Post by flatcreek on Jul 24, 2012 12:42:59 GMT -5
SARAH MUTAIN & CHALLENGER
“Hey, now. You can wait to run. Not yet.” It was a chilly fall morning-it would be winter in just a few days. Today, Sarah was going to breeze Challenger a half mile. Rocket had been fairly successful on the track so far, with a win and a place. He had already developed a rivalry with the Ferndale Farms colt Daemon. Rocket threw his head a pawed at the ground, then pinned his ears when a groom walked too closely to him. Rocket could be like that. He had only really connected with one person, Sarah. He was okay with some people, like his groom, but you had to work to get him to tolerate you.
Sarah walked Rocket onto the track, turned him the wrong way and asked him to trot. Rocket immediately went into a canter. Sarah smiled, and slowed Rocket to a trot. He was always doing that, going faster than you wanted him to. Another horse passed Rocket and the black colt with the blaze and stockings pinned his ears. Rocket hated other horses, be it colts or fillies, although he was just a tad bit nicer to fillies. But not much. “Hey, Rocket. Be nice.” Rocket stopped watching the other horse and got back to his job. Rocket loved to run. It was his life.
Soon, Sarah stopped the colt. Rocket pricked his ears. He knew what was coming next-a run. Sarah turned Rocket around, rubbed his black neck, and clucked to him. Rocket responded immediately, bounding into an effortless gallop. That was one thing Sarah loved about Rocket-he was such a fluid mover. It made him a joy to ride. Rocket seemed to float across the track, hardly ever touching the ground-at least, it felt like that to Sarah. He would push forward, barely touch the ground, and do it again. He had a large, efficient stride.
All too soon, the half mile was up. Rocket was a distance runner, so he was hard to pull up after short works-he had endless amounts of stamina. Sarah grabbed the reins close to the bit and pulled back. Rocket threw his head and kept going. Sarah tried again and, this time, after he threw his head he slowed. After another eighth of a mile, he was at a walk. Sarah turned him around and walked him towards the gap. Rocket thought about turning and taking off again, but Sarah picked up on the reins and didn’t let him. She knew all of Rocket’s tricks. Sarah jumped off Rocket and led him to the barn, where John, FCR’s trainer, was waiting. He approached Rocket and took the reins, rubbing Rocket’s head. Rocket was okay with John, but he preferred Sarah. “He looked good, Sarah. How did he feel?” Sarah was unsaddling the colt. “He felt great, like usual.”