Hi peeps

Laura here:

We've had another new arrival! Our farm cat gave birth to a litter of kittens a few weeks ago.

We’re not sure what happened, but something scared mum off her nest and when we went up to feed the horses last Saturday, she was nowhere to be found. All we could hear was the faint sound of one, lost and very upset kitten! She or he (we’re not quite sure which!) was hiding underneath the sheep trough, lost, very scared and very hungry. We took him or her back home for some TLC while we set out looking for mum. Sadly, we couldn’t find her anywhere and so now, it would appear, we’re raising the little kitten at home ourselves!

But, wait, fear not, we’ve located mummy cat – she’s been seen hunting for mice at the next farm along but as the kitten has been away from mum so long there’s no way she’d take her kitten back.

So now little kitten (name to be confirmed) is in our kitchen and doing well. We think he or she’s about 4 weeks old so we’re going to keep her at home and rear her until she’s about 7 or 8 weeks old and then we’ll find a new home for he or she. We’ve already got a cat at home called William and knowing him he wouldn’t take too kindly to a new friend about the house permanently.

Keep you informed of the little kitten's progress…

Bye for now

Laura

P.S If you’ve got any good cat names let me know. Email me at laura@horseandpony.com

P.P.S If anyone knows how to tell the sex of kittens let me know that as well!

Hi from Hannah and Maisy!

A few weekends ago, Maisy and I (and my family) went to Thetford in Norfolk for an endurance ride. We camped over night, which was great fun although we’d left our sleep mats at home.

Gemma did 40km with Kizzee and it was mine and Maisy’s first go at the intermediate distance of 34km. A friend of Mummy’s took me round. We went very, very, fast at 14.14km per hour but is was such good fun!

Gemma passed her ride and is now qualified for the PC National Champs at open level. I also got my first qualifier for the intermediate, but I will still only ride at Novice at the champs because the finals distance is 40km, which Mummy says is too far for me yet.

Then, we had the most exciting weekend ever! We went to stay at Ascot Racecourse, to be part of the Pony Club Charity Ride which ended at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in front of the Queen!!!!!!!!!!!

We practiced the parade loads on Saturday. Maisy was just so naughty, she bucked me off four times! There were loads of other horses so we think she just got too excited. Saturday night we went to the Tattoo and watched the Household Cavalry display. I loved it was so fast and scary.

Sunday, we drove to Smith's Lawn and there some very posh polo ponies playing at Guard's Polo Club. Then the soldiers and their horses came to ride with us through Windsor Great Park. Just as we set off Masiy bucked again but I stayed on!

We had a lovely ride in the woods and down the long ride towards the Castle until we reached the showground. Maisy had been so naughty they put me on a lead rein to go into the arena in case I fell off in front of the Queen, but I wasn’t the only one having problems.

It was scary and noisy in the arena with loads of people clapping and shouting. We had to go into lots of lines and split up from our partners. Mine was Abbie from Vale of Aylesbury PC. She was really kind when Maisy was being naughty.

We raised over £9,000 for for charity and some riders presented the money to the Duke of Edinburgh. It's going to be a weekend I’m never going to forget!

We are off to Wells Next The Sea for a few days at the beach with the ponies next!

(Ed: Check out the August issue of H+P (on sale July 5) for loads of PC ride pix)

Hannah and Maisy's Royal Windsor highlights!

Hi guys

Sarah and Tippy here:

H+P's pony Tippy is one busy lady at the moment! The queue to ride her is just getting longer and longer... Tawney was in the saddle yesterday (Sunday) and cheeky Tippy gave her a lesson in pony behaviour.

The old girl (Tippy) spooked, span round and legged it up the field. Good old Tawney just sat there and brought her back to a walk but it just goes to show however much you trust a pony, you should always have your wits about you. Even the best behaved pony can do something unpredictable.

Hi everyone!

Laura here:

Two weeks on and the rescued kitten is looking well. We now know she’s a little girl and she’s obviously feeling a lot better as she's turned into a real wild cat (the feline version not the HSM type)! She’ll now pounce on your feet when you walk into the kitchen and has taken to chasing my dog Albert – which he is very upset about poor darling. He thinks all the other dogs are going to laugh at him for being such a wimp and to be fair they probably will. I mean a dog who's scared of a cat – that’s ridiculous!

The little kitten has also been into the H+P office for a few days so I could keep an eye on her and has charmed our sub editor Andrea. She’s not going to be with us much longer now, her new owners are hoping to collect her in the next week so we’ve not named her.

Here’s another cute piccy of the kitty cat in the office!

Hi guys

Sarah and Tippy here:

The Alltech Paint the Horse Competition needs you to well, paint a horse!

This is an urgent call to all you artists out there. Horse health experts Alltech, in association with Stamford Endowed Schools and the British Equestrian Federation want you to paint a horse! No, not a real horse, a template of a horse!

The competition is open to all UK school pupils aged between 6 and 18. Alltech’s Paint the Horse Competition aims to support Team GBR’s attendance at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games which takes place in Kentucky in 2010. The scheme is also supporting Riding for the Disabled.

Entrants must create an original design using a template on the entry form. Each of the four category winners will receive a framed print of their design signed by a Team GBR member of their choice and will also be invited to paint their design on a scaled model horse at the Alltech FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships August 25th-30, 2009 which will also be showcased at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials on September 5, 2009.

One overall national winner will be selected to have their design professionally painted onto a life-size model horse which will be paraded at the Olympia London International Horse Show. The national and category winners will all receive hospitality tickets for the Olympia London International Horse Show December 21, 2009. Now that sounds like a challenge! Get painting people.

The closing date for entries is July 5, 2009. Download your entry form at
<http://www.ses.lincs.sch.uk/foundation> under the ‘projects’ tab.

Hi guys

Sarah and Tippy here:

Sssh! Have you heard? Rockin’Horse Equestrian Stunt Show (as seen in Your Horse Live 2008) in association with Impulsion, are presenting an all Equestrian Stunt Spectacle on July 18 at Corner Farm Equestrian, Halton Holgate, Great Steeping, Spilsby, PE22 5PW.

Joining Rockin'Horse for this event will be Jean Francois Pignon's PRE-SHOW called Impulsion. Horse of the Year fave Jean Francois Pignon is sending five of his best riders and nine horses all the way from France, to take part in this fantastic action packed event!

Guido Louis, principal rider of Rockin’Horse says: "When theatre became more and more part of the Equine and Equestrian shows, I for one welcomed it, but after nearly a decade of watching a lot of theatre with a little bit of action we offer you a whole lot of action with a little bit of theatre."

The Rockin'Horse Equine Extravaganza is sure to be a great way to kick start your school summer holiday! Show times: 2pm and 7pm. See you there!
Get your ticket at http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rhproductions