The Armchair Christmas Shopping Guide

If you just can't face the traffic congestion, queues for car parks and the general scrimmaging in a crowded shopping centre and yet you still have to find the ideal gift for someone dear to you, we have some simple suggestions that involves no greater effort than sending an email, or picking up the telephone. If this sounds like music to your ears then read on!

Field Galleries has a selection of quality limited edition prints such as the great favourite "Yearlings in the Snow" available from the website, (which incidentally is now secure). This print costs £80 + P&P. Prompt despatch is guaranteed and courier delivery available at extra cost.

Other popular prints include "Glorious Goodwood, A View from the Paddock" which evokes memories of summer days high on the Sussex Downs and "Down at the Start for the Last" a point to point scene set in the heart of Kent countryside. Both these prints cost £75 + P&P.

Photographs Do you know someone who has a favourite racehorse? Then why not buy an enlarged professionally taken photograph of the horse in question? Mounted and framed this will make a lovely gift at any time of the year. Lesley Sampson provides photographs for our British racing coverage and she has an excellent library of well known horses including all of the classic winners of recent years. Enlarged photos from £15. Contact Lesley Sampson at:
     Blue Riband Photos, 5 London Road Cottages, Newmarket Suffolk CB8 OTW Tel: 01638 661256.

Tindalls newsagent and booksellers have a wonderful selection of books, cassettes and videos including the unusual, the out of print and the latest books to be published. Many books are available at bargain prices, so do check out their web pages for future details. Highly recommended for Christmas stockings is Jenny Pitman's Autobiography (see Review section), which is the ideal book to relax with on Boxing Day after the festivities have subsided. Tindall s price is just £14.99 - £3 less than the published price.

Another topical autobiography is Julian Wilson s "Some you Win". Tindalls have signed copies available at £ and if you want a really special treat for someone with a love of racing that encompasses it's history and breeding then the sumptuously produced book by Michael Church "The Derby Stakes 1780-1997" (reviewed in the July issue) could be just what you are looking for. After all, what could be more special than a signed limited edition book? Price £72. Contact Tindalls for further information on all their books ,videos etc.

It may be too late to commission a sculpture of your favourite horse for this Christmas but Francis Margaret has some delightful pieces among her limited edition bronzes which include action pieces and figures from the world of racing, eventing and carriage driving. Francis Margaret also has some lovely fantasy heads - which would look just as good outside the house or stables. Prices range from £550 (Fantasy) to £2500 (Freedom). For further details of these and smaller pieces currently available from stock, contact Francis Margaret: tel: 01385 442354 at Pooh Cottage, Bear Lane, Budleigh Salterton, Devon. EX9 7AQ email: c/o info@field-galleries.co.uk

Another suggestion for an original gift for any lover of racing would be an all inclusive weekend trip, with accommodation, entertainment and facilities at the course all laid on by Bowood Leisure. They have a wonderful selection of racing weekends to choose from including trips to Royal Ascot, the French Derby at Chantilly and Ireland. Prices begin at £150 and you could hardly decide on a more enjoyable gift for someone special which has the added bonus of being something they can anticipate with pleasure in 1999.

A magazine subscription is a lovely gift - one which you continue to enjoy throughout the year, and for the racing fan we have the following suggestions for you:

"Pacemaker" has recently undergone a major and most welcome facelift. A monthly publication, it now incorporates the Bulletin magazine previously published by Weatherbys and covers the world of British and international racing and breeding in a way that includes all the information and statistics required by the professional. Combined with more general interest articles for the racing enthusiast now in a much more readable and visually attractive format.
Subscription rates on application.

For those of you who enjoy racing at its roots i.e. Point-to-Pointing , there is only one magazine that you ll want to find under this year s Christmas tree. Point to Point and Hunter Chase. Published six times a year (January-June) this is the ultimate read for any hunt racing enthusiast! Full of articles about the leading human and equine performances, and all the fixture details, subscription rates are just £14 including postage.
    Europe + Eire £22
    Rest of the World £28

Call the credit card hotline on 01305 266360 or email c/o info@field-galleries.co.uk. Or write to:
    Subscriptions Dept,
    Poundbury Publishing Ltd,
    Agricultural House,
    Acland Road,
    Dorchester
    DT1 1EF.

Turf Monthly published throughout the year is another excellent read covering the Australian racing scene and all its personalities. This is a magazine that looks abroad too, and I recently picked up some information regarding a possible new English race course that I had missed in the British Press! As racing becomes more truly international with each year that passes, it is really helpful to keep track of the equine stars around the world and after all many of them retire to take up stud duties far from their native land - it helps to keep abreast of their racing careers: Turf monthly would make a great gift for the racing fan who has everything !
    Subscription rates:
    Contact:

For heavy horse enthusiasts the magazine Heavy Horse World is a must, wherever you are in the world you will surely enjoy this publication with informative pieces about working horses, special breeds, shows and fixture lists. This magazine will be of interest to the professional heavy horse handler or breeder as well as the general enthusiast. It is packed with photos and reports and practical information:

    Published Quarterly:
    Dates for 1999
    Spring (1st March)
    Summer (1st June)
    Autumn (1st September)
    Winter (1st December)
    Subscription: UK £14.50
    Airmail £19.99
    Surface + Europe £16.00

Heavy Horse World also have available an excellent and, ever growing collection of books and videos covering all of the breeds, their histories and activities, plus some full of practical advice.

A really lovely gift for example and one which would appeal to all ages is the book, "Tales of the Old Horseman" by Jennifer Davies (£17.99 + "2.75 P&P UK). Full of stories about people and the horses that they worked with - many in capacities that are no longer found today. This book emphasises what service the horse has given us: whether it be in the coal mines, where the pit ponies worked in the harsh and alien conditions: on farms in many capacities; hauling timber; in the army; pulling the canal boats or even working in the circus. More than that it conveys the knowledge that the people who cared for them and worked alongside these animals accrued over the years. The sort of knowledge that always used to be handed down from generation to generation but nowadays is more likely to be conveyed through books, (or even the internet!). Full of illustrations and photographs, Jennifer Davies has selected her subject well and there s no doubt that whilst we may look back with a certain amount of nostalgia on the days when horses were used to provide the power in nearly every area of our lives, both they and their human handlers had tough lives, and horses are generally probably far better off now.

On a practical note The Working Horse Manual (which we will review in depth another time) has recently been published by Farming Press in collaboration with Heavy Horse World. Designed to become a bible for Heavy Horse enthusiasts this book covers a whole range of topics (each written by an authority on their subject) including harness choice and fitting: preparation for showing: ploughing: farming etc. Full of photographs and line drawings it costs £24.95 + £2.95 P&P (Europe add £1, USA £3, £4 rest of world)

Lastly a perfect stocking filler would be the Heavy Horse World calendar 1999 with beautiful colour photos for every month. Price £5 + 75p P&P (Europe £1.50/ Rest of the world £3.50) To order any of these products contact:
     Heavy Horse World, Park Cottage, West Dean, Chichester West Sussex PO18 ORX Tel/Fax 01243 8111364
    email: zeuner@btinternet.com