Running Free

Lucky Lizzy was the last in her line of parading ponygirls as the small crowd made their way to the race track near the back of the ranch. She'd rarely been over here, mostly when on a tour or terrain walk to get a feel for mixed walking surfaces. She wasn't last in line for any bad reason, simply because everyone else had been lined up and ready to go by the time she and Emma were done with her inspection. The same inspection that still had the blonde mare a bit hot under the bridle. She'd been hesitant upon seeing that man around, the first male she'd seen since getting here, but for some reason Jenn being handsy and getting all over her had been enthralling. What would have made the Elizabeth of 3 weeks ago balk and panic made the Lucky Lizzy of today drip.

The shorter trainer was guiding the mare along by a braided blue and gold lead to match the pony's tack and saddle, and ahead of them was another rookie pony Lizzy hadn't had any time to get to know. All she could really do was follow her rhythmic paces as she marched along in the parade. Two columns of nearly-nude women pretending to be beasts. If Elizabeth hadn't been doing this for a couple weeks and change now, she would have called them all insane. Now, however...?

Her knees came up high, making her body twinge each time her gluteal muscles clamped on her tail plug, and she could feel her hair swaying across her back in time with her paces, just like the pony in front of her. Whose hair and tail were doing the same thing. She had a ruddy red head of hair and matching tail, but contrary to Lizzy's single ponytail, the girl's hair was pulled into loose pigtails and kept shorter to not interfere with her vision or bridle. The trainer with her was a petite Asian by the looks of it, whether some blend of Japanese or Chinese, Lizzy wasn't certain. She was a little shorter than Emma, which she guessed Emma might appreciate as Elizabeth always stood above her trainer by nearly a foot with the help of these tall pony boots.

Several ranks ahead of Lizzy was a vibrant black and red-colored pony, somewhere around the fourth or fifth spot in line. She felt a little shudder of envy, knowing that Checkers was likely used to all this. The marching, the fitness, the display. Half a decade of experience as a pony left the woman a damn sight better of a mare than Lizzy. At least for now, the blonde told herself. Though she wasn't entirely sure why she felt so driven to match Chancy... or maybe she just wanted to impress her?

The sun was high in the sky as the parade made their way to the boarding pasture, where the Silverstone Ranch sometimes housed actual equines for various other ranchers in the region. Though, of course, Rhea always ensured they all knew what else happened at Silverstone Ranch before signing them on. More for her mares' safety than the boarders' comfort. The group went the short way around the pasture where they marched to a broad racing track. It was, apparently, "regulation size" and the twin-column of mares split down into single-file for a single walk-around lap before finding marks to line up at. Two mares broke off into the stands to watch. The two being Cotton Candy and the other "pageant" pony, Pearlescent Gleam. The two show ponies made their way to a shaded portion of the stands to watch the "athletes" participate in the upcoming impromptu race.

As Lizzy made her way to a marked starting spot, Emma came in close to unhook the lead and fiddle with straps and buckles while speaking softly. "All you need to do is run your hardest, Liz. I'm not expecting a win or anything, you're up against veteran mares in their element. After all, this is a chariot-less race... so it's really not what your boots are made for. You're a bit more... pull-y than sprint-y." Emma murmured softly while wiping away a bit of drool from Lizzy's chin. She wiped her hand and palmed the tracker she was required to insert prior to the race, looking for the inspectors to signal she was ready. The two scouts were wandering about, going from pony to pony and slowly making their way towards Emma and Lizzy. The sounds of other mares moaning or squealing could be heard as the scouts "inspected" them to ensure the trackers were inserted or the trackers were getting put in. Emma smiled as she rubbed Lizzy's cheek with one hand and held her bridle's cheek ring with the other. "Don't mind them. They don't get to play as much as you, so they're all sensitive. Might even give you an edge in the race... just do your best, okay? And... well, don't come last."

Elizabeth grunted softly, tugging at Emma's hand in her bridle to try and ask what that meant but the two scouts finally came up to the pair and interrupted her.

"Trainer Emma," said Jenn, the woman, "have you inserted the tracker yet? We just gotta make sure she's set and then we can start the race." She stood with folded hands while Scott, the other scout, was checking in with a few other ponies.

Emma pulled out the small cylindrical device and held it out, causing Lizzy to blush bright red as she knew where it had been instructed to go. "Not yet, ma'am. I wanted to make sure you saw it go in so Lizzy wouldn't be thrown off by you, uhm... fiddling."

Jenn stifled a snicker but nodded, making a "go ahead" gesture with her right hand and stood by to watch.

Emma turned on her heels and took the one step she needed to nestle in close to Lizzy, close enough the mare's bound hands pressed flat against Emma's stomach. The ponygirl was blushing bright red. She'd spent a little over two weeks naked almost all the time, but rarely had she been subject to a spectator while having her genitals touched and even less so by a stranger, rather, someone not from the ranch. "Now... hold still, girl. It'll be quick." Emma whispers as she brings the finger-sized device down and brushes it across Lizzy's labia. The pony's reluctant arousal had caused quite the buildup of fluids and Emma made short work of collecting a bit of her cousin's wetness. Being out here, as part of such a large group of other ponygirls, Lucky Lizzy was soaking wet. Emma lubricates the device quickly before pushing it into Elizabeth's pussy in a single smooth motion, disappearing inside as Emma's finger goes in with it to the first knuckle and gently stirring her finger to let it nestle inside before slowly pulling her finger out, trailing a small strand of Lizzy's slightly sticky pussy juice. "Now... hold it. Don't drop it or I'm going to crop your cunt red. Got it?"

Lucky Lizzy had whimpered softly into her bit gag as the device and Emma's finger entered her and now nodded eagerly as Emma threatened significant pain for dropping it. She was far more familiar with larger insertions than this by now, but the intimacy of Emma's position and it being her finger made it all the worse for her composure. But even still, she nodded and ground her teeth on her bit gag to recover her senses. Behind Emma, Jenn nodded and turned, walking off without a word as Emma quickly got on tip-toes to peck Lizzy on the cheek before trailing after Jenn and making her way to the sidelines of the track. Finally, Lizzy was left by herself on the running track with the rest of the tacked ponies, ready for the race to begin.

Looking around, the blonde ponygirl felt... a bit out of her depth. While most of the ponies on the ranch typically had a carefree attitude during their grazing time, where Lizzy saw them the most, they were all now very focused. Sharp glances flew every which way down the lines. Rivalries were definitely being fostered around here and Lizzy had... none. At least, none she had sought. A couple other rookies looked at her sideways, knowing she was their "most fair" competition. But the less-trained mare was frequently being looked at as an easy victory. Easy to beat for her lack of experience.

There was one quick glance Lizzy caught, though, that did make her stand a bit more upright. Several slots outwards and ahead of her, Chancy Checkers was looking over her shoulder and, despite the rose gold bit gag in her lips, Lizzy could see a tiny grin on her face. The veteran mare's black and red checkered bridle dug into her skin slightly, laced into her hair, her armbinder was snug and held the black and red pony's arms firmly behind her. The little look in her eye made Lizzy's heart beat a bit faster. Chancy held the gaze for a moment before straightening up. It hardly seemed fair, that she got a head start on Lizzy but the veteran was on the outside of the track and would have to go on the edge of the loop, making her run a further distance... maybe Lizzy had a chance? Even just to keep up.

Rhea steps out onto the dirt track as the trainers find somewhere to sit or lean against the fence dividing the track from the spectator stands and faces the block of mostly-nude women, bound up in leather straps, tight harnesses, armbinders, and even some decorative accoutrements. It was nothing short of a field of human ponies. She sucks in a short breath before speaking clearly and slowly. "For the rookies, this is your first race. Savor it. Veterans, don't go easy on them. I expect each of you to run well and show the scouts what you're capable of. When the gun fires, run. Ponies, at your mark." She struts off to the side and, coincidentally, stops near Emma before pulling a starting pistol out of her breast pocket, aims it at the sky, and fires.

Lucky Lizzy breaks into a dead sprint the moment a loud bang and a puff of smoke fires off from the starting pistol, sending her into a frenzied pace as something approximating need fills her chest and she runs.

Often times during training, especially with others around, Elizabeth found herself feeling a bit self-conscious about her body. Particularly while she was running. Her breasts bounced, her ass jiggled about, even her tail plug bobbed up and down inside her quite painfully! And now she even had something to clench onto inside her pussy. The bit gag in her mouth gave her something to bite down on but she fought the urge to bite in favor of sucking in enough air to feed her lungs as she raced after the leading pack of ponygirls. And despite the insanity, the hilarity of the situation, the sheer obscenity of it, Lizzy didn't feel an ounce of embarrassment. Perhaps because she was one of more than a dozen naked women running around a dusty dirt track in leather straps and hooved boots, but she was eager to do well and her appearance was a mere afterthought.

Around her, other ponygirls pulled ahead or lagged back. Lizzy didn't have much time to look around but the spectacle must have been incredible for viewers. But even as fit, athletic bodies moved around her, as shameless displays of nudity invaded her sight, and even as Lizzy's body ached in places she'd rather not think about, she was singularly focused on one person. Far ahead of the group, pulling ahead early and staying there, was Chancy Checkers. The 30-something 5-year veteran runner ponygirl was showing the field why she was considered the Silverstone Ranch champion, something Chancy had mentioned on and off during free time chats. But as Lizzy watched her pristine form, the woman leaning forward into her run with her arms gently swinging side to side to keep balance even as her chest swung beneath her in time, the blonde pony was enamored with her performance.

The blonde mare spent so much time watching and being distracted, she barely noticed she was rapidly falling behind even the other rookie mares. She blanched. Emma had said not to come last and definitely not to drop the tracker inside her. Clenching tight, Lizzy leans forward, trying to take some notes from Chancy to gain some speed and ran to catch up. Catch anybody. As long as she wasn't last, she told herself. The blonde was already a fair bit tired from her and Emma's training that morning. Being out in the sun during the march had warmed her up and a thought in the back of her mind wondered if the parade march was intended as a stretch and warmup. Either way, she did feel limber but sore all over, both from her penetrated holes and overworked limbs. Regardless, she needed to run faster. She panted into her bit, drool escaping the corner of her mouth and spattering over her bare shoulders and chest. Sweat beaded up on her forehead and in her joints. Dust getting kicked up from the track mixed with her sweat to coat her with an uncomfortable veneer of grime and leave her striped with muddy tracks where her leather gear dug into her skin.

She kept her head up to keep a good look forward and balance herself and found she could go a fair bit faster like this. What was causing problems was all the dust being kicked up by the field of ponygirls ahead of her and entering her lungs. She coughed and sputtered around her bit a few times but did her best to keep breathing evenly. All she had to do was survive one lap.

As the group rounded the second corner, Lizzy put her all into it and caught up to and passed another of the rookie mares, getting some confidence in her movements as they straightened out and Lizzy saw Chancy already cross the finish line. She felt a measure of awe in her chest as she chased after the ponies ahead of her and finally crossed the line too, coming to a gradual halt and leaning forward, coughing harshly around her bit gag as she tried to vent dust from her lungs. Her throat felt rough and scratchy from all the dust she'd inhaled, and the infernal bridle and bit were making breathing even more difficult. And as she coughed and fought for air, the tightness of it became more apparent. It wasn't moving anywhere, she couldn't even get her hands up to touch it! It was rapidly stressing her out and the blonde pony began to shake and cough violently, beginning to panic as she could not get clear air into her lungs...

Emma watches the ponygirls jump off the line. Some of the rookies were startled by the loud bang of the starter pistol but Lizzy seemed oddly determined and broke into a full sprint, gaining an early lead on her near-peers. The blue-haired trainer was nervous as the puff of smoke from the pistol blows away in a light breeze and Rhea leans against the aged fence Emma was sitting on. She flips open her cigarette case while a stable hand stands by with a stop watch as the ponies race towards the first turn. The track itself was a half-mile in distance, meaning a lap could be anywhere from a minute and a half to five minutes, depending on the speed of the runner. The size made space for a larger crowd of ponies like there were today and minimized potential for injury. And as the younger, clumsier mares ran, they needed the space. Some veteran trainers snickered or pointed at less-than-graceful running forms but to everyone's credit on the field nobody had fallen over. Yet.

Rhea glances up at Emma sitting beside her and blows some smoke from her home-rolled cigarette. "Seems your pony's taking to running quite nicely." She mutters as the two Silverstone Ranch representatives watch the blonde pony run in her blue tack and saddle.

Emma hums, eyes unblinking as she watches Lizzy's running form from a distance and tries to commit to memory all the ways her pony could improve. "Y-yeah... she's been working really hard... though-"

"Though you didn't tell her about what losing would get her, did you? She's slowing down a bit. Half mile is tricky to do on your first go. Especially at a near-dead sprint in heavy and tall boots. I worry for her."

Emma raised an eyebrow and broke her stare on Lizzy. "You're... worried about her?"

Rhea grunts as the field of ponies reaches the second broad turn, the placements getting close to final as they reach the home stretch. "She's our only hope of salvaging the ranch's reputation. And look, Chancy's winning again. Fucking Keates Ranch..." the old woman grumbles as Chancy finishes first, beating the second-place runner by a dozen feet or so and the rest of the girls file in after her, placing about as expected based on skill and experience. The rookie group comes in as a trailing bundle but, to Emma's glee, Lizzy was only second to last.

"We... might have a shot after all... if she's not last, you know?" Emma asked carefully as the ponygirls came to a halt, panting and heaving through their bits though more experienced ones like Chancy barely seemed winded or, at the very least, hid it well.

Rhea snorted quietly but didn't disagree outright. "Lot of work to do... but maybe."

Emma watched as Lizzy came to a halt and tried to catch her breath, the trainer letting out a soft sigh of relief too. And then Lizzy began to cough. And cough more. Coughing uncontrollably... "Shit... no no no!" Emma exclaimed as she sprinted to her mare, catching the girl's bridle as she shook her head and squirmed violently. The hold on her bridle helped control her a bit and Emma quickly unclipped and yanked out the bit before pulling Lizzy to the center of the track where it was much clearer, as evidently the dust was causing an issue.

Lizzy coughed for a bit longer before finally sucking in a clear breath and stood upright, her hands drooping at her sides as her body dripped with sweat, dirt staining her body and drool dripping down her chin and chest as her bit dangled against her cheek. She turns and leans into Emma, heartbeat slowing down gradually from the height of arousal during the race. She's breathless, otherwise she might have spoken and thanked Emma for removing the bit.

Instead, Emma just wraps an arm around Lizzy's lower waist, supporting her as the ponygirl catches her breath. She looks up after a few moments. "Ready to get back to the group?" Emma asks as she reaches up to grab the bit, waiting for Lizzy to confirm it. A moment's hesitation and Lizzy quietly opens her mouth, waiting for her golden bit to get reattached and muffle her words once more.

Lucky Lizzy stands near the back of the cluster of ponygirls once again as Rhea talks with the two scouts, confirming GPS data of the trackers and confirming the event was done. Finally satisfied, she turns and barks out an order.

"Trainers! Get those trackers out and send your ponies to the grazing fields. They've earned a day. Trainer Tomna, Trainer Kend, see me for appropriate punishments and rewards. Kend, bring your mare, Opal. Chancy and Opal, good and bad work, respectively. Everyone else, see the scouts to return their trackers. Dismissed!"

Emma stands close beside Lizzy and rubs her mare's abdomen while her other hand drifts to Elizabeth's shaven pussy. She feels a quiver in her mare's body, muscles shuddering as the trainer's fingers gently brush and tease her delicate part. "Go on now, finally, push." She whispers as she gently thumbs and teases Lizzy's lips, waiting for the small tracker to slip free as Elizabeth flexes her muscles. She winced from her body clamping down and whimpered as the device slides out with a small spurt of fluids, the ponygirl gasping in relief as her head was swimming in perverted pleasure. The blue-haired girl wipes the device off with a small rag and twists it to turn it off before handing it over to Scott who, quite blatantly, was taking long stares at Lizzy when he had the chance. The pony wished she could cover herself but her hands remained stubbornly cuffed to her waist, so she just had to grit her teeth and bear it.

"Thank you, trainer. You did well to pick her. Seems like a cute girl." Scott murmurs as Emma hands the device back. He holds out a small card. "You ever need a... favor, you can give me a call. For... sensible compensations and such." He grins, a bit too eagerly for Lizzy's liking, and Emma takes the card with a bit of confusion on her face.

She stares at it for a moment before pocketing it silently. "Right. Thanks, I guess." Emma says blandly as she steps away from the man uncomfortably, taking Lizzy's lead and starting to guide her near-nude mare towards the grazing pasture.

Once out of earshot, the blue-haired girl mutters under her breath, "Don't count on it, creep..."

As they made their way towards the pasture, Lizzy found herself glancing around, checking on the other ponies to see if Checkers was finished but a glance back told her the black and red-themed mare was stuck with her trainer for a bit as the trainers spoke with Rhea and, at least to Lizzy's eye, the race loser Opal Gambit was looking quite nervous, increasingly so as her lead was handed over to Chancy's trainer, Tomna from the Keates Ranch, and then Chancy was handed off to Kend, Opal's trainer. The latter pair headed in towards the grazing pasture but Lizzy lost sight of Opal and Trainer Tomna... how curious.

She'd have to ask Chancy about it later... if she could manage to communicate her question, anyway...