Treadill arrives in style

The long awaited "underwater treadmill" arrived this morning in a blaze of glory. The hilarious Irishman who delivered it from the Emerald Isle struggled to get the huge lorry and trailer carrying the treadmill, millions of pipes and the biggest concrete tank I have ever seen, up our drive and into the yard. All he needed he said was "another couple of inches". Size matters, or so they say. Luckily he managed not to destroy the fencing around the yard.

The yard was soon taken over by two Irishmen, two men with diggers (our very own gallop man, Ian and his son Barry) along with their boys toys - the diggers themselves. Andy our plumber, three electricians and Peter the bore hole man. Somehow we still managed to get four lots out, bring home five more yearlings broken in and ready to start cantering in exchange for five more who need breaking in and, by this evening the treadmill is safely installed in its new home. Pipes are dug in and the giant hole has been filled with the enormous concrete water tank, filled to the brim with 2.500 gallons of water and 150 kilos of epsom salts ready for use.

We can't wait to see it in action.