Sunday gallops

About a decade ago, it was commonplace for racing yards to have a day off on a Sunday. In the days before Sunday racing became the norm. You know, skeleton staff in to muck out and feed but little or no horses on the gallops. Just a balancing act between ensuring stable staff could rely on one regular day off, and horse management. Mind you, it would lead to lots of cursing on a Monday morning as staff dealt with 'fresh' horses - who were too full of beans and anxious to stretch their legs to get rid of all that reserve of energy.

I guess at Dodlands, we've never had a large string, or even a medium sized string for that matter, so we've always exercised on a Sunday. A ready supply of local riders available at the weekend helps of course.
The string will be roughly around 20 in number this season when in full flow, although there will no doubt be 2 or 3 on the quiet list for one reason or another. We'll manage no problem - so if any of the owners wish to visit, it's business as usual!
Anyway, here's a summary of what went on yesterday (Sunday)

There were 4 work riders down at the yard, so we exercised 12 horses. Pinky, Messi, Kingy and young Aidan were on duty. Each lot did just one canter on the 'Up the Middle' gallop in 3 lots.

First lot

• Shades of Midnight
• Goodknight Percy
• Baby Ticker
• 'Cliff'

Second lot

• 'Katie'
• 'Spud'
• Hartforth
• Snapping Turtle

right to left - Hartforth (Aidan), Snapping Turtle (Kingy), 'Katie' (Messi) and 'Spud' (Pinky)

Third lot

• 'Arthur' (road work)
• Bollin Julie
• Paper Roses
• Tomahawk Wood

Bollin Julie looking very well

Welcome back in.....

After preparing a couple of boxes, later on in the afternoon Mouse & Messi jumped in the van and drove a couple of miles to pick up Keyboard Gangster and 'Sid' - our young Ask gelding from summer grazing.
We'll check them over and, barring any niggles, probably begin road work this week.

Keyboard Gangster (white face)