Have we woken you up? [PICTURES]
Whether you've arrived for an early morning ride, are keeping them up with some late-night plaiting or have put them through their paces with one too many lessons — this selection of yawning horses certainly know how to make their point. They're tired and they want you to know about it...
1. Sonic
“My horse Sonic yawns all the time. I think I bore him… He’s a 16.1hh thoroughbred x warmblood in his mid-teens and I do mainly hacking and some schooling with him. Contrary to what this pictures might suggest, he is actually very beautiful!”
Becca Walker
2. Dash
“This is Dash, who is currently being backed. He enjoys country lane walks through Dorset to help him get used to traffic etc. We have had him since a young foal and he has taken everything in his stride. He’s a cheeky, but lovable pony, who my daughter totally adores. Everyone who meets him always says how mellow and loving he is. We can’t wait to see how he does with his education and life experiences.”
Sera Leigh
3. Roo
“Roo is a six-year-old grey Irish sports horse. Sadly he was retired from ridden work last year, which was totally heartbreaking as he was such a talent, not to mention a great personality.”
Rachel Vickers
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4. Schimmelchen and Elephant
“The horses in this picture are my eight-year-old Shetland stallion Schimmelchen and my one-year-old Breton draft horse Elephant. Schimmelchen is a perfect friend to my four children and Elephant has been rescued from being sold to the butcher in France.”
Ria Avery
5. Cloud
“This is Reflections Star on Cloud 9, known as Cloud at home. She’s a six-year-old 32″ imported American Miniature Horse. She’s the sweetest of horses with the grumpiest of looks when she doesn’t get her way! She qualified for HOYS last year and was placed third. She’s our little star.”
Nakita Cutler
6. Sam
“Sam was an ex-racer that I did Riding Club activities with. He was sadly put to sleep last year, but I still have lots of fab memories of him.”
Kim Masson
7. Jazz
“I rescued Jazz on 1 March and at the moment we are focusing on getting better. She’s a super little pony with a massive character. At only eight-years-old, I hope she can make a full recovery.”
Katherine George
8. Fairy
“This is my pony Fairy yawning because I’ve just brought out the dressage bridle! Obviously she knows that we need to practice our test for our novice Pony Club event… She loves to jump, which is why she is Flying Fairy!”
Georgie Nimmo
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A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.