After breakfast, the two women selected their outfits for the morning from the well stocked walk-in closet, and Tara insisted on placing Amanda's hair in a tight ponytail. As they left the room, the pair looked as though they belonged in an Abercrombie & Fitch catalog. Nobody would have guessed that Tara was in complete control of Amanda.
Although the estate staff offered to drive them to the outdoor arena in a golf cart, the women decided that the 15 minute walk through the grounds would be nice. As they made their way, they talked about ordinary things, and under other circumstances the women would have become great friends.
They approached the outdoor arena from behind the stable which was adjacent to the arena. On the far side of the arena, opposite the stable, were bleacher seats and enclosed box seats along the top of the bleachers. Amanda could see a number of people in the stands, and she thought she saw Juliette and Linda in the center box seats.
The stable was a long building that ran east and west along the south side of the arena. There were entrances at either end, and an entrance in the center that allowed one to pass through the stable and into the arena. They entered the stable at the west end, and Tara directed Amanda to a dressing room through the first door to the left. Upon entering the room, Amanda was stunned by her return to reality. The room was full of equestrian equipment that was foreign to Amanda, but there was also equipment that was similar to the pony girl gear sold in the shop. Tara motioned to a bench and told Amanda to wait until the stable mistress arrived. She then left Amanda alone in the dressing room and locked the door behind her.
It was only a few minutes before Victoria, the stable mistress, entered the room. She was tall and slim, and she wore a tight fitting, tailored, white cotton polo shirt with the neck unbuttoned. Her pants were black spandex breeches, or riding pants, which further accentuated her curves and matched her black leather belt and knee-high black riding boots. Even though she was quite young, her presence commanded respect, as did her riding crop.
Victoria wasted no time with pleasantries.
"Good morning girl. I am Victoria, the stable mistress. You will address me as 'Mistress Victoria' or 'Mistress.' In ten minutes, you will be taking part in a race for the pleasure of Mistress Juliette and her guests. Normally, entrants train extensively for such a race, but I am told that you are a complete novice. Is that correct?"
Confused and intimidated, Amanda replied "Yes, Mistress."
"Well then, we'll make the best of it. Let's get you in some appropriate racing gear. Strip completely and tell me your waist measurement."
As though it was the most natural thing in the world, Amanda instinctively began removing her clothing as she responded "26 inches, Mistress."
Working at an astounding pace, Mistress Victoria selected a variety of garments and restraints from a nearby walk-in storage locker, and removed Amanda's harness with a curt "harness unlock." Realizing that several people had controlled the harness in the past two days, Amanda wondered whether she could have removed the harness herself by simply using the command.
Before she even realized what was happening, Mistress Victoria had wrapped her midsection with a tight fitting, steel boned, PVC corset. Although Amanda couldn't see what Mistress Victoria was doing behind her back, Amanda could tell that she was tightening and securing the corset with practiced proficiency. In a matter of seconds, Amanda found her waist reduced from 26 inches to 22 inches. As she examined the corset, Mistress Victoria continued dressing her by sliding on a pair of elbow-length PVC gloves.
The corset included several sets of D-rings: Two D-rings were located in the small of the back near her kidneys; and three D-rings were attached to each side of the corset, evenly spaced from the top to the bottom. After her cursory examination of the corset, Amanda looked up to find that the stable mistress had completed her work on the gloves. Having been distracted by the corset, Amanda failed to realize that the PVC gloves were actually mitts the forced her hands into fists rendering them all but useless. Mistress Victoria had already firmly fastened cuffs above each elbow and around each wrist.
In one deft motion, the stable mistress swung Amanda's right wrist behind her back and fastened the wrist cuff to the corset's left rear D-ring with a miniature clip. Repeating the motion with the other wrist, Amanda found her wrists tightly crossed behind her back. To complete the restraint, Victoria encircled Amanda's forearms with strap that she attached to a D-ring high at the back of the corset. Amanda found her shoulders pulled back and her chest jutting out proudly. Although she was suddenly embarrassed by her provocative posture, there was nothing she could do to change it or to cover herself.
Suddenly slowing the pace to admire her handiwork, Mistress Victoria circled around Amanda like a snake. After deliberately tracing her finger over various parts of Amanda's body, Victoria cupped her hand under Amanda's right breast. She slowly worked Amanda's nipple between her thumb and index finger and said "While you may lack racing experience, you might make for it in aesthetics."
Victoria then left Amanda standing in the center of the room as she selected the appropriate footwear. Working from behind Amanda, Victoria directed her to lift her right foot behind her and balance on her left foot. Victoria fitted a thigh-high PVC boot around Amanda's foot and calf. She bucked various straps to ensure a snug fit, and she let Amanda's foot drop back to the floor with a distinctive 'clop.'
As Victoria applied the second boot, Amanda inspected the first boot and found that it was molded to resemble a horse hoof. She realized that she was slowly becoming a pony girl, and her other foot dropped to the floor like the hoof of a frustrated mare.
"We are running out of time before we need to get to the starting gate, but I still have two more items to complete your outfit," Victoria announced as she again rummaged through the storage locker.
Victoria emerged from the locker holding a piece of equipment that both amazed and frightened Amanda. Requiring the use of both her hands, Victoria held the device in front of Amanda so that she could examine it.
"It is the ultimate pony girl head harness," Victoria proclaimed proudly.
And it was. The device was an extremely lifelike replica of a horse head, including ears, lips and teeth, except that it was made out of PVC.
Mistress Victoria explained that the device was designed to completely encase the wearer's head, and it included an integrated PVC posture collar. The head was constructed in two halves that were hinged along the top so that one half could be aligned with the wearer's head, and the second half could be rotated into place to create the appearance of a horse's head. The device would then be secured using a strap around the snout, a buckle beneath the chin, and the posture collar around the base of the head.
Stunned, Amanda looked feebly at Victoria and whispered "But how do I breathe?"
For the first time, Victoria returned a caring smile.
"My dear, my most prized possessions are my ponies. I wouldn't hurt them for the world... unless, of course, they were naughty... but I would certainly never deprive them of oxygen," Victoria explained.
She turned the mask upside down in front of Amanda and opened it for her to inspect. The interior was far more complicated than Amanda expected. Victoria explained that the interior was lined with dense, slow-reacting foam that provided a contoured fit for the wearer and virtually eliminated any injury due to rubbing or chafing. The eye holes were large enough that they would accommodate a diverse demographic, including women and men. Internal air hoses ran from the artificial nostrils to a latex prosthetic device that enabled an airtight fit with the wearer's nose, and the nostrils included filters to remove dust and other impurities from the air.
Further, the mask included two microphones embedded in the artificial ears that provided audio to interior speakers aligned with the wearer's ears. Finally, the mask featured an interior pump gag that was contoured to effectively eliminate most sounds made by the wearer. The pump gag, however, included embedded sensors which were designed to receive the sounds and movements made by the wearer. The sensor data would be translated into typical horse noises that were output through speakers embedded in the mouthpiece. The sensor data would also be used to create matching realistic mouth movements produced using small servo motors embedded in the nose, lips and mouth.
Amanda was too flabbergasted to put up an effective resistance when the stable mistress connected the breathing apparatus, inflated the pump gag and closed the device around her head. Although her vision was eventually impaired by blinders, she could otherwise see, breathe and hear quite well. In fact, the foam interior of the device made it comfortable enough that the experience wasn't the least bit claustrophobic, although it was a bit warmer than she would have liked.
As Amanda was trying to get acclimated to her headpiece, Mistress Victoria attached a leather leash, and Amanda found herself being led out the door and down the long hallway toward the entrance to the arena. As they walked briskly toward the center of the stable building, Amanda was forced to look forward. The integrated posture collar severely limited any head movement, and her peripheral vision was blocked by blinders.
Once they reached the center of the stable and Mistress Victoria turned left to enter the arena, Amanda had an unobstructed view down the hallway. Amanda was surprised to Miss Francis leading another pony toward the arena. Even though the pony's head looked just like hers, she knew that it was Dan. She didn't know whether she was crying out of love, frustration or humiliation, but her tears silently dropped onto her cheeks, and they were absorbed by the foam interior of the headpiece. She stomped her foot and cried out into her gag, but the sound that filled the hallway was a frustrated horse whinny.
"Whoa now, easy girl," said Mistress Victoria as she gently slapped Amanda's thigh with her riding crop.
Amanda instinctively turned away from the crop and found herself positioned in front of a large door that was the entrance to the arena. Amanda disappointed that her movements were so easily controlled by Victoria. The stable mistress clearly had a thorough understanding of human instincts, and Amanda was in no position to challenge her. She was at least slightly comforted knowing that Dan was by her side even though they couldn't communicate.
Amanda remained still while a carriage was attached to her corset by a set of straps and braces. She could feel the weight of the carriage pull down on her midsection, and then the weight suddenly equalized as though a weight had counter-balanced the carriage. She assumed that a rider had mounted the carriage, but she had no idea that the rider was Tara. Dan was similarly rigged with a carriage controlled by Beth.
Suddenly, there was a loud neighing and stomping of feet next to her. Before Amanda had time to consider what the commotion was about, she felt a bulbous probe being inserted into her ass. She whinnied and kicked in response, but it was to no avail. Within moments, Mistress Victoria had finished slipping in a butt-plug that an ordinary observer would recognize as an elegant horse tail. Amanda's anus ached at the oversized intruder, and Mistress Victoria secured the tail with a retaining strap that ran from the back of the corset, through Amanda's labia to the front of the corset.
Amanda wiggled her ass in discomfort trying to dislodge the plug, but the retaining strap and Amanda's bondage made it impossible. As the large doors opened onto the arena, Amanda's efforts merely looked like a cute, playful pony swishing its tail to and fro. From Amanda's vantage point, she could see that the stands were nearly full, and many in the crowd were on their feet cheering Dan and Amanda's entrance.
Amanda looked up to the box seats to see Mistress Juliette standing with a microphone. Her amplified voice boomed over the sound system.
"Settle down now. Settle down," Juliette said playfully to the crowd as the cheers trailed off.
"Friends, enthusiasts and curiosity seekers... Welcome to our weekly pony race. This week we have a battle of the sexes. On the inside lane we have Amanda, a physically mature filly standing a little over 16 hands tall, and on the outside lane, we have Dan, a similarly aged stud standing around 18 hands. The race will be a single circuit around the arena, and points will be awarded for aesthetics, poise, and time. Of course, points will be deducted for breaches of etiquette. Both ponies are essentially untrained, but show great promise."
"As always, the estate does not sanction any wagering on this race, but private wagers may be made at the discretion of the bettors. To add a bit of spice to today's event, the participants have a little skin in the race. Based in part on his or her performance today, one of these ponies will become a lifelong submissive of the other. So, without further delay, let the race begin."
The cheers erupted as Beth and Tara directed Dan and Amanda into the starting positions in their respective lanes. Mistress Victoria stood between them carrying a starter's pistol. She wished all four participants luck, raised the pistol in the air and squeezed the trigger to start the race.
As soon as the race began, Dan felt the sting of Beth's slapper on his ass. Alternately slapping either side, Beth urged Dan to run his fastest. Dan knew that the faster he ran, the sooner Beth would let up on the slapper. He couldn't really see Amanda to his left, but he could tell that he was just a few strides ahead of her.
Through the noise of the crowd and the sound of his own breathing, Dan could hear Beth yelling "Pick up your knees, damn you! It isn't just about your speed!"
Dan tried his best to comply. He kept up his speed as he lifted his knees with each stride. His tail waved wildly, and he could feel the bulb nestled within him pressing against the sides of his rectum. The sensation made him stumble, and the crowd reacted with wild cheers.
Dan's mistake gave Tara and Amanda an opportunity to catch up. As they gained on Beth and Dan, he could hear Tara's firm but gentle and encouraging commands to Amanda. "Knees high. Chin up. Keep the pace. Good girl!" Realizing that Beth and Tara were riding the carriages, Dan wondered whether the two had made a side bet on the outcome.
As they rounded the second turn, Dan tilted his head slightly to could see that Amanda had overtaken them. He unconsciously slowed down even more as he admired Amanda's form. She was gracefully trotting beside him as though she was a thoroughbred horse. She was beautiful! Her breast heaved up and down with the rhythm of her strides.
Beth's slapper abruptly reminded Dan that he was not free to admire Amanda's grace without consequence. Dan quickly and obediently regained his concentration, and closed the gap with Amanda. Rounding the third turn, Dan and Amanda were in a virtual dead heat. Even though Amanda was in amazing condition, the corset constricted her breathing and she was beginning to tire. She was pulling roughly the same amount of weight as Dan, but he was considerably bigger and stronger.
She didn't know what effect her losing the race would have on her future with Dan, but she assumed that it would place her in the subordinate role. Although she thought that a life as Dan's slave sounded enticing, she knew that winning the superior position would afford her infinitely more options. She only hoped that she could make up for her shortcomings in the two remaining tests that Juliette had planned. In the meantime, Amanda decided to make the best of her situation, and reduce the consequences of losing by keeping it as close as she could. As she rounded the final turn, she dug deep within her for the strength to run the home stretch without regret.
In her enthusiasm to give Dan a run for his money, Amanda twisted her ankle and stumbled. Her frustrated moan was translated into a high pitched whinny by her headpiece, causing Dan to instinctively turn around to see what had happened. Nearly falling, without her arms to balance or break her fall, Amanda barely managed to stay on her feet, and she continued her run to the finish line.
Dan was frustrated that he had no way to help Amanda. He slowed down enough to ensure that the race remained close. He wasn't sure how this test could possibly determine a preference for dominance or submission since both he and Amanda were trussed up like unruly mustangs. He wondered whether Juliette would consider the winner more submissive since the winner would have accomplished the goal of his or her mistress.
Confused about their future, and concerned for Amanda's welfare, Dan made sure that the race was as close to a tie as possible. As they crossed the finish line, the crowd's cheering reached a tumultuous crescendo, and both Dan and Amanda were exhausted. Beth and Tara slowed their ponies to a stop near the center of the arena while Amanda and Dan struggled to catch their breath.
"What a delightful display!" Juliette announced as the crowd continued to cheer.
"That race was simply too close to call. The judges' scores will be tallied and posted shortly. Of course, refreshments will be served just outside the arena as usual."
As the crowd shuffled out of the stands, Amanda and Dan were relieved of their carriages. Tara and Beth lead the ponies out of the arena and back to their respective dressing rooms where the horse hoods were removed, and they were able to drink some much needed water. Neither Tara nor Beth spoke to them, but it didn't really matter. Dan and Amanda were too tired and thirsty to initiate a conversation. Besides, there was nothing that they could say that would alter the course of events. Both of them knew that they would just have to ride out the tests, and rely on whoever of the two of them was deemed the dominant to change the situation.
Tired and somewhat broken, Dan and Amanda each allowed their riders to reapply their hoods. Resuming their appearances as ponies, they were both taken to an adjoining pasture to rest until the next test. They tried to talk to each other, but could only make horse sounds. Instinctively, they affectionately nuzzled each other, and finally curled up together under the shade of a tree until they were collected for the next test.
Although neither Dan nor Amanda were certain how long they had been left in the pasture to rest, neither was ready to leave when Tara and Beth came to collect them. In the limited time they spent together under the tree, Dan had done his best to reassure Amanda of his feelings for her despite their hopeless situation, and Amanda returned Dan's affections with nuzzling and neighing.
Instead of leading them to the stable as Dan expected, Tara and Beth respectively led Amanda and Dan along a paver brick walkway to the back of the residence. The hooves of the two ponies generated a distinctive clip-clop noise that announced their predicament to all who passed by. Although blinders prevented her from seeing them, Amanda could hear a group of women admiring the sway of her tail. Amanda snorted and angrily tugged against her lead when another of the women commented that she would "rather ride the stallion than the mare."