Post by summer on Jan 12, 2012 19:48:54 GMT -5
CHARLIE MICHAELS & LUMIERA
Charlie lifted up his hand and stroked Lumiera on her lean, muscled neck. The mare looked at him with her deep brown eyes before lifting her head to look at a few of the various farm animals in the pens down the road. Charlie mounted Lumiera quickly and gently, taking care not to slam down on Lilly's back. Lumiera walked over the soft dirt with a quick pace.
Charlie waved to the clocker who was off in the distance before he spotted a few of the other horses and jockeys waiting for the workout session to begin. Charlie hadn't been working with Lilly for very long but he felt comfortable around her. She had been quiet a handful when the owner first paired them together and it had taken a few months to finally sync up.
Charlie led Lumiera to the gate and as soon as they were in the filly was tossing her head and snorting. Normally Charlie would have patted any other horse's neck in reassurance but he had learned that this was just one of Lilly's routines. She was a hot horse but she knew what she was doing. Charlie glanced at the other horses approaching the gate. There were a few who entered calmly while others through a bit of a fit.
Charlie tightened his grip on the reins as the last of the horses was in the gate. He kept his eyes trained on the track in front of them; peering out between the tips of Lumiera's ears. Seconds later the gates swung open and Lumiera shot out to the front of the group.
Charlie could feel the pounding of the filly's hooves in the soft dirt and he could just barely see the dirt flying up from the corner of his eye. He knew the horses weren't far behind but they weren't close either. All he could hear was the sound of his horse breathing and the rush of his pulse behind his ears. His hands were practically numb from Lumiera pulling herself forward, faster and faster. Even now he was still bewildered at her impressive speed and endurance.
The horses rounded the bend and came to the backstretch approaching the finish line. Lumiera was still holding her own but a few of the other Vale horses were closing in. One by one they all started to get closer and closer to one another but Lilly didn't show any signs of decreasing her speed. Her breathing was loud and he could feel the filly getting tired.
It was then that Charlie started estimating the remaining distance left. He would count down until Lumiera crossed the finish line. Just as Fast & Furious started to close in on Lumiera the tired filly mustered up her last bit of energy from who knows where and closed the distance. She crossed the finish line just seconds before the colt, closely followed by Tazzmanian Devil.
Charlie could feel Lumiera's chest heaving as her pace slowed. He gave slack on the reins and let the mare stretch her neck long and low. She let out a content snort and then reached down to rub her head on her outstretched leg. Charlie gave her a warm pat on the neck before urging her on to go cool down.