Takes Time

[Deleted]

THE RISING RIDDEN BY AIDEN SMITH
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Aiden's range of regular rides had been growing progressively lately. With each new addition to the stable, he was granted the permission to ride another horse. The newest racehorse, The Rising, a two year old colt, was not an exception. It seemed like as the days passed, the more experienced jockey, Beck Weiss, was not as active on the track as he, Aiden, was. It almost seemed as though Beck was going to retire real soon and leave all of Triple Krown Racing's horses in his hands. Becky was also improving really well lately. Soon, maybe she would start racing horses. For now though, he had to focus on giving his all every time he mounted one of TKR's horses.

Aiden walked the freshly groomed and tacked, The Rising, towards the looming grandstand and racetrack. It was too late in the morning for alot of horses to be working out but it was early enough to squeeze in a workout before the daily races. As they approached the track, they were not proven wrong for there was not a single horse on the whole track. He noted real quick in the back of his mind to work the colt on a crowded track next time out to test how he would react to crowds.

Aiden decided that the colt would probably be pretty rusty when he got to running but he would try to get the best possible manners and the best run out of him. As soon as Ri spotted the track he started to jig uncontrollably at Aiden's side. Aiden rounded him to face parallel to the rail. The bay's ears cocked forward as he looked off down the stretch and Aiden took this opportunity to jump on his back. Immedietly, the colt tried to jump out from underneath and bolt down the stretch. Aiden pulled him back quickly and regained balance.

The colt bounced down the track until Aiden slowly let him have some rein. As soon as he loosened up on his reins the colt bolted and galloped around the first turn at a full blown gallop. Aiden rose in his stirrups pulling hard on his bit. The colt slowed quickly at the sudden tightening of the reins. He tossed his head and ran to the inside of the track before returning to the rail again. Aden kept him at a slow gallop all the way down the backstretch not wanting to strain the unseasoned horse's muscles.

As they entered the far turn, Aiden eased his hold on the reins just a fraction of an inch. Ri, again, immediately spread out into a full charge, rounding the turn with tremendous speed, swinging wide. Aiden rode him out as he gained speed, changing his lead leg and waving him back to the rail. Ri drifted out to the right once again and Aiden this time reined him towards the rail. Ri responded and stuck to the rail all the way under the wire. Aiden eased him immediately and he cantered slowly around the turn before Aiden could stop him completely. As soon as he did, he turned him, praising him, and trotting the colt back to the rail. Smiling, he rubbed the colt's shoulder. He decided he would ride him back to the stable.

The horses in the first race were just entering the paddock as they returned to the stable. "Good boy... A champion just takes time to make. Ain't that right?" he nodded, stroking the colt, "You'll be just as good as your daddy, won't you?" And as if Ri understood, he let out a peircing nicker.



words; 595
dirt track; 6 furlongs