Work morning and we worked Big Nasty, Chequered View, Back on the Lash, Debden Bank, Mr Mafia, Raving Bonkers, Ballymountain Boy, Solstice Star, Bobble Emerald, Cut and Run, Capital Force, Enforcement, Dreamsundermyfeet and Robsam. All the rest cantered.
I was pleased with both horses yesterday at Stratford despite not troubling the judge. Pinnacle Peak is a baby who Leighton liked a lot but will take time and Witness Protection paid the price from trying to beat the impressive favourite. Dickie tried to outstay him but it was an impressive performance and Witness Protection still ran a cracking race to finish 4th. He’s not a bumper horse and will go over hurdles next time. Both horse are A1 this morning.
Tom Siddall, our Equine Dentist, is making his way through the yard – we like to check the horses’ teeth at least every six months, more so if we have a problem. Belinda had a tooth out yesterday, not by Tom I hasten to add, so she’s not been on top form today – things were quieter for a while yesterday…!
Regular blog followers will know that Freddie & his shetland pony Brewards Kerwen (Blackie) have been competing with the Shetland Pony Grand National Team at shows all over the country from Suffolk to Minehead to Cartmel with Badminton, Gatcombe Park, Burghley Horse Trials & Newmarket in between! His pony was a 5 year old unraced youngster when they started in April and they have learnt so much and gone from strength to strength all season.
The main aim for the 40 plus riders, as well as raising money for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust, is to try and secure one of 11 places at the world famous Olympia Horse Show at Christmas. Competition, as you can imagine, is fierce and lots of ponies go year in year out with different riders each year so their odds at the start of the year must have been 200-1 plus…. I likened their debut at Badminton Horse Trials in May to me running a Novice Hurdler 1st time out at The Cheltenham Festival with a jockey having his 3rd ride (Freddie has pony raced on the flat but he’d only raced a slow shetland twice before!).
I’m going on…proud dad! However, a few days ago we received the fantastic news that Freddie has been selected as part of the team – a golden ticket! We are all over the moon as you can imagine! He’s been granted the week off school (as long as he catches up with work – he hopes their last week is pretty quiet!) and now the quest to raise more funds for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust commences! Please sponsor him if you feel you can, it’s for a very good cause raising vital funds….please click HERE. Anything you can afford will be much appreciated.