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!.
"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.
Emma had wanted to wake up early to help with the morning barn chores, but she was in a deep sleep. She had a lot of sleepless nights lately, nightmares of the night her parents died was heavy on her mind. She began stirring under the duvet and opened her eyes, the sunlight nearly blinding her. "So much for riding early this morning." She grumbled to herself as she pulled the covers back and got out of bed.
It didn't take her too long to shower and change out of her pajamas. She dried her hair, put some chapstick on her lips and headed out of her room. Emma could hear the family chatting away and she felt herself pause at the top of the stairs. Taking a deep breath to gather her emotions before finishing her walk down.
A smile instantly came to her face as she saw the Christmas decorations. It was her favorite time of year, even though it reminded her of the past. "Good morning family, the decorations look lovely." She turned her head to hear Casey cough, wanting to ask if he was alright but Naomi beat her to it.
"Have you been out here in the dark?" She was too old to be afraid of the dark, but she preferred to ride during the day with other people. It was something most riders did, leaving the arena free for those who worked late hours.
Kai seemed to settle down once the other horse approached and walked beside him. Emma kept herself relaxed in the saddle, knowing Kai was sensitive when it came to reading his rider's emotions. "Oh that's probably why I haven't seen you around yet. I ride and live at Blue Acres, so I tend to spend most of my time there if I'm not in school." Even during the Winter months, her three horses needed to be kept in shape. "Do you like living out in the middle of nowhere?"
Emma worked on her position in the dressage saddle - it was the saddle she rode the least in and Aurora had suggested she use the Winter to get used to it again. "He is usually pretty well behaved, just the change of seasons get to him." The warmblood was a pretty sturdy horse and didn't mind the cold.
"Does your horse like the cold? He is beautiful by the way. What's his name?" The markings on the gelding were quite different, but definitely stunning.
Emma kept calm, knowing that if she wasn't - Kai could sense something bothering her. The teen had put an awful lot of work into him, and he had come a long way.
Once she realized it was hoofbeats and heard a voice, she sighed. It was just another horse and rider pair behind them. "Oh, don't worry about it. I think I got lost in my own thoughts." She didn't know what she was thinking - ghosts didn't exist...right?
The blonde teen didn't recognize the rider beside her or her horse. "Are you new around here?" She slowed Kai down to let the other horse ride beside them. Emma always loved company on a trail ride, and it was much safer that way.
"Usually, Kai is pretty calm, but this Fall weather is making him a little fresh today." The gelding was getting more and more levelheaded, though the change in season meant a variety of things for any horse.
Emma tightened her girth on Kai and rolled her stirrups down. The teen swung herself into the saddle and settled herself in. The bay gelding walked along the small path which eventually lead to the Meadow Trail.
She knew it was going to be one of the last trail rides of the season as the ground was getting hard due to the cooling temperatures. Kai walked along, the leaves crunching beneath his hooves. It seemed to her that she was alone as no one else had gotten their horse off the trailer with her.
The blonde heard a twig snap, which she could tell wasn't from Kai. "I don't think we are alone anymore, Kai." She wondered if it was a coyote or another wild animal - though from what she could tell they tended to stay away from the trails used by humans.
Kai snorted and kept walking forward - the trail finally widening and revealed the meadow which seemed to go for miles. Emma thought she heard another noise behind her and felt a chill go down her spine. She was clearly not alone anymore.
Emma was ready to help rebuild the barn, but as she was going to help with the pony rides. The blonde put a halter on her old Halflinger mare, Lola and used a lead rope to lead her over to where the pony rides were being held. She greeted the others with a hello and a smile, backing Lola up with the other lesson horses and ponies.
She wasn't quite sure how the day was going to go, but Emma had been up bright and early to bath the mare. Her flaxen coat shimmered in the sun and her tack had been meticulously cleaned. "Come one, Come all for the amazing pony rides!"
Emma wasn't one for advertising but someone had to be in charge of getting people's attentions. She was sure there were young kids who wanted to learn how to ride and Emma was there to give them the experience.
Emma is really skeptical of adults, since her parents and foster family basically left her. She loves being independent and doing her own thing. Once someone adopts/fosters her for a long period of time, she will open up and be a super sweet girl that loves riding and animals. She lives at Blue Acres with Naomi and the gang. She also goes to school still so she would need some friends there as well.
enemies
Emma doesn't really have any. Though I'm sure there are people who don't like her at school or at the barn, just like everyone else.