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!.
Logan was looking forward to his lesson today - it had been a long time since he'd had a group, so far his group sign ups had ended up becoming individuals and whilst he enjoyed them, because it meant more one-on-one time with his students, he did enjoy a group session. He only ever had 3 maximum anyway, as he didn't like to divide his time between too many people. Today were both new to him, so he was keen to see where they were at with their skills - whether they were novices or if they were underselling themselves. He'd just put up a handful of fences, keeping things low for now to see how confident and balanced their were, and if there were any bad habits or issues to start ironing out already.
Dice roll
Odd number - lesson goes poorly Even number - lesson goes well
Logan ruffled his dogs ears and then checked his phone for the time, before sending Kye out of the ring for now - Rory was due to turn up and he didn't want the dog to spook anyone as they were coming into the school. He hoped things had been going well since their last lesson, even if their lesson hadn't gone all that well previously. He'd kept things a bit simpler this time, to try and work out the issues they'd had the first time as long as Rory was amenable to that approach.
Dice roll
Odd number - lesson goes poorly Even number - lesson goes well
Logan hadn't met Tristan before, and so he'd set up something pretty simple to get the gist of how the guy rode, how him and his horse got on, and where any problems or weakness lay. It was a couple of uprights, a double and an oxer, so he had a mix of a couple of bits to direct the guy over so he could see how it went. He knew that his student was a novice, but sometimes people over or underestimated their skills, so he liked to keep things easy and build on that if he needed. He checked the time and finished setting up the final sense, surveying the arena to make sure everything was in order.
Dice roll
Odd number - lesson goes poorly Even number - lesson goes well
Logan was excited about this lesson - he hadn't taught his cousin before, though he knew Chris had been taking advantage of using his siblings for lessons too so he was keen to stick his oar in and hopefully help the guy out. He hadn't seen him for a while, so he couldn't lie - he'd also possibly use this class as a chance to check in with his cousin and see how things were going for him. He knew how well his cousin rode, and so he'd set up a course to test him out. He wanted to see him ride it out and look for what his strengths and weaknesses might be - given that he hadn't seen him ride for a while.
Dice roll
Odd number - lesson goes poorly Even number - lesson goes well
Bandit jig jogged under Logan's careful seat, his mouth light as he played with the bit, but the readiness to explode was barely under control. The bay was picking up on the electricity of the atmosphere, and he was raring to go. As Leo shouted at Logan to get his ass moving, he let the bay leap forward out of his hands, flying for the first jump. He was well aware of the pressure to win, and how competitive his brother was - especially compared to himself. He would do his best, and whilst Bandit was fast and careful, he had a habit of forgetting to pick his feet up when he got too excited.
Like now. Logan winced as he heard a pole fall - Leo would kill him for that one, but perhaps if he was kick enough he might be able to make some time up. He turned the bay gelding on a dime to spin around a wing, cut through a space that was barely there, and jump the next fence from almost a stand still. The pole rolled off and Logan grimaced - oh Leo was so going to kill him for that one. He let the gelding fly the last couple, taking out a few hairy strides, rattling another pole but leaving it up - they crossed the line in a decent time, but he knew with the two poles down it wouldn't be hard to beat them. "Good lad," he praised the gelding, patting him and letting him walk out on a long rein to cool of and catch him breath. He was proud of him - he'd done everything Logan had asked, they'd just been unlucky.
Logan was looking forward to his lesson today. He hadn't taught anyone in a short while, with people busy competing, they were taking a break from lessons to save money for entries - and then once it was going poorly, they were suddenly booking back in. It didn't always go poorly, if anything, Logan thought the standard was high from what he'd seen, but he knew that people booked more lessons when it didn't go to plan, than when it did.
He'd set up the jumps indoors, escaping the torrential April downpoor outside. It had been a dreadful month for weather and he hoped to hell that it improved in May so they could get back outside permanently and enjoy the trails again. Logan had kept it from being too complicated today, but he also wanted to present some sort of challenge, and so he'd set up a treble across the diagonal of the school, with two upright on the other diagonal that were a related distance to the treble fences. It sounded confusing, but essentially it meant that on one diagonal, you jumped the treble - three uprights with a stride in between - and the other option was to jump a double on a dogleg, using a jump out of the treble. Hopefully, Rory enjoyed the brain tease of it.
Logan Jasper White! There's a lot to be said about the man who is far from one to big himself up - so let me do that for him. He's been in the saddle since he was a young kid, and always worked as hard as was possible to be the best he could, and to gain a solid relationship with whatever horse he was riding. His quiet nature lent itself well to the most disruptive and difficult of horses, and he has found he has a particular affinity with the most troubled and unsettled of horses. He's spent years training with a range of top showjumpers, learning a lot of his skills from the late Tim Stockdale, and William Funnell, before moving on to spend time with the Whitaker family - much to his continued amazement. He competed up to top level with a proven track record of double clears, on horses that had been considered unridable at times. Now he spends more time training and teaching than he does competing, but he enjoys passing on his knowledge.
He's a calm and compassionate teacher, with a soft spoken manner - if you're looking for a gentle but meaningful instructor, he's your guy. He's not a man of many words, but it's because he values the weight of them, and so he only talks when there's something to be said. He's highly observant, meaning that you'll get the absolute best from him and his eagle eyes, able to help make minor adjustments to your riding that will beg surprisingly large results, and he has a quiet confidence that will encourage even the most anxious individual when it comes to learning the ropes. Even if you believe your horse to be absolutely impossible, Logan will help drill down to whatever the underlying issue might be and help you get over the hump and start flying!
class objectives
Logan encourages people of all skills to join him lessons, right from a complete beginner who has never left the ground, to the most advanced individual who just needs some fine tuning and someone to watch their technique from the ground. He's eagle eyed and likes to help to perfect people, so don't feel like he's nit picking if he nudges you about something you think is small, or that you're not progressing if the jumps are smaller than you expect. He likes to make sure there's a good understanding and confidence between horse and rider before they begin the heavy stuff - the bottom blocks need to be as solid as stone in Logan's opinion. He's great at helping with confidence, as he finds that's the most common area of misconception with showjumping, and so his lessons often revolve around confidence giving to horse and rider so you can get the best out of your rounds - and enjoy it at the same time! He also likes to include conditioning exercises for both the rider and the horse, to make sure you are both strong in your positions and capable of jumping to the level you achieve - so don't think it'll just be about getting on and popping round a course, he'll have you doing acrobatics in the saddle and lot's of funky gridworks and such for your horse to get them strong and feeling good.
He saw Luke's face before he turned to sort Maya and Kalona, knowing Luke was likely going to be annoyed too. The whole family would be, with Leo at the helm no doubt like he usually was. They had signs asked owners to keep dogs on leads, but he knew how tempting it was to release them on the trails, especially with such beautiful wide open spaces. This was exactly the reason why not, however, with young kids on horseback and beginner's and even wildlife present, it was better for all that the dogs didn't have that kind of freedom to wreck havoc. He'd been around dogs getting kicked by horses before and it was never very pleasant. The owners were always so quick to point the finger when a minute ago their response to 'get your dog, please' was, 'oh don't worry it's good with horses'. The thing was that didn't mean all horses were good with dogs.
"maybe whoever owns the dog deserves a dose of leo's ballistic." Logan raised a brow and undid his horses girth, giving him extra comfort now that they were back. "Perhaps, but we know he has a tendency to go overboard with that sort of thing." And they really didn't need the bad press. It would turn defences to the other side and not theirs, even if Leo was justified in his anger. Not that he felt this would become a huge deal but Logan was always thinking about the bigger picture. "lets get you into the gator, got to be more comfortable than kalona.... i'll get them settled in the lounge while you get kalona sorted, if you want to call ranger to come check them out? he's working the ambulances this swing i think." Logan nodded, already turning Kalona toward the stables so he could get him sorted. "i'll call leo too, see if he can come back.""Good luck," Logan said with a slight smile as he paused to hand Maya gently over. He patted the horse and took him back to his stall, ringing Ranger on speaker so he could talk whilst he worked.
It was tough, Logan could understand why people did it, though he could never condone it. There were options, surely, in such a town as Hickstead, and if anything it made him feel sad that they believed it was their only choice. In all honesty, he hadn't expected this kind of thing to happen anymore, not with how open minded the world now was about pregnancy - unwanted or the result of something traumatic. Sometimes he wondered if him and his siblings lives might have been better off with abandonment instead of the upbringing with their parents, but he could say that at least there had always been a roof over his head, a friend to talk to, food on a plate (even if that might come from a brother or sister over a parent). He caught his partner's gaze, knowing Ranger enough to be aware he was thinking the same things, wondering how this could happen, and how awful it was. He placed a free hand over the one Ranger placed on his arm and gave a gentle squeeze of support.
"if you want, bring him in here. we'll keep an eye on him and try and get him to settle." If he was surprised by Rangers offer, he didn't show it. It was odd, he hadn't been thinking it but now it'd been said it made sense to him, and he was only too happy to. He'd handled so many baby nieces and nephews at this point that he felt like a more than qualified babysitter. Flynn hesitated, and he knew she would likely not even remotely consider it if it hadn't been Ranger in the room. She knew him, she worked with him, he was competent and a part of the hospital staff. Logan thought they still might have to plead their case before she relented and gave a nod, the lines of her face a little tenser than usual. "Alright, but if anything gets difficult or you need anything please call." Logan nodded, "We will," his words were a solemn promise. He didn't want to give Flynn any trouble at all. She nodded, then disappeared. It felt like both a long time and no time at all that she returned, a little bundle in her arms. The baby was so swaddled in blankets he couldn't see the little face at first, but there was no screaming for the moment. "What's his name?" Logan asked as Flynn replaced her arms with his and the baby suddenly settled in his hold. "He doesn't have one yet." Flynn answered and she hovered for a moment to make sure everything was okay before she left.
"no." Logan bit his lip as Chance was sick and he hesitated for a second to decide what was the right thing to do in that moment. With a difficult horse and Maya on top to wrangle it was lucky the pony was so happy snacking and following behind. He didn't want Chance to be alone though and in the end he gave Kalona a small cluck and carefully let him over to the side. The horse snorted and eyed Logan but obeyed, as he if knew how important this was today. "eeew!" The other risk of taking Kalona closer was taking Maya closer and Logan glanced up at her work a reassuring smile. 'Its okay Mays, why don't you sing us you favourite song right now from the new Disney film? How does it go again?' he asked, trying to both distract her and also cover the sounds of retching as he gently reached out to run Chances back in reassurance. He also looked up at the sound of the car, hoping for help. Another pair of hands would be really useful right now as Kalona gave a wary snort and Logan settle him with a quiet murmur.
"is my daddy here?" Logan glanced up at the approaching figure but he could tell even from the distance that it was not his brother. "i'm sorry honey, he left about fifteen minutes ago....i got him, you help maya down." Logan nodded and have him a look of relief as he stepped back from Chance and moved Kalona away a little. He reached up carefully to lift Maya clear of the horse but kept her close, settling her on a hip and getting a better hold of the stallion. "what happened?" Logan sighed and his brow furrowed a little. "A loose dog, it frightened the horses. I'm not sure where it came from as I didn't recognise it. Leo is going to go ballistic - you know he hates this kind of thing." and rightly so, as Logan did too, but Leo had a habit of going that one step too far. It was lucky nobody was seriously hurt and he wanted to get Chance properly checked out but he knew it was likely to have been an accident and not intentional. Perhaps the dog had jumped a garden fence and there was an owner somewhere out there frantically looking for it.
Logan was happy to let it go in that moment. It was not an issue or argument they had, it was just a conversation. He understood that even though they had a lot going on together and that they were both fully committed to each other that this was still a real step in their relationship. In Logan's mind it was the one before marriage - you moved into together before you got married. It was quite final and it meant that you were settling with that person. He didn't want to pressure Ranger if he wasn't ready to go there, but it made sense to him. Raising Chance together, and spending almost every day together, he knew Ranger had reservations about his own space, and Logan knew how busy it was at home. But they all knew and understand each other, when others needed time or space, or at least if Ranger needed to talk or sit with someone be could. Any of them would be there for him even if Logan wasn't or Ranger didn't want to worry Logan.
"hi flynn." Logan let Ranger do the talking and stayed quiet by his side. "yeah everything is fine. we're just wondering, is the baby okay?" Logan nodded to show he was thinking the same and watched as Flynn looked over his chart and then put it down once satisfied his vitals all looked in good order. She gave a small sigh and her smile was sad, despite the slight nod. "Yes, physically he's okay. He was found abandoned not far from here, I'm not sure if he wasn't left on the doorstep or not honestly. It's hard to settle him without the mother. " Logan frowned, "Someone left their baby? A newborn?" and despite understanding how some people could have difficult circumstances and be struggling, even he could not understand how someone could do something like that. A helpful and defenseless child left to face the cruelty of the world. He wondered what kind of person could do it, without at least making sure they were okay. Not when there were options to take, one's that were free. Flynn nodded to confirm his questions and Logan glanced at Ranger. She wouldn't have normally told patients but as she knew Ranger worked here anyway she didn't see the harm in telling him and his partner.
"swomtimes. thems are kedans. but he can has a unicowns one?" Logan shifted her slightly, still rubbing her back to try and sooth her. He knew it was not the ideal place or timing for a kid to come off her pony - but then really, when was? At least they were okay, that was the main thing. "I'm sure Chance would love to have a unicorn one." He promised, "Maybe I can have one too, I'll feel left out without one.""i'd love a unicorn one mays." Logan smiled and glanced at Maya in his arms. "See, you can pick him out the best one too." He offered as he settled her up on the horse. Kalona behaved as he felt the weight settle on his back, and Logan clucked softly to him, keeping his hold on the reins light so as not to alarm him.
"i trust you." Logan's expression warmed to hear the words and he nodded, it wasn't the usual situation you would expect to get warm fuzzy feelings, but at his words his heart swelled. He knew how much it took for Chance to say that, and he would hold that dear to him for the rest of his life. "I trust you too," He felt that was the best response, he knew Chance probably hadn't had the words said back to him much either. "he's a good horse." He nodded, "He is, and he has faith in me, so you guys can too." It was true, the horse might be unsure but he was sure of his owner, and it helped. If Logan said it was okay, generally it was. A walk home with some weight on his back wouldn't kill him. Logan tried to be careful as he lifted his son up but it pained him to hear the noise Chance made, and then the paling of his face. "Let me know if you're not okay." He said softly.
They set off at a steady walk, Logan leading Kalona carefully back along the path, glancing back periodically to check on the two. He knew it was painful progress but he felt so proud of them all as they made the journey back. Logan chatted occasionally, nonsense really to try and help keep them all settled - about horses, about his plans for the horses and the like, and soon the barn was in sight. "dad?" Logan paused the horse and looked back over his shoulder, seeing how green his son looked. "i need to get d-down. i think i'm g-gonna puke." Logan nodded and settled Kalona for a moment to quickly and gently help Chance off his back. "Don't worry I've got you," He promised, "Hold on Mays," He patted the front of the saddle for Maya to grab hold of as he placed Chance's feet on the floor. "Does that help?" He asked his son, his gaze searching Chance's face.
He rolled his eyes at the shrug, feeling far too much like one of his siblings with the gesture but unable to help himself. This wasn't something you shrugged off. He wasn't going to just get over this in five minutes, Logan was someone that tended to stew - he would get over it eventually but he wasn't quite as easy going as Leo who would wave it off and bounce back after five seconds. "i thought we shared everything?" He shook his head, "I'd rather we didn't share all our germs." He amended his sentence before he could word it in a way that Ranger would take advantage off. Naturally kissing shared plenty as it was, so he couldn't say none. He hated being ill though, he felt so incompetent and always tried to push through it, then made it worse and would have to give in.
"i do always try to message." Logan knew that, but as a natural worrier it was hard not to stay awake when he hadn't heard from his boyfriend, especially when he knew his shift times. "i get it though, promise to talk what to do about it over with you when i'm better?" Logan nodded and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Okay, it's a deal." He was fine with not going into it now - it wasn't really the time anyway, but he did want to discuss them living together full time. He was a slow burner kind of guy, but he felt that now was the time. He didn't want to spend evenings apart anymore. "it's okay, i'm fine." Logan relaxed a little but not entirely as he watched his boyfriend like a hawk in case he was downplaying things - again, wrapping his hand around Ranger's.
"i just want to make sure the baby is okay." Logan relaxed further when he knew it wasn't anything to do with Ranger, but he couldn't help but agree with that. "I was wondering the same thing," He glanced toward the door, just as another nurse came through to answer Ranger's call. It wasn't Quinn, but she had a similar look about her - blonde hair, sweet face, kind eyes. A little shorter than her. Logan didn't know her, but she looked somewhat harassed as if she'd been run ragged. "Hi, I'm Flynn, is everything okay?" She asked with a quick introduction as she hurried over to Ranger's bed to check his vitals and his chart.
"nah, these are just my drugs. all mine." Logan responded with a small smile of his own, "and here I was thinking we shared everything," He half joked. He had always been that kind of person, he had always shared things in his life - shared with his family, shared with his friends, shared with lover; the few and fair between that they had been. He was independent and had been a loner at times aside from his siblings and Luke, but his love language had always been about sharing, about being there with someone, and even now it still was. Maybe that made him slightly needier than some people when they were in their couples, but it was what helped Logan feel most secure and comforted. The drugs though, those he supposed Ranger could keep all to himself; along with his illness.
"but you never know, if you kiss me you might just get a taste." He chuckled at that, "I guess you are feeling better," He mused, and then shook his head, "I wouldn't want to catch your germs." He added, though he bent at the waist to press a chaste kiss to Ranger's forehead. "because i don't like waking you up when i get home at 2, 3 or 4 in the morning. you get up early and i always feel like an ass when i stumble in tired and have to get ready for bed and you stir." Logan shrugged and rested a hand over his. "You don't need to, if I wake then that's my problem, I'll sleep much better know you're home and safe." And it was true, at least then he would wake to know that Ranger had gotten in okay every night, rather than waiting for his text whenever he woke the next day.
Logan's frown echoed his partners as he heard the crying once again - louder and louder it seemed to go, though perhaps it was the way he was tuning it more each time the cries reached the room. He didn't like it, didn't like that he couldn't hear anyone shushing, or the fact that they just kept going and going without any sign of stopping. Something was wrong. He glanced at Ranger when he pressed his button, looking alarmed for a moment as he worried that something was wrong with Ranger. His hands fluttered uselessly until he reassured him, "i'm just going to ask about them.." Logan cocked his head, "ask about them?" He repeated, confused as to who 'them' referred to.
He saw the look on Maya's face and he tried to keep a positive expression in place for her - if he slipped and looked sad or upset, then she was bound to lose it. He found that kids wee mirrors more often than not, so if your face turned upside down, theirs would also crumple and the tears would start - even if you weren't crying. But staying positive and cheerful and calm, it helps the kids to feel the same. He squeezed her a little tighter but he gave her a quick smile anyway, "It's okay, I promise to hand you over to him as soon as we get back. But don't I give the better hugs?" He teased, wanting to try and make her laugh. "can i gets a sharkie plaster?" Logan nodded enthusiastically, "absolutely you can, but only if you help me give Chance a dinosaur one?" He asked, trying to take her mind off everything.
"they'll need to worry a-about aunt b-bella more..." Logan gave a little chuckle at that, "that they will," He agreed, but his expression softened as he touched Chance's shoulder again gently, "don't worry, she won't be mad at you either," He promised. He knew his family, even the non-blood related one's - and he knew she wouldn't blame him for a second. Logan caught Chance's look, and he also looked up to the horse. He was not as relaxed as other horses would have been as they waited, but he wasn't leaping for the hills or pacing circles at the end of his reins. "It's okay, I promise you'll be safe." He said, patting his horse with a spare hand and earning himself a look from Kalona.
"it's okay m-maya. i'll hold onto y-you." Logan nodded, giving them both an encouraging smile as he lifted Maya up. Kalona's head went up and his ear flicked back to see what was happening, but he didn't get upset; just wary. He settled May up front and then he went to help Chance up into saddle, giving him a boost. He was getting taller but Kalona was still too big for him to get up without help. "Up you go," He said, spring Chance up there and patting Kalona when the animal gave another snort, tossing his head and shuffling a little. Logan looked at him for a long moment, but he was still as relaxed as Kalona tended to get - not about to do a runner or chuck them off. He took the reins, keeping them looped over the horses next but taking control of the horse. "Look at you two up there, all high and mighty," He teased, "Hold on and off we go," He warned as he clicked to the horse to start walking.
