Innholdsfortegnelse for 17-Dec-15 i Horse & Hound

BRITISH Eventing’s (BE’s) arena eventing series will return for a second season in 2016. Launched in January, the two-phase competition is run at BE90 and BE100. Competitors ride over a course of showjumps and cross-country fences, set against an optimum time. Championships are held at Blair Castle in August and Blenheim Palace in September. The first competition of the year is at Washbrook Farm, Aston-Le-Walls, on 9 January. Points will be awarded to the highest-placed finishers at each competition. “Arena eventing provides the perfect setting for riders at BE90 and BE100 levels to experience the thrill of eventing at some of the most iconic locations,” said David Holmes from BE. For information visit: www. britisheventing.com/arenaeventing…

A rider from Surrey has been awarded £4,506 in compensation after being injured on a hack, writes Amy Mathieson. David Moore was riding his eight-year-old ex-racehorse, Mithian, on a country lane on 29 December 2013 when the accident happened. He noticed an approaching car slowing to pass them, but as it moved alongside, he heard a loud screeching of tyres behind him. He looked around to see another car skidding towards them. The car collided with his horse’s hindlegs. Mr Moore managed to stay in the saddle, however the force of the collision set off his air jacket. Both horse and rider sustained injuries. “The car came sweeping round the bend,” Mr Moore told H&H. “The driver said the sun was in her eyes and she skidded. “The car went…

THE Cottesmore Hunt’s traditional Boxing Day meet in Oakham has been saved. The Cottesmore has been meeting in the town on 26 December for 100 years. However, at a meeting on 25 November Oakham Town Council denied the hunt permission to hold the meet in its usual location of Cutts Close. Rutland County Council has stepped in and given the hunt permission to meet in its Catmose car park. Hunt secretary Clare Bell said they are “absolutely thrilled” with the news. The meet, which attracts up to 1,000 people, will start at 10.45am.…

TATTERSALLS The 2015 international horse trials and country fair won event of the year at the Meath Tourism and Business Awards. TEAM QUEST The Pembrokeshire Lunachicks and Eccleshall Allsorts were the winners of the British Young Riders Dressage Scheme (BYRDS) and open sections of this year’s Team Quest championships. The championships were held at Bury Farm, Bucks (14-15 November). RETRAINING OF RACEHORSES The Racing Posthas raised £12,000 for Retraining of Horses through its #Jumpers4Horses2015 christmas jumper campaign. The jumpers sold out in just two days, with the support of top jockeys Frankie Dettori and H&Hcolumnist Richard Johnson. RACING SHETLANDS Six racing Shetlands and their young riders appeared on BBC Breakfaston 12 December. The team were taking time out ahead of their performances at Olympia in the Shetland Pony Grand National.…

THE RSPCA has received more than 25,000 welfare calls this year, involving over 72,000 horses. This is higher than last year and there are fears that with bad weather this winter, it might get worse. “Last year for the first time in decades the number of people prosecuted for horse offences was above the number for cat offences, showing the depth of the problem,” an RSPCA spokesmantold H&H. Since the start of the year, the RSPCA has received 25,159 calls about 72,832 horses. In 2014, it had 22,046 calls about 72,106 horses. “We are still seeing the effects of the horse crisis, which has been going on for several years now,” said the RSPCA’s Cathy Hyde. However, rehoming numbers remain high — in 2014 the RSPCA rehomed 378 horses, and…

FIT TO COMPETE Sir — The photograph of Hennessy winner Smad Place ridden by Wayne Hutchinson (racing, 3 December) is a picture of harmony, balance, soft hands and a simple bridle — no tight, jaw and respiratory-restricting noseband, completed with only an Irish martingale, and because it’s racing, the horse and jockey are fit and slim. When are we going to see fit, slim horses and ponies (and riders) in the show ring? Pippa Balch M&M judge; amateur, home-produced competitor Clifton upon Teme, Worcs BRAVO, CAROLE MORTIMER Sir — I fully concur with Carole Mortimer (sport horse breeding, 3 December) regarding the practice of putting rugs on foals. As a small-time, one-mare breeder of successful sport horses (Springthorpe is still in the top four British Equestrian Federation elite graded three-year-old…

My secret weapon… Coming from a showjumping background, it’s polework. It helps teach feel for the rider and builds up strength and athleticism for the horse. The biggest mistake I’ve learnt from… Not to teach your horse to stop to do droppings — we always used to do that at home because it’s easier to pick them up. But it wasn’t so good when Half Moon Dynasty stopped in the middle of a line of changes at the nationals at Stoneleigh this year! Looking back at my horsey blunders… I remember getting into trouble when I used to bring my Shetland pony into the kitchen to get a Nutella sandwich. My best tip for saving time around the yard… Be really organised, have a good system and a good team.…

The £1 recovery aid Anne Coombs’ ‘tank’ has helped her get back on her feet following major surgery LAST year I bought “Joe”, a 16.3hh Irish gelding, for £1. He wasn’t easy — he was stubborn, pigheaded, built like a tank and he wouldn’t leave the yard on his own without rearing and generally making a fuss. Having had thoroughbreds in the past I liked the idea of a challenge and over six months we made huge leaps and bounds. Fast forward to March this year and I had to be admitted into hospital for a major operation. I was not allowed to ride for three or four months. I missed it terribly and while I went back to work after a few weeks I didn’t feel I would ever…

I have been with Mastermind (Monty), who is my trainer’s prix st georges dressage gelding, for a year. He has taken me from doing unaffiliated prelim on my previous 14.1hh pony, to competing successfully at affiliated elementary, and we are now aiming for our first medium. Monty was the Canadian young rider champion in 2007, winning three gold medals and one bronze with my trainer Jade Deter. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to ride and compete him. Even though he is 16.3hh and I’m only 5ft3in, I always feel safe on him. We came sixth with our personal best of 71.04% at our first summer regionals at elementary, and we were given a wildcard to the national championships. Being around horses, especially Monty, and being…

‘Work hard and put your heart in it’ Louise Tullett, 30, took her ‘wasted’ part-cob from the field to the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead I’VE fulfilled an amazing achievement with Jet this year — a six-year-old, 13.2hh part-cob, who was given to me by a friend for the summer. He was wasted in the field with no rider, and previously all he had done was a few local shows. Jet had a few issues, like bombing off — and was scared of everything — but I worked hard all summer with him and took him to a showjumping show at Saddlesdane, which was a qualifier for the Sunshine Tour unaffiliated championships at Hickstead. Unbelievably we won our class. The day for Sunshine Tour arrived and I was really…

WHEN leg-yielding on a young horse, Ruth stresses that the line shouldn’t be too steep so that they aren’t being asked for too much sideways movement too soon. That way the horse can maintain rhythm and forwardness. As he becomes stronger you can increase how much sideways you ask for without losing the flow. Flabbergasted has leg-yielded before, and Sarah asks for it in trot. “Turn onto the line and ride straight forward first. Then you’re giving him the best set-up to leg-yield well because you haven’t lost any power in the trot or straightness in his body.” Falling sideways through their shoulder is an easy mistake for youngsters to make when leg-yielding. When leg-yielding to the right, Flabbergasted tilts his head slightly. “He needs to keep his nose in…

WORKING with horses can be very self-absorbing. Charlotte Dujardin and Alice Oppenheimer travelled to India recently for a first-hand look at the work of The Brooke, the international animal welfare organisation dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in some of the world’s poorest communities. Some of the stories they saw and heard were heart-breaking, but the message is that education is everything, as much of the hardship these animals endure is due to ignorance rather than deliberate cruelty. So it is great that Kim Moloney plans to hold events next year that will benefit The Brooke, as well as bringing some real opportunities for riders in the Central region. Kim, her committee and some hundred volunteers are running a training camp at Addington on 11-13…

REPEAT purchasers snapping up mares was the recurring theme of the evening at this sale. Bidding was sluggish despite a good turnout of over 700 people, but the five horses who made £25,000 or more bolstered the average purchase price to £12,463. The most expensive horse, at £26,000, was the Grey Top three-year-old state premium candidate Greta Garbo, who was knocked down to the owners of Essex venue Brook Farm by Jackie and Sid Jones for their showjumper daughter Ashlea Silk-Jones. The horse showed phenomenal spring, clearing the wings with feet to spare. “She has a lot of potential and a very good technique,” said Jackie, who last bought a horse through Brightwells nearly three decades ago. Ashlea added: “I’m so excited! We’ll back and produce her for the four-year-old…

Success in Hong Kong ANYTHING trainer Gary Moore can do, it seems, his son Ryan can do better. The jockey rode two winners and a second at Hong Kong’s valuable end of year international fling at Sha Tin on Sunday, picking up more than £2m in prize-money. He conjured a terrific turn of foot out of the much-improved Highland Reel to win the Longines Hong Kong Vase by 1 ½ lengths from Flintshire before partnering the Japanese-trained Maurice to win the Longines Mile. Japan-trained horses finished first and second in the Hong Kong Cup, with Moore riding Nuovo Record, who was a length behind A Shin Hikari.…

DOUGIE DOUGLAS The former British team star has arrived at his new home in Florida with US showjumper Katie Dinan. The 10-year-old gelding, who sold for a record € 1.4m (£990,000), is aimed at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. HANKY PANKY Five-year-old Hanky Panky, in foal to Dubawi, became the most expensive auctioned broodmare of 2015 when she made 2.7m guineas at the Tattersalls December mare sale. She was sold from Highclere Stud to Sheikh Mohammed. STALOGNIA The six-year-old grey showjumping mare by Stakkatol and out of Bolognia (by Chacco Blue) was the top-priced horse of the PSI auction (5-6 December) in Ankum, selling for € 1.7m. She was bred by showjumper Paul Schockemöhle CRESPO PKZ Cian O’Connor has gained the ride on nine-year-old Crespo PKZ after the gelding…

FORMER four-star event rider Polly Williamson, who suffered a traumatic brain injury, has written a book about her recovery. Polly suffered a serious fall from a young horse in December 2011. One of his hooves caught Polly on her head and she also broke three vertebrae. She spent a month in hospital and three months in a rehabilitation unit at Frenchay Hospital. The book — titled Where Did I Go?— documents how she relearnt to walk and think after the accident. The former junior and young rider European eventing champion has signed a deal with Crumps Brown Studio, which will be releasing it as an eBook in March and as a paperback in April. In March Polly will also be speaking at a conference for charity Headway — the Brain…

A new FEI para equestrian dressage competition will run from 21-23 January in the Netherlands. It will be one of the final qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016. “We expect top athletes with impairment from all over the world to participate in this new equestrian event,” said organisers. “We are anticipating between 40 and 60 international participants, including eight from the successful Dutch team.” During the three-day competition, riders can take part in an FEI team test, an individual test and a freestyle. It has not yet been confirmed if British riders will be competing.…

AN application to build houses on the site of Patchetts Equestrian Centre has been withdrawn. Patchetts closed in August. Plans to replace it with a 46-house development were submitted to Hertsmere Borough Council later that month. The application to build on the site in Aldenham, Herts, was set to be discussed by the council’s planning committee on 10 December. But the plans, which had been recommended for refusal, were removed from the agenda ahead of the meeting at the request of the applicant. Greenbelt land, the size of the development, the character of the area and bat roosts were among the reasons given against the application in the case officer’s report. The applicant, Heronslea, declined to comment to H&H.…

THE BBC has confirmed it will cover Olympia, the London International Horse Show, for the next four years, writes Amy Mathieson. Jonathan Goold of the show said it was “great news for Olympia and equestrian sport in general”. The sport has recently suffered cuts to its television schedule, with both Horse of the Year Show and Hickstead’s Derby meeting being lost from our screens this year (news, 30 April). Olympia has been broadcast on the BBC since 1971. The planned coverage will run from 2016 to 2019 inclusive, including BBC broadcast of the major classes, including the FEI World Cup showjumping qualifier, the World Cup dressage to music and the puissance. “We’re pleased to be continuing our relationship with Olympia,” said Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport. “It is always…

RIDING FOR THE DISABLED £15,000 of tack was stolen from a Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) centre in Essex. Barrow Farm riding centre had 14 bridles and 14 saddles taken on 7 December. A STUCK PONY Firefighters rescued a distressed pony after he became trapped in a ditch in Chichester, West Sussex, on 6 December. A crane was used to winch the pony out and he was left in the care of a vet. A RELUCTANT SWIMMER A pony was rescued from a swimming pool in Bruton, Somerset (5 December). It took fire crews almost two hours to rescue the pony using a portable pump, strops, lines and steps made from hay bales. A PONY IN A CAR CRASH Police officers attending a road accident in Minnesota, USA, found…

GO RACING Feel festive at Ascot’s Christmas racing weekend from 18 to 19 December. Saturday’s highlights include the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle and the £150,000 Ladbroke Hurdle. www.ascot.co.uk SHOWTIME Olympia, the London International Horse Show, runs from 15 to 21 December. Watch world-class riders compete and enjoy a host of displays and festivities. www.olympiahorseshow.com EXHIBITION The Osborne Studio Gallery, London, which specialises in sporting paintings and bronzes with an emphasis on racing, holds its Christmas exhibition from 15 December to 10 February. www.osg.uk.com ARENA POLO Watch the Christmas Cup tournament at Hickstead from 19 to 20 December. www.hickstead.co.uk SHOWJUMPING Harrogate Riding Centre is hosting its elite Christmas showjumping show from 19 to 21 December. There will be festive entertainment as well as classes up to 1.40m. www.springhousegroup.com TRAINING Prepare…

Following your euthanasia article (news, 3 December) I would like to tell a story that illustrates the wrong way of avoiding this. I live in the wild moorland area of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Welsh ponies live here, tough and monitored by the farmers. However, life is harsh: the land is rough with very short grass, gorse and heather, and water has to be found in streams. Some months ago an elderly, non-native pony, clearly used to being handled, was abandoned out there. He survived the summer alone, never joining the pony herds and generally staying around one area. Then autumn and early winter came with its rain and gales. My daughter rides out there regularly and became very concerned as the pony lost a lot of weight and…

HORSES learn and develop at different speeds, but preparation and consistent training are key in building a system in which you can trust. This builds confidence in both horse and rider and is the foundation of establishing mutual trust. Probably the most valuable lesson I’ve learnt is that even if a horse doesn’t feel talented at a young age, don’t give up on him too soon. Realistically, not all horses will reach the top level, but they do all develop differently. Our job as riders is to set them specific goals at competitions and to know them well enough to recognise when they have reached their limit or to be patient when there is the potential for more. • NEXT WEEK: showjumper Nicole Pavitt Make the most of course walks •…

THIS time last year I was struggling to cope with being unable to ride and facing the prospect of having to give up horses. I have Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) — an extremely rare, life-threatening reaction to prescription or over-the-counter medications that permanently damaged my lungs, sinuses, eyes, heart and skin almost 13 years ago. I am unable to work, am bedridden for several weeks every winter and struggle with the day-to-day unpredictability of this condition. In March 2015, I decided to take what might be the only chance I had of riding again by finding a small horse who could cope with time off during my periods of illness. With the help of my instructor, Tania Grantham of Inspire Dressage, I started riding again on my 20-year-old, 17hh Irish draught…

Rising star of the year JESSICA MENDOZA — the 19-year-old was part of the British team at this year’s showjumping European Championships, partnering the 14-year-old mare Spirit T. The Netherlands-based rider coped with immense pressure to help secure Olympic qualification, with maturity beyond her years. The pair then joined their European teammates in Barcelona for the Nations Cup final, where their counting score contributed to the team’s second place. 36% WILL FURLONG — the 20-year-old took individual gold and spearheaded the British team gold at the young rider eventing European Championships, riding Livingstone II. This was Will’s second individual medal at under-21 level as he also took junior bronze in 2013. 29% LARA GRIFFITH — the 27-year-old, who rides for the Bechtolsheimers, added her first grand prix and grand prix…

IF any hunt deserves an accolade for perseverance in keeping going against the odds it is surely the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire (L&R), founded in 1771, whose country lies west of Glasgow. From almost every hill or in pockets of wonderful but wet grassland, it is possible to see that great conurbation that was once the furnace of the Empire, and motorways now lattice the country. On the north side, expanses of the Clyde mean that the L&R have no hunting neighbours there and, in the south, none since the much-lamented closure of the Eglinton a few seasons ago. Even before this, the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire in the east gave up the ghost in the early 1990s. Yet somehow, with a team of enthusiastic masters, an exceptional huntsman, historic kennels, thriving…

ANNIE RAWLINS started Clockwork’s Donja’s summer season with a bang at Oldencraig, Surrey (4 December), reports Celia Cadwallader. They completed their advanced medium summer qualification in a single outing with scores of 68.97% and 71.97%. Annie’s newly-established business, Clockwork Dressage, is based at her father Dane’s yard in Bolney, West Sussex. She said: “Donja belongs to a neighbour, Caroline Edgeley. When I came back from working for my uncle Craig [Rawlins] at Stal Korenbloem in February, I started giving her lessons on some of my horses. Then one day she took me out to lunch and said she’d like to help me in my career and bought me Donja.” Annie, 22, has only been riding the 17.2hh Tolando x Sao Paulo seven-year-old since the beginning of August. “Donja tries so…

JOANNE MEEGAN was a passenger in a car towing a trailer on the way home from a competition in 2009, when a car hit them at speed from behind. Although the trailer was detached and ended up on its side, the horse recovered, but Joanne sustained life-changing neck and arm injuries. She had just begun a dressage career. “If I hadn’t had my horse and the motivation to get back in the saddle I wouldn’t have recovered as well as I have,” she said. “I’ve been helped by the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and when they got me going I began lessons with Claire Senior. I came back to competition a year ago, and have done three shows,” added Joanne, who has special dispensation to wear a neck…

“HE’S probably the best horse I’ll ever own,” admitted Robert Bevis, as Courtney 6 outclassed an impressive jump-off field to claim the £2,000 Baileys big tour grand prix. The confidence of this established partnership was evident as they boldly tackled Paul Connor’s track to stand 2.59 seconds clear of their closest faultless rivals. Turnbacks to a flimsy set of planks and a double of verticals drew the most errors, with just five of the 23-strong second phase riders producing double clears. “He’s pretty nippy and when they get bigger he becomes more careful and you can let him roll on a bit,” said Robert. “I was able to whip him back to the planks as he doesn’t have those very often.” Pathfinder Peter Charles’ unflustered but snug clear on Dauphin,…

NICOLA GRAYSON is back winning after rupturing a cruciate ligament. She topped the British novice and 90cm open at Vale View EC, Leics (2 December), riding her seven-year-old gelding Clonlaras Flight. Nicola has enjoyed a variety of disciplines with the gelding by Laughtons Flight. “We had a bit of a slow start because after getting him in October 2013, I injured myself the following January, which required an operation in the April, so I didn’t get back on him until December 2014,” explained Nicola. “In between that, my friend Jo Ward took him eventing and I took the reins back this year.” Nicola has taken things slowly after her injury, but the pair are now back in the winner’s circle.…

SIDNEY DUFRESNE’S Looping De Buissy has patently found his vocation, posting a second indoor cross-country win in less than a month. The 16-year-old son of Quercus Du Maury was retired from eventing last year due to soundness issues, but these fast and furious classes seem to suit the eye-catching grey, who didn’t put a foot wrong. “This class was slightly different to the one he won in Stuttgart,” said Sidney. “There it was the fastest clear round to win, but this time there was an optimum to aim for. The course was also much longer here, with bigger fences and a bigger arena. “Loopy really enjoyed it. He doesn’t much like working at home — I mainly hack and do a little jumping for fun to keep his brain ticking…

EVENT rider Izzi Djivanovic made a victorious point-to-point debut when her own Rotablade (right) headed the ladies’ open by eight lengths at Larkhill (13 December), writes Robert Bracher . The 24-year-old assistant trainer to National Hunt trainer Caroline Keevil, said: “No one wanted to make the running so I thought we might as well set off in front.” Rotablade was previously in training with Sam Allwood, who recommended him for team chasing. At the end of that season Izzi turned her attention to point-to-point racing. “I was waiting for Chapturgeon to go past me, but it didn’t happen,” added Izzi of the favourite, who fell at fence 15. Her target is her hunt race at this venue in April. No Loose Change provided owner/rider David Maxwell with victory when narrowly…

Knocklong KNOCKLONG provided 17-year-old Joe Wright with a victorious debut ride between the flags in the NPPA club members’ race at Alnwick. The horse was ending a losing run stretching back to May 2012 on his first start for Middleham farrier Justin Landy. “He was an underachiever at his last two yards and I didn’t expect him to win,” admitted Justin. Knocklong led three out and stayed on strongly down the home straight to beat Dun Faw Good by 1 ½ lengths in the fastest time of the day. Joe hails from Carlisle and moved to Middleham from Phil Kirby’s yard to join Micky Hammond in 2014. “Knocklong jumped and travelled well and when he pricked his ears coming to three out I knew he had plenty left in the…

MY father bought JC from Ireland for the kennels — he was huge, about 18hh, and proved to be too much of a thug for the job. If he was a person he’d have walked down the street with three gold earrings and a bicycle chain round his neck. I’d done my serious showjumping and point-to-pointing, so he really was the horse that made me as a field master. Initially, I had him as a second horse. I once left him in a stable belonging to the late John Dufosee, and when I returned to collect him John asked me if I’d got him from Longleat Safari Park! When I asked why, he told me that JC had leant against the stable door so hard that it came off, frame…

LOUISE HARWOOD British event rider Louise has broken her pelvis in a fall, which happened while riding a youngster at home on 8 December. She was taken to hospital by air ambulance. In October the Herefordshire rider broke her shoulder. KYRA KYRKLUND The Olympic dressage rider has received the Pro Sports award from the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture in recognition of her outstanding sporting achievements. Prizes were presented on 7 December in Helsinki. TOM MARQUAND Champion aprentice jockey Tom, who rode 54 winners in his first season, has been named as one of the three finalists for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. The winner will be named on 20 December. LUCY HIGGINSON H&H’sformer Editor has received the British Horse Society’s Elywn Hartley-Edwards award, which is…

A charity has pledged £40,000 to help support rural communities and businesses affected by recent flooding. The Prince’s Countryside Fund will be working alongside The Prince’s Business Emergency Resilience Group to support affected communities and help their long-term recovery. Storm Desmond has caused widespread damage to the north of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (news, 10 December). Those in trouble should contact Farming Help on 03000 111999 and Cumbria Community Foundation on 01900 825760.…

MAX HAURI SWISS Olympic eventer and showjumper Max Hauri has died at the age of 74. Max (pictured, above) finished 10th in the showjumping at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. At the 1972 Munich Games he rode on both the showjumping and eventing teams on different horses. His sons, Markus and Thomas, took over his competition and trading stables two years ago. COLONEL GUY WATHEN THE chef de mission for the equestrian team at the 1976 Montreal Olympics died on 25 November aged 90. A former lieutenant colonel with the Fifth Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, Colonel Wathen was also a cross-country commentator for many years. He was also author of the 1989 book Horse Trials — A Comprehensive Guide to the World of Eventing. CHRISTINE HUDDLE THE dressage rider died on…

DRESSAGE riders under 14 will now have more opportunities thanks to a new competition category. Children on Horses has been introduced to the sport by the FEI for 2016 and there will be a championship final at next year’s junior and young rider European Championships in Spain (19-25 July). Children on Horses already exists in showjumping and is open to riders from the beginning of the year of their 12th birthday to the end of the year of their 14th birthday. Combinations must ride a test similar to the higher end of elementary. “This is great news for our younger riders,” Karen Ryder, British Dressage’s (BD) British Young Riders Dressage Schemeandunder-21manager,told H&H. “The transition from ponies to horses can be a tricky one and having an FEI championship to aim…

FANS of Valegro can now own a lifelike model of the dressage superstar. Breyer has released a “Blueberry” replica created by sculptor Brigette Eberl. The model will be showcased at Olympia (15-21 December) on the Equestrian Book Fair stand, where Carl Hester will be signing the models, and on the TC Tack stand. “We will honour dressage’s superstar athlete with his own portrait model,” said a Breyer spokesman, when the company revealed that it would be making the replica in April. The Valegro model is available at tack and toy stores countrywide, as are Breyer’s other newly-launched models which include The Queen’s Fell pony, Carltonlima Emma, and the Connemara show pony Banks Vanilla.…

AN email landed in our inbox telling us the story of Joe — a 16.3hh Irish gelding who cost just £1, but helped his rider get back in the saddle and competing following a major operation this year. “Built like a tank” Joe might not be packing his bags for Rio, or breaking world records any time soon, but inspirational stories like his remind us why horse sport is so addictive. Joe is just one of the equine heroes of 2015 who emerged when we asked for your stories. In this issue he stands alongside the “wasted” part-cob who found himself at Hickstead, the four Dales who navigated 100 miles of the Pennine Bridleway, and a coloured pony who defied a 70% fatality rate. That’s before we start on the…

CESAR was diagnosed with kissing spines as a six-year-old, four years ago. We managed to carry on after a course of steroid injections and regular physio and were competing at British Dressage (BD) medium, and he completed some BE90s. However our world fell apart last August when the kissing spines flared up. We had three options — retire, operate or put to sleep. He was unrideable and in considerable discomfort. As I had claimed through the insurance when he was first diagnosed, I had to go to the bank of Mum and Dad, who agreed to pay for his surgery. Cesar had the reshaping operation pioneered by Ian Wright at Newmarket Equine Hospital in September 2014 — and the long road to recovery began. Several months of hand walking, individual…

DUE to a horrific rotational fall, in which I sustained a brain injury, I had a five-week spell in hospital — learning how to walk and talk again — and four months off school. I was out of competing from September 2013 to October 2014 but I came quietly back into showjumping on my mother’s 20-year-old 15.2hh part-bred Arab. Being a mad fan of tetrathlon, cross-country and eventing, we looked for a new horse — I’d grown seven inches in seven months, well off my 14.1hh Connemara. After 18 months of looking we eventually found my lovely Milo — a 16.2hh Irish sport horse, my dream, my own boy. Throughout the summer we have been out and about, winning more times than I can say. Our last tetrathlon of the…

THE TRAINER RUTH EDGE won Luhmühlen CCI4* in 2007 riding Two Thyme, the horse who took her to four Badmintons. Well known for her prowess in the first phase, Ruth also competes up to grand prix level in British Dressage (BD) and has seven national dressage titles to her name. THE RIDERS SARAH PICKFORD (top image) partners five-year-old Flabbergasted, by Apache, whom she bought eight weeks prior to the session. He was competed in BD young horse classes by Emma Woolley. Georgina Ridal (lower image) rides Bouquetot Destiny, an ex-racehorse whom Ruth evented up to novice level. THE first few months of a young horse’s training will set them up for future success, providing the correct foundations are laid down. Sarah Pickford acquired Flabbergasted, by Apache, eight weeks before Ruth’s…

ANYONE driving into Glasgow on the M74 from the south can see, on the horizon, the “Dogg Kennell” of Chatelherault, all that remains of Hamilton Palace, demolished in 1927. From the 1720s, the Dukes of Hamilton built Chatelherault as their hunting lodge and, at one time, it housed what became the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Foxhounds. Now run by South Lanarkshire District Council, curator Mike Taylor, formerly a farmer in the Borders and on Coll, spent an hour showing me around. In 1723, 14 couple were established having been bought from the king’s huntsman, Will Owen, for £73 (about £10,000 today). “In the summer, the hounds were taken to Bo’ness for the sea air,” says Mike Taylor. In 1733, however, the then huntsman, David Dewar, was bitten and died of rabies.…

BOBBY HAYLER, 23, showed her elders how to do it with victories on her father Paul’s Aldborough Rubenhall in the grand prix and inter II, at what was the first major show held under the new British Dressage (BD) rules. “In the inter II he was very lively and his extended canter was explosive,” commented Bobby, who also claimed the grand prix title with the stallion at the recent Vale View High Profile Show (report, 22 October). “[Judge] David Trott said his passage and piaffe were the best he’s seen him do. I scored an 8.5 for his piaffe.” Rubin was more settled in the grand prix with a well-mannered and mature performance. It was a very competitive class as only 10 marks separated the top four horses, with Gillian…

LAST year Delerie Chambers’ Expression M took fright in the home international warm-up arena and bolted, leaving her with two broken ribs and a broken wrist. “He was terrified and couldn’t cope at all, but this year at the home international, he was completely relaxed and came out and just performed on all three days,” said Delerie. Lucy Nelson has been working with the six-year-old since May, using Parelli to help him gain confidence in himself. “We initially try to find out what the horse’s problems are and what they are trying to say,” said Lucy. “You have to give horses some time out and some space to express themselves. To start with we work or play with them from the ground following the seven Parelli games which are available…

HERE is your chance to win two VIP hospitality tickets to this glittering event — and enjoy a New Year’s celebration to remember. VIP Hospitality at the Equestrian.com Liverpool International Horse Show, which runs from 1 to 3 January 2016, offers the most spectacular ringside dining experience on a raised platform at the head of the arena. With unrivalled views of the world-class sporting action as well as a first-class dining experience, this is a New Year treat not to be missed! This incredible prize includes a champagne reception and a three-course meal for two people to enjoy on the VIP platform watching the show from the best seats in the house. The Equestrian.com Liverpool International Horse Show is also hosting four-star showjumping and is set to attract top combinations…

SCOTT BRASH having won the Rolex Grand Slam of showjumping but not being nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year has been a hot topic. Does it say something about showjumping’s popularity when the world number one rider doesn’t get a look-in? Scott is an Olympic gold medallist and consistently at the top of the FEI rankings, so you have to ask if we have made enough of him, and his potential to promote our sport. When my wife Pippa won Rolex’s Grand Slam of eventing in 2003, she was nominated for Sports Personality of the Year. I know my wife is much better looking than Scott, but it still shows that showjumping has some work to do. Scott is more of a household name in Europe than…

RICHARD JOHNSON will not need reminding that he was runner-up to AP McCoy no fewer than 16 times. However, with tremendous support across jump racing, he is going great guns now the 20-time champion has taken up his pipe and slippers. Although quantity does much to sate a top jockey’s hunger for success, it is the big winners at the important meetings that count for more. Johnson was rightly pleased on several levels when Village Vic landed him his largest prize so far this season, making all to win the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. Not only did Johnson have to waste down to do 10st — which is 4lb below his normal riding weight — he also had the choice between Philip Hobbs’ pair of runners, Village Vic and the…

Pointing will always lose horses and jockeys to National Hunt racing — it’s the nature of the sport — but it doesn’t mean things are going badly. We need to move forwards with a positive attitude. I have 23 horses in training at Woodway Farm, Oxon, this season, including budding and established talent. Media attention always helps and there has been plenty since we took Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton under our wing. She is a hardworking and enthusiastic team member with two of Barry Orr’s (Betfair) horses to ride. There have been some jockey changes at my yard, most notably James Tudor retiring. I inherited James as my stable jockey in 2005; in those 10 years he rode 98 winners for me. My son Joe is now first jockey. It’s…