Do hear that? Black Irish Gold Is Coming!

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"....that for worse or for better, we're better together. Please, just come back home....." Abbey Thompson's voice sung as she pulled into the parking lot in her 1996 red Dodge Ram, silver trailer in pull. The 17 year old horse fanatic cut the engine as they drifted into a parking spot. "Well, lets see how competition school is shall we Irish?" she asked looking into the rear view mirror to see the trailer behind her. Opening the door, she slid down onto the parking lot and gave herself a once over. Jeans in check. Shirt in check. Hair in check. I'm ready. As she walked to the trailer, rope halter in hand, she glanced around at her new "home". This would be the first time she was away from her family's ranch in Colorado and, truth be told, she was a little more than nervous. A quiet nicker dragged her away from her worries as she walked to the trailer door. "Coming Irish." she laughed, unbolting the door and stepping inside. Her black Warmblood greeted her with pricked ears and another nicker. She walked up his side and tossed the lead rope over his shoulders before putting the halter on and leading him out. The second they where out of the trailer, Irish began his frisking for a treat. Abbey laughed cheerfully and pulled a Grandma M's cookie from her pocket to give to her hungry prince. They had been quite the pair back in CO. Not only in the ring but outside, they had a relationship that was nothing short of loving and everyone she had yet met had been stricken by their resemblance. Both had tall lean, long legged bodies and wavy hair, only Abbey's contrasted to a brown instead of black, and eyes that shone whenever they were riding. She grinned at the thought of some of the comments of her old friends, "Well lets see if we make any here. K?" she asked patting her gelding on the neck. Taking a deep breath, Abbey began her walk to the barn. "If there's anyone down there I'll ask where the office is, but we have to take care of you first huh boy?" When the duo entered the barn, Abbey looked down the isle "Wow" she rasped, eyes wide. Coughing to regain her steady voice, "Hello? Anyone in here?"

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ooc: I'm not near against Parelli as my character is-im not obbssevie;) Just in case you were like wtf lol

Maci led Alec into the barn- he was sweating fairly well due to his lack of good behavior. But it wasn’t a surprise- Alec was always a huge challenge even fro the best riders. He had enough attitude for fifty athletes. And the only one she’d met yet that could deal with him without getting overly annoyed or frustrated was Chris- Chris Irwin that is. She’d attended a clinic of his to prove she didn’t hate horse trainers to her wicked step mother and well- she’d pretty much fallen in love. With his methods that is. Alec had behaved much better since switching.

Maci stopped Alec in front of his stall and unbridled him before haltering him. She let the lead rope hang loosely in her hand- allowing Alec to put his head down as she untacked him. She looked up after she slipped him into his stall to see a girl leading a beautiful hiorse- in a rope halter. She smiled at the girl- although she was deep down praying she wasn’t into Pirelli- for if so having a friendship with her would probably be almost impossible. “I’m Maci” she said with a soft glow to her voice.

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Abbey smiled sweetly, catching a glimpse of what she thought was apprehension, probably about the halter, she guessed. "Hey, I'm Abbey. This is Black Irish Gold. I'm new here, grade 11." she said sweetly. It wasn't a big deal to her if someone didn't like her horsemanship, she believed in it and that was all that matter. But she didn't go around gloating, everyone had their own horsemanship style, she had found hers.
As she looked at the horse Maci had just put away she grinned to herself, yes, this was definitely the dream place for horse lovers. No one could question that. Hopefully her being a Parelli girl wouldn't affect any friendships she made here.

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ooc//sorry that was kinda short. Writers block.

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Ooc: remember that characters can’t read each others minds- you worded it right and didn’t do anything wrong but remember not to make every post’ and I thought she thought this’- it gets annoying when people don’t come up with their own muse. But when you got writers block its completely okayJ

Maci replied easily with “Nice to meet you- This is Smart Alec- or Alec” she said pointing to her gelding who was obviously half asleep due to his lack of energy. Other wards he’d probably be kicking the door for attention- he was such a jealous boy. Maci grabbed her dressage crop from the ground and dusted it off, gathering things she needed to clean up. Maci could be very forgetful when it came to cleaning up- and it usually wasn’t by choice.

“I’ll be right back- I have to change” said Maci giving a soft apologetic shrug- she was being totally truthful since she was literally swimming in sweat. She disappeared and had a quick shower before pulling her beautiful brunette hair into a messy bun. She reappeared in simple printed tee and some fitted jeans. Usually she worse something a lot more put together but she was at the barn- and heels and flip flops weren’t the best thing for hanging out by thousand pound animals.

“Oh- I’m in grade 12. What kind of riding do you do?” asked Maci- totally aware that in her midn she’d asked the question. In her mind that was basically a life or death situation-friend or foe- blowin’ kisses and kiss my ass. Pretty much something that determined your future as anything with Maci. But she’d known one Parelli girl that she’d been friends with- good friends with actually. But she still counted on first impressions- and first impressions also meant telling the truth. Maci didn’t take no crap- and everybody who knew her knew that. Maci was Maci- and you either dealt with it or well- or pretty much got your ass kicked. Maci wasn’t a let’s drop the gloves and go kind of girl- but if she didn’t like you she made sure you knew it. Plain and simple.

DA OUTFIT
DA GIRL
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Abbey smiled slightly at the her own thoughts. This would be, good this girl reminded her a lot of her sister Sam. Take it or leave it I don't give a fuck kind of attitude. And she guessed that Maci didn't pick on the fact, like most people didn't, the Abbs could hold her ground after being around her sister. She also had the feeling that they may be good friends because of this, or the worst of enemies depending on how the reaction of this comment went.
"I'm grade 11. Oh, and I ride dressage. You?" she asked cocking her head slightly. She knew full well a lot of people thought that "the Parelli wierdo's can't step within an arena with out complaining, let alone compete in one." well she was the contradiction to that.

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“Mainly cross country- or anything fairly fast. But not racing- that is just for idiots” said Maci- not even thinking of saying ‘no offense’. If she didn’t like how Maci worked then she had a open invitation to hit the road. Besides Maci had more sonority then her- even if it was only a few days. That and she was older- so really if this girl took offense to it she could just kiss her ass- well not literally. “And I train a lot- Chris Irwin methods” she added bluntly as her eyes ran over the horse in front of her. After a deep look into his eyes she was assured he was a Parelli horse- Maci was good with horses and knowing a lot about them by looking in their eyes- let alone working with them. Maci looked at the girl and finally just set her one hand on her girl hip and slightly pushed it away, softening ti to the horses head. “That was bothering me” said Maci- no care at all she’d just pretty much told the girl how she should be doing stuff and not even apologizing.

Maci played with her jean belt loop, entertaining herself. Maci got bored easily- on and off the horse. Maci decided that she might as well be friendly and offer to show her around or something- She didn’t seem to over the top and completely Parelli. She wasn’t obsessive anyways. “ Want me to show you around- I’ve got nothing to do at the moment” said Maci truthfully. She could surround herself with training videos and tack catalogues- but really she had all day to do that. She might as well do something that might entertain her some.

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Abbey didn't even think of shifting he weight backwards-offended-or taking anything Maci just said offensively. She didn't care enough about other's opinions to actually make a fuss about it. She wasn't leaving here regardless of this girl's opinion or anyone else.
"Cool, my sister Sam does cross country. And I like Chris Irwin, or at least some of his ideas. If I truly agreed with all I wouldn't be doing Parelli." she said smiling sweetly as she purposely dashing any question that may have been in the girl's mind that she did do Parelli. Devoutly. Though she wasn't looked at as a high quality rider, let alone able to do half of the stuff- like being given the invitation to ride with the Vienna riding school as the first female rider that had ever studied- that she had managed to do. But, she didn't gloat about it, talk about it, or anything like that. If they wanted to honestly be showed up by her then they could wait for that in the competitions.
"Sure" she smiled pulling her challenging thoughts back, "I would love that."

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[blcokquote] “Parelli’s an idiot- whether you notice it or not- he is” said Maci bluntly- as far as she was concerned it was completely true. Really it was- he was just in it for the money. Chris on the other hand- now that was somebody who actually cared. She’d only met him a couple times- but she’d met the ‘dynamic duo’ Gisela and Walter before. She had enjoyed learning from them- they both knew a lot and were great coaches. Then again they weren’t certified for no reason at all. The Chris Irwin world was full of great people- people that didn’t judge you. Those were the only weekends she didn’t care where her jeans were from or what was printed across her shirt- as long as she had clothes on.

“Well this is obviously the barn- the locker rooms that way, the lounge is that way, the tack room is that way-” listed Maci, pointing in various directions. She’d gotten bored yesterday and petty much memorized the campus- well the parts she cared about anyways. “Anything you really want to see?” asked Maci- still unsure if she should help the girl or ditch her.
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She laughed a little colder than needed, "Well that's your opinion and there are many other's that like him and dislike him. But, honestly, that's their damn problem. Not mine. I didn't come this far on the approval of others." she said not a bit of apprehension present but a bit of the killer instinct of the predator that humans were shined brilliantly in her eyes. But she didn't dislike the girl, merely thrived for the challenge.
"And I have a pretty decent idea of were everything is but is there anything I need to do to get scheduled for classes?" Abbs asked as she unlocked the stall that Irish was going to stay in and put him in it before looping the lead rope up and hanging the halter and lead on the stall hook.

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“Well I’m sorry to see that you can’t open your eyes to reality” said Maci- no anger in her voice at all. Maci was just blunt- and really she didn’t care what people thought. ‘If their going to talk we might as well give them something to talk about’. Maci grabbed a few of her things of the ground and neatly placed the in Alec’s tack box that she had yet to take to the tack room. “The office-talk to Alexis. Actually email would work to probably. I have no clue- It’s not like I actually wanted to know I have Biology, Calculus, English and French in one semester. Thank god next semester is easy” said Maci- in the end talking more to herself then anybody. She opened the door to Alec’s stall and walked in a piece of apple in hand. ”Share?” she asked and he nodded his head up and down in agreement. Maci took a bite of half the piece and gave the other piece to Alec, he eagerly ate it as if he’d never been fed before in his life.

Maci closed the door behind herself and finished placing the last of her things in the tack room. She gave a glance at Alec and said. “I’m going to look at the foals”. Maci wasn’t sure whether she was inviting the girl to come or not- she just walked towards the back of the barn and grabbed a few buckets of grooming supplies. Taking care of the foals that were for sale was her job- and she knew exactly where her pay check was going to.-buying one. She was torn between two foals- Fancy and Arie. Fancy had the cutest face and was very friendly- well Aerie had the nicest colour-burnt buckskin- and she was very calm. She was leaning towards Fancy, but it was hard. She checked to see they were all in their stalls then disappeared into Durango- an Miniature horse-’s stall with a box of grooming tools in hand.

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Abbs laughed slightly. Now she liked the girl, she had no idea why, but she liked her. "Well my apologies that you seem to think that. But, congrats, for voicing your opinion. I actually think we may get along well, course that could just be my own stubbornness."
She watched Maci walk into the mini's stall. They were cool animals but she didn't much like their temperament. All the horses she had seem around them, parelli and conventional alike, seemed to think they were little bears or something. As for the foal thing she had mentioned, that could be interesting, late in her career at the school of course, but an interesting en devour to consider. She had seem a few of them when she came to tour the school, the ones she had taken interest in were Vallie and Okie, both had very nice prospects and conformation, she had a feeling Okie could be a good dressage horse when he was older and Vallie could be a cool horse for trail and just all around riding. She would like to buy Vallie because she loved his personality, but, sadly, lacked the funds at the current moment.

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“You can’t apologize for the truth- that’s just stupid” said Maci easily. Friends? Was this girl serious? She had to be- she’d said it out loud. The chance of that was about one in a million- Maci had been nice and inviting and she’d just ended up being all bitchy and defensive. It’s not like Parelli needed defense- he had people for stuff like that. God forbid he be a human being. Chris on the other hand- Who else is late for his clinics because it takes him over an hour to walk from his booth to the arena? Who’s booth front is constantly crowded? Who else is like family to his trainers- by his and their choice. Who else has a solid relationship with his trainers and remembers people he spent only a few mere hours with. But Chris didn’t need defense- he had videos to prove he was the best. Parelli had advertisements- but Maci knew people who’d loved him and then attended a clinic and went oh- he sucks. He just shut down the horses until they did whatever he said because they lived in fear. And that- god forbid she actually know it- was the truth.

Maci brushed Durango quickly- since he was well- small. Durango followed her- wanting to stay with Maci. Maci laughed at the small horse and said “Sorry Durango- but you’re going to have to go go somewhere else”. She knew the other girl probably wouldn’t get it- but she was referring to his show name ‘ Go Go Durango’, or at least she was pretty sure that was it. She came to Fancy’s stall and smiled before opening the stall door to be greeted by the filly’s cute head. ”Hey Fancy- You ready to get all cleaned up?” asked Maci, before slipping a leather foal halter on her head and then clipping on a lead rope. She led the filly into the isle way and held the rope loosely as she groomed the filly. Her bay coat shined nicely already due to the amount of attention she was being given.

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Abbey looked Maci over briefly before continuing, "That's true, but if it were the truth than over 5/8 of the population would be living a lie. Considering those of us who do Parelli, every other horseman, and then those people that don't know anything about horses. But be high and mighty for your horsemanship, at least you're proud." she finished with a grin.
The entire thing about Pat needing someone to defend him was bull. And she knew it. It's not like he didn't have half of the most respected horsemen - natural and conventional included - inviting him to come teach seminars at their places. Or hundreds of fans willing to put him up and his wife for the night. And the staff was extremely close, if they weren't they wouldn't do half of the stuff for pat that they did. Besides, before he had even entered the teaching word he had 4 world titles and a few nationals under his belt for bronc riding and rodeo. He had studied with the times most respected horseman and had solved countless amount of problem horses. Also, what other horsemanship style could boast that the horses that were trained with it came cantering across the pasture to see their people? Not many to date that was for damn sure. But oh well, let this girl believe what she wished.

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“I’m not sure if you’ve been brainwashed or you’re down right stupid- I’ve been to one of his clinics before. Not only is his training atrocious - but he’s all about the money. Seriously half the arena was full of his fucken products. Chris just sells his videos and books to help- Like fuck his ‘carrot stick’ if just a dressage crop modified a bit. I’ve seen- in many trainers books- referring to Parelli’s riding as something that belongs in a circus. Also- there is no such thing as natural horsemanship. there is absolutely nothing natural about riding a horse or lunging it. Chris’ stuff is more- pro horse. Not a fake marketing scam called Natural Horsemanship. Yeah it’s natural to whack a horse in the head all right. That guy deserves a fucken whack on the head! I get along with some other trainers thoughts- but Parelli is just well- bullshit. Not only does Chris have horses that want to work and actually show character- that aren’t shut down and machines- he has amazing relationships with his coaches. So if you want to believe Parelli and all his bull shit go ahead- but when you learn it’s all a marketing scam don’t coming crying to me. And can you like leave or not talk- Some of us have a job to do. said Maci- feeling her head explode with adrenaline. Did anybody ever notice Chris is one of the top trainers and he rarely advertises? You saw like 100 ads for Parelli to Chris’ one- well that wasn’t proved but Maci knew it was pretty damn close. She always saw his advertisements. Maci, in a pissy voice said “You seem to think you’re all that and a bag of chips. Well hate to break it to yeah- but I’m all that and a bag of skittles so taste my rainbow bitch” said Maci. She saw movement and went back to groom, and when Alexis’ face popped over the door she gave a sigh of relief.

” Maci- I can hear you from my office. Both of you need to drop it. Personally I like Chris Irwin- but that doesn’t mean I don’t agree with people liking Parelli. So get over yourselves girls- or you’ll both be mucking out stalls for punishment- and your jobs will be on the line. said Alexis- her voice stern.

“Sorry Alexis” she apologized. Although her mind still fired back comments at the Parelli girl who had her head up her ass. She cleared her mind and worked with Fancy- forgetting about the two in the isle way.