Training Misstept

Fox’s training for the Preakness Stakes doesn’t go as well as it could’ve... 
Horse: AS Foxfire
Featured: Perseus 

Also, enjoy the story, I tried to make it as funny as I could xD 
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Foxfire had the longest stride of any horse of his bloodline with the exception of his  ancestress, RD’s Devil Wears Prada. This meant it was hard to beat him, his stride allowed him to overtake the pack and most times take first but it came at a price: Fox was prone to tripping or loosing his footing or pace. Unless Amalie could keep his stride in check until the final stretch, he would often take a toumble or loose his rhythm which could threaten to pull him out the race entirely. 

Fox had been falling over his own legs effectively from birth and he’d have Percy instantly yabbering in his ear telling him to get up, and this time was no different. Percy stood at the sidelines as he watched his brother running along the far end of the track and noticed immediately when Fox stopped listenening to Amalies commands. Fox was young, determined and headstrong, he often took to the track with the intent of smashing records. When he reached the last corner he took it too quickly, pushing through his jockeys hand, aiming to break his time. Percy scowled and started trotting, knowing what was about to happen. 

“Slow down! Idiot!” He was ignored as Fox predictably lost his footing and stumbled, panic on his face as he prepared to hit the earth. Percy raced up to him just as the red-headed jockey was thrown onto the dirt. “Remember what you do when you fall! CATCH YOURSELF, DAMNIT!” 

Fox tottered a bit, his back legs out of sync with his forelegs as he struggled to stay up. “But Percy...” 

“No ‘buts’ - head up!” He barked, “Get your feet back under you!” He ordered, growing more worried that Fox might collide with the railing if he didn’t get himself under control. 

“But she’s off...” Fox mumbled, looking back at his human as he fumbled on his feet, feeling defeated. Percy’s sighed heavily and snapped his head at the white racer. 

“Your human’s fine - YOU get your head UP!” He barked, teeth bared at the colt who’s head was still handing. “You won’t fall if you keep your head up.” Percy nodded as Fox lifted his head and with it his body. “Keep your feet under you.” Percy watched as Fox’s balance returned and he took two little bunny hops before seeming to get himself back under control.

“Like this?” Fox asked, finally standing tall again with his legs uninjured. Percy grinned, proud of him for catching himself and not falling. 

“GOOD BOY!” He praised, trotting over with his fluffy tail held high in pride. “Well caught, that coulda gone bad. Now, do us a favour and lean down to my height...” he said and Fox obeyed, lowering his head to Percys height. As soon as he did Percy roared at him. “WHAT THE SWEET HAYLEGE FUDGE POSSESSED YOU TO DO THAT?!” He bellowed, reaching for Fox’s ear and barely missing as Fox snapped his head up and backed away. “Your human was telling you continuously to slow down, reign in the stride but nooooo, Foxfire knows better! He doesn’t need to listen to his jockey!” Percy scolded, stalking towards Fox as the white colt backed up. “How many times do I have to tell ya? Don’t. Take. Corners. At. Full. Speed! Slow down and only open the guns on the final stretch, damn it!” 

“I’m sorry! I didn’t think I’d fall this time! It was going so well, I just wanted to break my record!” Fox squealed, ears back as he tried backing away from the little Shetland. Percy glared murderous daggers at him and Fox trembled.

“You still don’t get it do ya? Well then, I guess I gots ta pound it inta ya!” Percy neighed before charging the Thoroughbred and Fox cried out before taking off again, running towards his jockey who had stood up and was making her way towards them, skidding behind her like a barrel pony and hiding behind her, as though she could protect him from the righteous fury that was an angry Shetland pony.  

-

“He took a fall again, did he?” Freya said as she rubbed an anti-inflammatory cream on her friends’ shoulder. Amalie wasn’t badly hurt but she had maybe pulled the muscle of her right shoulder in the fall. She bemoaned the light injury right before the second instalment of the TC. 

“Yeah... wouldn’t listen to me when I tried to get him to pull up.” She said, hearing Freya hum in understanding. 

“It’s that stride...” Freya sighed, “That’s the problem. Devvie was experienced enough to know how to race but Fox just goes out there and wings it. Recently it looks like the two of you are 50/50 - do you fall or do you not.” 

“I know.” Amalie groaned as she fixed her T-shirt back and tested her sore shoulder before hissing at the throbbing pain. “Damn, right before the Preakness... this’ll be fun.” 

“I’d offer to stand in but I know the answer so, suck it up.” Freya teased, making Amalie smile. 

“Yeah. Still, did you hear about how Percy acted? Gave Fox a better scolding than I could, based on how Fox squealed as though he were being chased by a thousand wasps. That little Shetland could rule the world if he were human, I swear he went after Fox like Pharaoh did Ciri. Fox then spent the next two hours following him around with the biggest sorry eyes I’ve ever seen.”

“That tiny monster is a better trainer than you are. I bet Fox wins because he gets beaten up by Percy if he doesn’t.” Freya snorted at her own joke, falling back on the bed with her phone. 

“Sometimes I worry that Percy bullies him... but Fox loves him to pieces and they grew up together, I don’t think I could separate them... um, Freya? What are you looking at?” Amalie. Shifted round so she could more easily see what her friend was browsing on the screen. 

“Trainer/Coach caps, for Percy. He already has a coach whistle, I’m sure someone out there has made a baseball cap for ponies.” 

Amalie laughed. “Wait, was that you? I was wondering where that came from... you know what, go for it, it’ll be hilarious to hear what people think when they see Percy dressed up as Fox’s trainer.” 

Freya grinned and hit purchase.