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!
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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Kacey had spoken to Mister Strand on the telephone but an in person meeting was different. The man did seem pleasant enough on the phone but when it came down to it, he was still nervous. He needed a job and there were a few openings but did he really have what it took? Considering the number of top riders on the circuit were typically running their own stables, training, and usually still competing at his age, he wasn't sure.
Instead, he only had a basic skill set and while he did work with and eventually tame a total of three mustangs with the addition of helping a few other people in the program, it did not leave him with a lot of confidence. There had always been someone to watch over his shoulder if he did need help. He wasn't a horse whisperer or some rider with a bunch of ribbons to his name. Then again, odds were he was getting ahead of himself. More than likely he was going to be mucking out stalls, cleaning tack and if he was lucky grooming a horse for someone who couldn't bother doing it themselves. It was hardly rocket science.
He still felt out of place, standing in the aisle of the barn, rocking back on his heels like he was still some sixteen year old kid. Kacey had stood outside a while too but he didn't exactly have an idea where Mister Strand had ended up. Wandering through someone's barn, looking, just seemed rude and being outside perhaps was a way not even to be noticed. So it was a risk worth taking. After all, the guy did know he was coming. It wasn't like he was showing up at random and hoping for the best.
Not that any of that knowledge made him feel any better. He still felt out of his depth. In time, he hoped anyway, that would go away.
There would be the easy beat of hoofs crunching first over the gravel of the car park area and then clopping as they hit the harder concrete standing, coming to a half, as Gabriel easily dismounted, bringing the reins over Shadows head before leading the black horse into the stable after running up the stirrup irons.
He blinked before he suddenly recalled that he'd arranged a meeting with an individual looking for work, and upon talking it over with Luciano he'd arranged a meeting. And managed to forget about it on the day. "Kacey is it? I'm sorry, I forgot to write the meeting down, let me get Shadow away and I'll be ready to speak," he stated calmer than he felt. He didn't mean to have clear forgotten.
Slowly he led Shadow to his stall, the only one that had a padlock on the top bolt as well.
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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Kacey had heard the sound of hooves but they were to be expected considering where he was standing. It was natural. After all, a horse stable without horses was silly. That, however, did not stop him from jumping slightly when a voice came into the picture. It was his own fault, maybe he should have been paying better attention.
Pulling himself together, he turned his focus to the source and at once knew who it was. That was the man he was searching for. With a nod, Kacey replied with a "Take your time, I've got no where to go." Which was just about the long and the short of it. Plus being rude toward one's possible new employer was hardly the way to go. After all, it wasn't like he had any bragging rights of his own. Although, even if some people weren't impressed, he was proud of what he had managed so far.
The horse, Shadow, was nice to look at. Though, then again, Kacey didn't judge horses that weren't either. Considering the mare he was assigned to was down to her last chance at not living out her days in a holding pen because of dangerous behavior and she turned out just fine. Judging a book or a horse by their cover was not the way to go.
Still he had to comment. "Someone's an escape artist?" As he noted the padlock. He had heard of more than a few horses letting themselves out of their stalls. Not that he could blame them. He'd had enough of tight spaces himself.
Gabriel chuckled lightly. "that's one way of saying it," he stated noting where his gaze had fallen. "Thankfully he doesn't get up to too much mischief, he doesn't always let the others out. Normally he's trying to find humans for companionship," he shook his head. Strange horse.
Securing the large black horse in the aisle he easily removed the saddle and the additional pads that helped to keep the saddle fitted right. Easily the black stallion shook his head snorting softly, eyes half closed. Gabriel was working quickly to brush him down, fastening the halter just around his neck as he slipped the bridle off before working to lead him into his stable, leaving the headcollar on, checking he had water and his hay net was full before shutting the stall door, locking the bolt, and kick bolt and securing the padlock. hanging the key out of the horses way.
"So, now he's secured, I'm Gabriel Strand, it's a pleasure to meet you," he held his hand out. "I'll introduce you to the horses here, and show you around first, and then we can sit and talk"
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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He did find it slightly strange that a horse would prefer people over other horses but then again, he didn't entirely do well with his own kind either. Maybe those two things had something in common. Maybe they didn't. That didn't stop Kacey from nodded. After all, if things went well he didn't want to manage a complete cock up with his future boss. With a steady paycheck on the line, it was just so possible that he would have gone as far as commenting on how wonderful a pink unicorn was at the moment without batting an eye.
So instead Kacey said nothing and let the man get on with what he needed to. Not that it even seemed to take that long. Some people would call that something being second nature. Doing it without a thought. It also helped when a horse actually wanted to stand still instead of dancing around and trying to remove a human's toes. Maybe not literally but some horses did seem to go out of their way to be little foot stompers.
Kacey accepted the man's hand, proper introductions seemed to be the thing. "Nice to meet you too." Of course, he knew who he was speaking to. However, it seemed that everyone in the area was very keen on manners although Kacey saw no point in repeating his name again. Mister Strand didn't seem like an idiot who needed names repeated to him over and over again.
"Oh," He said, rummaging through the pockets of his jeans before fishing out a crumpled piece of paper. "This looked so much better pre-pocket." Stubbornly he tried to smooth out the paper but it didn't gain much in appearance. "References for my horse experience." Kacey offered the shabby piece of paper. It was a short list of names and numbers which would no doubt give Mr. Strand more information than he preferred but there was no way around it. Aside from mucking out stalls for a week at a riding stables mostly designed for tourists back home, he had no proper reference.
At least the numbers he had given could prove that he could ride. Not that something like that wasn't easy to prove or disprove but not everyone wanted to chuck someone on a horse and watch the show. "I haven't bought a helmet yet. Wanted to see how this went." He doubted that not having a helmet right this second was a deal breaker yet he couldn't seem to shut up. Dammit anyway. Interviews were never his best thing.
Gabriel took the piece of paper with a nod "I'll get in contact with them later on," he stated easily, because he didn't want to embarrass the male he was doing an impromptu interview with. "Also, don't worry about not having a helmet - we have some spare, that may fit, at least till you've got on your feet," he added on, easily. He'd not been expecting someone being so open, but maybe that was usual.
"Either way," he headed off to the end of the barn aisle "I'll start from one end, and introduce you one at a time," waiting for him to join him before he started to walk down the row of stalls, most empty mind. At one a bay head with a white star poked over curious again. "This is Luciano's mare, she's known as Bambino, I won't lie I don't have a lot to do with her, but generally she's gentle. Because of past injury I've agreed with Luciano that only he handles and works with her," he explained easily, still pausing to give her a gentle scratch before he continued on to the other stall on the opposite side of the aisle. In the stall was a bay and white mare, still young "And this is Misty, she's one of my young horses, not yet started under saddle but getting ready for that step, typically however I start under saddle, get them used to it, then give them a year off until they're four of just being a horse, lots of work in hand if anything but,"
Another shrug as he paused to glance over at Kacey again.
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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Maybe he was being a little too honest, too open about things. Well, most things. Some might even go as far as calling it weird. Unnaturally honest or something. For Kacey, he couldn't put a name to it. Maybe it was something more along the lines that he didn't want to not be honest and have it end up biting him. As if not telling the complete truth with a job interview was enough for them to want to put him back inside or something like that. With prisons as full as they were, he was pretty sure that the law enforcement didn't get that picky about things but it wasn't getting him to stop either.
Kacey nodded. At least the lack of a helmet wasn't a deal breaker, although maybe that wasn't even a problem with the list of contacts now in the man's hand. Two of which worked in the prison's equine program and the third was David Wright, the man who had become something of a good friend over the years. He was always good as a reference but Kacey had worked hard to earn that. While he had lost twelve years of his life, he still made use of them. They were not wasted.
He followed roughly a pace behind Gabriel, stopping when he did. "I've worked with mares before." Kacey remarked. Not that he saw himself doing anymore than moving the mare to a different stall for the general mucking out but it was only fair to say that he wasn't bothered by the moody mare, as the saying went. Stallions, now that was uncharted waters. He restrained himself from giving her a pet himself, perhaps he was being too straight laced but this just didn't feel like the time to love on other people's horses. Well, until he saw Misty.
"She's nice." He heard himself saying before he managed to tell himself to shut up. Then again, he always had been a sucker for a flashy looking horse. Although that seemed to be common enough most of the time. For whatever reason, he did like her. Not wanting to seem too silent, he added a "I think the youngest horse I've worked with was six. I have a bit of an age gap."
Of course, odds are Leslie had the paperwork for the nine horses he had worked with over the few years he had been in the program. His possible new boss would hear all that and more. Which what did it matter? It wasn't like he was on the spot for a training job. As much as he had worked on the last four horses by himself more than asking for help, it didn't make him an expert. Although he had gained some fancy footwork in the event a horse decided to charge him but that was a story for another day.
"You have some nice looking horses here." Kacey commented then added with a smile. "Least I'm impressed so far."
Gabriel gave a smile "Thanks, we try and keep the mares seperate from the geldings and stallions," he stated easily. Carefully he continued on his tour "so, continuing on, this is Silver, he's a gelding and also one of Luciano's. Top jumping talent, I don't actually know too much about what his plans are with this one but either way," he shrugged, continuing on.
"Then we have my last two - Shadow who you've already met, he's a people horse as I say. Happiest with being with people, but riding crops and spurs? He'll leave you in the nearest muck heap," he gave a fond smile. "Then lastly, we have D'Angelo, he's another jumper, one of mine though. Pretty calm, and he's being used as Luciano's horse when he needs to borrow a horse for a training session," he added on easily.
He looked over at him again with an easy smile. "Any questions so far?" he asked calmly, not wanting to move on from the introducing the stables without being certain that Kacey was happy so far.
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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It seemed weird. Maybe weird wasn't the right word but things were different. Maybe he was just being silly but he knew what he was getting into. Sort of. Considering the horses he had been around before weren't on this level, he couldn't help but feel out of place. He did have every right to be there and everything but there was that part of his brain that couldn't help but feel that the whole place was above him somehow. Like he was just some idiotic novice who didn't have grounds to even be shoving horses of this level's poo.
Sure he did have a lot to learn but he could. He might have missed out on the normal things of his twenties (entirely his own fault, of course) but he wasn't some old dog that couldn't learn new tricks. Kacey was determined anyway. He shook his head at the question asked. "Nothing so far." At least not where the horses were concerned.
Not seeing the point in tap dancing around, he pressed on. "I just wonder what the job entails." He always had managed to work in the sort of way where someone could point him to his gear and what he was doing with it and he'd be off just like that. "The horses I can handle. I haven't worked around stallions before," he admitted, "but I can learn -- Shadow, at least, doesn't fit that category of ripping someone's arm off." It was just possible he had heard one too many horror story.
Of course, there was just that little fact of Gabriel even wanting to hire him in the first place. As much as he tried not to think about it, tried not to worry, it was there. While there were other barns in need of help, he certainly wouldn't complain about having the job hunt be over. The fridge was starting to look a little too bare for his liking.
Gabriel smiled a bit "Let's go to the office, and I'll talk over your responsibilities that I'd expect you to fulfill if you were to take up a job offer," he stated easily with a slight smile. "Also with Shadow he can get excited before competitions, but otherwise he's pretty placid, at least for a stallion," he added on slowly walking off towards the house they were converting into the office area.
Easily he headed into the office area offering a seat as he took a seat himself looking over at him letting him get comfortable before he spoke again. "So regarding responsibilities, your primary one is to help with mucking out, grooming, keeping the tack clean, and greeting visitors to the stables, however I will - if your interested - be willing to let you ride D'angelo, and potentially help me work with Misty, but that would be depending on your work ethic," he stated easily.
He wasn't concerned about laying his cards out before the other, it was after all fair to Kacey if they both approached from the truth on both sides. "Is there any questions or anything you would like to know?"
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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With yet another nod, he followed after Gabriel, giving the horses each one last look as he went by them. He didn't care to admit exactly how much he liked Misty but he was being shallow. It was just her color. She kinda did remind him of one mare in particular. The one that got away, as it were. But taking her away from the family that now loved her was hardly fair. No, if he wanted that sort of horse again, he'd have to get it himself... someday.
Kacey still felt out of place though, even in the office. He was still certain that he'd grow into it. If life had taught him anything so far, it was that he could get used to anything. Even the bad stuff so something that paid well and wasn't a bad gig was hardly something he'd start complaining about. He took a seat.
And soon discovered the job was pretty much what he expected. He leaned back into the chair, arms crossed, listening. The terms were acceptable and better than he had assumed in some areas. Still he didn't want to get his hopes up too high. Not until the phone calls. Reference checking or whatever people called it. As much as Kacey wanted to escape from the past, he couldn't help but feel like it dogged him. Maybe he was bias himself, expecting the worst as he did. Either way, he'd have to wait and see. "Sounds fair enough." Or more than fair as long as it put food on the table and everything else. "Everything's pretty clear cut. Do you have any questions for me?" That was something he didn't really want to ask but this was an interview. People wanted to know things. "Unless you'd rather talk to my references first." After all, some people did things in a different order than others. Of course, it was just mucking stalls, so...
Gabriel shook his head. He almost wished Luciano had been here, because at least his business partner was more world savvy in his own way. Then the thought struck him.
"Between Western and English which riding style do you have the most experience with?" while the question itself may have seemed out of the blue, Gabriel was aware that it was more likely most people around these parts would be more used to the western style. Not that he felt English was a hard style to learn, but he'd been riding in English since he was pretty young... he couldn't remember technically when he wasn't riding English actually... Either way, he refocused his attention on the present, trying to recall if Luciano had given him any advice.
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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"I've done both." Kacey answered, fidgeting in his chair a bit. This was dangerously close to having to really explain - everything. He wasn't ready to do that, not yet. While he didn't care to lie to those around him, it was a touchy thing. Some people would react badly. He had gotten enough of that back home when a few places refused to let him in he door let alone hire him. No, that piece of paper Gabriel now had in his possession was the important thing. Those people on that list would help him be judged on his own merit and not what he did twelve years ago. That was the idea anyway.
Kacey continued with a lack of confidence, "I've done more western than english but I can handle both sets of tack." He paused. "I have more training than anything, you know, on the ground." While he didn't want to sound like some bragging windbag, he pressed on. "I've trained nine mustangs from first touch to first ride. I had some help but the challenge was still there." The smallest of smiles formed on his face as he thought of a few of those memories.
There was always that rush, getting your hands on a horse the first time. There was that time one gelding got crabby enough to kick him and nearly broke his leg, the mare who charged him and sent him scrambling up the corral fence. Yeah, he had been through some shit but there had been good things too. He had given those horses a second chance just like they did for him. It hadn't been pretty all the time but of all the things he had gone through, and as much as he would have preferred not to spend twelve years inside, he wasn't all that keen to forget it either.
With a shrug he added, "I wouldn't know the first thing about jumping and I've never done braids but I can learn. But I do know how to use a shovel and pitchfork." At that he chuckled a bit. Guess it was something of a joke. Everyone knew how to use those things. It was really whether or not someone wanted to or not.
That brought another easy nod. He wouldn't knock anyone willing to learn English, and someone used to getting a wild horse to accept a saddle was certainly a plus. Even if the ones he started weren't generally so wild as that. "I'll never knock anyone who wants to learn, cause how else do you improve right?" he glanced over at him again.
"I don't have any further questions, but I will need to talk to Luciano," he gave a smile easily standing up offering his hand to shake. "I'll be sure to contact you shortly"
Age: 30Gender: Male Online: May 22, 2018 12:45:15 GMT
Alias: LocqueStable: N/AMoney: $ Posts 29
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He didn't know what to think or even how he felt as he got up from his chair. "Thank you for taking the time to see me." Were the only words that came to mind and those sounded so formal it was enough to make Kacey want to bang his head against the wall the second that they came out of his mouth. He shook hands again, as it was only polite, and excused himself.
The walk back to his truck seemed longer than it had going the other way. Maybe it was because he couldn't tell how things even went. He didn't have a guess. Of course there were other stables if this didn't work or there was always the fallback of waiting tables. It wasn't the end of the world if he wasn't a good fit. No, it was the not knowing that was the most painful and the hardest to deal with. But that was just the way things were going to have to be.
Waiting wasn't a great skill of his but there was nothing for it. He would know soon enough. For better or for worse. Until then he was just going to have to hope he had enough saved back in the meantime. That or he was going to have to start eating cat food with the cat. Honestly, he hoped it wouldn't come to that. With those thoughts, he got back in his truck and headed off into what felt like the unknown. Only time would tell.
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? 
