Running Free

Lucky Lizzy shakes out her hair as Emma unclips the lead and "frees" the ponygirl, at the very least letting her off her leash and letting her walk of her own direction. She smiles up at her much taller cousin as she hangs the lead on the fence beside the gate to the grazing pasture.

"Well, there you go... you're on grazing time. And Rhea said the ponies are getting the rest of the day off. So after lunch, I'll swing by and see if you'd like to go anywhere else, do anything... but until tonight, you're just on break! You've more than earned it for sure." Emma gently rubs Lizzy's cheeks around her bridle, lightly tugging and wobbling the girl's head in a playful fashion. "Get yourself some shade and stay away from the stream, okay? The metal shoes on your hooves will slip fast even if they're more robust for other terrain. Just be safe, okay? I'll be back later!" Emma finally releases Lizzy and turns, heading out of the gate and back towards the ranch house for her own free time while a stable hand keeps an eye on the mares coming to the pasture.

Lucky Lizzy was left on her own, saddled and tacked. But at least without the need to train and work for a bit. She took a few tentative steps as her adrenaline was coming all the way down from the race. She was acutely aware of her exhaustion now. Her hands were still cuffed tightly to her saddle, that broad blue and golden belt around her waist. It restricted her breathing only very little, more so it gave her spine some helpful support, especially with her unsupported chest, and let her rest her arms and dangle her hands at her waist, since they weren't going anywhere else. The short clips attaching the padded cuffs about her wrists to her belt prevented her from reaching far, causing some level of frustration when she had an itch to scratch or wanted to wipe something off of herself but she was gradually growing used to the sensation or would rub herself against something to scratch an itch or whine and gesture for Emma to wipe off any splashes of mud or drool on her bare skin.

That same bare skin that the blue and gold tack did an elegant job of exposing. Despite the dusty grime that coated her after the race, Lizzy's face, with its soft, friendly features was framed like a piece of art with the colorful leather running up her cheeks and over her forehead with the cheek rings keeping the horizontal golden bit snugly in place between her teeth. She was still uncomfortable having her cheeks held back most of the time and often felt her mouth grow quite dry so she had learned to tilt her head back and swish around some drool to hydrate it again.

As the ponygirl began to pace through the grasses of the grazing pasture, she was acutely aware of that bit gag between her teeth. She gnawed on it softly, grinding her teeth slowly and feeling over it with her tongue. The rubber casing of the metal bit felt good on her teeth, a bit like a sports mouth guard. It was soft and chewy with just the right amount of give to be comfortable for her to bite onto when she ran. It certainly kept her from ever biting her tongue, at the very least. Especially when she stumbled or staggered, she was quite grateful that she wouldn't harm herself and could bite down to not hurt herself by biting her cheek or tongue.

A little stagger over a few stones brought her attention down to her boots. She was far more capable in her hoof-boots now after multiple days spent in them. But even still, she wasn't perfect. She stumbled on the rocks, staggered a few steps, and caught herself with a frantic wide stance and paniced eyes, briefly scared she'd topple over and hurt herself but was pleased with how she managed to stay upright on her hooves. And as she looked down to inspect what she'd tripped on and the dusty boots themselves, she blushed as she was reminded that she was completely exposed with this wide recovery stance. Her legs were spread, her tail dangling between her thighs and her pussy was proudly, or perhaps shamefully, on display. The usual "slick" Emma applied to her crotch after morning grooming was riddled with specks of dust, dulling the effect quite noticeably. Worse, deposits of dirt had collected in the crease of her thigh joints and labia, making her look and feel a quite bit dirtier than she usually was. The seam of her tall boots dug into her bare, toned thighs and collected a fair bit of dirt too and was chafing a little bit as her muscles stretched and her skin pulled taut beneath the leather boot cuff. It wasn't a problem yet, but was definitely growing uncomfortable with each step. Lizzy's eye traced down her covered leg and a faint blush formed as her human leg and foot ended instead in a hoof. The boots were quite intentional about the coloration with the cuff and sleeve of the boot being blue and gold while the hoof itself was a stark white. Though, it was only stark white at the beginning of a training day or after a shower. She didn't mind it getting dirty, however, as it was more like an indicator that she was working hard and earning each step in her ponylike nature.

And as her eyes tracked back up her shapely leg, Lizzy blushed even harder as she saw a fresh stain of wetness on her dusty thigh, streaking down through the thin veneer of dirt and quite blatantly marking out where her dribbles of arousal were leading. Elizabeth was furious at her body for constantly betraying her like this. But with the infernal plug in her bottom, the tightness of the ponygear, and the humiliation of being out in the open with all of it exposed... her body's arousal was nearly impossible to prevent. She'd grown partially used to it, letting it just be instead of constantly fussing over it... but even still, it was embarrassing to have streaks of pussy juice down her thighs!

"Did you drop something?"

Lucky Lizzy spins around as a familiar voice chirps at her from behind. She comes to a stop and finds herself facing Chancy Checkers, blushing nearly as red as the veteran mare's dyed hair as Lizzy's ample chest sways from the sudden movement. She caught Checker's gaze following Lizzy's body's movement, her chest, her thighs, her pony tail and plug tail swaying from the centrifugal force of her spinning to face Chancy. Was Chancy... observing her? For how long?

Lizzy murmured and grunted into her bit, vocalizing as best she could and drooling a bit as she looked away. The blonde mare quickly brought her legs together and hid away her delicates between her thighs, even twisting her lower body a bit to hide it but her chest was simply free for Chancy to observe.

The older mare snickers and paces over to Lizzy, her own body a bit dusty after the race but far, far less than Lizzy. The red and black mare had been in the lead the whole time, after all. Her inverse-bunny suit was in good condition. The over-the-shoulder sleeves and tall boot-stockings covered most of her body, hiding her arms, shoulders, legs, and most of her buttocks. Contrary to Lizzy, the slightly older mare only had her chest, stomach, and holes exposed. A sort of garter belt connected her two stockings to one another, keeping them up and pressing into her toned groin just below her belly button and over the curve of her ass.

Chancy's hoof boots dug into the grass as her unbound and unbridled condition let her act much more freely than Lizzy. "I'm just teasing. I saw you stumble a bit. You're getting much better at catching yourself." She praises, smiling as she brushes some dust off of Lizzy's saddle. From here, Lizzy could see the mare's collar, to which her armbinder was attached during races, was still on her neck but the armbinder was likely hung up somewhere, freeing the black and red harlequin-themed mare. She slid in beside Lizzy, one hand going around the small of Lizzy's back comfortably, like a friend, while her other hand reached up to cup Lizzy's hefty tit. Chancy began walking and dragged Lizzy along, bringing the pair towards a secluded cluster of trees. She grinned at Lizzy as she lightly bounced the younger mare's bare chest in her open palm. "First few days in those boots and I swear these teats were covered in mud more often than not from all your tumbles and falls. And your trainer was always marking you up with the crop and whip. Good on you for getting better, Liz. Not as many spank-marks!"

Lizzy huffed around her bit as the mare she had grown to admire complimented her. She didn't try to pull away or even deny the veteran mare's hands on her body. If anyone in the world understood the mindset Lizzy was living with these days, it would have been Checkers. And, loathe as Elizabeth was to admit it... it did feel quite nice. The two made it to the cluster of trees and loitered in the shade, recovering from the brilliant sprint of a race moments earlier. With her hands free, Chancy gently tugged at and reaffixed Lizzy's gear, such as pulling her saddle into place more securely or clearing out a bit of dirt from the younger mare's boots. She even bent over at the waist, keeping her legs straight like ponygirls were often trained to do, and re-tightened the lacing at the back of Lizzy's boots before giving the blonde mare a light pat on the bottom, pacing around slowly and seeming... a bit aimless. Lizzy was a bit perplexed, even if she was a bit aroused at having Checkers attend to her. Chancy often spoke a lot, almost flaunting her condition of being un-bitted, but it seemed like she had something on her mind and was avoiding saying it.

Lizzy, unable to speak, steps forward and lightly nudges Checkers' covered calf with her hoof, giving a sort of inquisitive look at the black and red mare, humming and mumbling through her bit for a moment before Chancy sighed and turned around to face Lizzy, stepping in close and hooking her thumbs into Lizzy's saddle and taking the younger girl's hands in her own.

"What's wrong? I'm just disappointed with my trainer, is all." She responded, guessing Lizzy's intended question. She wasn't incorrect. "She's off... well... enjoying Opal after the poor thing lost. And... it could have been you losing, honestly. You fell behind there..." Checkers said softly, eyes not quite meeting Lizzy's, tracing cautious lines along the blonde's features. "Trainer Tomna is good at her job. But... I feel like she indulges a bit. It was a friendly, impromptu race. It's not like there was anything on the line... she didn't have to take Opal. And she likes to make little wagers like that at my expense." Chancy looks up, noticing the blank look of unfamiliarity on Lizzy's face and she smiles weakly. "Right, you're still new here. Not familiar with the culture and how we settle things. If a pony or trainer have a... disagreement, we typically race for it. It's a lot safer than just kicking each other to death, you know? So... Riley just kind of gambles to settle stuff, since she knows she'll win since I'm the best here. And what would I do, lose? Then it's my ass, since it's not like trainers ever get the short end of the stick. No, it's always us mares. Opal's trainer just got coached and chastised real quick then got made to bring me here... and instead for little filly Opal, she's getting fucked stupid by Tomna for the crime of being last."

Lizzy's heart stopped. What did Chancy Checkers mean that Opal Gambit was being fucked? What? What did she mean!? The blonde mare whines and huffs, shifting a bit in Chancy's grip, trying to indicate her shock.

The black and red-haired woman tilts her head slightly, understanding crossing her face. "Ah... Trainer Emma didn't tell you... she must have been trying to spare your attitude. Well... um... look. Like, actually look at us, doll." Checkers slips her right hand free of Lizzy's and traces it down her body, cupping her own B-cup breast and grazing down her flat, toned stomach before gently gliding her fingers between her thighs, enrapturing Lizzy's eyes as she did. "We strut around naked, just little beasts prancing around. Cute fucktoys and dolls for people to admire. And you know what? I adore it, you know? It's my life and I love it. But... it also has a certain... allure to others. Trainers often get into the field to be around all of us beautiful mares... and some abuse that. It's part of the deeper culture... losers lose. Lose the right to choose, to relax, to be calm. I'm sure your trainer knows it. She's probably excited about it too. Given the chance, she'd fuck a loser too. It's what the trainers do, even if they fully believe in this whole sport and put their all into your education."

Lizzy pants softly as Checkers' right hand slides back into place over hers, still holding the blonde mare close with her grip on Lizzy's saddle as the near-nude ponygirls stand underneath the shade of the trees. Chancy seemed genuinely unsettled but didn't know how to resolve it, which was not helping calm the younger mare. Lizzy tilts her chin up, humming and gesturing softly even as her blush remained from being so close to the mare she quietly admired, her thighs quite intentionally staying glued together to hide her dripping arousal as Checkers poured out her concerns, too ashamed to show off her leaking pussy.

"What do I do about it? Well... nothing, really. It's the way things are. We're going to compete in front of all sorts of viewers. Bets, gambles, wagers... that's the money right there. It's what gets us into it, but not what keeps us here. I sure could have retired a while ago... but I love this. I just... wish my current trainer wasn't using me to sate her lust." Checkers meets Lizzy's eye and grins weakly, nodding as Lizzy's eyes betray confusion. "Yeah, she's not my first. I'm..." the trained mare slips free again and goes for her stockings. The reverse bunny suit style of her outfit often hid "most" of her body and as she unclipped the garter belt across her waist and tugged the left leg of her outfit down to her mid-thigh, Lizzy saw a swath of tattoos decorating the mare's skin, hidden by her usual pony uniform. Checkers twists slightly and shows off her left buttock, showing Lizzy a checkered flag-like pattern wrapping around her hip and ass. Lizzy often caught herself staring at Chancy but this was her first time seeing these tattoos. It seemed like the veteran intentionally kept them covered up while at the ranch. What she... ashamed of them?

But even more than the tattoos was a small un-inked spot on the side and about the middle of the curve of her ass cheek. Chancy turned enough to show it off and pulled her cheek taut, letting Lizzy see a small cluster of 4 scar marks. The flesh of the side of her ass cheek appeared to have been precisely seared several times in somewhat intricate patterns, leaving apparently permanent markings side-by-side from one another.

Brands.

Chancy huffs as she meets Lizzy's eye again, smiling weakly. "Tomna there is my sixth trainer. She hasn't said she wants to brand me, yet, but that's usually reserved for after a season finale. It's a sort of... promise to come back next year, right? Shows a mare's dedication to the sport. But... why so many brands? I just... can't seem to find a trainer who follows through on that promise. And now I'm marked for every person who abandoned me. Isn't that fun?" Checkers slowly tugs her boot sleeve back up and clicks her garter in place, hiding much of her ass and only exposing the middle of her buttocks, her tail, her pussy, her stomach and chest once again, as usual.

Checkers crosses her arms under her chest, clearly out of sorts compared to her usually jovial and confident demeanor. Why was she confiding all this in Lizzy? "And a bunch of trainers who know me won't take me on either. Since I have a... reputation for being unlucky. Fast, but unlucky. My trainers last basically half a season most times. I start a season with one, get halfway through, win a bunch, and then they quit or trade me away. I get a replacement trainer and then they do the same... after branding me or making me win bets for them, the fuckers..." Checkers snorts as she vents a bit of frustration, finally forcing a smile as she looks back to Lizzy. "Just, do yourself a favor? Be nice to your trainer. You really don't want to be a last-minute trade-away. I only stick to being a pony because... what else would I do? Could you see yourself being stuck in an office, dressed prim and proper, or at like, some café or something after all this? I sure can't..."

Lizzy felt her head swim for a moment. No, she couldn't see herself doing that. She'd completed college, sought internships and employment... and just now something sort of clicked. Perhaps her life hadn't gone quite right before because her heart hadn't been fully in it. She was just doing what she was "supposed to do" instead of finding what would set her free.

Checkers looks over again, seeing Lizzy's look of vague realization and smiles apologetically as she mistook the blonde's expression for a different emotion. "Sorry, I didn't mean to trauma dump on you. Come on, have a sit and rest. You earned it... and hey, maybe one of these days, it'll be you sending me to your trainer's preferred stall for a fuck, huh? Gonna have to challenge one another some day and find out. But for now... rest. C'mon, the others are coming over too."

Checkers gestures over Lizzy's shoulder where Cotton Candy, Coal Corvid, and Emerald Vine, the earth and nature-themed mare that made up the last of Checkers' friend group, were all coming over. Seems their quiet, shared moment was over. Lizzy didn't make any attempts to stop the others from coming over as it seemed Checkers wanted the company.

But the blonde mare definitely had a lot to think about in her stall that night, particularly after seeing Trainer Kend, Opal Gambit's trainer, spend some extra time at the shower stands applying some soothing ointments in and outside of the girl's pussy. Even under the shower water and at a distance, it was clearly red and raw from some excessive activity down there earlier. Lizzy shuddered at the thought that that could have been her instead. Part of her, Elizabeth, feared it. Lucky Lizzy... as she meandered in her stall and saw the rubber horse cock Emma had installed there... Lucky Lizzy wondered how it felt.