Big schooling day yesterday with this weekend's runners Sea Rock and Out of Range who are going to Brocklesby this Sunday and the Thorpe runners, Glory Hunter, Lady Barfad, View the Dance and Popaway who are hopefully going to Thorpe next weekend. Nick rode Sea Rock and Glory Hunter Tom Strawson was on Out of Range (Harry is away this week at Goodwood) Jane Williams (who is standing in for Clare Hart) rode Popaway and Lady Barfad and El rode View the Dance. Nick also popped Cupachai over the hurdles just to get his feet off the ground at speed with Dancer as lead horse. All horses went really well. We had a slight incident when Jamie Goss and Beth were cantering two youngsters around the round track at the same time as we were schooling and they both spooked at the sound of the birch, dumped both riders and galloped wildly off into the distance. Both Jamie and Beth were very sore but not broken and I think both horses were caught safely in the end.
We also had our normal schooling session in the menage on Monday where Dr K who seems to be coming out of retirement after all had a little pop round - He was looking positively grumpy not going out with the main string and so has been back in work and far more enthusiastic than he has ever been in the past - he is just SO contrary! We will just kid him along and see how he is later on in the season as to whether we run him again or not. A little fun ride around the Bicester or Pytchley members might no go amiss...!?