Diamond Geezer
Gone But Not Forgotten
- Joined
- May 2, 2003
- Messages
- 13,884
A Blog by Kayleigh Thompson
Day One
Hello There!!
I am Jasper, once upon a time I was called Realisation. I am an ex racehorse. Fortunately I think far too much of myself to do that anymore, I mean, there isn't a real need to gallop around a track at speed jumping obstacles, is there?!
To begin with I want to give you a short story of my life. I am awesome. Yep, you read it right! What isn't to like?! I'm 15.3hh, bay, six years old, and man, I am sexy. I started off life in America but it wasn't too long until I came to England (so please don't think I have one of those awful yankee accents!) My racing career began with Mark Johnston and I made my first race course appearance at Haydock on 17th July 2009. It wasn't long before I won and I was rarely out of the placings over my 15 runs on the flat... and then I went hurdling for Evan Williams, HA HA HA I don't think so. I was placed, 3rd 6 times! Of course I could have won! I was beaten by some very very average horses, but I just really couldn't be bothered to put the effort in. The funniest part of the story is when they bought me, they had high hopes for me... oops! Bothered?! Not at all.
I was ever so well looked after in the race yards, not particularly a favourite of anyone's, I didn't try and I didn't really like doing the same thing day in, day out so of course became lazy. Always a character, our travelling head girl would often almost catch me chewing my rugs, but I think I pull an extremely convincing "I'm not doing anything!!" face. Ha, silly cow ;-) oh don't get me wrong though, lovely girl!!
Then 1 day a young lady appeared at my stable door, and despite the fact that I hadn't been working out and my coat wasn't gleaming, she still saw how good looking I was. She put some travel boots on me, the "space oddity" song instantly comes into my head when those go on and I pretend I'm Neil Armstrong walking the moon! "1small step for horse... 1 giant leap for horse kind!" Didn't realise how right I was. She took me to her space ship and that was the last time I was to ever walk out of that yard.
Day Two
I'll never forget my first night away from the race yard. It was dark when I got off the horse box and I didn't have a clue where I was. Luckily the young lady, who I shall call human (I like that it shows my authority over her), seems kind and gave me a bowl of nuts and a nice rug to wear, although I did try to tell her turquoise isn't really my colour. As she lead me down a dark lane I stopped. Something was strange... The smell. For the first time in my life I couldn't smell horses, none at all, but jeez, the stench of those cows!!
We went straight to a field. Even though I knew I was out I couldn't see exactly how much space I had, nor what was around me, so I thought it wise to stand and listen to the noises in my new surroundings rather than gallop about the place. Then it suddenly occurred to me, grass!! Grass grass grass! I haven't seen this in a while! I put my head down and grazed ravenously. Of course I was always well fed at the race yard, but there's nothing like a field of grass after a long season. A long season, ha, I haven't raced in 12 months, but it's not easy being this god damn sexy...
The first week at the farm was strange. Not bad at all, I got to eat as much grass as I wanted and was fed twice a day. I think I like my new human, but wouldn't tell her that. Being on my own was difficult, I don't think I've been without the company of other horses before, but hey more food for me!
Then there was the hacking. Oh... My...God... How cool is that?! We went round "the Village" on the first day, many cars drove past us slowly and I don't blame them, they've probably never seen such a fine looking beast in their time! The hacking was relaxed and I saw many different things on our mini adventures throughout the week. My favourite part was having a good old nose! I just can't help myself. Peoples driveways, the village hall, the rec, the shop, peoples windows. Windows are the best actually as you get a glimpse of yourself at the same time ;-)
Day Three
You just can't get enough of me can you?! Personally I don't blame you... So I'll carry on and tell you about my adventure!
This is the life! I've had some snazzy new shoes on, with special top of the range nails to help me with all this road work I've been doing with my human, we must do some miles! I love it though. Not far up the road from where we live there is a massive woodland. I mean gigantic, I haven't totally got my bearings yet, but I know the odd path. She tries to trick me but there are no flies on me ;-) (Literally because thank god the weather isn't too warm yet!) and then sometimes I act dumb just to humour her and let her think shes the boss again for a little while. ha.
We went riding in the field the other day, not to gallop though thank god. Human said we were having a "schooling session" so I was dreading it, but to my surprise we got there and no hurdles! Think she was half concerned that my feet would touch grass and I'd be a racehorse again, She obviously hasn't figured me out as quick as I did her!
Well, what we did was rather different. Smaller circles, changes of direction. Walking, trotting, walking. It really entertained me! Also my human is riding me quite different to what I'm used to. Her stirrups are much longer, her reins much shorter, and everything is kept slow, and relaxed. Then a pheasant appeared. From nowhere. Flew up literally from under my nose, I'm surprised I still have a nose left actually! All I did was stop, maybe a little abruptly but humans arse evacuated the saddle, feet migrated from the irons and she was almost fired out the front door!! Ha ha, I thought she had no chance! She clung on to my neck that tight to stay on she almost bloody strangled me!! God if I could of I would of rolled on the floor laughing! You should of seen her, arms and legs scrambling everywhere to get back to safety, Hilarious! The best bit was afterwards, she patted me! She is a soft touch! So once human had stopped shaking and I'd stopped laughing we carried on, circling, changing the rein. The way she rides makes me move differently. It's odd shes making my back legs work extremely hard, I wouldn't be caught scuffing my back toes anymore - oh no! Also her contact on the reins is almost comforting, firm but elastic, helping me stretch over my back and work into her hands.
So that was the news from this week! I'm enjoying this and it's actually not bad being an only horse, I get allll the attention, allllllll the food and none of the hassle! Well, human hassles me, but we hassle each other, and I usually win!
A very happy Jasper
Day One
Hello There!!
I am Jasper, once upon a time I was called Realisation. I am an ex racehorse. Fortunately I think far too much of myself to do that anymore, I mean, there isn't a real need to gallop around a track at speed jumping obstacles, is there?!
To begin with I want to give you a short story of my life. I am awesome. Yep, you read it right! What isn't to like?! I'm 15.3hh, bay, six years old, and man, I am sexy. I started off life in America but it wasn't too long until I came to England (so please don't think I have one of those awful yankee accents!) My racing career began with Mark Johnston and I made my first race course appearance at Haydock on 17th July 2009. It wasn't long before I won and I was rarely out of the placings over my 15 runs on the flat... and then I went hurdling for Evan Williams, HA HA HA I don't think so. I was placed, 3rd 6 times! Of course I could have won! I was beaten by some very very average horses, but I just really couldn't be bothered to put the effort in. The funniest part of the story is when they bought me, they had high hopes for me... oops! Bothered?! Not at all.
I was ever so well looked after in the race yards, not particularly a favourite of anyone's, I didn't try and I didn't really like doing the same thing day in, day out so of course became lazy. Always a character, our travelling head girl would often almost catch me chewing my rugs, but I think I pull an extremely convincing "I'm not doing anything!!" face. Ha, silly cow ;-) oh don't get me wrong though, lovely girl!!
Then 1 day a young lady appeared at my stable door, and despite the fact that I hadn't been working out and my coat wasn't gleaming, she still saw how good looking I was. She put some travel boots on me, the "space oddity" song instantly comes into my head when those go on and I pretend I'm Neil Armstrong walking the moon! "1small step for horse... 1 giant leap for horse kind!" Didn't realise how right I was. She took me to her space ship and that was the last time I was to ever walk out of that yard.
Day Two
I'll never forget my first night away from the race yard. It was dark when I got off the horse box and I didn't have a clue where I was. Luckily the young lady, who I shall call human (I like that it shows my authority over her), seems kind and gave me a bowl of nuts and a nice rug to wear, although I did try to tell her turquoise isn't really my colour. As she lead me down a dark lane I stopped. Something was strange... The smell. For the first time in my life I couldn't smell horses, none at all, but jeez, the stench of those cows!!
We went straight to a field. Even though I knew I was out I couldn't see exactly how much space I had, nor what was around me, so I thought it wise to stand and listen to the noises in my new surroundings rather than gallop about the place. Then it suddenly occurred to me, grass!! Grass grass grass! I haven't seen this in a while! I put my head down and grazed ravenously. Of course I was always well fed at the race yard, but there's nothing like a field of grass after a long season. A long season, ha, I haven't raced in 12 months, but it's not easy being this god damn sexy...
The first week at the farm was strange. Not bad at all, I got to eat as much grass as I wanted and was fed twice a day. I think I like my new human, but wouldn't tell her that. Being on my own was difficult, I don't think I've been without the company of other horses before, but hey more food for me!
Then there was the hacking. Oh... My...God... How cool is that?! We went round "the Village" on the first day, many cars drove past us slowly and I don't blame them, they've probably never seen such a fine looking beast in their time! The hacking was relaxed and I saw many different things on our mini adventures throughout the week. My favourite part was having a good old nose! I just can't help myself. Peoples driveways, the village hall, the rec, the shop, peoples windows. Windows are the best actually as you get a glimpse of yourself at the same time ;-)
Day Three
You just can't get enough of me can you?! Personally I don't blame you... So I'll carry on and tell you about my adventure!
This is the life! I've had some snazzy new shoes on, with special top of the range nails to help me with all this road work I've been doing with my human, we must do some miles! I love it though. Not far up the road from where we live there is a massive woodland. I mean gigantic, I haven't totally got my bearings yet, but I know the odd path. She tries to trick me but there are no flies on me ;-) (Literally because thank god the weather isn't too warm yet!) and then sometimes I act dumb just to humour her and let her think shes the boss again for a little while. ha.
We went riding in the field the other day, not to gallop though thank god. Human said we were having a "schooling session" so I was dreading it, but to my surprise we got there and no hurdles! Think she was half concerned that my feet would touch grass and I'd be a racehorse again, She obviously hasn't figured me out as quick as I did her!
Well, what we did was rather different. Smaller circles, changes of direction. Walking, trotting, walking. It really entertained me! Also my human is riding me quite different to what I'm used to. Her stirrups are much longer, her reins much shorter, and everything is kept slow, and relaxed. Then a pheasant appeared. From nowhere. Flew up literally from under my nose, I'm surprised I still have a nose left actually! All I did was stop, maybe a little abruptly but humans arse evacuated the saddle, feet migrated from the irons and she was almost fired out the front door!! Ha ha, I thought she had no chance! She clung on to my neck that tight to stay on she almost bloody strangled me!! God if I could of I would of rolled on the floor laughing! You should of seen her, arms and legs scrambling everywhere to get back to safety, Hilarious! The best bit was afterwards, she patted me! She is a soft touch! So once human had stopped shaking and I'd stopped laughing we carried on, circling, changing the rein. The way she rides makes me move differently. It's odd shes making my back legs work extremely hard, I wouldn't be caught scuffing my back toes anymore - oh no! Also her contact on the reins is almost comforting, firm but elastic, helping me stretch over my back and work into her hands.
So that was the news from this week! I'm enjoying this and it's actually not bad being an only horse, I get allll the attention, allllllll the food and none of the hassle! Well, human hassles me, but we hassle each other, and I usually win!
A very happy Jasper