Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
"With regards to horse psychology, another interesting working example could be George Washington. Aidan has said George is a very arrogant horse, who looks down on others (horses and humans alike). Surely this must have something to do with confidence in his own abilities (built up by winning gallops/races)… ÂÂÂ
I expect some of those arrogant types are indeed "animals"! But some who might appear arrogant, may have genuine humility, but just know their limitations and that they are relative insignificant…
I’m thinking of Brigadier Gerard, who, the first time any jockey sat on him, apparently threw him off, but if it was an apprenctice he took pity on him and wouldn’t buck him off, doubtless considering him too low in the pecking order to bully! A Christian with a methodical and coherent world view. When God made the Brig, He threw away the mould!
There’s one Irish trainer who tickles me to death with the way he’s tickled by the foibles of his horse. I think it might be Noel Chance. I remember him saying with a wistful chuckle how one of his horse absolutely HATED the rain!<br>(Edited by Grimes at 11:12 pm on April 17, 2006)<br>
(Edited by Grimes at 11:26 pm on April 17, 2006)
"Perhaps it is the attention and praise after their first win that perks them up. "
After all that is how animals are trained. A little reward each time he does something properly. If they didn’t they’d make lousy pets, without an ounce of empathy.
We had a Siamese cat who must have bonded immediately with his orignal human owners, because he was, as they say, "almost human". On the other hand, his brothers and sisters – one of whom we also took for a friend who wanted one from the litter – were just feral, hated the sight of humans.
I think maybe the cat we have now may be part Siamese, because he’s such a character, and so human-oriented. The other kittens weren’t interested when we were shown them, but his Nibs couldn’t have been more friendly. It’s got to be the same with horses, from what I’ve read. Like us, they prefer warm approval to disapproval or indifference.
So, I love to see a jockey making a fuss of his horse at the end of a race, when he’s tried his heart out
I suspect psychos may be less amenable to praise, but then maybe it satisfies their arrogance.
On the other, hand, the intelligence thing worries me a bit. I mean when I was at school, I’d have preferred to lie in the long grass reading Proust (as Jonathon Miller once put it)  than play an energetic sport.
But the older I get, the more I regret not at least trying to be the world champion indoor carpet bowls champion or snooker champion. Doubtless, on morphological grounds, alone, I’d never have cut it as a darts player.
But imagine making a living playing a sport. Jockeying would be too arduous. Say… golf or even togger, though that’s energetic enough. But when asked, you don’t hear many jockeys saying they missed the jockeying. Particularly when they’ve become trainers.
I did once know an Aussie lad who had been West Australian junior tennis champion, but absolutely hated the game, because as he said, he knew he’d never become world champion!
The other funny thing about him was that when told that he was looking pretty worn out, he told us the sexual demands his girl friend was making on him were killing him.
(Edited by Grimes at 10:44 pm on April 17, 2006)
(Edited by Grimes at 10:55 pm on April 17, 2006)
<br>(Edited by Grimes at 10:58 pm on April 17, 2006)<br>
(Edited by Grimes at 11:27 pm on April 17, 2006)
Have to go with Longchamps Lad here. Those placed runs both earned a RP speed figure of 100. For me, nuff said.
Sal and reet hard, I’m sure you’re both right. I wonder was Raffindale with Ryan Price, Sal?
Bill Marshall… all these old names… Jack Jarvis, Humphrey Cotterill, Harvey Leader. Wonderful.
Also certain owners seemed to specialise in good sprinters. Corbett is a name I remember. I think I still see it, or saw it recently in my "senior"-type memory.
I remember now, Sal, the dam of the horse I was trying to remember was Wharfdale – so that would fit with Raffindale.
(Edited by Grimes at 12:55 am on April 15, 2006)
That’s a very funny story too, Jim TS. It reminds me of a curious incident that occured in the late seventies.
I was with the mother of an Aussie pal, who I’d accompanied to a place called Smith’s Lawn, where she’d heard there was some kind of show-jumping, I think, going on. I don’t remember seeing any polo, though I believe it’s a polo venue.
We must have been standing something like a hundred yards from a knot of people and horses, when all of a sudden this horse appeared to take fright, took off and galloped madly towards us, seeming to fix me in its poor, beady wee gaze.  Being about as familar with large domesticated beasts, such as horses, as George Bush, it scared the wits out of me, and the horse evidently picked upon it, veered and was caught by some kind soul.
http://bagnewsnotes.typepad.com/bagnews … rell_.html
(Edited by Grimes at 12:28 pm on April 11, 2006)
A very funny post, Raffingora – which has evidently led to others.
Actually, it’s funny peculiar that Raffingora was himself a horse which really caught my imagination. A fabulously raffish kind of name. Like "Like the Wind"….!
I remember him being with Ryan Price, breaking the track record somewhere, maybe Ascot, and being sold to Australia for stud "duties".
Only the other day, I was looking at some Aussie horses and wondering if any had been sired by him, but of course, a lot of time has passed, and his own progeny will surely be long gone. But I remember reading a long time ago that a certain Aussie horse had been sired by Raffingora.
Now that Sir Rembrandt’s out, my best fancy for the meeting (I hope) is Limerick Boy, trading at 28s earlier this evening.
Sergio Leone, thou shouldst be living now…
Those Sphagetti Westerns will never seem quite the same again.
