Innholdsfortegnelse for 16-Mar-2017 i Horse & Hound

THE impact of poorly fitting tack is “potentially a huge welfare issue”, a top equine orthopaedics specialist has warned. Dr Sue Dyson presented evidence from a number of studies at the National Equine Forum (2 March) while addressing how badly fitting tack has knock-on effects for both horse and rider. During her presentation she highlighted how an ill-fitting saddle can prevent a horse’s muscles from developing correctly, cause pain and also have a negative impact on a horse’s performance. One of the studies cited by Dr Dyson found that the dimensions of a horse’s back increases during exercise, and to a greater extent when a horse is working correctly, but a poorly fitting saddle prevents this and in some cases caused the dimensions to shrink. Dr Dyson stressed that saddle…

THE Countryside Alliance (CA) is “reassured” by the support for the Kimblewick hunt after a number of hounds had to be put down. One hound was suspected to have contracted bovine tuberculosis (bTB) on 10 December 2016. Following further tests, and the results of a postmortem and tissue cultures on 31 January, some 25 had to be put down. The Kimblewick said the more than 120 hounds remaining in kennels are being closely monitored and tested. A hunt statement read: “Defra was notified immediately that bTB was suspected in December and the Kimblewick has acted upon all advice it has been given with regards to increased biosecurity measures to ensure it is contained. The Kimblewick voluntarily and immediately suspended hunting activities with its own hounds on 11 December. “The Kimblewick…

BRITISH Eventing (BE) is to partner with data analytics company EquiRatings in what has been described as “one of the most important” safety developments in the sport. The collaboration will involve EquiRating’s pioneering safety tracking system, the EquiRatings Quality Index (ERQI). The system applies an ERQI rating to each horse — these are objectively and mathematically calculated using past results, course strength and form to work out each individual rating. Eventing Ireland trialled the system in 2016 and falls at national two-star level fell by 66%. In the trial, riders could see when making an entry if the horse was marked red, amber or green for the class they planned to compete in. Horses with a ERQI below a certain rating were given an amber “warning” alert and those marked…

BRENDA WICKHAM BRIDLEWAYS campaigner Brenda Wickham has died at the age of 92. A dedicated member of the British Horse Society (BHS) she was appointed MBE in 2007 for services to public rights of way. She was a driving force behind the National Bridleroute Network and helped to create numerous long-distance routes across the UK. The BHS awarded her a golden jubilee medal in 2002 and an access award in 2000. TRISTAN VOORSPUY THE former Guards officer was killed on his Kenyan ranch on 5 March in what is believed to be unrest involving land invasions. Born in South Africa, Mr Voorspuy was raised in the UK and joined the army in 1975. He started guiding mounted safaris and in 1990 founded Offbeat Safaris. A memorial will take place on…

Every year as the hunting season draws to a close, The Elms School in Colwall hosts a Monday meet for the Ledbury. This year was a particularly busy one with more than 40 children from the school out hunting for the day and many more welcoming the Ledbury to the school and helping to hand out food at the meet. The school meet is the culmination of many weeks’ effort and hard work by the children’s Latin teacher, Sarah Austen, who takes a group of children out hunting every Monday during term time to make sure they understand what is going on and how to behave. The Ledbury, its subscribers and particularly the Monday master, Louise Daly, welcome the children and help to teach them things they could never learn…

PRODUCING a show animal requires time, appropriate facilities, knowledge and a strong desire to be at the top of the game. So with those professionally produced often hogging the limelight, can home-produced amateurs really get a look-in? “Home-producing has boosted my confidence and I’m learning the tricks of the trade,” says Lizzie Oseman, who home-produces her heavyweight cob Ballyell Turbo. He stood champion amateur cob at the Royal International (RIHS) in 2015 and 2016. Personal ambitions and self-satisfaction are appealing, but the continual hard graft of muddy fields, wet rugs and mucking out makes home-producing tough. Attention to detail is so important, and you must be clued up on correct plaiting, tack, feeding and coat condition. LIZZIE, who had a riding horse produced by her in-laws Robert and Claire Oliver,…

• Pointless entries FOR someone who has had so much success showing stallions, Katy has strong views on this. A section A owned by Alice Tomlinson is a case in point. Rhesfair The Don, now four, was bought as a colt last autumn but was then gelded before being broken-in. “Like a lot of young people, Alice had her heart set on having a stallion but when he was being handled, he did everyone’s head in,” says Katy. “Realistically, he needed to have his testicles off and now he will have a nicer life. There are way too many colts kept entire for no good reason. The only time I will have stallions is if they are actively used for breeding.” • One to watch ANN OVERTON-ABLITT’S home-bred section A,…

‘We’ve had a few stops and starts and he’s had most of the winter off ’ LUCY CHAPMAN ON DIEGO III Tall Trees Arena, Cornwall | Stockland Lovell, Somerset “We’ve had a few stops and starts and he’s had most of the winter off. To get a score of 74.19% today is brilliant as it felt like it all came together,” said Lucy. Crediton-based Lucy works for Devon County Council as a support worker and is trained by Bruce King and Tyler Bradshaw. “Diego was just backed when I bought him as a five-year-old recently imported from Holland and so we’ve done everything together,” said Lucy. Emily Skerrett, a grade IV para rider, headed both elementaries on her own Jazz-sired Eleganza, whom she bought in Holland with help from…

OPINION ON my second trip to ride in Doha (that’s the Middle East, Qatar), I found it different from the first trip a few years ago, when the standard was a little lower — therefore easier to get your hands into the large pot of prize money. How things change! I saw several top-ranked riders there this year, including Isabell Werth, who must spend more time at shows than anywhere else. It was good to hear that Isabell’s beautiful mare Bella Rose has made a full recovery from injury and will be appearing in competition again this year. Is there any other rider in history with such an amazing stable? She’s the only rider to achieve over 80% at grand prix with three horses; an incredible feat. If I ever…

AT a BS show at Osbadeston, Lancashire, on 20 February, kind-hearted showjumpers, officials and sponsors teamed up to raise funds towards cancer treatment for local rider Kate Anne Douglas at the Hallwang Clinic in Germany. Kate faced a bleak future when treatment in England failed and an extensive fundraising campaign has been running. The show was the brainchild of Carol Litherland and after proprietor Norman Bargh offered his venue for nothing, judges Matt and Amanda Millin and course-designer Gill Pollard all donated their services free, with the show raising a total of £3,000. Every class was sponsored by local businesses and photographer Nick Rosendale travelled from Kent to capture the action. Over the past four months, Matt and his showjumping wife Amanda have raised over £45,000 for the Keeping Kate…

‘Don’t go too fast, I told myself — I was trying to tame it down’ WORLD CUP QUALIFIER WINNER TODD MINIKUS CSI-3*Live Oak International, Ocala, Florida, USA AMERICA’S Todd Minikus put in a determined round from last draw to land the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier on Babalou. The 2012 London Olympic showjumping course designer, Bob Ellis, was a bit surprised when nearly half of the entries in the $100,000 (£81,850) class were fault-free in the first round. “We had a few clear rounds more than I expected, I have to say. It was very, very exciting,” said Bob of the 18-horse jump-off. The fact that the class was the last qualifier for the World Cup finals in Omaha, Nebraska, added a note of tension. While not all the…

Maj Domenico D’Alo THE Italian jockey, who won Friday’s amateur riders’ handicap hurdle, had a more eventful ride in the Grand Military Gold Cup. Partnering the Nicky Henderson-trained My Wigwam Or Yours, D’Alo had his mount at the back but still travelling all right when the horse refused. The jockey naturally went flying but was keen to remount his recalcitrant partner. Remounting in a race is no longer allowed and getting back on a horse, which has just dumped you in front of a fence, is not so simple either — a doctor must pass the jockey and a vet must pass the horse fit enough to be ridden back to the unsaddling enclosure. D’Alo, however, was not appreciating this rule so was somewhat surprised to be pulled up by…

ELLIE TROUSDALE marked her racing debut with victory in the ladies’ open on the 13-year-old Be Definite (pictured, below). Lying second over the last, the pair upped the pace to gain on pace-setter Cut The Corner (Abigail Banks) and passed him on the line. “We were catching up so I kept kicking and thought we might get there,” smiled Ellie. “He settled into a rhythm early and felt like he still had some running left and responded better than I thought he would.” Be Definite is trained by Ellie’s mother, Zoe, alongside the family’s seven hunters. “We don’t have fancy facilities; it’s a case of cantering in a field and lots of hacking. He is much fitter than any of us thought he was,” said Ellie, 18, who rides out…

CUMBERLAND FARMERS Dalston, Saturday, 11 March Hunt members. — 1, J Emmerton’s De Bee Keeper (K Bryson) W Wilson. restricted. — 1, V Thompson’s My Lady West (C Alexander) V Thompson. ladies’ open. — 1, A Dawson’s Ballyvesey (A Dawson) A Dawson. men’s open. — 1, R Morris’ The Highlander (J Dawson) C Coward. club members. — 1, J Alexander’s Royal Chatelier (J Alexander) N Alexander. open maiden. — 1, P & J Smith’s Simply Lucky (N Orpwood) E Reed. EAST DEVON Bishops Court, Saturday 11 March Hunt members.— 1, C Pike’s Delphi Mountain (E Watson) E Watson. open maiden 4,5&6yo. — 1, B Hawkins’ Micky Stark (Z Hawkins) Z Hawkins. mixed open. — 1, Scott, Meyrick, Bugler Partnership’s Iron Chancellor (L Drowne) S Popham. intermediate. — 1, D Brace’s…

JO HALES made all the running on Que Sera (pictured) to land the sidesaddle dash, the first race of its kind to be held at a point-to-point meeting in the UK for 23 years. The 37-year-old veterinary surgeon led 13 other riders in the five-furlong charity contest, passing the post five lengths clear of Wild West (Lizzie Harris). Bought out of Philip Hobbs’ stable as a hack for her husband, Ben, at Christmas, the seven-year-old gelding passed into Jo’s hands to be aimed at this race. “I started riding side-saddle five-and-a-half years ago so that I could ride home from my wedding,” explained Jo. “I have never raced before and now I’ve ticked it off my bucket list with a win.” The dash, sponsored by the Muddy Duck pub at…

BRIDGING the gap between science and the regular horse person’s knowledge was highlighted as a critical area for equine welfare at the forum. Dr Caroline Benoist, manager of research and education at the Academy at Neue Schule, said it was the responsibility of the lorinery industry to educate the equestrian world in bits and bitting to help improve horse welfare. She said the French link being perceived to be “kinder” than the Dr Bristol — despite research showing the opposite — is an example of widespread misinformation. “Until this is accepted by the governing bodies and the Pony Club changes its manual, this misconception will remain pervasive, to the detriment of our horses,” she told the forum. Iain Heaton, Pony Club director of finance and operations, said the body is…

QUEVEGA The six-time mares’ hurdle winner at the Cheltenham Festival has given birth to a colt by Walk In The Park. The foal was due on 6 February, but took “a little longer to cook”, arriving safe and well a month late (6 March). ROSINUS The talented showjumper partnered by Geoff Billington has died aged 20. “Such a pity his career came to an abrupt end with an injury at the end of 2009 that he never recovered from,” said Geoff. VANCOUVER K Judy Reynolds has become the first Irish rider to qualify for the World Cup dressage final with “JP”. The pair came sixth at the final qualifying round at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands on 11 March. DE MARTINO The 2010 Oldenburg licensing champion has died after catching a fatal virus.…

EFFECT OF GROUND AND STUD CHOICE A STUDENT is asking riders to take part in a questionnaire she hopes will benefit equine welfare. Rebecca Ross, who is studying equine science at the Royal Agricultural University, wants to explore how riders interpret cross-country ground conditions and how this affects stud selection. She is also to investigate whether the combination of factors relates to injuries, particularly musculoskeletal injuries below the knee and hock. Ms Ross is hoping for a large number of responses for accurate analysis. Email: rebecca.ross@ student.rau.ac.uk CALLS FOR LOWER SPEED LIMITS A former master of foxhounds is urging fellow riders to sign a petition calling for the speed limit on rural roads to be reduced from 60mph to 30mph. Ian Anderson, who still hunts occasionally…

A RETIRED ACCOUNTANT A lucky punter scooped nearly £500,000 from a £2 accumulator bet, but didn’t realise until Ladbroke’s rang, as one horse hadn’t won. Ladbrokes said it “couldn’t be happier”. We bet it couldn’t. ARTISTIC RIDERS Anyone who needs to do a bit of chillaxing can now do so with an adults’ colouring book featuring decorated Native American ponies. It offers, apparently, “a meditative escape to a world of inspiration and artistic fulfillment”. Which is just what we’ve been looking for. THE ROMAN EMPIRE A Roman cavalry charge taking place in Carlisle this summer to mark Hadrian’s accession to the throne is to involve “30 Roman cavalrymen performing together for the first time in over 1,500 years”. Without being ageist, won’t they be a bit past it by now?…

THE recent focus on British Horse Society (BHS) exams has revived memories of my Pony Club tests. The most vivid is the one in which I achieved my best stable bandage ever — only to discover that the bandage had been rolled up backwards, meaning I couldn’t secure my masterpiece… The latest news (p6) tells us that the word “exam” will leave BHS lingo, in favour of “friendly, practical and supportive assessment days”. I’m not quite sure what the difference is — an assessment day at which you can pass or fail is, surely, an exam, however friendly and supportive? And if you can’t pass or fail, what’s the point? I’d hate to see the BHS exam system, a proud cornerstone of British equestrianism, dumbed down. We also hear that…

‘The concept that “all hocks eventually fuse” is a falsehood’ THE hock is a complex and hard-working joint, operating in conjunction with the stifle to allow the powerful muscles of the upper limb to produce rear-end propulsion. Not surprisingly, the hock region is one of the most common sites of lameness in horses from all disciplines. The joint comprises the high-motion tarsocrural (or tibiotarsal) joint, along with three low-motion joints — the proximal intertarsal, distal intertarsal (or centrodistal) and tarsometatarsal joints. The tarsocrural joint is where the vast majority of flexion and extension movements occur in the hock. Due to the shape of the joint surfaces, this is limited to a single plane of movement (unlike a human ankle — the equivalent joint — which not only can flex and…

“My top three pet hates are ponies struggling under the weight of an over-heavy rider; riders charging into line when being called in in any order; and riders waiting for a corner to ask for canter in an open class.” Tweetie Nimmo, established judge for more than 30 years and breeder of Welsh section Bs under the Duntarvie prefix. She will be officiating at Olympia this year. “Over-bitted and over-bent ponies with no attempt to let them stretch and perform in a natural shape and rhythm, not to mention the respiratory discomfort it could cause. I also dislike over-long shows with required elements poorly performed.” Chris Yates, former BSPS Area 13a chairman who is on BSPS, TSR and British Show Horse Association conformation panels. “The walk is the first impression…

Hit-Air Tweseldown (1), Hants AS always, the entry list at Tweseldown’s season opener was peppered with human and horse stars. But a 19-year-old who has only been eventing full-time for a month grabbed top honours in intermediate section H. James Stocker and Rudy Valentino snatched victory largely by virtue of the fastest cross-country round in the class, for 8.4 time-faults. James joined Holly Woodhead’s Wiltshire yard as her second rider this year. “Holly’s an amazing trainer,” he said. “We’ve been working on Rudy Valentino letting go in the dressage, going calmly and without tension. “On the jumping side he’s really spooky, so it’s been about getting a bigger canter round a course and keeping him flowing.” Before moving to Wiltshire, James was eventing a few horses from his home in…

JANE ROGERS led from the start at Moreton , Dorset, in BE100 section A. She stayed on her dressage mark of 25.5, riding her home-bred palomino Welsh cob/ thoroughbred Corrieview Merlin Magic (pictured, right). “‘Magic’ is a bit of a worrier and a one-person horse but he’s flashy and lovely to ride,” said Jane, who is the mother of full-time event rider Tim Rogers. Jane hadn’t competed for seven years when her sister-in-law decided she wanted to compete at the riding club horse trials championships in 2014, which Jane went on to win. “We both joined Slimming World and I lost 5st. I then tacked up Magic, built a 2ft 3in showjumping course at home and we popped round, while I held on to the neckstrap!” laughed Jane, who now…

Arena UK Small Pony Premier, Lincs ALL roads led to Lincolnshire for the final small pony premier of the season and last-chance Royal International Horse Show tickets on offer — five in each section of the 128cm and 138cm classes. Emelia Mitchell left nothing to chance to win Sunday’s winter 138cm second round from the front on Shaman Sundance. Slicing corners to the bone and a cracking pace earned victory by 1.56 seconds. “He’s easy, just point and kick,” said Emelia, 13, on the Appaloosa acquired 18 months ago in Ireland. “He’s so comfortable to ride and he’s naturally quick and careful.” Their first draw wasn’t just by chance. “I forgot to enter, that’s why we were first to go,” admitted Emelia’s mother Jane. “We were a little nervous; Emelia…

SINCE I commented earlier this year that the British team was short of top-class combinations, there have been two pieces of good news. First, William Whitaker is going really well on Joe Clee’s 2014 World Championships mount, the 13-year-old bay stallion Utamaro D’Ecaussines. In spite of all his ability, William had been short of horse power and slipped down the rankings. But this pair look full of genuine potential and I expect to see him climbing back up the list soon. The second is top young American rider Emily Moffitt’s decision to ride for Team GB. This talented rider was the only Brit to jump a clear in the recent Wellington Nations Cup; and she has the financial infrastructure behind her to keep finding top horses. Many people are involved…

RETRAINED RACEHORSE STRUCTURE A more progressive competition structure for retrained racehorses is being introduced to the sport. BS and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) have already joined forces to establish the RoR club league championship, but in addition there will now be RoR national recognition awards for horses competing within the spring/ summer gold and silver leagues and a RoR bronze league championship at the BS national championships in August. A training bursary will also be up for grabs for RoR competitors from each region. For further details phone the BS membership department: 02476 698824 MR AND MRS POTTER CONGRATULATIONS to showjumpers Zoe Adams and Michael Potter, who tied the knot last month in Woodborough, Notts. Around 100 guests were invited to a reception at Norwood Park, Southwell, and the new…

THERE is nothing I enjoy more than giving a keen novice jockey their first ride, and if we are lucky, their first win. We aim to have a new novice rider every season and always have Yogi Breisner in for their first session. He is so good at simplifying the basic instructions and helping the rider understand the important aids without complicating matters. We’re keen to get them out racing, but I don’t think it’s always a good thing to win first time out as I would rather the jockey earned their stripes first. We have a mare called View The Dance whom we use for our novice riders. She is 100% safe and will always get round (sometimes in the frame), but needs proper riding. She teaches the jockeys…

Five-time Paralympian Anne Dunham has called time on her riding career, which has spanned 23 years. During that time the 68-year-old has won 32 championship medals, 19 gold. Four-star eventer Piggy French has competed for the first time since the birth of her and her partner Tom March’s son Max in July 2016. Piggy had three top-10 placings at Isleham (4-5 March). British Eventing accredited and under-18 coach Sam York has been made a fellow of the British Horse Society. This is the highest coaching qualification offered by the BHS. Successful Flat trainer and former jockey David Nicholls is ceasing training due to financial reasons. His past wins as a trainer include the July Cup, Haydock Sprint Cup and the Ayr Gold Cup. Former England footballer Michael Owen aims to…

COUTURE The Sunshine Tour in Spain failed to live up to its name, with rain bucketing down. But resourceful showjumper Spencer Roe had a solution – a HorseHage bag, with arm and head holes. We’ll never need to buy a coat again. KNOWLEDGE An online quiz which boasted only “hardcore horse people” could pass it included a question on where the fetlock is (“near the foot”, fact fans) and the term for a one-year-old horse. “Yearlings tend to be quite spirited and are not really able to be ridden just yet”, it pointed out. Glad that’s settled. AMAZON At a parliament meeting on equestrian business rates, MP Jim McMahon pointed out some firms will be better off, such as Amazon. Adding that higher bills should be for those who can…

PEDIGREE CHART Sir — I am hoping that your readers might be able to help me. In the 1980s I had a chart that showed the major thoughbred blood lines going back to the three founding Arabian sires. Using this chart I was able to trace my ex-racehorse High Blaze by High Hat back to the Darley Arabian. Unfortunately I no longer have this chart, but would dearly love to obtain another copy as it would enable me to trace some of the thoughbreds in my part-bred Arab’s pedigree, her father being an anglo-Arab. Gillian Monger Romford, Essex H&H says: “Can you help? If so, email hhletters@timeinc.com . Thank you.” VOICE OF REASON Sir — Recently I have witnessed two people…

‘I’d charge round on my pony playing polo while Mum was schooling her grand prix horses’ My secret weapon… My mum. Our horse walker is also a godsend — we don’t use it for fitness but it helps with warm-ups and warm-downs. I like that it has a roof so the horses don’t get wet. I’d struggle without… The farm. I’m based on our family farm and am lucky to have access to lots of space and hills. I can do all the horses’ fitness here, and the hedgerows have slowly started to be filled with cross-country fences. The biggest mistake I have learnt from… Going too fast across country. I learnt this a couple of years ago after I went splat at a gate at Wellington. It hurt a…

‘This is a “ponies in the garden” affair which has expanded to suit my needs over the years’ THE term multi-tasking takes on a whole new perspective when applied to Katy Marriott-Payne, who combines running a busy yard and show team with full-time motherhood — including the daily school run. Her homely base nestles in the heart of a small Northamptonshire village. Katy’s parents, who used to run a market garden on the site, still live opposite. Katy, her husband Rob — director of a renewable energy company — and 10-year-old son Thomas live just two minutes’ walk from the yard, which has a constantly changing population of plaited and native animals, including a new young riding horse project of her own. “This is very much a ‘ponies in the…

ANYONE searching for the elixir of youth should look no further than the hunting field. Many still echo the sentiments of 1920s Country Life correspondent Harborough, whose retirement plans invariably succumbed to the lure of a “pace so red-hot that hounds hardly speak at all… Who could feel that he had grown too old under such circumstances!” Good horses and, sometimes, good surgeons, mean dozens of keen hunters are still going long after the government’s recommended retirement age. “She is so glamorous. We all long to go half as well as she does,” says Horse & Hound’s Catherine Austen of Heythrop subscriber Jane Pope, rising 75, who reguarly visits top-flight packs, including the Cottesmore, Fernie, Meynell, Beaufort and Berkeley. “My mother used to say that age is a state of…

 Heythrop, Hyde Mill, Stow-on-the-Wold ‘“Isn’t this just brilliant?” he said, beaming at me with a faceful of Heythrop turf ’ THE invitation to head south from the Belvoir to join the Heythrop for a day was an adventure not to be missed. I arrived at dusk at Stephen and Jane Lambert’s house in Chastleton, where their daughter Nessie — a Heythrop joint-master — and her husband, my fellow hunt-swapper Will Chanter, often decamp during the hunting season. Both my horse and I were immediately made welcome. We enjoyed a delicious supper and some lively banter with my hosts and Heythrop joint-masters Simon Lawrance and Charles Frampton, and Charles’ wife Issy. AVOIDING THE TUMBLERS’ JINX SATURDAY’S early morning fog cleared as we drove to our meet at Hyde Mill, home of…

Oasby (1), Lincs OLIVER TOWNEND staked his claim on the top classes at Oasby with a double victory. He rode Note Worthy, owned by Andrew Cawthray, to the top spot in open intermediate (OI) section I, adding 1.2 time-penalties to a dressage score of 27.3. “He’s a good horse and lovely to ride — he is just starting to become established,” said Oliver of the 13-year-old, who is aimed at Chatsworth CIC3*, followed by a CCI3*. “There was no pressure on him today and he found it easy.” Oliver’s second win came in intermediate section J, riding the eye-catching chestnut Khoi Traveler, owned by Angela Hislop. “I think he could be a good horse for the future,” said Oliver. “We should have won at Isleham last weekend, but my rein…

OPINION RIDERS reacted angrily in December when the much-discussed changes to the Olympic format were voted through at the FEI general assembly, and the surprising news broke that the World Equestrian Games (WEG) cross-country is dropping to three-star level over a shorter course, leaving us without a top-level (four-star) championship. I gather the members of the FEI eventing committee were far from unanimous in their support of the WEG change and there is widespread opposition among riders — I was competing in Australia when the news came in and the reaction there was much the same as in Europe. The principal argument for the downgrade is that WEG acts as an Olympic qualifier so cannot be at a higher level, but surely there can be other means of qualifying for…

‘If he was human he’d be the little boy with one sock up, one down, tie all knotted and mud on his nose’ ROBYN SMITH ON THE HOME-BRED FOOLD UZ Myerscough Premier League, Lancs CARINSIO went from zero to hero at the first Premier League show of the season for rider Becky Moody and owner Julie Lockey. A spectacular fail in Saturday evening’s grand prix freestyle — when he took off in the walk, went up on his hindlegs and made Becky sit tight — was transformed into a polished, thoughtfully ridden test in the following day’s grand prix. “I prioritised submission and control after his explosion last night,” said Becky. “It was a tactical decision to sacrifice the walk movements to keep his attention, so to still get…

Bluegate Hall Farm, Essex | Keysoe, Beds Casey and Foxborough Final Reminder posted 72.4% at prelim. “I train his owner, Jasmin Burt, and she was having some trouble with his concentration in a test so I said I would sit on ‘Ned’ to see how he is away from home,” explained Casey, who competes in both pure dressage and eventing. “As it happened, he behaved beautifully and did a very good job. He still has more to give. “He’s lovely with lots of ability, which his breeding [by Irish cob Arthur Daley, out of a Zangersheide dam] might not suggest. He’s not a horse I will be campaigning but I will be helping his owner to achieve her goals with him,” concluded Casey, who is based in Sible Hedingham, Essex.…

Field House EC, Staffs | Rodbaston College, Staffs The wins came from elementary to advanced medium with the highest level going to her advanced event horse Got The Flyte. Unfortunately the Irish-bred gelding has not been out eventing since the end of the 2014 season after damaging his superficial flexor tendon. “He’s had a handful of dressage outings but whether he’ll event again I’m not sure,” said Janet, who trains with Tim Downes. “I’ll stick to dressage for the moment with a bit of arena eventing, as he loves his jumping.” Janet’s other two victories came with TCH Top Label and Castleview Larry at medium and elementary. It was a medium debut for Top Label, an Ars Vivendi son who, like Larry, was headed to event at Oasby (report, p56).…

THE Worcestershire-based Studbook for Irish & European Sporthorses (SIES) has been granted membership of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH). The studbook — often referred to as Breeders Elite, which is in fact one of the registration books of the SEIS — was founded and is managed by Renkum Stud’s Henk Minderman, the winner of the 2010 British Breeders meritoire for his lifelong contribution to British breeding. SIES registers around 350 foals each year. It is the 73rd to be approved by the WBFSH. “I am delighted that SIES is now a member of WBSFH, not least as it levels the playing field for our breeding programme and horses on the international stage,” said Henk. “Now that membership has been approved, our showjumping horses are eligible to represent…

‘What a lovely sport — I could do this until the day I die’ GUY DISNEY Sandown Park, 10-11 March GUY DISNEY, who became the first amputee in modern times to ride a winner under Rules when he won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Rathlin Rose in February, completed the services big double when he and the same horse returned to Sandown to win the 154th running of the Grand Military Gold Cup last Friday. The inspirational Disney was a captain in the Light Dragoons when his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in 2009 and he lost his right leg below the knee. A point-to-point jockey before his injury, he left the army in 2012 and then faced a long uphill struggle to convince the British…

Cumberland Farmers, Dalston HUSBAND-AND-WIFE team John and Alice Dawson stole the show by winning the two open races on The Highlander and Ballyvesey respectively. After blotting his copybook when unseating at the ninth in a Leicester Hunters’ Chase last time, The Highlander made it five wins from his last six pointing starts in the men’s open. Sent straight to the front, the eight-year-old relished the testing underfoot conditions and didn’t see another rival as he cruised home seven lengths ahead of Auldthunder (Guy Opperman). John said: “That’s the softest ground he’s encountered this season, but he has a big engine, gallops all day and still had plenty left in the tank. He’s very brave at times and still takes the odd chance at his fences, which proved costly at Leicester.”…

‘Harvey spotted me in the lorry park and threw me his red winner’s rosette’ Richard Davison STAFFORDSHIREbased Richard is a four-time Olympian and European medallist and has been at the forefront of the dressage world for almost 40 years. He often contributes to H&H and commentates on dressage for TV. WHEN I was a young boy all I wanted to be was a showjumper, and my hero was Harvey Smith. Like David Broome in the same era, Harvey won just about everything. One day at the Royal Show, when I was about eight, I got too close to the edge of the collecting ring just as Harvey was cantering by. Luckily someone pulled me back by my collar. I remember it so clearly. He was riding the grey Warpaint, and…