Meet Wilson, the half-Clydesdale who’s “dwelling his easiest existence” as he continues to showjump his enthusiastic method throughout Scotland elderly 30.
Jonathan Bagg, who has owned the 17.1hh half-thoroughbred gelding for 25 years, advised H&H he has been pulled up by way of British Showjumping (BS) judges as they fight to consider how outdated Wilson is.
“I’ve been pulled in two times to test his age as they couldn’t consider what they had been seeing,” he stated. “They stated they had to take a look at he was once the precise horse as he regarded superb.”
Jonathan handiest registered Wilson, officially Wilson II, with BS 5 years in the past.
“I paintings within the business; I’m global gross sales supervisor for NAF and on this and former jobs within the business I’ve travelled broadly so he wasn’t ridden to his complete possible for a very long time; we did unaffiliated and driving membership,” Jonathan stated. “My first 12 months doing BS, we aimed for the Aintree newbie and veteran championships, which is an outstanding display, and we’ve been chasing that dream ever since. He simply needs to stay going.”
Jonathan and Wilson are beneath the steerage of Fiona Flynn, his trainer of over 30 years whose circle of relatives ran the driving college Jonathan rode at sooner than that.
Fiona sang Jonathan’s praises for his determination to Wilson, bringing up the effort and time he places in, early within the morning and past due at night time to make sure his horse is worked up and wholesome. She despatched H&H footage she had taken of the pair, which “display Wilson’s pleasure”.
“When he is going ‘up the gears’, to the untrained eye there’s no distinction, however even supposing the rhythm remains the similar, the ability Wilson places in makes an enormous distinction,” she stated.
“We each snigger as a result of, at Wilson’s age, he has earned the precise to be somewhat cheeky and so stuffed with enthusiasm and pleasure, we simply comprise it sufficient to stay him secure. In Wilson’s thoughts he’s nonetheless 10-ish and we would like him to proceed to really feel and suppose like that for so long as conceivable, however we offer protection to him from his personal enthusiasm!”
Jonathan agreed, including: “He’s extraordinarily enthusiastic. He hates flatwork with a keenness; as quickly because the poles have long gone, he’s ‘I’m actually now not to any extent further’.
“He’s all the time been on a joint and a muscle complement – I paintings for NAF so I’m a really perfect believer – and he’s handiest were given about 3 enamel left so he has numerous laborious meals however he’s happy with grass and is going out for 10 to twelve hours an afternoon.”
Jonathan stated he sticks to leaping 85-90cm “and he handiest will get to do one elegance” an afternoon, in deference to Wilson’s years, however added that had been Wilson requested to leap larger tracks, “I may well be scared, however he would indubitably do it!”
“We had been leaping on Friday and Saturday final weekend, then hacked on Monday,” he stated. “We had been with two horses two decades more youthful than him, and he out-walked them.
“He’s reliving his formative years; we didn’t actually do it when he was once more youthful, and after we did pass to displays I had no delivery so we hacked there and again. Very outdated however it kind of feels to have labored. And once he doesn’t need to do it to any extent further, that’ll be him completed. He’s by no means been ridden in spurs, he’s all the time taken me to a fence, but when he felt midway via a category that he’d had sufficient, I’d retire him there after which. It’s totally on his phrases; it in most cases is on his phrases, even supposing that’s about seeking to sluggish him down!”
Jonathan described Wilson as “probably the most kindest horses you’ll ever meet”, who’s “amenable to the whole lot” and adored by way of the girl in her mid to past due 60s who takes care of him in Jonathan’s absence.
“I’m 47 now and I do know everybody says it however he’s actually the pony of my lifetime, and he’s been there as my buddy all that point,” he stated. “I’m exceptionally fortunate; he owes me not anything and I owe him the whole lot.
“One BS pass judgement on introduced on the finish of his spherical: ‘Wilson resides his easiest existence’, and that sums him up’.”
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Credit score: Sarah Shephard
Credit score: Long run
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