Once all the tack had been checked, Rylee turns to the other three horses she had brought. Kiki for trick riding, Trixie for barrel racing, and Corporal for showing. Rylee pulls out Corporal first, she clips on a lunging rope and heads a few feet away from the trailer where there was more room and then begins to lunge the stallion. The stallion's head was high as was his tail, but he was walking. But once Rylee got him up to a trot, he was more prancing then anything. Rylee chuckles as she does a few laps at a trot then moves him up to a canter. The whole time, Corporal's head and tail stayed up.

After about an hour of working Corporal, she puts him up and pulls out Trixie, doing the same thing with the mare. The mare was calmer though faster then Corporal and Rylee didn't work her as long. Thirty minutes and she had Kiki out. She spent thirty minutes lunging Kiki, before putting a bridle on the mare. She swings on board bare back and heads back over to the little clearing beside the trailer. She urges Kiki into a trot and the mare obeys. Rylee then begins to preform some tricks on the mare, eventually urging Kiki into a canter and then a gallop.

"Ceart gu leòr! Tha timcheall air dà uair a thìde air a bhith ann, tha a h-uile duine a’ tòiseachadh a’ dèanamh air an t-slighe. Tha an rèis ann an uair a thìde gu leth. Tiugainn! Tha Gallent air a dhol an sàs." Rylee obeys, putting Kiki back in the little pasture, taking her bridle off. Then she exits the pasture and hangs the bridle up in the tack room before locking it. Jacob had already locked up the rest of the trailer and the two dogs were on long leashes outside. Rylee swings on board Gallent, and Jacob takes the reins and starts off towards the track. Rylee had her helmet tucked under her arm, and a calm look on her face.

(Translations:
Ceart gu leòr! Tha timcheall air dà uair a thìde air a bhith ann, tha a h-uile duine a’ tòiseachadh a’ dèanamh air an t-slighe. Tha an rèis ann an uair a thìde gu leth. Tiugainn! Tha Gallent air a dhol an sàs. = Alright! It's been about two hours, everyone's starting to head for the track. Race is in an hour and a half. Let's go! Gallent's tacked up.)

The pair slowed to a walk as they rounded the far bend, his hands loosened on the leather material letting her neck stretch and unstiff. Matteo's glided up and down her smooth neck- smooth with sweat, he peeled off his black gloves securing them in his back pocket. He slid off her back, swinging the reins over the tired mares neck. Matteo and his partner exited the gate and walked over to Gio who was waiting patiently in her matching gold and black racing set, he handed his other equines reins to his friend so he could go change into his jockey outfit.

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He ran his hand through his dark brown locks, he looked down at his hand which was now shining with his sweat. Matteo took a deep breath and changed into his outfit, he fixed the front button of the shirt with help from the mirror that stood directly in front of him. He gave himself a small smile hoping it would calm his nerves- news flash it didnt, he grabbed his matching helmet and stepped out of the camper front on the trailer. He strided over to his mount in long strides, the silver watch on his wrist telling him he was late.

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Sitting on top the mare was a feeling his couldn't describe, they both felt alive with bodily version of electricity- adrenaline. His mount seemed to sense the weight on his shoulders cause she stood quietly beside the track, he rubbed his olived hand over his worn out eyes trying to stay sane. His feet hung out of the irons so his legs didnt cramp before the race, he sighed again watching his dad stress over one groom missing from the team.

As the three got closer to the stands, Gallent got more excited and started prancing. Jacob had to release the reins, but Rylee kept the stallion under control. The stands were packed and the press was everywhere. The other jockeys were already on the track getting ready to line up. Jacob had informed Rylee that there would be fifteen riders overall, and that the number that they had drawn was number five. The number was on the saddle pad. Rylee takes a deep breath as she pulls on her helmet. Jacob places a hand on her leg. He could tell she was nervous, perhaps not much, but still nervous enough. While Gallent was excited, the stallion's ears were pricked forward and he was still prancing.

"You'll do fine. Just think of it as a smaller race. Or if it helps, think of it like practice. Don't let the crowd get to you, and if any jockey tries to mess with you, don't let it bother you. Gallent was born to run, so let him run. You've raced on him enough, you two know how to run together and be quick and efficient."

Rylee nods in agreement,"Okay. Okay. We've got this." Jacob flashes a smile at his daughter,"You'll do great." Rylee smiles back,"Thanks." Jacob heads off to stand in the little VIP section for people like him, family who was helping with the horses. While Rylee guides her prancing stallion onto the track and over to the other jockeys. At once she got looks, she was the youngest. Clearly. And the others were at least in their thirties if not older. But Rylee stays tall under their judgmental gazes.

Watching all the other riders camped behind the loading gates was definitely intense, he nudged Gio forward behind all of them. She was the only mare in the race and her coat dizzying with her pattern, she was quite calm considering the pressure they were both under. The number they had drawn number 3, he didnt know how to plan this out as she didnt like the rail and was more of a back runner.

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He was in his own thoughts that he almost missed his number to load into the gates, he clicked her forward while putting his feet back into the stirrups. She loaded nicely but now she decided to be fesity, she craned her neck and neighed throwing a buck into the closed gate behind her "Woah ragazza, devi calmarti. Presto potrai correre, volare come il vento Gio. Ce l'abbiamo" he spoke to her quietly in his language. He looked up and meet the eyes of the other jockeys noticing thier confused eyes, he smiled awkwardly towards them. They were all definitely older then him but alas he couldn't change that.

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Woah ragazza, devi calmarti. Presto potrai correre, volare come il vento Gio. Ce l'abbiamo

=

Soon it was time for everyone to load into the gates, and by number they did. Soon it was Rylee's turn and she guides Gallent into the stocks. The stallion was ready, his body was quivering and he was ready to run. Rylee chuckles leaning down to pat the stallion on the shoulder, murmuring to him in Scottish Gaelic. In response the stallion flicks his ears back toward his rider, growing still as he listens. She was singing to him, quietly, an ancient Scottish song. It was a tradition, Rylee has always sung the song to him before every race and they always did incredibly well. Usually winning first or coming second by barely a second. Hopefully today they would achieve first place though.

Rylee's song is cut off as the intercom comes on,"Welcome to Oklahoma City, folks. This is the Grand Prix, and the horses are rearing to go!" Then the intercom went silent as the track managers helped check the track was clear and ready for a race. The race horns sound and below her, Gallent was shaking, the stallion was ready. Then the shoots open and the horses were off. Gallent got to his spot almost at once, not exactly against the fence, but close. Which gave him the lead. For the first quarter mile, Rylee holds his head in, then she releases it. The stallion's pace picks up more, giving them more of a lead.

He listened to the intercom, the gates shoot open infront of him and Gio shot forward at a blistering pace. They sat comfortably in third till the first quarter when he realsed her head a bit more, she picked up the pace and stayed behind the front runner. He watched the chestnut colored horse in front of him, they didn't move and the first and second runners were a good 4 links infront of the other equines.

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Matteo heard Gio breaths, in and out faster then a fright train. They were both sweating under the Oklahoma blistering sun, he never used a crop as she seemed to know with slight pressure to go faster. They stayed at the steady pace.

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(Its short sorry lol)

Gallent was moving quickly down the path, out of the corner of her eye, Rylee could see another horse behind her. A grullo mare, but Rylee wasn't worried. They had just hit the half way and Gallent was just getting into his stride. He had a hell of a stamina. Rylee was leaned far over her steed's neck, the stallion had his full head, and it was stretched out. Neither were bothered by the blistering heat as they were born and raised under it. But in that moment in time, Rylee was just along for the ride. Gallent had full control of the race, and the jock was just there.

There was nothing that Rylee loved more then racing, she use to watch her parents race when she was young. Then when Gallent was born four years ago, she fell in love. His parents had been incredible race horses and Rylee's parents had agreed to allow Rylee to start racing. She had started on Gallent's parents and once Gallent was old enough, she started training him. The little colt had been incredibly fast for his age and only grew faster as he grew up.

(All is good, XD. Also you can finish the race in your post. And it's up to you who wins, I don't care either way. If you want Gio to win or Gallent, XD)

Matteo asked for a faster pace from the mare, she thrusted next to the stallion. She hated being next to another horse and pinned her ears slightly at the equine. Gio's head stretched a few inches infront of the stallions muscled head, the soared across the finished line by a hair. He slowed to a canter, trot, then a walk, he reached up and scratched the mares head in praise. He turned to speak to the rider on the other rider "Good race" he flashed a white grin towards her.

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He rode into the winners circle, the boquete of flowers around and secured on the mares grullos neck. He smiled and posed for a few pictures, grabbed the trophy and walked back towards the trailer. He felt bad for winning the race, he saw the other riders hadn't arrived yet. He plucked off one of the red roses from her bouquet, seeing the second place persons family trailer, he walked towards it. He placed the rose on a tack trunk and placed the trophy beside it, a note in the cup "Good race" as well. Matteo grabbed the mares reins and walked back to his own stables.

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(I picked me just to do that lol 😂)

As the horses came closer to the finish line, the grullo mare behind Gallent picked up her pace. Rylee urges Gallent forward more, and he obeyed. But the mare had just that more speed that allowed the mare's nose to stretch out before Gallent's. And it was by that inch that the mare won, Rylee laughs as she leans down, to pat Gallent,"Not bad boy!" The stallion, following his rider's cues, slows down to a canter then a trot and finally a walk. Her grey eyes flicker to the grullo mare's rider, inclining her head. "Good race." She repeats, a small flashing across her face. Sure, she didn't get first but she and Gallent had a lot of fun and that's what mattered. Rylee continues to ride Gallent around instead of heading to the winner's circle with the first and third place riders.

However she did see her father walk over instead. Gallent's flanks were rising and falling at a steady pace but he was sweating and hot. So Rylee walks him around, letting him cool off. Talking to him in Scottish so that way she didn't have to worry about people over hearing her. There weren't many people that spoke another language beside English and Spanish in Oklahoma, and Rylee felt pretty sure none at the race did. Her father finally walks up with a red second place ribbon,"Not bad!" Rylee grins as her father hands her the ribbon,"Thanks." She attaches the ribbon to the side of the saddle,"Red looks better on Gal then blue anyways."

Father and daughter exchange a laugh and a grin as the press approach and for a few minutes they allow pictures and then finally they head back to the trailer. Once there they spot a trophy and a red rose, with a note inside that read good race. Jacob smiles,"Someone's a good sport." Rylee shrugs,"If you beat a bunch of older and more experienced jockeys, you either come out cocky and arrogant or shy and modest. I'm thinking he came out modest." Jacob agrees as Rylee dismounts and the two start taking care of Gallent. Taking his tack off and giving him a bath and letting him walk around some more on a halter.

(All good, XD, I'd do the same)

He walked into the stables and knew something was wrong, he gave Gio's reins to a stable hand who gave a silent sorry to him in a hushed whisper. Matteo walked farther towards a group of people surrounded by a stall, his heart dropped into his stomach when he realized who's stall they were gathered around by "No." he mumbled, his father turned towards him with a sad expression "Mi dispiace figliolo" he said quietly. Matteo stepped into Volas stall, the mare lay in the shavings. He kneeled by her and stroked her neck "Mi dispiace Vola, non volevo che ciò accadesse. Non avrei dovuto lasciarti uscire al pascolo." He stood up and pushed past the group that watched him closely. "Accidenti! Questo non è giusto" he growled, his win lost by now.

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Vola had broken her cannon bone when she was running around a temporary field next to the stables. Matteo rubbed his face and decided to exercise Blue before returning to the stables to help with Vola. He mounted the chestnut in the arena, he worked the mare in a canter around and around till she had to stop because she was so tired. Matteo didn't realize how long they had been going, he dismounted and handed the reins to the to the stable hand before joggin back towards the stables.

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He walked in one them trying to bandage it up, it was only a slight fracture and they had high hopes she would heal.

Matteo watched before heading back out with Gio, he was going to lunge instead of riding though as she deserved no riding for a few days but she had to keep up with her muscles. He attached the lunge line and asked for a walk for a good couple of rounds before asking for a nice balanced trot. He kept to himself while they worked, alone.

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Translations

Mi dispiace figliolo- Im sorry son

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.Mi dispiace Vola, non volevo che ciò accadesse. Non avrei dovuto lasciarti uscire al pascolo. Accidenti!- Im sorry Vola, I didnt mean for this to happen. I shouldnt have let you out in the pasture. Damn it!

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Accidenti! Questo non è giust- Damn it! This isnt fair

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