Innholdsfortegnelse for 09-Nov-2017 i Horse & Hound

MARY REVELEY THE pioneering dual-purpose trainer died on 30 October, aged 77. Mrs Reveley became the first female trainer to saddle 100 winners in a season, in 1991, and sent out more than 2,000 winners during her career. Her stable stars included Mellottie, who won 20 of his 68 starts under Rules and 16 times on the Flat, and Cab On Target, who won eight times over fences and 10 times over hurdles. “She was from that rare seam of trainers whose fundamental horse knowledge enables them to bring out each horse’s full potential whatever its characteristics and aptitudes,” said National Trainers Federation CEO Rupert Arnold. ELIZABETH LESLEY MANGER THE charity founder and equine welfare campaigner died on 12 September, aged 81. She worked as a groom on Revesby Estate…

BOW TIES We will not name the H&H awards reveller who was sporting an untied bow tie on the dance floor. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but when challenged as to whether he could re-tie it, the dancer turned pink. It emerged he had brought a pre-tied one, and an untied one with which to substitute it for the “party look”. Hmm. HANDBAGS Talking of the H&H awards, top dressage rider Spencer Wilton was lucky in the raffle – winning a Mulberry handbag. Possibly not what he’d have chosen, although it might be handy to keep Supernova’s grooming kit in? FOOTBALLERS A newspaper reported that a Premier League player was “held up” on his way to training by a horse. And to prove it, there was a picture of…

LOOKING at my diary at the start of last week, there seemed an awful lot of moving parts in terms of timings, places and clothes. I had a brief nightmare vision of turning up in a black tie dress at a showjumping clinic on Wednesday or in jodhpurs at the H&H Awards on Thursday. Happily, both events went off well (and I was suitably dressed). The showjumping clinic was a first outing for mine and Mum’s new horse, Alfie. It was just the fourth time I’d sat on him and the first time I’d jumped more than a single fence for 10 years, but after a spook at the first plank, he kept his halo firmly in place. Juggling multiple roles successfully is nothing to many of the winners at…

‘The hunt thrived under his light, considered touch for many years’ H&H’S HUNTING EDITOR CATHERINE AUSTEN LEADING figures from the worlds of eventing and hunting paid tribute to the late David Somerset, the 11th Duke of Beaufort, who died in August this year, and was honoured with the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award, collected by his widow Miranda, Duchess of Beaufort. “It is a great honour for Horse & Hound to give this award to someone who undoubtedly gave a lifetime of service to equestrianism,” said H&H’s magazine editor Pippa Roome. “The Duke was invited to make Badminton his home as a young man by his cousin, the 10th Duke, known as “Master”, who founded Badminton Horse Trials in 1949. A courageous horseman, the 11th Duke finished second…

‘I have a massive love for horses. I couldn’t ask for a better job’ E-J ELDRIDGE “I TREAT every horse exactly the same,” said this year’s Horseware Groom of the Year winner E-J Eldridge, yard manager at Stallion AI Services in Shropshire. Such impartiality must be a challenge, when E-J’s equine clients have included Big Star, Ramiro B and Arko. “I’m incredibly lucky to work with some amazing horses,” said 30-year-old E-J. But with 170 stallions through their doors already this year, ranging from “a massive Shire, who’s absolutely beautiful” to two little ponies, E-J has no time for star treatment. “We’re providing a service and we do everything in the stallion’s best interest. So we try to keep the routine similar to what they have at home, because…

‘Most of my clients are pleasure riders, but their horse is just as special as any four-star horse’ NATALIE McGOLDRICK THE TopSpec Vet of the Year award went to Natalie McGoldrick, who runs her own practice — South Coast Equine — in Hampshire. “I’m a one-man band with a small client base of around 600, so to be nominated two years in a row and now to win — wow! It will take a while to sink in,” said Natalie, who has evented up to two-star level and was part of the 2011 CIC2* European Championship team that won gold for Great Britain. “My clients are mostly happy hackers and pleasure riders, and while I compete my own horses to quite a high level, I think it’s important as…

‘She is by Detroit and has his active hindleg. She can be spooky but was focused and listening’ JADE VALE ON DOUBLE NOVICE WINNER PRINZESSIN K Crofton Manor, Hants | Fairoak Grange, Berks Supporter Z, owned by Jessie Dane and ridden by her sister, Ali, was so excited to be out that Ali thought she would never get on him. “He passaged all the way to the arena, but in the test he was a true professional,” said Ali. A fall six months ago caused a massive bruise to Supporter’s navicular bone and he has been recuperating ever since. He is now 18 years old, but Ali hopes to qualify him for the regionals at novice and for the Area Festivals at elementary and medium. “He’s full of quirks,…

Addington Manor EC, Bucks | Hargate Arena, Derbys The third-year event management degree student posted 74.04% to head the elementary freestyle at Hargate Arena riding Coednewydd Charles. Molly has owned the 19-year-old Welsh section D gelding for eight years. “We haven’t done music for four years, so I had my floorplan redone and that was our first time trying it out,” explained Molly, a member of the High Peak branch of the Pony Club. “I was really pleased with the score — it was our best yet. We enter to Good Golly, Miss Molly, then my trot music is Olly Murs’ Dance With Me Tonight and my canter music is the Scissor Sisters’ I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’. It’s very upbeat and suits us.” The pair had previously been competing…

TTT TRUST CLOSES ITS DOORS THE Training the Teachers of Tomorrow Trust (TTT) will close on 31 December after 30 years in operation. The TTT Trust was set up by Tom and Jennifer Sewell to provide top-class training in riding and teaching skills. The trust runs an extensive programme of clinics, seminars, lectures and demonstrations at East Whipley Farm in Surrey, with trainers including FEI judge general Stephen Clarke and Mark Phillips. “When Tom and Jennifer started the trust in 1987, there were hardly any clinics, nor lecture demonstrations and certainly no continuity in training. That situation has changed beyond all recognition… Today there is a great choice of trainers, conferences and demonstrations,” read a statement from the trust. BABY JOY FOR ANNA DANISH Olympic rider Anna Kasprzak is pregnant…

South View Equestrian Centre, Cheshire REIGNING pony showjumpers of the year Shaunie Greig and Casino Royale VIII beat off strong opposition to win the 148cm grand prix. Bringing their Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) winning form to Cheshire, Shaunie and “Casino” weaved a special kind of magic around South View’s vast arena to head a high-class field in the seven-strong second jump-off. “After winning at HOYS, I didn’t want to be second. Casino loves to go forward and he’s careful, so I trusted him on the tight turns, especially into the third fence,” said Shaunie. Course-designer David Cole took riders the length and breadth of the arena and with some long runs and plenty of options, this 148cm grand prix provided a fitting climax to five days of top-class…

CSI4*-W Kentucky Horse Park National Horse Show, Lexington, USA IRELAND’S Denis Lynch will look back on 2017 as a remarkable year. As well as becoming a new dad, the 41-year-old Germany-based rider has won some of the biggest competitions of his career. European team gold a couple of months ago will undoubtedly remain a highlight but success in Lexington’s $250,000 (£190,700) Longines FEI World Cup qualifier this week ranks right up there, too. Quickest of nine jump-off contenders, Denis and Rushy Marsh Farm’s 13-year-old Belgian-bred RMF Echo hurtled round to gain nearly a half-second advantage over USA rider Lauren Tisbo (Coriandolo Di Ribano). “Echo is naturally very quick,” said Denis. “He’s been unlucky a few times this year, when he’s been beaten at the post. I think there have been…

Wetherby, West Yorkshire THE stars were supposed to shine at Wetherby (4 November), but it was the sun that dazzled instead. In the Charlie Hall Chase, neither Coneygree — hero of the Gold Cup in 2015 — nor Cue Card, winner of nine Grade One races, completed the course, with the bright, low sun on the back straight to blame. Coneygree rather unnerved himself as he guessed at the first open ditch and took off far too early, hurt himself when he landed steeply at the next and, clearly uncomfortable, was soon pulled up by Nico de Boinville. A circuit later, Cue Card appeared simply not to see the fence before the turn for home, breasted it and turned over — just as Paddy Brennan had moved him into contention.…

WHO needs a bridle? Not Ben Stockley, who surprised followers of the Bicester with Whaddon Chase when he turned up with his horse sporting a headcollar. It was not deliberate on Ben’s part, he just forgot his bridle. “I was running late because I put the wrong postcode into my sat nav, and there wasn’t time to rummage through friends’ lorries for a bridle, so I just thought, ‘sod it’, and hopped on,” he confessed. Also seen sporting the look recently was US rider Melanie Ferrio-Wise and her horse Wings (“Vlad”), who competed in a $10,000 jumping class in just a neckstrap. “I didn’t do it for attention,” Melanie said. “I did it for Vlad.”…

Sir — I write to thank you for the article about horses and the quality of their sleep (vet clinic, 19 October). I’ve always thought my horses would need just a small amount of bedding in the corner of their stable on the rubber matting — just enough to soak up the wee — but on reading your article, I increased the amount of bedding to cover the entire floor, with nice fluffy banks. And within an hour of bringing my grumpy gelding in, he was lying on his new bed. Two weeks on and I can’t believe the change in my horse’s behaviour. He is less grumpy, more amenable to ride and calmer around the yard. He even behaved better at his most recent dressage competition, which we won.…

OAK trees are an integral part of the landscape in the UK, providing shade in paddocks but also dropping acorns in the autumn. It has long been thought that acorns may be toxic for horses and cattle. For this reason, there is a centuries-old tradition in the New Forest called pannage. Pigs are released into the forest in the autumn with two purposes: first, the pigs gain weight from eating the acorns and second, by eating the acorns, protect the New Forest ponies from any toxicity associated with acorn ingestion. The number of acorns produced by trees varies from year to year. Depending on the acorns produced, the verderers (those who administer the law concerning the New Forest) release an appropriate number of pigs to eat the acorns and protect…

‘Many riders never stop twittering with their hand or leg so the horse learns to ignore them’ AIM THIS exercise is deliberately simple — does the horse understand that “go” means “go” and “stop” means “stop”? You can’t make a horse active unless he is reactive to your aids. Many riders never stop twittering with the hand or leg so the horse learns to ignore them by “trancing out”, or can never understand exactly what is required. Working on the principle of pressure and release, the horse learns that the reward (release) follows his correct response to the signal and so becomes obedient to the aids. This exercise gives you very useful feedback on how much the horse understands and the level of his balance, suppleness, obedience and sensitivity to…

‘It’s about what everybody did for “Art” and me, not what we did’ JONTY EVANS ON THE THOUSANDS OF DONORS TO ART’S FUND THE Charles Owen Moment of the Year was a hotly contested category, with six shortlisted nominees, including Andrew Nicholson’s Badminton win and team golds for Britain’s eventing and para dressage teams. But the runaway winner was the phenomenal crowd-funding effort by Jonty Evans. He raised £500,000 to secure the ride on Cooley Rorkes Drift (Art). “I’ve never beaten Andrew Nicholson at anything!” exclaimed the Irish Olympian, who pointed out the award was not really for him. “This award is a thank you to the people who donated. Tonight is about what everybody did for Art and me, not what Art and I did. I’m just grateful…

‘It’s nice to know that people notice what I do’ MARY TUCKETT “Idon’t sleep an awful lot — and I spend a great deal of time in my car,” said Mary Tuckett with a smile, after being crowned the Equo Events Volunteer of the Year. “Anyone involved in equestrian sport knows how many volunteers it takes to make things possible and giving something back by volunteering is rewarding. Apparently it makes you live longer, too — so I’m going to be about 103 by the time I finish!” Mary, 56, has been chairman of the Pony Club — a voluntary position — since 2014 and she also gives her time to other roles, including at British Eventing fixtures. Even though the winter season is upon us, Mary remains as…

Pencoed Petplan Equine Area Festival semi-final, Wales THE highest score of the show went to prelim silver winners Amy Daye and and her six-year-old Prince William MBS, who posted an impressive 75.63%. “It hasn't been an easy journey as William’s health has suffered at times,” said Amy, who has owned the Wish Upon A Star gelding since he was a three-year-old. “As we upped his work we discovered he had a low immune system and this was causing health problems such as respiratory issues, which led to sinusitis and brittle feet. We also found out he was allergic to a whole host of things, including carrots, weeds, trees, house flies and black ants,” explained Amy. “William had to have an operation for his sinusitis. He has to have injections imported…

Stretcholt Farm, Somerset | Tall Trees Arena, Cornwall “My trainer, Gill Longhurst, jokes that I am going to be the oldest lady competing on the smallest pony when we reach prix st georges (PSG) level,” said Carol. Carol’s 14hh eight-year-old The Early Bird, by Catherston Stud’s 12.2hh Littledale Bright Star, triumphed in the elementary 40 at Stretcholt Farm. “She can be quite sharp, but is just the right size for me. She has a lot of power and has been struggling to contain it, so her canter has only just improved,” said Carol, who is the dressage team manager for the Mid Somerset Riding Club. Frances Strong, who runs a livery yard near Exeter, headed both novices with her 10-year-old Sigh Of Relief. This home-bred mare, by Relief Pitcher, had…

Hunters Equestrian, Glos | Burrows Court Farm, Glos | Severnvale EC, Monmouthshire Sarah Owens and her 11-year-old gelding Bright One VH Dijkeinde are in their first season with BD. Already established on the British Eventing (BE) circuit, the partnership scored 74.16% to head the novice 28 before nailing the novice 37 qualifier. “His best phase is probably the dressage,” said Sarah’s mother, Nicola. “He’s a lovely mover and a lovely person, too — really easy.” Sarah, 18, was prompted to concentrate on dressage for the winter season after a win in the team dressage at the Pony Club open championships at Cholmondeley Castle in August. “She’s an active member of the Cotswold Hunt branch and trains with Robert Lumb,” added Nicola. “We bought ‘Monty’ two years ago, and the partnership…

‘I adore him, it’s like finding the man you want to marry’ HANNAH ESBERGER-HANCOCK ON FOUR-YEAR-OLD IGGY POP Parklands EC, South Yorks | Epworth Equestrian, North Lincs Kerry won the qualifier overall with a plus-70% score at Parklands, riding vet Michael Wharmby’s home-bred Newton. She started the Sandreo x Voltaire five-year-old, and says she’s learning with him. “To beat Hannah was just unbelievable,” she joked. “Newton has plenty of attitude and he can throw his toys out of the pram, but when he’s on side, he’s amazing. Hannah has given me confidence and I hope he’s my horse of a lifetime.” Hannah was riding Iggy Pop, a Dream Boy four-year-old found in Holland by Henry Boswell. “Henry called and said I’ve found you a small one,” said petite Hannah,…

‘The only place I could make up time was on the run down to the last fence — I took two strides out’ GEORGIA TAME, GRAND PRIX WINNER ON Z7 CORDANOS V Winter Premier Show, Addington Manor, Bucks THIS was a show where young riders proved their class — and nowhere was this more evident than in the winter grand prix, where 19-year-old Georgia Tame triumphed over some seasoned combinations to take home the £1,000 jackpot. The seven-strong jump-off produced an almost even split between under-23s and some very experienced riders, with Billy Twomey (Ardcolum Duke), Helen Tredwell (Larksong) and William Funnell (Billy Fanta) joined by Georgia (Z7 Cordanos V), Yazmin Davies (Zilverster II), Leonie Aitkenhead (Jimmy Mack Van Berkenbroek) and Jack Whitaker (Valentin R). While Billy Twomey and…

OPINION  WEARING my breeding hat, we’ve been busy with the online auction of our best young Billy Stud horses. This type of shop window for British breeders has to be the way forward. Twenty years ago, Jennie Loriston-Clarke was spearheading British breeding by running the High Performance Sale which gave breeders a fantastic shop window — my wife Pippa’s top horse Primmore’s Pride, who won two legs of the eventing Rolex Grand Slam, was bought there as a foal by Denise Lincoln — but nobody took over Jennie’s mantel and the British breeding production line doesn’t seem to have moved on since. Anyone who breeds from an international-standard mare using a top stallion should be rewarded. We need to give these breeders that shop window in order to earn the…

CSI2* AUTUMN MET, OLIVA NOVA, SPAIN MATTHEW SAMPSON scored with the 11-year-old Gloria Van Zuuthoeve in the 1.45m €30,000 (£26,500) grand prix, with British riders filling five of the top six places in a 15-strong jump-off. “The plan is to try getting into some bigger shows,” said Matthew, who has been riding the mare for a year. “She has a huge stride and the way the course was built really suited us today.” Among the ranking class winners was Louise Simpson (Fiona VH Lemmenshof) and Lance Whitehouse secured a hat-trick. CSI5*-W LYON, FRANCE FRIDAY night’s (3 November) Longines grand prix went to Ireland’s Mark McAuley on the 13-year-old Miebello. In a great weekend for the pair, they went on to finish fifth in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier, just 0.01 of…

Ascot, Berkshire GO CONQUER now has the Grand National in his sights, and no wonder, the way he jumped round Ascot to take the Sodexo Gold Cup. Ridden positively by Aidan Coleman, the eight-year-old jumped and ran his rivals ragged. He was clear fully three fences from home, produced particularly bold leaps at the final two fences and had nearly five, eased-down, lengths to spare over Rock Gone at the line. Go Conquer is surrounded by Aintree old hands. He is trained by Jonjo O’Neill, who never won the National as a rider but famously saddled Don’t Push It to give AP McCoy his long-awaited triumph in 2010. He is owned by Paul and Claire Rooney, who came close with runner-up The Last Samuri in 2016, and their racing manager…

BULANA The 11-year-old mare ridden by Nicola Wilson is British Eventing’s top horse for 2017 with a total of 357 points. Owned by James and Jo Lambert, Bulana won team gold and individual bronze at the European Eventing Championships and was second at Luhmühlen CCI4*. FIXDESIGN CHABLIS Valentina Truppa’s grand prix dressage horse has been retired aged 20. The Danish warmblood gelding bowed out at a special ceremony in Verona on 28 October. Valentina and Chablis were Italian grand prix champions in 2010 and 2014. TIME TEST The multiple Group winner and Royal Ascot hero by Dubawi has been sold to The Jockey Club. He will start stud duties at the National Stud next season, standing for a fee of £8,500. CHINOOK EASTER MAGIC The Moores’ 128cm show pony mare…

British eventer Sarah Bullimore went from 62nd to seventh place in the end-of-season FEI rankings, after her second at Pau CCI4*. Gemma Tattersall was the highest-placed Brit, in third. Jockey George Chaloner has decided to retire after he suffered a series of injuries in falls. The 25-year-old Royal Ascot winner is now looking for an alternative career. Sergeant Rupert Frere was named photographer of the year in the Army Photographic Competition. His images show the life of London-based soldiers, including the Household Cavalry. Leading event rider Andrew Hoy has been named patron of the Wobbleberry Challenge, which supports Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, a charity set up by the late Hannah Francis. Chinese businessman Zhang Yuesheng bought some 60 yearlings at Goffs Sportsmans’ Sale under his YuLong Investments banner. Mr Yuesheng…

DATA PROTECTION RULES WARNING EQUESTRIAN businesses have been warned of new data protection regulations coming into force in 2018. Phil Stratton of SecureDesk Ltd, who spoke at the British Equestrian Trade Association conference on 30 October, stressed that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will apply from 25 May. Penalties will be a lot tougher with fines of up to four per cent of annual global turnover or €20m (£17.7m), whichever is the greater. • Visit: ico.org.uk NEW DIRECTOR FOR EQUESTRIAN SPORT KEVAN TAYLOR has been co-opted as British Equestrian Federation (BEF) interim independent non-executive director (INED). Mr Taylor’s appointment completes the board line-up announced by the BEF last week (news, 2 November). As the longest-serving INED, appointed in 2014, Mark Jeffreys becomes senior independent director. The full board will…

HUNTING An H&H-er on hound exercise was so inspired by the H&H hunting special cover photo, she tried to recreate it over a sparse but sizeable hedge. Unfortunately, the result was not quite as impressive. “I’m going through a falling-off phase,” she said glumly. TROLLS Good old Anna Ross spoke out on a British Dressage forum rule change which means members cannot use pseudonyms. Backing the move, Anna added: “To those who have written about me hiding behind names, I know who you are anyway… I’ve just chosen not to react.” No flies on that girl! MONKS A press release told H&H of a group of monks moving out of the monastery while it is being refurbished. Which is all very well, but we’re not entirely sure what the brethren…

‘I’m terrible at getting tangled up with cross-country alternatives’ My secret weapon… Tess Anderson, my neat freak groom, keeps everything on track and leaves no stone unturned. The biggest mistake… Focusing on getting to the start line. The focus should be getting over the finish line. If that is not on the cards, then don’t go. Lack of preparation, fitness, experience or training rarely work out. Events are not going out of fashion — there’ll always be another one soon. My tip for schooling… Cross-country schooling is not an exam. Take time to teach lessons during schooling, so you have the answers in competition. Remembering when… I’m terrible at getting tangled up with cross-country alternatives and black flags. I’m still not sure of the rules about crossing tracks or going…

KINDLY SUPPORTED BY…

‘If you keep battling on, you hope one day you’ll get there’ NICOLA WILSON ON THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF EQUESTRIAN SPORT NICOLA WILSON capped a fabulous season by winning the Professional Rider of the Year title. The Yorkshire event rider achieved two career bests in 2017, riding Bulana to finish second at Luhmühlen — her best four-star placing — and winning her first individual medal, bronze, at the European Championships. She also led the British team to victory after a lengthy dearth of gold medals. “I was astonished to be nominated and to be actually standing up there was overwhelming — I’m just grateful to everyone who’s made it possible,” said Nicola, who was accompanied to the H&H Awards by her husband Alastair and Bulana’s owners, James and…

‘I was born and bred for this job’ JIM BALFOUR THE winner of this year’s NAF Five Star Profeet Farrier of the Year award, Jim Balfour — who was presented with his award by Olympic eventer Gemma Tattersall — can’t imagine doing anything else. “I was born and bred for this job,” he said, having travelled down from his home north of Dundee, clad in kilt, for the ceremony. Jim has worked as a farrier for more than 30 years, having served his apprenticeship with his father. His brothers are also in the business and all three of his sons are qualified farriers, too. While his clients close to home value James’ reliable management of their horses’ feet — working with youngstock and veterans to competition horses and hunters…

‘Sue’s passion has pushed her through and she is amazing’ LORA HAWKINS ON SUE EVANS OF WILLOW FARM WHEN Sue Evans was left wheelchair-bound after a serious car accident 40 years ago, her passion for horses persevered and nothing was to prevent her from setting up the now-thriving Willow Farm riding school — this year’s recipient of the NAF Five Star Riding Club of the Year award. “Sue has built the riding school up since her accident, her passion has pushed her through and she is amazing,” said senior instructor Lora Hawkins, who collected the award from eventer Jonty Evans on behalf of the team. The Lincolnshire riding school prides itself on lending ponies to children who otherwise would not have the opportunity to ride. Alongside riding lessons, they…

LYDIA MAY BLAKE, 14, claimed the under-18 novice on her 16-year-old Appaloosa pony Spot The Spot II. “I was so excited but nervous doing my test as it’s one of the biggest things I’ve done on ‘Ghost’,” said Lydia May. “I worked hard with my trainer, Jo Lees, to get to these finals and, when I found out I had won, I was beyond excited. I hugged Ghost so much that I am sure he knew we had won. “In the prize-giving he stood looking so proud of himself — I can’t wait for the winter championships next April.” Lydia May was featured in H&H back in March as an under-25 rider to watch.…

Aintree EC, Merseyside The Wolkentanz x Londonderry gelding was bought in Holland as a two-year-old just over the border from his birthplace in Germany. “I saw him in the field, black with a perfect white star, and brought him home,” said Jacke, who credited Dianne Breeze with being behind her win. “She’s been training me since she returned from Dubai and she pushed me to get out competing again. Next stop is PSG and that’s been a lifelong ambition.” Wolkenderry stood as a stallion until he was gelded three years ago, although frozen semen is still available, and one of his sons, the 18.2hh Wroyal Occasion, won the silver section of the novice 39 with South African British Dressage (BD) debutant Keryn Legg in the saddle. “The horse was bred…

HOW is the dressage scene in your neck of the woods? Local to me, many classes are not full, scores are low and the general feeling is that it’s hard for the amateur to compete and enjoy. I’m afraid the onus is on the judges. Even when judging a less than brilliant test, please look for the slightly better — positivity counts for so much. You may be judging someone for whom this is their first dressage test. This rider could be from a country where our sport is still in its infancy. In fact, reading one such partnership’s test sheet recently made me want to jump on the next plane out of Britain — never mind the rider, who had travelled from Asia. Judges at the “ordinary” levels have…

Sports Pony Studbook Society gradings, various UK venues JUDGES Hans Heinrich Brüning and Jacke Mathieson recently undertook a marathon eight-day, 2,000-mile tour of the UK, for the Sport Pony Studbook Society (SPSS), during which they assessed 194 stallions, mares and youngstock at 11 venues. The result was 18 new stallions for the studbook, with the southern champion, the Welsh section B Longhalves Renoir, being judged the overall supreme champion stallion. Owned by breeder Jo Filmer of Longhalves Stud in East Sussex, the four-year-old is a son of the stud’s SPSS-graded pony Lemonshill Falcon, a former Royal Welsh champion and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Cuddy finalist. Renoir, a breed champion foal out of an Eyarth Harlequin mare is currently competing in dressage. “I breed with the main emphasis on…

TWO talented jockeys have taken enforced retirement. George Baker (above), 35, suffered severe head injuries in February in a fall at St Moritz, while George Chaloner, 25, came close to paralysis when he broke his back at Newcastle the same month. Baker, 35, has had to relearn to walk: “I’ve known for some time that I wouldn’t race-ride again. Another bang on the head would not be good.” Chaloner’s fall happened on his first ride back after a similar accident. “There’s no way I want to sit on a horse again,” Chaloner said. “Somebody up there is telling me something.”…

Manor Farm, Hadleigh, Suffolk A TEXTBOOK round combining speed with accuracy won the Skinner’s open qualifier for Fox Grant Dot Com — a terrific season finale in front of the biggest crowd ever seen at the Semer venue. With just three riders, Yvonne Goss could have been forgiven for setting a cautious pace on Jaffa, but Helen Swaddle aboard Simon — drafted in from Team Rideaway — was hot on her heels. They made some impressive turns over the early part of the course, which features a double switchback followed by two tight corners in succession. William Grant and Skipper Robin kicked on in their wake, as they made little of the three road-crossings. With the lead switching back-and-forth between Yvonne and Helen, their captain, William, took advantage of the…