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!.
Natalie had come to the barn to find that Pippi had bathed herself in dirt and mud right before the groom session. At least it was before the wash and not after, but the quarter-horse mare would have to suffer through a longer wash cycle. While she was fine with a groom, if it lasted longer than she anticipated – she got a bit sassy. Natalie hoped that the lesson they finished before Pippi’s mud roll – tired the horse out enough to allow her to scrub a bit longer.
“Honestly, Pippi...I should’ve named you Piglet.” The mare huffed as her owner led her to a dual grooming stall, where another rider was with their horse. Natalie hooked Pippi up and gave the other rider a sympathetic look.
“Sorry, I’ll try to make sure her mud doesn’t splash too bad!” She said, reaching for the curry comb in her kit.
"This is not funny, Fire." She warned, giving the chestnut a firm look as the horse snorted and tossed his head, then danced away from her again. Jessie stopped moving and put her hands on her hips, brow furrowing as she waited for Wildfire to quit prancing about. He took another five minutes to quit it, and then came to a standstill, watching Jessie with an overly-intelligent eye. People who thought horses were stupid, were dumb themselves. Horses were anything but stupid. And boy did they know it, as Wildfire had a wonderful time forcing Jessie to get her steps in - practically lunging his owner in an effort to stay out for another five minutes. She got it, she loved the idea of five extra minutes in bed, but she still had to accept getting up; just like Fire would have to accept coming in.
With a few more laps and several carrot bribes, he was finally caught. Jessie shook her head at the animal but it was good natured humour as she lead the horse back to the barn in half hearted triumph. She tied the chestnut to the post in the grooming area, much to his dismay, but he needed washing off after haring around the field. He had worked up quite the sweat, and Jessie wanted to hose him off - she guessed riding was out of the question until later. “Sorry, I’ll try to make sure her mud doesn’t splash too bad!” She glanced up as she heard the words, seeing someone join her at the other grooming area. Jessie chuckled and indicated to her horse, covered in white foam and steaming away. "As you can see, splash away, he's already gotten himself into a state."
Natalie smiled. “Another mud lover?” It was sometimes something that horses sensed. Their owners wanted them in, so they made the work harder and messier. Pippi often came to Natalie without issue, if she didn’t show off any need of haste. If there was any hint of needing to pick up the pace – Pippi just would stand and ignore. Unless Banana chips were involved.
She worked the curry comb, gently over Pippi who huffed in defeat. “You’ve got quite the good-looking horse over there. What is their name?” Natalie always loved looking at the Chestnuts that other people owned. It was always interesting to see their different shades of undertones when the sunshine hit them right.
“Another mud lover?” Jessie gave the other woman a smile and a light hearted roll of her eyes. "You called it, right up until you're asking him to get his toes dirty going through a puddle," She chuckled. She loved the gelding but he didn't half follow that frustrating cliché of ginger's being hot tempered and stubborn. The horse would happily splash about in the mud of his own accord but a saddle and person on his back and suddenly he was all about not dipping his toes in the water. He wasn't all too thrilled about the bathing either, but the weather had warmed somewhat and it was appropriate enough to shower off the mud and filth the animal had accumulated in his gleeful run about.
“You’ve got quite the good-looking horse over there. What is their name?” Jessie glanced up from where she was scrubbing a particularly stubborn mud stain, to the other woman. "Thank you, he certainly knows it too...and plays it to his advantage! This is Wildfire." She announced, with a well timed snort and a toss of his head from the aforementioned gelding, sending a spray of dirty water across his owner's face. Shaking her head at the tantrum like antics, Jessie wiped her face roughly with the sleeve of her top. "And who is this much better behaved lovely?" she enquired, indicating to the horse the other lady was grooming - who had a much less annoyed expression than her own beast.
“Well, I think all equestrians could say that.” Natalie laughed. Pippi tended to show off if a camera was involved. Prancing, as Natalie was trying not to fall off right away. That was a hard lesson learned when Natalie asked someone to film her the first time riding Pippi.
“Ah, this is Pippi. She’s only behaved now. I can’t guarantee this good behavior will be leaving with her after her bath.” Once Natalie felt most of the chunks of mud were off, she placed her comb back and started the hose to wet Pippi down before going knuckle deep.
“Well, I think all equestrians could say that.” Jessie laughed her agreement, "Very true," She agreed, knowing that a lot of horses did seem to prance and preen a little more when people were watching. She knew there were just as many that were hard to get the horses ears to point forward for one picture, but then again it still means they knew when there was a lens being pointed at them. She didn't mind Wildfire showing off, it made him look extra fancy in the ring, even if it did pull his focus and attention occasionally.
“Ah, this is Pippi. She’s only behaved now. I can’t guarantee this good behavior will be leaving with her after her bath.” Jessie smiled again as she finished brushing down her chestnut beast, his coat beginning to gleam with her ministrations and she was pleased the hard work paid off. "So, she's not one to enjoy having her hair washed?" She joked, "I thought women loved that kind of pampering?" Though she was terrible at remembering to get her own hair cut, only booking a last minute appointment when her hair was full of split ends and at an annoyingly long stage.
“She likes the idea, but if I take too long – she’ll throw a fit. I guess I keep her too long from her hay, or that sweet, sweet dust pile.” Nat stopped the water and opened the canister to put some shampoo in. Pippi seemed to roll her eyes but managed to stay still as Nat began spraying her down.
“So, how long have you been riding at Blue Acres?” she asked. Might as well get to know this person a bit, if she was allowed to. Nat liked to converse but was okay if someone asked for silence. So far, Jessi was willing to humor her. Despite riding here, Nat still didn’t know enough people around here on a good friend basis. She was friendly, of course – but never did the bestie thing.
“She likes the idea, but if I take too long – she’ll throw a fit. I guess I keep her too long from her hay, or that sweet, sweet dust pile.” Jessie chuckled at that, relenting to her gelding's request and offering the horse a couple of nuggets she dug out from the far corners of her pocket. He had a good nose for those kinds of things, she had to give it to him. "Okay that I can sort of be on her side for... can't keep away from the food too long or she might waste away." Jessie joked, though the horse looked in great shape. She was, herself, a foodie, and had no idea how she hadn't packed on pounds over the years - lucky, part of it and the fact she'd always been so active.
“So, how long have you been riding at Blue Acres?” Jessie paused, her head tilting as she counted backward. "Uhh, a couple of years now, I think? I was at Seven Oaks a long time ago, but I moved here." She smiled kindly, there was no bad blood, it had just worked for her better at BA than the previous yard. "What about you?" She asked, "Are you local too?" Because she knew how much even five minutes could make to a journey when you were doing it a couple of times a day.
