Kevin's Horse Part IV

Suddenly, the starting bell rang, and the gate opened with a great clanging noise. The three thoroughbreds lunged out of the starting gate and began to fly down the race track. Jet lunged out of the starting gate, too, and when he came down, instead of flying down the track, he began to crow hop and buck, his nostrils flaring, and froth falling from his mouth. He made weird little grunting sounds every time he jumped. Kevin grabbed the saddle horn with both hands, and held on for dear life. He couldn’t believe this was happening! Ever since being broke to ride, Jet had been exceptionally gentle. He had never misbehaved so badly.

After what must have been only a few seconds, but seemed like forever, Jet stopped bucking and jumping, and began to run. Well, it was actually more like a fast walk! But, he wasn’t going straight down the track. He would quarter across the track, first to the outside rail, then to the inside rail. Kevin finally got his horse stopped. Jet was breathing hard, trembling and slinging his head from side to side. It was clear the horse was scared.

Kevin just sat there for a minute, speaking softly to his horse. He was really embarrassed. He couldn’t imagine what would have caused his horse to act that way. Feeling somewhat dejected, he turned Jet toward the exit and started to leave the track. A handler approached him and encouraged him to try again. “It isn’t unusual for a horse to act up the first time he runs”, the handler told Kevin. “Give him another chance.”

So, Kevin did try again, and again, but the result was still the same. Jet just wouldn’t run on the track, between the rails. After the third attempt, Kevin resignedly rode Jet off the track and decided to be content to just watch from the side lines. The thoroughbreds lined up. Mr. Cooper gave the signal. The bell rang and the starting gate clanged open. The experienced race horses sprang from the gate and, in a flurry of flying hooves and kicked-up dirt, began their flight down the track.

Outside the track, Jet reared up on his hind legs. He sort of spun around in a crouch and, once again, catapulted from the ground. He hit the ground running for all he was worth. Kevin, again taken by surprise, barely managed to hold on as Jet took up the pursuit with at least as much vigor as he had the very first time. Jet easily overtook and passed the race horses before Kevin reined him in and trotted him over to the viewing stand where Mr. Cooper was standing.

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