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!.
Odette couldn't believe that spring was just around the corner. Sure, the weather was trying to fight it with staying at a crisp 5°C and had a forecast of rain this afternoon, but that wouldn't dampen her spirit. Spring time meant show season will be upon them soon. The young woman knew because she checked the schedule almost daily, and kept on nosing around the front office to see if Jules had any insights over who just might make Seven Oak's represented team and those who would just be showing themselves without the backing of the stables. While they were deemed good friends, Jules apparently still had loyalty to Lilliana White in keeping those details sealed, which Odette supposed she could not blame him. It simply illustrated that the young man would be an equally loyal companion to her should she need it.
The young woman had been putting in hard work at Seven Oaks when it came to riding her three horses: Belle, Muse, and Star. While she specialized in show jumping, bringing on Muse meant that Odette had to start dabbling in dressage given that was what the Sale Yard and Muse's paperwork shown that the icelandic pony had been trained for. That in itself presented a new but fun challenge for Odette, and truth be told, it served as the perfect distraction to everything else going on in her life. She was still angry at Lydia, who still insisted on being her callous and emotionless self (and in denial, if you ask Odette, but clearly nobody ever wanted to ask her!), rather than face her about their past. Amelia, who probably was secretly siding with Lydia out of sibling loyalty, walked around her like she was on a tight rope. And then there was her mother, the great Eloise Lachapelle herself, who was being awfully squirrelly. Nothing was right in the young woman's life.
But, perhaps none of that mattered. Odette was here for new beginnings, she was kicking her past away and getting out from her mother's shadow. The young woman had ambitions in the equestrian world, something that she could not pursue in France under her mother's watchful eye, but now Hickstead, England had unlocked that potential the moment that she decided to board at Seven Oaks over Blue Ares - away from her mother, and nothing was going to stop Odette from achieving her dreams and goals. Except, maybe her thoughts, which sometimes brewed angrily whenever she thought about these exact people too much. So a distraction was needed, and Odette knew just the thing. Cleaning her tack. Sure, tack cleaning wasn't the most exciting thing, but it required method and patience, and the harsh winter of England and steady use of her tack during it mean that her tack needed some serious TLC.
So the young woman set up shop in the tack room. She quietly set up some music on her phone, and pulled out all three of her saddles. Odette made sure to set them up perfectly near her, so that even if someone where to walk in on her, the tack room would still look pristinely perfect, just like how the young woman envisioned herself with her carefully curated hair, make up, and solid barn outfit. Taking out her dedicated rags now to cleaning, she dabbed them against the leather cleaner and set herself to work, humming along to her music. Odette didn't know how long time had passed, she had been so wrapped up in her work that the young woman didn't realize that she had a visitor, or the fact, that she was blocking the way.
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved
thanks aofie!
TWENTY FOUR . PROFESSIONAL RIDER . LGBTQ+ . SINGLE
Jonathan finished his lesson with Sunny, patting the chestnut paint mare on the neck as the Hunter coach brought the lesson to a close. The man thanked them and began cooling the mare out. With show season coming around the corner, he was wanting to do a competition or two come the Summer. Running the clothing store and dating Alana took a lot of his time, though he was still able to ride on top of all of that.
It wasn't long before the mare was cool to the touch. He halted her by the entrance to the arena and dropped his stirrups, dismounting gently and landing on the ground. Quickly after, he rolled up his stirrups on either side and led the mare towards the exit, heading straight for an empty cross-tie. He backed the mare in and took off her bridle, making sure she had a moment to shake her head before sliding the halter over her head and clipping the ties to either side of the halter. Jonathan hung the bridle on an empty hook and got started on untacking and brushing the mare. As the arena was quite warm, the mare had sweat marks under where the saddle and girth had been.
After a thorough grooming session, it was time to put Sunny back outside in the mare's pasture. Once he walked back to the barn, he picked up his saddle and headed to the tack room. There was another rider in his way though, he softly cleared his throat. "Excuse me, I just need to put my tack away." He didn't think that anyone else was at the barn though, almost running into the woman. "Are you new around here or have you been at Seven Oaks long?" He tended to ride at odd times due to running the clothing store so he didn't recognize many of his fellow riders.
Perhaps one of the joys about being an Equestrian and solely focusing her time and attention to attuning her riding meant that usually nobody was around at the stables when she was. Odette could avoid all the chaotic children and, in her opinion, high strung adults. So it came much to her surprise when a voice cut through her humming: "Excuse me, I just need to put my tack away." The young woman glanced up, startled, to find herself staring at an older man. He was still attractive, so not too old, and therefore Odette didn't mind her time being interrupted. After all, she had put so much time and effort into her hair and make up today that it would have been a dull day indeed had only her mother witnessed it given Amelia went back to France to deal with some extended family drama.
"Oh, forgive me," she said now, unable to hide her thick accent, "I wasn't expecting anyone in here until the afternoon. I suppose I sort of took it over." Perhaps that was an understatement, but at least Odette hadn't made the place filthy, just more of her own. The young woman pushed herself to her feet now, cutting the music off and gracefully side stepping to allow the man access to the locker he wanted to enter. Green eyes stole a glance at the few tack lockers she had been blocking, the sole male name being 'Jonathan Toews' listed under a 'Sunny'. Could this perhaps be her mystery man? Her gaze moved back to him now as he moved forward and asked a friendly question.
Odette simply beamed, "I'm new. My mother and I recently moved from France. My name is Odette. Odette Lachapelle. My mother is Eloise Lachapelle. Perhaps you have heard of her? One of the best known eventers in France." Perhaps she should reign it back, nobody likes a bragger, "I am hoping to break into the competitive scene here. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved
thanks aofie!
TWENTY FOUR . PROFESSIONAL RIDER . LGBTQ+ . SINGLE
"Not to worry, I usually take my lessons in the evening but my work schedule changed." It was part of the perks of working for himself. Finally, he had someone interested in being a manager - they were currently running the store while he had a makeup lesson with Sunny.
He carefully shuffled around the mystery woman, trying his best not to disturb anything with his saddle. A quick sigh escaped his mouth as he slid the saddle in his locker, making sure the cover was on properly before closing the door gently. "Nice to meet you. Unfortunately, I'm still new to the riding world so I don't know who your mother is." He was far too caught up in the NHL scene, causing him to barely know the equestrian world existed until he moved to England. "Do you also want to do Eventing?"
From what he had seen, Eventing was a bit too intense for him. The Hunter ring was nice and slow, though technical. "I'm Jonathan. Though I'm sure you gathered that from my locker. How long ago did you move here?" He flipped his fuzzy girth upside down and set it on his saddle, letting it air out for his next ride.
She eyed him curiously as he informed her of his lesson schedule. While the young woman knew it likely meant nothing, Odette could not help but to take a mental note of his riding time simply in case they got along and she could watch in the future. The young woman had never quite paid attention to people's lessons in France, well other than Lydia's she supposed, but now here in Hickstead, she was trying to absorb as much as she can about each horse and rider she met. After all, there was always the a chance that she may be riding against them, "Ah, okay! Well, it's fortuitous that you had the schedule change so that we may meet."
Odette did her best to give the man his room when he was shuffling around her and her things to make his way to his locker. Her green eyes caught sight of his name on the locker now: Jonathan; as he carefully put away his saddle and tack. She could not help but to smile at the small sigh that escaped him as soon as the saddle was placed safely away in the locker, "It's okay. You're meeting me, and that's what's important. Not my mother." A little bold of her to say, yes, but Odette was finally ready to step out from her mother's shadow and be her own person and make a name for herself. Every professional equestrian started somewhere after all, "Ah yes, I hope to do eventing. Always keeps everything new and engaging since of the three disciplines. What do you ride?"
The young woman flashed her signature coy smile at him now, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jonathan." As he fooled around with his tack, she went back to scrubbing her tack only now Odette remained keenly aware of her surroundings and the man in her vicinity. She paused when he asked his question though, figuring it would be rude to work while in conversation. Glancing back over at him, she continued, "I have only been here three months, so not very long. It's been an adjustment." Given everything they left behind in France, sometimes Odette still felt sad over it it, but she tried to not dwell on it even this new chapter in her life, "You say you are new to riding? What got you into it if I may ask?"
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved
thanks aofie!
TWENTY FOUR . PROFESSIONAL RIDER . LGBTQ+ . SINGLE
Jonathan never knew whether to give out his lesson times or not, though most people at Seven Oaks seemed to be nice enough. He was one of those riders who did spend time with their horse, though sometimes running the clothing store meant he relied on the barn staff to get Sunny ready if he was going to be late, though he always felt guilty afterwards. “Yes, my job doesn’t really allow me to take the same lesson time every week, though I am my own boss so I can bend the rules a little.” The University students working for him were busy studying for final exams and wanted to cut down on their hours because of it.
“Do I know your mother or something? Does she ride here too?” There seemed to be more and more families who rode together, though as of right now he only knew about Drew family who shared Mary, a chestnut mare who seemed to also have a good head on her shoulders. “Wow, I’ve seen people compete in Eventing at shows. You don’t have a death sentence do you?” Jonathan smiled, even though he was a professional hockey player back in the day - Eventing seemed to be more intense than that. “I ride Hunters, nothing too fancy. I may switch to Show Jumping once I get more comfortable.” He shrugged his shoulders, some people found hunters to be boring - but it was just the right pace for him with his busy lifestyle.
He set his helmet and the grooming kit back into the locker - putting his helmet upside-down to allow it to air out. “Nice to meet you too, Odette.” Remembering names was something he was good at, having teammates that constantly changed really did help with that. “Oh wow, that’s really not that long then. What made you move here?” He was secretly hoping she wouldn’t ask him the same question, as his accent was obviously not British. “Yeah, I started to compete about a year ago. Really it’s everyone else who influenced me to start riding. I needed a new sport to keep me busy.”
It was curious to hear the man infer that he had a job - mainly because Odette was used to her mother's status as a international equestrian, along with her money, made the idea of both having a job and being an equestrian awfully foreign to her. She knew better though than to sneer, as there were many armature show riders who were actually quite good and there was proof that a horse with no pedigree could still outclass and outride a horse with one, "Ah! You must be quite busy then between your job and horse then," Odette mused with a smile, pausing in her aggressive scrubbing with her saddle.
Perhaps it wasn't surprising that the young woman's small (and bold, in her opinion) subtle dig at her mother caught the older man's attention, "Ah no. My mother teaches over at Blue Arces. I decided to ride and board here to put some space between us." Not that she did not love her mother, Eloise Lachapelle was a wonderful mother considering all the other mothers in the world who were not as kind, but Odette never liked how her mother seemed to hold her back - simply because Eloise did not enjoy being in the spotlight did not mean that her daughter was not allowed to try. And that topic was always one of contention when growing up, which made the move all the more easier. Green eyes blinked at Jonathan for a moment on his death sentence comment before it dawned on her that he was making a joke, so she laughed, "No! I want to reach for the stars."
It was curious to hear his discipline though - Hunter Jumper. She didn't hear it too often, but also knew it was not one to cluck at, "There is nothing wrong with being a Hunter. I think it takes a lot of finesse to perfect. It might set you up to outjump us all if you do ever make the switch." After all, she was certain that in Hunter classes, it wasn't just the horse that got graded but the rider themselves - which meant perfection all around. Perhaps Odette should dabble in some training for that as well, if just for fun. While her two big mares likely wouldn't appreciate it, there was a chance that Muse might even if she were classically trained as a dressage horse. Green eyes watched him as he neatly put away his stuff now, and she went back to scrubbing to give him some privacy.
Thankfully, Jonathan did not appear to seem put off by all of her questions then, although the young woman hoped it did not mean that she came off as an awfully lonely person. When he asked her why she moved though, Odette stopped scrubbing and leaned back. Her eyes gazed off, thinking, "My mother got into, how do you say...a pissing match? With someone important in our little town, so she thought it best to leave. It happened all so fast, I'm not even sure if I've entirely processed it." Her gaze looked back over at Jonathan now, tempted to ask the same thing since he clearly was not from Hickstead either, but decided to take a different prying question, "Oh? New sport? Does this mean you were a different sort of athelete before?"
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved
thanks aofie!
TWENTY FOUR . PROFESSIONAL RIDER . LGBTQ+ . SINGLE
After finding them in one of his pockets, Jonathan placed his gloves inside his helmet. He wondered if Odette was one of those trust fund children who often relied on their parents' wealth rather than getting a job. He knew being a professional hockey player was like winning the lottery - but he always had retirement in the back of his mind. “Yeah, and sometimes my girlfriend wants to see me too.” Jon laughed, he often thanked the stars that Alana was patient and busy herself but they always made time for each other.
“How does it feel being related to a coach at another barn?” He realized after the Fire at Blue Acres, the tension and drama between the two barns seemed to have settled down. Jon didn’t mind - it gave him more riders to learn from. Jon nodded as he fixed the cover on his saddle after noticing it wasn’t on correctly. “The Stars? You mean the Olympics right?” It was something he had already done - though riding and hockey were two different sports.
Jon took off his riding boots, swapping them for his rain boots and pulled out a rag. He then started cleaning the sand off the bottoms. “No thanks, I’ll stick to my small jumps. Sunny wouldn’t be too happy with the bigger jumps anyway.” Jon was genuinely happy with the paint mare - she didn’t fit in with the other fancy Hunter horses, though she was well-behaved. “Oh. That does sound like an interesting story. How long ago did you and your family move here?” It seemed like most people left their hometowns because of drama. He went back to cleaning the boots, allowing the woman to speak again.
“Yes, I played hockey for a really long time before I moved here.” The perks of living in the UK - not many people knew who he was - even by looking at his last name.
Girlfriend? What a shame. Odette supposed that the male rider was far too old for her anyways. Mentally shrugging it off, she merely smiled, "My my, you are quite the busy man then. Does she ride?" Perhaps not, since Jonathan was only now just bringing her up. Surely, if this girlfriend had rode, it would have popped up earlier. Besides, it's not as if it was a crime to date outside of the equestrian circles, even at a novice level. Perhaps it was even nice.
The question prompted the young woman to shrug, before she went back to scrubbing her saddle. She was half way done already, conversation really did make the time fly, "I don't see an issue." Odette stated now, becoming rather interested in a spot, "Maybe because show season is still a few weeks off, but for all of the rivalry that I supposedly hear about, everything seems quite tame to me." The young woman was quite certain that she was more likely to pick a fight with someone at Seven Oaks than bother herself with Blue Arces other than visiting her mother. Green eyes glanced up at him, "I'm settling for top tier circuits for now. Maybe the Olympics eventually." She said with a smile.
She watched as Jonathan began to pull off his boots now, swapping for non barn shoes and cleaning off the bottoms of riding boots. It was funny, for all of her proper raising, Odette had never been schooled in that cleaning method, "Ah. Does she not like to jump?" There was nothing wrong with that after all. Every horse was different, and every horse had their own preferred job, "We moved here in January. My mom ran a small stables in our home town in France. I guess she decided she wanted a change of scenery though, because she sold it off and moved the both of us and our horses here."
Odette paused in her scrubbing once more, cocking her head, "Hockey?" Well, that was quite the different sport. No wonder he didn't like to jump, "You had quite the career change then if you're just here riding horses now and dating girls." She teased.
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved
thanks aofie!
TWENTY FOUR . PROFESSIONAL RIDER . LGBTQ+ . SINGLE
Jonathan continued to busy himself - cleaning his tack as Odette chatted along. It was odd for him to have company at the barn, most people tended to leave him alone at the barn. “Yeah, I do like keeping myself busy. No, she does not ride. It hasn’t come up in conversation if she wants to or not. I’m not one to push it if she doesn’t want to.” He shrugged his shoulders - it was nice having their own thing away from each other. It kept their relationship new - always having something new to report about their different hobbies.
He thought about their next conversation topic. It really wouldn’t be any different than if his own father coached an NHL team and he played for Chicago - but it was still a different situation. “Huh. Did your mother coach you when you were younger then?” He knew of people whose parents coached them at the start of their career, but his parents weren’t coaches of any kind. They supported his hockey career though, which was what meant the most to him. “Wow that’s impressive. What do you compete in? I think Sunny and I will stick to the low jumping classes.” Or do the handy pony class depending on what the lowest height was. “I do agree with that. It might have to do with the barn fire though?” As he wasn’t much of a competitive rider, he tended to keep away from the drama surrounding the rivalry.
“She does, but she did the Western events and only jumped a little bit so I don’t really want to push it.” Sunny wasn’t a flashy Warmblood like the others, but Jonathan wasn’t aiming for the Olympics either. He already did that himself in hockey and that was enough of an experience to last him a life time.
“Yeah, I played professionally back in Chicago.” Jonathan laughed at her next comment. “No, no. I also run the clothing store. It’s only one girl I’m interested in.”
She nodded when the man said his girlfriend did not ride, nor did he have any plans on forcing her to. Odette supposed that made sense, after all, riding large animals with a mind of their own wasn't for every one and it certainly wasn't the type of activity to just force upon someone. Well, not when they were older and had their senses about them at least. The young woman must have gotten lost in her thought, her scrubbing came to a stop and Jon's next question snapped her out of her thoughts, "Hm? Oh yes, she did. If you consider teaching me coaching without letting me ever leave our arena." Odette supposed that was to each person's semantics though, for she never considered Eloise Lachapelle her coach.
A smile graced her lips when the man said her riding was impressive, "I do eventing - two out of my three horses can do all three classes. My newest one, she cannot but I might have some fun with her just to see what she can do. And, for the record, there is nothing wrong with sticking with low jumps." Odette went back to scrubbing now, finishing up her saddle and it practically looked like it shown. Green eyes looked to Jon with some intrigue, "Barn fire? What do you mean?" Sounded like there was some history there that the young woman didn't know about.
Odette nodded, understanding his horse's limitations to what she knew and was taught. Horses could only be pushed so much sometimes, but they were always learning as well. Perhaps his western horse knew more than her horses on how to not be afraid of things, whereas her horses were able to clear jumps and bend to a certain degree. That was the beauty of this hobby and sport, every rider and every horse could find their own level of happiness - even if it was just grooming, "Ah - I have never been to America, but I have heard of Chicago." It was a major city after all, "Which clothing shop? The one over in Willow Bridge or a more local one?"
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved
thanks aofie!
TWENTY FOUR . PROFESSIONAL RIDER . LGBTQ+ . SINGLE
