Sonny the Sonless

Today Sonny lost his balls. There will be no sons, or daughters for him.

What else is there to say?

Sonny - no son!

Well here we are with a classic!

The past few weeks Clive has been telling us that Sonny has been getting bully. Feeling himself a young stud etc etc. Getting ready to strut his stuff with the big boys.

After 2 and a bit weeks of very smooth riding with Jason, with Clive riding alongside on Tapdog everything was ready for his nest stage. Roy returned from his annual vacation with Bernadette and the kids and was ready to get back into the swing of things with the Carnarvon season just kicking off. Around visiting Clive he put his hand up to ride Sonny and get him over to the track.

I think Roy is wishing he had not put the hand up!

Day-1 with Roy all went smoothly. Clive was happy with the new gun and his education. Nothing to report other than Sonny kept pushing Tapdog.

Day-2...disaster!
Roy got a little bit behind Clive and Tapdog and when Roy moved Sonny forward, the colt came up a little too fast to Tapdog and let out a whinny. Now, the old Dog was not going to let the young gun up like that.

So, uncharacteristically he lashed out with a swift back left aimed squarley at Sonny stomach. It got him right where he aimed...but Roy's ankle was in the way. Roy caught the brunt of the kick on the stirrup thankfully. But, the kick spooked Sonny who then reared a little and then dropped his head and tossed Roy over the front. Roy landed on his shoulder and fractured his collar bone.

It was a bad result all around. Roy will be out for 2-3 weeks. Sonny got a hell of a scare. And Clive feels terrible to have that happen to Roy. But, the Dog is still king of the stable.

We could not let Sonny head to the paddock and be gelded without getting back on him and re-confirming his early education. Clive has sent him out to the main breaker in Geraldton. Norm. Norm has two properties, one out a little from town where the horses stay and another property in closer where he works them. SO every day Sonny will be floated back and forward into his work. This in itself is a nice bit of education as he needs to be comfortable with floating. In addition, Norm will continue to put him through his paces for these next 2 weeks or so. That should finish off his breaking nicely.

At the end of the day we feel for Roy. Especially because it was his old favourite Tapdog that gave him the whack and spooked Sonny to throw him. He could have done without it.

In all stables there is a boss. The king. The top dog. And Sonny has been shown that he is not yet ready to take that mantle from the old dog.

Puffing Sonny

Jason has continued riding Sonny each day since the first. Their routine is now taking them out in the "bush' adjacent to Clive's stables. If you have a look on the Google map here of Clive's place, you can see the bush to the left (west).

Clive is riding Tapdog and Jason is riding Sonny. They are now starting to do a little bit of work around the bush, and Sonny is feeling it. Now recall, Tapdog has just come out of a full campaign, is match fit, and at 10years old he knows what this game is all about. Sonny, at little over a year old is literally a baby. Clive says that by the third lap around, Sonny is plodding along like an old grandma and puffing like a blowfish.

His education has been really tops. Although he is still "bully" from the feeling of his manhood, Sonny is behaving really well. One of the most important parts of this period is to ensure he is not upset by cars, by people, or by noises. All these can "spook" a horse. Sonny has seen and heard them all now, and Clive reports that he is first class. All calibre. He has no problems with cars passing him, and they were in the bush this week just after school knocked off and they cae across a big bunch of kids playing in the bush. Sonny just kept about his business following the Dog around.

Clive continues to be very happy with his progress. Nothing at this stage will give us any idea as to whether he can run, and run with speed and the fight to win. But, he has handled all stages of this early period and come through with flying colours.

Jason is heading away from town now, and our stable jockey Roy McKay returns from holidays. Roy will now take over on Sonny.

Clive wants to give him a "look" at the track this week. That is, take him over to the track (same map above, follow it north) with Tapdog and give him a look and a run around it. There is only one objective and that is the introduction to his future fighting ring.

I told Clive to make sure he runs past the winners post each time in front of Dog. Dog will not like that, but I want Sonny to know what it is like to be there when it counts.

Coming soon....the big cut!

It will be around the time Gavin makes his first stable visit, so we will get a first hand feedback.

Cheers
slacka