Flicka: Country Pride

I watched this film on on demand the other day and I loved it.  I never got round to reading my friend flicka as a child and had been meaning to read it even if it was a kids book because it seemed such a well known horsey story so when I saw the new film I couldn't resist.

It was a real treat and despite it being a U classification and both my kids being in bed,  I sat down to watch and had a fab evening.  I was even a bit teary eyed in parts but I loved it.  Three day eventing on a mustang, bitchy girls, the underdog comes out on top and a happy ending with a little romance thrown in - what more could you ask.  Anyone else seen it?  If you haven't it's worth a watch.

FLICKA Country Pride

Christmas Gifts for Horse Lovers



Horse Decoration £35 Buy Now


Are you always stuck for something to buy your friends or loved ones at Christmas. Well, if any of them are horse lovers, I have put together a few suggestions.  There are all sorts of horse related presents that would be guaranteed to please.  What about a magazine subscription for a horse related magazine or an horse riding experience day, riding clothes are always a practical present or a book about horses.  Here's a few more ideas.



Horse Shoe/Head Bracelet Buy Now 

 





Funnel Neck Water Repellant Gilet and Jersy Top - Buy Now

   


Mint Horse Pendant £60 Buy Now





Horse Sculpture, Assorted poses £47 Buy Now

  
 





Womens Printed Welly £35 Buy Now

   

Black Horse Screen Wipe £8 Buy Now





A Stable Life Series 2 £19.95 Buy Now

  





Toys for kids who love horses.

Le Toy Van Jilly the Horse Rider - Buy Now

Christmas is coming (less than 90 days left) and what do you buy for the little girl who loves horses. Do you need some gift ideas for your pony mad little girl? There are a multitude of horse toys on the market from the old classics like the rocking horse and the hobby horse to the toys of my youth like My Little Pony and Barbie's horse to the more modern brands.  Horses toys can be traditional wooden toys or brightly coloured plastic toys.  There is something for everyone. Prices start from a pound or two for a pack of plastic animals including a few horses to a couple of hundred pounds or quite possibly a good deal more for a hand made hand painted rocking horse which wouldn't have looked out of place in a large Victorian nursery.   You can even buy all the accessories for your toy horses like a stable, carriage etc. And not to forgot the soft toys; why get a teddy bear when you can get a cuddly horse instead. If they are growing out of toys, what about a book about horses. Anyway to make life easier, heres a few suggestions for you.

Playmobile Carriage £19.00 Buy Now

Barbie Tawny Horse and Doll £29.99 Buy Now

Pony In my Pocket - Pony Stable Buy Now £10

Breyer Black Beauty with Book £27.53 Buy Now

Autograph Wooden Rocking Horse £75.00 Buy Now 

Jellycat Small piper Horse £12.77 Buy now

          

Jump - Finally another book about horses by Jilly Cooper

At last, the new Jilly Cooper book. The front cover features a woman in tight jodphurs flexing a whip.  Jilly Cooper is back in the saddle.  Her new book, Jump has just been released.  After departing from the world of horses in her last few books, she failed to captivate me in the same way as her earlier books like Riders and Polo.  However, the front cover implies a return to the deliciously naughty world of wealth, riding and sex, that made her name in Riders.

Let's hope this book features the illustrious Rupert Campbell-Black and that time hasn't passed quite as quickly in his world as in the real world.  It must be nearly twenty five years since we were first introduced to him in Riders.  I don't want to think of him being nearly sixty.  For me, he was the ultimate literary fantasy of my teens.  Much naughtier than Jane Austin's Mr Darcy but just as irresistible, the eternal fantasy of the bad boy that women want to tame.

Jilly Cooper has always managed to create a wonderful blend of horses, great characters and lots of sex.   For many women, Jilly Cooper's books are a guilty pleasure, best enjoyed with a glass of wine, or preferably champagne.  Whilst not politically correct in anyway, and with sexual equality non-existent her books present a very traditional British image.  Falling in love means staying at home, and cooking for your husband. You would think that the feminist career woman would really hate her.  However, I know enough career women who love her books to know that Jilly taps into that forbidden fantasy - a nice strong man to take care of everything.  You might not want it in real life but on a bad day, it's an appealing thought.


'I want to give you half a dozen babies to look after, to stop you having any thoughts about pushing off and leaving me.'
This is a quote from one her deliciously male characters  Jilly has has no truck with political correctness or sexual equality but we read the books and for a few hours, we don't care.

I will definitely be heading on down to the bookshop to get a copy of this and soon!!!!  Then I shall disappear for a few days until I have read it cover to cover.

Equestrian Fashions on the Catwalk

Equestrian fashions hitting the catwalk with gusto this year.  The lucrative celebrity endorsement industry appears to have discovered horse riding with the likes of  Zara Phillips launching her collection with Musto and Katie Price aka Jordan launching the fourth collection of the KP Equestrian range.  It seems obvious that the industry has finally began to pay attention to Equestrian clothes.  Horse riding is seen as a hobby for the affluent who will also want fashionable clothes and have the money to pay for them. 

Photo: Musto.com

Whilst twenty nine year old Zara Phillips is granddaughter of the Queen and daughter to the Princess Royal, she is clearly not just a pretty face and has impressive riding credentials.  She hopes to compete in the 2012 Olympics in London after missing out on the last two games because her horse Toytown was suffering from injuries. In keeping with this, she is endorsing a collection by Musto, a leading supplier of  sailing and country sports wear, famed for developing high-performance fabrics that can withstand extreme weather conditions. 


On the website Nigel Musto commented on the collaboration with Zara: “Zara Phillips has been a strong supporter of Musto and has worn the brand for many years. Her own equestrian range for Musto really takes the relationship to the next level. Zara has been heavily involved with the product designs right from the start of the project, rigorously testing each garment and ensuring she is happy with the style and fit. She is a dedicated and extremely successful horsewoman and is a natural fit with the brand. We feel her new collection will significantly enhance Musto’s already successful offering in sports apparel.”. 


The collection has  a classic red and black colour scheme and includes a range of pieces from a long sleeved tech t-shirt priced at £35 to a fleeced lined riding jacket costing £200, .

Zara was keen to stress she was no clothes horse and that whilst she wanted something "which you wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen in, in public.", the collection was about practicality and good engineering rather than high fashion.  The  Eventing World Champion has used her British Eventing number 176 and her initials as the collection logo.  Zara who is engaged the to the Rugby player Mike Tindall, modelled a range of Musto products in a photo shoot at the 12th century Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire.  Whilst she looks "hot to trot" in the photos, Miss Phillips who is 11th in line to the throne appears uncomfortable with the label of "model" preferring to be described as an athlete.  I think given her sporting achievements this is only fair, and her lack of vanity and committed approach to her riding has resulted in a stylish but functional range of technical clothing.

The same can not be said of Katie Price's equestrian range.  Stylish it is not, the bubblegum pink range of equestrian clothes are tacky at best.  However, whilst Zara's stylish collection is completely in keeping with the image of the Royal Equestrian, Katie Price's collection is equally in keeping with the image of the reality star and former glamour model and page three girl.  She said of her collection that she wants to  bring  'real glamour and sparkle onto the yard'.

KP Equestrian: Raspberry Pink Velour hoodie and joggers

Katie will be launching her collection at this years Horse of the Year show in October. Katie commented: “Ever since I can remember, I’ve dreamt of riding at Horse of the Year Show. So I’m just so excited at being asked to ride there in October to coincide with the launch of my equestrian clothing range. I know I’m not of the same standard as those riding there competitively, but I’m working with my dressage trainer, Andrew Gould, on something that will have a definite ‘wow’ factor. I can’t wait!”  Whilst, there is no doubt, Katie has long been an enthusiatic rider, she is not in the same class as Zara Phillips and the equestrian range is part of a large array of Katie Price products from perfume to books.

Characterised by its predominant colour scheme of bubblegum pink the range sports a  mix of sparkly buttons and zip pulls as well as our signature silver trims and prints.  It even includes diamontee decorated t-shirts.  Whilst the KP Pony range has been a big hit with little girls, I challenge any grown woman to wear these outfits and keep a straight face.  Without doubt, it certainly appears to lack the high levels of technical engineering and functionality of the musto range.

KP Fashions features Jackets, T shirts , Hoodies, Sweats and Velour tracksuits as well as related childrens wear range £14.99 for a vest top to £69.99 for a jacket.

Other fashionable equestrian brands include Anky Technical Casuals, Kingland and Gersemi.

Anky Techical Casuals was launched by triple Olympic champion Anky van Grunsven, one of the best modern day dressage riders in the world. Again as you would expect whilst fashion was important, there is also a focus on superior technical materials and optimum functionality.  Kingsland originates from Scandinavia and is designed by Lin Kingsroed who herself comes from a family of top riders. This brand combines classic equestrian wear with up to date styling and uses top quality materials.  Finally another  hugely popular Scandanavian brand, Gersemi  market themselves as 'The Equestrian Fashion Brand' and emphasise style and quality.

Pony Birthday Parties

From the advertisements in my local what's on magazine, I have noticed an increasing number of adverts for pony parties for children.  A quick google search confirmed this seems to be a growing trend.  I've even seen a couple of children at the trekking centre for an hours ride as a birthday treat with their friends.  It's certainly a welcome alternative to soft play parties which I am growing increasingly bored of.

Mad4Ponies wrapping paper Buy Now

Having researched this area a bit, a pony parties can vary enormously.  Some are basically party packages at a local children's /city farm with party tea included and the option to pay extra for pony rides for all the guests, others are at a farm or centre where the party centres primarily around pony rides but offers a small animal petting zoo and/or pony games for the children.  Others offer a service where providing you have a big enough garden or suitable space, they will bring the ponies and equipment to you, along with their handlers.

Things to consider when organising a pony party include:

• Stating the obvious, I know but does your child like horses and ponies.  What about their friends? You don't want a terrified birthday boy or girl in tears because they got scared of the ponies.
• How old are the birthday child and their guests?  Some providers take children from the age of 3 upwards to about 10 but ages can vary according to individual providers so make sure you check!
• How many ponies will be available and how many rides will the children get?
• Can the children play with and groom the ponies too?
• How many guests will there be?  Minimum numbers seem to start at about ten but they may have maximum numbers too.
• How much will it cost?  Does that include pony rides, food, party bags, birthday cake, rosettes and so on.  Check carefully as prices seem to start at about £100 for 10 children but what's included varies according to where you go.
• Is the operator fully licensed and insured?
• What other entertainment is provided for the children if only a couple can ride at a time?
• If food is not included is there somewhere suitable for a picnic or somewhere indoors to eat?
• What hand washing facilities are there? Essential if children are handling animals and then eating!
• Does the price include party bags, rosettes, birthday cake etc.

Doing your own Pony Party

Thelwell Pony Party Invitations - 20 Pack  Buy Now

If your child loves ponies but this doesn't feel like the right option for you consider a pony themed party at home or in a church hall.  Partyware such as plates, tableclothes etc with a horse theme is available from internet providers even if you can't find it in the local supermarket with the more popular themes.  You can find lots of horse inspired art on the internet so making invitations yourself could be a fun cheap option to individualise your party.  The walls could be decorated with posters of horses or horseshoe pictures.  If you will be using the garden for your party or somewhere easily swept, you could even get some hay bales for the kids to sit on.  Variations on this theme could include a western theme with cowboy outfits or a my little pony theme if you don't mind a more commercial take on things.

Horse themed cakes can be ordered from a local baker, made yourself (again the internet is full of inspiration) or if your child rides you could even use a photo of them with their favourite horse.  These are available from most big supermarkets. You hand in your photo, (which is scanned into a computer), then the image is transferred onto the icing using food colouring.  Make sure you use your own photo though because they won't let you use a photo that appears to be subject to copyright.


Activities could include pin the tail on the pony, some sort of craft activity drawing or decorating pictures of horses. or horseshoes, singing horsy nurery rhymes like "Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross".  Keep an eye out for a horse shaped piñata as well.  You could have pony themed prizes for games or even rosettes or little trophies for the winners.  You could also set up a grooming area where the little girls get pony tails and elaborate plaits and ribbons just like their favourite pony rigged out for a show.  


For older children, you could take a small group of them pony trekking or enquire about a shorter lead reined ride if they are not old enough for a proper trek.

Welcome any other ideas that anyone has tried.  Lets hear your thoughts.

My Top Ten Books about Horses

A list of some of my favourite fiction about horses, although to be honest the first five or so came easy but the last few were a struggle.  Would appreciate any recommendations from anyone on good novels to read with a horsey theme to them, but these are my thoughts.

1/ Black Beauty by Anna Sewell - 
The ultimate classic novel about a horse, told from the horses perspective.  One we all remember from our childhood.

2/ Riders by Jilly Cooper  

This was a fascinating insight into the world of show jumping from local shows to the Olympics.  It also had a definite chick lit slant and some steamy sex scenes and bad language.  I loved it!

3/ The Horse Whisperer by Nicolas Evans 

 A moving story of a 13 year old girl and her horse who are traumatised emotionally and physically by a terrible accident.  Worried about the girls state of mind if her horse has to be put down her mother tracks down a horse whisperer to try and help the horse.  Beautiful story.

4/ The Valley of the Horses by Jean M Auel
Set in prehistoric times, the second book in the Earths Children series follows Ayla's battle for survival alone after being rejected by the Neanderthal clan.  She finds herself in the Valley of Horses and as a result of her loneliness she tames a foal and learns to ride him and as a result he becomes one of her closest friends.

5/ National Velvet by Enid Bagnold  
Another classic novel  from my childhood. 

6/ My Friend Flicker by Mary O'Hara
Set on the American Plains,in Wyoming, the tale of a boy desperate for his own colt of his own. 

7/ The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell

The story of feral horses in Australia; a silver stallion Thowra  and his battle to become king of the Brumbies.  Along the way he and his half brother face many dangers in the form of rival stallions and stock men who want to hunt him for his beautiful coat.

8/ Polo by Jilly Cooper   

Another bonkbuster by the author of Riders set in the world of horse riding, this time the polo field.  Nevertheless an excellent read!

8/ The Horse and his Boy 

The third of the Chronicles of Narnia, a fantasy story about a boy Shasta and his talking horse Bree

9/ The HorseDancer by JoJo Moyes 

A modern novel about the relationship between a teenager, her grandfather and her horse.  He teaches everything he knows about fine horsemanship from his experiences fifty years ago at an exclusive french riding school.  

10/ Pony Club Secrets by Stacy Gregg
A series of stories about life in the pony club for little girls to read.  Very cute!

Horsepower - Part One The Animal ITV 1 Sunday 22 August 2010

Martin Clune, the award winning actor, better known for his comedy roles in Men Behaving Badly and Doc Martin, narrates a superb new two part documentary investigating man's relationship with horses.

Martin Clunes on a horse : photo ITV

We hear about his family's seven horses that they keep on their family farm in Dorset: his horse Chester, his wife's horse Bea and his daughter's horse Saracen as well as their four miniature Shetland ponies.  He confesses that he is a terrible rider but has a horse mad wife and daughter.  It is through them his fascination with horses developed.

The documentary sees him interview a host of the great and the good from the equine world: the jockey Frankie Dettori, the horse whisperer Monty Roberts, an extraordinary horse trainer Jean Francois Pignon and Laura Lee, a Nevada resident who campaigns to save the Wild American Mustangs, to mention a few.

Clunes also manages to cover an amazing amount of ground in his quest to understand the horse.  This takes from the ancient to the modern and from Europe to Asia to America. He visits the grand opening of the £1.7billion Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, a rehab clinic in Arizona to undergo equine assisted therapy, the desserts of Nevada to witness the herds of wild mustang, the Niaux cave in the Pyrenees mountains to study cave drawings of horses, the Glasgow Wieper Centre for Equine Welfare - Europe's most hi-tech horse hospital and the open plains of Mongolia to trace the evolutionary roots of the horse by observing the takhi, the last remaining truly wild horse.

This was a truly absorbing and entertaining hour which gave a fascinating insight into man's relationship with horses.  I am looking forward to the second part which looks at the jobs which horses do and have done in the past.