The best greeting cards feel chosen for the person receiving them. Perhaps they spend every spare moment at the stables, share their home with an opinionated cat or never go anywhere without the dog. Perhaps their idea of a good day involves fishing, a shoot or simply enjoying the countryside. A little well-chosen humour can make a handwritten message feel even more personal.
Norman Thelwell’s cartoons offer plenty of inspiration. His ponies and determined young riders are instantly recognisable, but his humour reaches far beyond the riding school. Dogs, cats, sporting pursuits and the everyday quirks of countryside life all have their place.
As the main UK licensee for Thelwell greeting cards, CountrysideGreetings offers an extensive collection of these much-loved cartoons. Here are a few ideas to help you choose a card that suits its recipient.
For the friend who would rather be riding
For horse lovers, part of Thelwell’s appeal is the affectionate humour of the equestrian world. Whether you are writing to a riding-school friend, a pony enthusiast or someone who has spent a lifetime around horses, his cartoons offer a cheerful connection to something they love.
Willowbrook Riding School is one option for an equestrian friend. This large A5 card is blank inside, leaving room for birthday wishes, thanks to a riding instructor or a longer catch-up with someone from the yard.
Explore our horse greeting cards to find a design that suits the rider you have in mind.
For someone whose dog is part of the family
A dog-themed card is a thoughtful choice for a friend whose daily routine revolves around walks, muddy paws and canine company. Thelwell’s dog cartoons bring another side of his humour to the card drawer.
The Messenger Dog is a 15cm square card with a blank interior, silk finish and matt writing surface. Its design belongs to a series of cartoons coloured by The Thelwell Estate from Norman Thelwell’s original black-and-white artwork.
For more canine characters, browse our dog greeting cards. Choose for the recipient’s sense of humour rather than the occasion alone, then make the message your own.
For the household ruled by a cat
Cat lovers know that their companions have personalities, preferences and very firm opinions. A humorous feline card can be a lovely way to acknowledge that shared understanding.
Jealous Cat captures a particularly expressive moment: a cat reacting beside a man presenting roses to a seated woman. The caption, “Cats are well known to have alarming bouts of jealousy”, supplies the finishing touch.
This 15cm square card is blank inside and printed in the UK on 300 gsm silk card. Discover more feline favourites in our cat greeting cards collection.
For countryside lovers and country-sports enthusiasts
Thelwell’s humour reaches well beyond the stable yard. His sporting cartoons offer choices for friends who enjoy fishing, shooting and traditional country pursuits, with a witty view of countryside life.
The Thelwell Sporting Prints Greeting Card Multipack brings together 12 assorted A5 landscape cards featuring subjects including horse racing, fishing and shooting. With blank interiors, they leave room for birthday wishes, thank-you messages or a longer note to a countryside-loving friend.
Explore our fishing greeting cards and shooting greeting cards for more designs suited to their favourite pastime.
For fans of classic cartoons and nostalgic humour
Sometimes it is the style of a cartoon that makes a card feel just right. Thelwell’s classic illustrations have a nostalgic appeal, with expressive characters and humorous observations of everyday life.
For someone who enjoys vintage-style artwork, a Thelwell card offers that traditional cartoon charm in a card they can send today. These are newly printed greeting cards featuring classic artwork, rather than vintage cards.
Let your message make it personal
A blank card gives you freedom to write something that sounds like you. A birthday wish might recall a shared riding lesson; a thank-you could mention a favour that meant a lot; an everyday note might simply say that a cartoon reminded you of its recipient.
Sizes, finishes and envelope details vary across the range, so check the individual listing when choosing. Start with the person, find a cartoon they will appreciate and let your own words do the rest.
Explore our Thelwell greeting cards to find a little countryside humour for your next handwritten message.