Sucking Sonny

A busy week in WA racing with the running of the WA Derby over 2400m, and after heavy rain (3") dropped on track the meeting was moved to the Sunday. The Derby was won by a raiding filly from the east coast who won the Oaks the week before. Black Amber ran third in the Oaks 2 years back and its tough for fillies to line up against the colts and geldings but Grand Journey did it.

On our home front, Clive Lauritsen picked off yet another cup when the stable runner Jonguydon won the Mingenew cup for connections. Woosha (stable name) has been a tough horse to crack, but finally put his best foot forward. You can see the final pictures of the win here, and an article on the WA racing site here.

That photo of ower Kevin Eastough with the big grin is what racing is all about. I hope we are standing with the same ones with a victory of Sonny!

So, onto the update of our young gun.

He gave us a real scare. About 10 days ago he started to "suck" which is a horrible problem for horses. Essentially they grab hold of a rail with there teeth and then "suck" the air back into their lungs through the open mouth. Its a problem that normally cannot be fixed. There is no real obvious impact on the horses racing and ability but it is a really horrible sounding trait. It annoys all the stable and gives the impression you have a donkey not a thoroughbred.

In his customary thoughtful way, Clive set out to try and solve the problem. Clive thinks that the behaviour can be fixed if he can keep the horses mind busy enough not to get bored enough to go and suck fences. Sounds horrible, but we will see if he is onto something.

He started by moving Sonny into the stable that is closest to the training yard. He can nowsee the other horses when they are out having a romp in the free. Clive then painted all the rails of the new yard with a horrible tasting oil. Sonny was still sucking the front rail (metal) so Clive painted that too.

He then went and brought Sonny two new toys. A basketball on a rope, and a witches hat. Now for those who have no idea here are some pics. Sonny is now dragging the ball around by the rope doing dribbling work through the witches hat!! No joke!

We have fingers crossed. Sonny has not sucked since he got his new toys. Clive is hopeful...but the odds are stacked against him. Clive has never heard of a trainer beating a "sucker". So we have to sit this one out and see who wins the mind games!

On the technical side Sonny continues to learn his trade. Clive stresses how clever the little bloke is. It may point to the reason he can get bored, and the important relationship between the mind and the body.

At this stage, everything on the training is perfect.

Next steps is another 2-3 weeks of this daily education, with the bridle and saddle on. Walking and longing exercises. We will then be looking to have him ridden. That is the most important next step for him.

After that...Sonny will lose his balls. Now he probably would object, but he needs to be gelded so that he can join other horses in the next longer phase of growing out in a paddock. It is very hard to get colts into any commercial property, so you've got to have the property yourself or be a professional breeder. We are neither so Sonny is destined to lose em.

Sorry fella. We all feel for ya.