Innholdsfortegnelse for August 27, 2015 i Horse & Hound

CONGRATULATIONS to Britain’s showjumpers on gaining that precious Rio ticket. It was a privilege to be in Aachen and see the strength of their determination and performances. Ireland had a chequered time (news, p7). Someone inexplicably running in front of a horse happens only very occasionally, but with Olympic qualification at stake, the implications were huge. Had a Rio slot not been in jeopardy, I suspect the Irish would have protested just once, unsuccessfully, and shrugged their shoulders. Sixth? Seventh? Ah well. Giving the competitor the benefit of doubt might sound fair, but it wouldn’t be a victimless solution — Spain, who collected the qualification instead of Ireland, would probably counter-appeal. Some have suggested both nations be awarded a ticket, but the Olympics are strict on competitor numbers, so I…

IRISH team officials are considering their options in the wake of the controversial incident at last week’s FEI European Showjumping Championships in Aachen, Germany, which may have deprived them of a ticket to the Rio Olympics, writes Pippa Roome. During the final team round (21 August), Cian O’Connor was rounding a mound on a right-hand turn when one of the arena crew ran in front of Good Luck (pictured, above). He had the next jump down, his only fault of the round. “I had to shout at him and it put me off my line, the horse sidestepped him a bit — it was as clear as day the guy was in my way,” said Cian. Had Cian gone clear, Ireland would have qualified for Rio 2016. With his four…

FLORA HARRIS will not ride on the British squad at the FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle next month (10-13 September). Flora and Bayano were selected following their CCI3* win at Bramham. However, the pair had three run-outs across country in the Nations Cup in Aachen. “The British eventing senior selectors have decided to substitute Bayano after the horse’s recent lack of form at the Nations Cup,” said a spokesman for the British Equestrian Federation. First reserve Tom Jackson stands in, riding Waltham Fiddlers Find.…

THE number of times players can change ponies within a match has been questioned by Guards polo manager Antony Fanshawe, writes Polly Bryan. The former high-goal player, who took the role at Guards this year, is keen to see ponies frequently playing full chukkas, and the style of play return to “passing” polo as a result. Players often change horses at least once during a chukka, as well as in between. “Horses are not as fit as they used to be — players go for the ‘two-minute express train’ instead of ponies with the stamina to play a full chukka as was the case not so very long ago,” he said. “People only prepare ponies to play two-minute bursts, and we’re rewarding the guy who doesn’t prepare his ponies well…

TEAM GBR vaulters picked up a host of top 10 finishes at the FEI European Championships in Aachen (20-23 August). The individual female vaulters performed their final freestyle routine on Sunday (23 August) and Team GBR’s Hannah Eccles and Lucy Phillips finished in eighth and ninth place respectively. In the final squad vaulting class, held the same day, Great Britain’s squad of six, aboard Tylers Kernel, secured overall ninth place. The squad was made up of Andrew McLachlan, Hannah Young, Rebecca Norval, Kerri Brylka, Harry Cox and Lisa Mercer. They were lunged by John Eccles.…

A DONKEY OWNER David Simmons, who runs donkey rides on Blackpool beach, was fined £75 for parking his horsebox on the prom headlands. He was using the lorry to transport water to his donkeys. A HEAD GIRL Kirsty Smyth, head girl to Kiwi eventer Jock Paget, needed hospital treatment after injuring her foot while in Aachen for the eventing Nations Cup. Her foot was sliced open by a stud. RICHARD SKELT The eventer’s horse Man Hunt jumped clear through the CIC3* water at Hartpury (15 August) despite his bridle and ear covers slipping over his eyes. After adjusting the bridle, the pair carried on but later retired. TERENCE STAMP The British actor, who played General Zod in the original Supermanfilms, broke his pelvis (in six places) and two ribs, and…

SMILE AND GET ON WITH IT Sir — Congratulations on fantastic reporting of the Aachen dressage (reports and comment, 20 August). I did watch this on TV, but your reporting made one feel the atmosphere and the excitement. The only down side was the crowd booing either the judges or Charlotte Dujardin. How very crass. Anyone who has competed in dressage knows that sometimes you think you have not done your best, but get a good score, and sometimes the reverse happens. That’s the game — smile and get on with it. Fiona Burns Clifton-upon-Teme, Worcs CONFIDENCE AFTER A FALL Sir — I was interested to read about dog attacks on horses being at a record high (news, 2 April). I strongly agree with the suggestion that it would be…

Fashion I will leave Pikeur in September to become an ambassador for Hermès, where I will work in brand development. Exercise I include yoga, some weight training and jogging in my training regime. Nothing too extreme, but everything regularly, to keep me fit. Riding is more than just sitting on a horse. Weight training helps me be strong enough to have positive body tension, while jogging improves condition. I want my horses to move like a rubber ball, so I need to do the same, or I will disturb them. Mental strength I’ve always found mental training interesting and I’ve learnt it by myself, through reading. I now have a coach, and find it invaluable to talk about life goals and aims and to have a different perspective — a…

‘Two unbelievable gifts’ THE Swiss moved up from 13th after the opening speed leg to take the bronze, as well as their Olympic qualification. “I was so happy we had qualified that when [team member] Martin Fuchs asked if I realised we were so close to bronze I said no — for me, it was finished,” said chef d’equipe Andy Kistler. “Today we got two unbelievable gifts.” Championship debutant Romain Duguet, 34, was the best Swiss performer in the speed leg and then jumped two clears on the 11-year-old Quorida De Treho (above), a chestnut Kannan mare like Ben Maher’s Diva II. The team were without Steve Guerdat, whose Olympic champion Nino Des Buissonnets is suspended following a positive test for banned substances. “Steve was here on Wednesday and Thursday…

CLARK MONTGOMERY led from the outset to win the Bloor Homes/Albion Saddle Makers CIC2* with Loughan Glen. A 36.2 dressage, a clear showjumping and 1.2 time-penalties gave the combination a 3.6-mark advantage over Carlos Paro and former racehorse Summon Up Theblood, on what was the horse’s first outing since finishing sixth in Luhmühlen. “It was the perfect first run after that,” said Clark. “You want a horse to feel a million dollars after a four-star but you also need enough to make them think — this was ideal.” From now all roads lead to Rio and Clark has his sights firmly set on the Olympics with the Irish-bred gelding. “I think he is the ideal horse for there,” he added. “He’s very careful showjumping, does a great dressage and he’s…

TWO riders who were a whisker away from giving up eventing for good had their decision to continue vindicated with wins at Aston-le-Walls (4). Frances Long almost hung up her boots four years ago following a catalogue of injuries to her and her horses. A BE90 win on her six-year-old mare, Mama Mia III was, therefore, a real tonic. “I strained my trapezius muscle at work,” said the former mental health nurse. “At first I tried to keep riding, but I made it worse.” The horse she was competing then suffered a check ligament tear, first on one front leg, then on the other. “I felt like someone was trying to tell me something, so I gave up briefly,” continued Frances, who was persuaded by a family friend 10 months…

AACHEN was the championship that could make or break dressage. Team GB had been looking forward to it for so long; an exciting build up and great scores — a medal looked possible. We arrived four days before to prepare and took over the Novotel for the whole week. Ours is a team of friendship and a great atmosphere, ably led by Dickie Waygood. On day two I joined the eventers in the main paddock. Nip Tuck (Barney) may be a giant but his mouse-like qualities came to the fore. As a waiter dropped a tray of glasses, Barney spun round and fell down on top of me. I do wonder if that waiter was working for the German team? Also in the wars was Denmark’s Anna Kasprzak, who was…

BLUE skies, now and again dramatically disturbed by the noisy passing of low-lying RAF Typhoons, and hot sun gave the 112th Rydal Show a real holiday feel. Tourists and Fell walkers rubbed shoulders with a large crowd of hunting enthusiasts around the three show rings as well as enjoying the associated sheep dog trials, stick show and hound trailing. As is usual at Rydal, the classes in the foxhound ring began with those confined to hounds from the host pack, the Coniston. The tradition that many of the hounds in Fell pack kennels return to their walks at the end of the hunting season continues. They and the puppies due to start their career this season come back to kennels at the end of the show ready for the coming…

WHERE: FEI European Showjumping Championships WHEN: Sunday 23 August WHO: Jeroen Dubbeldam and SFN Zenith NOP WHY: Jeroen added European champion to his World and Olympic titles JEROEN, with SFN Zenith NOP, became the first Dutch rider since 1977 to win the individual European crown. The 42-year-old rider was the 2000 Olympic champion, and also took last year’s World Equestrian Games title. “Sometimes the year after such a great result is harder, but this horse is incredible, amazing, there are no other words for it,” he said after his win. Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet took silver and France’s Simon Delestre finished in bronze. The closest British finisher was Joe Clee and Utaramo D’Ecaussines in 15th. Jeroen’s win topped off an excellent championships for the Netherlands, with the country also taking showjumping…

IRELAND’S Olympic ride has not always been smooth. At London 2012 the nation failed to qualify a team, but secured individual spaces for Cian and Billy Twomey, with Cian picking up the bronze medal. There was controversy at the time, with a review launched to establish why the Republic could not qualify a team — despite having two riders in the world’s top 11 and five in the top 100. In 2008 Ireland also failed to qualify a team, sending Denis Lynch as an individual. He was subsequently disqualified after his horse Lantinus tested positive for capsaicin. In 2004 Cian was stripped of individual gold after his horse Waterford Crystal failed a dope test.…

KAREN Stives has died at the age of 64. She died on 14 August from lung cancer. In 1984, Ginny Elliot and Karen made history at the Los Angeles Olympics by becoming the first women to win individual Olympic eventing medals. Karen won silver on her mother Lillian Mahoney’s Ben Arthur, and Ginny claimed bronze. She rode for the US in numerous internationals, including the 1982 World Championships in Lumühlen. After retiring from international competition, Karen became an FEI judge and chairman of the United States Equestrian Team Foundation’s selectors.…

HORSES and humans share similar facial expressions, according to a new study, writes Amy Mathieson. Research by the University of Sussex revealed that horses — like humans and chimps — use muscles underlying their nostrils, lips and eyes to alter their facial expressions in a variety of social situations. The findings, that were published earlier this month (5 August), show that facial cues are important for horses, and suggest evolutionary parallels in different species in how the face is used for communication. The Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS) identified 17 “action units” (discrete facial movements) in horses. This compares with 27 in humans, 13 in chimps and 16 in dogs. “What surprised us was the rich repertoire of complex facial movements in horses, and how many are similar to…

A teenage part-time groom has been awarded more than £20,000 in compensation after being kicked while at work, writes Amy Mathieson. Jess Rawnsley was 16 when she was kicked by a horse on 1 April 2014. She was working as a part-time groom at a riding school in West Yorkshire when she was asked to turn out one of the horses. The horse spun round and kicked her in the face, breaking her jaw in two places and causing her briefly to lose consciousness. Miss Rawnsley said she was unaware the horse had a history of temperament issues. A letter of claim was sent to the third party insurer stating the employer had failed to warn Miss Rawnsley and failed to take positive steps to safeguard her health, safety and…

A strong performance by Great Britain’s women resulted in team gold at the European Modern Pentathlon Championships (18-23 August). Britain’s Kate French also secured her Rio 2016 spot, finishing eighth individually. In the men’s individuals, Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe became the first Irish pentathlete to win a European gold medal. Arthur has also now qualified for the Olympic Games. Great Britain’s men’s team finished in seventh place, with team member Joe Choong picking up a Rio qualification. Joe was the highest-placed Brit, finishing in seventh place individually.…

Further to your article on lightning strikes (vet clinic, 20 August) I wanted to tell you about the devastating effects this had on my yard in March. A freak storm of hail, snow, thunder and lightning came from nowhere. Unfortunately my friend Layla Cotterill’s recently backed pony, Cheese (right), whom she had bought as a foal, was killed. Out of 60 horses, he was the only one who was harmed. What made it more distressing was that before buying Cheese, Layla had suffered a horrendous horse-related accident and was lucky to survive — never mind make the decision to take on a foal. But Cheese was indeed a saint and greatly helped her recovery. How cruel that he was taken when they had just begun their ridden career. On the…

The green, green grass of home • “I’ll usually try to get a course of showjumps out in one of the fields by February.” • “All the horses will do grid and pole work over the winter, but I like to get them jumping courses off grass, rather than a surface, ahead of the season starting so they know what’s expected of them at competitions,” she explains. Planning and preparation • “I always have a plan ahead of getting on any of my horses,” says Kitty. “There’s a goal for each session. Equally, I never go to an event without knowing that I’ve prepared properly. I don’t go to competitions to train, but to give the horse the best experience possible, regardless of the level it’s competing at.” Every little…

ENOUGH time has passed for the original Hunting Act to be judged in an historical context, so it is worth remembering what the main gist of it is — and also why it remains unworkable for packs of hounds. The law that we now have to operate under does nothing to protect foxes. The fact remains that hunting with hounds is the only truly selective method of hunting, whereby weak and sick animals are far more likely to be caught, resulting in a healthy and controlled population. This law is akin to banning angling to protect cod, while allowing trawlers to continue to fish. It may not be legal deliberately to cause a pack of hounds to hunt a fox with the intention of the hounds catching it, but you…

Goodbye to Rio? AACHEN is an amazing venue and there was barely a grumble from riders or press — a stark contrast to last year’s WEG. But there was a bitter sting for the Irish, another nation on the Rio qualification trail. With the result in the balance after four faults on the final day from Bertram Allen (Molly Malone V) and Greg Broderick (MHS Going Global), third rider Cian O’Connor (Good Luck) was rounding the mound to approach fence 11 when a member of the arena party ran just in front of the horse and leapt into the flowerbed. The horse had the following yellow oxer down — his only fault of the round. Anchorman Denis Lynch (All Star 5) put in a clear, so had Cian been fault-free,…

Fair distances, different looks THE German, who also designed at the last Europeans, received plaudits for his fair courses. Although suitably big and demanding, they kept horses motivated with true distances and there were few ugly pictures. Faults were well spread, with 20-32% of starters going clear each day of the team contest. Frank was clever in using fences with a different look. In the final team leg, fence 4 — wavy black planks which were difficult for horses to judge (above, tackled by Janika Sprunger and Bonne Chance CW) — was influential. This was the first jump Pénélope Leprevost’s Flora De Mariposa, the individual leader until then, had down at the championship. The previous day, riders had to open up over the water at fence 7, then get horses…

…a new bit SAMMIE-JO COFFIN borrowed a Pessoa softening bit from Nicole Pavitt before winning the five-year-old non British-bred title on Sally Jobson-Scott’s Follyfoot Dolce Vita Z, a Diamant De Semilly daughter bought as a foal. “She’s fantastically scopey but I’ve been struggling with the brakes,” said Sammie. “She was putting her tongue over the bit and running off. I borrowed this bit for the final and she’s a different horse, totally happy, she’s not even opening her mouth to evade me now.”…

‘No one can help the Welsh weather’ THE heavy rain took its toll on the collecting ring, and course-designer Peter Gillespie sectioned off an end of the generously proportioned arena to act as warm-up on the final day. The show organisers made every effort by rolling the ground and, aided by wind and sun on the final day, the arena dried sufficiently to provide good competition in the top-billed grand prix. “The show organisers try hard and we do appreciate it — the course-builders constantly moved the fences to better ground between every class and the jump-off. No-one can help the Welsh weather, but on the last day it was drying out quickly,” said Cardiff-based Mark Edwards, winner of four classes — two in the rain. “It’s nice to win…

…in Britain RAFAEL LOSANO, 17, caught the eye winning the under-21 open intermediate with Glock Pullman (pictured), and filling sixth position with Oloa. The Brazilian rider is based with and trained by Mark Todd, and has big plans having come over to the UK with the sole aim of getting to Rio next year. Glock Pullman, by the Cor De La Bryère stallion Coriall out of an Ahorn mare, is Brazilian-bred. “I saw him showjumping and persuaded the owner to sell him to me,” said Rafael. The two have competed to CIC2* level back home and with an advanced run looming are set to finish the season with a jump up to three-star. Rafael’s trainer Mark Todd won an intermediate section with the exciting MK San Cero, who was winning…

FOR as long as I’ve been involved in eventing, all the major initiatives have come out of Britain. But now the US are introducing a level with 3ft 5in (1.05m) cross-country fences. This would sit between our current BE100 (1m) and novice (1.10m) As far back as 2008 the FEI toyed with making one-star at 1.05m (currently 1.10m), two-star at 1.10m (currently 1.15m) and so on up to a new five-star level (at the dimensions of the existing four-star). Sadly they stepped back from the brink. Since then, from time to time I’ve advocated the 1.05m level, but British Eventing (BE) have pushed back because of the cost to organisers and said it is not necessary because at BE100plus and intermediate novice (IN) riders can practise the extra 5cm in…

‘My morale was on the floor’ “GIVING up on Fred Astaire has been a topic of conversation in our house for the past seven years,” admitted Georgina Howard, who won the medium open with the 10-year-old. “I have a plate in my arm from when I came off him when he was a four-year-old — my morale has been on the floor more than my fair share ever since. “‘Florri’ is spooky and powerful but has been very stiff and not off my leg. He just leaned and ran onto his forehand. But with the help of Sarah Williams — and about 500 transitions a session — he’s finally sitting on his bottom.”…

ANN STAINES and Royal Standard won the prix st georges (PSG) by almost 50 marks with a fluent, active performance. This gives Ann the chance to equal her 2013 performance, when she won the PSG at the Petplan Area Festival Championships on Herr Hickory. Ann bought the 11-year-old Rubin Royal gelding after he had passed through several owners because of his naughtiness. “He can still be very naughty — I think he sees dead people!” said Ann, who is a full-time A&E nurse. “I struggled with the changes but [trainer] Conrad Schumacher has taught me how to ride them.” Elaine Coleridge-Smith’s advanced medium restricted winner, Active Royal Lady, has been ridden by her daughters at small tour level and has been a schoolmistress for two junior riders. She is now…

ZOE MOORE-WILLIAMS rounded off a successful week at this hugely popular show by clinching the Katie Goulding supreme champion-of-champions title, riding Mister Belstaff (Dude). En route to this final championship, which was judged by Davina Whiteman, Lisa Frain’s maxi cob champion had also taken the supreme restricted title. More wins were added in the outside rings, so it proved a good week all round for owner and rider. “Everybody loves him, and everybody rides him at home. This is my first season as a professional producer and to win something like this was beyond my wildest dreams. “Dude is still a relative novice, but he sensed the occasion,” said Zoe. “I don’t think I have ever ridden a horse who went as well and could stand like a rock as…

LAST month I came across Master Horseman, the 1980 biography of the late showman Jack Gittins. Jack won many major awards, including six supreme hunter championships at Dublin with Mighty Atom, Mighty Fine and Work Of Art, to name but three. A fascinating read, which set the scene for my third trip to Dublin Horse Show shortly afterwards. Every time you walk into the Ballsbridge showground, you can sense the history — and expectto see the cast from Downton Abbey. I recommend that every showing enthusiast should pay a visit at least once in their lifetime. On the whole, two judges sort each section “the old fashioned way” — without marks. It was a delight to watch them side by side — especially in the conformation phase — discussing each…

I was certain that I would never write about puppy shows and the traditional pre-puppy show lunch serving of coronation chicken in this column. Well, that didn't last long. A real honour for me was when I was recently asked to judge the young hounds at the Berwickshire Hunt. Sitting at their kennels enjoying my lunch, I overheard my fellow judge ask for “some flan, please”. I don’t know why this tickled me as much as it did, but I hadn’t heard it called that since my mother would refer to flan when I was at prep school. The same mother, incidentally, telephoned me to say: “I’ve been thinking about it Richard, and it’s probably best if you don’t go to Scotland to judge that show.” “I am on the…

A new crowd-pleasing format was undermined by a scoring glitch that meant the individual gold medal switched hands after the provisional results were checked. The cones and marathon days were reversed for the first time at these championships, so the competition would conclude with a thrilling against-the-clock finale, with the last obstacle in the main arena. IJsbrand Chardon was initially announced as individual European champion before a recalculation put Michael Brauchle on top of the podium. “Chardon was on a huge high having been announced as champion and had started doing interviews,” said British chef d’equipe Zoe Morgan. “The scores as drivers finish the marathon are only provisional but the format means there is a lot of hype.” Score changes also meant that the Hungarian team stepped up to a…

THIS year’s track has a fresh feel and very different look because, for the first time in around 55 years, course-designer Mark Phillips has completely reversed it. Parts of it have run in the opposite direction in more recent years, but never the whole thing. It should make for a fascinating competition and open up the playing field — seasoned campaigners will not have the advantage of familiarity and of knowing where they can make up time. My first impression is that the course is consistent in size and complexity the whole way round; there are no two or three fences that will be particularly influential. It will be interesting to see how horses cope with galloping up Winners’ Avenue in this direction, because traditionally the long run down it…

WILD DANCER Peter Storr’s retired international small tour horse has been put down aged 19. The chestnut stallion had been with Peter since the horse was two years old and the pair competed for Team GBR in the 2001 World Championships for young horses. BUGSY London’s longest-serving police horse has died aged 22. The “brave and loyal” 18hh gelding, formally known as James, was the first piebald horse to serve in the British police. He joined in 2004 and was put down on 21 August as his ringbone and sidebone condition deteriorated. LIZZIEMARY The British-bred mare owned by Kim Barzilay and ridden by Emma Slater in last year’s Horse of the Year Show grade C final has been sold to Ireland’s Billy Twomey and Bert Allen, father of European showjumping…

EVENTING legend Jane Holderness-Roddam came out of retirement to compete for charity on 18 August. The Olympic gold medallist rode in her first one-day event for 13 years on former four-star eventer Tiger’s Eye II at British Eventing’s West Wilts fixture. The pair jumped double clear in the BE100open, adding 12.8 cross-country time faults to their leading dressage score of 23.8. They finished in 17th place. Jane was competing to raise money for equine charities the Brooke and World Horse Welfare. She has raised more than £9,500 for the charities so far.…

A study investigating the link between diet and equine behaviour has shown that high-fibre rather than high-starch diets provide more energy for horses in work, writes Amy Mathieson. The research, commissioned by feed company Dengie, was conducted at the University of Edinburgh last year. The study focused on eight adult horses when grazing was sparse between January and March. The horses were all kept in light work — taking part in jumping and flatwork for five days a week — with daily turnout for between four and six hours. The horses were fed two different diets — both featuring exactly the same amount of energy and based on haylage. One was fibre-based, with a starch level of 2% and the other included a cereal-based concentrate mix, with a starch level…

BRITISH riders won gold and silver medals at the European CIC2* Eventing Championships (20-23 August). Brit Francesca Reid-Warrilow finished on her dressage score to take individual gold at the event, which was held in the Netherlands. Francesca and her own Dolley Whisper added nothing to their leading dressage score of 40.4 to win. The British team of six also claimed individual silver on a score of 309.55. Germany won team gold on 285.35 and Belgium took bronze on 315.95. Tyler Cassells, Danielle Dunn, Sarah Holmes, Emily Prangnell, Zoe Wilkinson and Francesca made up the team. Anthony Clark and Stephanie O’Neil competed as individuals.…

CHANNING TATUM The Hollywood actor has rescued a grey horse named Smoke. He posted a picture of himself and the gelding smelling a bottle of beer on social media, and said the horse loves the smell. A TEAM OF RESCUERS Farmers in Cheriton, Gower, helped save a horse from a sinkhole on 14 August by pulling it out using straps attached to a quad bike. The horse has made a full recovery. ROAD SAFETY Riders have been stripping off to raise awareness of road safety around horses. The Slow Down For My Horse campaign Facebook page has received hundreds of pictures of riders leading or riding their horses in their underwear with the caption “Will you slow down for me now?” MY LITTLE PONY FANS A film featuring the popular…

Go to Burghley Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* in Stamford, Lincs, runs from 3-6 September. www.burghley-horse.co.uk Retraining of Racehorses The Retraining of Racehorses championships is at Aintree racecourse on 29–30 August. www.ror.org.uk Jumping Scope Festival, featuring grand prix showjumping, is at Staffordshire County Showground on 23-30 August. www.scopefestival.org Watch team chasing The Warwickshire hunt opens the season on 30 August at Hill Farm, Watergall, Warks. www.warwickshirehunt.co.uk…

My favourite meal… There’s a good Japanese teppan-yaki restaurant called Ginza in Sherwood, Nottingham, where a chef cooks the food in front of you. Watching… Sky Sports News is always on in the house. I’m a big football fan — I had a Manchester United season ticket when I was based in Cheshire. Cities… My home city of Cork is my favourite. It’s a bubbly city and it’s good to revisit all the places you went as a child. My earliest riding memory… I come from a very horsey family — we had a riding school near Cork and my uncle trained racehorses. I remember getting very frustrated with a naughty 12.2hh pony called Barnard, who kept making a beeline for the gate. Riding him was quite rewarding because he…

JESSICA VON BREDOW-WERNDL is one of the most familiar faces in German dressage and her smile truly household; the face of Pikeur for the past 11 years, she has appeared in most of the equestrian clothing brand’s advertising campaigns and catalogues. After a five-year hiatus from international competition following her successful career in junior and young rider divisions (totalling six gold medals and two silvers), she is now back taking the dressage world by storm — finally becoming a familiar sight on senior teams and big-time podiums. Jessica’s classical seat and poised riding style are matched by equally impressive empathy and strength of character. Her innate love for animals led her to turn vegetarian at the age of four and she hasn’t looked back. “I was having dinner and all…

I have been to many European Championships in my time and they never fail to produce dramatic viewing. It is difficult for the course-designer to get it right but Frank Rothenberger was spot-on — the tracks were big and technical but also jumpable, which was evident by the good number of clear rounds we saw. I was chuffed to bits to see the Brits come as close as they did to a medal and they held it together to secure that Olympic qualification. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but I thought each British rider rode magnificently. Michael Whitaker is still as good as ever — if not better — and Ben Maher is so cool-headed. Joe Clee has certainly now joined them up there and if he can…

INDIVIDUAL MEDALS Jeroen Dubbeldam on SFN Zenith NOP (NED) Gregory Wathelet on Conrad De Hus (BEL) Simon Delestre on Ryan Des Hayettes (FRA)…

LAURA RENWICK earned herself a bumper pay packet, landing a stallions and mares 1.40m class on the speedy Beluga II and taking the seven-year-old title, plus a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Talent Seekers finalist place with MHS Washington. “He’s very light on the floor, a real athlete and makes it all easy,” said Laura. The scopey Irish-bred Washington is a consistent age class victor, with recent wins in Maubeuge and the Stephex Knokke show, also won the five-year-old title at Addington two years ago with Laura’s stable jockey Emily Mason. Washington was bought at auction four years ago by Denis Lynch, with Laura’s husband John initially owning half, but he later bought Denis out. The bay gelding with OBOS Quality 004 x Cavalier Royale bloodlines is bred similarly…

‘He just dropped to the floor’ NIKI DE MACEDO’S Bold Heath BE90 winner, Greateaves Issac, confounded vets when he collapsed after a hack last November. “We thought he was having a heart attack because he just dropped to the floor,” said Niki, whose vet, Claire Hodgson from Wright and Morten Vets, referred the gelding to [the University of Liverpool’s] Philip Leverhulme Equine hospital, Leahurst, where he was examined by Dr Ellen Singer. Issac underwent surgery and was found to have fatty lumps blocking his caecum (the beginning of the large intestine). “It was touch and go; he had to remain immobile for weeks and that in itself can cause complications,” said Niki. In addition to a lengthy walking programme, as part of his rehabilition Isaac was included in a Masters…

Suzanne Ashwell and Pumlon Loveheart IT would be easy to underestimate the 16-year-old, 14hh Pumlon Loveheart. Even Suzanne had to hastily re-plait him for the prize-giving, surprised when their 71.21% prelim proved victorious. Suzanne, a City European tax expert, bought the one-time show hunter pony “Jack” in 2013, to “have a bit of fun” hunting at weekends. “I wanted something brown to hide stains, and small so I could open gates,” she explained. “I started British Eventing in 2014. He was 10th a couple of times in BE90s, but his dressage wasn’t good enough for top places. “Last winter I had early morning flatwork training with Sam Jennings. Jack’s now making BE100s feel easy. “He’s tiny and obedient so we perform accurate tests and, as long as I ride him…

ONE year after retiring from Flat racing Cheeky Wee Red is enjoying a dressage career, winning the open elementary and collecting a qualifying ticket at novice. Ridden and produced by Alice Pullem, the Pastoral Pursuits seven-year-old chestnut mare was previously in training with Alistair Whillans. She has three Flat wins to her name and last raced 14 months ago. “My friend was involved in the syndicate and I thought a retrained racehorse would be a good idea,” said Alice. “The first time I saw her was when she came out of Eric Gillie’s transporter horsebox. “I spent time researching how she was ridden and learnt how to adapt her to my style. She’s very straightforward with a fantastic brain and loves to learn. She qualified for the Retraining of Racehorses…

IT proved an emotional evening for the family when Charlotte Kilbey clinched the Equifest M&M first ridden tricolour, supreme M&M championship and reserve supreme accolades riding the Team Hillyard-produced Idyllic Spartacus. Both pony and rider are 10 years old, and both were born at the Idyllic Stud to the delight of proud mum and dad Mark and Liz Kilbey. “When we saw Spartacus being born we said he would eventually make a lovely ridden pony for Charlotte,” said Liz, whose mother Lesley sadly died a few weeks before the show. Spartacus, who is by Idyllic Entrepreneur out of Rose Isle Cherry Surprise, has taken Charlotte to HOYS for the past three years. “He’s pretty laid back in first ridden classes, but he goes up a gear in a double bridle…

WITH a host of Classic winners on show at York’s Ebor meeting, against all odds the feel-good results were provided by popular victories from the Michael Dods-trained Mecca’s Angel in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes and Joe Tuite’s Litigant in the Betfred Ebor. The defeat of the hitherto-unbeaten Derby winner Golden Horn by the 50-1 shot Arabian Queen in a muddling Juddmonte International on Wednesday is a result which will go down in the annals of racing history. Following the defeat of Taghrooda in last year’s Yorkshire Oaks, John Gosden might well wonder if this is not his lucky meeting. But as much as racing is about those who are permanently seated at racing’s top table with stables full of blue-blooded quality, the vast majority have their reservations at tables in…

THE extent of the “fight” reaction will vary between individual horses, and there are various reasons for that. Some breeds are known to be fighty and “hot” breeds, such as the thoroughbred and Arab. Equally age plays a part, with younger horses typically being more anxious. But every horse should be assessed as an individual — we’ve all met the chilled five-year-old thoroughbred and the stressed veteran. There are many situations that might cause stress and anxiety for the domesticated horse. For some it will be a new experience like being backed or moving to a new yard that triggers that panic fight response. For others, it may be challenges like a farrier’s visit, the dentist, being loaded or attending a show. For horses that are generally anxious it may…