Adult winner Of Undefined Value
THE irregular beats of the irregular strides sounded on the hard tarmac road, only beingstifled when the ageing lady stepped onto the mud at the gateway to the field. Gnarled, grey fingers fumbled with the cold padlock until the heavy chain eventually fell away. Pushing the gate away from her, she entered the field and waited. This was a ritual that had been taking place for many years. She waited. Nothing happened quickly between the two protagonists these days.
The old mare lifted her head in acknowledgement. After a few moments of seemingly silent communication between the two, the horse moved slowly through the cloying mud to the gate. The faded, wet headcollar was yet again placed gently over the soft ears and the two walked stiffly back to the stable yard. The lady, the elderly matriarch of the establishment whose only role was to tend to the old mare, put the horse in its warm stable in the quiet area of the yard and departed to her cottage a short walk away. The horse turned attentively to the fresh haynet.
The lock on the bottom of the door banged noisily as it was opened, followed by the shudder of the top bolt moving along to allow the stable door to open. In stepped a young teenage girl.
“I have been desperate to see you, Misty. I have had such an awful week. The girls at school have been horrible, deliberately not inviting me to Christmas gatherings and saying the usual mean things.”
This story is from the December 16, 2021 edition of Horse & Hound.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 16, 2021 edition of Horse & Hound.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Tanking over the Plain
The Royal Artillery are out in force for their closing meet a fun and fast day out on Salisbury Plain
Sweet dreams
Whether you're looking to smarten up an existing yard or build a new one from scratch, there's a growing range of kit to add comfort and quality, finds Stephanie Bateman
'I didn't think I'd win it from the front'
Jamie Wingove claims an unexpected grand prix victory and a super-versatile 15hh working hunter comes away crowned a showjumping champion
The pick of the picnics
Sport is the main part of an equestrian day out, but good food enhances it. Netia Walker finds out about picnics that will beat the burger van if it ever stops raining
To the bone
Are you searching for a complete guide to joint injections? The hunt is over. Thijs de Bont MRCVS demystifies their contents, application and use in pain and performance management
Deadlock
A deadly disease characterised by lockjaw, tetanus is fatal in the majority of cases. Karen Coumbe MRCVS explains how a vaccine protects your horse
Ready to roll
A lot goes into ensuring safe road travel for horses, be it training, vehicle safety or on-the-day measures. Kieran O’Brien MRCVS explains
Carl Hester's PA
Claudine Bichard on alleviating the enormous paperwork burden, working alongside Valegro and why you mustn’t tell Carl he’s lucky to have her
Robbie Llewellyn
Covid chicken sales and working on Hollywood blockbusters might be an unlikely route to National Hunt success, but Robbie Llewellyn is forging an entrepreneurial path. Gemma Redrup meets him
'No atmosphere was lost'
Ronnie Lee Jones on the importance of good sportsmanship