Innholdsfortegnelse for 10-Aug-2017 i Horse & Hound

THE introduction of dressage to the Liverpool International Horse Show reflects a growing spectator interest in the sport, according to the show’s president. This is the first time that dressage will take place at the event (28-31 December) and the inter I invitational will be popular, president Nina Barbour believes. “The sport has a real loyal following and in some ways more people can relate to dressage than showjumping,” Nina told H&H. “The success of Charlotte [Dujardin], Carl [Hester] and the team at the last two Olympics set it apart from other disciplines.” GREATER INTEREST INTEREST in dressage has boomed since British Olympic success, says British Dressage chief executive Jason Brautigam. “The London Olympics provided a tremendous platform for our sport,” he said. “We are delighted visionary organisers such as…

THE organisers of the world’s newest CCI4* are “honoured” to be awarded the event. Fair Hill International, Maryland, has been put forward by US Equestrian (USEF) to host a second four-star in the United States from 2019. Kentucky currently hosts the only four-star event in the US and there are just six events at this level globally. The recommendation now goes to the FEI for final approval. Trish Gilbert, co-president of Fair Hill International, said the team has worked “really hard” to secure the four-star. “It is an honour to be selected to put on an event of this calibre — to showcase Maryland and the beautiful Fair Hill terrain on a world stage,” she added. The Maryland state-owned site already hosts a CCI3* in October and there are plans…

HILLBILLY BOY The Tom-Dascombe-trained gelding died at Chester racecourse on 15 July. The seven-year-old is believed to have had a heart attack. He won 10 of 41 starts and was an “absolute star”, according to Tom. FAVOURIT The Rothenberger family’s 18-year-old Rheinlander gelding has been put down following an accident in the stable during a storm. He won his last three international grand prix starts — all this year — under Germany’s Sönke Rothenberger. SUPPENKASPER US rider Steffen Peters has taken the ride on the dressage horse, who has won every international test he has contested this year.He had been ridden by German Helen Langehanenberg.…

PROPOSED JUMPING BOOT RULE CHANGE PROPOSED showjumping rule changes would ban “pinch” boots from all FEI competitions by 2021. The FEI is proposing to allow only boots “used solely for protective purposes”. The rule will apply for ponies, children, amateur owners and veterans from January 2019. The following year, under-25s, young riders and juniors will be covered, and all competitions from January 2021. An FEI jumping committee memo said the committee felt “responsibility to protect the integrity of the sport”. HONOUR FOR RDA JUDGING PANEL ROB WALKER said he was “honoured” to be asked to judge at the first Riding for the Disabled Search for a Star Final. The showing and hunting enthusiast, who has been confined to a wheelchair since a fall in January, will join Addington Manor owner…

POLO One was interested to read on the Game Fair’s website about the equine attractions. As well as a mounted hound parade and musical ride, the audience was to see Dallas Burston Polo Club “having a mini chucker [sic]”. Answers on a postcard, please. VISIONS Anyone not inspired by what appears to be the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) mission statement — “more people, better horses, better places, more medals...” (What? Ed) may be interested in the vision/poem/thing on the Paris Olympics website. It’s jaw-droppingly horrific, and ends with “Paris 2024. Made for Sharing”. Wasn’t that a Quality Street slogan? OLD JOKES Yes, we know cobs can jump. No, no one said they couldn’t. But we still chuckled at this: “My cob’s jumped out of his field”, to which the reply…

Sir — Hoorah for Carl Hester (column, 3 August), what sense he speaks. At a recent British Dressage (BD) regional my daughter had an unfortunate experience with the BD steward. Her horse is a very sensitive 18hh chestnut mare. She has to be sedated to have her teeth done and a stranger in bright blue gloves trying to put their fingers in her mouth freaks her out. All BD stewards to date have been prepared to come back to our box where we take the bridle off. At this regional my daughter finished her test and waited in the collecting arena for the judges’ break so the steward could come back to our lorry. I am very lame at the moment and they got there ahead of me. I found…

‘The circles help with suppleness and balance, which are key elements in training’ AIM ONE of the most effective exercises I use in training is spiralling circles. The purpose of this exercise is to teach the horse that when the leg aid is on — it means move, whether that’s move over and through, bending around the leg, moving forward within a gait or changing to another gait. The circles help with suppleness and balance, which are key elements in training, whether you’re riding a mountain and moorland pony or a showjumper. My biggest pet hate is to see any pony not bending around the rider’s leg, and which seems stiff and not going forwards off the rider’s leg aids. The exercise doesn’t require any equipment and can be incorporated…

Festival of British Eventing, presented by BETA, Gatcombe Park, Glos GEMMA TATTERSALL earned herself a seat at eventing’s top table by winning her first British open championship on Arctic Soul. Her triumph carried both the prestige of becoming national champion and the material reward of a £16,000 cheque for taking a leg of the Event Rider Masters (ERM) series. She did it the old-fashioned way, on what might be termed an old-fashioned horse: brilliant cross-country riding on a thoroughbred. Gemma and the Luso 14-year-old, who raced until he was six, were 13 seconds faster than anyone else in the class, but it was an exhibition of boldness and confidence as a team, rather than a hair-raising joyride that happened to come off. “I dared myself at every fence and he…

HAYDEN HANKEY’S third place in the Dodson & Horrell novice championship on Youve Got The Lux (right) may be an indication of what’s to come. The 37-year-old has always been a talented horseman, with a background in showing and then National Hunt racing, but really only evented horses he produced to sell and has spent the past couple of years’ showjumping. “I’m naturally more of an event rider — and you need big money to buy good showjumpers,” said Hayden. “Because this is my first season back [after a year out in 2016 and only five grassroots runs in 2015], I was taking today one step at a time, but I want to have a proper go at it.”…

Swallowfield, Warks | Solihull RC, West Mids Ali was riding ex-event horse Elegant IV, an eight-year-old Dutch gelding owned by Sarah Jones, proprietor of the yard where Ali keeps her horses. Despite Ali only having the ride since March, the pair have already competed on the northwest senior inter-regional team at the championships in May. “He was imported as a four-year-old to event but wasn’t fast enough cross-country, however, he’s definitely got a talent for dressage and is really trainable,” said Ali, who trains with Kate Cowell. “He’s qualified for the Area Festival at novice and elementary, and this win has qualified us for the novice freestyle regionals.” Ali is a keen advocate of Equipilates. “I did an hour of Equipilates before the competition,” she added. “It really helps keep…

Ladyleys Dressage, Aberdeen | Fountain EC, Aberdeen The Sir Caprimond x Rosenkavalier six-year-old was purchased from breeder Suzy Mainprice as a yearling with Fiona producing the horse herself. Fiona had previously competed at inter I with Ridinghill Everdon but after he died last winter she has carefully produced “Annie”, also winning at Tillyoch earlier in July. Also enjoying victory at prelim and novice was Fiona Menzies, who rode her home-bred seven-year-old mare Sunside Clarissa to score 70% in a bronze novice. The Irish draught mare is by Skip And Sea and out of the Banks Fee Daniel premium graded mare Carrigallen Queen. “Carrigallen Queen was shown extensively as a broodmare and Clarissa was unbeaten as a three-year-old with nine championships including champion at the Irish draught breed show,” said Fiona.…

Myerscough Area Festival, Lancs | Kingswood EC, Staffs Amy’s wins came in the medium and advanced medium with her nine-year-old son of Nibeley Union Jack and her elementary mare Annie, herself a daughter of Welt Hit II. “I put her in foal while I was at university,” said Amy, who is now a radiographer at Preston’s major trauma unit. “I chose Union Jack for his temperament.” It hasn’t all been plain sailing with the horse as he was diagnosed with kissing spines as a four-year-old. “He had the ligaments snipped and now I just manage the way I work him,” added Amy, who trains with Lisa Marriott. “I do plenty of work on the ground and so far so good.” Equestrian artist Rebekah Adshead won the elementary 45 at Kingswood…

Summerhouse EC, Glos | Burrows Court Farm, Glos “He hasn’t been out since the regionals at the start of March,” said Pauline, who was sidelined soon afterwards when she fractured her leg in a fall from another horse. “I’ve had to be patient and I’m still not that strong, but this puts us back to where we need to be.” Pauline jumped at the chance to try Waranos last autumn and was immediately impressed. “We knew his history and at 16.1hh he’s a nice size for me,” she said of the 14-year-old Fidermark son, who was on the British squad at the junior European Championships last year with Rebecca Bell. “He is quite hard work but he moves well. He’s a lovely little chap — cheeky but genuine.” Unseasonal weather…

RIDERS praised the “great footing” and, walking into this stunning venue, you’d be forgiven to thinking this spectacular set-up was a permanent Chelsea fixture. But Martin Collins, who provided the footing and infrastructure for the event, and his team worked for over a week to transform the iconic Hospital’s South Grounds into a five-star equestrian venue worthy of the star-studded event. “It was all supposed to have been levelled and be ready for us just to put down our mats and membranes, but they’d just pulled out the Masterpiece exhibition — the practice ring looked like a ploughed field and they’d dug big holes for Chelsea Flower Show, which inevitably the water gets in to. So it was like slop, like a blancmange almost, underneath,” said Martin Collins. The team…

EARNING some great placings over the weekend and catching the eye in her police uniform was Charlotte Lee and the 13-year-old Matterhorn mare Zarina, whom Charlotte has ridden for seven years and jumps up to 1.40m level. Charlotte is a full-time response officer for the Dorset Police force and was invited to compete through her work with the not-for-profit organisation Equine Forces in light of recent events in London. She owns three horses and runs a livery yard. “It is hard work, there’s no way to fluff it up — I’m here but with difficulty,” she said of her first GCT. “I do shift work which actually works out well as it means I’m at home more during the day to work the horses. But it’s a real honour to…

THERE’S much discussion surrounding Britain’s Nations Cup results this year and the team’s performance at Hickstead last week was abysmal. What looked a very capable team on paper simply wasn’t good enough. There’s just no strength or depth and it feels as if every time we’ve come out in a Nations Cup this season, we’ve failed. So where do we go from here? It’s clear there needs to be a better system in place, but actually the future is looking brighter — but we’re probably talking four years down the line. We have some very good young riders coming through — Jack Whitaker, Oliver Fletcher, Harry Charles and Robert Murphy — and I rate them a lot. Why are those kids in particular looking so good? Simply because they’re being…

AFTER an absence of two years, team jumping was back in Scotland. Ireland dominated the 128cm team competition while English chef d’equipe Eleni Murphy struck gold with both the 138cm and 148cm equivalents. With the home nation scoring two silvers and a bronze medal, show organiser Craig Blackie said, “It’s been a fantastic day with superb jumping and an unbelievable atmosphere. I look forward to even more exciting team competitions at next year’s Home Pony.”…

NPS Summer Championships, Three Counties Showground, Worcs A SHOW hunter pony (SHP) destined for an illustrious ridden career swept the board with four championship wins, including the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Cuddy breeders’ supreme in-hand title. Leading Litton Salvador to the top in-hand accolade was Ian Boylan, who produces the three-year-old brown gelding for owners Caroline Cochrane and Iain Almond. By Pickmere Sirocco, Salvador was bred by the Litton Stud and shown successfully by Ian as a yearling before being bought by Caroline and Iain. “He was cut and turned away with the intention of me showing him again as a three-year-old,” said Ian, who also took the Grahams SHP in-hand final, the British Isles in-hand championship and the Litton Stud SHP title the following day. “He…

THOMAS JONES, a first year accounting and finance student at Cardiff University, started the week standing second on board Menai Cardi Llwyd in the section D stallion class behind Menai Eurostar (Clare Fitch), a nephew of Cardi Llwyd. “Menai-bred animals have won no fewer than five section C ridden championships and, including the HOYS qualifiers, no fewer than five section D championships,” said Thomas’s father Peter. “This represents over 100 years of breeding at Menai.” Thomas and Cardi Llwyd went on to win a 44-strong HOYS Welsh cob class and stand overall champion out of a total of 100 exhibits across all four sections, collecting his ticket to Birmingham. Thomas’s older brother Richard, a veterinary student at Liverpool University, won this class on board Menai Cosmopolitan in 2015. “It’s a…

Bakewell, Derbyshire TORRENTIAL rain was the main talking point of this popular show (see box, below) but nothing could dampen the spirits of Warrington-based amateur Cheryl Owens. Shock and disbelief were her first reactions when she was called forward to win a strong heavyweight cob class with her home-produced Day Break Lad (Barney) — earning her first open ticket to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in the process — but tears of joy took over when she then landed the section title. “This is my first big show and second ever HOYS qualifier,” said a stunned Cheryl, runner-up in the SEIB Search For A Star final in 2014 with her other cob, Seal. Cheryl has two young sons and runs two businesses, keeping Barney at DIY livery with his…

A BRITISH Connemara Pony Society team is bidding to repeat its 2016 international performance success at Dublin Horse Show this Sunday [13 August]. This year’s team members are Amy Smith with Laburnum Richard (Pedro) — a member of the victorious team last year — accompanied by “newbies” Lydia Stuart (Hazelrock Rebellion), Anna Layfield (Derrygimbla Boy) and Myles Lindsay-Brown (Josie Jump). All four combinations will then debut at Clifden Show, Co. Galway, in a new performance class on Wednesday 16 August. This will have special significance for Lancashire-based Amy. “Clifden is the Mecca for Connemara people and as we bought Pedro from the Clifden sales seven years ago, I’m really excited about it,” said Amy, who took the native worker title at Hickstead recently with Kelly Capstick’s Aigas of Achnacarry. “Pedro…

Birling Trumpcard went through the card to stand overall BSpPS champion and supreme of show at Spotfest Haw The First Sea Lord’s haul included worker, part-bred in-hand and supreme champion gelding titles for Katie Rose Lloyd Denise Stotan’s home-bred Chadlee Magic Queen Of Hearts secured the supreme champion youngstock and open spotted pony titles Tanisha Mayo piloted Hot Chocolate to stand champion open spotted horse/pony before going on to be reserve supreme of show…

THE shock result of the general election was a disappointment for all field sports enthusiasts. We were in sight of the finishing post and then fell three out. But now the dust has settled and we have had time to reflect, things are not so bad; we are certainly no worse off than before. The animal rights lobby has its sights on game shooting as well as hunting and it is sad to see it receiving tacit support from much of the print media and the BBC. There is, however, no appetite to return to the Hunting Act and a recent London rally to support “strengthening” the legislation garnered fewer people than you see queuing outside any chip shop on a Friday night. We have coped admirably to date and…

ANDREW BALDING: not only did Here Comes When win his first Group One (the valuable Qatar Sussex Stakes) aged seven but Blond Me was second to Winter in the Nassau Stakes, while Beat The Band won the Group Two Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes and Scorching Heat won the Stewards’ Sprint Handicap. ITV RACING’S ED CHAMBERLIN  not only is ITV’s coverage really hitting its straps as everyone settles into their roles, but the big man at the helm scored 69 runs for Lord March’s victorious Racing XI against the Lord’s Taverners during a cricket match in front of Goodwood House on Tuesday. MARK JOHNSTON: another cracking “Glorious Goodwood” for the Middleham trainer. His four winners meant he was leading trainer at the meeting for the 11th time. THE ART OF WEATHER FORECASTING:…

Emerald Green Feeds Lindum Spirit, Market Rasen Racecourse, Lincs THE Lindum Spirit endurance ride is a firm favourite in the national calendar with its unique mix of serious competition and fun novelty classes — not many endurance rides feature treasure hunts and handy pony classes. This year there was a team dimension with the addition of the annual and hotly contested Home International and Celtic Challenge. The home nation teams are a mix of long distance endurance riders and fixed distance shorter and novice combinations, but with the results based on number of riders home and distance covered, the focus is on successful completion. The flagship class is the Lindum Spirit 170km, a multi-day endurance race over the Wolds that rewards careful riding and overnight horse management over the three…

HELEN MCFARLAND’S 11-year-old Arab/Connemara/Irish draught She Stoops To Conquer (Polly) does not have typical endurance breeding, but Helen likes some native — “a bit of rough” — in her horses for toughness over challenging routes. “I bought Polly as a five-year-old from her breeder. I knew she wouldn’t make speed over the fast flat rides, but over the tougher endurance tests like the Golden Horseshoe or Cairngorm 100 you cannot beat some native in the breeding,” she said.…

LOW starch, fibre-based feeds can help manage equine gastric ulcer syndrome, research has shown. The study was conducted on 32 horses in hard work, with significant equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). The focus was on diet, following treatment with omeprazole. Half the horses were given a specifi ed low-starch, fi bre-based diet, of their own forage and a restricted starch, high-fibre, high-energy cube, as well as a high-oil, low-starch, chopped alfalfa-based feed. The others remained on their original feeding regime. Horses in the change group showed significant improvements, even after omeprazole treatment had stopped. Many of those on their original diets regressed once medication ceased. The study, led by Nanna Luthersson and Coby Bulger, was run in collaboration with feed manufacturer Spillers and the Waltham equine studies group. It was…

NIP TUCK Carl Hester and ‘Barney’ have moved up to number three in the FEI world dressage rankings. The pair will be contesting the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, this month (22-26 August). “Clever Barney,” said Carl. “Let’s hope it’s a good omen for Gothenburg.” KIRBY PARK IRISH JESTER The Olympic silver medal-winning eventer has died aged 24. The 15.3hh gelding, ridden by Australian rider Megan Jones, contested the 2008 Beijing Games, taking home team silver and finishing fourth individually. STELLA Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum’s mare Stella died on 1 August aged 28. Meredith and Stella were part of the gold medal-winning German team at the European Championships at Hickstead in 1999.…

GLORIOUSNESS It was damp at Goodwood, with drooping hats aplenty. But it was worse for the jockeys, with reports rain-soaked silks were adding 3lb weight. Just think how many chocolate biscuits Frankie could have eaten for that… ACCURACY An event rider who won an intermediate was understandably over the moon, declaring to an H&H reporter it was the horse’s first run at that level. Except its five previous intermediate runs, as its record states, but let’s not split hairs. ACCURACY (AGAIN) Talking of things that might not be entirely correct, one was interested to read on the BEF website that “British sport is currently receiving unparalleled investment from the government and the National Lottery”. Didn’t the BEF tell us last month a drop in funding had meant a cut in…

WE saw the best of British brilliance this weekend with Gemma Tattersall crowned British open champion at Gatcombe and Scott Brash and team-mate Ben Maher producing a one-two at the Global Champions Tour (GCT) of London. But while the Festival of British Eventing is an established fixture, the GCT has struggled to find its “home” in this country — until now. The logistics of holding a five-star event in central London cannot be underestimated, but riders and spectators heaped praise on this show. From the perfectly designed layout to the British flags handed out at the entrance — and that stunning backdrop — we had all the ingredients for three days of sporting brilliance and great entertainment. Signs are this fixture is here to stay. Perhaps the only aspect yet…

HORSES are remarkable in the spectrum of facial expressions that they can exhibit. But have you ever wondered why they change their expression? Or asked yourself why your horse always seems “grumpy” when tacked up? Here at the Centre for Equine Studies at Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, we recently developed an ethogram — a description of behaviour (see box, right) — for the facial expressions of ridden horses. Using this ethogram, we investigated whether we could determine the likely presence or absence of lameness based on analysis of a series of photos for each lame and sound horse. Photos were acquired during a work period, so for each horse an average pain score was calculated based on the series of images. There were significant differences between the scores of…

HUNTING experience came to the fore in the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup, as the amateur riders had to showjump in torrential rain accompanied by flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder. But Lorna Collins, the Quorn’s stud groom and wife of the pack’s huntsman Peter, kept her cool — and her dressage lead after scoring 24.6 — on her smart six-year-old Blackrock Ricardo (right) to go clear. Across country the next day the pair picked up 6.8 time-faults, but just held on for victory over Katie Hancock. Lorna, who trains with Emilie Chandler, bought the son of Ricardo Z from Graham and Holly Smith as a four-year-old. “He’s a big baby but has a great temperament. He jumped out of his skin in the showjumping and was super across…

Chilham Castle (2), Kent GEORGIE STRANG showcased the rising star Capels Hollow Drift when he led from start to finish to win the Foxwood Maclean CIC*. The six-year-old, by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan, was the only horse to break the 40-barrier in the dressage (39.1) and added nothing to that score. “It was an amazing arena in front of the house and felt like a special occasion,” said Georgie. “A lot of horses found it spooky, but he was really grown up. His double clear felt quite effortless.” Georgie added that Scott Brickell’s cross-country course had “enough questions”. “It’s always quite a hilly course and tests stamina,” she said. Capels Hollow Drift has one longstanding owner in Georgie’s good friend Milly Simmie and a new one in Patricia Davenport, for…

Widmer, Bucks | Fairoak Grange, Berks Pilgärdens Fireball (H&H one to watch, 25 May) is owned by Christian Landolt and multiple Paralympic gold medallist Natasha hopes the six-year-old by Furstenball will be a team horse for her. “I’m riding him to give him some competition experience,” said Lisa, who trains Natasha. “It was ‘Freddie’s’ third show and he is now qualified for the regionals. “He has an amazing temperament and is level-headed with good energy. He’s only 16hh but rides a lot bigger.” Sarah Ansty was also scoring high with a 76% elementary win at Fairoak Grange. Woodhams Dorissimo is an eight-year-old Dancier x Lauries Crusader mare, bought as a just-backed four-year-old from Germany. “She’s a lovely moving horse but a bit of a handful so it’s taken a while…

‘Maybe if I’d just eaten a little less last night I could have got to the finish a little quicker!’ BEN MAHER ON GRAND PRIX SECOND BY 0.06 OF A SECOND Longines Global Champions Tour of London, Royal Hospital Chelsea THE home soil of London is proving a very happy stomping ground for Britain’s showjumpers. Nearly five years to the day since winning Olympic gold in Greenwich, team-mates Scott Brash and Ben Maher went head-to-head for one of the sport’s richest competitions, the €300,000 Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix of London. Mirroring the epic duel between Ben on Cella and Nick Skelton (Big Star) in the 2013 event, just six hundredths of a second separated these two masterful horsemen, but it was Scott’s all-out racing finish — and…

IN a thrilling conclusion to this high octane team competition, the Berlin Lions lost their overnight lead with the final round of the day, and instead the champagne corks popped for Miami Glory’s Scott Brash (GBR) and Denis Lynch (IRL) whose double clear in Saturday’s finale pushed them up to the top of the podium. Three teams ended up tying for first with five penalties each so it came down to time, and the Miami Glory duo’s fast clears handed them the winning prize, ahead of Valkenswaard United, with the Lions in third. “We needed that clear so the pressure was on,” said Denis, riding RMF Echo. Scott Brash had missed the first day of the show to act as best man at his friend’s wedding in Scotland, so USA…

Heckington, Heckington Showground, Lincs A CRACKING first-round clear, followed by a textbook jump-off scorcher, gave Holly Smith and her smart eight-year-old mare Elore a well-deserved first area trial win. This popular traditional village show, now celebrating its 150th year, has seen the greatest of established stars as well as new combinations compete in the unique arena, and all are regularly cheered on by enthusiastic grandstand spectators. In sharp contrast to last year’s baked earth, the going this time was on the soft side, but the old pasture had absorbed the previous night’s torrential rain remarkably well; the only real casualties were the lorry park and pedestrian areas, which quickly turned into a sea of mud. Unfortunately, a tractor parade and “monster truck” display immediately prior to the trial reduced the…

EMILY LOCKE has never been to HOYS before, but she managed to bag two tickets at this show riding both young and old ponies. The 10-year-old clinched her first ever qualifying ticket in the HOYS M&M first ridden class partnering Glebedale Sugar Babe. The five-year-old palomino Welsh section A came to Emily 15 months ago just backed. “This is Emily’s first year off the lead-rein,” said her mother Sarah Whitfi eld. The following day Emily headed the 122cm M&M WHP qualifier riding Penllyn Marten (right). The 19-year-old pony had been semi-retired, but the Bissmire family decided to let Emily have him on loan after she tried him earlier in the year. “We’ve had an incredible show and we weren’t even going to come. It was a last minute decision after…

IF you want to win the Royal International supreme championship — or any other title at an outdoor show – make sure your horse isn’t a one-surface wonder. Don’t compromise safety, but do work on different terrain and in all weathers. That was the lesson from Hickstead, where Allister Hood’s champion and reserve, from the riding horse and cob sections respectively, coped confidently with the soggy going. I realise that some riders don’t have easy access to safe hacking, but it’s easy to spot those who spend all their time in an arena. Only riding on an artificial surface is counter-productive. Research shows that the best training regime for any horse, whatever its job, is to work on the surfaces it is going to meet in competition. If you’re going…

A SHOWING-bred Shetland stallion, Blenheim Nightbird (left), is the model for a rocking horse on display in the Royal Mews. Karoline Thorpe and her mother, Jill Evans of Blenheim Shetlands, were contacted last September by craftsman Peter Street and, after much picture-taking and templates made in hardboard, polystyrene and plywood, a model was produced. “Peter visited us numerous times and Nightbird stood for hours, posing beautifully,” said Karoline. “I trimmed the real horsehair mane and tail to the right length and fitted the harness.”…

NINETEEN packs came forward for Ireland’s national hound show at Stradbally, Co. Laois, on 2 July. Robin Vestey MFH (Thurlow) and Charles Clark MFH (Holderness) judged the doghounds, and gave the day’s first prizes to the Carlow Farmers, whose litter brothers Belfry and Beasley, by Cattistock Bramble 12, took first and second in the unentered class. The pair also took the unentered couples class, and Belfry won the unentered championship. Louth Ranger was best unentered old English doghound. The West Wicklow won the restricted couples class with Gunshot 13 (by Middleton Gunner 07) and his son Biggles, while the Tipperary came to the fore in a strong two-couple class. Their litter brothers Chairman, Chaplin and Chamber 16 — by Culprit 12 — were joined by Fetlock 15, sired by North…

‘His chances increased dramatically when the downpours made their way across the South Downs’ WE went to “Glorious Goodwood” with a nice handful of horses and high hopes. Therefore, coming home with three wins and three seconds, at such a big meeting, was a brilliant result for the yard and I was delighted. Here Comes When winning the Group One Qatar Sussex Stakes at 20-1 and beating the favourite Ribchester was an obvious highlight. With both Ribchester and Churchill entered for the Sussex Stakes, we put Here Comes When in the race hoping at least to pick up the £106,800 prize money for third place. I may have been the only person at Goodwood on the Wednesday (2 August) pleased to see the rain arrive, and arrive it certainly did,…

WITH just four crops of three-year-olds to have reached the track, Sea The Stars (pictured) already has two English Classic winners to his credit, Taghrooda in the 2014 Oaks and Harzand in last year’s Derby. Now the 2009 champion, who stands at Gilltown in Co. Kildare, has bright prospects of adding a third, after Goodwood produced two leading St Leger contenders in Stradivarius and Crystal Ocean. Stradivarius will go to next month’s long-distance test at Doncaster with his stamina and class proven, having won the Queen’s Vase over the St Leger distance of a mile-and-three-quarters at Royal Ascot before his successful first foray into Group One company in the two-mile Goodwood Cup. The chestnut was bred by his owner Bjorn Nielsen, whose Masked Marvel won the St Leger six years…

British showjumper Guy Williams and his wife Rebecca welcomed a baby boy on 25 July, named Freddie. This is their third child, joining their son George and daughter Maisy. Racing legend and seven-time champion jockey John Francome has had a race named in his honour. Newbury’s Grade Two novice chase will be known as the John Francome Novices’ Chase. Showjumper John Whitaker was taken to hospital after a fall from Cassinis Chaplin at the Global Champions Tour of London. Son Robert said John was “sore and stiff but should be OK”. Paralysed former event rider Claire Lomas passed her motorcycle race licence on 27 July. The 37-year-old is planning to take part in track days and hopes to ride on circuits across Europe. Showjumper Edwina Tops-Alexander and Jan Tops welcomed…

TIM TAYLOR A LEADING light in eventing, Major Taylor died “peacefully at home” on 27 July at the age of 75 following a long illness. Major Taylor was a former horse trials director with the British Horse Society, then with the new British Horse Trials Association before it became British Eventing (BE). A tribute from BE remembered Major Taylor as a “knowledgeable, fair and inspirational director who worked hard in developing our sport for the future”. He was awarded a BE Millenium award in 2000 and an honorary life membership for his services to the sport. TOM O’DWYER TRIBUTES have been paid to the horseman who died in an accident on 28 July aged 56. Mr O’Dwyer had horses all his life and was British showjumper Emma O’Dwyer’s father. British…

THIS is Sugar. Looks innocent, doesn’t she? Do not be fooled. This wannabe Badminton star shot to fame at Calmsden Horse Trials, to which she had been taken as a companion to Lynne Elson’s Jubilee Harvest (Harvey). Sugar led Lynne, Harvey’s rider Emma Matthews and officials in 4x4s a merry dance on to the cross-country course, eventually being caught on her way back towards the lorry park. “She wasn’t even puffing,” said Emma. “The officials said she even jumped a couple of BE80(T) fences — perhaps she has more ambition than we thought!” Emma apologised to riders whose cross-country was held up, and is to take out public liability insurance, and contact organisers, before she takes the pony to another event. Ah, Shetlands……

HIDDEN DANGER Sir — Two years ago our local Riding for the Disabled Association bought a pony younger than the usual mature type. He was quiet, sweet natured and appeared ideal for their purpose. He duly passed his vetting. However, he was almost too quiet, could not be persuaded to go forward and several months on it was decided to have his blood tested. It transpired that he had severe liver damage and, after initial treatment to no avail, the vet recommended euthanasia. At the same time my friend found ragwort in her hay. As a precaution she had four of her horses blood tested, even though they showed no outward signs of damage, only to find that all of them were severely damaged. Their blood tests have shown no…

THE weather made the Festival of British Eventing quite an ordeal as an organiser and the mess is taking on a whole new dimension in the clear up. Happily, though, we were able to produce some of Gatcombe’s best footing — with the help of the estate we started mowing earlier, so the grass cover was the best ever. I apologise to competitors in the novice championships. I always take pride in the way my courses flow and I patently failed with the novice tour around Avening Banks. I was, though, pleased with the picture from the other courses. THE FEI WON’T LISTEN I AGREE with Mark Todd about the steeplechase of modern cross-country, with the “friendly profiles and groundlines”, which encourage riders “to take more risks” (column, 27 July).…

THE team test in Kaposvár lasted three days, rather than the usual two, when a sudden storm brought torrential rain and thunder and lightning. The storm began when eventual individual champion Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel entered the arena, and conditions were so bad with five riders to go that the team test had to resume the following day. “Lucie was greeted by thunder and lightning,” said Germany’s team trainer Cornelia Endres. “That would put anybody off — from 30°C and sun to heavy rain and 10°C in less than a minute.”…

IF you ever wondered why the FEI is looking at ways to improve the accuracy and consistency of dressage judging you only need to look at the results from the grand prix at Hickstead (report, 3 August). All five judges were Olympic level and yet they had one rider ranked both first and 20th, and two others second and 19th. In fact, they could not agree to within 10 places on almost 50% of the horses. Yet this wasn’t bad judging or bad judges; it is a symptom of our current system. I suspect the reason for this divergence is that they hadn’t judged most of the horses before, so they couldn’t fall back on thecrutch of pigeonholing. This is where the judges know that a pair is a 6.5,…

RINGSIDE GAME OVER showed his native versatility after winning the Catalyst Capital 50+ rider challenge final — for those aged 50 and over who haven’t ridden in the show ring for at least seven years — with David Thomas and netting his ticket to Birmingham. Standing top of the line in the 27-strong HOYS qualifier, the eight-year-old Welsh section D was ridden by Katie Williams, who was stepping in for her sister Alex, who has broken her ankle. The girls’ mother Christine bred the son of Llanarth Old Fashion and his dam Sydenham Gooseberry was a HOYS finalist and also contested WHP classes. Ringside Game Over took the supreme title at Lampeter this year and finished second in the qualifier at Monmouth in July.…

DAVID PUTTOCK made a winning return to the show ring after a 12-year absence, stepping in to show Norma Grubb’s home-bred Appledark Magic Touch (right) at New Forest to take the Irish draught in-hand title. “Claire Oliver usually shows him under saddle, but she was busy taking the ridden hunter championship in another ring,” said David, whose previous show ring appearance was at HOYS in 2005. “I enjoyed my outing, but I don’t plan on making it a habit.” Nicola Jane Swinney — former H&H showing editor — took a busman’s holiday to the Festival of Hunting recently, catching up with showing friends. Nicola, now a sub-editor at H&H’s sister publication Shooting Times, said: “It honestly was like I’d never been away.”…