Post by SigOUrNeY on Jun 5, 2008 15:42:50 GMT -5
SWEET SiLENCE
"Thank you Emily," Chris said with a good natured smile. "She looks very nice."
Emily planted her hands on her hips proudly, and watched as Chris and Simmy rode off. She watched until they were out of sight, and then rushed off to go tack up Dimples for her lesson with Lani.
Mr. Duce met up with Chris and Simmy at the track gate, and laughed out loud when he saw the dappled gray filly approach. The older man gave Simmy an admiring pat, looked up at Chris with a chuckle.
"At least it's better then on Wednesday," Mr. Duce joked as he surveyed the damage. Chris shrugged.
"She was running low on glitter glue today, so she had to stick with bows."
"Thank you for being so tolerant, Chris. I know it takes a lot of guts to ride out there like this," Mr. Duce said as he walked them up to the gate.
"Yah, well, it's entertaining."
The trainer chuckled before adding, "Alright Chris. Show these guys that this Little Pony can run. Warm her up with a slow gallop, but then let her out on the back stretch and bring her all the way home."
"Gladly."
For a warm up, Chris jogged Simmy by the outside rail. As other exercise riders passed by, they either chuckled or smiled at the sight of the dolled up filly. Chris mostly ignored it while he cantered and slow galloped his mount, but his patience was grinded to it’s limit when Stephen Mendoza rode his bay mount up to them.
”Hot ride, Miller.”
”Bug off Mendoza.”
”Did you hotwire that thing from the merry-go-round?” The other rider prodded, intentionally trying to get under Chris’ skin. It was working.
Chris clucked his dappled mount into a trot, and scratched her withers as he tried to ignore Stephen’s last comment. The other rider didn’t give him a break however, and reined his mount up beside Chris and Simmy.
”You can’t run away from a horse that’s faster than you Miller.”
”No, but I can outrun a horse that won’t last until the quarter pole,” Chris retorted.
”This is a distance horse, Miller. Challenge me a little.”
”Alright Mendoza: down the backstretch and to the pole before the second turn.”
”Wanna bet on it?”
”That wouldn’t be fair on you.”
Stephen guffawed, and offered, ”When I win, you buy me drinks for a week.”
”You’re on.”
Stephen whooped to his long legged mount, and the bay colt took off. They hadn’t even reached the backstretch yet, and Chris cursed at the cheater under his breath. He clucked to Simmy and prodded her slim barrel. That was all it took. The filly burst forward as though she had just been released from a starting gate, and stretched out as she barreled down on her larger competitor. They came into the backstretch in a full fledged gallop, and Chris cooed to his mount to slow her down as they approached Stephen’s stirrup. He didn’t have a single doubt in his mind that Simmy could run the other colt into the ground, but he didn’t want to humiliate the colt by winning by thirty lengths.
Simmy tongued the bit, and withdrew her neck from its outstretched position. She picked up her feet prettily and looked as though she was playing on the track, while the horse in front of her was galloping like he was in a race. Simmy’s ears flickered curiously, and she toyed with the bit impatiently.
”Be patient girl,” Chris whispered to her, and leaned over her withers, following her neck movements with relaxed motions. The dappled filly edged up past Stephen’s right stirrup, and as they rounded the second turn, was approaching the colt’s shoulder. Three strides into the final stretch, Chris followed Mr. Duce’s orders, and let the filly go. Feeling her head free, Simmy burst forward with astounding power, and was past the other colt in one stride. She blazed over the track like her tail was on fire, and Chris whooped and hollered as her speed increased. Her mane stung Chris’ cheeks and her tail cut the air as it whipped out behind her. Long legs swept over the dirt track as she seemed to glide over it, hardly ever touching ground. Their lead increased to five lengths, eight, ten, and still she was pulling away. Her dished head plunged into the tearing wind and sucked in the strength giving oxygen with loud, steady breaths. She flew past the makeshift finish line at a blinding speed, and shook her head crazily as she felt Chris begin to draw up on her. Her kind nature, however, didn’t allow her to put up much of a fight, and so when she was down to a trot, Stephen and his mount crossed the finish line fifteen lengths behind them.
”What do you think of this merry-go-round horse now?” Chris said with a smug grin. He didn’t care about the bet. The only reason he had done this race was to prove that Simmy could run. And he had done just that. Other riders who were walking on the outside rail cheered and whistled, applauding the ‘match’. Simmy seemed very pleased with herself, and pranced excitedly. Only a light coat of sweat covered her neck and haunches, and her eyes were bright and elated. I can run. Did you see that? I could make you all eat my dust, and I’d love every minute of it.”
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