WILLEMAKEIT (Carole Redgrave)
2000 Gelding Pilgrims Patriot (US) x Survivor / Raceover (US)
Willemakeit is a home bred gelding, bred by Carole’s husband Bart Bennet. But Willemakeit didn’t get off to the best of starts. When he was born, he was said to be 5 weeks overdue and his front legs were very weak and he was unable to stand. The Vet was of the opinion that it was a poor prognosis and euthanasia may be the best option. Carole and Bart thought otherwise and took it upon themselves to give this foal every chance. For the first few days they milked the mare and bottle fed the foal. Hence he got his name (Will-he-make-it). On the third day he finally managed to stand with help and never looked back. When old enough, Bart broke him in, trained and raced him to a Novice level. However, they then decided that he lacked the turn of foot to go further. So retired from racing and he was backed with a view of selling him as a riding horse as he had the most elevated of trots. Having ridden him a few times Carole became smitten by him and decided to keep him herself. Carole had never driven a horse but one day she asked Bart to harness him up and she had a go at driving. Carole soon got the bug and joined her local Driving Club (Cheshire Driving Club). Carole explained that she started doing some Cone Classes and in no time and still in their first season they were the Novice Champions! She then decided to progress to Driving Trials and joined Chester Driving Trials Group at Llanymynech. They started in the Pre Novice and quickly progressed through to Novice before entering the National competitions with British Carriage Driving and qualified fro the Finals at Windsor. Carole says the Dressage section didn’t go to well as the PA system and commentary wound him up and he though he as back on the racetrack and starting pacing! However, they re focused an duly won the Marathon Section and had the only double in the cones, and finished overall 5th. A fantastic performance and one Carole is rightly very proud of.
Having had many years of fun Carriage Driving, Willemakeit is now retired and enjoys a life of riley with Carole & Bart.
