What the Mulls did next

Almost exactly this time last year we took Jill Dawson with us to Chepstow when Ex Con was running. There she was picked up by my old friend Alice Tollworthy (pictured). I haven't seen Jill since but Alice has kept us fully updated on the wonderful progress she's making in her secondary career and within the last few weeks she has made her debut in the hunting field with the South & West Wilts and in the dressage arena on Sunday.

This link to her performance on Youtube will show you Jill in action but the fact that she scored a nine for her paces in her very first test is a remarkable achievement for both Jill and Alice.

I don't think Alice will mind if I post her comments from a recent email after her day's hunting:

"We had such a GREAT time today, she coped with it really really well. It was tricky at the actual meet, where we only had a small space to stand and wait for the crowd to assemble - I ended up walking up and down the drive to get away from everyone else, but she was just gawking at everybody and everything, just trying to take it all in.
So much noise and excitement - she coped so admirably.

"Yesterday I took her to my dressage trainer again (for the third time since she came to me) who was really pleased with our progress and really complimentary. She really concentrated well, avoided distractions and worked really softly and 'through' in the trot. The canter transitions, and the canter are really really coming now, far more balanced and controlled which is deeply satisfying and feels lovely.

"We're off to a dressage competition on Sunday, our first EVER - so this week will be a huge challenge for her all in all. Aiming for our first one day event in April.... that's the goal! Will keep you posted."

Last week, we also received this message and photo from Aisling, who is currently in Dubai but is now the owner of Lady Suffragette, our former winning hurdler, who is lodging with John Halley in Co Limerick:

"I just thought I’d drop you a line to let you know that Lady S has excelled herself on the hunting field yet again. On Thursday while hunting in Ballingarry (ridden by point-to-point Jockey Mr. Barry John Foley) she whipped in for the County Limerick Foxhounds!!

"People were coming up to Halley telling him how well she was going, ‘like a cat’ was the most common phrase as she has taken to jumping banks like a duck to water! Halley has said his never had so much praise about ‘one of his horses’ out hunting before. She is hunting twice a week at the moment – one day with the Scarteens, one day with the Limericks and will be getting a well deserved break the middle of February."

We love to hear news of our former inmates and both these stories demonstrate perfectly just how good ex-racehorses are at adapting to other disciplines. If they are matched with the right rider they can go on to enjoy a wonderful life elsewhere: in my mind, when overproduction of racehorses is still a concern, this is far preferable to putting them in a sales ring and watching them shipped off to who knows where for a few hundred guineas.

What is extra nice about hearing in the same week how well these two mares are doing is that they were inseparable when they were here. They were the same age and both by the stallion Mull Of Kintyre. As they did most of their early work together (and nodding off together) they became known as 'The Mulls'. A big thank you to Alice and Aisling for giving them such good homes and we wish you every continued success with them.