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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Jan 21, 2009 15:25:24 GMT -5
Callie, you have GOT to pay attention and focus!
The vivacious buckskin filly snorted in response to my desperate vocals, tossing her head lightly. She didn't mean anything by her spirited attitude, she was just hyper and wanted to run. I couldn't blame her. I loved feeling the wind rush past my face. Callie was my first racehorse in my life and I couldn't believe that I had missed out so much. Eyes focusing, I tightened my grip on the reins slightly as Callie pranced towards the starting box. Auds flickering, she stepped in carefully, unaffected by the smaller space. I crouched low onto her neck, my eyes targeting Roger at the side of the track, ready to spring open the gate at any moment. This was my first breeze without Lily and I knew if Roger had something to say, he was less likely to yell it across the track like Lily would.
The gates shot open as my mind wandered and Callie took the bait, quickly bursting from the tiny space, her auds flickering back and forth wildly. She leaned on the bit, settling into a quick pace, her breathing carefully remaining regulated as her beautiful long stride swept down the first stretch and around the turn, her hooves making contact with the track and she used her sheer force to propel herself to the back stretch. She had smarts, I knew that, as I sat there pretty much a passenger. I knew I wouldn't help her until the final stretch in our breezes. In the races, I used my wit to get her in the right spots and she used her brute force and her speed to win. Unlike Monica's racer, Airliner, Callie might not have the sheer intellect to win but she had the aerodynamic amazing racer body. She was incredible to watch, her long stride ate up the ground.
My mind wandered down the backstretch and before I knew it, Callie leapt into the final turn, her pace exponentially faster than before. Her black mane whipped up into my face as we flew around the turn, her mouth carefully massaging the bit with her tongue. Auds pinned against her skull, she knew that this was the end as the turn flattened into a straightaway. My eyes focused on the ending pole, I knew this was the only way not to get dizzy. With that, I pressed my heels into her sides and showed her the whip. That was all she needed. The buckskin sped forward, her eyes focused on the same point as me, slowly increasing in speed. I was glad she had already gained speed around the turn or we'd never get up enough speed near the ends of races. We breezed past the ending line and I sat up slowly, pulling her up before the first turn.
We slowed from gallop to canter to jog to a quickened walk. Callie's breath showed up in the morning air as I turned her back to Roger. He smiled lightly at us and Callie snorted in response, tossing her head mildly bored already. She wasn't the brightest bulb in the box but she sure did love to run!
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Jul 20, 2009 21:52:37 GMT -5
Callie pawed the dirt underneath her well-shod hooves and I grinned lightly at my excited filly as we sat in the starting gate box, waiting for Lily to stop abusing her brother. I really enjoyed riding her and we pretty much made every race a game. Well, what do you expect from a two year old horse, a sixteen year old jockey and a trainer who thinks she's my age? Speaking of Lily, she stood on the sidelines, still hitting her older step-brother, Roger, with a leadrope with a delighted smile touching her lips as Roger voiced his pain through yells and shrieks.
Ouch! Lils, that ACTUALLY hurts. Please stop! LILY!
The other blonde girl giggled like a three year old should, put down her leadrope and focused her attention on me and my BC ready filly. Callie had done well this season, going from maiden to G3 in her two year old season, a good place to be going into being a three year old. Lily and I had dreams of the Triple Crown for this sweet, game filly and so far, things were looking good for those dreams! With my guidance and quick reaction time, I could do my best to help this filly finish her two year old season with a bang. Her staying power was fabulous and her speed was really something to watch... That is, if she felt it was time to pour it on. Sometimes, she waits a little too long and I can't get her to respond to my commands but hey, no horse is perfect, right?
My mind was wandering way too much so when Lily pushed the button to open the gates, I would have been left behind if I hadn't already crouched into Callie's black mane. The filly was poised and leapt out of the small containment box, her eyes bright and ready to gallop, her absolute favorite thing to do in the world. She really was one of those girls who just LOVED to run. She would practice by herself out in the field so when she got a chance to share her favorite pastime with me, I was honored. Really, Callie was more like a human than any horse I had ever known. As we began the first turn, Callie used her conformationally correct hocks to balance her and my weight, her pillars digging into the slightly deep dirt without losing energy and speed.
Although it was a little surprising, Callie really was out of some fabulous lines. You might be thinking, Cute Italian? That doesn't sound like any lines I know but really, she's out of Cute Tee, an unknown mare of Shining Star Stables and her sire, True Italian is the sire of Sam's incredibly successful filly, The True Nut. Callie is following eagerly in her half sister's hoofsteps and whenever I attended Nut's races, I always made sure to cheer extra loud for my girl's relative! Callie shows the same quirkiness as Nut and also the same love for turf and staying spirit. She was ready to go, especially today and I felt her pulse underneath me as we galloped down the backstretch, her muscles flexing underneath her shiny buckskin coat.
I adored this filly, I have I said that? I adored her SO much that after she finished racing, I have already told Lily and Roger that I would personally take her on as my project to make her a hunter/jumper. She would be fabulous, I could just tell because she's so game and willing to do whatever I ask. Speaking of, I ask for a little more speed with a flick of the racing whip and my buckskin filly shot forward, her auds pricked forward as we rounded the second turn. Since Callie was a distance runner, we would go for 1 and a half turns around the track today to keep up her stamina. The second stretch was a breeze with her long gallop strides. Really, it was a great advantage that she was a good size for a filly because otherwise, the colts would pose a problem for her but because she was fairly big, she had a similar length in stride and could kick their butts! YEAH!
We rounded the third and final turn with the same expertise we had done with the other two. Callie snorted now, tossing her head lightly and I realized she must have gotten a fly up her nose while she ran. I giggled inwardly now as we flew down the home-stretch, her strides lengthening with every quick step. Her pillars were moving at a blinding pace and I could barely keep my eyes open because of the wind rushing past my head. As we raced past the finishing line, I hardly heard Lily's voice over the rushing wind.
Bring her here, Kayla!
Callie was able to go for longer, I felt her yearn for a longer stretch to run and I smiled lightly at her stamina and want to please. I slowed her now to an easy rocking, hunter canter (see why I'm taking her to hunter/jumper after her racing career? I'm smart 'cause I thought of it first!) and I slowed her to a halt beside Lily. She was lightly sweated but not breathing very hard, surprisingly and she pushed her muzzle towards her head trainer as I patted her neck. Lily grinned lightly now as she stroked Callie's face and looked up at me, her eyes sparkling.
You guys are SO ready! I can't wait to watch, babe!
I beamed now as I winked at the other blonde, patting the 'blonde' that I rode. Yep, we were the three blondes and hopefully, we would be posing for a blondes only picture in the winner's circle at the BC. If not, not the end of the world. Lily and I were looking forward to another fabulous season with Callie next year.
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Dec 6, 2009 15:11:10 GMT -5
I took into account all of Lily's suggestions as I breezed with my co-worker, Joshua and his dappled gray unbroken maiden. Honestly, Callie has been well worked over the last few months and her stamina was incredible. We had worked her with every type of dirt horse we had in the barn and she showed a clear command over every one of them, even the shortest distance runner, WB Starlit Thunder. Granted, the three year old buckskin filly I rode had a lot more experience over the younger dark bay but even so, she was able to overpower with her closing kick and ability to keep up with fast speeds set by her blazing partner. Now we rode with the maiden mostly for his benefit. He didn't have much experience but Roger had high hopes for the coltine and therefore, he requested that we work with him.
I glanced over at the coltine who was at our shoulder and saw the immaturity in his eyes. He had the same racing distance as Callie but was much more speedy at the beginning, ready to taper by the end of long distances if Josh was sleeping up in the saddle. Fortunately for the little coltine, Josh usually rode the crazy bay mare, Nista, making him a lot more alert than some of the other riders... Like me, considering I was discussing it with you while I rode my filly. Callie wasn't even breathing hard as we galloped down the backstretch in front of the younger coltine. He was keeping up well, his auds pricked forward as Josh continued to encourage him around the turns.
It was a good habit to get the horses to work around the corners because then they can't think they can slack and then it will soon become habit. The dappled gray was already showing signs of knowing this little trick and galloped off of Josh's urgings and slowly Josh lightened his urgings as the colt responded beautifully. We galloped now down the back stretch, Callie eased into a long flowing stride while Keegan had to work a little harder with a shorter stride. I smiled lightly as I leaned back in my saddle and the four of us slowed. I offered Josh a light smile now and teased him and his colt lightly as the dappled gray flirted with my buckskin. Callie was having none of it today, she only had eyes for her competitor, Radiance.
Good attempt, little boys!
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Dec 6, 2009 15:14:24 GMT -5
I watched Lily's hardened face as Callie and I breezed by her the first time we circled the track. As a trio of blondes, we all were far from disheartened by Callie's fourth in the Kentucky Derby and the filly was the most affected. During the workouts after the loss, the filly had put her head really far down and just ran her heart out. The filly was putting forth her best effort now in this two lap workout. Her breathing was hardly affected as we continued our gallop. She was working hard but it seemed like she lost a little gusto in the Derby. The only thing to do now was to push her further to see if she would regain her tenacity. To see Lily so hardened really made me upset and the only way to fix it would be to boost Callie's workouts so now we were pushing even before the backstretch. The buckskin's ears were flat against her head in concentration as she continued on to finish her workout. I sat back in the saddle now, her muscles moving at a fluid motion as we slowed from gallop to hand gallop to canter to trot and then finally a walk. She was sweated up but she seemed proud of herself. She nickered lightly to Lily as we came over to her by the rail. The blonde girl took the filly by the bridle and looked up at me, squinting.
I know you both can do it, just work hard up until then.
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