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Post by Sam on Mar 1, 2010 0:32:19 GMT -5
Horse Key to Flight
Jockey Jake Jones on Keegan (Key to Flight), Ipo Gladstones just hanging out, and Jax being cute
Notes This is the first time Jax is taken out to the stables
Purpose Keegan gets a workout for GHS Stable Face Off Y9 as well as Jax getting to meet Keegan for the first time.
You know, I never really saw Ipo as a puppy type of girl. Nor would I expect her to be a small dog type of girl. I've known the girl all my life and even live with her and you would think I would know if she was a cat or dog type of person. Guess not.
The small dog snuggled into her chest was longer then he was tall. He had big floppy ears that kept trying to stand but would flop back down every time. His right black ear always managed to stay half way up.
How do you think Keegan will react to Jax? Ipo asked as she hugged the puppy- we had dubbed Jax- closer to her face. The corgi puppy wiggled with the pure happiness that dogs only seem to get by being near their owner and stretched back and licked at Ipo's face.
I shrugged, then remember she couldn't see it. Don't know, I replied as we came to his stall.
The roan colored colt inside quickly came to stick his head out the stall door at the sound of our voice. I smiled and rubbed my hand down his neck. Hey Keegan, I said as pulled Ipo closer so Keegan could be just out of reach of Jax. What cha' think of this?
The colt sniffed curiously at the puppy who stared at the large animal with wonder at first. Carefully, he reached forwards and sniffed Keegan's muzzle.
For a moment, the two got along wonderfully.
Then Keegan snorted when Jax sniffed too close to his nose. Jax yelped in surprise and Ipo pulled Jax back quickly as she was unsure of what just happened.
I could only laugh while Ipo still tried to figure out what had just happened.
Our dog is a coward! I remarked. He got scared of Keegan sneezed on him!
Ipo just gave a little laugh and ran her hands down Jax's soft, blue and black back as I grabbed Keegan from inside the stall and lead him to the cross ties.
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Once again and like always, Keegan was completely and utterly distracted on the track.
I swear, this colt had ADD or ADHD.
He simply had to.
Still, I pushed on and eventually he picked up an easy canter around the track, slowly beginning to focus on his duty as a horse. His strides were easy, but they seemed labored after a while.
It was a warm day, compared to the snowy week earlier. Even with his blanket clip, he was probably still feeling too hot under his pelt. I had him canter towards Ipo and eventually slowed him to a halt in front of Ipo and Jax.
It's hot today, I mumbled, whipping my brow but was surprised when there was no sweat. Still too cold for my body to start to sweat, but it felt hot.
Ipo just shrugged and pulled her jacket closer to her body and pulled the small pup closer to her chest. If you say so.
Keegan seemed to agree with me. Instead of trying to interact with Ipo or Jax, he simply stood and tried to catch his breathe.
Ipo took notice of this. Her eye brows crinkled together in worry. Is Keegan ok?
Just tired, I replied. It's too warm for him. I'll ask Sam if I can give him a full body clip tomorrow.
A silent moment passed before Ipo spoke up. How do you think he'll do for that Stable Face Off race?
I shrugged in response, forgetting she was blind. Don't know, I replied, giving Keegan a sturdy pat on his neck. I think he'll do well. The competition is a little stiff. We're up against Virus and Roo again.
Ipo nodded. I heard.
This other filly got me worried too, I confessed, sitting back into the saddle. Already got three wins and is a three year old.
Ipo just shrugged. But she hasn't gotten past Grade Five yet and she's three, so she can't be too great. I was pretty sure Ipo wasn't trying to cheer me up or anything. More than likely, it's just Ipo giving her thoughts.
Yea, but the older horses have a bigger advantage with experience. Plus, it took Tim and Nut a while to get past three wins, I pointed out. Ipo once again just shrugged in response.
A moment of silence passed and I glanced back at Keegan's flank. It barely moved and I was betting he was half asleep (which surprised me greatly). Keegan's looking better. I picked up the reins and the colt's head lazily lifted. We'll go take our gallop and be back.
With that, I turned Keegan around and set him off at a trot, then a canter down the track to the ten furlong marker. Soon I found the faded marker with the ten painted on it, and the colt was released onto the track.
Keegan was at first a little surprised and distracted- as usual- and didn't respond to the first few strides but finally realized what I had asked and his body buckled under me.
In a matter of seconds, the colt was up to speed and galloping easily around the first turn. Around the turn we galloped, swinging wide like we would in a race to get around horses and make it to the front runners.
Keegan picked up some speed as we came to the backstretch. He swung slowly back to the railing, taking his time not to mess up his rhythm or take away his speed.
Keegan's mind had other ideas though.
Instead of slowly making it back to the rail, his attention would diverge onto Ipo listening to us from the outside railing to a horse being brought in. Eventually, his attention went out to a horse watching us from a near by pasture.
I wiggled the bit and eventually the colt's attention came back to me, at least for the small time being.
As soon as we got back to the rail, the last corner was coming up. Despite the too hot winter air, the colt was excited and as energetic as he could be when he realized the stretch was coming up.
Around the corner we went. We stayed close to the railing this time, letting him save his speed for the last burst on the final furlongs.
The stretch was stretched out before us after a furlong. I released the colt and urged him on. Keegan, now fully focused, took his cue and bursted into a sprint.
His strides were long and powerful, yet quick and agile. The blood racing through his veins was made for this and it seemed that every part of him knew it.
He surged on. His head bobbed in beat to his stride and his nose dived towards the track as if his body wasn't traveling fast enough for his head. Though if they (his head and body) were having an argument on this, no one could see it nor tell. His whole body was perfectly insyct.
All too soon, the wire flew over us and I began to pull Keegan up with a victorious grin on my face. He was definitely ready, I decided.
As we doubled back, I could see Jax wiggling a bit in Ipo's arms before settling down again. Ipo was smiling and I knew she could tell how good of a run Keegan had given me.
He sounded fast, Ipo said.
I nodded. He felt fast! I lead Keegan out of the track with Ipo following at his shoulder. The colt paused to turn and mess with Ipo's hair before blowing onto Jax's puppy fur. The pooch squirmed but didn't help, at least he made progress. I think we found a new lucky charm, I said as I reached down and managed to have my fingers just brush the top of Jax's furry head. (Though this was quite a stretch considering Keegan was nearly sixteen hands high and Ipo was only roughly four feet, ten inches.)
Word Count 1,355
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