Innholdsfortegnelse for 28-Feb-2019 i Horse & Hound

WELCOME to part one of the Horse & Hound show guide, featuring event dates from now until the end of May to help you plan your competition season. To complete your planning, do look out for part two — featuring dates from June to December — which is out next Thursday, 7 March. With the sun out, too, it’s proving a pretty motivational week. And you’ll be pleased to know — in some ways at least — that we have guaranteed a further mild spell by running a feature in this week’s issue on what to look for in a car that will get you to the yard in the worst of snow and across a field in the wettest of mud, which is the magazine publishing equivalent of taking…

WATCH NATIONAL EQUINE FORUM FREE TICKETS for the 2019 National Equine Forum have sold out — but the event on 7 March will be livestreamed free of charge. Topics due to be discussed at the forum include the implications of Brexit, equine health including flu, horse and rider fitness, stereotypical equine behaviours and the preliminary results of the BETA National Equestrian Survey. A limited number of afternoon-only tickets are still available for final-year undergraduates, postgraduate students and lecturers. The all-day conference will be streamed via the forum’s website, on equestrianpro.tv and clipmyhorse.tv • Visit: nationalequineforum.com INSURANCE FIRM IN TAKEOVER DEAL EQUESTRIAN insurance broker Shearwater has been taken over by Global Risk Partners (GRP). Founder and managing director Jeremy Lawton will continue to run the business and all 36 staff will…

VAGABOND DE LA POMME The 14-year-old showjumping stallion is taking a step back from competing to focus on breeding duties. Primarily ridden by France’s Penelope Leprevost, he finished second in the 2015 World Cup final. BIG ORANGE The Michael Bell-trained 2017 Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner has been retired due to injury. Owned by Bill and Tim Gredley, the eight-year-old won nine of his 27 starts and collected more than £1.25m in prize money. WIDE RECEIVER The four-year-old topped the Tattersalls Cheltenham February sale, selling for £410,000 to bloodstock agent Tom Malone and trainer Gordon Elliott. He won his first point-to-point at Cragmore.…

▲ BOXING Boxing big-name Tyson Fury has agreed that a racehorse can be named after him. As one of the horse’s owners said, the big man was keen, and they hope to get him on the course in a top hat. Let’s just hope the horse doesn’t lose… ▲ WIKIPEDIA Gosh, someone tampered with the Wiki page for the, er, animal rights charity PETA, calling it all sorts of things, and mentioning all sorts of practices we’re sure aren’t very ethical, so of course are not true. We do not, of course, condone such behaviour and are very glad the page has been put back to how it was. ▲ PERSEVERANCE Hats off to all riders in the Golden Button ride, for their inimitable bravery and top bottle. Special mention…

HOW the zebra got his stripes may not be one of Kipling’s Just Sostories — but it is a question that has been asked a lot. And, best beloved, it appears scientists have found the answer. Researchers compared behaviour of horseflies around zebras and horses, and found fewer landed on the zebras. The effect was also demonstrated when the horses wore striped coats, and attack rates by the flies were far lower than when they were dressed in plain black or white. Hypotheses about the purpose of zebras’ stripes have included the confusion of predators and thermoregulation, but recent evidence has all suggested avoidance of biting insects is their primary role. Or, of course, Vogue reported recently that zebra print is well in at the moment. So maybe the striped…

EIGHTEEN months ago, we were the proud owners of a horse who was sold as a potential for amateur eventing. He passed a five-stage vetting but as his workload increased, he kept going lame. On assessing him, our local vet hospital discovered that he had been denerved at the hocks and should not work to the level we were asking of him. In fact, his best option was not to work at all. When I challenged our vet on the value of a five-stage vetting, he explained that it is almost impossible to detect such surgery without a scan and the vendor’s permission to shave suspect areas. A few months ago, we had him put to sleep, which was heartbreaking. Ours is not a unique situation, but is one that…

IT is a bitterly cold day in late January and the weather has stopped play at Tom Jackson’s Kent yard. The arena is frozen, the roads are like ice rinks and snow is threatening, but a duvet day is out of the question. In just over a month’s time, Team Jackson will be upping sticks and moving to a yard recently vacated by Australian Olympian Chris Burton, in Godalming, Surrey. “We’ve been a bit busy,” grins Tom as we pick our way around the mountain of bags and boxes piled high outside the flat above the yard that has been his home for the past few years. The prospect of an operation of this magnitude at this time of year must surely lead to sleepless nights, but the 25-year-old’s feathers…

THANK you so much to all of you who completed our survey in 31 January issue. We are running this survey again to give those who missed it the opportunity to share their views and to see if you rate this week’s content differently. If you haven’t completed this survey before, please do tell us what you think. And you are welcome to complete it again for another chance to win. Sarah Jenkins, Editor-in-Chief All readers who fill in our survey will be entered in to a competition to win one of three £100 JOHN LEWIS VOUCHERS Please complete this form online at horseandhound.co.uk/survey or post to Horse & Hound reader survey, Box 113, 20 Winchcombe Street, Cheltenham GL52 2LY. CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: 12 MARCH 2019 A – EQUESTRIAN…

MARCH hails the end of the hunting season for most, although some areas of the West Country continue well into the spring, as was traditionally the case in the Lakeland fells, although less so in latter years. The end of the season comes with mixed emotions. For some it is relief, for others disappointment or a sense of loss. I know of one foot-follower who is positively bereft at the end of each season, and on more than one occasion I have been quoted, at the end of a season, asking how many days we have until the start of the next. For me it is a combination of feelings. I am always sad that it’s over. Despite the Pytchley conducting in the region of 100 hunting days annually, I…

GRACIE CATLING, 15, was first to go in the novice freestyle silver, and won the class on her own and Julie Mott’s pure-bred Connemara Dalyhill Rocker. The 14.1hh dun used to show and hadn’t done dressage before Gracie got him two years ago, but has taken to it well, as “he’s the only one in the ring”. Gracie explained that “Rocker takes himself very seriously so I have to laugh as I ride to his music, which is Who’s Afraid of the Big BadWolf?andTeddy Bear’s Picnic: the opposite of serious! But he really loves freestyles and here we got a nine for the music.” Gracie also picked up a further ticket to Hartpury in the medium silver on Helen Christie’s 20-year-old Silvano KR, and had already qualified a third horse…

KBIS prelim 17A silv (D Wardle, J Selway, P Green).— 1, Hero (Huroos) (G Peckham) 71.26; 2, Mgcom Services Sauvey Golden Condor (N MacDonald) 70.52; 3, Jack In A Box (E Pargeter) 69.48. Blue Chip nov 37A gold (D Wardle, H Ashley, L Selway).— 1, Silver Star (A Miller) 72.84; 2, Rock Diva (O Oakeley ) 72.16; 3, Emma II (J Palmer) 72.09. silv (M Ruddock, H Clark, A Scott).— 1, Harley 1 (R Marsden) 72.84; 2, The Moon (R Ind) 71.11; 3, Loriens Graceful (J Williams) 69.83. Baileys nov FSM gold (D Lush, J Rooney, H Ashley).— 1, Emma II 77.78; 2, Jackpots Vashti (C Knowles) 72.13; 3, Di Donato (L Carrier) 71.85. silv (S Petty, L Waller, T Cowle).— 1, Headmore Footloose (M Morris) 78.52; 2, The Moon…

Baileys British Eventing Arena Eventing Championships, Dallas Burston Polo Club, Warks QUALIFIERS from 11 arena eventing competitions held around the country this winter descended on Dallas Burston Polo Club last weekend to contest finals at BE80, BE90 and BE100 level. Competitors tackled a course of showjumps immediately followed by a series of cross-country fences, finishing over a joker fence which was about 10cm higher than the rest of the course. They incurred penalties for jumping faults and for exceeding the optimum time, with the winner the rider closest to the optimum time in the case of a tie.…

AFTER securing two Royal International tickets for his owner Michael Cooper in the working hunter and middleweight showing finals, Boherdeal Royale (Blackjack) added a further Hickstead ticket when heading the SEIB winter novice qualifier for Allan Birch. Allan rode the Boherdeal Clover eight-year-old in the Cuddy working hunter championship at Birmingham last year and now finds the scopey Irish-bred gelding equally at home over coloured fences. Blackjack proved extremely agile when pulling off tight turns to produce an unbeatable target from first draw in the 17-strong jump-off. “He’s on the button, a brave jumper and a stunning ride, and he is extremely light and controllable,” said Allan. “I was already thinking about the turns from the off and he was up to the mark all the way,” added the rider,…

Bold Heath EC, Cheshire WE are used to seeing riders’ children competing in top-level classes, but how do parents who have had nothing previously to do with horses cope in the rarefied atmosphere of pony showjumping? From when she was a toddler, Grace Shudall-Hughes hounded her totally non-horsey parents for riding lessons. “It was a world we knew nothing about and despite my best efforts to get Grace to do ballet or gymnastics, she was determined to ride,” said her mother Natasha. Grace’s parents eventually gave in and now aged 12, she has had great success, with highlights including partnering Matt Sampson to victory in the 2017 mini-major class at Liverpool, a third place at the national championships and heading the pony silver league. The schoolgirl from the Wirral is…

GEORGIA LEADER-WHITE and her “gift horse” Eldorado (pictured) galloped to victory in the FMBs Therapy Systems star qualifier at Forest Edge Arena. The Belgian-bred son of Action-Breaker was sent to Suffolk-based Georgia six years ago to sell. “But his owners saw that we had such a bond that they said I might as well keep him,” explained Georgia, who has a great record with the 15-year-old grade A. However, Eldorado may soon have a new home. “I have youngsters to concentrate on and I no longer have time to give him the work he needs,” explained Georgia, who runs an equestrian training academy and is working towards her level three coaching qualification. There was a fast 17-horse jump-off at Forest Edge. “It was a real galloping course, so I took…

NCPA Cheshire season starter, Reaseheath College IN her first season as a full-time producer, Vicky Smith topped two British Piebald and Skewbald Association (BSPA) Royal International (RIHS) coloured qualifiers, and also netted the championship with her plaited partner, Alan Marnie’s Bart. Vicky also rode Susan Granger’s six-year-old mare Bascote Maybelle to qualify in the traditional pony class. ‘I think the results are really starting to show’ VICKY SMITH “Bart has been turned out over winter and he’s just finished six weeks of hacking,” said Vicky, who admitted this early season win was special as it marked her debut as a full-time professional. “I rode him in the school a couple of times and he felt so good we decided to come. We also brought the mare; I’ve only had…

THE novice riders’ contest went to 18-year-old Harry Arkwright, who juggles his A-Levels studies at Stowe and riding out for Fran Nimmo, the trainer of his Garthorpe winner, Susquehanna River. Finally winning on his sixth start, Harry has suffered some misfortune in the quest for breaking his duck. “Today wasn’t the first time I’ve been leading coming to the last,” he joked, referring to being carried out by a loose horse when coming to the last at Cocklebarrow a month ago. “I didn’t really have to do anything today,” he said modestly. “The loose horses helped keep our line and every stride came up perfectly. I’m so grateful to Fran and [her partner] Charlie Poste — they help me so much.” “Harry delivered him to perfection time-wise,” commented Charlie. “He…

THE show is well and truly back on the road and it’s good to be writing this at the end of what looks like a successful weekend for the sport. Unbelievable weather, a decent amount of runners and a new course were all part of the mix — I’ve already heard some great feedback about the new track at Monmouth Showground. The course hosted the Ross Harriers fixture and a friend who attended remarked on the impressive size of the crowd, plus there were three races divided on the day, giving racegoers a bumper nine-race card to get stuck into. The weather and number of runners last weekend led me to consider how I first became involved in the sport. At the time, it was because of my job as…

EVERY evening, when the day’s work is done, William Whitaker cleans his riding boots. “If they’re lying there all mucky, in the corner of the tack room, I don’t feel ready for the day ahead,” explains the showjumper. “Even if I’m tired and fed up, it’s important — more so, in fact. Starting the next morning with clean boots puts me in the right frame of mind.” It’s hard to imagine how this minor point can win medals, but it’s the concept of marginal gains: the idea that small, incremental improvements across a number of areas add up to better performance. For William, everyday tasks such as tidying the yard are the tiny cogs that drive the big wheels of success. “I like the workplace to be clear,” he adds.…

WHEN choosing a venue, surfaces and organisation rank highly in riders’ needs. “A friendly and helpful team of organisers and volunteers makes the day a pleasant experience,” says event rider Martin Wright. “Prize money is nice but a drop in the ocean, so would not influence where I compete.” Event rider Alex Bragg looks for decent prize money, and good surfaces and stabling (as pictured at Vale View). “Prize money is a big draw, especially as many of us are trying to run a business,” he explains. “Then it’s the facilities. For me the importance would be on the warm-up because that is where you spend most of your time working. If I’m staying away, the quality of stabling has a big influence over shows I attend.” Dressage rider Stef…

AHS Arab Horse Soc BD British Dressage BDS British Driving Soc BE British Eventing BS British Showjumping BHA British Horseracing Authority BHS British Horse Soc BHTDA British Horse Driving Assoc BMHS British Miniature Horse Soc BSHA British Show Horse Assoc BSPA British Skewbald and Piebald Assoc BSPS British Show Pony Soc CHAPS Coloured Horse and Pony Soc CR clear round CT combined training DPS Dales Pony Soc DUK Dressage UK EC equestrian centre EGB Endurance GB HPA Hurlingham Polo Assoc IDHS Irish Draught Horse Assoc MGAGB Mounted Games Assoc of Great Britain NH National Hunt racing NPS National Pony Soc NSEA National Schools Equestrian Assoc ODE/2DE/3DE Unaffil one-/two-/three-day event PC Pony Club P(UK) Ponies UK RC Riding Club or Riding Centre RDA Riding for the Disabled Association RoR Retraining of…

BREEDERS will be able to choose whether they want a colt or a filly from April, as one of the UK’s leading stallion centres becomes the first to offer sexed semen. Stallion AI Services in Shropshire will be offering the choice between “male” or “female” sperm to owners of mares standing at neighbouring Twemlows Stud Farm this year. The process uses technology from Cogent and Sexing Technologies, which has been offering the service in cattle for many years. It will cost £750, plus VAT, for the first cycle and £450, plus VAT, for second-cycle breedings, on top of stud fees. Tullis Matson, founder and managing director of Stallion AI Services, told H&H it has an accuracy rate of about 96%. “It is a huge step, we still have a long…

SAINT ARE The 13-year-old Aintree hero has made a winning debut in the show ring, having retired from racing after the 2018 Grand National. “Arnie” ran in the Grand National five times, finishing second in 2015 and third in 2017. LIMELIGHT DE BREVE The showjumper who gave Laura Renwick many of the early major wins of her career, has died aged 20. Following Laura’s successes, Joan Sloan Allen’s mare formed a partnership with Egypt’s Sameh El Dahan. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL The 16-year-old gelding, formerly used for carriage driving, has qualified for the showjumping World Cup final. He and Japan’s Shino Hirota secured their place with three wins and two seconds in the Japan League.…

Showing producer Katie Jerram-Hunnable has returned to the ring after breaking her neck in 2017. She qualified for the RIHS at the BSPA winter championships. Irish eventer Jonty Evans has jumped solid cross-country fences, with Cooley Rorkes Drift, for the first time since his fall. He said he owes those who helped “all the thanks in the world”. Trainer Paul Nicholls claimed his 3,000th career win when Capitaine, ridden by Harry Cobden, won at Taunton on 19 February. The 10-time champion trainer said it was a “landmark”. Swedish showjumper Peder Fredricson has received the Medal of Honour from Sweden’s king. Peder was on the silver medal-winning World Equestrian Games team last year. Assistant trainer Catriona Bissett won employee of the year at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards. Catriona,…

PREDICTIVE TEXT Ah, you’ve gotta love autocorrect. When sending a Muggle a text message of appreciation, the phrase “thank you very muckheap” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it… PAPERS Talking of Muggles, another week, another story of The Queen “going for a horse ride”. This time, apparently, she was accompanied by Prince Andrew, who sported a “grey blazer” and rode a “brown horse”. Hold the front page. SHYNESS And talking of the Royal Family, Meghan Markle apparently sympathised with a “shy” pony on a recent visit, revealing she also sometimes gets camera-shy. Possibly not in the best role then?…

Coming from a huge hunting family in South Devon, we’ve always had horses and somewhere there’s a photo of me in the saddle at nine months old. We were farmers but now falconry is my business — my dad having squandered the farm on slow racehorses rather than fast women! Though he had quite a few racehorses, racing itself has never really interested me, but I love working with the horses afterwards and I do all my schooling on Dartmoor. I have 14 birds, two of which are golden eagles. It was my late first wife who got me into falconry; I found I loved it, so I learnt all about it. There are three parts to my business: I run Dartmoor Hawking, the falconry at Bovey Castle Hotel, and…

THE Škoda Kodiaq Scout (pictured) is the perfect all-rounder, and comes in petrol or diesel. Every model has all-wheel drive and seven seats. Drop the middle and third row into the floor and you have a vast load area. The 187bhp two-litre diesel engine will tow 2,000kg. With a raised ride height and underbody protection, it’s the sort of car that will cope with rutted tracks or slippery roads yet still be ideal for long journeys. An off-road button activates hill-descent and hill-hold control and alters the anti-lock braking system. Air con and sat nav are standard. There’s even an umbrella in each of the front doors. • 0-60mph in 8.6 seconds; 39.2mpg. Priced from £35,105.…

HAVE you ever fancied jumping round a course at a British Showjumping (BS) show? Well, together with BS, Horse & Hound is offering all readers a free Ticket to Ride — worth £6 — which will allow you and your horse to compete at a BS show this year. A Ticket to Ride enables any unregistered horse, rider or combination to compete in an affiliated class, giving you the chance to ride at well-run shows with educational courses. Classes start from just 70cm, so riders of all levels can get involved. You will still need to pay the entrance fee for the class and stallions are not permitted to compete on a ticket. Under the Ticket to Ride scheme, riders are not eligible for placings, prize money or qualifications and…

KBIS prelim 17 (S Staines, M Drewe, R Baldwin).— 1, Maggies Hope (K Low) 71.32; 2, Woodcroft Oscar (G Botfield) 71.14; 3, Balthasar II (E James) 70.8. Blue Chip nov 37 gold (R Hillier, S Staines, W Filtness).— 1, SJL Baks Zacco (A Brown) 76.66; 2, Dan Ivanhoe (N Barker) 71.23; 3, Dubel Colours (A Brown) 70.18. silv (S Staines, M Drewe, R Baldwin).— 1, Florence PFB (J Boulton) 70.49; 2, Ilien (Z Kirkpatrick) 69.32; 3, Eau De Vie Vh Kriekenhoff ES (F Skinner) 68.7. Baileys nov FSM gold (M Drewe, K Warren, R Baldwin).— 1, Gianni Versace (T Reeve-Smith) 77.13; 2, Dan Icarus (N Barker) 76.66; 3, Heros II (T Kusch) 71.57. silv (J Hancock, R Hillier, J Howard).— 1, Dalyhill Rocker (G Catling) 73.51; 2, Dalvangs Design (V…

SOLICITOR Rebecca Marsden has an impressive strategy for a successful dressage career. At this show she produced wins with very different horses — the sharp 10-year-old, 16hh Fiorello (pictured) in the silver elementary, and on her 17.2hh Arlando I seven-year-old Harley I in the novice silver. Thanks to her trainer, Matt Hicks, Rebecca has also recently benefited from quirky schoolmaster Balance and now has the ride on small tour horse El Zorro. While Rebecca made her name in eventing, she said: “My heart has always been in dressage. I trained at Talland, but I wanted a foundation in all three horse sports before I went into pure dressage.”…

KBIS prelim 17A silv (P Beattie, P Lang, L Smith).— 1, Splash And Dash (L Somerville) 73.51; 2, Gems Kristina (G Chalmers-Gray) 70.63; 3, Whiteboro Telltale (G Morgan) 68.39. Blue Chip nov 37A gold (P Beattie, G Peters, L Smith).— 1, Dalriader (J Struthers) 69.32; 2, I Love You Too PC (M Niven) 68.33; 3, Ella (G Morgan) 67.84. silv (V Graham, P Lang, G Peters).— 1, Hey Good Looking GK (C Milne) 70.74; 2, Islesman Of Mendick (R Darling) 69.01; 3, Kerrishill Zeus (S Oakden) 68.33. Equi-Trek elem 59 gold (P Beattie, V Graham, P Lang).— 1, Hidalgo II (J Barry) 75.36; 2, Furstinclaire (N Heale) 71.35; 3, EV Amore Mia (J Struthers) 71.04. silv (P Beattie, V Graham, G Peters).— 1, Cremdalla Crem (C Milne) 69.69; 2, Duncky…

KBIS Equestrian prelim 17A silv (P Hayler, S Carson, I Auty).— 1, Brackenspa Houdini (H Hopkinson) 72.82; 2, Cashflow (A Fillingham) 70.4; 3, Mr Snowman (L Clark) 69.54. Blue Chip nov 37A gold (H Bradley, C Elvin, S Kingswell).— 1, Jubilant Al Sno (M Chapman) 73.4; 2, Ekko Houston Nexen (R Bates) 70.8; 3, Greenacres Cadiz (P Bartram) 70.49; silv (S Staines, C Wilson, S Kingswell).— 1, Mr Snowman (C Clark) 69.2; 2, Brackenspa Houdini 67.96; 3, Jobarde-E (L Hill) 67.9. Baileys Horse Feeds nov FSM gold (H Bradley, C Elvin, I Auty).—1, Ekko Houston Nexen 73.61; 2, Ivan (N Widddowson) 71.94; 3, Greenacres Cadiz 71.76. silv (C Tupling, S Edwards, C Wilson).— 1, Briarwood Wild Beauty (C Martin) 70.37; 2, Brackenspa Houdini 70.28; 3, Chamonix II (S Jenkins) 70.19.…

South View Equestrian Centre Winter Classic, Cheshire PAUL BEVAN’S big-jumping Deangelo II (Dinty) has always been considered a clear round specialist, and the Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve 11-year-old lived up to expectations by producing the only double clear to claim victory in the 1.40m winter grand prix for his delighted owner and rider. After a pre-Christmas holiday, Paul and Dinty had competed in the CSI2* at Lier before Paul decided to give his Dutch-bred gelding another break, but Dinty had other ideas. “I rode him a couple of days ago and he was that fresh, I thought we might as well come here for this grand prix,” said Paul, who bought Dinty six years ago. “I saw Danielle Farnsworth go and have a fence down and thought if I could…

THIS show has been very positive in so many ways. It is the first premier we have run since British Showjumping (BS) tweaked the format, and entries have been far higher than in recent years, with nearly 820 first rounds jumped over the weekend. Previously, schedules for premier shows have been fixed, which meant show centres couldn’t make adaptations to suit their competitors. This has now been changed and is a very good move by BS. It allowed us to put on young rider classes this weekend, which proved popular. The high standard in them must be good news for the future of this sport. FANTASTIC COURSES THE standard has, in fact, been exceptional across the board all weekend. Despite missing many people to the sunshine tours, the talent that…

newcomers.— 1, Kengarth Sally Anne (D Ross); 2, Chase Me Sharlie (C Rea Nelson); 3, Derrylangan Gold (T Kyle). 1m open.— 1, Apache Joe (K Woods-Young); 2, Jet III (R Proudley); 3, Wheres My Colour (C Harding). Blue Chip Pro sparkle Q.— 1, Westward Sunshine (E Jacques); 2, Orchids Vienna (T Kyle); 3, Tobar King (A Morris).Charles Britton Equestrian Construction winter JA classic ch Q.— 1, Quilitymaes Z (S Greig); 2, Westward Sunshine; 3, Miami Moonbean (A Mauree). winter JC Q.— 1, Trevor H (G Watkin Jones); 2, Lapislazuli (L Bremner); 3, Ulyss Keziah (P Newton). Foxhunter/1.10m.— 1, Tekila Du Bary (E Thomas); 2, Where’s My Colour; 3, Pocahatas (E Gray). 1.15m members’ cup.— 1, Tobar King; 2, Seamus II (C Atkinson); 3, Pocahatas. 17 Feb: newcomers.— 1, Cuffestown Billy…

ALBRIGHTON & WOODLAND (NORTH), CHADDESLEY CORBETT Saturday, 23 February Open maiden 4,5&6yo.— 1, S Newell’s Freetime (T O’Brien) S Lacey. restricted.— 1, Mr & Mrs W Rucker’s Tossapenny (T O’Brien) A Rucker. mens’ open.— 1, P Andrews’ Wishing And Hoping (A Edwards) P Rowley. ladies’ open.— 1, Docker, Morris-Lowe, Howlett and Wills’ Haymount (G Andrews) T Ellis. Connolly’s Red Mills intermediate.— 1, C Bennett’s Marcle Ridge (S Jukes) S Jukes. conditions for nov riders.— 1, The Jackson-Stops & Fisher Partnership’s Summer Sounds (L Scott) F Nimmo. open maiden.— 1, P Rowley’s Dalkingstown (A Edwards) P Rowley. VINE & CRAVEN, BARBURY Saturday, 23 February JRL Group Flat race 4,5&6yo div 1.— 1, D Smith’s Equus Gold (P Bryan) W Bryan. div 2.— 1, P Rowley’s Bird On The Wire (N George)…

Kempton Park Racecourse, Surrey OWNING horses of any sort provides highs and lows, as Phil Simmonds has discovered only too quickly. Less than a year ago, he lost one of only two runners to have ever carried his yellow colours after a freak accident. On Saturday, 23 February, his remaining representative, Walt, honoured his resolution with victory in Kempton Park’s feature 888Sport Handicap Chase. Phil, who indulged himself with the purchase once his software development company had taken root, was still a little choked up as he stood with his wife Lisa in the winner’s enclosure and recalled the loss of youngster Burns Cross at Bangor last April. “We bought Burns Cross as a bumper horse with a great pedigree and unfortunately he had a small injury on his foot.…

TRAINER Paul Nicholls described the breeder of Kempton’s Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle victor Southfield Stone (pictured), Angela Yeoman, as the “ideal” owner because of her “great patience and trust”. Somerset-based Yeoman has had horses with Nicholls for 15 years — initially under the name of her late husband’s quarrying business, Foster Yeoman Ltd. Though successful with purchases such as Ryanair winner Taranis and more recently Sam Winner, she is now firmly establishing herself as a breeder. Her home-breds from the mares Laureldean Belle (dam of Southfield Stone) and Chamoss Royale (dam of Southfield Theatre) carry the prefix “Southfield” after the house in the Mendips in which she lives — a far cry from the touring caravan which she and her husband called home when they first married. The six-year-olds Southfield Stone…

THE term marginal gains first hit the headlines when the British cycling team revolutionised its performance with minute improvements across multiple areas — from training techniques to the design of racers’ suits, the mattresses they slept on and even how they washed their hands to reduce infection risk. But how workable is this in equestrian sport, which involves a horse rather than a high-tech racing bike? “It is different when you’re dealing with a living, breathing animal, but you still have to focus on the detail,” says Francis Whittington. “The horse must be looked at as a whole, from diet and fitness to training, and when you’ve got the basics right you can talk about tweaks and changes.” Paul Tapner adds: “The Australian eventing team has followed this idea for…

• Remember why you are doing this — the decision should come from the rider and trainer, not from outside pressure. • Try before you buy — competing “on a ticket” is an option in most organisations and means you can see if it is for you before forking out for full membership. Turn to page 31 for your free British Showjumping ticket. • Check the rule books — not exciting bedtime reading, but essential as small things such as gloves, logos, whips and bridle numbers have the potential to ruin a day. • Brush-up on vaccination and anti-doping rules — dope testing takes place at all levels. • Check your hat and (if required) body protector are up to the current standard. • Go and watch or offer to…

Spectator sitting with a blanket over their knees and a thermos by their feet Exasperated steward trying to get the next rider into the arena Someone shouting, “Shut the gate!” Someone shouting, “UPRIGHT!” or, “OXER!” as they come thundering in to a warm-up fence, as someone else happily strolls across on the landing side Inevitable loose horse St John’s Ambulance Red rosette Any member of a British team — past or present A horse that won’t load Dutiful partner or parent who has no idea what they’re doing but does their best Alternative transport for riders to whizz about the showground off the horse — or their feet Horse taking off in the prize-giving Harassed parent trying to compete with children in tow…

THE Animal Health Trust (AHT) is continuing to assess how flu vaccines are performing, and recommending six-month boosters, as more cases are confirmed. As H&H went to press on Monday (25 February), the total number of outbreaks was 37, in 20 counties across England and Scotland. All samples sent to the AHT for diagnosis are subject to expert analysis by the research team to collect information on how the horse population is being affected. This data is passed on to the expert surveillance panel and used to determine what strains of the virus should be used in vaccines in future. “This is one reason why sending samples to the AHT for analysis is superior to a number of horse-side testing options available,” a spokesman for the charity said. “Only through…

BRITAIN has set out its stall for the 2019 showjumping Nations Cup series — as the Hickstead leg returns to its traditional Friday. The team has chosen which four legs will count for points, and qualification to the final. These are: La Baule (16-19 May), St Gallen (30 May-2 June), Hickstead (25-28 July) and Dublin (7-11 August). British Showjumping World Class performance manager Di Lampard told H&H: “Qualifying for the Olympics at the European Championships is very much our primary focus. But we are also aiming to field strong Nations Cup teams with a view to securing our place at the final. With this in mind, we have two at the start and two at the end of the season which could work really well for us. “[After the first…

FEEDING a certain supplement may improve stride length, hock and fetlock angles — and dressage scores, a study has indicated. The preliminary placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover research showed that horses fed Science Supplements’ ProKalm were scored “significantly” higher by judges. The investigation, approved by Oklahoma State University in the USA, involved 25 horses competing at novice to advanced level dressage, performing a set range of movements with their usual riders. Each was assessed once with no treatment, once with a placebo and once having been fed 64g ProKalm per day in two feeds for three days. Movements were filmed in 3D for “marker-free” biomechanical analysis, and in 2D to allow judges who were unaware of the study to give scores. It was found horses “produced significant positive changes in stride length,…

OF the two research projects funded by Hannah’s charity, one — at the University of Sheffield — involves testing more than 5,000 existing drugs to assess their effect on osteosarcoma cells. Should any prove effective, as they are already licensed for human use, the timescale for their being used to treat osteosarcoma would be short. The other is at the University of Southampton in the brand new Centre for Cancer Immunology at Southampton — a £25m building built to provide state-of-the-art facilities for scientists “#kickingcancersbutt” with their research. The team will use a model of osteosarcoma to study the complex microenvironment in which osteosarcoma drugs need to operate, testing potentially useful new drugs and developing strategies to improve patient response. “Treatments for osteosarcoma haven’t changed for 30 years so these…

OWNERS and riders of Exmoor ponies told H&H they feel the breed can be overlooked in mixed classes due to a lack of specialist knowledge among some judges. Gail Whetter, 2017 HOYS 122cm working hunter pony winner on Exmoor Barhill Marigold, said she was also disappointed that the NPS had chosen not to have separate breed judges officiating the qualifiers at the 2019 show. “If they can’t set a precedent, we have no hope,” said Gail. “A big issue is also the judges at the finals. In some years, they haven’t been true native judges so the ponies who go through from the breed shows don’t tend to do well at the finals. In a lot of cases, the breed show champions are often receiving the lowest conformation marks.” Amateur…

PIERS is a bloodstock agent. Well, he isn’t actually — he’s acting as an (unpaid) runner for his godfather, “Shark” Twyselton-fforbes, one of the industry’s big hitters — but that’s what he told the girl he met in Newmarket’s infamous pub, The Yard, last night. Piers is officially on his “gap yah” but there’s little chance that university beckons; he envisages a life rocketing from Dubai to Hong Kong to Keeneland and Royal Ascot. He’s certainly got the gear, though: the Frankel baseball cap, the Coolmore coat and the leather cover for his sales catalogue with his initials embossed in gold on the front. The pedigree pages of the catalogue are thick with notes, although on closer inspection there are more doodles than price estimates or conformation critiques. But everyone…

GEMMA CARMAN MRCVS GEMMA, the senior vet at Spring Paddocks Equine Clinic in Warwickshire, was elementary silver champion at last year’s British Dressage summer regionals with her nine-year-old gelding Ekko Falkenfürst. The pair also finished in the top 10 in the novice silver nationals. Gemma says: “We bought ‘Mylo’ in 2014 as a just-backed four-year-old. We realised that he was too tricky to be my mum’s all-rounder, so I took him over and soon caught the dressage bug.” Now I’m a vet… “I’m very fussy about arena surfaces; anything deep or inconsistent that could put strain on joints and soft tissue structures is a no-go. I only lunge occasionally, in walk or trot. You can’t give a horse proper breaks when he must remain on a circle, and if he’s…

AMY SMITH AMY is one of the most successful working hunter competitors in the country. Specialising in mountain and moorland ponies, she works full time as a hairdresser, while training and producing horses and riders with her sister Vikki at her base in Burnley, Lancashire. Amy has ridden Horse of the Year Show and Royal International Horse Show winners, and represented England at the International Connemara Performance Hunter Competition in Dublin in 2015. TRAINING THE STARS MY best pony, Laburnum Richard, wasn’t confident over bullfinches when he began his career, so I spent time practising these exercises to build up his confidence. He is such a natural, careful jumper, so he felt he needed to clear the top. Now, however, he’ll jump a bullfinch like any other fence.…

ASK Andrew Osborne what he’s like as a huntsman, and he replies, grinning: “Super-enthusiastic. I get too excited half the time. But that’s what I’m like. I wake up in the morning and think about going hunting. I go to bed still thinking about going hunting. Every single day, I get massively excited about it.” Anyone who has been hunting with the 53-year-old, who is retiring from hunting the Cottesmore hounds at the end of this season, will recognise that summation. The passion for the job pours out of him like steam from a boiler. There are quieter, more elegant amateur huntsmen, but rarely will you find one with more ardor or zeal, and this energy is transmitted to everyone around him. Hunting with him is fun. “And the main…

Easton & Otley College Winter Regional Championships, Norfolk SPRING came early at Easton, where Alex Hardwick took three titles on two different horses in the brilliant sunshine. On her mother Sally’s Glasgow MH, she scored over 76% to win a competitive elementary gold and over 75% to take the medium gold, beating herself on the Bechtolsheimers’ Polar Star III, who did, however, take the advanced medium with over 74%. “Glasgow may be mini at just over 16hh, but he sure is mighty. He’s my little guilty pleasure!” joked Alex. “He starts off very chilled and relaxed, then he gets better and better. We even had a small blip in one of the simple changes in the elementary, which was my fault: he’d have been close to 80% if it hadn’t…

Merrist Wood Winter Regional Championships, Surrey HANNAH BIGGS and Don Caledonia came to their favourite winter regionals venue and went home with two sashes. Their winning form at prix st georges (PSG), which earned 76.36%, was confirmed by an inter I performance for 77.98% — the highest score achieved at the level by any combination so far at this year’s regionals. All judges in both classes had Hannah and the Don Schufro 12-year-old in first place, and Mark Ruddock, commenting on the top two in the PSG, said: “Both Hannah and Sara-Jane Lanning rode their horses from behind, seeking the bit forward, in lovely frames and balance. They also had consistently still mouths.” He added: “I wrote on Hannah’s sheet that her test was ‘a lesson in suppleness, preparation and…

WITH the young horse class season nearly upon us, I realise that for some people it can be a lifetime ambition to win these at championship level. It’s worth remembering, though, that many warmbloods competing in age classes will be late June or July foals. Therefore, they will only be four- or five-and-a-half, even if they’re in five- or six-year-old classes. Reading the tests makes me realise how demanding they are in terms of education, and physical and mental maturity. It’s important to decide our ambitions as riders early — whether the ultimate aim is to win at this age or level, or to attain grand prix level. In the past, many of mine and others’ successful grand prix horses never featured in young horse classes for many reasons —…

Connolly’s Red Mills newcomers.— 1 & 2, Maria Mi Amor & Loulou Lolita (I Bradley); 3, Boherdeal Royale (A Birch). 1.10m— 1, Royal Is She (I Bradley); 2, Topwood Tandarra (M Coakley); 3, Corkhill Lad (B Mason). Equitop Myoplast Foxhunter.— 1, Comano Z (F Adams); 2, Hippy II (V Burns); 3, Marvin The Fifth (Z Potter). 1.20m.— 1 & 2, Acapella II & Kensington (R Murphy); 3, TJM Henry De Reve (C Dawson). 1.30m.— 1, Adermie 52 (E Quigley); 2, Haya Loma N (M Potter); 3, Hermes I (K Shore). Champagne Cave winter B&C.— 1 & 3, Greta Garbo & Granby (H Bateman); 2, KBS High Quality (D Morton). Connolly’s Red Mills newcomers/1.10m.— 1, Obidos (E Jones); 2, Merlot II (H Waterhouse); 3, Isabeau SSB (R Connor). winter 6yo.— 1,…

‘HE CAN TURN ON A SIXPENCE’ IRISHMAN Richard Howley and Chinook triumphed in Sunday’s grand prix on the CSI3* Sunshine Tour in Spain after a 14-rider jump-off. “I know this horse very well and besides being extremely fast, he can turn on a sixpence,” said Richard of the horse he’s ridden since 2015 and represents HK Stables, which he runs alongside Morgan Kent. Jake Saywell and the 12-year-old mare Havinia Van De Roshoeve slipped into second place while in third was Jodie Hall McAteer on Salt’N Peppa. Jake was a winner earlier in the week with Touch Of Chilli, and among some other strong British results were Harry Charles and the 12-year-old Lordanos Junior earning a runner-up spot in Thursday’s 1.50m and Jodie Hall McAteer’s triumph in Friday’s 1.30m speed…

Cottesmore, Garthorpe, Leics TRAINER Tom Ellis and jockey Gina Andrews continue to be a force to be reckoned with, scoring a double at the first Garthorpe meeting of 2019 — their 15th and 18th wins this season respectively. The first came in the shape of 11-year-old Samarnni, who hasn’t been seen on a racecourse for the past two years, in the Midlands Area conditions. “He chipped a bone near his suspensory in a hunter chase at Leicester a couple of years ago,” said Gina. “We never expected anything from him; he has terrible wind and has had three or four wind ops. But he was going well at home, so we had his wind done again and brought him here. He’s not the best jumper in the world, but he’s…

“I cocked it up on Boxing Day. I ran him 17 days prior to the Kauto Star at Huntingdon to see if he had three miles rather than going straight there,” Harry admitted. “It had left his mark and I thought I’d give him a nice break.” Bags Groove is likely to head to Aintree instead of Cheltenham, where his stable will have half a dozen runners. “Things have been quite flat, certainly through January, and it’s only in the last week things are really turning a corner,” Harry explained. “We had four winners on the bounce up to Christmas and then Unowhatimeanharry went splat and fell in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. For nearly a fortnight we didn’t have a winner, had two at a weekend then another…

‘Ponies are a bit like children, happy when they are pressing your buttons’ WHEN a friend rang the other day saying, “I hate my dogs,” I had to laugh. The offending dogs had ripped into some groceries or looked at her the wrong way. I can’t remember which, but I had to agree we all hate our animals from time to time. It’s ponies for me, who are adding to the general February gloom. I’ve got Sally on box rest with suspected laminitis — a nightmare at any time — and two others torturing me from the field. Yesterday, I went out to give the old boy, Josh, his grub and hang up a couple of haynets, then it hit me, a mini existential crisis. “How much of my life…