Post by SigOUrNeY on Dec 30, 2007 22:01:52 GMT -5
Renaissance blew a warm breath through the wisps of Lani’s blonde hair, and the blonde girl smiled as she cradled the thoroughbred’s carved head in her gloved hands. Lani pressed her cheek against that of her filly’s, and for a few quiet moments, looked at the world through the eyes of a horse. Peaceful contentment radiated from the pair, and plumes of vapor emitted from Epona’s large nostrils. Minutes passed, and Lani was the first to move. She ran her hand down the proud arch of the thoroughbred’s neck, and clucked for her to follow. Lani walked towards the barn, and Epona followed without the encouragement of a halter or lead rope. They passed through the gate and into the barn, where Lani swiftly removed Epona’s blanket and ran a brush over her filly’s somewhat fuzzy coat. The bay two year old was subdued as she stood in the middle of the aisle, and watched curiously as Lani walked up to her with a saddle and bridle. Epona behaved like a lady, and didn’t need the discipline of the cross ties or confinement of a stall to stand still while her mistress geared her up. Once the job was done, Lani strapped on her helmet and took the reins before hopping on her right foot twice and mounting up. Epona circled around and performed to the slightest touch of the reins. With the overcast morning sky, there were no shadows, and everything still seemed to be asleep. Nothing was out to scare Epona today, and so the young trainee was half asleep in boredom as she walked along the dirt trail leading through the woods. Lani found herself relaxing, and for the first time on Epona’s back, she let her mind wander. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a big mistake, but now the thoroughbred gave no sign that she was tense or worried in any way. The pair walked for ten minutes along the dirt trail, until the trail widened into a flat road lined with trees and a small strip of grass on either side. The dirt road ascended a slope, and Epona pricked her ears as this. Lani gathered her reins and nudged her heels against the two year old’s slim barrel, and Epona picked up at a springy trot. The filly’s stride was long and elegant, and she carried herself with an astounding self-respect. Long waves of mane trickled down her lengthy neck, and an ebony tail rippled behind her. Delicate ears twitched in every direction, and oversized nostrils took in every smell that was in the air. As they began to ascend the slope, Lani clucked to her mount, and Epona flowed easily into a rocking horse canter. They seemed to float up the hill, and a gentle breeze wafted through Lani’s blonde locks. Epona’s hooves hardly seemed to tread on the ground, and every fluid movement was effortless to her. They reached the pinnacle without an ounce of effort, and the descent slipped by so quickly, as though through your fingers.
The dirt road faded, and was replaced by knee high grass. Epona could feel the plush ground underneath her, and for the first time since they had set off on their ride, she began to pull on the bit. Lani understood her horse’s urging as though it was a second nature, and feeling the filly’s excitement, lightened up on the reins. Leaning forward over the thoroughbred’s withers, she clucked once and tapped the heel of her boot into Epona’s side. That was all it took.
Epona’s take off wasn’t a burst of power that most horses would give. Instead, her speed slowly began to build up. Her three beat gait slowly flowed into a four beat stride, and it started off slowly at first. Not one stride had passed before another seemed to overlap it, and with each beat of her hooves, Epona began to accelerate. The fluidity of it all took Lani’s breathe away, and she would think that Epona was going all out, but still she was increasing her speed. Lani didn’t know when it would cease and level off, and she grasped onto Epona’s mane as the thoroughbred went faster still. Her youthful muscles rippled under her ginger coat, and her black tail blew out behind her. Epona knew she could go faster – faster, faster still! Her oversized nostrils and lungs were taking in all the oxygen her body needed, and her thick legs supported all the weight that came crashing down on them. Her steel shod hooves wouldn’t stop their quickening, and the lashing wind brought tears to Lani’s eyes.
This one is special.
That had been the note that Lani’s great uncle had left with the filly, and she hadn’t thought much of it back then. But now – oh boy - now, she was truly beginning to grasp it. Epona was special, in a way that dug deeper than her ‘mental issue’. Epona housed something that was hard to find in a horse, something that would be ruined by words. When you visualized Epona, she was fire contained in a glass bottle, roaring to be released, and yet patient to hold back. She had a special sort of whit that was overlooked because of her outward dumbness. Epona was more than that – she was higher than that. Epona was great.
Still, she was getting faster, until the point that Lani knew it was dangerous. She had seen War Flag destroy himself with speed, and she wouldn’t let that happen to her horse. Lani stood up in the stirrup and forcefully drew back on the reins, refusing to take no for an answer. Epona’s nose was laced to her chest as the bit drew her back, and the filly kicked out in protest. But her rider’s strength soon forced her to a canter, and then a trot, before the bit relaxed. Feeling her tongue stop throbbing, Epona tried to speed up again, but Lani wouldn’t allow it. She circled the bay filly sharply, so that dirt clods flew into the air and she lost both of her stirrups. Lani was still balanced, however, and continued to direct her filly to a walk. Epona finally complies, and heaved a sigh as she stretched out her neck. Lani leaned over to pat her horse’s neck, and gasped in shock when she noticed that Epona was only damp to the touch. Had they even gone fast at all? How far had they actually come? But the walk back proved it had to be at least six furlong of going faster, and faster still.
”I don’t believe it,” Lani mumbled to herself, and shook her head in disbelief. How could she have been so privileged to own such a horse? What had she done to deserve it? Thank you, Lord.
Epona had the talent, and no doubt, the heart to be great. All Lani had to do was point her in the right direction.
The dirt road faded, and was replaced by knee high grass. Epona could feel the plush ground underneath her, and for the first time since they had set off on their ride, she began to pull on the bit. Lani understood her horse’s urging as though it was a second nature, and feeling the filly’s excitement, lightened up on the reins. Leaning forward over the thoroughbred’s withers, she clucked once and tapped the heel of her boot into Epona’s side. That was all it took.
Epona’s take off wasn’t a burst of power that most horses would give. Instead, her speed slowly began to build up. Her three beat gait slowly flowed into a four beat stride, and it started off slowly at first. Not one stride had passed before another seemed to overlap it, and with each beat of her hooves, Epona began to accelerate. The fluidity of it all took Lani’s breathe away, and she would think that Epona was going all out, but still she was increasing her speed. Lani didn’t know when it would cease and level off, and she grasped onto Epona’s mane as the thoroughbred went faster still. Her youthful muscles rippled under her ginger coat, and her black tail blew out behind her. Epona knew she could go faster – faster, faster still! Her oversized nostrils and lungs were taking in all the oxygen her body needed, and her thick legs supported all the weight that came crashing down on them. Her steel shod hooves wouldn’t stop their quickening, and the lashing wind brought tears to Lani’s eyes.
This one is special.
That had been the note that Lani’s great uncle had left with the filly, and she hadn’t thought much of it back then. But now – oh boy - now, she was truly beginning to grasp it. Epona was special, in a way that dug deeper than her ‘mental issue’. Epona housed something that was hard to find in a horse, something that would be ruined by words. When you visualized Epona, she was fire contained in a glass bottle, roaring to be released, and yet patient to hold back. She had a special sort of whit that was overlooked because of her outward dumbness. Epona was more than that – she was higher than that. Epona was great.
Still, she was getting faster, until the point that Lani knew it was dangerous. She had seen War Flag destroy himself with speed, and she wouldn’t let that happen to her horse. Lani stood up in the stirrup and forcefully drew back on the reins, refusing to take no for an answer. Epona’s nose was laced to her chest as the bit drew her back, and the filly kicked out in protest. But her rider’s strength soon forced her to a canter, and then a trot, before the bit relaxed. Feeling her tongue stop throbbing, Epona tried to speed up again, but Lani wouldn’t allow it. She circled the bay filly sharply, so that dirt clods flew into the air and she lost both of her stirrups. Lani was still balanced, however, and continued to direct her filly to a walk. Epona finally complies, and heaved a sigh as she stretched out her neck. Lani leaned over to pat her horse’s neck, and gasped in shock when she noticed that Epona was only damp to the touch. Had they even gone fast at all? How far had they actually come? But the walk back proved it had to be at least six furlong of going faster, and faster still.
”I don’t believe it,” Lani mumbled to herself, and shook her head in disbelief. How could she have been so privileged to own such a horse? What had she done to deserve it? Thank you, Lord.
Epona had the talent, and no doubt, the heart to be great. All Lani had to do was point her in the right direction.