Innholdsfortegnelse for 08-Feb-2018 i Horse & Hound

‘Anything to make horses’ lives more comfortable’ PAMMY HUTTON A CAMPAIGN against rollkur, also known as hyperflexion, is gathering momentum, with support from top judges and the British Horse Society (BHS). A group of BHS Fellows and dressage trainers have created a petition calling for an end to the use of rollkur. The petition, which will be submitted to the FEI in the coming weeks, also calls for the federation to define the difference between “forced hyperflexion” and “classical training systems” and their different influences on horse wellbeing and performance. “I think we’re really starting to make tracks,” said classical dressage trainer Heather Moffett, who helped launch the campaign. “We have List One judges on board and quite a lot of grand prix riders. I think the FEI will…

Former cabinet minister and MP for North Shrewsbury Owen Paterson has broken his back in a riding accident. He was taken to hospital after his horse fell and is on “complete bed rest”. French trainer Criquette Head-Maarek has retired after a 41-year career. Criquette trained dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion Treve. “It was a tough decision,” said the 70-year-old. Dressage rider Lucy Straker is aiming for grand prix this summer after recovering from a serious injury. She smashed ribs and punctured a lung in 2015 while loading a youngster. Dutch Olympic showjumper Maikel van der Vleuten broke a bone in his hand at Jumping Amsterdam. His horse Salomon suffered a tendon injury. The pair are hoped to make a full recovery. Former Hovis CEO Martyn Wilks has been…

H&H When a parcel arrived at H&H Towers bearing a Swiss postmark and a label saying “chocolate”, you can be sure it was not left unopened for long. So imagine the reaction when inside was just a calendar, with not as much as a solitary Malteser anywhere in sight. Sigh. COMMENTATORS So instead of the Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead’s July fixture is now called, wait for it, the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain at the BHS Royal International Horse Show. Try saying that three times fast. POLICE Video has emerged of a US cop trying to stop a runaway pony on the road, by asking it to: “Please stop.” In the same vein, he adds: “Come on. Can you stop? Please?” Nothing like a bit of…

SOCIAL media informs me a lot of people got terribly excited about a supermoon last week — one that, to the untrained eye (mine), looked rather like the moon on any other day. In a slightly unconnected point, there will no doubt be tears of joy on the pavements around Windsor on the day of the royal wedding this year. It does appear that in an era of economic uncertainty, many in this country are simply looking for something far less practical and depressing, something entirely joyous, at which to marvel. Riding out last Tuesday morning as the fog lifted over the weald, I was reminded once again that this is where, as riders and equestrian enthusiasts, we are so very lucky. Whether amateur (see feature, p32) or professional, if…

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“I’ve only ever had geldings, but I’d go with mares all the way now,” said Tamsin Hembrough, double novice winner with Sancerre. Tamsin has owned the seven-year-old Scolari daughter for three years after she was found in Germany by Darren Mattia. She stamped her authority with two scores topping 72%, which followed the 80.18% she achieved at Summerhouse EC last autumn. “We’re quietly climbing up the levels,” said Tamsin, who trains every few weeks with Darren and Mark Forrest in Herefordshire, despite living four hours away near Cambridge. Hazel Coombes won the novice 30 silver at Coleg Cambria with her six-year-old CDS Oreo Jazz. “He takes things in his stride, but I don’t like to rush him,” said Hazel of the 17hh gelding, who is a grandson of Glock’s Johnson…

SWEDISH Olympic dressage rider Patrik Kittel has taken over the training of triple world young horse champion Sezuan. The nine-year-old Zack x Don Schufro son was ridden by German Olympian Dorothee Schneider until her collaboration with the stallion’s owners Gestüt Peterhof ended last November. “Currently we are evaluating every option for [Sezuan’s] further schooling. The stallion is top fit and there is a worldwide demand [for] the stallion. Patrik Kittel is supporting us in the training,” said the Peterhof stud’s Arlette Jasper-Kohl and Edwin Kohl in a statement. The international rider, who helped Sweden claim team bronze at the Gothenburg Europeans in August, will present Sezuan at Peterhof ’s upcoming stallion show on 10 February, as well as in Vechta on 18 February and on the gala evening of the…

I’VE been lucky enough to ride on a Dublin Aga Khan winning Nations Cup team on six occasions: three times for Ireland and three for Britain. I can personally say it’s one of the best experiences for a showjumper. So the news that Hickstead is moving its superleague leg to the Sunday of the Royal International has put a smile on my face. We should embrace this opportunity to make it the most important outdoor spectacle we can put on in showjumping. It should be the dream of every young rider to participate in that parade of teams in the main ring and go on to represent their country. Hopefully, when all the back rings have finished, they will have the opportunity to stay on, watch, and gain some inspiration.…

Leopardstown, Ireland IRELAND’S new Dublin Racing Festival seemed to gain instant traction in terms of quality of racing and popularity with the crowds. It had a bit of everything, including the confirmation that Faugheen is probably not the Faugheen of old, plus some surprises including the heartwarming victory of Edwulf in the Irish Gold Cup and the superb jumping of the novices Footpad and Monalee, however, capping it all was the pure brilliance of Samcro. Some, including myself, may have been slightly sceptical of all the lavish praise heaped upon the Gigginstown-owned six-year-old gelding by Germany, however, you will not see many novices travel with such contemptuous ease through a race as Samcro did in the Grade One Deloitte Novice Hurdle. Gigginstown owner Michael O’Leary has been trying to douse…

FAMILY doubles were a theme at the early Baileys Jumping & Style (JAS) events, the indoor arena eventing series run by British Eventing. At Hartpury on 6 January, the Tregoning sisters scored a win apiece, with Jessica taking the BE90open and Alice the BE90. Jessica, 18, has been riding the 14.2hh I Dunno (Mully) since May last year and he is seven this time. “I have always done JAS with my ponies and was second in the BE100 final in 2016 on Benjamin Bunny V,” said Jessica. “Mully hasn’t done much so it’s really good for him to get the experience and the judges’ feedback is useful.” Alice, 13, has had Uncle Patsy — another 14.2hh — for four months. “JAS has really helped our partnership as I trust him…

LADY riders have been hitting the headlines in the UK on a regular basis in recent months — for all the right reasons — led by two graduates from the pointing field, Lizzie Kelly and Bryony Frost. It’s a subject which is close to my heart and I did my bit to raise the profile of lady riders during my six years coordinating the AGAsponsored lady riders’ point-to-point series. I remain passionate about seeing them succeed. I crossed paths with both Lizzie and Bryony during the AGA years, as they both enjoyed victories in that series, and I was thrilled when Bryony led home a one-two for the girls in the 2017 Foxhunter at Cheltenham on Pacha Du Polder. She then went on to finish fourth on the same horse…

BRITAIN’S Nations Cup leg at Hickstead’s Royal International Horse Show is to move from its usual Friday to the show’s final day (Sunday). The move to a weekend day is part of the FEI’s efforts to keep the series as “the best possible product”; of all the CSI5* Nations Cup competitions, only Dublin’s Aga Khan trophy will retain its original slot on the Friday. The rejigging of the schedule for Hickstead’s five-star event (25-29 July) comes as the show also takes on a new name, the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain at the BHS Royal International Horse Show. The show said the move reflects “the importance of this showcase class and the long-term relationship with series title partner Longines”. “The Hickstead leg gives showjumping fans their only…

IF your horse has a penchant for mud, winter can seem eternal. But as you watch your horse enjoying a lovely roll in the swampiest patch of the field, spare a thought for the servicemen and women of the Household Cavalry. The unit’s horses have returned from a long, well-deserved Christmas holiday in the wide-open fields of the Defence Animal Centre at Melton Mowbray. The soldiers are busy washing, clipping, pulling, trimming and polishing to transform the mudlarks back into gleaming cavalry horses, fit to present to The Queen. Among these is the Shire Perseus, the regiment’s newest drum horse, who has taken muddy feathers to an art form. “The boisterous Shire horse is back on his fitness regime, will be groomed back to sleek perfection, and begin the important…

Sir — While reading “Be more honest” (letters, 18 January), a weary feeling came over me. In my younger years, I spent many long days driving to view horses and ponies with clients who requested support and advice. In those days, we did not have the luxury of viewing videos and were lucky to be able to see more than one photograph — usually the only one was the photograph in the advertisement in H&H. Like Mrs Green, I was astounded at the sad misrepresentation of many sellers of their horses. One had to laugh that some had put in their advert “no time wasters please”. After one too many wasted journeys, I adopted a new approach and while speaking to vendors, I’d ask the following: “If this horse is…

AIM AS a dressage judge, I often see horses and riders at the lower levels that simply can’t canter properly. The horses aren’t straight and are unbalanced. Using loops, especially if combined with circles, the horse can be taught to find its balance and sit more on its hindlegs. The result is a much better canter. It is a useful suppling exercise at every stage of the horse’s training. The exercise also makes the rider think about their own position, how they are positioning their horse and they learn to ride more correctly to the outside rein through changes of direction. THE EXERCISE 1 Put your horse into a working canter. On the short side of the arena, canter a 20-metre circle. Go large and at the first marker, ask…

Bedale, Rookwith Farm, North Yorkshire IT only takes two hours to get to North Yorkshire from home, but when I arrived at Rookwith Farm near Bedale, I felt as if I had arrived in a parallel universe. People from all over the north had converged on the popular meet at Ed (one of the joint-masters) and Chloe Page’s farm, and the day was getting off to a great start at a lavish pre-meet in their kitchen. At 10am, the place was crammed with immaculately made-up ladies and rosy-cheeked men in hunting kit and an island groaning with booze. Joint-master and huntsman Tim Coulson was there, looking fresh-faced for a 40-year-old, and secretary Nick Thomas handed me a large glass of sloe gin and introduced me to Chloe Page and joint-master…

Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Dirubinio threw down the gauntlet for advanced medium gold with 76.31%. However, the most exciting win of the show came from Nicola Byam-Cook and pony Twyford Salamander, whose 75.15% stood at the top of the elementary scoreboard for some four hours before the win was confirmed. Nicola commented: “I’m glad our test looked as good as it felt. I found myself smiling because it felt lovely and I thought, ‘I’m so lucky to be riding this pony’. “It was very rewarding to earn eights and 8.5s for all our collectives when we’ve worked so hard on suppleness and self-carriage, but it was one of those days when the score seemed irrelevant. We showed what we are capable of at the moment at that level. That’s all…

Owned by Nicky and her fiancé Nick Veitch, the talented rising six-year-old Balhagarty Royal Dhu has qualified for the novice under-18 Area Festival final with Zoe Florence. “Dhu can be quite hot, so I wanted to get her out before the regionals,” said Nicky. “It’s almost a year since I last competed her as Zoe has been riding her.” “I first saw her as a two-day-old foal, and thought she was just beautiful. She’s been incredibly easy with a huge character. She has a good temperament and doesn’t need to be ridden every day.” Medium silver winner Sam Turpitt was pleased to be out competing with her seven-year-old Bali Dancer (Barclay x Del Piero) after an icy winter. “I haven’t been out competing since November and we’ve had nothing but…

OLYMPIC STALLIONS ON DISPLAY BIG STAR, Chilli Morning, Arko III and Jaguar Mail will be among the stallions lining up for the inaugural Competition Stallions Event at Addington Manor on 18 February. Sixty top competition stallions will be presented, and can be viewed in the warm-up and in the stables. Other sires on display will include Ramiro B, Caretino Glory and T Movistar. The event will also feature the Competition Stallions Awards, which recognise sires of progeny assessed during the 2017 British Equestrian Federation Futurity evaluations. For information and tickets visit competition-stallions.com TOP TITLE FOR SIRES DUTCH stallions Vivaldi, Johnson, Painted Black and Rousseau will be awarded preferent sire status — the highest title a stallion can earn — at the KWPN licensing in ‘s Hertogenbosch on 2 February. Johnson,…

IN Europe, the penultimate leg of the World Cup series went to Belgium’s Pieter Devos (Espoir). In Sunday’s grand prix, Harrie Smolders took top spot with Emerald NOP, while Robert Whitaker and Catwalk IV collected fourth, just 1.5 seconds off the pace, after a 14-strong jump-off. Mark McAuley took just four days to record his first win since becoming a first-time dad. His new wife Charlotte gave birth on Wednesday and, having soared into the lead on Sunday’s accumulator with her nine-year-old Valentino Tuiliere, Mark jumped on a plane home, leaving his team-mate Bertram Allen to attend the prize-giving on his behalf. A week to remember for Mark!…

BRAGG AND COLLETT WIN SCHOLARSHIPS THE Horse Trials Support Group (HTSG) has awarded its 2018 training scholarships to Alex Bragg and Laura Collett (above). The successful candidates were selected from a shortlist of 12 announced at the start of the 2017 season and the HTSG worked with data analytics firm EquiRatings to ensure a thorough analysis of 2017 results supported the selection process. OLYMPIC FORMAT TRIAL THIS SEASON TWO fixtures on this year’s eventing Nations Cup circuit will be running the new Olympic format of three combinations per team with all scores to POL ROGER WINNER ZOE ETHERINGTON is the winner of the inaugural Champagne Pol Roger novice event rider bursary. Zoe juggles studying for an MA in economics at Edinburgh with eventing and was chosen from over 300 applicants.…

South Dorset, Milborne St Andrew, Dorset DOCTOR George Bingham didn’t let a tiring week of night shifts at St Thomas’ hospital in London affect his performance as he steered Boher Call to victory in the hunt members’. George led from the front and when joined by Creative Inerta in the finishing stretch, he squeezed Boher Call on to win. “I’ve only ridden him about six times and I was told just to go out and enjoy myself,” explained George. “I only get to ride a couple of times a week, but I cycle and go to the gym to keep fit.” Runners in the open maiden, for four-, five- and six-year-olds, set out at a sedate pace but as the field entered their second lap, Troed Y Melin lifted the…

THE ponies are getting on my nerves at the moment. They are in a field near the house and every time I look out of the kitchen window they are standing at the gate, eyeballing me, as if to say, “yoo-hoo, we’re over here, come and do something with us”. It’s intrusive. I wish they would go away and graze or something. It is a rotten time of year for ponies. There isn’t much going on until Alec gets back from school for some hunting, and enticing Mary on board is proving difficult when it’s cold/wet/windy/all of the above. The sheep have eaten most of the grass (very selfish animals, sheep), so I’ve been feeding the ponies hay and bringing them in when the weather is bad. One evening, to…

EDWULF The racehorse who collapsed and nearly lost his life at Cheltenham last year has won the Irish Gold Cup (racing, p64). “I can’t stress enough the job the vets did and how well he was looked after at Martinstown Stud over the summer,” said trainer Joseph O’Brien. PORTERSIZE JUST A JIFF Irish event rider Camilla Speirs has announced the retirement of her pint-sized four-star partner, aged 18. The 15.1hh part-bred Connemara took Camilla from Pony Club to the Olympic Games. The pair competed at Badminton five times, two World Equestrian Games, an Olympics, two senior European Championships and four Nations Cups. WHISPER The Grand National hopeful trained by Nicky Henderson has been ruled out for the season following a vet inspection. The Grade One-winning 10-year-old had been giving a…

FOLLOWER DIES IN HUNTING FALL A RIDER has died in a “tragic accident” while out with the Fernie on 31 January. The 54-year-old suffered fatal injuries in a fall. A statement released by the Fernie read: “Our sincere condolences are with his family and friends at such a difficult time for them, and we ask that everyone respects their privacy as they overcome such a devastating and early loss. “Both the joint-masters of the hunt and the gentleman’s family would like to extend their immense thanks to the emergency services and others who were present at the accident for all their assistance at the time.” MPS CHANGE MINDS ON FIREWORKS FIREWORKS campaigners have welcomed a “change in attitudes” from MPs. A petition calling for a ban on the public use…

PLAYING CHICKEN Two deer were caught on film last week, belting across the track at Newcastle just as the runners were making their way round the corner. Showing a fair turn of speed though, both whisked across well in front of the leading horse. Has talent, needs direction perhaps? STREAKING Talking of unexpected visitors, there was also the streaker who decided to cartwheel through an equine auction house in New Zealand. As you do. “An unusual lot,” mused one bystander. Indeed. WORDS And on the above streaker, one was intrigued to read, in a national newspaper’s coverage of the incident, that the unknown naked one “shouted something illegible”. “At least she didn’t write something inaudible,” quipped a wag.…

The horse’s gut has its own language: • MICROBIOTA The community of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, single-celled organisms and fungi, sometimes called microbes) living in a specific environment — in this case, the gastrointestinal tract. An estimated 1,000 different bacterial species perform many of the functions vital for the survival of the host animal. • MICROBIOME Genetic material (DNA and RNA) from the microbiota — which is about five million genes. Recent technological advances have made it easier to identify this genetic material. It’s still a painstaking task, but much easier than trying physically to grow, separate and identify all of the microorganisms by traditional methods. • METAGENOMICS Scientific techniques used to identify and study the complexity of the microbiome. Many microbiota will not grow outside the gut, but next-generation sequencing…

OF all the cliché things to do on Valentine’s Day, clambering aboard a horse and carriage in the Belgian city of Bruges — “the Venice of the North” — and settling down under a rug with a date is up there. But if it’s the horses you’re interested in, rather than the tour of this somewhat Disney-like city, you can’t help wondering if this whole set-up is a bit sad; horses waiting with unfathomable patience to be picked by tourists, plodding around the same old cobbled route, bracing the bitter winter weather and madly trying to rid themselves of flies come the summer. Look a little closer though, and it seems all this pity could be unfounded; hindquarters are full, coats are gleaming (despite the grey January day) and ears…

Emma Barbery won both novices at Epworth in her warm-up for a tilt at the regional prelim title on Lowlands Rolling Stone. She has just recovered her confidence after suffering a head injury when the eight-year-old Swarovski gelding slipped and fell when out hacking. “It’s just over two years since the accident, when I was taken by air ambulance to hospital,” said Emma, the finance director at Askham Bryan College. “I couldn’t ride for a long time and I had to recover my strength and confidence. It has finally got to the point when I feel, ‘yes, we can do this’. “I also had to make my work a priority as I had just moved to my new job when the accident happened, and the dressage has to fit round…

EVERYONE suffers with winter blues, including the horses. We all just want to hibernate until spring. But if you can’t afford to get away to the sunshine — and let’s face it, it’s unrealistic when we’re all busy with horses — try to motivate yourself through the winter months by putting more effort into your training. Choose a trainer who is not only inspirational, but also somebody who is honest; someone who can lift you up when you need it and also bring you back down to earth. I’ve trained with some of the best in the world, and the thing they all have in common is that they make me come away from their sessions feeling inspired and excited. Training can often provoke that feeling, even more than winning…

Aintree, Liverpool RICHARD HOWLEY and Electra B produced a breathtaking double clear to take the honours in the AW Jenkinson Natural Flake grand prix. “She’s a consistent mare with plenty of blood, so it’s easy to be fast. I tried to settle her into a nice rhythm and a good roll back at number 10 helped us,” said Richard, who almost made it a one-two, as Cruising Star posted the fastest time of all, but a rail fell after a tight turnback to the second fence. Raf Suarez set a suitably testing course for round one. Almost every fence came down, although an airy oxer off a corner at number two, followed by a double on a forward five strides, accounted for most faults. With 16 from the start list…

WHATEVER Irish Gold Cup hero Edwulf does in the future, he already has his place in racing folklore. At last year’s Cheltenham Festival he collapsed and lay for dead on the run-in after suffering severe oxygen deprivation at the end of the four-mile chase, when poised to take second. That JP McManus’ gelding survived was a testament to the horse’s own constitution and to the dedication of vets and the team around him. And that he not only raced again, but also fulfilled his trainer Joseph O’Brien’s faith in his talent at the highest level, is verging on miraculous. Edwulf was bred by farrier Ivor Valentine, for many years responsible for the feet of the residents at the Reveley family’s successful yard near Saltburn, North Yorks. Among those under the…

Western Hunt, Wadebridge, Cornwall HORSE & HOUND columnist Darren Edwards picked up an impressive treble at Wadebridge, kicking things off aboard the Nicky Martin-trained The Two Amigos in the intermediate. Darren’s further two wins of the afternoon came courtesy of the Summersby team. Emma Summersby trained her first winner with Raloo Rocket under Darren in the open maiden. The pair finished strongly up the hill to hold off Missyladie. Emma’s husband and fellow trainer Dean said: “To quote Nicky Henderson, ‘he does nothing at home!’ He is so laid-back — I took him hunting with the South Tetcott to freshen him up but that just made him a steady hunter. We’ll have a lot of fun with him.” Robin De Souza completed the Summersby/Edwards double in the men’s open. The…