Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 16:42:00 GMT -5
The sky was dyed shades of pink and purple as the sun crept over the horizon, darkened in several places by the soft fluff of clouds not yet heavy enough to bring rain. The air was cold, but the day promised to be a good one - the kind that would draw the public, the press, other trainers... But not at this time of day. Most stables were just starting their morning routines at this time, and the quiet was almost eery. Not that the sand track was ever busy at this time of year - like most of the racing season, it lay abandoned - a sorry sight indeed.
The stallion snorted as the two women led him from the trailer, his breath a fine mist against the chill of the air. His ears pinned against his skull as he rushed forwards onto the sand, his head and tail high as he yanked against the handlers. Pred was a strong racehorse, but a single win from grade one, and Alexia was sure that exposure to the track and some different training sessions might be the key to his success. Hence why they were at the sand track, rather than the dirt. The trainer, while relatively new to her profession, had a brain and wanted to work on the horse's stamina. She wanted to challenge him, to make him think, and the change in surface might just be the way to do it. She watched as the two handlers struggled to bring the stallion to a stand-still, Lucy appearing at her side.
"You know, they say it takes a special horse to race on sand."
"He is special, Lucy."
"I never argued that, I like that you came up with training him here. It's different, fun."
"Maybe he'll agree, not that he ever seems to approve of anything."
"He's just a grump."
"You got that part right. Go on, go mount up already so he might settle a bit more. Give the poor girls a break."
The brunette nodded, tying her hair back in a dark band and pulling on her helmet before heading toward the stallion. Even with her, the horse seemed to glare as she approached, swinging his backside away as she went to climb into the saddle the first time. She stumbled forwards, her eyes fixing on the horse once more as she released a sigh. This game. Again. Did he not learn that he never won this battle of wills? She went to mount again, this time landing firmly in the saddle and shook her head. "Not good enough." she chided the six-year-old playfully.
The handlers (wisely) released their grip on the stallion's rein as the jockey gathered them up and encouraged him on, the great bay beast moving into a smooth, quick walk. Each step he took kicked up sand and at first this seemed to annoy him. He almost danced across it, his pace picking up to a trot which just made the spray of sand worse. He snorted, tossing his head in frustration as he slowed to the jockey's command.
"Come on, Lucy, get him warmed up." The trainer called from the sidelines and Lucy shot her an exasperated look. Was she mad? Pushing Pred that quick with something he wasn't comfortable with could cause problems... But she wasn't about to argue either. She pushed the stallion to trot once more, up to canter, feeling the stallion becoming less tense with time and then, just as it seemed he was settling, he suddenly threw her. The jockey let out a gasp as she flew several feet, landing in a heap in the sand. She didn't hesitate, though, standing up and brushing herself off even as Alexia rushed over asking if she was okay.
"Stop fussing, already. Get hold of him and we carry on."
The handlers rushed over, struggling to get hold of the stallion who nipped at them several times and seemed in quite the mood, but eventually had the reins. Lucy moved over quickly, not even waiting for them to settle him before swinging into the saddle.
"Now you will do what you're told."
A sudden streak was suddenly making itself clear in the usually happy-go-lucky jockey, her jaw set as she gathered the reins once more. The handlers let go, backing off quickly and it wasn't clear whether it was the horse or the rider they were more keen to get away from. Lucy kicked the stallion forwards, and shocked by the sudden aggression the stallion lunged into a gallop without hesitation. He moved well, even with the strange feel of the sand sifting beneath his hooves and seemed determined to press forwards as the jockey drove him onwards.
As the workout passed, the stallion clearly became more at ease with the soft surface. He moved more easily, handled it better, and while he was still no pro he certainly wasn't as uneasy as he had been to start with. Lucy eased him down, warming him down before walking him back to the trailer.
"Well, it could have been worse." she commented matter of factly.
The stallion snorted as the two women led him from the trailer, his breath a fine mist against the chill of the air. His ears pinned against his skull as he rushed forwards onto the sand, his head and tail high as he yanked against the handlers. Pred was a strong racehorse, but a single win from grade one, and Alexia was sure that exposure to the track and some different training sessions might be the key to his success. Hence why they were at the sand track, rather than the dirt. The trainer, while relatively new to her profession, had a brain and wanted to work on the horse's stamina. She wanted to challenge him, to make him think, and the change in surface might just be the way to do it. She watched as the two handlers struggled to bring the stallion to a stand-still, Lucy appearing at her side.
"You know, they say it takes a special horse to race on sand."
"He is special, Lucy."
"I never argued that, I like that you came up with training him here. It's different, fun."
"Maybe he'll agree, not that he ever seems to approve of anything."
"He's just a grump."
"You got that part right. Go on, go mount up already so he might settle a bit more. Give the poor girls a break."
The brunette nodded, tying her hair back in a dark band and pulling on her helmet before heading toward the stallion. Even with her, the horse seemed to glare as she approached, swinging his backside away as she went to climb into the saddle the first time. She stumbled forwards, her eyes fixing on the horse once more as she released a sigh. This game. Again. Did he not learn that he never won this battle of wills? She went to mount again, this time landing firmly in the saddle and shook her head. "Not good enough." she chided the six-year-old playfully.
The handlers (wisely) released their grip on the stallion's rein as the jockey gathered them up and encouraged him on, the great bay beast moving into a smooth, quick walk. Each step he took kicked up sand and at first this seemed to annoy him. He almost danced across it, his pace picking up to a trot which just made the spray of sand worse. He snorted, tossing his head in frustration as he slowed to the jockey's command.
"Come on, Lucy, get him warmed up." The trainer called from the sidelines and Lucy shot her an exasperated look. Was she mad? Pushing Pred that quick with something he wasn't comfortable with could cause problems... But she wasn't about to argue either. She pushed the stallion to trot once more, up to canter, feeling the stallion becoming less tense with time and then, just as it seemed he was settling, he suddenly threw her. The jockey let out a gasp as she flew several feet, landing in a heap in the sand. She didn't hesitate, though, standing up and brushing herself off even as Alexia rushed over asking if she was okay.
"Stop fussing, already. Get hold of him and we carry on."
The handlers rushed over, struggling to get hold of the stallion who nipped at them several times and seemed in quite the mood, but eventually had the reins. Lucy moved over quickly, not even waiting for them to settle him before swinging into the saddle.
"Now you will do what you're told."
A sudden streak was suddenly making itself clear in the usually happy-go-lucky jockey, her jaw set as she gathered the reins once more. The handlers let go, backing off quickly and it wasn't clear whether it was the horse or the rider they were more keen to get away from. Lucy kicked the stallion forwards, and shocked by the sudden aggression the stallion lunged into a gallop without hesitation. He moved well, even with the strange feel of the sand sifting beneath his hooves and seemed determined to press forwards as the jockey drove him onwards.
As the workout passed, the stallion clearly became more at ease with the soft surface. He moved more easily, handled it better, and while he was still no pro he certainly wasn't as uneasy as he had been to start with. Lucy eased him down, warming him down before walking him back to the trailer.
"Well, it could have been worse." she commented matter of factly.
