http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/ Horsey Blogs en Copyright 2008 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:13:35 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Did anyone hear the story about Peggy the horse who used to go into the bar of her local pub for a drink with her owner ? She actually used to go inside the pub with her owner for a drink at the bar. Her fave tipple is said to be a pint of John Smith's beer with a nibble on a packet of crisps! Now me and Thomas enjoy the occasional pub ride and there’s nothing like stopping for a lunchtime coke at our local. Thomas is happy outside in the beer garden, tied up. I’m almost certain he wouldn’t like to come inside - apart from anything else I don’t think he’d fit! Thomas is a fussy eater too so I don’t think he’d fancy crisps either! But poor old Peggy has now been barred. The pub landlord has put new carpets in and doesn't want Peggy hoofprints all over them, which is fair enough – it’s not like she can wipe her hooves on the doormat as she goes in is it? She now has a tie up point outside the pub so she can still go along for a swift half. There’s a video on the BBC site which shows her inside the pub - click on the link below and have a look! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7642665.stm ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/10/peggy_has_been_barred.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/10/peggy_has_been_barred.html Laura's blog Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:13:35 +0000
Very exciting - my running vest for the half marathon has arrived. I have about sent Laura crazy parading around the office in it. I have to get used to wearing it before the big race next Sunday. My number is 11074 - so near the back! I went to see Tippy on Saturday as she was having new shoes. But guess what the old devil did? Just as Steven was removing her near side hind shoe, she lifted her tail and did a poo, no warning or anything! The naughty old thing, luckily Steven was quick on his feet and I was left apologising and blushing for her actions. She never changes!]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/unknown.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/unknown.html Sarah's blog Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:03:09 +0000 I am having a rant – when you all get the November issue of H+P (on sale October 4) which is hot off the press having just arrived in the H+P office, take a look at the less than fetching snap of me on the Stables confessions pages (p54-55). Sneaky Sarah, and her sidekick designer Shaun, snuck in a less than nice headshot of me without me realising. I only noticed when the copies of the mag got to our office today. I’m not happy - not that I’m vain or anything but no one likes to look at a shocking picture of themselves, especially when everyone who reads H+P will get to see it too. I am now planning my revenge, any ideas peeps!? Laters Laura ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/not_a_stunning_snap.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/not_a_stunning_snap.html Laura's blog Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:35:41 +0000
Just to let you know - Hollie took Tippy to another show last weekend and they got a fourth and a fifth. Hollie was a bit down about her fifth place but she really deserved it as she was competing in the best rider class, except most of the riders were adults. I think there was only her and another girl who were teenagers the rest were adults including some professional riders. There were 13 entrants in the class and she rode Tippy really well, doing the most foot-perfect show ever. So well done Hollie. On a more serious note; I need your help. I'm going to be doing the Run to the Beat half marathon in London on October 5 and need sponsorship. As I couldn't decide which horsey charity to run for, I've decided to run for the NSPCC which I'm sure you'll agree is a brill charity. If you'd like to sponsor me click on www.justgiving.co.uk/sarahwhittington All donations gratefully received! If you're in the Greenwich area on Sun Oct 5 give me a cheer as I trot my way through in the race. ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/i_need_you.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/i_need_you.html Sarah's blog Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:59:44 +0000 I’m well pleased, we came 6th at the team chase last weekend which was really good – mega pleased! After all of the rain we've had over the last few weeks, a couple of nice days leading up to the weekend made the ground really good for jumping. I clipped Tom out on Saturday. I gave him a hunter clip, as his winter coat had grown loads recently and I didn’t want him to get too hot in the competition. Thomas jumped really well although I think his new hair do made him extra streamlined as I could hardly stop him! A big well done to Emily too, who was one of our team mates and it was her first ever time riding a cross county course so she did great. ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/6th_place.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/6th_place.html Laura's blog Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:24:59 +0000 Thomas has a new friend and he is not a good influence! Regular readers of my blog will know that when I’m not at H+P I spend, oh about all of my spare time trying to catch Thomas, who in a former life was a wild Brumbie (or so he thinks anyway). Last weekend a new neddy arrived at the yard, a chestnut Thoroughbred with (strangely) no forelock!!! Since the boys met on Monday they’ve become the best of pals and have taken up tag-team-no-catching! Thomas breaks to the left and Simon to the right and off they set around the field, leaving me in the middle, headcollars in hand with no actual hope of ever catching either of them. What’s more strange is that Simon is usually good to catch so this new found cheekiness is care of my horse. I’m team chasing on Sunday so wish me luck! Bye for now Laura ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/new_nag_on_the_block.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/new_nag_on_the_block.html Laura's blog Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:03:21 +0000 William and Tam at home. We love Tam! Here he is competing at an event last year. ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/big_congrats_to_william_foxpit.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/big_congrats_to_william_foxpit.html Sarah's blog Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:52:58 +0000 I’d like to say well to done to Jessica Cook, who’s 19, and just qualified for the SEIB Search for a Star Cob class at Horse of the Year Show. Jessica's cob Spartacus isn't your regular show horse - he was rescued, along with his mum, in 2004 by Millhouse Animal Sanctuary in Sheffield. Spartacus's mum Tia came to the sanctuary after she was found on the roadside, she was very poor and weak after being neglected for so long. She had Spartacus (stable name Charlie) and Jessica and her sis took the pair on, unsure if either would make a full recovery. After some serious TLC, mother and foal got back to full fitness and last year Tia pulled out all the stops to win the Search for a Star Cob class and now Spartacus (and Jessica) is trying to following in this mum's hoofprints this year! This is a pic of Spartacus as a young foal with his mum Tia, just after they were rescued. Spartacus looks awesome now. This pic was taken as he qualified for HOYS. Stories like this are great, they just show what a bit of love, care and TLC can do (and also what a great job all those charities out there do). So everyone keep an eye out for the pair at HOYS. The show is running from Oct 8-12, all the top riders will be there along with some great displays too. Visit www.hoys.co.uk to find out more. ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/what_total_stars.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/what_total_stars.html Laura's blog Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:41:11 +0000
Yes, it's official I've already nipped down to like the greatest Horse Trials ever. I live sooo close to Burghley Park, I run through there on my training runs for the half marathons next month. So, I've got to see the event put together at close quarters and I whizzed down there to catch some of the dressage... Congrats to Oliver Townend and the lovely Flint Curtis who are currently in the lead in the dressage. Fingers crossed for Oli and Flint as they have been working sooo hard all summer preparing for Burghley. (Oh, and don't miss the Oli T. training sesh in the Oct issue of H+P which is out now!) I'll keep you posted as to how the comp is going as I trot through on my run everyday. ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/ive_already_been_to_burghley.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/ive_already_been_to_burghley.html Sarah's blog Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:57:34 +0000 I’m afraid this will be the last blog update you’ll get from me. I am moving out of the H+P stable and on to pastures new. I have a new job. I’m sad to be leaving the magazine, but equally very excited about my new career. I’ve had an amazing three years with Laura and Sarah, jam-packed with very special opportunities. Among the highlights were: o Learning to ride. Although riding school pony Breeze and I didn’t always see eye to eye, I’m grateful to her for being so patient with me and helping me to complete Equetech’s Canter for a Cure sponsored ride. (October 2006 issue) o Meeting some amazing top riders. The nicest, I reckon, were Will Whitaker, Tim Stockdale, Lucy Wiegersma, Sharon Hunt, Becky Moody... in fact all of them were pretty cool and I feel really lucky to have been to their yards, had a good old nose around and learnt some awesome tips. o Going to Olympia. Without doubt, this has been my fave event of all the ones I’ve been to. There’s something really special about it and I do hope I can go again one day. o Going to the circus! I’d never been in a big top until I met one of the performers at Zippos Circus. It was truly spectacular and I was clinging on to the edge of my seat from beginning to end. (September 08 issue) o Going to Spain and galloping an actual Andalucian horse along the beach… and almost falling off! (September 2006) o Interviewing Katie Price and Leona Lewis… they’re two amazing ladies and love their horses too! I’ve never been so nervous interviewing someone as when I phoned Katie! (July 2007 and May 2008 issues) o Meeting Lex the wonder dog! You think your pooches are amazing. Sure, but that lab is a genius. He helps his disabled owner ride her horse. What an amazing team. (April 2008 issue) o Going to watch one of the Sports Relief Only Fools on Horses showjumping competitions being filmed. I got to meet the horses and their grooms too. (September 2006 issue) o The Devil’s Horsemen. I find I’m always looking out for horses in films I may recognise from the world famous stunt yard. (April 2006 issue) o My fave charities are The Donkey Sanctuary (April 2007) and Redwings. They do such a good job and their visitor’s centres are fab! You should defo go sometime! So, it’s been emotional and fantastic! Thanks for reading, and keep up the riding. Love, Jen My pics Me interviewing a Donkey at the Donkey Sanctuary’s Sidmouth Visitor Centre. Holding up the biggest reflector in the world for one of our photographers at Ellen Whitaker’s yard! Having a lesson on Pickles at Mudchute Equestrian Centre with the legendary Mary Anne Trevor-Roper as part of Petplan’s National Riding Festival. Getting chased for breakfast by Bonnie and Lottie at the Shire Horse Centre at Sacrewell Farm. Having a natter with Ben Maher at the Quainton Stud’s Show. Riding like a cowboy on Picasso! Me and Laura on a fashion photoshoot with some of our lovely models! At the circus! Getting the low down from eventer Polly Stockton. ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/ttfn.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/09/ttfn.html Jennie's blog Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:39:24 +0000 For a lot of you, you’ll be reading this after your first couple of days back at school ☹ I know boo hoo not fair. Well it’s a bit like that in the H+P office, we have been so busy in the office with photo shoots, the PC Champs etc, etc - it’s like finally back to normal, back in the office. I’d like to give a shout out to all the guys I’ve met this summer on the photo shoots, Emer, Libby and the girls at Park View Equestrian centre, Janni and Ida along with, Emily and Izzy, Emily and Rosie and everyone at Woodwalton Stud too, you’ve all been perfect models making my job much easier. Now we’re back to normal I suppose I should be getting on with some work, there are a load of new VIP applications to go through and all your emails to read and reply to, that should keep me busy till half term at the least! ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/08/back_to_school.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/08/back_to_school.html Laura's blog Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:44:18 +0000
To all those of you who thought we'd get wet at the Novice PC Champs - we didn't! It did rain, and I guess those poor souls camped out in the horsebox park would have got wet but Laura and I didn't! We were tucked up in a cosy B&B when it poured with rain at night. Congrats to everyone who competed at the event. The cross country course was amazingly well dressed - like a mini-Blenheim - and just testing enough to give you a real challenge. It's been a quiet day in the office today as Laura and I said goodbye to Jennie yesterday. She's off to pastures new and I'll post her farewell blog on Monday (couldn't do it today as she's chosen so many pics I've run out of time resizing them all for the web!). ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/08/we_didnt_drown.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/08/we_didnt_drown.html Sarah's blog Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:16:53 +0000
A spesh shout out to everyone who came to say 'hello' at the PC Champs this week. H+P have arrived back in the office for a short debrief before Laura and I head off to the novice champs. Well done to all the newly crowned champions; it was a testing week as the weather wasn't perfect but you all rose to the challenge and did really well. Oh and we think someone from Croxteth Park's supporters club left something on our Mini-Jumps course. If it was you, give us a shout, describing what you left behind and we'll send it over to you.]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/08/feeling_tired.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/08/feeling_tired.html Sarah's blog Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:25:25 +0000 The horse round-up that is trying to catch Thomas after his summer hols has happened and this time I’m the winner – yep, on the first attempt, after 20 minutes, taking every other horse out of the field and tempting him with my mum’s best home-grown carrots the wild beast was caught – one nil to me. He is now in a much smaller field, he knows his chances of avoiding capture aren’t great in this field so he gives up relatively quickly esp. if you take all his buddies out of the field first. So, getting fit begins. We have a team chase in October so I’ll be working on getting him fit again (on the days I can catch him that is, other days I will no doubt be watching him charge around the field like the wild Brumby he was in a past life – typical Thomas)! Bye for now Laura PS off to the PC Champs on Sunday, so anyone going to the event come to the H+P stand! ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/08/the_beast_has_been_tamed.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/08/the_beast_has_been_tamed.html Laura's blog Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:30:05 +0000 Life at H+P right now is top stuff! We watched the showjumping phase of the eventing on the computer in the office on Tuesday afternoon, which was a bit naughty, but simply could not to be missed! We’re all so pleased for Tina Cooke. I’ve been to see Ellen Whitaker for a catch up on all the latest goss. She told me that unfortunately Locarno has been injured and is on 12 month's box rest as he’s hurt a tendon; her and Tim Gredley have decided to end their relationship and she has got a new dog - a Yorkshire Terrier called Lucy. On a trip to North Wales I met a real life PC Pony hero, Pippin, and his owners Oliver and Freya Jones. Oliver won a PC competition with Breyer model horse manufacturers to have Pippin made into a model - just like some great horses before him… check out the full story in the November issue of H+P. They live on a dairy farm and while I was there I also got to meet some very cute calves. One of them even sucked on my fingers, which I’ve never felt before! It was soooo cute. And, despite being at H+P for three years now, I went to Burghley Park (when the Horse Trials isn't on) for the first time today. The Burghley PC were celebrating their 50th birthday with a ride around the park. It was an eight mile circuit and truly beautiful! They went around all the lakes, past the famous house and through herds of deer. I’ve never seen one so close up! I took a piccie so you could see how handsome they are. What a wicked week, I think you’ll agree. I wonder what other cool stuff I’ll get to do at PC Champs next week. We’ll see you all there…x ]]> http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/08/lovin_life_at_hp.html http://www.horseandpony.com/mt/2008/08/lovin_life_at_hp.html Jennie's blog Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:25:17 +0000