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The Countryside Alliance Quiz at Bickerton Village Hall was a sell out.

March 12, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

This highly popular evening is organised by Nick's sister in law Gilly. The Quiz Master was David Higham and his wit and intellect kept us all on our toes.

The first five rounds of questions take place before supper which was a feast of either lasagna or shepherds with garlic bread and salad.  John Huxley's apple pie and cream followed and for £12.50 per ticket this represented fantastic value for money in this day and age.

The hall was packed and there was lots of light hearted banter as the evening got underway.  David always puts in a silly question or two and last nights included ' What was the name of the first Zulu killed in the film of that name?  The answer came from the British commander whose opening words were - 'let battle commence, shoot at will' - so the answer was William!  Simple really!

We joined the Churtons table with Dominic and Libba Gascoigne, Trushie and John Hunter, Nick Glazebrook, Catherine Gilchrist and John Lauder. We finished equal second with the Ansons table consisting of Ant and Sally (Anson), Jonathon and Sue Clark, Vanessa and Adam Brodie, Charles and Mary Rose Barlow, John and Judy Bromley Davenport and Edward Scott.

The Cheshire Beagle team won by two points - the second time they have beaten us in the last two quiz's - Drat. A fun evening as always and thanks to Rupert and Gilly (Higgin) for all their hard work.

Meanwhile Jack, Harry Williams Wynn, James Penman, Oscar Churton, James Fisher and Joe Peake met with up Clare and her friends to go to a pre Cheltenham Festival evening in London. Trainer Venetia Williams and a host of others were given tips and advice in advance of the Festival.  The trip to London was two fold as Jack has two painting quotes to do and is then off with the rest of the 'boys' to support Oscar who is riding the favourite - He's the Gaffer at Sandown today in the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Memorial Hunter Chase restricted to 'military' riders - Oscar is an Officer Cadet yet to join his regiment.

Oscar rode his first winner in a point to point on this horse last weekend - fingers crossed that he can now ride his first hunter chase winner a week later. With a trip to Windsor Castle to meet the Queen as part of the tradition on this Grand Military race day Oscar was making sure he did not drink!

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HorseShowJumps have recently placed a banner on The Horse Exchange.

March 11, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

HorseShowJumps.co.uk design and manufacture all their jumps with quality and strength of product in mind.  They specialise in making jumps for every purpose including practice, menage, competitions, shows, cross country and sets of jumps.

They offer a full range of BSJA jumps and sets.  All specifications comply with FEI and BSJA standards.

HorseShowJumps.co.uk are a family-run business, paying attention to detail and producing good quality products.  They offer a full range of high quality wooden show jumps, mobile cross-country fences and rustic hunter fences, all of which can be made in a variety of heights and lengths.

The mobile cross country jumps have an extensive range of working hunter courses and mobile cross country fences. I thought that the mobile arrowheads and corners looked particularly useful but you can also have roll tops, pheasant feeders, kennels and hay rack fences all built to the standard width of 2.5m (8') or wider if required.

All the jumps are extremely competitively priced with some very attractive Special Offers available. Please click on the HorseShowJumps banner on the right hand side of each and every page of this website.

Good news from Spain as both my daughter Skye Higgin and Shaz Quigley have qualified the two five year olds that they have been riding for the finals next week. They have each got six clear rounds although Skye did have a seventh which may not have counted, due to time faults as she did not hear the bell.  Better to be safe than sorry and this 'extra' clear will have put her qualification beyond doubt.

Both these exciting young prospects are owned by Charles Britton and Linda Wright who are traveling out to Spain next Monday to watch them. Their 'boys' have done them proud and I will also be there to cheer them on and guess what it has temporarily stopped raining!

A good day all round for Q Sport horses yesterday in Spain with Damiro finishing 3rd and Cassandra finishing 11th in the seven year old class against very hot opposition.

One more day of young horses classes today and then it is the turn of the older horses to jump on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Maria and Michael Eilberg have been dominating one particular dressage class on their Spanish Sunshine Tour which runs alongside the show jumpers. For more information on this story please visit the news on the Empire Horsebox website.

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The Beagles hold their last Wednesday Meet of the season in our yard.

March 10, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Cars descended on the yard at 12.30 p.m. in good time for the beagles meet at 1.00 pm. This is always a good opportunity to get everything tidy and the yard was swept this morning in readiness.

A busy morning in the office with Paul and Tom from Edgemere Ltd calling round for a meeting to discuss the optimisation of the Edgemere Ltd website. Lots of research had been done regarding relevant keywords and a lot of thought is put in to the final selections. 

Keyword research enables us to find out what people are searching for when looking for certain products. For example Equestrian Saddles has a large number of searches BUT is not a targeted keyword for most tack shops.  If you or I were looking for a saddle this is not what we would type in BUT many others do and the results when they do are very poor.

To drive more traffic to a website we find out exactly what people are typing in and then use that information to our advantage.  Simple really, BUT web designers do not often do this when building a site and you have to have the same relevant keywords in your site to be found by those using them to search for you. 

Many sites only have very very popular ones with too much competition and that is just as bad!  If you have ones that are too popular then you will not be listed on the first pages and people cannot be bothered to scroll down. 

We can help with all of this and get results and that is why Paul came to see us!

Nipper, Wilson and I followed the beagles for a short while as it is always difficult to get out in the working week and then it was back to the office!

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The unique documentary film following the life of three Irish racehorses is on TV this week

March 9, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Please visit my blog of February 1st for more information on this film which is being shown on Sky Plus this Thursday 11th March at 9.00 p.m.

This film is bound to raise arguments over anthropomorphism and the rights of animals, so be prepared to be surprised. The film reserves judgment, provoking questions rather than presenting an argument. And whatever conclusion you may come to, you will never watch a horse race the same way again.

The countdown for my five days in Spain has started and I have been flat out in the office trying to get ahead of myself before leaving for Spain next Monday 15th March. I just hope it has stopped raining by then as the weather has been atrocious with two days of show jumping canceled so far.

An interesting tale regarding tapeworms in a young horse.  This horse had a starry coat with small acid type spots under its skin and so the owner decided to have a blood test taken to look for tapeworms as previous experience had revealed that these symptoms can indicate the presence of this type of worm.

A moderate infestation was recorded and a wormer that is designed for tapeworms was given to the horse and the vet said - 'that will fix it'.  The owner decided to make sure and arranged another blood test with a different vet as the first vet had said that this was not necessary as this tape worm dose would kill this infestation. The second blood test was taken three months later and sent off to the same laboratory - the date is significant as the wormer takes time to flush out tape worm residue and a test taken any earlier could give a false reading.

The test came back from the laboratory and this time there was a high tape worm reading and a recommendation to give the same wormer. The owner questioned this by revealing that the lab had now done two tests in three months with a wormer in between which had made the reading higher not lower.  The lab were staggered and then compared the two tests and were even more amazed. 'But we never recommend that after the first wormer a blood test is taken, as we know it will have worked'. 

The professor from this lab then suggested trying a different brand of tape wormer and insisted that a blood test be taken in three months time so that he could compare again!  A definite change of tune and I will report back when I hear more news from this story line. 

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The Sir W W Wynn’s point to point takes place at Bangor on Dee racecourse this Sunday 14th March.

March 8, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Premium Parking spaces are available in two separate areas.

The Parade Ring parking is on hard standing adjacent to the paddock and overlooking the course with entrance along the main driveway opposite the racecourse stables.

The Bangor Side car park is on grass and overlooks the start, the last fence and the finish, entrance from the road is through the main racecourse car park entry gate from Bangor.

Each purchaser will have a numbered parking space and if you would like to apply please click on the application form on the right hand side.

Do you have a favourite recipe that you would be willing to share with friends and others. If so then it could be included in The Wynnstay Recipe book covering the hunting/sporting season with section headings for Point-to Point, Puppy Show, Picnics, Hunt Ball, Hunting tea, Kitchen suppers, Shoot lunches etc.

Please email recipes to ejquinn@btinternet.com, failing that please click to enlarge the flyer on the right and you will be able to take down details of Sue Highams address instead.

It is hoped to publish the book in time for the hunt Puppy Show in the summer and please do not be disappointed if your recipes are not printed as only the best will get in!

This is not a case of copying a Delia Smith out of one of her books, more passing on family favourites or your very own adaptation of a classic, whether it be lasagna or shepherds pie!  My preferred recipes are those that have about six ingredients and a 'method' of one sentence. 

Here is one for you to try - put six-eight chicken thighs in an ovenproof dish and pour over one tin of Campbell's condensed Chicken and White Wine soup plus one can of water.  Bake in oven of any temperature till cooked - serve with baked potatoes and any green veg - delicious and worthy of a supper party!

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The Tanatside point to point at Eyton on Severn kept me very busy.

March 7, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

I spent a while handing round flyers in the horsebox parking area and on this occasion it was on behalf of Cairn Design and Build and Equine Osteopath Bruce Hewett. With many of the recipients keen to know more, this took me longer than expected as personal recommendation is so important in the equine world. 

My main task of the day was to 'lead up' Croftburn for friends Guy and Fiona Churton. In the absence of regular 'away day' groom Sheryl, I stood in for my moment of fame.  I have been an owner, and trainer of a point to pointer but have NEVER led up for someone else and had always wanted to have a go! Croftburn or Cinnie as she is known, behaved beautifully but when she hears the bell for the jockeys to mount she gets excited, so getting Camilla on board is a slick and quick operation!

Fiona and I watched a previous race in the company of John Fearnall who reminded us that he had to wait 8 years for his first winner and ended his career at Eyton where he won on four of his five rides, finishing third on the other. Eyton was his favourite course and in the point to point world is seen as the Cheltenham of point to point courses.  A lovely galloping track on old turf that attracts horses of the highest caliber.

National Hunt Trainers with point to pointer 'interests' at the meeting included retired trainer Ginger McCain who was saddling a horse running in the same ownership and colours as his last Grand National winner Amberleigh House and Simon Sherwood, well known as one who rode many winners on Desert Orchid and here to offer advice and assistance to his son Jack.

The standard of racing is high and some of the horses would not look out of place at the top National Hunt tracks. Indeed many are 'has been's' and one that we are hoping will join their ranks next season is Crozan. Rated 151 in his heyday when trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Mick Fitzgerald he is now having a year off with a slight leg injury.  This injury meant that my son Jack and Oscar Churton are now his proud owners and so I may get a chance to lead up at Eyton next year as well! 

Camilla and Croftburn improved on last weeks run but the mare was struck into from behind and the course veterinary surgeon David Bardell was on hand to administer preliminary treatment to stop the wound becoming infected. Guy then loaded up Cinnie who was at her own vets an hour later for the wound to be properly cleansed and dressed under anaesthetic.

News from Skye that Vigo had another clear on Friday - his sixth running whilst competing on the Big Tour in Spain. He missed out on prize money by under a second but did all the turns and is so careful that his jump off speed at this stage in his career is not that important.

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Members of The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery took part in the Wynnstay Hunt Ride/Race that took place at Dog Lane Farm this morning.

March 6, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

The horse are as clever as cats and combine ceremonial duties with other activities including taking part in these races over natural hunting country. This beautifully prepared course over natural hedges attracted 30 or so entries in the Novice class.

Early grief at the lane crossing resulted in Tullis Matson who is to join the Joint Mastership of the Northern Shropshire next season taking a nasty fall, this left Charlie Aldersey in the lead on his ex eventer and they kept up the pace until eventually being headed by last years winner who went on to complete a double. with Charlie finishing third. Tullis had a small video camera mounted on his helmet and we had made a tentative plan for me to put this film on this blog. Tullis ended up being taken off in an ambulance and I have not managed to find out what happened to the camera with its very short and dramatic film.

The Open followed over a different course with many options as to the line that could be taken. Riders thought that the ditches 'were bigger' than the Melton Hunt Ride and the hedges just as imposing. With perfect old turf underfoot thoroughbreds showed themselves to be the best and the fastest means of conveyance and places went to experienced combinations who had travelled from far and wide to attend.

With bright sunshine and a chilly wind the bacon butty store was very popular. Hot drinks were followed by glasses of port as the Wynnstay hounds met at 12 noon and a huge number of riders who had watched the earlier racing got ready for one of the last Saturday Meets of the season. The first and second 'lines' followed a route that would have taken riders over the fences from the novice course and with so many taking part this looked far more terrifying than the race itself!

I left early to attend a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of childhood friend Edward Hawke. St. Helens Church Tarporley was packed, with extra seats in the choir stalls and side chapels full and at least 50 others standing at the back. A lovely service for a lovely man who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Friends from our childhood had travelled to Tarporley and we all enjoyed catching up with each other and remembering the fun times we had with Edward and his sisters.

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Win a field shelter from Cairn Design and Build

March 5, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Please click on the skinny banner above for Cairn Design and Build and you will be taken to their website where you can enter their FREE competition.

The top prize is a Cairn Field Shelter, the second prize is £350 worth of Edgemere Tack and Equipment and the third prize is entry tickets to The Bolesworth Classic. There are twenty of these per day to give away, 80 in total.

The Cairn Field Shelter and Edgemere Tack prizes will be drawn on the 1st October 2010 and the Bolesworth Classic Entrance tickets will be drawn on the 15th June 2010.

Entry to the competition is completely FREE and all you have to do is answer the Competition question correctly.

The answer to the competition question will be found on the Cairn website and this will encourage all those who wish to enter to visit the site and see the huge range of other products that they can design and build for you.  I have my sites firmly set on a round summerhouse that would be positioned on the very edge of our pond. I would also like a field shelter as our horses are plagued by the flies and midges in the summer months and a shelter would give them shade to escape from this annoyance. We often have to bring them in during the day and let them out at night and to be able to leave them out the whole time would be bliss.  

I would like the shelter to be on skids so that I could move it around and this is hugely cost effective and would stop me having to have a shelter in both fields! Cairn arguably make the most cost effective shelters that you can buy.  There are some that are more or less the same price, but they come in a flat pack and you have to be put them up yourselves.  I doubt this is an easy task and if you are like me and have only assembled a wine rack or furniture from Ikea, then choosing Cairn is an easy decision, as they will build it for you.

 

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The Horse Exchange is number one in Google for the keywords Horseboxes for Sale.

March 4, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Nicks business Selling Online has been targeting these highly competitive key words for many months. The knock on effect should be of great benefit to all of you who advertise your horseboxes for Sale on this site.

Nick's clients Empire Horseboxes have specifically asked him to gain them a higher ranking for the same keywords. They moved to the number 10 position last night which is a first page listing - remarkable considering that there website is less than a year old.

Empire also have a banner advertisement on this site to take advantage of our high listing but we need more. We are keen to attract more horsebox manufacturing companies. Ideally we need a spread, as this huge volume of traffic will be looking for horseboxes of all price ranges, shapes sizes and styles.

Many websites and magazines want you to place your Horsebox advertising with them, but do not know whether you will be successful or not. We can monitor the traffic we receive and who is clicking on your banner advert or on your FREE advert. If we are to become the Number 1 site for selling horseboxes we must capitalise on our number one listing quickly.

We have the customers but need the horseboxes!

An early morning trip to a breakfast meeting at the Ramada Hotel in Wrexham as I had to be there by 7.30 a.m.. The idea is to meet local businesses and see if we can work together.  I was representing Coloured Linen Hire Ltd and Selling Online Ltd and met a new client who I then discovered lives in Malpas all of 1/2 mile away, small world!  

Lovely spring weather and Crozan was able to go out without his rug on. He has a full winter coat but feels the cold and has had a Mark Todd outdoor rug on all winter.  I have been waiting for a spring day to have the rug repaired by Richard Corbett as Ariva has ripped it to shreds by biting Crozan's bottom. He did the same this morning minus the rug and actually bit Crozan instead.  Big mistake and I do not think he will do that again in a hurry!

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Dr Gerd Heuschmann is making a return visit to Horses Inside Out.

March 3, 2010   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

Following last year's conference at Stow on the Wold, Horses Inside Out are pleased to announce that Dr Heuschmann is returning on 11th September from 9.00 - 6.00 pm. This time the venue will be at Vale View EC in Leicestershire.  This popular purpose built Equestrian Centre is centrally placed for the whole country with excellent road, rail and air links for those coming from further afield. 

Dr Heuschmann will be delivering 2 seminars in the morning and then working his magic on a selection of horses in the afternoon. If you would like to be a rider, please send a brief resume (about 100 words) and a photo of yourself riding your horse.

To quote from Dr Heuschmanns website -'understanding the theory of riding is an essential basic so you can choose the right methods during practice. A rider will need to continue to search for the best methods throughout their whole career because of the dimension and complexity of this subject. Therefore we will never reach the point where we can say - Now I know everything!.

I would like to advise every horseman never to judge different philosophies before having tried them because we can learn a lot from each other.  On the other hand, never accept training methods, which are based on constraint and subordination of the horse by force'.

Dr Henchman book titled Tug of War - Modern Versus Classical Dressage explains the biochemics of the horses and therefore the biochemical background of classical riding instruction. He looks at todays modern methods used in riding and training in comparison to the basis of classical knowledge.

His belief that -your horse should be a trusted friend to you, not a slave will strike a chord with many of us and I would strongly advise you to visit http://www.horsesinsideout.com for further details or enlarge the poster on the right of this blog.    

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