Hiya

Jennie here:

Yet more tinsel has appeared in the H+P office. It’s getting beyond a joke now. It’s properly putting me in the festive spirit though and Laura has officially said I can get excited now as it’s December! Yay.

Oh and guess what else is happening in the H+P building? We’ve decided this year to be more environmentally friendly and instead of sending everyone Christmas cards we’re donating money to Oxfam to help people in Africa build a toilet. It all sounds very strange but apparently, they really need them.

Horsey charities like the Brooke do appeals at this time of year so why not do a similar thing with your friends? Or, if you’re struggling to come up with a gift idea for someone, why not log onto one of the horsey charity websites for other cool ideas like adopting a pony or a donkey. Then, next year you could take a trip to visit them. That would be so cool.
x

Hi all

Sarah (and Tippy) here:

Have you heard? We've got a brand spanking new ebay shop so you can now get your hands on the latest issue of H+P without even leaving your keyboard. Click on this link...
http://www.horseandpony.com/shop

Buy the mag using paypal and we'll get a copy in the post to you no messing!

Hiya

Jennie here:

Oh my gosh I’m so excited. It’s the H+P office Xmas party this afternoon and we’re all busy getting glammed up in the office ready to head out for a lovely dinner. Rather than paper and pens, my desk is currently covered in makeup and hair accessories.

Unfortunately, Tippy doesn’t get to come cos her table manners leave little to be desired but she is getting an extra treat from Stella (who's getting her in from the field so Sarah can stay at the party).

Do you guys have Christmas parties and presentation evenings planned at your riding stables? Send us piccies of what you do…we’ll post a couple of pics from our party on the blog soon so you can see us all glammed up, instead of wearing jodhpurs!
Gonna’ go and finish my hair now though, so speak soon x

Laura and Thomas here:

Yuck! Fluff and hair everywhere, I took the day off last week to clip Thomas again as his coat had grown back no end! After an hour Thomas looked slick and dead smart and I, well - I looked like a had grown a chestnut coat! I was covered! The light wasn't very good in the stable either as when I rode him on Saturday it looked like I had clipped him with a blunt pair of scissors! Oh dear, I had to get the clippers out again and do over all the bits of coat I missed the first time! (Note to self, be more careful next time, or better still ask my mum to do it!)

Anyway, after several attempts to get all the coat off, my boy is looking dead smart again, even if he has been out in the field and covered himself in mud!

Laura

PS VERY FUNNY, the baby pigs escaped out of their pen and got into the barn with the horses. Thomas is now living in fear that he will have his stable raided when he is not looking!

Hey guys

Laura and Thomas here:

Guess what? Me, my sis and my mum are going to deliver our Christmas cards on horseback tomorrow (if the road aren’t too icy).

It should be lots of fun, we’re taking mincepies to eat on the way round. I am very excited and have bought some tinsel for Thomas’s bridle. I think he will look fab.

I hope everyone is ready for Crimbo and have bought their fave pony a nice pressie, I’m going to bake Thomas a carrot cake as they are his favourite.

Merry Christmas

Laura

Hiya

Sarah (and Tippy) here:

Big changes at Tippy's yard! The new pony has arrived. His name is Eclipse and he's a 13.3hh Fell pony. He's black apart from a little sickle-shaped snip on his nose. I think that might be why he's called Eclipse.

He seems to be keeping himself to himself at the moment! But I'm sure that'll change soon.

He's got a very long mane and tail, including a long forelock so perhaps he can't see Tippy smiling at him! Anyway will keep you updated.

Bye for now
Sarah

Hi all

Jennie here:

Well the Christmas party was a very eventful afternoon – H+P won awards for the best cover of the year for the April 07 issue and yours truly won the accolade of writer of the year which I was beyond chuffed with. Julie who does our advertising also got a prize for being fab. Didn’t we do well?!

We’re all really gearing up for the Crimbo break now… everyone is using up their last days' holiday and there will be a poor show in the H+P office as a consequence over the next week. Don’t worry though, we’ll still get the mag done – we wouldn’t let you lot down.

Laura is bringing me in a baby Christmas tree. It’s defo going to be small cos she’s bringing it in her little car and I have to get it home in mine. I’ve bought some cute white lights and deccies for it, just have to get a base for it during my lunch or else it’s going to be decidedly wonky!

Soooo excited. Two weeks to go! x

Hey everyone

Sarah (and Tippy) here:

A special message for everyone who thinks Tippy is a perfect pony - SHE IS NOT! She was very, very naughty this last weekend.

As you know Claire is learning to ride on her and the time had come for her to try a little canter. They were having a nice little canter together when Tippy got a bit too quick and Claire couldn't stop.

I eventually managed to catch them as Tippy tanked past but as I made her stop sooo quickly, Claire bounced off the side. Good news is she's fine and was happy to get back on. Claire is now riding Tippy in a flash noseband to help to stop her taking hold and pulling the reins through Claire's hands. She is a very naughty pony!

Claire is now doing some more riding without stirrups to help her strengthen her seat and keep control of Tippy!

As promised a pic of Tracey and Eclipse (the new Fell pony)

H+P's pony Tippy wants to say: "Merry Christmas!"

No prizes for guessing what she's up to today!

Hey everyone

Sarah here:

I know Tippy's been busy blogging her own Crimbo wishes - but I thought I'd add mine too. As you know I've left her in the capable care of Stella and Kelsie while I'm in Lapland.

Passed all your Xmas wishes for ponies of your own onto the big fella - Father Christmas himself yesterday - but he did say he would be struggling to get them all loaded safely onto the sleigh, so some of you might have to wait a little longer yet. He has to consider the welfare of the ponies and his own reindeer so just can't deliver all the ponies he'd like to in one night.

Anyway that's it for now from a very snowy Lapland - Merry Christmas to you all!

Sarahxx