Never the Last Run

[Sam]

Horses

The True Nut (Nut), No Snow Angel (Jelly), Key to Flight (Keegan), and Epidemic (Virus)

Jockeys/ Riders

Samantha Lettington riding The True Nut, Max Lettington riding No Snow Angel, Toby Lettington riding Key to Flight, and Sandra Crow riding Epidemic

Purpose

Nut's last gallop before she is too pregnant to be ridden. For the other horses, just a bit of fun and some exercise. Most of the riders get a bit more bonding in with their horses.

The buckskin filly was quivering with excitement. Saying she was excited was an understatement. She was thrilled for this ride. She pranced under me, her knees flying high and nearly hitting her chest. Her head was up her ears pricked. Every now and then she would let loose a squeal of enthusiasm and strike out with a front hoof.

Though Nut was insane, she was smart. She remembered the last time we went for a ride in the trails and she enjoyed it. It probably explained her uncontainable delight for this ride, that and she hasn't been ridden in over a week.

Beside me rode Max and Jelly. The white colt was much less animated then Nut. They had ridden together multiple times and he seems to know how she is and simply passed it off as Nut being Nut.

On the other side of me was Toby and Keegan. Toby was no jockey. He was far too tall and big to be one. Instead, he'd rather be riding Que Bar, his quarter pony, but I convinced him to take Keegan out for a run. The colt needed it and he was guaranteed a fun ride. After a bit of pursuing, he agreed.

Keegan played constantly with his bit before pausing and looking around the trail, distracted for a moment before the gray colt returned to noisily chewing on his bit.

Behind us was Sandra and Virus. The half blind filly was completely unimpressed with the antics in front of her. If anything, she looked annoyed. Sandra didn't seem to be far from it either. Every now and then she would reach down and pat the filly's neck, mumbling softly to her. I was guessing she was thanking her for having a brain even if she was, at times, a complete bitc-

Nut's squeal and sudden jostling interrupted my thoughts. Alright! Alright! I said with a laugh. We're going! We're going! Without so much as a cue from my hands or legs, the filly walked forwards, as if she understood my words. Jelly fell in behind me then Keegan, leaving Virus to follow in the rear.

I let her enjoy the trail for a bit, looking around at the falling leaves and the singing winter birds. It was colder inside the shelter of the trees but I didn't mind much and Nut didn't seem to notice.

With a cluck of my tongue, I sent her trotting. Her knees flew high as usual. If her head wasn't so high up, her own knees probably would have knocked her square in the jaw.

I heard the thumping from behind as the horses followed after us. Some seemed to struggle to keep their horses from cantering at such a fast pace. I heard a squeal and I looked back to see Virus pinning her ears menacingly at Keegan who was trying to bolt from the positively evil looking bay filly. I could see Sandra's smirk from here and could easily hear Toby's chuckle out the words what a chicken! over the thumping of hooves on the dried leaves.

Nut only seemed to be enjoying herself. She didn't seem to care much for the conflicts behind her. Enjoy this girl, I said with a sad smile, my hands running down her neck. It'll be our last run for a while. I hated those words and I hated the fact that she would be retiring but the fact was she was getting a tad too old for racing. She could still kick butt but I didn't want her racing so hard that it will hurt her legs in the next couple of years. I'd rather her be sound and healthy for a career after racing then racing then retiring to do absolutely nothing for the rest of her life.

If Nut understood my words, she showed no sign of it. The one ear she lent to me for my words was pricked again. She climbed quickly up a steep hill with a snort.

The meadow would be coming up soon. It was wide and made a great place to race for fun. It was at least eight furlongs long, by my judgment at least. At the end of the meadow was a small entrance to the rest of the trail that swerved gently up hill to show a partway in the trees to show most of the farm. It was a beautiful sight to stand back and see my whole life's work framed with bare branches.

I leaned forwards on her neck and Nut sprung into a canter. The filly was overjoyed with this and as we crested the hill, let her head slip down, rolled her neck and let loose a small buck that barely unseat me. I could only laugh as she continued cantering on, slowly leaving behind the other three horses but after a small while, they caught back up.

Finally we were upon the clearing. I slowed Nut to a stopped, though she seemed disappointed with the sudden stop, especially with the open stretch of the meadow in front of her. She began to dance again, wanting to get going.

The gray colt, the bay filly, and the white colt soon joined us. The riders all gave me a look, waiting and wondering why I stopped.

Let's race, I decided, moving Nut to stand side by side with other three.

Sound fine by me! Toby announced, his hand shortening his reins.

Max and Sandra nodded in response, readying their own horses.

To the old oak tree, I decided, holding Nut still. And on three. I shortened my reins and got ready myself.

One.

Nut grew still, remembering what to do when I got to three. I've done it so many times with her, she knew exactly what was coming when I got to three.

Two.

I could hear Keegan playing with his bit again. Toby wiggled the bit in his mouth, grabbing the colt's attention again.

Three!

The buckskin filly under me erupted into a gallop. With a joyful laugh, I just grabbed mane and held on as she took the lead easily.

The other horses took a small while to get going, probably due to them not know the usual count down I gave a horse. But soon Keegan was on my tail and Jelly followed after him. Virus hung in the back in the dead center, waiting for her move.

Keegan began to put pressure on but Nut completely and utterly ignored it. She knew that trick and knew the young colt was just bluffing. She wasn't ruffled or worked up by his attempt, if anything she seemed amused.

The half way mark was upon us and the horses started to make their moves. Keegan came up to join Nut, who didn't respond to his move. Jelly came to take Keegan spot behind Nut and Virus hung at Jelly's hip.

We drew closer to the oak tree, only a furlong or so until we passed it. With a jut of my fists, Nut was sprinting, pulling quickly ahead of Keegan and leaving Jelly and Virus far behind us.

The cold wind was stinging my face and made my eyes water but that didn't stop my smile as the filly sprinted on, passing the oak tree in a blur.

I should have slowed her there but it was far too tempting. She galloped on and I didn't stop her. We flew onto the trail and ripped up the hill to the partway in the trees. On any other occasion I would have stopped to admire the view but the view between Nut's two pricked, golden ears was far greater.

She galloped along, flying down a hill then bounding over shallow stream. From there, she galloped over the old stone bridge without so much as a second thought. Her hooves echoed on the stone bridge for two strides before we were back on the dirt trail.

I felt as if she sprint of the mock race still hadn't slowed but that was probably my adrenaline talking. Sweat was lathered on her neck but she didn't try to slow yet. With a smile, I promised myself only to let her gallop to the next clearing, then I was going to stop and wait for the rest of the group.

With powerful strides, she was up a steep hill and came upon a clearing. Disappointed, I slowed her to a stop. She refused at first, shaking her head in anger before her own adrenaline rush came to a close and she realized how tired her legs were.

I smiled and patted her neck. Had fun? I asked. The filly gave me an ear but nothing else. Yea, why did I ask that? I said with a small laugh. I leaned down and rested my cheek on the base of her mane. My arms wrapped around her sweaty neck and for once she stood for it, not bulking or throwing her head. With a turn of my head, I gave a small kiss on the base of her black mane before I sat up, not bothering to wipe off the horse sweat and short, golden hair from my arms.

Minutes passed and finally Jelly, Max, Keegan, Toby, Virus, and Sandra came into the clearing. Their horses were breathing easy, cooled out from the long walk to reach us. I felt slightly selfish for having Nut gallop longer then the race, but when I looked down she seemed thoroughly pleased and happy with herself. It would hopefully tide her over her pregnant months until the foal was born to keep her busy.

No one said anything to me as I gave them a smile and turned to lead the group to the trail home.

I knew this wouldn't be the last ride Nut would ever have but it still brought up tears. I quickly whipped the away with the back of my hand and gave Nut another pat when she began to notice my suddenly depressed mood.

Word Count 1,720