Innholdsfortegnelse for 21-Sep-2023 i Horse & Hound

ANOTHER week, another glut of superlative performances from talented British riders. At the National Dressage Championships (p46), Carl Hester became champion for the 11th time – though he was given a very good run for his money by grand prix freestyle winner Becky Moody on her European Championships travelling reserve Jagerbomb. Charlotte Dujardin wowed with her exciting younger superstars in the making – with just Becky and Sonnar Murray-Brown denying her a clean sweep. While this was going on in Somerford Park, world number one Ros Canter was going headtohead with friend, team-mate and world champion Yasmin Ingham at Blenheim Palace (p36). Yasmin had led from the first phase, but it was Ros who continued her fantastic year with another win in Oxfordshire, this time riding Izilot DHI. And at…

Three-time Badminton winner Ian Stark will step down from course-designing at the end of 2024. Ian, 69, is looking forward to his “semi-retirement”. Avril Bartolomy, 76, and maxi cob Epithemeus stood home produced supreme at the British Show Horse Association championships. Full report p66. Professor of equine orthopaedics at the Royal Veterinary College, Roger Smith, is the British Equine Veterinary Association's new president. Dressage superstar Carl Hester was crowned national champion with En Vogue. It is the 11th time Carl has taken the title. Full report p36. Retired jockey Tom Scudamore won the Leger Legends all stars race on I Still Have Faith on 17 September. The race raises money for charities.…

▲ EAGLE EYES Well done to that H&H reader who spotted an unusual pony for sale in these pages; a dun Shetland mare, “height 40hh”. We always like to make sure everybody's on the ball… ▲ WEDDINGS A rider was delighted to see, on an official sign, that a route is a “permitted bridalway”, with a picture of someone on a horse. Where's the groom, is the question… ▲ DATING An email to H&H Towers on dating faux pas declares “showing up late and wearing muddy clothes are two of the most common”. Own up. Who's been going out straight from the yard?…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. @ horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound DRIVE TIME CARRIAGE driving is a horse sport missing from television coverage, although it has European and World Championships. I started driving after watching Boyd Exell at the London International Horse Show and ended up breaking my old racing pony to harness. We have come a long way in a year and are about to compete in our second championships. “Could showing do more for riders with disabilities?” PETA ROBERTS FBHS I feel this sport should be talked about more – and with all the focus on overweight ponies, this is a great way to get them out of the field and enjoying life, even when they have been outgrown. Jamie Hordern Hungerford,…

FOR many fans, Jane Holderness-Roddam might be a daunting figure, a heroine in the world of eventing with an equestrian CV that few can match. She has won team gold at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, been chairman of selectors, judge, steward, president of British Eventing, author of The Galloping Nurse and stunt double in the film National Velvet. But within minutes of talking to her, I realised I'd be hard pushed to find a warmer, more welcoming person. Still, you don't win Badminton on a 14.3½hh, the legendary Our Nobby, through kindness alone, and her bones of steel are sometimes detectable in the form of strong opinions, though nearly always followed up by diplomatic counterarguments. So what does eventing's royalty think of the current state of the sport? “Well, I…

FOLLOWING her PSG freestyle win on 75.28% with Espe, Annabella Pidgley was quick to credit Charlotte Dujardin's training and help over the past year. “Charlotte has helped us cement our partnership. Last year, Espe lit up in the arena. I just couldn't keep her power under control and we had to retire. To come back this year with the same power and actually score what we did speaks of Charlotte's training,” she said. “Not only does Charlotte train the technicalities and the movements, but also she brings the bond together with the horse. The improvement from last year is a win in itself; that's all I can ask for. We've stepped up a level this year, too, into the PSG, which is a big ask. This has been the best…

“A SHOW FOR EVERYONE” THE show's return to Addington was widely viewed as “coming home” after two years at Arena UK, who stepped in while Addington was out of commission. “This was very much a members’ show, and coming back to Addington was very well received,” said BSHA chairman Nigel Hollings. “Our aim was to make it a show that was inclusive for everyone – old, young, newcomers, amateurs and seasoned professionals alike – and the feedback so far has been very positive. “It was also heartening to see people putting their animals’ welfare first in the exceptional heat.”…

SHOWING HIGHLIGHTS 2-10 September Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ 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 Moreton-in-Marsh, MoretoninMarsh Showground, Glos AN amateur and her homeproduced hunter went through the card to spring a surprise supreme win. Emma Gibson's Face The Music (Teddy) topped the Royal International (RIHS) amateur hunters en route to the top title, where they reigned over the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) mini mountain and moorland (M&M) champions, the combination of Dartmoor pony Lowlandview James Bond and Harriet Lomas. They were fresh from standing Pretty Polly supreme champions at the British Show Pony Society summer championships. Emma only bought her Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan six-year-old at…

SHOWJUMPING HIGHLIGHTS 6-10 September Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THIS PAGE? HAVE YOU WON A CLASS? Email jennifer.donald@futurenet.com within 24 hours of your event and please include a contact telephone number All England September Tour, week two, All England Showground, Hickstead, W Sussex JESSICA BURKE claimed one of the tour's big classes for the second consecutive year, heading the £3k-to-the-winner LeMieux 1.40m grand prix with her five-star partner Express Trend. The Irish former maths teacher, who is based in Hampshire, had two rides through to the 13-strong jump-off, from a healthy start list of 70. She jumped a competitive pathfinding clear on first ride Nikey HH which was overturned by both Phoebe Farman (Diara Sue) and Phillip Miller (Don Royale) but she then…

Henley Farm and Country Show, Oxon HELEN TREDWELL had a strong show despite the blistering heat, winning the area trial with Independence TN, the 1.30m H&DAA challenge stakes with Sebastian VII and taking runner-up in the national B&C qualifier with Kallio B. Six pairs made it through to the second round of the area trial on clean sheets, benefiting from a well-watered main ring and some sensible coursebuilding from Phil Ashworth. An on-form Phoebe Farman took runner-up with Iniesta II, while Abigail Walters was third with Jack Daniels Reuvekamps. “Phil built for who was there and the conditions and made sure there was a class for the public,” said Helen, who also finished fourth on Luikan. Helen was taking her second area trial victory of the season with Wayne Cox's…

HUNTING SURREY UNION 4 September Edited by Catherine Austen catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123…

Edited by Eleanor Jones Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ THE involvement of horses in sport is ethically justifiable, research has found – as long as conditions are met to ensure they have good lives. Madeleine Campbell, an owner, rider and breeder as well as a specialist in equine reproduction, and European diplomate in animal welfare science, ethics and law, carried out the study, published in Sport, Ethics and Philosophy. She told H&H it is something she has been working on for years, and that given increased discussion and awareness of the importance of public acceptance of horse sport, “we need to be able to articulate why we think it's ethically justifiable”. “The equestrian sector needs to be able to explain why we can…

DOUBLE GOLD FOR BRITISH STUDENTS BRITAIN'S student riders came back with double gold from a Nations Cup event in Holland (1–3 September). The team of debutants, Betty Baker, Freya Gaitskell and Amy Stewart, topped the team podium on the combined ranking, and took the bronze in both dressage and showjumping. In the world university equestrian federation (AIEC) competition, riders from 12 countries compete in both disciplines, on borrowed horses, in a knock-out format. This means that two riders progress to the final rounds, at prix st georges level dressage and 1.30m showjumping. Betty won individual combined gold and achieved the highest style score in showjumping, while Freya had the highest style score and fifth place in dressage. DRIVING TEAM LANDS BRONZE THE British team took bronze at the para driving…

▼ A CHEEKY TIPPLE After a noon lesson, a rider asked: “Do we need to get alcohol?” “You weren't that bad!” said the coach. “And it's too early.” Then, ah. She meant to use to remove the sweat stains on the horse. Oops. ▼ AGILITY Spotted online, a site called “Horses hopping for good homes”. Is that because they're lame, need a wee, or just have a unique style of jumping? We're agog… ▼ HAZARDS Forget skinnies and ditches, the most testing hazard on the Blenheim cross-country was only there on one walk – a swan, grooming itself on one of the waters. It didn't do anything bar hiss. But still, not going past that!…

Edited by Pippa Roome pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle OPINION WHEN I walked the Burghley cross-country course early on the Friday morning of the event, I thought it had a smoother feel to it than in 2022. It posed difficult questions, but riders could get into the swing of it a little earlier, which is a sign of designer Derek di Grazia knowing the place better second time around. I was still fascinated by the way riders jump off the drop at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit and are in a hurry to get their horse to the next element – the big brush oxer – forgetting they've got to line up the skinny third part. I know the drop and the ground encourages horses to run, but it is the rider's job…

HORSE&HOUND ALL IN A DAY'S WORK I always loved horses. Mum paid for lessons when I was a child and at 14 I shared a pony; I did all the jobs and they let me ride him. A chance meeting with a local trainer led to me riding out for him. Walking into his yard and seeing head after head of shiny horses, I wasn't interested in anything else, I only cared about horses. I don't know what I'd have done otherwise. I was there all the time, until I moved on to a bigger yard and then Newmarket. The trainer's wife there was a mentor to me, and he was a major influence but he was so difficult to work for! I wanted to leave, he was hard on…

VISIT HORSE & HOUND'S VIRTUAL SHOPPING VILLAGE horseandhound.co.uk/directory/shopping LEMIEUX ARIKA STORM-TEK TURNOUT 100G The angled front closure system buckle is designed to distribute pressure evenly to prevent rubbing. Cut from 1200D fabric. £149.95 lemieux.com FIELDMASTA 100G LIGHTWEIGHT COMBO The dome neck helps prevent mane loss. With a 1200D ripstop polyester, 100g of lightweight filling and an anti-rub lining. £159 harryhall.com ROBINSONS REQUISITE STANDARD 600D LITE OG With a waterproof and breathable 600D outer and smooth nylon lining. Plus taped seams, twin chest straps and wither pad. £69.99 robinsonsequestrian.com DOMINICK TURNOUT LITE PLUS With 150g of fill and a 600D polyester outer with a sealed back seam. It contours to the horse's body to keep the rug straight. £160 thecentreline.co.uk PONYO 1200D TURNOUT With a high-quality 1200D ripstop outer, this is…

EVENTING HIGHLIGHTS 6-10 September Edited by Pippa Roome pippa.roome@futurenet.com ©pipparoomeorkyle DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THIS PAGE? HAVE YOU WON A SECTION? Email eventinghighlights@gmail.com within 24 hours of your event and please include a contact telephone number Savills Chillington Hall, Staffs MOTHER of two Lucinda Britnell secured her golden ticket to next year's Badminton grassroots championship when she landed one of two BE100 regional finals with her own Dutch-bred 13-year-old, Floor. Known as “Lily” at home, the mare's competition name is a nod to her country of birth. “In Holland, Floor is an old-fashioned ladies’ name, which means flower,” explained Lucinda. “It was already on her passport when her late owner, Jane Vaughan, and I travelled over to Holland to view her as a youngster – it's bad luck…

PRELIM winner Newton Despina is extra special to owner Beth Bainbridge, who competed her dam, Newton Galactica, to elementary level before she was sold. “I loved riding her and when the opportunity came I bought her fluffy daughter and now she's a national champion!” said Beth, who has competed the Danone x Grand Galaxy Win mare herself this year in the fouryearold age classes, before Despy took the title this week under Tom Carter. “She's the epitome of what we're trying to do at Elite Dressage,” said Beth. “She's an embryo transfer who was made, born and bred at Newton Stud. She then came to be backed and produced by the Elite team and is such a happy athlete, just what we want her to be.” IN THE GENES…

SHOWING BSHA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 7-9 September Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ British Show Horse Association (BSHA) championships, Addington EC, Bucks YOUNG producer Elliee Stunt racked up one of the best results of her career when a superb performance with Rebekah Pring and Charlotte Coppard's supreme small hack, Howetown Holly's Legacy (Lacey), resulted in a perfect score of 30 in Friday's starstudded Leeman supreme. Under her inspired guidance, Lacey produced the perfect combination of elegance, correctness, obedience and flair to trump several of the year's top combinations in the final showdown, assessed by The Hon Dawn Gooch, Sheila Noble and Karen Thomas. Their show included impeccable one-handed work in all paces, plus a series of immaculate flying changes and stirring extensions, resulting in a two-mark victory over supreme specialist Robert…

ON their last attempt at a 2023 HOYS qualifier, Jimmy Hooker and Rob Scrine's first-season middleweight Cummano Cassini (Fergal) won their class and netted the hunter section title at Moreton-in-Marsh. FIRST HOYS “I was trying to hold in my emotions and stay professional, but the tears started,” said Jimmy, for whom this was a first HOYS ticket. Fergal will be making his HOYS debut next month. “He wasn't easy at the beginning; he was petrified of anything and everything,” Jimmy said. “I've groomed at HOYS before, but it's always been my ambition to ride there one day. And to do it on a horse I've produced means everything.”…

RACING BETFRED ST LEGER FESTIVAL 14–16 September Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Betfred St Leger Festival, Doncaster Racecourse, S Yorks THERE were a couple of possible scenarios in the 247th running of the Betfred St Leger that might have got racing off the back pages; Desert Hero providing a first royal Classic winner since Dunfermline won the race in 1977 and sealing The King and Queen's first season with the royal silks was one, while Arrest providing Frankie Dettori a seventh and final win was another. However, as he has done so often in the past, Aidan O'Brien introduced a bit of reality to the dreamers and won the St Leger for a seventh time when Continuous, an improving colt who might yet go well in the Prix de…

HORSE&HOUND MEMORY LANE Showtime in Calgary NICK SKELTON riding the King George V Gold Cup winner Cathleen (above left) in Calgary – he also rode Showtime in the competition. The British Nations Cup team – comprised of Nick, Geoff Billington (above right), Michael and John Whitaker – led by the halfway stage, going on to win for Britain's 10th Calgary success. Biggest inspiration WHERE it all began for the great jockey, who would go on to win 23 British Classics in a career that continued to flourish until his final season (2023), aged 52. Here he recalls his beloved racing pony, Sylvia, a palomino with four white socks and a Percheron's neck. Sylvia would bolt, scramble under rails (with Frankie on top) and deposited him “1,000 times”. But, he says,…

WYKEN ROB ROY Diane Jordan and Anne Hutchinson's Welsh section C stallion has died aged 31. He won the Kellythorpe's Welsh C sire of the year award nine times, including in 2023. NUMERO UNO The jumping stallion has been put down, aged 28. He competed to 1.50m with Marco Kutscher, and progeny include Olympic team silver medallist Sterrehof's Tamino. QUINN G The five-year-old dressage world champion has been sold and will join Fiona Bigwood. The Quaterhit daughter won the 2023 title with Danish rider Betina Jæger.…

TRADE AWARDS ● Weatherbeeta Group retail employee of the year – Steph Lynch, Houghton Country ● Citation trade supplier of the year – Bliss of London, Walsall ● Equine Careers sales representative of the year – Sarah Rushby, Saracen Horse Feeds ● Holdsworth PR Marketing effectiveness award – Equilibrium Products, Bedfordshire ● Zebra Products retailer of the year kRedpost Equestrian, Devon ● Online/mail order retailer – Redpost Equestrian ● Best new retailer – Bolerolux Equestrian & Country Wear, Barrow upon Humber ● Stubbs England nutritional helpline of the year – TopSpec Equine, North Yorkshire ● SEIB Insurance a great place to work award – Charles Owen, Clwyd ● Equine Fitters Council equine fitter of the year – joint winners: John Hirrel, Barlaston Horse Supplies, Stoke on Trent; and Lorna Hancock,…

Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_ journo_ OPINION AS the summer show season draws to a close, this is the perfect time to reflect on the year's events. This season, we have witnessed several significant changes. Some have been incredibly exciting – for example, the developments in the world of amateur classes. Many showing societies have stepped up by offering a multitude of qualifying spots for prestigious events like Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and the London International Horse Show. While these initiatives have been largely well received and supported, they have not been without their fair share of eligibility hiccups. To pave the way for a smoother and more efficient future, it would be beneficial for all showing societies to come together during the winter months to establish…

BLENHEIM PALACE Young horse CCI4*-S TWO weeks after his Burghley win with the great Ballaghmor Class, Oliver Townend showed that he has another rising star grey in his string by taking victory in the young horse CCI4*-S with the stunning mare Cooley Rosalent. The pair headed into the cross-country with a onesecond advantage over Piggy March and Brookfield Future News. They would be the only two combinations to make the cross-country time, turning those provisional places into their final standings. This eight- and nineyearold class has a history of serving as a stepping stone to five-star greatness. Oxford a fitting venue, then, to hold the championship for these bright stars of the future. Analytics firm EquiRatings has counted 23 graduates who have gone on to win a five-star, including five…

SOME might have said it was beginner's luck, but Tara Murphy and Luck Of Orestus’ BE90 victory at Burnham Market (2) – the five-year-old gelding's first-ever event – was more likely the result of an intensive two-month crash course, during which the former showjumper has been learning the eventing ropes. “He's had a fast-track course in jumping water, ditches and cantering across open fields and has taken to it brilliantly,” said Tara, who works in a pre-training yard and produces a small number of horses from her yard in Suffolk. “‘Billy’ had been jumping in age classes with Tony Pearson – including in the five-year-old grand prix at Bolesworth – so I think he was a bit shocked at how tiny the showjumps were.”…