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Every summer my friend and I would go to her horse stable and ride for hours on her horses. Those were the memories that can never be replaced and will always remind me of the carefree summers I used to have. After moving out and looking for horse riding places, I found The Riding Club in London. They provide exactly what I am looking for to regain my childhood memories.

The Riding Club of London is a private member’s club and equestrian concierge service run by Rosie Ruck Keene and Ashley Parasram. They provide access to quality horses for advanced rides in London, riding lessons, and various trips every year. The Riding Club allows their members to get involved in different kinds of riding lessons from show jumping in St. John’s Woods, to several clinics that teach you the safety in cross country riding and dressage on the Grand Prix Schoolmaster.

Whether you are looking to improve your dressage in Spain or play polo at some of the best Estancias in Argentina; The Riding Club in London can arrange the equestrian holiday for you to embark on.

By having 15 experts trained specifically in show jumping, flatwork, eventing, fitness, or polo you have the best of the best at your fingertips. These experts run the clinic session and can be utilized in a one on one session to help you excel at a specific skill.

Riders Club Membership is tailored to riders with experience in the saddle and can be purchased for £335 per month. For new members there is an additional £195 fee to cover the registration costs. The New Rider membership is suitable for those with little or no riding experience who would like to learn the beauty of horseback riding and the different skills and technique that experts can teach them. If you ask me, having access to fully groomed state of the art horses, weekend trips, and weekly coaching session makes this price quite reasonable. Owning a horse can be very costly and can take up a lot of your time; so this membership offers you guidance and allows you to take you skills further.

Who can resist puppy dog eyes and furry tailed cats? Come and see dancing dogs, rabbit jumping races, and a weekend full of exotic animals at the London Pet Show on this weekend 11th and 12th May at Earls Court Two. It’s no secret that at we at The Amazing Blog are all dog lovers, so what better way to spend our weekend than with an array of cute and energetic dogs?

This year the UK’s largest pet showcase is right around the corner for us at Earl’s Court in London. The showcase will feature animals from dogs and cats to royal pythons and micro pigs – although I’ll be sure to stay far away from the snakes. The show will be broken up into four different sections: Discover Dogs, Discover Cats, Discover Animals, and Discover Small Furries. Featuring elaborate demonstrations and luxurious animals, each section is sure to provide a one of a kind experience.

The section that I’ll be spending the most time at will be the Discover Dog zone – of course! And with over 50 dog breeds and a programmed event every hour it’ll be quite difficult to pull me away . These dogs will be dancing around on stage, playing a fast-paced game of flyball, and showing off their skills in the agility obstacle course.

The kids will love the new “Pony Paddock” area where they can braid their mane and learn about the different types of ponies the showcase offers. Riders can also learn how to use the equipment and tools involved in caring for their pony as well as mounting, dismounting and maintaining balance on The Pony Club’s special mechanical horse. So spend time with family, friends, fellow pet lovers and some exotic animals this weekend at The London Pet Show. Tickets are on sale online for £14 for adults and £9.50 for children over five years old. Family and senior tickets are also available.

What a wonderful discovery we made at The Amazing Blog with the handmade soap company Black & Taylor. Our dear and recently departed four-legged friend Mojai was just the perfect guinea pig for their Archie Black’s Dog Soap . In fact, you couldn’t ask for a better subject to test out a specific ‘doggy bar’ of handmade soap. Mojai was ‘super’ hairy with a rather unique double-coat, he had the most amazing undercoat which comprised of oodles and oodles of the very softest fluff.  He was also rather partial (thank goodness) to bath-time.  This dog soap contains Sunflower Oil which is rich in vitamins A, D, and E and is easily absorbed by the skin. And is scented with Lavender and Citronella Essential Oils which act as a natural bug repellent. All of which is extremely useful for those of you who have pets – with Summer approaching and with all the nasty beasties that are lurking in the long grass. It is easy to use and lathers up nicely. I was apprehensive as I wondered if it would leave a ‘knotty’ matted coat that I would spend hours combing out. But I’m happy to report that both pet and owner were extremely happy with the result – and with the price at £3.95.

Black & Taylor don’t just produce a Dog Soap they have a wonderful selection of products for humans. We were particularly taken with the Gift Sets like Gardeners and the Patchouli & Rosewood. I also love the idea of  Black & Taylor Wedding Favours.  Where you can choose up to any two soaps from their entire range of special wedding gifts for guests. i.e. Rose Geranium and Sunflower Blush for the ladies and Patchouli & Rosewood for the gents. All of which can be made into heart shapes or blocks and wrapped in a variety of coloured Organza bags to match the wedding day colours. Black & Taylor soaps are vegetable oil based, meaning they do not use animal fats and are scented using high quality essential and fragrance oils. Each of their soaps are genuinely handmade using a centuries old process that ensures each bar is of the highest quality. They will not dry your skin as they have absolutely no detergents or harsh ingredients. We are sold on this great little British soap company and their prices – starting from £3.95 on their website. We particularly love the way that these handmade soap last so much longer than commercial soaps. So throw away that supermarket brand and back British!  

When God had made the earth and sky
the flowers and the trees,
He then made all the animals
the fish, the birds and bees.

And when at last He’d finished
not one was quite the same.
He said, “I’ll walk this world of mine
and give each one a name.”

And so He travelled far and wide
and everywhere He went,
a little creature followed Him
until it’s strength was spent.

When all were named upon the earth
and in the sky and sea,
the little creature said, “Dear Lord,
there’s not one left for me.”

Kindly the Father said to him,
“I’ve left you to the end.
I’ve turned my own name back to front
and called you dog, My friend.”

Anon.

The last day of our “Favourite Christmas Buys” is dedicated to our pets. At The Amazing Blog we think they definitely deserve celebrating with us, that’s why the next items are perfect for those of you who want to treat your pets this Christmas.

Are you sick of the smell in your car after you take your dog for a drive? Or ever wish there was a bed small enough for your pet to comfortably sit on in the back seat? Celia Lindsell has created the perfect solution! Their Lavender Bag for the Car will freshen up the scent of your car and is designed to slip into the side door or be popped into the seat pocket. It can be used as a cushion for your dog to sit on, or even works wonders to keep kids relaxed. The outer cover is finished with press stud poppers, and the entire bag is fully washable. You can purchase the Lavender Bag on their website here for only £16.95.

Paws Couture has a dog carrier bag that we fell in love with. Designed like a tote, this carrier is 100% polyester and waterproof. It has everything someone could be looking for in a simple and stylish dog carrier bag. Your little pup will be comfortable, with the bag strap easily resting on your shoulder.  However, make sure your pet is under  8 kilos or the dog carrier won’t take the weight. We were looking at this for Mojai but at portly 8.5 kilos sadly he won’t fit! The carrier comes in brown and black and can be purchased on their website for £48.99.

Redhound for dogs has an adorable machine knit Christmas jumper that would look great on any dog (modelled here by our very own Mojai!) It is the perfect fit for small to medium sized dogs and will keep them warm all day and night long. Made of 100% lambswool it makes a glamorous accompaniment to this seasons on-trend  Christmas sweater for humans. They have an array of different snowflake patterns in different colours. You can purchase them on Redhound’s website for £33.00.

Looking for some brilliant handmade treats for your dog this Christmas? Try Hugo and Hennie’s Christmas Treats and Pup Cakes. These edible treats would make the perfect gift for you or your friend’s dog. They are beautiful and festively packaged and also have a lovely gift tag section on the back. They are made with 100% human grade ingredients, gluten, wheat, and dairy free and have no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. These cute and delicious treats will certainly satisfy your dog. They can be bought on the website here starting at £2.95.

Charley Chau has come up with the perfect solution for dogs who like to snuggle under blankets! Their Snuggle Beds have a cosy Faux-Fur Fleece lined pocket for snuggling so your dog can stay warm and comfy even when you are not home to cuddle with them. The beds come in different patterns and sizes and are fully washable. A cute video example of a dog getting into the bed is attached. You can purchase these fabulous dog beds on Charley Chau’s website here.

Your dog can never have enough toys to play with. Ollie and Mo offer an adorable range of dog toys that would make perfect gifts this Christmas season. Our favourite selections of their toys are the soft, squeaky ones that are mocked off of name brand goods such as the Barkbury, Chewy Vuiton, and the Red Bulldog. These dog toys retail for £7  and can be purchased on Ollie and Mo’s website here.