From the gallops

A school holiday week in the Borders, and, well,  we just love them (and Helen too!).

I mean we get lots of lads in during the week, and all the hard work done in double quick time, with a couple of smashing work sessions on Saturday to top if off. A couple of our string on the easy list - there always are no matter whether you train in Newmarket or New York - but our horses are delighting us with their health and general well being.

Five horses in the first lot, each of whom came up twice.

• Snapping Turtle (Jordan) who has been in all summer and is fairly fit so just needs the occasional two-time work-out on our Up-the Middle gallop
• Bollin Julie (Harris) is really coming on and starting to show her sparkle in the morning
• Tomahawk Wood (Ross) is looking a much stronger horse and benefiting from an extended lay off. Working well
• Ellistrin Belle (Garry) sporting a hood as we attempt to teach this smooth traveller to settle better. An excellent work horse in the morning, just needs to switch off a bit more
• Hartforth (Kingy, who else?) always works well and may be entered next weekend, but would need soft ground

First lot on their way to the foot of the gallops

Back to the yard, quick turnaround and second lot set out for a warm up in the nearby lane.

• Shades of Midnight (Ross) was one of 3 who did a fairly fast and focused piece of work second time up. He's coming along nicely
• 'Achilles' (Kingy) was the one who'll derive most benefit from the '3 upsides' work-out (see photo), as we look to enter him for a debut run in a bumper in the next few weeks. Looking well.
• Hawaii Klass (Harris) seemed to enjoy himself, coming twice on the Up-the-Middle gallop
• Bollin Fiona (Jordan) back on the gallops now after a couple of weeks on the easy list, came up the once
• 'Neve' our Gamut filly (Garry) who is fairly new to the gallops, did a pleasing ½ pace gallop as she progresses as a frequent daily member of the string

Those in roadwork were Charlie Bucket, 'Kerr' (our Gamut gelding) 'Baby' (our Endoli mare) and Nearly May

Three upsides! Shades Of Midnight, 'Achilles' and Hawaii Klass

Midweek schooling session

We've mentioned in previous stable updates on here, that a couple of our bumper horses were being prepare for schooling sessions.

Both Shades of Midnight and Tomahawk Wood have been taking afternoon lessons in our enclosed woodchip pen by jumping poles set up at varying degrees of height. So, with the bullet duly bitten, we lined up a schooling session over our hurdling lane.
Snapping Turtle (Ross) gave the duo a lead with Shades of Midnight in second and Tomahawk Wood (Garry) in rear. Both the novices were quite green the first couple of times through the line of 2 hurdles. (We only used the final 2 of our line of 5 as these were the first 'real' hurdles jumped by out duo). But, giving the horses a few moments to reflect upon the experience, we were all delighted with the final jumps of the day with Shades of Midnight particularly impressive in the on-looking eyes of Nick, one of his happy band of owners.

Smashing stuff, and thanks to all the schooling riders for their efforts on the day.     

first season novice hurdler Tomahawk Wood (Ross)