Innholdsfortegnelse for 27-Dec-2018 i Horse & Hound

DURING five years as Horse & Hound dressage editor I frequented events such as the Global Dressage Forum in the Netherlands at which the great and good of the sport would invariably end up discussing what could be done to bring dressage to the masses — well, not necessarily masses, but still a wider audience. The arguments could be broken down to two opposing views — those who embraced the prospect of change, keen to see what could be achieved, and those who felt change would ruin the essence of the sport for little gain. I’m just happy that some of the ideas that were discussed at length for years — a shorter grand prix, bolder music to accompany riders in this phase, audience participation and a jazzier approach to…

Showjumping legend Harvey Smith celebrates his 80th birthday on 29 December. He represented Great Britain at two Olympic Games and competed in five European Championships. Eventer William Fox-Pitt has collected his MBE for his services to equestrian sport. William, was presented with the MBE by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on 20 December. British Eventing chairman Paul Hodgson has confirmed he will not be available for a second term when his current period in the role finishes at the end of this year. He will be replaced by Fiona O’Hara. Horse & Hound’s Lucy Elder has been named journalist of the year by the British Equestrian Federation in acknowledgement of her contribution to equestrian sports coverage. New Zealand eventer Andrew Nicholson collected his Officer of the New Zealand…

▲ A CHEEKY TIPPLE A hunt supporter asking for recommended hip flask recipes was given a number of helpful suggestions from like-minded souls, including the following: 1. get hip flask; 2. get port; 3. drink port; 4. repeat. Thinking that can’t be beaten, tbh. ▲ SHOWS To Olympia, where one announcement in the Grand Hall said that a certain occurrence would take place “every day of the Horse of the Year Show”. Getting prepared early, isn’t it, or perhaps late? ▲ HOLIDAYS A shopper who shelled out on a couple of pairs of riding socks at the London International Horse Show handed over her tenner to the seller, who remarked: “Thanks, we can book those flights now.” “To Luton?” his colleague queried. I hear the local cuisine is tremendous in…

IN THEIR INTEREST Sir — Recently I had to have my pony put to sleep as he had severe colic and, after much soul searching, I decided to buy another horse. However, I became increasingly frustrated with so many vendors not returning phone calls, not sending videos as promised and not even being able to supply me with quite straightforward information. If horses are advertised, then surely it’s in the vendor’s interest to provide any relevant details? Gayle Tyler Ashbourne, Derbys BREED THEM BIGGER? Sir — I read recently that the Suffolk horse is now more rare than the giant panda. In fact, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust warns that if urgent action isn’t taken, it could become extinct. I then read H&H’s news piece about heavy riders and the…

Begin the exercises in walk and progress gradually. It is easier for your horse to mobilise all parts of his body in a slower pace. Minimise the pressure of your leg or hand as soon as your horse responds to the aids. This isn’t about ‘holding the bend’, but about getting your horse to respond to the pressure-release system. The more you hold your leg around him, the less he will respond, making him appear inflexible because he can’t find a way of relieving the pressure.…

WHEN I arrive at Daniel Bremner and Lucy Cartwright’s beautiful yard in the Cotswolds, I wonder if anyone is actually there; the place is so peaceful. The immaculate tree-lined drive with post-and-rail paddocks either side leads to a collection of barns. There’s a bigger, brick-fronted one — the nucleus of the yard — containing indoor stables and the tack room, and a barn opposite housing a 20x40m indoor arena with mirrors. Beyond the barns is a 20x60m outdoor arena sheltered by tall, neat hedges. It boasts mirrors at one end and a decked viewing area with covered seating at the other. It’s the epitome of a sophisticated dressage yard, with pruned box hedges, topiary plants and patches of pristine, freshly mown grass. There is also a set of four outdoor…

TALKING POINT MR BLUE SKY UK (Chacco Blue x Cento) was an embryo transfer foal bred in Germany and later bought by Stud UK Euro’s Caroline Phillips, who has produced him alongside Guy Williams since he was a five-year-old. “I called him Mr Blue Sky because of how much jump he had,” Caroline said of this week’s H&H cover star. “You could see so much blue sky between him and the fence.” She said she was thrilled by his track record of three puissance victories since October, and believed the horse was destined for great things. “I think he has the jump to do Nations Cups and championships in the future,” she said.…

18 Dec: services ch.— 1, Vice Versa (LCpl L Charley); 2, Infinaty (PO S Fuller); 3, WKD San Remo (LCpl H Hall). 19 Dec: CSIW welcome stakes.— 1, Freestyle (D Kuipers) NED; 2, Billy Dorito (D Kenny) IRL; 3, Beauville Z (M van der Vleuten) NED; 5, Yacuma BK (S Breen) IRL; 9, Concona (B Maher) GBR. Pony Club mini-major.— 1, Grennanstown Sarco Lux Hill (H Smith) & Runaway Dolly (K Bradburne); 2, SFS Vincomte (L Kraut) & Clooncraha Lady (L Aspell); 3, Yacuma BK (S Breen) & Ballyglunn Girl (Z-J Kelly). Santa stakes supported by Olympia.— 1, Cassini Z (D Kenny); 2, Catwalk IV (R Whitaker) GBR; 3, Uno De La Roque (F Mathy Jr) BEL; 8, JB’s Hot Stuff (J Whitaker) GBR; 10, Hello M’Lord (S Brash) GBR.…

CDIW London International Horse Show, Olympia THIS time last year, Frederic Wandres was a name few might recognise outside Germany. But that has now changed — the 31-year-old catapulted himself into the spotlight this season and he rounded it off by becoming the first German rider ever to win the Olympia freestyle, which is supported by Horse & Hound. Frederic may be German through and through, but his bouncy chestnut gelding — aptly named Duke Of Britain — was back on home turf. A son of Dimaggio, the 11-year-old British Hanoverian was bred in Berkshire by Tony and Sarah Pidgley. ‘I can trust him to do his job in every arena in the world’ FREDERIC WANDRES ON DUKE OF BRITAIN The pair clearly felt right at home here —…

OLYMPIA was incredible for British dressage breeders as well as riders, with four of the top five horses all British-bred. While the breeders rejoiced, the new short grand prix test caused plenty of conversation and controversy. The aim of the new concept was to encourage new spectators, to make the sport more straightforward for the general public to understand and to create a competition more appealing for TV. The other reason cited was the welfare of the horses, as the shorter grand prix could mean the horses undergo less strain when they are competing frequently on the World Cup circuit. I think the test is more exciting and easier for the general public to understand without multiple “tries” at each movement, but most spectators who attend high-level grand prix dressage…

BURY FARM 15-16 Dec: prelim FSM Q brnz.— 1, Beau Bayou (T Thompson) 64.44; 2, Phoenix VII (J Lambert) 61.11. nov FSM Q silv.— 1, Dalyhill Rocker (G Catling) 73.88. brnz.— 1, Smooth Emperor (E McFarlane) 73.33; 2, Warrengate Irish Affair (E Deakin) 68.61; 3, Montserrat (J Johnston) 66.11. elem FSM Q silv.— 1, Murphys Law XII (A Bettle) 77.3; 2, Cotswold Odysean (D Hunt) 73.46; 3, Tsjebe (J Catling) 68.84. brnz.— 1, Smooth Emperor 69.03; 2, Montserrat 67.88; 3, Katja (J Campbell) 65.19. med FSM Q silv.— 1, Murphys Law XII 68.33; 2, Zamira (L Hunt) 67.5; 3, Special Brew (A Bird) 67. adv med FSM Q silv.— 1, Diamond Lil (C Randall) 71.5. brnz.— 1, Crazy L.A.’s Baby (P Lock) 66.5; 2, Special Brew 66. PSG FSM Q…

ROBERT MCCARTHY, HUNTSMAN OF THE PERCY: ● Try not to end up hunting in the dark as much. ● Be nicer to the stud groom, who is also my brother… ● Go skiing and get down a black run without breaking something. ● Try to beat the Wynnstay in the show ring this summer! ● Most importantly, try to spend more time with my wife and daughter. ANDREW SALLIS, MASTER AND HUNTSMAN OF THE KIMBLEWICK: ● Remember it’s a serious business, having so much fun. ● Take not the hounds out in foul weather, if my subscribers would permit. ● Formulate a better way to explain the difference between hounds hunting on, in front of their huntsman, and being “out of control”. STEVEN ASHWORTH, HUNTSMAN OF THE HOLCOMBE HARRIERS: ●…

DO you ever find yourself doing something and wonder how on earth you ended up in that position? Before you imagine anything unsavoury, I am talking about the hunt carol concert. We’re a small hunt, so when it comes to hunt events, there’s only a small pool of people to draw from. What we are not short on is talent. It’s funny — the South and West Wilts, where I grew up, was a very “thespy” hunt. You only need nod at a village hall and half the men would appear in drag, and the ladies in tights and suspenders, like something out of Cabaret. They just loved to perform. Here, it’s music. One of our hunt secretaries, Joy, is an organist, we have a judge who is a dab…

HE had been dreaming of winning the World Cup qualifier at Olympia for more than 20 years — and on Saturday (22 December) William Whitaker’s dream came true. William and Utamaro D’Ecaussines saw off stiff competition from a host of top names in an 18-horse jump-off in the Grand Hall to take the class by fractions of a second. “I’m speechless,” William said. “My horse jumped two unbelievable rounds. “I’ve been coming here since I was two or three years old and ever since I was young it was the thing that spurred me on every day to get up, because I wanted to win the World Cup at Olympia — and now it’s happened.” An emotional William paid tribute to the 14-year-old stallion’s owner Ludwig Criel and his groom,…

RAMIRO B The great eventing sire has been put down aged 24 after he was diagnosed with kidney failure. His progeny include 2018 Kentucky CCI4* winner Cooley Master Class and Badminton runner-up Cooley SRS. VALEGRO Carl Hester gave 11-year-old goddaughter Ruby Hughes, daughter of dressage riders Gareth and Rebecca, a Christmas present of a lesson aboard the record-breaking dressage legend. WINX The Australian racing star mare will stay in training for 2019, trainer Chris Waller has confirmed. The seven-year-old has 33 wins to her name and is unbeaten in her last 29 races.…

PLANS to review whip regulations in racing have been announced by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to ensure that penalties for offences “present a sufficient deterrent”. The BHA stated last March that it would look at the rules again and, having monitored data this year and now the review into the equine fatalities at the Cheltenham Festival has been completed, (news, 20 December) said it is “in a position to consider how to progress this issue”. “This process will start in January, when we will begin putting timelines in place and properly scoping out the project,” said a BHA spokesman. “Before any final decisions are made a full and proper process will be followed which will include gathering participants’ views.” The BHA has also announced plans to create a new…

DR COOMBS told H&H that severance was not discussed by her committee, though it is a growing topic of speculation elsewhere. Stephane Chazel said: “There is now a risk the FEI doesn’t want to manage endurance, or to manage only one style of endurance in future — like they did recently with reining.” Traditional endurance developed in the USA. Concerned about developments in the UAE, the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) was already trying to distance itself from “desert racing” before the Tryon disaster unfolded on home soil. The AERC membership has since been divided by a motion to disaffiliate from the US Equestrian Federation (USEF) and hence the FEI. It was due to be decided in early December, but AERC president Paul Latiolais moved to defer. This triggered a…

WANDA DODD A DEDICATED volunteer, Mrs Dodd died on 24 November aged 69. Born in Edinburgh, she married Roger Dodd in 1972 and the couple had three children. Mrs Dodd was BHS (British Horse Society) Borders chairman for years. She spent 14 years as a volunteer on the Equine Grass Sickness Fund committee. After her retirement in 2014, she continued to run the trade stand at the Royal Highland Show and Blair Castle Horse Trials, where she provided endless hospitality. Mrs Dodd taught at the Berwickshire branch of the Pony Club and was an accomplished horsewoman — she represented Britain and the Pony Club in the Asia-Pacific Games in New Zealand, evented, team chased, raced and enjoyed carriage driving. LINDA SANDERCOCK MRS SANDERCOCK died on 15 December aged 64 following…

THROWING SHAPES Charlotte Dujardin joked she felt “like she was on Strictly Come Dancing” during the new-format grand prix test trialled at Olympia. Now there’s a thought. A few more sequins on the tailcoats, perhaps? EQUINE WEIGHT Poor old Katie Price. She shared a picture of her daughter’s perfectly healthy-looking pony online, and became the target of keyboard warriors who thought the pony was “shockingly thin”. Because, wait for it, it may have been possible to see the suggestion of a rib. Where does one start? SHETLANDS Spotted on Facebook, a post asking people to describe their little darlings in three words. “I can think of a few more than that, but most probably not printable,” quipped one owner. What could she mean? Answers on a postcard, please...…

“WHAT that boy needs to do,” pronounces Great Aunt Hermione, “is go hunting.” “That boy” is 45-year-old Jeremy, whose wife has just left him for her Pilates coach, taking the children with her. Life is not good. He hasn’t been on a horse since “the boys’ ride” at Pony Club camp, after which girls and rugby took over. Hermione knows that hunting is the cure for all ills, especially heartbreak. She buys him six days with the Smashington Vale, complete with hirelings, for Christmas, and won’t take no for an answer. Her long-dead husband’s black hunting coat and boots are retrieved from the attic, and she finds an old, precious, conical glass hipflask and case, which she fills with Percy Special (whisky and cherry brandy). Jeremy, who would rather have…

RICHARD DAVISON A DRESSAGE rider and coach, Richard Davison has represented Great Britain at four Olympic Games, including at London 2012 riding Hiscox Artemis. He is also a European medallist, former World Class performance manager and British Dressage team captain. TRAINING THE STARS MY horse, Hiscox Artemis, was short-coupled and, in the early days, he would tend to contract and tighten the wrong muscle groups, so I would do exercises to improve his flexibility and range of movement. He was quick to understand that he needed to multi-task with his neck and hindquarters. Soon, he was flexing with me only using the lightest of leg and rein aids.…

7am: Daniel and Lucy start on the yard, with Daniel feeding and poo-picking and Lucy helping the grooms muck out. The horses out overnight are brought in, and the stabled horses are turned out, with some put on the walker. 8.30am: Daniel starts riding followed by Lucy at 9am. They ride until 2pm. 2pm: the grooms have lunch while Daniel and Lucy clip horses and teach clients. 4-5pm: horses are put to bed or turned out and fed and the yard is finished. 5pm: in the summer, Daniel potters in the garden while Lucy walks their two Norfolk terriers, Spud and Sprout. In the winter, the pair attend to admin duties before having their dinner. 9pm: Daniel and Lucy do the late-night check, which they share with Carole, before heading…

THE trialling of a new, short-format grand prix on the opening night prompted mass debate among riders, judges and spectators. The new test is designed to be five minutes long — 45 seconds shorter than the usual grand prix. It featured much shorter half-passes, just one extended trot, a reduced walk section and no rein-back. Riders performed a half circle off the first centre line, straight after the first halt at D, and only two piaffes were required. The changes are part of a package designed to widen the appeal of the grand prix night and bring in new audiences. Other new aspects included the riders dismounting in the arena directly after finishing the test, to be interviewed briefly about their performance (pictured, right), and then to watch their scores…

Morris EC, Ayrshire The 11-year-old Connemara mare Blackthorn Passion, bred by Jackie Webb, is by the 2007 Olympia ridden mountain and moorland champion Bunowen ‘The dressage is “me time”’ LESLEY PARKER ON ENJOYING A DISCIPLINE CHANGE Castle Ri. Passion has previously been placed at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), ridden by Matthew Lawrence. “I’ve been riding her for a year — this was our first music test, compiled by Tom Hunt from The Greatest Showman and James Bond,” said Lesley, who trains with Kay Gebbie. “We’ve been working on her roundness and I’d like to aim for some more music tests. I have young twins who compete in lead-rein and first-ridden classes and the dressage is ‘me time’. Passion is a very kind, genuine mare, who always…

A HOST of awards was handed out at Olympia, The London International Horse on Thursday evening (20 December), honouring a line-up of the great and good of equestrian sport. World champion eventer Ros Canter, who was also part of the British gold-medal winning team at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon this year, received the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Medal of Honour. Also receiving the award was Jill Holah, for her commitment to national and international carriage driving and her service as the chef d’equipe for the international combined pony team, and Waveney Luke for her contribution as selector to the British para dressage teams and involvement in British Dressage. Ros Canter was also recognised at the British Equestrian Writers’ Association (BEWA) 2018 awards on 19 December, winning the BEWA…

RACING AWARDS SHORTLISTS OUT THE National Trainers Federation has announced the 2019 Lycetts Team Champion Award shortlists. The award celebrates the racehorse training yards that have developed a strong team ethos through the highest standards of staff management and safe working practices. The shortlisted trainers with 40 or more horses are Andrew Balding, Tom Dascombe, Warren Greatrex and Richard Hughes. Those shortlisted with fewer than 40 horses are Nick Alexander, Dan Kubler, Jedd O’Keeffe and Richard Phillips. The winners will be announced on 28 February, 2019 at a ceremony at the headquarters of the Institute of Directors in London. WINDSOR TO RUN REGAL PAGEANT THE 2019 Royal Windsor Horse Show (8-12 May) is holding an equine pageant to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria. Horses from…

SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT Sandy Thomson’s stable star has been retired from racing due to injury. The 10-year-old won seven of his 17 starts, including two Grade Two races, and his final run was the 2018 Grand National, where he finished 11th. MATHEWS GIRL The top 128cm showjumper, who helped launch the careers of many riders, has died aged 24. She had wins at Dublin, HOYS and Olympia to name a few, and was “inseparable” from fellow 128cm Flinor Songbird. FLINOR SONGBIRD The equally talented 128cm showjumping mare has died aged 26. The pony’s achievements included victories at the Royal International Horse Show, the Scope Festival 128cm final and at HOYS.…

A LONELY pony who used to wait at the school gates at home time in the hope of being fed has become the face of World Horse Welfare’s Christmas appeal. Colin was found by the charity this year. Alone, underweight and infested with lice, he had learned school finishing times, and would wait at the gates, hoping for food. “When the lorry arrived, it was like he knew exactly what was happening and practically trotted into the horsebox,” said field officer Chris Shaw. “Seeing horses transformed in this way is what makes my job so worthwhile. There are so many horses like Colin who need our help, at Christmas and all year, so I’d ask anyone able to spare a few pounds to donate to our appeal and enable us…

IMOGEN MURRAY has scant chance of success going to her head. The event rider — who went clear round Burghley at the tender age of 21 — is kept thoroughly grounded by her mother Kim, eventing’s answer to Mary Berry. We are sitting in their homely kitchen, inhaling a heady aroma of caramel brownie, shortbread and lemon polenta cake Kim’s cooked for the grooms, looking at a wall covered with photos of Imogen and her brother Ben competing. So far: normal. However, on closer inspection, I notice that more than half the pictures are of the Murrays coming unstuck. There’s Imogen’s top horse, Ivar Gooden, rearing 12ft in the air; her first four-star horse, Wiseguy IV (Fred), misfiring in various ways: slamming on the brakes or paddling through a showjump;…

I’VE been coming to Olympia as a spectator for a long time and have also jumped in the puissance, so I thought I knew what to expect. However, competing here for the whole show for the first time exceeded all my expectations as well as fulfilling a 25-year ambition. The support from the crowd is phenomenal. I wish people would get behind us like that at other shows in Britain, but I’m guessing that Olympia being so close to Christmas really helps. Being in London is another big plus. My husband Graham lasted one day and then moaned that he could be hunting instead. With the station in such close proximity, it was easy to put him on the train and send him home! Our daughter Rosie was supposed to…

21 Dec: Voltaire Design British under-25 ch.— 1, Newbridges Chablis (R Murphy); 2, Vivaldi Du Dom (H Charles); 3, Fantom (J Hall McAteer). Keith Prowse Father Christmas stakes.— 1, Lammy Beach (W Whitaker) GBR; 2, Billy Angelo (W Funnell) GBR; 3, Cirus Du Ruisseau Z (B Maher) GBR; 4, Cicero II (G Williams) GBR; 6, Hello Senator (S Brash) GBR; 7, Clyde VA (S Breen) IRL; 9, Madinah (J Whitaker) GBR. Longines Christmas cracker.— 1, El Wee Widge (R Whitaker) GBR; 2, Confu (L Kraut) USA; 3, Claddagh Iroko (H Smith) GBR; 4, Leen OL (J Whitaker) GBR; 9, Controe (H Charles) GBR. 22 Dec: Voltaire Design 148cm mince pie stakes.— 1, Casino Royale VIII (S Greig); 2, Gangnam Style II (N Lockhead Anderson); 3, Ammanvalley Santino (H Barker). Martin…

● The renowned Oldenburg stallion Rubin Royal is usually well-represented here, with Olympia regulars Rubins Nite (Hayley Watson-Greaves) and Rubin Al Asad (Lara Butler) both being by him. This year, though, a full quarter of the 12-strong line-up were sons of his, with Belgium’s David Engelen bringing forward the 13-year-old bay gelding Royal Rubinstein. ● British breeding was happily prevalent, with four of the top five horses on both nights being British-bred. Hawtins Delicato, now owned by Carl Hester, Lady Anne Evans and Ann Cory, was bred just down the road from Carl’s Gloucestershire base by Judith Davis at the Hawtins Stud, while Duke Of Britain started life in Berkshire. Rubins Nite is a British Hanoverian bred by Erica Richmond-Watson, while Richard Davison’s Bubblingh (pictured, right) is home-bred out of…

TALL TREES ARENA 14 Dec: prelim 15Q brnz.— 1, SOS Upperclass Otto (H Dance) 70. prelim 17AQ brnz.— 1, Langaller Sherlock (A Lucas) 68.79. prelim FSM gold.— 1, Tiger Mazariti (A Matravers) 72.22. nov 22 silv.— 1, Fancy Pants (A Matravers) 66.38; 2, Hilde K (K Malone) 65.69; 3, Elba ID (A Zuend) 65.34. brnz.— 1, SOS Upperclass Otto 65.86; 2, Langaller Sherlock 64.83; 3, Narramore Jumpjet (H Partridge) 61.38. nov 37AQ silv.— 1, Hilde K 63.33; 2, Elba ID 62.22; 3, Oxnead Axcell (S McSweeney) 60.74. brnz.— 1, Narramore Jumpjet 62.59. nov FSM Q silv.— 1, Strawberry Shortcake (C Deithrick) 72.22; 2, Fancy Pants 68.89; 3, Tiger Mazariti 68.06. brnz.— 1, Louisianna Gold (A Kinahan) 60.56. elem 43 gold.— 1, Quaterjack Prince (D Reddan) 68.45. silv.— 1, Dovetale Tender…

Oldencraig, Surrey | Blue Barn, Kent Organiser Charlotte Wickington quickly revised times to enable competitors to warm up indoors before their tests at Oldencraig, because of wintry conditions. Immy commented: “It was my first show with ‘Stella’. She was so rideable despite only a 10-minute warm-up. I did safe tests and didn’t put any power into them so she gave me about 80% of what she can do at home.” Immy is working as a professional rider for Lynn Gale’s Froxfield Dressage. The Dankeschon x Furst Piccolo six-year-old came on to the yard to be sold. “Marlene Garfield-Davies, one of our liveries, now owns her with her husband James,” said Immy. “I’ve been riding Stella about a month. James Burtwell, her previous rider, had done such a good job with…

THE country around Wilton in South Wiltshire is quintessentially English; perfect villages of gently weathered red-brick houses, thatched roofs, pretty churches and soft, rolling countryside. The Wilton kennels are on Lord Pembroke’s Wilton estate just south of the town, where they have been for many years. While the whitewashed buildings are not in the first flush of youth, they are maintained to a high standard by huntsman William Hudson, now in his second season, and countryman James Marshall, who has worked for the Wilton hunt under various guises since 1999. To walk the hounds out, it is simply a matter of opening the gate into the walled park of Wilton House. THE HOUNDS THE Wilton currently have 39½ couple of hounds, seven couple of which are puppies. It is a…

NOTE the question mark. There are as many answers to this dilemma as there are people who have ever hunted. Hunting regularly for many years, decades in my case, is an all-consuming lifestyle. It stops being a “hobby”, a “sport” or even the dreaded “leisure pursuit” and becomes a way of life. Just as you cannot imagine existence without food and drink, or the daily chores of dog-walking or the school run, it is impossible to imagine life without that weekly, or twice weekly, battery charge. So why stop? For most of us it is a combination of advancing age, plus quite often diminishing resources and lack of help. It is hardly surprising that once one is past one’s optimum earning days, money becomes tighter. So here we are, us…