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Description
Long break, was working a show in Florida for a couple of weeks and basically didn't have time for anything but work and sleep. Fun sketch of Richie on Hermes doing real training... and Kate and Cas hacking to WEF to utilize the coffee cart. Very different goals for the day.

Story:

Right after Richie finished the show on Miami's beachfront, Kate had to head to the west coast of Florida to run the show she and her boss owned. Despite the relatively small size, only a couple hundred horses, Richie didn't hear much from Kate. She wore multiple hats and worked from before the sun came up to well after it went down. At least once a day he got a text complaining about someone else at the venue, sometimes a competitor for a little variety. So, life went on for Richie, back at John's barn training and showing at WEF. He had big goals for Hermes to start moving up this year, so was trying to carefully plan out which weeks and classes Hermes would show in. The young chestnut had a lot of promise and had stepped up to the plate in his few international classes, so Richie was hoping by puttng on a little pressure this season, Hermes would respond positively and could become a serious contender.

Kate had alternately expressed both worry that Cas would get a few weeks off, and desire for him to get that. Despite Kate's intentions, turns out, he didn't. John's oldest, 13 year old Mickey, had picked up some brochure on a new series for juniors and young riders one day at WEF, and eagerly brought it back to his father. Mickey was a nifty little rider, having grown up at the barn and the offspring of two riders, but like many young boy riders, his attention had often shifted. For a few months he may be really in to the barn, then would spend the next three months on a different pursuit hardly sitting on a horse. But that flyer, the idea of getting to show at some of the venues his dad had shown at, or his dad's friends currently showed at, definitely had his interest. And, thankfully, he brought it to his dad when Richie happened to be in the tack room.

John had been quite ready to say "Sorry son, but I just don't have a horse for you," when Richie had grabbed his shoulder. Not wanting to speak out of turn in front of Mickey, Richie pulled him a little to the side. "We can talk to Kate, but I'm sure she would be alright sharing Cas." John had, again, been ready to say no, to give an excuse, but Richie's hand was still on his shoulder. Richie was very serious. John chewed on it for a second: the big chestnut was broke as they came, and had jumped much bigger than the 1-1.10m required of him. "Well.. won't hurt to let him sit on Cas and see if he is serious about this. You sure Kate's ok?"

And so, Cas got a new rider for the next few weeks. Mickey didn't even waffle at Cas's large size, jumping at the chance to ride the big horse rather than a pony. And, for two weeks at least, the boy was very devoted to his riding, even being a model pupil for the lessons with his Dad. John, still unsure of this whole adventure, secretly couldn't wait for Kate to come back to the show and take her horse back.

Her show ended, budget meetings wrapped up, and Kate came back to Wellington. After a few days to sleep it off and deal with the usual post-show procedures, Kate finally returned to the barn in a better mood. Richie, used to the way things were around shows, had left her largely alone, serving as a pillow more oftan than anything. When he saw her at the barn, walking to Cas's stall, he suddenly realized he had forgotten to tell her about Cas's other rider. Mentaly smacking his forehead with his palm, he walked over, chuckling as Cas's large head nearly knocked Kate over as he tried to use her as a scratching post. "Uh, Kate..." he started, watching her laughing. He loved that sound, her smile. She wasn't paying attention to him, rubbing Cas's forehead. "I know you thought about giving Cas a few weeks off, but Mickey was looking to ride again... and I thought Cas would be a good fit..."

"Oh I know, Mike spilled the beans one morning," she chuckled, slipping his halter on. "And I'm still too tired for a real ride. Cas and I are going for a coffee." She kissed Richie on the cheek then walked the big horse towards the cross ties, leaving a slightly confused but amused Richie in the aisle.

Description
Long break, was working a show in Florida for a couple of weeks and basically didn't have time for anything but work and sleep. Fun sketch of Richie on Hermes doing real training... and Kate and Cas hacking to WEF to utilize the coffee cart. Very different goals for the day.

Story:

Right after Richie finished the show on Miami's beachfront, Kate had to head to the west coast of Florida to run the show she and her boss owned. Despite the relatively small size, only a couple hundred horses, Richie didn't hear much from Kate. She wore multiple hats and worked from before the sun came up to well after it went down. At least once a day he got a text complaining about someone else at the venue, sometimes a competitor for a little variety. So, life went on for Richie, back at John's barn training and showing at WEF. He had big goals for Hermes to start moving up this year, so was trying to carefully plan out which weeks and classes Hermes would show in. The young chestnut had a lot of promise and had stepped up to the plate in his few international classes, so Richie was hoping by puttng on a little pressure this season, Hermes would respond positively and could become a serious contender.

Kate had alternately expressed both worry that Cas would get a few weeks off, and desire for him to get that. Despite Kate's intentions, turns out, he didn't. John's oldest, 13 year old Mickey, had picked up some brochure on a new series for juniors and young riders one day at WEF, and eagerly brought it back to his father. Mickey was a nifty little rider, having grown up at the barn and the offspring of two riders, but like many young boy riders, his attention had often shifted. For a few months he may be really in to the barn, then would spend the next three months on a different pursuit hardly sitting on a horse. But that flyer, the idea of getting to show at some of the venues his dad had shown at, or his dad's friends currently showed at, definitely had his interest. And, thankfully, he brought it to his dad when Richie happened to be in the tack room.

John had been quite ready to say "Sorry son, but I just don't have a horse for you," when Richie had grabbed his shoulder. Not wanting to speak out of turn in front of Mickey, Richie pulled him a little to the side. "We can talk to Kate, but I'm sure she would be alright sharing Cas." John had, again, been ready to say no, to give an excuse, but Richie's hand was still on his shoulder. Richie was very serious. John chewed on it for a second: the big chestnut was broke as they came, and had jumped much bigger than the 1-1.10m required of him. "Well.. won't hurt to let him sit on Cas and see if he is serious about this. You sure Kate's ok?"

And so, Cas got a new rider for the next few weeks. Mickey didn't even waffle at Cas's large size, jumping at the chance to ride the big horse rather than a pony. And, for two weeks at least, the boy was very devoted to his riding, even being a model pupil for the lessons with his Dad. John, still unsure of this whole adventure, secretly couldn't wait for Kate to come back to the show and take her horse back.

Her show ended, budget meetings wrapped up, and Kate came back to Wellington. After a few days to sleep it off and deal with the usual post-show procedures, Kate finally returned to the barn in a better mood. Richie, used to the way things were around shows, had left her largely alone, serving as a pillow more oftan than anything. When he saw her at the barn, walking to Cas's stall, he suddenly realized he had forgotten to tell her about Cas's other rider. Mentaly smacking his forehead with his palm, he walked over, chuckling as Cas's large head nearly knocked Kate over as he tried to use her as a scratching post. "Uh, Kate..." he started, watching her laughing. He loved that sound, her smile. She wasn't paying attention to him, rubbing Cas's forehead. "I know you thought about giving Cas a few weeks off, but Mickey was looking to ride again... and I thought Cas would be a good fit..."

"Oh I know, Mike spilled the beans one morning," she chuckled, slipping his halter on. "And I'm still too tired for a real ride. Cas and I are going for a coffee." She kissed Richie on the cheek then walked the big horse towards the cross ties, leaving a slightly confused but amused Richie in the aisle.