A HORSE cantering past the Imperial turned everyone's head on Sunday.
James Bell found himself deep in irony when he rode his steed Lee Commandant ('Maurice' to his friends), backtracking a ride he went on last week which had cost him a mobile phone 'somewhere around here' when it fell from his pocket.
"On Thursday, I fell over on my other horse coming home, let go of him, and lost my phone and so I am back today," James said.
Having represented the country in show jumping, which is just one feature of his lengthy resumé, James said the four other horses in his care in Avenel kept him very busy.
"It's just what I love," he said.
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"I am a very happy man."
A couple of very well-ridden turns by this experienced horseman in an obliging paddock and James' day was blessed: said phone was found.
And just the right size and shape - albeit a different colour - of the one he had bought on Friday to replace it.
It seems he likes dropping things.
"Can you pass me that whip on the ground?"
And with a quick kick and short reins, Maurice and his rider were gone.
