Welcome to Choteau, Montana, in 2018. What was once only a small city focused on fossils, has now started to turn into an equestrian mecca. Everyone still knows everyone, so the question remains, what will you become?
06/04 - Site opened 18/04 - Update log #01 including new features! 27/04 - A New skin has been released!
Her rental car was... Well, Rae didn't have a good word left for it. Sure, the tiny electric car was probably very good for the environment and all that, and she was glad for that, don't get her wrong. But dear lord, she liked being able to just sit normally in a car, don't hit her head when there was a bump or pothole in the road, or to unfold her knees, never mind the occasionally pitiful noises Nella made behind her. The kelpie wasn't overly fond of being confined as it was; being in the backseat of a less-than-perfect car was not her idea of a good time.
However, her new car was going to take a little while longer to arrive, and even then she wasn't exactly planning to rock up to a strange property in her truck kitted out for farrier stuff. That might not give the entirely right impression, and given that she hoped that the guy was willing to work with her, she did kind of have to make a less than awful impression. Frankly, her current course of action was a bit of a risk already. There were no official ads or something yet, but the grapevine in Choteau had pointed her in this direction when she had inquired about show jumping trainers.
And really, no time better than the present, was there? She was starting to have her doubts about it as she parked her car, cracked a window open for Nella and locked the car behind her.
For a moment she just stood there, hesitating, but too late to turn back, right?
Definitely right, when a man exited one of the barns. She plastered a (mostly sincere) smile on her face. Definitely no turning back now. "Hello!" she greeted him, stepping closer. "I was looking for mr. Valentino?" She hoped he was it, but even if he wasn't, surely he could help her out?
Gabriel had heard the crunch of car tires on gravel, however he had at first thought it was just Luciano. He'd been busy grooming Shadow, preparing him for a trail ride out. Slowly he walked out though, expecting to see the Italian, preparing a less formal greeting before he switched gears as he realised it wasn't the trainer, but a possible client judging from the fact they were looking for him.
He was dressed in beige jodhpurs black turtleneck and a green bodywarmer a helmet hanging from one hand, which he easily set down on the bonnet of his car as he came over. "I'm afraid that he's currently out, working with one of his clients," Gabriel stated calmly. "I'm Gabriel Strand, co-owner of Eagles Nest Ranch and his business partner, can I help with anything?" he added on glancing back over his shoulder as he heard a demanding snort from the stallion.
"...Excuse me," he added on as he heard a door slam open and hooves on the concrete, moving to the entrance of the barn just in time to grasp the black horses halter, leading him over. "My apologies about that, this is Shadow - one of my horses - he's...an escape artist," he added on.
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Her smile didn't waver when the 'bad' news was delivered; all she was shrug a little. "I don't suppose you can tell me when he's comin' back," she inquired, before social imperatives to be polite (and to make at least a good second impression) kicked in. "Rae Carrigan," she introduced herself, about to hold out a hand to him when the man turned around. For a moment she felt a little irked, but that disappeared like snow before a tropic sun when she saw what exactly had drawn his attention away from her. It wasn't him being rude, that much was clear.
"Bit of an understatement, it seems," she quipped, eying the humonguously huge horse. She was pretty certain she'd only seen actual draft horses of this size, rather than (mostly) warmbloods, and she counted herself lucky for it. Not only was her back (and shoulder, and wrist) complaining at the mere thought of having to shoe that horse, she was also idly wondering if they even had shoes that size, or if he might end up one of her 'custom clients'. That, and a bit of curiosity about how he rode; it couldn't be easy, such a massive creature in what would suddenly seem a relatively small arena. Not that it was any of her concern, per se. But well, the mind like to go where it shouldn't.
Her eyes narrowed as she saw the way the big black walked, but she dismissed her concerns for now. It would be incredibly rude to lecture the guy about his horse about a vague inkling he may not be entirely comfortable inside his own skin. Certainly as long as mister Strand here was a stranger, and they had no relationship whatsoever. Maybe she'd hint at it later, though.
"It depends if he's going for an initial assessment with a client, or if he's got a spate of various clients he's dealing with," he shrugged. "If you could hold this black gentle giant - he won't move far, he's just a bit people orientated and without I padlock the top bolt he lets himself out - I can check in the office, we've got a shared calendar?" he offered easily.
He smiled a bit "He can open kickbolts I'm afraid, so it is very much a case of needing a padlock. Also going to be my expensive boy. While I'm trying to decide besides truly specialising in show jumping or going towards eventing, he's an eventer. Given his size..and awkward shape... custom saddles all the way," he shook his head with a sigh.
It reminded him that he really needed to start trying to find a person who could fit a custom saddle set for him. Because while his current general purpose one was feasible with plenty of padding, it wasn't... 100% there. He was having to use extra pads to try and get the fit as comfortable as he could manage. "It's down to his breeding," he added on with a fond scratch for the black between his eyes, the large horse leaning his head down to snort and nuzzle against Gabriel.
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Rae nodded; she could understand that. Some things just took time, and it tended to reflect badly upon you if you didn't want to take the time necessary wit your client, even if it occasionally really didn't work for you. And really, everything was still a work in progress for her, business plans being constructed and fine-tuned before she'd sent them in to the county's bureaucrat for perusal and hopefully approval. Until that happened, though, all she had to do was take care of her horses and her dog and amuse herself. No skin off her nose, hanging around here for a bit. "That'd be marvelous," she agreed, stepping closer to the gentle giant in question. She held out a hand to him, let him sniff it a bit before she ran it down his neck and took over the hold on the horse's halter. "Hey Shadow," she murmured, old habits hard to suppress. She talked to horses, alright, she couldn't help it, it was a Thing.
Her ears perked at the mention of custom saddles and, without releasing his halter, she turned a fraction, eyeing the back in question and wincing a little. Yeah, that wasn't any fun. "I may be able to help?" she offered, wondering if she was going to regret this later. "I don't actually make saddles, but I'm not bad at making 'em fit," she posited. And if that didn't work there were other options, though if he was indeed aiming high, treeless might not be the way to go. It had saved her a lot of issues with her mule, though, even if it was perhaps a little unorthodox. Then again, she aso had a tendency to jump bareback, which might have something to do with it as well, she supposed. Gabriel struck her as the somewhat more traditional type. Still, who knew?
She waited patiently with the big black, unable to resist the temptation of poking and prodding a little in various places, just to see if he was sore from his saddle or not. It didn't seem to be too bad, really, which pleased her. It always hurt when she saw how bad some horses were hurtin' before things were changed around and solutions were sought.
The stallion snorted softly, more then content to be held by this new human, nuzzling against her. His eyes were half closed in total calm content, unconcerned as Gabriel slipped off to what was being slowly turned into the office. Gabriel would respond to the offer of help to get the saddle fitting better one he'd handled that business. For his part Shadow seemed unconcerned by her poking and prodding, other then to lean into her slightly.
Easily the blonde male walked back over once he'd checked the calender. "Looking at it, it seems Luc is going to be away up until around 1pm, he's got the afternoon marked to working with his own mare, just light work, however if you want to wait?" he shrugged "What else do you do for a living, if you don't mind me asking? You appear to have knowledge beyond just a horse rider," he added on with an easy smile.
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Rae nodded. Not the worst news - 1pm wasn't that far away, in the grand scheme of things. And this Gabriel seemed nice enough. Why not dilly around for a bit waiting for a prospective trainer? It wasn't as if she had much to do, aside from that. "If you don't mind," she replied. "And if you think he won't mind," she added a beat later, not sure what this Gabriel was to mr. Valentino but he seemed like he knew the man quite well. Any bit of input might be nice, really.
Her smile widened a little at his observation, one hand still running over the neck of his horse. "Awww, and here I thought I had disguised myself so cunningly," she quipped, before turning a bit more serious in response. "I'm a farrier," she offered, before smirking a little. She was a bit mroe than that, because she was fairly insatiable when it came to knowledge and horse welfare. "I also dabble at saddle fitting and massage and osteopathy. I've had a couple of sore horses, back home, who benefitted greatly from a bit of adjusting every now and the," she admitted. Her training hadn't exactly been formal and official, but her horses hadn't complained, and she was a firm believer in learning as you went along... Provided you had a solid start. Doing harm was never the objective, after all. "And I suppose that I'm also a show jumper and mayhaps somethin' of a horse trainer. Mostly young or sore horses, though," she added, hoping that she hadn't just put herself on the map as a rival. "So a bit of everything, I suppose," she finished, injectig a note of humor in her voice.
"I'm certain he won't mind, he's always happy to meet new clients," he stated easily. "I was just starting to prepare to start exercising Shadow, followed by Angel, I'm afraid for all his good training on the ground that big black is only a one person horse, then I have need to work with Misty but she's still ground work, maybe introduce her to a saddle," he glanced over "want to meet them? Maybe also you can give me some help to get Shadows saddle fitting more comfortable, it may explain part of why he's disliking his dressage work more than usual," he gave a shrug.
"This one," he gestured to Shadow easily "Isn't keen on dressage in the best of moods, not sure if he's just finding it pointless or I've yet to find a way to make it fun - he's certainly far keener on working over fences," he gave a chuckle. "Angel - or D'Angelo to give his formal name is a show jumper, stunning jump,"
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Her smile might be a tad uncertain, it didn't show in the rest of her body language. Suddenly she did have some doubts about lingering, but really, why wouldn't she? Until Bo and Ike had the courtesy to be cleared by quarantaine there wasn't much for her to do; Shiloh and Caro only allowed for so much work to be done with them.
She threw a glance back at the car, checking on Nella, but the dog seemed content to sleep on the backseat. Thankfully she was used to the car as being her 'temporary home', even if the rental wasn't quite the type of car she was used to. But for now there was no imminent crisis, so why not? She shrugged, mostly to herself, before fully turning back to Gabriel again.
"I have to admit, dressage has never held great appeal to me either," she half-quipped. She saw the use of it for horses, definitely, and her horses tended to have a decent basis in dressage, including leg yields and lead changes, but back home she didn't spend all that much time in a sand ring with her horses. She tended to start her three year olds in a halter and bareback, just walking, trotting and cantering through the fields and uphill, getting them not only used to bearing weight and having to find their balance again, but also to have fun while there were people milling about. Horses that had fun were the easiest to produce on shows and the like, and the easiest to teach new things. It was one of the reasons she swore by treeless saddles -well, the good ones, that actually looked like a saddle, not the glorified bareback pad things- and bareback riding; if you had a decent enough sit you didn't hinder the horse but got him used to the idea of a saddle regardless.
"And I'd love to help. Always a shame to see a horse sore or underperforming because of something we can fix, right?" she answered his question slash suggestion, perhaps a little late, but she'd been watching the big black. "How old is he?" she asked, curious now. He seemed fairly well developed, but there was something about him that still hinted at the gangliness of youth, at getting used to his body. And given the sheer size of his body, that wasn't necessarily an easy task. Frankly, she wondered already if she finally had to succumb to a step ladder to comfortable assess his back and saddle fit.
"It's foundation is useful, and for an eventer having an obedient horse is good, but I won't lie I'm far more interested in the whole cross country, hence needing a sound horse," he smiled. "If the big boy there's ever not feeling it though, don't compete him. Rather pull up and get a DNF then injure him," he shrugged. "Have you got any horses? If not you'll probably end up loaning Angelo, me and Luc have an agreement after all," because Bambino couldn't be jumped.
"This one? He's 5, I've not been doing anything too heavy or too big with him, his size. He'll take longer I figure to grow into it and I'd rather take some time with them, then ruin them for wanting to fit each horse into a tick box," something he definitely agreed with Luc over. "We've yet to arrange a sand arena to be built, but if you've got some riding gear on you once we've dealt with Shadow and his back you can meet Angelo?" he added on with a slight smile. He'd be happy to have more people visiting here.
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Rae chuckled a little at that. "Definitily," she agreed. A good foundation was essential, but that didn't mean it was fun to lay that foundation. While the more intricate, higher level aspects of dressage appealed to her a little more, just circling around in a sand ring wasn't her idea of fun. Then again, she supposed she was rather spoiled with the New Zealand hills she'd grown up amidst and used as her 'dressage ring'. Swimming in the river or the sea, hillwork, long bush rides... It was the ideal life, and sometimes she wondered why she had given up, even if possibly temporarily (she doubted it though, given her future prospects of settling down with a vet partner, setting up a clinic, maybe a saddle fitting or massage business for the horses and whatnot) to come here, beautiful as it may be. But she loved adventures, she just occasionally had to remind herself of that particular fact.
"Several, actually," she confirmed, answering his question. "My two jumpers are due out of quarantine any day now, an eight year old Trakehner stud and a stationbred mare. He's reliably jumping 1.30 meters now, she's up to 1.45, occasionally 1.50 meters," she added, smiling a little. "Also got a three year old Quarter mare I broke in not too long ago. Don't know if you know about Road to the Horse? Got her there, anyways. She's too young to really jump, just yet, but I do plan to see if she's got the legs for it. Otherwise she'll just be trail horse and whatever comes across her path," she smiled faintly - quite a lot would come across their path, probably. Given the mare's striking colour and her willingness to cooperate, she planned to see if she couldn't make Shiloh her 'demo horse', whenever someone wanted to see bareback or bridleless work and the like. She could use Ike for that, but well, the mare was first and foremost a jumper, and her tendency to rear definitely didn't look good in a demo, even if her sticky seat would win her points. "And a mustang mule. Biggest challenge I've ever had," she mused, looking in the distance for a moment. "Though I'm not very particular about horses, truthfully," she finished. She was used to changing mounts - she'd done quite a bit of catch riding back home, and even last year in the States, and she always found that riding more than just your own two or three horses had a way of expanding your skills and your knowledge. It was a lovely way of finetuning yourself.
Her eyes returned to the black, nodding a little at his explanation. She was glad to hear it; both that her impression had been correct, and that the man was taking it slow. She couldn't just lecture everyone into doing the best for your horse, but she was always glad when they were given the time to mature before they had to truly perform. It was one of the gripes she was with western riding; the young age at which some of those horses had to perform was likely to ruin them forever. She may not be able to show off her skills and prize money with her five and six year olds, but there was always a quiet triumph when she rode around a seventeen or nineteen year old horse still jumping national levels without a hitch in his or her stride.
"I never go anywhere without my helmet," she stage-whispered, winking at him. Rae wasn't quite sure what precisely she was in for, but she would just go with the flow. "Would you mind if I took Nella with me, too?" she gestured back at the car, where the brown head of her dog was visible in the windows now. "I'll keep her leashed, but it's a little warm to stay in the car," she explained. If he said no she was good with too, though she might tie Nella to the car so she could lay outside in the shadow instead. His property, his rules though, and all she could do was abide with them. Besides, there never was any telling what dogs might do to horses and vice versa. "She's a farm dog, so there's relatively little risk, but I'm good with leaving her near the car," she voiced out loud.
"I won't lie, I'm not at all familiar with Road to a Horse, but I will assume that it is to do with horse rehab and rehome type affair?" he queried looking over at her. "Also with this big boy, want me to go retrieve the portable block I use for saddling him up, or do you want to use the permanent one just over there," he nodded to one that was obviously newly added in, and was made of breeze blocks cemented together with paving slabs on top to finish it. "While I have some I'd contemplate mounting from the ground, this one is certainly use a block or something else to get closer to his height," he shrugged again.
"These lot are used to Luciano's Italian Greyhounds, they're good with dogs, so feel free to let your dog out - I can get some clean water put down if you want? I've moved the greyhounds bowls out the way, was sweeping up before I started to get Shadow ready or else there'd be water already down," he patted the black stallions neck watching as he was near on dozing asleep. A slight smile showed as he thought to himself 'you really wouldn't think him an escape artist to see him so chilled now.
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"Colt starting, actually. Well, filly starting, in my case, this year," she explained easily. "A contest of sorts. Three days to break in an untouched three year old and take him -or her- through an obstacle course," she explained a little more in-depth. It was something she was pretty proud of, but she hated bragging. Well, about herself at least, not so much about her horses. Those deserved all the praise she could think of.
She eyed him, considering for a moment, before she made up her mind. "Portable, please. Might be more comfortable for him if I'm the one moving around, rather than him." Tight turns probably weren't his favourite just yet - those were more something for ponies rather than for big horses. She laughed at his remark. "You'd need to take up vaulting or trick riding to achieve that, I imagine," she quipped. She was fairly good at vaulting onto horses, given her penchant for forgoing a saddle, but she tended to use a mounting block for everything over sixteen hands. For her own sake, but for theirs as well. It wasn't much fun to have sixty or eighty kilo hanging from one stirrup struggling to get atop your back, she imagined.
"Glad to hear that. I don't think she needs water, she's drank before we left," she reassured him, already striding towards the car. It was a matter of moments to retrieve her helmet, hoping the various scuffmarks weren't too noticeable (this wasn't the helmet she wore at shows or clinics, which was still nearly pristine, but her 'heavy duty' helmet, worn day in, day out), not donning it yet. She had Nella's leash in her hand, though the kelpie was left to walk next to her of her own accord. Rather have it around for naught, than needing it and not having it nearby. She had debated bringing along her shoulder brace too, but despite his height she didn't think this was one of those risky moments. "Easy, Nella," she cautioned the chocolate brown Kelpie when they got closer, but like the true farm dog she was the dog just laid down on a warm patch of grass, content to be out of the car and having sight on whatever was happening.
"Need me to hold him again while you're grabbing the saddle and block?" she offered, trying to be helpful.
Gabriel nodded at that. "Sounds like fun, I've got a three year old myself - that's Misty, bidding on another at auction. I'm afraid I think I'll be providing a farrier with plenty of clydesdale crosses," he looked sheepish. "Also worst he'll do is follow me around, but if your happy to hold him," it at least stopped him from letting anyone else out. Not that he tended to do that when he was just following someone around for company. "He has no vices beyond letting himself out, doesn't kick, if anything falls asleep while your working with him," a true gem of a horse if you asked him.
Easily once he'd ensured that Shadow was either staying with Rae, or following him he moved filling a spare bowl of water for Nellie and placing it in the shadow of a tree, before he went to retrieve the saddle and the portable mounting block - that he had left near Shadows stall given he'd been planning on taking him out. He also made sure to bring the numnah, and some of the foam pads he'd been using as a temporary stop gap. "He's a good worker, carries himself nicely for a youngster - other than if he loses his balance. I tend to keep the reins loose while warming up. I'm more interested in him learning to find his own balance, and working himself up, various transitions. Also again useful to have him used to responding to someone steering with a very loose rein given that it means you stay in control if you have to slip the reins,"
The look of horror that crossed her face wasn't wholly meant as a jest - frankly, it was rather heartfelt. Draft horses and crosses with them were beautiful and often hardy. They also tended to be big and heavy, and while she wasn't in the business to reject clients, sometimes the thought of it was tempting. Especially when the drafts were of the bratty type it was rather a challenge. And not necessarily the fun type of challenge. She was rather tempted sometimes to invest in a good hot tub of perhaps someone to massage the knots out of her back and shoulders. "Fun," she drily replied. She dearly hoped his were the type that carried their own weight, though with a three year old there was plenty reason to doubt. On the other hand, young enough to learn better.
What she heard about the gentle giant was reassuring at least, not in the least considering his size. While ponies could be rank too, they were a little easier to force of necessary. If this guy ever realised how strong he really was... Well, if he did she was glad he wasn't hers. Not that that was any kind of guarantee.
She eyed the saddle with interest, paying attention to what Gabriel said as well. It sounded like he cared about the proper development of his young horse - or at least did not prioritise competitions as of yet. She liked that, if she were honest. Whether it was the right thing to do or not wasn't scientifically proven, but taking it slow felt right to her, certainly if it meant you could enjoy your horse that much longer without soundness issues. Of course jumping was something to do after five or so anyway. Real jumping at least. Even her youngsters jumped every now and then, but generally it was fairly low, or fun obstacles in the bush or on the beach. "Do you take him out? " she asked, gesturing to the mountains and forests in the distance. Trail and bush rides were her favourites, certainly with her youngsters. She might need to get a better feel for the mountains and a sense of direction before she took her mule or Shiloh out though.
"It sounds very conscientious," she remarked, barely stopping herself from making grabby hands at the saddle. "Though I may just be saying that because my way of approaching youngsters isn't that different. Taking time, making sure it's fun, slowly building up," she added, smiling faintly. "May I?" she asked, looking at the saddle, quite curious now.
Welcome to Choteau, Montana, in 2018. What was once only a small city focused on fossils, has now started to turn into an equestrian mecca. Everyone still knows everyone, so the question remains, what will you become? 
