Nova

gate work failure

" Alexandra get Nova under control" Willifred snaps at me. " you want to come try getting him in the gate Willifred?" I snap as said out of control colt throws his head. " I don't think he's going in there" Jack calls from the rail. " maybe we're approaching this the wrong way what does he see?" Anna suggests from atop Nova. " a big metal starting gate" I tell her sarcastically. " No silly horses see things differently" Anna tells me. I roll my eyes and turn so I'm facing the same direction as Nova. Confinement and distrust. " he sees confinement and Anna get off." I tell the three. " thanks bud I think I get why your scared" I tell Nova as I hand the reins to Anna. " Alexandra what are you doing?" Willifred asks me as I start unsaddleing Nova. " whenever I take him on trails I ride him bareback he's more relaxed that way. " I tell the trainer and true to my word as soon as I undo the girth Nova visually relaxs. I walk over to the rail and hand the saddle to Jack. " here take this" Anna tells me as she hands me her helmet. I strap it on as Willifred takes hold of Nova's bridle and Anna gives me a leg up. " what now horse whisper ?" Jack calls from the rail. I ignore him and focus on the thousand pound nearly five feet tall animal under me. " can you open up the front of the gate?" I ask as Willifred nods. " good do that I'm going to take him to the backstretch and work off his never's" I tell the trainer as I turn Nova around. " do I want to know Alexandra?" Lilac asks me as she comes cantering over on another two year old sired by California Chrome named Pacific Chrome or Pacific for short. " what do you mean Lilac?" I ask her as Nova slows to a walk allowing Lilac on Pacific to catch up. " oh let's see your supposed to be gate training him instead your riding him bareback" Lilac tells me. " he still can barely tolerate a saddle and he's definitely more relaxed bareback." I tell her. " whatever Willifred wants you back and my dad's here with some potential shareholders for another two year old as well as a couple other trainers so please behave and pretend to be sane Alexandra" Lilac tells me. " I am sane and are we going or not?" I ask her as I urge Nova into a canter. " Easy Nova your okay" I tell the large dark bay as I hold the reins in one hand and reach up with the other to rub his neck in a attempt to calm him as Anna leads us towards the starting gate. Ten feet away from the gate Nova rears up and lashes out with his forelegs. Anna barely has time to lift her arm over her face for protection before Nova's dark hoof crashes into her arm throwing my cousin backward. " Easy Nova" I tell the neverous colt as I calm him down. As soon as I'm sure Nova's calm I dismount him and throw the reins over his head. " you okay Anna?" I ask my cousin who's leaning on Lilac.