Innholdsfortegnelse for 20-Jul-2017 i Horse & Hound

NEW competition levels, removal of the dressage coefficient and changes to the flag rule are among the major proposals for the 2018 FEI eventing rulebook. The FEI is planning to introduce “five-star” levels and, at the other end of the scale, a 1.05m “one-star” with other classes shifting up a star rating (see box). “The eventing committee is proposing for 2018 a review of the structure of the competitions to adapt to the current global level of the sport and better support the implementation of the Olympic strategy,” said an FEI statement. “This is part of the continued effort to address risk management and the cost-effectiveness of the discipline together with encouraging the development of the number of nations participating in eventing.” It says the 1.05m level would not be…

Head of Qatar Racing Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani sustained a minor head wound when he fell in the Newmarket Town Plate on 13 July. He later tweeted it was “nothing too serious”. Top jockey Frankie Dettori was back in action at Newmarket’s July meeting after several weeks on the sidelines with an injury. Frankie injured his arm in a fall in the paddock on 13 June. British Equestrian Federation CEO Clare Salmon heads the British contingent in the Mongol Derby from 9 August. The 1,000km is touted as the world’s “longest and toughest” horse race. Germany withdrew from the Falsterbo leg of the Nations Cup after dressage team debutante Andrea Timpe was hospitalised as the result of a fall while working in at a national show. ctures by New Zealand eventing…

NATURAL PRODUCTS Overheard in a tack shop, a customer wanting advice on which fly spray to buy. “Well I wouldn’t get that one,” the assistant said, after a pause for thought. “It says all-natural so it’s bound to be rubbish.” Chemicals all the way then? Splendid. RULES Ah, the FEI. Proposed rule changes cover everything from blood on the horse to tweaks to last year’s new rules. “Is there someone at the FEI whose job is changing rules and they have to feel they’ve got a purpose?” a rider asked. Don’t even ask about Nations Cup rules… OVERREACTING Good for the Great Yorkshire Show for sticking to its guns and asking riders too heavy for their mounts to get off. But there were arguers, including one who accused the show…

AS July rolls on, my thoughts always turn to Pony Club camp. Surely this happens to other grownups too? Trapped in an over air-conditioned office, we look out the window and daydream about tack-cleaning checks, cross-country daring, late-night dormitory chats, last-day competitions and rosettes. In my mind, the sun always blazes (but no one gets sunburnt), the showers are always warm and our ponies are always well behaved. Of course, in reality it wasn’t all like that. Some days it rained, some days instructors yelled at us, some days our ponies refused to do the things we wanted them to do. Once, I fell off three times in one day; another time I ended up a bloodied mess after an accident involving a bicycle with a broom carried across the…

JARDY attracted probably the best Event Rider Masters (ERM) field ever. Although there was quality at the top end at the first European leg last month at Wiesbaden, only 26 of the possible 40 spaces were taken up. The event clashed with Tattersalls, plus apparently some riders thought they would be invited to participate, which has happened at Wiesbaden previously. In fact, any qualified combination can enter an ERM and the top 40 riders by world ranking are accepted, with options for the organisers to accept various wild card entries. At Jardy, all 40 spaces were taken up and the glitzy standard was evident in the fact a quarter of starters broke the 40-barrier in the dressage. Despite the quality field, only six made the time in the showjumping, which…

Eland Lodge, Derbys | Swallowfield, Warks At Swallowfield, Lindsay headed the prelim 13 qualifier riding Victoria Palmer’s just-backed four-year-old Irish mare Ballin, scoring 71.1%, and both novices, one with plus-72% on Doo Rickett’s six-year-old Trakehner mare Chevalian Bay B. “The four-year-old had never been out before and never seen white boards, so she did phenomenally well,” said Lindsay. “Chevalian Bay B is a mare I backed in January. She is now eventing at BE90 level and has won at every British Dressage [BD] show I’ve taken her to. She’s had two foals, which is why she’s been started later.” Lindsay has both eventing and dressage aspirations for the Grafenstolz daughter. “She’s very sensitive but lovely to work with, and we’ve built up a real partnership,” she added. Schoolgirl Izzy Lickley…

COUNTY TEAMS GO HEAD TO HEAD THERE was only one point between the top two teams in BD Eastern’s Inter-County challenge, with Hertfordshire coming out on top at Keysoe (8-9 July). The show ran from prelim to elementary level and featured two rounds. London finished second, with Suffolk in third. Hertfordshire’s team coordinator, Antonia De Bearn, said: “We had a wonderful mix of ages and experience, including two of the youngest competitors, 13 year-old Phoebe Turnbull and 10 year-old Isobel Morton. There was a great sense of team spirit and camaraderie.” The winning team was trained by the ever-positive Mark Ruddock. UPDATED YOUNG RIDER PROGRAMME YOUNG riders moving out of youth ranks will benefit from a new iteration of the British Dressage young professional award — now known as the…

THOMAS HOOPER led the way in the 10-strong final jump-off in the 138cm qualifier riding the already qualified Misty Bay (right). “We jumped a good first round, a steady second and then went to win it in the third,” said Thomas who, after dropping a jump base on his foot the night before, spent the next six hours reducing the swelling with ice packs. “It was touch and go if I could ride as I couldn’t get my boot on, so I rode in mum’s boots and my own chaps. “I’m still hobbling, but everything went okay in the ring,” he added. “Misty likes a moving course, so I steered inside lines everywhere and across the angle at number three,” continued 13-year-old Thomas, who is Hickstead-bound for the winter 138cm…

ONLINE AUCTION GOES LIVE THE Fences auction collection is now live, with 20 offerings. These include embryos from Big Star, Diamant De Semilly and For Pleasure, as well as top jumping foals and mares in-foal to sires including Casall and Baloubet Du Rouet. The catalogue is listed on fencesweb.com and the auction runs from Tuesday 15 to Wednesday 16 August. WINNING WELSH OFFSPRING THE Sports Pony Studbook Society-approved Welsh section D stallion Felinfach Tory Boy is proving his worth as an affiliated competition sire through only a handful of offspring on the ground. His daughter Cundlegreen Birthday Girl (who was an elite Futurity foal) won the ON section at Burnham horse trials as well as winning the Royal International Horse Show working hunter qualifier at Suffolk County. His son Cundlegreen…

RIDERS seen working-in anywhere on the showground and deemed to be overweight for their animals were again asked to dismount this year (see News). In 2016, Great Yorkshire was the first show to introduce this policy, which was also implemented at HOYS. Sadly, the number of “offenders” — most notably in small plaited pony ranks — rose this year and 12 were challenged. “The welfare of animals is absolutely paramount and the team have become increasingly concerned about a number of riders who were clearly of inappropriate size compared to the horse or pony,” said Yorkshire Agricultural Society chief executive Nigel Pulling. “Overweight riders on horses and ponies are unacceptable from a welfare point of view — it’s as simple as that.”…

THIS year, Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) organisers brought out a new rule on tack. It’s vague, illogical, and needs rethinking. The rule states that competitors “must only use tack or spurs permissible in the ring while on the showground and mounted”. However, there are good reasons why you might want to use different tack. Rules apply to qualifiers as well as to HOYS itself and as showgrounds and collecting rings can be busy and buzzy, riders need to be safe and horses confi dent. When I am at home I school in snaffles, often using a Market Harborough or running martingale. I find the Market Harborough, which is a cross between an auxiliary rein and a martingale, has the subtler action. I prefer to use the same tack…

A WELSH section C, Peasedown Luigi, will make his HOYS debut after returning to the show ring a better pony this year. Ridden by Jessica Talbot, the six-year-old chestnut gelding is owned and bred by Caroline Sutton. “Luigi was sold as a foal, and Caroline bought him back in August 2015 as a four-year-old,” said Jessica. “He was very immature and nowhere near ready for the show ring so we turned him away for a while to mature. “I then re-broke him and very lightly showed him as a five-year-old. He has come back a different pony this year, and while doing very well in novice classes we decided to enter him in a couple of HOYS classes,” added Jessica. “Caroline and I are so proud of how far he’s…

A SPECK of blood on a horse’s flank will no longer mean automatic elimination in international showjumping classes from 2018, if proposed FEI rule changes go ahead. Under the current rules, bleeding on the flanks results in “mandatory disqualification”. The rule has caused much debate and leading riders and organisations, including the International Jumping Riders Club, have been lobbying for a more “common sense” approach to the rule in recent years. Draft rules released this month would appear to give FEI officials more discretion. The 2018 proposals state that “minor cases of blood on the flank will not incur elimination”. The wording has been changed to clarify that disqualification is mandatory in the case of “marks and/or blood on the flank(s) as a result of excessive use of spurs”. Previously…

RIDERS can continue to feed MSM without risking positive dope tests, according to the FEI. After confusion over the naming of MSM as a controlled medication, and specified substance from 2018 (news, 22 June), it has been stated that “nutritional” use should be safe. Methyl sulphonyl methane is a naturally occurring substance, widely used in feed products. But the FEI said it is also the major metabolite, the substance into which a drug is broken down in the body, of banned DMSO. “A very high level of MSM could indicate abuse of DMSO that would be detectable for a longer time,” a spokesman told H&H. “The FEI controls MSM by a high harmonised performance level (agreed reporting level) to ensure any over-use is detected. “It is highly unlikely that the…

THE C-WORD (With apologies) an email arrives at H&H Towers extolling a “perfect Christmas [sorry] gift for gin lovers”. It’s a subscription by which you get sent gin, mixers and snacks every month. “A whole year of gin!” proclaimed the email. What were they thinking, sending it to H&H? ADVERTISING A woman called to report she had seen on our website an advert for a product not related to our content. One of an adult nature. The H&H staffer heroically refrained from pointing out the content of that ad slot is determined by users’ browsing history… PRICEY TACK Anyone who wants a slice of the Jung magic could buy the Lorenzini Titanium Michael Jung Control Jointed Bit. It’s £260, a bit more than your eggbutt, but if you win the…

Sir — As proud parents, we have just returned from our daughter’s graduation. She said she could not have achieved her degree in law without the lessons in work ethic, perserverance and determination learnt from riding and the Pony Club. I applaud the British Horse Society initiative, “Changing Lives through Horses”, to offer more young people the life lessons learnt through horses. Riding is so much more than equestrian skills. So thanks to Biggles who planted while the other ponies went forward; Polo who cantered off to join those doing jumping; Spumanti who my daughter stopped going backwards and turning right when the horse in front went left; and Robbie who loved dressage but put his foot down at jumping! Many thanks to all at Ross-shire branch of the Pony…

‘He’s diligent, very careful and always tries for you. I can really trust him’ SHARON HUNT ON INTERMEDIATE WINNER VEYGA Upton House, Oxon “I HAVEN’T had a horse since Tankers Town as consistent as this one,” said Sharon Hunt after winning intermediate section F on her family’s Veyga. Comparing the 12-year-old by Cevin Z to her Luhmühlen CCI4* winner and British team partner is high praise indeed, but Sharon thinks Veyga is a special one. “He has got quite low mileage, despite his age — he breezed round his first advanced at Chatsworth double clear recently,” she said. “He’s now really established at everything; he’s diligent, very careful and always tries for you. I can really trust him.” Sharon plans to take him to Blenheim for the CCI3*, via…

• BICTON ARENA (2) ON. — 1, Dalsaans Hasty Prince (R Foster) 24.8,0,0=24.8; 2, Charlie Harper (C Agnew) 27.8,0,0=27.8; 3, Cornish Daybreak (K Burton) 23.8,0,4.4=28.2. nov sec O. — 1, Primitive Star II (H Wright) 25.8,0,0=25.8; 2, Lovejoy III (E Bishop) 29.3,0,0=29.3; 3, Bugway Mr Darcie (E Matravers) 31.3,0,0=31.3. sec P. — 1, Corriebeg Vivendi (F Scala) 28,0,0=28; 2, Coddstown Pet (K Hancock) 30,0,0=30; 3, Minacks Maid (H Wright) 28,0,3.6=31.6. BE100plus. — 1, Beech Hill Kiko Clover (R Batting) 29,0,2.4=31.4; 2, Arkid (L Luxton) 34,0,0=34; 3, Midnight Ash (J Ford) 30.3,5,0=35.3. BE100open. — 1, Troja Queen (L Andresen) 32.5,0,0=32.5; 2, Asparagus (G Bolt) 29,4,0=33; 3, Fame III (H Mitchell) 34,0,0=34. BE100 sec I. — 1, Yasmin (L Evripides) 26.8,0,0=26.8; 2, Dream Dragon (E Thomas) 26,0,1.2=27.2; 3, Cutton Princess (H Forty)…

Hickstead, West Sussex BUOYED by the news she’s been selected for the European young rider championships next month with Headmore Delegate (see Dressage Life, p52), Becky Edwards rode her reserve horse Ufano II to victory in the intermediate I gold. “He’s a powerball and never lets me down,” said the former showing rider fondly of her first dressage horse, Margaret Cox’s 16-year-old 15.2hh Lusitano stallion (Ideciso x Forcado). Daniel Watson also has a special relationship with the home-bred Butterfly IV, winner of the prix st georges (PSG) gold. They just completed a whirlwind tour of international shows in Europe: Compiègne, Rotterdam and Hartpury. The nine-year-old 16.1hh Breitling x Dimaggio mare, whom Daniel sold to Barbie Marceau as a foal, is living up to his high hopes: “She needs a little…

Kingston Maurward, Dorset | Stockland Lovell, Somerset A FORMER showjumper who swapped disciplines after being spotted by Anna Ross scored a double at Kingston Maurward. Amy Francis headed the novice scoreboard twice on Frances and Mark Castle’s six-year-old Queen Of Clouds, by Quidam De Revel. “She was bought as a showjumper from Julian Mincher for Flora Castle to ride, but Anna suggested I try some tests on her as I school Flora’s horses on the flat,” said Amy. “She has a big, powerful canter and is lovely to ride. I school her two or three times a week and Mark keeps her fit.” Elizabeth Little headed both prelims at Stockland Lovell on Jane Organ’s home-bred Arctic Whizzle, by Tinsley Faerie Legend, at the five-year-old’s first competition. “I originally backed him…

Crofton Manor, Hants Sally Green bought five-year-old Keystone Rhia (Rhondeo x Dimaggio) as a yearling and six-year-old Keystone Quartz (Quaterback x Depardieu) as a foal from Suzanne Lavandera at UK Hanoverians. She sold Quartz to deputy headteacher and close friend Nicola Pearce last year and coached her to win the novice bronze with one of the show’s few plus-71% scores. Nicola keeps Quartz with Sally, who will ride her at the regionals. Sally’s own horse, Rhia, was the elementary silver victor. In 2013 Rhia was the top-scoring yearling in the BEF Futurity and recently qualified for the novice freestyle winter regionals. “She was very focused despite a lot of a distractions, including a loose horse in the lorry park,” commented Sally. “Rhia is definitely one to keep.” Rebecca Ind juggles…

Aintree Area Festival, Merseyside | Field House, Staffs Helen won both the prix st georges (PSG) and inter I at Aintree’s Area Festival with Valdorama D. Helen had entered the Flemmingh x Goodtimes gelding for Tushingham’s Area Festival but was fired off a four-year-old an hour before she was due to leave. “I have a massive haematoma on the leg and it’s black and blue, so much so that for the past two weeks I’ve only ridden Valdi,” said Helen, who trains with Sue Bradshaw. “He isn’t the easiest horse and can boil over, but the 68.73% we got in the inter I today was our highest straight top hat and tails mark to date.” Alison Boyle won the bronze section of the elementary 53 with her own Business Opportunity.…

Great Yorkshire Show ON the back of winning the Hickstead Derby, Nigel Coupe and Sue Simmons’ Golvers Hill (Ricky) claimed another coveted title after powering home to win the Ripon Select Foods Cock O’The North showjumping championship. Shaking his head in disbelief, Nigel said “If anyone had said to me that I would be standing here three weeks after winning at Hickstead, I would have said it was an impossibility. “This is a class everyone wants to win and the tactics were all or nothing.” The finale turned the clock back as the wars of the roses resurfaced, Nigel riding for the red-rose county of Lancashire, while Robert Smith, Yorkshire-born in the white rose county, was his nearest rival. Assisted by Jason Abbs, Lisa Kelly and Kevin Millman, course-designer Bob…

AS well as sponsoring a class on the opening day, Johanna “Lairy” Collings celebrated her birthday in style during the show. The Light family pulled out all the stops to present her with a pictorial birthday cake, but perhaps the nicest present came when daughter Skye won the 90cm class on Zolander. “That topped off the best possible birthday,” she said. Another proud mother was Nicola Wood, whose 13-year-old daughter Ellie pinched the ride on her home-bred Silva Ione and won the opening day’s 90cm class. Ellie was multitasking over the weekend, as she travelled to a junior show at Felbridge on Sunday to finish second in the newcomers.…

OUR sport is full of rules and regulations, designed to protect riders and horses. Every so often these regulations are brought to our attention through the misfortune of others, but it was a recent round from a now infamous Austrian rider Bernhard Maier that has had everyone in uproar. At a small international show in Austria, his round resulted in a yellow card and suspension from his national federation, not to mention complete humiliation on social media. As a rider, but perhaps more importantly as a trainer, there are many factors that can result in having a bad round. I’m not familiar with the history of either horse or rider, but I saw the video, which has spread like wildfire over social media. Unlike most people, my first reaction was…

CSI3*/2*/1*/CSIP KNOKKE, BELGIUM BRITISH successes continued during the second week of this tour. William Funnell headed a world-ranking speed on Billy Angelo, while Harry Charles celebrated his 18th birthday with a win on Victor in Sunday’s 1.45m two-phase. Michael Whitaker partnered Calisto Blue, a 10-year-old he began riding in May, into fourth place in the grand prix jump-off behind Frenchman Julien Epaillard (Usual Suspect D’Auge). In the two-star equivalent, Jess Mendoza (Horst Van De Mispelaere) and Peter Charles (ABC Quantum Cruise) were holding the top two places, but Frenchman Laurent Guillet thundered round on Sultan Du Chateau to demote the Brits. Allana Clutterbuck won a pony speed on Sultan Du Bary and Flo Norris headed a 1.10m jump-off class with the 2015 Horse of the Year Show newcomers champion Darling…

BREEDER: M Patrick Sisqueille, Castera VI OWNER: Ecuries Carlile Complet Eventing & SCEA De Beliard RIDER: Thomas Carlile UPSILON (right) and Thomas Carlile scored their second Event Rider Masters (ERM) CIC3* win at Barbury International horse trials recently — last year they won the ERM at Blenheim. The pair has been successful since winning the young horse French championship in 2012 and have accrued six wins from 13 international starts. French-bred Upsilon was bred by Patrick Sisqueille at Elivage De Beliard close to Pau in the south-west of France. The stud also bred Thomas’s World young horse and French champion ride Sirocco De Gers, as well as his former world young horse champion Tenareze, now in the UK and ridden by Harry Meade. Upsilon is bred to…

Kent County, Maidstone VANESSA CLARK’S decision to leave haymaking to her husband for a day paid off handsomely when her stunning Connemara stallion Castle Emperor defeated a top-class field to become Hon Dawn Gooch’s choice as Cuddy in-hand champion. Emperor, whose glowing golden dun coat makes him stand out, began by becoming Linda Impey’s choice as breed champion. Then it was off to the mountain and moorland (M&M) in-hand supreme, where he was called forward as champion by Allan Robertson. Finally, he again stood out in the show’s main Astor ring and Dawn Gooch had no hesitation in awarding him his fourth successive place in the Cuddy in-hand final at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Reserve went to Jane Townshend’s two-year-old Classictop Up & At It, a lovely,…

Great Yorkshire, Harrogate FOXHOUNDS from 17 different packs vied for the honours at the Great Yorkshire Show, where the Grove and Rufford challenged the VWH at every turn following a lean 2016. The Nottinghamshire-based pack won the doghound championship, but conceded defeat in the afternoon to an exceptional bitch from the southern raider’s Meysey Hampton kennels. Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn’s (Wynnstay) hounds landed a mighty blow for the old English foxhound by winning the first two classes on a day that also marked Michael Abrahams’ retirement from chairing the foxhound show committee after 25 years. Jacky Thomas MFH (Glamorgan) and Evo Shirley MFH (Portman) reviewed some attractive young hounds in the opening restricted class, including scopey entrants from the Bedale and Fernie. However, the eye was constantly drawn to the Wynnstay’s…

Foxhounds: doghounds (J Thomas MFH, E Shirley MFH), unentered rest.— 1, Wynnstay Chairman (Domino 11–Christmas 11); 2, Bedale Bounder (North Cotswold Botham 13–Bovril 13); 3, Fernie Stonton (Duke of Beaufort’s Stalwart 14–Romance 13). local. — Bedale Bounder. unentered couple. — 1, Wynnstay Chairman (Domino 11–Christmas 11) & Sherlock (Warwickshire Shaver 13–Grateful 12); 2, VWH Craftsman (Duke of Beaufort’s Starter 14–Crackle 14) & Panther (Dealer 13–Puzzle 13); 3, Grove & Rufford Miller (Broker 15–Melody 14) & Blizzard (Brigand 11–Bunting 15). old English. — 1, Wynnstay Chairman & Sherlock. unentered ch. — Grove & Rufford Miller. entered couple. — 1, VWH Folklore 16 (Duke of Beaufort’s Foreman 12–Pumpkin 13) & Fielding (Duke of Beaufort’s Foreman 12–Puppet 13); 2, Cottesmore Benson & Bentley 16 (G&R Bellman 13–Balmy 12); 3, G&R Laxton & Latimer…

‘Students are encouraged to learn good networking skills as contacts mean everything in the equine industry’ STANDING out from the crowd when applying for a job is vital in the current climate, and making the most of the resources at college is a great place to start. One such resource is the college’s careers adviser, who will discuss career options, help find work experience placements, and assist with applying for jobs. “For those undecided about their career path, impartial careers guidance is available from the careers office, in addition to the advice and support available from academic staff,” says Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) Dr Andrew Hemmings, head of the centre for equine management and science. “Students also have access to an online job portal, and there is considerable enterprise support…

1. Strike a balance between academic and practical experience. 2. Tailor your CV by reading the job description and then clearly showing how your skills and experience relate to it. 3. Write concisely and don’t waffle — bullet points work well. 4. Your CV should be well presented. 5. Double-check spelling and grammar. 6. Research the employer and state why you are interested in that particular role. 7. Demonstrate a skill rather than just saying you have it. 8. Don’t overlook the importance of “soft” skills such as working well in a team, communicating, liaising with clients and paying attention to detail. 9. Less is more — limit it to two pages max. 10. Consider your online profile, such as LinkedIn and Facebook, which are accessible for employers to see.…

STEPS HELSINKI John Whitaker’s former top ride has been put down aged 27. The 2002 Horse of the Year Show puissance winner enjoyed top-level international success with John, including fourth place in the World Cup grand prix in 2000, and was also ridden by Robert Whitaker and Guy Williams during his career. MINDING The seven-time Group One-winning filly has been retired at the age of four as a result of a pastern injury. Trainer Aidan O’Brien, who described Minding as one of the best fillies he had ever trained, said she will go to stud, after a career in which she won nine races and more than £2m. QUALITY PURDEY Chris Burton came second in the open intermediate at Eridge on the 11-year-old mare, a new ride for him. She…

RIDERS TO DEBUT AT DRESSAGE EUROS THREE riders will make their senior team debut in the para dressage European Championships at Gothenberg on 21-27 August. Newcomers Suzanna Hext (Abira), Natasha Adkinson (Sweet Caledonia) and Julie Payne (Athene Lindebjerg) join Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Wells (C Fatal Attraction) in Sweden. Suzanna has LJT Enggaards Solitaire and Sophie Valerius as direct reserve rides. The British non-travelling reserves are Susanna Wade with D’Artagnan and Izzy Palmer with Touchdown M. WORKSHOPS AIM TO BOOST SUCCESS RIDERS have the chance to take part in workshops aimed at increasing competition success using mental and physical methods. Northampton university and Team GBR sports psychologist Nichola Kentzer and Team GBR physiotherapist Daisy Collins will lead the sessions at the university’s Park campus on 1 August. They will cover…

KNIGHTS in shining armour are as fit as top athletes. English Heritage jouster Roy Murray demonstrated how fit riders have to be. He completed physiological tests, commonly used when training Olympic athletes, at the University of Bath. Roy’s body fat was 7.72% — the average man has between 15% and 20% and a professional footballer 8-10%. Tested to exhaustion on a treadmill, his maximal oxygen consumption test score put him in the same category as an elite tennis player. He has twice the upper body strength required for entry to the police and his alignment and balance were “comparable with leading acrobats”. Sport scientist Jonathan Robinson said the results are “very impressive”.…

IT’S every one-horse rider’s dream: to win at the top level, on a horse you have produced from scratch — and maintain a balanced, happy family life outside of horses. In the modern sport, it is almost impossible, which is why Sarah Cohen really is in a class of her own. She has competed at just three events this year, and has won both a CIC3* — the Event Rider Masters (ERM) class at Wiesbaden in Germany — and a CIC2* at Burnham Market, as well as finishing sixth in the ERM leg at Chatsworth. Two days after our interview, her name appeared on the long-list for the European Championships in Poland, in August. “It’s all a bit surreal,” she admits. We are sitting in the kitchen of the lovely…

“LAST year the crowd loved it,” says show director David Ingle of the new hunter-judging system that received universal praise when introduced at the RIHS last year. “The hunter championship is arguably the premier championship of the show,” adds David, “so [late showing director] Roger Stack and I thought the discussion and debate between judges would be well worth the extra time.” The judging format for the weight categories remains the same this time too. There will be one conformation judge for the light, middle and heavyweight divisions, but each category will have its own ride judge for the individual class places. Then the top two horses from each division will come forward to the international arena for the championship on Thursday 27 July at 3pm. The new system means…

THE unique nature of this helter-skelter parkland event — where almost every fence is sited on undulating ground — means that it provides an invaluable, educational outing. “Every time we opt to run at a flat event rather than one like this, we’re reducing the need to ride with instinct and feel,” observed Francis Whittington, fourth in the intermediate with Hope Over Experience. Pippa Funnell, who picked up several placings, said: “Eridge is one of the best training grounds to learn how to ride terrain; it makes you really work on your position. On my first horse, I was pitched forward over the triple brush arrowhead [fence 16] down the steep hill. It was a wake-up call and I made sure I really sat up after that.” Many riders failed…

Sheepgate, Lincs | Hill House, Lincs EMMA LEE-SMITH and Irish sport horse Barnys Diamond Smuggler headed two championship classes at their first Area Festival. The pair scored 73.57% — the highest of the Sheepgate show — to take the silver prelim, and 70.83% to win at novice, too. Emma has owned the nine-year-old by Newmarket Diamond for two years and also enjoys eventing, showjumping, hunting and side-saddle. “He’s a real all-rounder, but we’ve started concentrating on dressage this year,” said Emma. “I’ve just started training with Liz Mills and I’ve seen a massive improvement in both my horses. Liz concentrates on the basics and I feel a real improvement after each lesson.” The pair have a busy season, starting with the side-saddle championships in August, followed by a British Eventing…

WITH Olympic teams sadly down to three, preparation for the next Games has become even more important. There’s now no margin for error or experiment. Funding has been cut (news, 29 June), and while new sponsorship of horse and human clothing by FalPro and Musto is to be applauded, it’s those filling the clothes on the World Class committees that leave me with no inclination to put my hands together. The British Equestrian Federation publicity talks about “innovative and exciting plans going forward to Tokyo”. But if there was a vote on chief executive Clare Salmon’s leadership — or lack of, it’d likely be one of no confidence. The strength of feeling is gathering pace this summer as top professionals ask how to get their voices heard. Yes, like politicians,…

NO MUD BATHS, PLEASE! FOR many years, Yorkshire’s grass collecting ring has taken a fair amount of criticism, especially on wet show days, so the newly laid Andrews Bowen warm-up arena received universal praise. Graham Fletcher, who was instrumental in the change, explained: “Riders put up with it because they love to jump in the main arena, but it’s not great when the main ring is division one and the outside ring is division four. “It’s important to have conditions in the warm-up area right as the modern day competition horses are sensitive and they cannot give their best in the main ring if they are feeling the ground in the collecting ring. “I think the standard of jumping has been incredible here, and the new surface paid dividends especially…

Longines Global Champions Tour of Chantilly, France THE 10th leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour belonged to the flying Dutchman Harrie Smolders, but there were plenty of celebrations in the British camp, too. With a team win alongside John Whitaker for the Hamburg Diamonds in the Global Champions League under his belt on Saturday, 37-year-old Harrie made it a sensational double by also lifting the grand prix trophy with the mighty 13-year-old stallion Emerald NOP. “To win both on the same horse is something special,” said Harrie, who has extended his lead in the Tour’s individual standings with just four more legs before the final in Doha. Chantilly, France’s equestrian capital, welcomed a couple of hundred extra equine residents for a glorious weekend of jumping within the surrounds of…

GERMANY’S Celle state stud has said goodbye to two of its biggest dressage breeding stars. The Hanoverian sires Dancier and Don Crusador have both died. Dancier (De Niro x Lancier) was being operated on for colic last weekend (15 July) when it was discovered that his small intestine was irreparably damaged. The 15-year-old, who has 27 stallion sons in studbook I and fathered 92 state premium mares, was the most expensive foal at the 2002 Klosterhof Medingen auction, and was subsequently bought by Celle for €330,000 (today £289,690). His best-known offspring include Don Noblesse, Lordswood Dancing Diamond, Danciano and Owen Cooper’s UK-based stallion Don Dante. Just days earlier, the 19-year-old Don Crusador (Don Bosco x Lauries Crusador xx) was also put down. He was the champion of the 2000 Hanoverian…

Great Yorkshire A CONNEMARA mare sprang a major surprise when heading a strong line of 15 Cuddy supreme in-hand hopefuls, giving home-producer Jessica Walsh and longtime breeders John and Dianna Staveley a first-ever Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket. It was also Jessica’s first attempt at a Cuddy qualifier but, under the eagle eye of former racehorse trainer Jack Berry, the Staveleys’ stunning grey Eastlands Rashibrae (Rashie) captivated from the outset, demonstrating all that is best in this versatile breed. Indeed, Jack’s shortlist of seven was an all-native line-up, the plaited contenders not finding sufficient favour on this occasion. “My winner had marvellous presence, brilliant depth and heart room, a nice kind head and a bright eye,” said Jack. “Above all, it was a fabulous mover and looks the…

CLAIRE SMALLEY had the distinction of breeding the top four in the show pony first ridden class — Barkway Mr McGregor (right), Barkway Little Star, Barkway Moonfairy and Barkway Poet — and the lead-rein runner-up and section reserve, Barkway Sweet William. “Little Star, Moonfairy and Poet are all by Beckside Little Toff, and McGregor and Sweet William are by Barkway Bubbling Fun, a grandson of Orielton Aristocrat,” said Claire. “This cross has been the basis of all our breeding. “Toff has been an exceptional stallion — and at the age of 26, he’s also just had another mare, Charlesforge Anastasia, tested in foal to him for 2018.”…

THOSE watching might have been forgiven for wondering how Dain Atherden, who handled the Cuddy champion Castle Emperor (left) for the first time here, kept changing his clothes. They were actually seeing double, as Dain’s identical twin Frazer was on hand to support him. Both brothers are farriers and used to show M&M ponies together — that must have confused the judges, lads — but Dain, who shoes at racehorse trainer Richard Hannon’s yard, now leaves the mounted stuff to Frazer. “I’m sticking to in-hand and I’m hoping to get the job for the Cuddy final,” said Dain.…

North of England Summer Pony, Arena UK, Lincs A NORTHERN Ireland-based family sprang the surprise of the show to lift the prestigious £1,000 Michaela Wood supreme ridden pony title, beating a host of top names. Supreme debut-makers Ellie McDonnell, 12, and her lovely 133cm hunter pony Goldengrove Sunrise, were the very last to go in the 19-strong final but their mannerly, confident show wowed judges Jane Hubbard and Jenny Banks. “This pony was the most beautiful model, with a superb set of limbs,” Jenny commented. “It had a leg at each corner, lovely short cannons and plenty of bone — then it went out and did a really nice show, so that was the decider for us.” The result exceeded all the family’s expectations. “We were coming over for the…

FOUR packs of harriers were judged in a separate ring by Alastair Jackson and James Andrews MFH (South & West Wilts) during another remarkable day for the Holcombe, whose hounds were shown to full advantage by their professional huntsman, Steven Ashworth. Only the High Peak, who won both unentered classes with siblings Agent and Argue, prevented the Lancashire pack from victory in every class. Holcombe Dashwood 15 won the entered dog class ahead of Hallmark 16, and entries from the Vale of Lune and High Peak, and went on to secure the doghound championship. Dashwood, who is brimming with quality and, save for a white throat, completely black and tan, is the son of Diva 10, who was champion harrier bitch here in 2011 and 2016. The judges agreed the…

 FROM my late teens onwards, when I was eventing, I had lessons with Lars. I was inspired by him right from the start, as he had a way of getting the best out of a horse and I was struck by how quickly he could analyse a situation. ‘Throughout my career I have often thought, “What would Lars do?”’ Throughout my career, I have often thought, “What would Lars do? How would he handle this situation?” Best Mate was his type of horse since he had everything that Lars looked for. He was well balanced, had a good brain and moved his feet quickly into a fence. Lars loved to buy and sell horses and I caught the bug from him. He liked a blood horse and natural balance was…