[open] Harping On.

[Kayla Mackenzie Tucker]

One of the advantages of living on the property at Crossfire was she was so much closer to her ponies, and now one horse. Kayla had moved into the boarding house a week or so ago, and had already ridden her assigned mare, Jaded, in two competitions. The grey Irish Sport Horse wasn't large when it came from an average sized human, but to Kayla, with her jockey's build, was seriously over horsed when it came to the mare, bit that Kayla would have given her up for the sake of something more compact. She had compact in her three ponies, and she rode a lot bigger horses as a jockey.

Walking down from the boarding house, Kayla went directly to the mare's stall, smiling broadly when she saw the large, grey head over the stall door, the large, kind eyes bright from good health. There's my good girl, Kayla crooned to her, petting her neck and then going to the tack room to fetch the mare's tack. One thing about being a work rider was hard work. Kayla was just managing to get through the day with her three ponies, the racehorses she had to exercise, university and now adding another horse to the mix. Not to mention the shows and races that she was attending.

Her fuel bill was shooting through the roof, but thankfully, her parents were still supporting her through most of things that she had to pay. Kayla had realised how hard the real world had been without the security of high school, but she was loving the freedom to be honest. It was just starting to feel like everything was just piling on at the moment, and that at some point she was going to crack.

Carrying the tack back to the stall, she quickly saddled up the mare, looking amused at the fact that Jaded just stood there. The mare was far from calm once Kayla started to ride her, but Beth had given her some good pointers in keeping the mare under control and balanced at the same time. Kayla fastened on her helmet and led the mare to the mounting block, riding to the indoor arena, and going through a basic trot warm up.

The fences in the arena were set at about 4ft, so it would just be a light workout, Kayla knowing the mare could jump a lot higher and that she had the potential for it. The lithe form posted easily to the trot, and the mare was practically hopping with energy, just waiting to be given the signal to just run.

[landon]

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[/style][style=font-family: georgia; font-size: 40px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -5px; color: 232D54; text-shadow: #000000 1px 1px 0px; line-height: 25px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left:1px; text-align: left;]tonight i wanna turn my head off

AND LET THE MADNESS OUT CAN I GET THE GATES UP I FEEL IT COMING ROUND I'M IN A COLD WAR WITH MYSELF AND MY NERVES OH HURRY LIKE A HOUND DOG I'LL COCK MY HEAD JUST RIGHT AND COME OFF DYSFUNCTIONALLY IN LOVE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Gunner was beginning to feel like the last little bit of sanctity left in Landon's life. At least that was the way he felt. The horse had been there his whole life. In fact, he was there the way the colt was born. A slimy little platinum blond colt. He was sure he was going to have a perlino on his hands up until the colt was about two and actually started to darken and turn into the golden knight he was today. He actually wasn't as golden or shiny as many. Sure, he was well taken care of, but he was gelded very young so he never had the opportunity to really bulk out like some of his siblings. Compared to the other colts his sire sired, he was actually quite unimpressive. But that meant nothing to Landon. Eight years of his life was taken up for a love of the big lug of a horse that had his head sticking out of the stall in the barn, waiting for treats.

Landon spoiled his gelding. He deserved to be, in Landon's opinion. He was a good horse and rarely did he ever do anything wrong. Sometimes he got a tad hot in the roping box and would break the barrier, but Landon had been working with him on that. He was still young - eight years old was not very old. While he was much more mature than most horses his age, that didn't mean he didn't have a bit of a baby brain every now and then. "Oh Gunner!" Landon nearly sang out as he turned to walk down his isle into the barn. He was quickly met by a shrill whinny and a stamping of hooves, before glancing up to see the palomino gelding throwing his head up and down in his stall, his lips flying up as he did so. He got so excited.

Landon walked up to him and reached out to touch the horses nose, who quickly began sniffing around in his hand. " You think I have something for you, do you now?" Landon chuckled lightly before reaching into the pocket of his jeans and pulling out an apple flavored horse treat - Gunner's favorite. He knew every little thing about the horse from his favorite spots to be scratched, things that made him mad, and everything in between. After happily crunching away the treat, he snorted and rested his head on the stall door, as if to say he was done for the day now. Chewing the treat was his work out for the day.

"Alright boy. Let's go get a work out in." Landon said, pulling the worn leather halter off the hook and slipped it over the geldings rather thick head, latching it and leading him from the stall. Gunner plodded along willingly, even if he didn't want to work. It didn't take Landon long to brush him down and saddle him up since he stood so quietly. He rarely objected to anything unless it was jumping. Oh, he hated to jump. He figured out rather fast that all he had to do was run into it and the jump would fall. He had no motivation to go over the top of something that he could just as easily walk through. He liked to take the easy route out of just about anything.

After saddling up and slipping the bridle with the Jr. Cow Horse bit into the palomino's mouth he led him towards the indoor arena. Rarely did he ride in there, but he didn't feel like dealing with the snow and ice that was probably invading the outdoor arena. Gunner seemed to be dragging his feet so Landon tapped him to get him to pick up the pace a little, and was met with a small grunt and a quick pin of the ears. As he walked up to the arena, he noticed a girl riding in it. Jumping, it would seem. He figured she probably wouldn't mind if he just loped around the outside of the arena a little, so he went in. After opening the gate and stepping inside, he adjusted his cinch - making sure it was tight, and mounted up.

" Hope you don't mind if I join you. I won't get in your way." Landon said in the girls direction, flashing her a quick smile before asking Gunner to move forwards. He started walking his rather plodding walk, head level with his neck and barely wanting to move. After only a few moments he asked the gelding to pick up the jog, which he did willingly, his headset not moving. The now three years of reining he'd been doing with the palomino was finally paying off. He glanced up to see the girls horse was rather excited, so figured he had best stay out of the way for sure. Gunner was seemingly a bit edgy today, which was out of the norm for the gelding. "What's got you today boy? Something wrong?" Landon asked, reaching down to pet the horses neck.

Staying around the rail was a safe place to be he figured, keeping up a steady jog. Landon shook his head, figuring it was probably just because he had been in his stall for the last two days without being able to come out. After a moment there was a noise just on the other side of the wall, a pounding noise, which caused Gunner to leap sideways in a small flury and snort, bucking once before plowing over the top of a jump, toppling it over. "Hey hey!" Landon called, pulling the geldings head into him and letting him run a tight circle before stopping. "What the hell dude?" Gunner never freaked out, but now he was snorting, his head high in the air and staring intently at the other horse in the arena. Landon reached down and stroked his neck. "It's okay boy. Just because she's pretty doesn't mean you have to stare." he couldn't help but chuckle. Gunner was used to being around other horses but he seemed to be scared of something.

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[Kayla Mackenzie Tucker]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: f9f9f9; border: #8674B9 solid 10px; width: 420px; padding: 15 5 15 5px;] should i bend over? Kayla loved how the grey mare moved underneath her. It was just feeling the raw power in the horse that made her feel a rush of adrenaline inside of her every time she rode Jaded. Despite the grey’s energy, she had the sweetest personality, and Kayla couldn’t help but feel extremely lucky with the horse she was assigned to. As they reached C, Kayla asked for a canter, and then proceeded to work on the mare’s transitions on the lead that she wasn’t to good with, where patience was key, and repetition with correctness would end up leading to the mare becoming stronger. As she brought the mare to a walk, another rider entered the arena, and she gave him a friendly smile, shaking her head at the question. I don’t have much claim over the arena, but no, I don’t mind, she said, returning her focus on changing direction in the arena and then picking up a canter again. After one circuit, Kayla brought the mare to a halt, mentally planning on how she would jump the course that was laid out. She knew that when she had her lesson with one of the instructors, that they would be jumping completely different courses and heights all the time. After memorising the numbers, she cantered a twenty meter circle and jumped the course, Jaded almost bored with it. Kayla could feel the mare wasn’t even trying, but just as they approached the last fence, there was some sort of ruckus outside, freaking the horse in the other arena out, causing him to topple it over and making Kayla having to yank on Jaded’s mouth to her to turn in time before she could plow into the gelding. The mare stopped, and both horse and rider were breathing heavily, Kayla turning into the saddle to the other rider. Are you guys okay? she asked them, quickly dismounting in the process to make sure that the quick stopping antics hadn’t hurt Jaded. Kayla removed her gloves, and then took off the black tendon boots, feeling along the mare’s legs for heat, and when she found nothing, was actually mightily relieved. She fixed the bridle, checking the mare’s mouth. Everything was just fine. Seeing that she was on the ground anyway, she fixed the fence in the process. Kayla Tucker. Pleasure to meet you, she introduced herself. should i look older just to be put on your shelf? tagged Vesper/Landon words 394 muse Glee notes -flops- credits irish & mika! if you would like a template, ask, please do not steal!

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[landon]

[style=height: 5px;]

[/style][style=font-family: georgia; font-size: 40px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -5px; color: 232D54; text-shadow: #000000 1px 1px 0px; line-height: 25px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left:1px; text-align: left;]tonight i wanna turn my head off

AND LET THE MADNESS OUT CAN I GET THE GATES UP I FEEL IT COMING ROUND I'M IN A COLD WAR WITH MYSELF AND MY NERVES OH HURRY LIKE A HOUND DOG I'LL COCK MY HEAD JUST RIGHT AND COME OFF DYSFUNCTIONALLY IN LOVE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Landon was usually very cool calm and collected, especially when it came to working with his horses. It took a lot to upset him, but when his horse was usually the very epitome of dead broke, it was irritating. Landon had many horses in the past but Gunner was the one that stuck. He wasn't sure why he was acting so funny. Maybe it was the jumps set up in the arena, since the gelding hadn't ever really been around them. Landon hadn't ever jumped, nor had he tried to get the gelding to jump, so that could have been it. But why would they scare him?

He hardly noticed the other girl having to yank on her horses mouth and stop her hard when Gunner had his freak out moment. "Yeah, yeah, we're fine." Landon mumbled, dismounting the gelding and starting to check the tack. That could have been why he was acting funny, maybe something was up with his tack? Landon was always good about checking his tack and what not but everybody could make mistakes sometimes. "Are you alright? That was a pretty rough stop there." Landon was always overly concerned with other people, but watched the girl as she checked her horse. She didn't seem to be worried about anything, or Landon would feel awful. He losened Gunner's cinch and ran his hand under the saddle pad by his withers, making sure nothing was sticking out or a pin or something had gotten under the pad. Nothing.

He started tightening the cinch back up as Gunner let out a huff of air. Maybe it was just one of those moods. Maybe I should have lunged him first. Landon couldn't help but think. Maybe he just needed to get his jitters out of him before he could settle down. It had been a couple days since he'd been worked, after all. "Pleasure's all mine, Miss Tucker." He replied, turning to smile at her as he patted his horses shoulder. " Landon Michaels." He said, mock bowing to her. He was a gentlemen, but he was a goofball also. "Funny way to meet, huh? With my horse trying to kill you and all. I think he's got the hots for your mare." A small smirk crossed his features before laughing and shaking his head, and mounting back up on the gelding who now stood still. "You goofball." He said, rubbing the horses neck.

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[Kayla Mackenzie Tucker]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: f9f9f9; border: #8674B9 solid 10px; width: 420px; padding: 15 5 15 5px;] should i bend over? Kayla petted Jaded, tightening the girth and then looking up when the other rider asked them if they were okay. She nodded, a slight smile on her features. We’re okay, she answered, patting the mare’s neck again. She chuckled at his introduction, most definitely this being the first time that it had happened like that. It seemed like he was different than the guys she had met before, not a major arsehole was the first impression she seemed to get. I’m not surprised. She’s a pretty animal, so any horse would be lucky to have her, Kayla countered the comment with a grin, chuckling as Jaded stretched out her neck to the gelding. She had ridden western once, a long time ago, but she had preferred English a whole lot more. She enjoyed the thrill of jumping or the focus of dressage. There was just something about English riding that had her addicted, but her main focus was being a jockey. That was the ultimate thrill for her. The adrenaline of starting out of the gates, the split second decisions that had to be made, and the different types of horses that she got to ride. Kayla loved being a jockey, and in Addison, she had the opportunity to ride some of the best horses on the east coast. Once Landon had mounted his gelding, Kayla made sure that Jaded was standing, she put a foot in the stirrup and mounted, walking to the track and picking up a trot and then a steady canter, feeling the mare’s natural rhythm and cadence in the strides, smiling in delight. Kayla jumped the course again, this time it was faultless. The mare seemed eager to jump and carry on, but Kayla brought her to a walk instead, kicking her feet out of the stirrups and letting the reins slide through her fingers. should i look older just to be put on your shelf? tagged Vesper.Landon words 310 muse Had none notes Not my best. Sorry. credits irish & mika! if you would like a template, ask, please do not steal!

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[landon]

[style=height: 5px;]

[/style][style=font-family: georgia; font-size: 40px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -5px; color: 232D54; text-shadow: #000000 1px 1px 0px; line-height: 25px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left:1px; text-align: left;]tonight i wanna turn my head off

AND LET THE MADNESS OUT CAN I GET THE GATES UP I FEEL IT COMING ROUND I'M IN A COLD WAR WITH MYSELF AND MY NERVES OH HURRY LIKE A HOUND DOG I'LL COCK MY HEAD JUST RIGHT AND COME OFF DYSFUNCTIONALLY IN LOVE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Landon took pride in the fact that he was actually a gentlemen. Sometimes too much so. He tried so hard to be a gentlemen and be polite that sometimes he missed out on things. He was extremely oblivious to flirting and that got him knocked down quite a bit. He couldn't help it, he didn't want girls to think he was some heartless pig who only thought with his penis. He wasn't like that to begin with, however. He knew that real love was out there somewhere. He never did anything with a girl whom he wasn't dating, even if he did tend to spring the L word a bit too quickly. It was his own fault.

" I bet anybody would be lucky to have her." He said, flashing Kayla a grin. The flirty undertone he had was there, but he wasn't too serious about it. She was pretty, there was no looking around that. Pretty horse, pretty girl. Although he bet she had a boyfriend - which was probably the other reason he never really got anywhere with girls. He was too timid. So he just stayed away.

when she started jumping again he stopped and watched, Gunner watching also with his ears perked eagerly forward. It was lovely. He wouldn't ever be able to dream of his gelding doing that. He would probably just go right through them. After she dropped to a walk, he trotted up to her side before dropping Gunner to a walk. "That was really good." He mused, brushing his fingers through the palomino geldings mane. " You seem like you've been riding for a long time." He said, smiling slightly and glancing over at her. "And if you haven't, then you're damn good for a beginer."

OOC; Sorry this is total crap. My muse is funny.

[/style][style= width: 200px; font-size: 09px; font-family: arial; padding: 5px; color: 6a6a6a;]thereisalieinperfection @ CAUTION 2.0

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[Kayla Mackenzie Tucker]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: f9f9f9; border: #8674B9 solid 10px; width: 420px; padding: 15 5 15 5px;] should i bend over? Kayla hadn’t really been interested in dating since she had arrived in Addison. It was something that she was regretting though, because as she was feeling the stress pile up, she wanted nothing more than just sneak into a club and party. There was no time though. She was up before dawn to get down to the practice track, and then after she had exercised the horses, she usually took a break, had breakfast and then went to class. In the afternoons she returned back to the farm, rode or lunged her horses and then it was time to hit the books. There was really no time for going out when the day was done. Not that she cared, it was a good life and it kept her busy. She smiled at Landon as he drew up beside her once she had finished jumping the course, and chuckled at his comment. I’ve been riding since I was old enough to sit in a saddle, she answered him. I’ve got another three ponies in the barn and then I jockey for some of the owners here as well, she elaborated with a smile, looking at him. And what about you? How long have you been riding? she asked him curiously, really interested in knowing. It wasn’t often that she really spoke to someone close to her own age, mainly because she was so busy during the day. It was something that she planned to work on though. Kayla knew her classmates well enough, the days that she didn’t have to rush were the days that she spent socialising with them, and that was enough for her. Wanna grab a coffee after this? she asked him suddenly, smiling at him. should i look older just to be put on your shelf? tagged vesper.landon words 288 muse game of thrones notes Sorry this took so long o.o credits irish & mika! if you would like a template, ask, please do not steal!

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