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At some stage in race preparation flat horses need to become acquainted with the starting stalls.  PAINTED SMILE and DEFECTIVEDETECTIVE are in full work so it's time to start the stalls practice.

Step One:

                                                     Armed with the necessary equipment - helmets, rope, hood, 

                                                   and a BIG bag of grass the intrepid handlers meet their charges 

                                                   at the practice stalls near the Rowley Mile racecourse.

Here are the Steriline stalls, which caused some 

controversy when introduced a couple of years ago.  

The low pads at the back caused hock (rear knee)

 injuries and they were subsequently redesigned.

                                                 Before commencing the handlers check the front doors 

                                                 function.  They are closed and sprung open.

Step Two: Both horses are led up to an open stall and 

are walked through several times - successfully!  After 

that the back gates are closed and then the front gates.  

The front gates are then opened to allow the horse to 

walk out.

All negotiated successfully - STOP AND QUIT WHILE 

YOU'RE AHEAD!

                                                    Step Three: Second session at the starting stalls with the same 

                                                   two horses as before.  They did so well their first time that we 

                                                   decide to load them straight into closed stalls instead of 

                                                   repeating the first stages - quite a daunting prospect.

In goes PAINTED SMILE - a mystery hand feeds the grate to keep her 

calm as she awaits her companion to join her in the stalls.

                                     Both horses are locked away, the gates are sprung open and

                                                      out they come.  It appears that PAINTED SMILE is a bit

                                                      sharper than DEFECTIVEDETECTIVE!

Step Four: The procedure is repeated this time with 

DEFECTIVEDETECTIVE going in first nearest the rail and

PAINTED SMILE in second.

                                                           Out they come - DEFECTIVEDETECTIVE

                                                                                       still a bit clueless, but getting there.

Back they come for a pat and handful of grass.  Time to quit 

once more.  PAINTED SMILE is definitely on the case, the jury 

is still out for DEFECTIVEDETECTIVE.

Dr Jon Scargill, Red House Stables, Hamilton Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0TE

01638 663254

scargill@redhousestables.freeserve.co.uk

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