In step with horse hooves ( Carson--private)

[Nora Elizabeth Middleton]

outfit- www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=67100309

With the winter break now here, most of the students were away and at home, so RRA was pretty quiet and empty. Some of them stayed behind because they either preferred not to travel, had no place to keep their horse, or they didn't want to see their extended family. It didn't matter to Nora, just as long as she got her quiet tie to spend it working with the horses. This was her time to work with her boys without the distraction of a student needing her constant attention or advice on all things horse.

Nora skipping down the steps of the lounge room that sat above the barn, and walked through the double doors. It was quiet for the most part, except for a few horses neighing at one another, and she also heard the stable hand Carson singing a little ditty as he worked. She smiled as she passed by him, glancing, and put her headphones in. "Country Girl" came on and she softly sang and sort of danced as she walked down to check up on a horse she was training for a student. Sometimes, when no one was looking she would let her hair down so to speak, and just sing and dance in place. Nora tacked up one of her student's horses and led her to the indoor jumping ring. Apparently, the mare had been shying away from the jumps, and felt that Nora was the best person to correct it while she was away at home. Nora slipped her foot into the stirrup and climbed on.

The mare jumped to the side when Nora sat in the saddle, and she shortened the reins. She spoke softly to the mare, and lightly tapped her with the knobs of her spurs to get her to move around the ring as she warmed up.

[Carson Lane Palmer]

Get up on the hood of my daddy's tractor,
Up on the toolbox; it don't matter..

Even though it was winter around Rosedale, Carson's body was steaming. His long sleeve, black under armor shirt under his typical white tee shirt hugged his body warmth in and kept the cold out. He was also working, and the big hunk of horse flesh underneath him was puffing out smoke like a chimney stack. His usuall ball cap had been replaced with a black beanie, snug over his ears. In his mouth, a cigarette. Was there any rule about smoking on a horse? He had no idea. Thankfully, the majority of the students and staff were gone anyway.
Carson had gotten bored with his chores. He would muck the stalls, feed the horses, brush the ones that needed it and turn select horses out to pasture. He knew the routine like he knew the back of his hand. So today, while he was sure no one was around, he took a few of the school horses out on a ride. This was his second one - a tall, steadfast Appaloosa mare that was eager to please. The back pasture wasn't being used at the moment, so he used that as an enclosed trail ride. He shifted through the gaits as any exercise rider would, enjoying the alone time with the horses and not having to worry about freezing his ass off.


"Alright ol' girl, let's head back."

A southern drawl dusted his words as he turned the mare back around towards the barn. She was slightly barn sour, pulling towards the establishment and huffing when he took shorter reins. She reluctantly settled into a leisurely trot, her head rose up and ears forward. Carson smirked at the mare. It might be about time for him to get his own horse. He couldn't have too much fun with the school horses at the academy - they were there for the students and he was to only exercise them when needed.


With a swinging dismount as they came upon the open barn door, he let Ariat boots drop onto snow-laden red dirt and gathered the Appaloosa's reins, leading her into the barn. From there, he'd untack her and give her a quick brush down. She was a little damp from the exercise ( if you asked him, she was a little overweight too ) so he figured he'd let her walk to cool down in the indoor arena before he'd pitch a blanket over her and return her to her stall.


The country boy stretched as he lead the mare towards the indoor arena. He could maybe squeeze in a nap before he went out tonight to the bars. He didn't have to go into work until later in the evening the next day, so tonight was a perfect chance to down a few cold ones and relax. As they rounded the corner, the Appaloosa's head shot up curiously, and the sound of muffled hoof beats inside the indoor arena suggested to Carson that he just might not be alone. Whent he arena came into view, he noted the brunette inside, atop a horse that, from what Carson could tell, looked like one of the students' horses. He paused just outside the arena, leaning up against the side of the entry gate. The mare in his lead stood beside him, curiously watching the horse and rider inside the ring for a moment, before becoming bored with the scenario and turning her attention to a more entertaining aspect - Carson's beanie.

Down on the tailgate; girl I can't wait
To watch you do your thing..