Innholdsfortegnelse for 15-Dec-16 i Horse & Hound

A change in the law has made it easier for police to unmask hunt saboteurs. The House of Lords added a clause to the Policing and Crime Bill on 7 December to enable police officers to require masked protestors to remove their disguises without first needing written permission from a senior officer. This makes the law simpler to use. Sir Edward Garnier MP tabled the amendment when the bill was at the Commons stage in April. It was not then included as part of the draft legislation, but he has been in discussions with Home Office minister Brandon Lewis to keep it “alive”. Sir Edward told H&H that police have been reluctant to use their “existing but bureaucratic powers” and it is important to make sure officers will now do…

Meeting MERs GRASSROOTS riders will now have to qualify to ride at BE100 level by meeting minimum eligibility requirements (MERs). Bruce Haskell said: “This is a great decision for improving safety in eventing. I would encourage riders to look at the wording of MERs — just because you might have achieved the minimum requirement, it does not mean you are ready [to step up].” All riders must have completed two BE90 classes with qualifying results — no more than 50 dressage penalties, 16 showjumping penalties or less (12 penalties or less if you are in the year of your 12th or 13th birthday) and a clear cross-country round (zero jumping faults) with no more than 30 time-penalties — before they can move up to BE100. This applies to any rider…

NEWS of a new large breeds junior mountain and moorland (M&M) series and championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2017 has been widely welcomed. This year, only small breeds partnered by riders aged between 10 and 14 were featured, but the new structure will cater for the remaining breeds and riders aged up to 18, with 16 qualifiers for each section and an overall junior championship at HOYS. Stephen Howard of the National Pony Society, under whose banner the HOYS class runs, said: “We had some reservations when the small breeds class was introduced, but it has proved to be highly successful. The equivalent large breed class was an obvious next step.” Producer Sam Roberts said: “It will encourage more young riders to show native ponies without having…

‘An awful lot of shows are touch and go’ Oldencraig’s Ian Winfield SHOW organisers are calling on the dressage community to “come together” to support the cost of running international events in the UK. While the opportunity to compete at high-calibre shows on their own soil is welcomed by riders, organisers have struggled to attract enough backers. Last year, Dressage at Hickstead director Dane Rawlins cancelled the CDIO3*/CDI2* after “running to stand still” trying to meet the event’s £350k costs. “There is a shortfall of £75k to £100k,” he said. “If you talk to any dressage show in the world, I think they’re all struggling.” With big title sponsors a rarity, shows with limited revenue from ticket sales or tradestands can only rely on rider entry fees and hospitality sales…

STUDIES designed to improve the welfare of equines and livestock have been given the green light. The Animal Welfare Foundation will be financing six research projects this year from its Norman Hayward Fund, two of which focus on horses. The first of these is a project by Dr Maria R Lopez-Alvarez, of the Animal Health Trust, titled: Validation of equine cell lines as a cellular replacement to model equine primary cells for in-vitro studies. The second is by Diana Williams, of the University of Liverpool, and is titled: The impact of liver fluke infection on the welfare of horses.…

ANDREW JENNINGS A “true English gentleman”, Mr Jennings died peacefully on 22 October aged 83. His great passion was beagling. While still at Harrow he whipped in for the West Surrey and Horsell Beagles before becoming joint master and then huntsman for 12 years from 1959 to 1971. Mr Jennings served on the joint committee of the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles for more than 40 years, becoming president in the early 1990s. He was also president of the Harriers and Beagles show at Peterborough, treasurer of the South of England Hound show for more than 30 years and was a well-known beagle judge. His career was in forestry and he took pride in following his daughters, former international eventers Lucy Henson and Laura Jennings, to various events…

TWO Ukrainian judges accused of “nationalistic” behaviour on the eve of the Rio qualification deadline have lost appeals against their three-month suspensions. The recent FEI Tribunal ruled that the FEI correctly punished Iryna Shulga and Maria Dzhumadzhuk for awarding significantly higher marks than the three non-Ukrainian judges to compatriot Inna Logutenkova (pictured, right) in the grand prix special on 2 March at CDI3* Lier, Belgium. Complaints were lodged on behalf of the Polish and Portuguese riders closest to Logutenkova in the Rio individuals’ qualifying league. Dzhumadzhuk gave Logutenkova’s Fleraro 73.236% while Shulga awarded 74.412%, nearly 8% and 9% above the other three judges’ average. The Ukrainian judges deviated by just 2% from their fellow judges for all other riders in the class. All riders’ results from the same test were…

LITTLE ones can enjoy pony rides in the warm and dry this Christmas without inviting a tiny equine into your home, thanks to a new toy. When your child wants to saddle up, but their equine companion isn’t available, Pony Up Daddy offers an amusing alternative. The US company has created a saddle that straps around an adult’s waist and provides a comfortable seat for children to enjoy “pony” rides. “Easy-to-use and constructed with the highest quality materials, Pony Up Daddy is the fun new way for daddies, mummies, grandparents and more to give pony rides like never before,” said a company spokesman. The saddle comes in black, blue, red and pink and is a snip at just $24.99 (£19.70) plus shipping, making it a cheap alternative to the real…

18 PAGES FROM THE CHRISTMAS SHOW • Full reports on the showjumping, dressage, driving and showing • Expert comment, including Richard Davison and Rebecca Penny TRAINING Showjumping tips from Shane Breen HUNTING Action from the Border and the Moorlands EVENTING Interview with Alice Plunkett, plus advice on how to tackle cross-country start box problems VET Separation anxiety: managing horses who panic when left alone RACING Ascot and Haydock VALEGRO BOWS OUT: 16-PAGE SPECIAL SECTION • Full picture celebration — his career and his retirement ceremony • Judges’ memories • Carl Hester exclusive • The people who made Valegro a champion…

58 the age of Nick Skelton when he took individual gold in Rio in August 2-5 June when William Fox-Pitt scored a double win at Tattersalls, his first three-day event since his serious accident last year $350,000 the amount Michael Jung won when he took the Rolex Grand Slam at Badminton £30,000 the amount Oliver Townend took home after clinching the Event Rider Masters title 14 the age at which Valegro retired at Olympia 60th Mark Todd’s big birthday, which he celebrated this year FIVE the number of times in a row Andrew Nicholson has won Barbury’s main class £50 the value of the Tesco voucher The Queen received when her ex-racehorse Barbers Shop won the overall title in the Tattersalls and Retraining of Racehorses…

‘I’ll jump a maximum of 15 fences’ Shane Breen on not overdoing the warm-up “THE most important part of your warm-up is planning, and if you don’t plan, it leads to tension — for you, your grooms, the horses and everybody else,” says Shane. “Not having enough time causes arguments.” Rushing in the warm-up not only causes problems for other competitors — “nobody wants people barging them out of the way” — but it can also translate to bucking and misbehaviour. Having a plan and sticking to it also avoids the risk of overjumping. “You don’t want to leave your competition in the warm-up,” Shane cautions. Planning your warm-up THE aim of your warm-up is to have a rideable horse who is engaged, soft, listening to your leg and responsive…

‘I feel hefted to this part of Yorkshire like a sheep on the hill’ Becky Farrow on a sense of belonging THE Bilsdale hunt is reputed to be the oldest pack of foxhounds in England. Its records can be traced back continuously to 1668, when George Villiers, the second Duke of Buckingham, was master. Buckingham was an unrivalled political chameleon, switching from monarchist cavalier to Cromwellian roundhead whenever the need arose, and his penchant for the fairer sex was set in history with the nursery rhyme, “Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie, kissed the girls and made them cry”. Winifred, Lady Burghclere wrote of Buckingham in her biography of him: “Buckingham’s long residence abroad had not affected his truly British devotion to field sports. Hard riding especially appealed to him and…

‘Wex loves the winter and he’s got his go faster hairdo now’ Inter I winner Lesley Peyton-Gilbert on World Exclusive THEY say there two sides to every story, and that couldn’t be truer of the history of double prix st georges (PSG) winner Spitfire. Although his connections are all in agreement that the home-bred Santano son is a big, lovable character, they’re divided over whether his halo has ever slipped. Rider Gemma Abrams, 25, is adamant that he’s angelic. “He’s amazing,” she said. “I’ve produced him myself — he’s been brilliant.” Behind her, out of eyeshot, her mother Sandra shakes her head and mouths, “Not true!” Gemma’s total adoration for the horse clouds her recollection of his wayward patches of behaviour. “Of course he was naughty to break,” Gemma finally…

WHEN I first became involved with the British Young Riders Dressage Scheme (BYRDS) training was available only for those at FEI level. Now, all regions boast a comprehensive programme throughout the year, including monthly training clinics, camps, test riding, and workshops. There are greater team opportunities for all levels supported by dedicated volunteers, reps and coaches. It has been very rewarding to watch young people come into our sport and progress competitively at all levels. Our sport is often criticised for being elitist, and that only those with money will succeed. But the highest placed individual pony rider at the Europeans, and winner of the Lucan Trophy — very kindly donated by Kathryn Heappey — has certainly shown that not to be the case. I am feeling very proud to…

SOUTH AMERICA came to the fore in the Rolex grand prix, part of the three-leg Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping, in which Brazillian rider Pedro Veniss outsmarted his rivals to lift the trophy. He and Quabri De L’Isle took an early lead and, having put immense pressure on an elite field of 16 jump-off contenders — nearly half the field went clear in round one — found himself victor after a twisting track brought many attempts to a grinding halt. “It was like a dream come true, it really hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Pedro, claiming his first victory in a showjumping major. “Quabri jumped fantastically in the first round and so I thought, we can go for it in the jump-off. I really tried like never before and pushed…

New jockey for Sawasdee LOSEBY’S SAWASDEE HI, winner of the Andrews Bowen amateur A tour first leg with James Emblen, will appear at Olympia this week in the Markel Champions Challenge for National Hunt vs Flat jockeys. The seven-year-old recently visited Nick Skelton’s yard for a training session to prepare for Olympia, where she is due to be ridden by champion Flat jockey Jim Crowley. “We brought her here to try to get her used to this sort of atmosphere ahead of Olympia - it’s the closest thing we could find,” said James, who has competed the mare for owner Bev Smalldridge for 18 months. “I sit on her once a week or so and compete her when I can,” he added. “She’s so much fun and has the biggest…

FIRST, I should like to congratulate all the riders at Forest Edge for some really high-quality sport. I felt like going and thanking them at the end of each of the three days because I enjoyed every class. The atmosphere was great and the standard of jumping was excellent. I built every course up to height and they made them look easy. The only downside was that the numbers were much lower than the organisers hoped. Why was this? There was terrific prize money on offer and the classes meant that this was a Development Classic in everything but name. There were also fun classes such as a puissance, take-your-own-line and accumulator that riders don’t often get the chance to enter. So what went wrong? The Hartpury Spectacular attracted many…

TRAINER Jim Best has been found guilty of breaking the rules of racing and suspended for six months after his case was reheard by a disciplinary panel. Mr Best was originally disqualified for four years on 4 April after Echo Brava and Missile Man failed to be placed in races at Plumpton and Towcester last December. A rehearing was ordered by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) appeal board after it came to light that the chair of the original hearing board, Matthew Lohn, had undertaken paid legal work for the BHA. On Monday (12 December), the rehearing panel acting independently of the BHA ruled that it was “overwhelmingly likely” that Mr Best ordered jockey Paul John to stop the two horses. “We find that Mr John did intentionally ride both…

NINO DES BUISSONNETS Steve Guerdat’s London 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper was retired last Sunday (11 December) at the age of 15 after the pair jumped a final round together in the grand prix at Geneva CSI5*. GUN A B GOOD The event horse whom Ben Hobday rode around his first CCI4*, at Pau in 2010, has died aged 20. The son of Busk Hill Gunnar was taken up to three-star level by Samantha Seaton. Ben took on the ride in 2010 and the pair competed at four CCI4*s together. LARA 106 Sandy Phillips’ grand prix dressage mare has died aged 22. The pair were on the British dressage team at the 2006 World Equestrian Games and also won the overall title at the British Dressage national championships in the…

Boosting timing skills RIDERS at all levels, from BE80(T) to advanced, will be allowed to use stopwatches while riding across country next season. Bruce Haskell said: “This is a positive step for eventing. Riders will have a better understanding of the speed a horse should be travelling across country. “We are encouraging stopwatch training days and if a rider misuses their stopwatch (for example, excessively slowing up at the end of a course or in front of fences to achieve the optimum time) we support disciplinary action being taken against them.”…

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER The composer has warned of the risk to riders on roads near his Hampshire home. The star wrote of his concerns over the speed of traffic in a letter to Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green parish council. SUZANNA HEXT Horse & Hound blogger and para dressage rider Suzanna has been selected for the World Class Programme. “I honestly never thought I would be able to enjoy my life again after my accident. How wrong was I?” she said. NICOLA WILSON Olympic event rider Nicola and para-rower Laurence Whitleley have unveiled plaques in Northallerton in honour of their achievements. Laurence is from the town and Nicola is from nearby village Morton-on-Swale. ROSANNE STERNBERG Ms Sternberg is to be inducted into the National Reining Horse Association hall of fame…

RIDER and Hickstead dressage organiser Dane Rawlins believes more could be made of the sport’s appeal. “My cousin George Noble is an international darts presenter and for years he’d been saying, ‘What are you doing in that posh sport?’” said Dane. “But he came to Hickstead and he loved it, so if you can get it to appeal to him, then there’s potential. “You have 8,000 people going to see darts — not all of them throw darts, but it’s a night out. We need to create less of a ‘hush hush’ atmosphere — it should be elite but not elitist — and make it a day out. ”…

H&H’s mammoth summer show guide, celebrating the competition season, will hit the newsstands on 23 February. If you want your show, event or training clinic to be included free of charge, send the date, venue name, town, county, secretary’s telephone number and details of the disciplines running — stating whether they are affiliated or not — to: Hannah Lemieux, Horse & Hound , Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hants, GU14 7BF or email: hhshowlistings@timeinc.com Alternatively upload your event to Equo at www.equoevents.co.uk. The closing date is 13 January at 5pm. This magazine is the biggest issue of H&H each year, and a must-have for all competitors, packed with special features in addition to the ultimate show guide listings.…

A LUCKY GELDING Following an extensive Facebook campaign — and even a search by drones — a 10-year-old gelding owned by Reading-born expat Jackie Minion was found unscathed on 6 December, three days after being washed away during the recent flooding in the Costa Del Sol in Spain. BROOKE The equestrian charity has formed a partnership with online tea shop Hope and Glory. With every order, 5% of the purchase price will be donated to Brooke. INJURED RIDERS An Evening with the Stars raised more than £14,000 for the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund. Zara Tindall, Nick Skelton and Spencer Wilton were interviewed by TV presenter Steven Wilde at the London event on 29 November. HOPE PASTURES The Leeds-based equine rehoming centre will be the charitable partner for next year’s…

TRANSPORT minister Andrew Jones pledged to work with the BHS to improve rider safety on the roads during a recent road safety debate among MPs at Westminster Hall (7 December). Jake Berry MP used the road traffic accident prevention debate as an opportunity to raise awareness of the road safety challenges facing horses and riders. There were also calls made for changes to the education of new drivers so they know how to react when meeting a horse and rider on the road. Mr Berry is supporting the British Horse Society’s (BHS) Dead Slow campaign. The charity is calling for a change in the Highway Code and the education of learner drivers to help protect the 2.7m riders in the country. “I have been working with the BHS and I…

CUTOFF POINTS Sir — Your news report on the legal dispute between Louise Briscoe and Calum Whitworth over the purchase of the established dressage horse Ramazotti III (news, 1 December) raises an interesting point concerning timing. Your report stated that in this case Mrs Briscoe had owned the horse for at least seven months before rejecting the horse, yet the Consumer Rights Act 2015 provides for a 30-day period. At the time of purchase you state that she also paid a professional rider £5,000 to assess independently the horse’s behaviour and suitability. Presumably every trainer’s methods are different. So, thinking about the repercussions for other vendors, how long after purchase might a court consider a horse’s change in behaviour to be due to the actions of its new owner or…

IT is quite a brave move for British Eventing (BE) to have introduced mandatory protective headwear in all phases at national events, and one for which I feel the organisation should be applauded. It won’t have come about without resistance. Many won’t praise this move. Whenever a rider dies or is rendered critically ill from a head injury following a riding accident, or a rider is pictured schooling hatless, Horse & Hound receives numerous letters from dedicated equestrians passionate that everyone either absolutely must or really shouldn’t have to wear protective hats. And so it’s safe to presume this new ruling will upset some riders and even spectators. But in reality it will directly affect only those competing at novice and above who don’t already have to wear protective headgear…

‘Treatment must be immediate and aggressive, to prevent problematic scarring’ Gil Riley MRCVS FINDING your horse “fracture lame”, with a sore and badly swollen leg, is the stuff of nightmares. While the worst-case scenario always tends to spring to mind, there could be another reason for this sudden and dramatic development. “With horses, there are basically three things that look like a broken leg,” says Gil Riley MRCVS, of Pool House Equine Vets. “One is a broken leg, of course, and another is pus in the foot. The third possibility is a condition referred to as cellulitis, often associated with another condition, lymphangitis. “Cellulitis is an inflammation of the tissues under the skin, most commonly caused by a penetrative wound or a skin infection, while lymphangitis is an inflammation of…

At a competition • The warm-up is very important, but it is essential not to overdo it and leave all the horse’s best jumps in the practice ring. So long as the horse is happy, relaxed and rideable, six to eight practice jumps should be plenty. Getting established • I’ll ride the young and just-broken horses in the school to get them going forwards, but once they’re established I rarely ride in the school; mostly I hack them out. • I walk, trot and canter when hacking but I never gallop — it’s not a good habit for the horses to get into. I will pop over a log or rail as and when, and while out hunting with luck I’ll jump anything I come across. Natural carriage • Transitions…

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RIDERS’ WEIGHT THE STORY: when the Great Yorkshire Show (GYS) asked riders thought to be too heavy for their horses or ponies to dismount in July, it sparked discussion across the equestrian industry. But the British Equestrian Federation, World Horse Welfare and interested parties, such as member bodies from different disciplines, had been discussing the issue and how to combat it since autumn 2015. Since the GYS’s move, Horse of the Year Show also told competitors at this year’s event that the suitability of their weight for their mounts would be assessed, while last month Retraining of Racehorses announced it would disqualify any rider at its shows who was more than 17% of their mount’s weight. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The Animal Health Trust has proposed a study aimed at discovering…

THE show’s top score of 80.3% went to the developing partnership of Phoebe Peters’ record-breaking pony SL Lucci and Anya Kolleth. “I’ve been training really hard over the past few weeks and everything came into play in that test,” said Anya, 15, who also events and is still torn between the disciplines. “Phoebe warmed me up - as she does for most tests. She knows the pony inside out so she knows what I’m feeling and what I need to do. “It’s tiny little alterations, like the way you ask for something. He’s so sensitive - that’s what makes him so special.” Anya had a solid 70% score aim in her mind, so to achieve 10% above that was sensational. “The scores we’ve been getting have been good, but it…

MELANIE DAVIES snapped up two jumping prospects at this sale, including the price highlight, the three-year-old KWPN Cardento mare Ibiza (£31,000). The other was Ducati — a two-year-old by the Diarado son Diacontinus, whom she picked up for £12,500. Both horses are due to be ridden by Angie Thompson, who trains Melanie’s daughter, and they will be stabled at her Chipping Campden yard. “Ibiza’s broken and jumping, so half the work’s already been done,” said Angie of the long-lined, light-framed mare. It was her ability that stood out for Melanie: “She’s scopey and careful and her technique is perfect,” she said. They plan to crack on with Ibiza, while the young Ducati will be cut and enjoy some field time in the short-term. “I’m a bit of a Diarado freak,”…

AUSTRIA ROBERT SMITH was in tremendous form at the CSI4* in Salzburg. He took victory with Cimano E in a 1.45m speed class worth € 1,250 (£1,050) to the winner and followed up with runner-up spots in Friday’s 1.50m and the Amadeus Challenge over 1.45m against the clock on the eight-year-old Ilton. Robert and Bavi finished with four faults in the grand prix, which was won by Italy’s Gianni Govoni (Antonio). THE NETHERLANDS WILLIAM WHITAKER was a winner at the Jumping De Achterhoek CSI2*, Lichtenvoorde, taking the small tour final on Diablesse De Muze. Over in Roosendaal at the CSI2*, Annabel Shields capped a tremendous show, where she scored a winning treble on day one and a further win at the weekend, with fifth place in the grand prix on…

BRITISH EVENTING (BE) has “no plans to extend the season in future years” following a pilot fixture on 4-5 November this year. The event — organised by the Taylors at Aston-le-Walls, Northants — marked the first time the affiliated horse trials season in Britain has continued beyond the end of October. The calendar normally comes to an end once the clocks change. BE sport operations manager Chris Farr said: “British Eventing are very grateful to Nigel and Ann Taylor for hosting this additional pilot. While entries were not as high as hoped, the event went very well — thankfully all went to plan and the weather did not affect the competition. “As the weather and light can be so unpredictable at this time of year, currently there are no plans…

‘He’s been nudging superstar status without ever quite making it’ Nigel Twiston-Davies on The New One A topsy-turvy weekend ended on a high for the Twiston-Davies family when The New One and Wholestone gave trainer Nigel a big Saturday double at Cheltenham. Meanwhile son Sam received a confidence boost when winning the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup on Frodon — only his second winner since he returned 12 days earlier from injury. However, the International meeting did not begin well for the trainer when Ryan Hatch, the first jockey at Naunton, while Sam fills the same role for Paul Nicholls, had a crunching fall on Friday. He remains in Bristol’s Southmead Hospital with sternum and back injuries. The New One, who has run in three Champion Hurdles, looked better than ever…

TWELVE months ago I was capering around the paddock at Chaddesley Corbett celebrating my second win as an owner. This time around, I’ll be leading up one of the horses in Gina and Tom Ellis Racing’s Ice And A Slice Racing Club. That’s because trainer Tom and jockey Gina have employed me as a member of their yard staff, so I’ve swapped the corporate world, as business development manager at AGA, for a barn full of point-to-point horses. Early starts, hard graft and dirty hands are par for the course, and I now understand just how much effort goes into getting a horse to the racecourse. There’s also another important element to my role, something that I’m equally passionate about: social media. It’s a fantastic tool for a business of…

SHOWJUMPERS may gain greater input into changes planned for top level sport as controversy about the new Olympic formats rages on, reports Pippa Cuckson. There were tense exchanges between FEI secretary-general Sabrina Ibáñez and the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) at its annual meeting in Geneva (9 December). As a result, Mrs Ibáñez proposed a further meeting next month “to discuss further how to enhance... [riders’] involvement in the decision-making process.” Past Olympic champions Steve Guerdat and Eric Lamaze accused the FEI of disrespecting riders’ views when introducing the three-to-a-team, no discard score formula for future Games. Eric said this would “kill” the sport by “dumbing down” courses for newcomers who were not up to it. The proposals were passed at the FEI General Assembly in Tokyo last month, with…

One of the longest-running sporting sponsorships has ended after Hennessy dropped its backing of Newbury’s Gold Cup after 60 years. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ hennessy-gold-cup An innovative bodysuit that issues alerts to owners at any time of the day or night if their horse becomes unwell will be on sale next year. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ equisense-bodysuit An inspirational war-zone refugee, who is training to become a professional jockey, was presented with the young achiever accolade at The Mirror’s Pride of Sport awards. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ refugee-trainee-jockey British Eventing has revamped its arena eventing series to run pre-season starting from BE80 level with a final at Aston-le-Walls. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ be-arena-eventing A crowdfunding appeal by Durham Wildlife Trust raised £10,000 in a week to fund the purchase and care of a herd of Exmoor ponies for conservation grazing purposes. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ exmoor-grazers Hannah Francis received the…

THE British Equestrian Federation (BEF) has appointed Joanne Shaw as the new chairman of its non-executive board of directors. She is a past chairman of NHS Direct and has held board positions with The Money Advice Service and British Board of Film Classification. She currently works with Nuffield Health and NHS England, and is a keen rider. Three other non-executive directors have also joined BEF team: Alison Joyce takes on responsibility for HR; Deborah Smith is the new marketing and communications director; and Matt Mancini is responsible for participation.…

CANADA has taken a bold step towards embracing technology by replacing paper passports with digital “horse recordings”. From 19 December Equestrian Canada (EC) will no longer provide paper passports. An EC spokesman told H&H the digital identification document for horses competing in EC competitions made equine identification “easier, simpler and more efficient” for owners and event organisers. “By moving to a digital horse recording, owners can store the document on their mobile device, making proof of ownership more accessible, eliminating delays due to shipping, and ensuring it is 100% loss-proof, since it can be accessed online or printed at will,” she said. Whereas in Britain and Europe all horses by law must have a passport, and any who did not have a passport from July 2009 onwards must also be…

A POLICE HORSE A football fan was arrested and fined £90 for throwing a burger at a police horse before the Champions League fixture at Manchester City on 6 December. A DITCHED BRIDE A video of an equestrian bridal photoshoot on a beach has gone viral. As the bride mounts her horsebecomes spooked by her dress and bolts, causing her to fall. Thankfully she was not hurt. A DONKEY SANCTUARY Staff at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary were left “devastated” following the death of the charity’s oldest resident. Whiskers, 48, died last month (28 November) after a serious bout of colic. A STRANDED HORSE A 17hh horse became trapped in a ditch in Herefordshire on 3 December. Two fire crews rescued the equine by creating a shallow path from…

OLYMPIA Equestrians can enjoy the delights of the London International Horse Show at Olympia until 19 December. www.olympiahorseshow.com TOUR Take part in a Newmarket tour, including Palace House, the Jockey Club Rooms, All Saints Church and Tattersalls, as well as the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art, on 17 December. www.discovernewmarket.co.uk RACING Get festive at Ascot’s Christmas racing weekend on 16-17 December. The Saturday is the racecourse’s most valuable day of jumps racing. www.ascot.co.uk FESTIVE SHOW Beaver Hall, Staffs, is holding a Christmas jumper showjumping show on 18 December. www.equoevents.co.uk DEMONSTRATION H&H blogger Jason Webb is holding a demonstration at his Kent base of Risebridge Farm on 16 December. www.equoevents.co.uk TRAINING British Eventing accredited coach Jo May is hosting showjumping training at Home Farm, West Stoughton, Somerset, on…

I am on the committee of a British Horse Society affiliated riding club and as such become involved with organising events for our members and other riders. I also volunteer to help at other non-riding club events throughout the year. As everyone who has ever attended an equestrian event — however large or small — will know, such occasions cannot be run without precious volunteers. When I am on the organising committee of an event I always make sure that volunteers are made to feel welcome and are well catered for. I also try to make sure that I thank them at the end of their stint — not always possible in person but a quick text when time allows is easily done. The purpose of this letter is to…

Eating out… I love Italian restaurants such as Zizzi or a steakhouse like Cau. I’m always really boring and pick the simplest thing on the menu. Visiting... When I first started going out with my boyfriend, Andrew Pickett, he was studying at Oxford (below), and I loved exploring such a beautiful city. Watching... Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones. Getting away from it all... When I manage to get away, I like to go somewhere I can relax. Andrew and I have been on a few holidays around the UK — we like to rent a cottage somewhere and explore the area. Settling down with... I like fantasy books and will quite easily read one after another. Listening to... I listen to Ed Sheeran (left) before I compete. It helps…

LEAN TIMES WHEN a bicycle takes a corner the rider has to lean inwards (pictured) to counteract the transverse or centrifugal force that tends to push bike and rider outwards. Every vehicle — from train to Formula One car — has a limiting speed on corners. If it goes too fast, it rolls or skids to the outside. Horses are no different: as they trot or canter around corners, or work on a steady circle, they have to lean inwards. Using complicated mathematical formulae, it is possible to calculate the extent of lean needed to maintain balance. Vets at the Animal Health Trust have compared the actual amount of lean with the angle of lean predicted by physics. They fitted sound horses with equipment to measure velocity, deviation from true…

Chris Burton THE Burghley crowd were subjected to a sweaty moment in the final phase of competition in September, when Chris and Nobilis 18 entered the showjumping arena with four fences in hand to take the title — and swiftly began to rack up the faults, eventually having all four of their buffer fences down. It may have been more than 25 years since a rider won Burghley with as many poles down, but it didn’t detract from the glory for the Australian — “I’ll probably never win a four-star like this again,” he said. And it provided the perfect antidote to his Rio experience, where despite going home with a team bronze medal, two fences down on Santano II cost him the individual bronze medal and left him in…

WITH input from Saracen Horse Feeds’ senior nutritionist Lizzie Drury, Kama’s diet has been revolutionised. Here’s how they did it: MAY 2016: Lizzie meets Kama and recommends cereal-free high energy Re-Leve to help with the horse’s stamina and hydration and to tighten his belly. She also suggests Equi-Jewel, a high fat rice bran supplement to help build topline. Kama should be eating more forage - ideally 11kg of haylage per day - and Lizzie sets a goal of 9kg. JUNE: Kama’s topline and muscle definition has improved. Sian still feels that Kama lacks energy, so Lizzie recommends Enduro-Performance, and reduces the amount of Equi-Jewel Kama is receiving. Haylage remains at 9kg per day. AUGUST: There is a clear difference in Kama’s topline and muscle definition. However, his energy levels haven’t…

‘What possesses people to bedeck their poor horses in tinsel?’ WHETHER a Brexiteer or a Remoaner, you may well be considering what effect leaving the EU may have on hunting. Well, very little is the most likely answer. There was, I seem to recall, some halfhearted attempt, regarding the Hunting Act, at an appeal in the European Court. Despite the rest of the Continent generally having a far more salutary and pragmatic attitude to the countryside and country sports, it was predictably unsuccessful. It must be the only area of our national life the European Court felt was out of its jurisdiction during the past 40 years. Of far greater significance to British hunters must be the Labour Party’s anomalous decision to retain their antique leader. The once great party…

REBECCA BRENNAND took her Andalusian gelding Albero LXXX for a final outing before Christmas and duly won the medium 73 at Myerscough Arena, Lancs (30 November), reports Jo Prestwich. It was a great end to the eight-year-old’s competition year after a hiccup back in October. Rebecca entered the Nero II x Hacendoso XXIII son for the breed championship in Italy, but a third of the way into the journey the horse contracted travel sickness. “We were lucky as it started to show as we arrived in Dijon for an overnight stop and there was a vet on site,” said Rebecca, who headed for home as soon as Albero was fit to travel. “Luckily he was bouncing by the time he got home and he’s been fine ever since.” Rebecca originally…

‘As long as I get her near a fence she’ll try to clear it’ Colin Keeling on Ard Spun Gold EMILY HILTON and Colin Keeling must still be pinching themselves. The couple, who produce young horses from Emily’s family home, enjoyed a stellar show and went back to Suffolk with around £2,000 in prize money. Emily and Milly On Air began their run in the Blue Chip Dynamic B&C qualifier. With 13 good combinations clear in round one, this became one of those jump-offs where the lead keeps changing hands. But Emily set off at the gallop and Milly On Air turned like a polo pony to set an unassailable time. Emily bought Milly On Air, by Billy Mexico out of a Cavalier Royale mare, as a foal from Billy…

HAVE you taken a brilliant eventing photo in 2016? If so, enter our amateur photographer competition. The prize is one money can’t buy: press accreditation to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2017, giving free entry to the event plus access to the media areas. We’re looking for classic action pictures, but also quirky angles, backstage and innovative photos. To enter, send a maximum of three photos — taken at British Eventing or FEI affiliated events during the 2016 season — to hhpictures@timeinc.com with the subject line “Eventing photo competition”. Please attach each photo to a separate email with a maximum file size of 10MB. Please include details of the horse, rider and venue, the photographer’s name, address, phone number and email address. This contest is open to amateurs who…

‘Eventing training definitely helps horses jump better’ WE have had a routine couple of weeks, but some nice winners too. On Sunday, Late Night Lily won at Southwell. She’s a tough mare by Midnight Legend — a top British sire who died this year and also sired National Hunt favourites including Holmwood Legend and Midnight Chase. We were really happy with her and she’ll have a little break now. There’s been plenty of rain, which has been frustrating as we were hoping for decent ground in December. It rained all Friday night, which didn’t suit Mister Miyagi at Cheltenham. We’ll put him away for a while. There’s been some top racing recently. Douvan ran really well in a Grade Two at Cork on Sunday — it looks like he’s got…

 ONE year on from her first ride in public here, Izzie Marshall scored in the novice riders’ race at Wadebridge (11 December), piloting the Alan Hill-owned and trained Supreme Danehill to victory by two-and-a-half lengths, reports Megan Furse. ‘ He’s one of the classiest horses I’ve had but also one of the most awkward’ Dean Summersby on Rockinrolldixie “It was a great ride and I was really lucky to get it,” said Izzie, 17. “I usually ride for my parents’ syndicate but I’m a friend of the Hills and have ridden out for them a few times.” Izzie, who has three winners under her belt, is an A level student at Claremont School in East Sussex and rides out for Nick Pearce regularly. Follow The Paint (Jake Bament) took the…