Minstrel (Radiguet)

Hello Everybody
My name is Jan im in the UK
My journey began when I came across a rescue site and on Dec 18th 2008
Cally had put this on
I met this kind kind trotter this morning , the breeder phoned me recently and said a neighbour friend of his has this gelding for sale or he goes on the ' mauvais camion ' in 8 - 10 days . He honestly is so loving I had a job to back away far enough for a photo . Same I picked his foot up whilst he was stood in the field with no collar.



And then this video


Well my heart just melted
I contacted Cally and asked for all the details and sent the money asap
I was ellated when she said Id got him he was mine
I can't thank Cally enough for all she's done
letting Minstrel stay at hers while he waited for his turn to travel to the UK
Looking after him and all the updates

Lots of emails and updates later
January 27th 2009 arrived
and my boy was on his way
I recall being so excited and very nervous all at the same time
When he arrived he was stiff and a bit bewildered
there was 4 of us to greet him and he must of wondered who are these funny talking people
all excited to see me

We eventually got to bed but I couldnt wait to see him again

A pic of him on his first day in the UK

Some more pics
we never expected him to jump but he did Must add he hasnt jumped since this was taken
we are taking it slowly with him




After a few months Minstrel




He is now backed which happened within hours



He takes everything in his stride nothing phases him not even
Lorries/tractors/cows/heaviest of traffic
He just wants to please

He is lovely to be around so playful and can be a bit naughty at times as he is only 4
We know Minstrel has a bright future
Whether it be a SJ/Dressage or just for hacking out
what ever he does we see it as a bonus

Well today weve had Minstrel a 1 year



Im so glad I went onto the site that day back in 2008 and came across Callys thread
he is everything Cally said he was and more

Its been a pleasure getting know him these past 12months
Who knows whats around the corner but at least now he will have a chance to find out

Thank you Cally xxxx

That's lovely, I must admit, I have followed his story on ERRs site but I still never get tired of hearing it again and again . I also have a french trotter, Robbia, and they are just such a lovely breed. It is not a breed that I ever would have thought about getting but if I had the land I wouldn't think twice about another, they're gorgeous!
..........and well done too he looks fabulous!

Thank you Georgie
I must admit I was the same
I never thought about FT
but would deffinatly rehome another if I ever manage to get my own land

Cally emailed on ERR and asked if I could put Minstrels story on here
So I thought since today is The anniversary of his arrival
today would be the right time
It really has flown by

Who knows what I will be writing this time next year

Hi Polarbear
Thankyou so much for putting his story on , already a year gone by amazing
You've done a fantastic job with him , his coat looks completely different and he looks so content
Well done

I would have done too

Hi Jann, I do believe the handsome man has just had a birthday.............(ok, my memory isent that good you reminded me)

Linda xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He is gorgeous! what a difference in a year all grown up and looking mega handsome I love the French trotters they are so calm and trainable and they all appear to jump!! Mine are all doing really well

I've ridden my two trotters today and had a really nice time ... no housework done though

We've had Minstrel now 18months
Thanks to Cally
and he's coming along Great
he has now starting jumping
Minstrel Jumping today
Just click on pic

Wooowwww !! What a jump !! he is coming on so well with you and its always lovely to see him
Thankyou so much for the updates . Well done xxx

Fantastic, he is doing great!!!!!

Hi, I bought Minstrel (Radiguet) on 4th December 2011 and googled him when I got him home. I was fascinated to find this site and some info about his background. If anyone has any more details they can share about him I would be very grateful. I wasn't looking for a french trotter but couldn't resist his kind but cheeky nature. I'm hoping to develop his schooling and try him with jumping and I'm looking forward to seeing how he progresses.

Hi phoenix thanks for joining us, it will be great if you can keep us updated on minstrel's progress. Hopefully cally will be on later , i would think that she will know more about your boy than the rest of us. Good luck with everything you do together.
pen

Hello Pheonix and welcome

I'm so pleased you found us and we can follow how he is getting on

Here's a brief history , a breeder told me about Radiguet ( his friend / neighbours horse ) who was going for meat ( sadly too common here ) and I went to see him so I could get photos and get him his chance on the site Equine Rescue and Rehoming , they were very active back then trying to rescue French horses and transport them to homes either in the uk or France . Our role was to give them their chance through publicity and then hope like hell that someone wanted them . Naturally if they found a new owner there came a need for foster carers as the transport was arranged and the farmers wanted them out asap ( it was winter afterall )

Radiguet and four others from a ***** dealer came to me at the time

I will never forget Minstrel as he's now called , he was gentle as can be .. a lovely sort , so unfased by everything that went on around him

I have this link too if you haven't already found it with most of his story there

http://equinerescuerehoming.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=resrcueserr&action=display&thread=1680


without Jan ( polarbear )none of this could have happened as she stepped in quickly to save this lovely lad and guaranteed lovely home to go to


please come back and let us know how you are getting on

I've had Minstrel for almost a year now and we're really getting to know each other. We've joined our local endurance riding club and have taken part in three 20km pleasure rides. I've never done this sort of thing before but Mnistrel loves it and really comes alive! We've also joined our local riding club and came 4th in our first preliminary dressage test and came 5th in round 1 of the nursery winter league showjumping and 2nd in round 2. The final round is in December so fingers crossed we get placed in the overall league. It's funny how many people made a face when I told them he's a trotter and now they're all commenting on how good a jumper he is and how much he's come on. I asctually think he's part bred labrador as he's not like any other horse I know. He loves his food and attention and always have to have something in his mouth (normally his lead rope or someone elses!).

Thankyou soo much for the update , he has a lovely character and I'm so pleased you are both enjoying great progress , if you have a chance to forward some photos that would be lovely , if you struggle to load them on the site I'll happily do it if you send them to gallopingfree@live.fr



Please give him a carrot from me