A FAMILY effort has helped produce a new book offering fun and friendly advice on how to look after horses.

'Sue's Helpful Horse Hints' is the second book by equine physiotherapist and animal behaviourist Sue Palmer and encourages the reader to look at problems from the horse's point of view.

Each hint is accompanied by a picture hand drawn by Sue's mum Sarah Brown, who produced them all at her home in Bourne End.

And with Sue's husband Simon producing and publishing the book, Sarah is right to say: "It was very much a family affair."

Horsey hints have been appearing on Sue's website for three years but it was only after receiving the encouragement of her regular clients that the 38-year-old, who now lives in Staffordshire after growing up in Cadmore End, took the plunge into publishing.

Mum Sarah, 63, said: "She's been doing them for three years and puts them on her website and Facebook. Her clients kept telling her she ought to put them in a book. She said OK, but instead of putting words in a book as it wouldn't make much of an impression, she said she's do some pictures."

Sue said: "I’m very excited that this book has reached publication, it’s been a real family effort. When I approached my mum, who has always loved drawing and painting, with the suggestion that she come up with cartoons to go with the hints and we put them together in a book, she was as excited as I was. And with my husband Simon publishing the finished article, I’m exceptionally pleased with the end result."

Sarah said she didn't take much persuading to help provide the illustrations for the book, despite never having had her work published professionally before.

The retired hairdresser said: "I was willing - I like doing it. It was great fun. I do a bit of art for pleasure. Every now and again I draw pictures for the kids to hang up in their bedrooms.

"It all came naturally. She wanted certain pictures for the words. I did a lot more pictures than she asked for - I probably did treble the amount that are in the book.

"They are selling well - they are good Christmas stocking presents."

A love of horses has been lifelong for both mother and daughter - Sarah said: "I grew up with horses. I've always ridden them and bred them and that's why Sue got into horses. We lived in Cadmore End then and had a few fields."

For more horsey hints, or to buy a copy of the book, go to www.holistichorsehelp.com.