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!.
Cassandra always found herself at the barn on the weekends. She was happy to have enough students to keep her busy, especially since school was back in session.
She was getting Willow ready for another lesson with Nulpi, glad she had one less horse to ride. The dark Quarter horse mare had proven herself to be a great horse for beginners - Eddie was much too complicated and Charm was a youngster still. Cassandra hummed along as she brushed the mare in the cross-ties, making sure the mare was spotless. After using the curry comb, she used the hard bristled brush to get the dust off of her body.
Willow let out a snort and dust flew in a puff around her. Cassandra sneezed and kept going. She threw the brush back in her bag and pulled out a bottle of show sheen. The blonde gently misted the mare and used a softer brush to brush it through. It wasn't long before her hooves were picked and her mane and tail were brushed, Cassandra opting to braid the mare's tail.
Once the tack and boots were on the mare, the woman bridled the mare before leading her into the arena. She saw Nulpi there and gave the woman a smile. "Good morning, ready for another lesson?"
orse lessons were something that Nulpi had begun to look forward to. She had begun improving quite a bit over the year now. Granted, she wasn’t anywhere near the young students, who were jumping and all that. Nulpi was comfortably getting faster, now at a trot without any fears. She had mentioned trying to get to canter with Cassie during her last lesson. Nulpi didn’t know what she could handle or if it would happen, but she was happy just to ride.
She smiled at Cass. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” Nulpi replied, rolling closer to the wall. There was a system now, something the two women had figured out after a few trials. Nulpi lifted herself to the top of the wall, waiting for Willow to be guided closer to her. Una sat by the chair, staying silent.
Cassandra led Willow closer to the wall, checking the cinch and rolling down the stirrups beforehand. "Oh, come on, it'll be fun. I promise I won't make you do anything that will make you uncomfortable." The last thing she wanted was a student who wasn't confident in their abilities to ride.
She held on to the reins as Nulpi got on Willow. The mare stood still, simply swishing her tail and flicking her ears. "How have you been lately? Anything new?" Cassandra made sure that Nulpi was in the saddle before she stepped aside.
The blonde stayed close, just in case Nulpi needed some help. She smiled when she saw Una nearby. "Has the pup been behaving herself?" She was always happy to hear about the other animals her students had.
"Let's start easy at the walk, work on your position. Pretend you are sitting in a chair." Cassandra walked away from the step stool and began setting up some poles on the ground. She placed four of the poles close by as part of an exercise they would do later.
o, I know,” Nulpi smiled. “It’s been a long few days, that’s all.” Work had been busy, both at the store and at the computer job. With the holidays coming up, there was a lot of early shopping, and new web development needed.
“Busy, but good. I’m ready to relax a bit before it picks up again.” Nulpi was hoping that she could stay in her room and sleep. Thankfully, her office job was able to let her relax. It was more of an antique store.
“Una is doing great! She likes coming to the barn too. She focuses, but it’s nice to not be bothered by people wanting to pet her.” While most people were respectable about the service dog vest, Nulpi had to scold children who tried to come and per her dog while she was at the grocery store. Parents were a hit or a miss.
She gave Cassie a nod and adjusted herself, shifting a bit before her back was straight and the reins sitting where they needed to be. Nulpi signaled for a walk and Willow began to move, Nulpi making sure her thighs and hands relaxed.
“Oh? What’s keeping you busy lately?” She asked, setting the final pole down on the ground. Cassie walked over to the side of the arena and picked up a few pylons, placing them in an L shape on the other side of the arena - off of the wall. “Tell me about it, I can’t wait for the break already and I feel like school just started.” Her students this year were keeping her on her toes. She was sure her coworkers were glad that the students were almost worn out by the time they got out of gym class. “That’s great to hear. Do many people bother her to give pets or attention?” It was different from having a regular dog. A lot of people stopped her while she was walking Rocket - always wanting to give the older golden retriever some deserved attention.
“Alright, I’ll give you a few minutes with her at the walk. Try and work on sitting up straight in the saddle. Once we get warmed up, I have a pattern set up for you. Nothing too difficult.” She wouldn’t want to push her students - but she also liked to challenge them.
“Do you ever take Una to the park and let her be off of work? If so, would you want her to have a puppy playdate with Rocket?” She wasn’t quite sure if it was possible, but Rocket was always up to making new friends and playing fetch in the park.
ainly kids. Parents are often understanding, some aren't. Just sometimes makes going out difficult." Nulpi wasn't against people asking and making it an educational thing, but she also saw it as the parents' job. Kind of like explaining barn safety. Usually people that attended Blue Acres knew better as only service dogs were allowed at the barn.
Nulpi adjusted herself again a few more times as sometimes she got a bit too relaxed. She walked Willow for straight before leading her to turn left.
"Una hasn't had a playdate in a minute. She would like it." Nulpi was often having Una work while she was out. But she trusted Cassie. The woman had her on a horse for God's sake. "I don't quite know my schedule yet but maybe after the holidays?"
Nulpi directed Willow again, as there appeared to be another rider not following the traffic of the ring. It made Nulpi frown for a second, but hopefully after a lap or so - it'd be easier.
Cassandra nodded, it seemed like a similar situation than teaching young kids how to act around horses. "I do understand that. It's unfortunate how kids are raised now." She tried her best to educate her students - in life skills as well as physical education. "Children are everywhere, so that must make it more annoying?" She finished setting up the poles and stood near the center of the arena, keeping a close eye on both pairs.
The blonde grinned, glad that Nulpi agreed. "I'm looking forward to it. Rocket may not be young but he still has the zoomies. Is it easy for Una to shut off the work brain?" She had read that they knew the difference between working and playing - depending if their harness was on or not. "Yes that sounds perfect. Maybe between Christmas and the New Year? I'm off of work then and mostly will be teaching." Cassie wasn't sure if she was going to go away for the Holidays, though it was an opportunity for her riders to make up their lessons they may have missed during the year.
She noticed the other rider and also gave her a frown. "It's left to left if you are passing, please be mindful of that." The other rider nodded and watched around the arena. "Sorry about that, good job riding on. Alright let's do a circle half of the ring when you get back down to this end." Cassie turned and watched the far end of the arena, her blue eyes flickering between watching Willow and Nulpi together.
he other rider seemed peeved to be called out, but that wasn’t Nulpi’s problem. At least they were smart enough to turn around and go back. Nulpi couldn’t tell if the person was experienced or not, but it seemed to be a common sense thing. But she told herself to keep her thoughts private. Being open about it, was what got her in trouble a few times before.
She nodded at the new instructions, taking her time. Nulpi knew better to go at a reasonable pace until she was instructed. Maybe from her constant observations, seeing people go faster than they were ready to do. Before, there would’ve been a few more hiccups in her riding, but Nulpi was quite clean with what she was asked. Proving that she had improved quite a bit from the last few lessons.
Cassie glanced over at the other rider, noticing her slightly annoyed attitude from the look on her face. The blonde didn't know who the other girl rode with, but it would be easy for her to find out - and have a talk with her coach about her basic ring etiquette. When giving her students instructions, she made sure to say it loud enough for the other person to hear - if there was anyone.
"Looking great, exercises like that are good to help practice your balance in the saddle." It was something important for all riders to work on. Being off balance in the tack meant throwing the horse off - and that wasn't something ideal. 'Alright, now ride down the quarter line, try and push Willow left for a few steps and then right again." The mare was getting better at listening to the shift in body weight rather than moving off of the leg.
"Have you had a chance to ride between lessons?" There were plenty of sane lesson horses available and Cassie wasn't at the barn when most people were - she tended to ride first thing in the morning before school started. "Once you are down there, another wall to wall circle at the top end please." She would get Nulpi and Willow to start jogging.
ulpi continued, feeling her body relax a bit more – but still maintaining the position she needed. Posture wasn’t a hard issue for her, as she made sure she had it while she was in her chair. There was something about it transferring over, not knowing it would be a useful skill.
“Yes, a few times. The Ledor-Lita girls, if that name means anything. They’re so far being the most helpful for my needs. They said it’s because of what their moms do. I feel bad for taking some time from them, but they’ve been quite helpful.” Horse riding was something that made Nulpi okay with asking for help. There was only so much she could do on her own. Despite the women being quite younger than she was, Nulpi was grateful for their kindness and patience. All it took was someone willing.
Cassandra walked around as Nulpi rode Willow, keeping her head up and watching. The other rider in the arena seemed to get the hint - sticking to keeping to her own. Cassandra didn't often have to raise her voice, but she always kept her eye on her students - no matter what their experience level. It was all part of her job.
"Oh! Helping Hooves, right? I hear they might be getting a coach soon?" She lived in Hickstead long enough now to get all the rumors of the equestrian community - whether she liked it or not. "Glad to hear. Are you saying you are stubborn like me?" It took the blonde awhile to admit she needed help herself sometimes, being used to being the oldest sibling and on her own. "After the circle, you can get Willow to start jogging. Let her stretch a bit as you ride around." The blonde knew the mare well enough to know the Arab mare was starting to get impatient to walk.
The blonde was impressed with how far Nulpi had come in her lessons - equally surprised that Willow was coping with a new rider. "What kind of riding do they do there?"
ulpi did as she was asked and after closing the circle from recognizing the point in which she started it. She gave the cue to jog, but something went wrong and Nulpi felt herself feel herself lose her posture. The work she had been doing at the gym was proven to be useful. Nulpi gently cursed under her breath in Spanish but adjusted herself – prompting her to have Willow stop. Just so Nulpi could readjust herself. When she did, she started again, the proper start this time.
“Nothing crazy. I do a lot of guided trail rides there, and kind of help with a few things. The idea of owning a horse you could say, without owning one. I help the groom a few, and they make things a lot more accessible. I know they are planning on getting a few coaches out there permanently. Since the rise of Special Olympics, more people with disabilities want to experience competing.”
Cassie took a moment to fix the ball cap on her head - it was tilting off to one side now due to her hairstyle for the day. "Oops, good recovery on the transition. That was the right call getting her to walk and trying again." She was happy Willow was getting more comfortable with the new rider - the dark mare wasn't as young and green as she once was.
The blonde nodded, it was always nice to hear there were people who were able to introduce a variety of people to riding. She knew they could be healers - as spiritual as that sounded. "That's nice! Do you ride the same horse every time then? Or do they like changing it up on you?" Cassie wasn't one for gossip, but there was chatter about Helping Hooves. It seemed lie the Ledor-Kita family had a great idea. "Are they nice enough over there?"
"When you feel she is ready, lets practice some loops on either side. It'll help get her to listen to your aids." It would also be helpful preparing both of them for the course ahead - something that Cassie tried to do with all of her students. Her Grandparents and Mother would do it with her too - it was a good way to prepare them.
