PEOPLE: Kirsten Jade, Melanie Mackenzie, Aaron Phillips & Chantal LeBlanc
PLACE: Akita Rose Stables Track
DATE: January 5 2013 (Y12 November Week Two)
show us what you've got
and we'll show you where to go.
Midnight Dreamer & Stalking the Stars
"So many new horses!" Chantal exclaimed as she led the tall black filly towards the new practice track. Kirsten shrugged. "Well I figured... new home... new horses..." Chantal flipped her ponytail and raised her eyebrows at her boss. "Oh really?" Kirsten chuckled. "Nope. I just was doing a bit of research on the old records and stables and searched for old horses of mine that got forgotten. These are our new projects." Chantal nodded. "Yep some will be new projects all right... but it'll be fun!" Kirsten smiled. It will be fun indeed.
She arched her back and gave Chantal a leg up in the saddle. The young filly side stepped nervously in the gap, her black mane flying in the wind. This track was new to her. It was new to all of them. Today would be the first time they would all work their horses on the new Akita Rose Stables track. Kirsten rubbed her hands together in anticipation. Everything was just going so smoothly. The financial situation was no longer an issue and now they had a bunch of new horses and a whole new farm. It was like a fresh start for all of them.
"Madame? Your steed." Kirsten turned around to see her stable hand had brought her Midnight Dreamer, her first mount of the morning. The black stallion stared at her silently as though daring her. Daring her to do what? Good question. He was a absolutely gorgeous stallion. It was too bad he was so... stand-off-ish... "Umm could you give me a leg up please?" Her lowly worker nodded and helped her upon the big stallion. It was time to see what he was made of.
Dreamer moved about in fluent motions on the track. His ears were flickered forward in total concentration. Kirsten could feel him resisting her cues and moving through his warm ups in a robotic manner. He was well trained, that's for sure... but he was really set in his ways. She would have to try and break him of that habit. Consistency was key, but anything could happen in horse racing.
Chantal pet the soft neck of the newly found Night Stalker daughter. She was calm as ever, which was unusual from all the other Night Stalker babies she has seen. She was pretty impressed with the filly's fluids motions and easy to please attitude. She had a great conformation as well, it was too bad the previous owners had dropped off the grind because Chantal had a feeling this filly had a lot of talent to give.
She signaled to Kirsten that they were ready to go. Kirsten nodded and held up a finger. Another minute for her. Chantal clicked for Sassy to move into a easy gallop. They would begin in a moment, a good and easy mock race before the real races this weekend.
Kirsten moved Dreamer near the inside rail. She was impressed with the architecture of her new home. It was just so exciting! Dreamer briefly turned her ear in her direction, picking up on her excitement. Then he grunted and moved into an easy gallop as though he just did not care about his rider's immature emotions. Kirsten smiled and allowed the stallion some more rein. She spied Chantal and Sassy up ahead. "HA"
Dreamer stretched out his strong legs and reached out across the turf. They moved up silently on the filly. Chantal looked back and saw them coming. They increased their pace. Dreamer was nearly stride for stride with the younger filly.
Suddenly Sassy lunged towards Dreamer and attempted to sink her teeth in his neck. "Whoa!" Dreamer squealed and moved over. Stalking the Stars pulled on ahead just under the wire. What just happened?
A few minutes later Chantal circled back and pulled alongside Kirsten and Midnight Dreamer. "I'm so sorry... it was just so unexpected..." Kirsten bit her lip and glared at the younger jockey. "That better not happen in her next race." Chantal nodded and turned Stalking the Stars towards the gap. Oh Sassy... what to do...
Amarillo Sky & Silver Song
Kirsten handed Midnight Dreamer off and waited for the next horse to brought down. She chewed her bottom lip as she pondered the events in the last five minutes. It was just such an unpredictable behavior, hopefully it was just a one time thing. Chantal rod over and dismounted her mount and handed her off to the groom, walking over to the rail where Kirsten stood. "I'm sorry again... I really don't know..."
Kirsten held up her hand. "Really, it's fine. I just hope that was a one time thing. If not we'll have our work cut out for us." Chantal nodded and picked up the clipboard. "Hey you have two of my mounts next to work together... Are you riding one?" Kirsten nodded. "Yeah, I want to test something out with Song. I'm a bit bothered that she isn't putting in the best performance." Chantal nodded. She looked away. Hopefully Kirsten didn't think she was the reason Silver Song was putting in a poor performance...
A loud bellow greeted the women and let them know their mount has arrived. Amarillo Sky pranced on the end of his lead shank and arched his neck. The dark bay colt glared at the booming track and threw up his head. He was full of "madness" and was giving his handler quite the workout. Chantal rushed forward to greet him.
Rillo nosed Chantal's hand and threw up his head again. Chantal grabbed a hold of his reins and quickly accepted a leg up from the handler. In no time the dark bay was on the track warming up. How he got there passed in a blur. The horse had spirit. Kirsten shook her head and chuckled. That colt acted crazy but was a sissy deep down. He worked best under soft hands and a lot of love... and that's what Chantal was working towards.
Kirsten watched Chantal whisper to her mount while Rillo pulled her along for the ride. She turned and caught a glimpse of the light gray mare making her way towards her. Kirsten smiled. The mare was adorable and looked just like her sire, Silverfoot. She was talented too, it was surprising that she hasn't been able to pull off a win.
Kirsten and Song made their way on to the track and joined the crazy pair in warming up. It was just going to be an easy work today. Testing their talent and testing their limits...