Post by Kenren on Aug 12, 2013 22:29:59 GMT -5
Adrian Scott Martin && Bowen Arrow
The sky was still dark when Scotty walked into the barn, yawning and running long fingers through dark, sleep-mussed hair. He wasn't the first person in, but he was the only person in the brightly lit barn as he moved down the aisle, greeted by the hunger nickers of young Thoroughbreds. "Oh, chill. Gotta work first, you ungrateful monsters." His tone was fond, and the horses paid no heed. Scotty made his way to the workout board, reading the schedule Kent had assigned for the Valkyrie horses that morning. His first ride was one of the three-year-old colts, prepping for an upcoming race. His last scheduled work before the race, so an important one as far as getting him ready.
Grabbing the equipment he needed, Adrian went to Bow's stall, putting the tack on the stall door as he entered. Grooming and tacking went quickly - Bow was something of a dream horse, with fantastic ground manners and a gentle personality on the ground. The worst he did was sniff at Adrian's back as he saddled him, an inquisitive gesture that Adrian allowed. "Alright, big man. Let's go." Adrian grabbed the lead rope, and then they were off to the GHF track. Adrian didn't always travel to the racetracks with the horses, but he normally jumped when asked, especially if the jockeys weren't available for workouts.
Kent met the two of them at the track, the old trainer not saying much as he gave Adrian a leg into the saddle. When the boy was seated, the man took Bow's head, though the colt wasn't doing much on his own. "Warm him up then take him seven. Get him to go all out see we can see where his times are at." All of which being about as much as Kent said at once ever. The older man took the lead rope away from the horse, allowing Adrian to steer him onto the track. They moved over the dirt track at a slow trot, then reached the turf. Bow came alive pretty much from the moment his hooves touched the grass, snorting and bowing his neck against the bit. He pranced, but yielded to Adrian's aids as he moved him to the middle of the track, away from the rail. He let Bow extend his trot, enjoying the feel of the dark bay's restrained power beneath him. Bow tugged once or twice against the bit, but Adrian checked him, a quick reminder of who was in charge here. Bow settled, though he still clearly wanted to pick up the pace.
And they did. Adrian asked Bow to canter, and the quick rhythm continued for about half a lap. Adrian gradually felt Bow relax and become more responsive, and that was his cue to move him into a gallop. He kept him checked, moving the colt to the rail at a slow pace, keeping an eye on the furlong poles as they passed. Just before they reached the pole that marked seven furlongs from the wire, Adrian urged Bow to pick up speed, and the colt responded with a surge. Adrian could hear nothing but the wind rushing past his ears, and he knew he had a ridiculous grin on his face. Hunched close to the colt's neck, Adrian kept him paced. Three furlongs from the wire, Adrian encouraged him forward, both with his voice and his hands. Kent generally didn't have the jockeys use whips for works unless he felt they needed it, and at this point Bow definitely didn't. He was still surging when they crossed the wire, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Kent give a wave. Smiling, Adrian encouraged Bow to gallop out, finishing the mile at a solid, but relaxed, clip. This horse had some stamina, at least. Even if he wouldn't need it for this race, it was good to know that he was versatile. He slowed the horse as he got to the break in the fence, hopping off as Kent took the reins.
"He felt good," Adrian said, unbuckling his helmet. Kent nodded, looking Bow over as the horse played with the bit. Smiling at Kent's general lack of talkativeness, Adrian took Bow and handed him off to a hotwalker. It was a good work for a big season opener, at least. He could only hope the horse ran as well on race day.