Innholdsfortegnelse for 31-Mar-2016 i Horse & Hound

A polo player whose serious fall prompted a helmet safety campaign has died. Juracy Santos (pictured) lost his life on 26 March — the same day a second player, Bob Daniels, also passed away. Mr Santos, a Brazilian member of Guards Polo Club, suffered critical head injuries in a fall in 2014 (8 July) during the Phoenician Cup. He died 20 months later, following a long period in a coma. Veteran US player Bob Daniels was injured in a fall last week. His horse reportedly stumbled and he fell to the ground during a 12-goal game in Wellington, Florida. He was placed on life support and died three days later. Mr Santos’ fall prompted H&H polo reporter Aurora Eastwood to start a campaign to encourage the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA)…

JAMIE MOORE The National Hunt jockey suffered a broken collarbone in a fall from Honey Pound at Taunton racecourse on 21 March. The Tim Vaughan-trained horse fell at the fourth-last fence. Jamie expects to be back in the saddle in two weeks. ROBERT WHITAKER British showjumper Robert was victorious in the grand prix at the Sunshine Tour in Spain on 20 March. Robert rode 13-year-old gelding Catwalk IV around the 1.60m course, which he described as “tough and testing”. CAROLINE POWELL The four-star eventer is out of action after breaking her leg. The Kiwi rider had the accident last month while schooling at home, where she was squashed against a fence, breaking both her tibia and fibula. BEN HOBDAY Popular British eventer Ben made his return to competition at Lincolnshire…

A mother and son have been fined £1,000 for running an unlicensed riding school — where a grandfather sustained fatal injuries in a fall. Rosemary and Benjamin Fabb were also banned from keeping a riding establishment for five years by Norwich magistrates on 16 March. The court heard North Norfolk District Council had refused a licence to the pair, of Fern Bank, Carr Lane, Roughton, in January 2015, owing to concerns raised by a vet inspector over the horses’ health and welfare. Although they had no licence, and despite the inspector’s concerns, the Fabbs continued to advertise riding lessons. In a “covert surveillance operation”, a council officer was also given a lesson. Both pleaded guilty to operating a riding establishment without a licence. The magistrates noted a “considerable amount of…

TRAVELLING A mare in the West Midlands attempted to jump over the breast bar of a trailer on 19 March and became stuck. Crews from Kidderminster Fire and Rescue Service successfully freed her legs from the bar. A TRAPPED HORSE An unlucky equine fell down a ravine in Angeles Forest, Los Angeles, on 19 March. Rescuers used a crane to hoist him to safety. Despite the terrifying ordeal, he was not injured. RIDING FOR THE DISABLED The Rossington Hall Riding for the Disabled Association centre in Doncaster was broken into overnight between 22-23 March. Tack and equipment worth £3,000 was taken. SOAKED ROWERS Cambridge rower and former junior dressage rider Thea Zabell finished the 2016 Women’s Boat Race in dramatic style. Her team’s boat nearly sank, but they managed to…

RACING Enjoy Ascot’s final National Hunt fixture of the season on 3 April. The Prince’s Countryside Fund Raceday features countryside displays and the “Lamb National”. www.ascot.co.uk EXHIBITION A solo show of Alistair Little’s artwork is being held at the Osborne Studio Gallery, London, on 5-22 April. His work features horses and is influenced by the American Ashcan School. www.osg.uk.com EVENTING Watch top riders compete in the CIC2* and CIC3* at Burnham Market, Norfolk, on 1-3 April. www.britisheventing.com SHOWJUMPING The Blue Chip Championships are being held at Hartpury College, Glos, from 30 March to 3 April. www.bluechipchamps.co.uk TEAM CHASING Go to the Berks & Bucks team chase at Cannon Heath Down in Kingsclere on 3 April. www.teamchasing.co.uk POINT-TO-POINT Fixtures this week include the Middleton at Sheriff Hutton, Yorks, and the Portman…

Your feature “Yesterday’s stars vs today’s” (17 March) was a good excuse to reminisce about not only horse types but also riding styles of yesteryear. As mentioned, the demise of the Hunter’s Improvement Society (HIS) thoroughbred stallion scheme is mainly responsible for today’s change in type and quality. Those of us who remember the 1950s and earlier must regret the absence today of the ethereal quality of, for instance, old-fashioned hacks, such as those bred by Miss Marguerite de Beaumont at Shalbourne Manor and ridden by Count Robert Orssich, as just one example. A term whose passing is also mourned is that of “equestrian tact”, of which we see so little today. It was noticeable that in the photos in that issue the modern horses and ponies are, almost without…

Favourite restaurant... A Chinese seafood restaurant called Ming Kee. It sits on its own on the island of Po Toi in Hong Kong. You can only get to it by boat and the fish is so fresh. Watching... I love House of Cards, Breaking Bad and Homeland. Biggest indulgence... I enjoy baking, so I love cupcakes, brownies and cookies. Not great for an athlete’s diet. Looking back… At my first time at Olympia, we were allowed into the main arena to practise. Someone had forgotten to turn off the swirling Olympia logo spotlights and they spooked Weltzin, who continued to leap in the air until I hit the deck. The other riders never let me hear the end of it. Getting away from it all... I love escaping to somewhere…

MORE severe swollen legs occur in a potentially serious condition called lymphangitis. This is an inflammation of the lymphatics, the secondary drainage system, and is usually caused by bacterial infection. Even a small number of bacteria entering through a minor cut or scab can result in a big inflammatory reaction that damages the delicate lymphatic vessels, causing fluid to leak out into the tissues. Increasing pressure acts to flatten the thin-walled veins, reducing the drainage even more. Blood is still being pumped down the arteries into the affected leg, but it can no longer escape. The result is a leg that swells to tree-trunk proportions, possibly doubling or even trebling in size within a few hours. The swelling and pressure can become so great that fluid starts to seep out…

I prefer to produce my horses from when they are babies — I want them to trust me 100% and be my friend, so that I can ask more of them when I need to. I love working with the young horses and figuring out the best way to achieve the goals set for them. One of the key exercises for me in their training is shoulder-in. For me, it’s vital in encouraging them to focus and rebalance themselves — it’s only really effective when the horse is relaxed, though. There’s not enough prize money in eventing to go for the win at every competition, so my approach is always centred on producing the horse for the future. • NEXT WEEK: dressage rider Amy Stovold Dealing with the negatives • Don’t…

“YOUNG riders no longer use the county show circuit to serve as an apprenticeship, and are therefore not so used to jumping on grass. The modern-day sport - in which there has been an increase in surfaces being used at shows - has taken away an important element of horsemanship. Youngsters are used to training and competing on perfect surfaces. Back in the day, the emphasis was on balance and riding a horse properly on grass, on which the ground conditions are always changing. “In terms of horses, when producing them to top level it is important to get them out onto a grass surface as part of their education. For this there is nothing better than county shows - horses get used to cows passing, screens flashing, dancing diggers…

‘THERE’S no place like home.” For the majority of us, that old adage certainly rings true, but for ambitious British riders who want to make their mark on the world stage, home may not necessarily be in the UK. At just 19 years old, Jessica Mendoza has had a meteoric rise in senior competition. The winner of the 2015 FEI Longines rising star award, she is galloping towards a world top-50 ranking and played a major role in securing the British team’s qualification for the forthcoming Olympic Games. Since her pony jumping days Jessica’s parents, Paul and Sarah Mendoza, have been among the most supportive on the circuit and in 2014 made a significant sacrifice. They moved to Mierlo in the Netherlands to further their daughter’s career. “We went there…

THREE of the top four horses were by the outstanding jumping stallion Cornet Obolensky (born as the less catchy Windows Van Het Costersveld). The multi-graded Clinton x Heartbreaker son (below) has an outstanding progeny record, here particularly with Corbinian, Cornet D’Amour and Cornado. He is known for producing highly talented but quirky offspring, a bit like the dressage sire Jazz. However, the best offspring from these two, when coupled with riders they approve of, are some of the very best horses in the business.…

MY first World Cup final turned out to be heartbreaking and frustrating after having to withdraw Bintang II from the competition on the opening day. We believe he got himself cast in his stable overnight — I had jumped him during the day in the warm-up class and he had felt super. It was a totally freak thing to happen as he has never been cast before. The physio worked on him all day but he was still sore and uncomfortable when I rode him. He has been so good to me and worked so hard over the winter months — I would never have pushed him by making him jump if I was not 100% sure he was OK. Fortunately, there is no lasting damage. He was due to…

WHEN Deborah Scott-Garrett went to view a horse for a friend, she never dreamed the horse would end up being hers. At Christmas, her fiancé presented her with Cofie Z, a six-year-old mare by Calvino Z. “I ended up liking her more, so my friend mentioned it to my fiancé and he bought her secretly,” said Deborah, who runs her family’s Eastminster School of Riding in Romford. “She’s a bit smaller than I’d have chosen at 15.3hh so I have to hoist my stirrups up, but she’s got a good attitude and loves her job.” The pair won the discovery at Petley Wood EC, East Sussex (13 March) and were third with a double clear in the newcomers at Brook Farm EC, Essex (20 March). “She’s got two newcomers double…

IF Tiana Coudray’s Ringwood Magister (right) was to star in a novel, it would be in A Series Of Unfortunate Events as this sums up the CIC3* runner-up’s past two years. “He strained a leg in the mud at Badminton in 2014, which then ruled him out of the World Equestrian Games, which I was gutted about as I really felt it was his time,” said Tiana. “He then had a year off and two weeks before Blenheim in 2015 he broke a splint bone. “He had surgery and came back brilliantly so we headed to Portugal this spring in a bid to get some FEI points to help us get into Badminton. However, this didn’t work either. We were hacking out and got chased by a herd of wild…

MICHAEL JUNG set out his stall for 2016 by finishing both first and second in the season’s first major test, the CIC3* at Fontainebleau. It was the mighty German’s fourth victory in the class on his reigning Olympic champion, La Biosthetique-Sam FBW. He was second on 2015 Rolex Kentucky winner FischerRocana FST. Michael, backed up by Sandra Auffarth, third on her world champion Opgun Louvo, led the German team to victory in the Nations Cup competition, in which the British finished a disappointing sixth. Michael topped the dressage on the 11-year-old mare FischerRocana, scoring 34.7, with La Biosthetique-Sam close behind on 35.9. No one else managed a mark in the 30s; Andrew Hoy (Cheeky Calimbo) and Bill Levett (Improvise) were third and fourth on 40.6 and 42.6 respectively. Izzy Taylor…

SARA GALLOP and the 12-year-old gelding Summerhouse Zelham topped the 70% barrier on their way to claiming inter II victory. By Furst Sinclair x Belisar, the horse was bought in Holland as a just-backed youngster. “I watched him trotting round the indoor school, flicking his front legs out in play, half thinking ‘do I really want to get on this’ and half thinking ‘yay’,” said Sara. “He was quite naughty in the beginning, in fact he’s the horse jumping out of the dressage arena in the photo that regularly does the rounds on the internet!” These days, if Zelham has a fault it’s that he tries too hard. “He has piaffed from day one but he can overdo it so David Pincus has worked hard with us trying to calm…

Volunteer rewarded BD’s long-serving volunteer Geoff Simpson has been recognised by the Torch Trophy Trust. Geoff, from Kidderminster, received his award from HRH the Prince of Kent, along with 20 other volunteers honoured for their dedication to sport. Geoff’s citation included: “Already known as a legend within the dressage community, Geoff has dedicated many years to ensuring the integrity of dressage is upheld and overseen in the general running of events all over the UK.” The awards are unique in acknowledging the importance of volunteers in sport. Sir Bobby Charlton, chairman of the Torch Trophy Trust commented: “It is hugely important to honour the incredible volunteers that make sport happen in our nation. Without their passion and generosity, we would see participation numbers fall.” New horse for youngster THE 12-year-old…

THE workers’ section proved extremely popular and competitors from the southern half of the country were delighted to find a novice horse class on the schedule. “Many shows that used to cater for novices have disappeared and others are running an open class only. Lots of us will be taking novices to Windsor after just this one class,” said one producer. Course-designer Lisa Kelly has also noticed the shortfall. “I used to build 10 novice horse classes every season and now it’s just one,” she said. “The demand is there and I can’t understand why they’ve all gone.” Bridget Ensten, who judged the class here, agreed. “Shows are throwing away valuable revenue by not running a novice class,” she said. “If shows ran a novice class, many producers would put…

JONATHAN WORTHINGTON’S Leverton Leon went through the card to win his three-year-old class and stand junior champion before going on to stand supreme champion stallion. Rarely has a Shire made such an impact on his show ring debut, but this son of Cumeragh House Desperate Dan turned many heads as he carried himself beautifully and travelled freely throughout. “Leverton Leon is a tremendous three-year-old with great feet, good limbs and a marvellous action,” said stallion judge Lew Harrison. “He’s a big, powerful horse with great presence and is a perfect example of his breed.” Jonathan and his father David bought Leon last September when they went to view another horse at breeder Neil Wright’s farm. “Neil asked if we wanted to look at some colts and when Leon came trotting…

HERE we are again on the brink of another busy showing season, and it’s occurred to me that all our aspirations, careers and reputations as owners, riders, breeders and trainers are at the mercy of the judges’ opinion. For this reason alone, it is essential that judges attend the relevant conferences from time to time, to maintain their understanding of the current trends and regulations, and be reminded of their responsibilities. I’m only on a handful of judging panels and keeping up with the merry-go-round of judges’ conferences during the winter semester can be costly and time-consuming. And you can bet that when you have to attend one or run the risk of being struck off the panel, the venue is not on your doorstep. However, in other sports and…

JUST when trainer Kerry Lee thought her rookie season could not get any better, it did. Since Herefordshire-based Lee took over the reins from her father Richard at The Bell House last July she has proved a blue chip off the old block with a succession of prestige victories, notably from staying handicap chasers Mountainous — in the Welsh National — Russe Blanc and Bishops Road. And on Sunday, Lee took another step up her career ladder when Kylemore Lough provided her first Grade One success in the Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse. Kylemore Lough was Lee’s first runner at the highest level, and her first runner in Ireland. For the horse, too, it was a first venture into top company, after four straight wins in lesser contests…

‘A minimum weight of 11st 10lb was music to the ears of the UK men’ I have penned this column in recovery mode, having recently returned from Co. Cork, where the third running of the Anglo-Irish Riders’ International Point-to-Point Challenge took place. The challenge saw the four leading male and female riders from Great Britain face off against our Irish counterparts. The event was not only a great social spectacle, but it was also an interesting insight into how the sport operates across the Irish Sea. The Inch point-to-point, held at Ballyanthony, Tallow, was fundamentally the same as any UK meeting, although I have never been to a course with only five fences on a circuit, nor where every race on the card was a maiden. Racing on a Wednesday…

This winter the weather has not been too bad, albeit a bit wet! Earlier in the year I was out training in the middle of the day. When I left home, in Stoke-on-Trent, it was a clear winter’s day. As usual I put hi-vis gear on myself and my horse, Taz, including my Harry Hall hi-vis gilet and Harry Hall hi-vis brushing boots. But as I reached the top of Throwly Moor, about seven miles from home, unforecast fog came down suddenly and unexpectedly. Throwly Moor is a very isolated area with limited mobile phone signal, but great uphill bridle paths. By the time I reached phone signal on a small country lane, I was getting concerned. I called my mum, who was at work, and we discussed the best…

HOTLINE The 13-year-old (Hofrat x De Niro) has been named Danish warmblood stallion of the year 2016 at the Danish licensing in Herning on 20 March. Hotline, owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen’s Blue Hors Stud, competes at international grand prix. OUT OF AFRICA TWO The four-star eventer has been retired “sound and in great spirits”. The 16-year-old has gone home to grass, rider Charlotte Agnew announced last week (22 March). “Zulu” finished 26th at Badminton last year. COOLYS LUXURY Tom Crisp has secured a new syndicate for the Badminton-bound 14-year-old. Tom has finalised the partnership between himself, Martyn and Sharon Ault, Fiona Ringer, Sarah Swiderski and Barry Nutley of Swift bedding. MAD MOOSE The ex-racehorse has successfully completed his first dressage test. The chestnut gelding, who was banned from the…

THE Italian Equestrian Federation (FISE) is suing the former owner of Eremo Del Castegno for selling the horse to Brazil before the upcoming Olympics, writes Eleanor Jones. FISE has started legal action against Dr Enzo Truppa’s Monferrato equestrian centre, claiming the sale was in breach of contract. H&H reported in 2012 that FISE had renewed a 2010 agreement with Dr Truppa that Italy’s top grand prix horse would be retained for the country until the Rio Games. The federation gave Dr Truppa E 70,000 (£55,000) per year for securing the horse, whom his daughter Valentina competed for Italy in two European Championships and the London Olympics. But in January 2016, the 15-year-old gelding was sold to millionaire Jorge Ferreira Da Rocha, a 70-year-old rider and long-term investor in dressage in…

ALL British riders will be required to stay in the athletes’ village at Rio 2016 in an agreement designed to ensure their safety, writes Lucy Elder. In the past, some have chosen to stay in hotels or apartments near to the Olympic site. But for travel, security and health reasons, the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has decided all members of Team GBR will stay in the Olympic village in Bara. The distance between Bara and the equestrian venue of Deodoro — a military base — is 25km. Dan Hughes, the BEF’s equestrian performance director, explained the challenges facing Team GBR in Rio, at the National Equine Forum (NEF) on 3 March. With the dressage, showjumping and eventing teams all in Rio at the same time, there will be 120 athletes,…

TONY YOUNGHUSBAND A dedicated huntsman, Mr Younghusband served numerous hunts across England and Ireland. He began his career with the Avondhu, Co. Cork, in the 1950s and was known for his skill with hounds and as a fearless horseman. On returning to England, he worked for the South Oxfordshire before becoming joint-master at the Bicester. Mr Younghusband also hunted with the Mendip Farmers. He died on 18 March aged 85. STANLEY COTTON One of the founders of Bramham Horse Trials, Mr Cotton died on 2 March aged 96. Mr Cotton and his late wife Angela were key members of the organising team. “I don’t think that he has ever missed a Bramham,” said Nick Lane Fox, of Bramham Park. “It is fair to say that the event will never be…

A former racehorse who found a new career in the art world is now signing copies of his biography. Metro Meteor, who had won more than $300,000 (£212,150) on the track in America, retired as a nine-year-old due to severe knee injuries. His new owner, artist Ron Krajewski from Pennsylvania, US, taught him to create “abstract paintings”. Word spread about Metro’s talent and his paintings are sold online. Money raised has been split between the gelding’s veterinary costs and a charity for ex-racehorses. Metro is now the subject of Ron’s book Painting With Metro: How a Crippled Racehorse Rescued Himself (and Me) With a Paintbrush, which is out on 5 April. Proving he is as handy with a pen as with a brush, the former racehorse even signs his own…

I have done plenty of interviews in my time, but I’ve never had this much input into a magazine before. It was like being on the other side of the fence and I really enjoyed it. My now four-week-old son Alfie made his arrival into the world halfway through planning this showjumping special issue. My wife Sarah has been on duty at night, while I have been more tired from the relentless teaching I’ve been doing over the past couple of weeks. Luckily I’ve dodged a bullet so far when it comes to changing nappies. We had a visit from John Whitaker (pictured, p3) and I have to say his baby skills passed with flying colours. His comment was: “Alfie is just like his dad, he knows the best way…

FOUND some filling? If you can answer yes to these questions, it’s probably oedema. Does the swelling: • appear after stabling or inactivity? • affect both hindlegs,orall four legs? • extend around the lower leg and from the pastern or fetlock up to the knee or hock? • feel cool to the touch, causing no pain when handled? • feel spongy and retain indentations when pressed with a finger? • subside with exercise,causing no lameness? These are the typical signs, although variations are possible, as explained. Seeking veterinaryopinion is advised.…

WHEN you think of iconic arenas, there are few all-weather surfaces that spring to mind. But Britain’s newest outdoor four-star at Bolesworth has come closest to bucking the trend, creating a stunning, atmospheric space in their main ring, which was installed by Andrews Bowen in 2014. “On grass the going has to be perfect and our ground wasn’t good enough, so the only solution was to install an all-weather,” says Nina Barbour. “We had just grass arenas before and we did as much as we could with them, adding sand, but I don’t think the old ring would have been accepted for a four-star. People were being put off by the slope.” The oval amphitheatre surrounded by a water feature has created a memorable and championship-standard facility. “I’d like to…

“SOME of the top British and Irish riders have come up through the ranks by being based abroad - Joe Clee is a prime example. “Jessica Mendoza and Bertram Allen have done the same, but are very fortunate to have the funding to allow them to set up overseas. As talented as they both are, they are lucky to have their parents’ financial backing. “Guy Williams, on the other hand, is an example of a rider who has had to battle his way to the top. “My son James is currently based at the VDL Stud in the Netherlands. He represented Britain at both the junior and young rider Europeans, but when it came down to it I couldn’t afford to keep both of us on the road, so he…

“THERE are many top riders about whom the general public have no idea. My four choices are Jemma Kirk, Robert Bevis, Louise Saywell and Joe Clayton - as they are all great horsemen and women. “They are some of the first people I would see when I turn up to shows, in the stable with their horses or out grazing them by hand, and then putting rugs on late at night. They all look after their own horses, monitor their own horses and don’t rely on anybody else, so they know each horse inside out. “Robert for example, will often choose not jump his horse if the ground isn’t right, even if there is big prize money to be had - he thinks about tomorrow. “Louise’s dad Michael was an…

THE popular Australian Chris Chugg gave the youngest horse in the field a fantastic experience at her first championships. Languishing in 17th place after the opening round, Gabrielle Kuna’s eight-year-old Cristalline grew in confidence with each jump, culminating in an astonishing clear in round B of leg three to pull them up to 10th and into € 30,000 of prize-money. Chris’ delight was palpable. “That’s some mare and that’s some man,” said commentator Jessica Kürten. This was by far the biggest test so far for the Cristallo mare - a granddaughter of Cornet Obolensky, further demonstrating his huge influence at these finals - but it surely won’t be her last championship appearance.…

Harry Turner DESPITE only learning to ride four years ago, 18-year-old Harry Turner is already proving himself as a producer and rider of showjumpers. Riding Ruben Star, a 12-year-old thoroughbred/Welsh gelding that he has produced himself, he won the 85cm national amateur class and 95cm Scope Festival qualifier at South View, Cheshire (12-13 March). Harry has been riding the gelding, who belongs to Vic Clews, for two years. “He is a speed machine and is proving to be really brave,” said Harry, who works as a groom at Clwyd Special Riding Centre in Cheshire. “He was a late starter but is very keen. Now there’s no stopping him - he’s just a winner.” The gelding competed in his first discovery at Aintree EC, Liverpoool (24 February), and achieved a double…

“YEAH, it was OK I suppose,” was Oliver Townend’s typically low-key response when asked how he felt after riding four of his seven rides across the CIC2* and CIC3* sections into the top 10. Best-placed was Michael McGrath’s Dromgurrihy Blue, who won the Owen Pugh CIC3*. The pair had lain in second place after dressage and what was a very influential showjumping phase, a menacing 0.2 of a penalty behind Pippa Funnell and Billy The Biz on 41.5. After the latter collected eight cross-country time-faults to drop to eventual third, Oliver knew exactly what he had to do and pushed the four-star son of Puissance on over David Evans’ unanimously praised course to collect just two time-penalties and complete on 43.7. Oliver took over the ride on the strong Irish…

HOLLY WOODHEAD didn’t let recent keyhole surgery to remove her appendix hold her back with a convincing win in the advanced intermediate class on her top horse DHI Lupison. “I had appendicitis five weeks ago and the doctors said I’d need six weeks off after surgery,” said Holly. “I was back riding in week three, but only slowly. Mum [dressage rider Tracy Woodhead] and the team kept the horses ticking over; they all felt amazing when I got back on.” Holly rerouted to Gatcombe after being forced to change her initial plans to go to Fontainebleau in France. “DHI Lupison has come out a lot stronger this year — he felt slick and really class across country today. He showjumped quite sharply, so I let the brake off cross-country, though…

HE may have been one of the smallest in the BE90 field at Swalcliffe Park (19-20 March), but 14.2hh Welsh section C Gorfelyn Persian Prince had all the right moves. “He’s the ultimate professional,” said his rider, Georgina Joynson, a McTimoney therapist. “There’s no messing about with Prince. He’s not flashy, he doesn’t spook, he’s not silly — he just gets on with the job and produces the goods.” Prince belongs to his breeder, Sabrina Johnson, who also owns the gelding’s full-brother, Gorfelyn Peter The Great, who is being aimed at this spring’s Mitsubishi Motors Cup BE100 championship with Georgina. “I love Welsh ponies. I do ride horses as well, but I find Sabrina’s two are such fun,” added the rider. Ginny Howe scored a treble at Swalcliffe, taking both…

WHEN Hans Peter Minderhoud first attended the World Cup final, it was as Anky van Grunsven’s groom. This time, he was crowned champion with over 82% and gazed disbelievingly at the trophy as he held it aloft. “I’ve been to these finals many times; I started as a groom and dreamed of doing it myself one day,” said the tall 42-year-old Dutchman. “I’m not normally nervous, but I really wanted this. It felt like a long two days between the grand prix and freestyle.” Not only was this Hans Peter’s first World Cup final win but also his first podium finish. With the 15-year-old Swiss-bred Florestan gelding Glock’s Flirt he was fifth with 79% last year in Las Vegas. The upward score trajectory echoes the horse’s career; with his previous…

EMILE FAURIE left with one of the biggest smiles of the week after victories in the grand prix and prix st georges (PSG). The former was with his new ride Weekend Fun, a PSI auction graduate he owns in partnership with long-term friend Ulli Kasselmann. “I’ve worked with the Kasselmanns translating for their PSI auctions for over 30 years now,” said Emile. Emile has ridden the horse since last December and this was their second outing following a 73% grand prix win last month in a pick-your-own. “He’s so well educated that it makes my job very, very easy,” said Emile, who is heading for Hagen’s CDI with the horse in search of Rio qualification. “It was a very secure test but in retrospect I was a little too careful…

THERE have been more rule changes this month (news, p12) and it has finally been decreed that the colour of one’s boots does not affect performance. Doubtless this will be of horror to traditionalists, but I think it’s a step forward. Adding individuality to a sport where traditionally we have all been dressed identically is vital to promoting that sport, as well as being more fun for the riders and spectators. I remember when the Brits were considered rather “fashion forward” with our red collars. A note of caution though: the rider should be to the horse an Armani suit not a My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding dress. The star in this show should be the horse, not the rider. Missed strides in Spain THE Sunshine tour is under way…

IF this show fulfils its role as a talent-spotting barometer, competition at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) is going to be hot. Amateurs and professionals — some of whom brought out new faces — shared the spoils from a packed schedule. Simon Charlesworth was one of the first to collect a ticket, riding Martin Wood’s large plaited horse winner, Doorleys Prince. The 17hh four-year-old, contesting his first ridden show, showed a maturity and balance beyond his years. Simon said the skewbald’s exceptional temperament makes him an easy ride. “The few horses that are like him show you how difficult the rest of them are,” he said. “Ten minutes’ work and he was ready to go in the ring. Last year, I thought he was a bit thick, but he…

WHEN Evelyn Waugh bought the manor house of Combe Florey in 1956, he came to live in that undisturbed part of rural Somerset that nestles between the Brendon Hills and the River Tone with Wiveliscombe at its heart. A decade later, from their generous hunting home at Reaphay, Michael and Brigid Roffe-Silvester formed Mr Roffe-Silvester’s hounds to hunt the Chipstable country, named after another charming hamlet in these parts, whose last day, after 50 seasons, took place on Saturday 12 March. Many have been the triumphs and travails of the Chipstable, as they have been known for the past 20 seasons under the sole mastership of William Roffe-Silvester, now 56, Michael and Brigid’s nephew. With his wife Pam, they have taken hounds — since 2005 from the Dulverton Farmers’ —…

FRESH from stealing the show at Cheltenham Festival, the two-mile chasing king Sprinter Sacre did it again at the 25th Lambourn Open Day. The handsome brown gelding, based at Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows, positively lapped up the adulation as a record 12,000 visitors descended on the Berkshire racing village on Good Friday. “We had him out every half hour for photos - he’s the only horse we could have done that with,” said Henderson. “He has a wonderful temperament and just stood there.”…

TEAM Ride-Away won the first Skinner’s Pet Foods open qualifier of a delayed spring team chasing season on a day when the determination of the Fernie’s organisers to run the event was matched only by that of victorious captain Stephen Clark to make the start line. Sidelined all week with a bad back, Stephen was dropped by his novice team horse walking back to the lorry just minutes before the team’s open run. But with Joe Stephenson giving Team Ride-Away a flying lead on NZB Echo, he was soon in the swing of it, jumping upsides at a tight new switchback of hedges before the water. Charlotte Alexander and Debbie Honour galloped on in close order and the team made light work of the big hedges and sharp turns at…

RIDING is fun, challenging, refreshing, relaxing — and, I’m afraid, dangerous. Rarely a month goes by without some incident to remind us of this. But which other sport involves a greeting with warm, oaty breath and big, bright eyes, and allows you to explore Britain’s best countryside in solitude without fear of a puncture? As with all the risks we take in life, the trick is to manage them. Equestrian sport, quite rightly, strives continuously to innovate and to improve safety equipment and training methods. The hats and body protectors we wear today have never been so safe or stylish. But our kit only serves us properly if it fits properly, has not been damaged, and if we upgrade it from time to time. As a journalist and editor I’ve…

INFLUENTIAL changes to the format of dressage at the Olympics will be debated nextweek, writes Rachael Hook. The proposals have been brought forward by the FEI in response to the International Olympic Committee’s Agenda 2020 recommendations, aimed at making all sports more inclusive and popular. The latest proposals for equestrian disciplines will be discussed at the FEI’s sports forum next week (4-5 April). Two proposals are being considered for dressage. Both feature a total of 15 teams and 15 individuals, using heats to qualify the top 18 riders for the individual final. The first involves a two-day grand prix, which is a qualifier for both the team and individual competitions. The team competition follows as a one-day grand prix special. Finally there is a one-day freestyle, which is the individual…

EQUESTRIAN workers aged 25 and over may be entitled to higher wages from 1 April. The minimum wage for this age group (outside the first year of an apprenticeship) is rising to £7.20 an hour. Lucy Katan, of the British Grooms Association, stressed this is a legal requirement. She also voiced her concern that the industry may become an “unfair employer”, preferring younger staff. Meanwhile, eventer Kelly McCarthy-Maine, who employs one full-time and one part-time member of staff, said hard work “should be recognised and employees rewarded.” Simon Hall, who pays a freelance groom at his private yard, echoed Kelly’s sentiments. “You pay for what you get,” he said. Meanwhile, racing has its own scales of pay in line with government requirements. The rise means the bottom line of pay…

SAM WALEY-COHEN and Nina Carberry will be allowed to ride on Grand National day (9 April), after a U-turn by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on 24 March. The BHA disciplinary panel had upheld the seven-day ban given to Sam (pictured) for his riding of Long Run at Carlisle on 20 March. The suspension would have ruled Sam out of Aintree along with Nina, who fell foul of whip rules during the Cheltenham Festival (18 March). But a BHA statement said “owing to ambiguous wording of the rule”, the bans will not apply on National day.…

YOUNG FANS Lyla Mainwaring, eight (pictured), and Chloe Spence-Gray, 15, have won World Horse Welfare’s competition to design a cross-country fence for this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. DRESSAGE DIVAS British Dressage has introduced a new ruling surrounding riding boots in competition. It will now allow all boots suitable for riding, regardless of pattern and features, but they must be “conservative colours in muted tones” (Anna Ross, p71). A BRAVE RESCUER Dog walker Richard Lane waded into floodwater up to his neck to rescue a horse in Northampton on 9 March. He used a carrot to coax the horse to safety. GUINNESS THE DONKEY An opera production of Carmen in Liverpool featured a live donkey named Guinness on 23 March. Money was collected for charity.…

A RIGHT ROYAL SMILE Sir — I have just read letter of the week, Right Royal family horse (24 March), which made me smile as it brought back some wonderful memories. I remember arriving at the Shropshire and West Midlands show in 1972 just before the grand parade (we were competing with show ponies the next day). I was taken aback by a stunning-looking horse festooned in rosettes, being reversed from an unassuming narrow single horse trailer. I didn’t realise until later that it was in fact the 1971 hack of the year, Right Royal, with Vicki Spencer Cox! Some 17 years later, when I was writing my book Successful Showing, I managed to source a great photograph from the Horse & Hound library, of the 1971 winning combination trotting…

SPORT HORSE BREEDING 48-PAGE PULL-OUT • Foal gradings: what evaluators are looking for • Ramiro B profile • H&H visits the Romanno Stud in Scotland • A quiet revolution: Austin O’Connor and Kate Jarvey • How breeds have changed GRAND NATIONAL PREVIEW • H&H visits trainer Oliver Sherwood and Many Clouds • Ultimate form guide: who to keep an eye on VET CLINIC Impalement injuries EVENTING William Fox-Pitt at home, plus Burnham Market report, Harry Meade comment and Eventing Life SHOWJUMPING Blue Chip Championships and Bury Farm POYS reports HUNTING Four Burrow report plus Hunting Life SHOWING BSPS Winter Championships PRODUCTS Best new saddlery and tack…

WE are all taught to run our hands down a horse’s legs each morning, checking for filling or injury. But what does finding a filled leg mean — and is it always serious? There is often confusion over this, because for a start the term “filled leg” isn’t very precise. Any tendon or ligament injury will result in swelling, as will a cut or a bang. Sometimes, however, there is more generalised filling of one or more legs without an underlying injury. Typically, this kind of filling starts at the pastern or fetlock and extends up to the knee or hock. It also goes right around the leg, making it difficult to see or feel the normal structures such as the tendons. To understand why legs fill with fluid in…

Hickstead THE first shows were run at Hickstead in 1960, with the inaugural Hickstead Derby taking place in 1961. As well as the iconic Derby bank — created by Douglas Bunn to rival the one at Hamburg — the course features a two-metre gradient from one corner down to the Devil’s Dyke. Six years ago, the main arena was converted to all-weather grass at a cost of £750,000. A drainage layer of 3.9 tonnes of gravel was added, followed by a 10-inch soil layer and 2,200 tonnes of drainage sand, which was then topped with new turf. All of the arena’s landscape features were carefully maintained. Annual maintenance costs run at £10,000-12,000. Aachen THIS vast and atmospheric arena can host up to 45,000 spectators and it is considered one of…

2015 London Global Champions Tour CSI5*: € 612,500 (£475,000); CSI2*: € 50,000 (£38,000) 2015 Horse of the Year Show CSI3*: € 203,600 (£157,500) 2015 Lummen CSIO5* (Belgium): € 500,000 (£387,000) 2015 Royal International CSIO5*: € 493,500 (£382,000) 2016 Sandillon CSI2* (France): € 57,100 (£44,000) 2016 Chepstow CSI2*: € 61,900 (£47,879) 2016 Spanish Sunshine Tour CSI3*: € 194,650 (£151,000); CSI2*: € 42,500 (£33,000) 2016 Amsterdam CSI4* (Netherlands): € 204,400 (£158,500) 2016 Windsor CSI4*: € 285,000 (£221,000)…

STEVE GUERDAT standing on the top step of a podium is a familiar sight, but nobody expected him to successfully defend his title with the 10-year-old gelding Corbinian against seasoned combinations and former champions. Riding a horse — with which he’s had shaky results and a discordant two-year partnership — to their first international win together was always going to be a memorable day. But that day coinciding with the World Cup final is nothing short of miraculous. “I had a lot of questions but not answers about Corbinian before this show because of the [long] format,” said Steve. “Before I either had the jump or the rideabilty, but not both.” Steve took over the ride from fellow Swiss rider Fabio Crotta and began competing the Westfalian in July 2014.…

DENIS LYNCH and his aptly-named All Star 5 finished fifth overall, but the format worked against him. If this were an out-and-out jumping competition he would have nailed it, as the 13-year-old Argentinus x Alme stallion was the only horse to contest every round and keep up every fence he tackled. Although the Irish rider describes him as “a Land Rover”, he is definitely a vogue edition rather than a defender, with class in spades. “He’s taken a long time to produce; I’ve had him since a six-year-old,” said Denis, who was runner-up in the second leg of the final and equal first in the third leg, and co-owns the horse with Thomas Straumann. “He’s a great mover - he’s so scopey it’s been about getting control. He’d knock you…

THEY say good things come in small packages and Sue Boyes’ six-year-old mare Carrickview French Connection, by Hold Up Premier, is no exception. Under new jockey Morven Pringle, she won the British novice at Muirmill EC, Ayrshire (8 March), before completing her first newcomers at Ingliston Country Club, Renfrewshire (12 March). “We’ve had her since she was a yearling and bought her from her breeder John Haughey in Ireland,” said Sue, who runs a boarding kennels and dog grooming business. “We owned her mother, whom I jumped up to Foxhunter before she was injured and was sold to Ireland as a broodmare. We bought back her two offspring, keeping French Connection and selling the other.” Sue took things slowly with the mare in the hope that she would grow. “She’s…

“A lovely hobby, but not something I’d want to do for a living,” is how Simon Ashworth describes eventing. Third in intermediate section A with Sunny III (below), Simon works full time as portfolio director for Cazenove Capital Management in Chester. Simon originally bought Sunny, who is “almost 18hh” to be his hunter, but thought eventing might be good for him. “He moved and jumped well and he’s well-mannered so we thought we’d try some eventing. He has Voltaire lines, with an ounce of thoroughbred somewhere - he’s just enormous,” laughed Simon. “My wife Linda trains me, as well as helping with everything else. My employers sponsor classes at Floors Castle and Weston Park, so I’m really lucky to experience eventing as a rider, owner and sponsor.”…

SOME of Mark Phillips’ comments in his last column (24 March) strike a chord. The FEI has been pro-active in encouraging individual federations and interested parties to get involved in shaping the future of eventing, yet appears to have taken no notice of anything they have said (news, p4). All the efforts made seem to have been a total waste of everyone’s time. If the FEI is not prepared to listen to its stakeholders, we have to ask, does it really have the best interests of the sport at heart? One aspect I don’t agree with is the proposal of five star-levels of eventing — with a new, 1.05m level as one-star, and the current four-stars such as Badminton and Burghley as “Classics” above the four-star level. Yes, this would…

THE Stafford (1) BE90open winner not only works full-time for a medical device company, but she also became a mother for the first time six months ago when she gave birth to her son, Henry. Steph’s ride, the 15-year-old Rushton Cherry Of Greschurch, enjoyed a leisurely 2015 “plodding round the countryside”, but the mare was right back on track for her first outing of the season. “I usually only manage to ride three times a week at 7pm once I’ve finished work and settled Henry for the night, so to win on our first attempt this year was a surprise,” said Steph. “Luckily she’s an easy-going horse who adapts to any routine.”…

AMERICAN rider Charlotte Jorst (below) - who two years ago had never ridden a flying change - finished 12th on her “dressage ninja” Kastel’s Nintendo, a 13-year-old Negro stallion. But if there were points for grinning, she would have been the runaway victor. She smiled before the bell, she beamed throughout the final centre line and her grin went stratospheric at the end of her 73.23% test. Her punchy mash-up medley of Oh Sole Mio juxtaposed with Rachel Platten’s Fight Song and Amazing Grace was inspired. In her enthusiasm, she was ahead of her music and the final halt was so close to C that the horse’s head was over the boards, almost giving judge Gustav Svalling an impromptu kiss. “I liked that American, even if she did get a…

THERE was a tie for the top spot at the seventh annual British Dressage (BD) young professionals award. The final, held at Talland School of Equitation, Glos, saw six hopefuls forward out of an initial pool of 40. Judges Jennie Loriston-Clarke and Paul Fielder could not decide between Levi Hunt and Keri Bates, who were declared joint winners. They both receive £3,000 and support from the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Excel Talent Programme — as well as a bespoke bridle from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers. Third place and £1,000 went to Jess Thompson, with the other runners-up including Melissa Beer, Fiona Brennan and Stena Hoerner. On the day, all contestants rode Talland’s young, problem and advanced horses, as well as being interviewed about their business plan, future aspirations and…

AFTER finishing reserve supreme with a show pony at the 2015 show, 14-year-old Phoebe Price went one place better when she and the show hunter pony Greylands Stardust became Jennifer Williams’ choice for this year’s title. Suffolk-based Phoebe, a member of Julie Templeton’s mighty team, has had this typey 143cm mare for two seasons. They won at last year’s Royal International (RIHS) and hit the ground running here against very strong opposition. Julie said: “They have a great partnership and Phoebe rides beautifully. She just needs a bit more self-belief.” Jennifer Williams was impressed by Greylands Stardust, the epitome of a hunter in miniature form. “She’s a lovely pony. It was a very good supreme championship with quality animals forward,” said Jennifer. “The reserve had exceptional manners and the [first…

LYNN RUSSELL claimed the RIHS maxi cob slot with Baileys Horse Feeds’ Jovian, whom she bought from Ireland as an unbroken three-year-old. It was the first outing at this level for the five-year-old grey (below). “He did a few smaller shows last year for experience, but he needed to mature and I wanted to give him another year as a novice,” said Lynn. “You have to be patient when you know it will be worth it in the long run. “He’s pure Irish draught, by Star Kingdom out of Lecarrow Gypsy. I bought him because he reminds me of Polaris, who was probably the best cob I’ve ever owned. Jovian has the same floating trot and great temperament.”…

THERE can be no doubt that the recent loss of Paul Bedford’s prolific winning stallion Metheringham Upton Hamlet due to a gastric rupture cast a huge shadow over this show. That said, the memory of the three-time national champion, whose picture graced the front cover of the 2016 commemorative programme, lives on. An abundance of his offspring were forward and frequently in the ribbons. There was appreciative and lengthy applause after commentator Delma Nulty paid a fitting tribute to the three-time Shire horse of the year, a title he last won in 2015, and no one would disagree with an emotional Paul Bedford who simply said: “We have missed him here.” There were poignant moments when Paul and his son Matthew headed the yearling colt line-up with Crossingtons Tobias and…

REPUBLISHED in 2009, with an introduction by the redoubtable RWF Poole, Portrait of a Hunt is just that. Visitors to Reaphay, as described by George Roffe-Silvester, reads like Cold Comfort Farm with terriers in beds and guests on sofas. “‘Dressing for dinner’ meant putting on trousers with less than three rips,” he writes. Working there from boyhood was Anthony “Bones” Allibone, now huntsman - since 1993 - of the Dulverton Farmers’. Yet “the great and the good”, including Captain Ronnie Wallace, Ben Hardaway III and Martin Letts, would come to Reaphay, to breed from these beautiful, light-made West Country harriers and to enjoy the unfettered hospitality of Michael and Brigid Roffe-Silvester. “The door was always open for visitors whatever the time of day,” writes another contributor, Teresa Harvey. I can…

TOMMY MORGAN made a seven-hour round trip from his Melton Mowbray base on Easter Saturday worthwhile when his girlfriend Liz Harris’ Lough Inch won the club members’ riders conditions race at a squally and windswept Larkhill (26 March), writes Robert Bracher. Paying his first-ever visit to the course from his Leicestershire base, Tommy said: “I came looking for better ground as the horse does not like the soft, and when it started to rain I nearly pulled him out.” Tommy, the son of Flat trainer Kevin Morgan, has five point-to-pointers in his yard, and this was his sixth success so far this season, taking him into second in the smaller stable leading trainer list. The four-runner field were closely grouped after the 12th fence, after which Jack Andrews opened up…

IAN STARK AFTER 50 years in the equestrian industry, I’m very happy to be involved with Harry Hall and the products they are bringing out for rider safety for the future. The safer we can make equestrianism the better. Safety is very important to me, not only in my own competitive career, but it’s particularly important now we’ve opened a new equestrian centre. We have lots of children and adults learning to ride for the first time and we need to be confident in their safety, so the products we use with them are highly important to us. I’ve seen a lot of companies come and go in the equestrian industry, and the importance of Harry Hall — which has been running for 125 years — is that it is…