Running Free

Elizabeth yawned, her mouth opening even wider around her bit as Emma finished cinching up her saddle and checking her tall ponyboots. The leather sleeves of the sturdy garments were snug on her thighs and cinched up nicely, preventing them from slipping out of place or getting tangled up in anything. It was an essential feature for someone who effectively lived in these boots and was unable to fix them herself. With her bridle tight and properly decorating her head and face, Emma clips on a set of reins, a bit unusually, and gives Lizzy a gentle tug, bringing the tacked pony out of her stall and into the central "hallway" of the stable. The two walked slowly with Lizzy's metal-shoed boots clicking on the concrete of the ponygirls' home. The mare was a bit slower today than usual. She'd been feeling sore and pained from all the work over the last few days and she was feeling it today. Still, she knew that they were running out of time before the beginning of the races, so she couldn't delay.

And besides, it was a slow start to the day. The scouts' visit and the "benchmark race" had been a week ago now and Rhea Silverstone had been pushing her entire roster of trainers to work hard and push their mares even harder. The start of the season was less than four weeks away now and crunch time had come.

And, despite her urgency for the trainers, Rhea had called Emma up to speak with her privately after the group inspection. Emma had been fairly quiet while she brought Lizzy back to her stall, left for a bit, and finally came back to check on Lizzy's gear and finally walk her out of her stall. The two made their way down the row of stalls and up to a pair of gorgeous women, one in full pony tack and the other in a low-cut tank top tucked into her belted riding pants and boots. Her bare arms and exposed skin was tanned from her occupation spent training women in the art of being a pony and her face had sharp, model-like features. Framing her beautiful face was a head of black hair dyed with some deep green accents that caught the light in little flashes as she turned, giving her hair some flair in its appearance. Beside her, a raven-black mare stood calmly in minimal tack, wearing just a simple black saddle around her waist like Lizzy's, an unlocked but tightly-strapped bit gag with no over-the-head harness, knee-high boots, and her raven-black tail.

"Lucky Lizzy, this is Trainer Janine Anders."

Lizzy squirmed a little bit as Emma, her blue-haired cousin and ponygirl trainer, held her reins and forced the tacked, mostly-nude ponygirl-in-training to present herself in front of this relative stranger and the fairly familiar mare while introducing her. She'd obviously seen Janine around the ranch, there weren't too many people here after all, but the mare hadn't ever had a reason to interact with most of the other trainers besides observing silently or standing aside respectfully when they walked their ponies along. Especially since she was Corv's trainer, Lizzy had seen her fairly often but rarely took significant notice of her.

"Janine is Coal Corvid's trainer, I've seen you herding with her a few times. Janine offered to take you on as a tandem today since... well, miss Rhea said she had some stuff to do with me." Emma says, curiously avoiding explaining just what she had to to. At least to her tacked and saddled mare. "So... be a good pony and behave properly. I've given her permission to flog and crop you as needed, and if she says you did well, I'll... well, we haven't had a properly good time with that rubber horse cock in a while. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

Elizabeth grinds her teeth on her bit gag as her body betrays its desire for that. A bit of drool down the inside of her thigh says yes she would like that. The rational, sane part of her brain, the little foggy bit that was always so difficult to give attention to these days said she shouldn't want it. Not like this. The rest of her... desperately wanted it. Worse, she caught a glance from Corvid, making the blonde mare blush and avoid the more experienced pony's eyes. She looked at Emma and hummed softly, wishing she didn't have to confirm in front of other people that she would indeed like to get fucked by the flared sex toy Emma had for her. But Lizzy raises a hoof and gently taps it down, the sound metallic click of her hoof indicating approval or acceptance of her given conditions. Do well, get pleasure. Do poorly, and...

Emma smiles, cupping Lizzy's cheek with a hand, "Thank you, Lizzy. Jan, thank you so much, I owe you one." The shorter, blue-haired girl says as she hands off the blonde mare's reins to the trainer. Janine smiles back.

"Oh sure, no problem miss Foxxe. We have to support the younger trainers else the craft goes extinct. Give Rhea my love, I'll take good care of your girl. Corv's needed some more tandem work after all... she refuses to work with Checkers these days."

Corvid, bitted and unable to respond, huffs through her nostrils and angrily stamps a hoof as she dramatically turns her head to the side. Lizzy, having seen how Corv and Checkers "work" together... she wasn't terribly surprised. The generally quiet, austere, and sometimes serious mare had limits, it seemed.

"Now, go on. I'll take good care of her. Rhea's not gonna wait on you forever. Go on!" Janine says, playfully pushing Emma out of the stable and leaving Lizzy, for the very first time, fully saddled, tacked, booted, bitted, plugged, and exposed in somebody else's control entirely and willingly. As Lizzy watched Emma stride away, Janine gently tugged her reins and dragged her eyes away, keeping her hands to herself and just looking Lizzy directly in the eyes, completely ignoring Lizzy's bare, ample chest and silky-smooth skin. Somehow, not being looked at... almost made the humiliation worse for Lizzy. As if this attractive woman... didn't even see Elizabeth herself as a woman. Just a pony.

"C'mon, girl. Let's go and get you two lined up. We've got some training to do. And Em might be gone for a while, so let's work hard until she gets back! Let's go, Corv." She says, giving Lizzy's reins a tug whereas Corvid merely struts out and heads towards a training ring. As she walked, her knees came up high and her eyes only gave quick glances at Lizzy as the raven-haired, pale-skinned mare "demonstrated" what she clearly thinks is proper walking form, as if modelling it for Lizzy.

Janine didn't seem too bothered or hurried to begin, instead taking a casual pace with Lizzy and letting her go at a comfortable speed and still holding her reins, as if to prove to Lizzy both who was in charge and that she was going to take good care and control of her. Once the trio made it to a running ring with an unoccupied bullpen in the center, she grabbed a guide whip and inspected it to ensure it wasn't frayed or damaged before giving it a light snap, instantly getting Corv's attention while Lizzy lagged a bit. "A few laps to warm up, then you two will do some tandem line work and if we have time after some pulling. It's important for chariot mares like you to figure that out, and Emma said you hadn't gotten much time in a yoke. So we'll get some things figured out, okay? Let's go, show me you at least know your whip commands." She says, her gentle voice sharpening up noticeably as she readies the whip and snaps it once. Corv sets off at a slow canter and Lizzy follows suit a step behind. Several more commands come up and before long the two mostly-nude girls are trotting around the dirt track, getting coached and inspected by the black-haired trainer. Her voice was sharp and crisp, easily heard even over the tramping sound of boots on dirt. Each time the two finished a lap, she watched Lizzy closely, her gaze low on the mare's body.

Lizzy was terrified the woman could see how badly the blonde mare's pussy was gushing from being commanded by a relative stranger, especially alongside another of her ponygirl sisters. By her third lap, Lizzy had fallen behind Corvid a little bit, but not by a full lap. As she finished the lap, Janine gestured for Lizzy to come close and stop. The mare did so and Janine stepped in close, her face neutral and eyes intense. She reached out and caught Lizzy by the front of her saddle, just above and between the girl's bound hands and tugged sharply, pulling Lizzy forward as the trainer twirled the handle of the whip in her hand and ran the butt of the tool down Lizzy's abdomen and directly to her bare-shaven cunt and grinds it against her labia. As she pulls the black leather tool away, a gooey strand of Lizzy's aroused juices stay attached to it, making the mare blush madly and begin panting into her bit gag, her eyes defocusing a bit.

"Your trainer also said you might need some attention here if you get distracted. I need you to catch up and keep pace with Corvid this lap. Show me you can do that and this only happens once."

Before Lizzy could get her breathing under control, Janine suddenly releases her grip on Lizzy's saddle, pulls the handle of the whip away, and fully claps her open hand onto Lizzy's pussy, spanking the poor girl's snatch with a wicked sharp strike. The new mare screeched into her gag from the sudden impact and a second spank on her buttocks got her moving again right as Corvid finished her lap.

Lizzy ran like hell to catch up to Corv, whimpering softly into her bit from the two sharp spanks, managing to get herself under control and keep pace even if it was shockingly difficult. For all her appearances of being aloof and unbothered, Corv turned out to be quite a good runner and easily kept a quick pace even as she maintained perfect posture, keeping upright with her chest out and eyes forward. Lizzy's form was far more disorganized as she leaned forward to use her body weight for momentum, making her chest sway a bit awkwardly and her steps come up low. But, despite her clumsy method, she managed to keep up with Corvid and earned a few whip-calls from Janine and a sharp whistle calling them both to halt. "Good job, girls. Good warmup. Into the pen with you!" She barks as she marches across the dirt track and to the well-trodden circle around the rotating post of the bullpen. It was something Lizzy had worked with a fair bit but never with someone else leashed to the other arm. This was going to be an interesting lesson.

Corvid lets out a breath around her bit calmly as she comes to a stop and turns sharply, immediately cantering to the bullpen hardly winded looking like a true professional. Lizzy pants a bit more aggressively from working so hard to keep up on just a "warmup" but does manage to canter after her, entering the circle of the bullpen. Corvid makes her way right up to Janine and turns around, facing Lizzy as the model-like trainer takes the braided wire and runs it down between Corv's legs, tightly pulling it up to slide between the mare's exposed pussy and attaches it to a hook on the front of her harness. The raven-haired mare merely winces once as the sun-warmed wire digs into her soft skin and she steps side-to-side slightly, getting accustomed to the sensation easily.

Lizzy trots over to the other arm as Corv gets attached to the post, eyeing the mare carefully to see how to best behave. Janine comes over once Corvid is hooked up and takes the second wire and comes in close to Lizzy, eyes running up and down the blonde's body. The pony had no way to stop Janine from looking, obviously, so she merely gnawed on her bit and tried to ignore the feelings bubbling up in her belly. Worst of all, she could feel her body anticipating the wire and her tender privates were already buzzing with excitement and leaking up a storm.

"Emma sure knows how to pick 'em. Quite a good look about you, pony, messy as you are." Janine says with a little teasing tone to her voice. "Come here, though. All looks and no skill makes for a poor mare." Janine says patiently as she turns Lizzy around, putting Corv off to Lizzy's left, and feeds the braided wire between the girl's thighs from behind and snugs it up tight against her groin before hooking it up to the front of her saddle, just between and out of reach of Lizzy's cuffed hands. Janine stands upright and gives Lizzy a small smirk as she slowly pulls on the braided wire, lifting it up and causing Lizzy to groan and whine into her bit as her hips come up to try and alleviate the pain of the sun-warmed braided wire flossing between her labia. "Emma says you've never worked tandem. It's simple. Keep pace with your partner and neither of you will feel this," She says, giving the wire an extra sharp tug to draw the metal wire through Lizzy's thighs and pussy lips before gradually releasing her pressure, leaving Lizzy panting and moaning into her bit, "if you two work together nicely, you'll both just get a dull pull. Much easier to bear. If you feel the wire gaining pressure, digging in a bit harder, it means Corv's working harder than you and you need to hurry and catch up. Too much of that, and I'll order a stop and the slower mare gets a good cropping. You need to be able to keep balance and pace. Work a little too hard too, bully your partner... well, I think that deserves a punishment too. Think you can handle it? Let's find out."

Janine doesn't bother waiting for any confirmation from Lizzy. It was happening with or without her permission. Instead, she takes a step back and cracks the whip once, causing the two ponygirls to set into motion. The blonde is again a step slower to get to it but at least it was faster than during their warmup.

Lizzy looks down at herself and moans shrilly, wincing as, only half a lap around the bullpen later, the braided wire is tugging tightly against her cunt. The wire had been hanging in the sun all morning and wasn't exactly cold and the braided texture of the sleek metal felt intense on her soft folds. Her walking form caused her to shift her weight up and down, forwards and back and this caused the wire to repeatedly slide along her folds and scrub against her clitoris! The way it even applied a bit of pressure on her rectum made her clench tight on her tail plug, generally causing a massive overload of pain and pleasure for the exhibitionist mare. Across from her, Corv didn't even seem to be doing it intentionally. Just trotting along at a "calm" pace as Lizzy could barely keep from losing balance as the pressure from the wire pulled her bottom out and backwards from beneath her chest.

The blonde grits her teeth tightly and steels herself. Her eyes were watering as pain radiates from her thighs and especially her groin and lower abdomen. She digs her hooves into the dirt beneath her, trying to find purchase to gain momentum and catch up to Corv. The pressure gradually reduces on her cunt and she lets out a soft gasp of relief. Just for it to tighten again as she eases back from the relief, a permanent dull ache in her gut from this routine.

This was going to be hellish training.

Emma felt bad as she made her way out of the stable and straight to the ranch house. Passing through the dirt courtyard that served as the primary parking lot of the ranch, she spotted a couple new cars and a truck she didn't recognize.

Stepping up to the house and rounding the corner to Rhea's office, she knocked on the doorframe and stood waiting to be acknowledged as she peered in and saw two men waiting in Rhea's office. Both turned to look at Emma as she announced herself, but only one smiled. Of the two, one was a portly man, round about the belly with thinning hair and a tailored suit. The other man was a bit more rugged. Taller, broader in the shoulder than the waist and with much more hair on his head though all of it was white. Emma estimated above 60 years of age for both men with different levels of grace to their aging. Rhea sat at her desk just past the men and nodded simply.

"Trainer Emma Foxxe, good, you're here. Gentlemen, the mare's trainer." The older woman said blandly, gesturing to Emma. Rhea was, a bit abnormally, dressed in a tidy suit as opposed to her more aged and rugged work clothes.

That put Emma on pause. The mare's trainer? She stepped forward, trying to hide and anxiety and extended her hand to the taller man first, forcing a smile despite her nerves. "Good morning, gentlemen. Please, just Emma is fine." She said, shaking the first man's hand and then the second, trying to appear impartial even if the shorter, fatter man did have an odd look about him. He seemed to stare longer than was necessary but not quite long enough to call him on it. She avoided the urge to cross her arm across her chest but the taller man speaking drew the shorter man's attention.

"Miss Foxxe, pleasure to meet you. I'm Charles Rensworth, this is-"

"Bellthorpe. Richard Bellthorpe." Said the balding man, cutting in for an introduction.

Emma smiled as politely as she could, still totally unaware why she was here. Rhea's sudden speaking up saved her asking any questions.

"These two men, miss Foxxe, are interested in your mare and are considering sponsoring her."

Emma leaned around the broad-framed Rensworth and crooked an eyebrow, confused. "S-sponsor, ma'am? But... we haven't even had a race yet."

The old woman snickered. "You had one."

Emma's eyes widened as she looked between the two men who both held knowing expressions. "But... she was almost last in that scouting race... she-"

"She did remarkably... pleasantly." Bellthorpe said, grasping his button-up coat and tugging it across his chest and resting his elbows on his fat love handles. "Speed isn't everything in this business, young lady. Little... Lizard, was it? Liz-something. She's got a great visual appeal and I'd like her to represent the Bellthorpe brand at shows."

The other man scoffed and moved to a nearby chair, taking a broad duster hat off of the seat and plopping down before putting his hat on his lap. "She's a runner you twit, not a show-pony."

The fatter man guffawed. "Hardly a problem. She can run a little race here and there and then come by my suite after the race, slap a few labels and marks on her, and let her entertain for the next few hours before sending her home to my stables." He grinned wide, fixing his eyes on Emma. "Doesn't that sound nice?"

Emma felt a deeply uncomfortable chill run down her spine and looked to Rhea who, tactfully, held a very neutral expression and remained silent for now. Emma swallows and tries to respond. "Um, y-yes, sir. That... does sound... not really what I intend for her. And her name is Lizzy. We're going to be a running team. And win!"

Rensworth grunts and shifts in his seat but it's Bellthorpe that speaks, chuffing and waving a hand dismissively. "Yes, yes, every pretty pair says that at the beginning of the season. But when you lose every race in your rookie year, it's hard to stay in the business. Think of it. Do you want to go bankrupt on gear costs and stable rentals or do you want to get rich?" He steps forward, closing the distance between him and Emma and she can smell his cologne over Rhea's office's usual tobacco smell. She didn't like it. "I'd even be willing to work you both over like that... I'd pay double for a trainer and mare to share the stage... think about it." He says as Emma squirms in her boots, trying to not give up ground and back away. He pulls out a business card and tucks it into her belt, smirking. "Offer's on the card. Call me. I'll pay more than anyone else. Charles there included."

The other man grunts at the implied insult but Richard Bellthorpe doesn't seem to care as he turns and nods at Rhea. "Miss Silverstone. Seems your ranch can still find new talent. Though, not runners. Pity you lost the touch. Good day." He turns and walks out of Rhea's office, the ranch house, and to one of the new cars Emma saw in the parking lot before a chauffer drove him off the property.

The moment the fat man made it out of the office, Rensworth lets out a low grunt and stands up too, placing his aged hat on top of his head before pacing over to Emma. He pulls out a small business card, scribbles on it for a moment, and hands it to Emma. "Seems he's not interested in a real negotiation, so there's no point in me trying. Here, girl. Look at the number, think about it, call any time. Your Lucky Lizzy seems like a pretty girl. Rhea filled me in on her... situation though. If you're so short on training time, you may want to consider shifting into a different field for her before the season begins. Show-pony, server, entertainer, that sort of thing. Then next year you can come back with some money and time to run a competitive racer. Think on it." He turns and tips his hat at Rhea, "Ma'am. I am sorry you're having a run of rough luck. It'll turn around. Good day, ma'ams."

Emma stands a bit stunned, hardly able to think as the two men barely seemed to be interested in speaking with her or hearing what she had to say and more on relating what they wanted to say. Once he's gone, Rhea finally speaks.

"I told them some of your situation..."

Emma looks at her, a bit downcast. "But not that we have our own little wager, right?"

Rhea curls her lip in a slight scowl. "No. But I 'spose that's your choice now. Sell off your mare to be a little piece of eye candy and get rich or probably lose every race all season and lose your bet."

Emma scowls back, trying to seem confident. "We're going to win. I'll prove it." She finally looks down at the card in her hand and her eyes balk. Rensworth's offer on his card read an eye-watering $1,500,000. For one season of... serving drinks and looking pretty? That's... basically what Elizabeth was doing as a barista, right? Cautiously, she peels the other man's card from her belt and feels her blood run cold. $4,000,000. She looks up to see a smirk on Rhea's face.

"Not so easy to say you'll pass on the money, huh? Either you try your best and take your chances or sell out now. Well, let's go see door number three. She's in the parlor." Rhea points to the door as she stands up and leads Emma out of her office and to the sitting room down the hall and across the ranch house from Rhea's corner office. There, a polite-looking woman, seemingly in her late thirties or forties, stands from a high-back chair and smiles coyly at Emma. She wasn't dressed for business or business-casual like the men had been. Instead she wore sturdy jeans and boots with a tucked-in button-up shirt, the top few buttons undone to reveal the top fringe of a tan sports bra beneath the white shirt. A single Dutch braid of reddish hair cascades over her left shoulder and she grins at Emma as she reaches out and shakes the young trainer's hand. The younger girl could feel callouses on the woman's palms, a clear sign of physical labor. She was conventionally attractive and fit, Emma guessed the fitness was from the work she did. There was no doubt in the young girl's mind this woman worked hard for a living. As she stared at this relative stranger, Emma had the oddest feeling she'd seen the woman around before.

When the redhead spoke, it was with a slightly playful, chipper tone. "So, this is your new protégé, hey mom?"