Name: Red Velvet (in her prime years, now just Velvet)
Age: 22
Appearance:
Horse Breed: Quarter Horse
Former Owner: Michelle Coleman
Likes: Reminiscing, galloping, sunny pastures, wind in her mane, distant thunder, sweet smells, large crowds, younger horses, telling stories, having meaningful discussions
Dislikes: Being stuck in her stall for days, when the youngsters go to shows, humid weather, cold, harsh voices, bully horses
Backstory: Velvet was born in a primarily quarter horse barn, known for breeding horses of wonderful stamina. Her first 3 years were filled with warmth and adventure, as she found a joy in racing. She was the most energetic filly at the barn, and it wasn't a surprise when she was chosen by a young up and coming barrel racer, Michelle Coleman. At the time the girl was only 15, but experience and confidence already exuded from her. Their bond was swift and strong, as Michelle taught Velvet all she now knows, and not just of barrel racing. She taught her the joy of watching a sunset, the peace in listening to the birds as they awoke in the morning, as often she would sleep in her stall, that is when her mother didn't catch her. Velvet loved the girl with all her heart, and knew she would do anything for her. When she had heard of training, she had been skeptical and wary, but with Michelle, it hardly felt like training! It was a bonding experience, a balance of trust each time. And it was in record time that she was able to be fully tacked up, and cued to move through her gaits with a simple click or kiss. That year seemed to fly by in golden warmth of love and trust, and in the next year, they began to ride together. And she never once threw her rider. Within half a year they were cantering through fields, racing through forests, and fording over streams. Trail rides became their life, and it built up Velvet's stamina wonderfully. Again, a year passed. And then they began to train, for something that would become Velvet's life blood. Barrels. The pattern, the speed, the desperate adrenaline of throwing herself around those barrels, it thrilled her to her soul. Nothing made her more happy or charged than to take off through that pattern, whipping herself around those barrels and plunging forwards, giving her all for her rider. At the age of 7, they entered the city's rodeo. Velvet was a bit nervous with all the noise, but with Michelle on her back, she could know no fear. Together they rode up to the gate, then burst forward, flashing past the timer, and throwing themselves around the barrels. Each time Michelle's toe scraped the large obstacles, but never did they tip as Velvet put all her young muscle into the turns. When they raced out, their time was 15.7. Amazing for such a green horse! And from there, their career grew.
Five more years passed in glory, shining lights and cheering crowds, stomping hooves and loudspeakers blaring, all was music to Velvet's ears. Their names grew to fame, Red Velvet and Michelle Coleman, the Turbo Duo, and they began riding in parades. Fancy tack with jingling bells and colorful fringes and loud bands trumpeting beside them. Velvet never lost her calm or her focus during these times, always being sure to give the crowd a show of her racing spirit as she tossed her head and whinnied, her hooves clattering in a swift pattern on the stones. But always she listened to her rider, never trying to run if she was told to hold back.
At the age of 15 for Velvet, and 27 for Michelle, the Nationals came. They had prepared for these for years, and now the time had arrived. They entered with a flash of colors and a thunder of hooves as Velvet strained herself to give her all, her muscles bulging. The first two barrels they swept around breathtakingly, Michelle's boot almost scraping the arena. And then the third barrel. They were headed for it perfectly, when suddenly Velvet's hoof sunk deep in a hole in the sand, and an agonizing pain ran up her leg. Michelle immediately felt something wrong in the way Velvet threw herself around that barrel in a scramble, and tried to pull her up, but this time, it was not happening. Velvet had some knowledge of how important this was, and there was no way she was letting any pain stop herself. For the first time, she wrenched the bit in her teeth, and ran. She ran for her rider, for herself, for the roaring crowd, for the screaming loudspeaker, and for her pounding heart. As she flashed over the line, the time blinked on the screen. 13.27. The fastest time of the night. The crowd went wild, but tears were running down Michelle's face as she threw herself from Velvet's back to pick up her leg, which she was now holding off the ground slightly. It was already beginning to swell, and she was rushed to the vet. The rest was a blur of pain and darkness for her. When she came out of it, her leg wrapped, the pain lessened, she heard a murmur around her that she had injured her tendon. And she knew in a sinking moment, her days as a barrel racer were over. Michelle was over as soon as she heard she was awake, and she showed her, with tears in her eyes, a golden buckle. They had won. It brought peace to Velvet's heart as the two stood together, rejoicing and mourning at the same time.
The next two years were calmer ones for Velvet. It took months for her leg to fully heal enough to do some small galloping, and she showed in some small rodeos, still taking the money most of the time. But each time, her leg would hurt, and finally Michelle decided to stop. She could no longer endanger her horse, as good as she was. They moved on from there to parades, as they were quite famous, and so they went around the states for the next year. But finally, her leg hurt too much even for that much of frequent movement. And with a heavy heart, Michelle responded to an offer she'd gotten. She could retire Velvet to a barn for jumper horses. They were wanting a fiery yet calm tempered mare to help with their high strung jumpers. It was close enough for Michelle to visit whenever she wished, and so, she took it up. Velvet was boarded into the trailer, and driven over, where she was placed in a warm stall, with plenty of padding under her hooves. A small pasture opened up right at the back of her stall, which connected to the larger one the other horses were turned out to. But her heart yearned for the races.
A year calmed her though, as she stood in her field watching the young ones frolic, she realized how old she was, and she became at peace with her life. She'd had a good run, and now it was time for her to help the other young mares to go forward with their careers and lives. Swiftly after that, she became a motherly figure to all in the barn, listening to their problems, and helping them through them, making them see life for what it was, not what it seemed. Her posture always exuded a warmth and confidence gained from being a seasoned champion. And most wonderful, Michelle still visited as often as she could, and the two would sit together in the pasture, or sometimes Michelle would even clamber to her back to lie on her as they watched the sun move downwards in the sky. Together they would always be in spirit.
Two years passed as she became a solid figure in the barn, sometimes ignored by some up and coming horses, other times confided in, but all the horses seemed to come and go. None stayed long. And then... one day, a young skittish yet very sweet mare was brought to the barn. Her brown coat was powdered with white, and her form was lithe and strong. She immediately caught Velvet's attention as she jumped when her stall door was slid shut, and she looked around with such nervous unknowing that it cut Velvet's heart. Immediately she made contact with the young mare, nickering to her reassuringly, telling her of how safe this place was, and how her life would gain a purpose and a wonderful sense of satisfaction now. She was thankful her stall was just beside the mares, as the young mare drifted off to a nervous sleep after. That night it seemed she couldn't sleep, and the two talked more. She found her name was Ruby, and she learned of her story, and of why she was so lonely looking. Her two best friends had not accompanied her. Velvet sympathized, and immediately attatched herself to the mare, telling her many fabulous stories of parades and races from times past.
Not long past until two more mares showed up, and it was quickly found out that they were Ruby's long lost childhood friends! It put a spark of joy back in the young mare's eyes that Velvet was glad to see. And so, Velvet watched as the mare grew. Truly it sometimes seemed she was seeing in her a reflection of her younger self, the fire, the passion, and yet the love she had for her girl. Velvet became a mentor and confidant to the eager, slightly skittish, sweet up and comer. In fact, if she had to admit it, and she did often to herself, her bond with Ruby was the closest she had ever come to having a foal of her own. The two spoke together often late at night, and she ended up sharing almost her entire life with the young mare. True she still did the same with other mares that came, but all the others seemed much more confidant, and full of thoughts that they knew all about the world. But Ruby, Ruby was prepared to learn, and eager to do so as well. And so, their bond grew.
And then, one night, Ruby was suddenly taken from the barn. Velvet woke in the night to see the mare being loaded into a trailer, the actions of her owner hurried. Velvet began nervously pawing the dirt, and then suddenly she began kicking her door, something she hadn't done in years as her view of the young mare was cut off. True she had left before, but never like this, in the dead of the night! She began whinnying, shifting nervously, tossing her head. And then suddenly, like magic, Michelle appeared. "Easy girl, I know... I know... I'm here. I won't let it happen, I'll get you somewhere safe" she promised in a low voice as she quickly attached her halter and led her out to the driveway, into a trailer. Velvet didn't know what was happening or where she was going, but she trusted her rider. In the trailer was some grain, which she ate as she calmed down. And then suddenly, she felt so tired. The trailer stopped a while later, and Michelle came around. "I'm so sorry my sweet mare, but this is for the best. You'll understand" she heard her owners voice faintly and followed her automatically, stumbling slightly as she was led into some grass. Her halter was taken off, and she crumpled to the ground, her eyes closing. She barely felt the hug Michelle gave her hard, then suddenly she was gone. And Velvet was unconscious.
Personality: Velvet is a calm mare, with a sensible no nonsense mind, and a motherly nature. She still has some of her wild spirit to her, and will venture to gallop in the pastures now and then, but not often. She never speaks sharply unless it is called for, and has a fondness for humans. She is hardly ever scared or made to spook, as she has seen far too many things in her life for anything to scare her now. As she aged, Velvet's speed and stamina might have diminished, but her wisdom and experience grew exponentially. She became a beacon of tranquility and shared her hard-earned lessons with the younger horses in the barn. Through her guidance, Velvet continued to inspire others, reminding them that age does not define one's spirit or their potential for excellence.
