The men led the girls out of the room.
They had to walk slowly with the awkward boots and their arms at such an uncomfortable angle, forcing their chests out.
Even Becka quietly followed, concentrating on staying upright with no arms to break a fall.
The girls were led to a dirt floored arena and clipped to a big wheel.
They were pulled around in a circle as the wheel started slowly turning and after twenty minutes they were all drooling and sobbing.
Their arms and legs were straining at the uncomfortable positions they were contorted in.
Antonio finally stopped the contraption.
“Check your ponies and water them.”
Antonio came up to Paige.
“There, there Pretty Baby.”
He squirted some water to the back of her mouth and she choked.
“Swallow, girl.
Let it hit your tongue and swallow.”
Paige did as he instructed and managed a few gulps.
The trainer slid the water bottle into his pocket and knelt to check her knees and thighs.
“You’re feeling for tight stretch behind the knee, it may be jerking a little.
These are new muscles we’re training.
If you don’t feel the stretch, let me know.
Your mare might need higher arches.”
Paige was grateful she was in enough pain to satisfy the cruel man.
Everyone stated their ponies were adequately tortured by the boots, and the wheel started up again.
“Just an hour today, we don’t want to strain them too badly.”
The girls whined and groaned as they started walking around in the endless circle.
Paige looked up.
She had not noticed the Master come in until his deep voice resonated across the arena.
“How are my little mares?”
“Doing as expected.
The pleasure horse is a real sweetheart, very docile and compliant.
I think she likes your stable and doesn’t want to leave.”
Antonio looked over at Danni as she passed by.
“Really?
Well I’d be pleased to beat Constantine in a dressage event,” Chayton suggested.
“Do we have names for our fillies?”
“Yes, sir.
The preliminaries are filled out.”
Antonio handed Chayton the clipboards.
“Misty, Pretty Baby and Copper.
Very nice.
It looks like things are running smoothly.
You’re happy with Arturo and Diablo?” the Master asked.
He had noticed his two slaves watching their ponies closely.
“Oh, yes, Master.
They’re doing very well.
Diablo’s getting quite the challenge with Copper, and Misty is doing all she can to work with Arturo,” the trainer informed him.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it then.
Keep me informed with their progress and I’ll check back in a few days.”
Chayton left the arena.
Becka stumbled and fell to her knees, scrambling forward as the leash on the wheel pulled her collar.
She was exhausted and began sobbing, not knowing how to get back on the heavy, high boots.
Diablo raced over to her and grabbed her upper arm, helping her up.
He held her firmly and walked beside her until he was sure she had her balance.
“Steady girl.
Can we stop the wheel?
I want to check her legs.”
Antonio stopped the wheel, pleased Diablo was concerned with the mare’s welfare and not lashing out in anger.
The trainer walked over and supervised Diablo’s examination.
Diablo gently ran his fingers up and down each leg.
“She has a small cut on her knee, but the tendons seem okay.”
Antonio came to the same conclusion after his quick examination.
“We can take care of the cut later.
They have five more minutes.”
Becka started wailing.
She was exhausted and could not take another step.
The wheel started up and Diablo walked beside her.
“Come on, Copper.
Come on, girl.
You can do this.
Good girl.
Good Copper,” he encouraged.
Becka looked over at him bewildered by his calm attitude.
He smiled and she found herself weakly trying to smile back through the bit.
She was tired of being scared.
That a boy.
You’re figuring out how to get through to her,
Antonio thought.
He was encouraged with Diablo’s change in strategy.
He was worried the slave would make it a battle of wills.
Now, he was being smart.
Diablo looked up at the trainer’s pleased expression.
Finally, the wheel was stopped.
The girls were aching and dirt clung to their sweating bodies.
“Back to the stalls.
Remember, we’re staying with the ponies until they’re bedded down.”
Collecting Paige, he smiled, “Good girl, my Pretty Baby.”
Paige thought he was good looking when he smiled.
He was about six feet, very muscular and he was older than the other trainers.
Maybe late thirties?
she thought.
He had wavy dark hair and very dark eyes that could make him look cruel or soften with approval, like now.
Paige was thrilled with the prospect of having the horrible training equipment removed.
She was walked back to her stall and Antonio tethered her to the wall so closely she had to remain standing.
He wanted her too tired to fight the groomer.
The trainer went back to the equipment room and waited for Arturo and Diablo to join the three groomsmen.
“Arturo, Hendri will be working with Misty.
I don’t see her causing any problems, just stay close and reassure her.
The groomers know what to do.
Diablo, Paxton will be working with Copper.
He’s been here the longest and has helped me with problem mares before.”
The trainer looked at Paxton.
“Diablo’s got her coming around slowly.
This one is spirited and rebellious, so keep on your toes.”
“Yes, trainer.
I saw her in the arena.
She’s breaking and we’ll just keep her steadily moving in that direction.
Diablo, please let me know if any of my methods don’t coincide with your training,” Paxton offered.
“Thank you.
I’m just going to try to keep her calm unless you need assistance.”
Diablo appreciated the way Paxton was planning on working with him.
“Jasper, you’re with me.
I may need your experience with sport massage.
This one’s a champion in the rough.”
Antonio liked Jasper’s demeanor.
Jasper smiled broadly.
“Thank you, trainer.”
It was an honor to work with the trainer, especially caring for a possible champion.
Paige heard the men returning down the hall.
Antonio entered the stall alone, but she had a feeling someone else remained out of sight.
The trainer reached for a cloth on the shelf by the brushes and stood in front of her, looking into her eyes.
With the boots, they were about the same height.
“I’m going to blindfold you, my Pretty Baby.”
Paige whined through the ring gag and her eyes started to fill with tears.
Antonio continued to cover her eyes and she started trembling.
“No, no.
Just for a little while.
You don’t need to be so upset.
I’m going to stay with you.
Shh.
What’s all this about?”
The black cloth let in no light and Paige was disoriented with her high boots, no use of her arms and tied to the wall.
She felt the trainer unclip her and hold her upper arm.
Paige panicked when she felt someone else gently take her other arm and she whined her disappointment.
The groomers restrained themselves from speaking to the ponies very often.
They would be punished severely if they interrupted the bonding between the pony and its trainer.
“Come on, Pretty Baby.
It’s all right,” Antonio encouraged.
Jasper looked at the lithe girl appreciatively.
He studied her muscle tone and build, and nodded at Antonio.
Yes, she has the makings of a fine racer,
he thought.
Paige was helped up onto the table.
Antonio stood by her head, running his fingers through her short, sweaty bob.
She felt the Velcro straps coming loose on one boot.
Oh, thank you.
She groaned in relief.
The other boot was removed and she flexed her aching ankles and toes, feeling the pull up the back of her legs.
The other man walked behind her and removed the heavy arm binding, and Paige groaned again.
She was moving her arms to the front to stretch them when the other man quickly grabbed a wrist.
“Arms behind you,” Antonio murmured.
She was disappointed as her slave cuffs were latched together.
She felt the strap from the gag pulled free.
Paige was breathless, hoping the rubber would soon leave her mouth so she could work her cramping jaws.
The man slipped a finger up under the ring pulling down until it cleared her teeth and she closed her mouth, swishing her spit.
She heard water filling something and the wonderful new man who let her out of her tortuous confines was back in front of her.
“Open your mouth, Pretty Baby,” the trainer ordered.
Paige wanted to beg not to have the gag replaced, but quietly she did as ordered.
She tasted mint toothpaste as the other man brushed her teeth thoroughly.
He raised some warm water to her lips and she felt the rim of a bowl under her chin.
She worked the water around her mouth and spat in the bowl.
Paige was unprepared as the man took her jaw and started pushing the ring back in.
She made a small desperate sound and tried to shake her head as it locked into place.
Antonio hooked a finger to the lower bar in her mouth and the other hand held her by the front of her collar keeping her facing him.
The other man removed the blindfold and she tried to turn to see him, but the trainer held her facing forward.
“Eyes down.
Eyes down, mare.”
Paige felt tears of humiliation as he held her head straight and she looked down.
She felt the warm water from the hose on the back of her head.
After her hair was wet, the other man rubbed some fragrant shampoo between his palms and started massaging her scalp.
He rinsed and conditioned her hair, and then ran a comb through it.
When he was finished, he replaced the blindfold.
Paige was lowered to the table.
Antonio fastened her by her upper arms while the other man strapped her ankles far apart, and Paige started shaking and whimpering.
“Hush now,” Antonio whispered in her ear, still stroking her wet hair.
“You’re okay.
We’re just going to clean you up.
No worries.
You just lay still.
I’m right here, my Pretty Baby.”
Paige calmed down, instinctively moving her ear closer to his soft words.
Warm water washed over her.
She felt a large soft sponge soaping her neck, arms, breasts and belly.
Paige squirmed and whined as fingers spread her labia and the sponge swiped down her pussy and continued to her thighs, calves and feet.
All the while Antonio murmured to her, caressing her.
She was dried with a soft towel and turned over, her legs re-bound, and her wrists resting on the small of her back.
The man started washing her back, spreading the cheeks of her bottom on the way to her aching legs, and then she was again dried.
She heard the man rubbing his hands together and felt slippery warm lotion on her shoulders as he massaged her back.
As the muscles were coaxed to loosen up, Antonio felt her relax and her trembling stopped.
“Doesn’t that feel good?” Antonio droned.
“You did real well today, my prize.
You’re going to get strong so fast.”
Paige quivered in enjoyment.
Jasper moved to her leg and worked the strained muscles in her thigh and calf, finding every knot and lengthening the tendons with expertise.
He took one of her feet and massaged all of the pain away.
An involuntary “Nnnnn” escaped her gagged mouth.
“Yes, that’s nice.
Jasper was a therapist for sports injuries.
He’s the best, for my champion, and that’s what you deserve, my pretty mare.”
She nudged Antonio’s hand.
Jasper smiled over to him as he worked her other foot.