Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2012 4:14:07 GMT -5
The younger half brother of Prideful Limits was a much calmer equine than the four year old. He was, in fact, much calmer than most colts never mind his crazy sibling. He was soft, gentle, caring and generally enjoyed the company of humans where his brother was violent and rejected all human contact except that with his jockey. All in all, the colt was much more rounded, even if he was a little on the slow side. But not every horse could be razor sharp. Some horses just took a little longer to learn than others, and Theo was one of those colts.
But being a little slower mentally did not seem to have had a negative effect on the colt on the track. In two races he had come second twice, and the team felt sure that with a little more work he would claim his first win and truly show the world what he was capable of. He had the potential to be a very strong racehorse, and he would live up to that potential, they just knew it.
The bay colt moved well beside his handler while Alexia, his jockey, fidgeted in the saddle. She was adjusting the stirrups, checking the girth, and generally making sure they were ready for this work. She did not want anything to go wrong, the colt could not afford another blow to his confidence. Not when he was about to go against a field of four powerful racers including a much more mature four year old. Of course, Theo was not expected to win against the mare but they wanted to give her a good run for her money. Who knew, if luck was on their side maybe they could pull off a miracle.
As they reached the dirt track, the jockey stared toward the post. They had planned a short, three furlong gallop today to work on the colt's speed as it would both improve his racing performance and leave him with the energy he would need to run well come race day. Alexia had faith that the colt could do this, that he could run at some amazing speeds and had the stamina to match it. He just needed the time, and the experience, to make a real impression.
Lucas released his grip on the colt's rein and watched as Alexia rode the colt out onto the track, angling him toward the post. He watched as she pulled him to a halt and spoke soft words he cannot hear to her mount and he saw in her a great deal of care. Alexia cared for everyone, she cared for all of the horses and all the people she was surrounded by. She would go out of her way to help, would take time out of her day just to go and visit her mounts. Her attention paid off, too. Many of her horses placed well in races, and it was probably something to do with the bond Alexia took the time to build.
Whatever it was that Alexia had been saying to the colt, it was over. Alexia rose her gaze from the colt's neck to the dirt ahead of them. They were running a mere three furlongs, and the distance looked like nothing from this distance. Lucas knew that if he was closer, he would see the passion in Alexia's eyes, see the plan as it formed in her mind. But he was not. The colt danced a little beneath her, he tossed his head and pawed at the ground but he did not move from where Alexia had stopped him. The jockey rose in her stirrups, took a moment to find her balance, and then pushed the colt onwards.
It was not a fast movement. Where a front runner or preceder might have dashed off at high speeds, Theo was more reserved. As a closer, he spent much of the race at the very back of the group and only really pushed forwards at the end of the race. He only really moved quickly when he was closing the last few furlongs on a race. He would fight then, but at the beginning he tended to be much more relaxed.
Alexia drove the colt onwards. This was no race, this was preparation and in order to prepare at their best she needed the colt to move more quickly. The colt responded well to the jockey, Lucas watched as he started to move more quickly down the stretch and could see the change in the colt's attitude. This was no longer just a gallop, this had just become something more and it seemed as if something had clicked within the colt's mind.
Two furlongs passed quickly. The colt seemed to be dealing well as Alexia began to drive in full force in the final furlong. Lucas watched as the crop was brought down once, twice against the colt's backside and the colt bolted forwards. The increase is pace was crazy, but it was expected. This was a closer, and the acceleration he had behind him was very strong indeed. The handler was practically grinning as the colt soared past the post and he could tell Alexia was pleased.
But being a little slower mentally did not seem to have had a negative effect on the colt on the track. In two races he had come second twice, and the team felt sure that with a little more work he would claim his first win and truly show the world what he was capable of. He had the potential to be a very strong racehorse, and he would live up to that potential, they just knew it.
The bay colt moved well beside his handler while Alexia, his jockey, fidgeted in the saddle. She was adjusting the stirrups, checking the girth, and generally making sure they were ready for this work. She did not want anything to go wrong, the colt could not afford another blow to his confidence. Not when he was about to go against a field of four powerful racers including a much more mature four year old. Of course, Theo was not expected to win against the mare but they wanted to give her a good run for her money. Who knew, if luck was on their side maybe they could pull off a miracle.
As they reached the dirt track, the jockey stared toward the post. They had planned a short, three furlong gallop today to work on the colt's speed as it would both improve his racing performance and leave him with the energy he would need to run well come race day. Alexia had faith that the colt could do this, that he could run at some amazing speeds and had the stamina to match it. He just needed the time, and the experience, to make a real impression.
Lucas released his grip on the colt's rein and watched as Alexia rode the colt out onto the track, angling him toward the post. He watched as she pulled him to a halt and spoke soft words he cannot hear to her mount and he saw in her a great deal of care. Alexia cared for everyone, she cared for all of the horses and all the people she was surrounded by. She would go out of her way to help, would take time out of her day just to go and visit her mounts. Her attention paid off, too. Many of her horses placed well in races, and it was probably something to do with the bond Alexia took the time to build.
Whatever it was that Alexia had been saying to the colt, it was over. Alexia rose her gaze from the colt's neck to the dirt ahead of them. They were running a mere three furlongs, and the distance looked like nothing from this distance. Lucas knew that if he was closer, he would see the passion in Alexia's eyes, see the plan as it formed in her mind. But he was not. The colt danced a little beneath her, he tossed his head and pawed at the ground but he did not move from where Alexia had stopped him. The jockey rose in her stirrups, took a moment to find her balance, and then pushed the colt onwards.
It was not a fast movement. Where a front runner or preceder might have dashed off at high speeds, Theo was more reserved. As a closer, he spent much of the race at the very back of the group and only really pushed forwards at the end of the race. He only really moved quickly when he was closing the last few furlongs on a race. He would fight then, but at the beginning he tended to be much more relaxed.
Alexia drove the colt onwards. This was no race, this was preparation and in order to prepare at their best she needed the colt to move more quickly. The colt responded well to the jockey, Lucas watched as he started to move more quickly down the stretch and could see the change in the colt's attitude. This was no longer just a gallop, this had just become something more and it seemed as if something had clicked within the colt's mind.
Two furlongs passed quickly. The colt seemed to be dealing well as Alexia began to drive in full force in the final furlong. Lucas watched as the crop was brought down once, twice against the colt's backside and the colt bolted forwards. The increase is pace was crazy, but it was expected. This was a closer, and the acceleration he had behind him was very strong indeed. The handler was practically grinning as the colt soared past the post and he could tell Alexia was pleased.