Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2013 | Page 79

EQUESTRIAN

A time to

be patient

After having a very successful two years with

bloodlines and we knew her background,

old being placed in two four year old

a really nice young horse, and having put in

temperament and ability we thought it was a

championships and as a five year old she

an endless amount of work, time and money

good opportunity to allow full recovery while

jumped several double clears in Newcomers

in producing what you hope to be the next

producing us another one for the future. She

and some 1.20m courses, where she was

superstar the horrible happens. That’s what

spent last summer wandering around the field

super careful as well as nippy against the

happened to our mare Bunty Girl.

while growing bigger with her baby and after

clock. So now after a bit of time and patience

producing a big strong dark brown filly foal

we now have a well bred filly foal with great

Show two years ago after just a simple trip on

she’s been taking it easy with her baby at her

potential and a nice sound seven year old

landing over a small trot fence she pulled up

side while her leg has been getting stronger.

mare that after weaning is ready to start her

While preparing her for the Young Horse

lame. Thankfully after being seen by the vet

Picking a stallion took a bit of thought and

who found a minor injury the advice was to

eventually we chose William Funnell’s Grand

rest her.

Prix horse Billy Congo. Having watched some

Knowing the temptation to start work with

career again.

of his young stock competing most of them

her too soon was always going to be there

look big, sharp but straight types. He was

and luckily as she was well bred herself

only available with frozen semen so we were

being by Unbelievable Darco who was a

taking a bit of a risk but thanks to Florus

very successful show jumper, we decided

from Endell Vets she got pregnant first time.

to put her in foal. We haven’t done this for a

Meanwhile, Billy Congo is going exceptionally

while because it is sometimes easier to buy

well being placed in two Global Tours and

youngsters probably for less money than

being picked for the British team for the

breeding and raising your own and keeping

European Championships later in the year so

them safe and sound until they are rideable.

I think we made a good decision.

In fact Bunty was our last foal but as

Before her injury Bunty was a really

she was a home-bred mare with good

promising young horse, as a four year

Equine trainer
Robert Booth BHSI
Rodgebrook Horses
Tel: [phone]
rodgebrookhorses.co.uk

www.visitislandlife.com

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