Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2007/January 2008 | Page 69

EQUESTRIAN

Above: Trumor Feeds have a vast selection of Christmas gifts

white dressage squares for their 14-inch
saddles. They really will look the
part now. I almost wished the girls
were still tiny when I saw the fantastic
Breyer model horse kits. You can
even mould and paint your own and
all the little bits start at only £1.95.
On the husband, I really splashed out.
Christmas shopping is so easy when you
have a horsey husband! How can it be
possible that mine only has two pairs
of breeches? One old fashioned pair
to wear hunting and another pair for
all occasions and that includes riding,
mending the fencing, mucking out and
walking the dogs. Time then for another
pair, and it was back to Froghill Saddlery
where I was sure I would find the best
selection for men of a ‘certain age’.
While I was there, it became necessary
– of course it was – to buy him another
bridle. He only has one for his hunter
and it’s nearly always in a disgusting state.
The hunter, which we adore, has eaten
his Stubben martingale, so replacement
was hastily found as well. Oh, and some
nice spotted handkerchiefs were ordered
from the Countryside Alliance website.
It’s almost impossible when shopping
for other people, not to buy things for
yourself and I couldn’t help looking at the
rugs. I so hope that in my stocking this
year will be a new lightweight, super warm
stable rug. Funnily, the one I was given
two Christmases ago – a rather nice pink
affair with a warm neck cover – has found
its way onto the husband’s hunter. He
even looks quite good in it – the hunter

Island Life - www.isleofwight.net

that is – in spite of the colour. My poor
horse has to wear another’s castoffs with a
duvet underneath for warmth. An elastic
surcingle to keep it all in place would
be useful – perhaps Froghill will have
one of those as well? Jane Coombes

life

pink wellies, then Brickfields’ owner,
Phil Legge, will have it in stock. Armed
with bags full of horsey books plus two
DVDs, I glanced at the new saddles on the
rack. “We are selling more new saddles
now than we’ve ever sold,” says Phil.
The shop at Brickfields is the longest
established saddlery shop on the island
and has a big range of saddlery, books
and DVDs. You can even buy blocks
of riding lessons to give as presents.
My thoughts were brought back to
reality rather abruptly when Phil said,
temptingly: “we also take saddles in
part exchange...” I remembered the
four saddles carefully stored at home
‘just in case’ I ever have the n VVBf