Hurting

And the year commences!

well sorta as Whirly needs to be done before i can get to the rest of the gang.

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All our racers were well rested after their previous campaigns, all except one.

Whirly had fared badly after the accident in the SAAB last year. After a tense few months the seemingly endless rehabilitation had worked. His back and neck were deemed worthy to bear weight again and it was decided he would be put back into training.

Working him gradually into shape he started with walking before beginning schooling again. Each day his groom would work through the young stallion’s muscles, massaging and using heat and magnet therapy to prevent any reoccurrences of his injury.

He thrived and after dropping the weight he had gained in rehab he gleamed with health and his muscles rippled as he tore around his trainers off the track.

His morning work on the gallops was perfect and he seemed faster and fitter than before the accident. The one problem was he hated, HATED being near other horses.

Nervous about the other horses it was up to his grooms and Geoff to try and work him through his trauma. His work lacked fire and when faced with another horse on the track he stopped dead, ears pinned and head up.

It was during one of his single works that the second accident occurred, nothing that would normally cause such chaos but it lit a fire under everyone’s arse after the ‘boss’ found out.

Disco had been her usual self and managed to bolt from her exercise rider and came screaming up the track before tearing alongside of Whirly. The poor bay flipped and though his rider tried desperately to hold him back the colt reared, thrashing and biting, scraping a decent chunk off Disco’s rump before slamming into the rails and wrenching his neck again.

Heads rolled, well not literally but Geoff lost his cool, and the quiet older man seemed to almost froth at the mouth as he stormed around the barns. The youngster in charge of leading Disco out that morning had been laid off, though with a hefty sum to stop his protests.

Whirly stood, under heat lamps and sedated in the Vet clinic on the property. It took a further 4 weeks to get the colt into good health and numerous swims as well as extensive massage, and magnet therapy seemed to help alleviate the pain.

However he could no longer stand other horses company. He was moved to the empty end of the Vet barn where he was along with his people. Any time he saw horses walking past or in another paddock his ears pinned and he began to shake, if they came closer he lashed out with teeth and hooves.

Geoff was at a loss, and when he finally called Frankie about retiring the youngster from racing she put her foot down. Hanging up the phone she ran into the stud office and thumbed through her notebook before grabbing the phone again and dialling a completely different number.

“Hey TJ, its Frankie from KhanCohban Farm. Yes Spawn is doing amazingly and we can’t wait to see him on the track this year, he seems to have inherited his sire and dams talent. Lucy’s pregnancy is going great and we can’t wait to see the foal, we can send some ultrasounds to you if you want to see how the baby is growing.” She fiddled with the cord as she thought of how to phrase her question.

“TJ, I remember talking to you about your recent acquisition of Heartbreak Ridge and the success the Trainer there has had with horses that have psychological problems... mmhmm... Yes well we have a young stallion that after an accident needs some space and quiet as well as a helping hand to recover. He’s gentle but we don’t have the space or the facilities to help him here and I’m hoping that your Wyatt will be able to do what my team can’t.”
After listening to TJ for a few minutes her face cracked into a giant smile and after a lot more chatting about the colt’s issues and needs it was organised for him to be shipped out to the states.

It was a long trip and after serving his quarantine Whirly was driven to HBR and his new home for the foreseeable future.

The old man in charge of the property greeted the newcomer at the barn. Gruff and quiet he huffed around as he glared towards the energetic woman who bounded from the truck’s cab.

“You must be Wyatt! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Frankie and I flew over to help get this young fella settled into his new home.” She grinned at the man before turning to view the driver lowering the trucks ramp.

The old cowboy grunted and with crossed arms watched the woman skip over to whicker at the shape inside. The shape let out a loud whinny and snorted back as she backed him down the ramp and into the bright Texan sun. Eyes blinking the stallion eyed his new surroundings nervously, ears twitching and tail swishing he pressed against the woman for support.

He was an amazing animal to behold, long legs and a thick barrel with the straight neat head of a thoroughbred he looked fast. His coat shone a rich copper in the sunlight and his black rimmed ears were alert and flickering.

Wyatt became aware he was being watched himself and he turned to find the woman grinning at him. Scowling he stalked off waving her after him and leading the pair into the shade of the barn.

A familiar grey head popped out and happily called to him as Cal snorted a greeting to the arrival.

Whirly’s head went up ears went back and Frankie could feel his muscles tense at the sight of the other horse. The Colt began jittering and jumping pulling back and reversing out into the sunshine.

“He’s going to be a handful that’s for sure!” the cowboy grunted.

“TJ says you’re a miracle worker and believe me I need one right now. This boy needs someone he can trust, and rely on to keep him safe while he recovers himself. We don’t have the space or the right person for the job, I’d do it myself but I’m flat out running the stud as it is. We just want him to live a happy life, he needs a hand to get there” Frankie stroked the slightly calmer Whirly’s cheek as she talked.

Wyatt sighed

“Bloody lunatic women and their conniving ways, you and TJ aren’t allowed to talk ever again!”

Frankie smiled before setting to instructing the disgruntled oldster about Whirly and his ways.

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I hope i got Wyatt and TJ right, i had great fun imagining what poor Wyatt would think of Frankie.

Yep so now to the actual racers this year! fingers crossed Wyatt can work his magic with the colt and allow him to become a stud or if we are extraordinarilly fortunate even race him again!

Wyatt, Cal, TJ and HBR (c) *thunderjam1992