Hello Bianca, and thanks so much for having me as your guest.
Anyone who knows me, knows I have three passions – writing romance, my native Wales, and horses!
I’ve been crazy about horses for as long as I can remember. We were never particularly well off and although I lived in a small seaside town surrounded by beautiful countryside, we didn’t have our own land. However, my father, realizing my love for horses, arranged for riding lessons for me at the local riding school, and I used to spend every spare hour there, mucking out and grooming to earn extra rides.
As soon as I left school and found a job I saved up for five years to buy my dream horse, a 15 h.h bay part-bred Thoroughbred mare, Flikka. I had really wanted to work with horses, but was persuaded to take a ‘safe’ secretarial job. In a way it was just as well. Grooms and stable girls earned very little in those days, and I probably wouldn’t have been able to afford a horse of my own. Plus, learning to type has been very helpful in my writing career! I bred four foals from Flikka, including a beautiful part bred Arab, who I named ‘Evenstar’ who I kept until her untimely death when she developed arthritis. Flikka lived to the ripe old age of 35 and I still have very fond memories of her.
I kept Flikka with a friend who bred Welsh Cobs, and developed a keen interest in the breed. There are actually four types of Welsh horse and pony – Sections A, B, C and D. The Welsh Mountain (A) is small and stocky, with a very ‘Araby’ face and large eyes set far apart, The Welsh pony (B) is a couple of inches taller and more finely built, The Section ‘C’ is a small Welsh Cob and Section ‘D’ Welsh Cob is the largest of the four, between 14.3 and 15.3. hands high (a hand is four inches). The Welsh Cob is muscular and stocky without being too heavy, has a little fine ‘feather’ on its feet and is useful both as a riding horse and in harness. It is world famous for its mile eating trot, with the front legs being lifted high and thrown forward, which makes it spectacular to watch and is very comfortable to ride. They all show the ‘Arab’ influence and are full of quality and renowned as show horses the world over.
I became very interested the ‘Western’ way of riding, finding it more relaxed and comfortable than the ‘English’ style. I bought my first Western saddle and have never looked back. My next horse, Sally or ‘Sal’ was a lovely golden dun part Welsh mare and she worked her socks off for me doing long distance ‘Endurance’ rides in the mountains of Wales, including the most rigorous of them all the ‘Red Dragon’ where we rode over the ‘Graig Goch’ dam – an amazing feeling.
Sally died a few years ago, aged 34, but I immortalized her in my story ‘Dancing With Fate’ about Terpsichore, Muse of Dance in the Wild Rose Press series ‘Song Of The Muses’. I sent Terpsichore to 5th Century Wales and of course she needed a special horse – so Sal became a mount fit for a muse. I also included Harri, my black purebred Section D cob in the story, and he became the hero’s horse.
Harri’s registered name is ‘Pentrepiod Sovereign’ but his previous owner called him Harry’ the Engish form of ‘Harri. He is one of the sweetest, kindest horses I have ever known. My other horse is Flying T’pau, a chestnut and white American Quarter Horse/Welsh cross. She’s a real prima donna and likes to be the ‘boss mare’, hiding what is really a sweet nature.. She is very intelligent and was broken completely Western and has never been ridden any other way. She loves doing exercises devised by Monty Roberts the famous ‘horse whisperer’ and will happily’ join up and follow me around the field and over obstacles and happily obeys voice commands.
Apart from Sal and Harri in ‘Dancing With Fate’, horses feature on my planet Niflheim which is featured in my futuristic romance novel ‘Starquest’ and the sequel ‘Children Of the Mist.’ Of course the romance between my heroine and hero is paramount, but for me the world would be a poorer place without animals, especially horses, and I usually manage to fit a horse or horses somewhere into my stories.
BIO
I write as Hywela Lyn, my real first two names, but I’m always called ‘Lyn’ Hywela is Welsh and I was born and raised in Wales and lived most of my life there until I moved to England when I married. Riding my horses in the Welsh mountains gave me time to compose stories in my mind, and the beautiful wild landscape inspired the settings for many of my stories.
I live in a small village with my husband Dave and our rescued dog Bouncer. Harri and T’pau, my two horses, share their stables with two ‘feral’ cats, Milly and Molly, who are about as tame as wild cats could ever get!
My books are available at Amazon and most on-line stores, and from my Author Page at the Wild Rose Press http://thewildrosepress.com/index.phpmain_page=index&manufacturers_id=138&zenid=29efa1716586a390beed3cfceb626efc
where you can also download my ‘Free Read’ the fantasy ‘A Bargain With Death’ which also features horses of course.
I love to hear from readers and fellow writers and you can contact me at Lyn@hywelalyn.co.uk
My website is www.hywelalyn.co.uk and my Blog is www.hywelalyn.blogspot.com
I also run a ‘fun’ Blog ‘The Author Roast and Toast, with my two dear friends and sister hostesses Sharon Donovan and Mary Ricksen. We meet every Friday and torture (I mean host) an unsuspecting author. It’s very interactive and casual and our guest is encouraged to promote her book during the fun and mayhem that ensues. Pop in and join the fun at http://www.authorroastandtoast.blogspot.com/
Lyn
Lyn has shared some pictures of her beautiful horses. I’m in love with the Welsh Cob!!!!
I can highly recommend the Author Roast & Toast for a great party and lots of fun. Every Friday I’m there to see what these girls and their guests are up to.
Hi Bianca
Thanks so much for having me here today. It’s a pleasure to visit today – and we had such fun hosting you at the Roast and Toast a few weeks ago.
Love horses too! Used to ride a lot when I was younger but haven’t been on a horse for 20 years. I would, though, if it was the “old gray mare who ain’t what she used to be.” LOL.
You’ve had quite a history with horses, Lyn. I envy you the opportunity to have them. My husband and I wish we could, but our back yard just isn’t big enough.
Hi Patsy, thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your nice comment.
Yes, I am forever thankful that I’ve been able to have horses, although it’s meant a great deal of sacrifice, no foreign holidays, etc. etc., but they’re worth it.
Unfortunately our back yard isn’t very big either (LOL) and Harri and T’pau live about fifteen miles away from our home and we have to travel every day to see them and fed them, bed down their shelters etc. My dream is to one day come into money so I could buy my own land and see the horses from my living room window! We can always hope! 🙂
I used to dream of owning horses and I guess it will have to be in my next life. Cause bouncing around at a trot would kill me now.
Very interesting about the Welsch horses. I had no idea!
I rode a lot when young, and I sure miss it…
You are just amazing Lyn, I love you sweetie!
Thanj you so much Mary, my sweet friend. I wish we didn’t live so far apart (a whole ocean) and I could let you share Harri with me, you’d love him, he’s so affectionate.
Love you too!
What a lovely post. I never rode, but I dreamed of riding, and spent many happy hours standing by a fence watching and sketching horses.
What a lovely post, Lyn! As you know, I love horses as well. Immortalizing them in your books is truly fantastic and a wonderful way to revisit old friends. Speaking of books…when can we expect another from you? Looking forward to it!
Thanks you for your kind comment, Sheila, there is something magical about a horse, isn’t there! They’re not the easiest animal to paint or draw either, I’d love to see your sketches.
Hello Sky, thanks so much for calling by and commenting. It’s surprising how many of us love horses, isn’t it. They’re probably one of the most romantic of all animals.
As for another book – I’m working on the third ‘Starquest’ book and also have a Western Historical romance,
featuring palomino horses on the ‘back burner’!
Ah, I must admit that I love horses — from afar! I’m sure they sense my nervousness and that makes them jittery and then unnerves me even more! LOL
I admire their strength and beauty, but am not tempted to learn how to ride one! 🙂
I’m so happy you’ve been able to know the pleasure of a horse’s company, Lyn, and wish you many years with both Harri and T’pau. 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind comment MM – I know how much you love animals, but horses can be a bit intimidating until you’ve been around them a while They have to be treated with resopect though, because they are nervous critters and they have big feet and don’t always watch where they’re putting them 🙂
Thanks again for having me here, Bianca, it’s truly been a pleasure to visit, and thanks to everyone who took the trouble to stop by and comment.
Hywela will be here for a couple more days, so everyone join in the party. I’m so glad to have you and your lovely horses as guests on my blog.
Yep I’ll be around, as long as you’re kind enough to have me Bianca! 😉
OMG, I used to co-own Harry with a previous owner of his, I wont give her name but her initials were SJW. Harry covered my mare Mannorton Gwenfilly and produced a lovely colt that I subsequently called Ganglands Sovereigns Son. I sold Sonny and my mare unfortunately died and I moved out of the area so this is the first I have heard about my beloved welsh cobs, my friend and I had a registered stud farm (Ganglands) and Harry was our main stallion. We had to have him gelded, unfortunately due to behavioural problems so it is lovely to hear that he has become a sweet natured horse. I actually learnt to jump on Harry whilst he was still a stallion, he was brilliant under saddle. We had numerous successes with him in hand too. It really is lovely to see some photos of him.
What an amazing coincidence, Gaynor! I knew Harry had been a serving stallion but haven’t come into contact with any of his progeny. Sad about your mare, but nice that her and Harry’s son hopefully lives on.
Harry certainly doesn’t have any behavioural problems now (although having ridden several stallions in my younger days I know they can sometimes be difficult to handle)
he is quite a character but very sweet and loving and has take to the Western way of riding like a natural.
As you gather I love him and T’pau to bits and if you’d like to see some more of his photos you can se them Here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.100472066662.109844.633101662
Thanks so much for your comment here, great to here from you.