speed of light

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KOSOKU RIDDEN BY BECKY ANDREWS
WORKOUT FOR THE TRY AND CATCH ME CUP
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<sup>The skewbald's first race was approaching fast and Becky had high hopes for the short yet speedy colt. He would make his debut in the Try And Catch Me Cup, a perfect name of a race to match his racing style. Currently, only one other horse was entered into the race; Tidal Wave. The chestnut colt is owned by Dreamvalley Stables. He's also a two year old, but has been raced in three races already. His highest place considering the amount of horses in the fields was a third place with four horses in the field. In his other races, he had placed last against all the horses in the field even though he had gotten a third and a second. Tidal Wave was also a preceder. Not the pushiest of preceders but he still pushed the leaders in the final stages of a race. A pushy preceder usually meant bad news to a front runner... usually.

After getting used to him, Becky found that Kosoku could wear out any horse that tried to push him, especially sprinters, because of his unusual mix of blinding speed and stamina. He could make a preceder push him harder and harder without tiring out himself and that was his advantage as a front runner... a pushy front runner some may call him. Not likely are you to see a pushy front runner. In this debut, Becky would put Kona to the test to see if when Tidal Wave pushed him if he would really be able to wear him out before he could try and make a move. Even if Kona didn't wear him completely out, Becky was sure that he would not give up the lead for nothing. The pinto colt was full of heart and in workouts if a horse tried to challenge him or even try to stick their nose out in front he would rush forward with a burst of speed almost like saying, you have no chance at keeping up with me. Becky enjoyed this attribute because she'd never been up on a horse with so much personality when running next to another horse.

Becky looked over Kona's short frame to glance at Hailey before sneaking an apple treat to him. Hailey was too busy with speaking to one of the hired vets to notice. It wouldn't be a big deal with any other horse but Hailey felt that Becky was spoiling the skewbald and needed to start treating him like any other racehorse. Becky was tempted to remind her of how she treats Terror Smile like any other racehorse but decided to keep her thoughts to herself. Smiles was a touchy subject and Becky really didn't want to go back to just grooming the horses and not riding in races; especially with Aiden recovering. Kona nudged his nose into Becky's hand trying to find more treats, but found none. He snorted disapointedly and turned to look over at Hailey and snort. Becky chuckled; in her perspective it looked like Kona was begging, can we go yet?

After Hailey had finished getting a report on Terror Smile's recovery, they all headed to the track. Hailey seemed happy with the news and was in an extra joyful mood. Becky was also happy and it wasn't just Kona that was making her happy; Aiden was going to start riding in a couple of weeks. His fractured ribs were nearly healed and the doctor said he could start working horses in March. Becky smiled at the thought before returning to the task at hand. She was super confident in Kona's ability to win the race but she had to be focused in order to competely assure that. Nothing could be completely assured but Becky hoped that he would win with all her heart. She loved that colt so much after such a short time in the stable.

Becky mounted up into the saddle without a boost, with Kona being so short. She patted his white patch on his wither before turning to look at Hailey for instructions. She was already waiting to speak, eagerly. Hailey seemed to love this colt too although her love was a bit different than Becky's. She loved how fast he was and how he loved to run. He could be the stable's next champion in her eyes. "Alright, so the plan for the race is to let him take up the lead and well... don't give it up for anything. Okay?" Becky nodded, already planning out what the trip was going to be like. "Good. I want you to gallop him slowly over six furlongs. Take it nice and easy... I want him to be relaxed and ready to go on race day," Hailey replied to her nod.

Becky repeated it in a muted voice before nodding and turning Kona around with careful concentration. She didn't believe that she'd ever felt this way towards jockeying a horse before. She let him go into a nice gentle canter down the center of the track heading towards the 3/4 pole; their gallop would start there. He seemed extra ready and alert today as if he knew that a race was coming soon. Becky reached down to stroke his neck. His ears flicked back and then sent forward again at her gentle touch. "Today, we are just going to gallop... No speed drills, boy." She knew how much Kona loved to gallop at a dead run to the finish line but he would just gallop slowly today; not his favorite type of workout but still a work with some galloping. Becky knew that he was happy just to be out of his stall and on the track.

After a couple of times of trying to take off after a horse galloping past him on his inside, they got to the starting point, where they would begin their work. Kona tossed his head, eagerly. His head was head high in the air; Becky leaned forward to stratch right behind his ear before crouching over his neck and kissing to him. Kona responded with a jolt and charged down the stretch with blinding speeds. Becky regained her firm hold on the reins and seesawed on his mouth a bit to slow him into a gallop. Although short, his strides were long and ate up the ground with giant leaps. He wanted so desperately to charge down the backstretch but Becky would only let him go so fast. The stretching of his legs and the slower gait was going to do good to relax his muscles and his stretch out his back. Becky patted his neck, still holding the reins. He snorted at her touch in response and asked for more rein, trying to take the bit in his teeth. Becky checked him quickly and whispered, "Not today." Kosoku responded well to her gentle and soothing words... no, voice. She could of said anything and it would have soothed him all the same.

As they entered the final two furlongs, coming off the turn, Kona had gotten into the rythem of the gallop and wasn't trying to jump into a charge when a horse passed them, although Becky could see longing to do so in his behavior. He became restless, if that's the appropiate term for his still gentle disposition in the final furlong when he usually flew even faster than usual. Becky stood in the stirrups as he galloped past the wire. He kept galloping so Becky just turned him around in the track and let him go at his own pace back to Hailey. He slowed to a trot when he realized that the work was over and tossed his head, as if wondering what happened to running at top speed. Becky patted his neck, "Good boy." Hailey smiled up at her and then ran her hand down Kona's nose. "He did well, slower than I thought he would be willing to go." She held back a smile. Becky added, absent mindedly, "... and not even a layer of sweat or film." Hailey nodded, "Well that is to be expected. I would be worried if he did have a layer of sweat... He's got too much stamina to be sweating over a slow work like that. Go hose him off and if he let's you, do some back exersises to relax him even more." Becky nodded and dismounted, leading him back to the barn.

Hailey grinned as she spotted Becky feed him another apple treat.



words; 1413
turf; 6 furlongs</sup>