Through The Flames

For the first time in three years, the stallion would race again. The big bodied horse was muscular, and since he came to us, he's been powering effortlessly on the horse walker. As he's got older, he's matured, and though he still has his escape tactics, he's one to watch for on the track. I smiled and stroked the stallions neck and I glared down the steeplechase course. We were going to do one lap today, to test his jumping.

I squeezed Diesel forward, his HUGE long stride carrying me effortlessly over the turf. After a nice steady canter, I started the workout with him. I pushed him into a gallop, and we were round the first turn. We approached the first jump. It got ever closer, and I felt the strides being counted down in my head. Three, two, one. The stallion leapt the fence with ease. I smiled and continued to gallop along.

The next jump was an open ditch. I braced myself but again, he jumped it with power, and grace. He snorted with each stride as we came to the last jump in the backstretch. Again, the striding was perfect, and though he took off and added a long stride, he flew it and powered over it again. His muscles were flexing with each stride and I was proud of him, for the first time having me on him.

Again, I pushed forward and with the power and stretch he had, he cleared the jump on the bend. I gulped as we entered the home stretch, staring at the last two fences. I was all out, using my energy to drive the seven year old stallion along. I closed my eyes as we approached the last and kicked him, and he jumped it with immense skill and power. Over the wire, I pulled him up, stroking his warm black neck. You're brilliant, Diesel. I said to him.