I’m not going to get my feet wet!

Did you know that ......?

…..Everybody knows that Red Rum won the Grand National three times, but the horse that entered the race the greatest number of times was called Manifesto. He ran eight Grand Nationals between 1895 and 1904, winning twice and coming third on three occasions.

…..Only two grey horses have won the Grand National (although one won twice). They were The Lamb (1868 & 1871) and Nicolaus Silver (1961).

…..There are 190 horses on the Bayeux Tapestry.

…..The first horsebox was built at Nether Wallop in Hampshire in 1836 at the instigation of racehorse owner Lord George Bentinck. Since horse racing began, race horses were walked by grooms to reach whichever course the racing was taking place - this meant slow progress at walk. As the date of the St. Leger neared and Bentinck's horse, Elis, had not yet arrived at Doncaster for the race, the odds lengthened
- even if the horse showed up in time, he would be pretty tired after walking all the way from Goodwood. Elis was, however, transported the 250 miles in a specially designed covered wagon pulled by four post horses in relays ... and won the race.

What is not recorded is how long it took them to load him!

…..1825 was the year in which London first had horse-drawn buses. New York followed in 1831

.
…..The first horseshoes were used by the Romans and consisted of a very heavy iron shoe held to the horse's hoof by leather thongs. Known,
unsurprisingly, as "hipposandals".

A FATHER’S DIARY by Jack

First things first – I’m a very proud Dad. I believe I’ve fathered quite a few offspring as I was kept busy at the stallion yard where Emily found me, but my life is very different now – and for the first time I’ve had a long term lady love who lives next to me along with our strapping son! When Emily bought me in December 2007 straight away my lifestyle
changed – in some ways it was much harder as I was being taken out of my stable to drive a carriage nearly every day .......a bit of a shock for a stud stallion and not quite the form of exercise I was hoping for,
although on James’s yard where I was lodging there were some fine fillies I can tell you!

Soon my muscles were toned and I was looking very sleek – so I took full advantage by prancing past the others on my way to and from work and getting some very admiring glances too - although I was told my calling out was yobbish and lowered the whole tone of Broomes’ yard. So what – if you’ve got it – flaunt it is my motto!!! What hard work it was learning to become supple and having to track up when it is so much
easier and more flashy to power trot from the front – then of all the horrors I had to learnt to walk instead of jog and to canter in harness. However all this hard work paid off when I started competing and realised how exciting it was to go out and show off and be admired on regular basis.

Once Emily felt I understood what to do I was moved to her home on the mountain and stabled next to an adorable dun mare. I was even allowed to touch noses whenever I wanted. I had never got socially acquainted with a female before and I soon became extremely smitten. I
confess I would spend hours watching her. We called to each other whenever we parted and I always loaded well at the end of an event as I was keen to get home to my Welsh Rhapsody. How I longed to make her acquaintance properly!

Finally my wish was granted after Emily and I came back from competing in Austria in August. I was told I was finally allowed to start a family with the love of my life – the most exquisite tottie ever to grace a stable… After our romantic encounter I watched with concern as over the months she became larger and larger until I feared she might burst! She was still affectionate but seemed preoccupied.

Then on 24th June my life changed again. Rhapsody was very restless in the night – up and down and making strange noises. I couldn’t get a wink of sleep and to be honest I was quite concerned. Noone seemed around to help her so I stood duty at the grille between us all night. Just as daylight was breaking I was horrified to see her struggling in the straw and then amazed to see a small horse appear – my very own son!
Although small as he was two weeks early he was utterly delightful – bright bronze with pretty white markings on his face and feet and a wonderful bushy tail! I congratulated Rhapsody and we all stood together as close as we could with the door between us until Emily came in with breakfast.

She was so surprised to see my son! And so thrilled! How proud I was! She told me he would be called Bronze Spirit – which seemed to us a perfect name Soon after breakfast the nasty person who gives injections arrived and admired him too but gave my poor son two injections – one for tetanus and one as a booster for being so small and early. He spent a lot of time in their stable and told my poor wife she’d have to stay indoors until our son was bigger as the weather was wet and windy. She was so disappointed as she loves to be out ... now
I hate it outdoors when it’s like that but Emily always turns me out for a time every day ....so I would go out in my waterproofs and boots on the grass and after an hour or so I would start to pace the fence line to be allowed back to be with my family. Of course I would shout and prance on my return – it’s only natural for a hot blooded male , but
I would also greet my son by calling in a special way and he began to call back to me very early on in his shrill little voice.
He was growing so fast that soon he was allowed out to exercise on the sand arena and would rush in and out of the stable to gallop round as fast as he could – just like I do. I spent hours watching him play and watching him suckling and growing so fast
his pet name became “Pudding” which is so un-cool! Rhapsody was firm with him but very patient as he always wanted attention and
was always on the go.....sounds familiar?? Emily would close the door to shut them in at night so he would lie down and rest and we could stand watch together.

When he was 6 weeks old Emily took him out with his mother to his first show. I was upset to have to stay behind and very relieved when they came back later in the day having eaten lots of grass by the show ring and taken part in three classes. Rhapsody proudly told me our son had won Best section C foal, then in the championship won Best Local Foal and Reserve Champion. Well he takes after his father!

Emily says we will always keep him and if we get on well I will be able to drive alongside him sometimes or maybe he will go ahead and I’ll pull our carriage along behind him – something Emily calls a tandem. It sounds like she has plenty of ideas as to how to keep us busy , but I always say variety is the spice of life. If it gives me the opportunity to strut my stuff then it sounds good to me!

One thing’s for sure I’m a very proud and contented father.

 

 

 

Fact

Horses teeth are ever growing. Adult female horses have 36 teeth, whereas adult male horses have between 40 to 44.

Horses can only breathe through their nostrils.

Old Billy is the oldest known horse of 62 years (1760-1822) and Sugar Puff is the oldest known pony of 56 years.

A mare is pregnant for approximately two weeks short of a year (335-340 days). Colts are carried approximately 4 days longer than fillies.

Unlike cattle, sheep, goats, deer, camels and hippos, which need to rest for hours in order to digest food, horses can eat and run. It takes approximately 48 hours for food to pass through a horse.

A horses skeleton consists of 205 bones. Horses do not have collarbones but instead their front limbs are joined to their body purely by muscle, cartilage and ligaments.

Horses were domesticated around 4500BC.

A horse crossed with a Zebra is known as a ZORSE.

A donkey crossed with a Zebra is known as a ZONKEY.

Fiction

 

 

Horsey poem
Why do I like horses? I really must be mad.
My mother wasn’t horsey - and neither was my dad.

But the madness hit me early - and it hit me like a curse.
And I’ve never gotten better. In fact I’ve gotten worse.

My stables are immaculate. My house is like a hovel.
Last year for my birthday - I got a brand new shovel.

I hardly read a paper - but I know who’s sold their horse.
And I wouldn’t watch the news - unless Mr Ed was on - of course.

One eye’s always on the heavens - but my washing waves in vain
As I rush to get the horses in - in case it’s gonna rain.

And though they’re wearing 15 rugs, the best you can get,
I bring them in to keep them dry - while I get soaking wet.

I spend all the cash I’ve got - on horsey stuff for sure
I buy harness, fancy rugs - and then I buy some more.

I can’t even make a sponge cake - I don’t even try
But I can back a car and trailer - in the twinkling of an eye.

I ache from long forgotten falls. My knees have got no skin.
My toes have gone a funny shape - from being squashed again.

But late at night, when all is still - and I’ve gone to give them hay,
I touch their velvet softness and my worries float away.

They give a gentle nicker and they nuzzle through my hair
and I know it’s where my heart is - more here than anywhere.

(Thanks to the Bradbourne Carriage Driving Club for letting us reproduce this)

 

Back to Top