Gustav (IRE)

                 Leading on from the last diary entry on Headly’s Bridge, I would like to show you the change in Gustav from when he first came to the yard, from Ireland, in August 2014.  After concentrating on the pre-season build up with plenty of lunging, I hope you can see how much he has strengthened up, especially through his back, hindquarters and shoulders.  We believe that building core strength is most important in racehorses, especially National Hunt racehorses.  It is this core strength that we hope helps them to get through the tough season ahead.  Gustav is by Mahler, a young stallion who is having his first crop of runners over jumps and has made a good start with his early jumps progeny.  Gustav was bought privately last year from Ireland for owners, The Plum Merchants, and is the baby on the yard at 5 years.  He is a tall horse, one of the largest on the yard, and is now not too far off his first run under rules.  Gus has had just the one run, back in Ireland in a point to point in 2014 and came 3^rd.  Interestingly, his half brother (a 3yo) was sold as an unbroken horse this summer at the Tattersalls Ireland NH sale in June for Euros 40,000 to Willie Mullins…
 

Gustav (above) on arrival to the yard from Ireland in August 2014

Gustav (above) on being stood up after exercise in August 2015

Gustav on the lunge

 Gustav's back muscle immediately after exercise

 The handsome Gustav - some ears!

 

Galloping Horses

            Below are some photographs taken on the grass gallops last Saturday that have been posted up on our 'new' Facebook page which is: www.facebook.com/simonearleracing Both Kavanaghs Corner (dark bay, being ridden by me) and Gustav (light bay) worked well, both horses were quickening up.  It was great to be riding out with Lester Symonds again, who has been riding out for us for many years now - too many to remember!  

Kavanaghs Corner (dark bay) with Gustav

Headly's Bridge - the powerhouse - 9yo bay gelding by Tillerman out of Brockton Flame

                We are very excited this season about Headly’s Bridge.  He is looking and feeling fabulous.  Headly is rated 130 over fences and isn’t too far off his first run.  Last season he won first time out at Exeter off the same mark in a Class 3 handicap chase, ridden by Paddy Brennan.
  

 Headly on his way to winning under Paddy Brennan at Exeter

               He didn’t have many runs last season as the ground kept going against him.  We are hoping for a boggy winter!  He is an incredibly well built, muscular horse and the pre-season build up, concentrating on lunging and being ridden in a bungee, has helped him develop his excellent top-line.  He is barefoot at present and we hope that this will continue.  His feet are also in very good shape. 

Headly on the lunge

  Immediately after exercise showing his pronounced muscle and top-line

                Headly was sourced privately by myself for his owner, Mrs Penelope Bridel and arrived to us from Ireland as a four year old.  He has run 23 times whilst being with us and has won 4 times – a strike rate of 17% however he is ultra consistent and out of those 23 runs he has been placed 14 times – a strike rate of 61%.  We are very much looking forward to seeing him back on the racecourse, ground dependent, for his loyal owner who is a great supporter of our yard.

  Headly's Bridge stood up a few days ago - all power

Breaking-in and starting horses - 'The Frenchman':

                One of the things that we’ve done here over the quieter summer months is take in horses for breaking and pre-training or, horses with behavioural issues.  We have had a number of breakers over the years from some large yards and we are lucky in that we have a totally separate yard, with a walker and an outdoor school, away from the racing yard where we can take them.  We’ve had up to eight colts and fillies arrive at one time.  For the last few summers we have had just a few come in and this summer I have had great pleasure in breaking in a lovely French bred gelding that we call Jacques.
  

 Jacques chilling out in the paddock before work

Last summer I broke in and pre-trained a filly for these owners, who have all their horses in training with Philip Hobbs.  Jacques is a beautiful grey and is bred for National Hunt racing. 

                I have always enjoyed taking in youngsters and starting them off in the right direction for what is hoped to be a long and fruitful career in racing.  It is most important that their first experiences are stress free and confidence giving.  Whilst starting a youngster there should never be an argument and I find that if things do get stressy there is always a reason and usually it is mostly either the horse doesn’t understand the command and what you are asking of them or, the horse is not ready to do what you are asking them to do.  These situations should be avoided.  Every horse is different and is wary of different things and these should be respected and in everything you do before going to the next stage, the horse must be perfectly relaxed.

Jacques on arrival at the yard and being turned out with Headly's Bridge

And forming a special bond with his pal, Headly's Bridge, immediately

                I am always amazed what a horse will do for you when you have the communication right.  Jacques understood everything that was asked of him straight away and was always completely chilled out (a typical Frenchman!).  Below are some photographs of how he used to be most mornings - fast asleep with Headly. It was a shame to have to wake them!

               Of course it helps if the horse has had decent handling beforehand of which Jacques had plenty, not only from his breeders in France but also from his owners over here.  Whilst here he was in every way a pleasure to have and I enjoyed watching him grow and develop very much.

He was here for approximately 6 weeks and during this time not only was he broken in but also introduced to many disciplines, including jumping poles.  On his first ride out of the yard he was joined by his owners who also rode with me.  He had never been ridden in the company of other horses, nor had he met these hunters before, he took everything in his stride, we had a lovely ride around the lanes meeting tractors, cows etc., Jacques led and was forward going all the way.

Photo above taken watching the owners tack their horses up before our ride out of the yard

 

             Jacques is due to return next summer for pre-training prior to joining Philip Hobbs’ yard.  It will be a pleasure to welcome him back for his next task in hand, I'm looking forward to it already.  We certainly had some fun getting him up for work each day as you can see from the sequence of photographs below.  These were taken on only his second day here and he was relaxed, trusting and willing so I thought I'd pop my leg over!