I rode a lovely horse of our family friend’s last week – he is worth following and should win some nice races

I’M lucky enough to have had some mega days on some fantastic horses, and, of course, Frodon will always be my star of the line-up.

But sometimes the smallest of races can give you just as special memories . . . like the day I rode Monet Moor to win a point to point in Cornwall when I’d just turned 20.

PABryony Frost is back with her exclusive column for the jumps season[/caption]

Dad had bred her, so I’d watched her from her first few hours, growing up and seeing her brain work out what you’re asking, up to that day, riding her to win.

That’s why actually winning on her meant so much, and I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

Dad’s been breeding horses all my life, and as a toddler I’d be put under the tractor fuel tank to be safely out of the way, while the stallion Morpeth covered the mares.

So naturally that was the name I gave to my little leather rearing toy horse as he looked just like Morpeth when he was rearing.

One day, when I’d have been about four, I was playing on the kitchen floor, as Dad sat around the table having a cup of tea with some owners. I was pretending Morpeth was trying to cover my toy mare, and starting squealing and saying “she’s not ready, bring the next one.”

So I swapped to another little model, introduced her to Morpeth and, well, . . .  I’ll let you guess what began to unfold. The grown-ups watched with hands to mouth.

Dad was so embarrassed — I’d clearly taken in a lot more information about the birds and bees than he realised!

I’ve always loved working with young horses, wrapping them in every blanket you can find as a new-born foal, then seeing where their journey goes.

The reason I bring it up is because I rode a lovely young horse last week at Newton Abbot called Pirates’ Tale, bred by the Welch family, who have been close friends all my life.

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The Welches have been with the horse since the minute he came out of his mum, and so patient with him, waiting five years for that moment he made it onto a racecourse.

Before last week all he’d really seen was two farms, and there was live music — it was university student day — a great atmosphere, and a lot for him to think about at Newton Abbot for his first day at the racetrack.

But he was great. I dropped him in at the back, let him find his feet and although he had a bit of a baby wobble over the crossing in the straight, he really stayed on.

We finished second to a horse who’d cost a lot of money from Ireland, but Pirates’ stuck to his guns, then ate all his dinner once he got home, completely chilled about his day. He’s a lovely prospect, very much a racehorse.

So you see, the young ones can be just as exciting as the old warriors, and when I see the bumper horses with Paul Nicholls at Ditcheat, every single one looks an A-star student.

We’ve schooled about 20 four-year-olds this week and I sat on about eight to ten of them — exciting times!

Depending on how the weather goes, I should be on Panjari and Switch Hitter at Wincanton tomorrow, the first I’ve ridden for the “home team” this season.

Panjari is quirky and everything that could have upset the wagon did so at Chepstow. He’s not easy but very determined and when he turns it in the right direction, we think a lot of him.

Switch Hitter is an old friend, I’ve won on him three times, who is very fresh in his work. He’s a consistent horse, and although he wouldn’t want it too soft, he prefers to go right-handed so that’s in his favour.

Until next week, keep kicking and stay safe.

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