Post by Kirsten Jade on Jul 16, 2009 16:18:31 GMT -5
Crooked Fire
Fleet GoddessA Series of Unfortunate Events
all lead up to the final straw.
Melanie rolled her eyes as she made her way up the trails around GHF on Crooked Fire. He was acting especially excited today and was jumping around all over the narrow trail. Melanie tightened the reins firmly and did her best to keep him in hand. “Quit it, you’ll hurt yourself!” Krazy snorted and continued to sidestep all over the place. Melanie saw Kirsten up ahead and watched her look back at her and frowned. She was aboard Fleet Goddess and the young filly was also in high spirits, happy to be in the lead.
Kirsten had decided to bring Goddess for a trail ride to keep the young filly in shape while the older horses ran in the more prestigious races. Goddess had done well for her first year of racing. She had managed to make it to a grade 4 level in racing and was a prospect for the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kirsten planned on entering her and winning the great race. Then hopefully in her three year old season she would be able to make it to grade 1 and run in the prestigious Triple Tiara. Kirsten was very excited for the filly.
Melanie on the other hand had wanted to ride Crooked Fire on the trails to improve his stamina, that way it was a possibility for the colt to run in the last jewel of the Triple Crown even though Kirsten didn't think he would be able to last the distance. Melanie wasn't ready to give up on the feisty little colt just quite yet.
Both women and their horses made their way up the trails in silence, enjoying the peace that nature brings. Melanie could feel Crooked Fire relaxing more and more. Fleet Goddess looked around with curiously, she was a filly with a lot of spunk. Things were nice and quiet, which was a nice change from the normal bustling activity from the track.
Just then a squirrel fell out of the tree in front of Krazy and landed on it's back right in the colt's path. Krazy screamed and reared up on the bumpy trail. Melanie could feel herself slipping down his back. She had a feeling he was going to try and bolt and she would be left sitting on the trail. He landed sideways and tried to run but his hoof got caught on a lifted root on the ground and before Melanie had a chance to react he landed hard on his knees.
His pained scream pierced the air and Kirsten had to fight with every ounce of her to keep Goddess under control. Her eyes were rolling and she was shaking and kicking out on the trail. Kirsten dismounted and held the filly's face near hers as she tried to calm her down, all at the same time as she helplessly watched Crooked Fire try to stand up. She closed her eyes and leaned against Goddess. Please don't let it be a broken leg...
Melanie was on her feet and into action in no time. She had been in the business a long time to know how sensitive a racehorse's legs were. A fall like Crooked Fire took was bound to be dangerous. She was at his head now doing her best to keep him down and calm him down before he endangered his condition any more. He kept struggling to get up and finally Melanie let him get on his feet. He had his left leg lifted and was obviously in a lot of pain.
Melanie looked at Kirsten for help with tears in her eyes. Kirsten was already back on Goddess' back and both of them looked ready for action. "I'm going to get help, don't let him put ANY pressure on his leg!" With that she raced off on Goddess, leaving Melanie alone and terrified. It was obviously the end of Krazy's crazy career, that's for sure. Whether he lived or had to be euthanized was all that was going through Melanie's head.