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Post by ( LARAFOO ) on Apr 18, 2010 6:12:09 GMT -5
caterpillar in the tree how you wonder who you'll be can't go far but you can always dream Saxon perched on the fence like a little parrot, cuddling tighter into her jacket. Dressed for the long drive up, she was decked out in worn jeans and a loose pink tee, accompanied with comfy Vans. There was a slight breeze and so she had tossed on a black fleece. She watched Tandava exploring the paddock and greeting the other horses, the tentative approach, the nuzzling, finally the accepting whinny. Her mother was already back on the road by now. The pair had driven down to Windsor in Saxon's car with Tandy in the trailer, as Evie had wanted to be there on her daughter's first day at the Academy. Their farm, Whitecross, was only about an hour's drive away, so Evie had called a taxi to take her back so Sax would have her car. There hadn't been many tears. Evie didn't really like scenes and they would see each other in a week or two. It had been nice having some help unloading all of her stuff. Saxon herself had a dozen boxes of things, and added with Tandy's equipment, they had quite a collection of possessions to put away. It had been easy finding Tandy's stall. Her nameplate already in place and engraved with 'Torment Me - Tandava - Saxon Kingsley - Watch out at dinnertime!'. Saxon had felt slightly embarrassed adding that to the bottom of the application form, but it needed to be said. Tandava got crazy at feedtime, kicking and bucking and flailing all over the place. It was best that people knew about it beforehand so they weren't scared out of their wits when she suddenly went apeshit. Still, Saxon felt a twinge of embarrassment as she saw it, like she hadn't trained her horse well enough. Evie Kingsley was one of the best trainers on the circuit, but even she couldn't train Tandy out of this vice.
After finding the stall, they deposited its new resident inside and began unloading. Saddle placed on its labelled rack, bridle on its hook, locker filled with brushes and boots and rags and shampoos. Soon enough Tandy's new home was perfectly set up. Saxon kissed her mother goodbye and went to her horse's stall, clipping on a leadrope and cross-tying her in the sunshine. Saxon went to the tack room and opened up her locker, dragging out her grooming kit. Hey beautiful, let's get this trailer dust off ya, she crooned to the bay mare. Tandy tossed her head and Saxon set to work. Twenty minutes later the mare was sparkling, the grooming bucket back in the locker, and the pair heading toward the paddock. Saxon turned Tandava loose and climbed up on the fence, watching and waiting. Windsor Academy was beautiful. Saxon couldn't believe she was finally here. She couldn't wait to meet some of her classmates, and check out the competition.
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{jacyy}
New Member
^ Really?
Posts: 15
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Post by {jacyy} on Apr 18, 2010 9:36:25 GMT -5
what's all that noise coming down snapping at my feet with your monster sound don't turn back don't turn around i'll tell ya it's a race to the solid groundRiver smiled fondly at Serenity as the mare pranced along the path leading to what River hoped was the paddock. The black
Trakehner's hooves seemed to skim the air just above the dirt path, making her seem like the mare was floating instead of
walking. Serenity loved to prance everywhere, it was a habit River always wanted to fix for shows but the gait looked so
lovely everywhere else that River felt bad even thinking of stopping her prance. She reached out a hand and stroked the
newly cleaned coat. Spending all day in a airplane wasn't good for the horse's hygiene and River promptly decided that the
mare needed a bath anyways. Really, though, it was to soothe River's nerves. Both River and Serenity hadn't experienced
overseas travel and it was... unnerving to say the least. The thought of Serenity cramped in a small box, even with water,
hay, and a in flight attendant trained in veterinary medicine, made River nervous. She and Zoe both worried that the horses
would be lonely without one another, but both quickly decided that it would be safer to keep the horses separated. River
had no intention of letting Zoe's hot tempered mare anywhere near her baby.
Thinking of Zoe, River turned to look for her twin while continuing her path to the paddock. They both arrived at Windsor
together, unpacked their stuff, and unloaded their horses, but River hadn't seen her sister in over an hour. It made her
nervous and unsettled. Serenity sensed the tension coming from her owner and slowed her prance to a walk since River was
having problems focusing on where she seemed to be placing her feet. The moment the thought that she should be paying
attention to where she was going passed through her head, she heard and felt the squelch under her chore boots. River
shuddered and chanced a look down just in case she didn't do what she thought she did. No such luck. The underside of
the grey work boots were covered in what her aunt loved to call "yard apples". River let go of Serenity's lead, certain the
mare wouldn't leave, and rubbed the sole of the boots against the grass that lined the path. Happy that the "yard apples"
were sufficiently gone, River turned to get Serenity. All she saw was the tail end of her horse prancing towards a girl sitting
on the rail of what River guessed was the paddock. Serenity! Bad girl! No! Serenity flicked her head lazily back to her, but
continued to the girl. River jogged up, not wanting to spook any of the other horses wandering around and grabbed on to
Serenity's lead.
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Post by ( LARAFOO ) on Apr 18, 2010 22:45:32 GMT -5
caterpillar in the tree how you wonder who you'll be can't go far but you can always dream Tandava was busy making friends and Saxon wished she was doing the same. The stables seemed pretty empty; there were only a couple riders moving in and out of stalls, though there were a lot of stalls already occupied. She looked closer at the boxes and began recognising several equines - the two stallions belonging to the Hobday brothers, a couple Western horses, several dressage competitors. So far she hadn't recognised any showjumpers, except for Jake Hobday's horse. Saxon really wanted to get a leg up and start scrutinizing her competition. She was here to win, after all. Windsor Academy was her opportunity to shine, and she intended to take full advantage of it.
A nose prodded her in the ribs and Saxon turned her head to see a gorgeous black Trakehner nosing her curiously, leadrope dragging on the ground. Saxon smiled and reached out a hand. Hey gorgeous, she murmured, stroking the mare's nose. Where'd you come from? She curled her fingers around the mare's halter just in case, and was reaching down for the fallen leadrope when she heard a call and a slender hand plucked it from the ground. Saxon looked up and smiled at, obviously, the horse's owner. She laughed a little and released Serenity's headcollar. Bit of handful, eh? I know the feeling, she said with a rueful grin. Her own handful wandered up just then, curious at all the commotion. Saxon reached out a hand to Torment Me and the mare came closer, rubbing her face against her owner's fleece. Saxon clung on to the fence. This is Tandy. I'm Saxon. she turned back to the girl and introduced the two of them, smiling and waiting for a response.
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{jacyy}
New Member
^ Really?
Posts: 15
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Post by {jacyy} on Apr 19, 2010 19:54:19 GMT -5
what's all that noise coming down snapping at my feet with your monster sound don't turn back don't turn around i'll tell ya it's a race to the solid groundRed flushed her cheeks as River reached out towards the lead with one hand and the headcollar with the other. The action embarrassed her.
Serenity was always nothing but perfect. It was uncomfortable for someone to see her horse as a 'handful'. But River supposed the words
were appropriate considering how the situation panned out. She released the headcollar, certain that now that she had a grip on the lead that
the curious mare wouldn't wander.
A stunning bay mare wandered over, craning its neck to see what it was being left out of. It was obvious before the girl introduced the mare
that the wonderful horse belonged to her. Serenity's ears perked up and a sound, a mix of a nicker and a short squeal, escaped her mouth as
the new horse approached. I'm River. Sorry 'bout Serenity. She motioned to the mare before continuing. She normally stays if I drop
her lead for a second or two. I think she's just so excited about meeting all these new people. River kept talking as she opened the
paddock gate and let Serenity in before locking the gate behind her. Her hands worked the headcollar easily over Serenity's head and she let
the horses introduce each other properly. River placed a foot on a rail of the fence and hoisted herself onto the fence beside Saxon. She
watched in silence for a moment while the mares made their acquaintances. River trusted that Tandy was social enough not to hurt Serenity,
but she still made sure that her darlin' was safe. I love watching her make friends. The words floated out in the open for a moment before
River wished that she could snatch them back. Being without Zoe was awkward and she acted stupidly without her twin around.
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Post by ( LARAFOO ) on Apr 21, 2010 5:16:27 GMT -5
caterpillar in the tree how you wonder who you'll be can't go far but you can always dream Tandava eagerly stretched her nose toward Serenity and sniffed her new playmate. Saxon kept a wary eye on her horse; she was friendly but things could get potentially nasty if Tandava sensed a threat. She wasn't the kind of mare who thought things through before acting. Tandy tended to lash out rather violently if another horse challenged her - luckily Serenity didn't look like the dominating type. The two mares made friends quickly and Tandava went back to grazing near the two humans, her tail swishing happily. Every now and then she looked up to check on Serenity.
Saxon smiled at River's comment, her eyes still on the horses. She gave a little laugh. I know exactly how you feel, she said agreeably, ducking her head a little to hide her giggles over her stupid words, It's like watching my kid on her first day at kindergarten. It was silly to compare a horse to a child, but that what Tandava was to her - her best friend, her partner in crime, and her baby. Saxon had raised and trained the mare since she was a gangly yearling and had watched her grow into the beautiful, muscular equine she was now. Saxon turned her eyes to Serenity, looking carefully at the mare's conformation. She was beautifully toned and shaped, but she didn't have the huge hindquarters that Tandy did. Saxon was guessing at dressage. So what discipline are you? she questioned River, her tone light and friendly. Saxon was fairly sure they were a dressage pair, but it didn't hurt to make sure. She was friendly to everyone and enjoyed meeting new people, but the second she found out they were on the showjumping circuit, it was instant distrust. Saxon disliked fraternizing with the enemy. But as long as River was a dressage girl, then there was nothing to worry about.
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{jacyy}
New Member
^ Really?
Posts: 15
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Post by {jacyy} on Apr 27, 2010 20:04:42 GMT -5
what's all that noise coming down snapping at my feet with your monster sound don't turn back don't turn around i'll tell ya it's a race to the solid groundRiver grinned at Saxon's question for Serenity's disciplines. Everyone could guess the mare's disciplines so easily while River struggled to grasp
what outlined what made a horse fit for a certain discipline. Sure, she knew a horse with thick flanks was a fit for show jumping, but other
than that she was usually stuck. River wouldn't even be able to guess what Zoe's horse did if she didn't already know it. She shook out her
hair, as if the movement would shake off the nervousness. All the action did do, however, was remind her that she hadn't yet answered
Saxon's question. She's in dressage. Mostly. We occasionally dabble in jumping, but not competitively. She probably could do it,
actually I know she'd be amazing, but dressage is perfect for her. And she loves it. As if to illustrate River's point, Serenity pranced
around Tandy, trying to get the other mare to play with her. That was one of Serenity's downfalls. She was still young and a little excitable,
but not as much as she was a year ago. River sighed at the memory. But in a couple of years, she was certain the mare would settle herself. So.
She turned back to Saxon. What about you? Dressage? Jumping? Some Western?
As River waited for Saxon to answer, she watched the skyline. The sun started to dip, impaling itself on the tips of the trees and spilling its
orange insides to the clouds surrounding it. A picture would do the scene no justice. The thought was what River pondered often. Most
people assumed the twin was spacey and that her sister had gotten all of the social-ness. However, River just preferred the comfortable silence
to the awkwardness of forced conversation. It just felt right to her. And she guessed it always would be right.
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