Welsh Cob Carries The Olympic Torch

I have just seen this news story, a welsh cob is going to be carrying the Olympic torch this weekend! It is really close to where I am at university but I wont be able to go because of exams. He is a gorgeous horse, hope he behaves himself!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18184705

Love Laura
xxxx

GB Rider Profile; Piggy French

Piggy French is going to be this Sunday's GB Rider. In 2011 she achieved a personal best at Badminton and won the Olympic test event invitational competition and Greenwich Park with DHO Topper.

At a younger age, Piggy received a gold medal on the Young Rider Team squad and an individual fourth. She is from Norfolk and her Grandparents have been involved with horses for many years. Her mother also evented and produced horses.Piggy's real name is Georgina but she has been nicknamed Piggy from a young age!

She rides a number of horses including Jakata, Some Day Soon, Flying Machine and DHI Topper W.Piggy was selected to represent Great Britain at the European Championships and on her horse Jakata, won a bronze. She won a silver medal at the World Equestrian Games. In the British Eventing Rider Rankings, Piggy has ranked fourth place for the third year running. She is also our leading lady rider.

She also has a website which you can access here -> http://www.piggyfrench.co.uk/

I have got just over a week left of exams then I will be back to blogging properly!

Love Laura
xxxx

More Equestrian Olympic Tickets To Go On Sale

Just a quick post but I have seen that if you applied for Olympic tickets and didn't get them, there are more tickets coming on sale that you can apply for! The equestrian ones go on sale on the 15th of May and there are ones available for all different disciplines.

We have already been lucky enough to get tickets, out of the ones we applied for we got the most expensive ones, therefore if there are different priced tickets and you have enough money I would advise you apply for the more expensive ones. I applied for all cheap ones and didn't get any but my parents got some on their account applying for the better seats.

The link to the Horse & Hound website news story is below. I am unsure of any further details however!

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/olympics2012/7630/312536.html

Good luck if you're applying again!

Love Laura
xxxx

GB Rider Profile; Anne Dunham

Today's GB Rider Profile is going to be on Paralympic rider Anne Dunham. Anne was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 27. She has been around horses since a young age but it wasn't until she was 40 that she got her own horse and had the opportunity to compete. She is now 63 years old and was awarded an MBE in 2009.

In 2003 Anne was given the British Dressage Outstanding Contribution award for her services to Paralympic dressage. She has won 12 gold medals at World and European level. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics Anne won a team gold medal along with an individual gold and individual silver. In the 2011 European Championships she wont three gold medals. 

She has two good horses currently. One is Teddy and it has been said that together they epitomise the world "partnership". Anne is graded 1a, which is the most disabled group. The tests are ridden in walk and must be rhythmical, accurate and in complete harmony. 

Love Laura
xxxx

No Badminton This Year!

Badminton Horse Trials was due to take place this weekend and it has been cancelled due to all the wet weather we have been having. I used to enjoy going to watch Badminton before exams got in the way! Hopefully in the future I will go again! It is especially a shame it has been cancelled this year in the run up to the Olympics as it would have been a great trial run for the riders.

Here are some photographs I took from a trip to Badminton, I am not sure when this was though and they are not very good quality as they are taken on my old camera.

One of the best things about Badminton Horse Trials are the shops. The first time I heard about Joules was at a trip to Badminton Horse Trials in which everyone was wearing their polo tops. I bought a light pink one. Joules has become very popular now and is now available to buy on the high-street. Joules bring out a Badminton range every year and there are some nice items of clothing so I thought I would add them in! Two of the tops below are men's but I think that they could equally be worn by a woman.

Above are the Badminton women's bag;£19.99, Badminton girl's polo; £29.95, Badminton men's sweat; £69.95 and Men's Badminton rugby top; £69.95.

Also I have just seen on the Horse & Hound website they are doing a Badminton shopping bonanza with lots of offers so if you need to buy anything at the moment then go and have a look!

Love Laura
xxxx