The Christmas Gift Horse brings festive hope
There’s one gift horse we certainly won’t be looking in the mouth after a generous gesture from the authors of a new Christmas children’s book.
Jane Thomas and Mary Framptom-Price have co-authored a magical series which follows the adventures of an ex-racehorse and three rescued Dartmoor ponies. ‘The Christmas Gift Horse’, is the third in the book series ‘Stories from a Cornish Stable’, beautifully illustrated by Sarah Gledhill. The latest book is launched this week, with a pound from every sale pledged to The Mare and Foal Sanctuary.
Following on from ‘Blackberries Aren’t That Scary’ and ‘Hoofbeats in the Moonlight’, ‘The Christmas Gift Horse’ is the tale of how Baz, Nutmeg, Maisie and Belle are visited by the Gift Horse on Christmas Eve. The Gift Horse’s threat to deliver a single gift is overruled, and it is he who gets the greatest gift of all, in a charming story of kindness, family, and the true meaning of giving.
Author Mary Framptom-Price based the series on her own former racehorse and rescued Dartmoor ponies, who live at her home in the Tamar Valley. She says: ‘We are delighted to donate some of the proceeds of each sale to The Mare and Foal Sanctuary, which has rescued more than a thousand horses from life-threatening situations. Each of these horses has been gifted the promise of a new life: they are rescued, rehabilitated and, if possible, rehomed. Kindness is at the heart of everything this charity does, making it the perfect fit for the story.’
Dawn Vincent, Director of Fundraising and Communications says the Sanctuary team has loved meeting Jane and Mary and introducing them to some of the charity’s equine residents. ‘We have many rescued horses and ponies who can’t be rehomed and have complex needs due to their medical condition or behaviour. We make sure all their needs are met, and every one of them has sanctuary for life with us. This brings plenty of challenges, especially as we’ve seen the cost of even the most basic necessities rise steadily in recent years. We can’t thank Mary and Jane enough for pledging a pound of the sale of every book to us because every penny will go towards caring for horses and ponies that might otherwise be forgotten. It’s a beautiful book with a heartwarming Christmas message and we wish it every success.’
Mary Framptom-Price will be giving readings of The Christmas Gift Horse in a cosy stable at our Coombe Park Equestrian and Education Centre near Totnes at a special Christmas Fair on 9th November. More details soon.
Order your copy today here or take advantage of our special deal – Baz’s Bundle – the entire set of three books for one low price.