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!.
Orion told himself he was here to look. Okay, well..not look per se. But he was here on business, his morning at least. Gwyneth had to go in for an emergency so he was on his own after he finished his two clients at the yard.
There were services that could pick him up and he knew Auggie well enough that the man would drive if needed. It was odd, kind of. Having such a supportive group of people around. Not that it was a bad thing - but it was good having people other than his niece.
Orion had finished writing a few things and packing his shoulder bag. He made his way down the aisles, hearing the horses. It didn't take him long to feel a velvet nose poke out at him. Orion held up his hand and a whoosh of warm breath hit his palm. A smile crept across his face. He wondered what the horse looked like. It had a longer face, thin and muscular. His hands explored more - feeling that an ear was cropped. Like a Doberman almost. It made him frown. "Are you a survivor?" He asked, hands resting on the cheeks. The horse didn't seem to mind. Almost allowing Orion to continue holding its face.
Brandon had a busy morning at work. The farrier was working on shoeing the horses that were due that week, which left Brandon to help him. He brought the horses inside and turning them back out to their pastures when they were done. It took up most of the morning, and he was currently taking the last horse outside.
After putting Tilly outside, he closed and locked the gate - heading inside the barn again with a huff. The days to-do list kept growing and there were only so many hours in the shift. As he hung the halter and lead rope on the bridle hook outside Tilly's stall, he noticed someone standing in front of Copper. A soft smile graced his face as he saw the older, quieter horse stick his head out to greet the man. Brandon walked over and the palomino let out a whinny, catching the man's question. "Yes, he is. Poor guy has been passed around barns for years now. People keep sending him back because he's too lazy..." It seemed the been there done that horses were out of style, though they came in handy depending on the situation.
"His name is Copper, though it doesn't really match his color. Are you looking for someone to give you some information on him? Or just coming to visit an employee?" He wasn't suspicious or anything but he was always making sure what people's intentions were while visiting.
thanks aofie!
thirty - part time firetruck mechanic & Sales Yard Stable hand - single (hetero)
Orion could pick up the upcoming footsteps. He figured he was acting weird. A man in formal athleisure, and some interesting glasses. It was rare for him to have his guide stick out, but with Gwyn leaving, she insisted he takes it from the car. But it was hidden a bit, so he didn’t expect anyone to know unless they were searching.
“Too lazy, huh?” Orion gave the horse one more healthy scratch on the cheeks before turning his attention towards the man. A small smile crossed his lips. “Ah, no – I just finished giving a few horses their massages. Mr. Flores said I could wander around a bit before he was able to take me home.” The name drop wasn’t out of bragging but in a friendly manner. He and Auggie had developed a good relationship, platonic and business. Discounts for the yard, and discounts for furniture. It was a win-win.
Orion could feel Copper sniff his hair and he held up his hand again, the velvet nose sniffing at his palm. "So, what deems him too lazy?"
Brandon smiled softly at the geldings sweet antics. Out of all of the horses left at the Sale Yard, Copper was the one they had the most information on. "He's hitting retirement age in terms of competition. All the kids want a younger horse. Though they don't realize what a great guy he is." He shrugged his shoulders, there had to be someone who was just starting out learning how to ride - that would be the perfect home for the palomino.
"Oh, you know Auggie too? He is really great to work with around here. Feel like he is the organized one." Brandon never wanted to bad mouth anyone, but sometimes the staff were a bit unorganized. "You're Orion aren't you? The massage therapist?" He had sworn he had seen the man before, recognizing the interesting looking glasses now that he had a good look at the other man.
'He had some injuries due to competing so he can't run barrels as fast as he used to. Though he would be perfect for someone who just wanted to learn how to ride. If I want a quiet ride to go check the mailbox or something, I ride him in a heartbeat. Got a really good head on his shoulders and seen a lot of things." Whoever had trained him must have been a professional, as his show records on the internet suggested the palomino won his fair share of ribbons. "You've been around horses long I assume if you work on them?"
thanks aofie!
thirty - part time firetruck mechanic & Sales Yard Stable hand - single (hetero)
“I do yes! I met him first at his leather shop. That is me, a pleasure to meet you,” Orion smiled, holding out a hand. “Ah, is that so? Well, I’m not exactly looking for anything heavy-duty myself.” Gosh, what would Gwyn say if she heard he was looking? But the description of Copper sounded nice. Plus, if he were to have a horse, Helping Hooves would board any horse he chose. Which didn’t help his current predicament. There were already a lot of signs.
“Not as long as some people have around here. I started a few years ago. Learned how to ride first, blind. Didn’t ride before that,” he smiled. “Maybe it’s because I can’t judge them by looks, and I already have a load of patience. What about you? Have you been around horses for a long time?”
"Nice to meet you, I think I've seen you around here before. I'm Brandon, a stable hand here. Though only part time." He was starting to think he lived more at the Sales Yard rather than the Fire Station, though it all depended on what needed to be done and where he was needed. Some people called him crazy, but that's how his life had been for years now. His attention turned to the palomino gelding who was curious about the new person. "He would be in great hands with you, probably be spoiled rotten."
From what he had seen, the horses Orion had worked on at the yard enjoyed being worked on. It was something helpful, especially when figuring a new horse out. "I would have thought you would have ridden much longer than that." Granted, it was safe to assume anyone who worked with horses had knowledge dealing with them. "Do you take lessons at one of the barns nearby?" He needed to get some lessons himself, though helping keep the yard horses in shape kept him in shape. "Horses do appreciate that, Copper here is a palomino and has one blue eye. He also has as much patience as you, he has carried his fair share of beginners." There had been enough newbies at the Sales Yard, he had grown on everyone's hearts.
"I have actually, I've been riding since I was ten. My grandma had a barn back home, it really helped me during an interesting time in my life. I do help keep the horses here in shape too." It was nice for him to keep riding during work, though part of him wanted to start thinking about getting a horse of his own.
thanks aofie!
thirty - part time firetruck mechanic & Sales Yard Stable hand - single (hetero)
“No, I haven’t had lessons in a long time. I’ve ridden a few times here and there, but most of the barns here haven’t found time or the right person to help me ride. But There’s a place up the way that works with people like me, so I’m thinking about starting one of their programs there. I’m not looking to be competing or anything,” Orion laughed, feeling Copper nudge him again. When Orion wasn’t fast enough, the horse began pressing again. Orion held up his hand and the horse began nuzzling his palm.
“That’s great. Yeah, there isn’t a shortage of horses around here, that’s for sure. Always horses coming and going.” Orion didn’t know if he had been in an area that was so condensed with horses. Sure, there were probably plenty of places, but not as horse-driven as Hickstead. It was an exciting area, as a non-horse person was a bit of a minority. Most of the tourists who came through were those traveling for a competition. Orion often had a bunch of people on competition days, as someone was tense or had fallen off and needed something massaged out.
"You mean Helping Hooves? I hear they have a great program there." Working at the Sale Yard, meant he dealt with many local equestrians - he often offered their barn if the Yard was full when it came to taking rescues in. He had spoken to Piper and Sabrina a few times when they had an emergency situation and they seemed kind and welcoming. "No pressure on competing there, if I wanted true lessons and had a horse of my own I may consider riding there myself." He hadn't ever competed and didn't really plan on it either - though he needed help with the training aspect of riding. There were many horses that he rode at the Sales Yard that needed some manners - either under saddle or on the ground.
"Did you have any other questions? Should I bring him out for you to get a better look at?" He didn't know if Orion wanted him to get on Copper - if he couldn't see then there wasn't really a point in that. "How is Gwyn anyway? Haven't seen her since she came out a few months ago with the vet." When he had first met her, one of the staff had to explain to him that the two of them were related.
thanks aofie!
thirty - part time firetruck mechanic & Sales Yard Stable hand - single (hetero)
“You could always volunteer? If you have the time, that is. They always need help with something or other. Barn maintenance is always in need!” Orion thought about Brandon’s question and couldn’t help but chuckle at the comment he made if there wasn’t anything else he wanted to see. “No, I think I’m okay, right now. I don’t have all the time in the world right now. But I’m sure I will later on.”
“My niece is doing well! The vet has been picking up steam lately, so she hasn’t been able to help me too much lately. She’s young and I want her to be able to explore outside of work. So it’s nice hearing about all her adventures. Human massages have slowed down, so I’ve been doing a few more Equine ones. How’s your family? I heard your sister is working with you here?”
It wasn't something Brandon had thought about. He admired his own handy work - often fixing things around the apartment when needed. "Really? You'd think they'd just need people to paint a fence or fix a stall?" Brandon had learned that the best gift was a person's talent. It was worth a shot calling up the stable and seeing if it was a possibility. He was busy enough between his two jobs, but he didn't really have much of a social life anyway. "Do you tend to spend a lot of time there?" He assumed that Orion worked on their horses. It seemed to make them feel better if any of them had any pain issues.
Brandon nodded, he knew Gwyn was busy. "That is thoughtful of you to let her be on her own. You aren't working all your appointments by yourself are you?" He knew he was the one to talk, though no one had commented about how exhausted he looked. The dark circles under his eyes were something permanent now. "Both are doing well. My mom is busy running the bed and breakfast, it seems like working runs in the family. As for Eva? Where did you hear that?" He needed to remember that news spread fast around a barn like this.
"She is also good, seems to be hanging around two boys. I definitely didn't have any girls chasing me when I was her age. I just hope she is careful." His sister didn't need three lectures a day about how school was the most important thing. He also knew what the dating world was like - teenagers could be trouble.
thanks aofie!
thirty - part time firetruck mechanic & Sales Yard Stable hand - single (hetero)
