little update on my racing adventures

[eeek]

Last weekend was pretty similar to the first week.

Vinny SHOT to the front (I would have liked to try and tuck him in and see if following another horse kept him eager for longer, but I didn't have a lot of say in the matter) and stormed away out in front. This time I managed to keep the pace a bit more reasonable. We still got overtaken after 3/4 of the race, but came a really respectable 4th and only just missed out on qualifying for the final. I was very pleased, and Vinny enjoyed himself.

Vinny got lots of compliments because I was riding him round bareback in a headcollar and he was behaving so well. Everybody was saying they wouldn't be able to do that with their trotters! Vinny's fan club is growing in the offline world as well

Again, I got asked to drive the grey in the big race of the day. This time I was meant to win it. HELP!!!!!! Naturally, the pressure went to my head and I lost my cool a bit. The guy behind was screaming at me to pull out and stupidly I obeyed because I didn't want to hurt his horse, even though I thought I had plenty of room. It turns out he does this all the time - he lost his nerve and now panics constantly in a race, poor guy.
Anyway, I drove absolutely appallingly. Managed to come 3rd, but the horse was easily good enough to win. I expect that will be the last catch drive I get! Never mind, because...

...HASTY IS A STAR.
We put him in the sulky for the first time yesterday (we were told he'd been in it before, but you never know do you). He was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

He's completely different from Vinny to drive. You set the speed, and he stays at that speed until you put him into another gear and set him at a different speed. Vinny on the other hand gets steadily more and more excited until, inevitably, you have to cut the session short because you can't hold him anymore! Vinny also has a large repetoire of tricks up his sleeve. He's great fun, but I am quite pleased Hasty isn't like that. For one thing it makes racing quite a challenge!

Hasty's steering is very light, he's very sensible, and when he has the racing tack on he doesn't even consider doing anything but pacing.

The butcher is very excited about Hasty and reckons I've made a very good choice. But we still have a long way to go. He is very dull in his coat and still needs a lot more condition on him. I CANNOT WAIT to try him out at the races but I think he's quite special, but I am having to be patient (my least favourite emotion).

Mouthful of mud and grass to anybody who made it to the end! I am a-trotting tomorrow so will update you all. Vinny looks like a polished conker, and today he was quite naughty, so I am course hopeful.

[Cobby Keri]

your crazy, love it. Headcollar and bareback at a race!!!!! lol go vinny go

[BEX101]

keep the updates coming....

[sparkey]

Brilliant news about Hasty! I really hope you get to drive the grey. At least now you know what you can shout back to the stupid guy who was yelling at you. It begins and ends with F!

[Susan]

Love hearing about this! So different to my own horsey world! Good luck tomorrow!

[gallopinggelding]

yeah good luck post some piccies x

[Anni~Bell]

Aww well done with both horses

[eeek]

Sparkey - I discovered last week that swearing on the track is forbidden, but that doesn't stop anybody.

My farrier says I should yell 'GET OUT OF THE WAY, I'M ENGLISH' but I don't think this would go down very well in the world of Welsh trotting.