Race With the Wind

Chapter 7

Hey guys I'll be putting pictures up soon to show you what every horse looks like. Thanks to my friend who gave me these pictures I do appreciate it.😀😀😀
Anyways on with the story.
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My next few days of 'training' was getting me nowhere. The riddle that 'sir' gave me I still can't understand. He keeps saying use figures around you. What in the heck does that mean! I can't solve riddles. I'm terrible at them. My routine is get out in the field early, 'train' graze for a bit, Sarah trains me and then back to grazing until evening.

'Keep going! That's it! No! Your still doing it wrong!'. Sir shouts at me. I'm galloping around the trees again. This is getting me nowhere 'Sir'. 'You've got the galloping bit but, the going around the tree part is just not working'. Sir says like very other bleeding time.

I'm taken in to be ridden by Sarah. I'm groomed until not a speck of dirt is left on me. Sarah brings me to the outdoor sand arena. 'Now Scooter, today we're going to do cavaletti work'. Sarah says excited. Sarah sets up cavalettis for me to trot evenly into. She takes me into the poles. Such an awkward way to set up poles. Well it will teach me to stop falling over my own legs. Like what happened at the tree not long ago. Sarah keeps contact through her reins and lets me pick my own trotting pace. I trot very weirdly over the poles. 'Well at least we're starting this now!'. Sarah says giving me a slappy pat. 'If you do this right Scooter, we can go for a gallop up Rispen's field'. Sarah says in bribing way. I snort in agreement. Sarah trots me into the poles again. I go at my own pace. I trot much better over the awkward poles this time. Sarah trots me at the pace she wants to do. She brings me into the poles and I trot over them awkwardly again. After a few try's at Sarah's pace, I'm doing much better.

When we reached Rispen's field Sarah walks me around the perimeter of it. This field is used to plant wheat and corn. Sarah walks me to gate. There's a tractor lane going all the way up the field. A surge of excitement hits me. Sarah wraps her fingers around my mane. I feel her give me a centimetre of rein and weight in the saddle. I do a straight canter. When we've cantered a few metres, Sarah sits low in the saddle and loosens her grip. I gallop much faster now, everything turning into a blur. When we were nearing the end of the field Sarah puts her heels down and sits tall and deep in the saddle. I slow from a gallop to a canter to a trot. Sarah is smiling. 'Good girl'. She whispers.

When we get back Sean is waiting in the yard. 'Hey Sarah!'. He shouts. 'Hi Sean!'. Sarah answers. 'Can I have a lesson on Sammy now?'. Sean asks. 'How about Sammy has a rest. You can help me train Scooter.' Sarah says smiling. Sean has a big grin on his face. 'Aw! Yes! Thanks Sarah!'. He says excitedly as he walks up to me. He sticks his crash helmet on and secures it. Sarah gives him a leg up and he lands carefully onto my back. He walks me slowly into the outdoor arena. Sarah clips a lunge rope to the bit of my bridle. 'Trot on Scooter!'. Sarah commands. I trot smoothly. Sean feels very different in the saddle. He's sitting heavily and has no contact between his hands and the bit. He is a beginner. Sarah does a lot of trotting exercises with him.

After about an hour of trotting in a circle, Sarah brought me in and Sean washed me. Sarah tells Sean that there is a race on tomorrow. I'm excited. 'Can I come?'. Sean asks politely.'Sure'. Sarah answers. They secure a night rug on me. My dinner tonight is hot beetpulp with oats and chopped carrots! Thats grand. I love beetpulp!

After I finish my warm delicious feed Glic and I have a conversation. 'What interests do have Glic?'. I ask. 'Well, I do love galloping. I love going out on hacks with Sarah. But, I still love the missions we would go on to catch criminals in Dublin city'. Glic answers kindly. 'Why did they give you away?'. I ask quietly. 'There was an accident ,and......the guns were fired. We were galloping after them. My legs were sore as they hit the concrete ground but I didn't mind. My mount jumped off and he had his dog with him. Chance. His dog's name was Chance. Chance didn't see the criminal who stabbed him. I got angry. I had to warn my mount. But, it was to late. The two men were already beating eachother to the ground. He didn't have his gun it was knocked out of his hands. I kicked the gun back over to him. The criminal got it! He aimed at my mount. I had no choice. I galloped and I knocked the criminal over. He still got advantage of shooting my mount. He still got advantage of my leg. He shot my left leg as I reared. He ran off. The police force came. They took me in and I was seen by a vet. I was lucky. The police force wanted me to have a foal. Once I had the foal they took him away from me. I loved him so much. He asked me for my name. I said 'Glic'. He answered back to me 'thank you Glic'. I still remember his voice. The police force then didn't want me so they gave me away. They gave me away after my mounts funeral. Now I'm here living happily with Sarah and my friends!'. Glic says happily. I tell her about my mother. The way she would scratch my withers with her teeth felt good. We would gallop around the fields together. When we're flat out from galloping we sleep under an old chestnut tree. I told her what mother wants me to do. My life task. To clear my fathers name. We move on to a different subject. 'I don't understand him Glic'. I say quietly. 'We all don't.' Glic chuckles. 'Just be a bit appreciative for what he's trying to do'. Glic says seriously. 'He won't tell me his name Glic!'. I say frustrated. 'Scooter. You're only here a few weeks and you expect a horse who you met a couple of days ago to trust you'. Glic answers. I go quiet. Glic is a very sensitive horse. I understand what she's trying to do. I munch on my hay.

'Right kiddo!'. Says Sir. I look up. He was staring at me with his head over the door. I look at Glic. She looks at me like my mother used to. I still remember when I wouldn't let my old masters touch. Mother gave me that sharp stare. Glic did the exact sane thing. I felt upset. I guess it's about time I do appreciate what this old gelding is trying to do. 'Yeah I think so'. I say sadly. He looks at me kindly. 'So, you got a big race tomorrow. You'll need some rest. Remember kiddo, don't tire yourself out on the first lap. Stay in the middle and read the hurdles carefully. Listen to Sarah too. She's very experienced. Her mother used to.....never mind!'. Just... Stay safe. It's a long drive. Galway. Good old Galway. Don't forget to enjoy the day. Remember why your there'. Sir says carefully. 'I'm there to raise my price and so I can get more people to bet on me'. I say full of courage. 'Yeah!'. We all look over at the area where that shout came from. Muffin. Muffin has his nose in the air and his mouth open. 'What! Just trying to be supportive.' He says with a smile. I look over at Glic. The two of us just start laughing. Everyone joins in. After laughing our heads off, we quiet down. I lie down in the corner of my stable. It's good to have a laugh with you friends and some sense of humour.

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Hi guys sorry for wait.
School is back and sport is almost done.
I'll try and update as much as I can i between now and the Christmas break.
Good night to ya's all
See ya in the next chapter😄😄😄
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