Monday 15 February 2010

Harry going over the finishing line - 20 lengths in front of the opposition.
Well, we are still in shock after Harry's win - Our main aim was just to get him around. There were 11 horses in the race with three from some of the big yards. Harry's odds were 10-1 so he wasn't really fancied by anyone. Will settled him in at the back and managed to hold him there for the first 2 miles - they were going far too slowly for his liking and Will did really well to keep his enthusiasm in check. He then started to work his way through the field and it was as if they were standing still. Before we knew it Harry was a fence in front and still had his head on his chest, We held our breath watching him jump the last fence as he made rather a horlicks of it but found a fifth leg and happily continued to the finishing line without Will having to move on him - he had a real job pulling him up, and would have gone round again given half a chance. What a relief!! I'm just so pleased for Harry who really wants to be a racehorse and is so happy in himself now. We are still going to work really hard on his jumping as he was still far from foot perfect, but hopefully he will be a horse to have a lot of fun with in the future.
Today was really busy as one lot of guests left the shepherds hut and another lot arrived. Lucy was in, so she gave me a hand, and then we took Red and Dream up the gallops three times. They both went beautifully, we are delighted with Red who is really coming on well now and not struggling with her breathing anymore. Skye and Dream are hunting tomorrow, it's pouring with rain at the moment, hopefully it will have improved by tomorrow or I might wimp out!