A twist of the tail (From Worcester News)

A twist of the tail

9:05am Monday 16th January 2012 in Equestrian By Sara Pawsey

JANE Morgan Sorensen is equally at home crafting an ornate halter for a Saudi prince as she is making delicate horse-hair bracelets for pony-mad youngsters.

Jane owns a small Arabian stud near Shrawley, Worcestershire, where she has dedicated her life to preserving a very old strain of Polish Arabian horses.

She runs the non-profit making stud alongside her small business making hand-made show halters and jewellery created mainly from the tail hair of someone’s beloved horse. Jane also rides racehorses three days a week.

Jane came to England from her native Denmark in 2009, having run her own training yards in Denmark as well as competing.

It was during this time she became passionate about the Polish Arabian strain, heirs to the line of Arabians famed for their courage and intelligence.

The Poles began trading with the Arabians for their horses as far back as the Middle Ages, but with the devastation of wars and reduced need for cavalry horses – for which the breed was famed – agriculture and transportation, some studs were forced to sell their prized horses into European circuses.

“The last few decades have seen a resurgence of the Polish Arabian strain and I am passionate about preserving this very old line,” said Jane, who brought with her from Denmark a mare in foal and the champion producer Tu Champion, the maternal grandson of the legendary Regina from Blommeroed.

“In England, there is much more opportunity of promoting these horses under saddle and in the show ring,” Jane said.

“In Denmark there are only two shows a year and no ridden classes. I don’t do it for the money but for the passion to keep the strain alive. I have a handful of horses and I pick the best I can within my means.

“My mares are my living treasures. And I never give any of my old horses away. I am looking forward to showing a couple next year – baby filly Little Palma by TU Champion is very promising.”

Meanwhile, Jane is busy making up her orders that are flowing in from as far away as Greece and South Africa. Her most esteemed client is HRH Prince Khaled Bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia, for whom she has hand-crafted a jewelstudded silk show halter.

Jane hopes the commission will be the first of many from the Gulf states.

Sterling silver bracelets priced at about £45 have proved a real hit with pony-mad youngsters from several counties and can be used as memorial bracelets.

“I lost my horse Little Hunter when he broke his leg and have always regretted not taking any tail or mane hair as a memorial,”

said Jane.

“These bracelets are made from the hair of a favourite horse and can be woven into bracelets, keyrings and bookmarks.

“I have even branched out into making Pandora-style bracelets with the addition of some pretty beads.”

Jane is an excellent leatherworker and carries out repairs as well as making new commissions.

She can be contacted via her website littlearabians.com.