Welcome to Gaia! ::

He seemed surprised at Zykariel's words. "Honor? That's quite a word to be using, young Val'Ril." Of course using the name he remembered Zahara having and using with him, he'd just figured that all her children would take her name rather than their fathers', whomever those men or man may be. "I don't think it was my fall so much as my retirement after it that they looked down on. They figured I get back on my feet, get a new horse and be right back in the game. I didn't quit because I was scared of falling again, and I didn't quit because Jin is nervous to jump anything now. I wasn't going to trade off my best friend for anything. And by the time Jin would be better...well it was a new breed of racing and Jin couldn't jump the obstacles that came with that all. The younger generation had come in and started making up their own rules. Only thing that really is the same is the track and rules of those big four races. We still had a lot left in us and we didn't get the chance to prove it." Petting at Jin who gave a soft noise back to him. He supposed he would say that he was just an old dreamer with a fancy set of tack that said he was great once upon a time ago. He did miss the racing. Of course he didn't know that his tack set was still the prize of many a young elf on the track, he assumed tradition was out the window.

Inthara hm? Well that one must have his father's name for whatever reason he chose to. "Oh so my name still floats around some? Hopefully not too much ill is mixed in there." But a nod to the boy, "Most racers just don't see it as thus these days. Horses are just things to use to win a race to them...and that's precisely why they never win." Patting at Jin again and his noises. "We'd never be able to win. When you when you progress up, when you progress up you have to take the harder tracks to be in the same level as your peers. We'd rather not race than purposefully lose. Besides we still get our running in." It was just that fact...beside even if Jin could jump he was sure the nightmare wouldn't handle the landing like he used to. "There is no reason to make a mockery of things that are all but fluttered from the hands now."

Dismounting he patted Jin's nose at his nudging and took to taking off the horses tack. Jin didn't like to get that tack wet, even if it was tarnished and neglected looking. Obviously Nadai didn't like to touch it much or merely cared not to keep it in good condition because it in a way had lost it's meaning. Just a fancy set. Setting it aside he watched as Jin pranced down to the water, taking a drink first before perking his ears at the other horse. Being nice now?

Sitting down on the bank he gave a sigh. "You might want to stretch your legs some and sit so they don't cramp up on you. Happens when you first start riding like that." Honestly he didn't expect the boy to keep this path of riding. It would make him happy if he did but he knew how most racers just didn't want to put up with the hassel and precision it took. "So when's this last big race of yours?"

Mean, annoyed, it's the same thing you silly little mare. Stomping his hoof at a passing fish.

"Because you have bragging rights to the other three? That's all I can think how it works. Told you things changed and I just don't know how it's all done these days. I suppose you get to revel in your other prizes while someone else revels in only one."

Yes I think you're silly. You at least act as so. Making a noise and going about trying to stomp another fish...hm, he could catch dinner couldn't he?

"Long as your practice I think you'll be just fine. You and Destyny seem to be very well in tune with each other as well." Looking to the boy again, "So what happens if someone doesn't win all four? They keep whatever big thing till someone finally does?" That's how it worked in his racing days...he didn't get that saddle and reins by being lucky on one race.

He merely paid attentiont to fishing more. It was fun after all and hey he got to splash around too. But he did manage to nab a rather large fish, bringing it to the bank and pawing at it some with a firey hoof to cook it a little before he started munching on it.

A frown at that. "Another reason why I don't race anymore...some people just can't do it honorably. THere are sanctioned races for such activity after all." He didn't expect to hear about the boy's father though. "If I was your father, I think I'd worry too." Shaking his head lightly but he didn smile at the boy's enthusiasm. "Well then all the more reason to show my face in racing society again to see you win, hm?"

Ears swivled to her noises and he looked up from his munching where she was sitting all innocent like a few feet away. Swishing his tail he took a few more bites before lifting his head and scraping a hoof on the rock. You want some?

"I'm betting a lot of racers aren't at good racing weights and such either these days hm? You seem to put a lot of people in the dust...either you and your horse are very lucky or others are very ignorant. Or both." Grinning and giving a nod to the boy then, "I really do. I'll come watch you win your race and have your moment of glory. It would be nice to know that racing still has some integrity like it used to."