Meet Wilson, the half-Clydesdale who’s “dwelling his greatest life” as he continues to showjump his enthusiastic manner throughout Scotland aged 30.
Jonathan Bagg, who has owned the 17.1hh half-thoroughbred gelding for 25 years, informed H&H he has been pulled up by British Showjumping (BS) judges as they wrestle to imagine how previous Wilson is.
“I’ve been pulled in twice to verify his age as they couldn’t imagine what they had been seeing,” he stated. “They stated they wanted to verify he was the precise horse as he regarded superb.”
Jonathan solely registered Wilson, formally Wilson II, with BS 5 years in the past.
“I work within the business; I’m worldwide gross sales supervisor for NAF and on this and former jobs within the business I’ve travelled extensively so he wasn’t ridden to his full potential for a very long time; we did unaffiliated and driving membership,” Jonathan stated. “My first 12 months doing BS, we aimed for the Aintree novice and veteran championships, which is an outstanding present, and we’ve been chasing that dream ever since. He simply desires to maintain going.”
Jonathan and Wilson are beneath the steerage of Fiona Flynn, his teacher of over 30 years whose household ran the driving college Jonathan rode at earlier than that.
Fiona sang Jonathan’s praises for his dedication to Wilson, citing the effort and time he places in, early within the morning and late at evening to make sure his horse is comfortable and wholesome. She despatched H&H footage she had taken of the pair, which “present Wilson’s pleasure”.
“When he goes ‘up the gears’, to the untrained eye there’s no distinction, however though the rhythm stays the identical, the ability Wilson places in makes an enormous distinction,” she stated.
“We each snicker as a result of, at Wilson’s age, he has earned the precise to be a bit cheeky and so filled with enthusiasm and pleasure, we simply comprise it sufficient to maintain him protected. In Wilson’s thoughts he’s nonetheless 10-ish and we wish him to proceed to really feel and suppose like that for so long as attainable, however we defend him from his personal enthusiasm!”
Jonathan agreed, including: “He’s extraordinarily enthusiastic. He hates flatwork with a ardour; as quickly because the poles have gone, he’s ‘I’m actually not any extra’.
“He’s at all times been on a joint and a muscle complement – I work for NAF so I’m an awesome believer – and he’s solely bought about three tooth left so he has a lot of exhausting meals however he’s happy with grass and goes out for 10 to 12 hours a day.”
Jonathan stated he sticks to leaping 85-90cm “and he solely will get to do one class” a day, in deference to Wilson’s years, however added that had been Wilson requested to leap greater tracks, “I is likely to be scared, however he will surely do it!”
“We had been leaping on Friday and Saturday final weekend, then hacked on Monday,” he stated. “We had been with two horses 20 years youthful than him, and he out-walked them.
“He’s reliving his youth; we didn’t actually do it when he was youthful, and once we did go to reveals I had no transport so we hacked there and again. Very old style but it surely appears to have labored. And as quickly as he doesn’t need to do it any extra, that’ll be him completed. He’s by no means been ridden in spurs, he’s at all times 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 utterly on his phrases; it normally is on his phrases, though that’s about making an attempt to gradual him down!”
Jonathan described Wilson as “one of many kindest horses you’ll ever meet”, who’s “amenable to every little thing” and adored by the girl in her mid to late 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 horse of my lifetime, and he’s been there as my good friend all that point,” he stated. “I’m exceptionally fortunate; he owes me nothing and I owe him every little thing.
“One BS choose introduced on the finish of his spherical: ‘Wilson resides his greatest life’, and that sums him up’.”
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Credit score: Sarah Shephard
Credit score: Future
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