Sunday Funday

[Lolly]

Best More or Less + Connie Fae

What So Not + Leo Turner

So this was it, huh? Freedom. The ability to do as she pleased and attempt to make a career for herself. The warm clouds of breath that puffed from her fillies nostrils barely seemed real, more like an ethereal, clouded memory from way back when. Connie pulled a stray blonde curl back beneath her helmet, exhaling deeply as her stomach fluttered with a mixture of nerve and excitement; a gloved hand sweeping down the length of Mya’s neck. “She’ll sense it if you’re worried,” his voice interrupted her thoughts, and suddenly time once again began to move, and so did Mya; drifting sideways with a lowly nicker as she attempted to stray towards the liver colt that circled nearby. 

“I’m not worried,” it was a white lie, it had been so long since Connie had done any real trackwork. But that was all going to change, as it already had so quickly. She glanced over to Leo, well poised and radiating with obvious confidence atop the rounded spine of What So Not - a strapping young colt they had chosen together. He had always breathed thoroughbreds, and naturally Connie found him slightly intimidating for that reason; in an admirable sort of way. She had already learnt so much from him, but she still battled with a vague sense of jealousy when he spoke with such knowing of her grandfather and his ways.

With no further ado, she swung herself up onto the bay fillies back, finding the stirrups and settling herself into the seat of the jockey pad. Mya was drawn like a magnet to Wocky, and it was quite clear that her biggest challenge this morning was going to be keeping some distance between them. Wocky was a big, pushy sort of fellow, and would get a good kick out of making Mya work hard to stay with him. Thankfully there was a mutual understanding of what the aim was today, without much having to be said between the two riders. 

“Take it easy on her and follow my lead,” Leo directed, circling the flashy colt into a jog near Mya’s side. Connie nodded, with a stiffness that was probably obvious; since Leo seemed to smirk from beneath the brim of his well-worn helmet. The morning air was crisp as the pair of horses jogged onwards, Mya’s neck flexed to the outside in an effort to keep her from bumping into Wocky; who seemed to be daring her to do so. They took their time warming up, and in all honesty Connie was too preoccupied enjoying the ride to worry about kicking it up a notch yet. 

But of course Leo, always eager for the thrill, failed to signal it was lope time, and as Wocky ushered forward into a huge rocking-horse canter, Connie found herself shuddering atop the back of her mount as the filly attempted an awkward run to keep up. “Hup!” Connie tried to enthuse the thoroughbred into a canter, and for long enough it seemed like it was never going to happen. Of course, Wocky had seen his opportunity and surged ahead, not quite in a gallop but certainly creating distance between the two. As was to be expected, Mya wasn’t prepared to be lef behiind, and with a rock of her hindquarters bounced herself into what was definitely more than a lope. 

The horses settled, easing into their paces eventually. Two unraced youngsters out on the track together was always going to be interesting. Their pace was well synced now, hooves drumming on well-worked dirt and heavy exhalation running in tandem. Though Mya was having to work a bit harder to maintain her position by Wocky, it was obvious she was enjoying herself. There even came a moment when Connie could feel her pulling forward, stretching against the tension of the reins. And well, she’d have been a fool to deny her! Gloved fists stretched along the fillies neck, just slightly, and that was all she needed to break into a gallop. Naturally, Wocky followed suit, and though the burst was short lived, Connie was well convinced these two had an exciting future ahead of them.