Erik watched the two pairs exercise their horses. He waited patiently for them to finish, allowing his mount to slowy canter in long circles. When he was finally able to use the gates, Erik trotted his colt to the gate. A hired hand led the colt into the gate. The black tossed his head nervously. Erik consoled the young horse. A few other horses moved into the training gate. The bell sounded and Erik and the colt started forward. The colt broke awkwardly. He galloped in a broken stride and his ears were back. Erik let the colt run a quarter mile. He pulled the colt to a canter. The colt shook his head. Erik pulled the colt to a halt near the two girls.

Ana yelped as Spirit rose high into the air with a high pitched whistle. She stepped backward on her long black legs, her hooves flying through the air. She snorted, and side stepped as she came down, and bared her teeth at the colt. Ana tried calming her down, and turned her in circles. (Sometimes, I think just typing the whole thing without spaces would be SOOOO much easier.)

Alex flung his head up and shuffled backwards, his ears pinned. Amy felt all his muscles bunch up, ready to flee. She patted his neck. "Shhhh, Alex. it's alright." The stallion snorted and relaxed a little, his eyes on the mare. Amy sighed, keeping Alex away. "Hello." She aid to the boy. "What's your name?"

Ana grunted saying, Sorry, she's kind of hyper, and jumpy today...he startled her. She pat the filly's neck, and talked to her softly, whispering in her ear. She smiled, and rubbed Spirit's neck. Spirit's ears flicked backward, and pinned, but she was listening to Ana's soft cooing. She calmed steadily, and grew interested in the colt. She snorted, stretching her arched black neck forward until her velvet muzzle lightly brushed the colt's neck. Ana pulled her back slightly.

Amy glanced over at Ana and shrugged. "It's alright" She fiddled around with Alex's mane. The stallion leaned forward into the bit, anxious to go and run.

Erik smiled at the filly that was so high strung. He let his eyes go to the bay colt. The horse was very lovely.He then looked to the girls. Do you come to the track often, he asked. He searched the recesses of his mind for memory of the girls.

Amy thought for a moment. "Well I did come here a lot with my Arabian, riptide, but he's more of a trail horse now. i always tried to get a mule racing, but mules are way to stubborn. Now I have Alex," She patted her stallion. "and I am here almost everyday, training." She looked at the others. "How about you?'

Erik smiled. He had remembered hearing about a girl with a mule trying her way at racing. You have done a lot here then, he said looking at Amy, I had been training a bay colt of my own for a while but have since retired him off to stud. Now I get to ride for other people, or at least until my colt grows up a bit. He looked to Ana to see what her response was.

Amy nodded. "It's nice to be in the racing business." Alex was looking down the track, his ears forward as a couple horses galloped along the fence. He leaned forward and whinnied, wanting to go around for another run. Amy patted his neck and shushed him.

Watch Me Fly's ears pricked forward, and she jumped forward, seeing the horses. Ana cooed to her, petting her neck softly, and talking to her. The filly calmed down, and chewed on the bit. Ana said, I come here every few days or so. Spirit is going off to a race this coming Fair. Hoping she'll make it. She pet her filly fondly. She said, the hint of tears clipping her wavering voice, It's a shame my father wants to sell her...

Amy gave Ana a sympathetic smile, feeling sorry. It must be terrible to lose the horses she truly loved. Amy would never forgive herself if she got ride of Zander, never, he was to special to her.

Ana then said, quietly, I suppose I should make the best of our partnership while I can before she's sold and forgets about me..

"I am sure you two will be the best partners." Amy really didn't know what else to say, she had never ever had to be under this predicament. Zander shook his head and stomped his foot. "Wanna all go for a practice race?" She asked them, knowing Zander won't stand much longer.

Ana smled, saying, Watch Me Fly hasn't raced a single race against such good horses. She'll probably loose, since she's quite young as well, but, sure! She'd love the fight. Ana turned her stocky filly toward the rusted gate at the edge of the track. It was going to be painted this afternoon. Might as well use it before the fresh coat was laid on the metal. She remembered when she first moved here, watching them put that thing to sue for the first time. Spirit started, almost instantly, in a flashy trot, sideways slightly, and went straight to the gate. She crawled into the middle hole. Huh, weird.

Zander danced behind the gate for a minute, saw Spirit go in, gave a reluctant snort and went in himself. Amy sat lightly on her butt, ready to rock her weight forward when they took off. The doors shut closed with a squeak and they waited there for a few heartbeats until the front doors swung open.

Zarna saw zander

Zander burst forward, pushing off his powerful back legs to get a quick start. Amy leaned in close, glad of her goggles, as dirt and his mane whipped her face. They thundered along the rail, but not to close because the ground right beside it was all torn up from use.

" Wow...HEY YOU!...Your so cool!"

Spirit came out right beisde Zander. Ana sat statue like on Spirit's back as the filly rocked back and forth, her hooves touching the ground for barely a second as she sped down the track. but stayed in the position. She snorted, and watched with black eyes as the track flashed underneath her hooves.

Zarna walked out to the track trying to not to yell " Zarna try to hold in your yelling"

Spirit's head whipped toward Zarna. Her split second concentration break caused her to fumbled, and almost go down. Her knees bent, and she rocked forward, her back hooves lifting off the ground. She pulled her head back as if she were about to rear, and stayed on her feet, but stopped dead in the middle of the track.