Barney's Blog

Simply having a wonderful Christmas rhyme

Evening all,

Barney McGrew here – equine superstar, literary genius.

So, this is my final blog of 2023 and I wanted to sign off by saying I hope you had a nice Christmas, and to wish you all a Happy New Year.

I’ll be honest, I prefer a quiet Christmas these days. I had a wander down to the pub on Christmas Eve and, on my way back, I passed a hot fudge sundae, a lemon cheesecake, and a slice of apple pie. I thought to myself: “Blimey these streets are strangely desserted tonight!”

Then, on Christmas Day, I had a few extra carrots for my dinner, pulled a few crackers with Commanche Falls, had a game of Scrabble with Dakota Gold (I won), then watched The King’s Speech before settling down in my stable for a bit of the Strictly special.

If I’m honest, my presents were a bit iffy this year. I’m definitely going to have to return the camouflage saddle-cloth the Sophie human bought me. I just can’t see myself wearing it!

Knowing that I like to write, the Chloe human bought me a pen that writes underwater. Mind you, it can write other words too!

Having said all that, I hear relations were a bit strained in ‘the big house’ over the festive period. The Gaffer asked my Carole what she wanted for Christmas. “Nothing would make me happier than a diamond necklace,” she replied. So, he bought her nothing.

To be honest, it’s all a bit much for me these days. After all, I’m gonna be 21 in the New Year, so I’m happy to take it easy.

Mind you, I did summon the energy to write my annual review of the year in rhyme. It’s not easy giving a mention to every bloody horse that’s won a race for the stable in 2023 – but here goes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before I go, a few predictions for 2024…

I reckon Azure Blue – or Bluey as I like to call her – will bounce back from her setback last season and prove herself to be a Group 1 filly. Wouldn’t that be something for those nice humans Peter Appleton and Anne Elliott?

Commanche Falls will have another fantastic season, except he’ll go even higher and bag a Group 2. Mark my words – we haven’t seen the best of Commy just yet. What a legend!

And it wouldn’t surprise me to see good old Dakota Gold – Goldy – have a last hurrah as a 10-year-old, once he’s on the right mark for a horse his age.

As for me, I’m planning to work hard at keeping fit. In fact, I was talking to my gym instructor the other day, and I said him: “Can you teach me to do the splits?”

“How flexible are you?” he asked, so I told him: “I can’t do Tuesdays.”

That’s all from me for 2023 folks, have a wonderful, peaceful New Year.

Bring carrots. Lots of love,