Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[boldie]

About 15 years ago, I bought a mare called “Henry’s Mare”. I had known this mare since the day she was born, in fact I went to witness her birth.

Her dam, a mare called “Odd Socks” belonged to my brother-in-law Dick, and she was the prettiest black and white cob you ever clapped your eyes on. 13.2 hh in her shoes and marked like a map. Good conformation, impeccable pedigree, sweet nature, everything about her screamed quality. 

He mated her with a stallion called “The bent leg hoss” So named because of an accident he had as a foal. It left him lame and unable to work, but still able to mate (What a lucky break that was) and as it happened, he turned out to be the most wonderful stock-getter. I owned him briefly once, but that’s another story.

Odd Socks was due to foal somewhere around the end of March, and never was a birth more eagerly anticipated, but, like a watched pot, she took forever to come to the boil and we were well into April before she finally bagged up. Now that she had her milk, we knew the big event was only a matter of days away and we checked on her constantly. No simple task because she was turned out in about 50 acres, and no matter which end we came in, she was always at the other. Eventually, her teats waxed up and we knew that in all probability, her long awaited, much anticipated foal would be born before sun-up the following morning.

Horses usually like to give birth between 2am and 5am, so knowing that we were in for a long night, Dick and I repaired to our local for a game of crash, a large pie, and a small pint of beer. The talk amongst the men in the pub was all about the foal. “I hope it’s a filly for you” or “It’s bound to be black and white, the awd oss allus throws colour” and as always “How much will you take for it in the belly?”

We arrived at the field at about midnight, and we opened the gate and drove right on in. We knew roughly where she would be because earlier in the day, as is the way with horses; she had separated herself from the rest of the herd and wandered alone to the most remote spot. We drove slowly and stopped the car as soon as we could pick her out in the headlights; she was still on her feet, so nothing happening yet. Then she turned to face us, and we both gasped in surprise. There beside her, still wet, but as wick as a cricket, was her newborn foal.

We half walked, half ran towards her. Trying not to spook her, but eager to see. We needn’t have worried; Odd Socks whinnied to us softly as we approached. She was a new mother and she was as proud as punch of her baby, she wanted to show it off.

In order to get hold of it, we did the old trick, I stood close by the mare’s flank on one side while the foal hid on the other. Then Dick walked around to the side the foal was on and immediately it bolted straight into my arms. The mare whickered a little in concern and we spoke softly to reassure her. I lifted the foal’s tail… Yes! It was a filly. But that was the only good thing about it.

All babies are beautiful, but from a breeders point of view, this was probably the ugliest foal I had ever seen. Everything that was right with the mother was wrong with the foal. Its back was too long, its head was too big, it was badly marked, it had spindly legs with no sign of feather, and its ears were like those of a donkey. It was a dinosaur. I shot a sideways glance at Dick, and I could tell that he was thinking the same thing.

The older she got, the uglier she grew, and as soon as she was weaned, Dick sold her in the pub to a man called Henry, a gorger man who liked Gypsy horses but didn’t know much about them. No one would have guessed it, but a few years later, I was to become the new owner of “Henry’s Mare”.

I’ll tell you about it later, it’s a bit of a gambling story.

Beautifull story...and now I know how Kin's father must have felt at his birth

[Karabiner]

 

[MANTIS01]

Typically, how much discount do you get for buying a horse "in the belly" Tom.











Oops, edited your post instead of quoting. Didn't change anything. (soz)

[RED-DOG]

Typically, how much discount do you get for buying a horse "in the belly" Tom.

Well it would have no set price out of the belly, so in the belly is a real gamble. It's just as common to buy one too dear before it's born as it is to get one cheap.

PS- In the belly sales usually come with a "If it stands up and sucks" Caveat. Sods law dictates that if you have paid a lot and it turns out to be a poor specimen, it will be as healthy as healthy can be, but if it is a stunner and an absolute bargain, it will die before it gets out of the bag. 

[bobby1]

Really fascinating stuff Tom. Thanks

[RED-DOG]

A year or two passed, and Henry’s yearling became Henrys filly, and eventually, Henry’s mare. He kept her in a little paddock next to the chip shop in Darfield, and every now and then, when I was passing, I would stop and call her over to scratch her mane, she would turn her wheelie-bin sized head to one side, the better to observe me from her piggy eye.

She was just as sweet natured as her mother, but man… she was uug lee!
None of her parts were in proportion. She looked like a committee had designed her.

“Tha’s reet teken wi’ t’owd lass aren’t tha?” I heard Henry’s voice behind me one day as I leaned over the gate. Horse dealers are a hard-bitten, unsentimental bunch, (or so they would have you believe) there was no way I was ever going to admit to having a soft spot for this fugitive from the glue factory.

I told Henry that I was just fascinated by the fact that she was still in this paddock instead of on a supermarket shelf inside some dog food tins.

“Tommy lad,” He replied with a knowing wink, “Tha can mek thee mouth say owt.”

A few months later, once again by the gate, Henry approached me with a serious look on his face. “Ah’m moving to Leeds soon” He said, “Work” He added, by way of explanation.

“Ah’ can’t tek t’owd oss wi’ me into t’ city like” He continued, “Ah thowght tha would mebbie be in for her?”

I shook my head, “Sorry Henry, but what would I do with the likes of her on my firm?” “She would be bad for my reputation, the lads would think I’ve gone loopy”

“She’d mek t’others look better” He pressed, “An’ she’s bustin’ in foal”

“Which horse is she in foal to?” I asked.

Eddie Batty’s oss “Big Gorge” he replied enthusiastically.

I knew “Big George”, he was a tiny pocket battleship of a stallion. Only about 12hh but rippling with muscle and perfectly formed with a deep broad chest, dinner-plate feet and a neck like a rainbow. He was THE very horse to knock a good foal out of Henry’s mare, and as we know, her bloodlines were impeccable.

Suddenly I became excited at the thought of Henry’s mare’s unborn foal. All the signs were there. It could turn out to be a world-beater.

No no nooooo!!!! What was I thinking? If I bought Henry’s mare, I would be a laughing stock. The ribbing would be endless, and if her foal turned out to be a duffer, I would never live it down.

Feeling like I was standing in quicksand, I heard myself ask, “How much?”

[boldie]

I'd better see part 3 of that one soon, Mr Red. That is a top class post...I actually just about understood everything the man said..after re-reading it 4x...and that's how often I need to ask people from Yorkshire to repeat themselves when they're talking as well! Well done...but i can't wait a full day for part 3

[kinboshi]

Got to call here Tom.  You're hand doesn't look good at the moment, but you have some monster draws...

[RED-DOG]

I know that not everyone is interested, but for those of you who are, tyvm for your encouragement and feedback.


If this stuff isn't your bag,  thanks for indulging me. 

[AndrewT]

Anyone who wasn't interested in this sort of stuff would have stopped reading about 30 pages ago.

Continue please.

[bobby1]

Its great stuff mate. I actually feel like I am at school again as I have discovered things I never knew about. I would be interested in the in the belly trading.

[Karabiner]

Top storytelling Tom, utterly fascinating...

[Laxie]

Over 10,000 views and nearly 600 posts...pretty sure people are interested and enjoying it! 

[RED-DOG]

 Sry, got a bit self conscious. Was           
                                                         Approval   


   

[kinboshi]

On with the story then...