Chapter 237 – Joining Up
Doug texted his mother about the join ups and suggested that she bring Elizabeth down to watch. As it turned out, Trish, Frank, Lee and Elizabeth all decided to come down and watch. Gran had said that she would stay in the house and make sure everything else was ready.
Jack had been right, the girls joining up with the horses had drawn a bit of crowd. Marco made sure everyone knew that they had to stay off the railings of the round pens, but were more than welcome to watch. Nathan had Opal and was explaining things to her. Frank and Lee had taken it upon themselves to explain to Elizabeth about the join up and what they were looking for. Trish was a nervous wreck standing with Doug. She knew that her girls were capable, but watching them alone in a round pen with a thousand pound animal that they are running around is a bit nerve wracking. The nice thing was that Doug was astute enough to know that his mother was nervous, so he stayed close and was reassuring to her.
Missy and Bubbles seemed to be fairing a bit better than Maddie and Squeak. Squeak was being a bit of a problem and not wanting to listen to Maddie.
"Bring him in." Marco called, to Maddie.
Maddie did what Marco said and brought Squeak to a stop and stood in front of the horse.
"Use your hands to move him." Marco called out. "Show him what you want and that you are the boss."
Maddie stepped forward, right in front of the horse.
"Back Bubbles." Maddie said.
While she said back she gently put her hands on his chest and leaned in. The horse immediately took a couple steps back.
"Good." Marco called. "Turn him in a circle, push him around you from the side. You know this. Show him who is boss. Go around to the left first."
Maddie stepped to the right side of the horse, put her hands on the horse and gently pushed him around her. It took Bubbles just a second to realize what Maddie wanted and then responded. Once she got him to turn to the left, she then turned him to the right, by moving to the other side of the horse. Once spinning the horse both ways, Maddie went back to stand in front of the horse.
"Very good, Maddie." Marco called out. "See if you can muscle him into a spin."
Maddie walked over and with her back to the horse, she grabbed his bridle and tried to pull him around. Bubbles started to balk.
"Slow down." Marco called.
"Let him keep you in sight." Doug called.
Maddie let up the pressure and let the Bubbles turn his head to watch her. She then grabbed his bridle and muscled him into a spin around her.
"Very good Maddie." Doug called.
"Send him back out." Marco called.
Maddie picked up the lead rope, started spinning it and it sent Bubbles back out to the edge of the pen.
"Get him moving." Doug called.
Maddie got Bubbles moving around the edge of the pen.
As they approached the track, Father Mark could tell that Jack was focused. He could also feel the tension, because he knew that Jack was going to get push back from their grandfather and probably the vet.
Father Mark looked over and saw the determination on Jack's face. He knew that all he could do in the moment was say a prayer because Jack wasn't going to listen. As they pulled up to the thoroughbred stable, Father Mark could see his grandfather, Manny and several others in a semi-heated conversation. Jack jumped from the side by side and immediately went to the group, pulling his flak jacket and helmet on. Father Mark finished parking the side by side and went to where his grandfather and Jack were.
"Yes or no." Jack said. "Is the horse physically sound?"
"Yes." Dr Matthews said. "But there is more to that. We don't know how he is going to react to being ridden or to the track."
"Which is why I should be the one that rides him." Jack said.
"Jack." James said.
"No Grandpa." Jack said. "I am the owner of that horse. I have spent time with the horse, he knows me. Also you also say to never ask an employee to do something that you wouldn't do yourself."
"You are not a licensed jockey." Dr Matthews argued.
"I don't plan on running him full out." Jack said. "I also don't plan on starting him from the gate. Besides, I have my assistant trainer's license and I am working toward my jockey license. It is also not the first time that I have ridden Midnight."
"John is going to kill me if anything happens to you." James said.
"No he won't." Jack said. "Besides, this is Thornton Inc property and that is a Thornton Thoroughbred horse registered to me. It is my call."
James sighed. Father Mark put his hand on his grandfather's shoulder.
"I will watch over him." Father Mark said.
Father Mark turned to a hand.
"Saddle me a thoroughbred, I will be an outrider on the track while he runs." Father Mark said.
"I will grab you a helmet and flak jacket." Manny said. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." Father Mark said. "You know that I can ride and I am probably the only one that Jack will listen to right now."
Manny nodded.
"I don't need an outrider." Jack said.
"No one is going to ride on this track again without outriders again." James said.
"Fine." Jack huffed.
Jack turned from his grandfather, Father Mark and Manny. He stocked off toward Midnight's stall. He stopped and took a deep breath and slowly blew it out before stepping in front of Midnight's stall and putting his hand out.
"Keep up the pressure." Marco called.
Maddie kept Bubbles moving at a good clip.
"Turn him again." Doug called.
Maddie moved so the Bubbles had to turn and move the other way. She sent him around about three times.
"Turn him again." Marco called. "Get in his face. You can't let up or he won't listen later."
Maddie kept Bubbles moving and turned him at random.
"He is starting to falter." Doug said. "Come on, turn him again."
"You got this." Marco called. "Watch for the signs."
Bubbles was kicking up dirt every time he was turned. Maddie was getting frustrated. She threw the lead rope to the ground and was using her voice and arms more. After a few more minutes, Bubbles was clicking, huffing and licking his mouth. Yet his eyes never left Maddie.
"We are almost there." Doug said.
"One more time around, fast." Marco called. "Then turn away from him."
Maddie did as she was told. After pushing Bubbles around two more times faster then she had before, she stopped and turned from the horses. Maddie was so spent that when she turned and tried to stand still, she faltered and fell to her knees. It only took Bubbles a few seconds of huffing and puffing before he slowly trod over to Maddie, leaned down and nudged her shoulder. Maddie was crying when she reached up to pet Bubbles muzzle. Using the bridle and the weight of the horse, Maddie was able to lift herself up to standing again. She hugged her mount and was cooing to him.
"Good job Maddie." Trish called out.
"Very well done." Marco called.
Maddie led Bubbles over to the edge of the pen. Doug was there immediately.
"Let's get you both some water." Doug said. "We will cool him off with a quick bath and then you can ride him for a bit."
Doug led Maddie and Bubbles over toward the stable. Immediately, hands were there with sponges and were bathing the horse down. They also had a bucket of water for him to drink. Someone handed Maddie a small Gatorade and someone else produced a small chair to sit in the shade.
After Maddie had sat down, Missy was at her side. She wrapped her sister in her arms and was whispering in her ear. Maddie turned in her sister's arms and they were forehead to forehead. They were whispering back and forth to each other. Doug couldn't make out what they were saying, but it didn't matter, it was between them.
After a few moments, Marco came over and started checking the horse.
"Maddie." Marco called.
Maddie stood up and looked at her trainer.
"Come check over him with me." Marco said.
Maddie walked over and started checking the horse's legs, following the same path that her trainer was doing. Once they had checked the horse, Marco stood up and looked at both girls.
"Very well done." Marco said.
"Thank you." Maddie said.
"How was Squeak?" Marco asked, looking at Missy.
"Much easier." Missy said. "He followed him right away. It didn't take long. I stood and watched the last twenty, twenty-five minutes of Maddie's efforts."
"Very good." Marco said. "I know that Jack wanted you both to ride both. But at this moment, I want you to each only deal with your current mount until after the show here. Then we will switch and see if they will take to each other."
"Yes, Sir." The girls said.
"Very good." Marco said. "Why don't you each take a short ride around the ranch and then get a workout in. I understand Maddie if you don't do a full workout."
"Thank you." Maddie said.
"Can we ride together?" Missy asked.
"Sure." Marco said. "Take about twenty minutes to ride. I want you to spend time with the horses this afternoon. Even if it is just brushing them down or sitting in the meadow with them. If you are going to sit with them, put them in separate paddocks."
"Yes, Sir." Maddie said.
The girls moved to take their mounts for a quick trail ride.
Jack spent a little time checking over Midnight. Finally he left him in his stall and then went over to the tack room. He not only grabbed a saddle, but he also grabbed a hood with three quarter blinkers, removing the left one. He wanted Midnight to see the rail. He was going to run him as close to the rail as he felt he could and without Midnight reacting. Jack put the blinker cup back in and rethought it his plan and chose a second option.
Once Jack had Midnight tacked up, he talked a couple of hands. Jack wanted a temporary railing set out. He wanted to push Midnight toward the rail and not let him run toward the middle of the track. Once he explained to the hands what he wanted, he walked over to the outer railing with Midnight. Jack didn't have to look over to know that Father Mark was standing there watching him and that he also wanted to say something.
"Just say it." Jack said.
"Elizabeth is going to kill us if you get hurt." Father Mark said.
"I am not going to get hurt." Jack said. "Midnight will be fine. I am going to breeze him with the blinker cups first and then we are going to move the temporary railing onto the track down both stretches. I will breeze Midnight again this time without the blinker cups."
"Are you sure that will work?" Father Mark asked.
"He needs to learn to run against the rail without reacting." Jack said. "If we do this several times, he will learn that the rail is nothing to fear. He is young and I feel that he can get past this. I know that blinker cups are allowed, but I honestly would love to try and run him without them. We can always put them back."
"I see your logic." Father Mark said. "Let me go talk to Grandpa and then get up on my mount. I still feel better with myself being out there if something happens."
"Fine." Jack said. "Nothing is going to happen, but if it makes you feel better then go for it."
Father Mark patted Jack on the back and then walked away to speak to his grandfather.
While Father Mark had gone to talk to his grandfather, Jack gave Midnight some attention and got him warmed up just a bit. It was about ten minutes later and Father Mark was back. Jack stopped and walked Midnight over to Father Mark.
"Twice around." Father Mark said. "Max three quarters extension. If any outrider sees anything and calls for a stop, you listen."
"Fine." Jack said.