LJ Idol Week 1- It is hard to beat an (equine) that never gives up.

[fausts_dream]

Into the box again. I was born to run, but I am not a special horse. My sire and dam, mom and dad raced, earned their keep…but without distinction. More eyes than ever on us today. Because of the grey, the Superhorse, Caleb’s Ghost, never beaten, never seriously tested. The rest of us run to try to finish behind him. The little man with the whip, my friend Johnny (he is ordinary too) says, let’s give her a run boy.

I know my master’s daughter is sick, I know I could help, if I could somehow finish in the money. I am a pacesetter, I go out fast and hard, as long as I can. Then against this competition I usually fade, in the lower grades I hang on sometimes. The people around the track call me “game” and “willing” I don’t know what that means, I run because I have never done anything else.

The gate opens, and I fly; I have never gotten out of the gate so fast, so clean. I can’t see behind me, but I feel the gray calmly settling into the front of the pack while the others strain to keep up, he runs effortlessly. Around the first turn I smell the desperation of the jockeys as they frantically try to keep this insane pace, but I feel the grey…..every thundering step “run, run…horse…this is fun”

I am not tired yet, Johnny is caught up in the moment and doesn’t give me any feedback, so I do what I do by instinct, run almost as hard as I can…and hope to build a big enough lead for my inevitable fade. 5 furlongs in, I have built distance from the pack, Johnny is too excited…. he doesn’t feel the gray like I do his hooves beating their siren song “run, run, little horse…let us run forever”. They will put the roses on him, they say, but not today. Today he just has to catch poor little me. His usual jockey isn’t aboard, not for a little race like this. My heart thunders in my chest, so hard it wants to explode I try to keep up as the crowd roars its disbelief.

Too late, the backstretch comes…I taste blood. Finally, Johnny feels the grey, 6 lengths behind. He asks for more with the whip. I have none to give, I give it anyway. Did the new jockey wait too late to ask the grey? Does it matter? Caleb’s Ghost goes, like a cannon shot, ignoring his jockey. 5 lengths, 4. Hooves speak louder than words “I am coming little horse, I am coming”. 3 lengths, 2 “Can you feel me, little horse, you seem tired? I can run forever”. Oh God…is my heart going to explode….my lather has a sickly feel to is as I run in the rhythm of the whip.

There it is! The line! The grey at my side, surging. The line. The flash….

Photo for first. Hold all tickets

Comments

[adoptedwriter]

I love the excitement building up in this!

[sorchawench]

::tears::

The heart, literally the heart of this horse. I've had the pleasure of knowing horses that give their all. Amazing post.

[bellatrixe]

I love this so much. Horses are wonderful creatures <3

[bleodswean]

Oooh, I enjoyed this through this horse's eyes!

[rayaso]

Doing this from the horse's perspective was a great idea, and you gave your horse a lot of personality, especially in such few words. Great job! This was a lot of fun to read.

[the_eternal_overthinker]

I loved the built up , excellent pacing and I was almost holding my breath till the end. Amazing job!

[moretta]

I love the unusual pickup of the prompt! You can feel the tension the whole way through, and you do feel for this poor horse...

[thephantomq]

Go horse go!!

Such a good horse, giving its all like that. :D

[tatdatcm]

Loved this! The build up is great. I'm rooting for the horse and hope the photo goes its way.

[murielle]

Oh! My heart stopped! I hope, I hope, I hope!

Beautiful writing, pacing, story!

Well done!

Great to read you again!

[bewize]

I really enjoyed this, and I especially enjoyed the way that the two horses seemed to understand each other so well.

[wolfden]

There's nothing quite like the heart of a horse. I liked this.

[troof_therry]

I especially love the narrative angle here and the jeering nature of the grey horse, who you made a significant antagonist in such a short span of time. Nicely done.

[favoritebean_writes]

This was such a suspenseful read. Nicely done!

[dmousey]

Loved this, and loved the fact that you gave us Schroedinger's horse for the ending. Did he or didn't he finish first? Well done! ✌💕😊

[halfshellvenus]

Oh, I really enjoyed this-- feeling for the little horse that for once held onto going the distance and might-- just might-- have finally one. Such spirit!

[flipflop_diva]

Oh my gosh, I loved this! The set up, the build up, the excitement and anticipation ... and having it all be from the POV of the little horse. Love, love, love!

[alycewilson]

You captured the excitement of this moment very well. I hope he won!