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!.
Elle smiled as the horse rubbed it's forehead against her arm, and she chuckled before pushing the head away gently - but firmly. She was a bit of a soft touch, that much was true, but it was the reason she was often given the more difficult rides - her quietly commandeering and suggestive nature made it easy to settle the more unruly and sensitive equines. She liked them too, she liked being able to settle the one's people labeled as crazy, she liked being able to feel like she really accomplished something. Scratching Sonic's neck, she gave the bay one last hearty pat and then exited the stable. Even though she was just one of the exercisers and not a stable hand, she didn't like just getting off and throwing the reins at a yard worker. She always untacked, washed down or brushed off her horse and rugged them before she left. It never took very long, so it didn't encroach on her time very much, and it made her feel better. The yard owner was happy for her to do it and still get paid the same, so she didn't mind either.
He was her last ride of the day, so she'd spent a little longer than completely necessary with him, but she had clocked off the moment her feet at hit the ground, so she didn't care. She didn't have anything left to fill her day, and the idea of going back to her small and empty flat felt a little low. There wasn't much else for her to do though, unless she wanted to go work on a car at the garage, but she didn't feel in the mood to tinker with a machine. She locked the stable door, double checking to make sure she had, and then picked up the tack to cart if off the to room. The yard was quiet for this time - it was early afternoon and most people had left for lunch time. It was often this time that was a little dead, just before people began to return for evening/afternoon lessons and bring in and feeds. Elle made sure to place the horses' tack back on the correct rack and bridle peg with care, and then began to hunt down a clean cloth so she could give the tack a quick wipe before she covered it.
He was tired. Incredibly tired - Ashley hadn't slept most of the night to an unexpected stomach bug, having laid up with his son constantly checking in on the toddler. Seeing Ashley look so unwell hurt - he wasn't sure where it came from, but he didn't like the fact that he could only sit there and be there when his son needed him. And as much as he wanted to stay at home, he had to work.
Work was the only way to continue paying the bills and put food on the table. So he'd called his usual baby-sitter, telling her what was up. He knew that there was a possibility that she would cancel him straight off, but she was more than prepared to sit with him and look after him until Sandy could get home.
Walking into the barn, he leaned on one of the stall gates and carefully stretched his back out. Tired didn't cut it anymore, he was exhausted. That was all there was to it and he knew it. But he also knew that this was the cost of having a son to care for without the ability to have family close by to help him. Carefully rubbing his face and sighing, he began walking along the isle, not really paying attention.
It took her some time to find a cloth. She hunted around in the tack room, sure she'd left one in a corner the other day for this very purpose (so she didn't waste time looking for one), but alas wherever it had gone, it had clearly gone to some place she couldn't follow. Things did have a habit of vanishing into thin air, often to return once a new one had been purchased. It seemed to be the way of horse worlds. She didn't complain, she kept her things to herself as much as she could to avoid the borrowing - normally done on a harmless basis all the same - and used the yard equipment where possible, always sure to replace things so it wasn't her fault when they couldn't be found next time. She was conscious of not drawing attention to herself or being any trouble at all. She was aware to some people it made her seen odd or even perhaps a little rude, but most of the time she just got labelled as shy and that was fine by her.
Giving up on her tack room hunt, she vowed to keep an eye for a cloth around the yard as she went about finishing her morning. Maybe one would turn up before she was done and she could go back. She had a pretty good memory for stuff like that, having had it drummed into her over the years. With an ex like hers, it only cause pain to forget how everything should be presented at all times. Elle swept the memories aside, her eyes looking down as she turned on her heel, a mistake she soon realised when she bumped straight into someone else on the yard she hadn't known was there. It had been so quiet she hadn't heard anyone else around, wrongly assuming she was the only person still out on the yard. "Oof," The noise escaped her at the collision and she automatically put her hands out to steady herself. "I'm so sorry." Was quick to follow on reflex, the yard was large enough and she still managed to walk right into someone.
