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!.
Leo raised a brow at the slow head shake but his smile didn't dim - if anything it only brightened. He had seen that look many times before, and he would see it many times again in his life, he was sure of that. "I'm going to have to keep a special eye on you, make sure that power is never in your hands." Leo mock gasped in outrage, a noise that set the hot headed chestnut off again and he gave a little squeal and a playful buck, before resuming his attempt to canter on the spot. Leo held him lightly in his hands, keeping the horse steady and contain him from pissing off across the field. "I don't know why you think I would need a special eye - as if I would abuse the power..." He absolutely would abuse the power.
"A strong rye whiskey, Or a bourbon." Leo grinned again and tilted his head a little. "How about both? One for each hand?" Not that he was an alcoholic or anything but he did quite enjoy a drink; even more so drinking with a friend. At least he was always generous when it came to buying the rounds. "Well, I hope I never need to bear witness to such skill, so I'll take your word for it," He wrinkled his nose in disappointment, "what a shame, and here I was thinking we were about to partake in some drunk equestrian olympics. I think it would make excellent entertainment for the town!" He laughed loudly, showing no harm meant all the same.
"think we should just order pizza now?" Leo grinned down at Chance as he wandered past, "Not if I have anything to do with it kid," He reached out to ruffle his hair in passing and was brought back to the current situation when Lily suddenly snapped tongs in his face. "Hey," he protested, jerking his face back out of her range. "I just have everyone's best interests at heart! Like nobody getting food poisoning!" He rolled his eyes and shot Luke a pointed look. He was not going to let the boy serve up platefuls of half cooked meat, nobody needed to have to fight for a bathroom - even in Lily's huge house there wasn't quite enough for one each.
"never leo, never." He raised an eyebrow, taking note of the way Luke rested his hands on the grill - Leo's eyes narrowed. As if he was going to actually fight the boy for it, that was just ridiculous. Tempting.... but he wouldn't. The food would go everywhere, it would be such a waste, plus Lily would be upset watching Luke lose against her brother. "Yes, you hold onto that," He raised a brow, as if that would help him. He smirked however as the others made their comments on Luke's cooking abilities. "See, they all doubt your skills, you should just give it up already." He tried not to sound like he was whining. "chance!? oh my god .. you too? you've been spending too much time with leo." Leo frowned, looking offended, "Oi, there is nothing wrong with that. I am the best uncle." He stuck his chest out proudly. "at least my kids like my cooking." He gave Luke a dubious look as he reluctantly figured he'd have to give up on trying to take over. "Are you sure....?"
"So long as I'm not looking and I know nothing, I can safely look the other way." Leo laughed and his face lit up like a kid at Christmas. "Score!" He joked in return, "I promise not to abuse my position of power...much...." Teasing the idea that he would have a police officer on the books that would let him get away with murder. "I have no intention of maiming anyone.. intentionally anyway," He grinned again, not qualms about how some people wouldn't find that kind of thing funny. This was exactly the kind of thing that people meant about him putting his foot in it.
"No promises, But I'll endeavor to make good on your request." Leo laughed again and the horse tossed his head as if he was joining in. "I'll make sure to get a drink in for you, what's your poison?" Though he doubted the guy would be able to have one whilst on duty, surely it was the thought that counted. Phoenix picked up a jog again, still expecting a race as he eyed up the horse at his side with a wild eye. Leo chuckled and rubbed his neck again, finding amusement in the horses' feisty nature.
"I am sorry about that, it's Texan humor. I tend to forget that it's not common place out here to use calf and lamb ties for the lost ones out at pasture. My brain still runs back to the ranching days where I was flinging myself off horse back and tackling six month old steers into the dirt to tag them on the fly. If I am to bring you in on horse back, just please, try not to drink too much? It's a long fall and I don't want to fill out the accident report that you passed out and fell off the back of my horse. I don't even know what my boss would say to it." Leo grinned and gave an easy shrug, there was no harm in it in Leo's mind, the guy spent far too much time joking and larking about to not be able to take one himself. "Never any need to apologise to me, what's life without a good joke?" His grin widened at the idea of tackling a steer, "That sounds right up by alley, though there's not much to tackle here apart from drunk morons and siblings." He snorted, "Even drunk I could ride circles around you, I won't be falling off any time soon." He puffed out his chest with inflated ego then laughed again.
"Well, that's better than no, At least I'm off duty for the afternoon, so there is that." Leo grinned, and gave a half shrug, "I'm always causing trouble somewhere, in some way or another. I just can't help myself." He was always up to something, it was just how Leo rolled. It might not always be drunken antics, but he liked to keep himself busy, and always in mischief. He glanced at the guy and held Phoenix in check when the horse tested his boundaries, threatening to take off when they got to a favourite canter spot. "I do hope that means you're on duty the next time I'm out on the town." He grinned, most of the police in town were pretty easy going, especially with Leo and some of the other well known town-folk, but he liked Shannon as one of the best.
"I'm not sure how you might've appreciated it, Being jostled around on the backside of a horse out of the city to your home? And if I'm honest, I don't think my horse would appreciate it either - maybe if he were a solid Quarter horse. But it can be arranged. It's been a little while since I've had to hogtie someone." Leo laughed and nodded, "Yeah, alright that's a fair point." Perhaps he wouldn't like being on the back of a horse with all that swaying or bouncing about. "Maybe on the right night... I'm not sure about being hogtied..." He tilted his head, then again it might be amusing, and he'd make the night memorable.
Phoenix tossed his head and snorted again. "Now that I think about it, I'm not sure there is a tie point on my work saddle... Might have to use this one from here out." Leo grinned and ran a hand along Phoenix's neck again. "Maybe we avoid the tying part and just sit me on the back?"
Leo held on to the prancing pony as Phoenix tossed his head again, keen to power on. He ran a hand along his neck once again to settle him, and the horse began to calm a little once he knew that they weren't in some kind of race. Phoenix had always been a hot head, a little like his rider - it was why they got along so well - but he was manageable. At least for Leo. He'd not thought he was too much of a difficult ride until a few of the grooms had been bucked off when Phoenix had been a little too fresh. He didn't have a nasty bone in his body, he just had high spirits and fast blood.
Leo offered the other guy a grin when he looked over and smiled. He wondered if the guy would even recognise him, though if Leo could remember his face through a haze of alcohol, surely the sober one of the two could remember. "Good afternoon Mr White," Ah, there it was. Leo gave a nod of acknowledgement. "Staying out of trouble I hope." Removing one hand from the reins, he gave an easy laugh and indicated to the jig jogging ginger - a few hands smaller than the other horse. "Just about?" He offered, giving a shrug as he picked the reins back up again into both hands. "I promise I'm completely sober at this moment in time." Though his trouble making was absolutely not limited to his being intoxicated to do it.
"He is, actually," Leo raised his eyebrows in surprise, having been joking. "This is Captain, or Cap - which ever you prefer. You'll see us from time to time in the city and the surrounds if need be. I'm just taking him on a bit of a stretch since he hasn't been out in two days." Leo nodded slightly, "Why wasn't this my ride home last time?" He asked, only half joking - though he wasn't if being drunk on a police horse would be a great experience; cue the vomit surely - at least it would be an epic story.
He saw the guy turn, and though he was still a little far, he was pretty sure the face was familiar. Not surprising considering how many people Leo knew - not just from the stables but from town where he made himself a well-known nuisance. He ran a hand down Phoenix's neck again, the horse beginning to sweat in his excitement but he managed to hold himself together into a light jog as they approached - a walk was not going to happen. “Tobi, right side,” Leo just caught the words as he got nearer, and saw the flash of a dog beneath feet as the animal was waved over. Leo had no issue with dogs, Phoenix was well adjusted to them as he often brought his own out on the trails with it - depending on the day. Today, with his horses excitement, he had left Bear behind; the dog was getting older and Phoenix was not going to make this an easy ride.
“You’re alright to come up side mister,” Nodding, even though he knew the guy probably wouldn't see, Leo carefully maneuvered Phoenix to come alongside the other horse. Tossing his head wildly, Phoenix pranced as he drew up next to him. Leo looked to the person he was passing with a curious eye, sure he knew the face.. and then it clicked and his eyebrows went up. "Oh, it's you!" He exclaimed, hanging onto Phoenix to stop him from taking off in his keen-ness to overtake. He was quite a competitive little thoroughbred. "Is this your police horse?" He joked with an easy grin.
Leo tipped the beer up and took in the swallowed the remaining dregs, laughing as he watched Jarad try to sneak up behind Maya to pounce on her. Bear lay at his feet, wagging his tail slowly as he observed the kids rough housing, wanting to join in. He was a good dog, and though he had endless bounds of energy, he did listen to his owners commands when he had to. Now the kids were getting older and more resilient, it wasn't such an issue for Bear to join in the play. Generally he just bounced around them barking, ears, tail and tongue all flapping at once in the excitement, but he had to be careful when the little-one's were around, in case Bear knocked them over. Glancing around and see the others occupied elsewhere, Leo ruffled Bear's ears and then gave a wave toward the kids. "Go-on then," he laughed as Bear leapt to his paws and went running to the two older kids; circling them with a happy bark at the play.
"Anyone want another?" He asked to the family around him, he'd thrown himself into a folding chair in the sun and some of them had come to join him whilst they waited on food. He waggled the empty beer bottle to indicate what he meant as he stood and stretched. "If so... get it yourself." He grinned, heading toward the back door and catching the end of Luke's words as Lily placed raw meat to be cooked. "please tell me they're just for me and everyone else is having sausages?" He had to admit he wasn't best pleased to have been relegated to supervisor instead of manager of the BBQ, and he'd had to sit so he didn't hover at Luke's shoulder to make sure the fool didn't burn anything. "Please tell me it's time for me to take over the cooking so you don't ruin it," He raised a brow, just because it was the twin's birthday didn't mean the food would fare better in Luke's hands.
"Ah stop being a plonker!" He warned but the words were accompanied by laughter as the chestnut attempted to stick his head between his front legs to bronc. Leo sat upright easily and held on to his head, but the grin plastered on his face made it obvious he didn't mind, he was glad the horse was feeling fresh. Phoenix had seemed a little quiet recently and though everything seem well - his legs all sound, no sore points that Leo had been able to locate, he was getting older and Leo was unsure if it was that the horse was finally maturing or if something was a little off. He'd given him a week off out in the field to chill, wondering if his brain needed a break before the show season started, and then he'd implored the use of the chiropractor to check him over and the dentist and farrier - everything was all great.
And hopping back on today for an easy hack, Phoenix certainly felt wonderful. Lovely and loose through his back, strong and supple through his shoulders and hind quarters. He was just keeping it nice and simple for the day, a 45 minute walk with a little trot and canter to bring him back into work after his week off. The thoroughbred would not have lost any fitness from just a week but he didn't need anything to go 'ping' following time off. Still laughing, the horse refused to walk as they entered a field he usually cantered through, jogging sideways in excitement and tossing his head. "Settle down, lad," He gave the chestnut a pat, his hand still light on the reins - Phoenix could be strong when he wanted but when he was excited he didn't tend to take any hold of the bit. Up ahead, he caught sight of another horse and realised he was following another rider - and quickly catching up with Phoenix's excitement. He couldn't tell who it was from behind, he didn't recognise the horse. "Hey!" He called out in warning, not knowing if they knew Phoenix was jogging up behind them. "Am I alright to come upsides?" He always checked first, some didn't like it.
He helped Dallas carry the wood over to the pile, gritting his teeth a little against the weight of it. "You had to pick the biggest bit?" He joked, seeing Dallas roll his eyes, "Makes us look more macho for the ladies?" Dallas retorted, and Leo grinned; though he only needed to look macho for one lady these days. Dumping the large item on the growing pile of rubbish - ironic that it would likely all be burnt - he turned back to the main hustle in time to hear someone shout. He frowned, glancing at Dallas curiously and then headed slowly back to the gathering group of people, wondering what on earth could have been found in all the rubble that was so exciting.
Leo heard Dallas call out about needing some help with heavy lifted and he beelined over to flex his muscles. He wasn't sure he'd be that good at picking through the rubbish, he tended to throw things if they broke and then had to endure Lily being pissy and fishing it back out of the bin to mend. It wasn't like he had endless supplies of money either, but he just didn't have the energy to try. Lifting though, was his thing. "Here, I'll help," He gave Dallas a nod, knowing him well from Seven Oaks; it was nice that some of their yard had come over to help, it alleviated the tensions a little - though it was a little obvious about who stayed away. Together, they lifted the large panel of wood, Leo coughed as a cloud of dust rose from beneath it, along with a few remaining tendrils of smoke. Beneath was a cornucopia of tack items and he raised his eyebrows. "Buried gold over here!" He called over his shoulder to whoever, helping Dallas walk the piece of wood out of the wreckage and over to the steadily growing bonfire for burning.
Leo held Lily's stare as she glared at him in the car, scolding him like a child before he'd even touched the handle. He saved his eye roll for when she'd turned away and couldn't see it. "I always behave," He muttered, though it was a half assed attempt to redeem himself and even if couldn't believe it. "been read the riot act?" He heard James ask and he snorted, pulling a 'kill me now' face and then checking to see if Lily had caught it - luckily for his neck, she was busy hugging the enemy - Naomi. "I don't understand why I get the special treatment," He huffed, stuffing his hands in his pockets and trying not to look like a petulant adult.
He heard the instructions and his eyes fell to what was left of the barn, his mouth turning down at the corners, brows furrowing. Even if he hated this place and was an annoyingly knobhead sometimes, he still wouldn't wish this on anyone. He wasn't a complete asshole. He knew some people thought he had a hand in what happened, but for once in his life he could claim innocence and mean it. "I'll help with the heavy lifting - with you being such a weakling and all," He smirked going to grab James' bicep and squeeze it jokingly.