for a moment, trying to place him. Oh! He knew this man. He'd escorted him home a few times where he'd had a bit too much to drink and was being a touch disruptive.
"Good afternoon Mr White," he chuckled, "Staying out of trouble I hope."
He was light hearted about it, if anything he held nothing against the man - a few disruptions were not the worst thing in the world and in so far, he'd never had an issue dealing with him.
"He is, actually," he nodded, leaning forward to pat the bay's shoulder, "This is Captain, or Cap - which ever you prefer. You'll see us from time to time in the city and the surrounds if need be. I'm just taking him on a bit of a stretch since he hasn't been out in two days."
Leo held on to the prancing pony as Phoenix tossed his head again, keen to power on. He ran a hand along his neck once again to settle him, and the horse began to calm a little once he knew that they weren't in some kind of race. Phoenix had always been a hot head, a little like his rider - it was why they got along so well - but he was manageable. At least for Leo. He'd not thought he was too much of a difficult ride until a few of the grooms had been bucked off when Phoenix had been a little too fresh. He didn't have a nasty bone in his body, he just had high spirits and fast blood.
Leo offered the other guy a grin when he looked over and smiled. He wondered if the guy would even recognise him, though if Leo could remember his face through a haze of alcohol, surely the sober one of the two could remember. "Good afternoon Mr White," Ah, there it was. Leo gave a nod of acknowledgement. "Staying out of trouble I hope." Removing one hand from the reins, he gave an easy laugh and indicated to the jig jogging ginger - a few hands smaller than the other horse. "Just about?" He offered, giving a shrug as he picked the reins back up again into both hands. "I promise I'm completely sober at this moment in time." Though his trouble making was absolutely not limited to his being intoxicated to do it.
"He is, actually," Leo raised his eyebrows in surprise, having been joking. "This is Captain, or Cap - which ever you prefer. You'll see us from time to time in the city and the surrounds if need be. I'm just taking him on a bit of a stretch since he hasn't been out in two days." Leo nodded slightly, "Why wasn't this my ride home last time?" He asked, only half joking - though he wasn't if being drunk on a police horse would be a great experience; cue the vomit surely - at least it would be an epic story.
"Just about?" He offered, giving a shrug as he picked the reins back up again into both hands. "I promise I'm completely sober at this moment in time."
"Well, that's better than no," Shannon laughed, "At least I'm off duty for the afternoon, so there is that."
Leo nodded slightly, "Why wasn't this my ride home last time?" He asked, only half joking.
"I'm not sure how you might've appreciated it," Shannon smiled, "Being jostled around on the backside of a horse out of the city to your home? And if I'm honest, I don't think my horse would appreciate it either - maybe if he were a solid Quarter horse. But it can be arranged. It's been a little while since I've had to hogtie someone."
He was joking, mostly - Leo was a man, not a stray calf after all. He tilted his head slightly.
"Now that I think about it, I'm not sure there is a tie point on my work saddle... Might have to use this one from here out."
He would have to talk to his boss and see how legal that was. He didn't remember anything about that on his tests and if he was honest, it would've been pretty cool to do something like that. He made a mental note to make sure to look that up when he went into work the following day.
"Well, that's better than no, At least I'm off duty for the afternoon, so there is that." Leo grinned, and gave a half shrug, "I'm always causing trouble somewhere, in some way or another. I just can't help myself." He was always up to something, it was just how Leo rolled. It might not always be drunken antics, but he liked to keep himself busy, and always in mischief. He glanced at the guy and held Phoenix in check when the horse tested his boundaries, threatening to take off when they got to a favourite canter spot. "I do hope that means you're on duty the next time I'm out on the town." He grinned, most of the police in town were pretty easy going, especially with Leo and some of the other well known town-folk, but he liked Shannon as one of the best.
"I'm not sure how you might've appreciated it, Being jostled around on the backside of a horse out of the city to your home? And if I'm honest, I don't think my horse would appreciate it either - maybe if he were a solid Quarter horse. But it can be arranged. It's been a little while since I've had to hogtie someone." Leo laughed and nodded, "Yeah, alright that's a fair point." Perhaps he wouldn't like being on the back of a horse with all that swaying or bouncing about. "Maybe on the right night... I'm not sure about being hogtied..." He tilted his head, then again it might be amusing, and he'd make the night memorable.
Phoenix tossed his head and snorted again. "Now that I think about it, I'm not sure there is a tie point on my work saddle... Might have to use this one from here out." Leo grinned and ran a hand along Phoenix's neck again. "Maybe we avoid the tying part and just sit me on the back?"
Leo grinned, and gave a half shrug, "I'm always causing trouble somewhere, in some way or another. I just can't help myself."
"So long as I'm not looking and I know nothing," Shannon laughed, "I can safely look the other way."
"I do hope that means you're on duty the next time I'm out on the town." He grinned.
"No promises," he smiled, "But I'll endeavor to make good on your request."
Leo laughed and nodded, "Yeah, alright that's a fair point." Perhaps he wouldn't like being on the back of a horse with all that swaying or bouncing about. "Maybe on the right night... I'm not sure about being hogtied..."
Leo grinned and ran a hand along Phoenix's neck again. "Maybe we avoid the tying part and just sit me on the back?"
Shannon brushed some of his hair back from his face and laughed, "I am sorry about that, it's Texan humor. I tend to forget that it's not common place out here to use calf and lamb ties for the lost ones out at pasture. My brain still runs back to the ranching days where I was flinging myself off horse back and tackling six month old steers into the dirt to tag them on the fly. If I am to bring you in on horse back, just please, try not to drink too much? It's a long fall and I don't want to fill out the accident report that you passed out and fell off the back of my horse. I don't even know what my boss would say to it."
"So long as I'm not looking and I know nothing, I can safely look the other way." Leo laughed and his face lit up like a kid at Christmas. "Score!" He joked in return, "I promise not to abuse my position of power...much...." Teasing the idea that he would have a police officer on the books that would let him get away with murder. "I have no intention of maiming anyone.. intentionally anyway," He grinned again, not qualms about how some people wouldn't find that kind of thing funny. This was exactly the kind of thing that people meant about him putting his foot in it.
"No promises, But I'll endeavor to make good on your request." Leo laughed again and the horse tossed his head as if he was joining in. "I'll make sure to get a drink in for you, what's your poison?" Though he doubted the guy would be able to have one whilst on duty, surely it was the thought that counted. Phoenix picked up a jog again, still expecting a race as he eyed up the horse at his side with a wild eye. Leo chuckled and rubbed his neck again, finding amusement in the horses' feisty nature.
"I am sorry about that, it's Texan humor. I tend to forget that it's not common place out here to use calf and lamb ties for the lost ones out at pasture. My brain still runs back to the ranching days where I was flinging myself off horse back and tackling six month old steers into the dirt to tag them on the fly. If I am to bring you in on horse back, just please, try not to drink too much? It's a long fall and I don't want to fill out the accident report that you passed out and fell off the back of my horse. I don't even know what my boss would say to it." Leo grinned and gave an easy shrug, there was no harm in it in Leo's mind, the guy spent far too much time joking and larking about to not be able to take one himself. "Never any need to apologise to me, what's life without a good joke?" His grin widened at the idea of tackling a steer, "That sounds right up by alley, though there's not much to tackle here apart from drunk morons and siblings." He snorted, "Even drunk I could ride circles around you, I won't be falling off any time soon." He puffed out his chest with inflated ego then laughed again.
"Score!" He joked in return, "I promise not to abuse my position of power...much...." Teasing the idea that he would have a police officer on the books that would let him get away with murder. "I have no intention of maiming anyone.. intentionally anyway," He grinned again.
Shannon shook his head slowly and sighed, "I'm going to have to keep a special eye on you, make sure that power is never in your hands."
"I'll make sure to get a drink in for you, what's your poison?"
"A strong rye whiskey," he smiled, "Or a bourbon."
"Never any need to apologise to me, what's life without a good joke?" His grin widened at the idea of tackling a steer, "That sounds right up by alley, though there's not much to tackle here apart from drunk morons and siblings." He snorted, "Even drunk I could ride circles around you, I won't be falling off any time soon."
"Well, I hope I never need to bear witness to such skill, so I'll take your word for it," he said, chuckling.
Leo raised a brow at the slow head shake but his smile didn't dim - if anything it only brightened. He had seen that look many times before, and he would see it many times again in his life, he was sure of that. "I'm going to have to keep a special eye on you, make sure that power is never in your hands." Leo mock gasped in outrage, a noise that set the hot headed chestnut off again and he gave a little squeal and a playful buck, before resuming his attempt to canter on the spot. Leo held him lightly in his hands, keeping the horse steady and contain him from pissing off across the field. "I don't know why you think I would need a special eye - as if I would abuse the power..." He absolutely would abuse the power.
"A strong rye whiskey, Or a bourbon." Leo grinned again and tilted his head a little. "How about both? One for each hand?" Not that he was an alcoholic or anything but he did quite enjoy a drink; even more so drinking with a friend. At least he was always generous when it came to buying the rounds. "Well, I hope I never need to bear witness to such skill, so I'll take your word for it," He wrinkled his nose in disappointment, "what a shame, and here I was thinking we were about to partake in some drunk equestrian olympics. I think it would make excellent entertainment for the town!" He laughed loudly, showing no harm meant all the same.
