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!.
“I do trick riding, so there are times that Seven Oaks offers some more clinics than Blue Acres.” Some people saw Janie as cheating, but she didn’t care. Her money was going towards what she thought would be the best for her. So far, no one had been agitating her about it.
“Ah, thanks, I hope I come across as someone decent!” While Janie knew about the competition, she always tried to keep it friendly. Maybe it was because she didn’t get into the usual competition. So far, the only people Janie had to compete with were other trick riders, who felt far and few in between. At least, she had a horse and was making enough money to keep Darth alive.
“Have you been enjoying your lessons, though? I don’t know too many of the coaches over there.” Janie asked, adjusting her seat as the pair were headed down a slight decline.
Janie was a bit tired after her deep clean of the blow-up stall. She was thankful that the smell of horse didn’t bother her, but maybe three showers wouldn’t be a bad thing today. After scrubbing her hands well and setting up a fan to help dry the stall – Janie grabbed Darth’s empty buckets to be rinsed out and deep cleaned.
As she was putting the second bucket into the other, the door burst open and Janie found herself being pulled into the feed room. The door was slammed close and Janie turned to see who pretty much forced locked her in.
“Ah, hey Bailey.” Janie didn’t know her too well, other than that she wasn’t the favorite person of a few. “Ummm…excuse me?” she continued.
“Thanks! He was kind of an impulsive decision. Well, I had to put in a lot of work to convince my parents I was ready for a horse. And all that. Since you know, we must be responsible sometimes,” Janie laughed. She wasn’t mad about it, but like all teenagers, she had moments rolling her eyes. If anything, her parents wanted to make sure she was doing everything else she needed to do.
“I can’t promise of the crazy wildlife I hear some of my family states talk about. Lynx and other wild cats…The only thing that has scared me is when a hawk almost dove at me!” That was a wild time, literally. Thankfully, Janie wasn’t on Darth. She could only imagine what it would have been like if she had.
She gave a shake of her head. “I ride at Blue Acres! But there are times I attend some events hosted at Seven Oaks. I don’t do a lot of competitive riding. What about you? Seven Oaks, I assume?”
Oliver just nodded and sat still, hoping Ama wasn’t about to size him up either. But her gaze did make him watch his posture. Janie followed Molly, excited. She ran her hands over the dress Ama offered her. The fabric felt luxurious between her fingertips. The price kind of scared her, but Janie decided to try it on. If needed, she could put a dress on hold until she had more money to come in from work.
“Alright…let’s see how it goes!” Janie wasn’t afraid to undress, but sharing the same room with Molly was hitting differently. There had been plenty of times that they’d changed together. But they were different now. More assets. Did her undergarments look cute? Did Janie look cute?
Janie slipped off her clothes, facing away – a slight pink on her cheeks. She stepped into the dress and ensured her hair was out of the way – before zipping herself up. The dress was a bit loose, but not much. Maybe lifting the straps?
Janie gave the other teen a sympathetic look. “Unfortunately, yeah. The gorge is that way, so the waterfall sounds louder,” Janie said after the girl introduced herself and the horse. “Nice to meet you, Brooklyn. I’m Janie, and this is Darth.”
“It’s okay, there’s a lot of trails around these parts, and knowing your bearings can be a bit of a chore. It’s why my parents insist I have a tracker on me, and people make sure I know the maps. I just know that trail is often closed off, anyway. A lot of landslides and steep land. But I’m headed toward the waterfall myself if you want to ride with me?” Janie offered. Might as well, right together. Less chance of getting lost, and having a buddy was never a bad thing.
Janie hadn’t been on a trail ride with Darth in a long time. Maybe a bit longer than she wanted to do so, but she had been riding and training him a lot since he arrived. There were still a few things he wasn’t too keen on, but Janie knew better than to rush her horse. After finding Phoenix, Janie was excelling quite well in her trick riding. Today though, she needed a quiet ride. Well, somewhat. Darth still needed to be tuckered out.
After being dropped off with a few other BA riders, Janie made her way at a decent pace through the trail. The shade of the trees was welcoming, but the humidity was still a pain in the ass. Darth’s hooves making sounds on the roots and rocks kept Janie in this weird trance. As the sounds of the water began coming into ear reach, Janie forced herself to pay more attention.
As she was guiding Darth around a tree that had fallen, Janie caught a rider that wasn’t going in the right direction. Not knowing if her voice would carry, she did the whistle Oliver’s dad taught her. It was this loud whistle through her lips. “Hey!” she called out, making Darth stop. “You need to turn around!”
She gave him a sympathetic look and rubbed the horse’s nose. “Sorry bud, that’s all I have now.” He was extremely cute though, pulling that move. If she didn’t have to pay for his feed for the next few days, she would’ve spent all the money on treats for Darth.
A hand slipped out the phone in her pocket and snapped a pic she would be sending to Oliver and Molly. “You’re such a handsome boy,” Janie smiled, and rubbed Darth’s nose again, before moving to scritch his cheeks. Almost curious to see how she could go.
Surprisingly, Janie hadn’t fallen too hard from her lesson horse. She had gotten a few bruises, but most of her dangerous falls were from aerial arts. Also had seen a few people get some gnarly ones. Her worse incident was when she was learning a move in silks, and almost choked herself to death. Thank goodness she was low and her instructors were there to untangle her. Didn’t scare her enough to stop.
She eyes her instructor and the horse next to Mr. Clay. As a few more questions were answered and asked, Janie was beginning to fidget about what was happening next. Would they be doing some base sits or connections?
Thankfully, Janie didn’t raise her hand this time. Someone, albeit a bit rudely and with an uninterested tone, asked, “So what are we even working on today?” he asked. Janie frowned at the question, mainly by the tone of it – but she shrunk back – not wanting to appear as a goodie two shoes.
He was finally here! Janie was excited, albeit feeling a bit unprepared. Darth had come a day earlier, which was a surprise. But after jostling for permission, Janie was ready. She had gotten his space and area all gussied up but knew he would be in quarantine for a smidge before entering a full routine.
Knowing that he would be groomed first, Janie took the chance to set up her personal tack – so she wasn’t exactly breathing down anyone’s neck. So when she got the word, he was finished, she had to hold back a squeal. It had taken a lot of work to save up for her own horse.
Trying to reign in her excitement, Janie walked over and saw the handsome fellow. He looked as beautiful as the day she first landed eyes on him. Janie didn’t know how she got him as quickly as she did, as the yard had said that there were a lot of people looking at him. But some force out there made it all work.
“Hi, Darth!” Janie smiled. She thankfully had some carrots saved up, so she reached out a hand with two in it. “I’m so happy he made it here a-okay.”
The sound of her brother’s voice scared her, making Janie jump – her fingers barely missing the grate. “Ah, goddammit.” She was out of it. The teen placed the grater and cheese block down and turned to see Jack and his friend Theo. She gave them a shy smile, kicking herself for not looking better. Janie had no reason to worry about that right? She lived here, she could dress like however she wanted – but her brain was racing nowadays. Janie was looking at her brother’s friends in ways…only rom-coms could explain.
Realizing she hadn’t said anything to follow her brother’s question – she blushed and stammered for a moment. “Oh, hey – um, yeah – sure! I’m just making Gram’s mac ‘n cheese. You know those Midwesterners love their forty pounds of cheese and noodles. It’ll be a bit so hopefully, you’re not too starving right now?”
Janie was not in the mood to have some people come into the home. But she would be polite. After school and the barn, she rushed home and showered so she didn’t look like that much of a disaster. She purposely took a bit longer than expected and sat in bed in her bath towel and robe until a parent called for her to quicken up the pace.
She dressed comfortably in something that was polite, but nothing too stiff. After double checking herself in the mirror, she headed downstairs to help mum with whatever food prep that was left. From what it looked like, there was a lot of food around. But it would get eaten quickly with the size of this family.
“Oh, well..” Why was she called out so fast? She could all eyes plaster onto her as she stood there to think of her answer. “Well, I think it should be fifty-fifty.” Janie could tell it was the safe answer, as she hears the eye roll of other students. “In a sense that I personally don’t think you should necessarily go into trick riding with having a cold start in either thing. It requires different muscles for both disciplines and time for both. So..pacing yourself to have time to learn strength and bonding, makes it a bit easier. Only my opinion, of course!” The teen ended with nervous laughter, as she could feel herself shrinking away.
Janie had more years in the strength department, only because she hadn’t started riding until she could legally work. Work meant getting her lessons for a deal since her parents couldn’t afford full-time lessons for three, now four kids.
“Well, we have to keep you on your toes, though?” Janie laughed. There were times she wanted to run away and live by herself, but what teen wasn’t like that? Janie didn’t have a tough childhood; her brain chemistry was a battle and was the issue. Her parents never claimed her breakdown was a curse or anything, but the guilt of worrying was hard to deal with. That time in the hospital was a difficult time for everyone in the household.
“Sam and Jack are almost out of the house. Well, getting there. I’m sure you and dad might be panicking about that.” Janie didn’t know what the house would be like when her older brothers were out. She was nearing college age herself, too – so in a few years, it’d be the baby in the house.
“Great!” Janie smiled – finishing off her breakfast. “Even if it’s a small pot or something.”
“Yeah, I can get dressed in a jiffy!” Janie knew if they sat around, it meant they wouldn’t really leave until the places closed. The young teen finished her cuppa but knew she wanted a cup to go – starting the kettle so her water would be ready by the time she was done. Dishes were rinsed and placed into the dishwasher after Janie prepped a to-go cup with her tea bag, cream, and sugar.
Janie rushed upstairs, albeit quietly, and dressed into something she didn’t mind getting some dirt on. Which, honestly at this point, was most of her closet. The timing of her changing and freshening up lined up perfectly to the kettle. Janie poured herself a tumbler to go and grinned. “I’m ready!”
Janie tapped a pencil on her lip as she mulled over the crossword puzzle in front of her. Work had been hard on her today, as there was a snippy rider visiting for a competition. Janie didn’t tie his horse up correctly or something like that. It took a lot of willpower to not let that poor horse loose and claim stupidity.
The house was silent for the most part, minus the audiobook Janie had on in the background. It kind of helped her concentrate on the mental puzzle she had in front of her. Sam was out with his girlfriend, and her parents were out on a date. Kiara was with Courtney, so Janie was allowed some space. Even if it was for a few hours.
Giving up, Janie closed the crossword book. Her stomach grumbled, and a frown crossed her lips. It had been a minute since she ate. There were some leftovers, but Janie wanted something a bit fresher. Her mom had gotten some elbow noodles, a few boxes of them too. Mac n’ cheese sounded good. Everyone in the house liked it, especially if they were hung over.
Turning up her audiobook, Janie started the oven and got the ingredients out for grammy’s mac. A few kinds of cheese were substituted, but it all tasted good. Engrossed in the task in front of her, Janie didn’t hear the footsteps that followed the front door opening and closing.