And the Academy Award™ ...

...for best Horse in A Dramatic role goes to...

/fanfare

...MONSTER.

"Who, little old me? Gosh! I never expected this! Oh! You shouldn't have", and gush to fade.

A little midweek hunting for us both to make the most of the remaining season has somewhat backfired. Basically, MONSTER is broke. She lost a shoe, which wasn't noticed until an hour after the fact when the retrieved item was found not to fit the supposed victim, but Cinderella like was a perfect fit for her coloured cobby toes. Bless her she put in some good jumps after it had gone - in fact I'd had to hold her back, but once back home it became clear all was not well.

Turns out that as well as some slight bruising on the affected foot by over- compensating for it she has strained the tendons in the other leg.

Cue much batting of eyelashes at me and a series of 'dog with sore paw' impressions.

For all my joking about her acting the poor mare is genuinely sore and on enforced box rest. We remain to see how she is on Saturday morning when she should be being bathed and plaited up and realises that she is staying at home.

The good news is she'll be right before the end of season and only misses one of the meets we had planned.

In the meantime, I'll just let her continue her acceptance speech...