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| Hi, I'm #7 and I'm proud to be the Singing Horses mascot. |
Hello Everyone,
It's the last episode in this story and the last day of August. September tomorrow... autumn is dawning if you're in the northern hemisphere or spring in the south. Either way, there's one more thing that's just round the corner when we hit September. I won't mention the 'C' word! I hope you've enjoyed this August story from #7 and are eagerly awaiting the final part.
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“Ooh…”
He could feel movement. It was all strange. He was lying
down and moving. He was going backwards. Then turning. Now forwards. He didn’t
like it. He was afraid he would fall on his side. His papa may be cross. How
did his papa stay so still? Then, like magic, his little body swayed with the
movement of the horsebox. It was fun. He liked it. He was happy.
“This is fun, Papa. It’s nice.”
Savannah was pleased. His little foal would be spending a
lot of time in one of these horseboxes. He would travel thousands of horse
miles throughout his career. He must be comfortable in one.
The little foal was listening. It was a funny noise. He had
not heard it before. Sometimes, they would stop. There was a small jolt. Then
stop. The noise stopped. Then, the noise and movement started again. Sometimes,
he would feel himself turn round. His papa watched him,
“Little one, it is the noise of the engine. It is a machine.
Powered by gasoline. Worked by humans. It is easier than us galloping from
place to place.”
“Oh, it’s nice. Papa.” It was a new experience. Like leaving
the stable for the first time. Seeing outside. Trotting. Experiences were
exciting. He hoped he was being good. He hoped his papa was pleased with him.
He had no mama. He must be good for his papa. He must not lose his papa.
Then it stopped. Savannah rose to his hooves, “We are home,
little one.”
The little foal stood up. He was on all his hooves. He
didn’t want to fall. How did his papa know they were home? He was going to see
it. He would meet new humans. He must remember his manners. He had been careful
with his grooming. He would not have HO. He was not a stinky poo. He was really
excited. Grinning from ear to ear. There was movement outside the door. The
door opened. His papa went down the ramp. He followed. Careful. He must not
fall or slip. Going down the ramp was as difficult as going up it.
He looked around him. There was a really massive stable.
Much bigger than the maternity stable. There were three paddocks. He could see
a big human stable. Lots of gardens, fields, trees. It was so big. He was
excited. He swished his little tail. He waited for his papa to neigh him. His
papa was neighing with new humans. He must not interrupt him.
Then his papa turned to him, “Sir, this is my little foal,
Savannah the second. He is nine horse days old. He has learned how to use the
bathroom and groom properly. He can trot. He knows he is lucky to be able to
stay with me. He knows manners. He knows he must do as he is neighed. He must
obey all instructions from humans. My little foal, this is Lord Savannah who
has allowed you to stay here.”
The little foal knew what he must do, he raised his hoof,
“Pleased to meet you, sir.”
Lord Savannah shook his hoof. “Hello. Little one. Welcome to
Savannah estate.”
There was another human. Savannah neighed, “Meet your groom,
Harry. You neigh him, sir.”
The little foal raised his hoof again, “pleased to meet you,
sir.”
He looked to his papa. Had he got it right? His papa grinned.
His papa was pleased with him.
The groom was a little slow shaking his hoof. He hoped he
didn’t fall down. Then, “hello, little foal. I’m looking forward to being your
groom.”
The little foal waited for his papa to neigh him what to do.
He neighed with the new humans for a short horse time. They walked away toward
the big human stable. Then, his papa neighed, “Now, we’ll go to our stall.” He
followed him to a stable. It was a closed one. Each stall had its own door.
Papa opened #1.
“Welcome to your home. Little one.”
The little foal looked. It was amazing. Much bigger than the
stall in the maternity stable. On one side was a big hay bed. It was up one of
those step things. He must remember that. He must be careful. On the other side
was a mirror and other things. At the back was one of those human toilets.
“It’s big, Papa.” He swished his little tail. Grinned. “It’s
nice.” He hoped his papa would explain what the things were. He didn’t know.
“Now, little one. We have furniture. Table, chair, wardrobe,
drawers, shelves and a television.”
The little foal was taking in all the new neighs. What were
all these new things used for? He must watch his papa and learn quickly. His
papa turned something on. The little foal nearly jumped out of his skin. A
picture and noise on the thing he’d neighed “television”.
“When I’m working you will be able to see me on this
screen.” He hoofed him the remote control and showed him how it all worked.
Fascinating. He could lie on his hay bed and watch his papa working somewhere
else.
His new groom arrived, “Time for the little one’s feed,
sir.”
The groom sat on the chair. So, that’s what it’s for. The
little foal thought. Humans sit on those things. One mystery solved. “Come,
little one.”
Savannah the second walked over to his new groom, “sir”, he
neighed. Then sucked from the bottle while swishing tail. His papa and humans
seemed to like it when he did that. The bottle was empty, “Thank you, sir.” He
neighed.
The human stroked him. He loved that. Then the human
disappeared.
That horse day went quickly. His papa taught him to use that
thing neighed “toilet”. He could “flush” it. He found that exciting. All that
wet stuff falling down. Then that funny noise when it filled up. His papa
showed him the grooming stable. Then took him out to the paddocks and gardens.
He trotted all the way round one paddock without falling. Candy. He was tired
before that electric thing came on. He fell asleep on his new hay bed. He woke.
It was dark. Like the horse night when he found his way out of that bag thing
and landed in soft stuff. His papa was watching television.
“Ah, little one. Watch.”
He watched. He didn’t understand. But he watched. His groom
came with his bottle. He sucked. He neighed his thanks. The groom stroked him.
He swished his tail. He was still tired.
“It’s been a long horse day. Little one. Go, pee. Then
sleep.”
“Neigh, Papa.”
That’s what he did.
The next horse week was one he would always remember. His
papa spent every possible horse moment with him. Each horse day he woke up. Eager
to go to that thing humans’ neighed toilet. He knew how to use it. And he loved
that flushing afterwards. His papa always hoofed the television on. He neighed
it was important to watch the news. It was important to know what was
happening. Then, they walked to the grooming stall and groomed together.
He met other stallions in the stable. He always neighed,
“Savannah the second. Pleased to meet you.” He shook hoofs. Sadly, there were
no other little foals. His papa had neighed he was lucky to be there. All the
other equines were working horses. They neighed about their races, trainers and
jockeys. Each horse morning there was a lot happening outside the stable. Some
horseboxes were waiting. Humans arrived. Horses joined them. They disappeared.
Sometimes they came back in the horse evening. Sometimes they stayed away
longer.
During the horse day his groom brought him that bottle of
nice milk. He sucked it. Neighed his thanks. Swished his little tail. They
explored all the Savannah estate. He met new humans. He remembered his manners.
His papa was pleased. Candy. He trotted round the paddock. He learned to run
and jump. He watched television. He learned about the other things neighed
furniture in his stall. He learned how to open and close their door. But he was
never to leave the stable alone.
His papa gave him his first gifts. His own hoofing
dictionary and hoofing book. Every little foal had one. They could hoof up
things they needed to learn. His papa neighed him the secret of his success. He
always walked the course before a race. He, his trainer and jockey would walk
slowly. He then knew every part of it. Also, he never did more than one race on
any horse day. Not more than three a horse week. That way, as long as he stayed
fit, he could win. The first time he loses a race, he loses his fame.
“You must understand, my little foal. You must neigh me that
you will be good for your groom. I cannot be worrying about you or I may lose
my concentration. Then, I will not win.”
“I understand, Papa. I will be good.”
“On the next horse day I shall leave. I have races at Ascot,
Aintree and Newbury. I shall be home in six horse days.”
He was sad. But he grinned. He must not let his papa know
how sad he was. On their last horse night together he snuggled close to his papa.
The next horse morning he was really, really sad but he grinned. They groomed
together as usual. Then his papa went for fodder. The little foal saw his
papa’s horsebox arrive. He was proud. His papa was the only one to have his
name in big black letters on the side. He was so, so proud of his papa. He must
not let him down.
The little foal’s groom came with his bottle. He sucked.
Then he took him outside to see his papa leave. His papa scooped him up, “I
love you my little foal. I have to go now. Watch me on the television. Be good
for your groom.”
He remembered his mama neighing those neighs. He never saw
her again. He wanted to sob. He was sad. “Yes, Papa.” His papa put him down. He
walked over to his groom. He watched his papa get into his horsebox. His groom
held him so that he could hoof his papa off. He tried not to cry but when the
horsebox was out of sight little tears fell down his visage.
“Do not be sad, little foal. You can see your papa win a
race tomorrow.”
“My mama neighed she loved me. I never saw her again.”
“Oh, little foal. This is not the same. You’ll see your papa
again. I promise. Come. Let’s go and trot round the paddock.”
His groom kept him occupied all day. He was good. He did as
he was neighed. Trotted. Sucked. Watched television. Played. Ran. Walked. Then
the darkness came. The little foal was alone in his hay. No papa to snuggle up
to. He was sad.
On the next horse morning he woke at daybreak. He heard the
stallions neighing about their horse day ahead. His groom would be coming soon.
He must be good. He must be ready for his groom. He rose from his hay. Walked
over to the toilet. Spread. Raise. No splashing. He grinned. Flushing time.
Whoosh. He watched it. He liked that. He put his grooming bag round his neck.
Head held high. Walked to the grooming stall at the far end of the stable. He
neighed, “Neigh morning.” To the other stallions. Some neighed, “Neigh morning,
little foal.” Others igneighed him. What had he done? Why didn’t they like him?
He didn’t understand how jealous they were of his papa. He was careful with his
grooming. Teeth, Body, Hooves. No HO. Neigh way. He returned to his stall. He
remembered his papa neighed it was important to watch the news. He put that
thing called the television on. He was sad. He hid it well. He must be good.
His papa would come home soon.
The door opened. His groom came in. He had his bottle with
that nice stuff in it.
“Hello, little foal.” He put the bottle to his mouth. The
little foal sucked. Nice. “Today, we’ll have some fun. This afternoon, we’ll
watch your papa win a race at Aintree.”
The little foal didn’t know where Aintree was. He didn’t
care. His papa on that screen. He grinned. He must be good. For the horse
morning he followed his groom. Outside. In the paddock. Lord Savannah joined
them. He grinned. Jumping over low fences. Running. Trotting. Walking. Then
that bottle. Then, it was horse time to watch his papa.
He lay on his hay. The groom on the chair. When he saw his
papa on the screen he couldn’t believe it. Magic! He stood up on his hooves. He
grinned from ear to ear, “Papa. Papa.” He looked at the groom.
“Yes, papa.”
Then he was puzzled. His papa had something round his
visage. A human was pulling something. Was he hurting papa? Was his papa in
pain? It was all to do with this racing. He’d neigh with his papa later.
They watched. Under starters orders. Something happened.
They were off. The little foal frolicked. He neighed, “Go. Papa. Go. Go. Papa.
Go.” Where had he got that from? He didn’t know. Then, he heard, “It’s Savannah…”
The little foal didn’t hear anything else. “Papa won. Papa
won.” He jumped up and down. Then did a somersault. He didn’t know he could do
that either.
For the rest of the horse week the little foal was good. He
did as he was neighed. He watched his papa win the other races. His papa came
home. He was outside. Waiting for that horsebox with his name on it. He saw it.
He jumped up and down. “Papa. Papa.”
He watched it come closer. Stop. “Papa. Papa.” A human
opened the door. His papa came down the ramp. He rushed up to him. Savannah
scooped him up. “Neigh, my little foal. I’m back. I’m here for three horse
days. We can neigh and play together. Have you been good?”
“I’ve been good Papa.” He was happy. He was not going to
neigh his papa how sad he’d been. His papa looked at the groom. “He’s been
good, sir.”
“Candy, then.”
The little foal grinned. Lord Savannah arrived. His papa put
him down. He seemed to forget about him.
He neighed with Lord Savannah. The little foal was sad. He sat still. He
must be good. Then all the humans disappeared. His papa neighed, “Come, little
one.”
They walked to their stall. Candy. Then, they lay together
in the hay. The little foal snuggled close to his papa. He was so pleased to
have him back.
“Papa, does it hurt when you have all that stuff round your
visage and a human sitting on you.”
“No, of course not, little one. When you are a colt, you
will have a bridle, reins, saddle. Eventually, a human. You will get used to
it. When I can no longer gallop at speed you, my little one, will take over.
You will win races.”
“Ooh, really?” The little foal could not imagine ever being
a colt.
His first horse months were much the same. Welcome his papa
home after racing. His papa always won. He had been good. Candy. His papa
stayed for a short horse time. They played, jumped, galloped, trotted and
neighed together. He was happy for this horse time. Then, his papa would leave
him. He’d grin as his papa neighed him farewell. His groom would hold him while
he hoofed his papa off. He watched him win races on the television. He was
always sad. He wanted to be with his papa. He must be good.
After six horse months he had grown. He was eating fodder
like his papa. When his papa came home he neighed, “Papa. I have to learn about
racing. It would be easier if I came with you. I will be good. I will be quiet
while you’re working.”
Savannah thought about this. “I will neigh Lord Savannah. It
would be a good neighdea for you to come with me.”
Lord Savannah thought it was an excellent neighdea. He had
new racing horses coming in. He was short of grooms. If the little foal was
with his papa he would have a spare groom.
“My little foal. Lord Savannah neighs you may come with me.
You must be good all the time.”
“Yes. Papa.” The little foal grinned. He was always going to
be with his papa. He would be able to snuggle up to him every night. Here or in
that horsebox. He would never be alone again. He was happy.
“Well, we leave in two horse days for Kettering. I will get
you your foal saddlebag.”
He looked puzzled. What was that?
“You will need something to carry your things in. Grooming
bag, brush, hoof book, hoof dictionary.”
“Oh.” The little foal was excited. His papa gave him his
first foal saddlebag. It was like his grooming bag. A pretty pic of his mama on one side. His
name on the other. The little foal could hardly wait for that horse morning
when he was going to ride in that horsebox with his papa. He would be happy
instead of hoofing him off and sad.
He was outside with his papa. His papa carried their bags.
That ramp thing came down. The little foal walked up it. Steady. Head held
high. He moved to the side. His papa followed him. Humans got in. They set off.
At first it felt weird. Then he remembered. He got used to the movement of this
thing humans neigh a horsebox. He liked it. He was with his papa. Life was
good.
They arrived at Kettering. Wherever it was. He must be good.
He waited for his papa to neigh him. Humans were outside. The door opened. His
papa rose to his hooves. “Follow me, little one.” He followed his papa. Down
the ramp. Careful. Steady. Must not fall. Head held high. Swish tail. Humans
like that.
Outside, he looked around. Lots of those horsebox things.
Many stallions. Lots of humans. All looked busy. His papa neighed with humans
and two other stallions. He was quiet. His papa neighed him, “Come, walk the
course with us.” The human he neighed a jockey was by his side. They all walked
to where racehorses ran. There was fencing on both sides of a long paddock.
Very long. They walked to the other end. A sign said, FINISH.
“Yes, I’m happy with this.” He neighed to his jockey, “We
can do it with ease.”
The jockey looked pleased. “There are nine in our race.”
“That’s not a problem. We’ll take a centre position.”
“Centre?” That human neighed with surprise.
“Yes, I think centre’s best.”
His jockey just hoped he was right.
The little foal was taking it all in. When he was a big
horse he would be doing what his papa was doing now. He must always win, too.
“Time for fodder and rest before the race.”
They went back to their horsebox. Their midday fodder was
just hay. It was in something on the wall in their horsebox. He’d notice it
before. He wondered what it was. Now he knew. Hay was boring to the little
foal. He preferred chips. He liked sleeping in hay. Not eating it. Anyway, he
had more things to find out. He had been good. Not interrupted his papa’s
neighing, but now.
“Papa?”
“Neigh.”
“Where’s the bathroom?”
He chuckled. “Oh little one, you have so much to learn.”
He was puzzled. What was funny? What did he have to learn?
He always got going to the bathroom right.
“When we’re at racecourses we use the grass anywhere.
Racecourses have them for humans but not equines. No special bathroom stalls.
We don’t like it. But, it’s the way it is. We get used to it.”
“Oh. You mean anywhere? With humans watching us?”
“Neigh.”
He didn’t like that. He would eat first. Wait a while
longer.
After fodder they rested. Then it was time. Things happened.
There was neighing. Humans collected that thing they neighed a saddle. His papa
went back down the ramp. The little foal followed. They put something round his
papa’s visage. They could then lead him or pull on things they neighed reins.
His papa neighed it was comfortable. Humans patted him.
While humans were neighing and working with his papa he
walked round to the other side of the horsebox. No humans could see him.
Sniffed. Found the best piece of grass. Spread. Raise. Relief. He chuckled to
himself. This was something else he must learn to do. He walked back to the
humans and his papa.
He neighed to the little foal. “It is time to go.”
The little foal followed him. They went to a paddock. The
jockey went somewhere else to be weighed in. The little foal looked around him.
There were eight other stallions there. They all looked at him in surprise.
“Neigh. What’s he doing here?” they neighed.
“He’s my little foal.” Savannah reneighed.
The little foal neighed, they didn’t seem to like his papa.
“Don’t they like you, Papa?”
He chuckled, “No, little one. It’s because I always win. One
horse day one of them will beat me. Not this horse day.”
The little foal lay down.
The trainer neighed him, “Your papa will go to the racetrack
when the jockey comes back. You must stay with me.”
He neighed. He understood. The trainer took him to the side
of the track. He watched. His papa came out. He was in the middle. The little
foal jumped up and down. “Go. Papa. Go.” His eyes followed his papa. He won. He
wanted to hoof clap him but couldn’t stand on two legs long enough. He just
frolicked with excitement his papa had won the race. He had earned money for
Lord Savannah. Lord Savannah would be pleased.
The trainer took him back to the paddock. That jockey led
his papa into the paddock. Lord Savannah was there. He was really pleased. He
had watched the race from a box somewhere. There was champagne for humans and a
rosette for his papa. They were all patting and stroking his papa. Neighing,
“Congratulations.” “Well done.” His papa chuckled. He was pleased. The little
foal watched from a distance. He must not run through humans to his papa. He
must wait. When the humans except the trainer left
Savannah walked over to the little foal. “Come, little one.
My work is done for this horse day. We rest now. On the next horse day we travel
to Yorkshire.
“Neigh, Papa. I watched you. It was great. You’re so good.
Will I win all my races?”
“Neigh, little one. You have a lot of practice to do first.
But you have been good. Candy.”
The little foal grinned. The trainer took Savannah’s reins. He
led him back to their horsebox. The little foal followed. That horse night he
snuggled up to his papa. They slept. The next horse day they travelled to
Yorkshire. From that horse time forward the little foal was never sad. He was
always happy. He stayed with his papa whether in their home stable or horse
box.
The little foal and his papa lived happily ever after.
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#7 and I wish you all a happy week and September. Yours Lady M ✨✨✨
