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!.
The young man had zero desires to move, still trying to remember what it was like to breathe. He was quite convinced he could just lay in the arena dirt while Max became slowly and slowly convinced that he had murdered his owner. Ronan thought he deserved that anyways after that dramatic dump. Never in his life had he experienced such a reaction from Max, not even on the range back home when he would spot a lost cow or wild horses that he might have known. Ronan could feel a trickle running down his mouth from his nose and he could feel the faint taste of copper. Quickly, his hand reached for his nose, thankfully finding it still in tact despite the blow to it. Thank god, he would not want to explain that when he got home to his grandfather or on video chat to his dad.
"That looked like it hurt. Excellent recall you have there. You alright?"
</s> The words cut through his thoughts like a knife. Somebody had witnessed the whole thing. If only Max had decided to lay down right next to him instead of hovering over him, maybe then it would have looked like they simply chose to pick the arena as a relaxing, impractical sunbathing spot. "I think my pride is broken," Ronan replied to the floating voice. Reaching up, he pushed Max's head out of the way now and the horse snorted in reply before backing up just a step or two to give his owner room to sit up. The young male felt like his body was groaning, his muscles and bones protesting the action. Once up, his blue grey eyes looked over to the owner of the phantom voice.
He wasn't sure if he recognize him however Ronan knew that that he wouldn't recognize many at the barn yet since that required him to be a social butterfly. For now, he was fine with people just approaching him, although Ronan preferred the next time he'd try and avoid a spill like he did. Bringing up a sleeved arm, he wiped away the blood as he best could before continuing, "Thankfully, he likes me enough that even when he dumps me, he'll come back to investigate." Also, maybe he should introduce himself, "I'm Ronan, he's Max." As if knowing he had been introduced, the chestnut gelding lifted his head and glanced over to the other man though before taking the few steps towards the fence line, craning his neck to extend and look for treats. This caused Ronan to roll his eyes, "He doesn't have anything for you." He muttered before turning his attention back to the blonde man, "I take it you ride here?"
It was late morning by the time Ronan made it to the stables. One, he needed to assume proper caffeination levels before ever leaving the cottage and that required the brewing of coffee, much to to his grandfather's dismay. Two, by late morning, Ronan was certain that any morning work that involved loud sounds would be over, such as hay delivery. It probably had to do with the crisp autumn air, but his horse, Max, had been awfully frisky as of late which had nearly made training in the arena unbearable almost unbearable. Like all things though, this stage would pass, Ronan was certain of it and he couldn't neglect working with Max in the arena if they wanted to place in one of the last shows of the fall season before winter came and the snow with it.
"You're not going to kill me today, are you boy?" He murmured as he tighten the cinch. A gentle wicker came in response, like he knew what his owner was asking of him. Smiling to himself, Ronan finished up with the cinch, before undoing the halter and pulling the bridle over Max's face. There was little resistance in accepting the bit. After that, they were off, Ronan leading the way to the outdoor arena as Max followed along, his ears swirling about his head like little radars, listening for anything suspicious. That act alone made Ronan a little suspicious that he may be in for more of a ride that he initially thought. Darn this fall air, the only thing it was good for was making coffee and sweaters more joyful.
Once they were in the arena, Ronan checked the cinch one last time to see if it had loosen itself in their short trip. Before long, he was swinging himself up into the saddle and Max began to walk, hardly waiting for his owner to settle into the saddle. He was ready to work, ready to do something at least. The little act couldn't help but to bring a smile to Ronan's lips. Being in the saddle, riding Max, it always felt like the most perfect moment in the world for Ronan. Everything was at a still, and nothing mattered. He could check all the emotions at the gate. Asking to pick up the pace, Max rolled into a trot. As they did that though, the horse's ears to twitch again and even his head tilted slightly. He wasn't fulling paying attention and that certainly wouldn't do.
Right when Ronan tighten up on the reins a little and lean them into the right side of his horse's neck did it happen. A blast sounded across the yard, probably a backfire of something. So much for morning work being done. Everything happened in a split second. In truth, Ronan should have been prepared but he hadn't. One second, he was on top of Max, and the next, the saddle horn slammed into into his abs and a crown of a horse neck into his face. If that wasn't enough, Ronan felt the wind knocked out of him as he slammed into the ground. Dust kicked up for a second as Max sprinted off and Ronan did nothing more than roll into his back, coughing, “Fuck.” It wasn’t too long before he felt hot breath on his face and he managed to open his eyes now to see a rather large horse muzzle in his face, “Yeah, yeah. I still love you,” he muttered, “But you killed my pride.”
show name • Just Max stable name • Max age • Estimated at Twelve breed • Australian Brumby [wild horse] height • 15.1 hands discipline • Reinning, Cutting, Stock Horse work gender • Gelding
the appearance
identifying features• Max is a stocky built horse standing at 14.5 hands. He is considered of average height for his breed. Ronan tends to keep Max's mane, forelock, and tail on the longer side. He is of red chestnut coloring and has no markings other than a prominent white blaze down his head. His eyes are the typical dark brown. Max does have one scar on his hind quarters of unknown origin from his prior life as a wild horse.
the personality
likes • Working, Going for hacks, Apples, Feeding Time, Laying in the sun, Mares and Geldings dislikes • Fruit Treats (Bananas, Watermellon, Berries, etc), When the stable hands do not feed him on time, Sitting in a stall during the day time, holding his leg up for a ferrier for an infinite amount of time, Stallions strengths • Sociable, Quick, Surefooted for a horse, Smart weaknesses • Impatient, Greedy/Pushy when it comes to food, Excitable over cows, Curious fears • Weird smells, The sound of a tractor engine misfiring overall personality • Unlike his owner, Max has no issues always showing his true colors around strangers. He is a very social horse despite initially coming from a feral background. He is always curious about new people and will routinely investigate from the pasture or the stall to see who is coming. Max tends to be more loud and obnoxious when he sees either Ronan or knows that the delivery of food is on the way. He tends to also be over dramatic if he catches sight of a cow, the sight of the animal signaling that he knows he will be doing his favorite thing ever: work. Despite this though, Max does know how to relax in the pasture and doesn't cause too much mischief. He can be greedy when it comes to treats and will over extend his head and neck to snatch them or try to steal them out of pockets. He will even make ugly faces at other horses to keep them away from the treat giver.
the history
owner • RONAN DAIRE SLADE father • Unknown mother • Unknown siblings • Unknown, likely many half siblings overall history • Max originally came from Queensland, Australia and he was part of a wild brumby enclave of bachelor stallions, having gotten kicked out of his herd by his father once he turned a year old. It was likely during this time that he received his scar as he had been clingy to his mother, the lead mare of the herd. Max never quite his own herd, but managed to have his own small family at one point in his life until one fateful year, they got caught up in a munstering or drive as part of the Australian government's land and wild horse management.
After being herded and corralled, Max got separated from his wild family and unfortunately never saw them again. He was shipped to auction and was purchased by the Slade family. It took Max some time to get adjusted to living a domesticated life, confused by his new surroundings, smells, and the animals that he saw. He also didn't understand what the adult humans wanted out of him and often lashed out. Max did, however, end up bonding with one of the younger humans, who turned out to be Ronan. He had a gentler hand, it was his first time breaking a horse and was using a different method then his father. After 6 months, Max was willing to accept saddle and a human on top of him. He was braver, stronger, and enjoyed his time bonding with Ronan.
Max departed Australia with Ronan for England and resides at Seven Oak Stables now. After a month or two of adjustment, he was settled into his new life even though there is significantly more down time.
the role player
alias •Forever age • Thirty Two other characters • This horse will be NCP'd to RONAN DAIRE SLADE
full name • Ronan Daire Slade nicknames • Ro age • Eighteen birthday • October 31st occupation • Senior Year student; Firefighter trainee (volunteer status until graduation) gender • Male sexuality • Hetero
the appearance
face claim• Freddy Carter
identifying features• Cheek Bones, Intense Stares, Usually has a travel mug of coffee with him
the personality
likes • Any and all equines (horses, mules, and yes, even ponies and minis), Coffee, Going out on hacks, keeping busy, hanging out at coffee shops and the fire house dislikes • People who mishandle their equines, Tea, Snobby/Jerk people - especially people who think they are better than him, Sitting still, Being ghosted (manly by his mom) strengths • Confident, Equines, Outgoing and Playful (when comfortable with people), Fixing things at the barn, Quick Learner, Uncanny ability to find a coffee shop weaknesses • Acts before he thinks, Guarded, Takes a while to show his true personality, Equines, Easily baited dreams • Getting Champion Reserve with his paperless horse fears • Opening up to someone emotionally and/or romantically and getting hurt (note: along the lines of what happened to his dad and his mom just ghosting verses just a non serious break up/fling sort of situation) overall personality • To an outsider, Ronan can come off as mysterious, an outsider. A gaunt, skinny looking kid who's always nursing a 20 oz tumbler of coffee in need of a solid eight hours of sleep. If he's by himself, he perpetually grumpy looking and unapproachable as if one word uttered to him might cause him to retreat into a shell, or more likely, a hoodie. And maybe that is the case if he is approached by a stranger or quite frankly, someone he doesn't like, Ronan will be just that, guarded, short, suspicious even with a chip on his shoulders. However, if one were to see Ronan in his natural habitat such as the barn or the fire station, or even just with people that he calls his friends, they would be surprised to see this grumpy looking individual as anything but. They would find themselves watching a playful and outgoing boy. Ronan is always happy to hang out with the people who he regards as friends, amendable to whatever plans that come up. He can also be sensitive and have a sweet side, if it's unlocked but that's usually reserved for someone very special. Regardless of whether he is in a sweet or sour mood, Ronan can be quick to jump into action without much thought, and it can either have positive or negative affects on his social standings with friends, enemies, or even his parents. The only being that remains immune to these effects is his horse, whom he will always put first above anyone else.
the history
father • Theodore "Teddy" Hugh Slade, 50 mother • Bronwyn Eloise Shaeffer, 46 siblings • N/A important people • Roy Gerald Shaeffer - Grandfather and Temporary Guardian, 75 hometown • Scone, Australia; currently living in a little cottage with his grandfather outside of Hickstead overall history • Ronan's origin originally start in Australia where his parents first met. Teddy Slade was a ranch hand for his father on a large cattle farm in Scone and Bronwyn Shaeffer was a wild child traveler off on an adventure, away from her native England. They hit it off in town, long before Bronwyn had any idea what Teddy did for a living, she was just in it for the whirlaway romance and exploring all of Australia before she left the continent for another. Life would have other plans though, as one day, Bronwyn discovered she was pregnant and Teddy proposed. He thought they would live happily ever after on the ranch. Time would show that he would be wrong. Unfortunately for Teddy and little Ronan, Bronwyn wasn't much for staying still. She loved Ronan, but she wouldn't stay still forever for him and while she loved Teddy, she couldn't remain for him either.
One day, she left with a note saying how much she loved her boys but had to leave. She couldn't be held down by Australia, by normality, she had to go and that she would come back. While devastating, Teddy knew he shouldn't be surprised. Ronan, while seven, was wise for his age and understood that his mother wouldn't be coming back, or if she did, she wouldn't end up staying for long. So it was just him, his father, and then his father's family. They all took turns to raising Ronan on the ranch, they taught him the way of ranch living - tending cattle, mending fences, horse back riding, care of animals, treating them with respect, while still making him to go school. For while the ranch was everything to the Slades, they would not sacrifice Ronan's future for what may end up being a dying industry.
Ronan did well on the ranch, he took to the animals and its busy way of life. He took to horse back riding as well. While he never adopted his mother's lifestyle for needing freedom outside of Scone, he adopted the need for freedom on the back of a horse. He loved the feeling, wind in his hair, the ability to traverse land that no automobile other than a tricked out Wrangler could handle. There was something romantic about it, just him and his horse, where all other thoughts and bothers went away. Left behind in his bedroom. Despite liking his escapes, Ronan was always loyal to the ranch, to his father. His mother not so much, he would be happy to see her when she would visit, but she always claimed she would stay and Ronan had the unfortunate ability to believe her and then found her gone. His father would always defend her, but it slowly molded Ronan into needing to guard his feelings from people.
Socially, school proved to be difficult for Ronan, between not wanting to be there half of the time and how different the kids were from him. They didnt understand ranch work, they usually wanted to hang out in the cities. They wanted to runaway from ranch life, from country life. Ronan thought they were nuts. A classmate did get him into western showing though, showed him the ropes outside of the ranch and the different classes, how he could even apply his skills to showing. It became something else that Ronan could invest his time into and more importantly, gave him time with his horse. One day, Ronan was out and some kids he didn't get along with snuck onto the farm to play a trick. When Ronan came home, he found his horse had his side painted on with some ugly words. Pissed off, the next day, Ronan made the mistake of acting out and beating the crap out of the main instigator. Unfortnately, despite him being in the rightaway, this got him expelled for not handling his anger properly and since the incident with his horse was done outside of school property, it was out of the school's hands.
Ronan was expelled and his father was desperate to find a way to finish Ronan's schooling so he could at least end up with a high school degree and a chance at college. But Teddy knew he had to make sure it was an option that would allow Ronan's horse to accompany him or else he would hit a road block. A few weeks later, Teddy presented Ronan with a pamplet for school in England, in a small but quiant town known as Hickstead, England and more importantly, there was a barn there for him to board his horse. Ronan didn't understand, he was happy to stay and just work on the ranch. But at that point, Teddy wouldnt have any of it, and laid down the law. It had already been done and Ronan and his horse had been enrolled, he had just been waiting for Ronan's sign off. A false option. He shipped Ronan and the horse off to England, where he would be living with his grandfather on his mother's side, who was still adjusting to living on his own following his wife's death.
A year into living into England now, Ronan has adjusted well and his forgiven his father. He now keeps himself busy with school work, riding and helping out at Seven Oaks Stables, and volunteering at the fire department.
the role player
alias • Forever age • 32 other characters • N/A for now
