October Story Contest
Another Racehorse Story part 2 part 1
By: Kaitlin2010
Age: 10
Chapter One: Update
All-American Rocket is almost two years old now, so he is going to be getting ready for race track training pretty soon.
He has grown a lot since the last story. He is almost 16.3, so I am like an ant to him now!!!
He is turning out to be so beautiful! His stripe has shrunken and his coat is now a shiny bright chestnut color, oh, and all the socks on his legs are the same height, I mean he looks like a model!
He has a pretty good attitude; he doesn’t get scared of hardly anything, he is cooperative when he has his bridle on, he obeys almost every command you tell him to do, I even taught him to pick up my backpack!!!
John Peterson, one of my dad’s boss’s jockeys, has been riding Rocket for a couple of weeks, but they haven’t gone on the race track yet, because my dad says Rocket isn’t ready, but I think he is!
My dad has been getting Rocket ready for the race track and all the stuff at the race track, like the horns and noises at the race track, and the horn that signals that the race is starting, and the big hats that the ladies wear at the races, I have been the volunteer for wearing the hats, it’s fun!
My dad and I are going to put Rocket on the long line for training today, and I am going to get to ride him for the first time ever!!!
Well, I better get ready for the long day ahead of me, bye!
Chapter Two: Training Begins
As I walked outside I saw my dad standing next to Rocket adjusting his girth. I walked up to them and patted Rocket’s neck. Rocket turned and looked at me, then in reply he nickered softly.
My dad turned and looked at me, then said, “Hey, can you hand me that whip over there on the mounting block?”
I looked over my shoulder and saw a whip sitting on the mounting block, so I walked over there and grabbed the whip, then took it to my dad.
“Thanks, Kaitlin, now lets get started on training, here,” My dad handed me Rocket’s lead rope,” I am going to go get the long line from the tack room. I want you to take Rocket to the field, okay?”
“Okay dad, whatever you say!” I pulled on Rocket’s lead and clucked for him to walk on.
On the way to the field we passed a couple of pastures. In them held some famous race horses, like Grindstone, she won the 1996 Kentucky Derby, and Victory Gallop won the 1998 Belmont Stakes.
When we got to the training field, I walked Rocket in circles while waiting for my dad.
Then when my dad got there we started out by first warming up Rocket. Next we trotted him in circles around the field, and then we cantered him.
My dad looked at me and then said,” Kaitlin, can you get that riding helmet over there on the ground?”
I grinned ear to ear,” YEEEEEEEES!!!!! I can ride him, I can really ride Rocket?” I burst over to the helmet and quickly put it on.
Then I quickly walked over to my dad and Rocket and my dad helped me onto Rocket. When I go onto Rocket it felt like I was on an elephant, I mean, he was sooooo tall!
I grabbed onto Rocket’s mane and held on while my dad led him on the lead. My dad asked me if I wanted to canter him, and of course I said yes!!!
So my dad stringed the lead through the halter to make a bit for Rocket, then he handed the lead/ reins to me. I put my heels down in the stirrups, looked forward, pushed my hands toward Rocket’s neck, got into 2-piont, and shoved my heels into Rocket’s stomach. Rocket bolted forward into a fast canter, I almost lost control but then gained it. Since there was a big jump ahead, I turned Rocket, but he refused, so I tried again, he still refused, then I shoved my left leg into his side and pulled on his right rein to make him turn, but he STIILL refused! So finally, I sat down in the saddle as far as I could and pulled on the reins to make him halt. When he didn’t respond, I knew this was a serious situation, so I got into 2-piont, and went along with him. Rocket had never seen a jump, let alone jump one, so I was worried!
Chapter Three: The Accident
Rocket and I were headed straight for the 4 ft. jump; Rocket had never even seen a jump, so I was very worried that something would go wrong.
When we were about 3 feet away from the jump, Rocket bolted into a fast gallop! I hung on as tight as I could while my dad was yelling in horror from the background, I couldn’t do anything to stop Rocket. I could see Rocket’s ears perk up when we reached the jump, I think he was trying to do this to us, I don’t know why though. We reached the jump. Rocket pushed with his back feet, the whole front half of his body was in the air mid-way over the jump. His legs were bent as far as they could go. My foot came out of the stirrup and I got scared. Rocket must have sensed me getting scared because his ears went back and he also looked scared. Then, the worst possible thing happened. I fell off when Rocket tripped over the jump; I hit the standard and went unconscious. All I saw before I hit the standard was Rocket hitting the ground.
....... To Be Continued
The EndP.s In the next story you will see what happens to Rocket and… well…. me! Will we be okay? I hope you liked this story and will vote for it. The part three of Another Race Horse Story will be in the next story contest! Oh, and the two pictures of the chestnut horse is what I think Rocket looks like.
Your Friends, Kaitlin2010, Spots, Spirit and Zoe :D