Howdy folks

Sarah and Tippy here:

The grass is now officially growing in Tippy's field! So that means it's time to keep an extra eye on pony waistlines. Too much of the green stuff and they could be at risk of laminitis, especially eating the nutrient rich first flush of spring grass. Keep an eye on the H+P webbie to see how pony Velvet's owner Sophie is monitoring her condition. Hopefully Velvet won't come down with laminitis this year, but it really is a constant battle for Sophie. Check out http://www.horseandpony.com/horse_n_pony_laminitis.php

Extra news...
Are you a budding author? Do you think you could win a writing competition?

Equine student, Pippa Ireland, has organised a short story competition as part of her equine management course. The writing competition includes a section for Pony Club members, with masses of prizes to boot. As well as the top prizes, the PC winner and runner-up will be offered the opportunity to feature their ponies in the third book in Penny Grubb's crime series (Penny is also a judge for the competition). The book, The Jawbone Gang, should be out later this year or early next. Other prizes in this section include insurance vouchers; saddle cloths; baseball caps; specialist lessons; saddlery vouchers and many more. Pony Club entrants are also eligible for the main cash prizes of £200, £100 and £50 plus runners-up vouchers for equestrian photographer, La Scala Studios.

As well as prize sponsors, Pippa has attracted two international award-winning writers as part sponsors of her competition. The competition judge is Penny Grubb, crime writer and local show judge. A first edition of her latest book, Like False Money, which is set in East Yorkshire, will be a prize in the competition’s special Yorkshire section.
In addition, entrants will be offered the chance of a critique from award winning author and writing coach, Linda Acaster, whose latest novel, Torc of Moonlight, is set in Hull.

Author Penny Grubb is also a show judge (Photo: Laurence Ireland)

Organisers expect lots of entries to judge! (Photo: Weronika Dziok)

Schedule, rules and entry form can be downloaded from http://lascalastudios.photium.com

Entry costs £5 for each story entered but is free with a receipt from Derby House Saddlery. Entries close May 15.

Prizes
Overall winners
1st prize - £200
2nd prize - £100
3rd prize - £50
3 runners-up – La Scala Studios vouchers
Overall competition sponsor is La Scala Studios

Pony Club section
Prizes include: Saddle donated by Derby House Saddlery, Jeffries English leather bridle, insurance vouchers; saddle cloths; baseball caps; specialist lessons; saddlery vouchers and many more.
Sponsors in this section include:
E Jeffries of Walsall
Dengie Feeds
Shearwater Insurance
Equest Wormers
White Rose Polo Club
Master Saddler, Patrick Wilkinson of Beverley
Oliver Townend, Eventer

Hey guys

Sarah and Tippy here:

We've just heard some sad news at H+P Towers... The Horse Refuge a horse sanctuary based in Kent, battling to help end the suffering of sick and unwanted horses, is pitching it's own fight for survival.

Staff at The Horse Refuge have until the end of April (that's only the end of next month!) to raise £600,000, as the land the sanctuary is located on is up for sale and the refuge and all its horses are being evicted.

The Horse Refuge is home to over 40 horses, including Duke the Shire, the UK's tallest horse. Many of the sanctuary's horsey residents are elderly and staff are worried their health may deteriorate if they are forced to move home.

Gorgeous (and enormous) Duke may have to move home!

The Horse Refuge's Sara Tuppen and Jack. Everyone is devastated at the news the sanctuary may be evicted.

Everyone is very excited as both Simon Cowell and Max Clifford have offered their support for The Horse Refuge, but there's still a lot of money left to raise. If you can donate anything, no matter how small an amount please click here www.thehorserefuge.org

Myjo is just one of the horses facing eviction.

Or you can send a cheque payable to:

The Horse Refuge

to
The Horse Refuge
Dobells Farm
Moons Green
Wittersham
Tenterden
TN30 7PR

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!

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!

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!