wintry breeze

[Snowflake]

all of GHS's winter cup runners prepare for the big day.

[Snowflake]

JUSTA MUFFIN -- G5 TURF

He moved quietly under saddle, minding me perfectly. I smiled. It would be a shame to sell him on, but perhaps it would be the best thing to do. Some horses didn't do so well in big stables - maybe he was one of them. Still, he had such a sweet disposition, and beautiful paces. He wasn't particularly fast, but he had intelligence that usually served him well in races. He wasn't bulky, just a naturally thin and fit colt. He was muscly, oh yes, but not so much as other colts his age. He was a good height at 16.1 hands high, but he could stand to put on a bit more weight.

I urged him to trot, careful not to apply too much leg. Like any young horse, especially young racehorse, Justin liked to go fast. He often took a leg aid applied too strongly as a command to gallop. But I knew him well, so this wasn't such an issue anymore. We turned through figure eights and circles like always, even zig zagging across the track to warm up. Justin did as he was asked with glad enthusiasm.

We moved on into canter, repeating the same warm up techniques. It took a whole lap of the eight furlong turf track to warm up before we moved into gallop. The bay colt made the transition smoothly, digging in with his well shaped hooves to increase his speed as I had asked. We stayed fairly close to the inside rail, avoiding the slow working horses who moved in the same direction. Most horses at GHS would never pass up an opportunity to race a stable mate; but all the horses had their own special training programs specially designed for their age, grade and level of fitness.

We galloped four furlongs, then I leaned down and urged Justin for a racing gallop. Before we'd been going at a slow pace - now we would really go. Instantly the colt changed gears and surged into a faster gallop, digging in deeper and lengthening his strides, overall increasing his speed and the power of his gallop. Exhilarated, I urged him faster after two furlongs and continued to urge him the whole way to the finish. I then stood in my stirrups and slowed the colt gradually, until we were back down to trot. He seemed a little disgruntled at having to stop so soon - he'd been increasing his speed the whole way down the stretch.

Good boy. I petted his neck as we made our way off the turf Well, you may be a longshotm but I think you have it in you to win. I told him sincerely, leaning forward to scratch behind his ears. He snorted in pleasure at my praise, (or perhaps my scratch) and slowed down enough to let me slip off. I had to hand him to a groom then, since I still had a couple other horses to ride this cold morning.