Legend in His Own Lifetime

Some ponies are legends in their own lifetime. Take Digger for example. He was bought from Beaulieu Road Sales Yard for £35 and is ridden, in the style of a Kirsty McColl, by a Girl Who Works Down the Feedshop Swears... (not as much as she used to!) called Georgina Hunt. On Boxing Day this year, after months of fittening herself and her pony, she won one of the races at The New Forest Point to Point - over what should have been a distance of 3 miles but is often more. Digger who is only 13.2 h.h. beat much taller ponies and other competitors who have been riding this race for many more years. Well done Georgina and Rushmoor Roly (Digger).

Happy Christmas

Eleven years ago, I loaned out our ex-racehorse, Chancer, to a lady called Nicky, complete with a loan agreement that had more dotted i's and crossed t's that you can imagine. From the outset she has treated him as her own, taking the best care of him and never leaving me in any doubt that we had made the right decision. From time to time, Julie who owned him before me, and myself have gone over to see him, kiss him on his nose, and give him a warm hug (and an illlicit packet of Polos). He has always looked well-cared for. Nicky is always happy for us to turn up when we like.

Chancer would have been very valuable if he had lived up to his sire's record of success. Horsechesnut is one of the most famous racehorses in the world for his wins in South Africa. 

Chancer was the more er, laid back type, and didn't really see the benefit of running fast, or at all. 

Nothing will change in reality, but we thought it was more than time for Chancer to be Nicky's and only Nicky's so we left her a card telling her the good news. Hopefully she will enjoy her Christmas present who is now 21. Update: actually she tells us she likes things exactly as they are and knowing that there is always a fall back position for Chancer. Has to be the happiest loan agreement ever known!

Even after 11 years he remembers how to do his 'carrot' stretches.

Prince of Pepperbox

 

Very sadly, Prince's field mate who stayed out at night with him when the big horses went in, died of colic. Luckily, the yard owners had another pony they could put in the field with Prince so that he wasn't alone. I think he likes him:

Night night, sweet repose

 

 

Several of my friends have lost their precious horses recently. I know that the pain is immense. We all wish that they could live forever, or at least that we could leave at the same time. This poignant photograph was taken by another friend of mine, she lost a soulmate of hers not very long ago; it makes you see the beauty in things. Poetry in a picture.