Innholdsfortegnelse for 03-Aug-2017 i Horse & Hound

BRITISH equestrians are gearing up for next month’s European Championships. An all-male dressage team will represent Britain in Gothenburg, Sweden (21-27 August). Emile Faurie and Weekend Fun, Carl Hester and Nip Tuck, Spencer Wilton and Supernova II and Gareth Hughes and Don Carissimo are in, with Emile’s Lollipop 126 as direct reserve. Lara Butler and Rubin Al Asad are the named reserves. Tina Cook will travel to her eighth European Eventing Championships, in Strzegom, Poland, (17-20 August) with Billy The Red. Rosalind Canter and Allstar B, Piggy French and Quarryquest Echo, Gemma Tattersall and Quicklook V, Oliver Townend and Cooley SRS and Nicola Wilson and Bulana are also in the squad, with Tina’s Calvino II as direct reserve. Sarah Cohen and Treason and Alexander Bragg and Zagreb are reserves. Also…

TITUS British showjumper Guy Williams has confirmed he has retired his top ride. Titus sustained a leg injury behind his knee during the Aachen Nations Cup (20 July). Guy said that the 17-year-old gelding by Lancelot does not owe him anything. HAWKEYETHENOO The 11-year-old gelding, who was the only Scottish-trained horse to win the Stewards’ Cup, has been retired after picking up a “slight injury”. Trainer Jim Goldie said “he’s been a grand horse and owes us nothing”. DUC D ARSOUILLES Tim Page’s top ride has died after suffering from colic. The 14-year-old chestnut gelding was owned by Justin Skinner. “The colic operation was successful, but unfortunately he could not recover,” said Tim. “He was an absolute horse of a lifetime.”…

 SHOW centres may have to diversify to survive in a difficult market, owners have warned, in the wake of another closure. ‘We have to look outside’ TERESA STRATFORD, ARENA UK Houghton Hall, Cambs, is to close on 25 August, following in the footsteps of centres such as Patchetts, Herts, which ceased trading in 2015, and The Hand, near Bristol, which closed the previous year. And other show organisers are concerned that more venues could follow suit. With huge overheads and running costs, as well as entry numbers falling, times are tough, according to Kate Morris, who owns Blue Barn EC in Kent. Ms Morris told H&H she works with Scott Ponton of SMP Events, who runs affiliated and unaffiliated shows at the venue. “We could generate what seems a…

SLIPPING AND SLIDING All eyes on Pyecombe on Saturday, when a “slip ‘n’ slide” class is featuring. After the jumping, people will be literally slipping and sliding down a slippery, slidey thing, the fastest winning. Genius, and as a wag said: “You won’t see that at the GCT!” BUYING FORAGE Marcus Kirkby-Bott, who has qualified for HOYS, had given up riding until 10 years ago. “I went out to buy hay for my goats and came back with five horses: two broodmares with foals and a two-year-old,” he said. “That was the most expensive hay I’ve ever bought.” Let’s hope he never gets sent out for straw… CRICKET Ah, the mellow tones of Test Match Special. In a programme celebrating the Radio 5 Live show’s 60th anniversary, a rider rang…

WHEN I posted on Facebook back in June that Sheila Willcox had died, a friend mentioned the triple Badminton champion’s book, Three Days Running. Forgetting that said friend lives in France, I said I’d love to borrow it and she kindly posted it. Badminton media director Julian Seaman commented that Sheila was one of eventing’s first real professionals and that’s so clear reading her book. She had an incredible eye for a horse — she chose her champion hack Blithe Spirit and her first eventer High And Mighty in the raw, half-closing her eyes and visualising how they would appear in good condition. She had never been to a horse trials when she decided to target such competitions, but having acquired High And Mighty, she defined leaving no stone unturned…

ACCIDENTS happen, especially where horses are concerned, so it’s not uncommon for trauma and bruising to occur through a kick, a fall or a collision with an object such as a gatepost. As a result, we can suddenly discover a large, soft lump on some part of the horse’s body — typically the hindquarters, chest or ribs. The skin might not be broken but one or more of the blood vessels beneath are damaged and bleeding. This blood can fill the space between the damaged tissue and the overlying skin, forming a swelling called a haematoma. The swelling will grow until the pressure that builds up from the fluid accumulation halts the bleeding, allowing a clot to form in the ruptured vessel. Blood pressure is, therefore, an important factor in…

Longines Royal International, Hickstead, West Sussex ONCE again, Allister Hood displayed the showmanship that has won him so many supreme titles and with a magical performance he added the 2017 supreme accolade here aboard Annabel Jenks’ champion riding horse Diamonds Are Forever. This is the seventh time that Allister has claimed the British Horse Society ridden horse supreme championship for the Winston Churchill Trophy and he did it in style. Included in his freestyle show was a rein-back and great strike-off from walk to canter, followed by serpentines and one-handed canter. The performance, topped off by Allister’s trademark doffing his hat to the crowd, earned 28 out of 30 marks from judges Sue St Pierre, Tom O’Brien and David Sheerin. “‘Freddie’ had his ears up all the way and every…

JAMES BURCHELL belied his five years when he gave the most charismatic performance with his lead-rein partner Seamoor Lady Derby to triumph in the De La Hey Family supreme pony championship. In his debut season, James has quickly perfected the art of rising trot and even while waving to the crowd for the full length of the stands, he never missed a beat and deservedly earned 27 marks out of a possible 30 from the judges. As mini show pony champion last year, Mandy Burchell-Small’s Basford Court Jester six-year-old contested that championship with Poppy Steadman and the quality little mare returned to claim the mini title again, this time with James in the saddle. With James’ father Oliver on the end of the lead-rein, this pony again displayed a wonderful…

PROVING that championships are treated as a separate class, Kellythorpes Master Key (Marley) enjoyed a change of fortune when claiming the overall supreme ridden coloured title for Oliver Hood. Having stood reserve horse to Jayne Ross on the McCourt’s winning cob Rockstone Raven, Lisha Leeman’s home-bred Honeypot Sporran six-year-old turned the tables to stand supreme. “This was a close fought championship with all the finalists performing well,” said judge Daniel Park. “The champion was a quality horse with good flat bone and great limb, and I liked it as a stamp.” Marley enjoyed a successful career in-hand and this is his second year under saddle. “I’m chuffed to bits with him,” said Oliver. “This is his first season with us and he’s improving with every outing. He’s a genuine horse…

Longines Royal International, All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, West Sussex IT is one of the toughest classes to win in the country and takes a strong partnership to conquer its technicality and towering fences. But Hickstead debutant Yuri Mansur and his super mare, Babylotte, made winning the prestigious King George V Gold Cup look easy. The Brazilian and his 11-year-old ride were the only pair from the 46-strong field to produce a double clear — and, in the end, scope won over speed. “I last came to Hickstead to watch the 1999 European Championships and I remember thinking that one day I wanted to ride here,” said the 38-year-old, who is based in Holland. “This was my first opportunity to ride at a five-star show this year and it has…

AMANDA SHIRTCLIFFE is on the World Class Podium Potential programme, but she credits her groom and home trainer Louise Robson with much of her success. “We’re fuelled on cake and sparkly things, and always able to have a laugh,” joked Amanda “Her plaiting is legendary too, so always ends up doing other horses, too.” Louise is a dressage rider herself, and known for retraining racehorses. She warms up New Princess before Amanda gets on. “We can be honest with each other about how ‘Fiona’ is going and feeling, which is helpful,” said Louise. “Amanda is not afraid to say it like it is, so we can work on any weak points.” Amanda keeps her horses on Louise’s yard, so she has constant support. “I’m very lucky to be part of…

A NEW ride for Tracy Morgan added to her tally of wins, while talent of the future was on show in the Shearwater young horse semi-fi nal. Tracy is making the most of her new ride Opus M and consolidating his competition experience while her senior horse is off with a minor injury. She found the Onassis gelding through Mette Assouline when looking for a young horse to come up behind Ballyboe Integrity, whom she competes at inter I. They recorded a good scoring novice win at Northallerton, to add to a long list of wins over the past three months. “He needs the mileage as he’d done very little when he came to me, and he can be a little bit looky in the arena,” said Tracy, who is…

Witham Villa, Leics | Moreton Morrell, Warks Jane bought the eight-year-old Oldenburg mare by Riverside a year ago, so the partnership is still developing. “We only started competing in affiliated dressage at the beginning of the year, so this was very unexpected, particularly as it was our first Area Festival,” explained Jane, who recently retired. “I’m based at Rebecca Drane Dressage, and Rebecca has been great at getting the best out of both ‘Sienna’ and me. “Sienna is easy to be around and very trainable, which makes it a joy for me.” The pair will now concentrate on preparing for the Area Festival second round. Joy Lucas was another rider to score the highest percentage of their show. She earned a mark of 74.4% to win the prelim 15 qualifier…

SUE PLUMMER is usually found in the starter’s hut at an event, but after “retiring” from the sport around 20 years ago, the 76-year-old from Devon dug out her boots one last time at Launceston for the “Wobbleberry Challenge” — where novice riders work towards competing at their first ever affiliated event in aid of Hannah Francis’ Wilberry Wonder Pony charity. Sue’s friend, Sally Hamill, explained: “It started with an ‘I dare you…’ conversation with the other members of her start team. She trained for six months with her horse, Springtime Sun [Nia] and was coerced into taking part in various competitions in preparation.” So far Sue has raised a spectacular £660 — with donations still flooding in. She and Nia finished 20th in BE80(T) section E with a pole…

LILLY JUDGE, four, will make her HOYS debut after heading the lead-rein hunter ponies with the versatile seven-year-old Manorlea Marcus (right). Lilly’s mother, Clare, was as surprised as she was delighted. “We’ve only had Marcus for three weeks and this is Lilly’s first proper ride on him,” said Clare, who handed the lead to Julian Quiney here. “This is only Lilly’s third time in the ring on anything, so we certainly weren’t expecting this. They’re off to Pony Club mini camp next week.”…

Festival of Hunting, East of England Showground, Cambs HARRIERS THE charismatic Holcombe Disco 15 danced across the ring like quicksilver to take the best in show, expertly shown by huntsman Steven Ashworth, who certainly has the invisible thread that keeps his hounds from losing concentration despite a long day on the flags. Disco’s sire, the Holcombe’s High Peak Batman 10, had won the veteran class earlier in the day and her dam, Diva 10, is a previous champion, so Disco is bred in the purple. The final class of the day pits the two champion doghounds, both West Country and stud book, against the two champion bitches: a biennial class when the West Country harriers are present and a tester for the judges to split two different types of equally…

Royal Salute Coronation Cup, Guards Polo Club, Berkshire ENGLAND may not win when it comes to summer weather, but we were certainly winning on the polo field on one of the wettest days of the summer to date. As the crowds wandered about the grounds before the polo started, some were clearly either unaware or defiant in the face of billowing storm clouds and darkening skies; in panama hats, suede shoes, summer dresses and high heels. As the players cantered on to the pitch, the rain began to fall. And it kept falling. The Flannels England players, used to a lifetime of regular deluges, played a consistently strong game on a sodden field, despite reins and mallets as slippery as freshly caught fish. Goggles steamed up and were abandoned, ponies…

BRITAIN’S pony riders have returned with a bumper haul of medals from the FEI European Championships for ponies in Kapsovar, Hungary (25-30 July). Georgina Herrling on SF Detroit and Saffie Osbourne on Little Indian Feather took individual eventing gold and silver respectively. Georgina and Saffie, alongside Saffron Cresswell with Cuffesgrange Little Ric and Connie Gill riding Hotshots, made up the silver medal-winning team. France won team gold and Ireland took bronze. Britain’s showjumpers also took team silver, finishing four faults behind winners Ireland. The team comprised Lily Freeman-Attwood with Valmy De Trielle, Ellie Hall McAteer on Tixylix, Fraser Reed riding Harry and Allana Clutterbuck on Sultan Du Bary. Ellie and the experienced campaigner Tixylix finished best of the Brits individually in fourth. Meanwhile an agonising wait was rewarded with a…

Libby Law received the prestigious equestrian photographer of the year award, the Silver Camera, at Aachen (22 July). Libby, whose work appears in H&H, won €2,500 (£2,240). Racing fan Jack Lander , 11, walked from Rowley Mile racecourse to Jack Berry House in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund. Jack raised more than £5,500 and completed the walk on 30 July. Nottingham-born dressage Olympian Richard Davison has received an honorary degree from Nottingham Trent University. He was presented with it at the Theatre and Royal Concert Hall. Jockey Cathy Gannon announced her retirement on 22 July due to injury. The 34-year-old, who broke all the toes on one foot last May, was lady jockey of the year in 2010, 2011 and 2015. Guy Williams ’ groom Natalie Tinworth was judged…

PROBE AFTER RACE WIN CONFUSION THE British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is looking into how the wrong horse ran — and won — a race for which it was not entered, or eligible. The Charlie McBride-trained Mandarin Princess was 50-1 in the opening race for two-year-olds at Great Yarmouth on 27 July. A post-race microchip scan revealed the winner to be her three-year-old stablemate, Millie’s Kiss. BHA chief executive Nick Rust said it is the first time this has happened in 18 years since microchipping of horses was introduced. He added the BHA will take steps to see what can be done to minimise the likelihood of a similar situation happening again. NEW TRUSTEES TO DRIVE BHS ON FOUR specialist British Horse Society (BHS) trustees will help “drive the charity forward”…

WATER JUMPS A US rider shared a picture online of a flooded arena with an extra hazard —an alligator, just visible at the surface. Owners gaped, but horses everywhere no doubt snorted in agreement. They said there were crocodiles in there… TEAMS Anyone who didn’t already know may be interested to learn that at the two-star European Eventing Championships, teams ride a simultaneous dressage test, as well as individual tests. That’s six of them in the arena at once. As a viewer said, at least it means only one has to learn the test... PICTURES A news outlet ran a story on former Eastenders actor Paul Nicholls breaking his kneecap — with a picture of the racing trainer of the same name. Cue mirth, from those who couldn’t see the…

THE presence of former Hickstead showing director Roger Stack, who sadly died last December, was much missed here and it was fitting the new showing ring introduced to replace the River Lawn was named after him. While the weather did everything it could to dampen spirits, a Dunkirk atmosphere prevailed during the frequent heavy and prolonged showers. The Hickstead Team did everything they could to make sure the show carried on and the new Roger Stack Arena saved the day on Sunday when the show pony and Pretty Polly classes were switched from their intended ring, to better ground in Roger’s arena.…

‘I STARTED RIDING HIM 10 DAYS AGO’ IT takes most showjumpers years to achieve a victory in Hickstead’s renowned international arena. However, this was not the case for King George VI victor Yuri Mansur, who got his week off to a great start by fending off a massive 83 rivals in the Bunn Leisure Vase — ahead of his quick-fire double and his winning Nations Cup team appearance. The Brazilian was enjoying not only his debut ride at the Hickstead venue, but also his first ever show with his winning mount on Thursday, Inferno (pictured, below). The Holland-based rider “set out to win” after a longtime lead was held by eventual fourth Nicole Pavitt . “I only started riding him 10 days ago, but he has good results with his…

 Hickstead CDI3*, West Sussex ‘She didn’t like people at all; for two years I was the only person she let stay on her’ PIERRE VOLLA ON BADINDA ALTENA, WHO WAS SAVED FROM SLAUGHTER IN 2002, Richard Davison rode his future Athens Olympics partner, Ballaseyr Royale to grand prix freestyle victory at Hickstead’s CDI. This year, a decade and a half later, he repeated the feat with the mare’s son, Bubblingh, outclassing their rivals to take the top spot with 74.18%, just two months after Royale was put down, aged 27. It was Richard and Bubblingh’s second freestyle victory on the trot, having won at Hartpury earlier in July, and Richard’s long-term strategy with this horse is paying off. “He’s 11 but he’s more like a nine-year-old, and that’s OK,”…

Bishop Burton College CPEDI3*, East Yorks GRADE IV athlete Julia Horton and her home-bred Premier Joyfull Moon put a tricky few months behind them to complete a clean sweep of honours in the two-star classes. The 13-year-old mare was forced to miss competitions earlier in the year because she had low white blood cells. “The vets thought it could be caused by chronic inflammation, and could take six months for her to recover. When she came right, I had a lot of work to do to get her fit enough, so there’s been a string of 4am starts to get here,” said Julia, who works part-time in an NHS unit for chronic disease self-management. “I was burgled as I set off for Bishop Burton, so we didn’t have the best…

THE images of Juliet Ramel’s Buriel KH bolting across the Aachen showground with his bridle swinging down by his legs make pretty harrowing viewing. The horse’s noseband had been undone for the bit check then Juliet’s groom pulled off his ear muffs, causing the headpiece of the bridle to come off over the horse’s ears. I was told by US team trainer Robert Dover that the steward insisted the ear muffs were removed despite the noseband straps being loose and the horse already backing up. Juliet jumped off when she realised what had happened and a rather panicked looking Swedish support crew tried to restrain the horse, but he had taken fright and bolted back to the stables where US rider Adrienne Lyle finally caught him. Luckily no one was…

EARLIER this year, it was touch and go whether H&H dressage and sport horse editor Alice Collins’ mare Faconnable would return to ridden work, let alone compete again — and win. “Fab” stood on a three-inch nail at a show, which narrowly missed all the vital structures in her hoof. Thankfully, the 10-year-old by Faberge 50 made a full recovery, and went on to win the bronze Area Festival PSG at Moreton Morrell. “I’ve owned Fab since a foal, and she never bothered growing to full size — she’s only 15.2hh — but her giant personality compensates for it,” said Alice. “She’s the first horse I’ve ridden at this level so, with help from my trainer Keith Robertson, we’re learning together. “Moreton Morrell was not only 100 miles away, but…

‘Burgham has a lot to offer. The organisers are accommodating and the ground is always good’ LUDWIG SVENNERSTÅL Owen Pugh Burgham (2), Northumberland “THAT was certainly worth the seven-hour journey,” said a delighted Laura Collett after pocketing the £1,500 first prize in the hotly contested Owen Pugh CIC3* with the prodigiously talented Mr Bass. Laura relegated reigning winner Oliver Townend into second and third with Angela Hislop’s Ramiro B-sired duo Cooley Master Class and Cooley SRS respectively. Burgham certainly suits Ramiro B progeny as he also sired Cooley Again, whom Laura rode into fourth place in the CIC2*. This was Laura’s first trip to Burgham, having re-routed Mr Bass from Barbury where she felt the ground was slightly too firm for him. Owned by Laura, Louise and Keith Scott…

VITTORIA PANIZZON confessed that using her near neighbour Paul Chapman’s hilly fields in Ledbury Hunt country has played a huge part in upping OI winner Chequers Play The Game’s fitness levels during 2017. “Paul has steep hills and he allows me to charge up them and jump from field to field over the hunt jumps,” said Vittoria, who combines fast work on this farm with using conventional gallops, as well as her own fields in Redmarley D’Abitot. “Paul’s fields have a variety of gradients and I also go around corners to test balance. It’s made such a difference.”…

DEIDRE HUNT’S home-bred mare Churchside Marble made a brilliant return to competition at the Luc Childeric Saddles-sponsored Little Downham (2), where she won a BE90 section with Joanne Watts. The offspring of Deidre’s daughter’s Connemara working hunter pony mare, Amethyst, Marble was set to compete in last year’s Mitsubishi Motors Cup when she sustained a tendon injury during her last piece of fast work. “Her rehabilitation was quite a challenge as she lives at home with me; I’m nearly 70 and I don’t ride much anymore,” explained Deidre, who boxes her home-breds to competitions to be partnered by other riders — mostly Joanne. “I brought her back into work myself by lungeing her, while someone else did the hacking. A few weeks before Little Downham I put her on the…

EX-RACER REWARDED CONGRATULATIONS to Paige Smart and her 12-year-old Jive Master II (right), who headed this year’s Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) British Showjumping club league. Somerset-based Paige had never ridden before buying the gelding two years ago. She and Jive Master — who won both his National Hunt flat race starts, over hurdles and as a point-to-pointer — started competing in January and have had such a good season they have received an ROR special recognition award. GOODBYE TO BELLAGIO II LARA WHITEWAY has sadly lost her 13-year-old Holsteiner stallion Bellagio II to colic. The Contender son was brought out by Laura Renwick, for whom he finished fourth in the 2010 HOYS newcomers’ final. Bellagio, who was also second in the winter novice final at the RIHS under Lola Wade,…

Ryedale, North Yorkshire TEAM Jerram-Hunnable’s adventurous “practice run for the Royal International” involved over 11 hours travelling but boded well when Chris Hunnable landed the hunter championship in fine style on the Kings Master nine-year-old Gortglass Rinarinca. “I fell in love with this horse when I put him reserve at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in 2014 and, since getting married, I have the pleasure of competing him,” enthused Chris. Wife Katie then headed the middleweights with About Town and collected a HOYS ticket. However, Paul Langrick’s novice victor, Carra Villa Gem, upped his game in the championship to deny Katie the reserve spot. “Our champion is a class act and a proper lightweight that’s difficult to fault,” said conformation judge Richard Sumner. “He gave me the best ride…

A MAJOR endurance competition boasting a seven-figure prize money and participation support fund has been causing a stir within the sport. The UK Endurance Masters (18-20 August) at Euston Park is backed by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to the sum of €2m (£1,768,900). Organisers say prize money for the masters, the third leg of His Highness’s Cup, will be centred on a best condition award, to maintain emphasis on horse welfare and growing the sport among grassroots riders. There will also be a finishing bonus — for those who pass the final vet check — and a variety of horse and rider travel expenses will be paid for those competing in the international rides. The masters clashes with the Brussels Equestrian Endurance Masters (BEEM, 16-19 August), which…

MANY CLOUDS Aintree’s Grade Two race on Becher Chase Day in December has been renamed the Many Clouds Chase in memory of the great horse. The 2015 Grand National winner died of a pulmonary haemorrhage at Cheltenham in January. LUCY MAY Amelia Bowring’s showjumper has been retired aged 23 after a career with riders including Ludger Beerbaum and William Funnell. “She is a workaholic so is still in work, focusing on dressage, showing and hacking,” said Amelia. ROSANA DU PARK Canadian showjumper Eric Lamaze has retired 12-year-old mare ‘Rosie'. “She joined us during the 2014 season and proved to be a true winner,” said Eric.…

THE British Horse Society (BHS) is working with a riding centre in Beijing to offer its qualifications to Chinese equestrians. BHS vice-patron the Princess Royal has signed a partnership with Michelle Wang Qiang of Equuleus riding centre. The society’s chief executive Lynn Petersen told H&H she hopes Equuleus is the first of many BHS-approved riding and exam centres in China. “Michelle is going to work with centres that have been coming to her asking how to get BHSapproved,” she said. “Equestrianism has exploded over there and the number of centres popping up is astonishing. “Three years ago, the Chinese government listed equestrianism as a target sport, last year, they included it as part of a five-year plan for national fitness. “They’re serious about this and we’re serious about helping them.”…

HOLD YOUR NERVE, BEF Sir — It is with dismay I read of Clare Salmon’s [pictured, above] resignation. While it’s impossible to understand everything that goes on in these situations, reading various recent complaints has left me feeling unrepresented as an amateur competitor. I believe the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) is aiming to make the sport less elitist, increase participation and ensure it continues to be valued as an Olympic discipline, but it sounds as if there is a long way to go. I’ve read about the thought that equestrian sport should only be run by equestrians. Really? That would make our sport probably the only Olympic discipline that feels it can’t learn from others. But the point that really led me to despair was about the removal of youth…

WHAT a wet week! Day one saw the coloureds have the best of the weather and the going. Great progress was made in these classes, where record numbers were forward yet again. Hickstead reported that they have shaved a whopping two-and-a-half hours off the class times from last year, where they were renowned for overrunning. Every effort was made to still allow each competitor equal time and not to rush anyone. The conscious choice to not implicate set shows was a real welcome, not only to allow rider creativity, but also to keep the crowd interested. It was good to see standards being upheld with a strict dress code for the grooms and prizes on offer for the best turned out. To see everybody looking smart really gives a sense…

IT would be so easy to mention rain and mud as the lasting memories from the Royal International (RIHS) 2017, but alas, no one can do anything about the weather. In true British spirit, everyone just had to get on with it. It was a testament to all the upgrades made at Hickstead recently that the rings and walkways lasted as long as they did. The security and ground staff should be applauded for being efficient and polite while managing difficult conditions on the stable field. I mentioned in a column recently that I felt some old showing values had been lost in the ring and that children needed to be keener to impress. I was delighted to see that this year the judges pulled in most of the classes…

WE had some terrible weather at the Royal International this year, which was so unfortunate for the show organisers. The team did the best they could to keep the ground as good as possible and I thought moving the fences onto fresh ground for the second round of the Nations Cup was wise. The grass surface in the main arena held up really well and it was a great investment installing the drainage system that’s in place in there. The Bunn family are so accommodating and make all the riders feel so at home. I have been coming to Hickstead for more years than I can remember but have never had much luck, so it was really nice to get a winner early on in the week in the Bunn…

KERSTIN DEAKIN was understandably beaming after claiming her first win in Hickstead’s main arena. The 19-year-old student partnered her mare Sunsolde (pictured) — who is one year younger than her rider — to victory in Friday’s amateur championship. “I’ve had her for six years and she is just so fast — she loves a big grass arena like that,” said Kerstin, who is studying an accountancy degree at York University. “You would never think she is 18, she acts more like a six-year-old. She is so experienced, I could not ride her for a month and she would still be great,” added Kerstin, who credits her three younger sisters for keeping the mare ticking over while she is away at university.…

CAITLYN SADDINGTON took the grade I one-star honours in her first international on her black cob pony Percy. She also won the Jane Goldsmith trophy and training bursary for the highest placed young rider across the week and, despite being the only rider her class, steadily improved her marks, culminating in a 67% freestyle. The 15-year-old has Friedreich’s Ataxia, a neuromuscular condition, and was inspired by watching London 2012’s para dressage. Percy was found by coach Olivia (Libby) Voce, and is trained to Caitlyn’s voice aids. “He really listened to me and I loved my first international,” said Caitlyn, who performed to music from Superman and Britney Spears. “It’s the first step towards the Olympics!”…

By SELENE SCARSI Codham Park, Essex | Brook Farm, Essex ‘She’s a horse of lifetime, a real pleasure to ride and own. She comes out every day and, although she’s not a floaty dressage type, she gives it her all’ VICKI WEYMOUTH ON HER IRISH MARE OAKFIELD POMPADOM Lauren Mallon collected two plus-70% wins on her own Reuben, a 13-year-old Hanoverian by Rotspon. “This is our first year competing in affiliated dressage, but ‘Roo’ has also competed in side-saddle at county level as well as locally in working hunter and showing classes. “We call him ‘Mr Consistent’ as he’s always in the ribbons gaining great percentages. He always tries his hardest in his tests; he’s a very happy horse with a huge heart,” said the amateur rider, who works…

Morris EC | Ayrshire Phillipa rode First Impression II to head a novice silver qualifier with 73.27%. “This was our first competition since winning the novice restricted at the Muirmill Area Festival in 2013. I’ve been busy schooling youngsters, getting married and moving house,” explained Phillipa. During that time the 16-year-old “Seamus”, who came from a dealer nine years ago, has worked in the family riding school. “I was so looking forward to getting back in the arena. I was over the moon with his scores,” added Phillipa. After a troubling time at last month’s Area Festival, Sheona McNeil was relieved Santa’s Ghost was back on form to achieve 70.5% in the medium music. “When I warmed him up at Muirmill I felt he wasn’t as perky as he should…

Field House EC, Staffs | Tushingham Arena, Cheshire TWO years after nearly selling High Offley Crocodile Rock, Adele Edwards won both prelims at Field House. “I just couldn’t get on with him so in floods of tears I decided to advertise him,” said Adele. “Someone came and tried him and said they’d like him and then I realised I couldn’t let him go.” Adele trains with Samantha Morrison who pushed her to get entered at the beginning of the year with the 10-year-old gelding. “It took me a while to pluck up the courage and I’ve made loads of mistakes but we nailed it today,” Adele added. The gelding is bred to jump and is currently competing in newcomers with Camille Crow. Dual Tushingham prelim winner Helena Sherwin is another…

‘I need to have a conversation with “Heinz”, so he feels like it’s his idea’ FRANCES MORRISSEY ON THE CHALLENGING HH SAMBA SPRING Oldencraig, Surrey | Merrist Wood, Surrey | Petley Wood, East Sussex “I managed to get everything right at the right time,” said Frances, who has been on a learning curve with her 17.1hh Swarovski x Riccio six-year-old HH Samba Spring. “I used to ride a forward, active little Friesian [DG Lutsen]. ‘Marley’ asked you what you wanted and did it. But now, with my big orange warmblood, ‘Heinz’, I need a plan and to have a conversation with him so that he feels like it’s his idea — while staying in charge. “Heinz has naturally a very good way of going and can trot round for…

THE proposed new FEI rules add a 1.05m one-star level to international competition, with current one-star (1.10m) becoming two-star. At these levels, there will be only a single format — CI — which will amalgamate the CCI (international three-day event) and CIC (international one-day event). Both Mark Phillips and Mark Todd have recently written about people riding across country as a flat out race and without any sense of rhythm (columns, 13 and 27 July). The new proposals are only likely to make matters worse, as shorter courses — as we will see at the proposed CI format — encourage such riding. Every time we discuss safety, we highlight riding in a rhythm, jumping fences at the correct speed and getting horses fit enough. The way to reduce riders’ speed…

THIRD year Keele University student Carla Dobson-Perez stormed to a first win at the Waitings-sponsored Warwick Hall (3), where she finished on her dressage score of 25.3 to clinch a BE80(T) section. Carla partnered the experienced campaigner, Tuesday Cruising (above), who is owned by Amy Dixon. “She had evented up to novice, but now she’s teaching me the ropes,” said Carla of the 12-year-old mare. “She was off for some time over the winter due to foot balance problems, but my remedial farrier, Wayne Preece, has done a fantastic job with her.”…

FIFTEEN riders aged between 13 and 20 and chefs d’equipe Clare Whitaker and Tony Newbery are making the long journey to Šamorín in Slovakia to represent Britain at the European Championships for young riders, juniors and children (8-13 August). In 2016, Harry and Scarlett Charles were on Britain's bronze medal-winning junior team in Millstreet, Ireland. The brother and sister duo are flying the flag again this time with Vivaldi Du Dom and Sacree Du Rouet and are joined on the Team NAF junior squad by former pony team stars Jodie Hall McAteer (Coquin De Coquerie Z), Robert Murphy (Del Fuego) and Jack Whitaker (Street Hassle). There is also a familiar look about the Team NAF young riders. Millie Allen (Balou Star) and Jake Saywell (Havinia van de Roshoeve) have kept…

New Forest and Hampshire County, Hants A Cornish-bred New Forest mare made history when becoming the first of her sex ever to achieve the magical double of overall in-hand and ridden breed tricolours here in the same year. Lucy Booth’s stunning eight-year-old liver chestnut Hurtstock Cornish Amber — by her senior stallion Farriers New Flame — is also the first pony to claim both trophies since the stallion Wayland Cranberry achieved this feat in 2002. As always, competition was fierce but after a morning of fascinating classes, Amber oozed type, femininity and scope to beat 13 other in-hand winners, giving the Bodmin-based Booth family their first ever in-hand title here. Lucy and her mother, Laurie, took turns showing Amber and it was Laurie who had the reins when the decision…

IF competitors do not support shows, there’s a strong possibility that their classes will be axed in the future. This is why the riding pony breeding section was absent this time. “A show cannot keep paying out prize money for classes that are not well attended,” said secretary Liz Cook. Christine Duke of Greenbarrow Stud and the National Pony Society’s (NPS) area 4 (Yorkshire) chairperson added: “Breeding has become an expensive hobby and there are no guarantees nowadays that showing youngstock will recover the additional outlay — even with an outstanding pony.” Looking at the bigger picture and knock-on effect, it wasn’t long ago that the NPS area 4 members’ points scheme was discontinued as several shows in Yorkshire had folded. However, some of the remaining shows, like Ryedale, have…

Ascot, Berkshire ENABLE, who was already on her way to the top having won the Epsom and Irish Oaks, joined the pantheon of great fillies when she beat the colts and older horses in the 67th King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at a soggy Ascot on Saturday (29 July). Khaled Abdullah’s home-bred turned the race — which contained six individual Group One winners and the best field assembled for a race in Europe this year so far — into a procession, coming home four-and-a-half lengths clear of the Eclipse winner Ulysses. The Aidan O’Brien-trained brothers Idaho and Highland Reel, the latter never as effective on soft as he is on fast ground, were third and fourth and, while Ulysses ran as well as he did when winning the…