A Busy Week, But Has It Driven Them Potty?

It has been a very busy week at the yard.  As well as the usual routine of getting the horses fit and ready to race there have been a few distractions.  On Tuesday the mobile unit from The British Racing School called in and gave some very useful tuition to the aspiring jockeys.

They were able to ride on the track then watch video replays of their performances, before learning how to improve on the equicizer.

Oliver and Alex receive tuition.

As a way of rewarding the staff for all their hard work recently Linda put on a staff barbecue, 

which was followed by a vigorous and highly competitive game of rounders.

As we watched the horses warm up in the school before Saturday breakfast we began to wonder if all the week's excitement had sent them a little potty.

However it turns out that they are very cheap and make excellent ground level cups to rest the jumping poles in!

Fantastic Open Day

The weather was just perfect for this year's Owners Open Day, dry, sunny and warm without being too hot.  There was a good turn out of owners viewing their horses and taking the opportunity to catch up with acquaintances while enjoying a soft drink or Pimms. The staff, a very important team, were then introduced.

The team.

Then came the parade of horses with Linda's informative commentary.

Everyone looks on ready for the parade of horses.

The horses looked magnificent as the sun reflected off their glistening coats.

The prize money for last season's "Three To Follow" competition was given out and the forms for the new season issued.  Then it was time to partake of the delicious buffet lunch while excitedly forming plans of campaign for the months to come.

Well done Linda and team, a very successful day.

Another Step Up The Ladder.

Karen took Kingscombe to the Edenbridge & Oxted show yesterday, and by finishing 3rd in this relatively new discipline for him, they qualified for Hickstead.

Owner, Peter Oppenheimer, Karen and Kingscombe.

Sam Learns The Hard Way.

Sams R Man, owned by Valence Racing, made his debut at Kempton on 1st August and it was a tough lesson to learn.  In a field of 14 he was drawn one from the outside and was startled when the gates opened, leaving him quickly a few lengths behind.  He made up some of the ground and was passing a horse on the outside when it swung out and nearly knocked him over.  Again back on his heels he found his rhythm again but began to tire in the home straight and, losing touch, he was not punished in the final furlong or so.

Owners and Rab Havlin before Sam's race.

Surprisingly busy Saturday.

The yard is usually fairly quiet for Saturday breakfast at this time of year but today it was buzzing. Several regulars made their first visits for a few weeks, some of the new syndicate were there to view their horse and others were eyeing up prospects for the future.

Malcolm with the new syndicate purchase "Cockney Seagull".

A few of the National Hunt horses were just back in after their summer holidays.

Itoldyou is back.

And so is Due South.

Kim was there to see Kafeel and he confirmed that the plan, all going well, was to aim for a return to San Moritz in the spring.

Very different conditions await Kafeel in the spring.

Down on the track prospective buyers viewed one of Linda's new purchases from Ireland.

Is this the one for us?

Saturday's Special Event.

There was something a little different to enjoy at the stables this morning when Sharon Polding brought her 9 year old eventer, Findon Firecracker, to work on the gallops.  Earlier in the year they had competed under the G.B. flag in the Tattersals event in Ireland.  They hope to be competing at Blenheim later in the year.

The spectators, both human and equine, found it all very interesting.

Is This The Future? For Some Things We Hope Not!

For those visiting for breakfast this morning there were hints of things to come.  The first of Linda's new acquisitions has arrived from Ireland, a well bred, big, strong 4 year old filly, who looks an exciting jumping prospect.

A less exciting window into the future was the breakdown of the dishwasher!  The owners reverted to the old traditional method and will need a winner to finance a return to normality!

However the rare treat of the sun made watching the horses on the track a pleasure.