Taking horse power back to its original meaning

In this age of mechanised timber extraction, Andrew Whitaker is one of the few to take ‘horse power’ quite literally into the world of forest management. On first sight, five-year-old Ghalm seems surprisingly small for a draught horse, as compared to our leggier Scottish Clydesdales. On running an eye over his conformation, however, one can appreciate the…

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A beautiful coach house with a link to Merlin

A stunning Peeblesshire coach house occupying a majestic woodland setting has come to the market. Bellspool Coach House, a striking conversion near Stobo, is now on the market through Strutt & Parker – in an area rich in Arthurian legend. Originally built as stabling and carriage quarters for Dawyck House around 1863 and then developed…

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Equestrian centre goes on the property market

A fantastic equestrian centre with excellent access to the main road network is now for sale. Situated within a fabulous picturesque locale, the Woodside Equestrian Centre near Prestwick, South Ayrshire, is a rarely available equestrian facility offers everything required for a keen horse enthusiast or livery/equestrian business. Presented by Pacitti Jones, there are a wide…

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Hawick’s Common Riding to feature on television

The story of The Common Riding in a Scottish town is to feature in a TV documentary next week. For centuries, people in the Borders have been celebrating their history on horseback. The summer Common Ridings see townsfolk ‘ride out’ to commemorate the historic territory battles between the Scots and English and honour local patriots…

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Budding racehorse owners can join the Tartan Crowd

A new scheme has been launched in Scotland aiming to train horses to compete at the Scottish Grand National and Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh. The Crowd Racing Tartan Crowd will provide members with exclusive ownership opportunities including stable visits, a share of prize money earned by the horses, social events at Perth Racecourse, and the…

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Scotswoman who braved the wilds of Australia

If America’s frontiers were expanded westwards by cowboys and cattle ranchers, so Australia’s interior was also opened up by the bullock drovers. These days we are used to images of ‘road trains’ in which huge trucks pull multiple wagons bursting at the seams with cattle, but in the nineteenth century, before a network of highways…

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Debut solo album has been well worth the wait

Releasing on 5th November, Mutual Imagination Society Vol 1 is Brian McAlpine’s debut solo album, which is something of a surprise. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of the Pearlfishers, Deacon Blue, The Chieftains, Ry Cooder, Karine Polwart, Duncan Chisholm, Iron Horse, Mark Knopfler and, of course, the wonderful Session A9 to name but a few,…

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Is this the world’s best job for pub-goers?

A Scottish pub wants to PAY a lucky volunteer to drink beer, watch sports and take part in a pub quiz. The Projectionist Hungry Horse pub on Intu Braehead Leisure has launched a search for the UK’s first ever ‘Pub-licist’ and is encouraging locals to apply for the coveted role – which will include drinking…

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Scots rider ends a nine-year wait to win

A Scottish rider made a nine-year wait worthwhile as she claimed a thrilling victory on the opening day of the Horse of the Year Show at Birmingham’s Genting Arena. Lucinda Stewart, from Ayrshire, last competed at the prestigious event, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, in 2009. But she returned in style, winning the…

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Tributes to former jockey and course manager

Former jump jockey and manager of Perth racecourse, Sam Morshead, has died after a short illness. Having been was born and brought up in Ireland, Sam rode principally for the Fred and Mercy Rimell stable during the 1970s and 80s. After winning more than 400 races, the most prestigious was probably the Queen Mother Champion…

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