Innholdsfortegnelse for 15-Aug-2024 i Horse & Hound

HANDS up if you’ve got post-Olympic blues? This week we celebrate all that was great about this Games with a photo retrospective (p34) in addition to the individual jumping final (p42), where Scott Brash and Ben Maher added top-10 finishes to team gold. Former medallist Nick Skelton compares this to previous Games (opinion, p16) and delights in the horsemanship. He also bemoans blood rules that, while rightly there to protect welfare, penalise a self-inflicted nick in the same way as an injury caused by the rider. Is that a nut the FEI can crack when the horse must come first yet innocent parties can be unfairly disadvantaged? I like Nick’s idea of a video assistant referee-esque approach, though I can imagine insufficient evidence making this challenging. Rule changes tend to…

IN THE NEWS MSJ TOP SECRET The 13-year-old Mount St John mare, by Totilas, who had success with riders in Britain and was campaigned by Spain’s Santiago Damil, has been sold to Sweden’s Sofia Ek. UMBRO Australian Mary Hanna’s grand prix ride has died, aged 23. He competed across the world, including the 2016 World Cup Final, and spent his senior years as a schoolmaster. BAYAANAAT The eight year-old, formerly trained by Oliver Sherwood, won the retrained racehorse title at the British Eventing championships with Izzy Taylor. Report, p60.…

PUDDING Scientists say ice cream could be healthier if made with horses’ milk. Not sure it will catch on. Red Rum and raisin? Just one Valegro? Dessert Orchid? (Enough ice cream. Ed.) RESILIENCE Love to our treasured riding schools, dealing with riders who turn up in shorts, expect to gallop when they’ve never walked and criticise anyone daring to make profit from a business. We salute you, hang in there; September’s not far away. PLANNING Research finds horses are capable of planning and strategising. No surprises for anyone who’s watched a small pony working out exactly how to escape… REPORTING More reports on Zara Tindall, including the captions: “The royal equestrian cut a smart figure in dressage uniform” and that she“finished on a score of 42.3 after the dressage section”…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. TEAM BUILDING I THINK the Olympic format of having three to a team and having two travelling reserves is beyond silly. It felt like a completely wasted journey for Yasmin Ingham and Kitty King. They would be better going back to four per team with only three scores to count. Surely the money spent having Kitty, who was an additional reserve, travel over could be better invested into the sport. “I commend Yasmin’s poise and team spirit” HATTIE NORTHERN This applies to all nations, ours one of the least with a short distance to travel. Horse welfare and riders’ mental health come to mind. I also feel for their grooms. I hope they have all been looked…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald PARIS 2024 will sit right up there as one of the best Olympics I’ve been to. From the excellent facilities for the horses to the beautiful backdrop, the showjumping was superb. I’ve always been against the new three-rider team format, much preferring to have a drop score, but it worked really well in Paris with an element of sudden death - one fault and you’re out - that made it so exciting. I’ve never seen Great Britain’s trio of Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Harry Charles ride better, and for Scott to coax every last ounce of reserves from Jefferson - who would be far from an easy ride - under immense pressure to win gold showed superb horsemanship. Course-designers Santiago Varela and Grègory Bodo deserve a medal…

HORSE & HOUND IN THE SPOTLIGHT RIDER HARRY MEADE “‘ANNIE’ was sent to me by her former rider Sam Griffiths and her owners collectively, when Sam gave up eventing. My first impressions were that I loved her as a stamp of horse and an athlete. “Sam said she was over-sensitive and that made her quite difficult, but I’d rather be sitting on something that oozes athleticism, but needs managing, than something that is rather limited. “It’s a case of trying to understand each horse and the motivation behind them being difficult. Some horses are difficult because they find something conformationally difficult or they’re lazy. That’s not the case with her. She’s a kind person and a desperate overachiever, who gets herself worried and is oversensitive and hot. “There isn’t an…

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Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @jones_eleanor_ THE equestrian events at the Paris Olympics have come to a close - after huge and deserved success for the British teams. There was no individual showjumping medal added to the British haul on 6 August. All three combinations qualified for the final but Harry Charles withdrew Romeo 88 as he had a small overreach. Both Scott Brash (Jefferson) and Ben Maher (Dallas Vegas Batilly) had an unlucky rail each to finish sixth and ninth respectively. But they had secured their fabulous team gold, added to eventing team gold and individual bronze and double dressage bronze. The Queen, a patron of British Equestrian (BEF), said: “I - along with our entire country - could not be prouder of every…

TOOL TO HELP ACCESS RIDING BRITISH EQUESTRIAN (BEF) has relaunched its “find a centre” tool to help more people access local riding centres. All establishments listed are approved by their local authorities, ensuring high standards of welfare. Many are approved by one or more BEF member bodies including the Association of British Riding Schools, the British Horse Society and the Riding for the Disabled Association. The tool allows people to check facilities, accessibility and the types of activities offered. “As part of our Horses For All strategy, we are committed to reviewing the barriers that prevent engagement - our goal is to ensure that equestrian activities are accessible and welcoming to all,” said a BEF spokesperson. • Visit: britishequestrian.org.uk/getinvolved/where-to-ride KING’S TROOP TO RETURN TO HOYS THE King’s Troop Royal Horse…

Olympic medallist Tom McEwen tops the eventing world rankings. Tom said it “wouldn’t be possible without incredibly important people and horses”. Event rider Emily King was crowned British national champion, after finishing second with Valmy Biats in the British open championship. Report, p58. Showjumper Rebecca Marsh was crowned national champion with Stevie G at the British Showjumping National Championships on 9 August. Grade One-winning dual purpose trainer Olly Murphy of Warren Chase Stables married his long-term partner and racing manager Camilla Cotton on 9 August. Jockey Hayley Turner became the first jockey to win the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle three times, with the David O’Meara-trained New Image at Ascot on 10 August.…

28 June 1969 The King - then the Prince of Wales - pictured aboard his Argentine Polo Pony Polvareda when he was 20 years old. King Charles, who inherited his love of polo from his father Prince Philip, played his first polo match aged 15, and went on to reach a handicap of four goals, playing both in top tournaments and charity events. He retired from polo only in 2005. To take a look inside this issue and more from H&H’s archive dating back to 1884 visit themagazinearchive.com/horse-hound…

HARRY COBDEN could be forgiven for just enjoying his moment. But when I catch up with the newly crowned National Hunt champion jockey, and unmistakable star of the new ITV behind-the-scenes docuseries Champions: Full Gallop, it’s business as usual. He’s already put up fencing and connected a water trough on the family farm, before being driven the four-and-a-half-hour trip to Market Rasen (he’ll go on to win the Summer Plate for trainer Oily Murphy on Sure Touch and tell reporters that his share of the £56,950 prize money will pay for his kitchen). The farming helps Harry switch off. He says: “If you allowed it, you’d get stuck in the racing bubble. All you’re doing is thinking about your races, how many rides you’ve had, where you’re going, what you…

NAF FIVE STAR HARTPURY 7-11 August NAF Five Star Hartpury, incorporating the British championships, Glos HARTPURY had big shoes to fill when stepping up to take on the British championships from Gatcombe, but took on the task with gusto and success. Tim Price retained his British open title riding Joe and Alex Giannamore’s and his own Vitali, who won this championship in 2022, before the 2023 renewal was abandoned due to wet weather. Tim cruised around the track, clocking just 1.2 time-faults the fastest time of the day. The New Zealander was second after the dressage aboard 14-year-old Vitali on 20.5, with Kitty King leading the way on Vendredi Biats with 20.4, but Tim’s speedy crosscountry round propelled him to the top of the leaderboard. “He is so adjustable at…

BAYAANAAT, the ride of Izzy Taylor, won the retrained racehorse championship. Although this class only attracted nine entries, it was competitive. Izzy and the eight-year-old, whom she co-owns with Lavinia Taylor and Caroline Goodwin, led from start to finish to complete on their 28.3 dressage. “He’s very cool. He came to me as a four-year-old and he has a really lovely brain,” said Izzy of the gelding who ran a handful of times on the Flat and over hurdles with little success.“He’ll do an autumn CCI3*-L and I think he’s a proper one. He’s mega across country, he’s got the showjumping now and he’s cool on the flat.” RETRAINED RACEHORSES…

NHS physiotherapist and master’s student Jenny Daniels took top honours in BE100 regional championship section K at Bicton (2) with her own 14-year-old gelding, Firecracker Orbit. The pair finished on their dressage score of 31. “We’ve spent a lot of time this year developing our confidence around the more technical tracks,” said Jenny, who credits her trainers, Karen Lisk, Leigh Smallacombe and Robin Dumas for her first win. “My dad, Simon, also deserves huge thanks. He goes above and beyond, supporting me with yard duties, exercising, travel, training and everything in-between. Fitting eventing around work and study commitments has been a challenge.”…

AFTER a prelim silver win at Hartpury with her “quirky” gelding Chaceley Bobby, Polly Tucker praised a vital helper. “We had a nightmare when the lorry wouldn’t start and we had to borrow one. I was running on minimum sleep after recovering from Covid,” said Polly, a sergeant with the Avon and Somerset Police “I’m so grateful for my mum, Sarah, who does everything. We call her the unpaid groom. “My shift patterns can be horrific, but luckily Bob is so easy to pick up and put down,” added Polly of the 16-year-old gelding, thought to be Welsh section D/thoroughbred. “He’s quite particular about how he likes things, but I know him inside out and he’s one of the most consistent ponies out there.” I OWE IT TO…

SHIRE gelding Cotebrook Sgurr Alasdair, who is a former Horse of the Year Show British ridden heavy horse winner, stepped into a new career with aplomb - winning a prelim bronze section and a class outright on his affiliated dressage debut at Bury Farm, Buckinghamshire. Gemma McClorey, who was given “Big Al” as a 30th birthday present when he was an unbroken three-year-old stallion, said: “We had a couple of funny looks as we went across the car park, until people saw him move. He has quite a few gears and I’m looking forward to doing medium canters. “He’s so willing and he tries everything - you train him to do something once and it’s mentally logged.”…

IT’S August and summer is finally here, bringing sunshine and an inexplicable urge to cook the hell out of something on a barbecue. It interests me that even in the most egalitarian partnerships, where domestic duties are shared and the revolting concept of “blue” and “pink” jobs does not figure, the barbecue is still a male domain. Work-from-home dads who have hugged and high-fived each other in playgrounds at pick-up time since Covid (their wives are off running Formula One or something equally impressive) might appear effete to the older generation. Go to their house on a summer evening, though, and it is these same men - not their wives who are manning the barbie. The absorbing ritual of incinerating meat with the aid of some absurdly large tongs and…

IF you’re visiting the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition this year, you might notice a familiar sight. One of the exhibits is a tiny tack room, complete with mucking-out tools, saddle – and miniature copies of H&H. Sheila Kettle’s 15cm creation is the result of, she estimates, over 150 hours of work. Sheila told H&H her first miniature model was for her parents’ 50th anniversary; she took a dolls’ house and filled it with things relevant to her family. She has since created similar personal displays. “I’ve made about 12 generic ones, one being The Tack Room - and I know nothing about horses,” she said. “I felt equestrianism was something that might make people think, ‘Oh. look at that!”’ In the tack room is just about everything a…

oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscarw_dr LIKE everyone else, I have been captivated and inspired by Team GB’s wonderful riding and all of the equestrian sport in Paris. Every one of our nine riders rode with incredible skill and composure, and a shout-out to our reserve combinations for remaining on standby, which is never an easy task Overall, the sport at the top end was thrilling to watch and a very high standard. There is no doubt that having only three in a team makes for an exciting final. When the three-member team was first proposed in 2011, I was the equestrian athlete representative delegated to travel to FEI headquarters and argue against it. However, after the finals we saw in Paris, I have no hesitation in conceding that the FEI got it right.…

When I was a child and the hounds were meeting locally I would take a day off school. I remember, aged 12, hacking my pony to a meet six miles away and of course they ran in the opposite direction so I ended up over 12 miles from where I started. I got a bit lost on the way back and ended up in a village five miles from home in the dark. Luckily I had a school friend who lived there and when I turned up at her door, her mother suggested that I stay the night. I put my pony in their paddock and rang my mother to tell her that I would go to school with my friend the next day and hack the pony back after…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com THE individual final had it all - high drama, heroic feats, heartbreak and several “Did that just happen?” moments. At the end of it, Germany had completed a clean sweep of the Paris 2024 individual equestrian victories, Britain’s riders had to resign themselves to adding nothing to their glorious team gold, and Versailles took a breath as the pure horse sport concluded for these Games and the modern pentathletes moved in. “He always tries his heart out for me” CHRISTIAN KUKUK Germany’s win came courtesy of Christian Kukuk, the 34-year-old protegé of 1992 Olympic champion Ludger Beerbaum. “It’s the most emotional day in my life, in my career. I’m one of only a few who can call myself Olympic champion and this is something that will stay with me…

NAF FIVE STAR HARTPURY National championships OLIVER TOWNEND added to his impressive tally of British championship victories when securing the Aston Martin Bristol British intermediate championship. Riding John and Victoria Peace’s En Taro Des Vernier, Oliver capitalised on a speedy cross-country round. He clocked the joint second-fastest round of the day for four time-faults to complete on 36.4, adding four showjumping faults to a 28.4 dressage. “He’s so desperate to please” OLIVER TOWNEND ON EN TARO DES VERNIER “I think he’s a very, very good horse. He’s one of those that isn’t flash on the flat in comparison to the modern-day lot, but I think you’ll see him at proper five-stars,” said Oliver, who purchased this horse, who previously mainly showjumped, from France. “He’s a machine to ride across country…

INTERNATIONAL NEWS IN a week awash with medals, Britain’s pony squad added to the tally when they jumped their way to team bronze at the pony European Eventing Championships in Westerstede, Germany. The team (pictured) of Arabella Henderson (Our Billy Eile, sixth), Annabel Ridgway (Akim De L’Arquerie, 11th), Florence Drewitt (Crosgales Into The Blu, 13th) and Ella Howard (Midnight Mist III, 25th) moved up from fifth after the cross-country thanks to assured showjumping rounds on the final day. Arabella’s clear round over the coloured poles saw her leap up the order from 16th place to finish as the highest-placed Brit on a score of 35.4. She said: “‘Mabel’ has felt incredible all week. To step up onto the podium with the team was a moment I’ll never forget.” Individual riders…

HIGHLIGHTS 29 July-4 August oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscarw_dr Northallerton EC Summer Regionals, N Yorks AFTER a decade on the eventing circuit, 15-year-old Versatile Des Rois made his mark in a new discipline claiming the advanced medium silver crown. According to Richard Long, who rode him at four-star before the gelding retired, “Tyler” has made a smooth transition to dressage. “If they all had a brain like him, life would be easy” said Richard. “He’s a cheerful chap, a little trier, and he just likes to ‘do’.” When Tyler was sidelined with a skin problem prior to the show, Richard had all but ruled out competing. “I only rode him a few times beforehand, so it was a surprise to win at that level,” added Richard, who trains with Ruth Edge. “Dressage was…

Myerscough College Area Festival, Lancs OFS PITCH BLACK, a horse who nearly succumbed to a life-threatening bout of laminitis three years ago, carried away both the advanced medium straight and freestyle bronze titles. “We nearly lost him, so to do the double was amazing,” said Leanne Crawford, who bought the Painted Black gelding, now 12, as a five-year-old. “It’s thanks to the help from people around me that he’s back on track, including Neil Frame of vets Frame and Swift. The pedal bone rotation was really bad, so his foot balance has to be spot on. Farriery by Jim and Allan Ferrie has been the final piece of the puzzle. “He took it all in his stride” LILY CARSON “My dream was to ride down the centre line in a…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 AWARENESS of equine welfare in racing has never been higher, and one very important aspect of that is what thoroughbreds do after their racing career is over. Team chasing is a sport in which exracehorses consistently shine, with many of the leading teams favouring the thoroughbred as their mount of choice. However, as with any discipline the retraining process is key. Roddy Stanning, chairman of British Team Chasing and a member of Team Ride-Away, explains: “It’s important to assess each horse individually, first in the racing yard if you can. Obtain as much information from the trainer as possible - their likes, dislikes, habits, quirks, how they ride, their temperament and injury history. “Then at home, assess and try to get them relaxed and settled, especially if they…