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!.
Emma raised her eyebrow and laughed. 'I'm not royalty you know. Looking after my own horses is part of the experience. Though come exam season, I may have to take you up on that." She knew most people at Blue Acres looked after their horses before and after riding, though there were always going to be those entitled riders that wanted the opposite. "It's all part of being a horse owner, but you know that better than anyone. I understand having a groom at a competition but not at home." She was lucky to have the help she needed if she decided to take two horses to a competition.
"I'd call both cheating. It's not really your own work if you get someone else to do it. Have you ever been caught though?" Granted, every teacher was different. Cheating or plagiarizing was something serious or so she understood from her teachers. She often asked Cara or her fellow students for help when she needed it. "Oh so you miss the girls you went to school with? I can't imagine how smelly the all boys school was." Her classmates in physical education could be gross, though that was typical of of students in her age group.
Emma thought for a moment, hearing from other adults all they wanted to do was nothing - though she knew Cara better than that. "See most adults would consider that as work. I maybe thought sending her to a Spa would be nice, but working with the ponies sounds more like something she'd like." Working too hard was something that seemed to run in the family, even though they weren't all biologically related to each other. "Are you saying I'm too focused on my lessons and not riding for fun?" She grinned, knowing it was true.
"That sounds gross. I guess the best you can do is take it with a smoothie. It should mask the chalky taste." Her days of bubble gum and grape flavored medicine was also over, though the adult cold medicines usually had some sort of flavor to them as well. She watched as the mares playfully ran off towards the closest bale of hay. "It's actually enjoyable. I see why you like it so much. Or do you like your other job better?"
"One would hope. Though I know more than most people that the World can be a cruel place." Which is why when she had free time to read that wasn't something required by her teachers to read - she often chose something happy. Anything to distract her from her nightly nightmares. She set down her pen and nodded. "Though I feel like it wouldn't be life without some challenges though, right?" It was her weird way of thinking positively. She was lucky that the ghost of her past was locked up for life and that she had a wonderful foster family who took her in when she needed it most. "Wow that's impressive. Is he taking a break from it now?"
Emma laughed softly, finding his joke funny. Cara often told her that her intelligence was a blessing and a curse. "Not the dumb sibling, if that's what you mean. The creative ones, maybe?" Though the Arts of any kind weren't her strong suit either but that was the first thing she came up with. "Thanks. I started learning in school and I've learned a lot since moving here. I grew up speaking German." She was thankful that Cara also spoke her native language - being able to practice and keep it up. "Yikes, all boys? I don't want to know how messy your house is." Part of her wanted more siblings, but Cara and Casey made her feel at home.
"Maybe? I'm pretty young myself if your brothers are older than you." Other than being in class, she often went home right after - not wanting to spend much time at the school unless she was necessary. "It's pretty fun. Keeps my mind busy though I only play football in the Spring and Summer." Which made it more difficult to decide on which horse shows to do, though it was really only until June - which is when School started their holidays. "Do you do any Sports?" She looked over at her book and continued to read the Shakespeare passage.
"That's nice. Do you usually watch the men's teams though?" She hadn't seen him around, though the women's team didn't get many fans out to watch - if her entire family had time - they often came out and watched her. "So, you do plays then?"
It was something she had contemplated doing, though she had enough screen time with doing her homework and assignments. She knew Naomi and Nathan well enough now to know that talking to them about doing the BHS courses was the right way to go. "Really? I may have to do that once Football starts up for the Spring, though I try riding at least one horse before school starts." Having her horses ready for her is something she only wanted to save for emergencies - with her habit of now waking up way too early, she often had enough time to get her horses ready herself.
"Sounds like exactly what I need...that does sound like cheating though." She smiled at her attempt at a joke. Emma was lucky enough to have Cara if she really needed help with her homework. Though she tried only to ask when she truly was stuck. "That sounds like a great plan. Are you glad your school days are over? Or do you miss it sometimes?" There were days that she wished she was an adult already - school took up most of her days where she'd rather be riding.
Emma shrugged her shoulders. She actually didn't know what Cara would do if she didn't have the children to look after. "Does anyone actually know what she would do without the children for a few hours? I just thought going on a nice trail ride would be relaxing for her." She felt that way too - though being at the barn was relaxing enough for her. "Who are you talking about? Me? Yeah, I've had a lot on my mind lately." Emma hadn't talked to anyone about her having trouble sleeping - though she knew her foster parents weren't dumb.
"That's true, I'll just stick to one horse at a time. Don't need to get into trouble." She continued to lead the mare towards the assigned pasture. "Is it nice being able to work again? And ugh, if the medication is anything like cold medicine, I feel bad for you. Does it taste good at least?" She opened the gate and led the mare inside, making sure she was far enough inside.
"What's wrong with Winnie the Pooh anyway? I think I've had my fair share of sadness and sorrow." She shrugged her shoulders. Books and reading took her to a different world - one where her father didn't kill her mother and where she hadn't been abandoned by her first foster family. "Oh good, I haven't read them all either. Except the ones that I have to read because of school." She didn't want to admit to reading outside of school, in case it wasn't considered cool. "Ah, you have a smart sibling too? Is Stephen still in school?" Emma was forever grateful she had Cara as a sister - even though she wasn't biologically related.
Emma laughed softly, agreeing with Nash. "I feel that way sometimes when someone speaks English period." She was much better about understanding it compared to when she first arrived. "Can you not sleep either? I do wish the ghosts haunted us during the day. I'd do anything for a solid nights sleep." She sighed, not wanting to admit anything more. It required more of a friendship than they had. "Two brothers? How many do you have anyway? Yeah, I'm excited. It's something I really look forward to after a long Winter. I hope my three horses enjoy it too." She was worried it would be her last season with Dakota, though she hadn't had a discussion with her family yet about what their plans were with him.
"I'm on the school team and I play midfield. Do you watch professional teams or have you come to watch a school game?" She took a sip of her lemonade before setting it back down.
Emma nodded, it was the right thing to do. "Oh good, I'm not very good at those. They always want them to be done for whatever reason." It annoyed her to no end, though it was a great way to provide the class and teachers with visuals - though it was also an easy way for the teacher to get students to work together on a project. "True, it's not like I have a groom for my three and just hop on when I feel like it." On the days she had to ride all three, she wished she did. Though it was part of learning how to take care of horses.
"I'll go see if I can make an appointment with her to talk about it. I'm sure she has a pamphlet on it with a phone number or some sort of contact information. I'd be happy for the extra credit." Not that she was doing too terribly in school, but she wasn't a straight A student by any means. "How were you able to juggle riding and school anyway?" She was curious and was always looking for ways to improve, knowing that she was quite busy.
She smiled softly, it was something she often felt - especially since moving in with Naomi and Nate. "That's true, I could suggest Cara go on a trail ride and I look after Kyo. It would be a kind of self care for her." Having anyone be burned out wasn't a great thing, though she hadn't talked to anyone about her father reappearing in her dreams - which was the reason she was awake early enough to help with the barn chores. "Would that be a good idea?"
Emma turned and nodded, going to the start of the barn aisle and picked up the halter and lead rope that was hanging by the stall. She haltered May, one of Miss Stephanie's horses and clipped the lead rope to the ring and began leading her towards the mare pasture. "Are you going to take two horses? Or will the doctor not allow it?"
"Uhm, no? I was kind of hoping it would be a happy one." The teen had far too much optimism for someone who as a baby watched her father kill her mother. Though she didn't remember, it came back to her in pieces through her nightmares. "Have you read all of them?"
Emma laughed softly, knowing she definitely didn't fit in with the cool kids. She would much rather spend her free time after school with her horses, or on the football field. The blonde hadn't been invited to any parties yet either, except ones with the rest of the team. "It would be cool, though something about learning how they spoke back then is pretty cool. I hear there are modern movie adaptations, though?" Sure she was currently struggling through it, but there was an unknown beauty to the language. Her foster sister, Cara had done a great job helping her out when she needed it.
"Same, pretty tired though. I've been having a hard time falling asleep." She shrugged her shoulders. It was something she was used to by now, her incarcerated father haunting her dreams. "Oh, do you not know what show season is? I ride horses competitively like many other people in town. It tends to start in the Spring, so I'm trying to get ahead before my weekends are spent either showing horses or playing football." She explained, as she set the pen down on the notebook in front of her.
"That sounds like an easier solution. I've heard of a few students at school writing a presentation for their parents, even about getting them to buy them their first horse!" It was something the young blonde never had to do. Her first set of foster parents bought her Lola, and since moving in with Naomi and Nathan - the horses appeared after the three of them having a discussion. "Don't discredit yourself, you turn them out, feed them, clean their stalls and bring them back in. I just groom and ride them." And for that - she was thankful.
Emma walked along, following beside Mik. "Oh, that would be fun. I feel like it would be something I'd enjoy. Which teacher should I talk to about it?" Miss Cassandra would be her best bet, but she didn't know how well the older woman knew about the BHS programs. "Yes! Please let me know when the doctor gives you the green light. Even if it's a light ride to start off with." Any of her horses would be happy to have a fun ride with Mik was able to. "When do you see the doctor again?"
She turned and entered the feed room, glad that the horses were now happily munching away on their grain and hay for the morning. "Thank you. Even though I've known her for years now, I feel like I'm a burden with her." Emma shrugged her shoulders, Cara did a lot for her. From helping her with her horses to basically tutoring her in English, it meant a lot to her. "I feel like I should do something for her as a thank you, though everything I can think of isn't enough."
Emma checked her phone to see the time - seeing that she did have time to help more. "Of course, I can help. Is there a list of who has to go outside first?"
"That means I'll have to make a whole presentation explaining why I'd like to work." She joked. Emma knew it wouldn't take that much convincing as she spent most of her free time at the barn anyway. She had a feeling that they would agree, on the basis that she got her homework done - just like the rule she had with them when it came to riding. "I won't be eighteen soon enough." She joked, reflecting on how great her life was since she had moved in.
Emma felt a frown come to her face. She hadn't realized how young Mik was when he had competed. Being in school would have understandingly made it more difficult - though she wasn't much of a partier to begin with. "It's sad to think what out missed out on, though the hangovers wouldn't be fun on competition days." She hadn't had a hangover herself yet, but she had heard of the symptoms from plenty of fellow students.
The blonde tilted her head, she knew about BHS but she hadn't heard of their pathways program. "And what do I have to do in the program? Have you done it?" She assumed it had to do with coaching young riders, though it was a path she hadn't considered as a career choice for herself. "I will, I promise. I remind myself of how far Kai has come. I fell off the first show on him." It was something she could laugh about now, but at the time she was completely embarrassed.
"That's why she loves the cross country course. She can gallop around and burn energy. I do swear sometimes she is the Energizer bunny." It's what made her a great three-day eventer. Having to compete three days in a row was where the mare thrived. "You know her better than I do. Any suggestions?" She tried her best to help Cara where she could, though it was hard for her to convince her that she could take more on. Her family meant a lot to her. "I do feel like I ask her too much. She has a lot on her hands and I feel as if I add to that."
Old English was one of Emma's hatred topics. She struggled with English enough as it was, let alone the different spellings and meanings of the words. The blonde finally set down the book, pulling out her notebook and pencil case - setting it on the table in front of her.
She looked over to see who would be joining her, smiling softly as Nicholas approached her. "You know, thanks for spoiling the play for me." Emma shook her head, glad someone seemed to understand the language and meaning of the seemingly old text. She picked up her pen and began writing a list of words she didn't quite understand - wanting to ask Cara once she got back to Blue Acres.
"Is reading not considered cool anymore? No, I am trying to get ahead before show season starts." The teenager was slowly starting to get her assignments ready to hand in - not wanting to fall behind once her weekends were busy with riding her horses. "Did you want to have a seat? How have you been lately?" She glanced over at the other teen, realizing that he wasn't there to study as she didn't see a backpack or any book on him.
Emma practically beamed, working with horses was always a dream of hers. She knew the more time she spent with them, the better she got. "Oh Mik, thank you. I promise I won't let my schoolwork slip." She was finally old enough to start working, but she would still have to have the discussion with Naomi and Quinn. "When can I start?" Most students were dreading having to work, whereas she was looking forward to it. It made her feel more like an adult.
"You make the Olympics sound ominous. Is it something you regret doing?" She always felt like she had to prove herself following in her mother's footsteps. Emma liked to think that it was something she could do - with a lot of hard work and the right horses underneath her. "You think I could coach? I never thought of that one. I think Miss Aurora or Miss Stephanie would help me once I'm ready for the coaching course." Emma did like winning ribbons, but helping younger riders come up through the ranks sounded interesting too.
She nodded, knowing that her parents would do anything. The fact that she now had three horses of her own was more than enough proof of that. "I do want to compete every weekend, though it'll be interesting juggling the two sports.' Usually her football games were on the weekends, but there were enough players on the team for her not to be at every game - though she felt bad whenever she missed one.
"It's not a problem, I know how wild your two are. Vienna seems to be following in their footsteps though in terms of personality." The chestnut mare was proving to be energetic, fitting the chestnut mare stereotype. "How do you get her to say no? I feel guilty saying yes to getting help from her."
Emma hopped off the bus once it arrived at the Starbucks. The blonde was in need of a pick me up before she headed to the barn to ride. Once she opened the door, she realized that the place was quieter than normal - wondering where everyone was. After a few steps, she reached the counter and placed her order. She stepped off to the side as they made her iced passion tea lemonade.
The barista had her iced drink to her within minutes, Emma thanking the woman and heading off to an empty table. She set her drink on the table and swung her backpack gently off of her back and on the floor beside her. Emma sat down and pulled out her required reading, which was McBeth from Shakespeare. She found old English difficult, as it was her second language and there were things she still didn't understand.
She quickly got herself lost in the book, not realizing it when she heard someone approach her table.
Emma nodded, thankful for the reassurance. "Thanks. I clearly need to help with morning chores more often." Working at the barn was something she was thinking about talking to Naomi about - as she practically spent her free time around the yard anyway.
She followed along beside Mik and the trolley, glancing at the horses as they passed. "You're calling me young? You know there are people my age that are getting ready for the Olympics." She laughed, knowing she was putting too much pressure on herself. "What else would I be doing but ride and compete?" The concept of riding for fun wasn't something she was good at, making her think she needed a trail riding buddy.
"I don't think either Naomi or Quinn would let me take all three. That might be too much." That would mean taking all three in different levels - and she wasn't quite there yet. "I do admit I still get lost at the show grounds, I don't know how you did it." She never could imagine having three horses to herself, but here she was. "Can I convince you to at least do the handy pony class?"
Emma nodded again, she felt bad for Mik because of his injury. "If you need someone quiet to jump when you are the clear, I could offer Dakota. Vienna and Kai might be a bit energetic." The grey gelding was quiet enough, usually her mount of choice if she had a rough day. "Have you entrusted Cara with your two? I think she'd enjoy riding them." She never knew her foster sister not to be on the back of a horse, which she also wanted to be known for.
Emma was determined, wanting to help the barn staff. She knew how busy their days were - even though she was usually asleep or in school while they were working away. She heard Mik's voice, telling her to slow down and she stopped. Which resulted in the bucket in her had to clatter to the floor. "Oh, hi Mik. So sorry, I'm on it."
She realized she had messed up, picking up the bucket she dropped and placing it on the trolley before doing the same with the other buckets. "I just know how much work you all do in the mornings...I couldn't get myself back to sleep." It was the nice part about living on property. She could leave a note for her foster parents and siblings so they knew where she was and head off. Over the years, it had become a habit.
Once all the buckets were on the trolley, she nodded. "I'll be back with the nets." The teenager turned and headed off to the hay cupboard, opening it once she got there. Emma stretched out her arm and counted twelve of them, closing the cupboard once she was finished. "That's a great question. I'd like to do some shows, though I don't know about how to juggle the three of them. Any suggestions?" She didn't know how much longer it was until she outgrew Dakota - he was the one that really brought her into the world of Eventing.
"How are your two goofy geldings? Are you thinking of doing a show or two?"
Emma had yet another sleepless night. She got dressed into her barn clothes and walked off to the barn, knowing that Cara would have already been awake. The young teen checked the clock on her cellphone, realizing that it was early enough to help the stable hands with filling the horse's feed buckets.
The barn was quiet this early in the morning which brought a smile to her face. Her three horses were whinnying - as if they could tell what time it was. Vienna's chestnut face to greet her owner. "Hi V, I promise you'll get your grain here soon." She quickly said, passing her two geldings as well.
Once Emma had reached the feed room, she joined the stable hands, greeting them as she arrived. The teen began pulling empty buckets and placing them on the concrete floor, knowing that was something she could do. She finished the first stack and started on the second one, knowing that all the feed buckets would need to be used. It seemed to her that there were new horses and boarders coming in every week.
