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into the covered walking ring attached to the stable block. Tack conies off, the bridle is replaced with a halter.
“You want a drink?” Simmons asks, tugging the horse’s sweaty forelock. He pulls the leadrope. “Here, this one has more.” The pair walks a turn around the shedrow. “You want a drink?” he asks again. Always the same. Simmons knows the importance of routine in a racing stable.
After Irish drinks his fill, he is cool and ready for grooming. Simmons leads him to the center of the walking ring and drops his leadrope. It dangles to the ground, still attached to the halter. Simmons turns to grab a soft-bristled brush.
The fit, well-fed, well-bred thoroughbred racehorse in hard training? No one is holding him. He is free to go. What does he do?
He stands ground-tied like a quarter horse on the range.
Simmons turns back to the horse. “Yeah, I teach ‘em all to ground tie,” he said to the surprised querry. “Most of ‘em don’t know diddly squat when they come here from the racetrack. But they learn. Nothin’ to it.”
Irish stands motionless
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