Category Archives: A Bruno Story

Taking Stock

Posted on by
1
Bruno saying (as he nudges him along) be my new friend pleassse!

Bruno saying (as he nudges him along) be my new friend pleassse!

Oh, Mickey, Mickey, you look so thrilled!

Oh, Mickey, Mickey, you look so thrilled!

The latest of the icy, cold weather has moved on. With bad weather issues, dominating our thoughts and actions, we haven’t had much time to just take stock of what we have going on.

Lauren and Feather, still a little banged and bruised from the fall last week, headed to Katy Wednesday for the start of our rated horse show.  Wednesday afternoon, the pair easily flew over a 4’3″ jump, arguably the highest they had ever jumped together. I missed the competition Thursday but they had two classes and one blue ribbon.  Way to start it out.

Yesterday, Kona and I went along to watch.  I fully and totally expected them to fly easily over jumps.  They pulled a rail at the second jump and Lauren struggled to get back on track.  It was a messy round.  Feather got in too deep at a big oxer and literally went right thru it.  And it got a little worse before she finished the class.  We scratched her next entry.  Today would offer new choices.

Very early this morning, I told Lauren I had been up all night with the flu.  A slight exaggeration, perhaps.  I had not gotten much sleep but definitely was not feeling the go to the horse show pull.  It was the go back to bed pull.  So I chose that and awakened about noon.

I let Bruno out with Mickey for a change.  Bruno liked his pal Mickey!  What fun to have the disgruntled guy play with you even with Mickey’s ears back and tail swishing.

Bruno headed to the back pasture and Kona went along to be sure he was safe.  Then I heard a roar from the pasture.  Kona and Bruno were headed straight the barn.  He is a fast horse!

Sometimes all a guy needs is a field of clover.

Sometimes all a guy needs is a field of clover.

Lauren did better at the show today.  Horse and rider in sync.  Wonder what effect I will being there tomorrow?. I hope I get to see a glorious ride.

Genetics-A Bruno story

Posted on by
2
Bruno is the summer, a little lighter than his winter black coat.

Bruno in the summer, a little lighter than his winter black coat.

Jump Start, Bruno's daddy.

Jump Start, Bruno’s daddy.

I decided this weekend to search for Bruno’s relatives.  I found his sire (daddy) Jump Start still actively producing successful off-spring in Pennsylvania.  Jump Start by AP Indy has many race winning progeny on the tracks now.  I was not so interested in Bruno’s half brothers or sisters as I was in what Jump Start looked like and the pictures did not disappoint me.

Jump Start is 15 and never had to do much work after five starts on the track, and a fracture that ended his career.  We can rule-out that he ever lived in a metal, open-front barn in rural Texas.  So, I can give him that he has had superb care to produce his stunning coat and he has been a great breeding stallion.

Jump Start parading past his throngs of visitors.

Jump Start parading past his throngs of visitors.

We have had a lot of people (okay, maybe 12!) come have their picture taken with Bruno.  I would be frightened and call the police if I saw this pack of people lined up outside Bruno’s paddock.  Once, our neighbors grandkids from Spain came over to give Bruno carrots.  Similar lives.

I tried in vain to find out how tall Jump Start is but I couldn’t locate that data.  Maybe one of you has more investigative skills than I can find out and can let us know.  But unless the man above is a former NBA player turned groom (most of whom tend to be a little small in structure) I think Jump Start is probably just over 16 hands.  He clearly does not have the size his son Bruno does at 17.2+ hands, but that happens in families, kids getting taller and stronger than their fathers.

Looking at the two top pictures, Jump Start blessed Bruno with his strong shoulder and nice hip.  I have never owned a horse whose coat glistens like Bruno, but it looks like Jump Start sent those genes to Bruno as well. I swear I should get an endorsement deal from Nu Image supplement that we use for Bruno’s hoof and coat because never has a product worked as well as did for Bruno!  I know that helps some, but this coat is shared by both horses.

Bruno showing off his gleaming winter coat this weekend.

Bruno showing off his gleaming winter coat this weekend.

Personality seems to be apparent in Jump Start and we know that Bruno is the biggest ham, always playing to the camera and wanting to just hang out with any people who come to visit.

Jump Start looking brillant and attractive for the camera.

Jump Start looking brilliant and attractive for the camera.

Bruno waiting for his littlest fan, Kendyll.

Bruno waiting for his littlest fan, Kendyll.

I looked up some of the horses that Jump Start has sired. He has been a busy guy.  At stud a little over ten years, he has hundreds of children!  Bruno’s Jockey Club name is Fiddler’s Pilgrim, related I am sure to the Fiddler’s Green Stable that owned him and his pilgrim-like markings (black outfit, white socks-come on, you can visualize Bruno as a pilgrim, just give him a musket to hold).

In naming his other brothers and sisters, there were several that retained part of the Jump Start name.  Progeny includes Jump Two, Jumped the Harbor, Jump and Go, Jump Back and Jump Aboard.  When Lauren finally enters the arena to show Bruno in Jumpers wouldn’t one of these names better suit him?  Next in the ring  is Jump This ridden by Lauren Davis from Wharton,Texas!  It would be great.  Or Jump Prize or Jump Quick?  Those would be so appropriate.  However, my favorite name of one of the Jump Start kids is…wait for it… Start Jumping.  I could have really used that name for Bruno.  In fact, if I had a couple of expletives in front of it like Golly Gee Start Jumping or perhaps, For God’s Sake Start Jumping, I could have invented a whole line of new names over the last several months.  Bruno might have been reluctant to jump but he is doing so now.  Still…I would have loved that name.

Jump Start easing around the pasture.

Jump Start easing around the pasture.

Bruno looking me in the eye.

Bruno looking me in the eye.

It is fun to compare the big guy with his prolific father.  It is ironic they both ran five races and ended with injuries.  I guess I am just lucky they never decided Bruno should be a hot-shot stud like his dad.  I am guessing he would have never ended up in my little barn then.

As always, thanks for riding along with us and may God bless you.

Successful Goals

Posted on by
Reply
Kona leading the way, with Jo handling Snow all by herself.

Kona leading the way, with Jo handling Snow all by herself.

My family is pretty big on setting goals, driven I am sure by my slightly OCD, type A personality, that is always planning, organizing and setting the next notch a little higher.

One of Jordyn’s goals has been to trot her pony, Snow.  Last weekend she had a few good solo flights in the front yard.  I decided this week it was time to take the show on the road.  Roland was here all morning, needing extra time for the complicated shoeing on Bruno and Mickey.  I had been up to feed the horses long before dawn.  I was ready for a change when Roland finally pulled out.

I told Jo we were going on a trail ride.  “Out as far as the corn fields?” Yes, that far, I answered. I didn’t give her much time to think about it.  Lauren and I saddled up Snow and Mick.  My only concession to this being a bit of a trial, was that we left Snow’s halter on under his bridle with a lead rope looped up to the saddle horn.  If things went too badly, I would be able to drag Snow back to the farm.

From the moment we stepped onto the trails, it was magical.  Jo has routinely had trouble handling Snow in the arena but both he and Mickey settled immediately into a nice pace. I had figured Snow would follow Mickey, but Snow wanted to be lead horse and Jordyn handle him easily.  As we continued down the path, I started moving Mick on a little faster.  I asked Jordyn if she wanted to trot.  She was scared but the horses fell into a nice easy jog.  We were out over an hour, we trotted a lot!

As a kid, nothing was greater for me than a trail ride.  I would ride miles of trail on the weekends.  Crossing railroad tracks, busy highways and deserted back roads.  To me, especially at that time of my life, there was no greater freedom for me, than when I was riding my horse across country.  I was glad I could share this with Jordyn.

The weather was beautiful.  Kona was along for the ride as well.  Jordyn got more saddle work and confidence in this hour than she has had after months of arena riding.  She was like a little cowgirl, handling her pony with gentle but tough hands.

The biggest praise goes to my POA pony for his unflappable spirit.  We have used this pony for so many things over the years.  Lauren won miles of ribbons with him in Pony Hunter at shows.  I was so grateful to have such a wonderful guy for Jordyn to ride.  I believe it was his most important work ever!

My first ride ever on the giant OTTB Bruno.

My first ride ever on the giant OTTB Bruno.

In my 2014 goals, a big one for me was to finally ride Bruno.  I am a competent rider, but getting old, with broken bones and bad backs harder to recover from, I dont want to take a lot of chances.  The horse Lauren rode yesterday, was difficult to ride and hard to control.  I may have cheated a little, because the Bruno persona in the ring today would place well in any hunter class. I rode Feather to double team the Lauren work out team.  The plan was her to work Bruno while I got Feather through flat work.  When Lauren deemed Bruno’s workout complete, I told her I was going to ride Bruno.  He has been here 14 months and never have I wanted to ride the huge, fast thoroughbred.  But you’ve got to achieve your goals and a quiet hunter Bruno was the one I wanted ride.

I had some trepidation as I viewed the world from these new heights.  Bruno is the largest horse I have ever ridden.  I relaxed my death grip on his mouth and he settled in quickly, listening as I worked on some turns.  I prayed that as Feather cantered by, Bruno would not think it was Match Race Sunday.

I loved it, but only walked him today.  I am going to breakdown my goal from just riding Bruno to walking (achieved today!) to trotting and finally cantering the big Jump Start colt.

For goals to be achieved you have to push past your own comfort level and reach a little higher.  Jordyn and I both did that this weekend.  Yippee for goals and success!

Thank you for being part of our journey.

 

 

 

 

400 Blogs!!

Posted on by
2

For the 400th time, I am writing on my Exechorseluver blog.  I started this blog almost two years ago and have enjoyed telling my stories about my family and the escapades at Six Meadow Farm.  I am so happy you all have chosen to ride along with  me!  It means so much to me when I get a comment from one of you after posting a story or have someone come up to me at a horse show and talk to me about the blog.  THANK YOU!!

Here are some stats for the year 2013-

Crunchy numbers

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people.  This blog was viewed about 19,000 times in 2013.  If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 7 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

In 2013, there were 206 new posts, growing the total 2013 archive of this blog to 397 (400 as of today) posts. There were 519 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 127 MB. That’s about a picture per day.

The busiest day of the year was July 22nd with 435 views. The most popular post that day was RESCUING-JOEY.  Which if I had to pick a favorite post, this certainly was a great one!

Here are some top photos of the year as well-you can click on the link beneath each picture to read that piece.  Enjoy the year in review and thank you again for being a part of Exechorseluver!!

Bruno-home from the Ritz

Posted on by
4

image Have you ever stayed at a Ritz Carlton or Hyatt Regency resort?  Especially one in tropical locale?  Everything is just cleaner, more luxurious and perfect than your real home.  I guess that is why guests fork over hundreds of dollars ( and sometimes more) per night to be treated like they are special.  And let’s not forget all the spa amenities like hot showers that never turn cold, massages and best salons around. As a guest, I have always enjoyed being treated this way.   Arriving home, my place looked a little drabber, and my hair never looked as good as when the professionals styled it.

Bruno has been gone for over two weeks away at an intensive training regime.  Bruno loaded in the trailer easily (after continued work with Sarah and Lauren). A hundred miles later, we were met by a kind, competent groom who led Bruno to his stall where he would live for the next two weeks.   This barn with its stucco and rock walls was a far cry from my metal shed with our homemade stalls. We learned the expected routine pretty quickly.  The horse was brought down to matted, grooming stalls with cross ties.  Perhaps this all felt like the norm to OTTB Bruno who came from a lovely New York racing facility.  Regardless, he settled in like it was just another day.   Bruno was tacked up, Lauren brought him to the covered arena and their education over fences got underway in earnest.

Getting the big horse started.

Getting the big horse started.

After the first day’s lesson, where Bruno progressed from trot polls, to Xes, to single jumps to his first oxer, Lauren handed the horse over to the groom once again.  The groom removed and cleaned his tack and Bruno was bathed in warm, soapy water. Each day, when Lauren arrived, she found Bruno a little cleaner and whiter than the day before.  A big part of this was a giant car type canister vacuum that was used to suck all the tiniest specks of dust out of the horse’s coat.  And each day the progress in the ring become sharper and brighter.  It was very helpful to have Lauren work directly with Bruno as he was being trained.  In the end, Lauren will need to be the one to keep bringing Bruno along. As I saw Bruno standing in cross-ties, I considered how Feather would react to this fancy barn.  I suspect that Feather would break a few cross-ties as she accepted the routine here.

Standing in the grooming stall, just like a show horse.

Standing in the grooming stall, just like a show horse.

With the many holidays, the two weeks went quickly.  Yesterday, in their final lesson, Bruno was jumping a short course and showing a lot of scope over several jumps.  Bruno headed home to my little farm.  Feather and Kid were nickering for him as the trailer pulled in.  Immediately he was reunited with Kid.  I am not sure who was happier.  Lauren worked a quieter, less intimidating horse today, who worked easily with her to walk, trot and canter.  Bruno was unimpressed with our icy cold well water that greeted him after his work-out.

We had hoped and prayed that one day this horse would fly. I am  completely convinced now, after these two weeks, that we have a top-flight jumper in Bruno.  Lauren was told multiple times that Bru will never be an easy ride or an easy horse to jump.  But we have never had the luxury of an easy horse.  Lauren held her own amongst the other top riders at this barn.

Bruno settled into farm routine easily this morning, eating all his breakfast for the first time in two weeks.  Bruno enjoyed his time at the top-flight barn.  He learned a lot in his classes and luxuriated in all the wonderful grooming.

Happy to be home!

Happy to be home!

What an amazing opportunity to allow Bruno and Lauren this time for training and new growth.  Kid says it is all fine and good since Bruno is back home where he belongs.  Thanks for riding along and wishing you all a wonderful New Year.

Kid keeping close tabs on Bruno.

Kid keeping close tabs on Bruno.

Taking a Challenge

Posted on by
2
Jordyn with all her Christmas gear on her Snowney.

Jordyn with all her Christmas gear on her Snowney.

Jordyn, who agreeably trotted all over as a toddler, has been unwilling to trot since I put her up on Feather and Feather bolted away.  Jordyn went flying to the ground.

Understandably, Jordyn was not interested in trying to trot her pony again.   And the more the family has pushed Jordyn to try again the more resistant she has become.

Jordyn was spending a couple of days with us over the holidays.   We were visiting with our friend Kathy.  She challenged Jordyn to try trotting.  But this time she challenged her to count her trot steps.  She told her, “just see how many you can do!”

We got home and immediately Jo was ready to ride.  She started with some basic walking around the arena.  At one point early in the ride, Snow pulled his head and reins out of Jo’s hands. Frustrated she said, “I hate this pony!”  I got her organized with her reins and feet in the stirrups.  She looked at me and said, “I want to trot!”

I was surprised.  Somehow when Jo and Kathy were discussing this, I thought it was going to be on the lunge line.  I started to walk with her towards the lunge line.  “No, Granny, you need to trot alongside me!”

Oh, what a great idea!  I can’t think of many things I can do better than run through deep sand in cowboy boots with two bad hips.  But by God, if Jo wanted to try to trot, I would give it a shot.  I grabbed hold of Snow’s bridle and started shuffling down the long wall of the arena.  Jo was second guessing her decision but I was moving forward.

It was a pretty great scene.   Fat, white pony being virtually dragged down the arena while a little girl fearfully hung on for dear life.  Oh, and granny’s limping and stumbling along like a Friday night drunk.

But miracles do happen.  Snow started a little jog.  Jo’s eyes lit up.  And she started counting.  We made 32 steps at a trot before granny and Snow slowed to a walk ( I blame Snow).   Lauren and I both applauded her brave progress.  Then she wanted to do it again.  We made 64 trotting steps this time.  It is really pretty awesome because Jo gets so focused on counting and beating her last number, she relaxes and just trots along.

Next day at the barn, she ran to tell Miss Kathy how many steps she had taken. Jo hugged her and said,  “Thanks for the great advice!”

Jordyn’s parents and other grandparents came down yesterday to see her finally trot Snow.   Thankfully, Jo glad agreed to allow Lauren to jog beside her instead of me.  Probably, because they feared I would slip and fall and Snow would just trot right over me.  I am also thankful because this time Jo and Snow trotted 108 steps.

Jo with Lauren as she prepares to meet another challenging day on Bruno.

Jo with Lauren as she prepares to meet another challenging day on Bruno.

Lauren has been facing her share of challenges as she has focused her vacation time on getting Bruno started as sport horse.  He has been difficult and argumentative.  But she has gotten some terrific tips on how to work with him instead fighting against him.  She has learned what makes the big horse listen and do as she asks.  Today they successfully navigated a short course of jumps.  He cleared a three-foot jump with ease.  A week ago he was barely going over a trot pole.

My girls are standing up to meeting new challenges.  Kendyll got in on the fun riding along with Lauren and Jordyn.  Holiday fun!  Thanks for riding along.  Enjoy your holiday.

Snow is being a trooper!

Snow is being a trooper!

Special Gifts

Posted on by
5
Holding the book of my blog of Bruno's first 300 days.

Holding the book of my blog of Bruno’s first 300 days.

The original Christmas story was about a lot of special gifts, those of the Christ child and magical gifts for him.   I enjoyed some special, thoughtful gifts today.  First, getting up early, seeing the beautiful star filled sky, feeding my animals their Christmas morning breakfast and then watching my grandchildren light up with joy at seeing what Santa brought them.

My daughters each had great surprises for me.  Amber and Ryan got me an amazing, huge art canvas of a beautiful paint horse (Lauren says it is Mickey’s mom).  Lauren added two beads to my favorite bracelet an Irish one and a seashell for my love of the ocean.

Ally and Luke, did something that I had to keep touching and reading to believe it was really true.  They took my “Bruno Stories”, the first 300 days of my blog about him and his journey into our lives, through surgery and on to being a sport horse and had them printed into a hard back book.

It is a beautifully bound book, straight from this blog (all the ones under the category of “a Bruno Story”).  Most days, I sit down and write a little each evening.  Often I am tired, cranky and frustrated with my ever erratic Internet connection.  Sure, I have frequently re-read posts, but nothing prepared me for the sheer volume of words, pictures and pages that would represent a printed copy of my Bruno story.

My friend, Kathy, has always said there is a book in the Bruno story.   Well, now there really is!   Maybe I will be the only one to read it cover to cover, but that is okay.

Momma and I enjoying Christmas!

Momma and I enjoying Christmas!

This afternoon, alone, after the girls moved on to spend day with their husbands and boyfriend, I went to see mom at the nursing home.  The residents seemed a little ill at ease, probably due to the incomprehensible influx of visitors today.  Mom had no idea it was Christmas.  I almost didn’t give her the simple gifts I had brought.  But I did and she was so excited!  She had tears of joy over the clothes and perfume I had brought. We hugged each other long and held on tight.  Her being in my life is such a wonderful gift.

I hope your day was magical! May the peace of The Lord be with you.

Bruno’s One Year Anniversary from Surgery

Posted on by
Reply
Glowing with health.

Glowing with health.

One year ago today we headed to Texas A&M Vet Hospital with our new OTTB Bruno.  He had on-going hoof problems and was being referred by Dr. Lynn Criner for a possible coffin bone infection.  We met with the great orthopedic staff at TAMU headed up by Dr. Chad Marsh.  Bruno, tipping the A&M scales that day at 1450 pounds, was scheduled for surgery to cut out the infected portion of his hoof.  We were told it would be nine months to a year before he could start gently back to work.

About one fourth of Bruno's hoof was cut away to heal the infection that had brewed for sometime.

About one-fourth of Bruno’s hoof was cut away to heal the infection that had brewed for sometime.

Nine days later, we took the big horse home to his specially built stall to start over five months of stall rest.  It was a challenge.  We had all the work that is associated with holding a giant animal captive in cage (essentially) while keeping his bandages changed, his stall clean and shoveling in feed and hay to keep him content.   Plus we had to learn new bandaging skills with the miles of Elasticon tape and vet wrap we purchased.

Weeks become months, we had good re-growth due to some special supplements, good food and genetics.  Mostly, Bruno tolerated his captivity.  We had some horrible times when he seriously injured his rear foot, losing a lot of blood and requiring stitches.  But the time went by.  By June we were released to start riding him again.  We had managed to grow back all of his hoof in six months.  But the hoof walls were still thin and until this week, have been ‘casted’ to support his hoof.

Today, Bruno is an inspiration to the OTTB spirit.  He has been ready to work, ready to play, ready to be interested in anything we have tried with him.  Now, weighing in at 1650 pounds and measuring over 17.2 hands high, he is a lot of horse to handle.  I am proud of my daughter, Lauren, who has taken on this mammoth challenge with determination and hope.

We are very close to having a nice horse on the flat, one that walks, trots and canters smoothly and on command.  His left lead at the canter will probably always be an issue.  He ran on a sore foot for some time and will not chose to pick up the left lead.  Memories of pain are hard to erase.  But pain is no longer an issue and Lauren will hopefully, get him to trust her that he can reach out with that left foot and be pain-free.

The jumping is coming slowly.  While natural jumper Feather with her Irish relatives has generations of jumpers, Bruno comes from generations of runners.  Yesterday as Lauren and Bruno worked  through a grid, it started to get better.  Lauren relaxed and let the horse relax and he was much smoother.  Perhaps this is a horse that we need to let find his own way over the jumps and not interfere with him.  That would be fine.

What I know for sure is that a year ago I was agonizing over my decision to do the surgery on this horse that had just come into our household.  There were no guarantees that this would work or that Bruno would ever get back to sound or ever jump a jump.  We took a leap of faith in taking in Bruno and deciding to do his surgery.

This is an excerpt from my blog a year ago:

Am I nervous?  Yes, I am almost in tears just writing this.  This big guy has fully and completely integrated himself into both Lauren and my hearts.  But I feel there is no point of trying to let the hoof heal on its own.

I honestly don’t know how this story will end, or to put it another way, if the Bruno and Lauren story will ever get to begin.  I am making the best decision I can, to do the right thing for a beautiful, proud thoroughbred.  I hope one day he runs freely and majestically as he did before.  I hope one day he is whole again.

I know now that it was a good decision, for the horse and for us.  Bruno has yet to walk into any show ring or win a blue ribbon, but at least we have given him a chance for this to happen.  I believe we are on the cusp of the next part of great Bruno’s journey. I can’t wait to see what I will be writing about him a year from now. I hope you stick around for the ride.  Thank you to all that have supported us in so many ways to help get Bruno through this year and off to a new career. We are so grateful.

Back to the arena

Posted on by
2

image

Lula and Kona with Bruno in the background.

Lula and Kona with Bruno in the background.

Although still in the 40s which I understand may be better than what you are facing, it is still pretty cool for us southerners (Lauren was born in Florida and moved to south Texas). With wet and cold conditions, Bruno has barely been getting his rides in.  Add to that Bruno has only had maybe 40 rides this entire year, and you are apt to see a horse not wanting to settle in and work.

I am certain that Kona was a big asset in calming the fresh, green horse.

I am certain that Kona was a big asset in calming the fresh, green horse

It didn’t get whole lot better. Bruno pretty much refused to trot ( he said race horses don’t trot).   So, the first 20 minutes were spent “breezing” a pretty easy pace (like gallop) for a pretty good distance.  Bruno was running some sideways.  His tail was swishing away, showing his irritation.

Okay, he is mad.

Okay, he is mad.

 

He finally got a little rounder and a little softer.  Still there was nothing about this ride that spelled anything but green, young horse.  It was great to be able to got and ride.  Each ride builds on the next.

And at the end, Bruno walked straight into the trailer.  Day by day! Thanks for riding along with both of us!

 

 

 

 

Bruno and Kid, their career paths-A Bruno story

Posted on by
Reply
Kid following Bruno around the arena.

Kid following Bruno around the arena.

I overheard Bruno and Kid having a heated discussion as they stood in the paddock last night.

Bruno is a six-year old, off-the-track thoroughbred, who ran four races and placed second in one.  He has suffered from some hoof ailments that we surgically corrected at Texas A&M Vet Hospital.  He is just getting back to work and has yet to prove himself in any discipline.  Bruno has been called “startling beautiful” by the Off-Track Thoroughbred website and is a huge 17.2+ hands tall.

Kid is a 32-year-old, off the track Quarter Horse, who was very speedy on the track, went on to do some team penning at the national level and also was a winning barrel horse in the Houston area up to age 20.  He has done everything we ever asked him to do from showing English, jumping, trail riding, and hauling my grandbabies around. He is 15.2 hands high.

Bruno remarked to Kid about his slowness in the arena, “you are so slow you can’t keep up with me when we are just walking!”.

“Well, at least I won on the track when I ran!” said Kid back to Bruno.

“Sure on that tiny little quarter-mile track!  Run a mile and a fourth and come from behind to be second, then let’s see how good you are!” retorted Bruno.

“You couldn’t even get out of the starting gate! You had to run from behind because you couldn’t untangle those daddy-long legs and break with the rest of the horses.  I could beat you out of the starting gate today.   In fact, I could probably still stay with you for at least two strides.”  Kid said snidely back to Bruno.

“What a joke!  My stride is over 15 feet in length when I am not trying, you would never stay with me for even one foot!” answered Bruno.

“Well, at least I had multiple careers, race horse, team penner, barrel racer, horse about town, English, western, I did it all!. What did you do, place in one race and have some vets work on you?  GEEZ!”, said Kid.

“What did you do again? Something where you chased a bovine creature and then pushed it somewhere?  What kind of talent does that take?  I could do that easy!”  Bruno remarked looking disgusted at Kid.

“Really?  I would like to see your big, ol’self running, sorting and stopping as fast as a young cow. What about my barrel racing?  I was older but still the fastest in the whole Houston area, could you do that?  Wait, no, you couldn’t! You are too big to get around a turn without circling it 20 feet out.” Kid challenged, looking up at Bruno.

“Oh, my gosh, really, running around some trash cans?  At least I ran races in respected locales like Aqueduct and Belmont. How dumb is barrel racing?  To be a track runner you must have endurance, strength and be fast.”  Bruno noted

“You ran at those tracks like twice.  I ran on the race track too and won! And you need to have all those qualities you mentioned to be good at barrel racing.  You are big but you are so silly sometimes!” Kid said wisely.

“I am going to be a top-notch jumper!  You will see”, said Bruno.

“Okay, I guess we can all be surprised.  You might actually accomplish something in your life, you never know”, said Kid.

Snow watching Bruno and Kid.

Snow watching Bruno and Kid.

“So, look at that white pony over there, I bet he never ran on any race track”, Bruno said, quickly changing the subject.

“Pick on the white pony, classy move, big guy!  But you are right, he never ran on a track anywhere.  At least we got that, don’t we Bruno?”, Kid conceded and ended the conversation.