Blue Ridge is a fictional town located deep in the heart of Kentucky. It is home to one of the most well known equestrian academies in the United States. Students and staff from all over the world join the academy for what it has to offer. Do you have what it takes to join us and learn from the Academy?
Smilys were made by Sapphire Heaven of LiveJournal.
The mini-profile hover follows a tutorial by Kagney of Adoxography.
Photos in the skin used under CC from Flickr.
Liana sat in front of Leil, having put the gelding in the cross-ties next to some haybales for her to sit on as she studied the instructions on her phone yet again. She'd gotten so used to doing button braids for Dyrim, that now, having a horse that was shown in a running braid required some adjustment - And some practice on her part. Setting down her phone, she approached the gelding, running a hand along his neck, and then taking a chunk of his mane, deciding to just give it a go. Practice would be the key.
Post by Cara-Jean Kitchi on Feb 13, 2018 17:13:11 GMT -8
Cara was deep in thought as she entered the barn. Yes, her ponies were in the other, but she enjoyed her visits with Luna, and the mare would always hold a place in the girl's heart as she had been the mount Cara had been assigned when she had joined the Academy.
Her pace slowed as she saw that there was a horse in cross-ties, as she didn't want to stride past and spook the horse in the owner had a leg up or anything like that. She paused as she reached the horse, looking at the black's expressive face. "He has a lovely face." She said softly. After all, the owner had made a name for herself, and Cara didn't want to seem like she was just staring.
Post by Liana Mars on Feb 20, 2018 16:33:14 GMT -8
Liana got the sense that she was being watched, and looked around to find that petite girl that seemed to be involved in all sorts of things - What was her name again? They shared a class or two, Liana knew that. Right - Cara. "Thank you." Liana was brief, but not too curt - Cara wasn't too bad, as far as the other kids went. "Right now, he's probably thinking 'This is boring, please save me.'"
Post by Cara-Jean Kitchi on Feb 21, 2018 0:28:55 GMT -8
Cara bowed her head to the thanks, thankful that she hadn't been told to get lost. Her brow dipped as she looked at the horse's face and then back at Liana. "Is...Is there anything I can help with?" She had startled herself when she had started with the offer, and then pushed on. And what could be the worse thing that would happen? That the other girl would tell her to get lost?
Post by Liana Mars on Mar 20, 2018 11:25:07 GMT -8
Liana considered the question, then shrugged, "Not unless you have any tips for a running braid. I'm still getting used to the Arabian showing thing." She knew the girl could probably do it - Her horses were always immaculate for classes, and shows, but that wouldn't help her specifically. Liana needed to be able to do it herself, since there weren't any grooms around here.
Post by Cara-Jean Kitchi on Mar 23, 2018 1:00:20 GMT -8
Cara stilled her eyebrows before they could shook up in surprise, as she might insult the girl, and they creased in thought. "Use a step to get you up to his height, rather than asking him to come down to yours, as this helps keep your braid even and helps you keep the tension." Running braids were quick and easy to do to keep the manes tidy during lessons. "Start right up where his bridle part is, and add a new section of mane, making sure that it's the same size as what you already have, each time the cross-over is coming from underneath." She shook her head as she pressed her lips together, she sounded like a tutorial. "Sorry."
Post by Liana Mars on Apr 11, 2018 19:19:42 GMT -8
Liana listened to the girl's suggestions seriously. Some parts were things she'd known - well, rather, things she'd learned in her YouTube searching the night before - but others were new. When Cara finished with an apology, Liana raised an eyebrow, "Why? I asked." She paused, "You probably know, but I'm always impressed with how your horses are turned out for shows."
Post by Cara-Jean Kitchi on Apr 13, 2018 19:53:35 GMT -8
Cara shrugged uncomfortably. "I have been told I tend to come off sounding like I'm reading from an instruction manual." She said.
Her own eyebrows shot up at the compliment. "Thank you." She didn't even think about how she got her horses ready anymore, it was just something she'd always done. "Are you planning to campaign him over the summer months?"
Post by Liana Mars on Apr 17, 2018 20:15:12 GMT -8
Liana raised an eyebrow at that response, "Well, I can see that. But it's not the worst thing in the world." She wasn't going to deny that Cara had a bit of a flat affect, but it was at least clear and informative.
She nodded at the question, "It was my plan, yes. The shows here are nice and all, but I'd like to get a bit further afield in the summer and get some other shows on him." And get her name out there more. She may not have plans to go Olympic - she wanted to go into business - but a good reputation on the show circuit was not a bad thing. And now, with Leil, she would be unstoppable. "Do you have plans for the summer?"
Post by Cara-Jean Kitchi on Apr 18, 2018 14:31:47 GMT -8
Cara bowed her head, silently thanking the girl for her honesty, whereas most people would try arguing with what she had said, and make her sound like something she wasn't.
She nodded. The local shows were great, but not enough to have other people learn one's name. She guessed she had been lucky enough that they did enough away competitions with gymnastics that enough people knew who she was, not that it really mattered any more since she was giving elite training up at the end of the summer. "My plans are to train my ponies up and find them good homes, while also finding a horse that I can buy in the fall when I start at Kentucky University." The whole thing was stressing her out, but she was doing her best not to think about that, as she'd have competitions throughout summer as well, she planned to leave gymnastics with her name remembered. She wondered if she should talk to Coach Hoefflin about what she would need to become a coach..? "Are you taking him in in-hand classes, as well as ridden?" The gelding had amazing lines, and would certainly draw eyes no matter what kind of class he was in.
Liana's lip twitched up in a wry smile at Cara's response, noting the specification of finding a horse to buy. She'd been there, kinda done that - She hadn't bought Leil herself, of course, but she could definitely understand the want to have a proper competitor instead of being seen as lesser because of riding a pony, "Good luck to you. I can keep an ear out for horses if you'd like?" The good ones were sometimes advertised at shows, so she might hear more while she was competing.
As Cara asked about in-hand classes, Liana considered, "I hadn't really thought about it. Dyrim, while a good pony, wasn't really the type to do well in those, so I haven't had much experience there. Do you think it'd be worthwhile?"
Post by Cara-Jean Kitchi on May 2, 2018 16:30:18 GMT -8
Cara gave a ghost of a smile. She loved riding ponies, there was also so much spunk in them, a need to prove themselves, but she had a feeling that no one else on the equestrian team at a university would be riding a pony. "Would you?" She pressed her lips together after the question had slipped out and she shook her head. "Sorry. I would greatly appreciate that if you would. An all-rounder, an untrialed eventer, a seasoned show horse... I really don't have any specifications." She shrugged as she studied the ground.
She took an unconscious step backward, her internal monologue telling her she should have kept her mouth shut. to excuse herself and walk away. She straightened her back slightly though as she gave herself a mental shake, pushing the voice down as she drew in a breath. "He has amazing lines, and a wonderful pedigree." She said as she looked the horse over again. "I think he would do his breed proud in an in-hand ring." In-hand had never been one of her requirements for showing, so she'd never done it herself, but she'd been to enough shows to know what a good horse looked like.
Liana nodded at the question, then listened to the girl's specifications - Or rather, lack of them. "Alright. Give me your number, I'll text you photos and info as I find them." She pulled out her own phone and opened a new text message, ready to take down the info.
She considered Leil, nodding at Cara's words. "Maybe we'll give it a shot." She could at least do some research about it, at the very least, "Once I get the hang of this braiding thing."
Post by Cara-Jean Kitchi on May 16, 2018 0:28:20 GMT -8
Cara rattled off her number without much thought. "Sorry for my uselessness of knowing what I want in a horse." She gestured vaguely toward the other horses. "I guess I'm used to being pointed at a horse, or pony, and told to ride." And everything she needed to know about that horse, the animal told her.
Cara nodded, and the good thing with learning how to show your horse in-hand, would be good practice for when people were in the big shows and the horses had to be inspected before the show began. "It's like riding a horse." She offered. "Once you've found your groove with braiding, you've won't have to think too much about it." At least that's how it worked for her.
Post by Liana Mars on May 22, 2018 18:11:10 GMT -8
Liana typed in the number as Cara spoke it, then sent a brief message with her own name before saving the contact. "It's fine. More options, right?" She'd have to do some pre-screening. Cara's taste in horses so far was abysmal. "I'll find you the perfect horse, don't you worry." She smiled at the other girl, "Color preferences? Anything you have a lot of clothes for already?" If there was nothing else to worry about, they might as well get to aesthetic factors.
She nodded at Cara's reassurance, "Thanks." She looked over at the other girl, "You know what? I think Leil might be happier if we went out on the trails instead. Want to join us?" She'd practice later.