"UNGH!

The ground was unforgiving as Torasin toppled over. He was awarded a mouth full of grass and a loss of position as a grey stallion commented on the event before passing him. Torasin gritted his teeth and thanked the Gods that the Sir who had passed him was of kind heart. Quickly, the paint stumbled back to his feet to a fanfare of sharp chirping as Kiba seemed to be finding the fall highly amusing. The gentleman snorted in slight annoyance and bolted off again, grumbling under his breath at his own stupidity. Only he could fall over at the start.

Hooves pounded against the earth as he soon regained some momentum, racing North through the deep forest. Torasin glanced around him nervously, he never did like this forest and it was easy to launch a surprise attack from within it's depths. His brown bonded trilled in warning, it seemed there were rocks hidden amongst the grassland that bordered the Foothills. Tor gritted his teeth and fixed his eyes to the ground, snorting loudly in extreme concentration. The ground didn't appear to be getting any easier and the steed made an anxious look up. A sharp intake of breath followed as he approached the land bridge for the first time, it's narrow appearance taking him by surprise. He quickly changed his stride and moved into a swift canter to negotiate the bridge safely, Kiba trilling above him. Shouting encouragement. He winced here and there when his hooves caught a rock wrong, and shortened his stride further as not to loose his balance. The ground became more even and the bridge was crossed, his hind powered forwards. Torasin's stride became greater and longer as he swapped from canter to gallop.

Swiftly, the terrain changed to snow and the cold wind whipped up his creamy mane, sending shivers across his patched pelt. Once more he found his stride shortening a little, the frozen mountain tundra harder to run on than firm grassland and forests. The paint glided across the white surface and followed the way of the Steppe, taking a loop round. So far, this had to be the part of the race Torasin was least enjoying. Falling flat on his face aside, serious injuries could be caused by going too fast on such a surface.

Torasin chopped and changed his stride again, turning his attention southwards after finishing his loop.