Advantages: excellent coverage on all horse sports
Disadvantages: not for the anti - hunting

...Horse and Hound, although traditionally a hunting magazine, covers all spheres of the equestrian world, from carriage driving to showing. The racing pages are extensive and cover all the major events, as do the showing and showjumping pages. There is also a great range of horses for sale every week, from childrens' riding ponies to international grade A eventers. The commentary for all the national events os up to date and informative, and equally useful is the list of forthcoming events, affiliated and unaffiliated, which are given each week covering a range of centres. For the small price, Horse and Hound gives excellent value for money.... Read review

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Advantages: Friendly, dedicated staff. Excellent choice of horses.
Disadvantages: The price (but that is the same everywhere).

...... Read review

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Advantages: Lots of info, catch up with horsy news
Disadvantages: Home page far too crowded

...five favourite animals. These days, busy city slicking professional that I am (or like to think I am), horse riding unfortunately is a very rare luxury. There is the odd centre in and around my area in London, but it’s just too depressing riding the demoralised and stale permanently stabled horses, whose only outings involved trotting round in circles in a poorly kept ménage. I was used to having miles of open Welsh countryside, with the odd forest and beach thrown in. So I make do with the odd weekend in places like West Wales and Devon, or a rushed hack on my too infrequent visits home. All is not lost though. Recently I’ve been making more effort to keep in touch with the horsy world after my 8 year old cousin put me to shame with her knowledge of international show jumping and eventing news. I didn’t even know about the new Whitakers... Read review

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Advantages: Classifieds
Disadvantages: Too expensive, boring

...Horse and Hound magazine is my least favourite of all the equestrian magazines. I find it very patronising and doesn't have enough articles in it that the everyday rider can relate to. It comes out every week and is quite expensive and really mounts up if you want to read every issue. It has news on what is going on in the equestrian world in each discipline including hunting, eventing, dressage and racing. All of these articles are in my opinion too in-depth for someone who isn't involved and I find when I read it I only read the show jumping page if I read all of that. I feel that the articles are too long and I often find them quite repetitive. Also, half the magazine is wasted just with results pages from every show you can think of that has happened that week which I think is a little unnecessary. Overall, I find... Read review

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Advantages: For children who like to ride, equestrian camp is fun
Disadvantages: Your child may pester you for a pony

...a few years now and therefore has accumulated some of the kit - obviously, as a parent, you're don't want to fork out possibly hundreds of pounds on the equipment for a hobby if you don't know what your child will think of it. But some is essential. So herewith, what to know about equestrian centres - not just camps, but riding in general. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Before Your Child Goes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Whether it's a two week camp, or a nearby stable, check out a few things before you go. *** DESIRE *** Does your child really WANT to ride, or do YOU want him or her to ride? There's not a lot of point if your child is scared of horses/animals/heights. If you're considering equestrian camp, make sure your child is emotionally ready for the challenge. Remember, it is a sport, and sometimes a physically demanding one... Read review

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Advantages: See Opinion
Disadvantages: See opinion

...it very centre is a memorial to Wren,composed by his son,which reads"Si monumentum requiris,circumspice"(if you are seeking his monument look around you). The marvellous choir stalls and organ case near John Donne`s tomb were carved by Grinling Gibbons as part of Wren`s original decorative scheme.It is best to visit the crypt,where you can see Wren`s actual tomb,a simple black slab and an audio visual programme explaining the history and construction of the building,from the laying of the foundation stone in 1675 to the placing of the last stone on the lantern above the dome in 1708. The crypt itself is massive,extending beneath nearly all the whole of the church.Wren did not want his masterpieces cluttered with memorials,but its symbolic importance made this inevitable.One of the most imposing memorials is to Wellington,on the north side... Read review

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Advantages: Well Illustrated. Good Writing. Informative
Disadvantages: Editorial Slant Will Not Appeal to All

...I would like to begin this review with an important caveat-I am not in favour of hunting and whilst I am not an "active" animal rights campaigner, I would like to see in my lifetime, the abolition of fox hunting. This magazine is published by IPC Media and is the only weekly that is devoted to the equestrian world. It has a surprisingly wide coverage and aspects related to hunting are a relatively small part of its editorial coverage. Among topics covered are details of equestrian events,stories of stud life,articles on the care of horses,horse products,and product reviews. There are sections on horse racing and some practical advice pieces. A recent issue,for example,gave tips on horse trailer travel. Extensive news items are published including results of equestrian events,dressage competitions and such like.Equestrian shows... Read review

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Advantages: The knowledge of a less famous Italy
Disadvantages: -----

...be born in 1861. For this reason it was called “the firstborn”. In Piacenza you can find a lot of beautiful and interesting monuments. The most important ones are: S.ANTONINO CHURCH It was built in the IV century. It’s a Romanesque church, but its inside was decorated in a baroque style. It had been dedicated to the patron saint of the town. DUOMO (Cathedral) Its building took more than a century from 1122 to 1233. It’s a very beautiful big Romanesque church with a tall bell tower which has a golden angel on his top. PALAZZO GOTICO (Gothic Palace) It was the town council palace and was built in the 13th century. It’s one of the most beautiful Italian civic palaces and it’s situated in a square called “Piazza Cavalli – Square of Horses” . This name is due to two equestrian statues which... Read review

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Advantages: well maintained, good facilities, hacking in Trent Park, easy to get to
Disadvantages: busy, disorganised, expensive

...***Facilities*** Trent Park Equestrian Centre (TPEC) is close to Oakwood Station (Piccadilly Line) and also has plenty of parking. They have a large selection of horses (over 100) so can cater for various abilities and the horses themselves seem fairly happy. The yard is always being cleaned and the three schooling areas (two of which are under cover) are well maintained. There's a small cafe and other clients seem friendly. Generally, the instructors that I have been placed with have been friendly, enthusiastic and attentive. ***Riding Wear*** You can rent boots, crops and hats from TPEC for your lesson. They also sell a limited range of riding wear. The kit can be expensive, so I would advise you to perservere with renting if you are new to riding, untill you are sure you want to continue. ***Time keeping*** The centre has... Read review

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Advantages: capital of wine, high gastronomy, historic monuments, many tours and trips, disabled friendly
Disadvantages: too many things to do, tours prices can be steep

...a Celtic origin and was founded between 4th and 3rd century AD and was named “Burdigala”. It has been many times invaded by enemies and became an English territory in 1152. Bordeaux slowly expanded despite fights and grew with prosperity. The harbour “Port de la Lune” (Port of the Moon) took an even more important role in the commercial distribution of wines. It already welcomed ships from around the world since Antiquity. France won back the county town in 1453 but it was severely damaged by the war and needed a good restoration work. Bordeaux was the centre of rebellions against religion and royalty. In the 18th, the international markets opening and the colonies settling in gave a boost to the industrial and economical side of the city. The French Revolution saw opened and prosperous Bordeaux but the hate against... Read review

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