A VETERAN JUMPER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143772, 22 April 1912, Page 5

A VETERAN JUMPER.

A horse that has been jumping in competitions tor twenty yea-ra, ana at tho ago of 24 is still able to clear six feot with several inches to spare, arrests attention. Desmond, the animal in question, belongs to New South Wales, and has long been a familiar figure at the Royal and other shows. Ho is the oldest jumper perlorming today with such a degree ot success, and is reputed to be the most intelligent animal in Australian show’rings. His rider walks him slowly up to the barrier, and then the old horse walks leisurely back a few paces, wheels, makes a dash, takes off with fine judgment, lifts his forelegs skilfully over the obstacle, and gives a cunning twist to his hind hoofs that carries them clear. He then takes a nibble ol grass as a reward, and walks quietly round to the squad to await his next turn."- He neither frets nor prances; his policy is the minimum of waste and the maximum of power at tho right, moment. But the Desmond of to-aay is naturally not the Desmond of yore. At-the show ibis year 6ft. tin. was his best, which is-a big- ialling-off from his 6ft. lOin. in 1907, a< record for the ground. The following year Lady Morton beat the redoubtable grey with 6i‘t. 9in., but Desmond won in- 1909 with 6ft. Tin. In 1910 Mahonga defeated Desmond with 6ft. 6in., and in the following year Melba, with 6ft. 4in., saw tho old grey running second. “Taking the grey’s performances year after year they are wonderful,” says.the Herald, “since his compeers of- tho day often vanished from the scene and-fresh relays appeared the following year,-only to find tho champion either victor or very close up.” Desmond’s record is not tho Australian one. That stands at over 7ft.. but none of the horses that have cleared more than 6ft. lOin. have stood the test of time as Desmond has done. It is small wonder that when he failed in the high jurnp at Sydney the other day the 50,000'spectators gave him rousing cheers in recognition of hie green old age. *