Start the party!
I took him out for a hack up the road to the Chapel this morning and Tetley is absolutely 100%, totally, indisputably, without a doubt, brooks no argument, as sure as eggs is eggs, the Pope's a Catholic, Luxembourg is small and bears sh*t in the woods, completely, I-want-trot-downhill-NOW-mummy, lipsmackingthirstquenchingacetasting-motivatinggoodbuzzingcooltalkingfastwalkinghighliving-evergivingcoolfizzingPepsiiiiiiiii SOUND.
I will be booking him into the farm ride on Tuesday. If he has no reaction from that then I will affiliate him and do several Pre-novices before the end of the season. There's no doubting from the huge change in his feet that something big has changed. They were scalped smooth around the outside edge a month ago and now they have heels and seats of corn and nearly 1/4 inch of hoof wall. I really think this may be it this time. I'm prepared for it all to go pear shaped again, but what a bonus this is after only 6 months to have him like this. I am grinning from ear to ear.
Tibaby has the day off before tomorrow. I have done too much work with her on the grit and she was footie on the stones of the car park yesterday, but she jumped really well on the grass even though it was hard underneath. So we will go tomorrow, and then I will ration the arena work for a while until she builds up more sole again.
Caddy is growing like a weed. His bum this morning was huge. If his front end ever catches up he is going to be about 16.3, which is what the string test said he would be. That would make him very unusual, to be such an elegant lightweight of such a size. Just my cup of tea. And he doesn't just come when he's called now - he comes galloping up with his tail stuck straight up in the air. He has certainly picked up the Arab genes from his ancestors!
I have realised after she went so well yesterday that I am misjudging Tia. I think that she is actually less bold than I had thought, but she hides her feelings and tries for me. Then if everything gets too much, like at the show, she can bottle it. It's just that she is still anxious about doing over 2ft 9, and needs more experience. I like her such a lot, but I still think she would be better off with someone who has more sensitivity to her feelings than me. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I hope we get on the cross country this time!
C
posted by cptrayes @ 1:42 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Yay, Tetley! This is wonderful news. Six months seems like forever when you are waiting, but when you consider what had to happen in his hocks, it's amazingly quick. I am so happy for you both.
I suspected as much about Tia's courage. She moved up so fast, the basics just weren't confirmed in her mind. She's a brave lass to give you as much as she has, but without your confidence in the show jumping to make up for her lack, the results aren't too surprising. Throw your heart over the fences first tomorrow. Believe you can get her over and she will believe it too! Have fun!
If Caddy reaches 16.3, he and Tucker can do a pas de deux. All he has to do is fill out sideways like the Goodyear Blimp and they'll be an almost perfect match. (Except for the white markings...all Tuck has is a little splotch of white on his right hind heel.)
Tucker is slightly less red, a bit darker, I think Jean? Shall we bleach him or die Caddy :-) ?
Oh and the feet will NEVER match, Cad's are always going to be tiny!
C
Tukcer's feet aren't huge. I think they'll do fine together. We can all them "Me and My Shadow," with Tucker as the darker boy taking the shadow role. *G*
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