Innholdsfortegnelse for 16-Jul-2020 i Horse & Hound

TO contest Badminton as a professional rider is a phenomenal accomplishment. To do so as an amateur with one incredible horse defies all logic. Currently I’m horseless, busy enough with two under-fives and this wonderful job, but the feeling of getting up at 5am to scrape ice off the car and drive through dark, winding lanes to the yard, seeing my breath in the rear-view mirror, is a strong memory. Being the first to arrive, responsible for feeding all the horses, who whinnied impatiently as I dished out a heap of buckets from metal bins. Extracting the odd rogue haynet, refilling the kicked water bucket – having defrosted the tap with the contents of a Thermos. Disappointing one of mine with a handful of her feed with the rest kept…

THREE British Showjumping (BS) championships are to run at Bolesworth, a major showing championships is set to run, and there is hope for dressage. The BS national championships (BSNC), Academy and Just for Schools championships will run at Bolesworth, from 3 to 11 August. The news follows the announcement from Grandstand Media that the 2020 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and Stoneleigh Horse Show, which would have run alongside the BSNC, were cancelled. BS CEO Iain Graham said: “To have two of the largest show organisers in the country working together in this way to support our members clearly illustrates why the sport has been able to hit the ground running again. Our thanks and gratitude go to both Grandstand Media and Bolesworth for their support.” The British Show…

SCOTTISH COURSE CLOSES DOWN BRITAIN’S northernmost pointing course has closed. Balcormo Mains, some 40 miles north-east of Edinburgh and one of the oldest courses in the country, held its first fixture in 1924 and its last on Easter Saturday 2019. The cost of running a venue for a single fixture each year and the loss of two fundraising events owing to Covid-19 were major factors in considering viability. The 2021 Fife meeting moves to Overton Farm at Crossford, South Lanarkshire, on 24 April. BITLESS BACK ON THE FEI AGENDA THE World Bitless Association (WBA) will meet the FEI this year. The move follows a WBA campaign against the ban on competitors’ using bitless bridles in the cross-country phase of FEI eventing. The invitation from FEI eventing director Catrin Norinder said…

▲ CINEMA One hears of a cinema-goer whose barracking over the inaccuracy of the equestrian scenes in a film was so extreme, she was escorted firmly to the exit, apparently while shouting “heels down!” Not condoning such behaviour, of course, but riders everywhere will be sympathetic… ▲ TECH ISSUES Hats off to Spruce Meadows. When the venue had some problems with showing footage of past shows, with this year’s events cancelled, they instead treated viewers to a video of a puddle, with the title “Virtual rain delay”. After all, what is a summer show without a downpour? ▲ LESSONS The Meade children seem to be having the best homeschooling; dad Harry shared a video of a family ride out, learning about ditches. Sounds like the perfect school day to us...…

COMMON sense has been in short supply these past months, so it was good to hear former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith say with statesmanlike clarity that the country should get back to work and youngsters back to school. This virus could be with us for years to come, and we must learn to live with it, he said, while acknowledging that the old and unhealthy remain susceptible and youth virtually untouched. If only the FEI could have used such intelligent thinking before cancelling the youth Europeans. These championships were to be held at Vilamoura in the Portuguese Algarve, an area with few Covid-19 cases. Organiser António Moura had even postponed until the end of August, in line with school holidays. The week the Europeans were called off saw…

What’s the best book you have read? A book about psychology called Daring Greatly, by Brené Brown. I found it fascinating and it’s really helped me within my coaching, and life generally – I go back to it quite often. Favourite tunes for a road trip? Anything we can turn up loud and sing along to without hearing ourselves. Who was your first pony? A little 12hh liver chestnut mare called Crystal – she actually put me off mares for about 20 years! It was with her that I discovered that jumping wasn’t for me; I didn’t have adapted reins back then, and had a pretty awful saddle, but every time I went over a jump she’d buck or put her head down and I’d fall off. Dressage certainly seemed…

LOCKDOWN has its upsides. For Ros Canter, the reigning world eventing champion, it’s been an unexpected training boost under sunny skies. Living on the north Lincolnshire coast, where the wind whips icy blasts straight from Siberia, Ros is used to cramming the horses’ “homework” into the short, perishingly cold days of winter. “Our arena is lovely but very exposed, so it’s been really nice to have the time to train the horses without the pressure of competitions while the weather is good,” Ros says. “I actually felt lucky at the start of lockdown because all my horses had run at the start of the season – Oasby and Lincoln are quite local so I took my whole string there, and the next weekend everything shut down.” Ros was quick out…

“I FEEL I’m really building my string, with some lovely young horses coming up who’ll take over from the older boys,” says Ros. • Pencos Crown Jewel (Jas), 11yo mare (Jumbo x Rock King), owned by Kate James and Annie Makin. “She is a real grafter. She’s small but absolutely loves to gallop on the cross-country.” • Izilot DHI (Isaac), 7yo gelding by Zavall VDL x Marlon, owned by Alex Moody and Ros. “Super talented. He’s sharp and spooky but so very exciting.” • Lordships Graffalo (Walter), 8yo gelding (Grafenstolz x Rock King), owned by Michele Saul. “He’s a half-brother to Pencos Crown Jewel, who takes life in his stride and can perform in every phase.” • Rehy Royal Diamond (Bling), 9yo gelding (Ars Vivendi x Diamond Lad), owned by…

Onley Grounds EC, Warks A NINE for an extended walk was “the icing on the cake” for Rebecca Drane, whose home-bred Dancier mare Danseuse nailed her debut at medium with a plus-72% win. Rebecca, a Buckinghamshire-based freelance dressage coach, used the competition break to strengthen her bond with 10-year-old “Susa”. “The lockdown gave me the time to focus on a different approach,” she explained. “Being quite sensitive and tricky, Susa really benefits from one-on-one attention. The key is not to push her too quickly – you have to work with her to build a partnership. “Now that we have that trust, she was the best she has ever been in the ring,” added Rebecca, who has represented Great Britain as a junior and young rider and as a senior at…

“HE came in on three legs,” recalls Emma Storm of the day she found her 14hh Connemara/cob gelding White Nite (Pumpkin) severely lame with a tendon strain. “He needed a month on box rest, followed by a 28-week rehab programme, so last year was a bit of a write-off.” After a total of 18 months out of the arena, Pumpkin made a triumphant return with a 72.07% prelim 17 win at Pachesham Equestrian Centre, Surrey. “We worked him throughout the lockdown, as he isn’t the type you can furlough,” added Emma, who trains with Harriet Mercer and works as a treasurer for the Lord Leconfield branch of the Pony Club. “He only has to look at food to put on weight, so rehab did nothing for his waistline. But we’ve…

Chard Equestrian, Somerset BETHANIE KNIGHT made two journeys to Chard from her base near Southampton, and went home with a 1.30m win, plus third places in 1.20m and 1.30/1.40m classes riding Topmodel Van Overis Z. “It was our first show since February and I’m a bit surprised because Topmodel usually needs a lot of shows before she relaxes,” said Bethanie. “I think the quieter atmosphere suited her perfectly. I enjoyed it too and I wish shows would stay the same once we are back to normal! Chard was a bit further than we’d usually travel to a show for a day, but it was so nice that we’ll be back again.” Eight-year-old Topmodel had just stepped up to 1.40m level in Spain when lockdown began. “I’m hoping to go back…

SHOWJUMPING returned here with two well-attended shows, and local rider Danielle Farnsworth made her return to action a winning one by heading a competitive 1.40m class on Jemilla. Danielle got the ride on Shelagh and Richard Morley’s home-bred 14-year-old mare in November last year. The daughter of Mill Law was previously a top eventer and competed for Ireland at the Rio Olympics with Mark Kyle. “She’s a lovely horse and finished her eventing career very sound, so the Morleys thought she might like to do another job,” said Danielle. “I can’t actually believe what a good showjumper she is. She’s a big mare at 17.2hh and she’s incredibly scopey and careful. I think she has the talent to do even bigger things.” Jemilla lives with her owners and Shelagh hacks…

AN eight-year-old stallion bought as a yearling has proved it pays to be on the look-out for potential youngsters. Chris Grant’s Highland pony Dunedin Mohawk (pictured) landed the novice Heritage spoils. “He’s taken a while to mature under saddle so I’ve given him plenty of time,” said Chris, who rode Mohawk’s granddam Dunedin Finale to much success. “Mohawk was on conservation grazing as a youngster and then I showed him in-hand; his results include standing male breed champion at the Royal Highland in 2007. “He has the most wonderful temperament. Last autumn we even hunted with the Tynedale; he is so good that I was able to hold the whipper-in’s horse while he recalled the hounds. He works as a stallion at home and he can serve a mare and…

“THINGS can’t stay the same if we don’t act the same.” Action is being taken across the industry to try to address the lack of ethnic diversity. H&H reported last month on the barriers to diversity in equestrianism and what is being done about them (news, 18 June). In the past weeks, measures taken range from equestrian governing bodies signing up to a Sport and Recreation Alliance pledge to tackle racism and inequality (news, 25 June) to photographer Jade Greenfield’s pictures of young Black rider Trinity Allman (news, 2 July). Ashleigh Wicheard, who has ridden from a young age, worked for years in racing and was often the only Black woman in the paddock. She told H&H she feels confident change is coming. “There is definitely a lack of Black…

QUARRYCREST ECHO The former British world team gold medallist has been put down aged 13 owing to a rare disease. Piggy French’s former ride, he was sold in December to Riding Club Crane for Japan’s Toshiyuki Tanaka to ride. GLOCK’S TOTO JR Edward Gal rode the nine-year-old to win on his grand prix debut on 10 July with a score of 79.43%. From Totilas’s first crop of foals, the black stallion is the second son of the dressage superstar to be licensed. SOUTHILLS THE SORCERER The large riding horse has been put down aged 10 owing to injury. The gelding, produced by Robert Walker, stood supreme at the BSHA championships and reserve champion at Windsor.…

AL BOUM PHOTO Willie Mullins’ dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has been named joint top chaser of the 2019/20 season with Cyrname in the Anglo-Irish Jump Classifications. The pair were awarded a rating of 173. YANWORTH JP McManus’s dual Grade One winner, who ran at six Cheltenham Festivals, has died aged 10 after sustaining a broken pelvis on 10 July. Trained by Alan King and most recently Enda Bolger, he won 13 of his 28 starts. BALLYBAY LADY The mare who graced the cover of the H&H 2018 pony special has had a foal by Party Trick. The 16-year-old evented with several riders, most recently Isabel Rugman, whom she took from BE90 to pony trials.…

SLEEP One hears of an interesting-sounding study into equine sleep and the possible impact of a lack of Zs. Horses’ lack of sleep at night can go unnoticed, the study’s authors pointed out. “Not to me,” the owner of a grey sighed. WASHING Talking of greys, an owner of one turned up for a lesson with her mare looking rather brown. “I see she’s as clean as ever,” drawled a pal. “I once came second in a condition and turnout as a child,” the owner responded. “How many were in it?” asked the shrewd pal. Ah. That’d be telling. TRAILERS Oops of the week goes to she who drove her car and trailer through a KFC drive-through. Or not through, as the trailer got firmly stuck, no doubt causing damage…

I WAS interested to read your news item about horses policing the recent riots associated with Black Lives Matter protests (18 June), and was pleased to read Chief Inspector Sam Rennison and World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers’ comments defending the horses’ role. The partnership between mankind and horse has endured for centuries and equines have served us in a multitude of ways with courage and resilience. It is a remarkable quality of the horse that it can be trained to withstand extraordinary situations through trust in its trainer and rider, so horses deserve our utmost respect for the way they continue to serve us in society today. As much as we love our equine friends, let’s acknowledge that they need and relish a purpose and challenge in their…

WHAT do you want to keep from lockdown in the post-Covid world? This question is rife in the mainstream media, with people talking about working from home, spending less time rushing about and better communications with remote friends and family. After one weekend of eventing under the new guidelines, it’s clear there are elements of the new protocols we’re keen to keep long-term. Riders have liked paying start fees online and printing their own number – it saves a trip to the secretary’s on the day. Miranda Collett’s excellent eventingscores.co.uk website allows riders to click through to a printable number, with times handily written on the bottom. This website has also been at the forefront of a push to make scoring quicker (news, p5) – a definite plus to come…

My Paralympic team horse C Fatal Attraction, known as Jorge (pictured), can be very spooky and dramatic, but once you motivate him to work he will just keep going for you. He’s very flamboyant and expressive in his movement, but when you first get on him, especially if he’s had some time off, he feels more like a Pony Club pony. I also swear he’s part-bred cob – he grows feathers and a beard. He loves the camera and is very photogenic – if he sees a camera pointed his way he will look straight at it. He also loves food, sleeping and dancing.…

APPLYING the term “crooked” to a horse may cover a number of conditions, from more obvious developmental and congenital abnormalities, through lameness issues, to subtle nuances of training and difficulties with achieving straightness in certain dressage movements. In its most severe form, crookedness is recognised at birth or in the first few months of life, as either crooked limbs – known as angular or flexural limb deformities – or a spinal deformity. Angular and flexural limb deformities normally affect the fetlocks, carpus (knee) and hocks and should be addressed early in the foal’s life – before six weeks of age for fetlocks and six months of age for knees and hocks. Treatment consists of changes in feeding and management along with appropriate farriery or foot trimming, or a medical approach…

“MY horses eat a very grass-based diet,” says Ros. “I feed Emerald Green Feeds, which are predominantly grass-based – grass alfalfa, grass nuts, grass chaff – with an energy mix. “One of the members of the business in the early days was singing at the band at my sister’s wedding. We got chatting about the horses, and he said he was looking for a sponsored rider. That was six or seven years ago, and they became my first sponsor. “Supplements are kept to a minimum,” Ros adds. “Most of the horses don’t have them.”…

Tweseldown (3), Hants DANI EVANS kicked off her campaign in style on the opening day of the restarted eventing season at Tweseldown. The Somerset rider led throughout to take intermediate section F on C Born Fresh Z (Frankie) and landed the runner-up spot in intermediate section E on Hollywood Dancer (Holly). “They are two very straightforward horses – it makes my life easier as you’re only as good as what you’re sat on and they help me,” she said. Heather and Kirk Ehrlich bought Frankie as a young horse for their daughter Taylor, who competed him until she went to university and handed the reins to Dani in the middle of 2018. “He went from novice to advanced quickly and I think he’s a very good horse,” said Dani of…

BUMBLE THOMAS is a great supporter of Bury Farm, and she scored two good wins at the first show at the centre since lockdown was eased. After heading the 1.20m open on yard favourite Quantum Treat, Bumble completed her double in the main 1.30m class with Ciandro. Bumble got 13-year-old Dutch-bred Ciandro at the end of 2015. “He’s hugely talented and has all the ability. but he isn’t always the easiest and I’ve really had to learn how to ride him,” she said. Quantum Treat, now 14, has been with Bumble since his British novice days in 2011. “He’s the sweetest horse in the world and a little winner. The best thing about him is that no matter what you ask, he tries his heart out,” she said. Bumble currently…

LAUREN HADDLESEY made her 2020 debut with her 14-year-old Fell Severnvale George a winning one. Home-producer Lauren juggles being a mother to her three-year-old daughter and her work as an office administrator around George, who is a former winner of the Royal International (RIHS) M&M supreme. “We do all our schooling in the field as we don’t have an arena,” said Lauren, who rode at HOYS for the first time last October. “I make it work with a lot of early starts and late nights. We started British Dressage at the beginning of the year, too, and we’ve won two novice classes so far. George is the easiest pony I’ve known. He’s made all my dreams come true.”…

“THE way Scotty rode was so brave and forward. He was very competitive and wanted to win, but he really enjoyed the whole thing; he always found any excuse for a party and was great at motivating everyone to have a good time. When we weren’t riding, he didn’t sit around reading a book, he’d always be doing things, which I loved. “When I first competed with him in Punchestown at the 1991 European Championships, we had a quiet day when we weren’t doing our dressage and he said: ‘Let’s go water skiing.’ So off we went to this lake, without telling the selectors. We could have easily hurt ourselves and I remember I was really stiff the following day when I had to ride my dressage test!”…

6 European Championships, with 6 team golds, 1 individual gold, 1 individual silver and 1 individual bronze medal 5 WORLD MEDALS, INCLUDING 2 TEAM GOLDS AND INDIVIDUAL SILVER 3 Badminton Horse Trials titles in 1986, 1988 and 1999 “My wife will tell you I have itchy feet and I loved the travel – I loved the intensity of it all”IAN ON THRIVING ON THE ADRENALINE OF CHAMPIONSHIPS…

“SCOTTY really played the team game. He never carried any baggage, so if somebody was a bit cross or sharp, he wouldn’t hold it against them. “When he was in the start box, he was the sort of chap who attacked; he was strong and mentally up for it. He really coped with pressure and so you never thought: ‘Oh my God, he’s going to melt down.’ “At the World Equestrian Games in Stockholm in 1990, it was a horrendous course where you had to gallop around a corner at a sodding great, big parallel and I remember Ian and Murphy Himself screeching around the corner to it. We weren’t worried about the fence, but about whether he was going to meet a tree afterwards. But he was just making…

Teenage eventer Ellie Fredericks won an open novice at Barbury on Britannia’s Mail, 12 years after her mother Lucinda won the showcase three-star class on the horse’s dam, Headley Britannia. Top jump jockey Barry Geraghty, 40, has retired from the saddle. The dual Irish champion jockey’s highlights include 1,920 wins, 121 Grade One victories and winning the 2003 Grand National. Young British medal-winning showjumper Olli Fletcher is heading to Switzerland to train with world number one Steve Guerdat. The 17-year-old is taking three rides with him to Zurich. Jockey Lizzie Kelly has stepped back from race-riding as she is pregnant. She was the first woman to ride a Grade One winner over fences, on Boxing Day 2015 at Kempton aboard Tea For Two. ictures by x British dressage judge Peter…

WHAT do you do if you’ve got no saddle, you’re in lockdown and your pony once bucked you off 10 times in a row? In the case of Amelia Harvey and the “opinionated” Jack, you start riding bareback, regaining your confidence and bond. Amelia’s mother Claire told H&H the past four months, while they were waiting for a new saddle for Jack, have been a “blessing in disguise”. “We had so much fun during lockdown,” she said. “It’s transformed their relationship, and without any pressure they’ve just been able to have fun. “Amelia’s resilience and determination have been amazing, and I hope they continue to grow together.”…

WHAT fun we had at the Hickstead Rotterdam Grand Prix Challenge, which will be broadcast online this weekend (18–19 July). The spectator app makes it all the more enjoyable and means that every armchair judge in the land will doubtless have a G&T and their keyboards at the ready while watching. I’m already congratulating the 44 riders who have put themselves “out there” by taking part, and Dane Rawlins’ team who gave us something to enjoy after a drought of top sport. “WE MUST DO BETTER” “REAL” shows have now restarted and it’s great to see everyone again, with the bonus that we no longer feel obliged to kiss people we don’t like! Joking aside, emotions have run high on social media, fuelled by different interpretations of the Covid-19 regulations…

I’m a stable lad at Andrew Balding’s yard and gained my amateur jockey licence in February. I ride four or five lots a day, from unraced two-year-olds to five-year-olds who are still here because they’re good at their jobs. Yesterday I rode one of The Queen’s horses, Kings Lynn. All your problems go away when you ride. It was surreal when Kameko won the 2000 Guineas in June. You see champions getting off the lorry on videos but I’d never experienced it personally until I came here. I was watching the race by myself. There was a point I thought he got boxed in but Oisín Murphy gave him a peach of a ride. He galloped on through, you could hear the eruption in every house, every mobile home, and…

WE habitually handle and mount our horses from the left-hand side (pictured, below), but is there more to this than merely tradition? Studies suggest that horses may be happier with this arrangement. Research shows that foals and their dams prefer looking at each other with their left eye and, in most situations, will choose to keep each other in their left field of vision. Adult horses, when studied, tended to favour keeping people in their left line of sight in many situations – regardless of the side from which they’d been trained. While there is more to be learnt about equine “laterality” (the dominance of one side of the body or brain), we do know that straightness is best for soundness. By establishing good handling and schooling habits at the…

• Set targets and be prepared to be flexible – Katie Preston • Learn to compartmentalise; leave work at work, and focus on riding when in the saddle – Ben Way • Be organised – every minute you’re in the saddle is valuable – Dickie Waygood • Have a strong attention to detail with horse management – Claire Abel • Take chances, but have something to fall back on – Steph Croxford • Don’t persist with a horse that isn’t right for you – admit defeat and move on – Darragh Magner • Don’t underestimate how fit your horse has to be to prevent injury, and base yourself at a professional yard where you can get the help and training – Corinne Bracken…

SAFIA WOODWARD, 20, claimed third in section E on the 15-year-old Moonbeg Boy, who was returning from two years away from the fray due to a tendon injury. “He did his tendon just a couple of days before Hartpury in 2018,” she explained. “He came back at the end of last year and was ready to go at Tweseldown this spring, but Coronavirus pushed all that back.” Safia is a working pupil with Harry Meade, and hopes to make her four-star debut in the CCI4*-S at Burgham.…

EX-RACEHORSE Tarass D’Alben is excelling in a dressage career, having come from the track via eventing and polocrosse. “I was just 13 when I got Albie, four years ago,” said college student Emily Entwistle of the 15.3hh French thoroughbred gelding she is taking up the British Dressage levels. “Soon afterwards, he underwent kissing spine surgery. “Albie has since exceeded our expectations,” added Emily, who headed both the novice 37 and elementary 59 with him at Reaseheath College, Cheshire. “I’ve had so much help from Libby Shakesby and Janet Horswill. We’ve worked hard on improving the suppleness through his spine and he feels so fit and strong.”…

ADAM BOTHAM and his team enjoyed success at Weston Lawns, Warks, winning all three classes they contested on Thursday and returning in the same form on Saturday. “We’ve spent a lot of time training at home and it seems to have paid off,” said Adam, who has a big team of trainees. Adam’s own wins included a 1.30m open on his own nine-year-old PLS Castello (Elvis). “I bought Elvis during lockdown, as a girl I was teaching rode him and his owner decided to sell,” he said. “I’d always liked him, so I bought him. I think he’ll go on to jump bigger classes.” Adam is hoping Elvis will be second horse to his new grand prix ride Galaxcy IX, who was bought from Jake Saywell by Barbara Hester. “Barbara’s…

BSPS Area 1A, Richmond EC, North Yorks BRITISH SHOW PONY SOCIETY (BSPS) Area 1A held the first post-Covid-19 affiliated show. Area chairman Joanne Pybus was impressed by the “exceptional” ponies presented for judging. “There was a huge amount of planning and extra admin to do so we could adhere to Government and governing body guidelines,” said Joanne. “Each class had a start time with timed working in, and there was a happy atmosphere.” Team Jinks cleaned up with their lorry load. Joanne’s daughter Ella Pybus rode the 15hh Just Murphy II to win the open show hunter pony title. The seven-year-old gelding by Stanhopes Odwig was Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) finalist last year. Ella also used her experience to steer the five-year-old mare Secret Affair to win the…

“WE rather considered Scotty as the anchorman I suppose – he was as reliable as you can get as a team member, not only with his riding, but also as a teammate; he was always open to chatting through the course or how to get the best test out of a horse. “And he was the life and soul of a party. When we were in Los Angeles for the Games, the official bus that we were on to go to a reception arranged by the Princess Royal wasn’t leaving the Olympic village. With time ticking and the bus driver unhappy about letting us off, typical Scotty said: ‘There’s only one thing for it,’ and we all leapt out of the window. “Within seconds a police car turned up with…

“The horses are back in work and the sight of them heading off for their daily hack is cheering” WHEN we were in the grip of full lockdown, it was soothing to imagine that when we re-emerged, the world would be just as we left it. Of course this was never going to happen, and as soon as you venture out you see the changes. Summer is an important time for the local economy here in the Borders, with fishing on the Tweed and tourism in general, but this year, Kelso’s cafes and cashmere shops are boarded up, their shop windows unchanged since the winter, and the streets are empty. Looking along the rows of shop fronts, I expect that some will never open again. THERE is no question that…