Post by LK on Aug 22, 2014 19:37:06 GMT -5
DAYDREAM && HANDSOME TABBY
If you believe that life gives you lemons and you should make lemonade, then try to find someone who whose life has given vodka and have a party - Ron White
Felicity was excited. She hadn't been on one of her racehorses in months. Mostly the retired horses and breeding stallions were her job to exercise. But today she sent the jockey's home for a much deserved break. They had finished exercising most of the horses early this morning but there were two of them left to be worked. She smiled at the two experienced old-timers as Blake lowered the trailer ramp. The chestnut and bay faces of Handsome Tabby and Daydream greeted them from the front of the trailer, eyes wide.
It was their first time to be outside of the grounds at TW. These guys had only been to the race track here a few times this year. They were used to doing their exercises back at OVS's breezing track or at GHF. Since the day was cooler than usual that summer, Felicity decided it was time for a gallop in the back fields. She decided to for-go the racing saddles and opted for western saddles instead. The horses shifted a little at the heavier weight on their backs, but quieted down quickly. Fell had an unwavering rule around the stable: the horses were to be worked in different tack at least once a month and be exposed to as many situations as possible. She had a firm belief that the more a horse was exposed to, the calmer they would be on race days.
Blake finished saddling up Tabs and gave a loving peck on Felicity's cheek before swinging his leg over the tall thoroughbred. The chestnut stallion danced underneath him, eager to move off. A quick reprimand from his rider and he stood still, chomping at the bit. Felicity laughed at the sight of her six foot-four husband riding the lythe racehorse. It was a big difference then what she was used to seeing; a petite rider perched on his back.
Climbing up onto Rea, Fell tucked her cellphone into her boot and looked up to Blake's frown. He hated that she was attached to it at all times. But it was a necessity that she needed close in case one of the grooms or jockey's called her. Habit. It came from growing up around rescue horses that were constantly having emergency vet calls.
She clucked to the bay mare and they trotted off down the path leading to the trees. There was a marker with several directions to trails. Fell decided to take the right one that led along a river and looked back to make sure the boys were behind her. Blake was eyeing a particularly prickly bush that Tabs was determined to walk into. He squeezed the red horse around the plant and cursed when he caught a long branch on his knee. Fell laughed at his face and encouraged him to catch up a little.
They made their way at a trot until they discovered the stream a few miles down the trail. From here they let the horses have a break and waded into the cold water, Felicity squealing when Blake splashed water her way. They drank a little before hopping back on and continuing on.
Before long they came across a wide meadow filled with white daisies. Felicity grinned and challenged Blake to a race. Of course he never turned down a challenge, so he goosed Tabs in the sides and took off across the field. Felicity whooped as Daydream leaped into a gallop, ears pinned, determined to catch up to the boys. They gained slightly as Handsome Tabby came up on a slight hill and he slowed down a notch. Felicity and Rea pulled up beside the other two and moved ahead by a nose. Blake laughed and urged his horse to go faster.
It was neck and neck as they approached a fallen log at the edge of the meadow. They raced past it before pulling up. Felicity hollered and hauled back on the reins to get her mare to stop. She wanted to keep running but there were some low branches Fell didn't like the look of. They turned around and trotted back out into the field, taking a giant leap over the log in the process. When they finally stopped, Felicity noticed the boys had disappeared.
She called out to Blake and got a rather annoyed response. Handsome Tabby emerged from the trees with Blake dodging branches on the way out. He had a couple scratches on his cheeks and a evergreen twig stuck in his hair. He didn't want to stop. I did not see that tree branch coming...
Felicity grinned at her husband. The two made a perfect pair. Maybe he should be your riding partner once he retires? He'd definitely give you a run for your money! She laughed and turned Daydream back towards the way they came. Together they walked out of the meadow and back to the trailer, where they loaded the exhausted horses into the trailer and headed back home.
