Innholdsfortegnelse for 5-Sep-2024 i Horse & Hound

RATHER than this year's major eventing championships almost clashing with Burghley, happily this summer the Paris Olympics happened long enough ago that we will even see some of those horses who competed in France taking on the challenge in Stamford. One of those is Ros Canter and Olympic team gold medallist Lordships Graffalo, who was rather robbed of a higher individual placing thanks to some flag penalties. Could this be their moment for some good luck and karma and a Burghley win? It would be a popular and well-deserved victory. Others I'm looking forward to watching include Lucy Latta, who wowed everyone to finish second at Badminton on her debut, riding RCA Patron Saint, and Tom Jackson on Capels Hollow Drift, who has been so close to a win here…

ALFIES CLOVER Richard Jones's ride will be retired after his final Burghley, his 11th CCI5* start. The 17-year-old has had top-10 results at Burghley, Badminton and the five-star at Bicton. TOLEDO DE KERSER The Olympic team gold and individual silver medallist, ridden by Tom McEwen, is enjoying a break after undertaking some early ridden rehab in his recovery from injury. BELMONDO Stephen Day's dressage horse, who Pippa El Derby rode at the first under-25 Europeans and competed at many nationals with Pammy Hutton and Pippa, has died, aged 23.…

TRUTH Spotted, in an online store, a hoodie bearing the words “I wouldn't pass a vet check”. Surprised every rider in the world isn't wearing one, tbh. DICTIONARIES Apparently, the first Polish language dictionary, published in 1746, included such definitions as, “Horse: everyone knows what a horse is.” No idea if this is true or not but it's too good to check. SIGNS Spotted on a sign at a fairground: “Ride can only be stopped in an emergency. Crying is not an emergency.” Feels like we could all do with a few copies of such a sign in the yard… AGE We've all heard that age is just a number and let's hope it is; a press release arrived at H&H Towers that read: “At 6934 years old, John Whitaker…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. @ horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound OLYMPIAN EQUINES THE demands on the Olympic horse are extraordinary. The animal is in the spotlight, asked to perform on stage, as on a film set – “lights, camera, action” – with all that pressure and tension. There is no sports psychologist to help, just brilliant grooms and British riders. Dressage requires the artistry of the gymnast, especially in the balletic movements of the kür. “Horses are great therapists, having a calming effect” ERNEST DILLON Watching the horses gallop across country with speed and courage is exhilarating and exciting. Their adaptability is so impressive, coping with distances and stride patterns, as do the 400m hurdler (left or right leg leading) or the 3,000m steeplechaser…

“I RODE his mother B Nimble and she was third at HOYS in the grade C final, then Stevie was third in the same championship. We've bred a few good ones and we picked Billy Mexico as the sire this time. I'm a mad Liverpool supporter, so that's where Stevie G got his name – from player Steven Gerrard – then we have Anfield and Shankley. We're up against these big studs so for us to be able to breed a horse as good as Stevie G is amazing and being able to support my god-daughter with such a nice horse makes it a real family affair. “My rider Natalie van Niekerk backed him but then she was busy with her children, which is why Stevie started late in life.…

BURGHLEY FORM GUIDE FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION WITH H&H • Horse & Hound will be creating extensive online coverage of Burghley in addition to what will be in the magazine report. Our coverage will include cross-country course photos, trot-up fashion pictures, times for the next day's competition, breaking news, numerous reports including the Burghley young event horse final and more. • To keep reading after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription either to the website or to the magazine. To buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription, visit horseandhound.co.uk/join. Or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com/XHH-brandsite for a magazine subscription that includes unlimited website access plus the digital version of the magazine. If you are already a magazine subscriber, find out how to activate your website access at…

HIGHLIGHTS 19–24 August oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscarw_dr Sheepgate Equestrian Under-25 Championship, Lincs EVELINA SHRIEVE and her 11-year-old gelding Insist TC enjoyed four wins, including two at prix st georges (PSG) and two in their first-ever inter I tests. Evelina, who works for the Thurman-Bakers, only joined British Dressage three years ago after she bought “Terry”. “He was an eight-year-old blank slate, so we were new to it together, and have now climbed up from novice,” said Evelina, who scored plus-67% in both inter I tests. “It was the blind leading the blind in the inter I classes, so I was really pleased with the score.” Because he gets hot, Evelina doesn't practise test riding too often, and it pays off in the ring. “It means I have to work hard to learn…

THE hounds come tumbling out of the dense woodland and hit the line of the fox with a crash of music, racing away through the arid scrubland. The temperature is in the 90s and the huntsman, in shirt sleeves, bursts from the covert blowing his horn for all he is worth. Turning to his followers with a grin that nearly splits his face he declares loudly, in a rich Southern drawl: “Now, goddammit – ain't those the greatest pack of fox dawgs you ever have seen – even if they is mahn!” Benjamin Hardaway III was one of those characters who was in every way larger than life. People who were lucky enough to be asked to judge hounds in the US, as my wife Tessa and I were in…

Edited by Eleanor Jones Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ THE FEI is hosting a meeting of “in-depth discussions on addressing the challenges currently impacting the discipline of dressage”. Stakeholders including riders, officials, trainers, organisers and veterinary experts, as well as national federations, will be invited to the meeting on 1 October. The FEI said the event “marks the beginning of a broader strategy to develop a comprehensive long-term strategy for dressage, to ensure the sustainability and growth of the discipline”. H&H reported that a dressage forum would be held to tackle concerns in the sport (news, 14 March). The FEI confirmed this after the Swedish equestrian federation's horse welfare council and Gothenburg Horse Show co-hosted a meeting at the show (21–25 February) on…

2025 PARA EUROS VENUE CONFIRMED THE 2025 European Para Dressage Championships will take place at Ermelo, the Netherlands, from 3 to 7 September. The venue has held the Dutch national championships, the dressage Europeans for juniors and young riders and the European Endurance Championship. “We are delighted that the FEI has put its trust in us,’’ said Iris Boelhouwer, the Dutch federation's secretary general. “With just over a year to go, in everything we do in preparing for this prestigious event we are committed to the highest standards of equine welfare, accessibility and sustainability for our human and equine athletes, staff, spectators and environment. We look forward to warmly welcoming them all.” SCHOLARSHIP FOR FUTURE SADDLERS APPLICATIONS for a scholarship aimed at up-and-coming saddlers and craftspeople are now open. Leatherwork…

Danish para dressage medal contender Tobias Thorning Jørgensen has withdrawn from the Paris Games after his horse Jolene Hill became unwell. Para rider Suz Hext withdrew from the Paralympics, where she was due to compete in swimming, after sustaining a concussion. Suz is “absolutely heartbroken”. Five-star event rider Louise Harwood has returned to three-star, two months after suffering serious injuries in a fall from a trailer. She said: “It's good to be back.” US Olympic eventer Liz Halliday is making “steady improvements” after sustaining a head injury in a fall during the USEA American Eventing Championships. Jockey Saffie Osborne rode a 824/1 treble on 29 August to claim the Racing League leading rider title and help Wales and the West win the team competition.…

pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle OPINION I'M writing this after making the long journey back from Blair – the last fixture there, which is sad, but I feel lucky we've been able to compete there many times. We wish the best of luck to the new Scottish fixture at Scone. I enjoyed the fact Blair was always a cross-country competition and over the years it's taught many to ride terrain and get a horse fit. I was very pleased with how all mine ran up the hills and coped with the undulations and mud. Wills Oakden topped off the final event by winning the CCI4*-L on Keep It Cooley, who has also won the CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L. It made for a special send-off for locals – the cruel Scottish weather didn't stop vast…

I can hear if a horse is lame without even seeing it – the knowledge I've gained and refined over the years has really helped me as a welfare officer. I have a team of 14 and on racedays, we greet the horses when they arrive and scan their microchips with a grabber, which is a mobile phone attached to a coil that reads the chip to make sure the correct horse has come. We scan the horses again before the race; we once intervened when someone saddled the wrong one. If it's from a yard of 50 bay colts with no white markings, or the horse is in the wrong stable, it happens! We make sure only accredited people come into the stables, and racing staff can come to…

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AS well as a full set of pony classes, HOYS horse qualifiers were on offer too and here, James Knight had plenty to celebrate when Korito, his own hunter at only its second-ever show, won the lightweights to take his first-ever ticket. The Dutch-bred nine-year-old had previously hunted and evented before joining Harrogate-based James, who originally spotted him while showjumping in 2022. “I thought he was the most beautiful horse I'd ever seen, and might make a wonderful worker,” said James. “Last year I tried him out hunting over the biggest hedges with the Bedale; he came home with me that day – the rest is history! “It was intended as a bit of fun for us both and he just ticked over this summer, but as I am giving…

The Jockey Club RoR National Championships, Aintree International EC, Merseyside A PAIR of showing newcomers won this year's ridden supreme on their debut at the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) National Championships. Both Diana Gardiner's Gentleman At Arms, a seven-year-old former Flat and jump runner, and Harriet Edmunds only started showing in May. During his racing career, “Arthur” won more than £90,000 when trained by Harriet's father, Stuart Edmunds. He has been in retraining since February. “I don't get to pick the horses I ride, though I always thought Arthur was nice-looking,” said Harriet. “Our first outing in March was a dressage show, and he was very naturally good at it. I'd seen people showing in the RoR leagues so decided to give it a go. At our third showing show…

BRITISH riders claimed the lion's share of the prizes across the Irish sea at Lisgarvan House in Co Carlow. Izzy Taylor topped the Connolly's Red Mills CCI4*-S with Jane Timmis’ ever-improving nine-year-old SBH Big Wall and finished second in the Troytown Equine Centre CCI3*-L with Caroline Wilson's Hathaway Royale. In the latter class, Laura Collett sandwiched Izzy on the podium with Sheena Pilkington's two up-and-coming stars, C-Let's Dance Van De Beemd and To Kalo Arlo, who finished first and third. The Emily King/Sam Ecroyd stable sailed home with two red ribbons after Sam won the Equilume Ltd CCI3*-S with Kate Walls’ Bloomfield Manuscript and Emily took the Botanica CCI2*-S on Helen Morris and Alex Wilcox's MBF Ballyknock Cruiser. Grace Cooper, 26, won the small Cahervillahow CCI4*-L on Cedarmount Cavalier.…

HIGHLIGHTS 19–24 August Port Royal Area Festival, E Yorks IN her first affiliated season, Sarah Coleman won prelim 19 silver with 70.28% and novice bronze music with 69.63% riding her six-year-old mare Daddies Girl. Bred by Verity Franks, “Pringle” has been slowly produced and is now enjoying her first season out between the white boards. “We wanted to get her out and see the world and how she copes,” said Sarah. “It turns out she's super brave and loves her job. She's a very forward-thinking, enthusiastic mare. My goal was to remember the test and not be eliminated. “You never know how they're going to cope in a bigger atmosphere with the rings all dressed up, so to go and do well and qualify was a huge bonus. I was…

SUMMERTIME is tourist time for many parts of Britain and up here is no exception. Walkers, fishing fiends on pilgrimages to the Tweed, visitors to the caravan parks and many holiday cottages round about. They all provide a welcome boost to the local coffers and in general, do not impede too much on the lives of those of us who live here permanently. Sometimes, however, there are flash points that highlight the vast difference in priorities and mindset between “us” rustic types and “them” from the towns. This week an example of this ever-widening gulf presented itself when I was driving home along the dead-end road that leads to this farm. The road takes you through a field called “The Floaty” and in it, were 30-odd grey-haired walkers eating sandwiches…

THE inspirational former international event rider Claire Lomas has died at the age of 44. In a statement sent to the Melton Times, her devastated family said Claire died as a result of an accident in Jordan on 22 August. Claire was a successful advanced eventer who suffered a spinal cord injury in 2007 and was paralysed from the chest down. She went on to fundraise over £900,000 and became a motivational speaker. Claire was a chiropractor before her cross-country accident, and had competed up to four-star (now five-star) level. She said her life hit rock bottom after her spinal injury, but she turned it around. “An absolute inspiration, a champion for good” BRITISH EVENTING Claire made headlines all over the world in 2012 when she completed the London Marathon in…

BRIGG VIEW FARM turned purple in memory of a “beautiful” rider who died from a rare cancer aged eight. The venue hosted the Olivia Eyre Show on 24 August and raised over £1,500 for Olivia's Arc; part of charity Alice's Arc. Olivia, pictured left, died in January, four years after she was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, and four weeks after her sister Elsie was born. “She was too great to be forgotten,” Olivia's mother Jemma told H&H. “The show was a huge success; emotional as it was, it was lovely.” Olivia was four when she was diagnosed. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, then a year of maintenance. But two months later, the cancer returned in her neck. She had more treatment but relapsed late last year. Jemma said Olivia…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_ journo_ OPINION I'VE just returned home from judging at the Royal Dublin Horse Show for the first time and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the prestigious fixture. It did help that the weather was incredibly kind to us, however the show itself was fabulous. I feel that some of the shows in England could learn a lot of lessons from the Dublin format. As well as top-class showing, there were amazing tradestands and an abundance of food and drink options for all to enjoy. “It makes our brown envelopes with £15 for first seem farcical” The rings were fantastic and the layout of the show led to a great atmosphere. I don't think I've ever witnessed arenas where the grandstands were completely full and spectators were standing…

RIDER REBECCA MARSH “STEVIE G is my horse of a lifetime. My godmother Susie Gibson asked me to ride him when he was nine and we started at British novice. He's so clever that he caught up really fast; he feels like an old soul who's been here before and he just seems to know what to do. He trusts me and I trust him, so it's been an amazing journey. “Because he is sharp, he was a bit all over the place in the early days, but as soon as he clocks on to fence one he gets his game face on. We always thought he'd be good because he is so careful and brave, but you're never sure until you do it. At every stage he's stepped up…

BATTLING STORM LILIAN WITH more than 3,500 entries and 600 stables hired, this year's show was hailed a great success – despite Storm Lilian's tail-end efforts to disrupt proceedings. As always, a Dunkirk spirit prevailed and Arena UK staff were more than equal to the challenge posed by potential flooding. “The standard was phenomenal in all classes this year too,” said BSPS chairman Paul Cook. “Our society membership increased this year as well, so hopefully showing is on the up again.”…

Sparsholt Area Festival, Hants AMATUER rider and project manager Claire Gettinby headed the novice freestyle with 74.72% and was third in the novice silver riding her 13-year-old Headmore Dramatica. Previously a showjumper, Claire transitioned to dressage while based at Headmore Stud and is now trained by Alice Oppenheimer. She has owned “Drama”, a Headmore homebred, for two years. “She is my absolute joy and horse of a lifetime,” said Claire. “I was so pleased with how together we felt in our test – as soon as we entered the arena, I knew she was on her A game. Next steps for us are the championships, and once we're back at home to start training our elementary and medium movements – as long as Drama wants to do it!” Alison Jenden…