*CLOSED *GIVEAWAY- Joules Notebook

I am going to do a giveaway every month over the next 4 months and each time I will be giving away a flowery Joules notebook (pictured below!).

The notebook is currently available from the Joules website and is worth £10. It is A5 and has lined paper with a little rabbit/hare in the corner of the page and elastic to hold the book closed. The yellow band saying "Joules Jolly Journal" is part of the packaging. It is perfect for blogging notes!

Here's how to enter...
1. Follow my blog if you're not already following. You can do this using Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs, by email, Hay-net, twitter or facebook.
2. Leave a comment on this post saying how you follow me. For every way of following you will get an additional entry to the giveway.
3. Make sure I have a way of contacting you, if I do not, please leave your email address.

The giveaway is open worldwide. You can enter until midnight (GMT) on Sunday the 23rd of September. A winner will be chosen at random from the comments entered, it will be announced in a post but I will contact you. If you are under 18, please get permission from your parents.

Love Laura
xxxx

A Bit Of Horsey History

I was recently researching to write a post about Welsh Cobs when I came across a horse law from 1540. I thought this was quite interesting so switched to writing a post on this (the Welsh Cob one will be coming soon!).

In the 16th century, King Henry VIII wanted to improve the breeds of horses present in the UK, particularly of those horses used for war. He developed the Horses Act 1540 which said all stallions under 15 hh and all mares under 13 hh were not allowed to run out on common land or run wild, therefore many of them were destroyed. Also no 2 year old colts under 11.2 hh were allowed to run out in any area with mares. Annual round ups of the commons were enforced and any stallion under the height limit was destroyed.

The law was turned over in 1566 by Queen Elizabeth on the basis that poor lands could not support the weight of these large horses. The population size of horses in the UK had been greatly decreased over the years of enforcing this law.

With regards to the Welsh Pony and Cob (which are often smaller than the required height in this act), it was said they managed to escape the wranglers on their rocky native territory. After the act was passed, the breed was crossed with a number of other breeds such as Arabs to help increase the numbers.

Love Laura
xxxx

Picture Perfect

Recently I was on "Brays Of Our Lives" blog, a blog about mules. In the side bar on the right there is a lovely picture of her mule, Fenway  that you can buy with his back to the camera and he is looking over to one side. I like the image because it looks a bit different that the usual equine portrait but you can still see his eyes and ears!

My Dad paints as a hobby and he is very good at it so I have shown him the picture and asked if I can have one of Trooper which is similar. I will need to get a good photo of Trooper in this position that he can copy though first! I think it might take a few people to help get the photo right! When I next get the chance I will start taking some potential photos for it and I will share them on here.

Here are some of the paintings that he has done of Trooper and some other horses.

These three are paintings that he has done that are a copy of another painting.

Love Laura
xxxx

Trooper Trotting!

Here is just a quick video of Trooper trotting in the outdoor arena. Unfortunately with him being black he blends into the background quite a lot! I will try and get some more clearer footage soon with canter and some other dressage moves we have been trying out!

Love Laura
xxxx

A Nice Ride!

We finally got a nice day of weather and my Mum was able to come and take some photos of me riding! I went in the outdoor arena and he was being good. He was nice and relaxed and didn't trip up too much!

Excuse the bright bins standing out in the background!

I like this one, looks like he is on a photo-shoot with a wind machine!

He is very handsome if I do say so myself!

He is stretching through with his legs quite nicely, he kept messing around with his head due to flies though so wasn't staying on the bit. He is a bit on the forehand as well! Apart from that, he was going very nicely.

Some video footage to follow tomorrow!

Love Laura
xxxx