Applejack lined up with all the other competitors at the starting line, between a large stallion and a lean mare. She recognized the mare as Calamity Mane and the stallion as Wild Bull Hickok, two fairly known rodeo ponies around Equestria. She sized her opponents up, seeing all of them were lean and muscled, ready to tear up the track with flying hooves and speedy sprints. Wild was the tallest by a head, he was a pretty impressive height. Calamity looked like she ate nails for breakfast, it was pretty intimidating.
Wild was deep black with a brown mane that looked like it had never been touched by a brush. His eyes were pale pink and his cutie mark was a coiled brown rope. He had a determined grin on his face, he was constantly flexing his shoulders in anticipation. He sure looked like a force to be reckoned with.
Calamity Mane was shorter with a lighter build. She was yellow in color with an orange mane that was short and cut around her neck, falling an inch above her eyes, which were deep blue. Her cutie mark was a jump you'd see on an obstacle course. She had a rather intimidating glare on her face and her teeth were grit, she looked like she was about to attack something.
Applejack took her eyes off the two and looked at the track ahead. Today she would get her blue ribbon, so far her luck hadn't been good and she'd received almost every place except for first and she sure hadn't gotten any prize money. If she didn't get first place in this race, she'd be forced to go home empty hoofed. After promising she'd bring home money, she couldn't just turn up without anything at all! With a quick motion she crouched, forelegs tensing as she prepared to run.
The course was simple.
