Storm led down the road and Bertie was a tad nervous but nothing to bad. We entered the forest which opens with a long canter up a steep hill and Bertie by now was in front. I enjoyed his one geared canter to the top and even with Storm overtaking us Bertie was not concerned. I was thinking this is pure heaven as we broke into a trot.
Post round the corner was another grassy track which eventually leads to a long winding gravel track road. I felt Bertie needed a bit more of a test as for some reason he was giving me a feeling that there was a little bit more to him than one could feel. Anyway, this where its gets exciting. There was a little bird that had commenced his first fall from his nest and dropped to the floor in front of us ! jeez did Bertie turn round and bolt. Well I’m not weak and I can tell you I thought we were going home at 40 mph, non stop. Anyway with two hands on the one rein I managed to anchor the brutes head round and eventually pulled him over to a stop, and walked on like nothing had happened.
I knew then what Berties problems were. Clearly he is young and spooky and has learnt to do the running off thing all to often, which is all very well to sort out but is of no use to a novice. I don’t know many novices that are going to manage Berties cross country delusions even when I’ve sorted him out. I was down hearted for a short while as I thought he was my bit of luck. The rest of the hack was ruined by three more occasions that he decided to bolt off in the same fashion.
I found myself praying to God to protect me going up the road to get home, as the road outside the yard is definitely not for a spooky bolter. We arrived back at the yard in one piece and thanks to God all the large lorries that normally pound that stretch had disappeared for a good 15 minutes.
Bertie has now been renamed “Bertie the bolter” and is very sadly being returned tomorrow. Praise God …