Innholdsfortegnelse for 02-Nov-2017 i Horse & Hound

THE final draft of international eventing rules for 2018 has been broadly welcomed by key players. The proposals include some significant changes from the early draft (news, 20 July). This final version keeps the top-level events within the star system as CCI5* majors, rather than as a separate category. It also includes a rejig of the names of each level and a move towards calling events “long” or “short” rather than CCI or CIC (see table). These naming changes have been delayed until 2019. Badminton director Hugh Thomas said he is “very happy” with the treatment of CCI4*s. “The four-star organisers had a meeting with the FEI during Burghley and had constructive dialogue,” he told H&H. “The result is what we see in the new proposals. The FEI said the…

A NEW British Equestrian Federation (BEF) board will work towards a “secure and positive future for the BEF”, its chairman has promised. The board has been appointed and new “articles of association” approved by members. This was the “key milestone” required by UK Sport and Sport England’s code for sports governance, with which all governing bodies were required to comply by the end of October to keep their funding. The board of 12 directors will be the ultimate decision-makers, comprising four independent non-executives, four elected by the council and one nominated by each of British Dressage, British Eventing, British Showjumping and the British Horse Society. Meanwhile, the members’ council’s role will be consultation and “constructive challenge”. Board chairman Ed Warner, a city financier and former chair of UK Athletics, said:…

A JOCKEY behind “as blatant an example of a non-trier as one could get” has been banned from the racecourse for 10 years. Adam Carter’s licence has been revoked until October 2027 by the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) disciplinary panel. Mr Carter’s ride on Blazeofenchantment, at Southwell on 4 June 2014, and a Betfair report of “suspicious betting patters”, led to a stewards’ enquiry. This found Mr Carter had deliberately failed to ride the horse on its merits. The matter was referred to the BHA, whose panel also found Mr Carter had deliberately not ridden the horse on its merits, in the knowledge that bets had been placed for him to lose. It was found he had passed information to Paul Bradley, through him to Peter Bennett, for betting. “The…

SINGING We will spare the blushes of the dressage rider caught on video singing at the top of his voice while driving the lorry back from a show. But we can reveal he was warblingLet It Go, from Disney film Frozen. Or we think it was, anyway… GODLINESS Stewards were called at Ascot when an owner was seen sprinkling his horse with water. An official said they were told it was holy water, no doubt for luck. “But we don’t know,” he added. “It’s been sent for analysis.” We want to know how one would prove water was indeed holy. Would a divine entity have to give the nod, or would a litmus test do the trick? UNDERWEAR A question on dressage riders’ preferred underwear sparked debate, with answers from…

IT’S not often I say this, but my heart gave a little joyous leap when I read the latest proposed amendments to the 2018 FEI eventing rules (news, p4). For once, it feels like equestrianism’s international governing body has responded to feedback — and its transparency in publishing national federations’ comments is to be applauded. Among the best changes are bringing the current four-stars, such as Badminton and Burghley, into the new star system; yes, it will take time to get used to calling them CCI5* majors, but it is far better to have our flagship events in the grading rather than entirely outside it as was originally proposed. It will be interesting to see whether the new criteria to run such an event result in any of our current…

‘It’s important to have the canter soft, balanced and straight before the horse starts jumping’ AIM THIS exercise involves cantering down the long side and asking for more or fewer canter strides each time. I use it on all my horses, from young to advanced, and I find it is a great way of developing control in the canter for jumping. You want to be able to shorten and lengthen the horse’s stride in front of and between fences, and this is an excellent way of teaching the horse before introducing poles. It’s important to have the canter soft, balanced and straight before the horse starts jumping, as an unbalanced horse will be more likely to start tapping the poles and quickly learn to disrespect them. I ask the horse…

AT the end of the showing season and the start of the hunting season, is perhaps time to reflect on the dwindling support from the two- and three-day-a-week packs for the major shows, coupled with — or perhaps as a result of — a dearth of packs breeding something worth showing. So what are the reasons? Fear of contracting kennel cough has undoubtedly had an effect, and until hunting grasps the nettle of compulsory vaccination it will continue to lurk in the background. (No such problem at other major canine shows such as Crufts!). But the cough has always been around and has not put people off too much in the past; nor can fuel prices be blamed. The rise of smaller shows such as Blaston and Three Counties may…

Quob, Hants | Sparsholt College, Hants It was a prelim win for Headmore Footloose and a plus-80% novice victory for Headmore Figaro. Footloose is owned by Nicky Moss and was ridden by her stepdaughter, Maeve Morris. The Florencio gelding is an embryo transfer from Headmore Donato, a Dimaggio mare bred by Sarah Oppenheimer and bought by Nicky as a foal. Headmore Figaro is also an embryo transfer youngster, also by Florencio and bred from Alice Oppenheimer’s former grand prix ride Headmore Boadicia (by Belissimo M). It was the youngster’s first show and, after a hors concours practice in the prelim, he aced his first ever novice, ridden by Dannie Morgan. At Sparsholt College, the show organiser’s daughter Daisy Mansfield is getting to grips with her powerhouse loan pony, Rayid Heart…

SARAH BULLIMORE rerouted Reve Du Rouet to Pau after they parted company at Burghley eight weeks earlier. Now 13, the 17hh gelding by Balou Du Rouet has been with Sarah since a three-year-old. When he began competing on the international circuit, remaining calm in the bigger atmospheres proved problematic. “He’s genuinely terrified of big crowds; he’s getting better, but he can still have a wobble,” said Sarah. “As he was walking to the arena to showjump today there was a big cheer for the rider before us. I kept him walking outside, talking to him, and once he got in there he felt calm.” Sarah came to Pau via Le Lion, where she finished sixth aboard Corouet, who shares his sire Balou Du Rouet with Reve Du Rouet. Corouet is…

Crofton Manor, Hants IT was a fruitful weekend for Georgie Crumley and the Old Lodge Stud, as she piloted Haifa OL to wins in the two biggest classes of the show, as well as claiming the winter grade C qualifier with Khaled OL. Course-builder Matt Hoskins ensured the prize fund had to be earned in Saturday’s feature event, the £995-to-the-winner 1.35m open. The popular class attracted 47 starters, but only five progressed to the second phase. All the jump-off contenders finished on four faults, with an opening bid from Will Fletcher and Glory Rose setting an early standard. They clipped the triple bar in 39.84 seconds, good enough to leave the others chasing. Sally Goding and Tiger Millie II , the first of her two rides through, trailed by over…

THEY say that every picture tells a story — but when you’re assessing horses, photographs can be misleading. People often send me pictures and ask if I think an animal will make a particular type of show horse. My answer is always that I need to see something in the flesh. Professional photographers with a good knowledge of horses know how to stand an animal for the camera and photograph it from the correct angle. Pictures taken from the wrong angle can give the wrong impression. They can make a horse look short in the neck or too long in the leg; you can make a noble head look big and ugly; and you can make a deep-bodied, well-muscled show horse look fat. That’s why keyboard warriors should be careful…

THE National Hunt season proper is now under way and it was great to see a lot of the big guns out over the weekend at Cheltenham and Aintree. This season has been ‘so far, so good’ for us. We’ve had 26 winners, our best start yet. Last year we finished on 60, so this year’s aim is 61! We’ve had a good level of consistency the past couple of years, so we’re just out to win as much as we can. We had a good winner with Poetic Rhythm in the Grade Two Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow a couple of weeks back, which was a great start to the campaign. The ones that aren’t winning are still running well, so we’re not scratching our heads wondering what…

SEIB British Riding Clubs Quadrille Final, Bury Farm, Bucks CORNWALL TREC GROUP won their first quadrille title after they impressed the judges at Bury Farm’s All Stars Gala Night with their Mary Poppins II-themed display. The team scored over 90% to finish ahead of defending champions Saffron Walden Riding Club (RC), who together with Moat View RC have dominated this event in recent years. “It took six years to get the win but we finally got there,” said Cornwall Trec Group’s team coach Verity Perry. “This is a win for everyone, not just the four riders but all the guys in the background, it’s been a huge team effort and I am so proud of them all.” Their Mary Poppins II entry was recycled from 2013, although all the horses…

‘He’s better kept in work’ “MY event horse, Black Hawk Down, does not have a proper winter break, because he loves his work too much,” says Cumbria-based Emma Atkins. “After the season, he has two to three weeks of hacking and enjoying the views, before starting up again for the winter dressage series. “When I first got him, I gave him a winter holiday, but he became unbearable — always grumpy and wanting to bite, which isn’t his character. After the break it was almost as if I had to start again with him from scratch. “Since then I’ve always kept him in work and he has been a pleasure. He’s a lovely little horse with manners to die for, but only when he is in work.” ‘Mine love a…

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TWO O TWO British eventer Antoinette McKeowen’s four-star gelding has died aged 25. The 15.3hh Welton Crackerjack gelding completed Badminton and Burghley nine times. SILVINIACO CONTI The National Hunt hero is thriving in his post-racing career. “Conti” retired from the track in April and since then has been enjoying cross-country and team chasing with Charlotte Alexander. CRACKER JACK US eventer Boyd Martin’s ride had to be put down after he suffered multiple fractures to a pastern on the cross-country course at Pau CCI4*. The 14-year-old gelding was bred by Lucy Boynton Lie and competed by her son Colin until he died in a car crash. FAYONAGH Cheltenham Festival winner Fayonagh has been put down following an injury in training. The six-year-old daughter of Kalanisi won all four starts for trainer…

OH dear. Honesty may not be the best policy... Inspired by research carried out by Santander which showed that one in 10 cyclists hide how much they spend on their hobby from their partners, we asked H&H readers for their thoughts. And it turns out we riders are worse than cyclists, as 82.1% said your loved ones do not know how much you spend on your horses. But it gets better, as only about half of you have hidden (or admitted hiding) a major horse-related bill from the family. Just over half, if we’re being picky. And, only six respondents admitted to having bought a horse without telling their partners or families, so it can’t be that bad. Plus to go back to the research, it found the top three…

Sir — Your article on electric cars (news, 12 October) made me wonder how horses on the road would react. On the first encounter in my electric car, it was particularly interesting... Two horses were being ridden two abreast ahead of me, their riders nattering, totally unaware of my presence. But their horses clocked me instantly, both flicking their ears back at me. I was now closer behind them, had wound my windows down and turned the radio up quite loudly, but still only the horses noticed. So when a suitable place to pass approached, I edged past. Again, both horses were calm because they knew I was there, but their riders didn’t. This situation has happened a few times and each time the horses knew where I was. So…

“WHAT you’re looking at here is the ballroom,” says businessman Mark Bellissimo, pointing to a vast expanse of flattened mud — and a digger in action. As far as the World Equestrian Games (WEG) go, ballrooms, we imagine, are fairly low priority. But then so are infinity pools, five-star hotels and spas, all of which were sketched out by Mark on the back of a piece of paper —“My daughter has kept them and calls them the Markhives!” — and are now swiftly swinging into production. “We want this to be, literally, an almost Disney-like experience,” he says, surveying the 1,600 acres at Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina that he bought in January 2014 with his wife Katherine and five other families. Dressed in a crisp open-collar shirt,…

‘My aim is to keep doing what I’m doing, not get ahead of myself ’ MITCHELL BASTYAN JAMES BOWEN 16yo, 7lb claimer with Nicky Henderson THE name Bowen needs no introduction, even less so in Wales. James’ father, Peter, trains in Pembrokeshire and older brother Sean is already well established as a jump jockey. His other brother Mickey supplied him “with so many steering jobs” when he started, that his 30 point-to-point winners since his 16th birthday in March came at a staggering strike-rate of 55%. Home-schooled since the age of 14, James rode 80 winners on the pony racing circuit and was only ever going to do half a point-to-point season before turning professional. There was naturally going to be a clamour for his services and it was…

‘As autumn hunting ends and the season proper begins, newcomers and devotees relish the chance to go hunting’ @cfausten…

Kent & Masters Team Quest and My Quest Championships, Bury Farm, Bucks DURING an action-packed weekend, It’s All About The Bling and The Cookie Monsters took the Team Quest titles by only a few marks, while Tina Smith won the open prelim title and the Gill Drew memorial cup for the highest My Quest score. Quest Club has gone from strength to strength. The championships are the ultimate goal for thousands of riders aged from six to more than 60 and British Dressage (BD) made sure that there was a true championship feel. Each class had three judges; there were gold, silver and bronze medals, luxury sashes and rosettes. For My Quest competitors, there were so many prizes that winners could hardly hold them all for the prize-giving. With a…

FORMER event rider Claire Abel took the inter I on Friday riding Rowan Magic, a 13-year-old gelding by Roh Magic, with 69.56% which followed second place in the inter I on Thursday. The win was all the more special due to it being their first show in 12 months. “I’ve been super busy setting up a new business so he has just been training for a year,” explained Claire, who won the amateur rider award at last year’s Horse & Hound Awards. “He did his first big international last September and hasn’t been out since, but apart from fluffing his two-time changes when someone opened the door to the arena at just the wrong moment, he did a good test. I was especially pleased with his halt to rein-back transition,…

West Wilts | Bicton, Devon Riding his 12-year-old Tiny Tempur, who came from Fiona Bigwood last Christmas, Salisbury-based Angus pipped Hayley Watson-Greaves and Berkeley TH into the top spot at West Wilts. “We only received the music, which was put together by Ros Emery-Kay, two days beforehand and Angus had a last-minute ride through with his trainer Jennie Loriston-Clarke,” said Angus’ mother, Mary Corrie. “We gave Angus a top hat for his birthday and he was thrilled to be able to wear it before they are no longer allowed.” Currently in his second year of A levels, Angus has recently been selected onto the BEF Excel Talent Programme, which will give him access to a top range of trainers over the next two years. Holly Browne, 22, received a welcome…

SO that’s it — the last event of the 2017 season is over. It has felt like a long year, and I think we are all quite pleased to have finished now. The New Zealand team had a great win in the Nations Cup final at Boekelo — I know it isn’t a major championship, but it was a nice “feel-good” boost and bodes well for next year. Pau is a lovely event to go to as a finale — we enjoyed fabulous weather, and it has a wonderfully friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Data analytics company EquiRatings wound everything up by announcing that Andrew Nicholson and I could take the world number one spot if we got the right results, and that created a buzz. I took two horses: the experienced…

CSI2* COSTA DEL SOL TOUR, MIJAS, SPAIN THE seemingly unstoppable Laura Renwick and Bintang II added this week’s grand prix to their ever-growing list of achievements. Laura and the 11-year-old by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve claimed the €6,150 prize in their third grand prix victory on the trot by over two-and-a-half seconds in a nine-strong jump-off. This win also sealed a treble this week for the Essex rider, who clinched victory in Saturday’s 1.35m speed class on Utrillo De Breve and Friday’s 1.45m speed class on Bintang, where Harry Charles (Victor) took the runner-up spot. CSI3* MONTPELLIER, FRANCE IRELAND clocked up an astounding run of success, with Darragh Kenny and the 11-year-old Go Easy De Muze (Vigo D’Arsouilles x For Pleasure) landing the spoils in the grand prix, fastest by…

Cheltenham, Glos NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES invariably has a team primed at his local course and he was immediately on the board at Cheltenham’s Showcase on Saturday (28 October) — a fixture that has gone from strength to strength with its repositioning in the calendar and attracted a record crowd of 18,320. The trainer’s son, Sam, forged clear aboard Cogry in the extended three-mile handicap chase — having beaten his ride by a neck in the Scottish National last April when aboard Paul Nicholls’ Vicente. An hour later, in the Randox Health Handicap Chase, it got even better for the father-and-son team, with Twiston-Davies jnr delivering an exceptional frontrunning ride on Foxtail Hill and finding enough in reserve to thwart the Nicholls-trained favourite Le Prezien. The Twiston-Davies stablemates had made the headlines…

Foxcote Estate, Glos MAKING light of a varied and strength-sapping track, Wishful Thinkers Too stormed to victory in the Skinner’s open qualifier. Simon Coady and Charlie led them rapidly away from the start and they were taking strides out by the first fence. Dom Gwyn-Jones, Sara Cork and Anne Mackley swooped over the first big question — a drop-hedge on an angle — then they all got great leaps over the big hedge out of the wood. They galloped on to the Cotswold’s unique “dressing” fence, a ditch-and-rail on a steep downhill slope, then Anne took up the running on Ghost to bring them home as the only team under the five-minute mark. “Charlie’s a great lead horse, if a little delicate,” explained Simon. “It can be lonely up front,…

VERITY has been an instrumental part of the Cornwall Trec Group’s quadrille campaigns since their first entry in 2012. “Verity donates her time, indoor school and expertise year after year and won’t take a penny,” said BRC Area 19 rep Jane Fisher. This year Verity has also lent Cathy Craddock the ride on Silverline Lightning after Cathy’s horse had to be put down following a freak accident. “Verity has a heart of gold and is so generous,” said fellow team member Clare Chapman. “She’s a fantastic support and we simply couldn’t do it without her.” Verity’s indoor school also plays host to an annual gala evening which raises funds for the quadrille team.…

HORSES living out in winter can happily eat frosted grass every morning for weeks on end without suffering any adverse effect. Evidence that frosted grass causes colic is only circumstantial. Frozen grass will be rapidly warmed in the mouth during chewing and mixing with warm saliva, and will be further warmed as it travels down the oesophagus to the stomach. Furthermore there are unlikely to be any significant frost-induced chemical changes in grass in winter such that colic would ensue. While it is easy to attribute an unexplained colic case to having recently eaten frosted grass, the evidence that this is a real factor is just not there.…

KEEP your horse’s hooves healthy with some easy to follow preventative measures: Clean and pick out feet daily (right). • The process of using a wet poultice to burst a foot abscess is to soften the sole, but if left on for too long, the foot suffers. Get the foot used to changes in environmental conditions and bring horses in from muddy fields for several hours to allow the foot to dry out. • An unbalanced foot is more prone to developing flares, which results in uneven strain on the hoof wall. Consequently grass/ sand cracks develop and organisms can access underlying structures. Skilled farriery is required to maintain healthy hooves. • Assessment of the hoof at rest and during the normal foot flight is essential to maintain this degree…

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THE use of a weigh tape often identifies changes earlier than visual assessment alone, allowing feed and management to be adjusted accordingly. As a general rule, you should be able to feel the ribs but not see them. Bear in mind that during the winter months, a thick winter coat can obscure the condition of unclipped horses. We also need to take rugs off regularly in order to check the body condition of those horses not in work. Weigh clinics with vets and nutritionists are a perfect environment for owners to learn how to measure and monitor their horse’s body condition score and girth. They also encourage owners to carry out relevant winter health checks — such as routine dental care, worm egg counts and tapeworm testing — and are…

Eventer Michael Jung has taken the top spot in the FEI world rankings for the third year in a row. Neither Mark Todd nor Andrew Nicholson could catch his total of 463 points for the season. Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has broken Bobby Frankel’s record for the most Group One winners in a season. Bobby’s record of 25 was set in 2003 but Aidan has won 26 this season. Actress Joanna Lumley narrated Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse at the Royal Albert Hall on 27 October. She was joined by Mr Morpurgo with music from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Dutchman Eric van der Vleuten has stepped down as coach for Spain’s showjumpers, a role he has held since 2014. He will focus on his own ridden career, returning to top-level competition.…

A STELLAR LINE-UP FOR LIVERPOOL CARL HESTER is among the “stellar” dressage line-up set to compete at the Liverpool International Horse Show (29-31 December) this year. Carl is to ride Hawtins Delicato in the inter I freestyle on the Friday. It is the first time dressage has run at the show and follows the introduction of CDI competition to Bolesworth International, of which Nina Barbour is also president, this year. Carl said it is “very exciting” to have Liverpool in the dressage calendar. TOP COACHES ARE GIVEN RDA AWARDS PARALYMPIC multi-medallist Sophie Christiansen presented the first Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) coaching awards. Karen Thompson was named coach of the year at the RDA’s annual training conference (15-16 October). Joanne Orr took driving coach of the year, Rebecca Hewitt…

TUCKING IN The “Festival of Food”, which previously served the hungry hordes at Badminton, is to be replaced by a new concept, ahem, “The World of Food and Drink”. An artist’s impression shows 36 stands and, apparently, there will be an emphasis on sampling. What’s not to like? READING News emerges of a successful Cheltenham festival. Before racing fans can scratch their heads, that’s the Cheltenham Literary Festival, which sounds much the same, just less racing and more books. More jelly beans too; authors munched their way through 27kg. The mind boggles. RULES Anyone keen to know fence heights for team chasing may be entertained by the official website. Intermediate is for those who are “a bit braver”. “Or if you’re completely mad, tackle the humungous open course,” it adds.…

‘If a round doesn’t go to plan, you’re allowed 30 minutes to get mad, re-evaluate then move on’ My first pony… A five-year-old grey 11.2hh Welsh pony, Sparkle, who was so naughty. But she taught me to be brave. My secret weapon… My first original, extremely worn-in Devoucoux saddle. I often tell the grooms to put it on for a big competition — mentally, it puts me in my comfort zone. My money-saving secret… Buying a wallet to hold my cash and cards in. I put money in my pockets, which often ends up lost. Eating out… At Nobu (Asian fusion) and Mr Chow (Chinese); they both have restaurants in New York and Miami and the food in both is incredible. Not to mention the fact that I met Simon…

LOOK around any hunting field in the British Isles — and the USA — and you will find an ex-racehorse enjoying a second career. They will range from Cheltenham Gold Cup and Group One winners to horses that never made it anywhere near the winner’s enclosure. This autumn, a picture of champion National Hunt jockey Richard Johnson hunting the recently retired Menorah, a winner at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, with his young son Caspar on the lead rein, went down a storm on social media. But what about racehorses in training? Do modern trainers still use hunting as an educational tool — or a “sweetener” — in the way their predecessors did, or are their elegant charges just too valuable to risk? “We send quite a few of…

THE RS Surtees Society is republishing Cyril Heber Percy’s book Hym, a wonderful tale of a fox, born above ground in the depths of Owston Wood in the heart of the Cottesmore Tuesday country. The RS Surtees Society has a strong track record of republishing wider foxhunting literature now the whole Surtees canon is in print, such as the Duke of Northumberland’s The Shadow on the Moor. “It was the great Michael Allsopp of the Old Berks who laid the society on to Hym, and what a genuine treat it has been to republish it,” explained society chairman Rob Williams. “I’ve always seen it as a sort of Jock of the Bushveld for English foxhunting and it’s brilliant for kids. The author’s son, Bill Heber Percy, told me that his…

 Beaver Hall, Staffs | Arley Moss, Cheshire | Bold Heath EC, Cheshire ‘I’m hoping he’s going to be a cross-country machine’ ERIN DENNEY ON RAFFERTY I Technically, the 12-year-old mare Gunstone Liberty Bell is not a home-bred, but Sam owned and rode her sire Gunstone Iwondo D and owned her Carnaval Drum dam when she was conceived. She sold the mare before she foaled, buying back her resulting daughter as a yearling. “If I’m honest, I didn’t want a chestnut mare, but she’s coming into her own now,” said Sam, who put the music together herself the week before the show at Beaver Hall. “We’ve done a couple of inter Is and I’d love to do some inter II or grand prix. I haven’t ridden at that level before,…

Solihull RC, West Mids | Swallowfield, Warks She landed the novice and elementary championships at Solhihull, riding seven-year-old skewbald gelding Ashtree Rocky, whom she has owned for 10 months. “Rocky was brought over from Ireland as a stallion four years ago and I bought him unseen in December 2016 after seeing him at the Coloured Horse and Pony Association [CHAPS] championships that September,” said Samantha. “We have had an amazing season this year, winning the Area Festival novice silver first round and the large traditional championship at the UK Traditional of the Year Show.” Samantha’s other ride, the seven-year-old piebald gypsy cob Lexus II, took the medium championship. “Lexus II is my horse of a lifetime,” she said. “He was novice, elementary, freestyle and points champion at CHAPS this year.…

‘We discuss how to encourage a horse to eat more forage if they are fussy eaters’ WHO helps you decide what to feed your horse? A friend? Your instructor? Online forums? Your vet? What about contacting a feed helpline for nutrition advice? Maybe you worry you will only be recommended the most expensive feed they sell, or something unsuitable? But when you call the Saracen Horse Feeds nutrition helpline, you will be asked a series of questions about your horse to ensure that not only is the best and most appropriate feed from the range advised, but also that other aspects of your horse’s diet and management are taken into consideration to ensure you get the best result from your new ration. We frequently speak to owners with horses of…

I’VE recently been very fortunate to have travelled to the USA and Canada to give two two-day seminars. Starting at the New England Dressage Federation, the days were full-on with the evenings taken up with talks, meet-and-greet, dinners and then on to the next day with the same at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Ontario. Home again, albeit with jet lag, I was reflecting on a wonderful time. I still, however, find these events very daunting and I know this will sound unbelievable to some, but at the start of my career I was a shy and unconfident person (I can hear some of you laughing in disbelief!). The first point of this column is once again to help up-and-coming riders realise that, in dressage, there is not a living…

Pau, France A HISTORY-MAKING winner and a British rider pulling off a spectacular career best summarise the final CCI4* in the northern hemisphere for 2017. A French rider won for the third year running, but Gwendolen Fer’s great feat aboard Romantic Love makes her the first female from the host nation to take the top prize here — and she is their first to call a CCI4* title her own. “I think I’m dreaming,” said Gwendolen in between tears. “I’ve always wanted to win a four-star and now it’s reality.” Romantic Love, a 12-year-old selle Français by L’Arc De Triomphe , was a CIC3* winner at Jardy in July and finished 16th at Badminton last year. His double clear here was textbook, with only a smattering of cross-country time-faults to…

MADE IN FRANCE AFTER watching this year’s pony finals at HOYS, where her father Guy Williams was jumping, 10-year-old Maisy Williams decided she wanted to compete there. But Guy and his family live in France. As they were due to return to Britain for a christening, Guy offered to bring Maisy’s pony, the seven-year-old Airline Des Ifs, with them, and Maisy and Airline began their affiliated career here. Maisy began with an 80cm win before tackling her biggest ever course in the winter 138cm class and finishing fifth. She made the jump-off of the same class on Tuesday and returned to France the following day. FIVE YEARS OF FUN SINCE Arena UK director Lauren Humphries had the idea five years ago, this show has become a “must-attend” event for many…

‘It is possible to buy your way into the top level’ THE top end of our sport has long been a sport of kings. For decades, wealthy owners have supported riders. In the past decade we have seen prize money increase to unimaginable levels, in part due to the fact that this elite now compete themselves and help support shows’ endeavours to make world-class competitions with unprecedented purses. It is now possible to win millions in one year, but this all comes with consequences. Prices for horses have skyrocketed, making it almost unaffordable for “normal” people to purchase competition horses. Wealthy amateurs who want to compete at Global Champions Tour shows or other major events need top-level horses and have been buying some of the best for substantial sums of…

Countryside Live, Great Yorkshire Showground EMMA BOARDMAN lifted the final Olympia qualifier of the season with a last-minute ride when judges Pat Pattinson and Sharon Thomas chose Victoria Edwards-Sonnex’s seven-year-old stallion Morlandsdale Mac for top honours. He will join three other Dales ponies in December. “Plan B” was activated when Victoria headed the 13-strong Connemara/New Forest class with her other stallion Glencarrig Patrick, who has also finished his first open season on a high. Patrick took fourth at Horse of the Year Show and is already through to the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) next term. “Once Patrick looked safe at the top, we asked Emma to ride Mac in the following class as I wanted to stay on board Patrick before the championship,” said Victoria. “I would like to…

IT was not the greatest of summers for the jockey, with the announcement coming from his boss Warren Greatrex that he would be handing the first choice of rides at his stable to the champion jockey Richard Johnson. Sheehan, who was crowned the leading conditional in the 2013/14 season, had looked such a gilt-edged talent that he had been spoken of as a potential title winner himself in the future, but Greatrex spoke of needing to make changes after a moderate campaign that fell short of expectations. Fortunately, Sheehan can now look optimistically towards the November meeting at Cheltenham and a hot ride in the feature BetVictor Gold Cup thanks to a growing association with Greatrex’s Lambourn near-neighbour Jamie Snowden. His mount Double Treasure (pictured) looked beaten at the top…

CUNNING STUNTS team captain Emma Burton tried unsuccessfully to retire the 2007 Aintree Fox Hunters’ winner, who had enjoyed team chasing as a second career. “He was just miserable, so I asked Joe Stevenson [pictured on Scots Grey] if he would like a ride on him. They have really bonded and ‘Scots’ is a different horse again. I was anxious about putting him in an open, but it feels right for him,” said Emma. At the Cotswold, Joe hopped off his own San Cassiano after completing Team Rideaway I’s round and straight onto Scots Grey to lead Extra Cunning Stunts to eighth and a qualifying slot for the national championship.…

TENDON and ligament injuries in horses are common, but realistic expectations of returning to full exercise are difficult to manage. It is often complicated by financial constraints, access to immediate veterinary care and the provision of controlled rehabilitation services. From a veterinary perspective, Dennis’ initial prognosis was good. A small swelling was noted below the knee with minor focal pain on palpation over the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in the left forelimb. The ultrasound showed a minor change in the longitudinal fibre pattern, but there were no obvious changes on the cross-section or evidence of a focal lesion. Most vets would prescribe proactive management, including cold therapy and bandaging for support, rest and antiinflammatories, alongside regular reviews. But in less than one month, we were forced to change our…

SKIN disease was the most reported problem in the Blue Cross 2017 Equine Health survey. Sweet itch (the top summer nuisance) and mud fever (winter) accounted for 40% of skin diseases recorded, writes Karen Coumbe MRCVS. Equine skin is delicate and when waterlogged it becomes more susceptible to damage and infections — grooming or being worked in a sand school can cause micro-abrasions, which let bacteria in. The horse’s ability to ward off infection is reduced by continuous wetting and sweating, as well as standing and being ridden in cold, muddy conditions, hence the name mud fever. The proper name is pastern dermatitis, reflecting the range of skin reactions affecting lower limbs to different irritants, such as bacteria, fungal infections and mites. It is similar to a person having chapped…

JUST like humans, older horses require more care and attention than their younger counterparts. Of course, every horse is different, and while some may thrive on being turned out with a bunch of other geriatrics and left to their own devices, others do need a bit more looking after. With the nights drawing in and winter on its way, what is the best way to care for your veteran in the colder months? “Ensuring he is eating efficiently and is up to date with vaccinations and worming should be your number one priority,” says vet Sue Taylor MRCVS. “Old horses are prone to dental issues, meaning they can’t chew hay or haylage sufficiently enough to get the required nutrients and energy. Older horses should have their teeth checked throughout the…

LORD PETER, also known as Superpete, is a 22-year-old Westfalian gelding still competing in British Showjumping up to 1m with his owner Becky Wood. Becky has owned the gelding by Lord Caletto GZ for six years and they have jumped up to 1.30m level, accumulating prize money of more than £2,000. “I dropped him down to 1m two years ago to help preserve his competing life, but he also still does in-hand showing, farm rides and hacks once a week with my mum,” said Becky. “I now keep him out at grass 24/7 to help with his joints, fitness and keeping weight on him. He has a well-draining sand paddock with field shelter and ad-lib haylage, and I soak his hard feed. “When the weather is really bad, Superpete is…