Top posts
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The adventures of Black Beauty, part seven
Charle Teton Photography Well, it's been a while since I posted anything - yet again. But no news is good news, right? It certainly is in our case. The lovely Black Beauty is going from strength to strength and has recently turned seven - happy birthday...
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The adventures of Black Beauty - part 6
Wow, I haven't written about the little black superstar for two years and more! How bad is that? Well, worry no more because we are back to bore you some more. It's post the Rio Olympics and no doubt those who couldn't tune in to the horsey events are...
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An injured pony and rider
I am intrigued to know how people know I am not a local. I walk into a village shop and the man behind the counter says: 'And where are you from then?' How does he know? It's like I have a big sign on my forehead saying: 'I'm not from round these parts!'...
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From publishing to poo-picking - the truth
So I'm editor of the UK's leading equestrian monthly. The pace of life is fast, deadlines have to be met, features have to be commissioned well in advance and I mean well in advance. We have Christmas in September, for goodness sake. I'm proud of what...
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Top five career moments at Horse&Rider
If you've read 'From Publishing to Poo-picking - the truth' then you'll know that I used to be editor of Horse&Rider magazine, a wonderful equestrian monthly magazine - the leader in its market, too. I'm still very passionate about the magazine and hopefully...
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Training Eekie
I mentioned in an earlier blog how I had fallen for Eek (Unique, pictured below) after half-heartedly window shopping for horses and coming across the same bay mare time and time again. See 'From publishing to poo-picking' to find out more. Now, I do...
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Backed Beauty
So after a stressful week at work and lots of projects going on, what better time to back a young horse like Beauty? I mean I didn't really set out to back her that day, but after a little lungeing and weirdy type schooling stuff I decided to see what...
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The Adventures of Black Beauty, part five
Things have been progressing very well in mine and Beauty's world. She now wears a rug, allows me to throw things over her back without believing I am trying to kill her and is lungeing nicely in a bridle and roller. When she arrived she had chronic rainscald,...
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The adventures of Black Beauty, part four
Well, blimey, what a weekend it has been! Beauty's 'official' owner Jo came to visit and to meet her for the first time. if you haven't been following my other 'Adventures of Black Beauty' posts you won't know that Jo kindly bought her for me as a project...
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The adventures of Black Beauty, part two
So I have had Beauty almost a week now and I have to say she has been the perfect pony so far. She's been on isolation since I got her, so stabled down at the bottom yard all on her own. Although I feel a bit sorry for her (and she will get turned out...
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The adventures of Black Beauty
OK, I know it is a famous novel written by the amazing Anna Sewell, who saw an end to the dreadful bearing rein that made horses carry their heads unnaturally high! But this is my blog and I have my very own Black Beauty, so this one is all about me -...
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Roxy needs a friend
I may have mentioned that Roxy is the perfect dog. She's beautiful to look at (well I think so anyway), she's sweet natured, she is affectionate and kind and everything else that a dog should be. Obedient, no, but it's not her fault, nothing is Roxy's...
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Come along Amelie - and bank cashiers
With three horses to keep fit and two to train to do wonderful things one day - plus the ongoing circle of poo (see relevant blog, you can't miss it), there isn't a lot of time left in the day for other things, such as tiring out two Jack Russells, watering...
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Brambleberry Beautiful part 7
Well, get us! Me and Beauty are now part of a British Dressage Team Quest team! And guess what our team is called? I will give you a clue. The first word is The, the second word is where we live (on the outskirts of Chippenham in Wiltshire) and the third...
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From publishing to poo-picking chapter two - we've arrived
So here I am in the darkest, deepest depths of Devon, warmbloods turned out in their paddock, Roxster (bless her, she's so sweet) exploring, me panicking mostly. I've driven the lorry here, but shortly after Dave turns up in - all three cats in a cage...
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Life in Wiltshire with ponies, four years on
Well, I ended up in Wiltshire more by mistake than choice (don't get me started on my ex-boyfriend because that would sound bitter but you can look at previous blogs if you want to get an idea of the journey to where I am today). But I like it here and...
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Tommy goes missing - be careful what you wish for
A few months ago we got a new dog called Thomas to keep our other terrier, Roxy (I love that dog) company. Now Thomas is a very sweet little chap - he's a miniature Jack Russell who wouldn't hurt a soul - well almost, there's more about that later. Thomas...
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Day one of testing the 'stop Eek pooing on the driveway' gadget
So talking to my boss out riding one day, we discuss the 'Eek pooing along her driveway' problem. If you have read The Endless Circle of Poo then you'll know that twice a day I lead Eek along the boss's driveway to the field and back to her stable, and...
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The adventures of Black Beauty, part three
So Beauty has been in my life for two weeks now and I am learning more from this little mare than I could have ever imagined. Had I blogged four days ago I would be telling you that I am the worst horse trainer in the world and that I am making her worse....
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In Wiltshire at last
So after leaving Devon for good - and poor little Tommy Toots in his grave - we headed for Cornwall and stayed at my friend Jo Handman's lovely farmhouse for a month. Roxy came, too, of course, but for now the horses stayed in Devon. I didn't want to...
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I'm ready to blog again - at last
It's been a long time since I last blogged, mainly because of circumstances and feelings of guilt, but here I am again, so feel free to join me. There is so much to tell. I last blogged when our little dog Tommy went missing - he got stuck down a hole...
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Tomatoes - please turn red!
Of course living in the countryside with land and a hefty vegetable patch it would be mad not to grow your own food right? Dave and I took this rather seriously and so we went to the pound shop in Yate (near Bristol) and bought loads of grow your own...
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Who dear, me dear, scared of Amelie? How very dare you
It's no secret that I am a little bit wussy when it comes to getting on the orange pony. After all, she's a red head, she's a she and she's young and lacks confidence. See what I did there? I spend most of my life justifying why I am a little scared of...
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The endless circle of poo
I never really know what to say when people ask me what I do for a living now. 'I pick up poo mostly', would be the honest answer, but it's a not a great conversation starter - or maybe it is. Now that all the horses (that's the two boys, Paddy and Tigger,...
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Tommy's op and Am Spam
I had to drop off little Thomas at the vet's this morning to be neutered, and it broke my heart. I felt like the Devil leaving him there and I even shed a tear on the way home. I kept remembering that last little look he gave me and because I have a vivid...