Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2012 8:19:09 GMT -5
The had come fourth in the Dubai Filly Cup. Fourth. But in eight runners, it wasn't too bad. It was one place lower than the previous year, but it was not something with which they could not work. They could easily rise to get a better placing in the Dubai World Cup if they got a good workout in before the race. Which was exactly what Alexia planed to do. After all, this was Mona's last chance to prove herself in this series before her retirement and as Alexia's star she deserved that chance. More than deserved it, really.
The bay mare was already tacked up and ready to head down to the track when Alexia arrived at her stall. Lucas, who was quickly becoming an integral part of the team, had obviously had an early start. Alexia could not help but wander if the reason for that was that he was making yet another chance to impress his brother. Everyone knew about the argument. Lucas wanted to be a jockey, Matthias kept saying no. However, it had been hinted that Jacey had actually been siding with the younger of the pair.
"Hey Lucas. Thanks for having her ready. You ready to see a true star in action?" she asked him and he nodded, grinning at her. Everyone loved Mona, she was very much the queen of the stable and she made sure that everyone knew it. She wasn't rude or obnoxious. In fact, she handled very well. Instead, she showed off with her grace, dignity and talent. Her conformation had become one of her defining features, along with her manners of course.
Lucas led the bay mare down toward the practice track while Alexia walked beside him. Mona was definitely impressive. Her head held high, she moved with confidence and flair. Her dark eyes gleamed as she looked around her in a way which was almost noble. Alexia could not help but feel awe as she watched that mare, so comfortable in herself and her dominance that she had no need to show the violence and difficult behaviour that other horses chose to display.
As they arrived at the track, Alexia mounted the mare and adjusted the stirrups, standing in them to test them and then nodding. Perfect. With that the took the reins and pushed Mona onto the track. Today, they were just going to gallop. It would let off steam, warm up the mare, and was generally less stressful than mock races. Less stressful for the staff, less stressful for the jockey and most importantly less stressful for the horse.
Mona moved fluidly from standing to walk, and from their into trot and canter. For several minutes, they maintained that pace and then Alexia urged the mare forwards into a gallop. Not a frantic gallop, not quick-paced like they were fighting for the post. Today was not about that.
The movement was sturdy and strong, powerful limbs pushing them forwards. Four beats were followed by a pause as all four limbs were in the air, and then another four-beat followed. Stride by stride they were moving together and Alexia played her hand across the mares muscular neck. She could feel the taught muscle in the mare's neck as they moved forwards powerfully.
Slowly, Alexia moved the mare back down through her paces, cooling her down, and soon they were back to a walk. Her coat was layered by sweat, her eyes bright. It had been a good run, longer than they would usually run in a mock race, and it had felt good to release the steam. Perhaps it would be enough to perform well.
The bay mare was already tacked up and ready to head down to the track when Alexia arrived at her stall. Lucas, who was quickly becoming an integral part of the team, had obviously had an early start. Alexia could not help but wander if the reason for that was that he was making yet another chance to impress his brother. Everyone knew about the argument. Lucas wanted to be a jockey, Matthias kept saying no. However, it had been hinted that Jacey had actually been siding with the younger of the pair.
"Hey Lucas. Thanks for having her ready. You ready to see a true star in action?" she asked him and he nodded, grinning at her. Everyone loved Mona, she was very much the queen of the stable and she made sure that everyone knew it. She wasn't rude or obnoxious. In fact, she handled very well. Instead, she showed off with her grace, dignity and talent. Her conformation had become one of her defining features, along with her manners of course.
Lucas led the bay mare down toward the practice track while Alexia walked beside him. Mona was definitely impressive. Her head held high, she moved with confidence and flair. Her dark eyes gleamed as she looked around her in a way which was almost noble. Alexia could not help but feel awe as she watched that mare, so comfortable in herself and her dominance that she had no need to show the violence and difficult behaviour that other horses chose to display.
As they arrived at the track, Alexia mounted the mare and adjusted the stirrups, standing in them to test them and then nodding. Perfect. With that the took the reins and pushed Mona onto the track. Today, they were just going to gallop. It would let off steam, warm up the mare, and was generally less stressful than mock races. Less stressful for the staff, less stressful for the jockey and most importantly less stressful for the horse.
Mona moved fluidly from standing to walk, and from their into trot and canter. For several minutes, they maintained that pace and then Alexia urged the mare forwards into a gallop. Not a frantic gallop, not quick-paced like they were fighting for the post. Today was not about that.
The movement was sturdy and strong, powerful limbs pushing them forwards. Four beats were followed by a pause as all four limbs were in the air, and then another four-beat followed. Stride by stride they were moving together and Alexia played her hand across the mares muscular neck. She could feel the taught muscle in the mare's neck as they moved forwards powerfully.
Slowly, Alexia moved the mare back down through her paces, cooling her down, and soon they were back to a walk. Her coat was layered by sweat, her eyes bright. It had been a good run, longer than they would usually run in a mock race, and it had felt good to release the steam. Perhaps it would be enough to perform well.