"He doesn't need rest, Sir! He needs to run! If you don't let him out a little, he'll be impossible to handle on the big day." said the old, wiry jockey. As if in response, the fiery young stallion snorted, and half reared.
The lanky young trainer frowned. After several seconds he spoke, in a low, dangerous voice. "Listen, Charlie. I'm the trainer. I don't try to do your job, do I? You ride, I train."
The old jockey nodded, and turned away to lead his charge back to the stables. "I've seen his type too many times, Sunny. Just won't listen to what those of us who have been around horses for decades tries to tell him. It's like he has the chance of a lifetime with a horse like you... And he has access to the knowledge of some of the best trainers and jockeys alive today. But poor Greg just can't tune in enough to get the message." he confided mournfully to the magnificent racehorse.
Charlie watched how the fractious animal tried to shove the stable boy who was wiping him down. "Best move that pail of water. He's aiming to send it flying." chuckled Charlie, just seconds before the pail hit the wall with a bang. Water flew everywhere, soaking the horse and the boy.
The day of Sunny's first race:
"HOLD HIM!!!" roared the trainer, as Sunny reared and bucked while three men tried to unload him from a large horse trailer. After a long struggle, the horse was finally in the stall.
"I don't like this, Sir. That horse is going to give us trouble at the starting line." Charlie said, hoping against hope that for once, Greg would listen.
"That's why you get paid the big bucks. Just do your job, and everything will be fine. He's ready to go! I'll lead him to the starting line myself, we'll meet you there." declared the young man proudly.
As Greg led Sunny past the cheering crowd, he reared. Unwisely, the young trainer wrapped the lead around his hand, and attempted to pull him down to all fours. "Whoa! Easy, Sunny." soothed Greg.
Instead of calming the horse, it agitated him. He turned and bolted, going down the track the wrong way. Although terrified, Greg was unable to let go, due to having the lead wrapped around his hand.
Four track attendants rushed out on horseback, and captured the nervous animal. All five men escorted the stallion to the starting line. "What's this?" asked Greg, as he saw a small trickle of blood, while carefully checking Sunny.
"Can we get a vet over here?" requested the trainer, worried. Seconds later, a kindly young lady was gently examining the horse's legs.
"He will be fine, but needs to rest for at least a month." she informed him.
Two months later:
"Are we all set, Charlie?" asked Greg.
"Greg, I've never seen him more ready!" beamed the older man.
"It's like night and day..." marveled Greg, as he watched a single stable hand lead an alert but calm Sunny from his trailer.
"You want to ride him out, Charlie?" asked Greg.
"Sure thing! And I'd be happy to have you at our side." he replied, grinning.
After the race:
"Congratulations, Charlie! You and Sunny broke the track record!" exclaimed Greg happily.
"We all did, congratulations to you too!" said Charlie happily. Both men watched proudly as Sunny was presented with a beautiful wreath of white flowers. After the short ceremony, it was time to return to the stables, and prepare to go home.
"Ain't it a beautiful thing when horse, rider, and trainer are all on the same wavelength?" Charlie whispered into the golden ear of the contented horse, as he led him off of the track.
Cover image made in Canva using their gallery