The next several days bought even more training for all the ponygirls and Trevello the human stallion. For nearly 8 hours a day they were all worked with exquisite perfection in a variety of ways with all of trainers. Allegria’s day usually started after breakfast and her morning wash with walking and trotting for an hour with Falla, Ribelle and Lucciola on the hot walker, as Carlos worked especially with Falla, Ribelle and Lucci perfecting their ponygirl gaits. While he was not as strict with Allegria, he would still make her do the gaits as well as she could, but Allegria was being built up in other ways.
After a break from the mechanical hot walker, the other ponygirls would go on to train with some of the other trainers in cart pulling or even ground dressage. Allegria now went with Trevello to build up true muscle power. She hated this work, and it was indeed work. A heavy drafting/pulling harness would be put on her and Trevello and they would be hooked separately to heavy logs. Then they were forced to drag and pull these things around for hours, building up back, ass and leg muscles.
Trevello looked like a bodybuilder, and he was often hooked to logs weighing close to 800 lbs, as additional weights were added onto his harness. Sometimes one of the trainers would actually get atop him piggyback whacking him with a crop as he was forced to drag and strain with the heavy logs and cinder blocks. Allegria was truly astounded at the weight he could pull. The other thing he did was practice for the sulky races. Hooked to a light racing two wheeled cart, Lena would drive him around and around the track preparing him for the races. Apparently there were two types of races, pure speed on a one mile track and then endurance which was basically a 5 mile marathon at an all out run. Trevello was being trained for the Endurance race. When he wasn’t doing all that work he was being mated to Lucciola, sometimes right there in public in the middle of the training ring as the other ponygirls and trainers watched. Just like breeders on a horse farm.
And while Allegria didn’t pull the vast weights Trevello did, she was asked to pull the heavy weights as well, sometimes on two legs, sometimes on all fours. A few times Valerio would ride her back as she pulled on all fours, cracking her harshly with the whip to give her inspiration to pull her load.
Lena had come one day after Allegria had worked her hour walk/jog on the hot walker and now lead her by her halter over to an inside ring in the main horse barn. Allegria was surprised to see a real horse tacked up in western gear standing inside being held by Daniel.
“I have you signed up in 4 events Allegria.” Lena said as she caressed Allegria’s trembling shoulder. Always the human ponies were kept totally naked, just as real horses unless they were tacked up. “The two legged dressage, 4-legged riding dressage, strength pull and this…” she nodded with her chin towards the horse that Daniel was now mounting up on. “Western reining. Daniel is going to give us a demonstration so you can see how a real horse does it, then we will talk more back in the pony barn.” Lena just quietly held onto Allegria’s lead rope and halter as Allegria was watching the large trainer with total fascination.
The horse was a gorgeous buckskin-dun coloring with pale blue eyes and a long black mane and tail. Daniel had turned and trotted the horse around in several circles and now he rode up to the center of the ring and using neck reining and just his heel the stunning quarter horse began to literally pivot in place doing faster and faster circles almost like some ice skater or ballerina doing a pirouette. Faster and faster horse and rider spun, the horses long mane flying about it as Daniel sat tall in the saddle, one hand on the horn, one hand neck reining. They stopped a moment and now without even a break he began to spin the horse the other direction. Faster and faster they spun and Allegria could not see how horse and rider could not be dizzy! She was astounded that a horse could do such an extreme move; keeping its one back leg planted in place and literally spinning with its front half and other rear leg as balance. She had heard about the extreme Western reining events but since she normally worked with Dressage and race horses had never seen it in person.
Daniel now stopped the horse from his spinning and together horse and rider began to lope around the ring in graceful style. They got to one end of the ring and suddenly halted as Daniel pointed his horses head down towards the other side of the long ring. With a loud “Ha!” he dug his spurs in the horses side and the buckskin lunged forward in a fast gallop, about midway in the ring Daniel now sat back deep in the saddle and put steady pressure on the horses mouth. The horses rear seemed to drop suddenly as if someone had shot it with a gun and it seemed to literally sit down and slide, actually slid as if on ice for nearly 15 feet as a plume of dust rose up all about them, two great grooves left in the dust from the horse’s sliding rear hooves. Daniel moved the horse forward and repeated the same sliding stop again from the other direction.
“The 360 degree spins and the sliding stop. That is what the human pony is expected to do, Allegria.” Lena finally spoke. “It is obviously an event that can only be done on all fours, and usually only male human ponies are entered for obvious reasons. They are stronger and can carry weight better on their backs. But you are an exception. A female who is strong and can carry a rider well, but as a female you are more agile than many men. You have a good chance of winning this event if you work hard and listen to my training.”
Lena nodded a quick thanks to Daniel and then led Allegria back to the human pony barn. “You and I will be doing a lot of work on reining, starting now.”
And for the next hour, that is exactly what Allegria did. She would work with Lena on her back and they began to practice the spins and sliding stops she had just seen the quarter horse do. It was very hard work at first, but Lena was patient and always fair handed to her. Always finding something to compliment her on, while still being an elegant and firm rider.
She was given a lunch break and a quick rub down by Carlos and then after lunch it was back in the ring with Carlos; this time as he worked her precisely in the elegant dressage moves of the Spanish walk, piaffes and other moves. Allegria enjoyed the main ring when it was filled with all the other human ponies as well. It was if they were just as excited about the upcoming show and were all working hard on perfecting their moves and specialties. As Carlos worked with Allegria, she saw Lena riding on Trevello who was on all fours and pulling more heavy cinder blocks behind him. Valerio was in a cart with Falla and Ribelle who were side by side and working in perfect tandem like elegant parade horses in that fancy ponygirl walk they did.
Daniel was working Lucciola who was in an elegant circus type costume and harness, complete with resplendent plumes on her bridle as she worked gracefully on her two long, elegant legs doing spectacular prancing and moves as Daniels whip cracked near her heels.
Later near mid afternoon as a reward, Ribelle, Falla and Allegria were turned loose in the main ring for ‘free time’ and socialization while Lucci was taken for more work and a mating with Trevello.
Here the girls could get away with small whispers to one another as long as they were subtle about it, could massage and groom one another or whatever else they wished.
At first they had all sat in a line massaging one another and braiding one another’s hair or kissing and nibbling one another’s necks, but after awhile Ribelle nudged Allegria and motioned her off to the side where she could talk to her privately.
Allegria already knew what was coming and she half dreaded it. “So,” Ribelle whispered in a low tone, “Did you tell Furio? Did he tell you anything.” She looked up with hopeful expectation in her eyes, a glimmer of some slim hope.
It broke Allegria’s heart to see that sliver of hope, that dream in Ribelle’s eyes and she indeed hoped and prayed Furio would fine a way, but she had also promised Furio she would not discuss it anymore with her or anyone else.
Allegria sighed and rubbed her head against Ribelle’s shoulder a moment. “Ribelle,” she whispered in the beautiful woman’s ear. “I told my Master, he ordered me not to discuss it anymore, and that is all I can say. I hope and pray that he…”
“It’s Ok.” Ribelle interrupted her gently putting her fingers on Allegria lips. She whispered something in Spanish a moment and it sounded so lovely and haunting that Allegria found a tear slip down her face. “I shouldn’t ask anymore. You have been a friend, and no matter what, I am glad you at least cared.”
Allegria trembled violently as she saw a light seemed to fade within Ribelle’s normally defiant eyes, a look of such sadness and surrender it nearly tore Allegria in two.
“Ribelle, no!” she whispered harshly grabbing the other mare by her shoulders. “Damn it you make me a promise, you promise me that you will hold on, just a little while longer. Don’t you dare give up yet, don’t you dare!”
Ribelle just leaned against Allegria; it was as though the strength had seemed to go out of her. “Hold on for Carlos, I beg you.” Allegria implored. Their eyes met, and Allegria was certain that Ribelle was seriously considering taking her own life. If she could just give Furio some more time! “Please, just a little while longer.”
“The Amir will be coming to the show to see me perform.” Ribelle looked deep into Allegria’s eyes. “I can hold on until then, but no more. I cannot be separated from Carlos. I will not.” She stopped talking then as Falla was softly coming towards them with worry on her attractive face.
The three girls spent another 15 minutes simply hugging and grooming one another until Daniel and Carlos walked in dragging that evil ‘rack’ the one with all the restraints on it that Allegria had been hooked to when she had been whipped. All three girls eyes widened in fear and they all wondered who had earned punishment and for what.
Daniel seemed to smile at their fear, “not to worry little sluts, no one is bad. Doc Warrington is here to do a branding.” His eyes flicked to Allegria and Allegria felt her heart skip several long beats as ice water began to churn in her veins.
‘Oh god!’ her mind spun, she had promised Furio, had told him she would allow this, but now as she saw Daniel now bringing in a portable blacksmithing forge she felt her mouth go dry.
“Come on caballos.” Carlos now slipped the lead ropes on Falla and Ribelle and led them back to their stalls.
Daniel moved in and corralled Allegria and tied her to a ring on the side of the rail. “Just hang out here, mare.” He ordered darkly and went back to work setting things up.
Allegria eyed the small 3 foot by 3 foot metal type box that resembled a portable woodstove or BBQ grill. It had 4 propane tanks on it, and Daniel now lit it up and adjusted some dials on it, as he rechecked the restraints on the restraining cross. She felt her stomach churn and began to dry heave, bitter tasting bile rising up her throat.
At that moment the door opened and a whole group of men walked in, but more importantly she saw her Furio in that group! Her mind leaped in happy circles, she could endure, would endure anything as long as he was here. Her fear evaporated at seeing him.
He was in a group with Dr. Warrington, Valerio, Luciano and Lena. Apparently everyone liked to come out for a branding. Carlos now walked in behind the group pushing a small medical cart in front of him.
Allegria couldn’t catch the words of Furio and the Moradelli’s as they were speaking exclusively in Italian. But she did see his eyes look up and meet hers for a moment, and she saw strength and protectiveness in those eyes of his. Her heart soared even higher.
Now the group was splitting up, Dr. Warrington checking things on the medical tray as Furio walked over towards his mare. He bent his head down whispering for ear only. “Buon giorno mio cavallo, my love.” He added softly. “I so very pleased and proud that you will bear my mark. I will stand at your side as you get it done, all will be Ok. Be a good girl and it go quick, eh?”
Allegria trembled with excitement and want of him and buried her head against his chest as he caressed her neck. “Yes.” she answered into his shirt in a mere whisper. Furio patted her a moment longer and slipped a few pieces of sugar to her, as the Moradelli clan now descended on her.
“You are going to look so lovely with a brand on your ass cheek.” Lena smiled at Allegria and ran her hands down the girl’s powerful ass and thighs, than gave her a playful spank.
“Here Furio,” Valerio patted his friend’s shoulder and gave him a cigar, “For afterwards, eh? We’ll even have a toast of champagne at your total ownership of your new mare.” He chuckled as he clamped an unlit cigar in his own mouth. He passed out cigars to his father and the other men as well.
“What none for me?” Lena pouted with a smirk at her brother.
“It is a unbecoming for a woman to smoke a cigar.” Luciano Moradelli chastised his daughter a moment, but still he held love in his eyes for his two children. “You ride a this mare to victory in the upcoming show and maybe I think about it, eh?” he kissed her on the cheek.
Now Luciano stepped forward to Allegria’s head as he cupped her face in his old but powerful hands. “Allegria,” he spoke her name softly, as if they were the only two people in the ring. “I know you are a scared, and I will not lie and say there will be no pain. There cannot be a local anesthesia because it will interfere in the way the brand takes to the skin, eh?” he paused and his fingers stroked her cheek as she nuzzled his hands, the scent of fine leather and peppermints on them. “A few minutes of some discomfort to wear something that will make you whole and complete in your soul.” He continued, “Besides, your Furio is here, eh? He will caress you; he wanted to stand with you. Insisted upon it, he is a caring Master. I know you are strong and you will bear this as well. You are a good girl, a good mare, my playful Allegria.” The elder Luciano gave her a quick kiss to the top of her head and Allegria felt as soothed in her soul as anything.
Luciano’s words giving her strength as much as Furio’s presence here.
“Okay.” Dr. Warrington now stepped forward, his strong hands already encased in latex gloves. “Behave mare.” He ordered in a no nonsense tone as he now began to feel and examine her right ass cheek. He took out a marker and marked something on her skin after measuring the perfect placement for the 2 inch brand.
The whole time Dr. Warrington was flitting around her checking things Furio just stood quietly holding her halter as Allegria kept nibbling playfully at his strong hand.
“You want her pierced today as well?” Dr. Warrington looked over to the intimidating Furio.
“No, no today dottore Warrington.” Furio spoke, “Maybe after the show. Just the brand.”
“You got it.” The doctor smiled and went back to checking the forge and his medical items. A branding iron had now been thrust into the portable forge to heat up.
Daniel now moved in and with a respectful glance at Furio now took hold of Allegria’s halter and led her to the restraining cross where he and Carlos began to strap her into it. Thick leather straps ran behind her neck, each of her wrists and forearm, across her lower back, around each thigh, calf and ankle. There was very little Allegria could move at all.
The two grooms had her expertly restrained within a minute flat. Allegria could feel sweat already beginning to build up along her body, causing her bare skin to glisten. Her body was shivering slightly, although she could not turn her head fully, she noticed that Furio had now come up near her head where he could both watch the branding and also caress her face.
“So I hear you are riding this mare in the reining event, Lena?” the doctor’s elegant and deep voice spoke up as he made small talk.
“Oh yes,” Lena smiled, “I guess that means you will be loosing the reining trophy this year, doc.”
Dr. Warrington chuckled deeply a moment, “Don’t be so sure Ms. Moradelli,” he glanced up and smiled as he wiped down Allegria’s ass cheek with first an alcohol pad and then some kind of icy gel. Both felt agonizingly cold to Allegria. “I got a new stallion, and my wife herself is planning to ride him in the reining events.”
Lena’s eyebrow rose and her fighting spirit rose to the forefront. “While your wife Sasha is an elegant rider, I think you are going to lose this year’s trophy, Dr. Warrington.” She nodded with confidence.
“Is that a bet?” the handsome black doctor glanced over at Lena.
Even Luciano smiled warmly, “Ah my daughter, you know how she likes a challenge eh?
“Yeah, it’s a bet Dr. Warrington.” Lena’s dark eyes glanced up and down the length of Allegria. She knew what the mare could do. “Shall we say 10 grand?”
“My, my, my.” Dr. Warrington looked up a moment as he was now slipping on a single thick leather glove. “You are so very confident in your mare here, aren’t you.” But he was smiling with want of a good challenge. Like Lena, he never liked to lose and had some excellent steeds.
“Too rich for you blood?” Lena asked the doctor coolly but with a fire in her own eyes as he now rechecked Allegria’s ass cheek and then opened the door to the portable forge to check the brand.
“Too rich? Never.” He nodded once with his powerful chin and Daniel and Carlos moved in to the sides of Allegria. “I like a good challenge Ms. Moradelli; it fuels me and gives me something to shoot for. So I accept.” He hoisted up the branding iron, the tip of it glowing red hot, “In fact I say I look forward to it.”
Furio now cupped Allegria’s immobile chin in his hand, almost painfully, as if hoping the discomfort would distract her from what was about to be done to her. “Steady,” he soothed, “Rimanere fisso, cavallo mio.” (Remain steady my mare) he whispered to her a moment.
Time seemed to hang totally still in a surreal way for Allegria. She could hear Furio whispering something, could hear Lena’s voice droning on in the background, the presence of Daniel and Carlos now along side her as their hands grabbed her ribs keeping her even more immobile. At first there was no pain, not for the first few seconds, time and adrenaline seemed to give her tunnel vision and she felt almost on the verge of passing out she was so nervous, a hideous hissing sound filled her ears, but then….
Liquid pain hit her like an oncoming freight train, fierce and hot it burned through her very core. A grunt was followed by a loud high pitched agonizing wail as that brand was seared and pressed deeply into her flesh. The scent of burning flesh filled her nostrils as the liquid pain shot along every nerve on her right side, her body straining against the restraints, involuntary tears of pain coursing down her face. “Oh sweet gods above and evil devils below!” her mind screamed within her. She was aware of nothing but that agonizing pain, to her it seemed like hours the damn doctor held that brand against her flesh as she squealed and grunted in pain, when in reality it was only 20 very slow seconds.
The brand was now removed and dropped in a bucket of water where it hissed like some angry demon as the doctor was bending down, checking his work, checking the clarity of the brand. “Very nice indeed.” He said as he pulled off the one leather glove and now began to put some kind of cream on the branding. Almost immediately much of the pain was reduced. Still her body hung limply in the restraints, coated in sweat and anguish.
“You did so very well, my special one.” Furio caressed her tear stained cheek, drying the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief that Luciano had handed him. “So very well.” He kissed her forehead.
“Well, come look Mr. Giunta, tell me if you like it.” The doctor motioned towards Furio. He walked around to the other side of the restraining bars and glanced at the deep brand. It was one he had gotten specially made, a coat of arms of his family name from all the way back in Italy. It looked beautiful upon her flesh, marked her as his totally.
“Bravo, Dottore Warrington.” He smiled, “You do indeed do wonderful work.” He nodded and now everyone was moving in to admire the elegant 2 inch by 3 inch coat of arms branded on her right buttock right at between the hip on the side.
A sudden pop of a champagne cork echoed around the ring as someone opened a bottle of champagne and began pouring it in glasses. Valerio walked around and lit the men’s cigars, handing one to Dr. Warrington after he had finished putting the cream and pad over the fresh branding.
Allegria was still hanging in the restraints as Daniel began to clean up the items from the branding. She was aware then of someone again at her face, this time it was Carlos and he held a small bowl filled with some champagne. “Here you go mi agradable yegua.” He tilted the bowl to her lips so she could drink. “You were a good girl and the mark looks superb on you. We are just letting you stay here a moment so you don’t pass out when we take you down. Letting you come off the high of your endorphins, eh?”
She drank and listened to his voice talking to her in a soothing manner as he stood with her, calming her down. She caught a quick glance of Furio looking with approval at the man, and something else behind Furio’s blue-grey eyes that she couldn’t read. Whatever Furio seemed to be thinking it was something deeply profound and important to him.
After a few more minutes, she was unhooked from the restraints and was actually led around by the halter at a walk by Carlos. While her leg and ass cheek ached in a quiet deep pain, it was not intolerable and she was actually glad to be moving around, it seemed to make the pain less. She could not even imagine how Ribelle must have endured the multiple brandings, and Allegria was sure that no anesthetic cream was used on her afterwards.
Finally she was led by Carlos and Furio to her stall where she was then bedded down and made comfortable. Furio fed her dinner to her personally with his own hands as she contently nibbled the granola mix from his cupped palms. Falla peered once over the stall and snorted with a cheerful welcome, Furio smiled at her. Ribelle too walked over and stood near her stalls watching as the handsome Italian took care of his beloved mare.
After he finished feeding her, he dusted off his palms on his pants and stood up. He turned and walked over to Ribelle’s side of the stall. Ribelle stood there looking at the muscular Italian in front of her and there was something Allegria rarely saw in Ribelle’s eyes. Respect. Normally Ribelle only had that look for Luciano or Carlos.
Furio put one hand through the bars and Ribelle pressed herself close to his hand, caressing his fingers gently with her lips. Furio moved her hair away from her ear and glanced at the cruel notch on her upper ear and then ran one finger down her cheek.
Allegria just lay there watching in silence as her Master soothed and interacted with Ribelle. She had to strain her ears at first because she thought she was imagining it, but Furio was indeed whispering now to Ribelle, low to her ear only. He would pause and bend his head down to allow Ribelle to whisper something to him and he would again go back to whispering to her ear as if he were questioning her. The whole time they were quietly conversing his large hand was just rubbing Ribelle’s cheek or her temple, his powerful body almost tense.
Finally after nearly 5 minutes he moved away from Ribelle’s side of the stall and came back over to Allegria who was curled in on herself like a cat beneath the blanket. Furio squatted down near her again, his hand resting upon her shoulder. “Do you know how very special you are to me bella Allegria, bella Sarah?” He used both her names, denoting he was acknowledging both her human side and the ponygirl side of her.
Allegria shivered in happiness as she nuzzled against him. He tilted up her head and kissed her passionately on the lips a moment. After he broke the kiss he leaned even further down and whisper in her ear, his breath hot against her cheek and neck.
“I will help you friend. I will do my best, now rest. I must be gone for awhile but will be back within a week.” He kissed her one last time and then after zipping up his leather jacket he slipped out of her stall and exited the stables.
Ribelle glanced over her stall towards Allegria and then smiled in happiness, her head tossing up and down, her blonde mane flowing about her shoulders as he pranced in place. She was letting Allegria know she was happy that Allegria now bore the mark of the Master she loved and something else…Something that Furio had spoken to her privately of. The fire was returned to Ribelle’s eyes and she briefly bucked and cavorted within her stall.
Falla saw Ribelle dancing with happiness and now whinnied excitedly, happy for whatever reason Ribelle was happy for. A few stalls down Lucci picked up on the sounds of the other two girls and she too trumpeted her neigh of excitement and happiness for whatever everyone else was happy about.
Allegria couldn’t help herself, as tired and sore as she was she picked her head and sounded out a long and deep neigh of pleasure, joining the other girls song the way a wolf pack howls in bonding with one another.
Trevello now crashed brazenly in his stall, nearly roaring with the excitement from the mares happy neighing, his own deep voice adding to the cacophony of whinnying and braying human ponies.
The main door opened and Carlos yelled quite loudly for such a petite man, “HEY!” he roared, “Shut up caballos before I come in there and quiet you all personally!”
Immediately the din died down. No one wanted to anger Carlos and they now all settled in to sleep as he shut down the lights to the stable and turned off the radio. “Go to sleep!” the elegant Spanish voice ordered as he strode up and down the aisle glancing in each stall. At Ribelle’s he paused and whispered something in Spanish to her ear as he slipped her some sort of special treat and then kissed her fiercely on the lips. With a warm smile he moved on, making sure the human ponies were bedded down and then finally left.
Ribelle snorted once a goodnight to Falla, a few seconds later Falla snorted an answer back, now Lucci snorted, then Trevello and finally Allegria. It reminded her of the famous “good night John boy!” scene in The Walton’s TV show.