Pastoral Way’s naming day

There’s nothing quite like a sunny spring day at this time of year. Add in an unraced two-year-old who’s on course for racecourse action soon and you really do have a winning combination.

Our social days are something we are well known for and its always great fun to see owners interacting with their horse at the stables as they look ahead to what might be on the racecourse.

On a beautiful morning east of York last weekend, Pastoral Way’s horse racing syndicate joined us to name their two-year-old at David O’Meara’s impressive base.

There was no mistaking where the main attraction was in the yard as a group of owners gathered around their young horse’s box before seeing him ridden later in the morning.

Ahead of the action owners took full advantage of the welcome drinks and baked treats on offer. As lattes were sipped and muffins enjoyed.

With all the attention on him, our photographer Louise Pollard stepped in to get some lovely pictures of owners with their young colt, who posed nicely with owners as they got the chance to see him up close and personal before he pulled out onto the Willow Farm gallops.

With pictures captured, owners prepared to leave the yard to watch their soon-to-be-named two-year-old on David’s impressive uphill gallop.

The son of Pastoral Pursuits seemed totally unfazed by his extra audience on the gallops, impressing everyone with the way he stretched out as he passed the gallery moving well.

As he walked back into the yard, owners stepped in to get another close look at their two-year-old who was typically well behaved throughout the morning.

Once owners had settled back into the yard and watched their horse be washed off, they moved on to a nearby pub to get on with the main business of the day – naming their two-year-old.

As per usual, the food and service were of a high standard at The Three Cups, before Helen took to the floor to announce the name Pastoral Way as the winner of the naming vote.

Owners toasted Pastoral Way on his naming day, while James and Margaret, first-time owners with Hambleton, received a prize bottle of champagne for suggesting the successful name.

With Pastoral Way looking in fine shape and looking very much like the sharp and forward young horse he was bought to be, his naming day proved a real success with a lovely, relaxed atmosphere evident throughout the day as we said hello to some old friends and made some new acquaintances.

We would like to thank all owners who joined us on what was a typically relaxed visit to Willow Farm and will hopefully be the first of many memorable days for Pastoral Way’s horse racing syndicate.

We’re looking forward to naming more of our young horses in the coming weeks with plans in the diary to visit Archie Watson’s and Kevin Ryan’s yards as more members of the class of 2024 get their racing names.

It won’t be long before these youngsters are hitting the racecourse. We can hardly wait!

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