Innholdsfortegnelse for 16-Nov-2023 i Horse & Hound

IN the week leading up to this year's Horse & Hound Awards in partnership with NAF, news editor Eleanor Jones caught up with last year's lifetime achievement award winner David Broome (interview, p18). With David's charm, wit and wisdom shining through every paragraph, you can hear his dulcet tones as he elicits memories of the good old days when showjumpers were household names and showjumping on TV. His motto is excellent: “There are very few things in life that with a bit of thought you can't do better.” And David is as much of a credit to the sport today as he was in his competition heyday. He put his horses first, limiting their competition seasons and keeping the sport fun for them – the consummate horseman. Another rider for…

MARIUS VOIGT-LOGISTIK The 2008 Olympic individual and team champion, with dentist Hinrich Romeike, has died at 29. They also won world team gold and European bronze for Germany. CORIMIRO Britain's Sarah Bullimore partnered the home-bred to win the CCI3*-L at Montelibretti. The seven-year-old, by Amiro Z, is out of Sarah's 2015 Europeans ride Lilly Corinne. WELTZIN British dressage rider Hannah Biggs'grand prix ride, who launched her international career, has died aged 24. The pair competed on Nations Cup teams and World Cup legs.…

THIS is not the sort of Shetland you see every day – every single visible part of this pony is edible. “Ruby”, created by Debbie Lock of Little Bam Cakes, won a bronze award and came fourth in the life-size class at Cake International. Debbie used her mini Shetlands’ measurements and carved foam into shape; the class rules say that everything visible must be edible. She used fondant, textured into strands of hair and mane. “When I arrived, I had to get the first aid kit out – she was a bit lame!” Debbie said. “I'd have been happy with merit on my first try so it was amazing to get a bronze.” EJ…

Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ OPINION I BEGAN my judging career when I was 20 years old. I started on the panel for the Hunter Improvement Society (HIS), which is the former name of the society we now know as Sports Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB (GB)). I began as a ride judge for the HIS, and I was young and eager to get out there. I then tried to get onto the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) panel, but I failed twice. It was initially thought that I was too quiet and that I wouldn't be able to stand up for myself if I was confronted in the ring. At the time, I found that hard to understand, as while I am generally quiet in disposition, I…

I HAVE always thought that I have been very lucky, especially with horses. My father was deaf and blind, and my mother blind in one eye, so they met in what was the Royal Blind Asylum, where they both worked. They were denied permission to marry but they did, and my sister came along not long afterwards, then me. So I'm lucky to be here at all. They weren't horsey so the first horse I sat on was a Clydesdale on my grandmother's farm. I got involved with the Redford Barracks, and one day, when I was 11 or 12, the chap said, “I'm going to the riding school, do you want to come?” I said, “OK then.” They stuck me on this Arab stallion and told me to hang…

HUNTINGLife Edited by Catherine Austen catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 THE Hunting Act has failed as a piece of animal welfare legislation. That is the stark conclusion of Rural Wrongs, a new book whose findings were revealed this month at the House of Lords. “Seldom can a piece of legislation have so dramatically achieved the opposite of its stated intention,” says its author, the ecologist Charlie Pye-Smith. Finally, and 20 years too late perhaps, the House of Lords rang to the right voices. Claire Bellamy, master and huntsman of the Lauderdale in Scotland, caused rapid blinking with a heartfelt explanation of foxes shot indiscriminately, and the bitter impact of the recent Scottish ban on trail-hunting on the hounds she has loved for 30 years. She described how her heart breaks when she now…

A GREAT grandson of one of the late Queen's drum horses took both prelims at the College of West Anglia. Koda, who is out of a gypsy cob mare and has Shire and Gelderlander breeding on his sire's side, started affiliated dressage a year ago with his owner Ishta Taylor. “He is amazing, so easy to do and the most versatile horse ever,” said the mum of five, who also rode him to prelim silver and novice bronze wins in the part-bred traditional gypsy cob classes at the Associated Championships. “Our trainer Teresa Edmonds [recently named British Dressage Coach of the Year] has been the making of us.” I OWE IT TO……

SHOWING SEIB SEARCH FOR A STAR CHAMPIONSHIPS 10–11 November Edited bv Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ SEIB Search For A Star Championships, Stoneleigh Park, Warks A SUFFOLK mare dazzled the judges en route to lifting the 2023 SEIB Search For A Star (SFAS) Championship at Your Horse Live. Andrea Hoskins’ upstanding yet ultra-feminine Holbeache Scarlet had reigned in the inaugural SFAS heavy horse in-hand final the previous day, and she came out and retained all her sparkle 24 hours later to reign supreme. The four-year-old mare was handled throughout by Andrea's head horseman, Brad Auker. Scarlet was bought by Andrea, who is by Holbeache Earl, as a weanling from her breeder Mike Clarke, and she is one of five broodmares owned by breed enthusiast Andrea. Andrea first forayed into Suffolks 12…

ON FORM THE DITCHEAT juggernaut has hit top gear with Paul Nicholls sending out four of the seven winners at Wincanton's Badger Beers Chase Day. This included a ninth success in the Elite hurdle with Rubaud, ridden by Harry Cobden, who rode a treble on the day. Rising star Freddie Gingell followed up on his Haldon Gold Cup success on Elixir De Nutz with victory for Nicholls on Huelgoat in the Boodles conditional jockeys’ handicap chase. The big race, the 62nd Badger Beer handicap chase, eluded the team, however, and it went to Blackjack Magic, the first of a double for the in-form trainer-jockey combination of Anthony Honeyball and Rex Dingle. Meanwhile, at Down Royal, Gordon Elliott enjoyed an incredible six-timer on Friday, continuing his winning streak with a further…

Edited by Eleanor Jones Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ ALL of us can play a part in ensuring equestrianism benefits rather than harms the environment – which will help secure a future for our sport. This was the message at the 2023 World Horse Welfare conference on 9 November, the theme of which was “Horse and the environment: friend or foe”. Charity CEO Roly Owers said it was a topic “that may not immediately seem to relate to equine welfare”. He said: “In many countries, land is managed for horses in sport or leisure, but at what cost to the environment? We compete in arenas with all mod cons and extensive parking. We drive or fly horses many miles. “We put them on…

NEW BADMINTON TITLE SPONSOR BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS has confirmed Mars Equestrian as title sponsor for next year's event (8-12 May). The company, whose brands include Spillers and Winergy, has been Badminton's presenting sponsor since 2020. “Through this enhanced partnership, we strive to share Mars’ iconic brands and services as we work [for] our vision of a better world for horses, pets and people,” said president William Clements. Badminton director Jane Tuckwell said eventing is “lucky to have the support of such a knowledgeable and generous company.” “The fact Mars wishes to enhance their involvement with Badminton is an honour in our 75th anniversary year and we are looking forward to developing their veterinary and welfare interest in the event.” DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR H&H? H&H is recruiting for…

Top Flat jockey Frankie Dettori, 52, is expected to enter the Australian jungle for ITV's reality show I'm a celebrity… Get me out of here! which starts on 19 November. Five-star event rider Bubby Upton, 24, is back in the saddle following spinal surgery after she was injured in an accident while riding on the flat in August. Grand Nationalwinning jockey Graham Lee, who switched to Flat racing, was in intensive care as H&H went to press, after sustaining serious neck injuries in a fall. British world number two Ben Maher won the Verona leg of the showjumping World Cup (12 November) aboard the 10-year-old mare Dallas Vegas Batilly. Westgate Labs’ marketing director Claire Shand won equine SQP (suitably qualified person) of the year at the National SQP Awards on…

▲ CLEANING We will not name the yard that, while on a mission to save on energy bills, got its stable block windows cleaned, and “funnily enough now they don't have to turn the lights on”. Hmm, maybe housework does have a point… ▲ PROTESTORS To the World Horse Welfare conference, where a notable spoke of protestors. “I wondered what they'd have thought 150 years ago,” he mused. “Would they have been called Just Stop Manure?” Tried that, no joy. ▲ SPRING It's dark, cold, stormy and miserable… but it's also now just five weeks till the days start getting longer again. Hang in there, folks.…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound HAPPY MEMORIES HOW I enjoyed the insights into the life of Siegfried Sassoon (2 November). I was reminded of a day in the mid 1960s out with the Wylye Valley Hunt, when apparently the fox went to ground in Sassoon's garden at Heytesbury House. The field didn't encroach on any formal gardens and I believe the owner was bedridden at the time, but having read Memoirs of a Foxhunting Man, as well as some of Sassoon's poetry, I found it quite a special occasion. Janet van den Berge Bampton, Oxon “They are motivated with the im agination to be the best” BEA DIGRAZIA WHAT WIT! WHAT a pleasure it was to read the article on…

I'M lazy, I like to think a half-ton horse can carry me, and the bane of my life is the phrase “on the bit”; it's paying lip service to coming through from behind, engagement of the back end – the bit is the other end! I hate to see people kicking and hanging on to the bit; that's why I love teaching in the US because it's almost a federal offence to grab their heads. Long loopy reins and keep the rhythm; I'm not saying they shouldn't go “on the bit”, but that's the end point. I like to think of a horse as an athlete, I like to think of lightness and freedom; in most of the pictures of me, I've got a snaffle and no martingale, sometimes less…

PRODUCTS VISIT HORSE & HOUND'S VIRTUAL SHOPPING VILLAGE horseandhound.co.uk/directory/shopping Ideas and inspiration for buying for a special dog or their owner DOG Special…

AS I sit and write this column, the opening meet is just two days away. This is my second with the Zetland hounds and it's hard to weigh up whether I have more or fewer butterflies than last year! As time passes and you have plenty of opening meets under your belt, one expects to have the feeling of “just another day”. However, this never seems to happen for me and I have to say there really is something special about the opening meet. Given the autumnal point in the calendar in which this highly anticipated event usually takes place, it's hard to wonder why one anticipates a good day. Leaves on the ground, Gareth Watchman is in his second season as jointmaster and huntsman of the Zetland, having spent…

▼ CHILDREN Spotted, an ad for a horse who “bites a lot”, and is “very rude”, but “overall I think she would be perfect for a kid”. The picture is of a buck. How little does this seller like children, is the question… ▼ SCAMMERS This week's award to the seller of a “brown” horse who looks remarkably spotted, who comes “sound, with fresh iron”. A typo, and he's straight from the laundry basket? Who knows… ▼ HOLIDAYS FEI Grand Fromage Ingmar De Vos reveals that he is not one for family holidays. He's known for getting bored and ending them early – so his wife now books cruises. Well played, that woman!…

Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald OPINION WITH the completion of the Olympic qualification process at the recent Pan American Games, we are now all systems go for Paris 2024. I will be heading to next year's Games in my new role as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) showjumping team's trainer and we're currently in the process of building a new team of horses ahead of the 15 January deadline. I've been training some of the UAE riders for a while and been involved with Al Shira'aa, but I don't know if that's going to make it easier or more stressful when making team decisions! But it's been a pleasure seeing the progression in equestrianism in the UAE. The riders qualified for Paris at the start of this year and…

HORSES and hounds go hand in hand, we hardly need to tell readers of this magazine. There are very few yards without a resident dog. Think William Fox-Pitt and his lurchers, Carl Hester and his boxers, Scott Brash and his sidekick terrier. Evidently, if you want to go places in the equestrian world, you need a canine companion. And most yard dogs are exactly that. Curled up on the saddlecloths in the tack room, a standing dish in the lorry, a cheerful and ever-present foil to the larger quadrupeds in our care – most riders’ dogs are simply our buddies. But every now and then, man's best friend becomes even more than that, providing a useful service to the yard. Whether as a guard dog, a ratter, a retriever or…

BACK in the arena after a lengthy competition break, Victoria McGregor claimed the advanced medium 93 at Yorkshire RC, North Yorkshire, with her new Lusitano gelding Amadeus XI. “We use an agent, Chantel Coles, for our Spanish and Lusitano horses,” she said. “When Chantel rang me to say she had a horse with my name written all over him, I bought him unseen, on her word. It was love at first ride. He had no dressage record but had done working equitation and was ready to go. “We've been holding each other's hands through the competitions, going gingerly, but he's going from strength to strength,” added Victoria.…

RACING HIGHLIGHTS 6-12 November Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald BoyleSports Afternoon Racing, Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside THERE was a certain poignancy about the field of 10 horses heading out over the Grand National fences while the race's 2004 winning jockey, Graham Lee, remained in intensive care after a fall on Friday. The 2m5f £98,370 BoyleSports Grand Sefton handicap chase resulted in an emotional victory for Gesskille's connections. This ultimate test ot jumping clearly ignites a spark in the French-bred son of Network, who finished runnerup in this and the Becher chase last year. With first-time blinkers also taking effect, the seven-year-old bowled along at the front of the pack, taking the inside route throughout, before suppressing the late challenge of trainer Laura Morgan's staying-on Percussion (Gavin Sheehan), another Aintree specialist…

LAST Saturday was an odd one – our first foray, as a hunt, into Scotland since the new law came in, making it illegal to use a pack of hounds without a licence. The hunt high “heid yins” (joint-masters), to use the local vernacular, are poised to consult landowners and fill out the licence application form, which is book-like in length, but until then it seemed important to keep going. It is still legal to flush a fox to guns in Scotland, only now you must do it wi th two hounds rather than a pack. Adam spoke to the kennel-huntsman, Jake, the night before to discuss the best candidates for this strange experiment. Animals that are used to working and living in a pack do not respond well to…