“Thanks for giving me every thing.”
Jeanette Brakewell has stated goodbye to her companion of just about three many years, the legendary Over To You (Jack), who died on 30 November aged 34.
The little chestnut thoroughbred retired as Britain’s most capped and most medalled occasion horse aged 20, with two Olympic workforce silvers to his identify, a world particular person silver and workforce bronze – and 4 European workforce golds.
“After I stated goodbye to him, I simply thanked him,” Jeanette instructed H&H. “For giving me every thing. I wouldn’t be the place I’m with out him.”
Jack went to Jeanette as a four-year-old; he had been purchased by the Clegg household to race, however didn’t present a lot promise so was despatched to be offered, however failed the vet owing to a coronary heart murmur. Jonty Evans, who was working for Tony Clegg, rebacked Jack, and Tony’s daughter Fiona took him for a lesson with Chris McGrann, at whose yard Jeanette was primarily based, on the finish of his fourth 12 months. Jack reared and cracked Fiona’s jaw, and Jeanette was handed the reins, with the phrases “over to you”.
Jeanette didn’t essentially suppose on the time that Jack would go on to do what he did.
“He was a bit scrawny as a four- and five-year-old, and I used to be very younger; 18 or 19,” she stated. “However we simply grew collectively. He saved answering the questions.”
Jeanette has stated earlier than it’s exhausting to find out the highlights from Jack’s excellent profession, during which in addition they completed third, fourth and fifth at Badminton, and seventh at Burghley.
“One of the vital particular ones was when he gained his personal medal on the [2002] worlds,” she stated. “I used to be listening to a zoom with Lucinda Inexperienced the opposite day, with Pippa Funnell, William Fox-Pitt and Piggy March, and Lucinda requested what had been probably the most troublesome course to experience. Each Pippa and William stated ‘Jerez, that bl***y water!’ It had induced all kinds of issues and I believe Jack gave everybody a false sense of safety as a result of he simply pinged by means of it.
“All of the leaping simply felt easy to him. It wasn’t usually I went spherical an intermediate, however I bear in mind considering, ‘For God’s sake, Jack, put some effort in!’ However it was solely when he bought to the massive tracks his true scope got here in. For a little bit horse, he had great scope. And he liked it. He was so smart about every thing; all the time in a snaffle along with his head up and his ears pricked.”
Over To You (Jack) photographed at Jeanette Brakewell’s yard for Horse&Hound, Could 2013.
Jack retired from competitors aged 20 – he completed thirteenth within the Tattersalls three-star (now four-star) World Cup qualifier. However he was nonetheless ridden till about 4 years in the past, and even after he was absolutely retired, was nonetheless the centre of the yard.
“He was nonetheless shod and had his enamel achieved each six months – and he nonetheless had enamel, though they had been fairly lengthy!” Jeanette stated. “He gave us a little bit of a scare within the spring when for some purpose he bought right into a stew within the secure and I instructed Katie, my head woman, to stroll him to the sphere for a graze and he went down. The vet gave him some medication and he was up and grazing: ‘I’m high quality now thanks.’ So he wasn’t able to go then, however it was a warning signal.”
Jeanette stated Jack had been discovering it a bit exhausting to stand up, then sustained a leg an infection that meant leg swelling, and he or she didn’t need him to deteriorate.
“We made the proper choice and it was good the vet may come that day,” she stated. He wasn’t all over, however it was the proper choice.”
Jeanette added that she has since had extra curiosity in her e book Over To You: Britain’s Eventing Legend, as others bear in mind Jack’s glory days.
“I don’t like seeing his secure now as a result of he’s not there, however I simply maintain considering of all of the outdated recollections and welling up,” she stated. “It was a great finish for a beautiful horse.”
You may additionally be all for:
‘You’d have thought on the age of 30 he would have mellowed however not a little bit of it!’
Credit score: Trevor Meeks
Credit score: Future
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