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!.
1. Weave poles 2. Under the flappy washing 3. Open the gate 4. Pick up the post bag 5. Walk a short distance past flapping bin bags to hang the bag on the hook 6. Pop a small cross pole jump 7. Walk over tarpauling 8. Walk over a bridge
First show of the season! Actually, who was he kidding, first show ever for him and Max. The atmosphere had certainly been different - his brumby was acting up a bit more than usual, which was saying something given that Max typically was a saint. Ronan Slade couldn't spend any more time worrying about it though, he was saddled up and mounted, and the judge just gave the nod for him to enter. The young man took a breath before letting it out, giving the chestnut brumby one reassuring pat before squeezing him forward. He had walked through the course this morning, and Piper Ledor-Kita, had quizzed him endless on it, "We got this boy," Ronan said now as he stopped and saluted the judges - honestly, as long as he didn't fall on his ass during this class, the young man would call it a win.
Max's ears were alert and forward, his head turned in slightly as they circled the arena before coming to their first stop - weave poles. These were simple for the pair, an item that they practice regularly even before moving to Hickstead. They were feeling quite confindent already as they zigged and zagged their way through the poles. Little did they know the next obstactle would prove to be trickry. As soon as Max spotted the fluttering flappy washing sheets in the breeze, the brumby baulked. Ronan sat it, making sure to use outside leg to keep him from running out. Max was breathing loud, his nostrils flaring as if trying to make out a monster, his ears pointed forward. Ronan squeezed hard, pushing him forward and yet again, Max bulked, "Alright, you're going to work now for real." He muttered, circling out and re-circling towards the flappy obstacle. Circle after circle, getting closer, Max finally realized it was more work to not go through than to be scared, and finally, they made it through the other side, and to the brumby's surprise - alive.
Next part was simple, they had done it a million times back home in Australia - opening and closing a gate. Max relaxed now, as he and Ronan went through the motions. Once on the other side, and the gate firmly locked, Ronan leaded over and pulled the bag off of the fence now and through it over his shoulder for safe keeping. The pair moved on now, and once again, the flappy flap of some bags nearly did them in. Ronan was prepared this time, but he knew points would be docked as Max scuttered to the left a few inches, being blocked by Ronan's outside leg and insight rein. So he stopped, firmly planting his hooves as he stared once more at the flappy bags, "You're fine, Max," Ronan muttered, "No different than walking by clothes back at the ranch." Liquid brown eyes stared, and after a solid 30 seconds, the pair was once more on their way, but Max had a bit of a pep in his step just to get them to safer grounds and the hook. Ronan hung up the bag, and once more they were on their way.
Last three obscatles, and the sight of them already had the brumby relaxed. Ronan asked for the trot, and they moved forward now. One canter stride away from the cross pole jump, the young man asked for the lope, and then they were over the jump without so much of an after thought. Ronan slowed Max down to a walk as they passed over the tarpauling, the material crinkling between Max's hooves. Funny, this had been the object Ronan thought would have given them trouble. He supposed after the other two though, his brumby must have thought this a cake walk. Speaking of cake walks, the bridge was ahead of them, and Max eagerly made his way over it now - the echo of his hooves on wood making an almost comforting sound. And then, that was it. Claps erupted, and Ronan grinned, leaning over and giving Max a solid pat, "Good boy, Max!" A loud snort escaped the chestnut brumby, officially relaxed now, after all, that had been a lot of thinking. With that, the pair made their way out of the arena, wishing best luck to the Blue Arces rider standing in wait, and walked back to the trailer.
People ought to quit worrying so much about whispering to their horses and just start listening to them
Cara fixed Twist's plait, sewing the button braid back into place and turned to look at the scowling face of her daughter. "I know you want to be in the ring with him mon cheri, but not when you're competing against people years older than you." She said softly, using her thumb to wipe a tear from the girl's cheek. "We'll run a small show at home and you, Akaterina, Sebastian and Violet can compete." She knew that her daughter could hold her own in the show ring, but not today.
"You be a good boy for Mama." Kyoto said as she gave her pony a kiss on the nose. "Have fun."
Cara smiled as she finished tacking the pony up and then led him toward the warm up area before vaulting into the saddle and putting him through his paces, making sure that he was warm and supple before their names were called for the Handy Pony class. She could have entered Aperios in this class, but knew she would have put the stallion well out of his comfort zone, and today was all about fun.
Walking the Welsh into the arena, she looked around, giving the pony a chance to look at what was in front of them too, and then they picked up a canter and started the course. The pony zipped his way through the poles, neatly bouncing from side to side as they went through, though Cara asked for a trot as they approached the washing, just in case, and needed have bothered as the pony didn't even bat an eyelid at the clothes as they went under.
Opening and closing a gate was nothing new to the pony, and with Cara on his back he did the obstacle textbook style and was ready for the next challenge. He did eyeball the postbag a little, but didn't put up a fuss as Cara picked it up and asked him to walk forward, the pony not caring about the flapping bags, to the hook where the bag needed to go.
Of all things for the pony to stop at, Cara was no expecting it to be a cross rail, and as well as stopping, the pony swerved to the side, almost dislodging his rider, before Cara let him have a good look at the jump, circled him away and asked him to jump it, which his did beautifully, and even threw in a little buck afterwards. Shaking her head in amusement, they continued on.
The tarpaulin didn't cause an issue as the pony happily walked over it, as though it was something he did every day, the bridge however brought the pony to another halt and he tried to walk around it, rather than over it. "Go on." She soothed as she circled the pony back to the start of the bridge. "Have a good look, it's not going to hurt you." She released the reins, allowing the pony to stretch his neck out as far as he could and have a sniff at the bridge. When he seemed happy enough that it wasn't going to move, he stepped forward and pawed at it and finally stepped up onto the bridge and crossed over. "Okay, we have some things to work on." She said as she gave the pony a rub on his neck as they left the arena. "I'm guessing if Kyoto were riding you, you would have done that at a flat gallop and not had time to look at anything." She shrugged as she rode the pony back to where her daughter was waiting.
Amanda was excited to finally show Waylon herself under saddle. The two had done enough breed shows and halter classes to know each other well by now, but when she was a professional singer - she left the competing to the trainers. The older brunette was busily brushing the bay stallion, wanting to watch Piper's round before she tacked up. The horse was glistening, having had a good bath before getting loaded up on the trailer earlier that day.
She tacked the stallion up, deciding on a simpler show outfit. It wasn't the occasion for glitter and sparkles - so just plain black with her all purpose Western saddle would do. After checking the cinch, she slid her feet into her cowgirl boots and placed the felt hat on her head. Giving Waylon a sugar cube before she slid the Western bridle on, she slid the bit into his mouth. The stud opened his mouth and the bit in, chewing it slightly before stopping. Amanda chuckled and led the horse towards the warmup ring, double checking the cinch before rolling down her stirrups and getting on.
The young stallion acted like an old pro, doing what his human asked of him. He lowered his head and pushed off Amanda's leg aid - doing square turns and transitions when asked. Twenty minutes later, their names were called - Amanda bringing Waylon back to the walk as they headed over to the correct ring. She had a quick glance in the audience, realizing that a lot of Helping Hooves riders were there - watching her and Waylon. She knew that up until now, they only knew what she had talked about in terms of her show experience. No pressure, you know Waylon better than anyone she thought as they walked in the ring. Amanda smiled at the rider who had ridden the course ahead of her, asking Waylon for the jog after their names were called and the buzzer went.
Amanda weaved the bulky Quarter Horse through the weave poles, making sure he stayed as close as he could to them, without her taking her knees out. She let out a sigh, reminding herself to relax in the saddle. The pair headed towards the second obstacle - the flappy washing. Waylon eyed the laundry flapping in the wind but with a swift squeeze with her legs, Waylon marched right under - Amanda feeling her cowboy hat touch the top, causing a bit more noise to happen, but Waylon kept marching on. It wasn't long before they approached the gate, Amanda steering Waylon to line up beside it before she leaned forward and opened it. She got the horse on the other side before the pair galloped towards the post bag, jogging and walking a few steps beforehand. Amanda reached up, picking up the bag, holding it in one hand as she used the other one to steer - Waylon walked towards the hook, able to ignore the flapping bin bags nearby. The rider reached up, hanging the bag on the hook as they continued once again. The most difficult obstacle for them was coming up - Waylon wasn't much of a jumper. Amanda kept her confidence, Waylon jogging along under her and jumped the cross pole as if it was just another step forward. She pulled back gently on the reins, asking Waylon to walk shortly before the tarp. The material crunched under the bay's hooves, causing his ears to flick forward. Amanda glanced towards the bridge, steering towards it - keeping the horse at the walk in case he decided to spook. The bridge proved to be no problem either - Amanda patting her horse on the neck when they were on the other side.
She heard a few cheers and claps from the crowd, a smile plastered on her face as her score was announced. "Thank you, Waylon. You'll get extra treats today!!" She circled once at the bottom end of the arena at the walk before the pair left the ring - exploring the show grounds as a cool out session.
Without a doubt, the best way to get to know me is through my music
thanks aofie!
Fifty-two - riding instructor at Helping Hooves - Separated
1st Place -AMANDA CHLOE MCKENZIE riding VS High Roller for Helping Hooves Stables! Joint 2nd Place -RONAN DAIRE SLADE riding Max for Seven Oaks Stables! Joint 2nd Place -CARA-JEAN KITCHI riding Peppermint Twist for Blue Acre Stables!
Congratulations to all horses and riders who took place, the standard was excellent!
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