Photostory: Madigan and the Phesants

Madigan was waiting patiently over his stable door for his morning ride. Violet rode him every morning, with a small lesson in the afternoon until the riding school was fully set up. Today the yard owner was sorting out the yard's tame fox, Ferdi in the tackroom. He'd come to Meadow Valley as a homeless cub, and never left. The wild just didn't seem to "suit" him, so he kept coming back until Violet made him a permanent lodger. A door banged in the wind, and Madigan pricked his ears. His owner was coming.
 

"Hey lad! How are we this morning?" Violet's soft voice drifted over the yard as she came to unlock the bolt on the stable door. Madigan gently pushed her with his nose. "I was thinking a canter over winterberrie common?" She entered the stable, kicking wisps of dry straw to the back of the stable. She carefully clipped on a lead rope and began to lead him out of his stable.

Cindy the boarder collie came out into the yard to see what was going on. Madigan eagerly stepped forward onto the cobbled ground. A morning ride meant a morning groom, and he loved his morning groom more than anything. Madigan came out of his stable when something colorful and flappy landed under his nose. A pheasant.

Madigan HATED pheasants. Anyone who rode him on hacks knew to hang on tight when one was within a 20 meter radius of him.  They were flappy, and anything flappy and squawky  was enough for Madigan. He spooked and refused to walk any further. Cindy hid behind Violet. Luckily the pheasant was quite content with staring Madigan out.

Suddenly a female pheasant fluttered down from the roof and landed on Madigan's rump. "Uh-Oh...." Muttered Violet. Madigan started bucking and rearing turning from riding school mount to rodeo champion in the flick of a tail. The pheasants took fright and flew of leaving a trembling Madigan behind. Violet took one look at him. "Oh Mads. What am I going to do with you?! Maybe I'll put you back into your stable and let you settle down."

Violet did a quick U turn and popped the gelding back into his stable. She sighed. Typical Thoroughbred she tutted. Still she loved her chestnut neigh and would never swap him for anything. NEVER. She busied herself with yard work, Giving Mitzy and Honey a pat, sorting out the hayloft....Eventually she went to check on Madigan to see if he'd calmed. He had calmed alright.

"MADIGAN!!"