Friendly challenge [Elizabeth]

[Noah Vanderholt]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,background-color: #272029; border: 3px solid #e1e1e1; padding: 45px; border-radius: 0px 0px 300px 300px;] N O A H In the sea and the sun and the sand ... While he had finally adjusted a bit to the pretty different timezone and really different climate, he wasn't so sure Karoo had already. She may be a cool and easy horse most of the time, she was also half a Thoroughbred and as such she had her 'nervous' moments. Add to that being completely uprooted from their almost leisurely farm to here and well... He could sympathize with giving her a few days off and only then slowly picking up the slack. He'd started with walking around a little, the mare at first prancing and dancing before she relaxed a little, before he had graduated to lunging her. As much as it may have been an off and relaxed way to get the horse back in shape, he knew her, knew how Karoo thought and acted. Taking it slow wasn't all bad with the still relatively young and inexperienced horse. However, she'd been quite agreeable the last few days. Still snappy and a bit skittish, but no longer afraid of her own shadow. She was ready to do a real work-out again. And so was he - he was quite literally getting ready to jump out of his skin. Noah had always ridden a lot, and this enforced stop was getting close to driving him crazy. So after lunging her quickly to get the most of the frisky-ness out of her system he had checked her girth and taking her to the indoor arena, where he knew there were a few jumps up. Glad once again that there was a small step to make it easier on the horses - it made it easier on him too. He could do without, of course, but if it was there... No harm using it, right STAFF POSITIONS Even if Karoo wasn't quite happy with having to stand still for a bit. But she had, and now, with a slight blissful smile on his face, he was back in the saddle after several weeks. "Been a while, eh, girl STAFF POSITIONS " he spoke to his mare, one hand resting lightly on her neck as he enjoyed her energetic walk. He'd already scoped out the arena earlier today, looking at the jumps, devising a route that would be challenging but not too hard on her... Or him, for that matter. A slow start wouldn't harm anyone. With a grin, he let the reins slip a little, letting the mare slip into an equally energetic trot, head held high, ears acting like a radar swiveling left and right in an attempt to see and hear everything. It was endearing, at least to him. He'd always had a soft spot in his heart for the Thoroughbred cross mare, who was one of his better friends. After a ten, fifteen minutes of trotting, extending it and then collecting it again, before he let her transition into a canter. At first she threw her head up and took off, but it wasn't an uncommon trick of hers, so he had her back under control pretty fast, completely focused on the mare as he tested how she reacted to both the strange environment and her enforced period of doing nothing. He was so completely focused on her that he hardly even noticed when someone else approached - but the quick side-step-jump Karoo did was a good way of pointing out the obvious to him. Noah grunted a little at his sudden displacement, but stayed on the horse, one hand holding both reins and a strand of her manes. ... and the wind out of Africa Words;; 585 Outfit;; [url=http://www.polyvore.com/noah/set STAFF POSITIONS id=51631708]click

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Tags;; Elizabeth
Notes;; Let's get this party started ^^ Oh, and when they get to it, click for route xD[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/div][/td][/tr][/table]

table by [url=http://forums.athousandfireflies.com/index.php

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showtopic=31009]MudBug

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[Elizabeth Archer]

The soles of her boots crunched over the gravel as she made her way towards the barn. The fresh spring air made it surprisingly clean and welcoming as she strolled down. The fresh sweet smell of horses lingered in the air as the breeze blew over the paddocks. She was anxious to get to the barn and start jumping on her mare again. Transitions hadn't been bad for her and the mare since they had lived in relative latitude in New York. She ran her hands over her blue fleece that was keeping her warm, you could see her white polo underneath. Her black breeches and black tall boots meshed together, she had a pair of black riding gloves in her back pocket and swung a helmet in her right hand. Her long brunette hair was pulled back into a low braid to keep it out of her way while she was around the horses and riding.

When she walked through the large double doors she let her eyes adjust before she saw her mares large head poke over, she knew she was getting a ride today and not just a lunge. Liz picked up her pace and greeted her friend "Hey there girl! Ready for a ride

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" she questioned even though she knew the answer at the mare butted her telling her to get a move on.

The female slid the purple halter over the mares dappled grey face and led her out putting her in cross-ties before she quickly grabbed her saddle, pads, ankle boots, and bridle setting it all on the saddle racks outside her stall. She reached into her box and pulled out a few grooming brushes and stuck her hoof pick in her pocket. She ran the brushes over the mares coat making sure to get as much of the dust and dirt out of the mares grey coat before saddling her up. Liz was lucky today to have the mare stand so still usually she would act up but she knew Dew wanted to get into the ring as much as Liz did.

Once Liz had the bridle over the mares head she closed the grooming box after putting away her supplies and picked up her helmet and setting it on her head. She then led the mare towards the indoor arena. She hadn't known that another was getting a ride in until she got in and saw a male also on a grey ride taking a few warm-ups around the ring watching out for the jumps that he must have set up. Liz stood at the gate and watched as she saw him pick the horse up into a canter and the gray equine threw it's head up testing it's rider. It seemed to move the rider a little bit but he seemed to get it under control knowing the equines tricks.

This gave Liz time to study the male on the back of the grey equine. His hair must be cut short for non stuck out of his helmet, and from what she could tell he sported short facial hair, which looked rather nice on a guy like him. He looked muscular, though any guy who worked with and around horses needed to have some sort of muscle all the puny ones you could always tell just had horses handed to them. He had on tan breeches and chaps over a pair of paddock boots, with a black shirt up top. The grey equine below him looked like it was a Throughbred, possibly a cross though she couldn't tell what it was crossed with.

Liz tapped her gloves on her thigh, she didn't want to seem impatient but Dewy was getting antsy beside her, when the man had collected his ride she let her vocals call "Hey! You mind if I come in and warm up she asked with a smile on her lips as she rested left hand on the gate her right holding onto her mares reins.

Words: 671
Muse: It Time - Imagine Dragons
Tags:Noah
Outfit: [url=http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set

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id=68453497]CLICK

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Notes: Exciting! Hope I started it off alright! Feel like she seems like a bit of a creeper xD but oh well![/right][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/color]

[Noah Vanderholt]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,background-color: #272029; border: 3px solid #e1e1e1; padding: 45px; border-radius: 0px 0px 300px 300px;] N O A H In the sea and the sun and the sand ... Noah waited a moment to reply, eager to get Pan back in a walk before he answered. Just as polite, right STAFF POSITIONS "No problem." And it wasn't - or at least, he didn't see why not. There was, after all, plenty of space in the arena, nor was it his. And he genuinely didn't mind - Karoo would be okay with it, or she'd learn to be okay with it. Even if she was a tad more skittish than she had been for a long time -well, ever- she was a good horse with a good mind. He trusted her. With the reins in one hand he easily let her circle around a few of the fences in the ring, so the young woman could enter without having to worry about him or his horse. Once she was in and the gate closed again, he let Karoo come to a halt near one of the fences before leaning over to tighten her girth another hole and shorten the stirrups a few. Only in lessons when he new the teacher preferred to start with the short stirrups or during competitions did he start 'all ready' for the jumping, otherwise he preferred the slightly longer stirrups for the warming up. Now, with the stirrups at the right length for jumping and the saddle secure on her back did he let her step away again, giving her a little time to catch her breath again before he'd continue with the rest of the 'program'. Meanwhile, he could enjoy riding again. He had missed it, the last few weeks. Wasn't used to such a long stop at all. Well, maybe a little - there had been a few times that issues had risen that had ended in a week or two of not riding. Hell, not walking in one case. Then, he hadn't been amused at all as well. At least this time he had plenty other things to amuse himself with. Get to know the school a little, spend some time with JJ, actually study some... Wasn't all he had hoped for, but then again, you couldn't get all you wanted all the time. With a little pressure of his calves he got the mare together again, trotting slowly around the arena before steering her towards the cross rails. "Cross rails free," he warned the other occupant of the ring as Karoo saw the obstacle, threw her head up in obvious joy and sailed over it with at least a foot to spare. Yeah, she still had. And he too, apparently - after all, he was still on his horse, and quite securely seated too. He grinned widely as he collected the mare again, aware that she was a bit too over-eager right now, practically storming off. Pan loved action as much as he did. And so, with a slightly suffering sigh, he made her veer sharply left before circling around to the cross rails again. Again he gave the warning, just audible above the thudding of Karoo's canter before she lept over the obstacle, this time less exaggerated. "Good girl," he quietly rewarded her, letting her fall back in a trot again as he looked over the other obstacles. ... and the wind out of Africa Words;; Outfit;; [url=http://www.polyvore.com/noah/set STAFF POSITIONS id=51631708]click

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Tags;; Elizabeth
Notes;; click for route (later on) xD[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/div][/td][/tr][/table]

table by [url=http://forums.athousandfireflies.com/index.php

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showtopic=31009]MudBug

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[Elizabeth Archer]

A smile covered her lips when he said that it would be no problem. "Okay! Cool, thanks!" she said quickly as she moved Dewy so she would be able to open the gate. She led the dapple grey mare in, closing the gate behind her and made sure she stayed out of the way of the male and his equine as she made it over to the step. Positioning the mare in front of it she halted her, letting down the left side stirrup and lifted herself onto her mares back, pulling down the right stirrup with her toe and settling her foot in it.

Quickly she buckled the chin strap, gathered up the reins and squeezed the mare into a walk. She took the other end of the arena away from the male so as not to get in his way. She worked on the mare in some bending exercises first at a walk, then a trot, and moved into a canter working on a few serpentine's and figure eights to warm the mare up. Her ears picked up the sound of the males voice as he said that the crossrail was free. She nodded and touched her helmet in mark that she heard him (OOC: something I started with my riding instructor).

She hadn't seen his jump but he obviously cleared it. The rail was set as a decent height as she circled her mare twice around the arena before she looked to the rail and headed her equine towards it. She checked her speed, gathered her rains a bit, lean forward, post, through the air, clear and land. Collecting, before slowing to a trot and patted the mare on the shoulder "Good girl!" she said as she slowed her into a walk giving her a break to breathe. Liz looked around and smiled at the gentleman, it really did feel good to be jumping again.

"Thanks!" she called over to him as came up the side of the arena, "I'm Elizabeth," she stated simply enough with a smile, the reins gathered in her left hand as she kept her right hand loose at her side.

Words: 358
Muse: Let's Have the Time of Our Lived - Miley Cyrus
Tags:Noah
Outfit: [url=http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set

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id=68453497]CLICK

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Notes: sorry for the wait. Midterms have me just drained of anything creative right now. /:[/right][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/color]

[Noah Vanderholt]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,background-color: #272029; border: 3px solid #e1e1e1; padding: 45px; border-radius: 0px 0px 300px 300px;] N O A H In the sea and the sun and the sand ... He'd been too late to watch her jump, instead only seeing her slow her horse down after it. As the rail was still where he had left it, he figured she'd succeeded though. That, and he hadn't heard it fall. As she closed the gap between them, he quickly switched his whip to the other side so she could ride next to him or pass him if she so desired without possibly touched the whip. While his horse wasn't that bothered by it, he had known one or two horses who couldn't handle a whip that close and it had left a lasting impression. It was a little hassle but definitely worth it. And indeed, she came up next to him and introduced herself. Noah offered her a warm smile before answering in kind. "Noah. And this grey beauty here is Panta Rhei, though she usually goes by the name Karoo," he introduced himself and his horse to the young woman. To Elizabeth. "Pleasure to meet you, I think," he added after a brief pause, actually chuckling at that. He hadn't seen her before, but then again, he wasn't there yet for that long, and even less time in the stables. There hadn't been much reason to be there when Karoo hadn't been yet allowed into the country. ... and the wind out of Africa Words;; Short. Sorry! Outfit;; [url=http://www.polyvore.com/noah/set STAFF POSITIONS id=51631708]click

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Tags;; Elizabeth
Notes;; click for route (later on) xD Also, handy. In the rare occasions I jump with someone else in the same arena I just assume they'll have heard me xD [/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/div][/td][/tr][/table]

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showtopic=31009]MudBug

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[Elizabeth Archer]

Liz couldn't help but smile when he did, it was such a friendly thing to do. To just smile being on the back of horses, or smile because of a new acquaintance, whatever the reason was Liz always loved a good smile. While he introduced himself and his ride she chuckled at his nickname. "How ever did you think of a nickname like Karoo for Panta Rhei

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" she asked intrigued in his thinking's behind the name.

"This precious beauty is Daylights Drops of Dew, or as my mother called her when she first saw her as. Dew, or Dewy if it's a mushy voice" Liz chuckled at the thought of her mother and her baby voice whenever she was around the horses. "Well I hope it is a pleasure! For I don't intend to be a stranger!" Liz joked.

Feeling that Dew was ready for the course she looked to Noah, "You intend to use the course

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" she asked a mischievous grin on her face "Cause I need some practice and we're both jumpers so why don't we make a game out of it." she said with a wink as she gathered her reins in both hands and looked to him as he contemplated it. "It'll be fun!" she prodded.

Words: 210
Muse: - -
Tags:Noah
Outfit: [url=http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set

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id=68453497]CLICK

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Notes: it's okay, mines short as well :/ it'll come back![/right][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/color]

[Noah Vanderholt]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,background-color: #272029; border: 3px solid #e1e1e1; padding: 45px; border-radius: 0px 0px 300px 300px;] N O A H In the sea and the sun and the sand ... A soft smile graced his face as he thought back to the reason why he had picked Karoo as her barn name. There was an actual reason, several even, behind it. "It's an area near where I used to live, and one of the people that worked at our farm came from there. Somehow, as a young filly she reminded him of it and he took to calling her Karoo. I always thought it fit her somehow," he confessed, even if to this day he didn't know what the dappled gray mare had that reminded him a near-desert area. Perhaps early nostalgia, even before he knew he'd move away, even if in a way it had been inevitable. As beautiful Namibia was, and as good as he could live there, if you wanted to get in the top class of show jumping or eventing or any sport really, it was helpful to at least temporarily live in a land that had an actual tradition in it. "We'll see," was his 'mysterious' reply. In all honesty, he already knew it most likely wouldn't be a problem. She was spontaneous and outgoing in the little time he knew her already. He liked her. She had spirit. Her next words were what brought an almost smug smirk on his face. "Now how can I say no to that STAFF POSITIONS " Granted, he did a quick survey of the jumps just to be sure none were at the limit of their abilities. After such a long time of not jumping, he didn't want to strain Karoo into an injury. That'd be truly bad luck, after all. He quite preferred being able to ride as he pleased. "Just the course they set out already STAFF POSITIONS " During the practice jumps and his warming up he had noticed that the jumps were numbered, and as he turned around in the saddle now it wasn't too hard to figure out the course. Lots of long lines, with a few semi-sharp turns. At least, when you were in a decent gallop. Should be a nice friendly challenge, or so he hoped. ... and the wind out of Africa Words;; Outfit;; [url=http://www.polyvore.com/noah/set STAFF POSITIONS id=51631708]click

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Tags;; Elizabeth
Notes;; click for route (later on) xD [/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/div][/td][/tr][/table]

table by [url=http://forums.athousandfireflies.com/index.php

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showtopic=31009]MudBug

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[Elizabeth Archer]

Liz couldn't help but smile with the reason behind her nickname, ones that had a deep meaning behind them where always they best ones. She scoffed at pretended to look hurt when he just said 'we'll see' to their growing acquaintanceship. He seemed so nice, and just having a well off character that was almost instantly likable about him.

When the smug smirk came across his face when she mentioned the course and how he wasn't able to say no she smiled. "I figured you wouldn't be able to say no!" Elizabeth looked around the course and noticed that they are already numbered. She nodded when Noah asked if they would just use the course that's set. "It's already numbered, why not." she looked over to him and smiled.

The course didn't look to difficult, a few turns that they would need to be quick for, the course though was well spread out and looked fun. "So who's up first" she asked feeling Dew get excited below her, she knew that some fun was coming and she was excited.

Words: - - -
Muse: - -
Tags:Noah
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id=68453497]CLICK

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Notes:Sorry for the long wait and then the crappy post :/[/right][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/color]