Post by Kenren on Mar 22, 2015 21:58:47 GMT -5
Valine & Clarimonde Tusaint
Optical Illusion & Savita Tusaint
Optical Illusion & Savita Tusaint
It wasn't often that brother and sister ended up working horses together, but this morning they had been slotted to take a couple of talented up-and-coming sprinters out onto the turf. Clarimonde was no stranger to sprinter mounts - something about his cool, manner-of-fact style just balanced so well with their normally high-strung nature. Savita didn't often draw the sprinters, but she had nabbed Optical Illusion when prepping for this year - the strikingly dappled grey had a huge amount of talent, and he was just getting started. The son of Flying Colours was still pretty inconsistent, learning his way through a hotheaded frontrunning style on the track, but he was doing better as of late. If he learned to temper his speed, or grew into the stamina to keep that speed, he would be absolutely devastating on the track. And she was beyond willing to get him there.
Valine was a late starter, not running until very late in her juvenile year. Even given that, she hadn't done badly for herself at all - she had only finished out of the money once in nine races. As soon as she was pulled back to run against her own age group, she'd rewarded them with another win. The filly might be an unknown, but she had a real chance to make a mark if she continued to step up. Though Clarimonde would never admit it, Savita knew her brother was not incredibly fond of the filly, at least on the ground. And that was because she was loud. Already the girl could hear Val and she couldn't even see her yet as she rode Opti down to the track with a pony holding his head. The grey colt was an active one, prancing sideways with perked ears and bright eyes as he looked eagerly ahead. He always wanted to go faster, faster, faster, and a good warm-up was essential to get his mind working past his excited instincts.
Valine and Clarimonde came into sight, and she could tell Clari was a little irritated just based on his slight body language. To most people he just seemed cold and emotionless, but he just wasn't nearly as expressive as most. She could read the nuances, though. After thanking the outrider, she gathered up Opti tightly in hand and the two of them moved out onto the turf. Valine mouthed at her bit, squealing mareishly any time Opti skittered too close. Which he was doing often, since he was moving half-sideways against the bit. "These two are a mess," Savita said with weary affection, and even thought Clarimonde only glanced at her with his deep blue eyes, she wasn't bothered at all. They made their way through the warm up, and eventually Opti began to straighten out and Valine had less to make noise about. As always, Savita had a deep appreciation and longing for how perfect Clarimonde looked in the saddle - he never faltered, never looked unsteady regardless of what was happening. He would have looked just as amazing on an elite dressage horse, Savita thought. Add long silver-blonde hair and those uniquely ocean-blue eyes on top of fine, handsome features and you had something of perfection. Except, of course, his personality. She knew why he was what he was though, and she wouldn't want him any other way.
After checking for traffic, they moved the two sprinters to the rail. As soon as he was into a gallop, Opti immediately wanted to gun off and get comfortably ahead of Valine - a position where he tended to do very well. However, he wasn't always going to get an easy trip, and he needed to keep his head under adversity. So as per their instructions, Clari kept Val right alongside Opti, and Savita kept a tight hold on the colt. Opti didn't like it one bit, flipping his head up repeatedly and trying to grab the bit. However, Savita didn't let up until the colt stopped lunging and fighting. As soon as he did, she eased the reins marginally, making him more comfortable. He flicked an ear back at her, listening and showing some interest. A few seconds later he tried to bolt off again, trying to get past the bay, but again Savita tightened the reins and didn't allow him to go anywhere. He settled more quickly this time, mouthing the bit thoughtfully. He didn't fight again, and luckily it was just the time to reward him - only moments after he calmed, Savita let him loose. The colt eagerly took the slack, rabbiting off as he'd been wanting to the whole time. Valine was right there with him, strides quicker with her shorter legs but not struggling in the least. Then she began pulling away, more mature muscles accelerating her more quickly than the juvenile over the turf. Clarimonde never begged or got sloppy - he simply asked her for speed, and she gave it. Opti did not take her pulling away well, and this time she encouraged that response, hands pushing on his neck with each stride to stretch him out. He responded to the pressure instinctively, trying to catch the older filly, but he just didn't have the equipment to get the job done - it wasn't until Clari began to pull Val up that Savita was able to get Opti past her, at which point she began pulling him up. Now that he'd passed her up, he slowed willingly, and eventually they walked the horses back up to the gap.
Opti was sweating from the breeze but seemed pleased with himself, and Savita was doubly so - the more she worked with holding him back, the less times he'd fight her during a race. And the less he fought, the more he'd have left in the tank for the end of the race. Valine seemed equally pleased with herself, whickering when she saw Minske and Cole walking up. Really, she'd say hello to a fly if it flew at her in a friendly manner. Minske pet the filly while Clari jumped off, graceful as could be. "Good ride," was all Minske said, and Clari gave a slight nod. Savita jumped down as well, smiling shyly at Minske before hooking her arm through her brother's and practically dragging him off to the barn. He might not be comfortable around anyone, but she was comfortable enough for the both of them.
Valine was a late starter, not running until very late in her juvenile year. Even given that, she hadn't done badly for herself at all - she had only finished out of the money once in nine races. As soon as she was pulled back to run against her own age group, she'd rewarded them with another win. The filly might be an unknown, but she had a real chance to make a mark if she continued to step up. Though Clarimonde would never admit it, Savita knew her brother was not incredibly fond of the filly, at least on the ground. And that was because she was loud. Already the girl could hear Val and she couldn't even see her yet as she rode Opti down to the track with a pony holding his head. The grey colt was an active one, prancing sideways with perked ears and bright eyes as he looked eagerly ahead. He always wanted to go faster, faster, faster, and a good warm-up was essential to get his mind working past his excited instincts.
Valine and Clarimonde came into sight, and she could tell Clari was a little irritated just based on his slight body language. To most people he just seemed cold and emotionless, but he just wasn't nearly as expressive as most. She could read the nuances, though. After thanking the outrider, she gathered up Opti tightly in hand and the two of them moved out onto the turf. Valine mouthed at her bit, squealing mareishly any time Opti skittered too close. Which he was doing often, since he was moving half-sideways against the bit. "These two are a mess," Savita said with weary affection, and even thought Clarimonde only glanced at her with his deep blue eyes, she wasn't bothered at all. They made their way through the warm up, and eventually Opti began to straighten out and Valine had less to make noise about. As always, Savita had a deep appreciation and longing for how perfect Clarimonde looked in the saddle - he never faltered, never looked unsteady regardless of what was happening. He would have looked just as amazing on an elite dressage horse, Savita thought. Add long silver-blonde hair and those uniquely ocean-blue eyes on top of fine, handsome features and you had something of perfection. Except, of course, his personality. She knew why he was what he was though, and she wouldn't want him any other way.
After checking for traffic, they moved the two sprinters to the rail. As soon as he was into a gallop, Opti immediately wanted to gun off and get comfortably ahead of Valine - a position where he tended to do very well. However, he wasn't always going to get an easy trip, and he needed to keep his head under adversity. So as per their instructions, Clari kept Val right alongside Opti, and Savita kept a tight hold on the colt. Opti didn't like it one bit, flipping his head up repeatedly and trying to grab the bit. However, Savita didn't let up until the colt stopped lunging and fighting. As soon as he did, she eased the reins marginally, making him more comfortable. He flicked an ear back at her, listening and showing some interest. A few seconds later he tried to bolt off again, trying to get past the bay, but again Savita tightened the reins and didn't allow him to go anywhere. He settled more quickly this time, mouthing the bit thoughtfully. He didn't fight again, and luckily it was just the time to reward him - only moments after he calmed, Savita let him loose. The colt eagerly took the slack, rabbiting off as he'd been wanting to the whole time. Valine was right there with him, strides quicker with her shorter legs but not struggling in the least. Then she began pulling away, more mature muscles accelerating her more quickly than the juvenile over the turf. Clarimonde never begged or got sloppy - he simply asked her for speed, and she gave it. Opti did not take her pulling away well, and this time she encouraged that response, hands pushing on his neck with each stride to stretch him out. He responded to the pressure instinctively, trying to catch the older filly, but he just didn't have the equipment to get the job done - it wasn't until Clari began to pull Val up that Savita was able to get Opti past her, at which point she began pulling him up. Now that he'd passed her up, he slowed willingly, and eventually they walked the horses back up to the gap.
Opti was sweating from the breeze but seemed pleased with himself, and Savita was doubly so - the more she worked with holding him back, the less times he'd fight her during a race. And the less he fought, the more he'd have left in the tank for the end of the race. Valine seemed equally pleased with herself, whickering when she saw Minske and Cole walking up. Really, she'd say hello to a fly if it flew at her in a friendly manner. Minske pet the filly while Clari jumped off, graceful as could be. "Good ride," was all Minske said, and Clari gave a slight nod. Savita jumped down as well, smiling shyly at Minske before hooking her arm through her brother's and practically dragging him off to the barn. He might not be comfortable around anyone, but she was comfortable enough for the both of them.