HEARTACHE AND THE HERO By Geoff Sanderson

When Quixall Crossett was born, Joy Caine described him as an "ugly duckling". He was narrow, and looked really quite weak. The years rolled by, and it came time to break and school the youngster. The breaking process went reasonably well, but when it came to training, it was a different matter. Even as a five year old, if Quixall was given a good gallop, he would not eat an oat for two or three days afterwards. He has always been a wind-sucker and crib-biter, and has many of the vices one usually avoids in a horse, especially a race-horse. Undeterred, Ted and Joy ran Quixall in a Point-to-Point race, where he finished second. Perhaps Quixall did have something after all!

Quixall then had thirteen runs under National Hunt rules on the race-course. Not a lot of promise there though. He was still the ugly duckling after all.

That year, tragedy struck at High Crossett Farm. Malcolm, Ted and Joy's 26 year old son, was killed in a combining accident at the farm. Joy was the one who found him. Obviously, the Caines were devastated. Quixall and his stablemates, however, still demanded attention. They were a reason, perhaps the only reason, to get up on a morning. That particular season he ran in 31 races. He had suddenly developed into the soundest, hardiest horse in the yard. He took all his races well, without a care in the world. It was taking Quixall to the races which got Ted and Joy away from the farm, and meeting and talking to people again after their loss.

Their ugly duckling was now their swan.

Unaware of all of this, I had followed Ted's horses through the papers for many years, - since Cavalier Crossett (another home-bred horse) won him eight races. Then I, too, lost my son, Adam. He was severely handicapped with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, but his death at the age of two years was a complete shock. I had a slight background in racing as a teenager, and was attending Sedgefield races in order to be with the horses, (rather than to talk to anyone), whilst suffering from clinical depression after losing Adam. Ted and Joy came and stood next to me. I had never spoken to them before, so, hesitantly, I asked after their horses. The parallel between our histories soon became apparent.

Shortly afterwards, my employers granted me an invalidity pension and so I asked if I could help with the horses at High Crossett. My first charge was none other than Quixall. At first, while I was still ill, he was an absolute Christian - no matter what I did, nor what mistakes I made with him. As my recovery progressed, the more cheeky he became, and the more he tried it on. Until now, well.... I can't describe what he means to me. Everything he did for Ted and Joy, he has now repeated for me. He is, by far, the most effective therapist to whom I have been (fatefully) referred.

This is why it is so painful for all three of us when the media make fun of him.

The swan did indeed bloom for a second time.

And so we come to the present day.

Who knows where the story will end?

Geoff. Sanderson. October 2000.

© 2001 Geoffrey M Sanderson
This Website and all its contents are the copyright property of Geoffrey M Sanderson.
Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is prohibited without the prior consent of Susann Smith (tel: 07811 953774)

© 2001 Geoffrey M Sanderson
The story of Quixall Crossett and High Crossett Farm is also the copyright property of Geoffrey M Sanderson
No reproduction, in whole or in part, without the prior consent of Susann Smith (tel: 07811 953774)

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