Thistledown Farm

Garlic Bulbs

I pinned the list to the barn for Johnny Denver so as when he arrived he could get started on the jobs I had written down for him to do today. It started with what would be the 'norm', loosing the horses out their stables if they were in, cleaning the stables and replenishing the hay racks. I had a saddle and bridle I wanted cleaned ready for my lesson on Lady. I even included a bit of gardening for him as I was planning on going into town and buying garlic to plant.

 Johnny turned up in his battered truck, must have a word with him about it as it was giving the wrong impression.

This was not gonna be a two bit riding school ! I'll have a word with him....soon.

"Hi Johnny, I'm just off into town, be back in half an hour. Your job list is over there." I indicated to the note pinned to the barn door.

"Right you are mister McCormack, I'll get started on it straight away." Life ran round in circles around Johnny, wondering if he had something in his pocket for her to eat and was quite happy to stay with him....traitor.

So I got into my convertible, flicked the switch, and the roof drew back. I switched on the radio, started up the engine and drove off....

I parked the car and went into the General Store. The bell chimed as I did so, alerting my presence.

McClouds General Store

"Good morning Kyle, what can I do for you today ?" We were on first name terms now and I was beginning to feel a little more....as if I belonged, do you know what I mean ?

"Thought I'd buy some garlic to plant in a small area. The book I was reading mentions giving garlic to horses.It appears to be a good antibiotic, acts as an antioxidant....And....is a natural fly repellent." I emphasized the 'And' bit. Hey I was doing pretty well with what I recalled from the book, so I thought !

"So you gonna grow some, chop it up and add it to their feed then ?"

"Un, yeah. Of course I-I " , I stuttered, "I can use it in my cooking too"

Jim leaned towards me. "You could buy some liquid garlic 'specially for horses, save you the trouble."

Then Jim went on saying how this liquid helps the respiratory system, and has been shown to deter tapeworms, pinworms and roundworms although you should still worm them. "Plus it contains anti-inflammatory properties and is sold in an convenient easy to use twin-neck one litre bottle in concentrated form." He stood back waiting for my reaction.

"I'm not sure...." I started to say, raising an eyebrow.

"Will last you two months for the average horse and..." Oh, here comes the punch line hang on a bit folks....

"....and it only costs $22.50 per litre bottle." Gee, did he look smarmy ! He looked me hard in the face waiting for my reply.

So after a....deliberate, long pause, I said "I'll have ten packs of your garlic bulbs if it's all the same,thanks."

Jim frowned and gave out a long audible sigh. I think he was gonna get commission if he sold enough of the stuff. Grumbling to himself, he fetched me ten packs of garlic with three good sized garlic bulbs in each pack. Of course I would have to pull them apart into seperate cloves to plant, or rather Johnny would, so as each clove could grow into a full garlic bulb, thus increasing the yield. "Oh, I'll need these too." I gave him my list and his eyes lit up at the sametime as his eyebrows went real high on his forehead ! ....

Goldie Horne was giving me a lesson at eleven a.m. So after giving Johnny the garlic to plant I went and changed into the clothes I had bought from the General Stores. A pair of riding breeches, shirt and a blue light weight over shirt that looked like a riding jacket. McCloud assured me that that's what all the fashion conscience folk in the U.K. were wearing.

The door bell rang and I went and greeted Goldie asking her if she could teach me english riding on Lady.

"Well I don't usually....", she said eyeing me up and down and stifling a giggle.

"Here have my book and see if I am doing it right."

"It's a bit unusual but....okay, lets keep things simple mister McCormack."

I mounted Lady and did some flat work in the manege. I tried the cavalletti training jump too. We were getting somewhere....but where ?

"I'll give you the name of someone I know who can do this sort of thing."....Lesson over.