The Equestrian Blog

The Top Ten Ways To Becoming A Better Equestrian

A little light horse relief...

Drop a heavy steel weight on your foot. But don't pick it up straight away. Instead Shout, "Get off, Stupid, GET OFF!"

Leap out of a moving vehicle and practice "relaxing into the fall", Simply roll softly into a ball and then spring to your feet..... TA DA!!

Practice pulling your cheque-book out of your pocket or purse and writing out £100 cheques without looking down.

Jog long distances carrying a headcollar and a carrot. Then tell the neighbours what you are doing... they might as well know you've lost it now.

Attach a set of reins to a moving bus and practice pulling it to a stop. Smile... so they think you're having fun.

Finely tune your fibbing skills, repeat: "See Darling, moving hay bales is FUN!" or "No, really, I'm glad your lucky performance and multi-million dollar horse won the red ribbon. I'm just happy that he went well and all my hard work and actual ability won me second place."... BIG SMILE!!

Practice calling your vet from your mobile with both arms paralysed at the shoulder and one foot holding the lead rope of your frisky horse.

Borrow the US Army slogan: Be All You Can Be -- bitten, thrown, kicked, dragged, slimed, trampled, drowned, frozen...

Lie face down in a puddle of mud in your most expensive riding clothes and repeat to yourself, "This is a learning experience, this is a learning experience, this is..."

And the single best way to become a better equestrian.... MARRY MONEY.

The Ultimate Equestrian Figure?

If you're anything like me you don't just like horses, you like everything connected with horses. From horsey clothes to pictures of horses and especially collectable horse figures.

My house is 'tastefully', littered with equestrian figures of all shapes and sizes, made from bronze, porcelain and even silver. My favourite is my original Harriet Glen Jumping Horse, a bronze which cost me just under £2000 at Ascot races in the early 90's and I especially love my small collection of Royal Worcester horse heads.

But, I think the Chinese Tang Dynasty figure up for auction next week is one I would have the perfect place for. It looks magnificent and I am sorely tempted to max that credit card I just paid off and go for it. Have a look and see what you think, the auction is online on the 7th, 8th and 9th February and is hosted by, New Orleans Auction Galleries.

Lot No 178 describes the Chinese horse figure as;

Extremely Rare Chinese Black Clay Tomb Figure of a Horse, Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), the finely modeled figure standing on three feet with the fourth slightly lifted, wearing a riderless saddle, the mane, eyes, nostrils and saddle detail finely etched, the horse dynamically modeled with great strength and presence, presented on an acrylic base, h. 16", l. 17". Provenance: Blackamoor Antiques.

The use of black fired clay is unusual and rare in unglazed tomb figures and combined with the dynamic motion of this figure sets it apart from the mainstream of Tang equestrian figures. This piece has been thermoluminescent tested and the dating is confirmed by the testing.

The Auction Estimate is £3,500 to £5,600, ($5000 to $8000), would that be a wise investment or a ridiculous extravagance given the current state of affairs.

There are other Equestrian Figures to think about ...

Pfifer Perion Horse Stucken 1 Meissen Figurine    £7,219.78

Swarovski The Wild Horses Limited Edition mint cond    £3,100.00

AMAZING 1962 RUSSIAN MAJOLICA ART POTTERY FIGURE HORSE    £3,128.57

LLADRO Free As The Wind Horses Figurine 01001860 NEW    £3,035.49

LLADRO Born Free Horse Figurine 01001420 NEW MINT    £3,035.49

Mint Condition Classic German Dresden Napoleon on Horse    £2,406.59

ANTIQUE MEISSEN FIGURINE BLACKAMOOR TURK W HORSE    £2,105.77

SUPERB ROYAL DOULTON BLACK BEAUTY HORSE FIGURINE    £1,950.00

BESWICK HORSE COWBOY INDIAN 1377 1391 GRAHAM ORWELL    £1,700.00

20th Century 195 Meissen Horse Porcelain Figurine    £1,504.12

Herend Stallion Horse Rider Monumental Statue Figurine    £1,504.12

Antique Continental Majolica Pedestal w Horse Detail    £1,474.04

Or, should I just be sensible and invest in professional jump schooling for my lovely Winnie? Decisions, decisions...

You Cannot Be Serious – Blair like Obama?

Tony Blair is comparing himself to Barack Obama...

The spin king, dirty dossier, self indulgent, fill your boots, tax them until they squeak, say one thing and do another, waste of 10 years is like Barack Obama.

ha, ha ha, hahaha, hahahahahaha, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.... stop it you're killing me.

Read the whole, make you puke, insincere dribble, here.

The Long Horse Ride – Beijing to London by 2012

Dreams do come true...

Megan Lewis, a former teacher, now horse owner and Welsh pony breeder woke up one day, turned to her husband Iestyn and said... "What would you say if I told you I wanted to ride from Beijing to London between the Olympics to raise money for Schoolchildren for Children?"; to his credit, Iestyn didn't bat an eyelid and the challenge was on.

Megan planned it, organised it and is well on the way to reaching London in 2012, with the second stage of this impressive trail ride due to start in april 2009.

Megan's aims and objectives are as impressive as the ride itself and she aims to ...

• Bring a message of goodwill from Beijing in the Beijing Olympic year to London in the London Olympic year.
• To raise money for the charity Schoolchildren for Children and in China for the China Children and Teenagers fund.
• To raise awareness of the history, geography and culture of countries en route.
• To research and/or promote local breeds of horse en route.

So, do you fancy joining Megan for the second stage. There are some places available on this extraordinary equestrian adventure, with nothing promised except a wealth of unique experiences you will never forget.

Check out, support or join Megan at ... The Long Horse Ride website.