Innholdsfortegnelse for August 13, 2015 i Horse & Hound

EVERYONE takes risks in life, whether it’s jumping a red light or flinging yourself down a mountain on skis. But we all have to make decisions about which risks we are willing to take — and which are a step too far. Being around horses carries an inherent danger, one which all riders accept. Consciously or subconsciously, we’ve decided that the fun of riding and spending time with horses is worth the risk of injury or worse. But we have different personal risk thresholds — some won’t jump solid fences, others won’t ride youngsters. For me, wearing a hat is a non-negotiable way of mitigating risk while riding. From messing about bareback with ponies as a kid, to working on a professional yard where plenty of other people didn’t wear…

APPROVAL has been given for a new riding school to be built in Scotland. The proposals were accepted at an Aberdeen City Council meeting on 16 July, despite officers’ recommendations to refuse them. Plans for the development at Nether Anguston were submitted by Aberdeen Riding Club in January. They include indoor and outdoor arenas, 89 stables, a viewing gallery, office and welfare facilities. Club manager Sally McCarthy said she is “absolutely delighted”. The club has to move from its current Milltimber site to make way for housing.…

AS the migrant crisis in Calais worsens, the British dressage team were forced to take action and book a back-up route to the FEI European Championships in Aachen last week, writes Amy Mathieson. The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) booked a ferry for the horses from Harwich to Holland, to avoid the Channel Tunnel if problems arose. “We altered our plans slightly to ensure that the horses travelling out to the Europeans have as easy a journey as possible,” a BEF spokesman told H&H. “Horse welfare is always our priority and we will continue to monitor the situation closely. We have a flexible travel strategy depending on the current situation.” However, the team arrived safely via the tunnel on Sunday (10 August). Calais’ migrant crisis is posing increasing problems for horseboxes…

SCOTTISH dressage rider Jo Hamilton is back competing seven months after sustaining a serious head injury — and has qualifed for the National Dressage Championships. Jo was riding at her yard near Edinburgh on 21 December when she fell from her horse Corchapin. Earlier this month (1-3 August) she competed for the first time since the accident at the Scottish Regional Championships at Cabin EC, Aberdeen in the advanced medium with Corchapin. “Fairytales can happen,” she told.…

I want to make all owners aware of a danger facing horses — certainly in Derbyshire. Derbyshire County Council is installing gates with vertical spars with sharp points on top. These do not conform to British Standards, and as far as I am aware no risk assessment has been undertaken — certainly not on land in our village. Although we had put a rail in front of the gate (if higher than 18 inches the council demand that it be lowered), walkers chased/whipped my home-bred Connemara over the one in our field on Sunday and left her on the public highway. She was severely traumatised with a chest haematoma, cuts and belly puncture scrapes, but thankfully is now recovering. The vet can’t believe how lucky she was; if one of…

HOW well is your horse? Perhaps you’ve been lucky — he seems perfectly healthy and you haven’t needed the vet out since last year’s vaccination. But can you be sure? Equine vets are often rushing to the next appointment, and a quick flu injection hardly amounts to proper assessment of a horse’s wellbeing. Owners seem happy to make regular appointments with the equine dentist, the physiotherapist, the saddle fitter and even the nutritionist, but for veterinary matters, the “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” approach still seems to rule the day. So what’s the solution? It could already be on offer from your local equine practice in the form of an annual “wellness check”. A proper wellness check is an opportunity to have an experienced set of eyes looking…

The Europeans “Aachen is too soon for my younger horses, Oldtown KC and Classic III, but I will be watching with interest as Ireland need to qualify for Rio next year and I want a chance of getting those two on the Olympic team — it would be something to build towards.” Irish showjumping “There is a great initiative called ‘Jumping in the City’ in Ireland, with legs in Limerick, Cork and Dublin. They take place in the middle of greyhound tracks and have been a huge success — it’s been good for the sport.” The next generation “Our two-year-old daughter, Mia, rode in the under-seven class at the Derby meeting on her 11hh pony Toyboy and was very happywith her clear-round rosette!”…

BERTRAM ALLEN, 20 Horse: Molly Malone V, 11 Breeding: Kannan x Cavalier Owner: Ballywalter Farms Best international results in 2015: first CSI5* at Dinard; first CSI3* at Geesteren; fifth World Cup final at Las Vegas. The grey mare is exciting ammunition for the young Irish sensation and their consistent results speak for themselves. Bertram will no doubt have the weight of his nation on his shoulders but pressure is something he appears to thrive on. A serious contender for a gold medal. GREG BRODERICK, 29 Horse: MHS Going Global, nine Breeding: Quidam Junior I x Cavalier Royale Owner: Caledonia Stables Best international results in 2015: team first at Dublin Nations Cup; team 1st at St Gallen Nations Cup; third at Estoril Global Champions Tour (GCT). A regular member for the…

Sophie Christiansen “My looped reins. Grip is difficult to maintain and they make my life a lot easier. I also like my white pull-up competition jodhpurs — female gym range company Miss Matahari are making me some bespoke pairs.” Sophie Wells “My Black Country Vinici saddles, which enable me to ride better and more effectively. They fit my legs well and allow very close contact.” Amanda Shirtcliffe “My Acavallo gel seat saver [which offers stickability and support used in conjunction with her specially made Albion saddle] is a must. Riding without stirrups can take a lot out of you — in certain parts!”…

LUCIE MCNICHOL has given up eventing to become a geography and sports teacher at Dauntsey’s School in West Lavington, Wilts. The 29-year-old, who went clear across country at Badminton in 2011, explained that a chance conversation at a horse trials at Stonar School led to an interview for the job. “I actually never meant to go into riding and I am returning to plan A, just nine years late,” said Lucie. “I graduated from Oxford Brookes in 2007 and had intended to have a gap year in which to ride Zeus Of Rushall (Jimmy) before returning to university to do a PGCE. The returning bit didn’t happen.” Lucie was a strong hockey player at school, trying out for the England development squad. “I am looking forward to getting back on…

FOUR riders will make their championship debut on the Racesafe British junior squad at their European Championships in Bialy Bor, Poland (13-16 August). Charlotte East (Clear Dawn), Alex Kennedy (Chocolate Domino), Alexander Tordoff (Emill) and Ailsa Wates (Woodlands Persuasion) will all gain their first Union flag at the championships. They are joined by former pony medallists Charlotte Bacon (Sannanvalley Justice) and Sam Ecroyd (Opera House; direct reserve horse: Wodan III). The reserves are Charlotte Dennis (DHI Hot Chip) and Libby Seed (What A Catch II). The Askham Bryan young rider squad heading to Strzegom, Poland (27-30 August), boasts a wealth of experience. All the riders have competed at championships and four of them hold pony or junior medals. The squad is Sophie Beaty (Stanly; direct reserve horse: Pink Gin), Katie…

MAYA GOLDBERG steered Ferdi Eilberg’s 15-year-old gelding Torino to victory in the inter I championship. As the only pair to break the 70% barrier, their 70.18% score was enough to finish just ahead of Bryony Goodwin and Hawtins Floriana, and secure their place at the nationals. “Torino got really excited going back to Mount Ballan,” said Maya. “Mike [Eilberg, Maya’s partner] took him jumping there when he was younger, so I don’t know if he remembered that or whether it was coincidence. “He went well in his test, although we had a mistake in the three-time changes.” The judge at C, Sue Petty, added: “Torino has powerful, expressive paces and Maya rode well prepared and executed movements, especially the pirouttes and extended paces.” It was a surprise win for Lucy…

RS Maradonner THIS home-bred six-year-old mare was the highest scoring winner of the weekend. Ridden by Vanessa Worthington, she secured 78.16% to win the novice open title. Maradonner is an upstanding black daughter of Medoc, a Hanoverian stallion by Germany’s Maat 1, whom Vanessa and her parents, Diana and James Walker, stood at their Ravendale Stud until his death in 2010. She is out of their Donnerschlag (Donnerhall x Pik König) broodmare Donnaleska. She is a true family affair as James collected the semen, inseminated the mare and foaled her. “She’s special as she’s one of Medoc’s last crop,” said Vanessa. “She’s definitely a supermodel and knows she’s got the looks, but she’s trainable.” Maradonner has gone from novice classes at the beginning of the year to winning her first…

Izzy Palmer and Suzanna Hext Izzy, 14, who won the grade III team test on Gregonne Coco Chanel (pictured), and was runner-up in the novice test, caught the eye of development coach Erik McKechnie. “She rode with a maturity and skill beyond her years,” he said. It was a bittersweet weekend for Izzy, as this was her final competition on Alison Duck’s 18-year-old mare, who is to retire. “She’s taught me everything and is a pony in a million,” said Izzy, a Podium Potential athlete, who is now looking for a new ride. H&H blogger Suzanna Hext, who has just begun competing at a high level in para dressage after an accident in which a horse rolled on her three years ago put an end to an eventing career, is…

IF any nation knows how to celebrate, Ireland does. A partisan crowd rocked the grandstand as they cheered home the triumphant Irish riders during Friday’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup. Chef d’equipe Robert Splaine’s quartet of Bertram Allen (Romanov), Greg Broderick (MHS Going Global), Cian O’Connor (Good Luck) and Darragh Kenny (Sans Soucis X) stamped authority all over their home turf and showed they mean business ahead of the FEI European Championships, producing five clear rounds between them. After the second round, they were the only team to finish on four faults and lifted the dazzling Aga Khan Trophy without needing to go into a jump-off. The Emerald Isle last won this prestigious class in 2012. Cian O’Connor, who was also on that victorious team three years ago, was celebrating his…

DI LAMPARD got off to a fantastic start in her first year as British team manager, with Nations Cup wins in La Baule, Rome and Rotterdam. Sadly, the team’s more recent performance has disappointed, with sixth places at Hickstead and Dublin — not what you need before next week’s Europeans. Aachen will be one of the most important weeks for British showjumping for many a year. We must qualify for Rio. It’s unthinkable to have won team gold in London and then not even make an appearance at the next Olympics. When I spoke to Di in Dublin, she was in a sombre and reflective mood — unsurprising after the rollercoaster of the past few weeks. But she was upbeat about team morale and getting the result needed to qualify.…

GRAHAM BABES booked a return visit to Horse Of The Year Show (HOYS) with Calvade VD Pikkerie Z, courtesy of a top spot in the Speedibeet grade C qualifier at Dumfries show (1 August), reports Mark McGowan. Fourth in last year’s newcomers final, Graham was full of praise for the seven-year-old Belgian-bred mare he has produced from novice. “It’s been difficult, because of her positive attitude and ability, not to push her too quickly, but it’s allowed her to mature correctly,” he said. “She was spot on for this. It would be nice to think I could aim her at some two-star international shows next year.” Lucy Guild’s careful planning at the start of the season paid off when she landed second with her eight-year-old winter grade C champion, Hugana…

A stunning sports pony champion clinched the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Cuddy breeders’ supreme in-hand ticket at the Three Counties showground. Leading Gemini’s Classic Opera to the top in-hand accolade was Simon Charlesworth, who has produced the three-year-old colt with Vicky Smith and Steve Pitt this season. By Classic Primitive out of Weltmusik, Classic Opera is bred and owned by Georgina and Steve Revell and has won show hunter pony breeding championships this season at Cheshire County and Derbyshire festival. “Opera was sent to us in September last year and he’s only done three shows,” said Vicky. “He was supposed to be 16.2hh, but he currently stands at 15hh so we thought he’d be well suited to the pony breeding classes.” The Cuddy winner has been booked for…

A family history THERE was barely a dry eye in the house when the story behind Harry Wells’ costume for the historical class emerged. Harry, 19, wore an authentic WW1 uniform and rode on an original 1908 saddle — many injured soldiers rode aside and served on reconnaissance duty, seeking much-needed warhorses. “One hundred years ago, Harry’s great-great-uncle, George Allen, was killed in France on his 18th birthday — his name is the first on the memorial at Westerham, where we live,” said Harry’s mother, Angela. “The bridle we’re using was made in the town around 1913 by the local saddler. Most poignantly, the maker, a Mr Lucock, would have known George Allen as both were from local families.”…

WHERE: FEI European Championships for ponies, Malmö, Sweden WHEN: 5-9 August WHO: Team GBR pony eventing team WHY: The team won gold at last week’s championships. The result meant Team GBR took a clean sweep in all three disciplines BRITISH pony riders dominated last week’s championships by winning all three team events. Following the cross-country, the eventers were in team silver medal position. All team members then went on to showjump clear and secure the final team gold of the championships. “I couldn’t ask for more,” said chef d’equipe Gary Parsonage. • For full report see p40. IRISH cheer all round. “These Nations Cups are not easy to win but the boys earned their dinners tonight,” said chef d’equipe Robert Splaine as the home nation were victorious in the Dublin…

THE importance of wearing helmets on the ground as well as mounted has been highlighted after an owner was killed and another was seriously injured in separate accidents last month, writes Amy Mathieson. Dressage rider Samantha Cawkwell was found dead in a paddock near her home in Lancashire on 19 July. The 31-year-old suffered a blow to the head and neck. “She had been kicked by the horse, sustaining severe head and neck injuries,” said her stepmother Elaine. On 21 July Claire Balysz from Romsey was leading in a 16hh KWPN youngster from a pen into a stable when the horse kicked out. She credits her helmet for saving her live and is urging others to wear a hat while leading. “There were no issues with his behaviour,” she told…

YOUNG British riders are invited to apply for a Sport England-funded talent programme. The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) England Excel Talent Programme 2015-17 is open to 14- to 24-year-olds. The two-year scheme extends below the World Class Programme and supports riders with Olympic medal-winning potential. A new element to this year’s programme is a young horse section. It is open to applicants aged 16-24 with a talented youngster, up to the age of seven, who is showing potential to become an international prospect. •  Applications close on 31 August. To find out how to apply visit: www.bef.co.uk…

THE Masters of Foxhounds Association “strongly recommends” annual boosters for bordetella and parainfluenza. Costs are around £12 per head but it is not a fail-safe option, which is why not all hunts vaccinate. But many hunts see it as a form of insurance to protect against further losses should hunting be suspended. Hounds that have had the vaccine should be treated at least five weeks prior to showing to prevent transient infection. Currently there is no vaccination available against strep zoo. However, those vaccinated against kennel cough may have a higher level of resistance to this secondary infection.…

COMPETITORS in the east of England have been given a welcome boost after recently losing two affiliated show centres, writes Rachael Hook. Patchetts Equestrian Centre in Hertfordshire, which hosted both British Dressage (BD) and British Showjumping (BS) events, closed on Tuesday (3 August, news, 2 July) . Norton Heath Equestrian Centre in Essex also recently lost its BD affiliation and now only holds unaffiliated showjumping and dressage (news, 16 April). However, two other show venues hosting affiliated competitions in this region have improved facilities. Wix Equestrian Centre has replaced the surfaces in its two indoor arenas. The Essex venue hosts BD and BS competitions. “We have put in 540 tonnes of Andrews Bowen waxed surface and did the work ourselves in less than two weeks, finishing on 1 July,” Jenny…

ERIDGE PONY CLUB BRANCH The branch celebrated its 80th birthday with a tea party in Eridge Park, East Sussex, with members old and new. A HORSEY COUPLE Padraig McCarthy proposed to partner and fellow eventer Lucy Wiegersma last week (3 August). Padraig makes his Irish senior championship team debut next month at the Europeans on Lucy’s former ride Simon Porloe. SCOTT BRASH The British showjumper (left) remains number one in the latest FEI world showjumping rankings. Hickstead King George V Gold Cup winner Beezie Madden (USA) has jumped from eighth to second place. ALEX HARDWICK The British dressage rider has moved up to number nine (from 21st) in the FEI youth world rankings with Donauwein. The 24-year-old is also the highest ranked British rider in the under-25s list.…

Celebrate the working horse A working horse exhibition is being held at Lamport Hall, Northants, until mid-October. www.lamporthall.co.uk Watch eventing Watch one- to three-star eventing at Hartpury, Glos, from 13-16 August. www.hartpuryhorsetrials.co.uk Go to a show Mid-Somerset Show is at Shepton Mallet on 16 August. Attractions include showing, showjumping and an inter-hunt relay at the Shepton Mallet venue. www.midsomersetshow.org.uk Happy Birthday! Princess Anne (15 August)…

Settling down to... I love watching films and it’s a great way for me to relax. I enjoy superhero and action films — and I imagine myself as a bit of a superhero. Who doesn’t? A grounding moment… Less than 24 hours after winning the Grand National I fell in a hurdle race at Hexham. I was airlifted to hospital with fractured vertebrae following a kick between the shoulder blades. A blunder I won’t forget... Auroras Encore was having a prep run at Doncaster before the Grand National and, having come second at Ayr in the Scottish National the year before, we were keen to give him a good spin before the big race. Sadly I asked him for a ridiculous stride and instead of saying “no”, he picked up…

• GET used to running your hands down your horse’s legs. Even professional riders sometimes neglect this, but there is no better way of picking up subtle problems early. Familiarise yourself with the feel of the tendons and joints, and compare left and right legs — they should feel the same.• Learn how to gauge the strength of the digital pulses to the feet by feeling the arteries at fetlock level. This takes practice but is much more reliable than feeling for warm hooves. If a lame horse has a raised digital pulse, the cause is almost always in that foot.• Know how to take your horse’s temperature. Avoid doing it every day, however, as temperature varies and the range of what is perfectly normal is wider than many textbooks and online sources…

Perfecting the halt • The halt sets the impression for the test. If you come down the centre line and halt well, it tells the judge your horse is well trained.• I found this difficult at first with Cassie [Die Callas], who thought halting was for wimps. I corrected this with practice and she now scores eights. Learning your test • When memorising a test, don’t just learn it from marker to marker. Learn it as you would ride it — move off, half-halt, bend, corner. Think through the whole test as if you were riding it. If you keep doing this in your head throughout the test it keeps you focused and makes sure you don’t freeze up. Look for the easy marks • For test riding, I break down the components…

The champion FRANCE’S Roger Yves Bost will be hoping to retain his title from 2013. The 49-year-old partners the 11-year-old bay stallion Qoud’Coeur De La Loge. They were part of the fourth-placed French team at Hickstead’s Nations Cup. A speedmaster PIETER DEVOS, 29, helped the Belgium side to a Nations Cup victory at Hickstead. He produced the winning jump-off aboard the 14-year-old grey gelding Dylano. Family duo NORWAY’S Geir Gulliksen has a chance of clinching a team spot riding the 14-year-old Edesa S Banjan. His daughter Victoria also has a place on the nominated list of entries. The 23-year-old is an up-and-coming international rider and hopes to partner the nine-year-old grey gelding Bokai in Aachen. • As H&H went to press, team selection of the “Ones to Watch” was to…

• SATURDAY 22 AUGUST: showjumping team highlights 3pm-4.30pm on BBC1 and BBC Sport website (timings TBC) • SUNDAY 23 AUGUST: showjumping individual competition 4.15-5.15pm on BBC2. Also via red button (commences at 2.50pm) and BBC Sport website 3pm-5.40pm (timings TBC) • All times will be updated on: www.horseandhound.co.uk/ www.feitv.org — paid-for service covering all sessions • For reports and updates from the team and individual competitions, follow www.horseandhound.co.uk/tag/ european-showjumping-championships • Don’t miss our full 10-page report out on Thursday 27 August, to relive the action, read expert commentary and see the best photographs…

CROSS-COUNTRY speed can win or lose the British Eventing Open Championship title at Gatcombe, and it certainly gave Christopher Burton his first victory in this summer championship. Christopher — the first Australian to win the class since Clayton Fredericks in 2006 — zipped round Gatcombe’s steep undulations and sharp turns on the syndicate-owned TS Jamaimo to record the second-fastest time of the day, with 2.8 time-faults. And when his countryman Sam Griffiths had an unexpected fall half a dozen fences from home with Paulank Brockagh when in the lead and travelling well, it handed Christopher the trophy. “It’s very exciting to win here, but I’m gutted for my best mate [Sam],” he said. He admitted that he had been cross to have a rail down in the showjumping, because the…

I always look forward to the Festival of British Eventing — the national championships is a big target for many riders and owners. The event provides a real international atmosphere for the horses and the reverse-order cross-country in the Open adds a bit of pressure and excitement. There were significant changes to the course and some good new questions. The problems were spread out throughout the whole track, which was positive. As a boy I loved watching the British Open on the BBC. Since the event is no longer televised is it great to regain many of the benefits through internet streaming and the cross-country made fantastic viewing. Camera coverage obviously plays a part in the changes to the route. For designers it is always a hard balancing act between…

Chloe Pearson CLOCKING up a one-two is a feat usually only achieved by professionals, but 17-year-old A-level student Chloe Pearson did just that at Cholmondeley Castle, where she partnered Garrybritt Calvin and Garryduff Chacoa into first and second positions in the BE100u18. Chloe finished on a clean sheet on both of her rides, with Calvin (pictured) just nudging ahead of his stablemate by virtue of a dressage score of 25 (compared to Chacoa’s 25.8). “Neither of them had evented before I took them on last December; they both came from showjumping backgrounds,” revealed Chloe. “It’s taken me a long time to convince Calvin that he doesn’t need to be so careful all the time and to get him thinking forward, but it’s all coming together now.” Chloe, a member of…

THE Grassroots Championships at Badminton is being rebranded as the Mitsubishi Motors Cup from 2016. The winners of the BE90 and BE100 finals will each receive a brand new Mitsubishi Shogun for a year, as well as other prizes. The two winners, along with the runners-up, are also offered licence to use the Mitsubishi brand name in association with their horses’ names, which British Eventing’s (BE) chief executive, David Holmes, hopes will enable them to commemorate their victory, add prestige and perhaps help attract potential sponsorship. David said: “I would like to express my thanks to all at Mitsubishi Motors (UK) for their loyal and passionate support for riders at this growing level of the sport. This series continues to become an increasingly important part of our national championships calendar,…

Amy Woodhead THE 22-year-old was doing advanced movements as a toddler, sitting in front of her father Ian Woodhead on his grand prix horse. Now based with Carl Hester, the talented rider took the medium open title here, aboard Carl and Ann Corey’s seven-year-old gelding Hawtins Delicato (pictured), by Diamond Hit. Amy also finished second in the novice open on Sue Fearis’ Dafira, gaining another nationals ticket. “I am so lucky to have been given the ride on Delicato at the regionals,” said Amy. “He gave me a confident feel and rose to the occasion. Carl is excited about this horse’s future.”…

OUR Europeans team has been announced, with Michael Eilberg as the much speculated upon fourth team member. It is well deserved: he’s been a class act all year, consistently scoring plus-70% at big four-star shows, including Aachen. I’m really delighted to have been named as a reserve with Die Callas. I’ll be using the autumn shows to begin putting my foot down in readiness for next year’s Olympic campaign. Inspiration from afar I have just returned from the Pan Am Games, where I was coaching the Brazilian eventing team. I’m happy to report that it was a roaring success, with the team taking the silver medal. From a personal perspective, it was pretty satisfying that for the first time in history a Brazilian rider, Ruy Fonseca, was in the lead…

AFTER a hard-fought competition, David Simpson and Phillip Miller took their tickets to the newcomers final at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at Patchetts EC, Herts (1-2 August), writes Penny Richardson. Riders travelled from far and wide, not only to chase precious HOYS tickets but also to say a fond farewell to the popular centre, which has now closed having been in the same ownership for 34 years. They were rewarded with a high-class competition. Course designer Keith Bristow ensured that the result was all about the jumping and just eight faced the clock in the third round. The first treble clear came from Megan James on The Jeweller. The Glasgow rider’s German-bred six-year-old was facing his biggest test, but made little of a sizeable track and looks…

IT seems that the trend of “judge bashing” on social media and gossip sites is on the rise. No matter how you feel when you come out of the ring, it is never acceptable to do this! If you feel hard done by or feel there has been something underhand, you should complain to the relevant society. Of course judges should be transparent and whiter than white, and should quite rightly be reprimanded if they are not acting impartially, but I strongly believe that competitors should be dealt with equally as fiercely if they start vendettas, or bully judges or other riders. Judges should not be made to feel pressured by competitors. Following a show I judged recently, I was the subject of personal rants on social media, because one…

THE British riders jumping for Team GBR at the FEI European Championships (19-23 August) have been named — but world number one Scott Brash is not on the list. Joe Clee, Ben Maher, Jessica Mendoza, Michael Whitaker and travelling reserve Guy Williams will all head to Aachen. However, Scott Brash, the lynchpin of previous championship teams, is a notable absentee, having withdrawn both Hello Sanctos and Hello M’Lady. It was not in Sanctos’s “best interests” to contest both the Europeans and the final leg of the Rolex Grand Slam in Calgary (9-13 September) — where the pair stand to win a € 1million (£710,000) bonus. The Scottish rider said he was putting nine-year-old Hello M’Lady, who he rode in the Dublin Nations Cup, up for selection. But it has since…

AL KAZEEM The four-time Group One winning seven-year-old, trained by Roger Charlton, has been retired due to injury. He was originally retired to stud in 2013, but returned to the track after failing to get the required number of mares in-foal. He retires having won £1.57m in prize money. UTASCHA The 14-year-old showjumper has been put down after breaking a leg. The mare was formerly competed by Eric van der Vleuten and world champion Jeroen Dubbeldam before being sold to Qatar in 2014 and ridden by Khalid Mohammed Al Emadi. OUT AND ABOUT Kerry Millikin’s 1996 Olympic partner has been put down due to old age. The thoroughbred, by L’Amour Rullah out of Incarnadine, was 28. The pair won individual bronze at Atlanta in 1996 as well as helping the…

HORSES of all ages could race in point-to-points that are two-and-a-half miles next season. Races at a distance shorter than three miles have been limited to maiden events for young horses aged up to seven. However, the Point-to-Point Association said it has “recognised the optimum distance for some horses is below three miles”. The introduction of two-and-a-half-mile races was among the recommendations of a race programming committee, set up in January by owner David Minton. Mr Minton said: “This is one of a few changes we hope to implement, with an aim to attract more people to the sport and give participants more options.”…

IT’S the showdown the dressage world has been waiting for — the two titans of the grand prix circuit Valegro and Totilas will be going head-to-head this weekend at the FEI European Dressage Championships, writes Amy Mathieson. The individual medals will be decided on Saturday (15 August) and Sunday (16 August) at Aachen, and fans will be holding their breath to see whether Britain or Germany claim gold. Valegro and Charlotte Dujardin, as world record holders in all three tests, look set to come out on top, especially as Matthias Rath and Totilas’ past couple of seasons have been plagued with injury and illness. However, at the pair’s only meeting — at Aachen ahead of the 2014 World Equestrian Games (WEG) — Totilas took the spoils, with Valegro trailing in…

THE Olympic site for the equestrian events at Rio received positive reviews following last week’s test event (6-10 August), writes Amy Mathieson. Only Brazilian pairs took part in the event, due to costs of taking nations to Rio, but a team of British observers attended the event at Deodoro Park, including British Equestrian Federation performance director Dan Hughes, who said “initial impressions are good”. “All the surfaces in the main and practice arenas have, or will be, newly laid, and an incredible amount of work has taken place to improve the going on the cross-country course,” said Dan. “The important things are well on their way and the venue ‘works’.” Swedish rider Ludwig Svennerstal, who hopes to compete at next year’s Games, told H&H hewas “very impressed” . “I was…

A POND-DIPPER Firefighters saved a horse after he became stuck in a pond in Chichester. The horse was lifted to safety from the neck-high water using a crane. A TRAVELLING PONY Police in Hannover, Germany, were shocked when they found a Shetland pony being transported in the back of a Fiat Panda. The pony was standing on a bed of straw in the hatchback of the car. TEAM TWO MILLS The Wirral showjumping yard had branded tack and equipment, including two saddles, stolen overnight from its horsebox last week (3 August). DAVID FITZPATRICK Not only did the jockey receive a 21-day ban, the subject caused amusement when Sky Sports News headlined the story “Jockey David Fitzpatrick given 21-day ban following Monday’s ride on Roryslittlesister at Naas”.…

IN MEMORY Sir — It was with great sadness that I received a letter from Jessica Sherwin, sister of Samantha Cawkwell, telling me that Samantha had died in a tragic horse accident. She said that her sister had trained endlessly with her horse, Fabulicious, to try to qualify for our young horse final. She did qualify and was due to come to Badminton for the championships — she had worked and lived for being part of this event. As our show is for charity, we will be making a donation to whichever charity Samantha’s family chooses. Our thoughts go out to all Samantha’s family and her friends at this very sad time. Miranda Beaufort Badminton House, Glos A BAD EXAMPLE Sir — I recently saw an advert for the National…

BECOMING a professional showjumper had never crossed Trevor Breen’s mind until the age of 28 — yet less than a decade later, he is sitting here at his Buckinghamshire base two weeks after claiming back-to-back Hickstead Derbys. He made his winning return to the West Sussex venue this year riding Loughnatousa WB, having taken the 2014 honours with one-eyed wonder Adventure De Kannan. It is an achievement other riders can only dream about and you’d think the feat would prove life-changing, but this level-headed, softly spoken Irishman takes everything in his stride. “I’ve been at a show most days since — I haven’t had much time to think about it. It’s only when people start congratulating me, it hits home and I realise what I’ve done,” he says. So how…

BEN MAHER, 32 Horse: Diva II, 10 Breeding: Kannan x Berlioz Owner: Tatiana Korsakova Best international results in 2015: team first at Rotterdam Nations Cup; first Wellington CSI5*. The chestnut mare made her team debut for Ben in June at Rotterdam. The combination enjoyed success at London Olympia in December, triumphing in the CSI5* grand prix. They opened their 2015 account with a win at Wellington in Florida in the World Cup CSI5* competition in March and have the credentials to put on an impressive display at Aachen. MICHAEL WHITAKER, 55 Horse: Cassionato, 10 Breeding: Cassini I x Quidam De Revel Owner: Beverley Widdowson Best international results in 2015: team first at Rotterdam Nations Cup; team first at La Baule Nations Cup. The grey stallion is one of the country’s…

WITH September’s European championships looming large and the Rio Paralympics just over a year away, Britain’s top para riders are sharpening their game and vying for team places. As para dressage standards worldwide continue to rise, so the pressure is on Team GBR to maintain its position as world number one and bring home the medals. Yet dressage is a demanding sport, even for the able-bodied. Campaigning a competition horse at international level involves considerable mental, physical and financial input. How do para riders organise the logistics to cope with the rigours of training and team selection in the run-up to a major event? A balancing act MULTIPLE Paralympic medallist Sophie Christiansen, who will be heading to Deauville, France, this September for the Europeans, works as a statistical analyst in…

Noah Brook THE 19-year-old led from start to finish in the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup, a new restricted novice championship for amateur riders. Riding Paul Crompton’s Deo Volente III (below), Noah won by a margin of 10 marks and finished on his dressage score of 22.5. Noah, who has worked for Andrew Day, Judy Bradwell and most recently Andrew Saywell, has just qualified the seven-year-old by Tolan R for the national dressage championships at novice level. “He’s very sensitive and you can’t put too much pressure on him, but we’ve never had a falling-out and he’s honest and straight to jump,” said Noah. The pair led the dressage in the CIC* at Chatsworth, but had two showjumps down and finished third. They jumped clear here, and Noah said:…

‘He could feel the pieces of bone moving’ LESS than three months ago, Gareth Denner’s winning Calmsden (1) BE80(T) ride, D Haka, was not only on the injury list, but was on box rest with a fractured off foreleg. The seven-year-old gelding, who was bred by his owner, Rebecca Hunt, and sent to Gareth last year to compete, was kicked in the field in early May. “He came in with a nasty looking gash above his knee on the inside of his foreleg. When our vet, Lee Paul from Bushy Equine Clinic, examined it, he put his hand in the cut and could feel the pieces of bone moving around,” explained Gareth. “It was touch and go, but fortunately the bone started to knit together quickly and he only needed…

LEADERS AS OF 6 AUGUST WORLD RANKINGS Michael Jung (GER) BRITISH EVENTING LISTS LEADING RIDER Oliver Townend LEADING HORSE Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell’s Leonidas II, ridden by Mark Todd GOLDMAN CUP (UNDER-21) Emily King FAIRFAX BRITANNIA LEAGUE Holly Woodhead FUTURE TALENT TWO-STAR LEAGUE Fred and Penny Barker’s Strike Smartly, ridden by Daisy Berkeley FOUNDATION POINTS RIDER Oliver Townend FOUNDATION POINTS HORSE Katie Hancock’s Kilcandra Rambo Ray, ridden by the owner GRASSROOTS RIDER Lucinda Crawford GRASSROOTS HORSE Katie Hancock’s Kilcandra Rambo Ray, ridden by the owner…

Course-builder’s corner THE going in the west ring had been watered to perfection but rain the weekend before the show made it heavier than expected for Wednesday’s International Stairway — contributing to the toughness of the track. “There wasn’t a lot of push off the ground and it wasn’t so much the height of the fences as getting the power to clear the widths that was the problem,” said course-builder Steven Williams. “When you walked the course the ground felt reasonable and the riders all thought it was OK, but it didn’t jump as well.” The colour of the pole on the first fence may well have been behind the unusual number to fault there. “It was a plain red pole, which they might have found harder to see. We…

‘It’s amazing where determination can get you’ LINDSEY MACDONALD knows that hard work pays off. Last year she won the Highland final at HOYS riding her own Dunedin Merlin. They have also taken the ridden M&M title at the Royal Highland show for the last two years. Here, she finished reserve champion in the Shearwater Insurance M&M ridden final. Working full-time as a gynaecologist at Forthvalley Royal Hospital in Scotland, Lindsey, who had never ridden at HOYS until 2014, divides her time between Merlin and her job. “Merlin is completely home-produced and is based at a DIY livery yard near the hospital,” said Lindsey. “Winning HOYS last year was the biggest shock to me. At the beginning of last year I would have told you amateurs don’t win at HOYS,…

Eliminated for wearing earrings BREAKING the HOYS rule regarding the wearing of earrings in the show ring cost Katy Green dear, as she jumped an immaculate clear on Shekan Ping only to be eliminated during the final judging when judges Anne Leaver and Jill Wormall became aware of the infringement. Rulebooks were consulted and calls made to HOYS organiser Grandstand Media, but the elimination stood. “The rule is there in black and white,” said Anne. “We didn’t spot the earrings when Katy came in for her jumping round or we would have invited her to remove them before she started — as another competitor did. “The rule is there for the safety of competitors.”…

THE major hound show season finished as it had begun, with championship victory for the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray (CL&C). While none of the major packs were present there was good local support, with a larger number of entrants in the different classes than has been seen at recent shows (see news analysis, p8). It was a particularly successful day for the Dulverton West who won half of the 12 classes, as well as the local bitch championship. Their first success came in the restricted unentered doghound class where Arkle (walked by Juliette and Willie Crosbie–Dawson, former master of the Vine and Craven), beat off strong competition that included the Cattistock and the South Tetcott’s winners from Builth (25 June) and Dunster (29 July). The restricted class for single entered…

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