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!.
Bovi worked on the bolt of his stall, bored out of his mind with energy to spare. A lot of feed, a lack of exercise and stuck to his box for the entire day did a number on his patience, limited as it was. The trainers had only taken him out to groom him and send him through a ten minute lunge before boxing him up with a heap of breakfast.
He reached out at passing people, looking for attention but no one gave it, so he turned to snapping and even began attempts to chew through the gate door before he found the latch and began working on it. It seemed that the lock was not done right, left in just the right position. He pulled at it and then the gate was open. He pushed out of it and began wandering the isle - there weren't many horses around and most he ignored, save for a few curious glances.
He found his way into an open room, rummaging around, looking for the banana chips that he felt certain would be around somewhere if he worked hard enough - after all, he deserved it! Grabbing a bag, he backed out of the room and dipped his head in - it wasn't his favorite, but any grain was worth it. He was interrupted by a shout and he looked up, spotting a couple of grooms who saw him. He snorted and tossed his head before grabbing the bag and dragged it along, going away from the grooms.
"SOMEONE SHUT THE ENTRY GATE! BOVI IS OUT!"
Bovi whinnied as he ran about with his nearly empty bag, not the least bit concerned for the fact that it was flapping around his face and body. He was out, he was free, and he wasn't about to just do as the humans said. He'd done enough of that throughout the day!
Violet was nervous, but excited. There was a horse that she was looking at and was hoping they were still available. Of course, she was going to go in with an open mind. Horses were like cats and dogs, they kind of picked you out in a weird way.
Humming to herself, Violet pulled up – a trailer in the back. She parked and got out, in a bright mood. As she got to the front gate, it sounded like complete chaos. People were yelling like there was a fire or something.
“Hello?” she called out to someone near the gate.
“Sorry ma’am, one of our horses got out and the person that can wrangle him isn’t here.”
Violet quirked an eyebrow. It wasn’t every day that there was only one person that could handle a horse. Though, the person she talked to looked like a young whippersnapper. Violet guessed the person who could handle the horse in question was an older, more experienced person.
“Well, I can help out!” Violet chimed. The gate person looked at her but opened the gate enough to let Violet squeeze in before closing it again. She didn’t know what she was getting into, but it was something that Violet wasn’t used to. Horses escaped all the time, but the panic in everyone’s eyes made her wonder if the horse was a zombie. No horse was that bad, right?
She turned down an aisle, ignoring everyone around her. “Well, well…” she said, eyes locking on the escape artist.
All the rush and fuss put the spirit right into his heels - it was attention, it was different and like hell was he about to just plod back into a stall to stand about and be left on his own with nothing to do. Perhaps a big flaw, or a blessing in its own way, but Bovi knew enough about the humans that they were easily cowed when he wanted his way. He hadn't met too many people that could alter his thinking.
Swinging back around he started on his next lap of the yard, hooves sliding slightly as he turned a corner a little too quick - his shoes more of an annoyance than ever. He couldn't dig as deep to the ground as he wanted. He charged right by stable hand, the oat bag catching the young man in passing. This was far too fun.
This horse was something else! Violet loved it. She couldn’t help but laugh at the boy who got knocked in the face. Violet followed him slowly, as the horse made his way towards the side she came into. The riff-raff of it all was suddenly pierced with the sharpest whistle violet had ever heard in her life. If it made her flinch, she could only imagine what the horses heard. Her ears were trained enough that she knew it wasn’t a whistle, whistle – but one that came from a person. A person who obviously mastered it.
Auggie was in a foul mood, annoyed that someone had locked the place up just because of Bovi. They were all going to get a verbal spanking. He made his presence known, two fingers in his mouth. A massive bag of what he called Bovi mix was in his hand and he shook it. Like Bovi was a dog, but a dog that could trample him in any moment. Auggie was giving him what he wanted, but he knew that he had to occupy him.
Bovi's head jerked up at the whistle - ears swiveling around to listen. He knew that sort of whistle, it was one his past owners had used to call attention when he and other young colts were out feeling fresh on the pasture; stop fooling around. He caught sight of the man who made such a commanding noise, nickering back in recognition. Tossing his head a little and setting the fed bag swinging, Bovi moved a step closer to the man.
But then he smelt it, food only this man seemed to ever have. And a thought wandered through Bovi's mind - perhaps he had his favourites too. More than curious now, he began his slow swaying walk over to the man who was shaking the other feed bag, mellow as he could be.
Violet was amazed at how quick that horse listened and paid attention. Obviously, this man had a hold on him that no one else did. Seeing that the horse had a harness on, Violet grabbed a lead. She didn’t move quickly and followed.
When the horse was distracted by the now open bag, Violet moved up and hooked the lead – hoping it was the right move. The man so far hadn’t even given her a look.
Bovi was content to just give into temptation, but the moment that lead was on the fun was over. His head shot up at the unexpected grab and turned a dark eye on the human that did so, ears falling back yet unpinned. Snorting and shaking out his rough mane, he dropped the bag he was holding and lifted a leg into the resting position.
The lead was on now, he had to play by the rules. Huffing, he turned a little bit to reach out to the hand that held him, breathing in the new smell. He was not familiar with this human - he couldn't place her as familiar, but he still obeyed the rules. He knew better than to hurt people.
“Good job Bovi,” the man said, giving the horse a good pat on the neck. He turned his attention to Violet, which probably made her nervous since it was this father's look, almost as if she was about to be in trouble. “You’re quite the handler,” he commented.
“I work at the ranch, sir.”
“That makes sense. I’m Auggie. The horse you help catch is Bovi. He’s a bit of an escape artist as you can tell.”
“he’s a beautiful horse,” Violet said, giggling a bit at the softness of the nose and sniffing at her. No matter what the horse, the feeling of the horse's nose on the skin – always was welcomed. “have you been here long, buddy?” she asked, knowing full well that he wouldn’t respond. But what horse people didn’t talk to their horses?
“That makes sense. I’m Auggie. The horse you help catch is Bovi. He’s a bit of an escape artist as you can tell.”
“He’s a beautiful horse,” Violet said, giggling a bit at the softness of the nose.
“Have you been here long, buddy?”
If Bovi could've understood, he might've said like it felt like forever. He'd been shuffled around so much that it was a wonder he even liked people in the first place. He bumped his nose against the woman's hand, snorting quietly before he took a half step towards the man in front of him and began his cursory check for more treats. Where were those banana chips he liked? The grain was great, but the chips were better in his mind and he felt he deserved the food for all the running around he just did.
“A bit, yeah. Rides well if you're experienced. Would you be interested?”
Violet thought for a moment. She really was here to look but how could she say no? The horse's energy was entertaining to her, and he hadn't shown any kind of angst towards her. Keyword yet. There was a bit of silence before she allowed herself this moment.
“Yeah, I'd like to test ride if possible.”
“Great, I can get him all set up for you. I'll meet you outside once he's all geared up.” Violet nodded as she handed off the lead. Auggie gave Bovi one more round of snacks before leading the horse to be geared up.