Baby is trotting happily along the sea wall and pottering along leafy lanes at his new coastal home. But we never dreamed we might be swapping him for a racehorse!
“Has Baby had liposuction?” asked a Lady at the Yard, eyeing a lean, long-legged, thoroughbred tied up outside his stable on Friday.
Adelphi Warrior is a 16.3hh bright chestnut who failed to make the grade as a racehorse and point-to-pointer. Steve, whose dream is to own a racehorse, was offered a ride on the handsome chap when we visited Baby in Cumbria last Wednesday.
Now he is Steve’s new cross-country hope, although friends tactfully describe the tall ex-chaser as “a big step up”.
Both horses are on trial at their new homes with a permanent arrangement in mind if things work out.
Baby has settled in with a couple living The Good Life, surrounded by free range hens, lambs and calves and within sight of the sweeping estuary coastline.
He shares a paddock with a pony and his pleasant routine includes following his adoptive Dad, Mark, as he pedals his bicycle along the sea wall.
Although Jenny is missing him, it was clear he was not pining for us. He ambled over for a mint and wandered straight off again with his new pal.
Meanwhile, Daniel – in disgrace after last week’s embarrassing elimination at the hunter trials – has redeemed himself.
His discomfort with cross-country competing is more than made up by his burgeoning talent as a show jumper.
On Sunday, he won two clear round rosettes at the West Craven Riding Club show, near Barnoldswick, and got into the final in the Beginners’ class.
Sadly, Jenny was left to ponder how anyone could get a four-fence jump-off course wrong. She forgot about fence three and was eliminated, leaving rival competitors Jack and Mrs Horse to claim the first-place red rosette.
“’Snot my fault this time,” said Daniel, watching Mrs Horse on her lap of honour. “Some of us can count to four.”
On Monday, Daniel took a well-earned rest while Steve braved the yard’s cross-country field on his prancing new steed.
Daniel watched in his fly-proof hat and coat from the hillside as Adelphi Warrior leapt athletically over the small drop.
“Seems like he can do my share o’ them rustick jumps,” he said.
Steve Wright & Jenny Loweth
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here