Innholdsfortegnelse for 29-Jun-2023 i Horse & Hound

BRITAIN’S first census of thoroughbreds will help traceability of former racehorses - and the sustainability of equestrian sport, it is hoped. British racing’s Horse Welfare Board (HWB), with Hartpury University, is encouraging all owners of former racehorses to complete the census, which launched on 28 June, before 31 December. The main aim is to help improve traceability of thoroughbreds after they have retired from racing, to “know where they are, throughout their lives”. It is part of the HWB’s five-year welfare strategy “A Life Well Lived”, which committed to improving the lives of all horses bred for racing, from birth until death. Those behind the project want to make connections and work with bodies across the industry. “There is a collective responsibility to make this work” ROLY OWERS “The nice…

WILL BIDDICK and Gina Andrews have won their eighth and 10th pointing championships respectively and Tom Ellis his fifth. As the 2022/23 season is complete, Will won the men’s title with 53 winners, and Gina the ladies’ title on 31. Will battled with Jack Andrews but pulled clear, beating Jack into second on 41. “Winning the Aintree Foxhunters on Famous Clermont was a highlight of my career - not just my season,” said Will. Gina’s husband Tom Ellis was leading trainer with 15 or more horses for the fifth time, clocking up an impressive 70 winners, with Bradley Gibbs in second with 22 winners. “It was a personal best year for the yard and the highlights were sending out 10 winners from 10 runners in a weekend, having a Cheltenham…

IF polo players were horses, and identified by their bloodlines, then Tomas - aka Tommy Beresford would have come from good stock. His father and his two uncles on his mother’s side were all professional players and Tommy learnt the game from playing with polo legends. He has South American roots from his Chilean mother, Teresa Beresford, but he didn’t need to go looking for them - Argentina and the stars of Palermo came to him. “To be a professional was always a dream of mine,” he says. “And I was very fortunate to be based at Great Trippets Farm, owned by George Milford Haven. My father [Charles Beresford] was the manager, so I always had a place to play practices and have all my horses. I was able to…

AL SHIRA’AA HICKSTEAD DERBY MEETING 21-25 June jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Al Shira’aa Derby, The All England Showground, W Sussex DAVID SIMPSON said words could not describe how it felt to realise his long-held dream of winning the Al Shira’aa Derby - after he and the eight-year-old Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve triumphed in a three-way jump-off. David and the Dutch-bred stallion - who won the sevenyear-old championship at last year’s Derby meeting with David’s wife Louise - tipped just the Derby rails to finish on 90.48sec, ahead of William Funnell and Dublon, who had cleared everything but the middle part of the Devil’s Dyke to finish on 91.68sec. William was also third on Equine America Billy Diamo, whom he retired in the jump-off. “We call him Albert Einstein as he’s so clever”…

SHOWJUMPING AL SHIRA’AA HICKSTEAD DERBY MEETING British Speed Derby ELLA DALTON said that had someone told her last week she would win the Speed Derby on her first attempt, she’d have said, “No chance!” But the 21-year-old rider and Quality Rubies N Diamonds put in a superb performance, tipping just one rail to finish on 101.72, ahead of fellow first-timers William Rekert and Concert Z. “It’s emotional,” said a delighted and somewhat disbelieving Ella. “And quite shocking that I managed to win. I was trying to enjoy it, but the bank is actually quite high. I was quite scared by that! But when you’re on a horse who’s bold and brave, you get braver.” Ella took on the mare, who was owned by Dave Jones and Sue Walker of Duckhurst…

SHOWJUMPING AL SHIRA’AA HICKSTEAD DERBY MEETING National championships CHOBHAM-based James Emblen won a “special” first Hickstead sash in the Astore & Sons 1.35m championship riding Tatiana Korsakova’s 15-year-old Carl 61, by Count Grannus, who has previously competed up to CSI3* level. The speedy duo took an early lead and finished nearly four seconds faster than nearest challenger Lizzy Gray on nine-year-old Ielisa with the only other double clear. “I’ve probably been attempting to win in there for 20-odd years! I’ve had a few moments, but it’s nice to get a win,” said James. “I was early in the class and thought I’d get a clear in and see what happens. I wasn’t overly quick, so I was a bit worried, but luckily it was my day. “He’s an interesting character,…

SHOWING ROYAL HIGHLAND 22-25 June alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ Royal Highland, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh A FAMILY from the north coast of Scotland celebrated a first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) supreme in-hand championship victory with their home-produced mare. Mechanical design engineer Emma Gunn was at the bridle of her and her mother Vanessa’s 13-year-old Penskyber Mayflower (Maisie) who was judge Vivienne Appell’s choice for the supreme accolade. “She was a quality mare with lovely conformation and good movement,” said Vivienne, who selected Claire Bell’s Rotherwood Coppelia as reserve. “Both mares were outstanding and they stood out from the off. They both showed themselves off, too, whereas some animals were a bit flat.” It was no surprise to Maisie’s connections, though, that she rose to the occasion in the atmospheric main…

FIRST HOYS TICKET A BLOWOUT on their journey from West Wales didn’t deter 12-year-old Mati Davies and her Welsh section C, Synod leuan (Tom), who jumped to win the 133cm working hunter pony qualifier on their first-ever crack at a HOYS track. Despite relatively low entries in the plaited worker classes, the championship was top-class. It was the smallest pair’s blistering gallop that secured them the title. “Tom loves the open tracks and I have full confidence in him,” said Mati, who trains weekly with Vicky Hesford and is also RIHS qualified in 133cm and nursery stakes finals with the 15-year-old. “He’s a cheeky pony but he always looks out for me in the ring.”…

HIGHLIGHTS 12-18 June HAVE YOU WON A BD CLASS? DO YOU OR YOUR HORSE HAVE A GREAT STORY? Email dressagehighlights@yahoo.com within 24 hours of your win for a chance to feature on these pages Kingswood EC, Staffs “IT all came together,” said Belinda Brereton after a 70.11% grand prix win with Deco II, where he felt “light, relaxed and in front of the leg”. Belinda teamed up with the 15-year-old gelding, previously competed by a junior rider in the Netherlands, three years ago. After learning the ropes at grand prix, “Coco” has been developing confidence at the level. “He loves competing but he can be a bit sharp and panicky,” said Belinda, who divides her time and competition schedule between the UK and Ireland. “We’ve taken time to teach him…

West Wilts EC, Wilts RUBY WALKER is blazing a trail at novice and elementary riding Moylough Cruz, the pure-bred Irish Draught she bought as a project. She and Cruz added to a string of wins achieved this year, heading the novice 34 bronze section and the elementary 40 outright. “Cruz looked very genuine in the advert and ticked every box,” said Ruby, who was devastated after losing her previous horse in a lorry accident and desperate for another for her empty yard. “He was just-backed; I sat on him and fell in love. Three years later, he’s still here. “He’s done a bit of everything, including unaffiliated eventing and qualifying for the Royal International Horse Show in the lightweight amateur hunters,” she said. “We started training with Tessa Thorne and…

GASKYNS Slinfold, Horsham, W Sussex For you: a Grade II-listed 15th-century home with an impressive kitchen extension. It is set in 88 acres with access to the Downs Link. The leisure facilities are first-rate, including a spa with steam room and sauna, indoor and outdoor pools, gym and tennis court Ancillary accommodation includes two cottages and a flat. For the horses: exceptional facilities include an indoor arena with viewing gallery, manege, 12 stables, solarium, wash bay, feed room, tack room, barns and several post-and-railed paddocks. One paddock contains 200-plus solar panels. £7.95m Knight Frank, 020 7861 1093, knightfrank.co.uk LEITH HOUSE South Harting, Petersfield, Hants For you: five bedrooms, annexe, sheltered swimming pool, stunning views and direct access to the South Downs. For the horses: main yard with nine stables, a…

TREVOR BREEN had an epic trek to get back to ride Gonzalo in the Derby, but it was worth every long mile home. Having contributed to Ireland’s second-place finish in a tough Nations Cup in Rotterdam on Friday, Trevor drove through the night to be back in time for Sunday’s class, where he and the nippy 12-year-old just tipped the rail at the bottom of the bank and clocked-up two time-faults to finish sixth. “We left about 9pm and got home about 3am - and I was on a horse at 7am on Saturday,” he said. “Hickstead is Hickstead and I’ve been lucky enough to win the Derby twice, and I thought Gonzalo had a realistic chance. I love Hickstead and I love the Derby, and I wanted to give…

SHOWJUMPING AL SHIRA’AA HICKSTEAD DERBY MEETING CSI4* classes THE crowd was treated to a thriller of a jump-off in the Agria Hickstead Master’s Trophy, and it was Dermott Lennon and Millview Cicero who came out on top. The 2002 world champion and the nineyear-old who was jumping his first international 1.50m showed their potential as a partnership as they sliced off more than three seconds from the time set by William Funnell and Equine America Billy Picador. “I knew the boys were going quick and there was no room for error,” said Dermott, who took the final line on seven strides rather than the nine or 10 of some of his rivals or did he? “All the jumps came up in the right place!” DERMOTT LENNON “I think showjumping has…

SHANE BREEN scored an impressive double with two exceptional young horses, taking the Hickstead grade C championship with exciting new eight-year-old mare ABC Cortana Cruise (pictured, below) and the Breen Equestrian-sponsored Beethoven seven- and eight-year-old championship riding Instrumental V “I think she’s a serious prospect,” said Shane of his grade C champion, who is by Cornet Obolensky, out of Cruising mare Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser. That makes her a half-sister to ABC Quantum Cruise, a former top ride of Harry and Peter Charles, and to ABC Saving Grace, the six-year-old world champion in 2022. “She’s super-careful, a bit sensitive, but I’m getting to know her and I think this is the first of many wins. “She’s very well related, but I think the Cornet-Cruising mix is a bit spicy - she’s…

HIGHLIGHTS 17-19 June Wellington Riding, Hants JOSIE SYMONS made an unexpected success of her area trial debut, heading the class with Expert IV in what was also their first victory as a partnership. She has only recently hit the UK circuit with the 14-year-old gelding, who was sourced for her by Roelof Bril who she spent a year training with in Holland. “We only came home at the beginning of this year and have just been getting going. It was our first big show of the English summer and we definitely weren’t expecting to win it,” Josie said. There were no clears in the first round, with the top five four-faulters progressing to the jump-off. Josie delivered the quickest of two clears in the second phase, just edging ahead of…

THE Hanna family’s trip to the Royal Highland from Northern Ireland was well worth the effort as their home-bred Muirton Sabre three-year-old Macfin Delta Dawn (pictured) captured the prestigious Cawdor Cup and overall Clydesdale championship. It will be the second time that the Macfin prefix wiii be etched onto these trophies as in 2016 mare Macfin Diamond Queen achieved the same result. Parents Yvonne and Graffin and sons Craig and William breed Clydesdales alongside running a beef and sheep farm. “It’s such a massive achievement, especially coming all the way from Ballymoney to compete against the Scottish lot,” said Craig, who led Delta Dawn to victory. Home-bred Macfin Dancing Queen, also by Muirton Sabre, topped the yeld mare class. “She’s a daughter of our 2016 champion Diamond Queen,” added Craig.…

Cob specialist Val Sheehan, who underwent a lower leg amputation several years ago, had more than usual to contend with en route to his class win, HOYS ticket and the section tricolour here with his seven-year-old heavyweight cob mare Red Dove (Audrey, pictured). As he was unloading, the lorry ramp crashed down on his “good” leg, leaving him writhing in agony. “Audrey was her usual amazing self, though - she walked into the ring with a smile on her face and kept it up throughout. Heaven knows how I managed to trot her up,” reflected Val. “Thank goodness I was standing to the side of the ramp or I might not be here.” AGAINST THE ODDS…

AGAINST THE ODDS BACK in action after a year sidelined with injury, Olivia Wrennall’s 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding Disneyland (pictured) headed the advanced medium 91 at Bury Farm, Buckinghamshire. The 16hh Diamond Hit son, known as Dinky, had made his comeback a week previously, winning at the same level. “Over the past few years, he and I never really saw eye to eye,” said Olivia who rode Dinky at junior level and was long-listed with him for the junior European championships in 2019 before the pandemic hit and university intervened. “He thinks he’s right all the time. But he’s brilliant, bold and genuine; it’s only once you’re really convincing that he believes in you. “He has come back well and he loves the occasion,” she added. “We’ll take it slowly and…

Catton Park, Derbys CLAIRE DEUTEN bagged a double when she headed the open intermediate (OI) aboard Lord Flashheart and the novice masters with Diamond Woods. The former, who is owned by the Lord Flashheart Syndicate, came to Catton to experience a different course over unfamiliar terrain. “He’s quite spooky and because of Covid and for logistical reasons he’s tended to run at the same venues quite a lot,” explained Claire of the multi-talented gelding, who earlier this year finished second at the British Dressage Area Festival Championships in the medium silver. The pair also showjump with great success, securing wins in classes up to Foxhunter. “If he feels ready I’d love to take him to Blenheim for the eight- and nine-year-olds, so I’ve made a conscious effort this year to…

HUNTING catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfaustenl23 “ ONE November day in 1922 I was watching the South Berks hounds draw a big, hilly woodland. “A lightly built, middle-aged man, reddish haired and very fair of complexion, in a dark blue coat and velvet cap, took my attention partly because of the grace of his horsemanship, partly because of an arresting gaiety of bearing that might have been that of a boy.” Thus author Patrick Chalmers recalled his first encounter with one of the great figures of English sporting art. “’That’s our deputy Master, Cecil Aldin,’ a friend explained. ‘The artist?’ said I. ‘Is there another?’ said he.’” Cecil Charles Windsor Aldin was born in Slough in 1870 and came of age in the self-confident world of lateVictorian England. The son of a Berkshire…

A NEW study shows the importance of ridden work in investigation of performance issues or low-grade lameness and of understanding what horses are telling us. Sue Dyson, former head of clinical orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust, and Danica Pollard studied the use of the ridden horse pain ethogram (RHpE) on horses before and after diagnostic anaesthesia, or nerve-blocking. The RHpE comprises 24 behaviours including tailswishing and an open mouth, the presence of eight or more of which may indicate that the horse has musculoskeletal pain. The study, on 150 horses presented for investigation of poor performance, found that most of the horses initially had scores of eight or more of the behaviours, although “lameness in the conventional sense was low-grade or absent”. There was substantial reduction in the RHpE…

THE DUCHESS OF RICHMOND AND GORDON THE former British Dressage president died peacefully on 13 June, aged 90. Born in 1932, the duchess grew up with her grandparents in Tetbury while her parents were in Egypt during World War II. In 1951 she married Charles Gordon-Lennox, the Earl of March and Kinrara, and future 10th Duke of Richmond. In 1968 the couple took on Goodwood House and Estate, and the duchess returned to her passion for horses. She found a love of dressage and rode in the first competition at Goodwood in 1973 on her Arab, Sword of Islam. The duchess became key to the development of dressage in this country, and was president of British Dressage from 2007 to 2012. Goodwood held 21 international dressage competitions between 1973 and…

THE FEI will review its concussion policies and guidance in light of new data. The Concussion in Sport Group has published its “consensus statement on concussion”, comprising reviews and methodology, carried out by researchers and clinicians, with the aim of optimising care of athletes at all levels who have, or are at risk of, concussion. The statement includes new and updated protocols to help better identify and manage sports-related concussion. It features new evidence-based strategies for returning to sport and education, early exercise and treatment and approaches to prevention. The FEI said in light of the new recommendations, which it supports, it will conduct a “comprehensive review” of existing policies, implement any changes to align with the latest scientific consensus, and ensure dissemination of this information to stakeholders. An FEI…

HORSE&HOUND VET CLINIC OSEBLEEDS are always alarming and tend to look dramatic, especially on horses with light coats. In many cases, they are not serious and will stop rapidly. However, if the blood is streaming rather than dripping, or does not stop in 10 to 15 minutes, contact your vet as an emergency. Smaller bleeds should be discussed with your vet as soon as is convenient, as they can act as a warning for a more serious developing issue and further investigation may be warranted. There are a myriad possible causes of a nosebleed (more properly known as epistaxis). Blood seen at the nostrils can originate from damage to vessels within the lungs, airways, throat or nasal passages. Sometimes the cause is obvious from the history and clinical examination, but…

4th DANIEL MCALINDEN ON KEATINGSTOWN Z WELLIE TWO (RIGHT) “I’d been having nightmares about the Derby bank for weeks! But I’m still buzzing, it was unbelievable.” 4th JORDAN COYLE ON ERISTOV “Super proud.” 6th TREVOR BREEN ON GONZALO “It’s hard to win the Derby on a first try, so it was good to give him the trip. If I’m lucky enough to have him next year, I’ll be confident. There seems to be nothing this horse can’t do. He gave me a fantastic feeling.” 7th SAMMIE JO COFFIN ON CHACCOMO BLUE “It was better than I ever expected. We didn’t have much preparation as I had a baby five weeks ago.” 7th SANDRA AUFFARTH ON NUPAFEED’S LA VISTA “She was in her element again! We stumbled after the wall, but…

A HORSE Shane Breen says “always puts a smile on your face” was retired in Hickstead’s international arena, on the day of the Al Shira’aa Derby. Shane rode superstar stallion Golden Hawk on one last lap of honour, then the 18-year-old was unsaddled and garlanded with flowers. Golden was joint second with four faults in last year’s Derby, and jumped clear in 2019 but was denied the title by Mikey Pender in the jump-off. He and Shane won the 2019 Hickstead Derby trial and the Liverpool International grand prix in 2018, jumped Nations Cup double clears for Ireland and competed in the 2016 Nations Cup final. “For me in my heart, he’s a special horse,” said Shane. “I’m going to miss him - he’s a horse I will never forget.”…

SHOWJUMPING ROYAL HIGHLAND 22-25 June Royal Highland, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh THE crowd welcomed Adrian Speight back with open arms as he defended his 2022 grand prix title to make it back-to-back wins with consistent campaigner Millfield Baloney. “I’m over the moon. I pinch myself every day I’m on him,” said Adrian, who thrilled the crowd in his Coutts RHS 200 grand prix lap of honour. Mark McGowan gave the 22 starters plenty to think about, with all but three combinations succumbing to the pressure as they fought to make the time allowance in the first round. The only clears inside the time - Carmen Edwards and Happy Valerie, Mark Edwards and Flying Tinker II and Adrian and Millfield Baloney - were joined in the jump-off by the two combinations…

Summer pony premier, Bicton Arena, Devon QUEEN STAR hit the ground running after a four-week break to head the pony showjumper qualifier for Izabella Rogers, having blitzed the jump-off by three seconds. “The jump-off was one of the best we’ve done,” Izabella said. “I gained most of my time at the final two fences, where I took out three strides and kicked to the oxer. Queen thrives on less contact but loads of leg; she hates being held and put in a place, but loves to be dared. Challenge her like that, and she really picks up.” Izabella has been on Nations Cup duties with Neil 55, while also juggling exams, so Queen had been on a back-burner. “Someone took her down to the show for us as I had…

ROYAL THREE COUNTIES 16-18 June Royal Three Counties, Three Counties Showground, Worcs AN exciting newcomer to open workers secured a resounding win and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket at his first-ever attempt. Libby Cooke had her winning novice Uisneagh Camus (Bert) right on song and the scopey Gortfree Hero son made light of Simon Grundy’s testing open course, which yielded just four clears from the 14 starters. Six-year-old Bert also had the top style mark of 19/20. “The show had done a great job with the ground,” said Malvern regular Libby, who won and qualified here last year on Nelly Newton. “It was a tricky course but Bert was incredible and never looked like making a mistake - he’s a very exciting young horse.” The hunter title went…

ROYAL CHESHIRE 20-21 June HAVE YOU HAD A NOTABLE WIN IN THE SHOW RING? Email alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com within 24 hours of the show for your chance to appear in this section Royal Cheshire County, Royal Cheshire County Showground A HOME-BRED provided his breeders with a dream supreme victory and a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in-hand qualification, cementing the decision to retain him as a future ridden horse. The star in question was Pippa Kirby’s three-year-old hack Monivea Mozart He was handled by Jerome Harforth, last supreme here in 2011 leading Janet Cox’s Rhyllandel Siskin. Mozart is a pairing of riding pony stallion Turberry Top Cat and the thoroughbred racehorse Musikhani. “The mare bred us some racehorses, but they hadn’t been very successful, so we sought Jerome’s advice on breeding…