Innholdsfortegnelse for 12-Apr-2018 i Horse & Hound

DRIVING to the office this morning I heard that a hospital in Ipswich is reviewing policy on treating celebrity patients after a singer was asked to pose for photos. A small price to pay for the millions his fame has delivered him, I thought. I should add that he may well agree entirely, and that he was there for nothing more sinister than a broken arm. But it put me in mind of the fact that, in the equestrian world, jockeys don’t always even go to hospital with broken bones — not until they’ve ridden their next race at least. What special treatment for AP McCoy I wonder? We asked doctors what drives riders to endure such pain (p28), in competition and management of their horses. At a guesstimate, a…

Army veteran Guy Disney is to become the first amputee to race over the Grand National fences. Capt Disney, who has a prosthetic lower leg, will ride in the Foxhunters’ Chase on 12 April. The British Equestrian Federation has appointed Mohamed Elsarky as chairman. His CV includes a spell as president and chief executive of Godiva Chocolatier. Leading Irish showjumper Bertram Allen will make his race-riding debut in aid of Punchestown Kidney Research Fund on 28 April. He is aiming to raise €30,000 (£26,219). Course-designer and H&H columnist Mark Phillips will be inducted into the US Eventing Association hall of fame. The former top rider is one of six who will be inducted this December. Baking icon Mary Berry has learned to plough. The celebrity chef visited Robert Sampson’s farm…

H&H TO SUPPORT WINDSOR M&MS HORSE & HOUND is supporting the mountain and moorland (M&M) classes for the first time at this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show (9-13 May). The Horse & Hound mountain and moorland in-hand classes (Copper Horse Arena and Adelaide Arena) culminate in the Horse & Hound mountain and moorland supreme in-hand championship in the Castle Arena on 11 May. H&H content director Sarah Jenkins said: “M&Ms have seen such an increase in popularity in recent years and have a strong resonance with our audience. “Having enjoyed a very successful media partnership with Royal Windsor for many years, we’re happy to extend our involvement with the show to incorporate these much-loved classes in 2018.” GRAND NATIONAL BACKS CHARITY UK SEPSIS TRUST (UKST) is the Grand National Festival’s…

HAIRNETS Ah, Rapunzel-like locks tumbling down riders’ backs, and discussions thereon. A dressage judge said a rider on whose “flaxen mane” she once commented came to explain about a missing hairband. “It was a 13-year-old boy,” she added. BORIS JOHNSON Boris met the teen founders of supplement company FenuHealth at Trinity College, Dublin, and asked if he could taste FenuSave, for horses with ulcers. Well, being foreign secretary must be rather stressful… FASHION One was intrigued by an online guide on what to wear to Badminton, with tips such as leaving the Louboutins at home. It says guests will be “spellbound by the estate’s natural beauty”, which should inspire make-up, advising, “go for the classic English rose look.” Does that tip apply to the likes of Sir Mark Todd and…

“SMILE and say nothing,” mutters Liz to herself. Smiling and saying nothing is her mantra; since her son Tom became a jump jockey, Liz’s self-control has been refined to the level of that of a senior member of the royal family. Only her best friends know that she absolutely hates watching Tom race-ride. She’d never let Tom know that — to him, she is the incredibly supportive mother who used to ring him at 5am every morning to wake him up when he first moved away from home to ride for top trainer Bruce McTough and used to sleep through his alarm clock, and who looks after him every time he ends up in hospital after a fall. In her large handbag is her mobile phone, which has Tom’s surgeon…

Minella Rocco 8yo (11st 10lb) Form: 3FU2-4P4F Owner: JP McManus Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill Jockey: Noel Fehily HAS won over four miles, and was second in 2017 Gold Cup, but fallen/unseated in three recent races. Might excel in this test, however, and recent wind op could help; soft ground a negative. Blaklion 9yo (11st 9lb) Form: 45324-212 Owners: Simon Such and Gino Paletta Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies FOURTH last year, now carrying 8lb more. Won over these fences in December — one of three fine runs this season, and will be spot-on for second National attempt. Anibale Fly 8yo (11st 7lb) Form: 142-591F3 Owner: JP McManus Trainer: Tony Martin Jockey: Barry Geraghty THIRD in Cheltenham Gold Cup, staying strongly up the hill, hinting this trip won’t faze him. Heavy…

THE depth of passion out there for our sport never ceases to amaze me. With volunteers, riders, trainers, judges, sponsors and supporters, we have a fantastic group of people wishing British dressage well. We also have two riders in the World Cup final to cheer on, and the winter championships and the World Equestrian Games to look forward to. Last month I was coaching at the Keysoe CDI, where Simon Bates and his team ran a really good show. Because the weather was freezing, the cafe became a melting pot of discussion where everyone huddled to keep warm. One conversation revolved around the benefits of the British Young Riders Dressage Scheme of 20 years ago, from which so many of our current grand prix riders benefited. They had a wonderful…

NATHALIE WAHLUND, a 20-year-old from Sweden, scored 66.18% riding Cerano-gold in her first PSG. Nathalie has been working at Oldencraig for the past 13 months and has competed a variety of horses from novice level. Nathalie said: “Cerano knows all the stuff and he’s a fun horse. Vicki Thompson-Winfield is helping me with four or five lessons a week, which is why I’ve improved so quickly. “When I came over to England last year, I never thought I’d be doing PSG so soon. The plan is for me to do some young rider classes at Premier Leagues and hopefully represent Sweden at Hickstead in July.”…

THIS is my first visit to Pony of the Year Show (POYS) and I think it’s brilliant for the kids — there are plenty of classes at all levels and the little ones can watch and learn from those in the big classes. My daughter Maisie avidly watched the JA grand prix. The facilities are a bit higgledy-piggledy but good — a nice bar and rings — but the best thing by far is the Easter egg hunt; I’ve never seen anything like it, all the kids racing around the arena. My two, Maisie and George, had a great time, the right kind of show for a family. Maisie had wanted to go to the Spanish Sunshine Tour but she would have missed too much school, so I promised to…

BRITS MAKE THEIR MARK AT Moorsele CSI3* in Belgium, Laura Renwick (Bintang II) won a world ranking speed class. Julie Andrews and Ayrton IV continued their “meet and beat the stars” campaign by finishing fifth in the grand prix at the Dutch CSI2* in Kronenburg, and at Barbizon in France, Tim Stockdale was placed in the CSI* and CSI2* grands prix on Tadeus and Miss Fritz. In Spain, Lauren Edwards (Ella Sandra G) was fourth in the grand prix at Seville CSI2*. IRELAND ON TOP CAMERON HANLEY (EIS Isaura) and Alex Butler (Theoreme Du Desir) both won world ranking classes at the CSI4* that concluded Italy’s Toscana Tour. Richard Howley (Cruising Star) won a world ranking class at Moorsele CSI3*, and at Opglabbeek youth CSI in Belgium, 16-year-old Harry Allen…

Kelso, Scotland AFTER a horrendously wet spring, Scottish racing found itself centre stage when Kelso was the principal televised meeting — it was the first time in 40 years the terrestrial TV cameras had been at the course. It was Sue and Harvey Smith, no strangers to National success with Auroras Encore, who picked up the day’s most valuable race, the Liz Adam Memorial Handicap Chase, when Smooth Stepper, a stout stayer, reversed the Newcastle form beating the Eider Chase winner Baywing by eight lengths. The runner-up’s cause was not helped by a bad mistake at the penultimate fence and another less than fluent jump at the last. On heavy ground, it is hard to recover lost momentum uphill at the end of a three-and-a-quarter mile chase. The Smiths, who…

Tedworth Hunt, Barbury Racecourse, Wilts TRAINER Mickey Bowen saddled Lotus Pond to land the Tedworth Gold Cup, and then predicted his charge will add to his trophy haul by capturing the Lady Dudley Cup. The Haverfordwest handler didn’t have a moment’s concern as the 10-year-old repeated January’s course-and-distance win. Ridden by Peter Bryan, he swept through after the second-last to record a three-length verdict over Richmond (Lucy Turner) in the 3m6f mixed open. “He won it well,’ said Mickey. “He will go for the Lady Dudley Cup at Chaddesley Corbett in two weeks’ time and I think he will win it.” Lotus Pond was once again rewarding his connections’ patience after twice recovering from tendon injuries. Mandy Bryan, the jockey’s mother and the wife of Willie, who owns the son…

MORE riders will be drug-tested this year — and ignorance of the rules will be no excuse. Doping rules for all international and most national competitions are governed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). But rules surrounding therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs), which allow athletes to take banned substances for medical reasons, differ. The FEI has warned that it will be increasing the dope-testing of riders this year, and ignorance of the rules will be “no excuse” for a positive test. Catherine Bollon, FEI athlete services and human anti-doping advisor, told the FEI Sport Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland (26 to 27 March) that failing a drug test is “too much of a price to pay for ignorance”. “Our athletes have the same obligations in terms of anti-doping as cyclists, swimmers, weightlifters…

THE British Equestrian Federation (BEF) hopes its revised pathway will help support promising and established riders throughout their careers. The scheme has been split into three distinct programmes: podium, podium potential and podium potential pathway. The first is for riders already delivering senior championship medals, the second for horse and rider combinations with the potential for such performances and the third for “educating and nurturing” riders. The last is for those aged up to 25, but age restrictions have been removed from the other schemes. BEF head of performance pathways David Hamer said the changes should help support riders at every stage, while the move to including specific horses in podium potential consideration should help ensure combinations are ready to join senior teams. “This reflects the structures we know are…

MARY KING’S latest ride stands out slightly from her string of top class eventers, but cannot be any less popular. Horse & Hound’s equine blogger Hovis will be ridden by the British star at Belton International Horse Trials this weekend (13-15 April). The part-bred Clydesdale gelding’s appearance at Belton is in aid of Bransby Horses, the event’s charity of the year. Hovis told of his excitement in his latest blog. “Since [meeting me a few years ago], despite her success, Mary has been wondering how she can top that,” he said. “How she can have a ride the likes of which she’s never had before? How she could sit on raw equine power beyond anything she has felt before? And who am I to deny such a talented national treasure?”…

Sir — Having fractured my leg in a recent fall when it was severely wrenched while still in the stirrup, I have been looking for a pair of safety stirrups. There are no recognised standards for safety stirrups, so it is impossible to know if those purchased would be effective and reliable. As there are different types of design, it’s also difficult to determine which style would be best for a given scenario. In these times of increased awareness of safety, is it time for safety stirrups to meet specified standards with independent testing, as riding hats and body protectors do? The fact that there are varying designs would obviously present problems with creating a standardised testing system, but it could include factors such as reliability of the mechanism, force…

AT the 1960 Rome Olympics, Australia won team gold — despite team member Bill Roycroft falling near the end of the cross-country, breaking a scapula, dislocating a clavicle, bruising ribs and incurring concussion. With the team reduced to two horses, against doctor’s orders, the legendary Aussie discharged himself from hospital the following morning and, despite having to be hoisted into the saddle, pulled off a fault-free showjumping round. “I didn’t mind a few minutes of pain if it could salvage a gold medal for Australia,” he said, many years afterwards. The late Bill Roycroft’s accomplishment was extraordinary, but many horse sports — particularly the high octane ones — are littered with examples of men and women riding despite undisclosed and often undiagnosed broken bones and debilitating illness. Could it be,…

Zeeland, Nieuw en Sint Joosland, Netherlands ALMOST exactly seven years ago, Charlotte Dujardin and a relatively unknown nine-year-old named Valegro made their international grand prix debut, scoring 73.7% and kicking off a new era for dressage. This weekend, Charlotte piloted an equally exciting nine-year-old to a fantastic international debut. Emma Blundell’s Fidermark mare Mount St John Freestyle was already the talk of the British dressage scene, with a plus-81% grand prix debut in March, but here Charlotte and Freestyle stamped their authority on the international scene with a 75.15% grand prix victory and a phenomenal 81.45% kür. The most impressive thing about their grand prix score was that the test was not mistake-free. This mare loves an atmosphere, and her overexuberance meant she broke to canter in both extended trots…

THE weather conspired against the show this year, delivering a biting cold wind and unrelenting rain for much of the three days. However, although some parts of the site inevitably suffered, the all-weather going remained perfect in the rings, and Arena UK staff and BSPS officials worked tirelessly to improve conditions — supplying free straw for wet stables and even clearing a nearby farmyard late on the Friday night in order to provide extra hardstanding for lorries on day two. Although a few riders abandoned ship, the majority kept calm and carried on. Classes remained well filled and, although parts of the evening performance on Saturday had to be sacrificed for safety reasons, the section championships went ahead with excellent support. “The Dunkirk spirit shone through as Arena UK, the…

I HOPE riders bringing out novices this season are enjoying early outings. But if things haven’t gone to plan, broaden your schooling focus. With newbies, it isn’t just about showing off a horse’s paces and way of going. It’s about doing it amid the distractions of a strange environment, so schooling at home on your own isn’t suffi cient preparation. We suspected that a couple of prospects might be slightly too bright for comfort at their first show, so we hired a big outdoor arena at a nearby show centre and invited others to join us. Eight horses and riders worked together, replicating the environment of a collecting ring — which some horses had never seen — and a class. It’s a big risk to go straight from your home…

“QUICK, put the rosette on, he’s standing still to do a poo,” said Harry Foulds to his mother Deana as his excitable pony, Magic Moments IV, spun around in ever-decreasing circles during the Eskadron discovery presentation. Dismounting to accept the rosette and trophy from judge Barry Clifford didn’t work either, as Magic still spun round, dragging Harry with him. “He prefers jumping in the ring. He’s usually excited in the presentation and is so active, something triggers in his brain and he cannot stand still,” said Harry.…

A PERSONAL BEST MIA PRICE landed her biggest win in the mini grand prix on Ardvalley Dun Lady. “She’s an all-round easy ride and has the biggest stride,” said Mia, 15, who acquired the eight-year-old from trainer Paul Kelly. Moving up the levels and winning bigger classes is now the aim. “She’s out of discovery now and we’re jumping newcomers — HOYS would be a dream,” said Maidenhead-based Mia. BRED FOR THE JOB RACHEL PROUDLEY secured the novice title with Alan Scott’s Jet III. The seven-year-old, bred in Britain by Rachael Williams, is by Nick Skelton’s 2004 Olympic ride Arko and out of the Pilot mare Easy Jet. “She was bred as a horse but didn’t grow,”said Yorkshire-based Rachel, 12. “She has a massive jump and found the technical track…

Crawley and Horsham, Angmering Park, West Sussex THE Crawley and Horsham met in Angmering Park for their final meet of the season, with hospitality provided by Nigel Clutton and his team. The day marked the retirement of Kim Richardson and Neill Millard as joint-masters. They have both done a great deal to keep these hounds thriving and to provide sport in an increasingly tricky country. Tribute was also paid to countryman Guy Pettett, who moves on after five years laying trails, building fences and running the kennels. Neill Millard thanked all the Crawley and Horsham’s generous farmers and landowners and reflected on innovative hunting, including taking the pack to hunt in Ireland, in Scarteen and Waterford country — a first for an English pack of foxhounds. The field was led…

JUSTIFY SETS UP DERBY DUEL AFTER Mendelssohn’s demolition job in the UAE Derby at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night (31 March), the build-up to this year’s Kentucky Derby at Churchills Downs, for which he is favourite, is going to have more resonance this side of the Atlantic than usual. American trainer Bob Baffert revealed he also has an exceptional son of Scat Daddy, the same sire as Mendelssohn, named Justify (pictured). It looks like the “Run for the Roses” could be between the pair after Justify kept his unbeaten record by winning the Santa Anita Derby (7 April) by three lengths from Bolt D’Oro, the beaten favourite in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Baffert described Justify, a much bigger colt than Aidan O’Brien’s Mendelssohn, as “a bit late to…

DICKY BOB succeeded in notching up two wins under Rex Dingle at the meeting — a walkover in the hunt members' before cruising to victory in the mixed open by 25 lengths. The grey gelding joined owner and trainer Verity Nicholls after a chance meeting. “I was at a party and was looking around the owner’s yard, and I saw this long, grey head. I was instantly smitten,” said Verity. “I bought him as a yearling and for years he was too immature to do anything. As a seven-year-old he raced for the first time, but he could hardly walk, let alone gallop. “We put him away early, and as an eight-year-old our ugly duckling turned into a swan. He’s won 12 times now,” said Verity. “My parents, John and…

Keysoe, Bedfordshire YOUNG drivers have dominated this championship in recent seasons, and this year was no exception as 16-year-old Colette Holdsworth netted the open pony and supreme titles. In their first season contesting the open section, Colette and her nine-year-old mare Pepper forged a decent 4.75-penalty dressage lead, retaining their advantage all the way through to the concluding obstacles round. Colette admitted that the phase “has never been my strongest”, so was thrilled to lay down the fastest time through both hazards to secure a 8.48-penalty victory over runner-up Stephie White. “That was our highlight, I was really happy to do well in the last round — we went to the junior camp and the Unicorn Trust last weekend and had some coaching there, which helped,” said Colette, who also…

EVERYONE’S a photographer these days. With a mobile phone always in easy reach it’s now second nature to snap everything and anything, from your lunch to your horse’s latest puncture wound. Increasingly often, these latter images are being relayed straight to the vet, allowing them to start making decisions regarding treatment without leaving the practice. “During out-of-hours this can be particularly useful,” explains Nicola Mason, veterinary surgeon and owner of Durham Equine Practice. “It can sometimes be a challenge for a horse owner to explain the location of a wound accurately, or physically describe a lesion on their horse, so I’ll ask them to send me a photo of the injury which then helps me to determine whether I need to go now or if it can wait until tomorrow.”…

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JURASSIC RISING Pippa Funnell’s former top ride has been put down, aged 26. “Fiver”, who won Blenheim CCI3* in 2003 and Saumur CCI3* in 2002, had spent six years competing at dressage with Jane Clarke before being fully retired. RUBIN’S NITE Britain’s Hayley Watson-Greaves will ride Rubin’s Nite in Paris on her World Cup final. The pair had just missed out, but were called up to replace Australia’s Mary Hanna, who had to withdraw Calanta due to injury. DEJAVU MH New Zealand grand prix rider Wendi Williamson’s top horse has died aged 13 following colic. “Travelling ‘DJ’ to Europe to compete on the international stage was an experience and challenge that I am forever grateful for,” said Wendi. CUE CARD The chaser will be retired at Sandown Park’s Jump Finale…

LINDSAY JENKINS A TOP dressage judge, trainer and rider, Ms Jenkins died on 30 March aged 68 from cancer. Born in Yorkshire to a farming family, Ms Jenkins started riding as a child and was first taught by Col Peter Hodgson. Her career in the saddle started as an event rider — she worked for and trained with Henrietta Knight, competing up to CCI4*. Henrietta suggested she ask Ferdi Eilberg for help with her dressage, which resulted in her moving exclusively to dressage in the early 1990s. She made her international dressage debut in 1993 aboard the Lipizzaner mare Felicia, and went on to achieve success on the national and international stage with a number of horses. Ms Jenkins had hoped to ride her husband Mike Middleton’s stallion Diamonit II…

DOUBLE MEANINGS An H&H-er was slightly confused by an email with the subject “Can AI make you happier at work?”. The owner of a mare, she clicked into the message, only to find out it was talking about artificial intelligence rather than artificial insemination. Not a mention of stallions or semen in sight. How boring. SAFETY HELMETS In its most recent newsletter, an archaeological society features an Iron Age helmet found in Kent, which in shape very closely resembles today’s riding hats. No harness though, so the key question is, where did the eventers of 55 BC attach their tags? HUNGRY BEF STAFF The new British Equestrian Federation chairman used to work for Godiva chocolates, United Biscuits (well, no one wants a disunited biscuit) and Jacob’s. Surely he’ll bring in…

 It’s unfashionable, but I’d call myself an army housewife. I’ve fitted my riding and painting in around that. I wrote my book, Legend, A True Story, originally for my grandchildren. I’m dyslexic and a hopeless writer, but with a computer I managed to get something down, and it was rather fun. I wrote and illustrated it, and then saw publisher Forelock Books’ advert in the local paper asking for pony stories and, much to my surprise, they picked it up. ‘I remember Legend went by train to the RIHS. My father met him in London and led him to Hyde Park Mews for the night’ I wanted to tell the story of my show pony Legend, a 13.1½hh chestnut who became very famous in his time, winning at the Royal…

Deauville CPEDI3*, France FOR the seventh consecutive year, Britain won the Nations Cup at Deauville, by nearly 5%. Sophie Wells and C Fatal Attraction scored personal bests in the grade V team and individual tests, and Sophie feels there is still more to come from the Fidertanz gelding, who is 11. “He’s such an expressive horse, and I wanted to find the balance between power and harmony,” she said. “It’s so exciting that he could do that here today.” Sophie remained ahead of the field in the freestyle, posting over 80% for an impressive test to win by 7% with a show-high score. Sophie Christiansen maintained her dominance in the grade I ranks after a year out, winning all three tests and finishing 10% ahead of her nearest rival in…

‘As he’s got older I’ve decided to concentrate on dressage, and he’s qualified for the Area Festivals at elementary bronze’ SALLY TABBERER Stourport RC, Worcs | Eland Lodge, Derbys Melanie, stud manager at Ruxton Horses, says she has given her home-bred eight-year-old Showmaker x Don Primero gelding time to mature. “He is a very big horse and it’s taken him time to build up the muscle and strength he needs to perform the higher level work,” said Melanie, who trains with Serena Pincus. “I haven’t over-competed him as I tend to qualify them and then move on to the next horse, so he can be nervous, especially in the warm-up. I’ve taken the time to get him out at different venues to try to build his confidence up.” The…

Brook Farm EC, Essex SPRING may not quite have arrived yet, but Jayne Ross and her team braved cold conditions, though thankfully without rain, to dominate at Brook Farm. Jayne’s run began with the hunter championship on Jill Marsden and Tanya Moulden’s heavyweight Twinshock Warrior. This was the third Royal International (RIHS) qualifier win in a row for the six-year-old son of Ricardo Z, whose devoted owners drove here from Bolton to support their pride and joy. “It was well worth it,” said Jill. “I’d travel forever to watch him for just 10 minutes. We absolutely adore him. He’s a gentle giant, but so classic.” Jill and Tania found the gelding, who was lightly shown under Simon Charlesworth last season, as a three-year-old. “We’d been everywhere looking at horses and…

WORKING hunter pony rider, producer, trainer and course-builder Rachel Turner had more cause for celebration than most when her bay Connemara, Errisbeg Lad (Bertie) won his winter heritage restricted class with Ella Dalton. “Bertie’s my yard favourite, but has had serious foot problems — at one point, the vets advised me to put him down,” said Rachel, who headed the first day’s heritage novice workers with Collette du Feu’s West Bridge Mirah. “But he had 12 months’ box rest and, miraculously, has made a full recovery. This is his first time here and Ella’s win with him gave me more pleasure than my own with Mirah.” Mirah’s run-up to the event was also far from straightforward, as an injured muscle in his girth area meant he had to be ridden…

Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships, Hartpury Arena, Glos SMOOTH, deceptively fast lines earned the Blue Chip grand prix title for Alex Thompson with the nine-year-old Cathalina V, registering only their second ever win. “I’ve always taken my time in the jump-off, I’ve never wanted to race her against the clock,” said Alex, after specifically targeting this class so the mare jumped fresh in this, her only competition of the week. Nine of the 34 starters returned initial clears over Paul Connor’s 13-fence track, with Alex finding the shortest route to win with almost three seconds in hand. Alex credits the win to dressage lessons with Stephen Thompson throughout the winter. “Cathalina is quite sharp and we’ve spent a long time working on her flatwork and rideability. She has three…

I’VE BEEN coming to this show since my pony days when it was at Solihull and I love it. They have good commentators and organisers who create the feel good factor and celebrate the presentations rather than getting you in and out as soon as possible. My son Oscar loves it too — he was sat in the crowd shouting “Welly” at the top of his voice when I won the Pro Challenge. That was a run of nine wins for us and I knew it couldn’t last. I was trying to repeat last year’s grand prix win and take the £1,000 bonus for winning both the grand prix and the challenge, but it didn’t come off. Welly made up too much ground in the short five strides to the…

WITH the vale ditches running as hard as they have all winter, it seems like “someone’s law” that now is the time that we have to stage our most public events, the point-to-points. Due to our hunt’s multifarious genealogy, we are entitled to several meetings held at two venues. As our hunt lorry was towed out of the racecourse on Easter Saturday by three young farmers on their “green giants”, I reflected on a day not just stolen from the weather, but a true country celebration against the odds, which produced quality racing in front of a surprisingly large crowd. It required a Herculean effort by the organising team and a hundred volunteers, which was mirrored at events all around the country. The financial value of point-to-points to individual hunts…

Fernie, Tur Langton Lodge, Market Harborough, Leics AFTER the elements threatened to wipe out the spring team chase season, the new Skinner’s Pet Foods national champions could not be more appropriately named than Wishful Thinkers Too. With continuous drizzle easing the already soft going at the Fernie’s Tur Langton course, the late-drawn Wishful Thinkers Too had it all to do. Simon Coady led off on Charlie, taking his team through the first switchback of hedges at oblique angles. Heading back downhill to a log and palisade on an impossibly tight approach, Maurice Linehan and Larry Brown were desperately trying to keep up with their captain. Anne Mackley had already broken a stirrup at the preceding drop hedge and she was unseated. Simon grazed all the edges of the pen to…

ALICE STEVENS landed an unexpected open maiden victory on Heated Debate (pictured, left). “My plan completely changed mid-race because he’s had some time off, so the priority was to get him to relax and have a confident run,” Alice said. “When I looked around at the last corner and nothing else was running as well as him, I let him jump his way to the front.” The eight-year-old gelding, who is trained by Francesca Nimmo, has had time off with leg injuries. He came home first of six finishers from the 12 starters. “The first time I rode him I thought he was one of the greatest I have sat on,” said Alice. “There were a few non-finishers today but he showed his class and wasn’t affected. I thought I…

FIVE-YEAR-OLD gelding Toby Maguire landed the restricted impressively under Guy Levinson for trainer Charles Levinson and Alexia Robinson. “He was very weak and didn’t want to eat, and we struggled to get any topline on him,” said Charles, who bought him this season from the Tattersall sales. “We had everything checked — we thought he might have ulcers — but we couldn’t find anything, so we tried a supplement called Foran Shy Feeder, which is very palatable and encourages him to eat. “We’re now slowly building him up and doing a lot of topline work, and it’s paying off.”…

I RECENTLY completed an online questionnaire on pointtopoint.co.uk which asked a range of questions about the point-to-point fixture list, and I would urge anyone with a stake or an interest in the sport to do the same. The fixture list is a hot topic at the moment and it is being discussed at every point-to-point that I attend. It’s also the subject of much debate on social media and online forums, so if you have an opinion, now is the time to act. The first question asks, “What is your role within the sport?” and if you fall into multiple categories then you are encouraged to complete the survey more than once. Some of the questions give the option to select from a choice of answers, but in my opinion…

‘It was one of those days when complete strangers greet you with a rueful smile and the words, “We must be bloody mad”’ THE negatives in the national character seem to loom large at the moment as Brexit rumbles on, but this weekend, I thought, “Big up the Brits” — I think we are going to be fine. When our backs are against the wall, stoicism and humour kicks in and carries us through anything. Anyone who needs proof of that should have been at our point-to-point on Easter Monday. Once again, the weather was ruining plans. The Pony Club’s Easter show and the Percy Hunt’s fun ride had been cancelled, and it seemed the point-to-point would go the same way. But it didn’t, so on Easter Monday, with temperatures…

ELISHA ANTON’S horse Beswick (below) was diagnosed with a large corneal ulcer as a result of a photo which Elisha had taken to show her vet, Nathalie van Heesewijk. “A couple of days after taking Beswick to the beach, his left eye became puffy and weepy and then it spread to his right eye,” explains Elisha. “I sent a photo of it to Nathalie and she spotted a cloudy small circle in his right eye, so came to see him.” By using green dye in the horse’s eye, Nathalie identified a large corneal ulcer that had developed from a grain of sand that had become partially wedged under his eyelid. Throughout Beswick’s treatment, which included surgical intervention by an ophthalmologist, Elisha took regular photos. “Beswick is a very slow healer…

Chloes Glory is a 13-year-old British warmblood event horse by Caretino Glory, owned by Rosanna Grant. The gelding suffers from sweet itch, but Rosanna has a management programme that works, and the pair currently compete at novice eventing with the aim of going intermediate this season. Rosanna says management is key to dealing with his sweet itch. “‘Lippy’ suffers mainly in the spring, summer and autumn,” says Rosanna. “When I got him, he had rubbed out his mane and the top of his tail, and they were often raw and bleeding. His head and ears were also raw and hairless. His hair, mane and tail have now grown back, but even with strict management he will still rub patches raw, and if allowed he would constantly scratch his mane and…

Avet’s favourite saying is if you hear hoof beats, expect horses, not zebras. Even though they lack hooves, this old adage certainly applies to lice — look for the obvious first. Louse infestation is one of the most common causes of itchiness, or pruritus, in horses. Lice are most common in cool, damp climates in late winter and early spring, which means around this time of year in the UK. If your horse or pony is itching, it is important to rule out lice and other parasites, such as mites (vet clinic, 22 February), before considering other causes, such as allergic skin disease, which is the second most common reason why horses and ponies develop an itch. Lice aren’t just a problem that affects horses in poor condition, kept crowded…