FIRECRACKER
When Sammie wasn’t on the track racing Breeders Cup horses, she was back at Firestone working with one certain black filly who was too energetic for her own good. Hellfire was her name, and boy did it sure fit. Flame was a little bit… spirited. She was known for breaking free of her stall and occasionally breaking into other paddocks, terrorizing the other horses as if it was her day job. It was all fun and games until she got in a lot of trouble, which she tended to avoid somehow. Alongside stablemate Fire Goddess and James, it was Sammie’s turn to show the black firecracker at the Yearling show after all BC races were run. She had noticed that Fancy was a darker shade than normal; James had probably given her a bath after their little track miracle. Sammie could only pray that Flame would be nearly as well behaved as the small chestnut was.
The barn was quiet and all horses were still inside. Flame had her head sticking out of the top of her door, mouth at work on the metal latch.
“Hey! Stop that,” Sammie shouted at the horse, who jerked up with a guilty look on her face. Flame bobbed her head up and down, flapping her upper lip in amusement. Sammie smiled and shook her head at the filly, her eyes gleaming in excitement. Grabbing the filly’s halter from the rack, Sammie slipped inside her stall, fastening the buckle under her throat. With the chain over her nose, the short girl led the horse into the cross ties. With Flame attached to the wall, Sammie set out on a mission to brush the horse before tacking her up. Of course, Flame could not stop moving and started chewing at the cross ties. Sammie sighed, giving her a light tap on the shoulder to warn her to stop dancing around. Of course, Flame wasn’t doing it out of anger or anxiety, it was simply the horse had too much energy to contain.
Flame’s coat was shining bright after Sammie was done with it, and it was time for the tack up. Flame would normally wear blinkers, but for gate practice today she would have them off. Her leg wraps were all red, which certainly stood out on her dark coat. It was time for the big test. The test that Fire Goddess seemed to pass with ease – but that was without a rider. She had watched James and Fancy work together mounted around the gates, so the chestnut horse would be fine when it came to the Yearling show.
Carter walked into the barn just as Sammie finished adjusting the bridle. The white synthetic leather popped due to the contrast of the filly’s dark coat, and she looked mighty regal. Her head was held high, ears perked and eyes shining; she definitely took after both parents in the looks department.
“Ready to mount?” Carter’s voice rang through the barn. The blonde girl nodded as they made their way outside with Flame. This was the first test, and they were hoping she would take is as well as she has been lately. With one hand on the reins, Carter picked up Sammie’s foot and hoisted her into the saddle. Flame spooked at the sudden choice of movement, but Sammie was quick to think and stayed seated, stroking the black neck of the beast. Flame shook her head in confusion, tossing her mane back and forth.
“Don’t worry little girl, it’s all a part of growing up.” Sammie whispered to the black filly, who swivelled her ears to listen to the girl’s words. It was track time. The trio made their way to the dirt track fairly quickly, Flame’s long strides eating up the ground in a walk. Her expression was excited and alert, curious as to what they were going to do today. Terror Smile was waiting at the entrance of the track, tacked up in track pony gear. One of the grooms was tightening her girth as they walked up to the seasoned veteran. Carter led them onto the track and handed them over to the groom once they arrived and was handed Smiles. He mounted, fastening his helmet and rode over to the yearling. Flame pinned her ears back in confusion, but the mare wasn’t afraid to send a nip on the neck back. Carter was handed the lead to Flame as they made their way around the track. Flame would have to get used to a lead pony come race season, and she seemed to take it quite well.
They started trotting as Smiles cantered beside them, but Flame’s long, lanky legs kept up with the gray horse in a trot. Sammie posted with her stride, adjusting to the choppiness of the yearling. For a while they just trotted around, changing directions and making it fun for the horse. Next week’s training session would be working on lead changes around turns. Today was gate training – one of the hardest things possible.
Arriving near the gates, Flame instantly slowed down. Her eyes were set on the huge contraption, nostrils flaring. Bringing the horses down to a walk, Carter led the young horse over to the gates. Flame stuck to Smiles’ side like glue, which the mare flattened her ears at. After a few times of walking around the gate both directions, it was time for the real test. Sammie patted and cooed to the horse, who was starting to settle down at the sight of the metal box. Carter dismounted the horse and handed her over to the groom, who had followed them over to the gates. Smiles was kept in front of the gates just for encouragement. Carter took a hold of the reins and led them back to the entrance of the gates. Flame balked, and Sammie kissed and clucked to the black filly. She was hesitant, but followed Carter anyways. She sniffed at the back doors, snorting at the weird thing. Sammie stroked her neck.
“C’mon Flame. You can do it…” Sammie cooed. Flame’s ears were flicking back and forth, processing her words. Carter tugged at her again, encouraging her to move forwards. Both sets of doors were open and all they wanted to do was get her through. Smiles stood a few feet away, watching the black horse like a hawk. Step by step, Flame inched closer and closer inside the spooky contraption. It may have taken her five minutes to completely pass through, but she did it. Sammie praised the horse and stroked her neck. Flame tossed her head as if to say ‘hey look what I did!’
Twenty minutes passed and they had managed to work on everything Fancy had done. They closed the front shutters, the back shutters, walked her in and out, and even closed both shutters on the horse. Each task that was presented to the yearling, she took it like a champ. There were a few rough spots where Flame had decided that she had never seen the darn thing before, but they had worked through it and Sammie was proud.
The barn was quiet and all horses were still inside. Flame had her head sticking out of the top of her door, mouth at work on the metal latch.
“Hey! Stop that,” Sammie shouted at the horse, who jerked up with a guilty look on her face. Flame bobbed her head up and down, flapping her upper lip in amusement. Sammie smiled and shook her head at the filly, her eyes gleaming in excitement. Grabbing the filly’s halter from the rack, Sammie slipped inside her stall, fastening the buckle under her throat. With the chain over her nose, the short girl led the horse into the cross ties. With Flame attached to the wall, Sammie set out on a mission to brush the horse before tacking her up. Of course, Flame could not stop moving and started chewing at the cross ties. Sammie sighed, giving her a light tap on the shoulder to warn her to stop dancing around. Of course, Flame wasn’t doing it out of anger or anxiety, it was simply the horse had too much energy to contain.
Flame’s coat was shining bright after Sammie was done with it, and it was time for the tack up. Flame would normally wear blinkers, but for gate practice today she would have them off. Her leg wraps were all red, which certainly stood out on her dark coat. It was time for the big test. The test that Fire Goddess seemed to pass with ease – but that was without a rider. She had watched James and Fancy work together mounted around the gates, so the chestnut horse would be fine when it came to the Yearling show.
Carter walked into the barn just as Sammie finished adjusting the bridle. The white synthetic leather popped due to the contrast of the filly’s dark coat, and she looked mighty regal. Her head was held high, ears perked and eyes shining; she definitely took after both parents in the looks department.
“Ready to mount?” Carter’s voice rang through the barn. The blonde girl nodded as they made their way outside with Flame. This was the first test, and they were hoping she would take is as well as she has been lately. With one hand on the reins, Carter picked up Sammie’s foot and hoisted her into the saddle. Flame spooked at the sudden choice of movement, but Sammie was quick to think and stayed seated, stroking the black neck of the beast. Flame shook her head in confusion, tossing her mane back and forth.
“Don’t worry little girl, it’s all a part of growing up.” Sammie whispered to the black filly, who swivelled her ears to listen to the girl’s words. It was track time. The trio made their way to the dirt track fairly quickly, Flame’s long strides eating up the ground in a walk. Her expression was excited and alert, curious as to what they were going to do today. Terror Smile was waiting at the entrance of the track, tacked up in track pony gear. One of the grooms was tightening her girth as they walked up to the seasoned veteran. Carter led them onto the track and handed them over to the groom once they arrived and was handed Smiles. He mounted, fastening his helmet and rode over to the yearling. Flame pinned her ears back in confusion, but the mare wasn’t afraid to send a nip on the neck back. Carter was handed the lead to Flame as they made their way around the track. Flame would have to get used to a lead pony come race season, and she seemed to take it quite well.
They started trotting as Smiles cantered beside them, but Flame’s long, lanky legs kept up with the gray horse in a trot. Sammie posted with her stride, adjusting to the choppiness of the yearling. For a while they just trotted around, changing directions and making it fun for the horse. Next week’s training session would be working on lead changes around turns. Today was gate training – one of the hardest things possible.
Arriving near the gates, Flame instantly slowed down. Her eyes were set on the huge contraption, nostrils flaring. Bringing the horses down to a walk, Carter led the young horse over to the gates. Flame stuck to Smiles’ side like glue, which the mare flattened her ears at. After a few times of walking around the gate both directions, it was time for the real test. Sammie patted and cooed to the horse, who was starting to settle down at the sight of the metal box. Carter dismounted the horse and handed her over to the groom, who had followed them over to the gates. Smiles was kept in front of the gates just for encouragement. Carter took a hold of the reins and led them back to the entrance of the gates. Flame balked, and Sammie kissed and clucked to the black filly. She was hesitant, but followed Carter anyways. She sniffed at the back doors, snorting at the weird thing. Sammie stroked her neck.
“C’mon Flame. You can do it…” Sammie cooed. Flame’s ears were flicking back and forth, processing her words. Carter tugged at her again, encouraging her to move forwards. Both sets of doors were open and all they wanted to do was get her through. Smiles stood a few feet away, watching the black horse like a hawk. Step by step, Flame inched closer and closer inside the spooky contraption. It may have taken her five minutes to completely pass through, but she did it. Sammie praised the horse and stroked her neck. Flame tossed her head as if to say ‘hey look what I did!’
Twenty minutes passed and they had managed to work on everything Fancy had done. They closed the front shutters, the back shutters, walked her in and out, and even closed both shutters on the horse. Each task that was presented to the yearling, she took it like a champ. There were a few rough spots where Flame had decided that she had never seen the darn thing before, but they had worked through it and Sammie was proud.