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!.
Emma finished up her shift at the tack & feed store. She had opened today so she managed to get off with a nice chunk of afternoon left. That gave her plenty of time to do some exploring. And she knew exactly where she wanted to go. She had spent her whole life around horses - not to mention lots of other farm animals and everything that goes with a good southern ranch life. Her parents owned a classic home in a small older neighborhood, but her Grams and Pops owned a large ranch with pastures, a small campground, riding trails… she spent almost every day of the summer there, most weekends, and most afternoons, too.
Since moving here, she hadn’t gotten back to her roots just yet. She had chosen Hickstead because she’d heard of the large equestrian community - multiple stables, ranches, and farms. Seemed like the kind of place she’d enjoy being around.
Therefore, Emma found herself driving up to Seven Oaks this afternoon. She parked her truck, slipped on her jacket and hat, and slowly stepped out like she belonged there. She was giddy with excitement but trying to keep her cool. Emma took a deep breathe. Oh, how she missed the smell of this. She smiled and practically skipped to the barn. She slowed her pace when she got close - making sure not to scare any nearby horses but couldn’t wipe the grin off her face when she stepped inside.
[attr="class","character-coffeeshop-h1"]
[attr="class","character-coffeeshop-note"]Spring • Outfit • open
Ronan Slade had just finished up cooling down his horse and unsaddling him for the day. His brumby looked like he was ready to go out to pasture, and the teenager decided to be kind and not make him wait. Despite the impatience, Max walked for him quite nicely as they headed out to the gelding's pasture, with Ronan turning him around before pulling the halter. As soon as the halter slipped off, Max pulled back turned and let out a nice buck before running off. Blue grey eyes watched for a moment, before he shook his head - one would have thought that the pair of them hadn't just been put through their paces by Tobias Oliver a mere ten minutes earlier.
The young man headed back to the cross ties stall and cleared his grooming supplies, before heading back to grab his western saddle and bridle. Ronan slipped the bridle over his shoulder before bending and scooping his arms up under the saddle itself, hugging it close to his chest. With the school year nearly done, Ronan had a lot on his mind - mainly if he wanted to return to Australia for the summer or not. Part of him wanted to see his dad, but part of him wanted to remain, not only for his grandfather and the fact that he couldn't move Max for three months, but also because of Piper. The mere thought of her alone caused a heated fire in his cheeks, which caused Ronan to scurry off before people could ask questions.
He was making his way to the tack room the long way, and apparently the busy way, as he collided right into someone who...skipped there way in. Ronan felt a thud into him, and he braced his body and feet, remaining up right along with his saddle in tack. Blue grey eyes glanced over to see a girl now, who looked about his age, there, "Uh, hi." The teenager had never been the greatest with words, but figured he should offer more than than, and not bite off her head, "You new or are you looking for someone?" Either way, he didn't recognize the girl, and that alone meant a mystery to solve.
Emma was absolutely over the moon about seeing Seven Oaks and her bubbly, giddy self couldn’t physically contain her excitement for the idea of being around horses again. She had always struggled to keep herself in check - classic case of ADHD. Her parents had always gone the natural approach - and being so active with the ranch had managed to keep a lot of energy in check. But, she still struggled, especially here as she didn’t have the chance to get her energy reigned, so to speak. Nevertheless, she was happy. Unfortunately, her happiness was thrown off a bit when she collided with another individual after reaching the barn.
Emma hit the ground with a thud. “Oof” To be fair, it was a pretty common occurrence. She was a complete clutz and spent her fair share of time on her rear-end. She had no balance, and was quite used to it. So, instead of crying out or anything, she shook her head and giggled before looking up to apologize to the boy standing in front of her.
Emma crossed her legs on the barn floor and grinned up at the boy, offering her sweetest southern smile before her twang of drawl came out… she was a rambler. “Oh, hi there darlin. Am I new or looking for someone? Well, aren’t you just a peach and a half, so sweet of you to ask me about myself. But, I have to say, I do sure apologize about running into you like that. See, I have this issue. I call it the energizer bunny issue. I just can’t help myself, I get so excited. But, it’s no biggy, I’m really honest a huge clutz and to be fair my tush is probably the toughest tush on the planet by now, but oh my goodness I’m talking about my tush in front of a complete - I am so sorry, I do apologize… for the tush comment… and bumping into you… and rambling on like that…” Emma gave the boy an apologetic grin as she stood up and shrugged her shoulders innocently.
Ronan cringed inwardly a little bit with the girl hadn't been as lucky as him with the collision. Instead of remaining upright, she apparently ended up on the barn floor with a rather solid thud. That couldn't have been comfortable. Blue grey eyes peered down at her, "Are you--" But he never finished his question, because it wasn't long before the stranger was glancing back up at him with a wide grin on her face and giggling a bit - clearly, she was fine.
In fact, she might have been more than fine, she certainly hadn't lost her ability to speak. Maybe the blonde was nervous, but she started talking up a storm in a southern drawl that Ronan could only assume was American given she sorta sounded like Bailey Gallagher over at Blue Arces. She said her apologies, but then somehow got onto being both an energizer bunny and having, well, an ass. A snort of laughter escaped Ronan, like any nineteen year old boy would though, "It's no problem, really. I'm alive." He adjusted his saddle in his arms now, freeing up one so that he could help the mystery girl up now. Once she was settled, her blue grey eyes still stared at her and realize in all of her rambling, he still didn't know who she was.
While he often wasn't one for smiling unless he was with people whom he was comfortable with, Ronan still offered one if only to try and settle her, "I still don't know who you are though," the young man commented wryly though, "I'm Ronan though. Been here for a little over a year now, so I more or less know everyone. I need to get rid of my saddle though, you can come with me if you want." After all, the mystery girl wasn't exactly giving him a serial killer vibe or anything. He figured he'd live this encounter.
Emma heard the boy snort and she couldn’t help but inwardly smile. She loved making people laugh or smile or feel any kind of good emotion. She wasn’t perfect by any means, but any chance to make someone’s day better was a good chance. Her Gram always said “Making someone smile is always worth your while” and her Pops’ favorite saying was “a laugh a day keeps the doctor away.” Although, Emma didn’t believe her Pop’s phrase was true in the slightest it did make you happier, so she appreciated it nonetheless.
Emma happily took his offered hand as she popped up. She brushed off her pants and shook her head. Typical Emma Marie. Her daddy always said she had an entirely different view of the world: either up on a horse, or down from the ground, rarely just on two feet. Emma caught his handsome smile and it warmed her heart a little - another win for Gram today.
Emma’s jaw dropped and her eyes widened when she realized her mistake. “Oh, my gosh! I’m so so so sorry! Please, let’s get your saddle put away. My goodness I know how heavy those get.” Emma laughed but then she literally covered her face with her hand for a moment, slightly embarrassed as she shook her head. “And I forgot my name. I mean - to tell you my name. Sorry… But, Ronan, it’s an absolutely pleasure to meet you. I”m Emma Marie Brown. You can call me Em or Emma. Although, my rodeo team called me Brownie, so I guess that works, too. Some people call me Emby, but not very many. Mostly my brothers. I literally just got into town. What brings you here to Hickstead, and Seven Oaks?” Emma spoke as she followed Ronan so he could put his saddle away. She was a little embarrassed - but not a whole lot. It kind of came with the territory of being Emma Marie.
Ronan watched as the mystery girl's jaw dropped, although he really wasn't certain why. Granted, he was a teenage boy, Ronan supposed he was clueless to a lot of things. He did know that she was lucky to have run into him, unlike some others at Seven Oaks, the need to give a stranger the seventh degree was never in his bones, "It's fine. I grew up hauling them around." Cerulean eyes caught that embarrassed look on her face now as she covered it up in some mild embarrassment, stumbling through some words before offering her name: Emma Marie Brown.
Given the bundle of nerves Emma appeared to be, Ronan offered her a smile he usually only reserved for Piper Ledor-Kita, hoping that would calm her, "Nice to meet you, Emma Brown." He gestured for her to follow him now as they made their way to the tack room now, Ronan readjusting his grip on the leather western saddle while Emma continued to talk. The young man couldn't help but to wonder if all southern Americans talked a mile a minute, as he opened the door to the tack room, pausing at her question, "Me? I moved here a year ago from Australia. My grandfather needed company." It was more than that, but Ronan wasn't going to share too private information with a girl he had just met,"And I picked Seven Oaks cause it fit my personality. There are a few barns around here though."
After that, he stepped into the tack room now and walked over to his locker, "Mind getting my locker door for me?" Ronan asked, his cerulean eyes locking with Emma's gaze now, "So, if you 'literally' just got to town, I take it you're just figuring out everything in town and around it?" Maybe she had a horse in quarantine, but he didn't want to assume, "I take it you like horses though if you're here."
Emma appreciated the boy’s attitude about the saddle. She was the same way, having grown up riding horses. Her first lesson included having to help carry her own tack and when she was old enough to hold the saddle, she started carrying it by herself. It was like a rite of passage.
His smile was sweet and she returned one in kind. Emma followed his lead as they walked. Emma almost kept walking when Ronan stopped - walking and talking for Emma was a lot like texting and walking; a dangerous idea - but she took a step back when she realized. She gently took the door from Ronan so he could walk in with the saddle as he talked about his move to the area. “Oh, I bet your grandfather is wonderful. I spent most of my life with basically two sets of parents: my actual parents and my grandparents. We lived in a small home but my grandparents have the ranch with all the horses and animals so everybody pretty much spends their time at Gram and Pops’ place.”
Emma bounced into the tack room after Ronan, her curls bouncing along with her. She heard his request and immediately responded “Sure! Is it locked or…?” She walked around Ronan to his locker to help him. She paused at his question, giving a small chuck at his emphasis on “literally”. “Why, yes, Mr. Holmes, it appears you’ve figured me out. I am definitely figuring it all out. I’ve seen a bit but not got it all sorted quiet yet. And, yes, I love horses. I have a couple at my grandparents’ ranch back home in the States. I couldn’t bring them with me. I know they’re very loved and well taken care of there and I was nervous about bringing them overseas. I’ve never done that before. Plus, I need a new competition horse, anyway. Cash is amazing and he got me through some great years in high school, but he’ll be used for teaching lessons or for beginning competitors now that he’s slowing down a little. He’s still got a lot of fight in him but he’s getting older and I don’t want to push him til he hurts.” Emma nodded at his saddle. “I’m guessing that’s your western saddle, do you typically ride western or…?” Emma gave a cute little shimmy with her hands out back and forth as she asked the question.
