"Nah, horses were kind of a fluke in my life," John said with a grin, "I like to joke that I'm the male version of National Velvet. At least for the first half of the movie. Came across a loose horse one day when I was coming home from the farmer's market, and I took him home to my parents' sheep farm. Pretty certain I tried to hide him first but that didn't last long." And there was only so much hiding one could do with a 1200 lb animal when the rest of the residences of the farm were maybe 100 to 200 lbs. Either way, King had stuck out easily amongst the herd of sheep. That or Max had ratted him out, it had all been a blur.

As for the jeans, "Nah, certainly not for jumping. There was a hot second I decided to take a few western pleasure classes for fun when I was in the United States for some shows. I did it on the side, of course. But I noticed the last World Games that, no offense, all of these German riders were taking a stab at the western classes even though we all know the Americans would wipe the floor. So I thought I'd try it out as well." And while he could see the joy and beauty in it, the style had not been his cup of tea for a number of reasons. It had still been fun though, and John would be lying if he had said that he hadn't come away with new knowledge and technique.

John nodded his head when the other male made mention that he'd have to watch a clinic the next go around that Seven Oaks hosted one, "Watch it? Uh, I expect you to enroll," he said with a grin now, lightly punching Everett in the arm. Although his friend seemed to have the last laugh with that patience comment. A slight sound escaped John as he dramatically shrugged his shoulders, "If you ask Marie, I lack patience with certain aspects of our children. I think it's a dad problem. Want to be helpful all the time even though I should probably leave them alone and let them figure it out." John found that to be the hardest part of about parenting, learning to let go.

"Ivan? I think he's new in town, something about relocating back to home or something like that." He couldn't really remember off the top of his head, "And I don't know. Something in his walk suggested to me had something to prove. Either way, he was smart enough to be wearing the right sort of shoes to follow me all over the barn and pastures while I interviewed him. So. Smart kid. I had one girl show up in heels."

Everett seemed rather relieved by the concept of riding the grandchildren's horse, and quite frankly, there was nothing wrong with that. Plus, John wouldn't have left him out to dry wit one of the hot youngins. While some people thought it was hilarious to put their friends on the fast horses, John didn't like that. People needed to move at their own pace and comfortability, "I mean, I want you to enjoy your ride. Can't exactly scare you off from ever coming back." He said with a grin now, "And I'll be honest, the foals are Marie's department. They sort of just adorably show up and I pay their bills. I think we have a few set to come though. Maybe like three or four if I remember correctly."

With the grooming kits out and by their respective stalls, it was time to get to work. But that joke didn't go unnoticed by John, who simply laughed, "Every once in a while, I give the grooms a break and take care of my own horse." He countered, but the joking tone was there. He knew it was all fun and games now. The true bromance date was about to begin. John set to work now with the rubber curry comb, getting to work as he called over the stall, "Are you going to need a diagram on how to saddle up?"

whatever it takes 'cause I love the adrenaline in my veins

"I think the grandchildren have been in the saddle since they popped out," he said with a grin, but it felt pretty typical given that every single member of John's family rode, "Although, admittingly, I was tempted to try and stuff them into a saddle bag for joy riding when they first were born. But Marie insisted that was frowned upon." The man had been joking of course, both now and at the time, but it was still always fun to bring up - since truth be told, if he could have gotten away with it, he would have tried. Given all the baby photos he had seen since the age of internet, a newborn sticking out of a rather large saddle bag didn't seem entirely farfetched.

As for the jeans and saddles comment, "I don't know about it being bad for the saddle," he started now, considering he himself felt like he was rarely in jeans while he was running around the barn, "But I can confirm that the rare occasion I've done it, it's super uncomfortable." And John decided to leave it at that, since there was no need to get into a man's anatomy and how jeans pulled in all the wrong places when in an English saddle. Plus the rubbing on the legs. All the thoughts of it now just made shiver run down his spine. As for Seven Oaks, "Ah! Seven Oaks. I haven't been there for quite some time," mainly because all three of his children boarded there so he preferred to give them space, "But I remember hearing the trails are quite nice there. I've mostly just done guest clinics at the arena facilities. Should be easy enough for me though to get there next time we ride."

Speaking of children, Everett's comment was right on the nose, "I do confess that you're correct there. Marie told me to let them come to me. Something about patience." It was funny, John could have all the patience in the world when it came to horses, but sometimes it felt like his children were subjected more towards his impatience. It was something that the man was working on, but truth be told, it did get the best of him from time to time still. This business with Riley was no different.

Laughter did escape John when the younger man swore to him that age was nothing but a number. Truth be told, it didn't feel that way some times - especially when he was getting up in the morning. However, he did not feel the need to comment on that. After all, today was for fun and riding, not to discuss any problems that Everett could probably solve with chiroppractory. Walking through the Barn Aisles, some curious horse heads were poking out to investigate their footsteps - no doubt wondering what the men were doing. John paid them no mind, "Ah, the assistant. His name's Ivan. Nice kid. I think he has something to prove. I don't mind though."

The two horses that they needed now where just up head, both heads poking out now to greet them. John couldn't help but to notice how Everett hung back, "You're fine, I swear they're both saints." He commented now, nodding to Jett and Rocket, "And funny, I would have thought the cats would have been more inclined to being worked on, but glad to hear its all a good fun challenge for you." He pulled Rocket first from his stall and hooking him up into the cross ties, before following suit with Jett, "Family's doing good. Marie will be preoccupied with all of the foals soon. Otherwise, uneventful which is fine with me."

He nodded for Everett to follow him quickly to the tack and groom room, knowing the horses would be fine for the short time with them away. Plus those cross ties were breakaways, "Of course. Nothing fancy here when it comes to groom," he said with a grin. Leading the way, he stepped inside and went to assigned horse cubbies and pulled the kits out, handing Rocket's to Everett, "I assume you know what to do with these." He said with a grin before nodding to the door and back to the horses, "Time to get cracking."

whatever it takes 'cause I love the adrenaline in my veins

He wasn't surprised when he got a well deserved retort for his joke about the horn of a western saddle, "Okay okay, I probably deserved that," John replied now, still holding onto that smile of his as he threw his hands up in surrender. As for the four year old comment, "Ah well, I want to keep our friendship verses causing you to go running for the hills simply because of who I threw you on," the man offered now, "Besides, just because the grandchildren ride Rocket doesn't take away from the fact that he is a good horse for you." Plus, John trusted the grey to not do anything stupid like testing out Everett while they were out on the trails. Rocket was strictly a no funny business kind of horse, he had always been that way, and that was why he refused to ever sell him off.

Truth be told, John wished that he had witnessed the whole interaction between the other man and Kayleigh when he came in saying he needed tall boots and britches. He could only imagine what had been going through the woman's mind, "I mean. You're already sporting the look," John teased now, "I kinda feel bad you felt compelled to buy some of the gear. I don't think the horses would have judged you for showing up in your boots and chaps. That actually probably would have made a great picture as well, "Guess you will have to trailer one of your horse over here next time."

As they made their way to the barn now, he allowed Everett to take in the barn now. It's not as if he hadn't been here a thousand times before, but John liked the fact that no matter how much people visited, they were still taken aback by the design and structure that he put into his barns. Sure, it was a little over the top, but John had the money to burn and his business was a little different from Blue Arces and Seven Oaks after all. At Everett's question about Riley and the mysterious groom now, John couldn't help but to laugh, "I am thrilled to have her back - not that there was a much of a time zone issue with face time, but video chatting just isn't the same," and then, he made a face, "As for the groom, I have a suspicion he is. He's come over from Germany, which is where Riley was. I'll do my best to not prod though and let them inform me themselves." At least, that's what Marie wants him to do.

"You? Get an assistant? Wow, what made you change your mind?" A snort of laughter escaped John as he nodded for Everett to follow him to the horses now, "I think age," he said jokingly, "Either that, or I am getting busier. Just started to get a little chaotic for me and keeping track of everything. Plus it felt like I had a hold on all of the horses, but hardly anything for my life and schedule."

Leading the way, he stopped outside two stalls now where both Jett and Rocket were waiting. The two horses peaked out of their stall doors at the approaching of the foot steps, clearly keen to see if they would be escaping soon. John couldn't help but to smile at the greeting pair, mainly because he knew they were curious as to why they were inside while the rest of their friends where outside. Blue eyes glanced over at Everett now, curiously, "People want work done on their cats and dogs also?" He couldn't judge though, given that he had work done on the horses all the time, "The things people do for their pets." John mused now, "I am glad to hear that the folks are doing well though. Stubborn bullheadedness aside at least."

Nodding to the pair of horses now, he commented, "Well, you know Jett, but the other one is Rocket, your steed," he said jokingly, "I'll get them quickly tacked up and we can head on our way. I figured we can do something leisurely in the flat open area and then we can decide where to go from there and how comfortable you're feeling."

whatever it takes 'cause I love the adrenaline in my veins

It was funny seeing Everett, now that John actually got a good look at him, he noticed that the other man had actually gone out to by breeches, "Morning, John. Do you really think I would chicken out? I hope I'm not going to be riding the wildest horse you have!" A snort of laughter couldn't help but to escape him as he drew up close now, "How should I know? You trail riders and your western saddles, you have those big ass horns right on the saddle. I assume it's the saddle equivariant to the panic bar in the car." Granted, Everett didn't have any kids, so maybe that joke would have been lost on him since he'd never had to teach a teenager how to drive. It was too late to backtrack now though.

He reached out to shake his hand now though, gripping firm but not hard, "I have you on Rocket. My grandchildren ride him when they visit me here at the barn, so he shouldn't be too much for you." In fact, the retired grey would be no problem at all, but John figured half of the fun was keeping Everett on his toes, well, until he was sitting up in the saddle, "You are looking sharp though in the breeches and tall boots though, so maybe you should think about converting." Enough teasing though, maybe they should get down to business, or at least, the trail horses.

"How have you been? It feels odd not coming here to work on one of your horses." He laughed, breaking the handshake and gesturing for the other man to follow him now. Everett did have a point, it was almost weird having him out here to just...well, ride and not work. John couldn't help but to grin, "Yeah, it does feel weird not having you work. Just means that we really were due to hang out outside of our usual environments," he commented now, heading into the barn, "Everything's good. Riley, my daughter, finally seems settled in from Germany. She got back in the Fall...some groom followed her, I'm not sure about that yet." He was feeling awfully suspicious about that, "Otherwise, Marie finally mandated to me that I need to hire a PA. So I'm dealing with that. What's up with you? How are the folks?"

whatever it takes 'cause I love the adrenaline in my veins