Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2013 9:14:03 GMT -5
A dainty black filly trotted out onto the track, her ears flickering around restlessly at that commotion of The Wire in the early morning. She had been stabled at the track for a few days, but it was her first time on the track under saddle. The girl on her back was whispering to her, trying to keep the antsy filly calm.
Following the pair onto the track was a young man atop a blinkered bay filly. The bay was also taking in her surroundings, though her demeanor was much more relaxed as she did so.
The first filly was HS Starbucks, while the second was HS Equinox. Sherlock wanted to give the fillies their first work at The Wire together, as she knew Starry would benefit from an older and more confident companion, while Equinox would appreciate having an opponent. Sherlock halted Starry and waited for Vinnie and Equinox to pull alongside them.
"Okay, Vinnie, you know Equinox so well, I'm sure you can hep her get the most out of this work. We're going to warm up in tandem, then I'll send Starry off. Give us a good three to five-length start, then ask Equinox for run. I think she might want to stop and hang with Starry, but don't let her. Urge her to pass us. This is a mental work for her, and a physical one for Starry. This little filly isn't all that great on dirt, anyway, so Equinox is definitely going to be faster. We're going to gallop out past the wire after a half mile work. Make sense?" Vinnie nodded and the two riders asked their mounts to move off.
Starry continued to fidget as she warmed up, but despite her nervousness, she did not act out. Equinox, meanwhile, had satisfied her curiosity and would merely flick an ear at passing horses. Sherlock waved at Vinnie, indicating it was time to get into a serious work. Vinnie raised a hand in acknowledgement, and Sherlock lowered herself on Starry's back and gave her rein. The filly's attention suddenly focused, and she instantly responded by lengthening her stride and quickening the pace. She left Equinox behind and focused on the open track ahead. Sherlock could feel that her mount was faltering a little on the dirt surface, but Starry was still trying hard. The girl glanced under her arm to see Equinox a few lengths back, both ears pricked and focused on Starry.
Vinnie muttered reassuringly to Equinox, feeling his mount tug gently on the reins, asking to go after her stablemate. Her rider new this was a big step for the filly, who had always demanded things her way, but he knew she would not ask for long before taking things into her own hands, so to speak. He hesitated another moment before letting her loose.
Equinox took off like a shot, devouring the ground between the two fillies in a matter of strides and eyeing up the 2-year-old as she came alongside. Starry engaged with Equinox, further exerting herself in an attempt to pass the bay. Equinox retained a measured half-length lead, her inside ear cocked toward her workmate and outside ear pricked straight ahead.
"Come on, Equinox." Vinnie said, clicking his tongue and urging the bay filly on. Equinox put a little more distance between herself and the dainty black, but kept her attention focused on Starry. Vinnie tapped her on the shoulder with his riding crop, trying to get her moving forward. Eventually, Equinox redirected her attention and began to leave Starry behind, extending the margin between them with every long, low stride.
Sherlock passed the wire many lengths behind Vinnie and Equinox, who were just pulling up to allow the other pair to catch them. Equinox was barely blowing, prancing around with more energy than she'd come with. Starry was a bit more tired, though Sherlock was proud of how she'd tried hard to keep pace with the more experienced horse.
"Great job getting her to release us and move past! What was your time?" Sherlock asked, indicating the stopwatch that Vinnie held in his hand.
":47 and three." He replied, patting Equinox on the neck as she threatened to run off again.
"Perfect. Starry was :48 and two, so I guess we were about four lengths behind you." Sherlock said approvingly. "Let's get these girls cooled out."
Following the pair onto the track was a young man atop a blinkered bay filly. The bay was also taking in her surroundings, though her demeanor was much more relaxed as she did so.
The first filly was HS Starbucks, while the second was HS Equinox. Sherlock wanted to give the fillies their first work at The Wire together, as she knew Starry would benefit from an older and more confident companion, while Equinox would appreciate having an opponent. Sherlock halted Starry and waited for Vinnie and Equinox to pull alongside them.
"Okay, Vinnie, you know Equinox so well, I'm sure you can hep her get the most out of this work. We're going to warm up in tandem, then I'll send Starry off. Give us a good three to five-length start, then ask Equinox for run. I think she might want to stop and hang with Starry, but don't let her. Urge her to pass us. This is a mental work for her, and a physical one for Starry. This little filly isn't all that great on dirt, anyway, so Equinox is definitely going to be faster. We're going to gallop out past the wire after a half mile work. Make sense?" Vinnie nodded and the two riders asked their mounts to move off.
Starry continued to fidget as she warmed up, but despite her nervousness, she did not act out. Equinox, meanwhile, had satisfied her curiosity and would merely flick an ear at passing horses. Sherlock waved at Vinnie, indicating it was time to get into a serious work. Vinnie raised a hand in acknowledgement, and Sherlock lowered herself on Starry's back and gave her rein. The filly's attention suddenly focused, and she instantly responded by lengthening her stride and quickening the pace. She left Equinox behind and focused on the open track ahead. Sherlock could feel that her mount was faltering a little on the dirt surface, but Starry was still trying hard. The girl glanced under her arm to see Equinox a few lengths back, both ears pricked and focused on Starry.
Vinnie muttered reassuringly to Equinox, feeling his mount tug gently on the reins, asking to go after her stablemate. Her rider new this was a big step for the filly, who had always demanded things her way, but he knew she would not ask for long before taking things into her own hands, so to speak. He hesitated another moment before letting her loose.
Equinox took off like a shot, devouring the ground between the two fillies in a matter of strides and eyeing up the 2-year-old as she came alongside. Starry engaged with Equinox, further exerting herself in an attempt to pass the bay. Equinox retained a measured half-length lead, her inside ear cocked toward her workmate and outside ear pricked straight ahead.
"Come on, Equinox." Vinnie said, clicking his tongue and urging the bay filly on. Equinox put a little more distance between herself and the dainty black, but kept her attention focused on Starry. Vinnie tapped her on the shoulder with his riding crop, trying to get her moving forward. Eventually, Equinox redirected her attention and began to leave Starry behind, extending the margin between them with every long, low stride.
Sherlock passed the wire many lengths behind Vinnie and Equinox, who were just pulling up to allow the other pair to catch them. Equinox was barely blowing, prancing around with more energy than she'd come with. Starry was a bit more tired, though Sherlock was proud of how she'd tried hard to keep pace with the more experienced horse.
"Great job getting her to release us and move past! What was your time?" Sherlock asked, indicating the stopwatch that Vinnie held in his hand.
":47 and three." He replied, patting Equinox on the neck as she threatened to run off again.
"Perfect. Starry was :48 and two, so I guess we were about four lengths behind you." Sherlock said approvingly. "Let's get these girls cooled out."
