Innholdsfortegnelse for October 1, 2015 i Horse & Hound

JUST when we thought the London 2012 sheen might finally have rubbed off British showjumping, the team out in Barcelona pulled off an almighty coup to stand runners-up at the Nations Cup final (there’s an office debate over whether we can call them silver medallists as the medals weren’t from the FEI, but from the sponsor Furusiyya). Anyway, whatever you call them, the team exceeded expectations. The unassuming Joe Clee stepped up to the role of anchorman with aplomb, pulling off a high-pressure clear when it was most needed. And this team result came without the high-flying Scott Brash — who wasn’t called up with Hello Sanctos following his majestic grand slam win in Calgary, where the horse had jumped his socks off. Perhaps Cassionato’s sub-par performance under Michael Whitaker…

MARTINGALES could help inconsistent rein aids from novice riders being transmitted to the horse’s mouth, a pilot study has found, writes Lucy Elder. Dr Hayley Randle from Duchy College in Cornwall tested how martingales affected the rein tension felt by six horses ridden by novice riders. The results were presented at the International Equitation Science Conference (5-8 August). Six randomly selected horses and novice riders were used in the study, which looked at Irish martingales (pictured, left) and running martingales. First, each pair rode a predetermined route that included walk, trot and halt in both directions without a martingale. This was then repeated twice more, using both of the martingales. The researchers used a Centaur Rein Tension Gauge — a device that attaches between the reins and the bit —…

BIG STAR Nick Skelton’s London 2012 gold medal-winning partner is back in action. He will be making his comeback at Vilamoura after 16 months out of competition. The 12-year-old stallion last competed at Estoril in July 2014 before time off due to a recurring leg injury. BLACK CAVIAR The popular Australian racemare has given birth to a colt by Sebring. This is the nine-year-old mare’s second foal. The colt was delivered in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, on 24 September. Black Caviar retired from racing unbeaten in 2013 after 25 consecutive wins. ARGENTO John Whitaker’s stallion, who has held the top spot in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses world rankings list for the third month, has now been approved by Zangersheide and his semen will be distributed…

A rider has gained nearly £15,000 in compensation after her horse died as a result of being spooked by a fast-moving lorry, writes Amy Mathieson. The accident happened near Pentyrch, Cardiff, on 10 August 2013. Susanne Lewis was hacking along a lane when a lorry travelling in the opposite direction startled her horse. The horse — who the rider says was “experienced and sensible” in traffic — reared up and fell over backwards. It suffered serious injuries and had to be put down. Ms Lewis had whiplash in her neck and back, and soft tissue damage to her arm. Both Ms Lewis and a witness confirmed the vehicle was going too quickly to pass the animal safely. The witness said that the lorry then slowed to a “slow crawl” to…

THE FEI’s deadline looms for pre-Rio transfers — horses must be registered as owned by the same nationality as their rider before 31 December to be eligible for the following year’s Olympics. Here is what happened to some potential London 2012 horses sold in December 2011. • Titus: sold to Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia, but they didn’t get on. Swiftly reunited with Guy Williams — but too late to be re-registered to Team GBR. Still jumping Nations Cups with Guy for Britain. • Talan: sold by Robert Smith and Di Cornish to Saudi Equestrian Fund for Prince Faisal, but didn’t make it onto their 2012 bronze medal squad. Ridden by Abdullah Al Sharbatly since February 2015. • Maximillian: Swedish horse reregistered on 31 December to John Whitaker, who felt London 2012 was too…

H&H’s long-standing point-to-point correspondent has died aged 62. He had been suffering from cancer. Brian was a correspondent covering the Wessex area and provided reports and photos, as well as features. “Brian has been the lynchpin of point-topointingin H&H for years,” said point-to-point editor Aimi Clark. “His passion for the sport was infectious; he had excellent rapport with jockeys, owners and all connections, and really was a font of knowledge. He will be missed byall at H&H.”…

I totally disagree with Caroline PrestonÕs comments on music with dressage at the Blair Europeans (letters, 24 September). There is nothing more distracting for a competitor than a frosty silence which is invariably broken by a random noise at some point during the test. Personally I would love to see BlairÕs idea of competitors choosing their own music to accompany their tests adopted across the board at all levels. It is also more enjoyable to watch as spectators can chat (at respectful levels) without feeling they are interrupting a performance. This should, in turn, lead to a more relaxed atmosphere for all involved, and with luck more riders (especially at lower levels where tension tends to be more evident) looking as though they are actually enjoying their test and transmitting…

In the zone • In a test I focus only on my horse — I watch his ears as they tell me where he is looking, feel his muscles under my leg, listen to his breathing and continuously assess how he is responding to my signals. • I never think of what marks the judges might be giving, or if I might win, or who may be watching. None of those things help me influence my horse, which is all that matters. Avoiding excess • As I get older it seems that every piece of toast or glass of wine goes to my waistline. Instead of crash dieting, though, I’m now working on portion control and a calorie deficit — fingers crossed! Finding motivation • In terms of fitness, there…

DON’T… keep pressing snooze on your alarm clock DON’T… get distracted by chatting to other liveries — do that in the evenings or at weekends DON’T… be in a rush. It won’t help you ride effectively or efficiently, so leave enough time to achieve what you have set out to do DON’T… skimp on the warmest, most waterproof clothing for you and your horse — and wear hi-vis if hacking on the roads DO… keep dry shampoo, deodorant and scent in the car DO… invest in a light-up alarm clock and automatic coffee-maker DO… be super-organised — lay exactly the right tack and kit out the night before DO… be realistic. 6am is probably not the time to teach your horse flying changes for the first time…

JODIE COLEMAN rode two horses to victory at Kingswood EC, Staffs (19-20 September), winning the 90cm with Ursa and the 1.05m with Latifah. Ursa, a 14-year-old mare by Metall, was sold by Jodie five years ago, but returned a year ago after her owner went off to university. “She’s a little amateur horse and is quite careful,” said instructor Jodie who has run Fairfield Stables, a riding school in Staffordshire, for 15 years. Her other ride, Latifah, is 17. “She’s my top horse and jumps the bigger tracks. She isn’t showing signs of slowing down at all,” Jodie added. Both horses qualified for the bronze finals and were placed in the grand prix at Weston Lawns the week before. “There were quite a few sharp turns in the courses at…

RETURNING to showjumping after a six-year break has made 60-year-old Theresa Anderson more determined than ever. She and her 10-year-old mare Kashmir VS won the Dodson & Horrell 1.05m second round at Summerhouse EC, Glos (19 September). Theresa, who runs a livery yard in Hereford, bought the mare by Kashmir Van’t Schuttershof from Holland two years ago. “I asked them to send me an ‘old person’s’ horse to take me round, and fair play to them, that’s what she does,” said Theresa, who will also compete in the veteran classes at Aintree. “I used to showjump to a high standard, then had six years off because I thought I was getting too old, but then I decided to get another horse and am really keen again.” The pair have also…

LAURA RENWICK came within a hair’s breadth of a gold medal at showjumping’s World Breeding Jumping Championships when she rode MHS Washington into second in a close seven-year-old final. Although Laura was among a large British contingent that travelled to Belgium, she jumped for Ireland on this occasion. At this show, horses represent their World Breeding Federation studbook and because Washington is an Irish sport horse by OBOS Quality out of a Cavalier Royale mare, Laura was part of the Irish team. “I’ve enjoyed being ‘Irish’,” she laughed. “Although Washington won our national championship at Addington, British Showjumping didn’t select me because she’s not British-bred. I had to wait for the Irish Federation to invite me and I’m so glad they did.” As the seven-year-old final offered world ranking points,…

RIDERS have come to expect proper jumping tracks at this fixture and the combination of slightly sticky ground, up-to-height courses and the added atmosphere of jumping in the main arena resulted in faults galore and more than a few glum faces. Only seven combinations managed to jump clear in the CIC* class, while there were just nine faultless rounds in the 59-strong CIC2*. “The good riders made it look easy, while the ones that didn’t have enough mileage at this level were found out; it was really noticeable who had been out jumping round Foxhunter classes and who came in on a wing and a prayer,” said course-designer Brian Lear. “I made all the distances on straight lines true, but where I built fences on a bit of a curve…

THE stakes in sport can be high, whether the prize at risk is money, a medal or Olympic qualification. However clear the rules appear to be, it’s amazing how the “field of play” can throw up unexpected scenarios. The ongoing dispute over the official who ran in front of Cian O’Connor at the showjumping European Championships and arguably cost Ireland their Olympic ticket proves that. Between the flags? ONE area which has often led to dispute in eventing is whether horses have passed inside or outside the flags at corners. Gemma Tattersall lost out on a brilliant clear at Badminton last year after it was judged Arctic Soul had missed a flag at Huntsman’s Close, while Holly Woodhead (and consequently, the whole British team) was eliminated in the Nations Cup…

AFTER finishing last at Frickley Park (2) on a cricket score of 143.6, Harrogate-based web marketing manager Lucy Thompson knew that a radical plan was needed if she and Jackie Deverill’s Midnight Scallywag were to redeem themselves at Allerton Park. “The showjumping was so disastrous that I thought I ought to take him to the vets to get his eyes tested,” laughed Lucy, who instead hastily scheduled some late-night showjumping practice at Northallerton Equestrian Centre and booked a dressage lesson “at dusk” with her trainer, Ian Brown. “All my riding has to be done in the evenings because of work — we didn’t leave Northallerton until 10pm.” But the outings paid off and the pair finished top of their BE100 class on a score of 28.1. “Ian had me doing…

LIZ GUY’S Bernini, who headed the PSG, was given only a 50% chance of keeping his sight earlier this year after he suffered from a fungal infection and a scratched lens in his eye. “It took the vets 10 days to find out what was wrong with him, although apparently the infection is common in horses in Florida,” said Shaftesbury-based Liz. “Initially Bernini’s eye didn’t respond to drugs and so the vets had to insert a tube under the ball of the eye to his eyelid, and then they stitched it to the side of his face. He was given treatment 10 times a day and we were extremely lucky that his eyesight is now fine, although he has a slightly cloudy lens,” continued Liz. “I only had time for…

HOW nice to see decent crowds at our national championships. For me this year’s highlight was the Shearwater potential international dressage horse finals, not only for the quality but also for the wonderful test rider Eva Möller, wife of Dr Ulf Möller and herself a young horse specialist and world champion. An unbiased and brilliant test rider made for superb viewing. She got the best out of all the horses she rode and it was sublime to watch. Well done to Becky Moody who cracked 80% in the inter I freestyle on Carinsio, who we hope to see at grand prix soon. The show schedule is very professional, however I think it would be an improvement to run just one masterclass. While people do enjoy a lecture demo, they’re there…

ARE showing riders ageist? This year’s British Show Horse Association (BSHA) national championships, where Jordan Cook took the first night’s supreme on his 16-year-old small hack, Fleetwater Xecutive, has made me wonder. When a horse wins major championships early in his career, it’s a thrill — but the longer he goes on taking top honours, the more protective you become. I’ve retired superstars from the ring when I knew they were as good as ever, but was worried judges were bored with seeing them. This hasn’t been for my or their owners’ sakes, but because I haven’t wanted horses to be overlooked when they really didn’t deserve it. Do I regret it? Sometimes. But every so often, a horse just goes on getting better. I know the unique environment of…

SETTING out in the whiplash of a tropical thunderstorm for a morning’s autumn hunting in a huge expanse of near-coastal country — largely without feature above waist height — might be considered rash by some. Hounds loaded with customary enthusiasm, although my horse gave me a sideward look of incredulity as the ramp went up. He too must have seen the swathe of green and flashing red over the Romney Marsh on the weather forecast. I answered a few texts, asking whether (and why) we were really still going to hunt, and set out. Arriving unusually early, we sat, buffeted, in the newly christened ark discussing whether to put my smart, new, red, huntsman’s sou’wester over my hunt coat or to dispense with the hunt coat altogether. The overcoat was…

THE curse of the warm-up seems to be a phenomenon unique to Meynell, where even the most mild-mannered of horses turn into monsters. The first competitor was bucked off before the novice class had got going. Then Rowan Cope had to dismount from Dane while team supporters cajoled him to the start so that his jockey could be legged up as the starter dropped his flag. Sarah Myhill bit the dust twice in the warm-up, and GB Print Pheasant Pluckers’ Julia Dungworth survived a rodeo performance before her teammates virtually bundled her mount to the start line. Budding horse whisperers should apply to the Meynell committee ahead of next year’s event.…

JESSIE DUDLEY APICELLA’S reserve champions looked exciting prospects. Jodie Sillett’s five-year-old Stockdale Black Prince stood second in the Welsh section Ds. “He’s only at his fourth show,” said Jessie. “I did a season of working hunters with him but he was a bit too strong. I put him in harness and he hasn’t looked back.” Barry and Helen Hall’s Welsh cob stallion Murrayhall Cadfael Arbenig took a step back from wagon classes to take reserve in the costers. “He’s the most exciting thing you’ll ever drive,” Jessie said.…

WHERE: Real Club de Polo, Barcelona WHEN: 10.20pm, Saturday, 26 September WHO: Joe Clee WHY: Team GBR finish runners-up in the Nations Cup final JOE CLEE’S clear round secured Team GBR second in the Nations Cup final in Barcelona (26 September). Belgium took the winners’ spoils, but British anchorman Joe and his World Equestrian Games and European Championships partner Utamaro D’Ecaussines returned one of only six clear rounds. “There is pressure wherever you go in the order. I guess it means they trust me, but I am very proud to have filled this role,” he said. • For full report see p50. For an interview with Joe see p22. THE Heythrop enjoy a morning’s autumn hunting at New Chalford Farm, Chipping Norton, Glos. •For autumn hunting reports, see p88. WORLD…

REBECCA BELL flew the flag for Britain’s pony riders at the CDI-P Vienna (18-20 September). She and the 12-year-old mare Valido’s Sunshine (Valido x Marieton’s Jasper) topped the pony team championship test with 73.12%. The pair, who helped Britain to team gold at the pony Europeans in Malmö, fought it out with Germany’s Raphael Netz and the stallion Schierensees Don’t Do It throughout the competition. The two combinations filled first and second positions in all three tests, Raphael pipping Rebecca to the post by 0.5% in the individual test, and also winning the kür.…

THE RSPCA is to have its prosecution powers investigated. The Government’s environment and select committee announced last week (22 September) that an inquiry will examine if the charity should be allowed to investigate as well as prosecute animal welfare cases. Neil Parish of the committee said it was important to ensure the “right cases” are taken to court. In July it was revealed that the RSPCA would no longer pursue those accused of illegal foxhunting through the courts. This decision followed the review by former Metropolitan police officer Stephen Wooler, after the charity was accused of wasting funds and donations by prosecuting hunters for political reasons.…

AN EVENTING VOLUNTEER Paul Hayhurst has been named as British Eventing volunteer of the year by the organisation’s chief executive David Holmes (pictured). He received the accolade at Blenheim Horse Trials on 20 September. A TEENAGE CANCER PATIENT An event held in honour of a teenage eventer with cancer has raised £14,317 for cancer charities. Hannah Francis, 17, from Somerset, was diagnosed with bone cancer in May. AN ABANDONED FILLY A skewbald yearling, Lara, is settling in to her new home in Great Wigborough, Essex. Lara was rescued by the RSPCA in April from a hillside and was emaciated with a serious skin condition. She is now in good health and is enjoying the company of her new stablemates. JOHANNA VARDON The founder of the National Foaling Bank has been…

Young horse championships See the young horse eventing championships at Osberton, Notts, from 1-4 October. www. osberton-horse.co.uk Spotted pony show Spotfest is being held at The Grange Equestrian Centre, Okehampton, 3 October. www.britishspottedponysociety.co.uk Go to HOYS Head along to the NEC in Birmingham to see top horses and riders compete at the Horse of the Year Show. www.hoys.co.uk Watch reining The British Reining Championships is at Bodiam International Arena, on 3-4 October. www.oldewalnuttreeproductions.co.uk…

My warming-up tip… I have to make sure I get focused before getting on, then I have a clear feeling in my head of what I am looking for when I’m on my horse. Looking back… At my first Badminton with Society Spice when I was 19. I had the most amazing week and he went really well, finishing just outside the top 20, but in my showjumping round he embarrassingly nearly jumped me off directly in front of the royal box, for no apparent reason. It was a totally normal jump, but I obviously thought I would add a little extra airtime… When I’m competing at... Badminton or Burghley — they are the events I aspire to compete at and are everything I have been working towards. First pony...…

CONSIDER for a moment the amount of time we spend agonising over what to feed our horses, painstakingly measuring out the winning formula that will unleash their potential. And then think about the somewhat different situation in our own feed rooms. “Riders often go for what is quick and convenient but the sugar content in these foods and drinks actually has the opposite effect to what is required,” explains health coach Lauren Barber, who started her business to help people find out what foods work best for them. “These foods don’t fill you up and the high sugar and fat content make you feel more sluggish and less focused after an initial ‘high’. “Everyone’s body is different but, in general, riders don’t drink enough water and don’t eat often enough…

7am: Georgie arrives on the yard, feeds the horses and makes a to-do list. “I tend to make up all the feeds myself” 7.30-8am: Meg, Georgie’s groom, arrives. The pair discuss the day’s plan and the horses that have stayed out overnight come in. “In an ideal world I’d like all of them to live out — I think it’s so much better for them” 8.30am: Georgie starts riding, or helps with chores first on a quiet day 9am: breakfast, though Georgie finds it difficult to eat during the day. “Toby is good at encouraging me — I’m getting better” 9.30am: Georgie continues with schooling, hacking, cantering or jumping. “I try to get all my riding done in the mornings” 1pm: a quick break for lunch 2pm: the afternoon is…

TWO top horses that could have represented a British studbook jumped for the Netherlands — and one took the silver medal in the six-year-old class. Dassler and Ellavar X were conceived in Yorkshire, but breeder Karl Fuller sent their dams to Holland to foal. Both were registered with the KWPN and returned to Britain to be produced. Second place in the six-year-old championship went to Ellavar X (Calvaro Z x Clearway), now owned by the Irish/Dutch partnership of Ashford Farms, Jos Lansink and Q Sport Horses, while Louise Saywell rode Billy Twomey’s Dassler (Douglas x Cassini II) in the seven-year-old classes.…

DESPITE being underestimated in his early years, The Ruby Knight clinched the under-21 open intermediate (OI) — his first win at the level. The Tyson 10-year-old, ridden by Cameron Beer, finished on a total score of 42.4. “I’ve ridden him since 2012 when we started at BE90. He won the novice under-18 here last year,” said Cameron, who events The Ruby Knight for owner/ breeder Paulette Baker. “When we first started eventing him he was absolutely awful. He showed no talent whatsoever and we wondered if he’d get to BE100. Now he’s a machine across country and has turned out to be fantastic,” said Cameron, 19, who started studying drama at Exeter University this year. “Paulette has him at home and also competes to British Dressage elementary level with him,…

THE 15-year-old GCSE student topped the BE90open section at Munstead (2) with her own 14.2hh pony Smoke Blue (Billy), who loves jumping and “all things to do with eating”. “His favourite trick is to pick up his feed bucket after he has licked it clean and fling it over the stable door. He does it without fail every morning and evening,” said Isabelle, who was particularly chuffed with her clear cross-country round inside the time. “We had a few issues with his saddle at the beginning of the season and that affected his confidence. We gave him a month off eventing, sorted out his saddle and since he’s been back he’s been storming round.”…

PRODUCER Sam Quiney and the Pattersons’ elegant 158cm victor Bankswood Savoir Faire (Saffy) outshone a high-class field to take a first Cherif supreme title for the team, the owners and the horse. Sadly, usual rider Hayley Patterson was forced to forego her Cherif debut due to a nasty bout of mumps, but Sam proved an able deputy to earn the highest overall marks of the day. This was Sam’s first time as a competitor too, although having ride-judged here two years ago, she knew what had to be done. The lovely Comberton Cadet six-year-old, bred by Annie Eccles and the late Chris Sandison out of the prolific mare Fairlyn Finesse, last competed here as a two-year-old, when she was third with Mark Tamplin. This time, she performed to the manner…

THE FEI is under pressure to reward long-term consistency, rather than rely on a single event to qualify teams for the Olympic Games, following Belgium’s failure to gain a Rio ticket. Belgium (pictured, right) topped the European division one Nations Cup league as well as winning Thursday night’s first round and the Nations Cup final (Saturday, 26 September) in Barcelona. However, at the European Championships last month (18-21 September) where the team finished seventh, the country failed to secure a qualification spot for next summer’s Olympics. “We had just one bad weekend, in Aachen. It is a pity,” said Dirk Demeersman, the Belgian chef d’equipe. In contrast, Spain qualified for Rio at Aachen, yet have been relegated from the Nations Cup division one, having finished no better than fourth at…

OLYMPIC champion Steve Guerdat has been “cleared of all wrongdoing” by the FEI after two of his horses tested positive for banned substances, writes Amy Mathieson. “The FEI accepts that the circumstances of the cases were exceptional and that the presence of the three prohibited substances is consistent with poppy seed contamination,” read an FEI statement on 28 September. The FEI added that Steve demonstrated he did not bear “fault or negligence” as well as proving how the banned substances entered the horses’ system. Steve was provisionally suspended but this was lifted on 27 July after he pleaded that food contamination had caused the positive test. The horses remained banned until 19 September, meaning he missed the Europeans. Samples were taken at the CSIO5* at La Baule on 17 May…

DAN HUGHES has put owners high on his agenda since becoming the British Equestrian Federation’s performance director five months ago. He told H&H:“Myfirst question toanyone who would listen was, ‘what is the single most important element to winning medals?’ “The answer invariably was something around having ‘the right horses with the right owners at the right time’, as without that it didn’t matter how good the jockey or the training system was.” Short-term efforts to retain and encourage individual owners include increased communication and hospitality. An owners’ dinner during the Blair European Eventing Championships was, he believes, a hit. At a briefing in London this month, owners will be asked to complete a warts-and-all questionnaire. “During the day we want to rekindle some of the excitement and emotion we saw…

PLANS to build a dressage centre in West Sussex have been rejected by the South Downs National Park (SDNP). Dressage rider Hannah Hurvenes-Clarke, daughter of high goal polo patron Nick Clarke, had submitted an application for change of use of land at her family’s Brackenwood estate near Midhurst. The proposal also included the building of eight new stables, retention of a barn, horse walker, wash-down area, hay store, access track, parking and exercise track. But officers at the SDNP advised the planning committee to reject the plans last month (10 September) on the grounds that the area is a “remote and tranquil location” and “equestrian [uses] harm its character and appearance, causing noise and disturbance”. Ms Hurvenes-Clarke said she was disappointed but still hopes that an arrangement can be reached.…

ROBERT THORNTON The jump jockey and former H&Hcolumnist has announced his retirement from the saddle due to injury. The 37-year-old fractured vertebrae in a fall from Say When at Chepstow in April last year. A GAME FAIR The Country Land & Business Association (CLA) will no longer run its annual game fair. A CLA spokesman said the event “has failed to generate enough income” in each of the last three years, and attendance has fallen. HANNAH SUE BURNETT The US eventer is recovering from a broken wrist and bruised ribs after a fall in the three-star at Plantation Field, Pennsylvania (20 September). PAUL CARBERRY The two-time Irish champion jockey is out of action for up to four months after breaking his leg in a fall at Listowel on Saturday. The…

SUPPORT OUR YOUNG EVENTERS Sir — In his column (24 September) Mark Todd took a tilt at the new generation of British eventers. “Are young Brits hungry enough? he asked. “Are they given too much on a plate?” Perhaps, he implied, they don’t have “the right work ethic”. As Mark well knows, eventing demands everything of horse and rider. And, as he says, no one wants to detract from the success of “foreign” and older British riders. But to suggest that young Brits lack ambition and work less hard is offensive. Kitty King, Izzy Taylor, Gemma Tattersall and Laura Collett, to name just a few, follow punishing routines not just riding and training, but building the teams of horses, grooms, sponsors and owners that established riders (such as Mark) already…

Britain vs Belgium “A great job has been done for showjumping in the UK — there are more international shows than ever before with new ones like Bolesworth and Liverpool. Next year I want to try and get over more often. However, Belgium has a good quantity of quality shows. I have both two- and three-star shows only a few hours’ drive from me. “Riding on the British team and not being based in the UK doesn’t bother me — sometimes it is nice not to be tied up in any politics and I don’t tend to read the media.” Childhood heroes “GROWING up in Yorkshire, I was in the Pony Club with Robert Whitaker and it was at the time John was competing Milton, so John was my childhood…

1. Think of yourself as an athlete Take your own nutrition and exercise as seriously as you take your horses’. After all, you are a 50:50 partnership. Riding and managing horses is tough, physical work and if you want to perform well in your discipline you need to realise your body plays a key role in making this happen. 2. Increase your water intake Nothing is more crucial to athletic performance than water. Without sufficient water you will become dehydrated, which will affect your ability to think straight and react quickly. Always have a bottle with you to sip from at home and at a competition. 3. Eat little and often Professional and working riders’ busy lifestyles make it tempting to skip regular meals and then reach for high-fat, high-sugar…

THERE was a long wait for the Longines Challenge Cup’s prize-giving ceremony, for there were no suitable mementos for the three teams (France, Brazil and Australia) tied for second behind Qatar. Furusiyya gives medals, but had not, obviously, struck three sets of silver. Rules for this consolation event, which involves the 11 teams not through to Saturday, had never anticipated a multiple tie. There is no provision to jump-off or separate nations by combined times, as was applied to Britain’s advantage on Saturday. FEI jumping director John Roche said: “If this was a championship, the teams would have jumped off, but these are not FEI medals, they are something Furusiyya has given.” Qatar won on nine faults and its riders thanked Allah and their trainer, Olympian Jan Tops, for their…

FREELANCE rider and eventer Ffion Thomas enjoyed a successful outing to West Wilts EC, Wilts (17 September), winning two classes and earning runner-up spot with two home-bred horses. Six-year-old mare Goldun Puzzle won the 1.05m and 1.10m, while her dam, 10-year-old Justin Lucky Gold was second in the Foxhunter. “I showjump to practise for eventing, but also to win some money — which makes a nice change from eventing,” said Ffion. “I event Justin Lucky Gold to advanced level and Goldun Puzzle is currently at novice level.” All of Ffion’s horses have the same stallion in their breeding — a dun American morgan horse called Mossrose Triumphant. “He is Justin Lucky Gold’s sire, so he’s Goldun Puzzle’s grandsire and both are dun like him,” said Ffion. “They go everywhere together…

THE format for Saturday’s FEI Nations Cup final in Barcelona was spot-on. Even though Spain hadn’t qualified for the final eight, the packed stands were testament to it making riveting viewing. Full marks to Belgium for winning, but the Brits’ second was a great achievement. Ben Maher’s superlative skills have honed Diva II from a hugely talented but sometimes tricky mare into a true championship horse. Jessica Mendoza rode with a class and maturity belying her age of 19. After a disappointing 16 faults from Laura Renwick, the pressure was heaped on Joe Clee, who responded brilliantly with a clear. Joe also cemented his position as a genuine contender for Rio 2016. What does HOYS offer? YOUNG British medallists from this season’s European Championships for children-on-horses, juniors and young riders…

GEMMA TATTERSALL is riding on the crest of a wave at the moment and her purple patch continued at South of England (2), where she headed a competitive SEES Ltd CIC2* with Caroline Teltsch’s seven-year-old mare Santiago Bay. Jumping was the name of the game and Gemma’s inexperienced mare rose to the challenge. “I’ve been trying to win this class for a while,” grinned the West Sussex-based rider, who has had to play second fiddle to prolific Ardingly winner Pippa Funnell here several times. Gemma and Santiago Bay kicked off with a dressage score of 37.4, jumped a rare clear round around an influential showjumping track (see box, right) before nimbly negotiating the cross-country for 6.8 time-penalties — the sixth-fastest round of the section. “She’s like a little JA pony;…

DESPITE trotting past, instead of up, the centre line at the end of her test before realising and thinking what a fool she was, Charlie Morgan claimed the inter I championship on Dragonheart II, a 13-year-old by Depardieu. “We had such a bad time at the Bicton Area Festival that I was determined to enjoy myself today. I only ever wanted to wear my top hat and tails once, so every time is a bonus,” said Charlie, who shared her prize-giving with the prix st georges (PSG) winners, Liz Guy and Bernini (see box, above), due to an earlier mistake in the scoring. “That was a special moment as Liz and I have known each other a long time,” said Charlie. Leia McEvoy took time off from her job as…

West Norfolk THE West Norfolk made a very early start to the season on the 29 August at Hall Farm, Necton, courtesy of Edward Spratt. Largely hounds were tentatively picking their way around many standing beans and the odd field of wheat as landowners hosted a morning prior to the release of game. It is always pleasing to see the excitement on children’s faces, clearly having dragged their parents out of bed to squeeze a morning in prior to term time. A late, wet harvest led to a slow start to the season although on the plus side, root crops such as sugar beet have grown to such a height as to allow the young hounds plenty of covert to get amongst. Particularly pleasing was to watch the athletic entry…

RELENTLESS won the open qualifier at the 40th running of the Meynell Team Chase with a polished round after a tense start (see box, right). Rowan Cope and Dane gave a flawless lead, taking the tightest of lines over early hedges that snaked in and out of the horsebox park field and then came down the hill to the centre of the course at top speed. Simon Coady’s Risky Beauty flattened over the blackthorn in the bottom but got away with it, and Dougie Gittins and Luke Morgan were close on Rowan’s heels for a tidy run through the unusual 180° copse pen. With Dougie cutting the corner after the second last and kicking on to give them their finishing time, it was a masterclass in how to ride the…

JESSIE DUDLEY APICELLA had an extremely productive national championships as her four turnouts took two titles, two reserves and the supreme. Her reigning Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) champion Aghaderg Stand And Deliver (Paddy) stole the show in the gala evening performance, having topped the morning’s Osborne Refrigerators 138cm and under hackney championship. “I haven’t made the final for six years,” said Jessie, who last won the supreme title aged 18. “Paddy hasn’t been shown since the Royal Welsh and I’ve missed driving him so much. He’s so exciting — you just let him do his job and don’t interfere.” Third to go of nine qualified turnouts, the nine-year-old gelding was rhythmic, powerful and correct to take a seven-point lead. He scored 29 out of 30 from judges Roger…