Skinny Dipping

Horse Super Sparky (Sparky)
Trainer Samantha Lettington
Notes None
Purpose To get Super Sparky's endurance up at least a furlong


The colt was completely and utterly confused when I lead him to the echo-filled building. His eyes were rimmed with white and he kept trying to raise his head too high but with a gentle tug on the poll he would humbly lower his head again.

I couldn't blame him. Not many racers get to swim in our pool. But he needed some work and this was the best way to do it. Water would make him work for each stride and would work the less used muscles as well as build up his stamina.

I gave the chestnut an encouraging pat. You might enjoy this, Sparky, I said as I lead him towards the entrance of the swimming pool.

The pool was just a very long straight with a circle in the middle in case I wanted to have him swim for a bit longer, but with this being his first time and all, I would just swim him down the long chute, then let him walk back as a break. I would just play it by ear on how many times we do it.

Sparky sniffed and huffed at the lapping water before casually wadding through the clear water. I smiled and walked beside him as he waded deeper and deeper in.

Soon his rump was submerged and his legs kicked out behind him. He snorted as the water lapped near his muzzle. I gave a steady tug on the lead rope to help keep him from having his nostrils fall underwater and get a very uncomfortable lung full of water.

His lip twitched up when the water touched his whiskers and his breathes turned into loud, stuttering snorts. This was normal, I knew, but it never sounded great.

He continued to swim down the chute and only seemed to tire by the time we got to the end. He slowed but couldn't stop swimming. The end of the chute gave him the encouragement he needed and he swam faster with powerful strokes.

Soon, Sparky was trudging out of the water. He stopped as I gave him a pat and then shook his coat viciously. I quickly turned away but it didn't stop the water from soaking me.

I shook my hands off, though I knew it was in vain. I could have sworn I saw a mischievous glint in his eyes.

He was slightly out of breathe as we began to walk back but by the time we returned to the entrance, his breathing was back to normal.

So in again he went, though this time he splashed more when he entered the water, making my quickly drying shirt soaking wet again. Once again, I saw that little glint in his eyes.

By the end, he seemed just as tired as before. And just as before, he powered faster at the sight of the end of the chute.

Once more, I walked him back and since his breathing was fine, I sent him through once more. On the walk back from that swim, he was breathing a tad bit too hard for my liking and decided to call it a day.

I patted the darkened chestnut coat. Wasn't as fun as the track, I know, I mumbled as he fixed me with this look. His mane was plastered to his forehead and his ears were slightly slick. Water dripped from his chin and whiskers and he had this annoyed look in his eyes. But it was worth it to see you look like a drowned rat.

Unsurprisingly, he decided that that was a good time to shake his coat dry.

Word Count 606