Diego and Joey

[Grace]

Joey, driving her heavy duty SUV that her wealthy grandfather had left her, drove into the driveway of Hidden Valley. She admired the green lawns and the peaceful gorgeous looking horses that grazed in them. Looking in her rear view mirror she peered behind her vehicle at the silver three-horse trailer she was pulling. She tried to get a glimpse of her beloved Stallion's bushy forelock covered head but didn't. 'Must be checking out the mares..' She thought and smirked. She pulled up next to the barn and parked, making sure to grab Diego's leather lead rope that lay beside her on the passenger seat. Climbing out of the SUV she stretched and enjoyed the cool breeze on her face. She walked back to the trailer. "Diego..we're here boy.." She said in her sweet talking voice she saved for her stallion. She opened the door and stepped in. After some banging and "whoa's" from Joey, a magnificent ebony black stallion stepped out and made his presence known. A great whinny erupted from the stallion's large jowls and he pricked his ears for any answer, from mares, he hoped. "Hey, easy boy.." Joey said, trying not to laugh. She glanced around quickly and spotted a lunge lining ring and grinned. "Well Diego, we're gonna get your muscles nice and hard before the show, okay?" She grabbed her lunge line and headed over, making sure no one was in it first.

[ashlea]

((Can I join in?))
Natalie was walking back to the barn, a lead rope in hand as she was going to fetch Lucy and take her for a walk along the trails. Hearing the crunch of car tyres upon gravel, she looked up, shading her eyes against the sun that held the promise of a hot day. Hmm...looks like someone new, Natalie thought, and she headed towards the SUV and float, eager to greet the new arrivals. When she grew nearer, a large black stallion appeared at the top of the ramp, a young woman holding the lead rope and talking to him in much the same manner that Natalie spoke to her horses. "Hello!" she called out and waved, coming closer so that she could introduce herself.

[Grace]

Joey halted Diego and rubbed his neck before turning to Natalie. "Hey!" She replied cheerfully and pushed her shoulder against the crowding stallion. Diego whinny loudly to Natalie and pricked his ears forward towards her. He stamped his foot impatiently, eager to do something besides stand there. "Easy Diego.." Joey said to the stallion and pulled the lead rope slightly.

[ashlea]

"Hi welcome to Hiden Valley. I'm Natalie Smith and I'm the barn manager here." She ran an appraising eye over the stallion and grinned when he gave an impatient snort and pawed the ground. "Friesian?" Natalie guessed as a warm breeze tousled her wavy hair, and lifted it up from here neck. "Sorry for the rather ragged appearance, I was just exercising oone of the owner's horses," Natalie explained with a wry grin. "Need any help?"

[Grace]

"Yeah, he's my Friesian stallion. I do Dressage with him." Joey said with a smile. "Oh yeah, I'm Josephine, but everyone calls me Joey." She said and held out her hand to Natalie. "Hidden Valley is beautiful, I'm sure we'll like it here, my brother is coming to..he's on a date right now I assume from his phone call."

[ashlea]

Natalie smothered a grin, but her eyes twinkled with suppressed humour, "I hope that it goes welll...with your brother I mean." The rough leadrope in her hand brought her back to the present and where she was going before the excitment of a new arrival interrupted her train of thought. "Do you want to go for a walk?" Natalie asked Joey, glancing at the barn where a shrill whinny could be heard. "I was just going to take my six month old filly out for a walk on the lead rope, and I wonder whether you would be interested in coming. After you settle Diego in of course."

[Grace]

"Sure, sounds lovely. I'll just put Diego into his stall." Joey said and headed towards the barn. "If you'd like, Natalie, I could walk another horse with you. I'd bring Diego, but I'd like to lunge him before I walk around with him, and I'll lunge him in a little while." She stepped into the barn and Diego whinnyed to all of the horses, announcing his entrance. Joey led him into his designated stall and walked him in.