|
Post by Sam on Feb 2, 2010 2:15:12 GMT -5
Horse Wild Card Jockeys Jake Jones Purpose Sam Lettington sees if she wants to hire Jake as a jockey. Ipo Gladstones tags along, proclaiming she has nothing better to do, but in reality is just earning twenty bucks. (Though she would go along anyway.) Along with some good exercise for Ace along with Jake getting to know his new mount.
Jake Ok, so I was a tad nervous.
But I'm never nervous! I'm Jake! Laid-back, lazy, no-worries, carefree Jake! I was the definition of a laz-e boy!
I rolled my shoulders and trotted the colt on like I was instructed to. I had never raced and this was my first time attempting to be a jockey. I've ridden for nearly my whole life and could read most horses easily. I was too tall to be a jockey but this girl decided to try me out. She said she had some horses that would probably do well with me but I wasn't going to question this
The colt I was given was a two year old. His name was Wild Card but everyone called him Ace. He had a bayish tone to his coat but a graying out quickly. The first thing I noticed about the colt was how much of a nuisance he was. He tossed his head as he walked, purposely knocking into his handler and every now and then making a grab at his hat.
Ace was a pain to ride so far. Every now and then he would try something but otherwise he was a decent horse. A nice mover with a big stride and he didn't lean too heavily on my hands. I could see myself getting along with him easily.
I turned and began to trot the red-gray stud back, heading for the owner of the stables, Sam, a short, thin woman who looked as if she could have a nasty temper but seemed like a kind woman, and Ipo, my best friend since I was ten. She was shorter then Sam, though it was hard to believe, and seemed even tinier. Her chestnut brown hair was always a mess and in the way of her light blue, blind eyes. Most would believe that the blind and horses don't mix, and I am a true believer of that but Ipo refused to be left behind and I wasn't one to try and get the bad side of Ipo's anger. For a small person, she could pack a wallop.
Luckily for the both of us, Sam didn't seem to mind one bit.
Give you any trouble? Sam asked as I came to a halt at the rail in front of the two shortys.
I shook my head. No ma'am, I replied, minding my manners. Though Ace was being a pain, it wasn't too bad.
My boss nodded, her brown pony tail waving back and forth as she did. Canter him three furlongs, then come back here again, she instructed.
I blinked before sheepishly raising my head with an embarrassed grin. Uhhhh, I said with a laugh as my hand rubbed the back of my neck. How long is a furlong?
Sam blinked at me with large, brown, doe eyes, like she was trying to figure out if I was making a joke or not. When I didn't reply, she seemed to understand. She pointed to the track and I tried to follow her finger. You see that red pole with the number on it? I paused before spotting it and nodded. That marks a furlong.
I nodded and turned back to her. Oh, I said. Ok. With that I turned the colt and trotted down the track to marker she indicated, deciding to start there. I trotted past it and made a half circle back.
As soon as we passed it I asked for the canter. The colt rolled his neck and tried to pull his head down to buck. With a jerk on the reins, Ace quickly picked his head back up and continued to canter along.
A furlong was longer then I had expected. Three furlongs took up nearly a quarter of the backstretch. It didn't matter much to me, it was just a slight surprise how long a furlong was. At the end of the three furlongs, I broke Ace down to a trot and turned him back around to head back to Sam and Ipo on the outer rail.
Well? Sam asked once I got into ear shot.
I slowed Ace down to a halt, though he threw his head and gave a yank on the bit in response. He's a brat, I admitted as I gave a sharp kick when he yanked at the bit.
Sam laughed. Welcome to the world of baby horses! She gave another small laugh before she gazed out at the track, thinking. Take him for a gallop. Start at just the seven furlong marker and when you reach the stretch, push him, she instructed as her eyes fell upon me.
With a nod I turned and went searching for the seven furlong marker. Finally I spotted it. I picked up an easy canter and once we reached it, I did a half circle like last time and turned him onto the inner track.
With a push of my hands and kick, I tried to get the colt to gallop but he simply ignored me and continued to canter. I kissed and kicked again but still no response. Growing frustrated, I reached back and gave him a hard pop with my whip. Ace just pinned his ears and sped up a little bit but was still not galloping.
I kept asking as we slowly reached the turn to the stretch. Up ahead there was a blond girl easily galloping a bay. At the same moment, Ace seemed to see the other horse as well.
The graying bay bolted out from under me. Surprised, I grabbed mane and sat in the saddle for a few strides before I hoisted myself off his back. I smiled and steadied the galloping colt as he tried to catch up to the blond girl and bay.
You wanna beat them, I said as I held the colt back as the corner was drawing to a close and the stretch was coming up. Huh, buddy? He pulled against my hands. I smiled. Well then, let's go! I pushed my hands forwards as the stretch opened up completely. Ace exploded from under me into a mad dash. I couldn't help the grin on my face as we flew past the other horse and rider in a blur. Even though they were not racing against us, I felt a surge of pride as we passed them.
I continued to follow the colt's mouth until we came upon two structures that sat on either side of the track. I assumed that was the wire. As soon as we passed the two structures, I stood up in the stirrups and started to slow Ace down.
Once again, I did a half circle and turned back to where Sam and Ipo stood on the rail. They had moved further down and stood at the stretch now.
Again, I pulled Ace up to a halt but now the colt was far too tired to argue with me. He's pretty fast, I said, panting and still breathless.
Sam responded with a small laugh. As you can see, he doesn't like to run. He just likes to race. I wasn't expecting Sandra and Virus to be there which is why I told you to push him at the stretch. You did fine though and did what you needed to do, she said with a nod of approval.
Ipo spoke up at last. (She was never one to be shy or quiet. She simply just spoke when she felt the need to.) Does that mean he's got the job? she asked.
Sam nodded with a grin. Maybe I should point out to her that Ipo as blind... I think Jake'll make a fine addition to the racing team, she added, though I wasn't sure if it was because she remember that Ipo could not see the nod or not. It wasn't important so I left it be.
Ipo gave a small smile at me, though it was off and her gaze was thrown to the right. I smiled back, though she couldn't see it. She had either done something or knew something I didn't know.
Ipo Saying that the silence between me and this girl was uncomfortable was an understatement. It was just downright awkward at this point. I shifted my weight.
I could hear a horse trotting closer. I perked up a bit, trying to pay closer attention so I could tell who was coming closer. I figured it was Jake and Sam speaking up pretty much proved it.
I sighed quietly as Jake admitted to not knowing what a furlong was. Couldn't he at least do some research?
Soon Jake was turned around and trotting away again. The hoof steps drifted away until I could barely hear them.
So... Sam mumbled beside me. I turned my attention to her. You and Jake a couple?
No, I replied quickly and simply. No secret blush was on my face to hide as I was use to that comment. People always made that assumption. Can't a guy and girl just be friends?
Oh.
Resisting a sigh, I realized that the awkward silence quickly flooded back in.
I turned my attention to the thunder of hooves on the track. The horse sounded strong and fast but I quickly noticed that Sam's attention was not on that set of hooves. It probably wasn't Jake then.
Sam nudged my side and I turned my head sharply towards her. Let's head down so we can't get a better view of the stretch, she suggested.
I'm good here, I reminded her gently.
There was a brief pause before she spoke up, oh, right! Sorry! A nervous, embarrassed laugh came from her. I just rolled my shoulders. It never really bothered me much, I just liked to make people think that it did. (Why? I don't really know... Just for fun, I guess.) Nonetheless of my 'view' of the track, I strolled down the rail with one hand running against the cold metal.
As I walked, I listened intently and finally heard the other four set of hooves. They were slower and much lazier. I came to a halt and stood facing the railing so my ears could caught the sounds a bit better. I heard the pop of a whip upon flesh and could hear Jake's soft encouragement to the lazy colt. I blinked. What racehorse didn't want to run? Maybe this was some test...
Well this will be interesting... Sam mumbled. I raised an eye brow at this.
What will? I asked slowly.
Ace doesn't like to run. He likes to race, she said simply.
I gave her a confused and slightly suspicious look but if she saw it, she didn't say anything. If Jake falls from this horse and she knew it was going to happen, I'll give her something that 'will be interesting.'
Jake and Ace came cantering closer and soon were turning to run even towards with our rail. Suddenly, the colt's lazy legs pounded against the turf furiously. For a moment, the strides were uneven and quick but quickly they slowed down. I barely heard Jake's voice over the thunder of hooves. I couldn't understand his words but I could tell he was excited by the colt's willingness.
Soon Jake and Ace were even with us and nearly caught up with the other galloping horse. Ace's pace broke into a sprint and his hooves thundered louder, mixing in with the horse he quickly passed. If Jake was talking, I hadn't heard it. The colt sounded fast and I was sure he looked just as fast.
As Jake and the colt galloped on, Sam said, he got a pleasant surprise. I couldn't tell who she was talking to so I didn't say anything.
How do you think he did? I asked. Jake paid me twenty bucks to find out if this lady was going to hire him and if not, convince her to hire him. It was an easy twenty bucks. It's a good thing Jake never realized I can't tell the difference between a twenty and a one. Well, good for me at least.
After a small pause, Sam said, I think he did quite well. His sprint was a little late and he slow down too soon but he's got something. A bit training on Jake's part and we'll have ourselves a pretty good racing team.
Yup. I would say, he's pretty much hired. Easiest twenty bucks of my life.
Word Count 2,083
|
|