Memories of my best friend and faithful mount Tarquin

For years I pestered my parents for a horse, but not just any horse a true black beauty. Eventually they crumbled under my constant pleading and I found myself the proud owner of Tarquin a 4 1/2 y.o nearly black 16hh gelding. Ok so his name didn't do him any favours and his history was short but I loved him all the same and was determined to turn this (rather cheap) specimin into a champion! (High hopes from a 15 y.o. girl.)

At first there were a few problems. Not wanting to waste any time in training but yet without saddle I thought it would be a good idea to lead him for a walk down the bridelways. Enter anxious dad who thought he'd accompany us. Dad brushes past tree which makes scarey rustling noise, young horse makes a run for it, girl on end of leadrope gets left behind, horse double barrels girl in chest and hey presto that's me unconcious on the floor. One hospital trip later, a dislocated rib, several packs of painkillers, a few days later and eventually a visit from the saddle fitter and I'm on board at last.

So to begin with there were the usually young horse problems like napping, and unpredictability, but little by little my trusty steed turned out to be just that, trustworthy, obedient, and more than a bit capable. Show jumping was his forte and he was in the ribbons at 5y.o, and consistently thereafter. The biggest problem was loading. Each event saw us trying to invent new strategies to get him in the horsebox. Rope-burn was a frequent injury as he pulled the lead rope from my hands making his escape round the field. Even the skills of Michael Peace at a clinic didn't help. The ironic thing was once in he never attempted to come out of the box, he'd stand there quite happily with all the doors open munching his hay. We all have our quirks.

After a while of successful showjumping I thought I would try him eventing and wow didn't that go well (although ditches were a sore point). We won numerous one day events, the house becomming overwhelmed with rosettes and trophies. And then I found out about the Milton Keynes three day event. I was so excited at a chance to perform in a large event to the same format as the professionals. My entry form was in the next day.

Leading up to the event training was going brilliantly when alas 7 days before the big day he went lame. He had only been lame once before in the preceeding 7 years and was a tough cookie so I knew this was something. I had galloped him the evening before, circuit training, but with it being the middle of a hot summer the ground was a little hard. I cursed myself over and again. He had tendon shealth swelling to a forelimb and I prayed it wasn't a tendon injury. I set about fixing him and just kept my fingers crossed. He was box rested, bandaged, poulticed, and given liquid devils claw ('no-bute' as I still hoped to do the competiton). Even if he came sound I was desperately worried how his fitness would be affected by the period of box rest. After 4 days the swelling was down and he was sound. Still, I wasn't taking any chances so I kept up the routine and only on day 6 took him out for a short walk. He seemed fine so we loaded up, boxed up and drove to the event. The atmosphere was electric everyone excited anticipating the three days ahead. Tarquin wasn't phased by the grand surroundings, the milling horses and people and the loud speakers. He took it all in his stride setting the standard with his exemplary behaviour. And as we set up camp for the first night I kept my fingers crossed he would remain sound.

Day 1: dressage. Anyone who knew Tarquin would agree that his conformation didn't really help his quest in this discipline. However he was well schooled, well mannered and did his best. So it was with amazement that he acheived a dressage score of 21 and headed the pack for the first day!
Day2: endurance. This was what it was all about. Make or break. A series of timed sections, steeplechase, vet checks and cross-country fences. Having nearly mown down the spectators on the steeplechase (the course was right-handed and he had a thing against that at speed) he completed the first part on time. The vet commented how fit he was after listening to his heart at the vet check and then we were being counted down to the cross-country...5,4,3,2,1,GO! He did me pround completing the round (including ditch and water) on optimum time. We remained in the lead but I worried about his soundness for the next day after such intense work. I did all I could for his legs before the vet check on the final morning.
Day3: show jumping. after two trot ups the vet passed him sound. Relief. All I had to do now was go clear to win. The tension was palpable. A few poles rubbed then over the last and 'YES' we had done it. Tarquin was Eqvalan 3DE champion 2002, and me the proudest owner ever!

Written in loving memory of Tarquin my best friend and faithful mount who broke his leg by unknown causes in the field 07/07/06 aged 15. R.I.P.