Nice new jumper
Michael Kallenbach sets out to buy a horse His name is Magic and I must admit, I’ve fallen in love with him. He’s much younger than I am, has lovely legs, and is very shapely and certainly handsome. Magic is my newly acquired hunter, an Irish Draught-cross. I am very proud indeed to be his owner. And now that the hunting season is well underway, I’ve had a chance to show off my new skewbald on a few occasions.
Finding a new horse and selling an old one is something that every rider dreads. But I was fortunate in that earlier this year the two New Zealand eventers who run the yard where I keep my horse — it’s just outside Marlborough in Wiltshire — said I needed to upgrade to something chunkier and bigger than my present thoroughbred mare, which had happily seen me through three hunting seasons.
‘A new horse? Surely not! After all, I thought Gypsy was so genuine and perfect,’ I replied. The trouble with Gypsy was that though she was reliable and lovable, she didn’t particularly like jumping. As I had recently joined the nearby Tedworth Hunt, I needed a horse that would take me safely over the posts and rails, and not turn left before every jump.
‘Just leave it to us,’ said a reassuring Tim Price who, with his partner, Jonelle Richards, is aiming to get on to the short-list for the equestrian events in Hong Kong in this summer’s Olympics. Soon afterwards, Tim rang to say they had found the perfect horse for me. We all met at Elmore in Gloucestershire at the farm of the dealer, Dave Guilding, where I had my first glimpse of Magic, who seemed enormous compared to the chestnut Gypsy.
I took him out for a short ride, and then popped over a few barrels. Tim rode him for the second time and then jumped some larger fences. There was a bit of haggling and the deal was done. Magic passed the vet’s test and I was soon driving him to his new stables in Wiltshire.
Then it was time to sell Gypsy. I tried advertising on the net, unsuccessfully, with both Horse Quest (www.horsequest.co.uk) and Horse Mart (www.horsemart.co.uk). Then I opted for the tried and trusted weekly, Horse & Hound. You will no doubt remember it from the Richard Curtis film Notting Hill in which Hugh Grant pretends to be a reporter from that magazine when interviewing Julia Roberts.
After two weeks of advertising, there was a flood of calls. Soon, Gypsy was snapped up and when I delivered her to nearby Swindon I knew she would be happy. Her new owner wanted a horse for safe and calm riding, and so she was finally able to hang up her hunting boots.
I gave her a few carrot sticks as I led her in. As she nosed around her new surroundings, I didn’t have the heart to say goodbye properly, for fear that I might become tearful.
By now, Magic had settled in. If he was able to talk, I imagine he would tell me how happy he is to be in such a luxurious eventing yard, dotted with lush green fields and well-maintained paddocks. Throughout the summer, Jonelle gave me a series of jumping lessons, and as she predicted, ‘This horse will open doors for you that you never thought existed.’ And she’s been proved right. At the Tedworth’s opening meet the other week, I jumped every fence that came my way and even managed to give a lead to some of the youngsters out on the hunt. My confidence seems to have soared, and I’ll always be indebted to the Kiwis for convincing me that I needed a new steed.
Now it was time to splurge on new tack and equipment. I went to Gary Gilroy at the local saddler in Marlborough (G & S Saddlery, Tel: 01672 515665) who made Magic an extralarge bridle and a pair of reins for £70. Then I decided to go for one of those lightweight cricket-styled riding hats, and picked a burgundy John Whitaker one (www.johnwhitakerintltd.com) at £195. And of course, there’s always a need for a new pair of gloves, so his black gripper gloves set me back by just £19.99.
It all turned out to be rather cost ly. But then, since I don’t have chil dren at a fee-paying school, I might as well spend my money on Magic. He is, after all, worth his weight in gold.
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