Taking it slow {Irish}

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DANIEL MARK TOWNING
NORMALLY I TRY TO RUN, I MIGHT EVEN WANNA HIDE

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Pulling up in the sleek black car, Danny stepped out, into the car park. He quickly shut the door and clicked the key fob he held in his hand and the car whirred shut. He proceeded to make his way over to the racing barn, where all the studs were held. He had his own little wing as it were, well he needed it, he had ten of his own racehorses and they all needed a stable. Well no way were any of his precious horses going to be living out, especially in the fall. And his racehorses were unlike any other horses at the barn. They weren't the typical flashy thoroughbreds you'd expect to see at the race barn, oh no. They were much better than that. They were arabians, some of the best racing arabians in the world. Or so he believed. Although he did happen to have one of the best racing stallions under his ownership, who he had as his stud stallion to breed his mares too. Thinking of the fine grey stallion as he entered the near side of the barn, he was the first to greet him. The stallion was considered grey, but was as white as snow but like all horse owners he knew that his hrose was indeed grey not white. He walked up to the horse and reached out a hand, gently he stroked the stallions white muzzle, smiling and looking down to the gold name plate on his stable door. It read 'AL-ASHAB DAWAR' or his stable name, Aly. He was incredibly proud of the horse and at only 6 years of age was doing incredibly well for a stallion. He was named the Top Arabian Racehorse of the Year in 2009 and Top Arabian Show Stallion of the Year in the same year. Proving that this horse was incredible. Another gold plate was screwed on by the side of his stall, recording these achievements.


Then another snort caught Danny's attention, this time it came from opposite Ally. He turned, knowing who resided in the opposite stable, it was his other, main breeding stallion, Gameel Emir. Otherwise known as Emir. He was 12 years and had retired from racing at the age of ten. He had ran but 52 races and had even competed against thoroughbreds and won, he was a champ inn his own right, even if he hadn't won as impressive titles as Ally, he was more famed and more proven on the track than his younger stable mate. Danny walked over to the Bay stallion, his dished face extending towards Danny to get a sniff. The elder stallion was far more relaxed than Ally and far more mature than any other stallion he had met. He had imported the stallion from France and had invested a large sum of money in him, going into the millions. But he was worth it. He had already sired one of the foals who was currently pushing 6 months, and the colt was already showing a good prospect of being a great racing champ like his father. He patted the horse once more and then walked down the isle a bit further, coming to a stop at the larger boxes at the end. Only one held a mare and foal, and he peered over, to see the youngster resting his wobbly legs and his dam standing over him. It was far too cold for even the mares to be out today.


Ok so maybe he was a little over protective but who could blame him. They cost him a fortune and it wasn't just the cost of them. If one was to injure themselves in such a way that he had to put anyone of them down. He would be afraid he'd never own a racehorse again. He took care of his animals and took pride in them. He didn't want to see them injured or hurt. He looked over Fally and Tjry, her resting colt. He couldn't help but smile at the sight. He was such a cheeky and energetic youngster and to see him so peaceful was rare. Sighing he moved away from the door, Fally had not even seemed to register his appearance, that or she didn't care that he was standing by the door. Probably thankful for the peace she was getting. Danny wasn't even sure why he had the horses. He had no one to exercise them and he was too fearful to handle them himself. He would normally get one of them grooms to turn them out and groom them and they had all been groomed, but again it was too cold to put them out, so what was he supposed to do with them? He continued walking back to the bay stallion at the top of the barn. In truth he was his favourite, well he didn't have favourites but the one he most liked to spend time with. He was a lot gentler than the others. And plus, he would accept his company a lot happier than the others.



ooc;;
notes;; Sorry it's poor, I suck at opening. xD
wearing;; Outfit
horses;; Ally, Emir, Fally, Tjry

[Johanna India Eastman]

( I fell down upon myself just to pray for sweet solution )

Erin turned her glossy back rump away from Johanna abruptly, snorting in what seemed to be disdain as she attacked her hay net, spreading the flaky material everywhere as she ate. “Fine, be difficult. It’s not like anything’s been easy lately anyways, don’t want to break the trend just yet, now do we?” she grumbled to herself, turning away from the Thoroughbred mare’s stall. The mare didn’t seem to notice, or care, too busy tearing away through her breakfast.

Nothing had been working in Jo’s favour over the past month or so. She really should have planned her departure from the home she had shared with Casey better, brought more savings with her, found mounts before she made the move to Addison. But, she supposed, when your husband cheated on you, among everything else, those things weren’t really what first crossed your mind, just the overwhelming sense to leave. Which, she had followed. And perhaps taking Erin with her hadn’t been the best idea either, but she hadn’t wanted to leave the mare, she could see her potential, even if her ex only thought she was good for dog meat because of her temperament, but she knew it could be worked through.

A sort of heavy nervousness sat in the pit of her stomach as she left the barn Erin was in, heading towards the quarters she had been told were occupied by one Daniel Towning. Curious as to any owners or trainers who needed a jockey, or even just an exercise rider, one of the older racing grooms had told her that the Arabian owner currently didn’t have any and might just be looking for some. Normally, she wouldn’t be nervous, but god she needed this. She was still living in her trailer, for heaven’s sake, she could stay in there forever, especially once winter hit. Fall was bad enough, but she’d freeze in the even colder season.

Finally reaching her destination, she spotted the figure of a man walking up the aisle between the stalls. “Excuse me, but would you happen to be Daniel Towning by any chance?” she called, not a shout, tones just strong enough to carry up the aisle and to the stranger without spooking any of the horses.

Tagged Danny
Words 374
Outfit Click
Muse Working Class Man - Jimmy Barnes
Notes Eh, that wasn't that great, mainly just a load of ramble xD

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DANIEL MARK TOWNING
BURNING DOWN NEVERLAND, SCATTER THE ASHES

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He continued to wander down the isle, stopping at each stall, to pop his head over. A horse was either contentedly munching on his hay net in the near corner of the stable or standing passively at the back, snoozing, with a leg cocked. Nearly all except two were doing this, the youngster he had visited earlier had been lying down. And an almost spitting image of him was doing the same. Danny stopped at Whahil's stable, peeking over. The colt had tucked himself up, resting his head on the ground in between his front legs, which were tucked into his stomach. He really did look a lot like the youngster down the isle. The same reddy chestnut coat and the same white blaze on his face. Danny did the brave thing and opened the door to the stable. Whahil raised his crown, but didn't stir from his obviously comfy position. Danny closed the door too and walked over to where the colt's head was. He crouched down, resting on his toes. He out reached an arm and ruffled the horse's forelock. This was incredibly brave for him. Touching a horse. But he knew the horse from back to front. He was the most laid back horse he'd ever trained and needed encouragement on the track to race the other horses. But once he was in front, nobody was over taking him. It was just getting him there which was the problem.



He stood up again, giving the horse one last pat and made his way back into the barn isle. He didn't just breed his horses for their performance on the track. He was a firm believer that a horse had another job to do after they left racing, and it was his job to make sure they were prepared for that. He bred horses for their speed, stamina and impressive racing ability. But also for their temperament, natural athletic ability and general all roundness. He had already had many horses who had gone on to do different jobs, such as dressage, jumping, showing and even endurance. They were easily re trainable, and mostly good on the ground and under saddle. All with the exception of one of his colt's at the moment. He was generally argy and just generally rude. But he would soon grow out of it, Danny was sure of it. But still the horse was manageable, even if he did need an experienced handler.


Then his attention snapped from his thoughts, his head whirred up to spot a shortish woman approaching him. She had asked if he was, who he of course was. "Depends who's asking." He replied, he could tell she was a rider, and probably looking for a ride. And he wasn't the sort of trainer to just give her the ride. She'd have to prove that she could handle his precious Arabians. He almost wanted to stick her on top of Whahil, but that would be unfair on the colt. Everything else had been worked today also, except one. He gave a sideways glance to the grey stallion to his left. Could she possibly ride him? He hadn't been ridden yet, not in weeks. Because there was no one he'd trust on him. None of the jockeys he'd seen riding his other horses anyway. But if she proved that she could handle him on the ground, then she would surely be able to ride him. He was a pretty straight forward ride. Once you were on, it was the getting on and tacking up which was the problem. He studied her as she came to a stop before him. She looked like the typical rider, nothing strange about her.



ooc;;
notes;; eh it's crappeh!
horses;; Whahil

[Johanna India Eastman]

( I fell down upon myself just to pray for sweet solution )

Johanna stopped a few feet short of Danny, unsure of where to put her hands, she ended up hooking the thumb of her left hand through one of the belt loops on her jeans, the other hand hanging somewhat uselessly down her right side. "Depends who's asking," was the answer she got in return for asking if he was Daniel Towning. She had half expected that answer, in fact, it was probably something she’d answer with herself until she figured out exactly what the other person wanted. Especially if they came up nosing around about Erin. She didn’t know how long she was going to be able to keep the mare, she knew her ex would only try and get the Thoroughbred back just to piss her off, he didn’t want her, but she had left him, so it would just be his way for revenge.

“My name’s Johanna Eastman,” she started. She used her proper name this time, not going by her middle name, but reverting back to her maiden name. It wouldn’t do her any good to lie to a possible future employer, even if she didn’t want Casey finding out where she was, at least for enough time as it took her to figure everything out. She considered her next words carefully, she didn’t want to sound too desperate, despite actually being, she needed this and she didn’t want to lose a chance because she kept tripping over her words or seeming overly eager.

She didn’t remember it ever being this hard before. Perhaps her confidence had just been shaken up after the past few months. “Look, I’m just going to cut straight to the chase here. I need rides, and I was told you might be looking for a rider,” she said, a little bluntly, but she figured it was the only way to do it right now. Come on Jo, snap out of it. You’ve done this a thousand times before, don’t lose your nerve now, she berated herself.

Tagged Danny
Words 334
Outfit Click
Muse The One That Got Away - Katy Perry
Notes Muse is...playing up today.

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DANIEL MARK TOWNING

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YOU WISH YOU HAD SOMEBODY THAT COULD COME AND MAKE IT RIGHT,

Danny stuffed his hands back into the pockets of his suit. He studied the girl, now known to him as Johanna, with interest. She seemed brave, brave enough to come right up to him and as him for a ride. He knew he didn't have the best reputation around here for being welcoming. In fact quite the opposite. Most kept clear of him, by the way he treated his jockeys and grooms. But he had a reason why he was so strict. His father had been strict, he had learnt the exact same way that he now taught his jockeys. And there was nothing wrong with that way of teaching. But hell, there was certainly no room for mistakes. Though maybe, Danny should change his ways. He had made a mistake, and that had destroyed him. Because he was scared of his won father, the very man who tried to help him. Although his version of helping wasn't necessarily helpful. Probably worse than helpful.



Returning his thoughts to the girl before him, he rocked back. So that he was leaning on his heels. He grabbed his face with his hand, rubbing his chin with one finger. The stubble pricked at his finger, indicating it was probably time for a shave. Obviously not right now, but it was on his list of things to do for tonight. Not that he had a list. Other than crack open a bottle of red wine and guzzle it whilst watching some crappy soap opera. Then probably pass out until the early morning, where his boring, unfulfilled routine would start all over again. "Have you had any experience in racing Arabians before? Or even handling them?" He asked, contemplating what he would reply if she said no. It surely wouldn't be the end of the world. He knew that most thoroughbreds were hot to handle on the ground and under saddle, but he also knew that most Arabians gave a false impression of calmness. Until you hit the track. And hell trying to get most of them calmly standing in their stables after a race was next to impossible. They were still spinning three days after.



He decided to continue with what he was going to say. Whatever her answer, he would still want her to do it. "If you would, Mrs Eastman, grab that handsome man's tack and well, tack him up?" He asked, more of an instruction than a question. He nodded in the direction of the grey stallion, Ally. He wasn't sure what her reaction would be. But she wanted it straight to the point didn't she? Unfortunately Ally was opposite of most Arabians. He was fiery on the ground and smooth and calm once you were on the track. Hopefully she would have the bravado to put him in his place with Danny watching. He wasn't too fussed which methods she used to get Ally to behave, he was boisterous and needed putting in his place. As long as it didn't border on animal cruelty he was fine with it.



ooc;;
notes;; 'getonmahhorse' xD

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BUT BABY I 'AINT SOMEBODY WITH A LOT OF SYMPATHY

[Johanna India Eastman]

( I fell down upon myself just to pray for sweet solution )

Danny took an age to reply. Johanna watched him, saw the thought being considered in his mind as he just looked at her. She had been warned by the groom who had brought it up that he wasn’t exactly the easiest man to get along with, but that thought hadn’t phased her. God, she’d been married to Casey since she was eighteen, she was fairly sure she could handle whatever he said to her, and her father had always taught her to stand up for herself and never be intimidated by anyone, she had to be like that, being a jockey, she had to put up with other riders trying to psych her out, and it didn’t help that most of the other jockeys she dealt with were male, it was predominantly a male sport, after all, and some of them...didn’t appreciate it, or appreciated her presence a little too much.

He finally spoke. "Have you had any experience in racing Arabians before? Or even handling them?" he asked, and thankfully, she was able to nod in answer. “Riding and handling, I was brought up around racers and eventers,” she answered, shrugging slightly. She was thankful, at that moment, that her mother’s passion had been eventing, and that she had picked up some of that love, as well as her father’s for racing. She couldn’t imagine doing one without the other, really, and she’d always had at least two horses of the opposite discipline. She returned her thoughts back to the task at hand at that thought, she needed this, or one of her only options would be selling one of her horses. And she didn’t want that.

His request for her to tack the grey stallion near them, she found a little odd. Usually, the jockey didn’t tack the horse...oh well, if that was how he wanted it done, so be it. And it wasn’t as if she cared, she handled her own horses, she didn’t expect anyone else to do it for her, and wasn’t going to expect it then. “Alright,” was her simple reply, stepping around him and heading towards the gear marked as his, after taking a quick glance at the horse’s nameplate.

Tagged Danny
Words 367
Outfit Click
Muse If I Knew Then - Lady Antebellum
Notes Wasn't sure how to write this out, so I figured I'd let you sort of...say how he's going to act and I'll answer it? xD

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[donte]

DANIEL MARK TOWNING

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YOU WISH YOU HAD SOMEBODY THAT COULD COME AND MAKE IT RIGHT,

Danny smirked as she obliged, watching her walk away before turning his attention to the grey in the stable. He walked over, taking his strides slow, standing before the inquisitive horse. The stallion poked his head over his door, straining his neck to sniff around his hands, which were still buried deeply inside his pockets. Danny smiled, pulling out one hand to rub the horse's forehead. Content with this affection the horse remained still, even pushing into his hand to receive more pressure. Then attention was focused on the jangle on a girth buckler and that was all that was needed to make the stallion to retract his head and retreat to the back of the stable. It didn't matter whose tack it was, he always reacted the same way. Several had tried to sooth him and cure him of his hate for tack but no one had succeeded. Danny looked on as the handsome boy turned slightly nasty. His ears pinned to his skull with his teeth grinding together, biting at the air in anticipation.



Danny looked to the tack room door, where Jo was just exiting. He gave a glance to the angered stallion, smirking as he said his next words. "He can be a bit...snappy, on the ground." He told her lightly. The words 'a bit' and 'snappy' possibly being the biggest understatement of the year. He grabbed the leather halter and lead rope hanging on the peg by the stable door. He offered it to her, offering her his free arm to hold the saddle for her. "It would be an idea to put his bridle on first and then tie him up. Get in there quick though, else you won't get near him for another hour." He smiled as he said it, as if she didn't know what she was letting herself in for. He was aware jockey's never did the tacking up. But if she could handle him on the ground he had no doubt he could handle the rest of his string under saddle. He believed that the base of a good jockey was the knowledge and capability of basic horsemanship, including tacking up. It was essential to be able to handle the horses as well as ride them. With Danny you weren't just in it for the ride, you were a part of the team as well. Like it or not, it's how he worked.



He waited for her to take action, watching the horse out of the corner of his eye. He was ready for him to behave like a prick. He always did, it seemed to be his nature. He hoped his offspring would be better tempered than he was. Else he would have more antisocial creatures on his hands. But the possibility of breeding champions was too hard to pass up. He would just have to deal with bad tempered racehorses if he wanted to breed from Ally. And he certainly did want to.



ooc;;
notes;; oh so sorry for the crapness and lateness!

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BUT BABY I 'AINT SOMEBODY WITH A LOT OF SYMPATHY

[Johanna India Eastman]

( I fell down upon myself just to pray for sweet solution )

She took in the smirk on Danny’s face, knowing right then and there that this wasn’t going to be an easy task. Luckily she had enough experience around horses, and the fact that Erin had nearly killed her a good few times in the exact same situation, it didn’t faze her too much. Walking to the tack room, she located the Arabian stallion’s tack, leaning backwards a little to peek out the door and back into the aisle, watching the man pet the stallion, who seemed calm (for now) for a few moments before busying herself getting the tack, hoisting the lighter racing saddle up with practised ease, bridle over one shoulder, before walking back out to face preparing to ride Aly. She saw the horse retract his head when the girth made an unwelcoming rattle as she carried it out, demeanour changing completely from how calm he had been only mere moments before.

This was going to be...interesting.

She listened to his words of advice, nodding to confirm she had taken notice. Doesn’t need to sound so damn smug about it, I bet he’s waiting for me to fuck it up, she thought, letting him taking the saddle off her, before she slipped into the grey Arabian’s stall. He saw her come in, automatically going to turn his behind in her direction, but she was quicker than that, at his chest level in a quick step, pushing the back end of his body away from her whenever he kept trying it, using as much force as her slight build could muster to make him feel uncomfortable enough to have to stop to balance himself again. She used the halter, securing it by the strap around his neck, to keep some control of where his head went, making him keep it low enough that she could start bridling him. He lashed out with his front right, which she dodged, giving him a firm, but not painful, whack, before continuing with the bridle. He took the bit surprisingly easily, though didn’t stand still in the slightest as she did up the straps, tossing his head up and down and kept trying to kick her. She fixed the halter so it was on him properly when she was satisfied that the bridle was on properly, moving to lead him out of the stall.

Another problem, as he reared slightly upon leaving it. She moved clear of his hooves, forcing him to move forward again once his hooves had touched the ground again, tethering him quickly, but securely, watching both ends of the horse carefully as she removed his blankets, before turning to get his saddle back off Danny. More problems. No sooner had she turned back, saddle in arms, he crab hopped to the side, an attempt to push her against the wall, but only succeeding in standing on her foot. “Bastard,” she let out the low growl, not caring if Danny heard her or not. He could just live with it. Stubborn resolve set in, and a few minutes later, complete with more barging, kicking and bite attempts from the Arabian stallion, she finally had the saddle securely fastened to his back.

Now, she couldn’t really tell who was worse out of Aly or Erin. If he was nearly as horrid in the saddle as he was on the ground, they’d give each other a run for their money.

Tagged Danny
Words 568
Outfit Click
Muse Path - Apocalyptica
Notes Let's pretend that didn't take me over a month to reply to, k? And, I'm aware parts of that are probably really off, so I tried to keep it vague. Little experience with problem horses, really xD

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