.:dance to the beat of the ocean:. [open]

[wildthing]

After finishing up her masters in equine science, Beck had decided to start focusing on her riding fulltime. Which was why she had moved to Brianhurst Manor Stable. There were several good trainers in the area and the stable had an excellent and still-growing facility. There were frequent shows in the area and it was also a good location for her to travel to the larger shows. So far things were going well. She was still looking out for a good trainer, but her stallion Imp had settled in quiet well and they were schooling again. After two weeks of hard work, Beck had decided they could use a bit of a break. She brought her mutt Chica with her to the stable and then saddled up Imp for a trail ride. She wasn’t very familiar with the area yet, but there were some good maps in the tack room. Since the weather was nice and warm and Chica loved to swim, they headed down to the beach.

Imp was quite eager when he realized they weren’t heading to the covered arena. He pranced and tossed his head. Chica ran in excited circles around him, knowing better than to bark or get too close. On the map, it looked like the beach was a good two miles from the stable. It would be good exercise for all of them. Beck kept the stallion at a loose walk, letting him relax. She wouldn’t have minded a good canter, but she had no idea what the trail ahead looked like. If the beach looked decent, they could get in a good gallop there. Chica was excited to get out and kept running up ahead and then running back to make sure they were still coming. It was a gorgeous afternoon. She wasn’t too hot or chilled in her jodhpurs and T-shirt. The trail initially wound through a thick pine forest and Imp’s hoof beats were muffled by a cushion of pine needles. There were birds singing from the trees and occasionally a squirrel would dart across the path.

The woods began to thin out into scrub and then to dunes. Imp had to work hard in the deep sand, but the ocean quickly came into view. The wet sand was more firm and easier for the stallion to handle. He snorted and pranced as he scented the salt air. Chica was already in the water, swimming happily in circles, occasionally being bowled over by an unexpected wave. There was no reason this trail ride couldn’t be both work and play. Beck directed the nearly black horse into the shallows and shortened her reins. With a shift in weight and a slight squeeze of her thighs Imp began to move. He was a strong horse and his muscles rippled as he moved into the piaffe. He stayed nearly perfectly in place, kicking up a salt spray with each movement. Beck gave loosened the reins and the powerful animal moved into a collected trot, nicely on the bit and fully concentrated on his rider. Beck relaxed, perfectly content to feel the powerful animal under her with the waves lapping at his ankles. It was soothing, perfect. Better even than a perfect round in the show ring.

[Riley♠]

Riley stood in the barn aisle her head resting on the big bays shoulder. She sighed heavily work and the new mare had been taking thier toll on her and she needed a little time away. She walked into the tack room and grabbed her saddle bringing it out to where the gelding stood. She quickly tacked him up and pulled the reins over his head. Her brunette hair hanging lossely about her shoulders. "Just a nice ride today monster." the once racehorse snorted. He hadn't been out of the arena since she'd gotten him but today was as good a day as ever. She thought for a second. Maybe a good gallop on the beach would get them both in a better mood. She patted his neck and walked him forward. She halted him and mounted up.

She headed down the trails that led the back way to the beach. It led through a short wooded area and down to the far side of the beach. It was still early and the beach was vacant she loved it at this time of day. She felt the geldings feet dance across the sand. She was in heaven. She leaned forward whispering to the gelding. She smiled and nudged him into a trot. his hooves leaving imprints behind him. He tugged on the reins begging to go faster. She leaned up and pushed him forward. She felt the moments hesitation then she felt him surge forward. She closed her eyes momentarily then found her fingers wrapping themselves in his flowing mane. She opened her eyes and watched as the ocean waves went flying past them. She laughed pleasantly as the sheer joy of galloping a sleek thoroughbred took hold of her. It wasn't even the beach that made her happy is was being on the back of a flying thoroughbred that made her feel at home. She spotted another couple on the beach and slowed the gelding up as not to startle the other horse. Riley slowed to a walk and smiled still breathless. "Hi there." she recognized the horse it was a boarder at Briarhurst but she hadn't meet the rider before.

[wildthing]

The quick staccato of hoof beats and a flicker of Imp's ears alerted Beck to the fact that they were no longer alone. But the stallion was a seasoned show horse and didn't let the new arrival break his concentration. Beck let him go for several more beats and then pulled him down to a walk and turned to greet the other rider. Beck didn't recognize either horse or rider, but she hadn't been at the stable for long. Chica ran out of the water, pausing to shake and fling water everywhere. She took a minute to check out the new arrivals, then headed up into the dunes to explore. Beck never had to worry about her going too far or bothering horses thank goodness. "Hi. It was just too pretty a day for ring work." She halted Imp near the other horse, but kept a firm hold on the reins. The grey usually behaved himself, but he was a stallion after all. He flared his nostrils and snorted, but didn't move. "It's the first time I've been down here. The beach is really lovely. I'm Beck by the way, just moved into the area." No one had ever accused her of being shy.

[Riley♠]

She smiled enjoying the sunbeating on her face. "I agree way to nice to be confinded to an arena." she closed her eyes for a second taking in the warm sun and the soft breeze coming from the ocean. She loved days like this and if she wasn't careful she'd forget all her responsibilities and just go off day dreaming all day. She heard the girl introduce herself and she nodded. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Riley, the owner of briarhurst." she looked down at the stallion. He was stunning then again she always had a soft spot for horses no matter what they looked like. "Are you enjoying it here so far?" she had heard the girl was new and figured she might as well see how she was enjoying this quiet little town. It was nice here riley had taken to this place as a refugee from her life and had since established herself here and felt very much at home. It was small and welcoming and everyone was nice enough. the gelding beneath her danced sideways pawing at the sand. She leaned forward stroking his glistening bay neck. "I promise monster we'll go for another gallop." she stroked his neck again.

[wildthing]

Beck's specialty was dressage and that meant a lot of time in the arena. She loved dressage, but every now and then both she and her mount needed a break. "Yep, sometimes you just gotta cut loose." Beck was originally from California and was a beach bum at heart. She loved the smell of salt in the air and the cries from the gulls wheeling overheard. "Oh wow, that's where I'm boarding this guy. I've heard your name mentioned and now that I think about it, I've seen you around a couple times. You have a really nice place." Beck was very pleased with Briarhurst. They had good facilities and she had no complaints about Imp's treatment despite the fact that he wasn't always the easiest horse to handle. "Yeah I like it. It's a lot more low key than what I'm used to, but it's been nice to be able to completely focus on my riding." She was hoping to get into some of the big A-list shows later on in the year. Imp was in top shape. The grey was picking up some of the gelding's tension, but stood quietly. "He's a nice looking horse. I promised Imp here a good run too, but we were doing some review first."

[Riley♠]

She looked toward the ocean. "Yeah i recognized him once i'd stopped." she blushed at the compliment. "Thanks i try to make it as pleasant as possible." it was true she worked hard to have good staff and to have a hand in everything that happened on the farm and that even included cleaning stalls and caring for the horses one on one of course that left little time for public relations but she was fine with that. She was a somewhat social person but she preferred leaving the social part to zane. He was the social butterfly which is why when he'd arrived she put him in charge of managing the boarders. She glanced back toward the girl and leaned forward on the gelding as he began to settle. "Thanks he's a monster sometimes but he's a pretty good horse over all." she grinned a little. "Yeah he'd loose his mind if i didn't let him run everyonce in a while. I think he misses being a racehorse." she patted his neck and shook her head he wasn't the only one who missed the track. She did as well she missed the adrenaline rushes and most of all the money. "I think i might take him for a swim first He's never actually been in the ocean." she watched a wave crash on the beach.