The morning had dawned brisk, which was fitting for the two horses slated to work from the gates early - two imports, both from cold areas, by the names of Winter and Snow Snake. The boys, sons of the owners, had named the two horses - both greys and born in snowy conditions, it didn't take much imagination to label them appropriately. Winter, the filly from Canada, was the mount of Clarimonde Tusaint. The two were well matched with their aloof behavior, and were like some vision of icy dignity when they were together. The filly was long-legged but strongly built, still very dark in coloring though it was clear she would lighten with age. She moved very matter-of-factly, carefully, with deliberation - very much like her rider, who had by far the best seat of any of the jockeys. It wasn't surprising, as he'd started off very affluent, riding the best eventing horses during his young life under very strict tutors. But when his sister had left home very young to be a jockey, he'd gone as well. He was a doting brother, and Savita was the only person who ever so much as got a smile from the young man.

Which, of course, was a clear challenge to Hal. Flirty and promiscuous as she was, the fine-featured Adonis that was Clarimonde was a prime target. Not so much because of his looks as the completely untouchable demeanor he gave off. They were polar opposites, and Clarimonde very obviously hated being around Halexia has much as she loved being around him. Hal's mount was the already very white Snow Snake, a vicious and tough colt that had a much bigger attitude than his size suggested. He bowed his head as he trotted, barely contained, ahead of Winter toward the end of the track where the training gates were rolled out. He glared as any human might at the contraption. Hal's hands were firm on the reins as he gaped his mouth once, twice against the bit, before sighing heavily and dropping his head on the approach. He wasn't scared, that much was obvious, but that didn't mean he didn't view the gates with disdain. Cole was waiting for them with two grooms, helmets and vests on the boys to protect them from the anger of the young horses. "I think you should pay me more to deal with Mr. Sourpuss," Hal sighed as they approached, and it wasn't clear whether she was referring to the horse or the other rider. Knowing her, it was probably the latter. Cole raised an eyebrow as one of the guys grabbed the colt's bridle, guiding him into the gate. "I'm pretty sure I need to be paying him more to deal with you," he said dryly, and her laugh was readily in agreement.

Clarimonde ignored the exchange completely, preferring to deal with his co-workers strictly when it actually pertained to the work itself. It was a fair opinion, but rather out of place on the farm - they were often too casual, at least as far as interactions were concerned. It was a family business after all - Mae Suhail brother of Tigris, Hal cousin of Naos Suhail, Minske son of Cole. It was Savita and Clarimonde who were out of place, though Savita had more readily fallen into the group. She hated Hal far more than her brother's disinterested dislike because of her flirty behavior, though at this point it was fairly obvious that the object of her affection, Minske, was quite out of reach. It didn't help the oil and water personalities, though, and Savita's caustic temper often ended in a one-sided fight.

Another groom got hold of Winter's bridle, and she too went in very easily. She was simply too classy to throw a fit even if she was scared of it. She was uneasy though, moving with slightly stilted steps compared to her normal flowing grace. There was always a moment of calm tenseness, of a dam creaking before it broke, the shuffling of hooves and hot equine breath. When Cole flipped the gates open, they were away - Snake slower than Winter, as he wasn't in a hurry, ever, in the beginning. It was a relief, with all of the drama that went on within the staff itself, that they at least had this part right - the riders were masters of their craft, the trainers were astute in molding their charges, and the horses themselves were of such a quality that they tended to outdo all expectation.