Barrel Racing Beginnings

Cassandra set up the barrels in the arena. It was bigger than she usually used for training, but Metsäpalo tended to turn uncooperative when placed in a smaller one. He’d been a good purchase. Tricky though. He was smart and quick to learn, but he was quick to anger too. He’d already tossed two of her better trainers for one seeming slight or another. That was why she was with him today. 

“Metsäpalo, Älä laita minua likaan.” Cassandra patted his neck, his mane shaved off just as it should be. “I haven’t been tossed in a good while, and I’d like to keep to that.” 

Metsäpalo butted his head against and tried to pull her towards the door. The corral and a pasture could be seen beyond, but the weather was frightful for the training she was intending. It wasn’t raining, but the ground was muddy and wet. Given Metsäpalo hated baths and water in general, she was surprised he was even interested. 

“Myöhemmin, my dear. After training.” Cass pushed back and double checked the cinching of his saddle as his gold-flecked eyes watched her curiously. His bay coat had only grown richer now that he was better cared for, and the roan and pangaré coloring still made her smile. “You’ll like this one. Lupaan.” 

Metsäpalo’s ear flicked at the address. He still responded better to Suleveri, but he was getting more familiar with common as well. It was helpful given only one other trainer in the building spoke Suleveri, and they didn’t get along with Metsäpalo overly well. 

“Alright, Metsäpalo, let’s let you run.” Satisfied the saddle was on tight, Cassandra swung up into the saddle. Metsäpalo danced under her for a moment but then settled. He was better trained than she initially thought, but he certainly needed a firm hand. 

She’d set out three barrels, aiming for the third barrel, she let him start his run. He was reasonably responsive, but refused to shorten his stride as they approached the barrels. Instead, he seemed to have decided the barrels had caused him some kind of personal offense and charged it. He lept it at the last minute, wheeling sharply to trample it, though he stopped as Cassandra pulled hard on the reins. “Hieno hyppy, mutta ei. Not what I was aiming for. Let’s try again, shall we.” 

She guided him back to the start and set him up for the third barrel again. Once he was moving she managed to convince him to angle for the first barrel and shorten his stride. Getting him to stop when even with the barrel was a chore, but he did it. His ears flicked with displeasure and he gave a snort of flame, but he stopped. 

“Hyvä.” Cassandra patted his dark bay neck and set him moving to finish the circle and set him towards the second barrel. Keeping him still for long was never a good option. He enjoyed learning, but grew bored easily. Too bored and something invariably ended up on fire. Much to her surprise, he easily changed leads as they came around the second and headed for the third. 

Metsäpalo took to the task quickly, as he always did. Cassandra guided him back to the start, running the exercise again at the same pace. She turned to head back and run it a third, but the bay bucked under her, swiveling his head to regard her with his gold eyes. 

“Hieno. Yksi kierros.” Cassandra wheeled him away from the barrels, his agility still impressive. Then again. Suleveri Plainstriders were built for that and speed. He was going to be a joy to ride once she’d gotten him properly trained. 

As soon as she gave him a little lead, he was gone, running as fast as he could pick up speed. The walls of the arena flew by quickly as flame flashed from his nostrils, nearly setting a few stray banners on fire. Cassandra made a note to have them taken down later. 

As they came back around, Cassandra pulled the reins and angled him towards the barrels with a touch of her thighs. 

Metsäpalo responded smoothly, taking aim at the third barrel and lowering his head. 

“Shoulders up.” Cass murmured more to herself as she cued him to slow down as she turned him towards the first barrel. She’d have told him, but she was fairly certain Metsäpalo wasn’t listening to her right now. 

He rounded the first barrel at a pace she normally wouldn’t have attempted before at least a week of training, but he did well. The second barrel was where he balked, turning against her commands and rearing in defiance. She didn’t have much time to think as she found herself tossed to the ground. 

Rolling on impact, she came up to a stand quickly. Metsäpalo was capable of jumping the gates if he wanted and him loose in the stables usually meant a quick extinguishing of a few fires or trying to catch whichever other horses he’d let out. The brat had someone figured out how to work the stall doors. 

Instead, she found him regarding her with a look of confusion in his shining gold eyes. Like he was trying to figure out what the hell she was doing down there and why weren’t they running like they were supposed to. Clearly she was supposed to be in the saddle, right? 

Cassandra started laughing as she dusted herself off. She’d be sore later, but for now there was still work to do. Clearly Metsäpalo was enjoying the activity, or he’d have made a break for it or finished setting something on fire. 

“Sanoin, että ei likaa.” Cassandra patted his neck good naturedly and swung back into the saddle. Hitting the dirt was part of things sometimes. She minded less given she didn’t have to try and run him down after. “Okay, let’s try that again.” 

She turned him back to the beginning and let him come closer to setting his own pace. She still pulled him some, not wanting to risk it at a breakneck speed just yet. Metsäpalo was good, but he was still inexperienced and she didn’t want him hurt by taking things too sharply or recklessly. He’d likely do so eventually, but not just yet. Not without at least a few weeks of training. 

This time he managed all three barrels at a moderate rate, his lead change smooth coming around the second. 

Cassandra patted his neck, brushing his coat for a moment before using her thighs and the reins to guide him back around. He was getting better at obeying without the reins but once he was excited he needed the extra control. Still, she was proud of him. “Aina nopea, eikö niin?”

“Okay, let’s go again.” She chuckled as he danced under her, the burst of flame more excitement than annoyance this time. 

This time Metsäpalo was less receptive to her pressure to slow down, though he did so grudgingly just before they made the second barrel. He still managed his lead change, but he almost sent her to the ground again as he damn near sat in protest before leaping forward with a surge of speed any Suleveri Plainstrider would be proud of. 

As they rounded the third barrel, Cassandra pulled him to a stop and dismounted, moving so she could face him head on. “Luulin olevani selvä, etten heitä minua. Behave or we won’t train anymore today. Understood?” 

Metsäpalo regarded her and then tossed his head. She wasn’t entirely sure if it was in understanding or annoyance at being restrained, but she’d planned on running him a few more times anyway. He behaved better after a longer training session, so it was as much for the safety of her stables as his improvement and her enjoyment. 

This time the run went smoothly, only a slight hiccup on his lead change and knocking over the third barrel. He pranced impatiently as she dismounted and righted it, barely waiting for her command before racing for the start. 

The last run she took at a pace faster than she normally would have. Metsäpalo’s energy was apparent as he rounded the first barrel cleanly and raced for the second. He managed the turn with just enough control he could switch his lead, and then raced for the last without a care in the world. He managed the turn easily, but for some reason stopped dead in his tracks immediately after. 

It was an action Cassandra wasn’t prepared for as Metsäpalo stopping was rarely a voluntary action. Unable to compensate, she found herself flung over his head and into the dirt.

Before she could do more than sit up in an effort to figure out just what hurt, Metsäpalo nuzzled her and somehow stole a carrot from her pocket before laying down next to her and chewing on her jacket. He was clearly pleased with himself. 

“Ei likaa, Metsäpaloa. Sanoin, että ei likaa.” Cassandra flicked his nose gently and then leaned back against him, not quite willing to get up yet. “And no, you’re not getting another treat you brat.” 

Metsäpalo snorted a gout of flame at her, more playful than malicious, and laid his head on her lap in an effort to get another carrot. 

“Absolutely not.” Cassandra pushed back and moved to get up, her way blocked by the stallion one again laying his head on her lap. 

This time Metsäpalo didn’t try for a carrot. Instead he gave a contented huff and just laid there, nuzzling and mouthing at her hand as a clear indication he wanted pets. 

“From barrel racing to puppy dogging…” Cassandra shook her head and settled in to stroke his velvety near black nose. “You’ll make a finely trained horse one day, Metsäpalo.”