Riverwood Acres BC Workouts

EXERCISERS
Morgan Riverwood exercising
Silver Song
Filthy Rich
Owen Riverwood exercising
Buccaneer
Taylor O’Malley exercising
The Goodness
Bella Jay exercising
Incriminate
Hazel Jackson exercising
Fiddler on the Roof

HS Incriminate ♞
Buccaneer ♞

❈.❈ The morning was already warm as the sun began to poke its head over the darkened trees. Horses and riders were already up and getting their horses ready for their workouts. Bella hopped out from her truck and walked towards her temporary stables at the GHF track. She peered quietly into Criminal's stall, not surprised to see him nearly falling asleep as he rested his back foot on the tip of his hoof. "Hey bud," she said while smiling. He responded by flicking his ear towards her, continuing to doze. She continued on to say hello to Bucc, who immediately flattened his ears against his head as she passed. "Aww don't you worry, Owen will be here in a minute," she said to the grumpy stallion as she left to grab the tack and supplies.

❈.❈ Both Bella and Owen swung themselves up and over onto their horses' backs. Criminal stood calmly, waiting until Bella was ready to ask him to move forward. Buccaneer danced a little as Owen worked to keep him steady and controlled. Buccaneer really only respected Owen and worked well with him. Bella figured it was a guy thing, and she didn't bother to try to get inside Bucc's head. He was a tough guy, strong willed and determined. He wasn't the kind of horse your riding instructor can tell you to "be the boss of". You respect him, and he might consider respecting you, it all depends on his mood, and who knows what else. Bella liked her quiet and funny Criminal who she could rely on, in a race, or not.

❈.❈ Morgan showed up at the fence with a timer in her hand. "Allright, let's get them into a trot for a bit to get them warmed up, and I'll let you know when we can start running," Owen instructed. Bella nodded and urged Criminal into a steady trot. He picked it up easily, ready to go, but Bella held him back. Bucc nearly bolted at first chance, but Owen made sure to hold him back and prevent him from snagging the bit. He tossed his head and his black coat was already slick with sweat. He looked stunning in the morning sun. Bella posted quietly as Criminal trotted proudly down the track. He acted like he owned the place, even with Bucc prancing next to him.

❈.❈ The two pairs trotted around the track about twice or so before coming to a halt and letting the horses walk for a little. Bucc had calmed down slightly, and was starting to listen to Owen more. Criminal remained his usual self, gazing off into space as he walked. He wasn't sweating as much as Bucc, for he wasn't fighting to fly down the course.

❈.❈ They walked about half a lap before picking up a slow gallop. Bucc happily stretched out in to lengthy strides, letting Owen finally get a break. Criminal did the same, even tossing his head every once in a while to show he really wanted to gallop. The two galloped next to each other for a bit, Bucc looking much bigger and monstrous compared to Criminal. Even though Criminal was barely smaller than Bucc, Bucc had a lot of muscle along with an aura of power and strength. His height only added to that. Even though Bucc was getting older in his racing years, it hardly showed. He still loved showing his dominance and letting everyone know who is still king of the track.

❈.❈ Finally the pace began to quicken, and the two stallions galloped side by side. Their hooves thundered the earth together as their pelts began to really shine in the morning sun. Bella began to let her reins slide out of her fingers, giving Criminal his head. He grabbed it happily and charged forward, taking his usual position as a leader. Bucc was a front-runner, so he settled happily behind Criminal, letting him set the pace. Owen slowed Bucc a little, trying to challenge him more when coming up behind Criminal. Bucc disliked the idea and tried to grab at the bit and run, but Owen refused and kept him back. Criminal led by a length, and Bella began to let him take the track by himself.

❈.❈ Criminal charged forwards as the two horses took the turn. His hind legs dug fiercely into the dirt as his heart thundered beneath the saddle. He breathed intensely from his effort, and his nostrils flared pink as the veins on his neck began to show and his mane stuck to his neck. But he loved every moment of it. He pushed himself further down the track, taking a bigger lead in front of Bucc. Owen stilled held him back, and Bucc was growing furious. Finally Owen let him go and Bucc exploded. Owen had to grab onto his mane tightly to prevent him from falling back and messing Bucc up. His mane whipped Owen's face as Bucc charged after Criminal. He caught up to him effortlessly and Owen smiled. Bucc's age hardly meant anything to him, he was still the beast of the track.

❈.❈ The two horses battled it out in the final stretch, their necks bobbing up and down as they put all their effort into beating the other. Their jockeys urged them on, hardly needing to with the competition they had. Criminal looked smaller and slimmer compared to the muscular and well built Bucc, but he had just as much power and was light on his feet. The two were near opposites, which made it so hard to beat the other. The finish line approached quickly, and the two barreled over it like freight trains. The jockeys let them run out a bit and began to pull them up. They were all panting, and Bella smiled, "I can't wait to see them in the Cup." Owen agreed with a smile as well while looking over to Morgan who waved and gave a thumbs up. Owen pet Bucc's glossy neck and gave him to rein as they walked back. Criminal settled back to his earlier demeanor and dropped his head with his ears perked. The two horses walked around for a while after to cool out, and then headed back to the barn to get a well-deserved bath.
1054 words


Silver Song ♘
The Goodness ♘

❈.❈ Taylor had arrived not long after Owen and Bella started the workout with Bucc and Criminal. Morgan instructed her to get Song and Ness ready so they could workout. She was to be Ness's jockey, and she couldn't wait. She walked up to Ness's stall where the filly stood quietly. She perked her ears when Taylor arrived and stretched out her neck to sniff her hand. Taylor handed her a mint, which Ness chewed up happily. She bobbed her head and stretched out again, asking for more. "Not yet sweetie, maybe after we ride and you're good," Taylor said while stroking her nose. Taylor then brought both Ness and Song out and quickly prepared them for their morning workout.

❈.❈ Taylor leaned against the fence as she watched Criminal and Bucc gallop full speed by on the track. She held Ness's reins in one hand, and Song's in the other. Ness stood quietly, observing the two horses, while Song seemed preoccupied with staring at Ness. Ness was new at Riverwood, and hardly any of the horses had met her yet. Occasionally Song would nicker in annoyance, anxious to get on the track and show this newbie who was boss. When Bella and Owen finished the workout, Morgan showed up next to Taylor and took Song. "Ready?" she asked. Taylor nodded and they both used the mounting block to pull themselves up and onto their horses' backs.

❈.❈ Song danced on her tiptoes as Morgan got herself ready to ride. The young filly was a spirited one, and she was ready to go. Ness stood quietly, now staring at Song with a look of complete amusement. The two jockeys walked their horses onto the track and began to trot around as well. Song was anxious to begin, and she tugged at the bit while tossing her head. Morgan kept a firm grip on the reins and urged her to keep trotting. Ness did as she was told, and picked up the canter halfway through, for she was also getting anxious to run. The two pairs trotted around the dirt track two times before letting their horses jump into a slow gallop. Ness began to pull a bit ahead of Song because of her love to be in the lead. She began to pull on the reins, begging to be let go, but she was a sprinter, so Taylor held her back.

❈.❈ Song settled in behind Ness, waiting for her chance to beat her at the finish line. The two fillies settled into a comfortable pace down the dirt track, each waiting for the command from their jockey. Both of the horses’ coats were slick with sweat, Ness’s coat glowed almost golden from her original bay color, while Song’s turned slick silver. Taylor could feel the power beneath her from Ness. Ness was a sprinter through and through. She had the power to bolt at full speed for as long as she wanted, whenever she wanted really. She felt Ness’s feet thunder against the ground and listened to her heart race as she became anxious to run. Song waited patiently behind her, waiting for her cue from Morgan.

❈.❈ Finally the two came to the bend. Morgan quietly asked Song to start making a move. Taylor remembered Morgan’s order for Ness, and began to pull her up. Ness was confused at first, for she had patiently waited to run but got nothing. But she listened and pulled down to a quick trot while Taylor brought her to the outside of the track. Morgan and Song whizzed by, Song beginning to really pick up her pace. Her legs quickened and she extended her neck each time. Morgan began to release the reins more and more, which was all Song needed to just fly. She barreled down the final stretch, dirt flying like a hurricane behind her. Her silver mane whacked Morgan furiously with the speed Song had. Song looked like a blur of silver as she whipped down the track. They whizzed by the finish line in seconds and Morgan barely had time to pull her up before the next turn. Once they had slowed down to a comfortable trot, Morgan brought Song back to where Ness and Taylor walked.

❈.❈ “Because she’s good with sprinting, walk her around and have her sprint about seven furlongs,” Morgan told Taylor. Taylor nodded and brought Ness out to where the marker was. She asked Ness to pick up a gallop and Ness took the chance happily. They galloped for a few furlongs, Taylor not asking Ness to pick up the pace or anything, just let her remain at that speed. As they came around the bend again, Taylor asked Ness to sprint. Ness dug her heels into the dirt and took off. Ness was a pretty small Thoroughbred, but she had the heart and fierceness of a tiger when it came to running. The little filly bolted down the final stretch, her nostrils flared as she sucked in as much air as possible. Her heart raced, and her coat turned glossy in sweat again. Taylor urged her on more, and Ness flew past the finish line. Taylor let her run out a little before pulling her up and walking back towards Song and Morgan. “Geez, she’s fast!” Taylor laughed. “Sure is,” Morgan agreed while smiling. They both hopped off their horses and rubbed their necks. They then proceeded back to the stables to give both the fillies a well-deserved bath.
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Fiddler on the Roof ♞
Filthy Rich ♞

❈.❈ Once Morgan finished giving Song a bath, she walked back to the barn and brought out Ross and Richie. Ross nickered and pushed at her, begging for a treat. “Not yet bud, but Hazel will be here in a bit,” Morgan promised. Hazel was a newer rider here at Riverwood Acres. She had been riding a few horses to get a feel for which one worked with her better, and Ross and her appeared to strike a bond. They recently raced in a maiden race together, and they came off with a win in front of a big field. From then on, Morgan knew the two were perfect for each other. They had been working together nearly every day, whether it was riding, working out, or just hanging out.

❈.❈ Richie never really enjoyed striking bonds with humans. He preferred other horses. He and his bud Criminal are known as the double trouble around the stables. Sometimes he would watch out for Criminal, and keep him from causing trouble, but other times he wouldn’t be able to help himself, and he would just have to help the trouble. Morgan has come multiple times in the morning and found the two bay colts out in an open field just grazing, or even sniffing around her house, leaving multiple gates open or broken behind them. Of course now Richie and Criminal lived at opposite sides of the barn, and both had complex locks on their doors along with metal doors surrounded by wood. Morgan could never figure out who got out first and let the other out, so to be safe she did it to both of their stalls.

❈.❈ When Hazel arrived, Ross tossed his head excitedly and whinnied. Hazel smiled, “Hey Morgan, Ross, Richie,” she said. “Hey Zellie, how’s it going? I have you riding Ross today, of course,” Morgan said while laughing. When Hazel arrived she said she was usually called Zellie, but Hazel was fine as well. Hazel smiled in agreement, ”Sounds good!”. They both tacked up the horses and prepared for the track before heading out the turf. Richie tossed his head and danced; he could never stand still. Ross walked quietly, observing the other horses, who also worked, with interest. ”Alright, we’ll trot around a few times to warm up, and then start a race for these two, since they’ll be in the same race anyway,” Morgan instructed. Hazel nodded and asked Ross for a trot. Ross picked it up easily with grace, following Richie who instinctively took the lead.

❈.❈ After trotting around a few times on the fresh green turf, the riders asked their horses for a nice gallop. Ross’s coat has turned a nice chocolaty brown from the sweat while Richie’s coat glowed copper. Richie remained in front of Ross, who stayed in his comfortable spot of being in the back. Hazel stroked his neck while they galloped, telling him he was doing a good job. She felt his heart racing, and watched his shadow below him dance over the gorgeous grass. His hooves were nearly silent on the turf, and his nostrils flared pink from the exercise. Hazel loved every moment of riding with him. Somehow he made every part of it, thrilling, like she was soaring and flying. Her favorite part was his ability to close so well at the end of the race, when she knew they could get there, and he left all the horses in his dust.

❈.❈ Richie loved being in the front. He loved the feeling of clean and perfect air being thrown at his face. He loved being in control of the pace, and anything really, so being in the front was really the thing for him. He had the stamina and speed to keep the pace any way he wanted, and then be able to leave the pack in a second. Morgan watched with amusement from aboard him as he perked his ears and nearly whinnied in excitement. Running was everything to him, he loved it, the thrill, the victory, the everything. She laughed when he tossed his head and nearly jumped while galloping. “Easy fella, don’t use all your energy now,” she laughed. Richie shook his head in return while flaring his nostrils.

❈.❈ The two horses began to approach the turn. Ross began to grow excited and tug on the reins but Hazel held him back, knowing he could beat Richie from any spot. Richie began to pick up the pace, hoping to do the running for Ross. Morgan let him go as the turn began to end. He took the chance and bolted down the turf, his heart thundering in effort. Ross followed not far behind him with Hazel still holding back. Finally she let her reins slide and snatched the bit, bolting after Richie. He was neck and neck with the lighter bay colt in seconds. Richie saw him before he came and picked up the pace even more. The two colts battled it out as the finish line approached, their heads bobbing back in forth, both pushing themselves even more to beat the other. Ross was able to gain a bit of ground in front of Richie as the finish line snapped past them. Both of them still wanted to race, so they pulled on the tightening reins in protest. But both Hazel and Morgan were able to pull them up after taking the turn.

❈.❈ All four of them were panting. Ross stopped and craned his neck back towards Hazel’s foot where he pleaded with his big brown eyes for a treat. Hazel laughed, ”Let us walk out bud, then you can get a treat, promise.”. Ross seemed to accept that and he continued to walk on after Richie and Morgan. Richie started to dance again, already filled with new energy. Morgan just shook her head while smiling, ”I can’t wait for the cup,” she said. Hazel agreed enthusiastically.
991 words