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Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
First of all a huge thank you to everyone who supported me through the trauma of losing both the most lovable horse I've ever owned and the most adorable cat I've ever owned within a few weeks of each other. You really did help me get through the worst. You are the absolute best of HHO. The loss of Pickle seems desperately unfair and we miss him being around the house so badly. The loss of Ludo was devastating. I have loved most of the many horses I've owned in the last 45 years, but never been as insanely "in love" with a horse as I was with him. And I had to choose to end his life. It was the pits and I really thought I would never want another.
But I've gone a bit mad with too much time on my hands, and this is Charlie. Charlie is in some ways an unwise purchase. As a flat racer of 17.1-ish, he is way out of the norm, bigger than most chasers never mind flat racers. He was started too young for a big horse and raced at three. He won under Frankie Dettori, so he was in illustrious company and ended his racing career sound when his owner ran out of money. Although he's not worked that hard, and had long rests between flat racing seasons, and had a clean vet record for at least the last year, it will be very much a matter of luck if we can keep him sound. I will simply count every month he is as a win.
But he was too good to turn down, straight moving with big open joints, a lot of bone and a lovely action, fabulous temperament suitable for an OAP, already let down by the trainer, who won't allow his horses to be sold until he's done that, barefoot with great feet, clean legs, show quality, beautiful head, huge ears and the kindest eyes. A hopefully lovely project to turn him from knowing nothing but flat racing into an all rounder. He's 7, a lovely age.
A big thank you to the HHOer who PMd me about a trainer near them who always had nice horses, you know who you are
.
So wish me luck, please, and here he is. I'll get some photos of me on him when I'm on him. First he has to take a GP saddle and learn to be mounted from the stirrup because I'm sure as heck not being thrown up onto him, which is what he is used to.
But I've gone a bit mad with too much time on my hands, and this is Charlie. Charlie is in some ways an unwise purchase. As a flat racer of 17.1-ish, he is way out of the norm, bigger than most chasers never mind flat racers. He was started too young for a big horse and raced at three. He won under Frankie Dettori, so he was in illustrious company and ended his racing career sound when his owner ran out of money. Although he's not worked that hard, and had long rests between flat racing seasons, and had a clean vet record for at least the last year, it will be very much a matter of luck if we can keep him sound. I will simply count every month he is as a win.
But he was too good to turn down, straight moving with big open joints, a lot of bone and a lovely action, fabulous temperament suitable for an OAP, already let down by the trainer, who won't allow his horses to be sold until he's done that, barefoot with great feet, clean legs, show quality, beautiful head, huge ears and the kindest eyes. A hopefully lovely project to turn him from knowing nothing but flat racing into an all rounder. He's 7, a lovely age.
A big thank you to the HHOer who PMd me about a trainer near them who always had nice horses, you know who you are
. So wish me luck, please, and here he is. I'll get some photos of me on him when I'm on him. First he has to take a GP saddle and learn to be mounted from the stirrup because I'm sure as heck not being thrown up onto him, which is what he is used to.
), but he has a look about him that I absolutely love. Even just through those 2 photos. What a head, what a face. Best of luck with him!
. Lovely velvet coat, what is there to not love about him.
