Innholdsfortegnelse for 23-May-2024 i Horse & Hound

IN nine weeks, all eyes will be on Paris, with everyone eager to find out which of the best in the world will be crowned victorious on the podium in Versailles. With its proximity to London, the 2024 event is being likened to a “home” Games. If we can experience anything like the magic, emotion and sporting prowess that we did in 2012, it will be a very special event for those Brits lucky enough to take part, be reporting or be following every moment from home. This week, we speak to a host of Olympic greats – from Nicola Wilson (p32) to Blyth Tait (p24) to Hugo Simon (p18), who recall their best and most lasting memories of past Olympics. We hear from those grooms who have taken horses…

IN THE NEWS CORACH RAMBLER The Ramblers’ 2023 Grand National winner, trained by Lucinda Russell and ridden by Derek Fox, has retired aged 10. He also had two Cheltenham Festival wins. CLASSIC BRIOLINCA Gareth Hughes’ European team gold and world team silver medal-winning ride Classic Briolinca, who he owns with his family and Julia Hornig, is to retire aged 18. HARCHIBALD The Noel Meade-trained hurdler, who won five Grade Ones, and was well known for his close defeat to Hardy Eustace in the 2005 Champion Hurdle, has died aged 25.…

▲ UNDERWEAR What do you do if you find yourself chasing escaped horses with no headcollar? One rider had the answer, whipping her bra off herself and round a horse’s neck, and leading home in triumph. A booby trap, if you will… ▲ MORE UNDERWEAR A rider searching for “cavaletti blocks” online was surprised to find a listing for “jockstraps”. Not sure what grids one could build with those… ▲ FUEL To the US, where a firm names different types of fuel Stallion, Mustang and Thoroughbred. So many questions, so few answers, but at US prices, we wouldn’t wonder for too long. ▼ JOKES Overheard at a show, from one rider to another: “Stirrups are like men; nice to have but you don’t really need them.” Hmm. There are definitely…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. @horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound IS WEIGHT AN ISSUE? THERE must be a huge difference in weight between the Badminton winner, the diminutive Caroline Powell, and long, lanky William FoxPitt, who was second after cross-country but had six showjumps down to drop to 13th. Has any sort of weight adjustment system ever been considered for big three-phase events like Badminton? William’s horse, Grafennacht, must have been much more tired after crosscountry day than Caroline’s Greenacres Special Cavalier, and then had to carry a greater weight over the showjumps too. “I’m sure this will come as a nice surprise for them” PAT LAYTON Mark Milbank Buckland Newton, Dorset H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome replies: “Under previous rules, horses did have…

SO few people get to stand on top of an Olympic podium. Even with event riders’ relative longevity the opportunity doesn’t come round often. You feel pride, but in the moment with the gold medal round my neck in Atlanta, when I felt I should be bawling my eyes out with joy, I just felt relief. Our competition takes five days, it’s not like the 100 metres – intense for a few seconds. I was in the lead after cross-country and so had 24 hours to think about losing! I felt huge gratitude to all those around me. As riders we do it for ourselves, but we couldn’t do it without coach, farrier, groom, chef d’equipe, team-mates – who prop you up. It takes a village.…

DID you know that administratively speaking, Yorkshire is no longer a county in its own right, but instead is split into four distinct regions, each with their own characteristics and benefits? Here’s a quick guide to each point on the Yorkshire compass… NORTH YORKSHIRE A HIGHLY desirable part of the county, property prices tend to be highest here. About 40% of North Yorkshire is covered by national parks, including most of the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, while the A1M affords great access to the rest of Yorkshire and beyond. NORTH YORKSHIRE COMPETITION VENUES INCLUDE: ● Yorkshire Riding Centre ● Northallerton Equestrian Centre ● Snainton Riding Centre ● Richmond Equestrian Centre EAST YORKSHIRE FLATTER, quieter and more remote than the rest of the county, what East Yorkshire might…

Fairoak Grange EC, Berks HOT on the heels of claiming the medium silver title at the Petplan winter Area Festival championships last month, Carrie Passmore’s 14.2hh home-bred gelding Star Gazer is notching up further wins – taking the advanced medium 92 qualifier. “He’s a clever little chap,” she said of “Raspberry”, so named because he was born with his tongue sticking out as if he was blowing one. “He’s enthusiastic – the more you give him, the more he likes, and he’s very athletic for a pony with a good range of gears in the trot. “We already have his changes down to two-times,” she added of the 12-year-old Littledale Bright Star son, who only started dressage in July 2022 after an eventing career. “He definitely has the scope to…

FORMER showjumping mare Jeanne D’Arc VDV claimed both novices at Hargate Arena, Derbyshire. By Dream Boy, “Genie” is thriving in her new discipline with her owner Danielle Price. “We’ve spent time working on her balance and canter and we’re learning together,” said Danielle, who has produced the rising 10-year-old under the guidance of Julie Yardley at Oakwood House Dressage. “Julie helped me find Genie, who has been perfect for me. She’s a typical chestnut mare – absolutely fantastic most of the time, but with a cheeky side.” I OWE IT TO…

KAREN and Erin Grier’s hunter pony mare Buccaneers Sea Pearl (Fortune) has returned to her winning ways after coming out of retirement. Now based with Edward Young and ridden by Cate Mitchell, Fortune has won on three of her four outings in 2024, also standing champion at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Winter Championships, BSPS Area 2B Lancashire Championship Show and BSPS Area 5. The 14-year-old, who is on lease, has been out for two years. “She’s loving being back in the ring,” said Edward, who fielded six wins, three seconds, three championships and a reserve from seven horses and ponies at the Lancashire championships held at Warren Farm EC. Edward won two horse classes himself, including with Leander-sired hack Ashlands Kings Scholar. Bred by Edward, the nephew to…

DAWN BALL was delighted to land her first double as a trainer at Edgcote. Ellie Callwood first steered The Paddy Pea Club’s Well P to win the hunt members, before she rode James Stride’s Youmzain five-year-old, Billy Two Rivers, to claim the maiden. “Billy” finished third at Mollington two weeks ago, having only been with Dawn for a fortnight. He originally came over from Ireland, having run on bottomless going since the start of the season. “Since Mollington, he’s been bouncing out of his skin and he’s been difficult to keep a lid on,” said Dawn. “He’s a young five-year-old as he was a late foal, but he gives you the feeling of a 10-year-old that’s done the job for ages. FIRST DOUBLE “He’ll be a nice horse to put…

Dulverton West, Bratton Down, Devon TRAINER Dean Summerby’s lorry sent out two winners that rose to the occasion under jockey Darren Edwards. The inaugural race of the day, the restricted, saw Dean’s own nine-year-old Russian Invasion come to the fore, despite carrying a penalty. The Aizavoski son won at Parham back in April, but Dean has been conscious of running him on the right going. “He needs quick ground to perform,” Dean confirmed. “We ran him on good to soft going at South Hill earlier this month and we got it a bit wrong. But today he ran a blinder and won very nicely.” Dean bought Russian Invasion as a five-year-old and he has been prone to problems, as Dean explained: “He’s had a few things go wrong with him…

Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @jones_eleanor_ A GLOBAL “sleep intervention package” and quiet zones in lorry parks could help riders get enough quality sleep to improve safety – as could taking your pillow to events. Two studies, carried out at Hartpury International Horse Trials last year and via a questionnaire sent to 230 FEIregistered event riders, resulted in similar recommendations to “improve the health and wellbeing of athletes and staff in equestrian sport”. Hartpury senior lecturer Emma Davies, the co-lead on both, told H&H they were two distinct pieces of work but “the findings mirror each other”. “Sleep is something that had never been studied in riders, despite our early mornings and extra-curricular activity,” she said. “One of our students, Sandy Wilson, is doing his…

NEW HOME FOR NATIONAL CHAMPS THE 2024 British Eventing national championships will run at Hartpury International Horse Trials (7–11 August). The news comes after the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe was cancelled (news, 7 March). “We were sad to hear of the loss of Gatcombe’s Festival of British Eventing this year, and it’s our privilege to be trusted with delivering these championships,” said Rosie Scott-Ward, Hartpury’s deputy vice-chancellor. “While it’s not easy stepping up at relatively short notice, I’m very proud of our team who have got to work to ensure we deliver a superb championship.” REDUCED SEMEN IMPORT CHECKS STANSTED has started using the temporary pilot solution for border checks on equine germinal products. H&H reported last month that the pilot had been introduced – as part of…

Former British Eventing chief executive Helen West and her husband Andrew Fell will jointly manage Bicton Arena, under “a new era” for the south-west venue. High Legh Riding Centre’s Abi Shaw was named the Association of British Riding Schools, Livery Yards and Equestrian Centres coach of the year. Showjumper Michael Whitaker and Equine America Q Paravatti N won a CSI4* 1.50m ranking class in Wiesbaden, Germany, on 18 May. The Queen is to continue her long-standing role of patron of British Equestrian (BEF). The BEF said: “Her passion for all aspects of equestrianism is clear.” The Fell Pony Society and Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain have welcomed The King as patron. The late Queen was formerly patron of both.…

oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscarw_dr “THE most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.” That was the creed laid down by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Games, in 1896 and applies to all Olympians. So when a para rider has qualified for Paris, yet his national Paralympic committee thought not to send him as he isn’t a medal contender, what’s that about? And where is the motivation for him and others to continue competing? Not so long ago, representatives of many sports – including some equestrians – ventured forth with chances of making the podium as slim as Eddie “the Eagle” Edwards. Their aspirations gave others hope. The…

My father John was champion trainer, my brother Ed is a very successful trainer, so it’s in our blood. I’ve always done it, and I’ve always thought I’d love to do other things too. It’s a tough industry, even with the incredible days and Group One winners; it’s hard to make the business work. Covid wasn’t the kindest to us, we lost some clients, and you start to think about life a bit more. Deciding to retire was a big move. We had a fantastic final year and Polly Pott won the Group Two May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. My wife drove her up there, her owners were from Doncaster, so it was quite apt she was our last big winner, and at a starting price of 40/1! It was…

JENNY ELLIS, former groom to John Whitaker, Geoff Billington and Richard Davison: “The one thing I’d hate to be without is my baby Ramer sponge and my saddle soap – you get such a lovely shine on the tack with it.” FRANCESCA GORNI: “For eventing, it’s probably my stud tap that Greig Elliot the farrier gave me. I know it works, it’s my tried and tested, it gets the right tap every time.” JACKIE POTTS: “I need to have virtually every lotion and potion in miniature, so that I never need to go back to the stables for anything.” NEXT WEEK Grooms explain how Olympic horses travel to the Games…

PETERSFIELD, HANTS Train time to London: 1hr 12min The equestrian fix: idyllic hacking in the rolling South Downs National Park, racing at Goodwood and polo at Cowdray, Pony Club with the Petersfield branch and eventing at Munstead. For sale: Highbrook Hall, Liss A Grade II-listed house, six miles from Petersfield and a mile west of the village of Liss (which has trains to London Waterloo in 70 minutes). Nine bedrooms, three additional cottages, swimming pool and tennis court. Extensive equestrian facilities include an indoor and two outdoor arenas, 16 stables and ample paddocks across 203 acres. £15m, knightfrank.com HORSHAM, W SUSSEX Train time to London: 1hr 6min The equestrian fix: 20 minutes to The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, polo at Hurtwood Park and Knepp Castle, racing at Epsom…

pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle ASTON-LE-WALLS (1) 15–19 May Aston-le-Walls (1), Northants YOU didn’t need a crystal ball to spot a number of horses at Aston-le-Walls who could well be trotting up outside the Palace of Versailles in nine weeks’ time. Already an Olympic team gold medallist from Tokyo, London 52 notched his third win this season with a pillar-to-post victory in open intermediate (OI) section D for Laura Collett. They scored a 23.4 dressage and added 1.2 time-faults. “Every time I ride this horse it is such an honour,” said Laura. “This blew the cobwebs away, the ground was good and he’d missed a canter while I was at Badminton so I let him travel. He had a nice spin round -a blowout before Bicton.” The only horse to challenge in the…

ELLIE CLARKE topped two BE90 sections at Breckenbrough (X), winning section K with Lady Uno LH and section L with Princess Polly. The pair are poles apart in terms of stature and experience, according to their rider. “Lady Uno is a 16.2hh five-year-old mare at the start of her career, whereas Princess Polly is eight and barely 15hh. They are both bold and love the job, though,” said Ellie, who runs a small yard near Retford. The former is owned by Sarah Reeve and had already finished second at Norton Disney (1) before coming here, while the latter, who belongs to Anne Staley, has more miles on the clock. “Polly has been second a few times now, so it feels good not to be the bridesmaid,” continued Ellie.…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald HIGHLIGHTS 9–12 May Chard, Somerset THE first Events Through A Lens talent seekers qualifier of the year was a fast, highcalibre showdown, with 32 in the jump-off, and it took an exceptional round to win it. An impressive performance from Leo Lamb and eight-year-old Gmail looked like it might have the class in the bag, but they were dropped down to third by a stunning round from Ben Bick and If Evers Girl MS, while Mark Bunting and Kiaminka slipped 0.09sec ahead of Leo into second. Ben and the eight-year-old mare, who is owned by his partner Abbie Summers, devoured the course at a thrilling pace, without losing shape over a fence, to finish 1.57sec in front. “I landed after the plank, put my leg on and she…

oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscarw_dr HIGHLIGHTS 6–12 May Parwood EC, Surrey “HE’S been a little star,” said Sam Roberts of 13hh former show pony Moelview Prince Consort, an advanced 102 winner with 67.79%. “He has a massive heart and he’s intelligent and willing to learn.” “Chip”, who won at the Royal International as a four- and five-year-old and was supreme mountain and moorland champion at Olympia in 2014, is a working stallion and covers in spring. “The key is keeping his mind active,” said native show pony producer Sam, who introduced the Welsh section B to dressage a decade ago after he picked up an injury, in the knowledge she could rely on consistent arena surfaces. “He’s a total show-off and loves his changes, which are big and expressive. We train with Alice…

Scottish National EC, West Lothian AZGARD GO FOR GOLD bounced back to form, scoring two overall wins in sizeable prelim classes – with scores in excess of 73% and 80%. “We haven’t competed for six months, as he slipped on ice in the winter and suffered a hamstring injury,” said his owner Lynne Wearing, who explained that “Alfie” had undergone some months of rehab and physio. “I’d hoped we’d go out and do a couple of nice tests, so to pull out scores like this was amazing.” Lynne hadn’t planned to buy again after losing her warmblood gelding two years ago, but later decided she’d like something along similar lines to her daughter’s palomino sport pony. “He gave me a nice outing” LYNNE WEARING “That week, Alfie came up for sale…

NPS Area 25, Leyland Court EC, Bristol A WELSH section A and his 11-year-old rider rose above the best in the business to score an open HOYS pass and the mountain and moorland (M&M) ridden title. Lucy Richardson’s Marsh Walk On By, a six-year-old by Haverford Walk In The Clouds out of Marsh Wisteria, and Lucy’s daughter Lilly headed into the ring on form after a victory in working hunter ranks at Royal Windsor. The first-season combination has also secured Royal International (RIHS) tickets for junior, working hunter and open M&M finals. “He’s a gem of a pony and he always tries his best,” said Lucy, who had watched Lilly’s sister, Penny, eight, ride her show pony Barrdene Romeo, who was also a Windsor winner at the beginning of the…

FRANCE has a fantastic pedigree of equestrianism going back through the annals of history. It has been a force to reckon with in modern sports with many great riders and some wonderful horses. There is however one name that stands out above them all, a legend that lives on in the memories of aficionados of showjumping – and that is Jappeloup. This little horse’s partnership with rider Pierre Durand fired the equestrian world of the 1980s and took them both to the pinnacle of success – an Olympic gold medal. It was a far cry from the uncertainty of their first meeting. “I did not know what to make of him,” says Pierre, now 69. “When you are looking for a good potential showjumper you are expecting to find something…

PIERRE DURAND started his equestrian career as a cowboy -well, almost. “I first rode a horse when I was 10. I was wearing a cowboy outfit at the time, complete with toy guns,” Pierre says. “We were on holiday and came across a company that did rides for first-timers. The pony was led, but there I was, living the dream as a cowboy on a horse. It was a wonderful experience being on the back of a living horse and I was hooked there and then. “As time went by, I learned to ride properly – not easy because there was no equestrian centre nearby. A friend of my father loaned us a horse, but when a group of my school friends also turned up to try riding, my father…

JAPPELOUP had a massive fan following and he deserved it. Among his admirers was David Broome, who recalls: “He was amazing because when you saw him in the arena competing against really big horses, he looked like a pony. He was plucky though, and lightning fast between the jumps. You always thought he would crash through one, but he didn’t. A real star.” Another big fan of Jappeloup is Nick Skelton, who had the privilege of riding him. “It was in the 1986 World Championships at Aachen [pictured],” Nick explains. “It was down to the last four and we had to swap horses. I rode Jappeloup and I didn’t know what to expect. I had watched him, of course, and I knew he would be quick, which suited me. “He…

HORSE&HOUND THE PICTURE, THE STORY Olympic countdown 9 weeks to go The last time the Olympics were held in Paris was 100 years ago, only the third time eventing was included. The USA’s Major Sloan Doak took individual bronze on his cavalry horse Pathfinder, having sailed across the Atlantic. Here he is in the showjumping phase, which featured open ditches, brooks, dips and mounds. Tessa Waugh’s trail-hunting column will return after the Olympics…

REGINALD AKEHURST THE former jump jockey and dual-purpose racing trainer has died, aged 94. Mr Akehurst was born in Folkestone, Kent, in 1929. He spent 12 years as a jump jockey, and during this time rode 99 winners. After retiring from raceriding in 1962, he took out his training licence from his first base, Tunworth Down Stables in Hampshire. He sent out his first winner, Enamoured, at Wye racecourse in April 1963. Mr Akehurst had a number of notable jumps winners including the 1990 Welsh Grand National victor Cool Ground, Dare To Dream who landed the Grade One Finale Junior Hurdle at Doncaster in 1992, and Jazilah, who won the Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in 1992. He became particularly known for his success in handicap races, gaining the nickname…

HORSE & HOUND has partnered with digital archive specialists Archive Digital to make decades of the magazine’s back catalogue available online, from £2.99 for one day. Issues from the magazine’s launch in 1884 until September 2012 are now available to read; H&H magazine subscribers can sign up at a heavily reduced rate in the H&H app. H&H editor-in-chief Sarah Jenkins said: “At H&H we have long enjoyed visiting the physical magazine archive over the years – you find such gems as early interviews with some of our most revered riders. “You see how times have changed, and how much has stayed the same. Being able to access the historic archive online now is a treat, and much easier than wading through mountains of physical copies for the article you want…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald WINDSOR has always been a great show, and spectators watching the Rolex grand prix from packed stands were treated to some of the best showjumping ever seen. Steve Guerdat is total class; every young rider should study the way he rides flat out in a jump-off, yet keeps such a beautiful rhythm. This time, Steve was eclipsed by his winning teammate Martin Fuchs on Leone Jei. In his commentary, Nick Brooks-Ward described these two as “magicians” – and I totally agree. In fact, at what promises to be the most hotly contested Olympics in Paris – so high is the standard in our sport currently – this Swiss pair will be the major contenders for a gold medal. Windsor’s grand prix was so competitive that small margins proved…

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RUBY GUMBLEY made easy work of the mediums at Solihull EC, West Midlands, winning both outright with Nova’s Golden Dream. Ruby bought the “pint-sized” 15.3hh mare she describes as “an overgrown German riding pony” as a just-backed five-year-old in 2020. With help from her trainer Kate Cowell and Carol Simpson at the West Midlands Dressage Group, the pair have risen steadily through the levels. “We’re getting consistent marks and I’m enjoying this part of her training,” said Ruby, who is currently on a gap year. ONE TO WATCH…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ HIGHLIGHTS 6–12 May Nottinghamshire County, Newark Showground AN 11-strong Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Price Family inhand supreme qualifier was led by a riding pony filly making her debut in the show ring. Jerome Harforth was at the bridle of Evelyn Tate’s exquisite home-bred Kirkwood Tabitha Twitchit, a two-yearold Turberry Top Cat daughter who is out of Rotherwood Have A Peep, a 138cm contender shown by Evelyn’s grandchildren during her ridden career. In 2012, Jerome showed Alan Dillingham’s Rotherwood Spring Parade to lift the HOYS in-hand supreme here at Nottinghamshire. Tabitha Twitchit joined Jerome just eight weeks prior to her first public appearance. This was Jerome’s third HOYS in-hand supreme win at Newark: “I qualified for the HOYS in-hand supreme – the Lloyds Bank at the time…

Yorkshire Irish Draught and Hunter Show, Camden EC, North Yorks AFTER a disastrous start, an Irish Draught mare sweetened her connections’ day as she clinched her section title and the HOYS in-hand supreme semi-final championship. Kay and Mark Ainsworth’s lorry suffered a blowout en route to the show with their nine-year-old Heatherdale Finality on board. A speedy recovery ensured they were back on the road in time for “Finn”, shown for the first time since she was supreme at the Irish Draught breed show in 2021, to sweep the board. “It was scary, but thankfully we were organised and gave ourselves enough time to get to the show,” said Kay, who bought Finn from her breeders Kay and John Chapman. Last year, Finn gave the Ainsworths a foal by thoroughbred…

gemma.redrup@futurenet.com @gemmaredrup HIGHLIGHTS 18–19 May The Welsh International, Trecoed, Powys “IT’S absolutely dreamy stuff,” said proud father Tim Vaughan, who watched his 16-year-old son Edward Vaughan land a treble. Edward is the young star of the moment and here he cemented his status by riding three winners as well as two runners-up. Edward’s first winner came with Tim’s own John Mathiastrained Getaway Cory heading the restricted field. By Getaway, the nine-year-old won at Ystradowen on his last outing. “He was with me early in the season before he transferred to John, who has done a great job with him; he’s really progressing,” said Tim. The mixed open crown was secured by Tim’s own Sulamani nine-year-old, Siberian Star. He joined Tim’s yard earlier this year after chasing in Ireland and the…

LIKE most horses, Jappeloup enjoyed a mint, but he would also follow anyone around the stable if there was a carrot at stake. He was quite well-mannered, although a little impatient to get on with things. “Jappeloup enjoyed what he did best; he liked to go fast and jump, that was his life, so he did not like to lounge around in the stable much,” Pierre says. “If you went to him, his first question was: what are we going to do? His second question was: what have you brought me? “One of his favourite times was when we went for a gallop. I always believed in working to keep fitness at a high level and we used to gallop up and down hilly areas. He loved it. He was…