.

Lucian watches the display of a few words' power over the Norman mare with a bit of wonder... I mean.. a "whoa" works more often than not with most horses... but not tied and having been prior nervous, the young man was amazed to see the buckskin so quiet and calm once more.

.

"She really is voice operated..... that's really quite incredible" He reaches out to pet Iris' nose. "And Skyla... take your time.... I don't even think all the instructors are here yet... and I think the schedule said something about this being still orientation? We still need to get our concrete schedules posted..... dont worry" He puts hid hand on her shoulder.. "we can go out together if you feel nervous"

.

"Why the hell are you scared of them?.... they are teachers not monsters... or are you that inept?"

Her voice is harsh as she takes out an ear bud and looks at Skyla directly.

.

Esie stomped her foot and snorted. Ready to go and hated having to wait. Tail thrashing with its bag she pinned her ears at Iris.

Snowflake ‘Snow’ Phoenix Graves/Apache Apus Graves | 42/19 | Lappy/Tic | Mentions; Each Other(Ind), Terra + Teddy + Alina(Ind), Donna(Snow) Open.

Apache didn’t mind the talking going on around him, too much. But still, he started up a low hum as he continued with the maintenance of grooming and feeding. Luckily, it didn’t take too long for him to finish and then he was patting Tic, leaving the stall and heading over to the tack room.

--

He’d seen some of the girls already tacking their horses up, so he guessed that it would be fine to do. Besides, if the instructors had a problem with it- He’ll just have to have a chat with his mom. And despite how neither of them wanted to admit it, their chats never got them anywhere.

--

So he went and grabbed his dark blue saddle pad and black saddle and black reins, coming back over to Tic after. He placed the saddle pad a bit further than the shoulder and withers, sliding it back into place towards the hindquarters. He took up the saddle then, carefully placing it. Then, he went through the routine of hooking the stirrup to the saddle horn, running the latigo through the cinch and back up to the rigging before repeating the process, then tightening the cinch just-so so it’s able to keep the saddle in place, tying the excess latigo through the rigging, and lowering the left stirrup.

--

And with that, he finally took up the reins. Tic was usually good during this process, though at this point, he made sure to pat her back to let her know they were almost done. He placed the reins over her head, went and buckled the halter to her neck, then he used one hand to slide the headstall upwards and the other to aid the bit into the mare’s mouth, carefully pulling the headstall over her ears. He adjusted the cheek strap and then unhooked the halter.

--

It wasn’t too long of a process, all in all, he led her out of the barn and to the courtyard where he’d seen some of the girls go after. He was fairly certain that he had jumping first, though he’d probably wait to hear from the instructors on just what they were doing.

--

He still saw students that had yet to tack up their horses, but most of them at least seemed to have done their maintenance so there was that. He saw two of the girls chatting about what seemed to be a map but decided to leave it alone, deciding it would probably be a good idea to wait- At least until everyone knew where they were starting. In all honesty, he could wait to start riding. As long as he didn’t have dressage first, that was. He and Tic had never been the best at it, they knew a few things and the basics but for the most part? They didn’t have the patience to go through it all.

*~*~*~*

After finishing her coffee, she decided to go ahead and head over to the barn to see who all was up and getting ready so far. She ended up seeing two of the other teachers, quite a few of the students, plus some that had already tacked up their horses. Well, it was nearing that time, wasn’t it?

--

She would have to tack up Lappy soon probably. But for now, she saw her son taking Tic out and gave the slightest proud smile she could. She was glad her son had found something he could enjoy other than music, it wasn’t a stable career after all. And no, that hadn’t been an intended pun but she most certainly wouldn’t laugh now that she realized it was one.

--

She had hair up in a ponytail, and was wearing the most practical of outfits when it came to riding. A white shirt, jeans made for horseback riding, and boots made for riding. Apache seemed to be in similar attire so at least there was that.

--

She spotted Donna and Callahan, deciding to make her way over. They were currently chatting with a student, so it could turn out to be a good chance to gauge the personalities she’d be dealing with this school year.

--

“Donna, Árón.” She gave a respectful nod to each of them, and then looked at the student. “And who might you be? I don’t believe we’ve met yet. I’m Snowflake Graves but please, call me Snow.”

--

In all honesty, her horse was much more known than she was so if he didn’t end up recognizing her until he met Lappy then it would make sense.

Rembrandt Ford - 19 - Black - Barn - Mentions: Kaleb, Jason, Donna (indirect)), Aron (indirect), students (indirect), Black, open

Rembrandt watched as Kaleb went off toward Donna and the man, the latter probably another teacher, though he couldn't tell for sure. The thing about Donna, the coffee thing, was a thing to mentally note; he had a few family members who needed coffee to function in the mornings, he never got that. He didn't need a stimulant to wake him up, he could hardly get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom without being waking up, a blessing and a curse sometimes. He looked around from where he stood, noticed a few students tacking up their horses and leading them out, he'll take that as a cue to go; he glanced over to... what was his name again? Oh yeah, Jason.

"I'm going to go get Black ready, see you later." He said simply before walking off to the tack room. He collected his tack, a black saddle and reins, and a black saddle pad. A bit funny that his horse and tack were all black; but he wasn't one for bright colors on a dark horse, mostly because they worked well for Black, and a little bit of he liked how it all looked. He grabbed a simple brush as well. Returning to the stall, he set down the gear and gave his horse a short groom. It was relaxing for him to groom the gelding, almost meditative, it allowed him to think, especially when something was going on. After that, he put the saddle pad on, made sure it was even, and set the saddle on it; tightening the straps and whatnot carefully, then double checking after he was done. As he came near Black's head, he clicked his tongue twice, a signal that he has almost done; Black was always so nice when being saddled up. He got the reins on, stepped back and triple checked the saddle and then the reins and headstall; better safe than sorry.

"Good boy Black," Rembrandt said softly, petting his graceful neck, then took the reins and led the horse out of the barn. He headed to the courtyard he had seen the others go, he didn't really know the schedule and places yet; so he was just following others who had most likely been at the Academy a little longer. By a day, but still, he had just gotten here.

.

"Oh for Fu-... Victoria what the hell is your problem?? Skyla has done nothing to you."

.

He moves to get out of the stall so he doesn't further spook the German. Knowing how close she already is to breaking from the verbal lash.

.

"If anyone is inept here it is you.. how can you be socially inept that you would pick a fight with a neighbor that hasn't done anything to you but who has also only shown you kindness?? And why the hell would you be picking a fight with her while there's a witness..... at least it proves you're as stupid as you are spoiled. How much did that mare cost your parents ??... 30 thousand? 50?..."

.

Crossing his arms the Spainard pulls himself to his full height. A veritable Blond immovable wall of grumpy dissatisfaction and vitriol. You can practically feel his built up displeasure snapping around him.

.

"And..... before you think of slinking off know this.. unless your attitude changes I am most assuredly NOT going to be giving you any assistance at this barn.. not in class not out of class.. not until that attitude of your's changes"

...

....

...

The American certainly was not expecting the verbal assault the lambasted her.. normally a bit of a queen bee at her own barn she never in a million years expected someone into tear into her like that...

.

Victoria's fingers tighten on her reins as she does not speak... waiting for his diatribe to end... as soon as he finishes with the line about never helping her, she pulls herself up and levels her nastiest glare his way.

.

"I don't NEED help... save your help for church mice that cannot even defend themselves..... I know I have one thing that my parents didn't need to buy me.. and I know very we how to use it.." she looks directly at Skyla and hisses, "a spine"

. With no other words she turns and leaves. Wanting to get out of there as smoothly and quickly as possible.... fuming at being called out and even more fuming that no-one had ever had her back like that.

He gives Donna's hand a squeeze as she leaves.. knowing that her staying around would probably not end all that well for either of the people he was left with.. as Kaleb leaves he sighs as its just him and Ms Graves.

.

"Excuse our co-worker.... ol' Belladonna has been a bit sharp with everyone since I first met her. It will take her a bit to accept ya or whatever she decides.." He looks up and back over to the barn at the sound of a hubbub and the screaming of a mare. As he does he will watch as Apache rides out looking for a practice ring.. he makes mental note of him before looking back to his mother. "I'm assuming that one's your's?.... bit of an interesting set up he has there....."

.

.

.

(Question @Over, I'm confused as to what type of a tack set up that you have going on here. You mention a cheek strap, which most would take to mean the long piece of leather that runs from the crown piece to the bit... normally that wouldn't be adjusted if this was your tack set for that horse. Did you maybe mean throat latch? The piece that goes loosely under the large end of the jaw (not the curbstrap as depending on the bit you wouldn't have one). Also terms like "cinch and horn" denote the saddle as western and not English. Unless you are doing a trail ride I don't think there are any western classes at the school for riding.. that's why Lucian and Skyla have western saddles only for trail since you cannot jump safely in a western saddle. Besides possible injury from the horn its a really big difference in weight for the horse and could hurt them. Not trying to be mean, just trying to see what you meant)

"Ok." Jason replied as Rembrandt walked off. He heard people fighting, and decided to stay out of it. He went to grap Solstace and go to his first lesson, intermediate to advanced jumping. Jason quickly tacked up Solstace and went to the arena, which was right across from the barn. When he got there he saw no one was there, and checked his watch. "Damn, I'm actually early." He said. Jason wasn't usually early, mostly right on time, so this was new to him. Geuss I should set up some jumps and practice. Jason went to work, leaving Solstace tied to the fence. After he was finished Jason trotted Solstace along the fence, and more than once had to keep him from cantering. After Jason thought Solstace wouldn't start galloping at random he started the course.