Crosshill Pacers
Well-Known Member
Hello followers!
Don't get too excited, we still have no photos from last week (I promise I'll get some up for the next report) so a written report is all I can offer.
Week 11 started brilliantly; after a day off on Sunday whilst J and I visited my family in Wales, Monday morning saw us up bright and early to take all four horses to Corbiewood for double-heated workouts (so that's eight workouts in total!). Cassius and Stevie worked out twice each first, then we switched the horses over on the lorry and took Eternal and Missile out. J had changed the check bit back to the Burch overcheck to try and improve Missile's brakes, the ear plugs had been ditched and knee boots were added (he hasn't given us any cause to believe he's a knee-knocker but as the pace of the work quickens it's more of a safety measure than anything else). I sent him out on the track with J's father at the controls with the instructions to work him as close to 2mins 40secs as possible and above all else KEEP HIM CALM. There was a small crowd at the track, some folk who stable their horses there using the on-site facilities, and some who spend their spare time there watching people jogging/working out, so I was more than a bit nervous that Missile would lose the plot and tank off again and people would gossip about it. I needn't have worried, as he clocked a wonderfully slow time of 2.37
I know it must sound mental that I'm trying to get a racehorse to go slowly, but he must learn not to burn himself out. Do as much as you need, not as much as you can, that's my motto.
After a half hour cool-down whilst Eternal did her second heat and was washed down, we sent him out with instructions to work as close to 2.30 as possible - the gods were smiling on my grumpy pony on Monday because he clocked another lovely slow time of 2.28. He'd had a shot of calmer before leaving and was asleep at the side of the lorry when we brought Eternal off, so fingers crossed when he comes off the calmer he'll realise there's nothing to be worked up over when we go away from home.
On Tuesday J and I jogged Stevie and Missile together - Stevie in front and Missile behind, mainly to get Stevie used to the noise of another horse around him (what with him being in full blinkers and not being able to see Missile). We jogged them for 30 minutes, brought them in to wash them and then let them eat their lunch before turning them both out in the sun for the afternoon.
Wednesday saw us take a trip to the vet for Missile's last flu jab which had to be given before the 19th May in order for him to be able to race during the summer. One of the rules of harness racing is that a horse cannot race within 7 days of having a flu jab, which isn't an issue for Missile as he isn't due to race until the beginning of June. He was calm upon arrival, although without the benefit of a calmer shot he was a little nervy when we got him off the box but it's good for him to travel places and realise he isn't going to be doing fast work. The vet gave him the once over and proclaimed him to be in good health, and having seen him during the winter he was pleasantly surprised to see what good condition the horse is in. I must admit, the trip to the vets was the first time I've taken Missile somewhere where there isn't harness racing people looking at him and when I took a step back to look at him I began to appreciate what a wonderful looking athlete he is. He is pure muscle from head to foot and he is absolutely shining right now while we were there the vet checked his teeth over and rasped down a few sharp edges, first manually and then with the electric rasp. Missile was an absolute gem throughout, and J said for the first time he looked as though he was looking to me for reassurance. I think my horse is beginning to like me! When we came home I turned him out for the afternoon again to enjoy the sun.
On Thursday (evening), Cassius was racing at Haugh Field, Bannockburn, which was the first Scottish meeting of the season. Stevie was going along for company and to workout on the grass (plus see the crowd/loudspeaker etc), so we just took Eternal and Missile to workout at Corbiewood in the morning. Missile worked in 2.35 in his first heat and 2.28 in his second heat, pacing the final quarter in 29.6. J has informed me that very seldom do horses break 30 seconds for a quarter, so we are all pretty pleased. J's father came off the track and told me that I have 'a very fast horse', and now that we've cracked the brakes on him we can try to harness that speed. Thursday was also the first time I harnessed him up by myself at the track, having harnessed him up all week at home. He's still a fidget and his back legs are off the ground more than on it, but it's all show and I'm no longer so wary of him. A quick elbow in the bum and a growl from me and he's suddenly not so bolshy! J says he's got me wrapped around his little finger but I think it's more the other way round than I'm getting credit for!
Yesterday we jogged him and Stevie together again, this time with Stevie behind as he was very very green with other horses around him at Haugh Field the night before. J used the 30 minutes of jogging to drive him up close behind me, then hold him back, and so on to get him more settled in company. Missile took it all in his stride; he doesn't seem remotely bothered by other horses and he is a joy to jog now - almost foot perfect the whole way and all I really need to do is point him in the right direction. In the afternoon they both went out in the field with Eternal and Cassius, so plenty of bombing around followed (and plenty of shoes were flung off - thankfully none off Missile but all 4 off Stevie!).
Today we decided to give Stevie the day off (due to the lack of shoes) and jog Missile when we returned from a trip to take two mares and foals to the stallion in Co Durham. However upon our return home, I pulled Missile from his stable to find him hopping lame on his near hind
after washing the hoof and lower part of his leg in hot, salty water, we found two nasty gashes, one just under the fetlock joint and one on his heel. Neither of us can figure out where they've come from but it's put a stop on any work for a while. We cleaned the wounds, sprayed them and took him for a walk in hand around the track to try to get him confident in putting weight on the leg (he was being a bit of a drama queen to be perfectly honest). He's tucked up in his stable tonight, looking a million dollars and getting stuck into his feed and hay. We're away working in Wales tomorrow but J's dad will feed him and check on him and we'll continue to treat the cuts during the week. All being well, *hopefully* he can begin jogging again on Thursday or Friday, but he won't go for any workouts until a week on Tuesday at the earliest. That obviously pushes back our first race date from June 5th to *hopefully* June 12th (which was the original target at the beginning of his training). It's not the end of the world, but I must admit I am a bit down tonight about it. J tells me racing is more downs than ups and I know he's right. At least nearly a week off work will put some more condition on him, and he'll be getting brushed as if there's no tomorrow so he'll be gleaming even more by the time he starts work again!
Thanks for reading,
Sarah & Missile
P.s. in light of the minor injury and setback, I might not post a week 12 report as there won't actually be much to report. Should anybody want to hear how he is, I can always post an update on this thread towards the end of the week.
Don't get too excited, we still have no photos from last week (I promise I'll get some up for the next report) so a written report is all I can offer.
Week 11 started brilliantly; after a day off on Sunday whilst J and I visited my family in Wales, Monday morning saw us up bright and early to take all four horses to Corbiewood for double-heated workouts (so that's eight workouts in total!). Cassius and Stevie worked out twice each first, then we switched the horses over on the lorry and took Eternal and Missile out. J had changed the check bit back to the Burch overcheck to try and improve Missile's brakes, the ear plugs had been ditched and knee boots were added (he hasn't given us any cause to believe he's a knee-knocker but as the pace of the work quickens it's more of a safety measure than anything else). I sent him out on the track with J's father at the controls with the instructions to work him as close to 2mins 40secs as possible and above all else KEEP HIM CALM. There was a small crowd at the track, some folk who stable their horses there using the on-site facilities, and some who spend their spare time there watching people jogging/working out, so I was more than a bit nervous that Missile would lose the plot and tank off again and people would gossip about it. I needn't have worried, as he clocked a wonderfully slow time of 2.37
I know it must sound mental that I'm trying to get a racehorse to go slowly, but he must learn not to burn himself out. Do as much as you need, not as much as you can, that's my motto.After a half hour cool-down whilst Eternal did her second heat and was washed down, we sent him out with instructions to work as close to 2.30 as possible - the gods were smiling on my grumpy pony on Monday because he clocked another lovely slow time of 2.28. He'd had a shot of calmer before leaving and was asleep at the side of the lorry when we brought Eternal off, so fingers crossed when he comes off the calmer he'll realise there's nothing to be worked up over when we go away from home.
On Tuesday J and I jogged Stevie and Missile together - Stevie in front and Missile behind, mainly to get Stevie used to the noise of another horse around him (what with him being in full blinkers and not being able to see Missile). We jogged them for 30 minutes, brought them in to wash them and then let them eat their lunch before turning them both out in the sun for the afternoon.
Wednesday saw us take a trip to the vet for Missile's last flu jab which had to be given before the 19th May in order for him to be able to race during the summer. One of the rules of harness racing is that a horse cannot race within 7 days of having a flu jab, which isn't an issue for Missile as he isn't due to race until the beginning of June. He was calm upon arrival, although without the benefit of a calmer shot he was a little nervy when we got him off the box but it's good for him to travel places and realise he isn't going to be doing fast work. The vet gave him the once over and proclaimed him to be in good health, and having seen him during the winter he was pleasantly surprised to see what good condition the horse is in. I must admit, the trip to the vets was the first time I've taken Missile somewhere where there isn't harness racing people looking at him and when I took a step back to look at him I began to appreciate what a wonderful looking athlete he is. He is pure muscle from head to foot and he is absolutely shining right now
while we were there the vet checked his teeth over and rasped down a few sharp edges, first manually and then with the electric rasp. Missile was an absolute gem throughout, and J said for the first time he looked as though he was looking to me for reassurance. I think my horse is beginning to like me! When we came home I turned him out for the afternoon again to enjoy the sun.On Thursday (evening), Cassius was racing at Haugh Field, Bannockburn, which was the first Scottish meeting of the season. Stevie was going along for company and to workout on the grass (plus see the crowd/loudspeaker etc), so we just took Eternal and Missile to workout at Corbiewood in the morning. Missile worked in 2.35 in his first heat and 2.28 in his second heat, pacing the final quarter in 29.6. J has informed me that very seldom do horses break 30 seconds for a quarter, so we are all pretty pleased. J's father came off the track and told me that I have 'a very fast horse', and now that we've cracked the brakes on him we can try to harness that speed. Thursday was also the first time I harnessed him up by myself at the track, having harnessed him up all week at home. He's still a fidget and his back legs are off the ground more than on it, but it's all show and I'm no longer so wary of him. A quick elbow in the bum and a growl from me and he's suddenly not so bolshy! J says he's got me wrapped around his little finger but I think it's more the other way round than I'm getting credit for!
Yesterday we jogged him and Stevie together again, this time with Stevie behind as he was very very green with other horses around him at Haugh Field the night before. J used the 30 minutes of jogging to drive him up close behind me, then hold him back, and so on to get him more settled in company. Missile took it all in his stride; he doesn't seem remotely bothered by other horses and he is a joy to jog now - almost foot perfect the whole way and all I really need to do is point him in the right direction. In the afternoon they both went out in the field with Eternal and Cassius, so plenty of bombing around followed (and plenty of shoes were flung off - thankfully none off Missile but all 4 off Stevie!).
Today we decided to give Stevie the day off (due to the lack of shoes) and jog Missile when we returned from a trip to take two mares and foals to the stallion in Co Durham. However upon our return home, I pulled Missile from his stable to find him hopping lame on his near hind
after washing the hoof and lower part of his leg in hot, salty water, we found two nasty gashes, one just under the fetlock joint and one on his heel. Neither of us can figure out where they've come from but it's put a stop on any work for a while. We cleaned the wounds, sprayed them and took him for a walk in hand around the track to try to get him confident in putting weight on the leg (he was being a bit of a drama queen to be perfectly honest). He's tucked up in his stable tonight, looking a million dollars and getting stuck into his feed and hay. We're away working in Wales tomorrow but J's dad will feed him and check on him and we'll continue to treat the cuts during the week. All being well, *hopefully* he can begin jogging again on Thursday or Friday, but he won't go for any workouts until a week on Tuesday at the earliest. That obviously pushes back our first race date from June 5th to *hopefully* June 12th (which was the original target at the beginning of his training). It's not the end of the world, but I must admit I am a bit down tonight about it. J tells me racing is more downs than ups and I know he's right. At least nearly a week off work will put some more condition on him, and he'll be getting brushed as if there's no tomorrow so he'll be gleaming even more by the time he starts work again!Thanks for reading,
Sarah & Missile
P.s. in light of the minor injury and setback, I might not post a week 12 report as there won't actually be much to report. Should anybody want to hear how he is, I can always post an update on this thread towards the end of the week.
