Murphy and Whispa, Horses at Talygarn

There was some disappointment for a few people last week with the sudden departure of Murphy who has been at Talygarn for a good few years now. Murphy has been loaned to us by his owners to use in the riding school as are several horses here and whereas the owners have the right to take them back it is generally agreed that notice will be given on either side. Although I can’t say I was sad to see him go I appreciate that very often clients form bonds with certain horses and are upset when they go, at the very least they would’ve liked to have had the opportunity to say goodbye. Unfortunately this didn’t happen with Murphy as his owners rang on Tuesday and informed me they were taking him on Thursday. I wonder what they would have said if I had given them two days notice to have him back. Two more ponies should be arriving on trial this week a 13hh pony called Gem and a 14hh pony called Murphy. Strange that one Murphy should go and another one arrives, at least we won’t be confused having two with the same name.

Whispa is also leaving us soon possibly on Saturday. Whispa has been here since we started the riding school. I remember going to see him at quite a posh place with Hayley Bevan who use to help out here in those days. My daughter Jen rode him and he seemed very quiet then Hayley got on him and he took off leaving huge footprints in their neatly mowed front lawn. He was 6yr old then. I wouldn’t say he is the easiet pony to ride as he has rather short legs for the length of his body but he has a terrific jump and has been a favourite of many clients and staff. In fact it is a ex client that has asked if she can have him when he retires. Whispa is about 21yr old now and whereas he is fit enough to stay in work and doesn’t need to retire yet (21 is not too old for a riding school pony) he is also quite a clever pony and over the last couple of years he has worked out that although he is happy to jump, trot and canter for those that can ride he definitely knows who can’t ride and pretends he can’t move faster than a snail. I think he will enjoy the change so I have agreed that Kayleigh can have him as I know she will look after him. I always said I wouldn’t sell him as he has been good to us and I would worry that as he suffers from sweet Itch he would not be looked after properly. He’s given us some good times over the years, many kids have fallen off jumping him due to his rather big jump, Those that can jump him loved him and I know Carys is planning to jump him bareback on Friday for the last time. He has taken part in the Musical ride at the BBQ & open evening with several children riding him. In his early years he would often take off in the outdoor school sometimes taking other ponies with him and mayhem would occur when kids fell off in all directions. The Funniest time was a lesson where a lad of about 9yrs was riding him and asked him to canter in the bottom corner of the outdoor school he had been told not to hit him with a whip but he did and Whispa took off in canter a bit fast, the lad panicked then screamed and let go both reins and put his hands over his eyes consequently he fell off going around the next corner. Amelia fell off him when she was about 5yrs whilst learning to canter, I even remember Emma Davies (instructor) falling off him playing Polocrosse, he was one of her favourites for Polocrosse and Gymkhana. He used to be very good at them until he punctured his eye. He probably lost some sight in it and then became nervous of horses galloping at him from all directions. When he goes Lucy will take his title of being the horse thats been here the longest.

Posted on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 1:11 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.