Post by SigOUrNeY on Dec 3, 2007 21:04:49 GMT -5
Lani cantered Just For Kicks deep into the corner of the arena, and centered him in the middle of the striped jump. Justin pricked his ears as he cantered towards it, and approached it fluidly, merely picking up his forefeet as he glided over the three foot jump. Lani clucked to the thoroughbred to pick up the pace, and the stallion lengthened his stride before clearing another vertical and then two strides later was up and over a large spread, tucking his knees carefully under his chest. The bay horse landed with a snort, but raised his head up, looking for more. Lani circled him and brought him down to a walk before giving the muscled stallion a pat on the neck. They had come so far in such a short time, and she couldn’t be more proud of Justin. But yet, she felt numb, as though breathing was a task of its own. Ever since War Flag had passed away, a cloud had passed over the barn. It didn’t feel the same without the fiery thoroughbred to challenge them and inspire them to give their all in everything they do.
Lani dismounted and ran up her stirrups before leading Justin out of the ring to cool him off and brush out the sweat. As the pair walked through the gate, Chris Miller walked out of the courtyard, leading Sweet Silence behind him. The dappled daughter of Acrocharger kept her head beside his shoulder, as though she could feel his sorrow. No matter how much Chris tried to push it aside, Jag’s death had his him hardest of all; that much was obvious. But work wouldn’t halt for anything or anybody, and so things had to go on as normally as possible. Lani heaved a sigh, and leaned her cheek against Justin’s neck as he trodded beside her. They passed the round pen where Mr. Duce was lounging Just Kiss the Girl. The bay mare was cantering circles around her owner, and Lani stopped to watch for a minute. Mr. Duce had a frown on his face, and shook his head. To others it wouldn’t be noticeable, but to those who knew her best, it was obvious that Kiss was getting rounder.
”I don’t know what’s up Lani. I’ve cut down on her feed and she’s on the aquatred for an extra hour every week, but she’s not losing her extra weight,” Mr. Duce mused aloud. He coiled in the longe line and Kiss slowed down to a trot, and then a walk as Mr. Duce drew her in.
”Will she still run in the Seelster?” Lani frowned, leaning against the rail of the corral with Justin’s reins resting loosely in her hand. Mr. Duce nodded.
”She’ll run. But no more after that. The Classic should’ve been her last race,” Mr. Duce’s voice faded after his last sentence, and he seemed to be talking to Kiss. He cupped his large hand around her fuzzy ear and fixated himself on her. Lani knew what he meant, and she agreed. But the press had given them no rest about entering Kiss against Jet Ski in the Seelster Open. But no matter how much Mr. Duce wanted to blame the press, it was obvious to the JA staff that he had wanted to enter Kiss anyway, and the pressure from the paparazzi had given him reason to do it. But now, he was regretting it.
Lani led Justin into the barn and unsaddled him before hot walking him around the stable yard. ”What’s happening to this place Justin?” Lani asked the horse, but the stallion only snorted in reply.
This was only the tip of the iceberg.
Lani dismounted and ran up her stirrups before leading Justin out of the ring to cool him off and brush out the sweat. As the pair walked through the gate, Chris Miller walked out of the courtyard, leading Sweet Silence behind him. The dappled daughter of Acrocharger kept her head beside his shoulder, as though she could feel his sorrow. No matter how much Chris tried to push it aside, Jag’s death had his him hardest of all; that much was obvious. But work wouldn’t halt for anything or anybody, and so things had to go on as normally as possible. Lani heaved a sigh, and leaned her cheek against Justin’s neck as he trodded beside her. They passed the round pen where Mr. Duce was lounging Just Kiss the Girl. The bay mare was cantering circles around her owner, and Lani stopped to watch for a minute. Mr. Duce had a frown on his face, and shook his head. To others it wouldn’t be noticeable, but to those who knew her best, it was obvious that Kiss was getting rounder.
”I don’t know what’s up Lani. I’ve cut down on her feed and she’s on the aquatred for an extra hour every week, but she’s not losing her extra weight,” Mr. Duce mused aloud. He coiled in the longe line and Kiss slowed down to a trot, and then a walk as Mr. Duce drew her in.
”Will she still run in the Seelster?” Lani frowned, leaning against the rail of the corral with Justin’s reins resting loosely in her hand. Mr. Duce nodded.
”She’ll run. But no more after that. The Classic should’ve been her last race,” Mr. Duce’s voice faded after his last sentence, and he seemed to be talking to Kiss. He cupped his large hand around her fuzzy ear and fixated himself on her. Lani knew what he meant, and she agreed. But the press had given them no rest about entering Kiss against Jet Ski in the Seelster Open. But no matter how much Mr. Duce wanted to blame the press, it was obvious to the JA staff that he had wanted to enter Kiss anyway, and the pressure from the paparazzi had given him reason to do it. But now, he was regretting it.
Lani led Justin into the barn and unsaddled him before hot walking him around the stable yard. ”What’s happening to this place Justin?” Lani asked the horse, but the stallion only snorted in reply.
This was only the tip of the iceberg.