Horses and Equestrian

The racehorse sanctuary and re-homing centre was started and is run by Sue Collins and Graham Oldfield, both having been involved with horses throughout their entire careers. Graham had started another racehorse sanctuary and re-homing centre many years before, however after re-homing over 100 horses, he left and the racehorse sanctuary was started.

If you are concerned for the welfare of retired horses have a look at their site and give them some support.

I just spoke to a friend who pointed me towards a great site which sells horse-racing pictures. It looks like the people who own the site are horseracing fanatics and are at the races pretty much every weekend, I only had a quick look myself, but from the quality of the images and the exact places they have been taken from, I suspect that they are professionals.

The great thing is that if you are an owner like me, Ahem, well I own a very small share in a horse, probably no more than a hoof to be honest, but you can go on there and see if they have any pictures of your own horse crossing the finish line (preferably first)

The site is called Horse Racing In Focus so have a look and see if you can spot your horse on there, or any of your friends horses either, all the pictures can be bought.

Another nice twist to the usually completely commercial online shops of today, is the fact that they support the injured jockeys fund, so on their signed series (which are some of the better pictures, but signed by the jockeys) a percentage of what they take is donated to the fund.

Just a quick picture today, but this has got to be the prettiest horse ever! I love the blonde mane.

Again, I say this is my favorite time of the year. Each day as I walk in my gardens I am amazed at the change from the day before. Something new has poked its head up out of the earth. This is the season for new life.

Our first baby chicks just hatched. They are so cute and sweet. We have white leghorns, barred rocks and some bantams. Two of our mallard ducks are setting on a dozen eggs each and we have more eggs in the incubator. The baby geese should hatch in about ten more days and we just put in some pheasant eggs. Boy, are we going to be busy this summer!

We have one more mare yet to foal. I do hope she has a filly as lovely as she is. Our pastures are so green and they look so pretty dotted with mothers and babies.

Last fall I was at my favorite garden center. They had lots of bulbs of unusual flowers (at least little known to me). I bought an assortment and planted them. I am now reaping the rewards. They are such pleasing surprises! So many of them are blue! This just happens to be my favorite color.

I have put in a new hosta garden this spring. The shade had become too dense for the lily garden I had there. This is perfect transplant weather. The ground is so soft and the watering is so automatic.

So much rain has done wonders for the well drained plants but has totally destroyed some of the low lying garden. I still have so many, many beautiful plants I can replace them as soon as they are workable and I have the energy.

The lilacs have truly outdone themselves this year! I have never seen the blossoms so large and numerous. The fragrance, however,is not quite as intense.

The redbuds have just shed their blossoms and the earth underneath is a pink carpet. The peacock is enjoying eating them. I have never noticed this before.

We have a couple of fast growing hybrid poplars near the barn. The fragrance from their blossoms is intoxicating! I can’t seem to get enough. They are quite messy when they shed, however. They are sweet smelling and very sticky. They stick to the pavement and to the dogs and cats causing their fur to mat. They are definetly worth the trouble for their shade and fragrance.

The vegetable garden is doing quite well. The raised beds are certainly the answers to gardening in the rain. My salad garden is so beautiful I hate to harvest it. I planted a raised bed in a diagonal pattern with rows of five different kinds of lettuce and spinach, each of a different shade of green or red. It certainly looks good enough to eat. I have lots of spring onions to add to the salad.

The asparagus is finally able to grow. It has been trying for the past six weeks but each time it stuck its head out the frost would nip it. If you have never tasted freshly picked asparagus you have truly missed a treat.

My newest venture is really taking off. I have started a small craft business called Atnegam Garden Art. My first piece is a sleeping cat. Her name is Esmerelda. She is very beautiful and every one who sees her wants one for their garden or hearth. She is of a limited edition series of l00. I must go now and finish my order of seven due tomorrow.

P.S. : If you want to be happy all of your life, live on a farm.

PRIZES
Novice Sections – 1st £100, 2nd £90, 3rd £80, 4th £70, 5th £60, 6th £50. Rosettes to 10th place.

CIC*** – 1st £5000, 2nd £2500, 3rd £2000, 4th £1500, 5th £1000, 6th £800, 7th £600, 8th £400, 9th £200, 10th £100.

Retraining of Racehorses Trophy for the highest placed Thoroughbred registered with Weatherbys in the CIC***.

Retraining of Racehorses Jackets for the highest placed Thoroughbred registered with Weatherbys in each of the Novice Sections.

Retraining of Racehorses Prizes – horses need not have raced but be bred with the intention to race and must have a weatherbys passport which must accompany the horse.

EHOA and Toggi Clothing Prizes in all sections. Special Plaque and Rosette from the BE Breeding Committee for the highest placed British Bred 9 year old in the top 10, 8 year old in the top 20 and 7 year old in the top 30.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Rolling downland with much of the course utilising old turf gallops promising good going on well drained chalkland soil that will retain plenty of spring and turf cover even in a dry summer. The fences are mostly permanent but some portables. Course builders, the Willis Brothers, have built an exciting, challenging and fair course, that is up to height featuring water jumps, a quarry and sunken road. The hills will test stamina. The Novice course will be an up -to-height, flowing course which might not suit the first time Novice competitor. See Course page for further details.

ACCOMMODATION & CATERING
Don’t forget the CIC*** Owners and Riders complimentary Drinks Party and Hog Roast on the Saturday night sponsored by the EHOA and Grange Hotels. Also – Special Saturday lunchtime hospitality rates are also available to owners and riders. Please contact Holly Farr for further details.

Hot and cold refreshments available throughout the event, including a licensed bar.

All riders and owners of competing horses will receive complimentary membership to the Barbury Members Marquee. Passes will be issued when collecting your numbers. Extra passes are £10 per person. This marquee is open on Friday for light refreshments and Saturday and Sunday all day including lunch which can be purchased.

Wimbledon Finals Weekend – This will be shown in the Members Marquee on both the Saturday and Sunday.

World Cup Football Final on Sunday night – This will be shown in the Members Marquee after the competition – the bar will remain open!

Accommodation available at The Blundson House Hotel, Nr Swindon. Please contact the Secretary or go to where to stay on the spectators page for more details and other options.