More horses return from summer break

Did I really say summer?

Anyway, this week we set off in our van, scouring the countryside for any horses that we could entice back to Dodlands Steading. Arriving back at the yard, we surveyed our bounty :

• Shadow Boxer
• Snapping Turtle
• 'Billy' (a gelding by Indian Danehill)
• 'Ben' (a gelding by Classic Cliche)

which brings us to a total of 12 horses in at the moment, with another half dozen or so to come.

Donald casts his eyes over Bill and Ben

"Mud splattered and rain marked, but otherwise they've done well" was the trainer's honest assessment of the returnees. The picture below of 'Ben' in the foreground shows that he, in particular, has put on a fair amount of condition.

Elsewhere in the yard, Ryan has been progressing the education of a couple of our 4yr olds. He works with each of the horses (filly by Winged Love, and a River Falls gelding) each day, and in the last day or so was sitting astride the filly while Kyle led the horse round the paddock.

Ryan with bucket in hand washes down our River Falls gelding

National Hunt racing improvements at Musselburgh

News of a bit of innovation by the good people at Musselburgh racecourse came to our attention last week.

A 12 by 70 metre fibresand strip is to be installed after the winning post bend making the racecourse the first in the UK to integrate a composite material with a turf track.

This area suffers from excessive wear and tear during the NH season, causing the ground to become loose and a potential hazard for horses and jockeys. By replacing the turf with a fibre and sand mix it will reduce slippage and lessen the chance of injury to both horses and jockeys.

Indeed!
This will come as good news to one Cholmondeley-based Conditional Jockey in particular, who has a fondness for losing contact with his winning mount shortly after passing the post at the East Lothian course.......

The full story can be read here.

And finally, congratulations Craig

Craig Nichol, a native of Hawick and one of our former weekend stable lads, rode his first winner at Perth last Tuesday when partnering Lucinda's Valiani to victory in a handicap hurdle at Perth.

And receiving a fair few plaudits into the bargain for his stylish win. Well done Craig. 

Craig Nichol (left) with his brother Ryan on the right