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.
Post by Stefano Rice on Jul 25, 2018 1:43:37 GMT -8
Seth chuckled, seeing that he was going to need to batter down this girl's defenses, but point to him; she had taken note of his hair colour!!
He couldn't help but laugh at piper's continued irritation, which was now directed at his horse. "Know him? Yes." He replied on behalf of the equine. "Just because I love giving bits of useless advice, if your mare is so intent on not going in her stall, why not turn her out, and then try this again once she's got over being pissed at everything around her?"
His attention shifted to the other brunette, who's attention the bay Sporthorse was lapping up, he offered her a smile. "He know's he's hot." He offered. "I think he's a little annoyed that he's cooped up so much more than he was before vaca started. I should probably take him out on a good trail ride." While he loved the climbing, right at this minute, he wished he had his feet on the ground. "I'm guessing that your noble steed is in the other barn?"
Post by Piper Wilson on Jul 28, 2018 15:08:16 GMT -8
"Because she was born that way," Piper snapped, firmly refusing to even look in the boy's direction. Yes, perhaps she was being unreasonable, but she'd had a long day, travelling, settling into a new place and wrestling with a stubborn horse, and she was most definitely not in the mood for having an argument with this boy. What she was in the mood for was to sit around for a long time with some kind of magazine and a cup of coffee with her feet up. Right now, that sounded like bliss, because it was far too hot to wrestle with a horse more than three times her weight.
And a cold shower. Definitely. She was dripping. Although that would obviously be a result of all the time that she'd spent sitting in a hot vehicle and arguing with a sweaty horse in the searing heat, and not at all to do with the fact that a boy who she could, objectively, admit to be rather good-looking, was watching her looking like an idiot.
Post by Paige Wilson on Jul 28, 2018 15:25:22 GMT -8
"We all are in this weather," Paige answered. Yes, she was a little distracted by the horse in front of her and she wasn't exactly concentrating. But he was so beautiful! Her sister was interested in what a horse could do, but she would admit to being a little more shallow; she was very interested in what they looked like, which was why she had developed such a skill at braiding, plaiting, ribbons, grooming and God knew what else, whereas Piper was pretty much useless.
She nodded at his question, turning away from the boy's own horse. "Yeah. Sweetie's in Red Willow." Giving Hoot a last pat on the nose, she made her way over to her twin. "Go and cool off," she directed quietly in a voice that brooked no argument, tilting her head towards the door as she slipped her own hand into the horse's headcollar.
Post by Stefano Rice on Jul 28, 2018 17:07:50 GMT -8
Seth raised his eyebrows in innocence as it seemed that Peper was reaching the end of her tether with the horse, and his being where he was probably wasn't making anything easier on her, though he decided that he's back off on the verbal sparing for now, as there would be time for that later.
He nodded at the information about Paige's horse being in the other barn, he might just have to go and spend some time with Pixie, give him an excuse to go into the other barn and stalk the girl's horse. "I'm guessing that your Sweetie isn't half as stubborn as this one?" He asked in a stage whisper.
He leaned back against the rafters as it seemed that Paige was taking charge, and he couldn't help but pout a little, as it seemed that he'd be losing one half of the pair.
Post by Piper Wilson on Jul 28, 2018 17:18:47 GMT -8
Piper turned sharply as her sister came up behind her and there was a moment where she genuinely thought that she might hit her. But for once in her life, the brunette took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a second, nodded and then made her way out of the barn in silence.
Once outside, she leaned up against the wall of the building, feeling the cool surface against her warm neck and enjoying the sensation. Oh, God. What a way to start at a new school. She'd snapped at someone, ignored everything that they said, made herself look like a total idiot, proven a complete lack of control over her horse...
Post by Paige Wilson on Jul 28, 2018 17:27:07 GMT -8
Watching her sister go, Paige breathed an inward sigh of relief. She'd practically been able to see the steam coming out of Piper's ears, and it had only been a matter of time before she'd attempted to do some kind of serious damage to the blond boy up on the wall. Paige really did not want to be getting into trouble, even by association, on her first day. Nor any other day, really, but especially not this one.
She laughed at Seth's comment. "Sixty's not so bad, really," she defended the mare, scratching gently under the horse's chin. "She's had a stressful day- haven't you, honey? And so's Piper- sorry about that, by the way. She's not normally so... abrupt. They just rub each other up the wrong way sometimes." Pausing to run a hand along the mare's neck, she conceded "You are right, though. Sweetie's such a... Well, such a sweetheart."
Post by Stefano Rice on Jul 28, 2018 18:43:43 GMT -8
Seth gave a small pout as his eyes followed Piper's departure, he'd need to stalk her a little later, find out some more about her. Part of him wished he'e remained silent up here and just been an observer of what was happening below him.
He gave Paige a wolfish grin. "I never said she was bad, and I can understand her foul mood. I'm like that after travelling too." Especially when he had to go straight from vehicle to being cooped up indoors, but he left that part unsaid. "So, they're a little like oil and water, not always the best combination, add a little spice though and you have an amazing vinaigrette." He flashed her another grin and shrugged.
Post by Paige Wilson on Jul 29, 2018 4:19:29 GMT -8
Paige laughed. "Yep. There are lots of people who say they like travelling, but I think what they actually mean is that they like being in other places, because the travelling bit is just so boring!" She wasn't in the best of moods herself, but she had always been more able to cover such things than her sister was, and besides, she had more patience naturally.
"Oh, believe me, they both have more than enough spice." The brunette tugged gently at the mare's headcollar, and she obliged by following Paige quite willingly into the stall. As Paige slipped out and closed the door behind her, she narrowed her eyes playfully at Sixty. "You're just a pain in the neck, aren't you?"
Post by Stefano Rice on Jul 30, 2018 1:37:11 GMT -8
Seth scrunched his nose. ""Yeah, all those horrible it's about the journey, not the destination people! They so irritate me." He could vividly picture the accident on the way home from his grandparents, years ago, every time get got in a car. He was all about getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible.
He laughed as the mare happily walked into the stall. "She just knew that you couldn't care less if she went in or not, so there was nothing to fight against." Whereas Piper's destination had been inside the stall, so the mare would rather be outside, just because they were such contrary animals.
"Heads up." He said to Hoot as he moved both feet onto the gelding's side of the wall and slid to the ground, wincing slightly as he landed a little more abruptly than expected, and he exited the stall, running his hands through his hair to make sure the hadn't gained any passengers while being up where he had been. "Welcome to Blue Ridge, I'm Seth." He said with a wolfish grin as he wiped his hands on his pants and offered one to Paige.
Post by Paige Wilson on Jul 30, 2018 6:36:44 GMT -8
Paige shuddered melodramatically. "They're wrong," she pronounced firmly. "What's the point in having a journey without a destination? You'd just be wandering around aimlessly, probably going in circles." And going in circles was never a good idea. Paige proceeded in straight lines. They were far more effective at getting you where you wanted to go.
"And that's where Piper goes wrong," the brunette agreed, scratching the mare's nose over the stall door. "She gets frustrated, and then they end up at an impasse because they're both too stubborn to give in."
She grinned as the blond boy descended to ground level, and took the hand that he offered her. "Paige," she returned. "Great to be here. So, Seth... Do you sit in the roof all the time, or is it just a hobby?" Heights weren't exactly the brunette's favourite thing in the world, but she thought she might just about manage where Seth had been... just so long as she didn't have to get up any higher.
Post by Stefano Rice on Jul 30, 2018 14:12:52 GMT -8
He completely agreed with her, well mostly anyway. When he was looking for fun, it was often the adventure to get there that was more amusing than where he actually ended up. At least the trying to not getting caught part got the blood racing.
"They will be a team to look out for in competitions then." He replied with a grin.
His eyes sparkled as he looked around. "As long as I can be sure that I'll get up there without my ascent being witnessed, I'm up there as often as I can get away with." He shrugged, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "The real trick, it getting onto the roof." Though the last time he'd done that, it had ended with him being in Ms Carr's office, listening to a lecture on barn safety, and he knew he was lucky that she hadn't sent him to the principal. "Climbing trees is a little less likely to end you in trouble though."
Post by Paige Wilson on Jul 30, 2018 14:21:49 GMT -8
Paige giggled. "Well... That depends," she pointed out, vividly recalling the many occasions upon which a difference of opinion between the pair had led to them going their separate ways- not always voluntarily, on Piper's part, but always with a great deal of drama. "I mean, if they can't agree on what they're going to do while they're competing then they're not going to be much of a threat, are they?"
She put her head on one side, eyebrows climbing steadily up her forehead as the boy went on. "Should you be telling me all this?" she enquired, a hint of teasing in her tone. Obviously, she wasn't going to go and tell anyone- she wasn't that kind of a person, and she didn't doubt that most people knew anyway, if not officially- but the blond didn't know that. "So, what do you do for fun? Apart from getting into trouble on the barn roof?"
Post by Stefano Rice on Jul 30, 2018 16:57:46 GMT -8
He chuckled as he got a mental picture of the horse running around a jump while the rider went over it, he'd done enough of that when he was getting the hang of jumping; and sadly, there were no points awarded to the rider clearing the jump without the horse. "You make a good point. If they were both in agreement to win though, then they would be a threat."
He shrugged offhandedly. "I don't think I have too much a problem. You two were so focused on the horse that there wasn't any time to film what I was doing" He gave a cocky grin. "And anyway, even if you did. I have a silver tongue, and tend to be able to talk my way out of any mess." Unless of course it was with his father; the man seemed to love playing the judge, jury and executioner. "Firstly, I only ever once got caught on the roof, and that's cause I almost slipped off." And in his defense, it was because someone called out to him. "The trails are great fun, both on horseback and on foot." He looked over his shoulder as Hoot kicked against his stall door. "Oh yeah, I hang out with him too. I'd be happy to offer my services as a trail guide, should you need one." He gave her a charming smile and offered a bow.
Post by Paige Wilson on Jul 31, 2018 10:08:45 GMT -8
The brunette nodded. "With those two, it can go one of two ways. It can be spectacular, or it can be spectacularly bad." She grinned at the blond in front of her. "Me, I'm boring. Sweetie and I ain't dramatic and impressive like they are, but we get there. Every time. Usually still together." Of course, there had been one or two occasions when her horse had arrived and left her behind halfway there, but hey, you couldn't learn to fly if you were afraid to fall. Paige was no coward; she'd spent her fair share of time on the ground. And she got back up again.
She tilted her head to the side, conceding his point. "A silver tongue, huh? Well, now I know who to come to when I haven't done my homework." Paige grinned- of course, the chances of this ever happening were probably on the slim side of zero; unlike her sister, she was definitely the studious type. She loved to test her brain and to increase her knowledge. Piper called her weird for that, but she didn't care- she knew her twin didn't mean it.
The brunette was definitely surprised to find that her cheeks were heating up at Seth's smile, and she coughed hastily, putting up a hand to try and disguise the fact. Once she felt that she had her brief flush under control, Paige ceased her sudden 'coughing fit', and gave her companion a slightly awkward grin. "Great. I'll, I'll bear that in mind."
Post by Stefano Rice on Aug 1, 2018 1:35:17 GMT -8
Seth now couldn't wait for the next competition so that he could watch them... which would mean that he'd have to make sure that his classes weren't on at the same time.
He laughed. "Not sure how well it works to get others out of trouble." He appoliged. Though it seemed to do a great job of getting him in trouble with his parents; like when his grandparents had sent him Hoot. That had been a whole lot of fun... not.
His eyebrows rose as a flush hit Paige's cheeks, though she did cover it really well. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." He chuckled softly. "Not sure if anyone had told you, but each stall has a number at the top of the door" He pointed to the number on Sixty's stall. "There will be a locker in the tack room with the same number on it, which will be your sister's for the length of time her horse is here. With that said, if you are planning on going on a trail ride, and can't find me, you could always leave a note in my locker." He gave another charming grin.