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!.
Everyone else had left the barn for the evening, except Maddie. She had just finished riding Puzzle in the indoor arena as the sun was setting by the time she was done. The yearlings had gotten out of their pen again, which meant all hands on deck. Some of the horses were being stubborn and needed a bit of convincing to come inside.
The day was chaotic, but Maddie still had work to do. She finished grooming the Appy, putting her back in her stall. The brunette headed to the feed room and began mixing feed for the next morning shift - always trying to make it easier for the next group, even if it meant staying late.
Maddie was on a roll, placing all the buckets around her and started scooping the electrolytes and pouring the right amount in each bucket, hearing hoofbeats coming down the barn aisle. She raised her eyebrow and rushed out of the feed room - wondering if a horse had gotten out of their stall. Her heart started racing, a gasp escaping her lips followed by a sigh when she realized it was a boarder. "Oh goodness, you scared me. Hi Odette, what brings you to the barn this late?"
Odette and her young horse, Muse, pulled to a stop in the arena. With dusk setting across the lands of Hickstead, the young woman felt like she had sufficiently given the Icelandic mare a solid dressage workout and decided it was best to call it a day. She had been rather pleased with Muse's progress since purchasing her from the Yard - a solid investment that perhaps now, her mother was willing to believe. Oh, who was Odette kidding. The pair would have to place in a show or two before Eloise Lachapelle would forgive her daughter of such an impulse purchase. Patting the mare, Odette freed her feet from the stirrups before gracefully dismounting from the saddle.
Gently, she pushed Muse's head away from her as the mare tried to inspect her right away - ground manners were still a major work in progress, but Odette was thinking she was beginning to get somewhere. She made a mental note to shut off the arena lights before she headed on her way out, uncertain of who may be working tonight at the barn. Pulling the reins over Muse's head, she held them firmly before walking back to the Seven Oaks main barn now. They walked quietly, side by side, and upon entering the barn, it looked quite deserted, "On dirait que c'est juste toi et moi, fille." (Looks like it's just you and me, girl) Odette didn't mind, sometimes it was just nice to brush a horse down in the stillness of the barn.
As they made their way towards one of the cross tie stalls though to begin untacking, it became clear that they were not alone. Muse's hoofsteps summoned forth someone in a panic out of the feed room. Even Odette nearly jumped out of her skin, and Muse started for a second, looking to jump out of her skin as well, before their eyes fell on the person. Maddie Stevenson. Already, Odette could feel her face flush as her green eyes stared at the brunette. While the older woman only batted for man, it was hard for Odette to not be utterly smitten with her and she constantly found herself flustered around her, and it always annoyed the young woman too, given she thought herself far too sophisticated to have school girl crushes, "Maddie! You startled us too," her voice was a little shrill, still recovering from being startled, "Although please forgive me for startling you."
The question prompted afterwards caught her by surprise, something told Odette that she forgot to mention something to someone at Seven Oaks, "I was working with Muse late in the outdoor arena. I suppose I lost track of time...is it just you on shift tonight?"
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved
thanks aofie!
TWENTY FOUR . PROFESSIONAL RIDER . LGBTQ+ . SINGLE
The brunette let out another sigh, letting all the panic leave her body. Ever since the fire at Blue Acres, the barn staff were on edge. If it could happen to the other barn, there was nothing saying something similar could happen to them. "Oh no worries. I'm just glad it's you two and not someone creepy." The brunette smiled, flashing one to both Odette and Muse.
"It's just me, I promise. Everyone else has left. Did you have a nice ride? How is Miss Muse anyway?" She wasn't going to mention that the red roan mare was one of the horses that was difficult to bring in. It wasn't something the barn staff couldn't handle - though it seemed as if they all made a pact to make the day difficult. "No need to apologize. I do apologize if I startled you or Muse, though she seems to have a good head on her shoulders." If it was Puzzle, the appaloosa mare would be half way to the mare's paddock by now - she scared pretty easily.
Odette watched the beautiful woman let out another sigh of relief, or perhaps, she was merely releasing what might have been nervous energy that had popped up from being startled. Her response though left Odette with arching a perfectly kept eyebrow though, "Someone creepy? I feel as if there is a story to that." Truth be told, the young woman did not know much about Seven Oak's history, other than some of the stable hands always appeared to be on edge like something horrible was going to happen, well, other than River Bloom, he was just grumpy. And Jules didn't offer her much on the history of the stables, more so just the latest gossip of its inhabitants.
Still, that smile of Madison's made her want to swoon, but she managed to keep it together as the older woman prompted a question, "Oh! Muse and I had a lovely ride, although I admit, I hope this august heat wave leaves very soon. I do not believe Muse is fond of the heat." Thankfully, given that it was England, Odette had no doubt it would be cold in a matter of days, not weeks, "She seemed to be lacking her usual spring in her step." And perhaps, that might have been why it had been a nice ride. Muse was a nice little mare, and Odette was pleased with her, but the icelandic horse always appeared a little too eager to please, which almost made controlling her somewhat hard she discovered.
Laughter bubbled up from her now as she gave the mare a solid pat at Madison's compliment, "If you had been a small child or animal, we might be having a different conversation and scene." The young woman unfortunately had learned that the hard way, another good thing about riding in the evening - those critters - both animal and human, usually were asleep by then. Muse herself must have recognized Maddie now, for she took a step forward and was trying to arch her neck and head out to greet her, "I guess someone is happy to run into her favorite stable hand though," Odette said with a smile, "As am I! I should probably get her untacked, but if you would like company for the rest of your evening here, I am most happy to oblige."
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved
thanks aofie!
TWENTY FOUR . PROFESSIONAL RIDER . LGBTQ+ . SINGLE
It took a moment for Maddie to realize that Odette was newer around the barn. “Oh, you weren’t here for the Fire at Blue Acres? I’m just suspicious of anyone around here at night.” She knew it didn’t happen at their barn, but someone around town clearly wanted to cause some trouble. “I’m glad I was just paranoid. I should have known someone would be around the barn still.” Sometimes the White family came and chatted with her while doing night feed, though the sound of hoofbeats made her realize it wasn’t them.
“Did you two do dressage today then? I know Puzzle isn’t too happy about the heat either.” The mare truly was in her happiest state in the Spring or Fall - she didn’t think any of the Seven Oaks horses truly enjoyed the heat. “Is that a good or bad thing? If I remember right, she’s usually spicy for you.” Her mare was relatively quiet for a younger horse, though when it came time to their lessons - the mare was revved up. “Does Muse not like children or small animals?” She often kept her dog at home - not wanting to disturb the horses afraid of them.
Maddie reached out her hand and gently scratched the mare’s soft muzzle. “Aw, come on. You must have a different favorite stable hand. I’m only here part-time.” She was glad both of her jobs were flexible - though she didn’t mind which days she worked where. The brunette enjoyed both of her jobs equally. “That would be nice actually. I’ll come with you so you can untack and then we can go get the morning feed ready for tomorrow.” The woman turned and began walking towards the cross-ties.
Odette could feel her eyebrows arch when the other woman made comment about a barn fire, "What? That was before my time, I suppose. I came here in January." Surely, if there had been a fire recently, her mother would have mentioned it - or the news. As far as the young woman was concerned, everything had been rather quite in this sleepy town. Although, one could argue that Odette had been caught up in her own mellow dramas that others likely flitted right past her. She shrugged a little, "Ah well, if you have memories of a fire, even at another barn, I suppose I can't blame you for being suspicious." Although, she would have thought it wasn't considered off hours yet. Once again though, perhaps she was living in her own world.
"We did. The Sale Yard told me that is her only discipline, but I am sure I could take her over a cross jump for fun. Give her a different sort of mental activity," Odette confirmed, "And I can't decide. Sometimes, I find it nice when my horses are mellow, but I feel bad when I know its just the heat preventing them from being themselves." Granted, the young woman often expected perfection from her horses, even though it was an impossible ask. Still, she'd be lying if she said she preferred Summer and Winter over that of Spring and Fall for riding. She nodded her head, agreeing with Madison's statement, "She does not - I had two incidents now with the owner's dogs and children. She just gets very startled and very nervous about them."
Green eyes watched as Muse stretched her neck out a little more when Maddie offered a scratch to her soft muscle, something that the mare enjoyed. It brought a small smile to her face before she returned her attention, "I don't know. River is the only one I typically catch and he's...well, always a grouch. The others I have a harder time tracking down." Not that she often needed help, given she had been raised in a barn and taking care of horses since she was little thanks to her upbringing, but sometimes it was just hard to sit back and let others care for her horses, "Excellent. We will be quick. I'm sure Muse will be happy to return to her stall sooner rather than later." With that, she followed after Maddie now, "Is feed the last remaining task you have?"
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved
thanks aofie!
TWENTY FOUR . PROFESSIONAL RIDER . LGBTQ+ . SINGLE
Maddie was surprised Odette hadn’t heard about the fire. It was big news around Hickstead, both when it happened and still. Things like this didn’t tend to occur in a small town, but when they did - it was huge. “Ah, sorry I thought you had lived here longer than that. The police are still baffled about figuring out who did it.” She felt her shoulders shrug - as a paramedic she was one of the first ones on the scene when emergency services were called. “I was one of the first ones there. My other job is being a paramedic.” She didn’t want to sound like some sort of fire stalker - especially in front of a client of her employer.
The brunette glanced at the two-toned mare - noticing that her coloring was quite unique compared to the other horses at Seven Oaks. “You got her from the Sales Yard? How was that as an experience?” She rescued Puzzle from there as well - thankfully she had a relatively good experience. “Have you jumped before? You could always ask one of the instructors if you need a second set of eyes.” She rode her appaloosa mare in both disciplines to keep her mind busy. Maddie lifted her hand and gave the mare a scratch under her forelock again and nodded.
“Puzzle also hates the heat, it’s just something we as riders have to deal with. I don’t like it either, but it mellows her out if she’s in heat.” Not that Puzzle was very mareish to begin with. “If you need a dog to practice with, I do have Ruby. I’m not allowed to bring her with me to work due to the horses but she does love them.” She took her Sheltie on the trails to get her to run some of her energy off. Maddie scoffed quietly at the mention of River. “He is the grumpiest out of all of us. I call him Oscar the Grouch behind his back. I don’t know what his problem is honestly. It’s odd to see the difference when he interacts with one of his horses.” It was like night and day - something about people who could talk rubbed him the wrong way. “Did you need help with something? Or just looking for some company sometimes while you are here?” Maddie tried her best not to hide from people as they sometimes needed help, but she was often busy.
The brunette shook her head. “There really isn’t a rush. I get paid to be here whether I leave early or later. Muse is more important right now anyway. Yes, I’ve swept the barn already so I just have to get the morning feed ready before I leave.” Once they arrived, she moved away - allowing room for Muse to be backed up into the empty one she was standing near.
