Post by Onzy on May 6, 2011 19:01:20 GMT
PLAYBY: Oliver Townend
FULL NAME: Marcus Philip Ferguson
NICKNAMES: Mark
AGE: 25
GENDER: Male
ETHNICITY: British
STUDENT OR STAFF: Staff// Mason Stable Manager and Dressage Team Coach
HALL: Hallow Flats
PERSONALITY: Mark is one of those rare people who have wealth but don't flaunt it. He is focussed and down to earth. To him, despite being the next in line to be a Lord, everyone is equal and deserves to be treated with respect. He is soft spoken and quite the gentleman. Old world in his manners, it is rare to encounter someone like him. He opens the door, seats the lady first etc. He is actually quite shy if he wants to be, and often comes across as a nerd, but this is hardly true. Once he gets to know someone, he is funny and intelligent, but not the nerdy type. Mark was raised to be respectful, but firm in his dealings, and in so doing usually gets what he wants, be it in business venture or in a horse. With enough persistence, it happens.
Mark is the behind the scene type of guy, an observer. There isn't much about him that particularly stands out, apart from his shocking blue eyes, but they can't be seen on the other side of a room. His observances about people are usually correct, and he chooses who he wants to be associated with. It also helps that he doesn't need a large group of friends, and most of his days are spent training or working alone. Socialising isn't one of his strong points, but he carries a decent conversation.
Mark though does get angry quickly, but doesn't lose it. He picks to breathe, carry on and walk away. If something really does irk him then he will say something and do something if necessary. Force him to, and he will take further steps. He hasn't been pushed to that yet, and he doesn't wish to do so in the future.
He is very casual in his dress, but not just that, he exudes a presence that just demands respect. The way he carries himself, and how he walks is reminiscent of someone with a regal air, even they didn't know that he is in fact connected to the royal family. In his jeans and casual tee is how he'll go out, but around the stables it's breeches, polished field boots and a dress shirt that is tucked in.
BACKGROUND: Mark never had that great start in life. He was born into poverty, his father a handy man and his mother passed away when he was a year old. When he was two, shortly after his mother's death, a rich relative took him in and legally adopted him. He also had a non-identical twin, but his father wasn't prepared to give up two children and so his brother stayed with his dad. He never heard from them again, but he holds no bitterness against them. He doesn't really know his family history. His mother was was born into a very wealthy family, but got disowned when she married his father. She didn't want the ties that held her down, and married for love. Her sister however took the responsibility and married some Lord. Lord John Philip Ashdale to be correct, and his aunt was Lady Catherine Anne Ashdale.
Mark was raised to appreciate what he had in life, and even though he had money to spare, everything he got was something he worked for. There was always a goal to be reached, and time to be given to others. He was raised doing charity work, and his aunt reminded him that it could be him living in a shack, or trying to survive cancer. Mark lived on an estate a few hours drive from Hartfordshire. His holidays were always something to look forward to. Mark and his aunt and uncle spent winters in the Swiss alps for a skiing holiday and in the summer is was the south of France or Spain. He never felt needy or disadvantaged, but he also didn't turn out to be a spoiled brat. He never wanted more than a few Christmas presents, and for his birthday he would work with the less fortunate to give them what they didn't have.
Mark's aunt and uncle always had horses on the property as his uncle played polo with the best of them, but he never really showed an interest in riding. The polo ponies intimidated him, and the horses that were ridable for him were little Shetlands that were only companion ponies and were quite mean. He started riding when he was 7, a deal that he made with his aunt seemed to be working out, and he was introduced to a fat Welsh pony named Smartie. First trained in dressage then show jumping, Mark always thrilled to gallop over fields. During one of these gallops, Smartie tripped and sent Mark flying with a busted arm and a lot of scrapes. The smile could grow no bigger, and by the time his arm had been put in a cast and Mark was back home, he was nagging to go riding.
Seeing potential, his trainer introduced him to cross country aged nine. Like a duck to water, Mark started competing in the children's sections of eventing. He climbed up the rankings, and by the age of eighteen was happily enjoying the adult divisions. Each horse he rode, was one that he had worked for, but only one was a gift from his aunt and uncle. Mark was an average learner, and never really inspired to got to University. He did though, balancing his competing and varsity. He studied Equine Sciences, and found himself out of varsity with no job. His life hasn't been all good, and seeing that he was legally adopted, stands to inherit everything from his uncle, including a title and the various estates. Somewhat like his mother, Mark isn't keen on the whole idea, but knows that he has been groomed to take over some day. To some this sounds like an ideal life, but he knows what goes on underneath all this. He did after all spend some holidays at Balmoral in Scotland and at Sandringham when he was older.
Mark decided to escape the choking confines of regal life and competed solid for a year, travelling Europe, and learning from the greats. With permission he started looking for a job horse wise. He found the Park position, and soon found himself close to his home. The opportunity was just to good to pass up, and now he finds himself at the College with the pressures to marry and have children from his family, and great competition aspirations from himself. Some however might have been shelved, but he still dreams of winning Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials which he has been competing in for the last three years.
MISC.:
Abi is a female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel aged six. She is actually one of Mark's aunts pets, but the dog took a liking to Mark when they got her as a puppy. She is a one person dog, and sadly if anyone gets to close she does do a snarling act. Spend enough time with her, and she's quite happy to be friendly. She is quite the lovable animal towards children, and despite her small size joins the trail rides and sits by the fence while Mark is riding. Abi is a friendly companion for Mark, but is fussy little thing. Everything must be done her way, and if she doesn't like the food she gets then she refuses to eat.
Shaska is a Golden Retriever female aged four. Her main purpose is a hunting dog, so when Mark goes home, then his uncle takes her out for some hunting, or if they get invited to some or other estate then Shaska is always there. She is curious, maybe to curious, and always seems to land up in sticky situations that don't provide any way of escape. Shaska acts like a brave one, but is frightened of the weirdest things. She won't go near sheep or cows, and even a mouse can scare her. She is friendly and loves meeting new people. Always in other people's faces, Shaska needs a bit of encouragement to stay away.
