Innholdsfortegnelse for 14-Mar-2019 i Horse & Hound

THE team behind Royal Windsor Horse Show is attempting to address the issue of riders who are warming up lead-rein and first ridden ponies. In part, at least (news, p8). They have ruled that no rider over the age of 16 may warm-up ponies for these classes. The decision is made on welfare grounds given the greater weight it is assumed anyone above that age could be carrying. Of course, there are older riders who are lighter and there are younger riders who are heavier, but it will prevent some riders who are too heavy for these ponies from working them in at the show. It won’t be easy to police, but there is no element of subjectivity, which there is if you rule that any rider must be of…

THE size of the UK riding pager population is enjoying a “tentative recovery” after a previous fall, the 2019 British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) national equestrian survey indicates. BETA executive director Claire Williams presented the results of the first stage of the survey at the National Equine Forum. This phase concentrated on the number of riders and owners, the number who have stopped riding and why they do not return. It showed that there are 3million riders in Britain, head compared to line 2.7m in 2014, and 1.8m riding regularly, compared to 1.3m in 2014. The decline in the number of horse-owning households continues, from 451,000 in 2010 to 446,000 in 2014 to 374,000 this year. The survey shows there are 5m households of lapsed riders, but 650,000 are interested…

BE WORKING ROUND CLOCK ON WEBSITE BRITISH EVENTING (BE) has assured members that staff are working “round the clock” to resolve website problems. Riders have been experiencing issues with the site since its recent launch, but BE CEO David Holmes said changes have been made thanks to user feedback. “Developing the website has been a huge task, and the launch has been an exciting and challenging time,” he said. “As with any large IT project, there were going to be bugs and issues, but we want to assure all users the team are working around the clock to resolve all issues as quickly as possible.” He said improvements will be continual, the overhaul was necessary for the good of the sport, and thanked event secretaries for their work. Issues can…

TECH One will spare the blushes of another leading figure at the forum who asked, during a debate mentioning social media: “Is there a difference between Facebook and FaceTime?” “Um, yes,” came the reply. It’s all a mystery… TECH AGAIN Spotted on Facebook, a rider messaging to say she was going to check something on the new British Eventing website, then failing to reply for some time. “Are you lost?” her worried friend replied. “Do I need to come in and rescue you?” Luckily, the rider found her way out unscathed. Phew. VLADIMIR PUTIN The Russian leader looked slightly foolish at an event to mark International Women’s Day when his horse decided to walk backwards repeatedly rather than stand still as required in a group of mounted police. Maybe something…

Sir — I was interested to read the vet clinic in H&H (“Does being a vet make you a better owner?”, 28 February). As an equine veterinary surgeon for 45 years, I would like to propose the corollary, “Does being an owner make you a better vet?” Like your interviewees, my wife and I definitely overanalyse every sign or symptom displayed by our precious horses. However, I cannot overemphasise the importance of the empathy that this creates towards one’s clients and their animals. It is all too easy as a vet to attend at intervals to examine a horse with a chronic illness or slow-healing wound and cheerfully reassure the owner that it is responding well, but to forget the frequent soul-destroying trips an owner makes to the stable, hoping…

IT’S not all about the boys at Helgstrand. Andreas also works with Bolette Wandt, who runs the Chateau de Fontaine stud (pictured) in Normandy, France, to breed from top quality mares using embryo transfer techniques, including in vitro fertilization by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). “We try to find the best mares in the world, that we can train here while their embryos are born down in Normandy,” explains Andreas, who tells me that they have around 60 horses in France. “It’s the right way to go, to breed from the best mares and stallions, with the mares competing and getting famous — which helps the offspring become famous.”…

THE Hutchinsons bred the top lot at Goresbridge’s Go For Gold sale last year, an unnamed three-year-old (pictured, above) who they had sold a couple of months previously and who went under the hammer for €59,000 (£50,700). The youngster is by OBOS Quality and his dam, God Mother, is a Ghareeb daughter who was given to Michael Hutchinson’s son Tjossti by his godmother Barbara Hatton of Slyguff Stud as an 18th birthday present, hence her name. The Goresbridge top lot was the sixth of her seven foals. Her eight-year-old son SRS Picasso, by Passion, won a CCI* (now classed CCI2*-L) in the USA last season. “They were all flashy looking, good movers with good temperaments,” says Michael. “They all made a shape jumping from the beginning.”…

Morpeth, The Lee, Northumberland HOW do you like your hunting weather? If the answer is “sunny side up”, then really, you ought to be a little ashamed. Any serious foxhunter will know that the correct reply is “the wetter (and colder) the better”. Far more knowledgeable people than me will explain precisely why, at great length and with many references, but, basically and generally, cold, wet ground holds scent better. It was to the Morpeth hounds’ great credit, therefore, that they managed a decent hunt in the first part of the day from Susan Aynsley’s farm, The Lee, between Longframlington and Rothbury. Temperatures were in the high teens and the sun beat down; this is Northumberland, and as welcome as this weather would have been in July, in February it…

WHEN you see lambs out in the fields and tractors out spraying or fertilising, it normally means that the trail-hunting season is nearing its end. I smile to myself when people ask, “What will you do when hunting finishes?” The truth is that there’s always plenty to do. No matter how well a season’s gone, we can always improve. During the hunting season we obviously concentrate on hunting three days a week alongside keeping up with our flesh round. These two tasks combined fill the whole week. As soon as our season ends, the tack and horse rugs need to be sorted for repairs. The stables and kennels need to be emptied, steam-cleaned and painted from top to bottom. The dreaded lawn mower and strimmer go all summer and my…

AI.— 1, Billy Walk On (P Funnell) 27.6,0,0=27.6; 2, Vendredi Biats (K King) 26.9,0,3.2=30.1; 3, Swallow Springs (A Nicholson) 30.6,4,0=34.6. OI sec E.— 1, Artful Trinity (I Taylor) 30.7,0,0=30.7; 2, Topaze Du Plain (R Scalisi) 26.1,1,4=31.1; 3, Majas Hope (P Funnell) 25.5,4,4=33.5. sec F.— 1, Morelands Casanova (S Milnes) 31.6,0,6.4=38; 2, The Masters Harry (I Wishart) 32.3,0,6.4=38.7; 3, Lucky Contender (A O’Connor) 34.3,0,7.6=41.9. sec G.— 1, Dacapo (L Collett) 25.9,0,4.8=30.7; 2, Proud Courage (N Lucey) 31.1,0,0=31.1; 3, As Is (A Nicholson) 27.7,0,4=31.7. int.— 1, Jamaicas Pride (M Warburton) 29.3,0,0=29.3; 2, Inpetto Van De Kouterhoeve (L Yallop) 32.1,0,0=32.1; 3, Very Good Tempo (T Rowland) 30.2,0,2.4=32.6. ON sec I.— 1, Red Kite (H Meade) 30,0,0.4=30.4; 2, Hakuna Matata (L Collett) 27,0,4=31; 3, Opposition Loire (K Johnston) 31.3,0,0.8=32.1. sec J.— 1, Patch Ali…

OI.— 1, Fallulah (E Philp) 28.6,0,2=30.6; 2, Maybach (P Funnell) 26.1,0,7.2=33.3; 3, Billy The Biz (P Funnell) 25.2,0,9.6=34.8. int.— 1, Frankfort II (H Horgan) 28.6,0,8.4=37; 2, Scoop De Ferbet (P Cross) 24.3,0,13.6=37.9; 3, El Kolibri (C Copestake) 21.8,0,20=41.8. ON.— 1, Enumero (A Stone) 23.8,0.0=23.8; 2, Chincalease Cowboy (L Casbolt) 33.3,4,4.8=42.1; 3, Sportsfield Top Notch (P French) 26.5,4,12=42.5. ONu18.— 1, Fernhill First Friend (L Paske) 22.3,0,4.4=26.7; 2, Billy McFee (L Paske) 31.8,0,0=31.8; 3, Multi Angellino (T Wylie) 32.3,4,0=36.3. nov sec I.— 1, Bank C IV (R Hilton) 29,0,1.2=30.2; 2, Tresaison Hallmark (T Halsall) 30,4,5.2=39.2; 3, Brother James III (R Carnegie) 32.8,0,7.2=40. nov sec J.— 1, Vitoria DH Z (G Mason) 25.5,0,3.2=28.7; 2, Ballybreagh Quartz (B Way) 24,0,7.2=31.2; 3, Porridge Town (M Edmundson) 26.8,0,6.8=33.6. BE100open u18.— 1, Heaven U Van Het Juxschot…

LIZZIE FORBES’ Aston-le-Walls (1) BE90 winner, Rosie XIII (pictured), began life pulling a trap. “I’ve had her for about five years. I saw a picture of her on Facebook standing at the bar inside a pub and figured that she ought to be bold,” explained Lizzie, who set to work transforming the 14.1hh mare from a driving pony to an eventer. “She was only meant to be a summer project, but she went from strength to strength.” Lizzie runs a livery yard in West Wittering, West Sussex, and uses the nearby beach for most of her fitness work. The pair completed on their dressage score of 30 having finished spot on the optimum time across country. Further east, junior team hopeful Lily Good stood top of the podium at Isleham,…

Barkers Ssang Yong Myerscough Premier League HEREFORDSHIRE-based Olivia Towers took two classes on her Timeless gelding Mercian Calisso — Friday’s Fairfax Saddles prix st georges (PSG) and Saturday’s PSG freestyle. Her 12-year-old ride was bought as a five-year-old from Ryan Shannon. “He didn’t have the flashiest trot, but his walk and canter were good and so we brought him home,” said Olivia. “He seemed very laid-back when we got him but he grew hotter and hotter the further we went. In all honesty, I wasn’t experienced enough to deal with a horse like him and we did put him on the market, but no one bought him. He’s challenged me to change my mindset. When I’ve been negative he’s picked up on it, and we’ve had plenty of tests where…

Sheepgate, Lincs | Brook Farm, Essex Louise Clark and four-year-old Dimaggio’s Hit (Dimaggio x Sandro Hit) won three prelim classes on plus-70% scores, including a show-high of 73.86% in Saturday’s freestyle at Sheepgate’s first show of the year. ‘This has given us confidence’ ANGELA FENN ON HER WINS “The Hardwicks bought ‘Dino’ at last May’s Brightwells’ Elite Auction, but thankfully I persuaded them to sell him to me in September. Weirdly, his competition number at Sheepgate was the same as his auction number: 16,” said Louise. “I train with Tina Layton at Contessa Riding School, and have been sharing group lessons on Saturdays in order to get Dino used to working with other horses, and to keep the early stages of his training easy and fun. With a young…

Ian Stark EC, Roxburghshire | Cabin EC, Aberdeen She was successful at elementary bronze with Aughnacliffe Gem and her Scottish under-18 team ride Molly XIII. Persia has owned Gem, a 16-year-old dun gelding Irish Sport Horse, for almost two years. “Our main focus is eventing and he’s already qualified for two BE90 regional finals, so I’m hoping to qualify for Badminton grassroots next year as well as competing at the BE90 Scottish Championships at Blair Castle,” said Persia. “The plan is to spend the season at BE90 with the aim of gaining points for the BE90 Scottish points league. He is fairly straightforward to ride on the flat but he can be very spooky and can often be lazy, too.” At Cabin EC, Victoria Gladwyn judged in the morning before…

7 March: 1.45m.— 1, Caracas (J Verlooy) BEL; 2, VDL Groep Quatro (G Gulliksen) NOR; 3, Filou Carlo Zimequest (S Delestre) FRA; 4, Hello Senator (S Brash) GBR. 1.50m.— 1, Virtuose Champeix (J Epaillard) FRA; 2, Carlson (Y Mansur) BRA; 3, Viking D’La Rousserie (K Staut) FRA. 8 March: 1.50m.— 1, Hannah (S Guerdat) SUI; 2, Que Bueno De Hus Z (H von Eckermann) SWE; 3, VDL Groep Quatro. 1.60m.— 1, Chiara 222 (L Beerbaum) GER; 2, VDL Glasgow VH Merelsnest NOP (J Vrieling) NED; 3, Calisto Blue (D Deusser) GER. 9 March: 1.45m.— 1, Living The Dream (P Schwizer) SUI; 2, Danique (A Zorzi) ITA; 3, Evert (K Cox) BEL. 1.60m grand prix.— 1, Espoir (P Devos) BEL; 2, H&M Chilli Willi (N Philippaerts) BEL; 3, Chalou (E Gaudiano)…

Blue Chip pony newcomers.— 1, Sam 003 (A Tucker); 2, FC Flirty For Thirty (I Hall); 3, Madam Clover Q (E Quigley). 1m.— 1, Taffechan Dylan (E Cook); 2, Caher Silver (T Kyle); 3, Sky Bonita I (S White). Blue Chip Pro sparkle JC/JA h’cap.— 1, Tobar King (A Morris); 2, Westward Sunshine (E Jacques); 3, Cisco Bay II (M Heath). Charles Britton Equestrian Construction winter JA classic.— 1, Elando Van De Roshoeve (C Moore); 2, Flavia (M Heath); 3, Lapislazuli (L Bremner). winter JC.— 1, JAC Surprise Addition (O Sheppard); 2, Alenas Ennistymon (A Hughes); 3, Rudgeway Maestro (A Mauree). pony Foxhunter.— 1, Runard Lass (F Robinson); 2, Magic Moments IV (H Foulds); 3, Eskers Apache (T Clarke). 1.10m.— 1, Ilar Max (J Gibson); 2, Quantico (F Young); 3,…

BSPS Area 4A, Barleyfields EC, Derbys Eight-year-old Olivia Brightmore netted the novice show hunter pony championship on her mannerly grey gelding Colne Pedro. The freshly backed five-year-old was foot perfect to take the spoils with Olivia, who was making her debut step up from first ridden classes. The 122cm pony was purchased by Olivia’s mother Rachel as a yearling in 2015 from Fayre Oaks High-Flyer Sale. “Moving into open hunter ponies is a huge step up for Olivia, as last year was her first season off the lead-rein,” said Rachel. “She’s a very laid-back jockey and takes everything in her stride; I think I was more nervous than her. Pedro has only been riding away for a month. I produce him alongside Olivia’s other ponies and she has regular lessons…

Plaited working hunter pony competitors took to the ring to battle it out for RIHS tickets at the BSPS Area 11 show at Crofton Manor in Hampshire. Top placings went to a host of seasoned combinations who utilised their experience to navigate around this early qualifier. Top of the intermediate line-up was Harry Gaunt on Louise Gaunt’s consistent grey gelding Rob. The 153cm class saw Millie and Sophie Manners’ Fortview Toy Boy take the win, while the 143cm section went to the coloured pony Allandy Gold Spark and Madeline Plumb. Harriet Thompson rode Pebbly Hornblower to win the 133cm class, and previous HOYS working hunter pony of the year Millcroft Dow Jones and Mara Waller were victorious in the nursery stakes ranks.…

College Valley & North Northumberland, Alnwick, Northumb NICK ORPWOOD maintained his record of riding at least one winner at every northern area meeting this season with a double on Frankies Fire and Specialarrangement. Despite not jumping as fluently as she had done when getting off the mark at Corbridge last month, Frankies Fire quickly asserted after being sent on two out in the restricted to win, eased down, by seven lengths from Rushour Ryan (Laura Fenwick). Specialarrangement gradually worked his way into contention on the final circuit of the open maiden and, after hitting the front approaching the last, stayed on well to beat Emory (William Humphrey) by three lengths. “He’s out of a half-sister to Crazy Diamond, who won six races for us,” said owner/trainer Victoria McKie of her…

Flint & Denbigh, Bangor-on-Dee, Wrexham A BLUSTERY raceday saw reigning champion jockey Alex Edwards ride four victories, including in the first and third divisions of the point-to-point Flat races aboard debutants Bleue Away and Whenhellbrokeloose. Both horses are trained by leading handler Phil Rowley. “Bleue Away, in particular, shows a massive amount of speed,” said Phil of the five-year-old mare. The second division went to National Hunt trainer Ben Pauling’s Granny’s Secret (Aaron Rid), who saw off Flamboyant Joyaux (Alex Edwards) — a first win for both horse and jockey. ‘Now Port Melon has his confidence back, we will probably send him hunter chasing’ TRAINER JOSH GUERRIERO Port Melon, under Harry Myddelton, led three out, having been held up, to record a second victory at Bangor-on-Dee this season in…

A NUMBER of different ways to “unleash the power” of the Central Equine Database (CED) were revealed at the 2019 National Equine Forum. Stewart Everett, CEO of Equine Register which runs the CED for Defra, gave an update on the ID system at the annual conference in London on 7 March. He told guests there are 1.3m records held on the database, 32% of which are ruled out of the food chain, and although the number of registered horses who are microchipped has dropped by 2% — despite the fact it is now a legal requirement to chip all horses in England — he hopes new tools will make compliance easier. “It’s really important you check your data,” Mr Everett said. “If a horse is registered to you and you’ve…

THE LAST SAMURI The 2016 Grand National runner-up has been retired aged 11. First trained by Sean Doyle, then Donald McCain, Kim Bailey and finally Harry Fry, his career spanned six seasons and he won eight of his 27 starts under Rules. SAN PATRIGNANO WEIHAIWEJ The superstar showjumping mare has died peacefully aged 35. She was ridden by Franke Sloothaak to success across the world, including team and individual World Championship gold in 1994. BROKEN EAGLE The point-to-pointer died shortly after he won at Ampton on 10 March. The Alan Hill-trained 11-year-old, owned by Jake Exelby and Alan Hill, won 18 of 24 pointing starts, and won and came second under Rules.…

WHAT do you do when you’ve got a group of 150cm pandas, all looking for homes? Longleat safari park donated the bears, which had been part of its Christmas festival, to Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity. The charity put out an appeal, and pandas have been moving on, including to the Japanese eventing team and Ascott Under Wychwood. “They’re going to do fantastic things!” the charity’s Nikki Bakewell told H&H. Nikki said as well as raising at least £2,500, the pandas will also raise awareness. “We’ll see them, and horses will spook at them, across the country. It’s great promotion.”…

I belonged to a religious congregation, the Sisters of the Infant Jesus, which was founded to help street children in Rouen, France, in 1666. I was sent to London where I read that a riding school needed volunteers because they had disabled children. I’ve been around horses all my life, I know the value of what they can do, especially for children and those with special needs. I started Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre with three Shetlands. There were no stables, fencing, buildings, electricity, toilets or telephones. People donated tack and children started coming. If you have ponies, you have children, they’re a magnet. The biggest value of the centre is to enable children to remain innocent for longer; all the time a child’s with a pony they keep their innocence.…

THE toxins produced by the tetanus bacteria can have a devastating effect on a horse’s nervous system. When nine-year-old mare Star appeared to choke on a piece of carrot, her owners called us at Farr and Pursey Equine Veterinary Services. Difficulty in swallowing and opening the mouth is, in fact, a typical sign of tetanus and the reason why the disease is sometimes referred to as “lockjaw”. Star also had the classic “rocking horse” stance and raised tail, and was transferred immediately to the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). “The aim of treatment is to bind any loose tetanus toxins, so Star was given high doses of the tetanus anti-toxin,” says Dr Bettina Dunkel of the RVC. “She also received intra-muscular penicillin, in case there was still any active infection, and…

NICKY HANBURY NICKY is a joint-master of the Quorn with her husband Joss, and has been involved with horses all her life. The couple breed and produce event horses and racehorses. All the horses Nicky hunts are home-bred, and she produces them herself. Nicky is an all-round competition rider who has evented, team chased and has ridden in hunt races. TRAINING THE STARS I PRODUCE all my own horses from scratch, so I am yet to have a problem with hedge jumping as such. However, I feel this is a common problem for many riders and their young horses, which, if tackled sympathetically, can be rectified with time and patience.…

SHOWJUMPING BIG STAR Year of birth: 2003 Breeding: KWPN by Quick Star x Nimmerdor Stud and fee: Stallion AI, £3,500+VAT Achievements and impact: few can forget Big Star’s epic round under Nick Skelton to claim individual gold at the 2016 Olympics to add to his team gold from London 2012. He did not stand at stud during his sporting career, and sparingly before that, so his offspring have been late to emerge. Big Star is bred in the purple for jumping, being by the grand prix Galoubet A son Quick Star and out of Jolanda, a daughter of the Olympic competitor and stallion of the century, Nimmerdor. Big Star’s colt foal out of Billy Twomey’s former ride Tinka’s Serenade sold at the Bolesworth International auction for £92,000. Big Star was…

SANDY WILSON (pictured) has continued to breed the Morpeth hounds along the same lines as former master and huntsman Major Roddy Bailey, to whom Sandy was kennel-huntsman. “Our present kennel is built round three lines — Middleton Builder, Tynedale Daystar, who gave me a lighter build and some hill blood, and VWH Rustic, quite a low-scenting hound whose offspring are the same and who clicked well with what we had. We have a lot of sheep in our country — the fields stink, and low-scenting hounds can keep chiselling the line on. “We have a light-framed, athletic, level pack with loads of drive who never stop working for me. They love to hunt up together as a pack; they are a family and work together like one.” The Morpeth do…

Tweseldown (1), Hants PIPPA FUNNELL admitted that she wasn’t quite so keen to bounce out of bed at 5am as she might have been ahead of her first spring Tweseldown, some 35 years ago. But she was certainly beaming by the time she had ridden three clear cross-country rounds and achieved three top-12 finishes on the event’s opening Thursday. “It’s just nice to get them out again and I had fun rides on them all, even if there was the odd moment where they were a bit keen,” she said. Leading the way for her trio was Barbara and Nicholas Walkinshaw’s 10-year-old Billy Walk On, a home-bred by Billy Mexico. He won the advanced intermediate (AI) by finishing on his second-placed dressage score of 27.6. “I said to the Walkinshaws…

EVERY winter the five-star (previously four-star) cross-country course-designers meet to review the past year’s tracks and discuss the future direction of course-design. For the past few years, I’ve been invited to give a riders’ perspective. Course-design faces several major challenges right now. The first is how to keep testing horses and riders. Course-design has evolved from big, attacking fences in the 1970s and 80s, to corners in the 90s and skinnies in the current century. More extreme angles have emerged over the past few seasons, including corners where you are forced almost to approach along the face of the fence. In each case, after a few seasons riders and horses have learnt to answer the questions. The current quandary is designers are running out of ideas to test the best.…

Oasby (1), Lincs BRITAIN’S top eventers and exciting rising stars blew away the winter cobwebs to start their 2019 campaigns. On-form Izzy Taylor scooped two of the six intermediate and open intermediate (OI) sections with the talented Springpower and Direct Cassino. Linda Mars, Jeremy and Andrea Brereton’s 10-year-old Springpower, runner-up in Blenheim’s eight- and nine-year-olds in 2018, also started last year with an Oasby win. This year, he added nothing to his dressage of 23.9 to again open his season with an OI victory. “He has really stepped up over the winter,” said Izzy. “It was a nice easy double clear, which it should be for him by now.” Jocelyn Riley’s striking grey Direct Cassino also won his OI, on his dressage score of 24.6. Izzy said he has strengthened…

ON.— 1, Kilnaboy Buffet (C Pearce) 22.8,0,0=22.8; 2, Kalico (I Gloag) 21,0,2.8=23.8; 3, Coddstown Pet (K Hancock) 26.5,0,0.4=26.9. nov.— 1, Bellefleur Z (G Phillips) 23,0,0=23; 2, Red Rendezvous (S Woodward) 26.5,0,3.2=29.7; 3, Memo II (T Cheffings) 30.8,0,4=34.8. BE100open.— 1, Safran D Argonne (M Lux) 24.8,0,0=24.8; 2, Summer High (H Dzenis) 25.3,0,0=25.3; 3, Cruise On Chloe (S Van Der Merwe) 25.5,0,0=25.5. BE100 sec B.— 1, Miss Pepperpot (C Harris) 28.5,0,0=28.5; 2, Tristis Rock (A Wreford-Brown) 25.5,4,0=29.5; 3, NPS Gucci (H Rawson-Smith) 31,0,0=31. sec C.— 1, Cascade K (J Rimmer) 22,0,0=22; 2, Quinaldo (S Cresswell) 22.5,0,0=22.5; 3, Cadannus (C Harris) 23.5,0,0=23.5. BE90 sec F.— 1, Noble Nuteller (D McCormack) 21.3,0,0=21.3; 2, The Exchequer (D Searle) 27,0,0=27; 3, Holnest Frodo Baggins (C Walters) 25.8,4,0=29.8. sec G.— 1, Zaino (H Ewell) 27.3,0,2=29.3; 2, Lookweep…

LUCY PYE wasn’t going to let her friend Dannie Morgan and partner Jezz Palmer be the only ones to sport advanced medium freestyle sashes. She will be in the silver section at Hartpury with Superstar III (pictured), while Dannie and Jezz fight it out in the gold with Knoxx’s Figaro (Dannie) and Dutch Class and Obsessions Quickstep (Jezz). There must be something in the water in this part of Hampshire — previously the home to Sadie Smith, now riding for Carl Hester. Dannie has had great success with Headmore’s young horses and at Wellington was reserve novice gold freestyle champion with High Hoes Florizel as well as adding the advanced medium gold freestyle to the advanced medium championship he had already won at Merrist Wood with Knoxx’s Figaro. Jezz and…

7 March: CPEDI3* team, grade I (K Myhre, G Hofinga, M Urban).— 1, Florenzius S (L Yen-Yi Tan) SGP 74; 2, Dr Doolittle (K Karjalainen) FIN 72.26; 3, Convicto (A I Mota Veiga) POR 64.34. grade II (H Gerritsen, G Hofinga, M Urban).— 1, Pandora (J Payne) GBR 67.78; 2, Wallace NOP (N den Dulk) NED 66.36. grade III (K Myhre, H Gerritsen, M Urban).— 1, Doo Schufro (A Roling-Nobel) NED 68.24; 2, Serafina T (K Kerr-Hogan) IRL 68.19; 3, Stuart (B Minneci) BEL 67.84; 4, Remi (A Shirtcliffe) GBR 66.28. grade IV (H Gerritsen, G Hofinga, M Urban).— 1, Don Henrico (R Riskalla) BRA 72.17; 2, San Dior 2 (M Claeys) BEL 71.67; 3, Lord Louis (P Johnson-Dwyer) RSA 70.878. grade V.— 1, Rohmeo (C Vermeulen) BEL 69.92; 2,…

TALL TREES ARENA 2 March: prelim 15 silv.— 1, Holcombe Heavenli (T Gist) 67.2. prelim 17A silv.— 1, Willy Wonker (B Taylor) 67.07; 2, Holcombe Heavenli 66.21. prelim FSM silv.— 1, Tranwheal Tineth Moon (S Pidsley) 67.22. nov 22 gold.— 1, Ferrari W (J Chubb) 67.59. silv.— 1, Arctic Whizzle (H Griffiths) 68.45; 2, Cwmdaud Hale Bopp (H Hale) 66.21; 3, Biscovellet’s Cuckoo Pye (L Creber) 61.03. brnz.— 1, Willy Wonker 66.55; 2, May Of High Cove (J Burtwell) 63.28. nov 37A gold.— 1, Ferrari W 67.41. silv.— 1, Cwmdaud Hale Bopp 68.15; 2, Arctic Whizzle 67.78; 3, Biscovellet’s Cuckoo Pye 63.15. nov FSM brnz.— 1, Jeepers Girl (G Beckerleg) 66.39. elem 43 silv.— 1, Uthopia VII (L Jones) 64.66; 2, Drayford Charisma (S Proudfoot) 61.72; 3, Angelica (C Stevens)…

KEYSOE 26 Feb Prelim 15Q silv (A Bostock).— 1, Derrymore’s Lady Lolita (L Painter) 63.6. prelim 17Q silv.— 1, Derrymore’s Lady Lolita 66.03; 2, Toto Trendsetter (S Hillier) 60.69. brnz.— 1, Skikkilds Lavitta (K Browne) 62.41. nov 23 silv.— 1, Gibantos (L Hatcher) 62.71; 2, Toto Trendsetter 61.88; 3, Pernod II (A Dethlefsen) 61.67. brnz.— 1, Artimus (E Windsor) 61.88. nov 37Q gold.— 1, Jelike (T Reeve-Smith) 62.22. silv.— 1, Gibantos 62.41; 2, Pernod II 60. brnz.— 1, Dunsmore Glenfiddich (A Perry) 60.37. elem 43 brnz.— 1, Clonshire Alfie (T Davidson) 62.59; 2, Dunsmore Glenfiddich 57.24. med 61 gold.— 1, Sharola Showstar (T Reeve-Smith) 73.45. silv.— 1, Zamira (L Hunt) 63.62. brnz.— 1, Ziegem (C Rowbottom) 63.45. med 73Q silv.— 1, Don Proviano (S Allen) 68.97. brnz.— 1, Contudo (T…

Myerscough Arena, Lancs | Crow Wood EC, Lancs “We’ve done very little in the last two years: he picked up an injury and then I was ill,” explained Margaret. “That was our first inter I in nearly a year and we were a bit rusty but I’ve been having some lessons with Becky Moody, who also rode him a couple of times while I was off, and he was really in front of my leg. I’d love to qualify for the regionals and maybe do an inter II. I feel we’ve got it in us before one or other of us dies of old age!” Alanna Richardson won at novice with her Furst Kiss x Altountash son Royal Kiss. The gelding was bought as an unbacked three-year-old, with Alanna and…

Onley Grounds EC, Warks | Allens Hill EC, Worcs Harvey White’s Dutch warmblood mare Icilla earned 76.21% in elementary 43 and 74.22% in elementary 59. “We’ve had her three years and the plan is to do some six-year-old classes and qualify for the regionals at elementary,” said Harvey, who is a working pupil with Dan Greenwood. “Dan has given me a lot of help with her, and having him sit on her once in a while to see how she feels is really great.” Harvey admits the mare by Furst Romancier x Ferro is so laid-back, he often has to wake her up to ride her. “She sleeps a lot and is certainly very easy to do,” he added. “Allens Hill was her first show in six months and she…

THE Doura stud dominated in the Clydesdale classes at the National Stallion Show at Morris Equestrian Centre, landing five red rosettes as well as the section supreme championship. Their overall show-stopper was a two-year-old colt who topped his male breed championship before going on to take the supreme for the second consecutive year. Charlotte and Jim Young’s Doura Magic Touch (pictured), a son of Glebeview Sir Charles out of Ballinrees Lady Jayne, was purchased by the stud as a month-old foal from his Ireland-based breeder. “He was unbeaten as a foal and was successful as a yearling, standing champion at Royal Highland,” said Charlotte, who helps run the 90-head stud in Ayrshire. “We’ll hopefully have him as a future stud stallion. He’s very flashy but does have a lot of…

KINGSTON BLOUNT RACING CLUB, KINGSTON BLOUNT Saturday, 9 March  Open maiden (div 1).— 1, P Ponting’s R Bren (D Burton) J Ponting. open maiden (div 2).— 1, N Lilley’s Silver Louna (W Biddick) H Lewis. members’ conditions.— 1, D Cope, B&D Cope, L Hartley, S Sharratt & C Mellard’s Salvatore (A Edwards) P Rowley. ladies’ open.— 1, C&F Marriott’s Dabinett Moon (C Hardwick) F Marriott. men’s open.— 1, T Hunt, A Dickins & A Hill’s Man Of Steel (D Peters) A Hill. restricted.— 1, The Back Of The Car Club’s Loveyoutothemoon (T Worsley) L Redman. intermediate.— 1, T Underwood’s Timmie Roe (P York) T Underwood. COLLEGE VALLEY & NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND, ALNWICK Sunday, 10 March  Novice riders’ conditions.— 1, M Chatterton’s Distime (G Chatterton) C Bealby. restricted.— 1, F Walton’s Frankies…

Eventer Pippa Funnell won the advanced intermediate at Tweseldown on 7 March with Billy Walk On. Pippa described the first event of her 35th competitive year as a “fun start” to the season. Stallion AI Services founder Tullis Matson was awarded fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies, for outstanding service and achievements in the industry, at the House of Lords on 7 March. Para dressage rider Suzanna Hext broke the British para swimming S5 record for the 50m freestyle at the British Universities & Colleges Long Course Championships. Former Pony Club chairman Gordon Wesley received the Sir Colin Spedding Award at the National Equine Forum on 7 March, for his long-standing dedication to the equine sector. Eventer William Fox-Pitt is holding a lecture demonstration in recognition of his 50th birthday…

VAN GOGH The showjumping stallion has retired aged 17 having won over €1m (£857,390), and major grands prix across the world. He was ridden by Caroline Müller, then Marco Kutscher, and will now continue stud duties. DIRECTOR GENERAL Jennie Thorn's 12-year-old eventer has been put down after breaking a hindleg, aged 12. Described by rider Izzy Taylor as a “little tiger”, he was third at Blair CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) in 2018 and was aimed at Burghley 2019. EXPERT EYE The first mares have been scanned in foal to the Breeders’ Cup Mile winner. The four-year-old will cover a full book of 140 mares in 2019, including 12 also owned by Juddmonte.…

▲SEMEN Weston Warmbloods stud is raffling off a stud fee for one of its showjumping stallions to raise money for the air ambulance. Only in the horse world would people be trying to win some semen… ▲MATCHY MATCHY Top matchy-matchiness award goes to grand veterinary fromage David Mountford, who matched his vibrant orange tie perfectly to the orange wristband worn by special guests at the National Equine Forum. One can only guess as to whether his socks were the same hue… ▲PARTYING Also at the forum, Animal Health Trust Supreme Epidemiology Magnificence Dr Newton (is that his real title? Ed) revealed what went on at the trust early in the flu outbreak. “We had quite a swab party that weekend,” he joked. Hope it lifted the surgical spirits……

JEANETTE bought Darco Der Van Het Hasselhof (Jimmy) unseen from Belgium over the winter. He’s six years old and sharp as a bowlful of razor blades. Jeanette has discovered, painfully, that if he hears something that alarms him — such as a bird tweeting unnecessarily loudly — he can teleport from one side of the arena to the other. One moment he’s underneath her, the next he’s… not. He has a beautiful, scopey jump, however, and Jeanette, taking her life in her hands, is determined to get him out to a show as soon as possible. Everything seems to be indoors, however, and Jeanette can’t imagine how Jimmy will cope with people walking around the gallery, opening and closing doors, dropping their handbags and so on. But they have to…

‘He’s a showman with loads of sex appeal and he’s telling us we’re getting somewhere near the old Might Bite’ NICKY HENDERSON is in a surprisingly relaxed mood when H&H visits his Lambourn yard in the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival. Among his 90-odd entries for National Hunt’s showpiece are the mighty reigning champions Altior and Buveur D’Air. Then there’s last year’s Gold Cup favourite, Might Bite, a flop this term but apparently firing again, plus a string of exciting novice hurdlers. Yet, slap-bang in the prime of preparations, Nicky’s yard was brought to a standstill for a fortnight, with a snowy hold-up followed by the flu scare, which played havoc with his scheduling. Could the pressure be any greater? But today, all is serene in the whitewashed main yard…

If your horse has never hunted before, try to take him out with a group of riders. Cantering as a group will accustom him to the proximity of other horses. This will greatly increase your chances of your horse listening to you, and you being able to present him correctly to whatever you want to jump out hunting. The better you prepare your horse for the hunting experience, the more likely you are to jump hedges with control and confidence. Hopefully, you will enjoy your day’s hunting all the more.…

THE managing director of Mount St John Stud, Emma Blundell, explains why some horses end up bigger or smaller than others. She says: “A mare’s first foal will likely be smaller than her subsequent foals. But the mare generally controls the size of the foal, so a bigger stallion can be put to a smaller mare without the foal being too big. “You can also put a pony stallion to a bigger mare and get a bigger foal than if you bred pony to pony. But there is still some variability in adult height.” Emma believes that nutrition and health of the mare and foal play a part in resultant foal size, together with other factors. “In my opinion a lot is in the genes, as with people — for…

Brexit: the UK’s exit from the EU, voted for in a 52% to 48% split in a referendum in June 2016. Third country: when the UK leaves the EU, it will no longer be a member state. What its future with the EU is — or whether it becomes a listed third country (where the UK has some form of relationship with the EU) — depends on whether a deal is reached or not. This will affect many areas, but how is yet to be decided. On the subject of breeding, it will have a bearing on the rules regarding movement of horses, semen and embryos between the UK and EU member states and the import and export taxes they face. TRACES: the EU Trade Control and Expert System is…

‘If he was asked to stand, he would; if I asked him to move, he certainly would’ HORSES have their forte, just as humans do, and it’s immensely satisfying when they find it. “As soon as Gus saw hounds,” says Jeremy Reed, joint-master and huntsman of the Flint and Denbigh, “he lit up.” Found by a subscriber, Gus came from a showjumping yard on Anglesey aged 10. “He kept knocking poles,” Jeremy explains. “But as soon as I got on, I knew he’d be good.” Gus had never been hunting, but was used to dogs and “wasn’t bothered by the hounds at all. They were his life and he always wanted to be with them”. People came a long way down Gus’ list of likes. “He was a miserable bloody…

OI sec H.— 1, Calling Card (P French) 21.8,0,0=21.8; 2, Cillnabradden Evo (O Townend) 26.1,0,1.2=27.3; 3, Ivar Gooden (I Murray) 29.1,0,0=29.1. sec I.— 1, Springpower (I Taylor) 23.9,0,0=23.9; 2, Brookfield Inocent (P French) 25,0,3.2=28.2; 3, Dreamaway II (T McEwen) 24.3,0,5.2=29.5. sec L.— 1, Direct Cassino (I Taylor) 24.6,0,0=24.6; 2, JL Dublin (N Wilson) 27.3,0,0=27.3; 3, Ulises (O Townend) 27.3,0,0= 27.3. OIu21.— 1, Union Fortunus (P Locke) 25.7,0,0.8=26.5; 2, Royal Fury (H Coy) 28,0,0=28; 3, Russal Z (P Locke) 32.3,0,0=32.3. int sec K.— 1, Newmarket Caro (O Townend) 25,0,0=25; 2, Halenza (H Coy) 28,0,0=28; 3, Magic Roundabout IV (H Norvill) 26.1,0,5.6= 31.7. sec M.— 1, Tulla Inspector (L Frankham) 29.6,0,0=29.6; 2, Trevillick (L Harwood) 31.4,0,1.6=33; 3, Miss Cooley (O Townend) 35.7,1,2.4=39.1. ON sec C.— 1, Castletown Clover (P French) 28.5,0,0=28.5; 2,…

BE100plus.— 1, Dandy Cruise (L York) 34.8,0,0=34.8; 2, Shannondale Gold Rush (R Lupton) 36,0,0=36; 3, Wizards Spirit (K Woolley) 34.8,4,0=38.8. BE100open sec D.— 1, Midnight Dancer II (F Healy) 30.8,0,0=30.8; 2, Hawksworth (W Clayton) 31.8,0,0=31.8; 3, Shadow Bumblebee (Z Allen) 32,0,0=32. sec E.— 1, Brilliant Twilight (F White) 23.3,0,0=23.3; 2, Egaro (L Bullas) 23.5,0,0=23.5; 3, Iamwotiam (E Corner) 27.5,0,0=27.5. BE100 sec A.— 1, Darwin IV (L Baguley) 30.3,0,0=30.3; 2, Hawk Eye (N Wilson) 30.8,0,0=30.8; 3, Shannondale Annie (B Harrold) 31.5,0,0=31.5. sec B.— 1, Banbridge De Reve (A Hill) 25.5,0,0=25.5; 2, Charlie Go Go (L Baguley) 31.3,0,0=31.3; 3, Grange Komero (E Fearn) 32,0,0=32. sec C.— 1, Coole Lady (I Gordon) 32,0,0=32; 2, Ballygriffin Doc Cider (A Hill) 30,4,0=34; 3, Lady Madison May (C Thrower) 33,0,1.2=34.2. BE90open.— 1, MHS Seventeen (S Bowe)…

ASTON-LE-WALLS (1) RESULTS BE100open sec A.— 1, Grey Finnsky (A Farrar-Fry) 24.3,0,0=24.3; 2, Tremayle (G Gurvidi) 26.8,0,1.2=28; 3, Fernhill Candy Royal (K King) 29.5,0,0=29.5. sec E.— 1, Bright Bramble (B Woolven) 28.8,0,0=28.8; 2, Dali III (G Gurvidi) 27.8,0,3.6=31.4; 3, Patrickswell Scorpion (M Johnson) 28,4,0=32. BE100 sec B.— 1, Lady Of Harlem (N French) 20.8,0,0=20.8; 2, Macadam Jewel (C Bull) 20.8,0,0=20.8; 3, Kellythorpes Adonis G (C Hardie) 23,0,0=23. sec C.— 1, Mrs Yeats (I Taylor) 26.8,0,0=26.8; 2, Touch Of Luxury (J McCullough) 28.5,0,0=28.5; 3, Quintessential III (C Keen) 25.8,0,3.6=29.4. sec D.— 1, Brando De Cherel (A Duffort) 2.5,0,0=26.5; 2, Fernhill Mojito (K King) 29.8,0,0=29.8; 3, Cheeky Casper (C Bull) 31.5,0,0=31.5. sec F.— 1, Sligo Candyman (O Townend) 25.3,0,0=25.3; 2, Ivian II (K McNab) 29.3,0,0=29.3; 3, Swiss Maid (S Chittleburgh) 30.8,0,0=30.8. sec…

6 March: med 75 gold (J Bailey, S Pimbley).— 1, Showstar (L Rowe) 70.07; 2, LHH Harley (G Roden) 69.66; 3, Saffira (K Owens) 68.78. Equine Construction adv med 98 gold (K Barker, H Bradley, S Kingwells).— 1, Tantoni Dallaglio (R Huges)71.49; 2, De Angelis II (F Brennan) 70.04; 3, Hemisphere II (D Hicks) 69.78. adv 102 (F Lace, C Tupling).— 1, Elixir (S Higgins) 67.72; 2, Faydirime ZH (S Higgins) 65.59; 3, Holmegards Bastian (S Brown) 64.41. adv med 92 gold (K Barker, F Lace, C Tupling).— 1, De Angelis II 70.95; 2, Billionaire (A Moncrief) 67.7; 3, Saffira (K Owens) 67.66. 7 March: adv med 96 gold (K Barker, H Bradley, C Tupling).— 1, De Angelis II 70.18; 2, Elixir 69.56; 3, Easter Bunny II (S Higgins) 68.11.…

KBIS prelim 15 silv (L Waller, C Gardiner, C Tupling).— 1, Headmore Dramatica (A Kirby) 71.89; 2, DiMinutive (K Byam-Cook) 70.92; 3, Jessie Jane (H Cook) 70.05. Blue Chip nov 39A gold (J Head, D Wardle, R Baldwin).— 1, Headmore Dionysus (A Oppenheimer) 75.67; 2, S P Bento (J Harvey) 73.39; 3, Fortunatus I (R Cowderoy) 70.67. silv (F Wilson, A Keen, C Thornton).— 1, Marvel (F Mailand) 73.58; 2, Headmore Footloose (M Morris) 72.4; 3, Keystone Di Caprio (S Malpass) 71.11. Baileys nov FSM gold (A Duck, J Loriston-Clarke, N Du Plessis).— 1, Ivan Carlos (L Wollen) 77.4; 2, Headmore Dionysus 75.37; 3, Jannick (D Rhodes) 73.7. silv (A Duck, M Horn, S McMahon).— 1, SOS Sealpoint (K Oppenheimer) 72.4; 2, Harnells Erasmus (M Graham) 71.85; 3, Keystone Di…

Hartpury University & Hartpury College, Glos | Beacons Equestrian, Carmarthenshire “He developed a dislike of the cloth on the judge’s table,” laughed Elena Goodfellow, whose six-year-old Florencio gelding achieved 73.54% — even though he couldn’t be persuaded to venture near the offending article. “He’s just green and has never been in that sort of environment.” Elena, a solicitor, bought “Liso” as a yearling on the recommendation of her long-term trainer Dan Greenwood. “We’ve taken it slowly, as he’s 17.1hh and still a bit babyish, but he has been my dream horse,” she says. “This was a trial run for the nationals, so the plan is to buy a tablecloth and work on getting him used to it at home!” Lisa Rees headed both prelims at Beacons EC with her nine-year-old…

Step Aside, West Sussex | Parwood, Surrey | Pachesham, Surrey Trina scored nearly 69% to win the advanced medium 98 at Step Aside and filed her disappointing Merrist Wood winter regionals with Doraya under “experience”. “Dora gets stage fright. As I move off from halt I can feel her take a breath and hold it,” she explained. “Ingrid Klimke suggested in a masterclass at Wellington that instead of always riding collected canter to halt and then moving off in collected trot, that you practise halting then allowing the horse to stretch down. I did that before my test this time and suddenly I found I could ride her more. “I was on the brink of asking my trainer to ride her at a show. Now I feel I’ve achieved something…

TAKING young horses out for the first time can be quite a challenge. It’s ideal to have them used to working with other horses as much as possible first, and riding outside at home, before having to add in transportation and a strange environment. We like to take youngsters out initially without the pressure of a competition. If you’re taking a few horses out together, forward planning is needed to make sure one isn’t left on the lorry by himself. Padded ear covers can also become a necessary piece of equipment! When it comes to test riding, horses should be working comfortably at that level at home. Preferably they would be working at a level or two higher than the one you wish to compete at. It’s easy to forget…

CHI Al Shaqab, Doha, Qatar A THRILLING three-horse jump-off in the €410,000 (£355,525) grand prix brought the curtain down on two weeks of top-class showjumping in Al Shaqab’s unrivalled outdoor arena — first a Global Champions Tour show and then this CSI5*. Only two Belgian riders — Pieter Devos and Nicola Philippaerts — and an Italian, Emanuele Gaudiano, had jumped double clear round Frank Rothenberger’s big, airy, but not over-technical tracks. Twelve out of the 18 pairs through to the second round of the grand prix picked up faults in the treble combination; Ludger Beerbaum (Cool Feeling), Athina Onassis (MHS Going Global) and Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed with Gunder were clear but collected a time-fault. In the jump-off, which used the full length and breadth of the gigantic arena, Nicola…

I’M sure we’re all sick of hearing about Brexit but it could have a huge effect on the way we transport our horses — something that all riders competing abroad take for granted these days. I remember a time when trips to foreign shows required hours of queuing for lengthy checks at every border — travelling across Europe was really hard work. Starting in Dover even, you could spend two hours waiting for all your paperwork to be examined before you’re even on the boat. Then at Calais you could wait for another hour or two for your paperwork to be signed off. At each border you’d tear a page out of each horse’s carnet (temporary importation document) and hand it to customs, then they’d come on to the lorry…

BY the time you read this, we will be little more than 24 hours away from finding out who will be crowned the 2019 St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase winner at the Cheltenham Festival. If you have been a little slow off the mark in getting your copy of this week’s edition of Horse & Hound, you may already know the winner! Ask anyone involved in jump racing what their ultimate dream is and most will tell you it is to have a winner at the Festival. Plenty dream it and few achieve it. The pathway to Foxhunter success has undoubtedly changed with time. The chances of the race being won by an unexposed horse, that has graduated through the point-to-point ranks, are now much slimmer than they were. Instead,…

Matchbook Imperial Cup meeting, Sandown Park, Surrey NO British trainer has had his horses in better form going into this week’s Cheltenham Festival than Paul Nicholls. Last Saturday, 9 March, the Ditcheattrained, five-year-old mare Malaya, who is owned by Johnny de la Hey, won the Matchbook Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown Park. Despite winning, her smooth progress through the field was halted when she crashed through the second last and all but lost her jockey, Harry Cobden. The blunder must have taken something out of Malaya, but the leader Monsieur Lecoq started paddling at the last. The eventual winner stayed on up the hill in the gruelling conditions to beat the Jane Williams-trained runner-up by a length-and-a-quarter. “The horses are really well,” said Nicholls. “That’s six or seven winners…