the start of it all

[flatcreek]

"I need everyone to stay late today," said John as the last set of horses came in. Sarah was surprised, since normally they didn't. The only times they stayed were when  they were working with babies. The jockeys nodded as the grooms led Impress and Cash back to their stalls. Only Freddy, the newest  rider, asked the question that was on everybody's minds. "What are we doing?" John glared at Freddy, and continued to gather an assortment of bridles and martingales. From that, Sarah knew that they would be working the yearlings, probably just a walk, maybe a jog, with weight on their backs.

John turned and headed to the yearling barn with all the equipment, saying, "Get your saddles and
come over here." They all hurried to get their equipment, then followed John.

At the yearling barn, John was handing bridles and martingales to grooms. Once his load had vanished, he turned to the waiting jockeys. "First set: Josh with Al and Sarah with Lily, Austin with Zen, Freddy with DJ, and Sam with Sis. You're jogging for about five minutes in the back pasture, nothing hard, just getting to know them, since these will be your mounts next year. Remember, nothing hard, I'll be watching." The five nodded and headed to the stall of the horse they had been assigned. 

Sarah had smiled when she'd gotten Lily. The Daemon fully was good sized and cute. The only drawback was that she was lazy. Lily pricked her ears when Sarah and the groom walked in the stall, hoping for treats. "Sorry, girl. No treats for you today." Once Sarah and the groom had tacked the filly up, she led her into the aisle. Freddy and Austin were done already and Sam was making some final adjustments to Sis's tack. Josh was having hell trying to get Al saddled. The other grooms hurried over to help, and finally the yearling was ready. 

Sarah led the way to the back pasture, where they normally turned out the mares in foal. They were inside right now, so that there was a large plot of land that was good to ride on. The only way an outsider would be able to see was if they were heading to the trails. Sarah led Lily into the pasture, then hopped on. Everyone else did the same, then they spread out to work the horses. Sarah had the filly walk some circles, then moved her into an easy jog. The filly had smooth gates and listened as well as she could. She just didn't know all of the cues. Sarah gave Lily a pat, then looked around at the other four yearlings.

Sis, Sam's filly was working well. She was wired by Looking Glass and out of Blue Skies, mediocre lines, at least until Looking Glass was proven as a sire.  Austin, on Zen was doing okay, too. The daughter of Zynco and Gravestone was know for only getting along with certain people and could be difficult to handle. Freddy was doing well jogging DJ in figure eights. DJ was well bred, out of Here In London and sired by Tambourine. All in all, Josh was the only one having trouble with his mount. Al was fighting every step, bucking and rearing. The son of Challenger and Devil's Food was bred to be a star, but he was a pain to deal with.

Sarah worked through a few more figure eights before John called everyone in. Sarah dismounted and led Lily over to the trainer, eager to get started with the next set. John looked at the babies, then nodded. "Not bad. Al and Oscar are the two that we'll have to work with more, but for now let's get started with the next set." The riders followed him into the barn, then handed the horses off to their grooms.

[flatcreek]

Sarah waited for John to call out the next set as she helped I saddle Lily. She didn't have to, but the fully would be her mount and she wanted a connection with her. It was ironic that she would be riding a Daemon daughter, since Die had been Rocket's biggest competition on the track.

Finally, John called everyone over, and the jockeys emerged, Josh looking tired and battered from his fight with Al. Sarah didn't envy him in the least. "Okay guys, next set: Josh with Wendy, Freddy with Fly, Austin with Brave, Sam with Osprey, and Sarah with Oscar. Go get ready, Sarah, I'll help you get Oscar saddled."

Sarah groaned and headed to the stall containing Oscar. The colt was almost identical to his twin, except for a lip marking that was hard to see from any distance. Unlike his brother, Oscar was a mastermind. He thought every move through and knew how you would react to it. Sarah and John fought with the colt for about five minutes before they finally had him saddled and ready to go. Sarah led him out of the stall, where he stopped dead and refused to move. Sarah pulled to the side to get him moving, then led him forwards. Oscar sighed, but came along. 

Once in the pasture, Sarah started out the same way that she had with Lily, walking a few circles. Oscar flinched at nothing, then crow hopped at a robin that had landed on the fence. When she moved him up to a jog, he bucked; then tried to grab the bit and bolt. When she got a second to look around, Josh and his Spellbreaker filly, Wendy, we're getting along well. The flashy filly was out of Watch The Clock, making her a half sister to the infamous Dev. Freddy and his filly, Fly, were doing well, too, jogging figure eights. Flyflyfly was sired by Thatswhatyouthink and out of In Flight. Austin and Brave were jogging circles with Sam and Osprey. Brave was sired by Syllable and out of Laugh It Off. Osprey was sired by Talon and out of Sunshine Falls.

Sam fought with Oscar until John called them over. Sarah hopped off right away and led the annoying colt over to John. "Good job, everyone. We'll be doing some gate training next week probably, then some slow jogs on the track. After that we'll step up the works until they're ready to race." Sarah nodded, then returned Oscar to his stall, unsaddles him, and headed back to the main barn to hang out with Apollo.