October Workouts Cont'd

[Kenren]

Perfect Guard
Van Guard - Halexia Suhail
Beyond Perfection - Minske Mavecci

Knight's Heart
Heart of Rio - Minske Mavecci
Gallant Knight - Tigris Greenfire

Wisest Arrow
Bowen Arrow - Alicia Fox
Grey's Wisdom - Halexia Suhail

Fantastic Flaws
Flawed Princess - Minske Mavecci

[Kenren]

Perfect Guard
Van Guard & Halexia Suhail
Beyond Perfection & Minske Mavecci

All it took was five minutes of watching Halexia work with Van Guard and one would think that the girl was in love. She was actually singing as she groomed the colt, who stood like a gentleman for her in his stall. Normally the colt was all fiery energy and bravado, but as Hal curried his shoulder, Van leaned into the ministrations like a content cat. The colt was tall next to the girl, his shoulder a little higher than the top of her head, but she felt no fear next to the big animal. Part of it was her confidence in her ability, and part of it was her confidence that the colt meant her no harm. As soon as he'd arrived, Hal had felt drawn to him, drawn to his strength and the power in his build. Straight off, she'd told her friends and fellow riders that she would readily fight anyone for the chance to ride him, and they'd backed down.

"Anytime you two are done in there, we have work to do," a boy at the stall door said with amusement, a dark bay colt standing at his side. Minske Mavecci was Hal's workout partner for the first run of the day, coupled with Beyond Perfection, a horse that was not as accomplished as Van or as experienced, but a good match to work with nonetheless. Beyond was continually improving, doing well under his lease at Valkyrie. At the moment the colt was fidgeting, jerking his head and occasionally pinning his ears at the boy next to him. "He's cranky today," Minske explained, glaring at the colt with stormy blue eyes. Beyond knew better than to actually lash out at the boy, but he was letting him know how he felt nonetheless.

Hal smiled, draping her arm over Van's neck. "What, jealous of my perfect, gorgeous, handsome Van?" she crooned, mostly to the horse. Minske rolled his eyes, leading Beyond away. "That's fine and all, but if you don't hurry my dad'll be the cranky one." Hal winced, patting Van's neck when he gave her a curious look. She quickly finished her preparations, saddled the horse, then led him out to the track.

Minske and Cole were waiting with Beyond at the rail of the track, both keeping their distance from the unhappy animal. Beyond stood quietly as long as he wasn't bothered, a few feet of lead rope between him and the pale-haired boy. "What did you do to get him so mad, anyway?" Hal asked as she approached. She buckled her helmet, handing her lead to Cole as she prepared herself. Minske shrugged, mimicking her actions. "Just not a good day, I guess. Maybe he senses the rain coming or something." Just as he said, a storm was forecast for around noon, one of the reasons they were in such a hurry to get the works done at a reasonable time.

As they got ready, Cole gave them their instructions. "I want you guys to do eight furlongs. Put Van about a length and a half behind Beyond, and don't ask him to chase until two furlongs out." Cole helped both riders into the saddle, and sent them away onto the dirt track. Van Guard moved with incredible power and grace, even at brisk warm-up trot, early-morning sun shining off of his rippling coat. His neck arched splendidly under Hal's hands, giving the impression that he could be a great dressage horse if racing hadn't worked for him. True to that thought, his strides were sweeping and even, temperament quiet with the girl upon his back.

Beyond might have less grace, but his dark body was a bundle of pure power, barely restrained with every movement. Now that he was on the track, his bad mood seemed to mostly have lifted, though he was definitely eyeing Van just as Van was eyeing him - it was as if the colts had just noticed each other, and were both starting to gear up for the match ahead. Both riders opened the horses into a canter, allowing them to lengthen their strides and get their blood flowing. It didn't take long for the colts to get a feel of the track, and after another few moments, they were asked to lightly gallop. At this point both bays were ready and willing to pit themselves against each other, and both played with their bits, pushing against it and jerking their heads. The riders let them get away with it as long as they didn't truly fight, preferring to see them have some fighting spirit than be totally docile.

Soon the horses drew close to the pole that signaled the start, and Minske allowed Beyond to pull ahead just a little, settling him down against the rail. Hal moved Van in behind, hands working his bit to settle him a length behind the other colt. As they passed the furlong pole, both riders loosened their reins, allowing the horses to stretch their necks and open their strides. Beyond seemed perfectly content in the front so long as Van didn't try to creep up to him. Minske kept the pace moderate, not looking to fully push them. Hal had little trouble with Van, who appeared to like nipping at Beyond's heels, persay. The two didn't fight much as they went around the final turn, Van swinging a lane wide as they entered the stretch. Hal urged Van forward, leaning down and sliding the reins up his neck. The colt responded strongly, leaping forward after the dark bay colt ahead. Beyond, too, was surging, wanting to hold off the other horse as long as possible. He didn't want to accept defeat as an option. However, Van was not a horse to be turned away.

Van Guard powered up the outside, long strides taking him closer, closer - there was such strength in his every movement, and it took Hal's breath away. Hip, shoulder, neck, even - then they were drawing away from the dark bay, digging in harder and harder even as they passed the wire. Hal had to convince Van that the work was over, ease him into a steady pace for the gallop-out. Beyond was just behind, refusing to get too far back. Eventually the two drew up, making their way to where the trainer waited. Cole looked the horses over once the rider's dismounted, Hal allowing Van to lip at her fingers during the process. After a minute, Cole handed the horses off to hotwalkers.

"Van looks incredible, and I don't think he gave everything in that last drive. And Beyond isn't some nag, so that's exciting. As far was Beyond goes, we need to work on his stamina in the final drive. He's got the raw potential, he just needs to really draw it out." The trainer made notes on his clipboard, and Minske watched intently, taking it all in. Hal was less interested in the fine details - she didn't need to look at numbers and regimens to know that she'd just ridden one damn fine horse.

[Kenren]

Knight's Heart
Gallant Knight & Tigris Greenfire
Heart of Rio & Minske Mavecci

After his first ride, Minske jogged back up to