Hi folks

Sarah and Tippy here:

How are you all? Tippy is in her starvation paddock looking longingly over the fence at all the surrounding lush grass. She's nearly drooling with anticipation of maybe, just maybe being allowed a little taster. I think I may have to lead her out for a five minute chomp! What do you think?

Anyway the purpose of this blog is to let you know about this great story we've received from The Blue Cross. They just had to tell us about a rider and the pony she has on loan from them...

Blue Cross Harlequin Star (Harley, for short), is a beautiful, black, 17-year-old Welsh Section D cob and he's the love of Hannah Adams’ life.

This big-hearted 14.3hh gelding is proving to be a Pony Club superstar!
In the short time that he and Hannah, 15, have been together they have been racking up rosettes as members of their local North Staffordshire Branch of the Pony Club.

Harley was placed in the care of The Blue Cross when his owner sadly had an accident and lost her confidence. He was a very well-cared for horse and she knew the charity would give him a secure future. Fortunately, it didn’t take long for staff to find him the perfect home with Hannah in February 2009.

Hannah and Harley!

Hannah reports: “From the minute I first got on Harley I trusted him. At our first Pony Club rally, I was anxious about taking him into an indoor school in case he hadn't been in one before but I needn’t have worried – he was an angel and the instructors adored him. As the weeks went by I loved him more and more, and it became clear that he was a one-to-one kind of horse and that he loved me too. After about six months we went to our first Pony Club camp. He really shone and I knew then that I could never part with him.

“Harley’s jumping got better and better and we started winning competitions. At the end last year we had won the under 16's jumping trophy and a collection of rosettes. One of our favourite competitions is Pony Club pairs jumping, which we won three times last year! This year we have so far managed to win the starter stakes twice and qualify for our local Riding Club championships. We also got picked to represent the Pony Club in their showjumping competition at Somerford Park and our team came second out of 16 teams. Harley loves life and we all love him! There’s no question, he’ll be staying with us for the rest of his life.”

Hannah and Harley adorned with rosettes.

Hannah and Harley in action.

Hannah’s mother Samantha Adams continues: “The rosettes and trophies are wonderful but they don’t really matter. What’s important is that Harley’s kind, honest and safe and hasn’t got a nasty bone in his body. If we had all the money in the world to spend we could never find a more perfect pony. Thank you Blue Cross, you are an amazing charity.”

Find out more about the range of Blue Cross horses and ponies looking for homes at this year’s Pony Club Championships, August 14 to 17 at Draycott House, Derbyshire.
The charity sponsors the popular Horse and Pony Care competition at the championships and this year will be hosting an education tent with games and information to help competitors with their preparation.

Don’t miss it!
The Blue Cross is also challenging The Pony Club to a fun mounted games competition on Tuesday August 17. A team of rescue horses and grooms will battle it out against Pony Club members - not to be missed!

To make a donation
The Blue Cross receives no government funding so it relies on the public to support its vital work. To find out more or make a donation, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk or phone 0845 230 1672.

H+P recently revisited the Blue Cross Rolleston Equine Centre in Staffordshire to check out some of the more recent arrivals, writes Elizabeth Fish.

Timbo and Peter
There are currently two donkeys at the Blue Cross Equine Centre – Timbo and Peter.
Timbo is eight years old and has been at the yard for a year now. He was the first donkey the centre has ever cared for. He arrived with another horse (who has since been rehomed).

Skewbald donkey Peter, 19, came with two Shetland ponies. Like many of the equines on the yard at the moment, Peter was very laminitic, but has recovered nicely. He’s a typical cheeky donkey, and was more interested in the grass than having his picture taken! Peter will probably remain at the yard permanently now.

Jenny and Percy
This cute skewbald pair came in together as mother and son!
Jenny, 16, and Percy, six, have a very interesting story. The pair had been kept in a shed and never handled. They hadn’t even seen grass! The Shetlands were nervous when they first arrived, but are now much more confident and a very funny, cheeky twosome. Jenny and Percy now love grass, although staff have to be careful they don’t nibble too much, and are currently now ready for re-homing. They will ideally need to go as a pair and are looking for confident owners who will be able to continue their education and bring them out of themselves.

Hector
Hector, four, is another Shetland currently in the care of the Blue Cross. He came with another pony on the yard - Ironside, also aged four. They came from an elderly man who could no longer manage them – they were overweight, unhandled and covered in lice. Due to being overweight, Hector also had laminitis. He has come on in leaps and bounds however, and is now very cheeky. Hector is not as overweight as he was, but he is still on a strict diet. He is soon to be broken in, and staff think he will make a great lead rein pony in the future. Hector is a very nosy pony and certainly loved being in these photos – he tried to get in every single one!

Jake
Jake, nine, is a beautiful 14hh Appaloosa gelding who was signed over to the Blue Cross due to behavioural problems when been ridden – he was very tense and had a tendency to take off with his rider. Lucy (pictured) has done a lot of work with Jake and although he is still very forward going, he is a lot calmer. When ready for rehoming, Jake will will be looking for an older, sympathetic rider who will be able to continue his schooling.

Buddy
Buddy, 12, has been with the Blue Cross for 18 months. He is a lovely spotted miniature Shetland, who came to the yard with a group of other ponies, after the sanctuary they were at closed down. Buddy is the only one of the horses from that sanctuary left at Rolleston as the others have been rehomed. He is currently on a diet due to weight gain, but as you can see he’s totally adorable!

Tally
Tally, five, is a gorgeous bay pony who came from a private home because they could not cope with his allergic condition. He has a problem called urticaria (hives). The surface of his skin was all ridged due to his allergic reaction. He is currently on a course of steroids and this has calmed his condition. However, no one knows what triggered the hives initially so he is on a very basic diet with NO grass and no bedding in his stable. Sadly, he is still showing some allergic reactions, so the mystery continues. Despite his allergies, Tally has a lovely temperament, and was more than happy to pose for a few pictures! This first picture was taken when he first arrived and his hives were at their worst. He's much better in the other photos.

Sallie
Sallie, seven, is a very nervous pony who is still in the early stages of her training. When she came into the care of the Blue Cross she had an abscess in her foot, but is now progressing well. She still dislikes her face being touched, and has to wear a headcollar all the time so that she can be caught. Despite her nervousness she is still a very pretty pony.

Hi folks

Okay so the weather might be feeling positively wintery again, but you can be assured of some summery styles in the new Toggi range.

Toggi supports some of the world's leading riders - including the likes of Oliver Townend and Pippa Funnell - and now you can follow their style in a range of Toggi-wear especially designed for younger riders.

There's the sporty Toggi Carousel inspired by the horsey fariground ride in torquoise...

... and pink

(Age 5-6; 7-8; 9-10; 11-12; from £13.50)

As well as the:

Toggi Twister polo

Toggi Waltzer polo

Both in a range of colours and sizes, prices from £20 (Waltzer) and £21.50 (Twister).

And for a zipped hoodie, which will look as good to non horsey mates as to your horse-crazy friends, you need look no further than the awesomely cool Toggi Helter Skelter hoodie...

From £25

But the prize for the best value, most practical item has to go to the Toggi Showring Jodhpurs. In beige, black, chocolate and navy, in sizes 18"-28", from just £17.50 these are sure to get your mum's approval.

Click on http://www.toggi.com for more.

Hi there

Since I last wrote, I have been up to loads of things and had a really exciting time. I've done some more PC achievement badges - one of which we were the first Branch to do it - three triathlons, the Area 12 Horse and Pony Care Competition, two Endurance rides and been to a Lord Mayor's reception to receive an award for the Team Sports Achievers of the Year Award for Milton Keynes! Phew!

This year I am working hard to earn my Blue Cross Welfare Badge. I have to do ten certain PC badges to get this award. In February half term I did my bandaging badge and in March my feeding badge. We had a big plastic horse to practice our bandaging on which was good fun. In the Easter holidays we went to RBE to learn how to fit our hats and body protectors well, to know when things need mending and what size stirrups are right for us all, for the Safety Equipment Badge.

Practising bandaging.

The most recent badge I have done is the Butterflies and Moths and we had a lovely day out seeing butterflies coming out of their chrysalis, flying and eating - one even landed on me! We also got to touch a snake, spider, lizard and a really cute hedgehog. There was a wild walk to do too, an Easter Egg Hunt and we also had to pretend to be a mole in black maze of tunnels underground with just a small head torch to help us through. That was great fun.

At the butterfly farm.

As I said, I have done three triathlons and my team has been placed each time out. In the last one I came first in the shoot which is the first time ever! I was really chuffed!

My branch of the Pony Club belongs to Area 12 and we had to go to London for Area 12's Horse and Pony Care Competition. It was near Wormwood Scrubs Prison and Mum said she might leave us there! There were 15 teams in our section. We had to do some practical things like plaiting, showing how to put a rug on and take it off, and basic human first aid, along with lots of written answers. As the rosettes were given out we thought we hadn’t come anywhere but to our amazement we had come 2nd !!!!!!!!!!! We didn't go to the finals though as only 1st place get to go.

Our team at the Area Horse and Pony Care Competition.

We've also been to The Sports Achievers’ of the Year Presentation Evening recently. The Whaddon Chase PC Endurance Team won the team award at the National Championships last September. We got to meet the Mayor of Milton Keynes and Kwame the Ghanaian Skiier they call 'the Snow Leopard' which was really exciting.

Hi folks

Laura and Mac here!

I've been happy to be a work this week - for a rest! Last weekend I had a spring clean of the stables, washing all the floors and scrubbing the mud off the winter rugs. By the time I'd finished everything was spotless.

Unfortunately now the stables are clean the paintwork is looking a bit rough so I think I’ll have to give them a lick of paint – more work!

Get well soon Oliver! H+P celeb columnist, eventer, Oliver Townend was away at Kentucky Horse Trials, in America, last weekend; competing to win the Rolex Grand Slam (winning Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky Horse Trials, one after another) Sadly Oliver had a fall from his horse, Ashdale Cruise Master, in the cross country and was unable to complete the event. He had to spend the night in hospital but is back on his feet and will be okay. Hope you’re feeling better soon Oliver.

Hi folks

Sarah and Tippy here:

For all those of you not going to Badminton Horse Trials next weekend, of which I'm one (and lucky old Laura isn't!) the scheduled BBC TV slots are as follows:

Sunday 2 May
Red Button
10.50-17.00
BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS: CROSS COUNTRY

Monday 3 May
BBC TWO
12.45-14.15
BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS: CROSS COUNTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Clare Balding presents highlights from the Badminton Horse Trials. The programme features a preview of today's show jumping, plus highlights of Sunday's cross country event.

Red Button
14.15-15.15
BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS: SHOW JUMPING

BBC TWO
1800-1830
BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS: SHOW JUMPING HIGHLIGHTS
Clare Balding presents highlights from today's show jumping.

So, get the sofa in position and enjoy!

And for those of you looking for activities the following weekend; there's the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre open day on Sunday May 9.

Organisers say that the event offers the public a chance to see the premises of Europe's original charity for the rehabilitation of racehorses at Halton in Lancashire.

The open day is between 11am and 4pm and events include displays of riding, a parade of horses, birds of prey and alpacas, arts and crafts stalls, face painting, trade stands, and a bouncy castle.

Admission is £5 adults; £3 concessions, including teenagers. Under 12s are admitted
free of charge. Tickets can be bought at the gate on the day. For further information call 01524 812649 or click on www.thoroughbredrehabilitationcentre.co.uk

Hi folks

Sarah and Tippy here:

As from today, Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has the next 26 days to raise as much money as possible! So, the RDA needs YOUR help.

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has been chosen as one of the 26 partner charities for Phil Packer's latest fundraising event. The “26” project will see Iraq veteran Phil walk the London Marathon in 26 hours for 26 charities – all of which have just 26 days to raise as much money as possible.

Phil Packer suffered severe spinal cord injuries in 2008 and has raised over £1.3 million for charity by rowing the English Channel, walking the London Marathon over 14 days and hauling himself up El Capitain - all within a six-month period last year.

In this latest challenge, a representative from each charity will join Phil for one hour of the 26. Emma Kent will be representing RDA for her allotted hour-long walk with Phil at the grave-yard slot of 5am! Emma, 23, is a World Class Paralympic Dressage rider, who has been riding with RDA’s Arrow Group in Greater London since the age of two. “I'm very honoured to be asked to do this for RDA as I wouldn't have the life I have now if it wasn't for them,” she said.

You can support Phil and Emma at www.philpacker.com

Or find out more about RDA at www.rda.org.uk

Hi Guys

Laura and Mac here!

The winter is really over when….

...The horses aren’t wearing rugs!

Mac’s rug came off this morning and he was so happy to have the sun on his back and some grass to nibble on too!

The lambs are lovin’ the sun too! These two were playing lamb-tag in the hay rack when I got up to the field this morning – they soon ran back to mum when I got the camera out though!

Hi folks

Sarah and Tippy here:

Well spring is here and Tippy is moving back home. Poppy is gonna be joining her for a little while but I think they're going to love it.

Their new field backs onto gardens with a river at the bottom (although the water is strictly fenced off - we don't want the girls taking a dip)! I'm going to have to strip graze the field too as it's not been munched off all winter and I don't want anyone getting too podgy from eating too much (not to name any particular pony but that'll be Poppy!).

The hacking out from the new place is good. Just one big road to cross in the village and then we're away.

So, the countdown is one with just a fortnight to go!

PS - Thanks for all the cover star entries, we're struggling to find a single winner as there are so many deserving ponies out there. We're going to have a selection of ponies on the cover of H+P. Enjoy!

Hi Guys

Laura and Mac here!

It’s official, sping is here!

Whoop whoop! It’s spring - so definitely no more snowy days and hauling around heavy, wet, horse rugs.

Okay, maybe I’m getting a little ahead of myself but it’s gotta be close now as we have a loada baby lambs running around the stables.

My mum's 37 sheep started popping out babies on Monday last week and since then the stables have been turned into a maternity ward, which means MacVity and the other horses are now living out – much to their disgust!

It hasn’t taken us long to get a resident house lamb either. Our pet lamb for this for this year is called Maud and she’s now happily snuggling up next to the Aga in our kitchen, trying to get the warmest spot and pushing the dogs out in the process. Maud’s mum had three baby lambs and not enough milk so Maud's moved in with us so that we can make sure she gets enough milk.

We’ve also had a set of quad lambs (four!), so there’s now a mummy sheep in MacVity’s stable with a lotta milk to make!