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!.
Cora had to admit she had gone in a little bit blind with buying Capulet. She was fooling herself if she was thinking that her parents didn't know she was here. She wasn't stupid enough to think that her bodyguards weren't firmly on her parents side despite the hefty sum she'd given them to keep her location private; if only for a short while. Maybe they had to start with, but they weren't under her employment, nor were they under her loyalty - not really. She had been given a little peace, and so far nobody had come to try and drag her back to her Princessly duties but it was only a matter of time. She was appeasing her parents by keeping out of the headlines and not doing anything stupid, and she was working on a fundraiser for her newest charity, but she hadn't spoken with them - nor them her - she hadn't been home, hadn't spoken with her siblings or been involved in anything royalty related for a little while. It was nice, but it made her feel like an ostrich; at some point she'd have to pull her head out the sand.
But they hadn't bothered her - that was the main thing - and even after purchasing her new horse - nobody had questioned it, or stopped payment. She might have her own bank accounts but she wasn't stupid enough to think that her parent's wouldn't keep tabs on her spending - what and where. It felt like having someone standing behind your shoulder, all the. damn. time. Painful. She hadn't been able to get away from her guards since the other night - and she was starting to go stir crazy. She wanted to go out and drink, but as she'd escaped them last week, they had not been quite so easy to escape. Even now she knew they were there, just out of sight, just on the edge of her vision - but she could never quite catch sight of them. Her horse was one of the few things keeping her sane. She missed her horses from home, but she didn't want to move them, so she'd gone and brought a new horse - money and all that. She had thrown herself at the horse and keeping busy with him alongside her charity function - but it wasn't quite enough.
She had looked into local farrier's, but one of the other stable liveries had been the one to suggest she contact the Blue Acre farrier - apparently Naomi hired him to do the lesson horses and her own private one's, so Cora figured he had to have some decent reputation if she allowed him to come back. Naomi seemed particular - she liked that about her. So she'd sent the guy a text. She'd meant to ring, and she would have normally, but she'd kept getting busy and she needed to make sure someone was able to come and check out Capulet before his feet got too long. He was meant to be good to do but she wanted to be here in case he was difficult, and to make sure she met the farrier and liked him. Capulet was half dozing, resting a back hoof as she hovered by his stable for the farrier to arrive, and she glanced at her phone to check the time - again. One minute away from being late...
Grey was mostly on time. He wasn't one to flop about, but sometimes things took more time than he'd have liked. Like the horses that fussed when it came to getting their feet trimmed. It seemed that those horses were the longest takers, shaving his usually early record to a barely getting onto the next one.
But he was managing, just. He'd gotten a text about getting in a trim and he'd figured he'd have plenty of time to get it done, provided an early start was given. Of course it turned into more of a mad rush, but he made it. Thankfully this was not a call to a different yard on the outside of town. Picking up his tools and stand, he walked down to the barn he was meant to be in for his next trim. He was sweaty, his hair falling out of place, his shirt long since gone to try and cool off quickly, and to stop his shoulder stitches from being more irritated.
Moving down the isle, he went towards the only person and horse - had to be the client he was working for.
"So, this must be Capulet," he said, looking the horse over for a moment, "And you my dear, must be his owner. My name is Grey, the farrier for Blue Acres."
He figured it would be best to introduce himself before he just launched himself at the horse and began working. As much as he wanted to be done for the day, he still had to smile and be polite to keep business returning to him. He carefully combed back some of his hair so it wasn't in his face as he began to assess the horse's posture and hooves.
She heard the rumble of what she assumed was a van and she glanced up from her phone for a moment, assuming that this might be her new farrier. "Let's hope he's as good as they say," She muttered to Cap as she gave the big stallion a pat. He really was quite affectionate, and she was getting on well with him, liking how sweet the big animal was despite his size. She heard a door shut and she turned to face Capulet for a moment, "Now you best be on your absolute best behaviour," She warned, smiling slightly at his soft snort in response. He was supposedly good, but this would be his first test - so far, everything else his previous owner has told her was true. It should be considering his price tag.
"So, this must be Capulet, And you my dear, must be his owner. My name is Grey, the farrier for Blue Acres." Cora blinked, having missed the sound of footsteps whilst she'd been distracted by her horse. His voice sounded familiar and she frowned slightly, turning to face the guy - and then blanching slightly. Well shit. Years of etiquette training kept her poise as her sharp eyes took in the clean cut jaw, the angular nose, those enticing eyes.. and then there were those tats.. her eyes roved naturally and then snapped back up politely to his face. Of course it was Grey, it was like some twist of fate that had yanked them together. The guy from the bar.
"Well, it's nice to meet you again, Grey." She let the easy smile pull at her lips, wondering if he would recognise her. She was in a different get up, in a different setting but she was as well put together as always and didn't particularly look disheveled. "This is Capulet, and I would be his owner, good deduction skills," She teased, feeling flustered even as she managed to hold it together. She hadn't expected to see him again, but she had hoped. There was something about him... something that made her feel drawn to him. "This feels like a weird coincidence," She admitted, though she could have guessed it was possible.
At that, he couldn't help the frown that swept his face as he looked up from where he was. It took all of five seconds for it to dawn on him that this was the woman from the bar. Her name eluded him for a moment before it graced him with its presence.
"Cora."
He was baffled - what were the odds that he'd cross paths with the same woman he'd gotten a little bit friendly with at the bar? He shook his head.
"This is unexpected."
"This is Capulet, and I would be his owner, good deduction skills," She teased, "This feels like a weird coincidence."
"I tend to be good at what I do," he said, scratching his jaw.
He moved over to Capulet, letting the horse take in his scent before moving down the horse's leg to lift the hoof up off the ground, examining it closely. He dragged his tool kit closer, resting Capulet's hoof on the stand as he grabbed out a pick. He went through the standard process of his assessment before glancing up.
"Are you going to be doing anything specific with your horse? Hard riding, competitive type stuff, or are you more leaning into general riding?"
She caught his frown and raised a delicate brow, waiting for the moment it would twig on who she was - especially from his awkward position. It didn't seem to take long, a few seconds at most, which pleased her. It would have been embarrassing if she'd remembered him, and he hadn't, though she liked to think she was memorable enough that it wasn't a situation she'd be likely to encounter. "Cora." Her lips curled into a smile and she gave a nod to confirm that he'd got it right - even better. For all she knew, he had a new conquest every night and had to work to remember a name, but then who's to say that wouldn't have been her if she'd had a different upbringing.
"This is unexpected." She chuckled and gave a nod, "Yeah, and I promise it's purely incidental - I haven't tracked you down. But, we're new here and you were highly recommended." She shrugged, patting the horse once again and glancing away to watch the horse as he in turn, observed Grey's approach. "I tend to be good at what I do," Cora nodded, "Apparently so," Considering how many had given him a good review - his reputation preceded him. "Time to put you to the test," She added with another quick smile. She didn't know him enough yet just to 'trust him', but she'd know pretty quickly if something wasn't right about his work. "Are you going to be doing anything specific with your horse? Hard riding, competitive type stuff, or are you more leaning into general riding?" Cora watched Cap as he snorted at Grey but then relaxed, used to this kind of behaviour from a man and being the perfect gent to raise his hoof and place it where the guy wanted. He sank into a relaxed posture and lowered his head a little, settling in for the work. "I'll be competing with him, it'll be mostly showjumping and some dressage, once I know where his strengths are I'll lean more toward one than the other so I can specify his training and fitness."
"Yeah, and I promise it's purely incidental - I haven't tracked you down. But, we're new here and you were highly recommended."
He nodded as she spoke, already removing the old shoe and cleaning out the hoof.
Cora nodded, "Apparently so. Time to put you to the test."
He snorted at that as he reached for his tools and began to trim.
"I'll be competing with him, it'll be mostly showjumping and some dressage, once I know where his strengths are I'll lean more toward one than the other so I can specify his training and fitness."
"I see," he said, nodding, "So there are a couple different shoes I can put on him until that time. Since you are trying to work out what he is more suited to, I will just put him in a standard shoe. Still good enough to work in until you figure his forte, and after that, we can discuss the type and style of shoe he goes in from there. Saves you and me a lot of guess work now. Sound agreeable?"
Just like the other night, he didn't seem all that much of a talker, but she let it slide over her - he was busy working, concentrating on the horse, it wasn't always time for idle chat about previous nightly escapades. After all, it wasn't like she'd stuck about to talk things out with him, to share breakfast or get his phone number. She guessed she had it now, after all that - what a weird coincidence.
"I see, "So there are a couple different shoes I can put on him until that time. Since you are trying to work out what he is more suited to, I will just put him in a standard shoe. Still good enough to work in until you figure his forte, and after that, we can discuss the type and style of shoe he goes in from there. Saves you and me a lot of guess work now. Sound agreeable?" Cora gave a nod, money was no object and no expense would be spared when it came to her horses, they could have gold plated shoes for all she cared so long as they were what was best for the animal. "Agreeable, for sure." She said, "it's just what's best for him." And at least a few months in, they'd know how his feet tended to keep - whether they grew fast or fell apart easily. She gave Cap a light stroke when he turned his nose her way, and then decided to break the quiet again. "So, how have you been keeping?" That seemed a neutral enough question.
