THE countdown to the shortest day has began, by the time you read this there’s only four days until we’ve reached the winter solstice. The mid point of winter on December 22 marks the day where the days gradually get longer and the nights gradually become shorter.
YOU don’t have to be a horse racing enthusiast to appreciate the brilliant start to the jumping season witnessed round National Hunt circuits over recent weeks.
As I came across a small group of Highland ponies recently looking down towards Gleneagles at the head of Glen Devon, I had to wonder why DEFRA has recently put forward a proposal to introduce a single passport issuing organisation for all equines.
Have you noticed that the television adverts for cosmetics, deodorants and perfumes rapidly took a dive after Christmas only to be superceded by similar-looking glamorous and youthful gods and goddesses flaunting the joys of holidaying abroad?
I feel almost guilty submitting a photograph of a fat, healthy, happy pony playing in the snow when I know that there must be hundreds, if not thousands, of others in less than favourable conditions at present.
Hard facts are often what is needed when it comes to fighting for benefits to the equestrian industry so a large part of a development officer’s life can be spent collecting evidence.
BHS Scotland has certainly been living in interesting times for the last month and as a result the development officer (me!) has been behaving like a particularly demented buzzing blue arsed fly.
Another bumper Blair Horse Trials marked the beginning of the end of the equestrian summer, with BHS looking forward to the Knockhill Horsepower cross country finals nestled in the middle of a busy Scottish hunter trials season.
