NATURE'S PRACTICE

[Sammy]

ADMIRAL'S LADY Jockeyed by Chris Stevens
DARK INTENTIONS Jockeyed by Sable Evans

Mira's warm-up for the Breeder's Cup Yearling Show
Beauty's Warm-up for the Breeder's Cup Yearling Show

The yearling show was quite a news story at least for the judges for who they were expecting next year. Chris Stevens was in for the win with the Breeder's Cup and he would be training Admiral's Lady to build up to the judges standards. The dark bay yearling was a bit moody this morning and after placing the lead rope onto the halter he had pulled her out of the stall with no hesitation from her. He would not be running her but in fact training her with the saddle on her back and with a mild companion to join her efforts. "Easy now Mira, just gonna place this saddle on your back now. Be good and I'll give you extra carrots." Chris spoke watching his move around her carefully. Admiral's Lady was a replica of both sire and dam which made her quite the unpredictable girl in the stables so far.

Slowly placing the saddle on her back she bobbed her head towards the motion and stomped her front hooves on the ground so Chris could hear the echo of her shoes throughout the building. She went to snip at the saddle placed on her back when Chris finally moved towards her sight he rubbed her muzzle gently trying to calm her and giving her a carrot for her job well done. "See no need to fuss." He said then started the next trial and grabbed a new halter with a bit and attachable reins to complete the saddle. He brought the halter to her and Mira sniffed the texture of it before reaching her lips to bite a hold of the bit and Chris exchanged halters and placed the reins over her neck to sit on the saddle that was on her back. Chris could barely reach the ends of her back, Mira was a tall monster her vet said she would reach at least 17 hands within her 3 year old season.

"Good girl Mira. If only you were like this everyday." He said before he could hear other hoof steps approaching him on the side and Chris then held onto the reins to notice Mira raising her head to the approachable black colt yearling Dark Intentions. Sable was to ride the black colt to True Enough and Chris would look forward to racing against him in the future. "I see you have Lady there all saddle and ready, lucky for me Beauty will have no issues." Sable said teasing the two with comments. Dark Intentions was smaller then Admiral's Lady around 15.3 hands or so he would come around to. Sable was happy to ride the colt and unlike Mira, Beauty thrived for attention at least so he has shown.

Chris smiled before pulling Mira away from cheerful cousin snorting at him as she pondered away with a teasing canter away from him. Sable pulled the colt away after he too was all saddled up but he bobbed his head and gritted his teeth to leave. "Hold on will you? We will go in a second." Sable said petting his neck before turning him to follow Chris and Admiral's Lady with his head at a normal stance raising his tail towards the walk he was enduring. When they had come to a stop to glance at the track ahead of them which seemed much larger than the rest. "I am gonna work on the gate with Mira seems this girl thinks that she over powers the metal thing." Chris said then walked her to the gates where many had been as well. Sable shrugged his shoulders before he would do the same thing.

The horses arrived to the entrance of the gate when Mira reared up to them with a girly whinny that was loud and demanding. Chris had tightened his grip on the reins before grabbing her halter ssshing her and walked her away for a moment before trying again. Mira was a horse without reason and she did not like being boxed in tight spaces for too long. Dark Intentions flew his ears back and forth ignoring the filly beside him. The colt nickered at the filly before walking forward into the gate with no push or frustration. Admiral's Lady watched the colt enter before her and she would follow in example raising her head high as the gates closed behind her and she bobbed her head so lightly at the cage. The bay filly began to calm down when she realized what was going on and when the gates opened Chris was standing in front of her as Sable stood in front of Beauty to greet their fellow companions.

"See Mira, nothing to these things." He said rubbing her nose in praise walking her out of the gates as she trotted out glad to be out of the miserable thing. Dark Intentions walked out with a proud glare in his eyes to show that True enough praise in his stance. Dark Intentions then stood next to his jockey like he had belonged on the tracks. The two had a long way to go and what seemed now they were inseparable for the time being.