Valegro Goes International by Carl Hester MBE FBHS

Author:Carl Hester MBE FBHS
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Published: 2017-10-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Something strange happened after Olympia that Blueberry never fully understood – and he wasn’t the only one. The day after they returned home, Uti came out of his stable in the morning, limping.

“It’s my foot,” he told Blueberry, after Carl, the grooms and the vet had all examined him. “I don’t know why, but it just hurts. I think I overdid it in my tests at Olympia. I should know better, really, but I wanted to do well. I just suffer from sensitive feet – you’re so lucky having strong, cobby hooves.”

“Poor you,” said Blueberry, in sympathy, and wondering whether he ought to be upset by Uti’s remarks about his own hooves. It seemed like he’d been given a compliment, but then it also seemed like Uti had been quite rude about his feet, too. Instead of going out in the field next to Blueberry and Orange, Uti had to remain in his stable.

“You boys can be a bit rough out here,” said Alan, as he closed the field gate behind Blueberry and watched him gallop off before rearing up to play with Orange. “And that’s just what Uti doesn’t need!” he added, before returning to the yard.

“Tell me again about Olympia.” said Orange, as they settled down to graze. The grass was never very tasty in December, and the horses always had to wait until any frost had melted before they were turned out, but it was better than nothing. They would get all their nutrients from their hay and feed, but eating grass gave them the chance to chill out and relax, and putting their heads down stretched their toplines – which helped them in their work. Strong muscles had built up along the top of their necks and backs due to their dressage training, and keeping those muscles in good order was essential.

“The huge crowd watching me was seated above my ears – all around me,” began Blueberry, excitement filling his mind as he thought back to Olympia. “In the evening the glass roof was dark because of the night sky. I would have liked to have been able to stare up at it to see whether I could spot the stars through it, but I was too busy.”

“The roof sounds nice,” said Orange, carefully sorting a twig from the grass with his tongue and casting it aside, “but the crowd sounds a nightmare. How could you concentrate?”

“I had to,” replied Blueberry. “Besides, I find I perform better when I have a crowd watching. I don’t know why, it’s just part of the whole performance. I feel lifted. Without the crowd I might as well be at home or just practising.”

A shiver went through Orange, but Blueberry knew he liked to hear about his travels. There was something oddly fascinating about hearing stories of scenarios Orange dreaded which made him compelled to listen to his friend. Blueberry had noticed that the bright chestnut horse was going to fewer and fewer competitions these days, and working mainly at home with Carl’s pupils who were learning a great deal from riding such a good horse.

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