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.