Just 6 weeks after solving the problem of buying your loved one a Christmas present, along comes Valentine’s Day. We’ve a few ideas…but we thought you might be interested in a few equine Valentine stories.

Jonty & Jane Evans – angels on horseback

Eventer Jonty Evans, who has competed at Badminton and produces horses up to 4 * level, and his new wife Jane had their marriage blessed at a meet of the Cotswold at the Foxcote Estate in 2010, having wed at Cirencester Registry Office the day before.

"The blessing was my idea as we wanted to get married in a place that meant a lot to us," said Mr Evans. "It went really well, the hills were covered in snow, the sun was really bright and the sky was blue - it could not have been better. My wife Jane hunted side saddle for the first time ever and she looked amazing, jumping hedges and timber in fine style”

A MODEL HUNTER

One of Breyer’s best-selling toy models is that of GG Valentine, the prolific hunter champion mare, and her first colt, Heartbreaker

Until her retirement from the show ring in 2007 at the prestigious Devon Horse Show, GG Valentine was the grandest of champions in the hunter show ring. Imported to the USA from Europe in 2001, her sire and dam are a mystery, but her German breeding - Mecklenburg -has deep roots in European history. In Alexander Dumas's 1844 novel, The Three Musketeers, d'Artagnan rides a "vigorous Mecklenburg horse." She is named for her owner Barbara Kearney's grandmother, Gramma Gail, who was born on Valentine's Day. Her first colt, Heartbreaker, is pictured here.

VALENTINE'S BROOK

Standing at 5ft on the take-off side and six inches lower on the landing side, Valentine’s is jumped as fence nine and 25 and is regarded as the lesser of the two brook fences on the National course.

Although not as tricky as Becher’s, Valentine’s still requires a near-faultless jump, especially as it comes immediately after the Canal Turn.

It is named after Valentine, who attempted to pull himself up at the fence, eventually getting over it before going on to finish third.

FOR BETTER, FOR POORER, FOR RICHER, FOR HORSE…….

A horse-mad bride chose her thoroughbred to be one of her bridesmaids at her wedding.

Alex Wells, 28, was attended by her friend Lianna Bourne, 28, and her 17-year-old event horse, Toffee who took longer to get ready than the bride, when she married Graham Sales in November last year.

SOMEONE WHO REPORTEDLY LOVED HORSES RATHER TOO MUCH…..

Catherine of Russia suffered from a very unfair reputation that she regularly had sex with horses, and died when the rope lowering her latest equine lover on to her snapped. In fact, the poor lady died of a stroke whilst on the loo. Catherine had enjoyed a reputation as a fine horsewoman when young; upon her arrival in Saint Petersburg, she had shocked the Imperial court by straddling her horse like a man instead of sidesaddle. When news reached the outside world of the Empress’ death, the “equine fable” was simply a leap of the imagination.

Well, that’s cleared that up then.. Here are our top 3 gift ideas:

1. I Glove You – riding gloves and a sloe gin miniature

2.http://www.vintagetackroom.com/valentines-voucher/    whatever value voucher you choose, from £10 upwards, it's beautifully giftwrapped and supplied with a miniature sloe gin

3. http://www.vintagetackroom.com/love-on-the-field-gift-box/  'Love on the Field'...does what it says on the tin, basically! xxxx 

LOTS OF LOVE FROM VINTAGE TACK ROOM TO YOU ALL, EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx