Post by Cavallo on Sept 26, 2012 0:16:43 GMT -5
There was the sound of footsteps as Adele made her way into the fillies barn on the Intrepid section of the track. Her approach had horses sticking their heads out, hoping and eager to see if the person approaching was their exercise rider. It seemed to be a common trend among IR horses....they all loved to run. Night Goddess nickered to Adele as she walked by with her gear, but she kept walking right on down to the last stall on the row, where dark intelligent eyes flashed with recognition.
Bellefire tossed her head and raised her upper lip, exposing her horse ivories. Adele smiled at the filly's antics. It wasn't unusual for the War Admiral filly. Lily, as she was called around the barn, was a real hellion. She was the original B.A. horse and her siblings had proven that. Adele dropped the bay's racing tack and moved to step into the filly's stall, lifting the latch and stepping in with her lead line. Lily backed up slightly making room for the small jockey. The rambunctions two year old thrusted her head in a gesture of affection to the girl, right into her chest. Adele huffed as the wind was knocked from her lungs...she gasped for a second trying to catch her breath and chuckled. She knew the filly hadn't meant to practically knock her over...she realized the gesture had knocked her against the stall door. Shaking her head she pushed Lily back and opened the stall door, leading the filly out and over to the cross-ties.
Adele knew she couldn't leave Lily there long...otherwise there would be a darn near impossible horse to catch. Lily watched Adele turn her back to grab her gear and a malicious gleam filled her dark eyes. She watched the small woman turn back aorund with her gear, her excitement grew and then...she just couldn't contain her nature! The bay reared half way, startling Adele, as gear clattered to the floor.
Lily! REALLY?! The bay's ears flattened slightly at the vocal reprimand, but she stilled slightly and danced on her forelegs, looking at the woman on the floor with an expression that simply told her to hurry up. Picking herself up and brushing herself off, Adele muttered as she gathered her fallen tack. She turned and gave Lily a wary eye....but then set about tacking the bay.
Lily tolerated the process, simply because she knew that then she would simply get to run and put her vengeful attitude on hold. She even offered Adele a peace-offering nuzzle. Rolling her eyes, Adele un-clicked the lead line and gathered the reins. Hoisting herself up into the saddle once outside, Lily eagerly looked at the green turf. Her eyes locked onto the breezing horses and for a second, Adele was almost certain that she'd have to fight with the two year old, but she simply huffed and waited for Adele's cues. That's my girl.
The duo had come a long way since Lily's first arrival at IR. She'd been all flashing teeth and flying hooves, but then that's when they discovered that it was only towards men in general, Adele and Nick had been the exception. So the IR team had quickly adapted to the filly and she to them...she still gave Kyle and Michael glaring looks, but at least now a sense of peace and routine had returned to the barn. One thing was for sure though. Nightshade and Bellefire did not get along. The first week had been pure hell, with shrill challenges flying across the barn. Finally Nick had simply had enough and so the two were on a rotation...while one was in the barn, the other was in the paddock and the two would only come together if hell froze over or there was an emergency. For all her quirks though and passion, Adele still loved the filly and the affection seemed to be returned.
Her first race was going to be in the Intrepid Racing Handicap. 11 furlongs of fine turf, right up Lily's alley and what better way to start her career, than by winning a race named after the stable she was racing for! The thought made Adele smile. She clucked to the bay and Lily was swift to reply. Dark legs reached for the turf and felt at home. Quickly they settled into a cantering groove as they did their three furlong warm-up. Every so often a horse would breeze by and Lily would crow-hop her defiance, but Adele was able to manage the passionate filly.
She checked her mount, felt her looseness and knew that she was ready and warmed up to run.
