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!.
There are 12 jumps in the ring, beginning with a small 85cm as the first fence. Number 5 is a one-strided double, the first fence of which is an oxer, the second is an upright. The remaining jumps vary from 85-90cm, with number 2, 8 and 10 oxers. They all contain fillers of some kind.
It was always a bit of pot luck, with Wildfire. The fiery chestnut had the tendency to go into the show ring like an un-exploded bomb, and then erupt at the wrong moment. He had a mind of his own, and a strong one at that, and whilst she was a sympathetic and quiet rider, there were days when the gelding just couldn't contain himself, and decided to imitate other animals - bull in a china shop, or a graceless stag. Warming up was an interesting affair, but that wasn't unusual. She tended to spend a lot of the time apologising to other riders as she shot past them, her horses head in the sky as he snorted spit with a wild eye, or careered around bucking his little heart out. She'd never intended on getting quite such a spirited animal, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and he'd called out to her when she'd seen him.
Going into the ring, she felt his pulse quicken, and Jessie gave the gelding a reassuring pat, gathering her reins gently - though he still shot forward in anticipation all the same. Used to him, Jessie went with him, rising out of the saddle to light seat as they completed a large circle and waited for the bell. There it was. Wildfire heard it and surged forward in excitement, letting out a squeal and a buck before she turned him to the first. As he landed clear over the first couple, Jessie felt herself relax a little, her focus still sharp - it was going to be a good round. He was keen in her hands and sensitive under saddle but he was holding it together, listening to her - then he landed over the next and let out another large buck. Reminding him of his job, the horse powered for the next jump, and the next, and when they crossed the line, Jessie looked up to the board to see they'd gone clear. She beamed with pride and gave the gelding a happy pat, laughing as he tossed his head and tried to fuck off again, but she pulled him back to a trot and let him exit the ring to go and cool off.
Angél checked her hairnet covered bun one more time before she placed the helmet on her head and fastened it under her chin. "We can do it, Ripple." She told the pony as she checked over his button braids and then the gear he had on, pulling the girth up one more hole, before she removed the halter that he was wearing over his bridle, and led him over to the mounting block.
After working her pony in and going over the practice jump a couple of times, she rode closer to the arena so that she would be there when her number was called. Nerves ran through her, as she thought about how much trouble she'd had with Ripple to start with, and then quickly shook the nerves off, remembering what Cara had said. Ripple needed her to be as brave as the pony, they needed to ride this course together.
When she entered the arena, she smiled to the gate steward and rubbed her pony's neck before she asked for a canter as they circled and then rose through the start flags and approached the first fence with Angél making sure that she was with her pony every step of the way, lifting herself out of the saddle smoothly as the pony took off and she sat back again as they landed. "Good boy." She whispered, her attention already on the next fence.
She almost lost her courage at the double, as the pony had to take an extra side and almost did a stag-leap over the second fence from a stand still. "Sorry buddy." She whispered with a nervous laugh. "I'm still here." She shook her head, knowing that the next fence would be right there all too soon, and if she got left behind, they'd both be in trouble.
The rest of the course went by without any problems, other than Ripple trying to take a snack from one of the fillers on the way over an oxer, and she grinned as the pony raced through the finish flags. "Ohmigod, you were awesome!" She told the pony as she hugged him. "Thank you so much. You are the best pony in the world!" She was still chatting away as they exited the arena.
"Come on then lad, let's go show them what we've got," Leo encouraged the young horse. Hotspur had grown up over the last year and Leo was keen to see how he performed today. He had a tendency to be nervous and was a bit of a stopper at times. Leo had managed to increase his confidence, and felt that today was going to prove whether it had worked or not. He gave Hotspur plenty of time to check out the warm up and relaxed into the setting. He didn't refuse any of the warm up fences, though he gave them a good look at first.
Heading into the ring when he was called, Leo took Hotspur on a trot around the jumps, the big bag spooking as he went, until the bell rang and they went for the first. It was a bit of a wiggle to the jump as Hotspot thought about it, but he went. The double was another question mark, but Leo kept his legs firm and they just about made it. The rest of the course went surprisingly well, if a little sticky at times. As they finished clear, Leo beamed and slapped Hotspur's neck. "Good boy!"
Izzy had never felt this nervous about a horse show before. She hadn't had the chance to compete this year yet due to her busy University schedule. The brunette focused on getting the sooty palamino ready - it was something that often settled her down after a crazy day.
Queenie huffed as the woman busied herself putting their show jumping tack on. The woman left the mare in the cross-ties, getting herself ready now. She buttoned up her show jacket and slid her feet into her black tall boots, picking up the bridle before heading back to where the mare was. Izzy slid the bit in the mare's mouth, doing up the straps before leading the mare towards the warmup ring. After a quick tack check, she mounted before starting their warmup.
Stephanie had seemingly just finished her own rounds, handing Tai off to another BA rider who decided to come watch and decided to help. The older brunette helped Izzy and Queenie through their warmup, jumping them over a few warmup fences before it was their turn. The woman patted the mare on the neck as they walked over to the show ring. She steered the mare inside, asking for the trot and then the canter once the buzzer sounded. The mare moved off of her leg and Izzy steered towards the first fence. The pair had a bit of an awkward distance, resulting in the rail coming down. The woman knew she had to forget that one and move on - the next jump went much better.
As the round continued, there were three more fences that were knocked down - one of them being the second fence of the double. Izzy was determined, glad that there was only one fence left. Queenie saved her best jump for last, landing safely on the other side. The woman was disappointed in how their round went, but there was always the next show. She reached down and patted the palomino on the neck as they exited the arena.
"Quit being a buffoon," lily muttered as the horse swung his haunches and gave a squeal on entering the ring. He'd seen it all before but they were both a little rusty and with that came excitement, especially for the young gelding. She soothed him with a light hand and got him moving off her leg, circling the arena until the bell went. At that, she set for the first and pushed on. Adonis overshot it in his excitement, throwing Lily a little out the saddle on landing as he took out an entire stride. She sat up on the other side and asked him to come back to her a little, half haulting until she felt he was listening to her again.
He threw his head up at the approach to the double, threatening to tank off, but Lily sat deep and held him in, refusing to let him camakarzi off. It paid off as he cleared both fenced with room to spare, and then it gave her time to get the corner right to the next. When they landed clear over the last, Lily beamed, staying calm so Adonis didn't get exuberant as she asked him to drop down to a trot to exit the ring.
<3 LUCAS JACOB COLE | THREE DAUGHTERS (ROSE, FELICITY, CLAIRE) | ONE SON (SLADE) THREE HORSES (SAFFRON, REBEL, ADONIS)
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