Post by Cavallo on Aug 2, 2012 20:37:20 GMT -5
The track at The Wire was all abuzz with the talk of the upcoming Grand National Chase. It would be the first steeplechase in a long while and Nick was all enthusiasm about it.
He'd shipped in the Smilles Boo stallion just to train and practice on The Wire for this sole race. Nick lunged Leo over some practice jumps after he'd warmed up the nine year old stallion. Leo was in his prime and was still advancing and Nick was simply itching to utilize the bay stallion's speed, endurance and jumping skills.
A trained eventer, Leo was not a novice to steeplechase and due to his well breeding, he actually excelled at it. Being bred from racing legend Fly High Silver, speed was bred into every rippling muscle of the galloping stallion.
Nick clucked to bay as he lifted off the ground and sailed with ease over the 52inch jump. The bay landed in stride, not loosing a step as he surged forward around the circle to the next similar jump.
Nick watched and kept the stallion moving, making sure that Leo was running in step. He was doing a wonderful job not loosing speed.
Leo's second time around the round pen, Nick halted the regal looking bay. He tossed his head royally and eagerly at Nick's approach. His eyes looking at the jump across the way, ears perked forward. Leo loved his job...anything that required, speed, grace, finesse and jumping was something that this stallion would excel at.
Nick rubbed the lathered boa of the brute and un-clipped the lunge line from his bridle and got the stallion situated for their run.
Alright boy...you know it don't you...we have a race coming and I know you won't disappoint. Nick knew that the field would be generally untried in the sport of steeplechase...so they had a slight advantage here, but they were going into this race half-cocked.
Nick mounted and Leo waited like a gentleman, playing eagerly with his bit. He nudged the stallion to the gate and a stable hand was there to release the duo out into the open world of The Wire.
Nick smiled as he felt the brute tremble in excitement and energy beneath him. Open lands laid ahead...lots of natural logs and hedges to jump and ground to cover...with only the wind to race.
Yes...they were most definitely in their element here.
