Horses

Having a sabbatical from betting, farmgirl; like you I don't smoke and hardly drink, so over the years I've enjoyed having a bet. When we go to a race I like to study the horses that will be running so that I know them individually as they walk around the parade ring, so the having a bet follows on from that. I used to do quite well, but had a terrible few months, hence the sabbatical. I won't bet on the internet [too easy to get carried away] so I always go to a betting shop but, with the cost of petrol it isn't worth it any more. I hasten to add that a usual bet for me is 25 pence each way, so I don't exactly spend a lot of money! I've never done the Scoop 6 because I don't like accumlulators [sp]..can't imagine what it's like to have a vast sum of money resting on one last race. Also can't imagine what it's like when I hear of people having a bet of thousands of pounds. When I was a child I used to take my dad's bet to the [then] illegal bookies up the road, and then I used to watch the racing with him, so it's a bit like a comfort blanket. Will start to study the Ebor handicap when the weights come out, although I don't think we'll be going to it this year as we're going to Paris for the Arc [on my tick list of things to do before I expire along with the Melbourne Cup..the race that stops a nation]. Think the Scoop 6 was stopped in it's tracks by that 20/1 winner today!

Does anyone else bet on the gee-gees? My son introduced me to the Scoop 6 on a Saturday and I've been hooked ever since. It's a £2 bet, picking 6 horses from 6 different races. Simiiar to Jackpots and Placepots which you can find everyday of the week.
I don't smoke or drink so i don't think that a couple of quid a week betting is sinful - hope not anyway! Yet to win of course, but it's more fun than the lottery.
Shetlands are both incredibly wise and totally inscrutable. They know everything, are afraid of nothing, and are as loyal as a dog. I believe they are used in America for blind people -- or did I dream that?!

nanafrancis; did your DH ride any famous horses? I've loved steeplechasing all my life, although I have to admit that we had a terrible year with fatalities and I really struggled with it all. The nearest I got to horses as a child was watching the racing on a Saturday, and it became a huge part of my life. our pony was always fully turned out; she hated being stabled [she was a Welsh Cob]. The thoroughbreds in the yard seemed happy to be stabled all the time. Don't miss having to carry water to the field when all the pipes froze up in winter!

Ladies ... I had to join in on this. I have a very large thoroughbred and like many of you have been around horses all my life. My granddaughter who is nearly 5 had her first riding lesson on Sunday. Well it was a walk out in the woods at our local BHS riding school. It is a lovely way to get them started and my girl is too big. She too is used to being around horses and knows the dos and donts, I hadn't thought of getting her a grooming kit, must get one. Horses are brilliant to be around. I keep my girl on DIY and at this time of year there is nothing better than being out at the crack of dawn doing the chores. I work and commute to London so it really is early. The winter just gone was really tough and it was the first year that she has lived out, having previously been on a DIY yard with stabling. Well she really loved it and kept her weight on ... I can't say that I enjoyed the minus 10 on the car thermometer each morning. Looking forward to reading more tales (sorry for the pun) of horses. Does anyone still compete?

My DH used to ride horses as a jockey in steeplechase. His father bred and trained racehorses so he's been around horses and race courses most of his life, including taking his own DD around show jumping.
Because he was well known locally, he was asked to stunt double for an actor who couldn't ride in a TV show called '5 clues to fortune' which was set at Woburn Abbey. I've tried everywhere to get a copy of that film, without success. When I contacted Woburn Abbey - they'd never heard of it! I suppose it was too many years ago - the present Duke's GGF would have been in charge then.

Crimson I'm sorry to say that docking Brabant's tails is usual in Belgium. I think it is and looks disgusting.
Teddy, my Brabant, has a very long and luxuriant tail which I do actually have to trim the end of a couple of times a year otherwise it trails on the ground! One day soon I'll put a photo of him on my profile page for everyone to drool over - he is very handsome, though I say it myself. Will be off to see him for the second time today soon, but first a cup of tea.

Oh, I was watching that and wondering about the horses that were being used. I was told years ago that our Shire horses were far too tall and tended to have heart problems, whereas the European working horses were much sturdier and healthier. I did think, though, that one of the horses in the programme had a docked tail, which I would have thought was illegal [it might have been the camera angle]. They looked like wonderfully placid horses. I'll google them now; wanted to do it last night but didn't know what breed they were. I went to Connemara a few years ago and didn't see a sigle pony...I rather thought they'd be roaming wild like the ponies on dartmoor!

I watched that bit on Coast with the horses shrimping - amazing. Not sure that my Connemara pony would do it, probably think that some monsters were lurking in the water waiting for him!

I'm looking forward to the shetland for the grandchildren, farmgal. My horse is a Brabant 17hh and HUGE. He is wonderful with the children, but a bit too big for a one year old and a four year old. I have wonderful daydreams of the shetland sheltering under Teddy's tummy when it rains. If you want to see what a Brabant looks like last night's episode of Coast included an item about them still being used for shrimping near Antwerp. Haven't tried that with Ted yet . . .

My children were never interested in ponies, but my grandchildren are. The gene must have missed a generation. I have a Shetland for them and we are having great fun with her, and getting out to shows. Only wish I was younger so that I could run faster!!

I cried when Joey came on as a foal [and continued to cry throughout the show!]....the way that he put his head down to eat the grass, lifted his head suddenly and then slightly put his leg out to the side just knocked me out..in that second Joey was a real horse, and the puppeteer didn't exist. You don't need to have spent a lot of time watching horses to enjoy the show, but, if you have, the attention to detail is unbelievable. As someone said in a review, the puppeteers don't just bring them to life, they give them a soul as well. I'd love to see it again.

War Horse is such a good book, although originally written for children I enjoyed it. If you get the chance, go to see War Horse in London, it's amazing. The body language of the puppet horses has to be seen to be believed. I've had horses all my life and I was entranced by the performance. Go and see it!

War Horse is the one I'm thinking of. The author and his wife had/have a farm where disadvantaged children stay. Once, a boy who suffered from a terrible stammer stayed with them, but they realised that he was fine when he spoke with the horse. I can still 'smell' my pony in my memory. She had a 'musky' smell, not really very 'horsey'. And I can still hear her whinny to me. If she was walking towards the wrong gate leading to the corral I would say to her 'go round' and she would change direction. We had a pony on loan prior to her that would not lift his feet; I loved it when she would lift whichever foot we pointed to. It's so magical to stand by a field full of horses and call 'your' horses name and then see her canter across the field to you.

I know what you mean about the smells, Crimson. For me it's the newly removed rug that smells like honey. Watching and being with horses is very therapeutic. I was part of an equine assisted therapy group for many years and was fascinated by the interaction between damaged people and horses and the resultant improvement in people's moods. The horses enjoyed it too - the opportunity to stand still for half an hour while someone just strokes you is one most horses could get used to.

I must look more closely at Michael Morpurgo's work. Any titles in particular?

No horse now, Dordor, but had a family pony for 14 years. Still miss being with horses on a daily basis. I used to love watching them, especially their friendships. The thing I miss most is the smell of hoof oil! Horses and small children have a natural empathy [you only have to read some of the things that Michael Morpurgo has written to know that].