A bit more news - and some horsey fun facts

I am sorry I have been quiet for so long. About a month ago I had complex knee surgery. I'm happy to say all went well, but it's taking a long time to get back to something like normal, and in fact it's taking me a long time to do anything - so blogging and social media has had to go on the 'back burner' for a while. I'm looking forward to starting edits for 'The Matchmaker's Mare' and to sharing my cover with  you - it recently came through and I couldn't be happier with it.  I'm waiting until I have some idea of a possible release date to put it on display though, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep you in suspense for a while! 😊 I think you will find it worth the wait though!

In the meantime, I thought I'd intersperse my Welsh legends posts with some 'horsey' snippets, which I hope you'll find interesting. 'The Matchmaker's Mare' is set on in my native Wales and features a horse trainer, several horses and a couple of slightly meddlesome ghosts (although they mean well). It is, of course a romance. Everything I write ends up as a romance - I just can't help myself! 😁😍

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT HORSES

1. A horse is measured in 'hands'. One hand equals four inches.
2. A pony is a small horse, under 14.2 hands high. 
3. There are also specific breeds of pony. In the UK these include: Welsh Mountain pony, Welsh pony, Welsh Pony of Cob Type and the largest, the Welsh Cob. These are listed in the Welsh Stud book under Section A,B, C and D respectively. Then there are Shetlands, Dales, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Connemara, Highland, New Forest, Fell, and the Eriskay pony. The UK also has several native breeds of heavy horse, including Shire, Cleveland Bay, Suffolk Punch and Clydesdale.
4. On the subject of heavy horses, the Shire is the tallest breed in the world, averaging about 18.2 hands high, although the tallest ever recorded stood at 21.2 hands.
5. Horses can sleep standing up. Their joints lock, although they will sleep lying down if they feel    safe. (and yes, they do sometimes snore!)
6. The gestation period of a horse is eleven months . (A long time to wait for that lovely little foal.)
7.  All racehorses are considered to have their birthdays on 1st January, although most are actually born between April and June.
8. A 'white' horse is always called 'grey' (unless it has pink skin and pink or pale eyes, in which case it is an albino.)
9. A horse cannot be physically sick, so they can suffer quite a lot if transported over long distances, especially by sea. (Not such a fun fact, that one!)
10. An Arabian horse is always called a horse, even if it's under 14.2 hands high.

 

For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share!
I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join