proving ground

[S u N f r O s T ~]

The chestnut three year old affectionately nuzzled Henna as she climbed up onto his back. He waited patiently for me to settle myself and ask him for a walk before moving out onto the SOPS dirt track. We were home this weekend; Shock was getting some relaxation and rest. Henna needed the rest as well. After much thought and consideration, the entries for the Breeders Cup had been determined and declared. Henna was proud of the three mounts that she was riding in the Breeders Cup; Mystical Melody in the Juvenile Fillies, Silent Wings in the Dirt Mile and Pegasus Wings in either the Turf Sprint or regular Sprint. But Aftershock had not been declared for any Breeders Cup races; it had been decided by the staff that the races would be too overwhelming. Henna knew that her colt had a shot at them next year or the year after that, but he needed to win more. He needed to prove to the world that he was worthy of a Breeders Cup race.

Off in the distance, Henna spotted another chestnut colt. As she and Shock rode closer she recognized Limited Bluez, with Amber Black on top. Amber was riding several horses in the Breeders Cup; Wildly Natural in the Filly & Mare Turf, Deadly Desires in the Turf Sprint, Live This Lie in the Juvenile, Impressario in the Turf and Radiance in the Classic. Yet she, too, looked a bit downcast. Blue had also not been declared for any races; even though he had made grade three recently, it had been decided that he just hadn't been competitive enough this year to give others a run for their money.

Henna trotted Shock over to Blue's side; Amber looked up to shoot her a brief smile before lapsing back into her own thoughts. Together they shared a companionable silence, both thinking over the careers of their respective mounts and looking for ways to earn respect. Shock glanced amiably at Blue, who pretended that Shock was beneath his notice. Blue was an unusually dominant colt; he had issues with Whip Up The Dancing. Shock was too nice to form a rivalry with Blue, or he would have already; the colt was basically asking for it with his current cocky attitude.

Suddenly, Amber took off on Blue, setting him into a dead sprint. Not one to be left behind, Henna urged Shock on. Both colts were front runners; both reached sprint speed quickly and effortlessly. Shock managed to catch up to Blue, but was unable to pass the chestnut colt. Side by side the two gunned away down the backstretch. Henna glanced briefly at Amber, who had a look of sheer determination on her face. It was then that Henna realized why Amber was being so abrupt; she was trying to prove to herself that Blue had the talent to make it big. Just like how I'm trying to prove that Shock has the same talent thought Henna.

This new realization urged Henna on; she kneaded her hands along Shock's neck, their signal for a final sprinting drive. Shock gave it, digging in. Blue gamely reacted by lengthening his stride and the speed of his step; Henna reflected that the other colt won much more often than her own, giving him the advantage. However, Shock had something Blue didn't. He had the guidance of her, Henna Turath. Henna simply asked for a little more from her mount; the colt responded willingly, and managed to pull ahead by a bit.

As they hit the turn, Amber completely let Blue out. Her face shone with determination. Blue managed to scoot to the inside and catch up to Shock. They would have passed the colt and Henna if the stretch hadn't suddenly come roaring up, and Shock hadn't felt the adrenaline rush that only a stretch run could give. Side by side the two colts raced, both armed with riders attempting to prove their worth. Side by side they finished, pulling up unwillingly at the command of their riders. Both horses had become immersed in beating the other, in the sounds of their hooves pounding into the dirt of their home track.

Henna felt reassured of her colt's abilities as they pulled up; Amber could say the same of her own thoughts. They both sent fond smiles at their mounts and smaller but just as affectionate smiles at each other before riding off the track. This latest workout had given them both hope for the future. Their mounts were game and classy; their time would come. This had been their proving ground, where they had proved the extent of their talent.