A Warm Velvet Nose... (OPEN)

[Kate Hudson]

OUTFIT: www.polyvore.com/barn/set?id=19750811

It was early in the morning at Pinewood, and the workers were starting their day. Boarders slowly started to trickle in and ride their horses. Almost every space of riding was taken, so most riders took to the trails. The stable manager, Kate arrived in her pick up and hoped out, and was followed by her border collie, Max. She pulled her hair back into a high ponytail, and stuffed her working gloves into her back pocket. She walked into through the barn entrance, and greeted everyone, and made a quick stop by Jericho's stall and snuck him a new sugar cube. The horse was high strung as it was, and certainly did not need anymore sugar, but he was her baby and was so spoiled. She smiled and kissed his fuzzy nose and she went down to the other end of the barn to get a young colt out of his stall. This was the new thoroughbred colt that a gentleman wanted her to train. It was also a favor for her boss Sebastian, since he and the owner were friends. She sighed and put the halter on and led the colt out.

She has little experience with training race horses, which is why she stuck to just training in English equitation. The colt tossed his head as she attached the lunge line to his halter and had him circle her at a steady walk. Before she started to do any real work, she dug into her back pocket and pulled out her leather gloves. Having more experience working with young horses, she knew this one would be no different when he misbehaves. He'll fight, tug, and try to bolt while she works with him, and she would rather not give him the satisfaction.

[Sebastian Kings]

Yes! Sebastian exclaimed That's it Jenny, just like that. Perfect example of a shoulder-in! the riding instructor was walking briskly in line with his student and her mount, keeping a good gap between the horse and himself. Vincent, the big chestnut thoroughbred gelding, wasn't a huge fan of advanced dressage movements. He was just getting old. Ok, Jenny close your inside hand and apply that right leg, hard. the teenage girl was a good student, almost too good for Vincent. Sebastian knew he was going to need new lesson horses soon. The majority of his students had outgrown the fat, fuzzy ponies and old retired hunters he'd been teaching on for years. Sebastian was a firm believer in continuing to challenge his students. No one could ride the same horse forever and continue to grow as a rider. Thats great Jenny, now give him a loose rein and let the old man have a walk. Once he's cooled out why don't you give him a bath? He smiled as the girl's eyes lit up. All the kids at the barn had been chomping at the bit to bath the horses. Today was the warmest day they'd seen this year, so Sebastian thought he'd finally let up. He patted the big red gelding and wandered over to the fence.

Sebastian turned his attention to a spunky looking colt in the round pen. He knew it was a Thoroughbred, though not one of his.. This one was young, a yearling he was sure. All legs and fuzz. It was then Sebastian recognized the handler as the new stable manager. Hmm.. Sebastian grumbled. He always let Chey do all the hiring, she was the people person anyhow. But when he found out she'd hired someone to be the manager and the secondary English instructor, well needless to say he felt kind of blind sided.. Yes, he knew eventually he'd need help with teaching and he also knew Chey had his best interests at heart. But he really wished he'd had time to really get to know this 'Kate' and her teaching style before she was thrust forward as his new 'right hand man' Or woman.. he murmured to himself, half rolling his eyes. Yeah he was a bit of a jerk.. Ok, he was a total jerk but you gotta love Sebastian.. Or totally freakin hate him..

[Kate Hudson]

Kate didn't take notice that she was being observed. Though she would prefer to just be alone. She tightened the straps on her gloves and made sure they fit just right before adjusting the lunge line in her hands. She wanted to see how this little guy moved. Did he have a nice, long flowing trot, or was it choppy? She got his attention and made him move out into a full circle, so she could get a good look at him as he moved. He didn't particularly like being handled with the long line, and often would yank his head or try to break the circle. She gripped the line and made a noise of disapproval. " Champion bloodlines my ass," she said softly.

To Kate, bloodlines were the last thing on her list when it came to considering a horse. It didn't really matter to her who the sire or great-sire was. To her, it was all about how you handled and trained the horse to be at it's best.

She got a few fights out of him, and sometimes he was a beautiful mover, but the colt had a ways to go before he was going to be in shape for anything. Why did the owner pay so much for this horse, and then entrust her to train it? This was a Thoroughbred for racing! Not a Grand Prix jumper! She sighed, and after working with it for almost an hour, she gathered the line and patted it's neck. " You were good today. How about we bring that back in our next session?," she said softly and rubbed his nose. She looked over and saw that she was in fact being watched.

[Sebastian Kings]

Yeah, maybe you could tell Sebastian was a little bitter about the situation.. Pinewood was his baby. He'd worked very hard to get it exactly how he wanted it and was a little protective over his home. And Sebastian took great pride in his lesson program turning out top quality riders and all around horsemen and women. So to see someone be hired on the spot to coach his students made him nervous. He watched Kate work with the young horse, she seemed to know what she was doing when working with young horses. But he was quick to realize that this colt was a race horse, not an english prospect.. Sebastian knew enough about horse racing from hanging around with "Speed" (His and Charlie's unfortunate nick-name for Anthony) to know that lunging isn't exactly normal racehorse protocol. Sebastian sat on the fence watching the horse's workout for a few moments longer before his next lesson was to begin.

Reagan, a 16 yr old girl who'd been schooling with Sebastian for a few years lead her horse Phoenix down to the lesson arena. Phoenix, a large black Appendix QH was Reagan's second horse. Moving off of a smaller older Arabian cross to the bulkier, stronger and generally more difficult horse was going pretty smoothly for the talented girl. but there were still lots of things for them to work on before hitting any shows this season. Today they were going to work on Dressage, as all of Sebastian's students did on Thursdays. Sebastian knew it would be interesting to see how Reagan maneuvered her new mount around a dressage arena. Pheonix was a talented jumper, but lacked focus in Dressage. Sebastian knew that Classical Dressage was the basis of all good horses and riders and instilled that in his students. How's our big guy today Reagan? Sebastian asked, patting the big black horse while his petite blonde rider adjusted her stirrup leathers.

He's a little excited today. she said with a grin. Sebastian held the anxious gelding's bridle as his student mounted. He smiled as the horse's muscle bulged as he trotted in place while Reagan tried to keep him walking under her. I'll say.. Sebastian said with raised brows Did you ride yesterday? The girl shook her head and bit her lip, knowing he would give her crap about it. You know, if you're not going to have your horse ready for your lessons its just time being wasted. He told her sternly. We're going to spend twenty minutes just getting him focused enough to start working on anything actually important.. Sebastian wasn't being mean, he was just used to teenage girls. This was the age where they either stuck with horses or they just didn't. Sebastian was tough on his students, but never mean. He knew Reagan had talent, and if she wasn't committed he didn't want to waste anymore time, or any more of her parents money, teaching someone who wasn't interested anymore" He instructed her to walk him a lap and sat on the rail of the fence, his back to the other arena where Kate was just finishing working with her colt.

[Kate Hudson]

Kate noticed the man looking over at her, and knew who it was. When she was first offered the job at Pinewood not too long ago, she met him very briefly after Cheyenne Kings hired her. She was to be his right hand woman in some of the matters around the barn. Kate was not here to steal away his position, steal his students, or to have a showdown. She was here just to do what she loved, to teach riders, and to train horses. If he had a problem with her presence in the barn, then he should take it up with his wife. Ever since Kate was hired to work for the Kings, she has gotten along well with the boss lady, Cheyenne, but her husband was something of a mystery. He hardly spoke to Kate, and would only nod at her to acknowledge her. Perhaps he was just not used to having someone assisting him with his work. She tries to stay out of his way and to keep up with his demands, and tried to stay one step ahead of the game, that is something that she strives and excels at. She didn't want to bring major changes to Pinewood, she just wants to belong.

After Kate was done with the stubborn little colt, she patted his neck for a job well done, yet even if he was a bit of an ass. Who is she fooling if she can work a racehorse!? This is for someone else's skill, not hers, but she tries to make the best of what she can of it and learn from her mistakes. She wrapped up her lunge line and slowly, yet firmly led the colt out of the ring. She overheard Sebastian teaching his student. The young lady who was riding, rode a beautiful gelding, and he was a little spirited but a nice mover. Wonder what he would be like to jump? She walked away to put the colt in his paddock, gave him his ration of hay, and walked back to the arena to watch. Maybe she could listen in on Sebastian and learn a few tips on training. She gently leaned against the railing a few feet from her boss and focused on the horse and rider. She checked her watch, and saw she had just a half hour before she had another lesson student