Been Around The Track A Time Or Two

[Sam]

Horse The True Nut
Handler/Jockey Sam Lettington
Purpose Workout for Breeder's Cup
Note The beginning is very long but I wrote it when I was missing my own pony. It helped me feel better so I simply just continued to write.
Besides, I like Nut anyway lol I get very attached to my characters and I actually like her. Not her record or the thought of her, but actually her, as if she was real. (I'm actually going to put her into my next novel XD) So excuse the bit if I seem to get a bit into it lol


I could barely see through the thick clouds covering the pasture. The fog was typical for the morning, but never was it this bad. I paused and tried to let my gaze cut through the thick fog, but it was no good. No crunch of the frosty grass came from anywhere.

I sighed, my warm breath brushing past my face. Come on, Nut, I mumbled, rather loudly, knowing she may come if she heard me. She was never one for the cold weather and rather be put in her stall on the cold mornings. I'd rather not be playing "hide and go seek" in the twenty acre pasture today. I should have learned my lesson the first time. Nut should have been put out in the smaller pastures. She was too much of an annoyance to try and find everyday.

Nut! I called, my hands cupping the sides of my mouth to try and carry my voice further. Come on, crazy! My own echo was the only reply I got. I felt a sudden heavy weight in my stomach. Normally Nut would at least show her face, to taunt me or, on the rare occasion, to simply let me catch her.

I stood still, staring at the dancing mist as it rolled along. Nothing moved, nothing stirred except for the fog itself. Finally I caught a glimpse of a form before the fog swallowed it up. The knot in my stomach uncoiled itself and I felt my lungs release a breath I didn't know I was holding.

I smiled softly and quietly made my way over. Just barely could I make out the golden pelt that could only belong to my beloved Nut. Her head was low and her lip dropping ever so slightly. The filly did not stir as I approached. She was completely asleep. She was never one for being a heavy sleeper- not that many horses were.

Wakey, wakey, eggs and baky! My sing-song voice stirred the dozing filly. Her dark eyes looked at me with an annoyance before she turned to put her rump at me and seemed to settle herself back to sleep, reminding me of a person rolling over and grumbling "five more minutes". Though if she could talk, I was sure she wouldn't try and get just five minutes.

Smiling, came to her side, my hand rubbing her thick blanketed shoulder. Come on girl, I said, slipping the halter over her head and buckling it before she could get a chance to wake fully and decide to play a rousing game of "find me in the fog" or perhaps "guess where I am".

With a small tug and a cluck, I received a very annoyed look but nonetheless, she followed. That's it, I said, slowing to stand beside her and rested my hand on her warm neck. I threw the lead rope over my shoulder, trusting she was too lazy to do anything too loco. Let's go warm up in the barn for a bit then we can have a bit of fun on the track.

---

I simply gave the filly a quick brushing before slipping her blanket off and letting her into her stall so she could finish her nap if she wanted to. I was never one to pamper my horse, but I felt sympathy for Nut. Having to wake up early in the morning was never fun. Hopefully when she was done with her doze, she would be in a better mood.

With having nothing better to do, I busied myself with random chores around the stables. After just finishing sweeping the aisles, a chore normally left for the new stable hands, I glanced into Nut's stall to see her laying on the ground, gazing back evenly at me. I leaned against the stall door and watched as she stood up, shaking the shedding from her coat. With a soft nicker, she came closer to me. Her warm breath tickling my face as she rested her chin on my arm. Her rich, dark eyes, still squinty from sleep, were surprisingly gentle, a trait I would never use to describe anything about Nut but today seemed different. She was calm and affectionate towards me. True, Nut was often affectionate towards me, though never when anyone was around.

I felt a smile slide easily onto my face. You better not be sick, I warned playfully. My hand rubbed against her forehead as she gazed lazily at me, her head heavy on my arm. I reached forwards and carefully gave a small kiss on her nose before I rested my own head on her forehead. I couldn't help but feel surprised when she didn't pull back, or push against me.

This wasn't like Nut. She was brash and arrogant. She was stubborn and showed no mercy. She was a force of nature. I sighed and lifted my head up from hers and ran a hand down her neck.

Heck, she was my best friend.

Of all the horses I've ever owned, Nut was surely my favorite and most loved. Even above Wild Streak, my first racehorse. She was kind and sweet, we learned the ropes together and would always hold a place in my heart but for some reason, Nut just seemed to...

My train of thought stopped. I couldn't place the feeling. For some reason it just felt different, but in a better way. It was difficult to understand but for once, I decided to not think about it and live in the moment, however long this will last.

Nut stiffened and I watched causiously as she carefully slipped from my hands and made her way to her feed bucket, casually running her lip around it as if she was searching for grain. Puzzled, I watched her until I heard footsteps from behind. I glanced back to see a stable hand give a friendly wave and smile at me as he walked past. I grinned, holding back a small snicker as I nodded to the boy who continued on his way, leaving the aisle empty once more.

I see how it is, I mumbled as Nut returned to the stall door. She gave me a small look before she pushed past me to look outside of the stall. Can't let the others think you are sweet, huh? I said with a small laugh. Or you just want me to seem crazy when I tell everyone else that you can be sweet. Knowing the evil mastermind that was Nut, it was probably the later.

---

The morning rays of the sun were barely piercing through the fog by the time I was on Nut's back. The lazy, sleepy Nut from the stall and pasture had been replaced by her excitable counterpart.

Her four legs moved in pairs of two, rhythmical and even. I bounced in time, posting high due to the short stirrups. My hands held onto the reins, relaxed yet firm and holding. Her slightly dished head was held high, nostrils wide with excitement and eyes bright with anticipation. One may think that the filly was just starting on the track if they didn't know any better but the simply fact was that Nut just loved her job.

With a small kiss, she was cantering strongly along the track. Her head was low and she leaned into the bit, begging for more speed, as always. I couldn't help but smile and make her wait as we cantered towards the ten furlong post. We passed it and I kept going til the eleven and a half furlong post and then I slowly turned her in a large half circle.

Her strides grew short and her head flew up. Her knees went high and her breathes came out in large gulps. It was then I started to wish I went with longer stirrups.

I held her for the half furlong, though it seemed much longer then normal but finally we reached the ten furlong marker and I released her with a push of my hands as I scrambled into position over her back.

Her long legs caught speed quickly. Her head dipped four or five times to help her shoulders pull her body forwards. Finally her speed was perfect. I held her there, and she didn't object. I couldn't help but to smiled at this. The filly may be crazy but she knew what a race- though this was simply a workout- was. She knew to save her energy for the sprint down the stretch.

She leaned slightly as we came around the first turn. Her lead wrong, but perfectly fine for such a wide turn. She often liked to switch her lead for the stretch so the less tired leg would be taking most of her force, giving her a slight advantage.

The backstretch opened up to us. The rolling fog hid the other side of the track, making it seem as if the backstretch continued on forever. I held my position, my hands quiet. I squinted slightly at the cold wind stinging against my eyes. My heart raced at the excitement, despite it being a workout and it only being half way through the race. I couldn't help but love racing, or riding in general. It was in my blood.

Finally the far corner appeared. Around the last turn we came. Nut changed her lead without skipping a beat. Her hind end started to push her faster and faster around the turn.

The stretch was upon us in a matter of moments. With a push of my hands to let her go, she was off and bolting forwards. She was never one to build up the speed, rather let it all loose in one giant explosion and pour it on until the end. I had grown use to this and loved the feel of the sudden gust of wind rippling against my shirt.

Her short mane brushed up, nearly whipping my face as I crouched low and continued to give to her mouth. A smile was planted on my lips as she continued on, no encouragement needed. That's my girl! I silently praised, knowing she hated it when I talked during a run, especially the stretch. It was as if the filly had to concentrate on running full out.

The wire was over us all too soon. I stood up in the stirrups, Nut immediately slowing as well. My reins slipped into one hand as I patted her neck with the free one. I believe we got this in the bag, girl. She snorted, her breath rolling into a misty cloud that was swept past us into the fog as we slowed even further.

Eventually the filly was walking, her strides smooth and forwards. Unlike many stables, I refused to own a hot walker. It took only a little while to cool of the horses and the jockeys could take the time to bond with the horse.

I turned her out of the track and headed for the trails, opting for a walk in the cool forest rather then stay on the track. A stable hand walked up to me with a cooler in hand. Carefully, we slipped it over her and with a thanks, I pulled the cooler slightly over my legs a bit more, trying to keep the draft out, before I turned and left to the trails.

Word Count 1,964