Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Feb 10, 2010 11:36:23 GMT -5
POINT OF VIEW
Krystal Yhate in Light Blue
Henna Turath in Light Green
The showy dark bay thoroughbred filly pranced beneath me, in very high spirits today. Her next race was coming up, and Moondance had to be prepared to kick some horsey butt. She had placed second in her first start of the year, the Tulip Bud Cup, and was looking for more. She was my Triple Tiara prospect this year, as was her sister Dashing In The Firelight. Today the two would be facing off in an epic mile long race, right here on the home dirt track. Things had been going well for us lately, with a couple of nice placings and fashionable wins. We had a reputation to keep up, and keep it up we would. But in order to do so, we would need to make sure all of our mounts were trained excellently and prepared well, which was why we were out here getting ready to race today.
Dashing In The Firelight strode out onto the dirt track with an air of determination. She hadn't started out her season too well, with two fourth place finishes, and was being outshone by her sister Moondance. I wanted Fire to succeed and be my Triple Tiara mount, but if she didn't pick it up soon she wouldn't head anywhere on the track. And I wanted the filly to, as a daughter of Dancing In The Moonlight. She had the potential, it just hadn't been unlocked yet. Perhaps by facing her sister that potential would be unveiled, and the result would be stupendous. That was only a hope of course, but my other mounts were ready to go because of similar workouts I had put them through compared to the one I was about to do with Fire. Perhaps this would work for Fire, perhaps not, we would just have to see.
I glimpsed the dazzling dark bay sister of my mount prancing around the dirt track ahead of us. Mona looked gorgeous, her muscles filled out with new three year old maturity and her eyes gleaming. She was in excellent health and was looking to be quite the prospect for the Triple Tiara. I urged Fire towards her, knowing that Fire looked just as dazzling with her fiery light bay coat and gorgeous black mane and tail. But it wasn't looks that decided a race, but skill. Unfortunately for us, Fire only had looks, and Mona seemed to have both. That would have to change!
Mona stiffened as she saw her sister approach, eyes wary. Was this a possible competitor? I held the reins tightly and prepared myself in case the three year old decided to bolt, but Mona remained imperiously where she was standing as Fire walked over to us regally. Fire threw a glare at her sister and stood taller, but it was useless. Fire was only about sixteen hands high, and Mona sixteen and a half. Mona drew herself up, now amusement crackling in her eyes. I thought that if Fire had been a dog, she would have snarled. As it was, Fire only glared right at Mona, and Mona glared back. There appeared to be some sibling rivalry going on.
How goes it Henna? I asked lightly. My eyes lingered over Fire's frame, examining the light bay thoroughbred. Fire was maturing more slowly than her sister and slowly filling out, but there was an air of determination and fiery heart around the filly that I knew Mona would never be able to duplicate. Mona was the showy type who just pranced her way in the front to victory. Fire was the type a person would remember just because of how fiery her determination and heart was. Yes, those were Fire's dominant traits, while Mona was just like a little princess expecting the world to bow down to her and working to punish if they didn't.
Very well Krystal I replied lightly with a small smile in her direction. Krystal had just ridden Ness against my mare Dara, and while Dara had won Ness had done excellently. I was becoming pretty good at working with the other woman by now, much to my delight, and the results were beneficial for both of our mounts. Now I asked Shall we begin to warm up? And breaking from the gates sounds good to me. Fire shifted beneath me. Hot flames poured from her hooves as a sudden wave of energy shot through her. I could feel the crackle through the reins, similar to the energy that was constantly bouncing around in my other mount Pegasus Wings, and quickly reined the filly in just before she attempted to bolt. Finding her attempt blocked, Fire just tried harder than before. That was one of those good things about this filly - she never gave up. But sometimes it just got in the way of work.
Cut it Fire I half-ordered, just holding the reins tighter than ever. Our contest went on for several minutes, and then Fire submitted to my authority grudgingly. Good girl I praised, and looked up. Mona and Krystal were busy warming up on the other side of the dirt track, turning seamless circles easily. I sighed and began my own warm up with Fire.
When I saw that Henna had already begun her small, private conversation with Fire - aka struggling to hold Fire back - I rode Mona away quietly and began our warm up. Mona obeyed my every command flawlessly, looking to show off for an invisible spectator. We went through our regular warm up exercises easily, Mona's stride loosening up and becoming more energetic as we upped the pace to a trot, and then a canter. The dirt disappeared under her hooves as she cantered now, breaths puffing in the air before disappearing. Her eyes were alight with pleasure as she prepared to run.
At long last I deemed that the dark bay filly was ready. I slowed her to a trot and then directed her towards the gates. As expected, Amber Black was there with a stopwatch, ready and waiting. She was astride the black stallion Jessie James, who's eyes flared as we approached. Amber smiled at me and then quickly retook control of Jamie with a couple of words. I smiled back and then glanced uneasily at the black hellion. Jamie, I had heard, was a hard horse to ride, but he seemed calm and more than ready to go under Amber's able hands. I urged Mona forward, not letting my anxiety spoil our current connection. Mona threw a glance in Jamie's direction and then strode right into slot one. I smiled, pleased with her acceptance of the gate, and waited for Fire and Henna to join us.
Fire was being a huge handful today. She pushed to go faster through our earlier warm up, a simple trot along the dirt in a straight line. The power she had as she asked for more was nearly too much for me to contain, but I somehow managed to tame it by completing a couple full and half circles with the light bay. Fire's slightly choppy stride as she pushed for control changed into a long, loping gait that covered ground very quickly. She slowly stopped asking for more, and in reward I asked for a canter from her. Entering the pace on the sixteen hands high filly was beautiful. The transition was smooth, and the increase in pace a wonderful feeling to us both. Fire's mane blew back in my face and her dark eyes brightened. I could feel her pleasure at this run simmering in her veins, as well as a passionate desire to go.
I deemed that the filly was ready and steered her towards the gate. We were still moving at a canter, and reached them quickly. Amber smiled a welcome at us and motioned towards slot two. I noticed she was astride Jessie James the Black Hellion and smiled uneasily back. Fire flared underneath me, sensing my discomfort. Similar to Jamie, she was also a hard ride. I refocused almost instantly, taking control and guiding the thoroughbred in the right direction. Jamie took notice of the pretty light bay and glared right at her as we approached. Mona would have just pranced right past, ignoring the stallion completely. Fire, however, reacted.
She bolted right for the stallion, her teeth bared as she prepared to take a chunk out of his neck. The glare was a challenge, and she never backed down from a challenge. Jamie reacted instantly as well, rearing up and preparing to strike. I reacted a bit late, grabbing hold of the suddenly loose reins and executing a roll back, flipping Fire around and urging her away. Jamie came down with his hooves, Amber struggling to maintain control. His right hoof hit right into Fire's hind leg and then slid down. Fire's reaction was immediate. She neighed a brief neigh of pain and half fell. My reactions were barely quick enough. I helped her recollect herself, and when Fire was standing I knew it would be a bad idea to move.
I wheeled my eyes around to watch as Amber calmed down her hellion, working to restore a sense of calm into the stallion. Her eyes, so calm, were nowhere near what mine must have been like. I was sick with worry about my filly, worry stemming through me and into the reins. Fire, already in pain, was practically unapproachable. She couldn't buck me off without hurting her back, and she couldn't reach me with her teeth, so instead she stood stiffly. Her ears were flat back and her eyes rolling white. I wondered what the heck would become of me.
I didn't have to be told what was going on, I could hear everything from my post on Mona's back. But now, I was stuck in a dilemma. Fire needed immediate medical attention, but I couldn't leave Mona right here. Mona was a bit jumpy herself, probably picking up on the negative emotions behind. She was eager to be off and away from the pain. Easy girl I soothed, my mind racing. What the heck could I do?
A slow plan formed in my mind, and slowly, very very slowly, I dismounted onto a small rack right at the side that the gate people would stand on in a race. Mona reacted neutrally to having expectedly less pressure on her back. This was good, as this meant I could do the rest of my plan. I grabbed Mona's reins and the slowly opened up the front gate. Seeing the open ground, Mona attempted to bolt but was not successful against the iron steel of my hands. I held her tightly until she calmed down, and then quickly led her towards the removable track rail onto the middle portion of the dirt track. Rapidly removing it, I led Mona in, replaced the rail, looped Mona's reins through my arm, removed her saddle and saddle pad, and then got rid of her bridle. Finding herself free, Mona turned away, bucked once, and then set off at a dead sprint away from the disaster.
Now freed, I hopped the fence rail and approached Fire. The light bay filly was standing stiffly in place, the whites of her eyes showing. I exchanged a glance with Henna, who looked bewildered and terrified on Fire's back, and then approached Fire. The filly bared her teeth and prepared to snap out of I got too close. Easy girl I soothed in my best crazy-horse voice. I'm going to get you some help. The pain will go away! My voice remained soothing as I stepped forward. Fire's teeth were still bared, but as I drew closer she stopped baring her teeth. She seemed to sag slightly, relaxing, knowing she needed some help.
I looked up into Henna's eyes. She'll be fine, Henna, I promise. Out for a bit, but fine I soothed her. Henna nodded mutely, still too caught up in the horror of the day for words. I noticed a tear glistening on her cheek, but knew that it was Fire who needed my help. I shifted my attentions and set to work on healing up the light bay thoroughbred. The filly would be ready to return by June.
Krystal Yhate in Light Blue
Henna Turath in Light Green
The showy dark bay thoroughbred filly pranced beneath me, in very high spirits today. Her next race was coming up, and Moondance had to be prepared to kick some horsey butt. She had placed second in her first start of the year, the Tulip Bud Cup, and was looking for more. She was my Triple Tiara prospect this year, as was her sister Dashing In The Firelight. Today the two would be facing off in an epic mile long race, right here on the home dirt track. Things had been going well for us lately, with a couple of nice placings and fashionable wins. We had a reputation to keep up, and keep it up we would. But in order to do so, we would need to make sure all of our mounts were trained excellently and prepared well, which was why we were out here getting ready to race today.
Dashing In The Firelight strode out onto the dirt track with an air of determination. She hadn't started out her season too well, with two fourth place finishes, and was being outshone by her sister Moondance. I wanted Fire to succeed and be my Triple Tiara mount, but if she didn't pick it up soon she wouldn't head anywhere on the track. And I wanted the filly to, as a daughter of Dancing In The Moonlight. She had the potential, it just hadn't been unlocked yet. Perhaps by facing her sister that potential would be unveiled, and the result would be stupendous. That was only a hope of course, but my other mounts were ready to go because of similar workouts I had put them through compared to the one I was about to do with Fire. Perhaps this would work for Fire, perhaps not, we would just have to see.
I glimpsed the dazzling dark bay sister of my mount prancing around the dirt track ahead of us. Mona looked gorgeous, her muscles filled out with new three year old maturity and her eyes gleaming. She was in excellent health and was looking to be quite the prospect for the Triple Tiara. I urged Fire towards her, knowing that Fire looked just as dazzling with her fiery light bay coat and gorgeous black mane and tail. But it wasn't looks that decided a race, but skill. Unfortunately for us, Fire only had looks, and Mona seemed to have both. That would have to change!
Mona stiffened as she saw her sister approach, eyes wary. Was this a possible competitor? I held the reins tightly and prepared myself in case the three year old decided to bolt, but Mona remained imperiously where she was standing as Fire walked over to us regally. Fire threw a glare at her sister and stood taller, but it was useless. Fire was only about sixteen hands high, and Mona sixteen and a half. Mona drew herself up, now amusement crackling in her eyes. I thought that if Fire had been a dog, she would have snarled. As it was, Fire only glared right at Mona, and Mona glared back. There appeared to be some sibling rivalry going on.
How goes it Henna? I asked lightly. My eyes lingered over Fire's frame, examining the light bay thoroughbred. Fire was maturing more slowly than her sister and slowly filling out, but there was an air of determination and fiery heart around the filly that I knew Mona would never be able to duplicate. Mona was the showy type who just pranced her way in the front to victory. Fire was the type a person would remember just because of how fiery her determination and heart was. Yes, those were Fire's dominant traits, while Mona was just like a little princess expecting the world to bow down to her and working to punish if they didn't.
Very well Krystal I replied lightly with a small smile in her direction. Krystal had just ridden Ness against my mare Dara, and while Dara had won Ness had done excellently. I was becoming pretty good at working with the other woman by now, much to my delight, and the results were beneficial for both of our mounts. Now I asked Shall we begin to warm up? And breaking from the gates sounds good to me. Fire shifted beneath me. Hot flames poured from her hooves as a sudden wave of energy shot through her. I could feel the crackle through the reins, similar to the energy that was constantly bouncing around in my other mount Pegasus Wings, and quickly reined the filly in just before she attempted to bolt. Finding her attempt blocked, Fire just tried harder than before. That was one of those good things about this filly - she never gave up. But sometimes it just got in the way of work.
Cut it Fire I half-ordered, just holding the reins tighter than ever. Our contest went on for several minutes, and then Fire submitted to my authority grudgingly. Good girl I praised, and looked up. Mona and Krystal were busy warming up on the other side of the dirt track, turning seamless circles easily. I sighed and began my own warm up with Fire.
When I saw that Henna had already begun her small, private conversation with Fire - aka struggling to hold Fire back - I rode Mona away quietly and began our warm up. Mona obeyed my every command flawlessly, looking to show off for an invisible spectator. We went through our regular warm up exercises easily, Mona's stride loosening up and becoming more energetic as we upped the pace to a trot, and then a canter. The dirt disappeared under her hooves as she cantered now, breaths puffing in the air before disappearing. Her eyes were alight with pleasure as she prepared to run.
At long last I deemed that the dark bay filly was ready. I slowed her to a trot and then directed her towards the gates. As expected, Amber Black was there with a stopwatch, ready and waiting. She was astride the black stallion Jessie James, who's eyes flared as we approached. Amber smiled at me and then quickly retook control of Jamie with a couple of words. I smiled back and then glanced uneasily at the black hellion. Jamie, I had heard, was a hard horse to ride, but he seemed calm and more than ready to go under Amber's able hands. I urged Mona forward, not letting my anxiety spoil our current connection. Mona threw a glance in Jamie's direction and then strode right into slot one. I smiled, pleased with her acceptance of the gate, and waited for Fire and Henna to join us.
Fire was being a huge handful today. She pushed to go faster through our earlier warm up, a simple trot along the dirt in a straight line. The power she had as she asked for more was nearly too much for me to contain, but I somehow managed to tame it by completing a couple full and half circles with the light bay. Fire's slightly choppy stride as she pushed for control changed into a long, loping gait that covered ground very quickly. She slowly stopped asking for more, and in reward I asked for a canter from her. Entering the pace on the sixteen hands high filly was beautiful. The transition was smooth, and the increase in pace a wonderful feeling to us both. Fire's mane blew back in my face and her dark eyes brightened. I could feel her pleasure at this run simmering in her veins, as well as a passionate desire to go.
I deemed that the filly was ready and steered her towards the gate. We were still moving at a canter, and reached them quickly. Amber smiled a welcome at us and motioned towards slot two. I noticed she was astride Jessie James the Black Hellion and smiled uneasily back. Fire flared underneath me, sensing my discomfort. Similar to Jamie, she was also a hard ride. I refocused almost instantly, taking control and guiding the thoroughbred in the right direction. Jamie took notice of the pretty light bay and glared right at her as we approached. Mona would have just pranced right past, ignoring the stallion completely. Fire, however, reacted.
She bolted right for the stallion, her teeth bared as she prepared to take a chunk out of his neck. The glare was a challenge, and she never backed down from a challenge. Jamie reacted instantly as well, rearing up and preparing to strike. I reacted a bit late, grabbing hold of the suddenly loose reins and executing a roll back, flipping Fire around and urging her away. Jamie came down with his hooves, Amber struggling to maintain control. His right hoof hit right into Fire's hind leg and then slid down. Fire's reaction was immediate. She neighed a brief neigh of pain and half fell. My reactions were barely quick enough. I helped her recollect herself, and when Fire was standing I knew it would be a bad idea to move.
I wheeled my eyes around to watch as Amber calmed down her hellion, working to restore a sense of calm into the stallion. Her eyes, so calm, were nowhere near what mine must have been like. I was sick with worry about my filly, worry stemming through me and into the reins. Fire, already in pain, was practically unapproachable. She couldn't buck me off without hurting her back, and she couldn't reach me with her teeth, so instead she stood stiffly. Her ears were flat back and her eyes rolling white. I wondered what the heck would become of me.
I didn't have to be told what was going on, I could hear everything from my post on Mona's back. But now, I was stuck in a dilemma. Fire needed immediate medical attention, but I couldn't leave Mona right here. Mona was a bit jumpy herself, probably picking up on the negative emotions behind. She was eager to be off and away from the pain. Easy girl I soothed, my mind racing. What the heck could I do?
A slow plan formed in my mind, and slowly, very very slowly, I dismounted onto a small rack right at the side that the gate people would stand on in a race. Mona reacted neutrally to having expectedly less pressure on her back. This was good, as this meant I could do the rest of my plan. I grabbed Mona's reins and the slowly opened up the front gate. Seeing the open ground, Mona attempted to bolt but was not successful against the iron steel of my hands. I held her tightly until she calmed down, and then quickly led her towards the removable track rail onto the middle portion of the dirt track. Rapidly removing it, I led Mona in, replaced the rail, looped Mona's reins through my arm, removed her saddle and saddle pad, and then got rid of her bridle. Finding herself free, Mona turned away, bucked once, and then set off at a dead sprint away from the disaster.
Now freed, I hopped the fence rail and approached Fire. The light bay filly was standing stiffly in place, the whites of her eyes showing. I exchanged a glance with Henna, who looked bewildered and terrified on Fire's back, and then approached Fire. The filly bared her teeth and prepared to snap out of I got too close. Easy girl I soothed in my best crazy-horse voice. I'm going to get you some help. The pain will go away! My voice remained soothing as I stepped forward. Fire's teeth were still bared, but as I drew closer she stopped baring her teeth. She seemed to sag slightly, relaxing, knowing she needed some help.
I looked up into Henna's eyes. She'll be fine, Henna, I promise. Out for a bit, but fine I soothed her. Henna nodded mutely, still too caught up in the horror of the day for words. I noticed a tear glistening on her cheek, but knew that it was Fire who needed my help. I shifted my attentions and set to work on healing up the light bay thoroughbred. The filly would be ready to return by June.