WE CAN chat as we walk up to the sand gallop to watch two of the younger horses do some easy conditioning work but first, my host must transfer one of his charges from the walker to the paddock.

He slips a rope through the head collar and leads the horse around the side of the building down towards the grass. The 11-year-old son of Flemensfirth is like a lamb, as befitting his veteran status, until he spies the open gate.