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Post by Cavallo on Jan 3, 2008 18:58:33 GMT -5
The air was a dry and freezing temperature of twenty degrees as a dark trio made their way, crunching on the fresh powder that had fallen on IGS' dirt track. There was still a steady downfall of the white nuisance as Nick mounted his bay charge. Kyle and Michael followed suit as they mounted Comeuppance's exercise buddies.
Grumbling slightly about the cold, the two followed after Nick and his charge at a brisk trot. Breaths came out from man and beast as thick tendrils, warm and moist in the harsh environment. Nick ignored his cousin's and brother's grumbles as he focused solely on the bay moving so effortlessly beneath him. The Dominance Cup was looming ahead and Nick had decided to enter the fresh, four year old stallion. It was the chance that they had been waiting for. The chance to really shine.
He felt the thudding of his iron clad hooves, pounding the track below into submission as the other horses followed in the path that he blazed. Nick was one who thought that a horse should be warmed up slowly. He'd seen far too many horses pushed to their limits and quickly warmed up to only become ruined and burnt out. Comeuppance was a testimony to Nick's training success. Success that he often wasn't acknowledged enough for by IGS.
He felt the stallions tendons snapping motion, as they slowly became fluid and smooth, the stiffness seeping out of his body as steam began to rise about the duo. Satisfied, with the warm-up, Nick turned around to check with Kyle and Mike, on their mount's status. Signaling a go-ahead with a thumbs up, they silently trotted their way over to the starting gates.
Nick had watched only one Challenge Race series and he was a bit nervous as to what to expect, but that didn't mean that they couldn't train for the unpredictable.
All-right Guys. Far as I know, The race is about nine furlongs of misery. The guys chuckled as their horses shifted, trying to keep warm.
Kyle, you take Crown there to the left and Mike take Reve there to the right of Con here. Today we'll just try and work for technique. Challenge us. They laughed at Nick's little pun as they entered into the gates with Con sandwiched in between. Reve banged around a little bit as Con, stared back at him annoyed and they waited for the gates.
The gates bursted open as the three horses broke as one. Immediately, Reve moved up slightly in front of the bay as, Crown lagged on his left by Con's haunches. Nick smiled and Con rocked with annoyed speed. He so wanted to challenge Reve who was mocking him and trying to limit his moves. Wait..Wait for it. Crown was suddenly given her head as she passed up along Con's left. There was a good two furlongs left, as Crown Pulled up head to head with Con, Reve still leading. Nick let Con stare down the filly, as he frustration began to build. He was tired of being boxed and toyed with and he was just waiting for the signal. Nick finally gave it and the bay surged forward past the mare as he climbed his way up to challenge the winner. Reve was still going strong, but he didn't have all the energy saved up that Con did. The black stallion wasn't going to let this younger steed by without a fight. The finish was looming ahead as Con raced neck to neck with the black. Nick clucked to the stallion once more as he tapped into his last reservoir and placed his head aboves Reve's as they slipped past the finish.
The Three horses soon came to a stop as three steaming masses. The guys chuckled and commented as Nick smiled. Well, Gentlemen. That was challenging indeed. How about we meet later in the afternoon and celebrate today's success? They voiced their agreements as they led their charges back to the warmth of the stable for a proper cool down.
As they walked, Nick rested his head on the stallion's sweat covered neck. Well done Boy. Well done.
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