Post by Onyx on Nov 2, 2006 13:47:25 GMT -5
Drew trotted Blaze around in a wide circle, warming her up. They were in the pasture. It was a wide open area without any grass and compact dirt. Drew clicked his tongue and put some pressure ontop her left side and she stepped up into a canter on her left lead. He kicked lightly qwith the right leg and she did a flying lead change. Slowing her down to a walk his hand patted her neck, then urged her into a gallop. The Akhal-Teke is an endurance racing breed, and that was just what Blazing Brilliance was trained for. Drew directed her to a low spot in the fence and she jumped it with ease. Now she tore down the trail at what looked ,like top speed, but was actually a collected, energy saving gallop. She ran on, taking measured breaths and strides. A few ditches and limbs lay across the road, but she either jumped them or swerved around. Her mane was cu to about two inches long, but was allowed to grow ouyt when autumn and winter came. The mare quickened pace, lengthened stride and her fleet hooves hardly touched the ground. Drew pulled her up to a trot, then a walk, dismounted and walked her untill her heart rate returned to normal. then he checked her over, looking for minor cuts, stones lodged in her hooves or anything of the sort.
When he found nothing her mounted again, gave her a loose rein, and let her press on. She again ran in the collected gallop, then picked up her speed. Now she was running full fledge down the narrow trail, just as she would in the upcoming endurance race. Drew moved with her, giving her her head, adjusting to her comfort. Blaze leveled her head and neck, pinned back her ears and jumped a log, unaware of the puddle at the other side. Blaze had a mortal fear of water, and panicked as the spray blew up around her. She went into full flight, the whites of her eyes showing. Drew held on for his life and waited for her to run it out. He pulled a bit on the left rein when they came to a clearing and she doubled back. He knew that she was supposed to stop here and get another check but decided to let her run out her fear first.
They arrived back at the stable, Blaze covered in lather, breathing heavily, but overall satisfied look in her shioning eyes. Drew had splashes of mud and debris on his clothes and in his hair. He hopped of and unsaddled her, taking the reins and leading the quivering horse to the arena. There her put her on the lunge line and coolled her down first in a canter, then trot, then a walk. She moved through the paces with her head level and nostrils flaring. Finally he put her into cross ties and washed her down with a sponge.
Releasing her into the padock Drew hopped onto the fence to watch Blaze. His eye was trained to see any strain or unevennessin her movement. She trotted around the perimeter and was blowing often. But this was usuall. She rolled in the middle then dropped her head into the water trough, letting in run over her lips and over her tongue. Then after she quenched her thirst the mare went for the alfalfa. Drew continued to watch, lost in thought.
When he found nothing her mounted again, gave her a loose rein, and let her press on. She again ran in the collected gallop, then picked up her speed. Now she was running full fledge down the narrow trail, just as she would in the upcoming endurance race. Drew moved with her, giving her her head, adjusting to her comfort. Blaze leveled her head and neck, pinned back her ears and jumped a log, unaware of the puddle at the other side. Blaze had a mortal fear of water, and panicked as the spray blew up around her. She went into full flight, the whites of her eyes showing. Drew held on for his life and waited for her to run it out. He pulled a bit on the left rein when they came to a clearing and she doubled back. He knew that she was supposed to stop here and get another check but decided to let her run out her fear first.
They arrived back at the stable, Blaze covered in lather, breathing heavily, but overall satisfied look in her shioning eyes. Drew had splashes of mud and debris on his clothes and in his hair. He hopped of and unsaddled her, taking the reins and leading the quivering horse to the arena. There her put her on the lunge line and coolled her down first in a canter, then trot, then a walk. She moved through the paces with her head level and nostrils flaring. Finally he put her into cross ties and washed her down with a sponge.
Releasing her into the padock Drew hopped onto the fence to watch Blaze. His eye was trained to see any strain or unevennessin her movement. She trotted around the perimeter and was blowing often. But this was usuall. She rolled in the middle then dropped her head into the water trough, letting in run over her lips and over her tongue. Then after she quenched her thirst the mare went for the alfalfa. Drew continued to watch, lost in thought.
