Bent, but Not Broken

[creativecause]

Bent, but Not Broken 

Mardi Gras and Andrew Martin  

Andrew restrained his coal black mount that reminded him a little too much of another certain black mare that he rode. Mardi Gras, or Marti as she had been known at the stables, was something else. They were told she was one of the kindest, gentlest animals you would ever meet. That, had happened to not be the case. She bucked, took off with the bit, and acted like a spoiled brat and it was a wonder to everyone what had caused her to act that way. However, after a few workouts Andrew knew what made her act that way, she was scared, terrified, and Andrew had to figure out how to channel her energy and anger towards everyone into her running. Perhaps it had been being left alone and having zip racing or works, or maybe it was something more than even that. Perhaps the filly had so much unchanneled energy or perhaps she had so much anger and was frustrated with herself. Whatever it was, Andrew was determined to figure her out. As everyone said at Grayson Meadows, “Every horse is a puzzle that just needs to be figured out.”

Marti let out a squeal and side stepped across the track looking a bit more like a dressage horse than a racehorse. Her eyes burned like fire and she twisted her head in irritation, nostrils flared.

“Calm down Marti,” Andrew cooed to the black filly.

Marti danced around a bit more under Andrew, she started to try to buck but when Andrew yelled at her she behaved herself. She flicked a ear back at him and stood still for a few moments. She payed attention well when you called her out on her misbehavior.

Andrew gave her a cue to go and started running her through her warm ups before going over to the gate. Once they loaded, Marti sprung from the gates then settled into a nice pace. She fell into a rythem with everything around her, and although her flopping ears might make someone think she wasn't paying attention at all, Marti's attention was all on Andrew. However, it wasn't wholely for one sole purpose. Half was focused on the track, a fourth was focused on actually listening, and the other fourth was focused on when was a good time to start misbehaving. Going into the final turn Marti was tearing up the turf beneath her, gaining momentum quickly. Her next start would come against a ton of two year olds in a large G5 field. Sea Siren and Get Loose where the main competition, however Marti outclassed them in starts. She had double the experience of Sea Siren and nearly double of Get Loose. Marti only had one win to her name, but it didn't mean that she wasn't a good horse, it meant that she simply hadn't peaked yet, and she had another whole season to peak after this one. The homestretch approached quickly and Andrew called on Marti for everything she had, and she responded in a rush of acceleration and speed. She flew over the turf, using every inch possible that her 17 hand body and stride allowed her to take, she looked like a black comet. This work had been shaping up to be one of her bests, and as they flew past the wire Andrew knew he had a winner beneath him. That she wasn't broken, but simply bent, and much like Passion Heart or any other horse, with some work, Marti had the makings of a true champion.