Mystery Photo Number 2 from N/L No 5 revealed: -

Lythill Rough Diamond and Sarah Beynon 

Some things are simply inevitable - as a child I stroked and dreamed about a horse at the local riding school called "Spotty Botty" (no comparisons please!) and resolved to one day have my own spotty bottomed horse. Twenty five years later and ten years into my marriage, my husband romantically offered to upgrade my engagement ring with a larger diamond and have it remodelled.  Never one to miss an opportunity, I merely commented that I could buy another horse for that sort of money, and on hearing no ricochet of protest, set off to look at a couple of Appaloosas' that afternoon! 

The first one was lovely, but not what I was really looking for - he was however out of "Spotless Rainbow", and after several hours, I coaxed Julia and Eds number out of the seller. On ringing Julia about youngstock, she had a couple that she felt might be worth me popping over to look at, and so the following morning I met Rough Diamond.  Well - they say things are meant to be, but even as a born cynic, there were more coincidences than even I could handle ...... the name of the horse for one, the fact that he shared the same birthday as me, and to cap it all - a spotty botty!  

So, without either hesitation or consultation, he duly arrived home, in the middle of a snowstorm one week later Chris (husband) - slightly winded from the speed of this purchase liked him immediately (a first for any horse) and offered to give him a stable name. I should have realised that being an intellectual type (and being better at geography than me), the name would be unusual and sure enough, he christened him "Boise", after the capital of Idaho where the Appaloosa originated.  Six weeks later, we entered the yearling class at the National Show and won. Buoyed up by this achievement, we entered Windsor the following year and amidst the wettest May on record, ankle deep in mud and truly sodden, he won again. Trying to make it three in a row, we entered the National again the next year and were all set to go, when my darling horse demonstrated his now infamous sense of humour!. Being rather single-minded, when he chooses NOT to do something, I have learnt the hard way (broken jaw), not to argue, but to play a new game  - and so it was that we missed the show and customised the horse trailer instead.

 Broken in this year, he has been under saddle for almost six months now, and I am absolutely delighted with him - we've completed something of everything and although we have a long way to go - its rare I go to an event without someone commenting on his ability, particularly in jumping  - lets hope I can learn with him and do the Appaloosa proud - my big hope is to event him.

Finally, just in case he sounds like an angel ..... the sense of humour has surfaced again the last time we have been out, and his ability for amateur dramatics were clearly demonstrated in a dazzling display of antics which would not have been out of place in a rodeo! This was swiftly followed by a lap of honour (by now he was on his own!), right through the collecting ring, hot dog van and horse-boxes scattering women in headscarves and children on fat ponies across the piste. I think his idol must be Prince Naseem - still, at least it keeps the spectators amused!

From the Editor

Thanks Sarah for an entertaining article and a stunning picky! (He does seem to have a very cheeky look on his face!)