‘Feel free to visit our (strong and) stable’: the horseworld’s response to the election
Nearly one week on from the General Election and the dust hasn't quite settled in Westminster. No landslide victory as predicted for Theresa May and the 'strong and stable' Conservatives, and there was something of a triumph for the underdog Jeremy Corbyn. But what did the horseworld make of the political upset?
Trainer Fergal O’Brien was quick to offer the Prime Minister a chance to look around his Cotswold yard…
Dear TeresaDear TeresaAs you'll probably have more time on your hands soon, are you interested in a horse? Feel free to visit our (strong and) stable pic.twitter.com/MVJdLnv4qvAs you'll probably have more time on your hands soon, are you interested in a horse? Feel free to visit our (strong and) stable pic.twitter.com/MVJdLnv4qv— FergalO'BrienRacing (@FOBRacing) June 9, 2017— FergalO'BrienRacing (@FOBRacing) June 9, 2017
And Willie Mullins’ parody account made some shrewd observations about Theresa May’s election campaign
Theresa May.Theresa May.Oozed confidence, smooth headway to lead after 2 out, well clear & in command when fell last.Oozed confidence, smooth headway to lead after 2 out, well clear & in command when fell last.Remind you of anyone?#GE2017Remind you of anyone?#GE2017— Willie Mullins (@WilliePMullins) June 9, 2017— Willie Mullins (@WilliePMullins) June 9, 2017
Newmarket-based trainer John Berry looked on the bright side…
Some strong & stable sunshine @NewmarketGallop this morning to make up for the utter shambles elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/kE8DWAVY4JSome strong & stable sunshine @NewmarketGallop this morning to make up for the utter shambles elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/kE8DWAVY4J— John Berry (@JohnWathenBerry) June 9, 2017— John Berry (@JohnWathenBerry) June 9, 2017
… But his optimism didn’t last for long
Even the sunshine's less strong & stable than we hoped @NewmarketGallop 2day: already clouds appearing, wind getting up #HopeIsHigh #Kryptos pic.twitter.com/XVPTQ76Bj6Even the sunshine's less strong & stable than we hoped @NewmarketGallop 2day: already clouds appearing, wind getting up #HopeIsHigh #Kryptos pic.twitter.com/XVPTQ76Bj6— John Berry (@JohnWathenBerry) June 9, 2017— John Berry (@JohnWathenBerry) June 9, 2017
Racing cartoonist Darren Bird summed up the country’s mood aptly
I'm done with the #2017Election – Time to hit the hay! #GoodNightAll pic.twitter.com/EpuJlqXI53I'm done with the #2017Election – Time to hit the hay! #GoodNightAll pic.twitter.com/EpuJlqXI53— BIRDIE (@DarrenBirdie) June 8, 2017— BIRDIE (@DarrenBirdie) June 8, 2017
And with The Queen’s Speech delayed, The Queen was getting (understandably) nervous… #RoyalAscot
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Mrs May when you say you're delaying one's speech by "a few days", when exactly did you have in mind? Only, one has one or two things to do.Mrs May when you say you're delaying one's speech by "a few days", when exactly did you have in mind? Only, one has one or two things to do.— Elizabeth Windsor (@Queen_UK) June 12, 2017— Elizabeth Windsor (@Queen_UK) June 12, 2017
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A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.