Whilst we should appreciate our mothers every single day of the year, I think us horsey girls have just that little bit extra to thank our Mums for; this year Mother's day falls on March 26nd in the UK.
In many cases alot of us owe our love of horses to our mothers. The likes of Emily King and Lissa Green undoubtedly owe their early careers to their mothers - whilst they've still had to work hard themselves, it was their mothers love for horses that has planted their feet firmly in the stirrups, as to speak! But celebrity-equine Mums aside, every equestrian Mum has been there from the beginning: driving you to your first lessons, being on hand to offer support and hold your hand when it all goes wrong.
Mums often give up a lot for us horsey girls, a lie in being one of them! From a horsey mad teenager who needs Mum to drive the lorry and give up another weekend to stand and support at a dressage competition, to the Mum who gets roped in to volunteering at another Pony Club rally. Here's to the Mums who spend their evenings sewing rugs back together and washing the numnahs ready for the next competition. Here's to the Mums that are up at the crack of dawn to muck out the horses whilst you're revising, or even out partying or to get them plaited before yet another pony party..
Horses are expensive! There's certinaly no doubt about that - whether it's financing the weekly lessons as a child, through to agreeing and purchasing the first pony. The equine addiction: owning horses is a lifestyle, not a hobby. Horses cost everything - absolutely everything, each one takes a tiny part of your soul but in return they fill your life with something I'm not sure any other hobby could. They give you a purpose, they give you confidence and they give you hours of unbridled love; omeone to share you secrets with. They give you that motivation to get up and go, they give you the sense of freedom and instill the value of patience.
Here's to the Mums that allowed the love affair of owning a horse to flourish. Here's to the Mums who understood that more often than not, horses came before school work - however hard that was to accept! Here's to the horsey Mums that don't love horses - the one's who don't really understand why we want to hurtle around the countryside on half a tonne of animal or think that dressage is just horsey dancing - but they support us anyway.
Here's to the horsey Mums that booked your first lead rein lesson just so they would have a hacking partner in the future!
What better way than to capture the passion you both share than with an equine photoshoot! Covering Berkshire and beyond, a shoot lasts 2 hours and allows for both individual and group shots. Completely tailored to your visions, this gift is one to treasure for sure! PRICE: £45 (That's £20 off normal price!)
I LOVE my bracelet from Tail End Jewellery and I'm sure any Mum would be thrilled to have a piece of their equine-baby to take everywhere with them. Not only are they a thoughtful gift but they also look amazing too and so well made. Bracelet PRICES: From £72.50.
Anyone who spends hours at the yard, especially during winter will know the toll that mud and the cold air takes on your hands. "Yard Hand" from Mother Bee is a great moisturiser for those working hands: It's barrier properties & healing oils are ideal for this time of year to protect the hands from the cold & all types of weather. The beeswax puts a protective barrier on your skin, locking in the moisture or the oils and keeping the cold & damp out. Price: £12.99 LARGE and £4.99 for the mini, handbag size pot.
Indulge your Mum with a timeless piece of jewellery this Mothers Day - I love the collection of Equestrian and country inspired jewellery from HiHo Silver. Their pieces are always adored and of the highest quality. With intricate designs made in sterling silver, there's something for everyone; whether you have delicate wrists or want a statement bangle to accompany a dress to a hunt ball or a trip to the races. My favourite items have to be the snaffle bits: charms, necklaces, friendship or cuff bracelets.
These stunning browbands from Bex's Browbands and Collars are dazzling - they look amazing on any horse and are sure to bring that wow-factor. Made using real leather, they feature Preciosa Crystal's and are available in 3 different widths, in straight or curved. With a vast array of colours to choose from, each one is handmade by Bex in Gloucester. The Ultimate Bling browbands have to be my favourite! They're so well made and are alot brighter and vivid in colour than many double the price. The reverse is a leather backing ensuring that they're easy to clean. PRICE: From £32
A stylish piece of headwear from Annabel Brocks is definitely a must have gift for any Mum who spends hours out in the countryside! A one size fits all design uses a lovely beige herringbone tweed with a touch of pink (other colours are available and there are many different tweeds to choose from!) twinned with a faux-fur trim. Guaranteed to keep your ears warm, they're the perfect accessory for any day out: to the races or just to walk the dog. PRICE: £45
Mums are very busy people and constantly try to juggle work, life and of course, the horses! Beautifully handcrafted in the UK, the memo board from Robin Roadnight, is made with a natural linen fabric with elasticated cord. Perfect for pinning up the shopping list, rosettes, photographs or horse show schedules, measuring 40 x 30 cm's it's a stylish addition to the home or office.