Innholdsfortegnelse for 28-Apr-2022 i Horse & Hound

THIS week’s Badminton preview helps you make the most of your first Badminton for three years, whether enjoying on-site or from your sofa. Tickets must be bought before midnight the day before – turn up without and you will be turned away, which will frustrate you and those queuing up behind who are hoping this system will ease traffic rather than causing it. Badminton winner Andrew Hoy gives fence-by-fence analysis of this year’s course (p34), giving riders something to think about and spectators insight into the tactics to be used round this “intense” track. Columnists Mark Phillips (p14), Carl Hester (p15) and Robert Walker (p18) all touch on the cost of living this week, with Carl saying he will now contest four national shows for the price of one overseas.…

RICKER RIDGE RUI New Zealander Samantha Lissington’s five-star ride, who she owns with husband Brayden and the Quigleys, has been withdrawn from Badminton’s waitlist after a top-level career-ending injury at Burnham Market. DANCING BRAVE The legendary racehorse, trained by Guy Harwood and owned by the late Prince Khalid Abdullah, joins Frankie Dettori as the latest to be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame. RED ROCK III The HOYS-winning coloured show cob has been sold to the Leeman family. The gelding was reserve cob and coloured of the year at HOYS in 2021 when ridden by Vicky Hesford and owned by Tracey Veale.…

EQUINE euthanasia is “absolutely” a treatment option and a positive welfare decision, experts agreed, as they spoke on how and when to make the call. Vet Suzanne Green and field officer Penny Baker spoke at a World Horse Welfare webinar on end-of-life decisions on 13 April. World Horse Welfare research and education officer Alana Chapman, who hosted the session, said seven in 10 owners will have to make end-of-life decisions, and a similar number of horses are put down aged seven to 10 as those aged 26 to 30. “This really is a topic that affects every owner, ” she said. Ms Green explained that “euthanasia” means, literally, “a good death”. ‘We’re very privileged to be able to end animals’ suffering, ” she said. “It’s never an easy decision but…

pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle I KNOW I’m getting old! My body reminds me every morning of the abuses it received through years of athletics, rugby and riding horses. I still enjoy occasionally getting on a horse when I’m teaching. Teaching is chiefly instilling the basics and when they are in place, the fun bit is helping produce that last 10% of brilliance from talented horses and riders. I also still love my coursedesigning. Both teaching and designing, I enjoy being able to bring a smile to people of all ages and standards, both in an arena and cross-country schooling. In sport, we’re always seeing improvements in technique and standards. It’s interesting trying to stay ahead of that curve course-designing. This past month I’ve been responsible for two CCI4*-Ss in America, one with…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ AFTER a particularly dull and rainy winter we’re finally into spring and starting to reap the benefits of all the hours of hard work we put in when we probably didn’t feel like doing so. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that at points over winter I doubt myself and do feel the pressure of being ready for the upcoming year. Our young horses have all had debut outings and I’ve been happy to see how some of the older animals have progressed. It’s a nice time of year as we’re gearing up for the bigger shows, and there’s anticipation about which horses will take the spotlight during the season. Of course showing, like any sport, isn’t immune to negativity, but I feel positive when I get…

IT is a cruel irony that horses are again under attack in one of the places where they once roamed as large wild herds of tarpans. The last tarpans were killed around the turn of the 20th century and 120 years later horses are again being attacked on Ukrainian soil – but now the weaponry is far more sophisticated and the killing even more futile. As Russian forces have slashed and burned their way across parts of Ukraine, horses have not been spared; some have suffered the effects of indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas, others are reported to have been deliberately mutilated or killed. Vets in the region are working together as co-operatives to do their best to attend to horses harmed in the fighting or its aftermath, and they…

HER Majesty The Queen was just four years old when her grandfather, King George V, gave her the pint-sized Shetland Peggy as a birthday present. But instilling a love of horses in the next generation was nothing new for royal grandparents; when two Shetlands, Flora and Alma, were presented to Queen Victoria by King Victor Emmanuel of Italy, they are said to have proved a hit with her grandchildren. And it’s a tradition that shows no sign of waning. Images abound of The Queen leading her grandchildren on the reassuringly dishevelled Smokey at Balmoral, and the Princess Royal is said have taken Zara Tindall’s eldest daughter Mia for rides around Gatcombe Park, her granddaughter perhaps still blissfully unaware of Princess Anne’s medal-laden eventing career. When Lady Louise Windsor made her…

pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle Voltaire Design Eland Lodge (1), Derbyshire EIGHTEEN months ago, BE90 winner Claire Bennett could barely contemplate walking 50 feet to the end of her garden let alone ride a horse, such was the devastating long-term impact of contracting Covid in one of the early waves of the pandemic. “I was hospitalised with it in September 2020. I still had not recovered by Christmas, or by Easter. Long Covid wasn’t a widely recognised condition at the time, but I knew it would be a very long road to recovery for me, ” explained Claire, who managed to clamber back on a horse again in January 2021 when she could “just about manage half an hour in walk”. “I knew it would be a long road to recovery”CLAIRE BENNETT Claire’s…

TEACHING assistant Hannah Bailey has taken next to no time to get to grips with new ride Santino Royale (pictured), winning the novice 37 qualifier at Field House Equestrian Centre, Staffordshire. Hannah has had the Sir Donnerhall gelding for just three weeks and this was her first overall BD win. The 13-year-old gelding is the former ride of Izzy Maughan, through whom Hannah obtained the ride. “She told me that I should try him, ” she said. “I’d love to do the Home Internationals with him and we’re off to the BD Youth Championships next. He’s just the easiest horse to ride – you ask him and he does it, he’s just amazing.”…

gemma.redrup@futurenet.com @gemmaredrup Berkeley Races, Woodford, Glos A THREE-RACE plan came off for connections of Jockey Club fillies and mares’ novice championship winner Walkin Out, who has now breezed up on her past three runs for trainer Leslie Jefford and owner John Dorse under Martin McIntyre. “We couldn’t be more pleased with her, ” said Leslie of the five-year-old mare. “We bought her in March from France and made a plan for her, the first being the 2m 4f mares’ maiden at Trebudannon, which she won nicely, and the second the hunt members also at Trebudannon, which she also won. “She puts her heart and soul into her races”LESLIE JEFFORD ON WALKIN OUT “The third aim was the championship at Woodford, but we were concerned it would stretch her stamina as…

Hunt history: in 1940, Lord Poltimore divided the Dulverton Hunt country, founding the Dulverton West. It stretches from the Bristol Channel to the River Barle The mastership: Alex Guy, Liz Matthews, Sharon Dawson, Ryan Easterbrook, John Gay joining for the 2022/23 season Huntsman: John Nicholson Whipper-in: William Hand Stud groom: Georgie Milsom helps out most days with John and William covering as well Hon secretary: Sheila Tapp Flesh round: “So important on many levels. We need that day-to-day contact with the farmers. We try to be competitive; this side of the business just about covers itself. Every Wednesday, I also pick up butchers’ waste, ” said John Obsession: timing. The hunt lorry is parked up at the meet at least 45 minutes early. John: “This is a good time to…

Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @jones_eleanor_ THERE are good employers, it has been stressed, as bosses look at what can be done to make the industry more attractive to staff. H&H has reported on the equestrian staffing crisis and on the bad experiences of a number of former grooms. Ali Dane, a rider, judge and coach who owns Hurston Dressage and Eventing in Oxfordshire, contacted H&H having read the pieces “with alarm”. She said the five staff at her yard are legally and fairly employed, with contracts and paid sick leave, holiday and overtime. “But many yards cannot afford this, and therein lies the issue, ” she told H&H. “Most yards do not have a viable business model.” Ali went from a corporate background to running…

QUEEN’S AWARD FOR STALLION AI STALLION AI SERVICES has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, for “excellence in innovation”. Stallion AI Services is a global centre for equine semen collection, processing, storage and distribution. In 2020 Stallion AI, with Nottingham Trent University, bred the first Suffolk foal using sex-sorted semen and in 2021 bred a genetic clone of showjumping stallon Arko. “Myself and the team are hugely proud to win the most prestigious award in the business world. The Queen’s Award emblem is recognised globally, and the royal seal of approval helps to legitimise our work not only in the UK, but on the world stage, ” said Tullis Matson, Stallion AI managing director. STAR JUMPERS EN ROUTE TO WINDSOR AN all-star cast will be in action at CHI Royal…

Former British team rider Lucy McCarthy (née Wiegersma) has taken over from Eric Winter as course-designer at British Eventing fixture Pontispool. Lucy’s first event is from 27–29 May. The Duchess of Cornwall will continue her patronage of the Great Horses for Health event (19 June-28 August). Last year, more than 10,000 riders took part in a fundraising relay ride. Jump jockey Lucy Alexander is to retire aged 31, as she continues to recover after breaking her back in a fall in 2020. She was the first woman champion conditional jockey nine years ago. The new champion jump jockey Brian Hughes became the fourth jump jockey to ride 200 winners in a season, reaching the milestone with Dreams Of Home at Perth on 20 April. National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls has…

THE QUEEN has a record number of entries for this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show. Organisers of the event, which runs from 12 to 15 May, released a photograph of Her Majesty, which was taken in the grounds of Windsor Castle last month with Fell ponies Bybeck Katie and Bybeck Nightingale, to celebrate her 96th birthday on 21 April. The Queen has attended every Royal Windsor Horse Show since its first running in 1943, and this year she has 41 horses entered. A spokesman for the event said: “The 2022 edition of Royal Windsor Horse Show will also celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee with ‘A Gallop Through History’ taking place each evening of the show, featuring more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers.”…

1) Which of these countries is not a part of FEI regional group VII – Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia? 2) What is the name of the Algotsson family’s foundation mare, dam of European individual silver medallist Stand By Me and grand-dam of Olympic individual silver medallist Wega? 3) Which horse was the first to win three King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes? 4) In racing parlance, what does “get black type” mean? 5) The Arab skeleton typically has features unique to the breed – what are they? Answers from 21 April 1) Rowan Cope and Arthur 2) Sarcoid 3) Anneli Drummond-Hay on Merely-A-Monarch 4) Honeysuckle 5) Imhotep.…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 I AGREE with the comments of Nina Barbour and Katie Jerram-Hunnable in their recent columns (7 and 14 April), that the exponential rise in the cost of living and travel is going to change the way we compete. These factors have certainly made me think differently about competition plans for this year. “In the long term, it’s better for my horses to do more national competitions” Through my early years on the competition scene, it was imperative to be constantly competing on the European circuit, the idea then being that you had to put yourself in the judges’ eye. Looking back, I recall how “making a name for yourself” was considered so important. Nowadays, however, there is so much scrutiny on judging at every level, and the Judges’…

EQUINE groups are working together to provide support for horse owners and equine vets in Ukraine. The British Equestrians for Ukraine group is working with the British Equine Veterinary Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and British Veterinary Professionals for Ukraine to provide veterinary support to equine vets within Ukraine. They are sending veterinary medicines and dressing materials as well as the lorryloads of feed and other supplies that have been sent since the conflict began. • Donations can be made to the British Equestrians for Ukraine fund, to be used specifically for equine aid, at: worldhorsewelfare.org/support-us/appeals/british-equestrians-for-ukraine-fund • Donations can also be made to the British Veterinary Professionals for Ukraine fund, to be used specifically to provide veterinary supplies, at: gofundme.com/f/veterinary-support-for-ukraine • A third option, if preferred, is to…

Follow all the action with H&H • Horse & Hound will have four journalists and a photographer on the ground at Badminton throughout the competition, with additional support at the event and remotely on some days. WEBSITE: horseandhound.co.uk/badminton-horse-trials • Horse & Hound will be creating extensive online coverage of Badminton in addition to what will be included in the magazine report. Our coverage will include: • Course photos of the five-star track on Wednesday, 4 May. Course photos of the Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships’ BE90 and BE100 tracks are online now. • Times for the next day’s competition so you know when your favourites compete. • Breaking news and numerous reports on all the action as it unfolds throughout the event. • Interviews with first-timers, comeback stars, British heroes, grooms…

PRODUCER Vicky Hesford partnered James Woodington’s hugely promising riding horse Legend In Manhattan (Harry, pictured) to win and take the novice title at BSPS Area 7. The seven-year-old – bred by Vicky and the late Clare Twiston-Davies – is by the thoroughbred sire Leander out of Clare’s supersuccessful hack, Maid In Manhattan, and was bought by James two years ago. Harry had only had one outing due to Covid, and after a freak accident in the field early last year, there was little hope for his future. “He somehow got a nail through his foot, and it was touch and go, ” said Vicky. “He is the most genuine, lovable horse and clearly enjoys life to the full, so we wanted him to have every chance. “It is only thanks…

WHEN George Vergerson-Rowley first started riding his Burnham Market (2) open novice under-18 (ONu18) winner Poppys Law, his legs barely reached the bottom of the saddle flaps. “I was 12 at the time and didn’t leave the arena for a year while I got to know Poppy’s quirks, ” said George, who was given the ride on Sally Williams’ 12-year-old home-bred mare by Mill Law four years ago. “She can be explosive in collecting rings and before the crosscountry start, but she gave me an amazing ride across country at Burnham.” George juggles studying for GCSEs with other sports as well as riding. “I tend to concentrate on eventing in the school holidays, but my mum [Rachel Rowley] is brilliant and keeps my horses fit for me during term time,…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @ jen_donald Sandown Park Racecourse, Surrey IRISH raiders have never had it so good. They might not have beaten their record of 23 winners at the Cheltenham Festival this spring but the haul of big British races, particularly chases, that have gone back to the Emerald Isle on the ferry has been impressive. The Betfair Chase (A Plus Tard), King George (Tornado Flyer) – two races not normally on their radar – the Champion Chase (Energumene), Gold Cup (A Plus Tard) and Grand National (Noble Yeats) have all gone back across the water. And to cap it all on Saturday, the Bet365 Gold Cup went to the Irish for only the sixth time in its history when Hewick, trained by Shark Hanlon, ran out a comfortable winner of the…

“PEOPLE never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, or before an election.” The sage words of Otto von Bismarck are as true today as they were in the 19th century. Technology has advanced a huntsman’s capacity to publicise a noteworthy hunt among friends and, provided one doesn’t get carried away with digital drawing, keeps us closer to the truth. Gone are the days of an OS map on the kitchen table and a piece of string with knots denoting each mile. On the other hand, the height at which a gate is hung seems to increase exponentially. The war in Ukraine is evil beyond words or comprehension. That this country, among others, has gone to great lengths to bring clothes and other essentials to the suffering…

CAROLINE SILVER THE author, journalist and equestrian (pictured, above) died in Gloucester on 8 March, aged 83. Caroline’s love of horses was clear from early childhood when she recalled being given sole charge of a pony and allowed to wander the Warwickshire countryside at will. She went on to become equestrian correspondent for The Sunday Times, covering such events as the 1976 Montreal Olympics, at which Princess Anne represented Great Britain on Goodwill. She wrote for the Daily Telegraph and Harpers & Queen, as well as working as maths editor and crossword compiler for Scholastic. She wrote more than a dozen books on horses, including Summer with Tommy, about breaking in a pony, as well as several on 1960s music. She was also a model in the 1950s and owned…

GOOD WEEK ▲ ENTERPRISE Spotted online, an ad for a “Himalayan Pink Bath Salt Lux Rock”, for an astonishing £28.64. Even the rope by which it’s suspended from a posh tap looks the same as those used to suspend the £3.99 salt licks in the stable. Time for some buying and reselling, we feel… ▲ PONIES To trainer Amy Murphy’s yard, where an 11hh pony was caught on CCTV running riot, with humans in hot pursuit. Is anyone at all surprised that in a yard of 50 racing thoroughbreds, it’s the pony who’s the troublemaker? Thought not. ▲ EXERCISES In a five-year-old rider’s first lesson, the instructor asked: “Have you ever done round the world?” The rider, somewhat confused, said: “I’ve been to Disneyland.” Pfft, not nearly as exciting as…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald WITH the recent appointment of a new support team to assist Great Britain’s showjumping performance manager Di Lampard, we welcome Belgian Olympian and experienced chef d’equipe Stanny van Paesschen as a new “technical expert” – providing support to Di around team selection and preparation as well as helping the riders. Youth team manager Tony Newbery has also been brought in to the position of EEF (European Equestrian Federation, previously Europe’s division two) Nations Cup chef d’equipe. “There are very few who have the vital coaching qualifications that are required for the job” But bearing in mind that Di has revealed that she will be stepping down from her role after the Paris Olympics in 2024, it’s a shame there seems to be no natural progression in place for…

MARTA PORTENKO, an equine vet from near Lviv, western Ukraine, tells the story of a Paralympic dream destroyed by Russia’s invasion, despite her heroic attempt to help. “This was a sad story. This horse, Zadum, was preparing for the Paralympic Games; his keeper and rider was Maryana Burak, who is one-handed. At the beginning of the war she called me and asked for help, as the horse had colic. The problem was that she was living about 300km from me, and no transport was working. “I had to hitchhike with my sister - who is in the photo - and it took me two days to get there. Zadum had a really bad colic. I spent four days and nights trying to save him, but sadly he didn’t make it.…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ BSPS Area 2A Cheshire Premier, Warren Farm EC, Merseyside LOWLANDVIEW JAMES BOND, ridden by five-year-old Harriet Lomas and led by her mother Lynsey, eliminated the opposition in both the Pretty Polly championship and the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Area 2A members’ supreme championship, en route to claiming the overall supreme of show accolade under Kirstine Douglas and Jane Davies. “Our supreme champion caught my eye as a true-to-type Dartmoor with manners to burn, ” commented Jane. “He has a particularly wonderful free-flowing action without compromising his role as a safe conveyance for a small rider.” Of James, Lynsey said: “When we bought him from Nikki Ashcroft, she described him as a dream-maker, and he is definitely making our dreams come true. He qualified for both his Royal…

DESPAIR turned to joy for Michelle Pickford when, after a lorry breakdown and frustrating three-hour wait on the hard shoulder of the M6, her day at the Coloured Horse and Pony Society north-east show in Durham resulted in a clean sweep. Her traditional pony, Stardust, won his open ridden class and was champion, while the two-year-old native Burghwallis Storm Chaser, competing at only his fourth-ever show, won the native/traditional youngstock class, was inhand champion and ultimately supreme. AGAINST THE ODDS…

TEAM Selston Equestrian Centre cracked open the bubbly after a successful trip from Nottinghamshire to attend National Pony Society (NPS) Area 15 and BSPS Area 16, held at Trinity Park, Suffolk, on consecutive days. “It was our first outing since October, and if Carlsberg made show days, it would be these, ” said Selston proprietor Megan Hewitt, who partnered traditional pony Billy King Of The North (pictured) for new owner Danielle Thelwell to take the open coloured title and stand RIHS section reserve at the pair’s first attempt at NPS Area 15. Another new owner, Helen Clubley, was also celebrating when her five-year-old Dartmoor gelding Dunmere Astra Nova won the RIHS junior qualifier, ridden by stable jockey Lexi Barfield. They followed up with a win in the open small breeds…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 British Dressage Combined Training Championships, Onley Grounds, Warkwickshire GEORGIA CARPENTER’S “fun horse” Eden Maybe won two of the championships on offer, the prelim 2 with 70cm jumping and the prelim 18 with 80cm jumping. “Winning was beyond my wildest dreams and I wish I could bottle up the feeling during the lap of honour, ” she declared. Georgia, who is studying for her master’s in clinical biochemistry, bought the horse five years ago. “He was spooky and nervous but with a willing nature, ” she said. “I couldn’t get him over a pole on the ground initially, but he enjoys jumping now so I entered the qualifiers. Never in a million years did I think I’d win. His tests felt good, but even so!” “She’s lovely and really…

BROUGHT up in Kill, Co Kildare, champion conditional jockey Kevin, 21, started riding at 11 and began riding out for local trainer Ted Walsh. He went to the Irish Racing School and is now with Jonjo O’Neill where he shares a house with Jonjo O’Neill junior. He is not related to the talented jump jockey of the 1970s, Barry Brogan. In his youth, he played Irish drums in a band called The Rush and busked in Dublin for pocket money. Speaking about some distinguished previous champion conditional jockeys, Kevin said: “Hopefully I’ll be able to harrow half of what they ploughed.” ONE TO WATCH…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 WE were sitting in John and Aimie Nicholson’s kitchen at the Dulverton West kennels just outside Stoke Rivers above Barnstaple in North Devon. Dank fog was doing its best to saturate everything outside the window. There were two whippets tucked in tight to the Rayburn, the armchair definitely theirs. John and I sat at the kitchen table. Aimie, his wife, opposite on the settee. Every surface gleamed, not a utensil out of place. When cloud isn’t body-surfing across Exmoor, the kennels and stables – just up the bank – would seem to be within touching distance of the porch window. Yet despite the gloom, what little light there was mid-afternoon in the middle of February reflected off the gloss of last summer’s fresh coat of paint on the…

PRIMMORE’S PRIDE was the horse that provided two-thirds of Pippa Funnell’s epic Rolex Grand Slam in 2003, a feat achieved in the days of “proper” long-format (with roads and tracks and steeplechase) and setting a record that cannot be broken. If ever there was a horse produced for traditional eventing, Primmore’s Pride was it, but this tall, leggy bay gelding, a spectacular sight to see at full stretch across country, ended up straddling the two formats. It was unfortunate timing in that it arguably denied him higher honours at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, but he did go on to make history as the last long-format winner of Badminton, in 2005. Expectation surrounded Primmore’s Pride (stable name “Kiri”) from birth; he was bred in the purple and was an…

“I DON’T even like...” began Jack and then, thinking better of it, he paused. “Like what?” I quizzed, even though I had a pretty good idea of what he wanted to say. “Oh nothing, ” he continued, trying to shake me off the scent with a question about supper. “Were you going to say that you don’t like riding?” I asked, smiling encouragingly. “Yes!” he said, finally, with a big smile. I grinned back, glad that he had aired the thought while privately wondering why I was bothering with the whole enterprise. We’ve all seen the children who were forced to ride sitting miserably aboard their ponies. As soon as they get the chance to do their own thing, they never go near a pony again. Perhaps I should examine…