A hidden gem in Malta

If you're as much of a horse fanatic as I am then the thought of going on holiday and not riding a horse, or even touching one for 7 days is a daunting process. Withdrawal symptoms are more than possible and to prevent these, I highly recommend getting out of the sun for a few hours and finding somewhere to ride.

I remember the first time I rode whilst in Malta. I was 7 years old, and on holiday with my Grandparents, who thankfully were equally as horse nutty as I am. They always respected how much I not only wanted to, but enjoyed being around horses. Being at the stables was and always has been my happy place.

So, when Grandad drove past the hidden gem of Golden Bay Horse Riding which is situated right next door to Golden Sands in Malta, he stopped the hire car, enquired how much it was for me to get my horsey fix and sent me on my way!

The first horse I rode with them was a gorgeous dapple grey pony that stood roughly at 14 hands. Ironically his name was dappled and also the horse that unleashed my love for dapple grey ponies.

The 2-hour ride on dappled will always stick in my memory, from waving good-bye to Grandad who was looking increasingly nervous that he'd just sent me off with complete strangers, on a strange horse, to remembering the terrain we rode across and how close I remember being to the cliff edge and being in complete awe of what I was seeing and experiencing.

In fact it was that good, I went back year after year. The following two years I requested Dappled and soon after that it was time for me to ride something bigger - a beautiful black horse called Pepsi that stunned me from the moment I met him. Following that I was greeted with a coloured cob type pony as I walked on the stable yard that went by the name of Del-Boy. A cheeky chap he reminded of my horse back home and I asked to ride him and instantly fell in love.

Year after year, I've visited Golden Bay Horse Riding and some trips to Malta have seen me visit for a horse fix more than once.

The rides are different to anything we can experience in England. You'll ride over terrain you would never expect your horse in the UK to tackle, but these horses are more than used to.

If you fancy something special whilst you're there then you can book more than your average hour ride, by booking onto the 90 minute sunset ride. Offering picturesque views of the sun setting down onto the Maltese Golden cliffs overlooking Gozo, you won't be disappointed.

Catering for beginners to experienced riders, there's horses for all abilities and those that can ride and want something a little more, there is the opportunity to canter where its safe.

If you're visiting Malta then I highly recommend looking them up and popping in. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.
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Sporting Hares - flatteringly British

A short while ago I entered a competition to win a Sporting Hares Beauchamp Blazer and couldn't believe my luck when I won!

At the time the Beuchamp blazers were rarely seen in the countryside, having not been released for long, but lately I'm seeing people up in them everywhere.

Since 2015, this jacket has become a timeless investment for many for the countryside wardrobe. Made by hand, no two blazers are the same giving each wearer the individuality everyone wants.

When shopping for blazers like this one I'm always very conscious of how fitted it is. There's nothing worse than putting a jacket on that looks too big or doesn't fit in the right places.

With the Beauchamp blazer there's nothing like this to worry about; the tailored fit ensures it adjusts to your individual body shape with a single-vent on the rear which allows for movement.

Additionally, its made with a wool-blend to allow a degree of stretch in the fabric meaning its perfect for any countryside sports or simply for looking every inch of countryside-ready in. I've been shooting in mine, as well as hopped on the horse and gone for a ride - the list is endless!

Teamed with a pair of white jeans, brown long boots and a shirt of your choice, the Sporting Hares Beauchamp blazer is the perfect jacket for any occasion.

Get yours here. 
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Shotgun and Chelsea Bun Club - National Ladies Day

Last year I absolutely loved taking part in the National Ladies Shooting Day, hosted and organised by the Shotgun and Chelsea Bun Club ladies.

Over 25 shooting grounds all over the UK hosted several ladies, all of different shooting abilities, but all with one thing in common - a passion for shooting and the countryside!

The day was a huge success and I was gobsmacked to win the beginners section over at Cocketts Farm near Mansfield, Nottingham however due to time commitments and other things going on I've only managed to get one shooting day in since I was worried I'd miss out on this years Ladies Day.

That was until, the girl with a gun; the one behind the amazing creation that is the Bun Club, Victoria, asked me if I'd be interested in hosting one of the events for this years National Ladies Shooting Day over at Orston Shooting ground near Nottingham.

Of course I jumped at the chance and was delighted to be getting back in involved in such a a great club. Although I haven't been shooting with them in a few months, the lovely ladies that make the Bun Club have offered advice, and still been there to chat to.

So on Saturday 10th June I headed to Orston Shooting Ground to greet my lovely 19 ladies that were booked on to the event with me.

From beginners to experienced shooters, to cake and tea, we had a day filled with nothing but laughter and of course a wonderful time shooting!

Sponsored by various generous companies, there was lots on offer to win throughout the day and Victoria did a wonderful job of pulling it all together. It was a wonderful feeling knowing that 26 other grounds across the UK were hosting the same event, meaning ladies from all walks of life and of varying shooting abilities were all coming together to share their passion.

I had the most amazing day hosting at Orston and cannot thank Victoria enough for giving me the opportunity, along with Orston Shooting Ground for the tremendous hospitality and for calming me down when I walked in half an hour before the event was due to start in a blind panic. You guys are awesome!

Additionally I somehow managed to bag myself a pair of Dubarry's in the members raffle at the end of the day, which I cannot wait to get my hands on! Photos will of course follow..

If you're thinking of giving Clay Pigeon Shooting a go, or just want to join a bunch of ladies with the same mindset for some clays and cake, then head on over to the SG & CB website, where you'll find all the information you need to get you started!

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Time to come back...

As you may have noticed, over the last 2 years I've really stepped back from Blogging and although I've had some fantastic achievements such as winning Blogger of the Year 2016, I've been a little quiet.

The break has allowed me to put my focus into building my career, spending time on me and focusing on everything that I found I was neglecting, including competing without worrying about blogging afterwards and spending time being 26 and enjoying being with friends.

I'm a firm believer that if something doesn't feel right then you need to look at ways to fix it, rather than do a bad job and whilst I felt I didn't have the amount of time I wanted to be able to put into my blog posts I worried they would be half-hearted and so my decision was reached to take a step back.

When everything gets on top of you its easy to forget whats important and since my time off its made me realise how important 'me' time is, and doing small things whilst being able to enjoy the moment rather than panicking about getting it jotted down to blog about. Somewhere between the madness I lost my passion for writing and as well as barely blogging I also stopped freelancing.

However..... I'm now back, under a new name, ' Country Bumpkin ' and am ready to get back into the world of blogging, which I've thoroughly missed. I've also spent the last couple of months working on freelance projects which I'm thrilled to say have been published over the last few weeks.

If there's one thing I've learnt over the last 18 or so months whilst I've been quiet, is that you should never be afraid to put your hand up and say there's a problem. Don't be afraid to make changes if you feel they're necessary.

If you're interested in doing some collaborative work, please do not hesitate to get in contact.


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