Innholdsfortegnelse for 6-Apr-2023 i Horse & Hound

WE have a new feature starting in the magazine soon that has required us to spend more time in the Horse & Hound archives, which is a fascinating treasure trove. It's interesting to see what the experts were debating 30 or 130 years ago, and how in some instances those debates remain. In recent years change has come thick and fast – changes to fence design; changes to sport formats; changes to kit… It's good to see action, not just discussion. One theme that recurs is the topic of young horse classes and what should be asked of horses at specific ages. It's something we were writing features on when I was sport horse editor many years ago, and it's a topic we've revisited in this week's issue (feature, p38).…

Olympic champion Ben Maher is back riding seven weeks after he sustained a shoulder injury in a fall in Florida. Ben thanked his medical and physio team. German showjumper Richard Vogel and Cepano Baloubet won the CSI5* $500,000 grand prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Florida, on 1 April. Groom Tilly Hughes, who works for Laura Collett, broke her arm when she was kicked at Thoresby Park. She had surgery and was back at the event the next day. Jockey Billy Loughnane, 17, opened the turf season with a win at Doncaster on Doddie's Impact, named in honour of the late rugby league star Doddie Weir. Masters of Foxhounds Association chair Andrew Osborne rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic for Cardiac Risk in the Young, in memory of his daughter…

▲ MULTI-TASKING Top marks to Emily King, who is marathon training, so did Thoresby crosscountry course-walks as runs, in wellies. If you need another run, Emily, we've got Shetlands up the top field… ▲ HAIRY EARS Riders were discussing the Great Yorkshire Show's ban on excess ear-hair trimming. “Does that mean Granddad can't come?” one asked. Equine ears only, fear not! ▲ APRIL FOOLS Sorry, anyone who thought the uses of baler twine had been counted (π6.95887) as reported by H&H online, on 1 April. The team Ivar Peter St Ring and Smol Bale also apologise profusely……

Edited by Pippa Roome pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle OPINION WHILE the 2023 eventing season is officially underway, it has been beset by so many problems that I rather feel we should press “stop” and then start again. The weather is what it is and nobody can sort that out – it will do that itself in time. There are man-made issues, however, that do need resolving. I was particularly cross about the loss of Barbury – my local event – from this year's calendar because of British Eventing's new rule that doesn't allow international venues to run unaffiliated horse trials as well. It is ludicrous. How often does our sport get a site like Barbury these days? If organiser Alec Lochore needs to run other competitions to be able to make the…

I was brought up on a farm near Burghley. I remember, aged four, being held up to look out of an upstairs window as the Fitzwilliam Hunt came by. At that age, my most-used word was “pony”. I hunted, did hunter trials and showing until I went to university. I was working in the cosmetics industry in Paris in my early thirties, which was so un-me as a farmer's daughter. I had some holiday to take and tossed a coin to decide where to go – heads was Ecuador. There was something about the country – the scenery, the people, fewer rules, more space – that grabbed me. “I get a kick out of seeing riders who once lost their nerve now cantering across these amazing spaces with great smiles”…

VISIT HORSE & HOUND'S VIRTUAL SHOPPING VILLAGE horseandhound.co.uk/directory/shopping COTTAGE CRAFT STABLE GUARD BY HARRY HALL A useful accessory for when you're working in and out of the stable, at home or away. The stable guard is made from a strong, durable material, with four adjustable straps. It can also be personalised. £24.95 harryhall.com MONTEVIDEO COMPETITION JACKET BY VESTRUM Look forward to warmer days with this jacket's refreshing colourways, which are designed to reflect the atmosphere of the Mediterranean. Unlined, quick-drying and wrinklefree, the jacket is both flattering and easy to wear, with a hidden zip closure plus buttons. Available in dusty blue, dark olive, black and navy blue. Sizes: 36-44 €484 vestrum-italy.com FIVE STAR METAZONE BY NAF A specially formulated nutraceutical that supports a horse's anti-inflammatory responses, helping them cope…

DRESSAGE HIGHLIGHTS 20–26 March Edited by Polly Bryan polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 Burrows Court Farm, Glos DAN GREENWOOD admitted to being “quietly excited” about his grand prix prospect His Highness, who headed the prix st georges (PSG) with 74.26%. “He's very elastic and there are real gears in his paces,” he said of “Hugo”, who is co-owned by Dan, Jamie Reynolds, Cat Austin and Cherry Elvin. “I enjoy riding him.” Dan's former rider Ashley Jenkins, who is now based with the team, produced the Wynton gelding until Dan took up the reins in early 2022. “I spent last year getting to know Hugo and this year is about competing him – hopefully at small tour – and getting comfortable in the arena,” said Dan. “I'm looking forward to putting together the grand…

ONES TO WATCH INDIA DURMAN-MILLS scored a hat-trick of wins at Cherwell Competition Centre, Oxfordshire, with Sara Lucas's seven-year-old geldings SJL Liberty and SJL Lamborghini (left). India, a rider for Antonia Brown, started competing the pair over the winter. “‘Bertie’ is good-looking with a great attitude to work; he's definitely a trier,” she said of elementary 40 winner SJL Liberty. Of Lamborghini, who headed the elementary 55 and the medium 61, on his first attempt at the level, she added: “He's a slightly different build but he's also a people pleaser. His lateral work is really good. “Both should produce up the levels nicely. I've only just got to know them, but things are definitely improving. The hard work is paying off.”…

SHOWING WILTSHIRE SPRING SHOW 25-26 March Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ Wiltshire Spring Show, West Wilts Equestrian Centre NEW names clashed head to head with established campaigners at this everpopular show, which heralds the start of the season's Royal International (RIHS) horse qualifiers. Well-filled classes, a happy atmosphere and a satisfying mix of amateurs and professionals banished any remaining winter blues and several newcomers to the show ring gave some big winners a run for their money. Producer Elliee Stunt landed an impressive double, led offby the eventual novice champion and overall Jensen Family reserve supreme of show, the elegant four-yearold large hack mare Littletons Tiger Lily. Yet another exciting offspring of the great Tiger Attack, she was bred by Harriet Richardson and is owned by Charlotte Coppard and…

HUNTING THORPELEY STUD HARBOROUGH RIDE 25 March Edited by Catherine Austen catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 Thorpeley Stud Harborough Ride, Saddington, Leics HARRIET WALKER and Worthapunt delivered an A* performance over a staminatesting course to be crowned deserving winners of a topquality field. Harriet and fiancé Will Bishop were neck and neck as they loomed into view of the finish, powering through the treeline on the crest of the hill ahead of the run down to the final two Fernie hedges. Will and his multiple hunt ride winner Top Up The Fashion touched down over the last a fraction ahead, but with a final burst of fire Harriet and the 10-year-old “Wurzel” edged in front to bag the win. “I had him!” said Harriet, who went home laden with champagne and silverware, including…

Edited by Eleanor Jones Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @jones_eleanor_ A REPORT on underrepresented communities in equestrianism is an “exciting” opportunity to make real, lasting change, it is hoped. British Equestrian (BEF) commissioned the research to discover barriers to participation “from the perspective of ethnically diverse communities and/or those from a low socioeconomic background”. AKD Solutions, which carried out the research, made recommendations, and the BEF has made short-, mediumand long-term commitments. “Everyone wants this,” BEF head of participation Mandana Mehran Pour told H&H. “That's the most important part; we all want to do this and we're going to find out how.” AKD was asked to speak to 800 people, Black, Asian and from other ethnicities, and from “under-served” communities, to learn more about perceptions,…

TWO RACING YARDS MOURNING STAFF TWO people died in separate incidents at racing yards last week. Manor House Stables, Cheshire, said with “deep sadness” a 25-year-old female member of staff had died at work on 28 March. A man was pronounced dead at Robert Cowell's yard in Newmarket on 29 March. Neither death is being treated as suspicious. NEW RULE ON EAR HAIR TRIMMING THE Great Yorkshire Show (GYS) is banning excessive trimming of equine ears. The new rule states: “The hair on the internal aspect of the ear pinna should not be excessively trimmed, as it performs a protective function.” GYS entries and livestock coordinator Amanda Stoddart-West said: “I think people are becoming more and more educated, and realise these inner ear hairs have a function. Where classes allow,…

▼ ROOFS On April Fools, hats off to Badminton – the team said they were installing a retractable roof on the main arena – and HOYS, who announced a coloured horse class with marks for those in its purple/gold. Well played. ▼ DONKEYS To Winchester Cathedral, where Dermot the donkey was the Palm Sunday star. It looks as if he was braying along; not the harmony the choir usually produces, we'd imagine… ▼ JUDGES A grandmother asked how her granddaughter had got on at a show with her chestnut mare. “Pony was fine,” the daughter replied. “I thought your granddaughter was going to kick the judge.” As long as she didn't bite him?…

Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ THE 2023 season is under way and it's lovely to see fellow competitors out and about again. The qualifiers for the Royal International are now upon us and while it's great to see combinations gaining their tickets, I would advise riders to think about their preparation for this show well in advance. Many of the shows around this time of year are held in equestrian centres, which have fabulous surfaces when the ground is still so wet, but we need to remember that the bigger shows have large grass rings, and I don't think enough people are prepared for this until it's too late. My advice is to get out of the goldfish bowl and use the fields and other open spaces around you.…

FOR Martyn and Mark Edwards, a valuable lesson on the production side of the process came quite unexpectedly. “Our two eight-year-olds, Royale Tale [below; Montreuxs Tale x Cavalier Royale, bred by Charlene and Sean Daly, and bought by the Edwards] and Dillinger NE [Diarado x Carsimo], were five during the Covid year in 2020 and only went to two or three shows – we did a lot more work with them at home,” explains Mark. “They've progressed more quickly than our other horses, so building the foundations at home seems to be better for the long term. We have a really nice sixyyearold now called Tinkers Touch [a first foal out of their Tinkas Boy mare Lady's Tinker, by Tornesch; Tinkers Touch already has a few foals on the floor]…

EVENTING THORESBY PARK 30 March–2 April Edited by Pippa Roome pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle The Eventing Spring Carnival, Thoresby Park, Notts EMILY KING scored her biggest career victory with her CCI4*-S Lycetts Grantham Cup win aboard Badmintonbound Valmy Biats. “I can't really believe it,” said Emily, who was also awarded the Polly Phillipps Memorial Trophy for the highest-placed British rider who has not ridden on a senior championship team. “It's his first run of the season. He's getting more established with all the dressage movements and calmer too.” She added she rode on the safe side, rather than “really going for it”, in his test, owing to the ground conditions in the dressage arena. Even erring on the conservative side, their performance impressed the judges, who awarded them a score of 26.8.…

BOUGHT four years ago as an all-rounder, Charlotte Best's mare Paris IX is excelling in dressage. The pair headed the prelim 14 outright and the novice 28 bronze section at Tushingham Arena, Cheshire. “We started lessons with Helen Dutton and affiliated last April,” said Charlotte, an A-level student. “Paris has taken everything in her stride. She's quick to learn and loves her work, and as soon as we go up the centre line she knows to settle down. “She's quick to learn and loves her work” CHARLOTTE BEST ON PARIS IX “We've been working on her medium trot and that's coming along nicely,” she added. “We moved up to novice a couple of months ago and will be working at elementary. From what Helen says, Paris could be capable of medium…

A 22-YEAR-OLD piebald cob made it third time lucky for Reading-based owner/rider Laura Edmonds at Wiltshire Spring Show (report, p58), when he shone to head the ridden veteran class and stand reserve open ridden champion. Willobee, pipped only by Emily Proud with her large riding horse, Classictop Up And At It, won the amateur and open classes en route to the finale. Laura had tried twice before to compete at this show, but fate dealt her a bad hand. AGAINST THE ODDS “The first time, we couldn't come because of the fuel crisis and last year, we had a sad family occasion,” said Laura, a full-time accountant. “This was our first show for more than 18 months.” Willobee has certainly had a chequered history. “He was originally given up for…

TALKING POINT THE retirement of Page Fuller, 27, leaves a bit of a hole in the female professional jockey ranks – it means Bryony Frost and Bridget Andrews are the only ones that do not claim now. Page rode 108 winners, many of them for Jamie Snowden including Anythingforlove in a Grade 2 hurdle at Sandown in 2021. In September last year she suffered a “mini stroke” at the start of a race at Fontwell when she lost the sight of an eye and had spasms with her right arm. It was put down to a torn artery in the neck, believed to have been caused by a whiplash injury, which created a clot. She recovered from that and returned in February but decided to call it quits when she…

WHEN Jim went lame back in early February, I went through all the usual phases that follow these situations starting with denial. The “perhaps it's just a knock and he'll come right in a day or two” story, which is the natural groove for optimists everywhere. And to be fair, he did come sound for a day or two, but then he went lame again. Second phase, having discounted the knock, is “hoping for a poison foot” because the recovery period for that is relatively short. But Henry the farrier had a good look and he couldn't find anything. After that, there was nothing for it but to call our vet Allana, who deduced that it was probably a check ligament. Allana offered a scan to clarify and prescribed anti-inflammatories…

PUT THE KETTLE ON The 2021 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner has delivered her first foal, a filly by Planteur, at Chapel Stud. The nineyearold won nine times, and retired last year. QUEL HOMME DE HUS The medal-winning showjumper, 17, owned by his Belgian rider Jérôme Guery, Eden Farm Farl and Alexander Oancea, is recovering from surgery on an injury. KEMBOY The four-time Grade One winner has retired aged 11. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, owned by the Kemboy/Brett Graham/Ken Sharp Syndicate, won 10 of 36 starts.…

BAHRAIN may lose its world gold after a horse tested positive for an anabolic steroid. The 11-year-old mare Hera Durances, ridden by Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed and trained by Muhammad Abbas Khalid, tested positive for banned substance stanozolol and its metabolite 16-betahydroxystanozolol. Samples were taken at the Endurance World Championships in Butheeb, UAE in February. Hera Durances finished 18th so any ramifications will not affect individual medals. But as only three of the fivestrong team produced counting scores, if she is disqualified, the team will lose its medal. The FEI told H&H the rider and trainer have provisionally been suspended as of 20 March; they have 20 days to respond to the FEI. The horse has also been provisionally suspended until 19 May 2023. H&H contacted the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. A UNIQUE CONNECTION WHAT a thoughtful article by Piggy March (opinion, 23 March) on the retirement of Vanir Kamira. Piggy echoed so many sentiments an owner has with a rider. Julia Norman took my horse, Carryon Bobby Boy, from zero to Badminton and Burghley in 2019. With stacks of scope and Julia's guidance, Bobby loved the job and is now retired with me as a sound riding horse, aged 18. And when I see Julia at a party or event, we have a connection that probably no others have in the room. On those days of reckoning, she looked after my horse and my horse looked after her. “She looked afer my horse and my horse looked…

SPORT HORSE BREEDING Part 2 WHEN the sport horse foals of the future take their first wobbling steps towards their dams, they may look exactly like those of today. But it is possible that not only have all their genes been selected for desirable traits, their very DNA could have come from a 3D printer. The techniques and science to breed “super horses” are here. “This is what the future might look like,” says Tullis Matson, founder and managing director of Stallion AI Services. “I'm not here to say what's right, but what's possible.” Breeding for desirable traits is not new; the owner of a chunkier mare will look to stallions who throw more blood offspring. But what if you could pick a sire who passes on the specific jumping…

SUTTON GRANGE Sutton Green, Guildford, Surrey For you: a Grade II-listed six-bedroom house dating back to 1706, originally part of an estate built by Sir Richard Weston, courtier to Henry VII. Highlights include a vaulted ceiling with stunning exposed timbers and a central feature fireplace in the sitting room. The formal gardens include a large terrace with swimming pool and gym. For the horses: seven stables, a large barn and feed room, as well as a wash-down area and other stores. There is a 27x50m floodlit manège and a summer canter track in the fields. Set in 15.4 acres. £3.75m Knight Frank, 01483 617910, knightfrank.co.uk PINLEY ABBEY ESTATE Claverdon, Warks For you: a country estate once home to an Arab stud. It has four residential properties, three of which are…

DAVID DOEL escaped the British weather and took a lorry load of horses to Kronenberg, The Netherlands, which ran a full programme of international classes from CCI*-intro to CCI4*-L over two consecutive weekends. Having finished second in the CCI3*-S in the first week on his top ride, Gillian Jonas’ Kentuckybound Galileo Nieuwmoed, “The facilities are amazing so it's worth the trip” David went one better the following weekend by topping the CCI4*-S with the same horse. They were the only ones in the 21-strong field to finish on their dressage score (32.9). “I came here last autumn, so knew the horses would be guaranteed a good run,” said David. “The facilities are amazing – indoor arenas to ride in, lovely surfaces, decent courses, good ground – so it was well…

CHILLI IS HOT HOT HOT IRELAND'S Alexander Butler enjoyed a good four days at the CSI3* Gorla Minore, Italy, winning Friday's 1.50m two-phase ranking class riding the 16-year-old Chilli B, then finishing second on Pico in Sunday's Derby to victor Paul Delforge on Energika Des Neyes for France. Flying the flag for Great Britain was 14-year-old Noora von Bülow, who won Saturday's 1.40m two-phase on her exciting partner Interstar B. The grand prix winner was Steve Guerdat on Double Jeu D'Honvault. BURKE'S WINNING STREAK JESSICA BURKE and Louisa Church's 10-year-old mare Inpulss continued their winning streak, landing Saturday's 1.45m speed class on the CSI3* Toscana Tour in Arezzo, Italy, just 0.03sec quicker than their nearest rivals, who dead-heated for second. The Hampshire-based Irish rider went on to finish fourth on…