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!.
Aurora had just finished riding Indi - cooling the older grey mare out in the outdoor arena. She was mentally preparing herself for her lessons, knowing she had someone new on the docket today. Aurora had been informed that Emma was also joining her, glad that Angel had someone to ride with her for her first lesson at Blue Acres.
The blonde reached down and patted Indi on the shoulder, dismounting before rolling up her stirrups - fixing the fleece cooler on the mare's back before handing her off to a stable hand who was there to help her. Aurora thanked the man and gave him brief instructions before she took her helmet off, setting it on the side of the arena. She placed the ball cap on her head, wanting to keep the sun out of her eyes as she taught. It wasn't long before both girls had arrived, leading their horses behind them.
"Hello, Emma and Angel. Welcome to Blue Acres, Angel. How are you both this afternoon?" The older blonde turned towards the gate of the outdoor arena, smiling at both girls. She had a few fun and different exercises for them to do - wanting to see what Angel could do with her horse and how much Emma had improved after the most recent competition.
Aurora Sky has been riding for over thirty years now, riding under Olympic Dressage rider Sarah-lynn Sky in Boston, USA. She has had the opportunity to ride under several Olympians during clinics and higher level competitions. She herself has competed at the Olympic level since the 2008 games, representing team USA with Phantom of Venice.
For the past almost 20 years, she has also been coaching - having both her British coaching license and her USEF one as well.
class objectives
Aurora mixes old school teaching with more modern techniques. She makes sure both horse and rider get what they want out of the lesson. After a competition, she often has a discussion with each rider about how the rider thinks they did and what they need to work on.
Aurora jokingly rolled her eyes - she thankfully didn't have too many students who outright refused to get their own horses ready. "Then be prepared to pay extra for my time to get Phan ready for you." Those that were in a rush, often paid a groom to get their horses ready for them. She did her best to save that for emergencies, but there was always someone available to help if needed. The chestnut let out a snort and lowered his head, recognizing it was someone he knew.
As Andrew brushed, Aurora shuffled around the tack room, gathering the stallion's tack - making it back just in time to hear Andrew talk about his morning. "Were his teachers there to let you two in at least?" She knew Alexi would never be late to school as the two of them knew that being on time was important - for more than just school. Aurora hung the snaffle dressage bridle on the hooks by Phantom's stall, making sure the leather straps were untangled. "Aren't you productive? Maybe you should think about going to trade school and be a plumber. Was it an easy fix?" With having four people living in their house now, there were always things that needed to be fixed. "Like hockey coaching or skating?" The woman was happy her husband had found his niche after retiring - Hickstead was less busy than Boston but, there was always an activity going on around them.
She was quickly done fiddling with the bridle, going back to watching Andrew brush her chestnut horse. "It's been quiet so far thankfully. Cleaned all my tack, coached a lesson and rode Indi. Most of my students are going back to school here soon, so I'm looking forward to it quieting down around here." The competition season was starting to wind down again and it was time for them all to work on things that were found to be bad habits in the show ring.
Aurora shook her head, it seemed as if her student misunderstood her. With a quick wave off of his comment, she couldn't help but laugh. "I do enjoy when my students are confident in their abilities but riding is a constant learning journey." She felt that even if she won a class, there was always something that went wrong. It had taken her awhile to realize everyone was that way - perfection was something that was unachievable.
The woman adjusted her hat, making sure her eyes were shaded from the sun so she could watch Jameson and Fiver. Aurora nodded, glad that Jameson was one of her students who would actually have a conversation about riding, rather than wanting to prove they were right. "I promise, it's too hot outside for anything intense. When have I ever made you two do anything extremely difficult?" She tried her best not to make her students do anything she didn't think that she thought they couldn't do - though there was always something new for them to learn.
"Those are the things I was thinking of to. Have you been working on halt transitions too? I do know that canter halt transitions aren't until the next level but it's always good to prepare." She watched as Jameson nudged Fiver forward, going more into a working walk. It was something she herself needed to work on with London. "When you get to the next letter halt and wait five seconds before walking on." She would be nice to him and start with walk halt transitions. "Let's then do one figure 8 at the walk at both ends of the arena, halting again in the middle of the long side and then you can start with a loose rein trot." The gelding looked like he needed a good stretch before they started working - granted any horse did well with that.
Aurora chuckled, she knew it was quite entertaining when Aurora made Phantom jump a cavaletti with Stephanie - it usually didn't end well. "She won't make you jump, I'm letting her coach flat lessons while I'm away. For the Olympics next summer, you'll have Naomi. I didn't find out I qualified until this morning, so you are the first one to know." She was proud of herself and Phantom. The horse had truly proved himself since he walked off the trailer after failing as a three day eventer back in America. "Though a bit of work with poles on the ground and cavalettis wouldn't hurt with Stephanie either."
“Don’t get me wrong, I do love my aunt. I’m just not as formal as she was.” The woman was almost like a second mother - taking her in whenever her parents were being terrible towards her. She was also the one who coached her up through the ranks until she reached the Olympics. She nodded as Jameson gave her an answer, knowing it was a difficult question. It was always good to hear what the competitor themselves had to say about their rounds. “Even if you had won the class, no round is ever perfect.” Though she tended not to focus on that - she wasn’t judging the class after all. “I’d agree, those are two things we will have to work on during lessons.” She started moving around the arena, deciding on standing in the center.
The blonde was always looking for everyone to improve - including herself. “I promise it’s nothing too insane. Just working on parts of the test from the show. I figured it would be a good place to start this week.” She had the test still - keeping it to practice on anyone who was at that level and wanted to. “What have you and Fiver been working on since then?” Aurora watched as the paint gelding began walking around the arena. “Just be nice and relaxed in the saddle. Focus on loosening the two of you up at the walk for now.”
She reached down and closed the lid of the leather cleaner, just in case it would dry out. "Oh come on, this is all part of riding. Are you going to be one of those students that make the staff get their horses ready for them." Aurora smiled, walking over to he husband and giving him a gentle hug before letting go. She was itching to get him on the back of a horse for years - but playing hockey meant avoiding other extreme sports.
"You'll be on Phantom. The other two are a bit small for you." The chestnut stallion had a good head on his shoulders, and they'd only be on the lunge line to begin with. "His grooming kit is there in front of his stall door. The black rubber glove first, it's called a curry comb." The blonde opened the stall door, allowing Phantom to stick his head out. "How was your morning so far? School run go okay?" Aurora reached down and opened the grooming kit, leaving the lid open as she picked up the other curry comb and started on one side of the horse - starting in circular motions with her hand.
Aurora nodded, she wouldn't ever understand what a big family was like. Growing up, it was just her and her parents at Christmas - though her aunt was the one who always spoiled her, until Andrew came into the picture. "That sounds like a great idea. Honestly because it tends to be just the four of us, we just spoil each other." She usually sent a package to her aunt though, this year the older woman would be getting a scarf from a local alpaca farm. "Do you knit? Have you thought of anything to get your brother yet?" She didn't know quite what to get Andrew yet, but she would think of something.
"Alright, do a half turn reverse and trot the other way. Feel free to add in some walk transitions to get her mind to settle." Aurora tended to get distracted while teaching as most of her students wanted to chat with her as they rode along. "You could always do beginner dressage to begin with? There won't be anything until March anyway." She knew her three horses were itching to get into the ring again, but it would be a few months until that happened. "How many more semesters to go? I assume you have finals coming up as well?" Aurora tended to try and pay attention to when the schools - including University had their breaks - then she could offer makeup lessons to her students who missed a lesson.
It had taken years, but Aurora had finally convinced her husband to start riding. She wanted to wait for show season to slow down and for her students to head back to school - meaning that she had her morning to focus on him and helping him get Phantom ready. She had arrived at the barn before him, wanting to clean his tack and bring him inside.
She threw her hair in a ponytail and started working. The dressage saddle needed the most cleaning as she hadn't had time after her most recent horse show. Aurora ran her sponge down the black leather saddle - hanging out by the chestnut stallion's stall. She kept her head down, reflecting on how she could improve - as usual putting way too much pressure on herself. Though these next few months meant qualification time for 2024. It didn't take her long to finish cleaning the saddle, knowing they would have to lengthen the stirrups when Andrew was ready to get on.
Clearly the chestnut stallion was paying more attention to his surroundings than Aurora was, as he let out a low whinny, signaling to her that someone was approaching. She blinked, getting herself out of her reflective trance and lifted her head. "Hey, glad you could make it a bit earlier. Figured it would be good for you to learn to get a horse ready too before we get you on." Aurora put her sponge beside the container of saddle soap, approaching her husband with a smile.
Aurora focused on watching the two ride around the arena. She knew how busy Natalie was, though she always made time for her mare - it's not something that everyone did. "Oh, that does sound like fun though. I'm not a huge Art person, but you know Maeve and how creative she is." Granted, it took creativity to put her dressage tests together to music for a competition - but that was different. "No one can resist macaroni and glitter. Alexi is getting into his art phase and I swear I'll run out of room on the fridge to hang it up." She was thankful that he had someone to color with while she was off at the barn. "That's neat. It must be interesting to see the inside of the studios, where all the art magic happens. When are you planning on going this year?" It started to sound like something the family could do during the Christmas break - they spent too much time inside anyway.
"It's probably a good place to get the Christmas shopping done. Have you started buying for your family yet?" The holiday season was quickly approaching - Aurora was thankful she was pretty much done her shopping. She watched Nat and Pippi again - riding through the instructed movements. "Have you thought about competing this year?"
Aurora had been at the barn since before the stable staff had arrived. As it was deep in the summer, she tried to ride her three horses before the heat truly hit. She was thankful that one of her students helped her get the next horse ready while she rode. After finishing off her hack with Indi, she passed the grey mare off to her student - thanking her for all of her help before she got herself ready to coach.
She went into the tack room - taking off her tall boots and her helmet before setting them in her locker, swapping her boots for a pair of old sneakers and setting a ball cap on her head. The blonde pulled out a carrot out of her locker and headed to the cross-ties. She snapped the carrot in half and placed in the palm of her hand, the grey mare carefully munching away on it. "Thank you again for helping me out, it seems with Summer being here everyone wants lessons on the afternoons." Aurora gave the mare the other half of the carrot as her student slid the saddle off of her back. She then headed to the outdoor arena, glad that the show jumping class before had taken their jumps away.
Aurora checked her watch, seeing that she was on time. She didn't have to wait long until she heard the gate open. The woman turned to face Jamie and his paint horse, Fiver. "Jameson, you know I don't answer to Coach Sky. That's my aunt. It's just Aurora." Though even her aunt insisted on her students call her by her name - she wasn't going to tell her students that though. "Of course! I miss all of my students if they are away. How do you feel your show went?" She was always interested to hear the perspective of her students after a competition. "Once you get on, just start walking around and letting Fiver stretch for a few minutes."
Aurora watched as the pair moved around. She didn't know Pipi well but most mares had the same attitude though. Indi was probably the only exception - the grey mare acted like a gelding and some people at competitions mistaken her for a male horse.
"I haven't yet either. Though Andrew took Alexi and it sounds like he enjoyed it so much that he wants to go again. Don't really know if it's Maeve's thing though. She seems too old for that kind of stuff." She was slowly starting to figure out the oldest foster daughter. The teen didn't talk much which made it difficult, but the two of them were slowly making progress. "What is your favorite part? Do you usually check out the craft stands and buy anything?" If there were crafts involved, Maeve would surely be interested.
The blonde fixed her belt and glanced up again. "If she gets bored feel free to throw in some leg yields down the long sides or go down the quarter line." Some horses needed more mental stimulation than others, which she related to as Phantom was one of them. "Once you do the same in the other direction you can start trotting."
Aurora had left the house before anyone else had woken up in the house. It was her day off from the barn, so she wanted to get a run in before spending the day with her family. Usually, she had Cassandra as a running partner - but the other blonde had to coach lessons at Blue Acres that morning.
She got out of the car after parking, putting her vest on and zipping it up before she headed towards the gravel path. Aurora glanced at her watch, tapping it a few times to record her run. It was something about being a professional athlete - and now she was also married to one. They weren't competitive about it but Andrew was good at keeping her accountable. She waited for the green ring on the screen to close before she started at a jog, letting her go at a steady pace to begin with.
The blonde was concentrating, letting her mind wander - planning for the future. This show season meant qualifying for the Olympics in 2024, which would probably be the last time she took Phantom. It would be bittersweet, but the stallion was getting older. Being lost in her own thought, she tripped over a branch - falling flat on her face.
"Of course this morning was the morning I slept in. I'm stubborn and wanted to ride all three horses before teaching." Aurora let out a soft laugh. She would be happy when Andrew learned how to ride with the potential to take over riding Indi, which meant she had one less horse to ride. With the Olympics over a year away, she was already starting to plan the competitions she needed to do to qualify for the team. "Have you had the chance to check out the Christmas art walk?" Aurora hadn't had the chance - she was too busy between the barn and spending more time at home.
Aurora nodded - it was always good to cross train your horse if they enjoyed it. "Some horses enjoy a routine. Being ridden six days a week so that they have something to focus on. I won't make it too difficult I promise." She never wanted to push her students too far - especially during the busy holiday season. Her clients were mostly students of some sort and had exams coming up. "I hope she behaves herself today."
"I've also been busy, though I always am. Starting to get the house ready for Christmas and keeping my three horses in shape." She could tell Alexi was getting excited for Christmas and it was always enjoyable for them - seeing the Holidays through a child's eyes. "Though lessons are slowing down, I know my students are getting ready for exams." It gave her a much needed rest too.
She glanced over at Natalie and watched. "Good recovery there, let's do a circle half the ring at each end and then change directions."
Aurora had finished riding all three horses, feeling terrible that she had to leave London with one of the stable hands to brush for her. She was running late after sleeping in this morning. After thanking the stable hand, she took off the girth before setting it on her shoulder and sliding the dressage saddle pad and saddle off of the mare's back.
"Just leave London, I'll take care of her and give her cookies before I put her back." The stable hand practically had to drag Aurora in the arena. The blonde shook her head and took her helmet along with her riding boots and put them in her locker, switching to her old pair of runners.
She gave her hair a quick brush so she didn't have helmet hair and headed inside the arena. Aurora smiled when she saw her student and her horse were already in the arena before closing the door behind her. "Good afternoon, Natalie. I do apologize if I'm a bit late today." She said, making her way to the center of the arena.
"It's nice to see you sign up for a lesson again. Let's get Pippi back to the walk though and let's work on riding away from the wall to practice steering with your legs and not your reins." She appreciated the fact that her student was on time and ready to go - not everyone had the common courtesy to do so.
"How have you been? Pippi been behaving herself lately?" With Christmas break coming up, her lessons were slowing down as a lot of her students were busy studying for exams.