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At Sky's first question, Hayden paused, trying to think of the easiest way to explain it. "Well, when you ride a horse, it should be like...like you almost mesh with the horse. Like you are two pieces of a puzzle, and when you put them together, the whole picture makes sense. When you ride Lovey, it's like you're close, so close to that match, but not quite. I want to try you on a couple other horses, and see how you do with them. It's possible that here, you don't have your "perfect match" but we might have one that's better. If not, we can always come back to Lovey." Hayden's face twisted, and he glanced over at the dark mare, cantering around her pasture. "I doubt it. She's Macey's favorite girl, and I don't have access to her. This is a mostly private stable, so finding a horse for lessons isn't easy. Most of the ones I can use, I've worked out contracts with owners who are too old to ride their babies, and I make sure the horses stay healthy and happy. Plus, Raven is still being broken in. It's taking a long time with her. I'm sorry." Versailles seemed to sense his rider's unease and slight sadness, and he shifted his weight. For a less experienced rider, it would have at the very least caused the rider to nearly fall. Hayden, however, was used to Versailles doing this to get attention, or when he was uncomfortable when they were standing still, and he knew to sit like butter in the saddle. He knew to let his body relax, and when Versailles moved, he moved with the gelding. "You should know that it's hard to find your match as well, so it might take a long time. It's easier when you train your own horse, like I did with Versailles." A thought seemed to hit Hayden, and he bit his lip, seeming to be deep in thought. "There's might be a way we could get a cheap mustang soon, but that might fall through," he murmured, not seeming fully sold on the idea. "For now, would you like to go out on some of the easier trails?" |
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Sky listened to Hayden as he spoke to him. He was kind of bummed but He knew he would need to find himself a horse that's perfect for him. He pulled out his phone and quickly texted his mom. "Mama, I need to get a job to get my own horse. I know it's going to be expensive but I will work my butt off." He sent the text and then put his phone away. "Uh yeah I get what you are saying, I mean I can get a job or something and save up for one. But yeah I guess we could go on some trails for now." Sky answered feeling calm but a little bit sad. Sky hopped down from Lovey with ease, Sky was on the taller side standing around 5'10. He then lead Lovey to the exit and opened the gate. He looked over at Hayden before closing it. Sky then mounted Lovey, He was a bit nervous since he didn't have the block but he knew he would be fine. He got up with no problem and then made his way to the arena that Hayden was in. He waited for him to come out seeing as that he had to lead the way. Sky didn't know anything around here. Sky learned quickly how to do everything, getting on, brushing and holding the reins. But he knew with just a little more practice he would be set with the basics. He's also getting more comfortable with how sitting on a horse feels. It will obviously be different with every horse but not too much he guessed. He thought to himself as waited for Hayden and Versailles. He pulled out his phone as it buzzed. It was his mom. "Actually You know I have some money left over from selling the house, I could put some towards a horse and you can work for the rest." A smile grew on his face but then it dropped. "But Mama, we don't have a lot of money." He sat there looking at his phone, waiting for her to answer. "I have actually a lot left from the house, plus once I get a job we will be fine I promise." His smile returned, but he still felt somewhat guilty that his mom was willing to pay for something that expensive. Even helping the slightest Sky felt guilty but he knew he needed his mom's help. "Thank you so much mama, I love you. Also, we are going trail riding for a bit so I don't know when I'm going to be back." Sky finished texting his mom and then put his phone away. By that time Hayden was now out waiting on Sky. "Sorry, I was just texting my mom." Sky mentioned as he looked up at Hayden. |
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Hayden had liked the other guy well enough, but now that he was getting to know him a bit better, he was very unsure. The kid acted like a *huge* mama's boy, and it made him uncomfortable to see a highschool senior acting like he still needed his mother. Not that there was anything wrong with loving the woman who brought you into the world of course. Hayden appreciated his mother greatly, but their relationship was often strained, due to his parent's decision to split the brothers up. Now, he leaned back in his saddle, running a hand through his hair. He was bored, and irritated that Sky hadn't waited until later, when he just talk to his mother. To entertain himself, he dropped his reins so Versailles could graze, and pulled out his phone, snapping his brother, going to a texting app, and pulling up a new conversation, texting a couple of the people who employed him to exercise their horses, asking if it would be alright to use them for lessons. Once he finished, he shoved the phone back into his pocket, hoping the already beat-up screen wouldn't break. His mother had offered time and time again to purchase him a new phone, and each time he'd refused. Hayden didn't want charity, and he felt like that's all he was to his mother. It almost wasn't even worth getting good grades anymore, because she didn't care either way. Shaking the lingering feelings of irritation away, Hayden picked up his reins as the other boy spoke. "Alright. We'll just go on the easiest trail, cause I have stalls to muck, and I have to lunge a couple more horses. I didn't have as much time as I expected." With these words, Hayden nudged Versailles into an easy, loping trot, heading towards the trailhead. He knew that Lovey's highstepping walk would keep her close behind the two of them, and he slowed the gelding at the beginning of the dirt path. "The best way to do trail rides as an un-experienced rider is to keep your hands at your navel, and your grip loose. Lovey knows where we're going." |
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Sky nodded his head implying that he understood Hayden. He did as he was told as Lovey started to walk. He didn't speak too much during the trail ride he just looked around mostly. It was beautiful out, although it was getting late the sun was still somewhat out. The wind had gotten more calm and the temperature did cool down. With the temperature cooler in shaded areas, Sky did feel the slightest bit chilly. Sky felt as if the boy was getting annoyed at him, he shrugged it off but that feeling still bothered him. If Hayden was going to be his instructor for lessons Sky would hope he liked him. He wanted to talk to him during the trail ride but kept shut unless spoken to. He gazed at the trees that surrounded him, not close enough to feel trapped, there was plenty of space. There was enough room for two horses to walk beside each other and feel comfortable. Sky moved over to the side of Hayden, Lovey then made her way beside Versailles. Sky looked over at Hayden and shot him a smile. "Thank you for like taking me in at such short notice, If I knew anything I would have called first." Sky implied that he didn't mean to be such a bother. He looked back ahead after he was done talking then he looked down at the horses and smiled. Sky was in his senior year of high school, but he was finishing it online. School wasn't an issue he was worried about. He was just now thinking about sports. Since he moved it would be a further distance to drive, but he would make it work. He couldn't give up sports. Sky doesn't know if he could maintain two sports though. One would be hard enough and he definitely wouldn't be able to drive all the time. He needs to drive to practices and games, with two sports that a lot. He could always get a bus but if he wanted to start horse riding he would have to drop one. He couldn't bare to think that. This was all he could think of riding Lovey, apart from the nature around him. He also doesn't know what he's going to do once he graduates. He can still play for the school team but as he gets older it would be weird. He would have to tryout for either a national or local team or something. |
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Hayden only listened, not really interested in holding a conversation right then. The weather was too nice to ignore, and the breeze made a perfectly wonderful thing to listen to while riding, rather than trying to fill the air with idle chatter. He took slow, deep breaths, and relaxed somewhat in the saddle, barely listening to Sky's words, grinning when they rode past an apple tree, old and twisted, but still reaching it's dark branches to the sky. Ruby red apples hung from the branches, and Hayden took two from the tree, gently holding one in front of Versailles' nose, and whistling to Lovey, who turned her head, and he offered her the other apple. The sweet mare easily took it from his palm, and crunched it down. As they rode on, a small brook crossed the path, and Hayden found a shallow enough place to cross, without any stones for the equines to stumble on, and low enough that there would be no current. The horse and boy splashed through, and they rounded the last bend, heading back out towards the arena. Just as they came up by the rings, Hayden's phone buzzed. He knew the ringtone, it was for his brother. He pulled his phone out, hoping desperately it would be good news. Instead, he read the text, and his face fell, tears starting to gleam in his eyes. He quickly brushed them away, dismounting the gelding, and leading him inside the stables. Trying to hold himself together, he quickly pulled the saddle and bridle off Versailles, and gave him the quickest brush down he could get away with. Once the gelding and Lovey were both back in the pasture, Hayden had pulled himself together enough to explain to Sky what was going on. "I'm so sorry for the abrupt ending to your lesson. I just found out that my brother has to put his horse down, Versailles' sister. He's taking it really hard." After a moment's hesitation, Hayden scribbled his number on the back of an old receipt, and held it out. "Here's my number, let me know what your schedule is. We can work out when your next lesson is." |
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As they returned Sky got off of Lovey as he followed Hayden and put them both away. He smiled fell as Hayden told him about his brother's horse. He didn't know what to say so he said nothing. Although he didn't know the horse he still felt some sadness knowing a horse was being put down. He also could see the sadness in Hayden's eyes. "Okay, I will let you know sometime soon, Thanks again." Sky said taking his hair out of the ponytail and grabbing the old receipt. He ran his hands through his hair and then gave Hayden a small smile before turning around. He then walked to his car and then drove home. Arriving home he walked in and said hi to his mom. His mom has already cooked dinner, leaving it for him in the fridge. Sky wasn't too hungry, he still had to get settled in his room amongst many other things. He has to find a job and figure out his practices and games for his sports. Sky pulled out his phone texting his coach. "hey do you think you can give me a couple of months worth of when our games & practices are, for both teams." He sent it and then searched for jobs in Iris. He found a flower place he could work at as well as a gas station. Two jobs that could pay decent money. He called the flower place and he got the job then and there. "Okay that was pretty easy, now let's hope the other place takes me, if not there's plenty of other places." He told himself. He then proceeded to call the gas station. The gas station was hiring and they wanted to see him resume and to bring it in anytime. Sky then dug out his resume and then figured out where the gas station was. He then walked upstair and put on his shoes. "Hey I'm going to give my resume to a place, I'll be back in a bit." Sky said as he walked out. He made his way to the gas station and then dropped his resume off. He returned home and just plopped in his bed with his cat. He looked at the old reciept that Hayden gave him and added the number into his contacts. |
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Hayden finished the last bit of work he had with the horses, and went home, exhausted and beat down. The end of his day had been so awful, and he wasn't even sure how to cope with it. He managed to avoid his mother, who would have only pressured him to tell her what was wrong, and if he did, she wouldn't have cared anyways. His parents had never really understood his obsession and appreciation of equines, but had supported it nonetheless, only to keep him and his brother happy. He ignored her note about fancy food in the fridge, and instead chose to make himself a pizza, which he ate while talking to his brother. As night came, he worked a bit on homework, and then went to bed. Dawn came early the next morning, and he went quickly to Silversage, wanting to compare what he knew of Sky to the horses he had access to, and try to gauge which one would be a good fit, for when the other guy was ready for his next lesson. After brushing down Versailles, and feeding the horses he was responsible for, he turned them out into the pasture, mucking out stalls all morning. The work was boring, tedious, and smelly, but it was worth it when he stepped back, and the fresh cedar shavings smelled sweet on the floor, still bright and unsoiled. Too tired to exercise any of them before lunch, he brought a appaloosa named Bluegrass out to graze, and lay in the grass next to him, half asleep. |
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Night fell shortly as he sat in his bed. Sky sat for hours on his phone till the clock hit around 2 am. He then decided to go to sleep. He slept in till 8 and when he woke up his coach sent him his schedule. His next game and practice was this weekend so he had some time to go for lessons. He texted Hayden telling him he could come in today but he wasn't free this weekend. He then went to the bank pulling out 50 bucks that he had from his last job. He did have time for horse riding and his two sports, he was just paranoid. He made it back home from his local bank and by that time Hayden had gotten back to him. Hayden said he could come in anytime so Sky got ready. He then let his mom know he was leaving and taking the car. He arrived at the stables and parked the car. He got out and looked around spotting Hayden then walking over to him. "Hey." He said pulling out the money. "Here's the money for today." He looked at the horse that was beside him. "Well, aren't you a pretty boy, what's his name?" Sky asked as he looked at the beautiful appaloosa. Sky stood there waiting for Hayden, he had no idea what they were going to do today but he guessed he would be riding a different horse. Hayden had to find a better match for him. |
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Hayden flinched at the sudden words, and sat up abruptly. He had been half asleep, having not slept well at all the night before, and he brushed the heel of his hand over his eyes. "Huh? Oh. His name is Bluegrass. He's Lynn's horse, a eight year old champion blood blanket appaloosa. That's how she always introduced him." After a comfortable lull in the conversation, Hayden stood up. "Alright then. I guess we should get going." Here was another problem. When the young man was angry or especially sad, his French accent stood out prominently. He didn't like sharing about the time when he lived in France, and it always led to awkward questions, so he decided to keep his talking to a minimum. "I'm going to have you ride Justin today. He's hilarious, I think you'll like him," Hayden muttered. "Why don't you go grab a halter, and we can go grab him? I'll get one of the other ones to ride today." |
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"Okay." Skylar nodded as he went to go grab a halter then returned to Hayden. They both walked to the stable Justin was in. Sky was already changed into riding gear seeing as that he accidentally took the stuff he wore yesterday home. He did remember to bring his clothes home though. Justin trotted to the stable door, he looked to be an American paint horse. He was mostly brown but had a few large white patches. "Aw, he's adorable." Sky said as he looked at the horse. Justin, that's such a weird name for a horse. He thought to himself but he liked it. He slipped the halter on his head and then gave him a pat. |
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Winter 
Night Weather: 
