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!.
Madison finished her shift working at the barn, it proved to be more difficult. Some of the yearlings at Seven Oaks had gotten out, which meant she had more work to do than usual. Her coworkers had other chaos to deal with but they suggested she take Puzzle out on a trail ride.
She double and triple checked with them, but they insisted. Maddie nodded and headed off to catch the mare, brining her inside and putting her in a cross tie. A quick grooming session later, the appaloosa mare was ready to be tacked up. Maddie headed to the tack room and got her boots on, zipping them up before taking an arm full of tack over to the mare. Christopher chatted with her briefly as she tacked up, doing up the girth as her red headed coworker left.
After putting the bridle on, she led the mare out to the front of the barn. Eventually, she pulled on the reins to make the mare stop - double checking the girth before rolling down the stirrups. She used the fallen log to get on the back of the mare, picking up the reins before steering her towards the start of the Forrest trail. The fresh air filled her lungs, starting to settle down after the chaotic morning.
A day off from the vets. A day full of riding? Who would’ve thought? Forrest, having a chill day? Well, he wasn’t about to say no to just riding as long as he wanted. The ranch was slow, and some of the workers began taking out a few horses to ride. Since most of the horses were taken, he phoned Helping Hooves who had a few horses that needed a good walk. Forrest often gave some time to them anyway, since he worked a lot with them when traveling with some of the vets. And he appreciated their message and work.
Today, he hooked up with Dolly, an eleven-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter. Forrest hadn’t ridden the mare before but was informed she was easy to walk. Forrest gave her a quick groom and tacked her up before mounting. Since the property had easy access to the trails, Forrest made his way out.
Usually, he was better at keeping attention, the weather made him escape reality for a moment. He moved at a reasonable pace, getting used to Dolly’s gait. A very smooth transition, compared to others. Forrest ended up popping out from the entrance to the trail a lot faster than usual due to having to jump a log that was new from a recent storm, appearing in front of another rider. Thankfully, the rider was a bit of a way back, but it was still a bit rude of him. “Sorry about that,” he called out, hoping no one was scared.
Maddie allowed her lungs to be filled with the summer air, the bugs were flying around which caused Puzzle to swish her tail and to twitch. The brunette glanced around as the Forrest ahead of her, glad that she was finally getting some shade after working outside all morning.
She very quickly realized that the pair weren't alone. The sound of hoofbeats behind them caused her to turn her head to the side. Maddie shifted the mare over, making sure the other rider had room in case they cantered beside them. "Ah, no problem. My horse is used to being around either horses." The woman appreciated the fact that the male rider actually acknowledged them. "Did you want some company on your trail ride today?" Maddie didn't mind either way, though after the hectic day she had having company was something she wouldn't mind having. "Do you work for the vet by chance? I feel like I've seen you around Seven Oaks before." The mare walked in stride with the other horse, letting out a whinny to greet the other mare.
Forrest wasn’t expecting to be asked to join but might as well. Dolly was good around other horses and people. It was her job, after all. “Oh, sure. I’m not doing anything strenuous. More of a relaxing ride, if that’s what interests you for the day.” Granted, Forrest preferred the more advanced trails – this wasn’t his horse. He wasn’t about to dilly-dally on a horse he didn’t know too well. Also, the owner wasn’t around. On his own horse, he would absolutely push them to try new things.
When he was asked if he worked at the vet, Forrest wondered if people really did recognize his face. It wasn’t something that he was used to. Mainly because, in Texas, people still managed to forget – even if they were regulars. “Yeah, I sometimes come and make calls when a vet needs an extra hand. Or to just help the owner give some medication. Do you work there?” he asked, guiding Dolly to a slower pace.
Maddie smiled and nodded, glad that the man had agreed to ride with her. She really needed to start organizing trail rides with the rest of the stable hands - it would get them all away from the work stress, even if only for an hour or so. "Great! I'm fine with a relaxing ride. We had a lesson yesterday and I just got off work." She was lucky enough to work where Puzzle lived - it made it easy not to forget to ride. Tobias had worked both of them pretty hard the day before, so Maddie hoped that the mare was tired. "Who are you riding today?" It wasn't a horse she recognized - so it wasn't a Seven Oaks horse.
Puzzle plodded along, acting like an older horse rather than her actual age. The woman patted the mare on the shoulder, wanting to reward her for the good behavior. "I thought I recognized you. Yes, I work at Seven Oaks as a stable hand part time. If I'm not working at the hospital, then you'll see me at the barn. I'm Madison and this here is Puzzle, though people usually just call me Maddie." Madison was really just a name her parents when they were angry with her - though her siblings called her that too. "Were you helping out at one of the barns today?"
