Innholdsfortegnelse for 15-Feb-2018 i Horse & Hound

THE British Equestrian Federation has appointed a new CEO following Clare Salmon’s departure last year amid concern over culture and governance within the institution and interaction of some member bodies. Welcome, Nick Fellows, to the fray. Mr Fellows will no doubt be derided by some for not having an equestrian background — before he has even had a chance to prove what he might be able to do for their benefit. I don’t believe he needs to have experienced riders’ lives in order to better their situations, just a clear understanding. I trust he will quickly win over any sceptics with action. Back to the horses, word is you can add 20% to the price of any you are selling if it is a dun. I say dun, I could…

MY LADY The 18-year-old dressage mare was retired at the CDI5* show in Wellington on 9 February. Mikala Münter represented Denmark with My Lady at the World Cup finals in Lyon and Las Vegas, and at the World Equestrian Games in Caen, France. BAROLO Japan’s Kazuki Sado now has the ride on the British-bred Hanoverian. Previously owned by Carl Hester and Anne Seifert-Cohn, the 12-year-old has been bought by The Japan Racing Association. FOUNTAINS WINDFALL The Anthony Honeyball team’s stable star has died in a freak schooling accident. The promising eight-year-old gelding had won a Grade Three handicap hurdle as well as two of his four starts over fences. CODARCO Chloe Reid’s star partner, who made three Nations Cup appearances for Team USA and finished third in last July’s five-star…

‘We get asked some very bizarre things by customers and, over the years, I’ve written a lot of them down in a notebook — you try not to laugh but it’s not easy’ RUNNING THE SHOP HAPPENED MORE BY CIRCUMSTANCE THAN CHOICE. I worked in the equestrian department at Lillywhites in my early 20s, but most of my life I was a groom. I met my late partner Grahame Murphy, who was running the shop 25 years ago and moved in with him to help run the business. Grahame sadly passed away 16 years ago so I bought out his two sons and continued to run the shop. I live in a flat attached to the shop with my two Jack Russells, Mouse and Poppy, and there’s 16 acres and…

WHEN this 12-year-old mare started quidding and developed intermittent halitosis, an oral exam revealed that food was packing between the last two of her upper cheek teeth (pictured, right). Flushing the trapped material away revealed a deep periodontal pocket. There was slight loosening of a tooth, with changes to the roots, which became evident with X-rays. A local nerve block was placed and local anaesthetic was applied around the tooth, so that it could be removed via oral extraction. It then became apparent how extensive the periodontal disease was — it is fortunate the mare did not develop sinusitis.…

West Wilts EC | Bicton College, Devon Elder Klatzko topped 74% with her six-year-old Dior VIII in West Wilts’s novice and then changed her floorplan on paper before winning the elementary with 77.11%. “We’d never ridden through the second test before, but I thought he needed another outing,” said Elder. “I bought him as a scrawny 15.2hh three-year-old and he’s now 17.2hh with a huge neck. I didn’t have a big budget and he was originally rescued from a stud that had gone bankrupt, for £250. “He has limited breeding information, but is amazingly talented,” Elder added. “Originally, he was terrified of people and he still can be, although he absolutely dotes on me. It would have been impossible to have him vetted. “We’re aiming at age classes this summer.…

TO my mind, one of the aspects of the former British Equestrian Federation (BEF) breeding programme that was most needed was the Equine Bridge. Sadly, the scheme — designed to connect young horses, previously identified as talented, with riders — never got off the ground. It was a shame, as any initiative to get more of our lovely British-bred horses teamed up with British riders is welcome if we are to get them and prospective owners to shop at home and not hop on the next plane to the Netherlands. While the new Elite Stallions Foal Registration Tour is a great initiative and I have no idea what will turn up in the any of the proposals to resuscitate the BEF breeding programme, it would be good to see something…

MOST shows in Britain at this time of year are going to be cold, wet and muddy — and Keysoe was certainly that. But the great positive about centre owner Simon Bates is that he looks to the future. He has gravel ready to tidy up the car park and planning permission to build an indoor hospitality area. The staff at Keysoe are lovely. From the ladies on reception to the cafeteria and collecting ring, they are a great team and the shows have a wonderful atmosphere. My only critique is that the indoor arena can seem gloomy, but Simon says he plans to top it with a lighter surface, which should hopefully brighten it up. The British winter makes it hard to encourage investors into the sport and is…

BABY MCAULEY IRELAND’S Mark McAuley and his new wife Charlotte Mordasini have celebrated the birth of baby Viggo, who arrived on 1 February in Geneva, Switzerland. GOODBYE TOY BOY JESSICA MENDOZA has sold her talented 10-year-old Toy Boy. The British team rider has produced the gelding since the start of 2015 with plenty of good placings up to five-star level, but Toy Boy will now be seen with Chilean rider Jorge Matte Capdevilla of Oakland Stables. “It was sad to say goodbye” said Jessica. GCT RETURNS TO LONDON IN AUGUST TWO new venues have been added to the 17-date Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League circuit in 2018. The well-established CSI5* at St Tropez now comes under the GCT banner mid-season with Prague hosting the inaugural play-offs and…

CSI5* Longines Masters of Hong Kong THERE was a brace of British winners at this top tier show, courtesy of Michael Whitaker and Robert Smith, who also finished fifth and sixth respectively behind Frenchman Patrice Delaveau and Aquila HDC in Sunday’s grand prix, pocketing $40,000 (£28,900) between them. Michael’s grand prix partner was the 11-year-old son of Chacco Blue, Calisto Blue, but it was the 16-year-old Valentin R who soared to glory in Saturday’s $20,000 Maserati Masters Power six-bar competition with the only clean sweep in the fourth round over a final fence standing at 1.90m. In second was Marc Houtzager of the Netherlands (Sterrehof ’s Edinus), while Chinese rider Meng Quanwei took third. “He [Valentin R] was really up for it today,” said Michael. “He’s only done one competition…

Sinnington, Duncombe Park, Yorks JOHN DAWSON enjoyed a successful weekend thanks to a treble aboard Dance Of Time, Ancient Empire and Snow Castle — also finishing runner-up on two of his other three rides. The progressive Dance Of Time defied a 6lb penalty to make it five wins in a row in the confined. The 11-year-old gelding made smooth headway on the final circuit before finally overhauling the pace-setting Wizadora (Jack Andrews) inside the last hundred yards to score by six lengths. “He made hard work of that and I had to get serious after the last, but he really prefers going left-handed on a flat, galloping track,” said John. Ancient Empire, both ridden and trained by John, got off the mark on his first start for John’s yard in…

A RULE change under which a fall during any phase of a British Eventing (BE) competition means elimination has sparked mixed reaction from competitors. From this season, any rider who falls during the dressage or having passed through the showjumping or cross-country starts may not continue. BE said the new rule takes into account feedback from stakeholders, is in line with FEI rules and on the advice of its chief medical officer Judith Johnson, and is “essential” for rider safety. Top eventer and H&H columnist Harry Meade felt it is a “shame to have a blanket rule”. “Automatic elimination for being unseated goes somewhat against the nature of the sport; the concept we all learnt as children of hopping straight back on is central to the mindset needed for eventing,”…

Eventer Lissa Green is to compete under the Australian flag. Her British mother is six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green while her father David rode for Australia at three Olympics. Jockey Charlie Dando, who suffered horrific injuries in a shooting accident a year ago, made a successful return to point-to-pointing, with third place in a race at Milborne St Andrew. Dominic Gardiner-Hill was “delighted” to be appointed British Horseracing Authority head of handicapping. Mr Gardiner-Hill had been deputy head of handicapping for the governing body for 11 years. The Event Rider Masters series has appointed Jim O’Toole as chief executive. The former Worcester Warriors Rugby Club CEO said he looks forward to developing the series. Debbie Byrne has been appointed Horse Sport Ireland’s high performance team manager for the young rider…

JUMPING RIDERS ‘NOT AGAINST’ FEI THE International Jumping Riders’ Club (IJRC) has underlined it is working “with, not against” the FEI and other major stakeholders for the benefit of the sport. French Olympic team gold medallist Kevin Staut was elected as the IJRC’s new president in December. “We’re not fighting against anything, we are simply fighting together for our sport,” said Kevin. IJRC director Eleonora Ottaviani stated the IJRC is not working against the FEI, organisers, nor the Global Champions Tour or League. “These events are important for riders,” she said. “We are working to achieve our goal: to give equal chances to all athletes. “We believe we are all in the same boat and are trying to find a reasonable solution.” READ UP ON EQUINE VACCINATIONS A FREE collection…

BEING AMERICAN A US equestrian federation leaflet reveals much about its members. The average member (85% are female) earns $185,000 (£133,000) and owns three vehicles and four horses. Hmm. Anyone up for moving to the States? BEING SMELLY A rider was surprised to hear a colleague complain she “stunk of horses”. As both were riders, at a horse show, one wonders what she should have smelt like. Essence of moonflower? Lightly roasted sandalwood? A soft summer breeze, wafting deliciously... (that’s enough smells, Ed). LEGENDS Equestrian data company EquiRatings revealed that the average international three-star cross-country clear round rate is 65%. So the chances of jumping 75 consecutive clears at that level is, wait for it, one in 107.5 trillion. And Michael Jung’s done it. No biggie. SPELLING One was somewhat…

GEORGIE’S mum Jane had no idea the Harry Enfield sketch, Kevin and Perry, was actually true. Last summer, Georgie was still a little girl who loved ponies more than anything. She was so sweet, with her neat plaits and toothy smile, and it was such fun taking her to rallies and shows, where she was so thrilled with her pony, no matter where they finished. Then as if by magic, she metamorphosed into a stroppy madam who says it is “so unfair” that she is asked to muck out the smart 15.2hh that Jane bought her, after much pleading, at the weekends. “I want to go to Sasha’s party on Saturday and it’s a sleepover, so I can’t muck out anyway, and I need to get that Jack Wills top…

‘AND that was the round of the day on a lovely, lovely horse,’ says the commentator at West Wilts Equestrian Centre, as Katey Cuthbertson and Oare House Hero jump clear round the Discovery. This striking dun horse collects fans wherever he goes. “After we’ve been eventing, I’ll come home to messages on Facebook from people who’ve tracked me down, saying, ‘Is your dun for sale?’,” says Katey. “I have to reply saying he’s not for sale; I love him to bits.” Katey, who is stable jockey for the Guinnesses’ Biddesden Stud, will aim ‘the yellow pony’ at CCI* this year. Now seven, she bought him as a weanling when his breeder, Lady Keswick, was retiring and offered him to her for his stud fee. “I used to ride his father,…

WHEN it comes to selecting a stallion hound, everyone will have their own preferences and criteria. Whether the hound is from a neighbouring pack or a well-known national star, it is to be hoped that the breeder has done their homework and that their choice ties in well with the bitch’s pedigree and will help promote their kennel type. I asked some of our foremost huntsmen and breeders for their suggestions of the most influential stallion hounds of recent years. While it is impossible to list all their choices, here are some of the better-known. NORTH COTSWOLD BODMIN 10 Breeder and huntsman Nigel Peel MFH describes him as: “A wonderful dog, with a hell of a voice, and very tough but nice. If he was a person, you would have…

Summerhouse EC, Glos | Hartpury College, Glos “He has all the ingredients to be a top horse,” said Matt of “Cedrick”. “It was only our second outing together and we’ve won all four classes.” Cedrick, a lofty 11-year-old gelding by Krack C stallion Tuschinski, is owned by Keenans Estate Agents and has until now been competed by Jessica Dunn. “I train Jessica, but I’ve taken over the ride,” said Matt. “He’s just my type and reminds me very much of a horse I had called Don Havidoff — he’s so expressive and almost over-tries in every movement. “At the moment we’re on a fact-finding mission at local shows,” added Matt, who hopes to move Cedrick on to Premier Leagues and international small tour classes later this summer. At Hartpury College,…

Keysoe, Beds Antonia Brown collected multiple wins on a particularly successful outing to Keysoe. “On Tuesday, SJL Flugel won at medium and my own horse, SJL Duuk, won at advanced medium,” said Antonia. “On Wednesday, I entered only on the gorgeous mare Godin-Linda, as I wanted to help my friend Sara Lucas, who was riding her first ever advanced medium on DHI Cidando. “We bought Godin-Linda at the Equine Elite Auction last October. Generally, we don’t buy mares, but I loved her attitude and movement. I never even sat on her before the auction, but Sara and I could not resist her,” said Antonia of the seven-year-old by Bretton Woods x San Remo. “She’s been to three shows with me and her results have been fantastic. At Keysoe, she earned…

COMMUNICATION was the buzzword at the last British Dressage (BD) members’ meeting. BD has built up a healthy surplus and, with more than £1m in the coffers, members are looking forward to positive changes. It’s good to hear board members have opened lines of communication by visiting some centre owners. BD needs to invest to achieve its charitable aims. These include supporting education, fair competition, breeding, social interaction between members and welfare for both able-bodied and para dressage. The high staff attrition in the BD office was, in part, attributed to low wages, which could be addressed. Riders and their connections raised more than £40k to help run Hickstead CDIO last year after it was cancelled due to lack of funding in 2016. It’s good to hear BD is considering…

CONGRATULATIONS to showjumper-turned-pointto-point jockey Tim Gredley, who popped the question to his girlfriend, Sky Sports presenter Rachel Wyse (left) — and, fortunately, she said yes. Tim, 32, met Rachel, who used to be a showjumper, over a decade ago, but they have only been dating for the past 18 months. Tim confesses to being “not the most romantic” person, but excelled himself with a beautifully executed proposal. “I’d invited about 40 of our friends to London in the evening. I was riding in a point-to-point in the afternoon and halfway round I thought, ‘I’d better not fall off ’,” Tim told H&H. “Luckily, I finished second. Then, that evening, we walked over Battersea Bridge, which is beautiful with all the lights, and I got down on one knee, proposing as…

‘If anything was going to test his wind it was that ground’ NICKY HENDERSON ON ALTIOR Newbury, Berkshire THREE-RUNNER races on an afternoon of relentlessly foul weather in early February tend to make the hearts of only the most ardent National Hunt fans soar. However, after digesting the performances of two popular chasers in Newbury’s pair of key Cheltenham trials, there was a sense of renewed optimism ahead of the Festival itself. A Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase shorn of Altior would be unsatisfactory indeed and the 2017 Arkle winner left trainer Nicky Henderson running out of superlatives following his incredible effort in the Betfair Exchange Chase. “I think you’d say that was perfection,” he beamed. Altior had missed his intended comeback in December’s Tingle Creek when requiring a…

‘It is a sad state of affairs when a 10-year-old gives you a bollocking, but on this occasion I probably deserved it’ I FELL off this week. Whoopy-do, what’s so noteworthy about that, you might say? The thing is, there isn’t a lot of falling off in our hunt (the College Valley North Northumberland) because we don’t jump very much. I haven’t jumped a stick all season — literally I have not left the ground, and I wouldn’t be alone in that. I am sure the concept of hunting without jumping is an abomination to many, but you get used to it. We had some visitors from the Middleton last season who were completely perplexed: “We could have jumped that,” they said, signalling glumly at someone off their horse untying…

PEOPLE who sustain head injuries can show “significantly increased” concussion symptoms for years, a study has shown. Research carried out at the Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, found that those who had suffered mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) reported cognitive symptoms such as forgetfulness, poor concentration and “taking longer to think” four years later. The study took in 232 people aged 16 or over, who had been identified in a previous concussion study. The researchers said while there is “increasing evidence” that people can experience persistent symptoms for a year after a mild TBI, few studies have looked at long-term effects. “The persistence of cognitive symptoms four years post-injury suggests that cognitive symptoms which fail to resolve in the acute phase post-injury are likely to become chronic, and impact…

WILLIE CODD THE leading Irish point-to-point trainer died on 31 January aged 43. Mr Codd had much success as a jockey and a trainer, and also had a passion for eventing. He rode 58 winners between 1992 and 2005, including the Champion Hunter Chase at the 2003 Punchestown Festival aboard What Odds. As a trainer, he was responsible for producing numerous young horses, including Tranquil Sea, who went on to win 13 races under Rules including the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in 2010. He saddled his last winner, Bold Sky, in a mares’ maiden at Tinahely on 14 January. ANNE UNWIN A PIVOTAL figure in the Arab horse community, Mrs Unwin died on 3 February aged 87. She married John Unwin in 1954 and the pair…

YOU know when you look out of your window late at night and realise there’s a herd of loose sheep and goats going past? Us neither, but it’s what happened to residents in Francisquito, California, recently, when a donkey took it upon itself to lead the other animals into mischief. “When a police officer reaches the end of his or her career, most of them will say ‘I’ve seen it all’. Well, let’s add one more rare call for service to that list,” said a spokesman for West Covina Police. “Officers found sheep and goats, led by a donkey, walking along the residential streets. The group of animals at first failed to comply with officers as they evaded capture.” Adding that their owner was contacted and the animals were returned…

Sir — I am grateful to Endurance GB and the sponsors of the International Performance and Welfare Seminar of 3 February, which included a focus on the welfare of the competing horse. This is certainly a burning topic for international endurance. Responsible horse sport is based on partnership and respect for the horse, but in some quarters of endurance across the world this ethos appears to have been trumped by competitive or commercial interests, resulting in equine abuse. This can never be accepted or justified. Irresponsible horse sport directly contravenes the FEI Code of Conduct, which holds the welfare of the horse as paramount, is unethical and is abhorrent to both the wider horse world and the general public. Endurance is one sport with only one reputation, and if it…

‘It changes the frame and the balance of the horse in a really positive and easy way’ AIM I USE turn on the forehand with horses of all levels. For youngsters, it’s a good way to put them on the aids and teach them the difference between a yielding aid with a squeezing leg, as opposed to the forward aid which is a “clap” with the leg. It’s also good for helping to close the horse up in his base, and get his hind feet nearer to his front feet. It changes the frame and the balance of the horse in a really positive and easy way, and is a great movement for making a transition out of, such as a transition up into canter. With an older horse —or…

1 CUSTARD: the thoroughbred/Connemara and his young jockey, Lucy McCarthy (née Wiegersma) were both 16 when they won team and individual silver at the 1993 Junior European Championships. At 15.3hh, he had “all the heart to go on further than juniors, but was hampered by pony legs. But as a first horse, I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” says Lucy. 2 I’VE BEEN DUN: what this 16hh mare may have lacked in talent, she made up for in heart, finishing in the top 10 twice at Luhmühlen CCI4* (2008 and 2009), representing Ireland at the 2009 Europeans and as travelling reserve for the Beijing Olympics with Sacha Hourigan (née Pemble). 3 HIGHLAND ROAD: this dun part-bred Highland pony took Polly Williamson from Pony Club to Badminton (coming ninth in…

Addington Manor EC, Bucks | Vale View EC, Leics Crown Farm Livery proprietor Danielle Brown landed a double prelim victory — both with 75% — riding her rising six-year-old mare Wasara at Addington Manor. Danielle bought the Wanninger mare three years ago. “She came in for breaking and sales livery, but after I’d backed her, I decided to buy her because she has the loveliest temperament,” she said. “I had an older horse I showjumped previously, but after a few dressage lessons with Wasara, I got the bug. We are learning the dressage ropes together.” The pair affiliated last year and have already achieved their summer regional qualification. “We have the winter regionals at the end of February, so we’ve been getting out in preparation for that. Stepping up to…

Reaseheath College, Cheshire Aintree EC, Merseyside Field House, Staffs “I’m just hoping I can get to the end of the season,” said Yvette, who is struggling with the aftereffects of cumulative injuries. “I’ve got a very arthritic hip; I’m seeing the surgeon at the end of the week but fingers crossed he can stave off the inevitable hip replacement.” The Jack Of Diamonds mare was bought from Yvette’s trainer Andy Heffernan and is kept at Andy’s Somerford Park base. “The plan is to event again this year,” she added. “Luckily Andy is very good at tailoring my lessons around my aches and pains — just enough to get the job done.” Another heading for Myerscough is Sam Edwards who won the prelim 17A at Aintree on her British-bred Farrago. The…

Keysoe Blue Chip qualifiers, Beds MANY riders may have left for Spain and Portugal, but competitors still arrived here in decent numbers. The schedule included three qualifiers for the Blue Chip Championships that all produced exciting finales, and the star of the show was 15-year-old Ben Clark. The teenager from Southampton opened his account with 1.20m victory on Lanverdel, with whom he went on to head Sunday’s DDS Demolition winter 1.25m qualifier. Ben then took the top three places in the Friday’s 1.40m open, repeated this feat in the 1.35m class that closed the show and threw in a Foxhunter victory for good measure. Ben, who is home-schooled and will take his GCSEs this year, gained many of his rides after his trainer Julian Mincher broke his neck in a…

OUR fortunes have turned, as after a quiet January, we’ve been all go. It’s been a good start to the month, with six winners at the time of press. Our 50th winner of the season came at Huntingdon on 8 February — at the same meeting as last year — and for the same owners, John and Val King, just with a different horse. This year it was Ratify while last year it was Petite Power, so we were thrilled with that. On Sunday, we had a winner at Exeter with Time To Move On, making it two from two in bumpers with him. He’s been ridden by Barry Geraghty both times, and he’s been impressed with the horse, so we’ll see how he goes. He’ll be aimed at either…