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Katie Eyres
| | Posted on Friday, 24 August, 2007 - 12:37 am: | |
Thank you for all the kind words and phone calls, Trog as usual has decided to do things his own way and has told me that he is not ready to leave the building just yet! He decided on Tues - the day schedule for his final departure that thanks very much but he would rather be out playing stallions and chasing the girls in the field. He managed about an hour and then retired to bed. We all thought this was pretty good going for an old boy. My boyfriend said hoped that he would still be able to chase the girls when he was his age and so ill!!
He ahs been an amazing pony and had so many fans. I didn't always appreciate just how much an impact he had on people but I do remember one occasion last year at Bedford when Fiona Powell knocked on my lorry door to drop off some copies of her brilliant new 'in harness magazine' and said "Trog had been an inspiration to her as she had seen him when we were 12th after dressage and cones the previous year and had seen the determination on his face to win. Last year she had found herself somewhat down the line after dress and cones and thought back to Trog and decided to go for it in the obstacles rather giving up, as she had seen what could been achieved by Trog. She managed to pull herself up the line by some fast and courageous driving and had a fab time doing it."
It was so nice when she said that "Trog had inspired her to go for it".
I hope that everyone will remember him for a long time and continue to be inspired by his memory even in adversity. You never know what you might achieve!
He is an unbelievable pony with such a big and stubborn heart. I know that he will tell me when he is ready and although I'm dreading that day at least I have this extra time with him thanks to Andy Starnes. Andy is doing all he can for the old boy and we both cannot express our gratitude enough to Andy.
Thank you Andy, for coming out to my mum's and treating Trog so promptly even though you were off duty and on a long weekend off relaxing at home with Sue, and thank you Sue for all your support.
Although I do like to see you, I'm glad that your final visit to Trog isn't due just yet.
Love to all
Katie and of course Trog |
Sue Starnes
| | Posted on Wednesday, 22 August, 2007 - 12:39 pm: | |
At the time of writing (morning of August 22nd) Trog has typically decided to do things his own way and has perked up somewhat, eating well and kicking the door to be let out to play! This does not surprise me one bit as, in all the years I have known him, Trog has always lived life on his terms. He was lucky to be with Katie whose attitude to life is very similar, and the two of them have been an amazing team.
I remember once Katie gave me the opportunity to drive Trog. I was very excited, not having driven anything but my Welsh Section A at the time, glad that Katie would be with me, and that we would be in an enclosed area. Everything was fine and Trog behaved like a perfect gent - he was biding his time.
The trot to walk transition took a good two and a half circuits of the school.
He didn't go any faster, he just quietly let me know who was boss. Katie sat next to me with a small grin on her face, not phased in the slightest - she knew exactly what her naughty pony was up to.
I was slightly worried when Katie and Val met my skewbald for the first time and said that he reminded them of Trog!
As Katie's groom my posh jacket was always covered in Troggie gob no matter how careful I tried to be, and he very quickly made sure that I realised that he didn't need holding while Katie walked the cones. If I tried to hold him 'properly' I would get a sharp bash from his bit. So for appearances sake I'd hang on to a loop of rein - which he just about tolerated.
On the marathon I was pretty much redundant as the pair of them knew exactly the pace they should go, and obstacles were a matter of survival, trying to force my old brain to remember the routes quickly enough so I'd be in the right place on the backstep.
Indoors was something else. I have never gone so fast on a carriage; it's true that Trog played to the crowd and went faster the more they shouted for him. His laps of honour were the most exhilarating experience.
Dressage could be quite exciting too. I remember hurtling across the arena trying to smile as I reminded myself that Katie was in complete control - just about.
Trog may have gobbed on me, bashed me once or twice, and I always knew who was boss, but he was never malicious, he never frightened me, and it was a joy to have been associated with him. I think my abiding memory, out of all the many wonderful times, will be of him and Katie at Windsor setting off to visit friends in the horsebox park, him in headcollar and rug, Katie sitting on his back eating an apple.
A real showman, a wonderful character, and a once-in-a-lifetime pony. |
Fiona Powell
| | Posted on Monday, 20 August, 2007 - 12:22 pm: | |
Katie, I'm sure I speak for many, that we are very sorry to hear about Trog's illness.
Trog's performance at 2006 Indoor Finals was especially amazing. He showed what a big-hearted horse he was: a great competitor. You and he bounced back from 12th to win Open Pony and to become Supreme Champion by a whisker. I know he's done much more than this but that special performance was an inspiration. What a star! |
Barbara Nadin
| | Posted on Monday, 20 August, 2007 - 11:27 am: | |
Dear Katie,
Sad news, I know better than most what it's like to lose "your partner in crime" It's almost four years since I lost Henry and I still haven't really got over it. Troggie will be immrtalised within the Indoor Driving Circuit. Our first Supreme Champion, and just to prove in wasn't a fluke, he put his name on that very coverted trophy twice. Some acheivement, which will be very hard to equal.
Save your photos, put them in an album, someday you'll be happy to savour the acheivements of your very special mate.
Barbara Nadin |
Katie Eyres
| | Posted on Friday, 17 August, 2007 - 10:32 pm: | |
sad news to all who ever knew, or knew of Harpspar Trojan stable name TROGGIE. He has been diagnosed with liver problems probabley cancer or something nasty and untreatable. Whilst comfortable over this weekend, he will I'm afraid be put down by injection next week at my mum's home. He will stay at mum's afterwards forever. This is extremely sad as I am due to move home within the next few weeks. We had found the perfect retirement home for him and me (that's my boyfriend's thought anyway!). Having been through a very long illness, coming out the other side at long last I really thought that I would be able to spend some quality time with my brilliant and brave pony. Alas It seems that fate has dealt me yet another cruel blow and I will not have that time with him.
I just wanted to say thank you to all the dressage judges who bravely gave him good marks when he was well behaved and also sat near to the arena without running away when he decided to do dressage his way and not the way we had practiced at home. He was a brilliant driving and riding pony I still have the photos of him jumping round the 3'9" open hunter trials at Firle, and of course his many wins both indoors and out. Recently he has been recognised within the indoor driving circuit, and I think the crowd soon realised that the louder they cheered the faster he would go. It was never up to me he only did it because he wanted to please me and the crowd and of course get the big sash and even more importantly the polos at the end of the competition. I wish I had been well enough to drive him last year, but he certainly put me in my place when I tried to practice at home; either he knew I wasn't up to it or maybe he knew already that he wasn't up to the long journey and
the tough competition at Bedford this year.
Anyway thank you to all the organisers of events both indoors and out. All spectators who cheered for him at the regional competitions and the finals over the years he had a brilliant life because of all you guys, and he loved every second of admiration. I will never forget him or have the chance again to have such a brilliant and talented although troublesome pony.
Katie Eyres |
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