Innholdsfortegnelse for 03-May-2018 i Horse & Hound

THE horses started living out for the “summer” last month. I’ve just brought them in for the night — I know, aren’t I soft — and now type this listening to what is promised by the Met Office to be the first of 24 hours of rain. Without wishing to go all Daily Express, that’s a month’s worth in a day. This, on top of the already slightly soft ground in Gloucestershire, means there are those who are understandably concerned that Badminton may be cancelled. I trust you are reading this, bathed in golden sunshine, on the estate’s hallowed turf, scoffing at the suggestion that the view and sport you are enjoying, champagne in hand and hamper at your feet, might not have been. Rather than wondering what to do…

LEADING industry figures have welcomed new guidelines for caring for equines, saying they will help raise standards of welfare. Following consultation, Defra has revamped its code of practice for the welfare of horses, ponies and mules, which set out minimum standards for ownership and welfare. Breaching the code is not an offence in itself, but the guidelines will be used to enforce regulations and prosecute if necessary. Guidelines cover topics such as environment, diet, microchipping and providing for behavioural and companionship needs. “The code takes into account veterinary developments and behavioural science,” said Jeanette Allen of the British Horse Council. “It helps support important end-of-life decisions and reflects increased understanding of significant health and welfare issues. It also helps offer more clarity in areas which give rise to calls or…

H&H RUNS FESTIVAL OF SHOWJUMPING HORSE & HOUND is delighted to announce it is extending its competition series — with the launch of the H&H Festival of Showjumping. The event is to run at Arena UK, Lincs, from 13 to 15 July, with classes from 70cm to 100cm for both ponies and horses, and a host of fantastic prizes on offer. The move follows the success of last year’s H&H three-day event, which returns next month, and the launch of the H&H FestivalofDressage, also in July. Classes on the Saturday and Sunday will combine to decide overall placings. Warm-up and fun classes, and evening entertainment, will also feature. NEW PROTOCOL FOR NOTIFIABLE DISEASE A NEW protocol is in place for any outbreaks of contagious equine metritis (CEM). Owners of affected…

HOUSEWORK Desperate riders have reportedly been driven to extremes such as doing the housework to stay sane this winter, as freezes, floods and resulting event cancellations played havoc with riding plans. One H&H-er reportedly cleaned her fridge, while another admitted to “even cleaning my tack”. (Surely not, Ed). Anyway, spring is finally here so enough of such time-wasting… kick on! COMPLAINING Overheard, at one of the first horse trials able to run this season, someone moaning that the ground was “too hard”. As a wise woman once said, some people want marmalade on it… WEATHER And then, of course, given the two statements above, it rained and hailed again and the ground got wet again, and competition was cancelled again. Sigh. Hard ground and washing-up, anyone?…

HEARTFELT THANKS Sir — I have been overwhelmed by the messages I have received for my husband Mike Tucker (obituaries, 5 April) and would like to express sincere thanks to all who have written. The message, both here at home and around the world, is that Mike was a man who combined hard work with professionalism, teamwork and, above all, fun. He would be humbled and privileged at the support shown, as are we all. I hope you will forgive me if I cannot respond personally to everyone, but please understand it has been a joy and comfort to myself and the family to read about your recollections of Mike and the time you spent in his company. With his usual enthusiasm for a challenge and help from Jane Wallace,…

‘We’ve all become very good friends over the years and it’s terribly good fun. Someone even asked me once: “Julian old boy, have you ever thought of running a nightclub?”’ There have been lots of amazing moments at Badminton, one of which has to be Andrew Nicholson winning last year on his 37th completion. It certainly created a fantastic buzz in the media centre. A not-so-amazing moment was when I had to do a TV interview with American eventer Bruce Davidson, who is notorious for giving one word answers — and that’s exactly what he did! It was dreadful. That and interviewing Mary King once while her chickenpox-infected children were climbing over her. Badminton is such a big event that running the media centre can be extremely stressful. It requires…

‘I had an awful lot of faith in Cooley Master Class — it’s his first time at this level’ OLIVER TOWNEND Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, USA IT’S on to Badminton and a shot at the $350,000 (£255,000) Rolex Grand Slam for Oliver Townend after an impressive come-from-behind victory at Kentucky on Cooley Master Class. Oliver’s triumph ended Michael Jung’s winning streak with FischerRocana FST at the Kentucky Horse Park. The German rider’s bid to capture an unprecedented fourth title ended with a rail down in showjumping. The win was an emotional one for Oliver. He moved up from fifth after dressage to third following cross-country and then had a clean showjumping round over Richard Jeffery’s course to take the title on his dressage score of 28.7 penalties, as…

MOLLY PHILLIPS admitted to feeling underwhelmed when she first met her Kelsall BE100open winner, Watachance (Danny). “I bought him unseen from Ireland, through Karen Dixon, four years ago,” said Molly. “When he stepped off the horse transporter, I remember thinking how big and long-legged he was. Disappointingly, when I got on him, he wouldn’t even jump a cross-pole.” But the pair soon struck up a partnership and now, as well as winning at BE100 level, Danny doubles up as a hacking conveyance for Molly’s father. “He’s so laid-back it’s unreal, but when he gets to an event he livens up for the jumping,” said his rider, who works full-time as a groom at a veterinary clinic and fits in riding around her working hours.…

• Blue Chip Solihull (1) ON.— 1, Archfield Echo (H Bradshaw) 18.5,0,0=18.5; 2, Hermanus II (T Viklund) 25.3,0,0=25.3; 3, Hot Party Juice (N Dixon) 28,0,0=28. nov sec N.— 1, Kellistown Mark (A Gill) 32,0,0=32; 2, CMS Google (K Hall-Jackson) 30.3,0,2=32.3; 3, DG Canta (C Wiederkehr) 29,4,0=33. sec O.— 1, Cock A Doodle Doo (W Newton) 24.3,0,0=24.3; 2, Brutus G (A Keir) 23.8,0,6=29.8; 3, Dovevale Lawman (L Harwood) 32,0,0=32. sec P.— 1, HS 365 UCS De Dior (L Kennedy) 28.5,0,0=28.5; 2, The Buzz Factor (E Thomas) 29,0,0=29; 3, MGH Carver Doone (T Rowland) 32.3,0,0=32.3. BE100open.— 1, Bookhamlodge Pennylane (I Watson) 28.8,0,0=28.8; 2, Summer Stardust (G Tattersall) 26.3,0,2.8=29.1; 3, Nutkin (I Watson) 30,0,0=30. BE100 sec H.— 1, SVS Aramis (M Munro) 26,0,3.6=29.6; 2, Clue Z (C Gregson) 26.5,0,3.6=30.1; 3, Amyture O (R…

Kings Equestrian, Herefords | Burrows Court Farm, Glos Emma Castle rode her partner Kevin Armstrong’s five-year-old warmblood gelding Quatermass victory in both the qualifier and the freestyle. “He’s just reaching his feisty teenage years and getting into opinionated mode, but he’s easy once he’s in the ring,” she said. Since giving up eventing due to injury, Emma is fully focused on her new discipline and is training with Erik Theilgaard. “I had a knee replacement and then another operation because it wasn’t bending very well, but I’m loving the dressage,” she explained. “There’s so much to learn. My motto would be: ‘All I know is I know nothing.’” “I’ve just been to the Golegã horse fair in Portugal, where I ended up buying a Lusitano,” she added. Karen Denness headed…

FORMER racing work rider Beth Bexon had comfortable wins in the four and five-year-old Shearwater BD young horse qualifiers. The four-year-old Woodcroft Jamais Noubliez (pictured), who is by Nourejev x Daddy Cool, was experiencing his first show. Beth said: “There were some wild moments, but I had my trusty neck strap and I was very proud of ‘Nev’.” Five-year-old Woodcroft Icon (Desperado x San Remo) was awarded 81.4% by judges Nereide Goodman and Marion Terry, placing him ahead of more polished performers. Beth came to Woodcroft and dressage only three years ago, and trains with Gareth Hughes. “Woodcroft started as a stopgap job but I never left,” Beth said. “I hope to do a young horse PSG next year and I’ve ridden a grand prix test on Woodcroft Garuda K.”…

BRITISH representation at the recent World Cup final in Paris was minimal. Let’s be honest, this once prestigious indoor finale no longer captures the public’s imagination as it used to when it really mattered to riders. It’s now lost in a never-ending calendar of grands prix. The Global Champions Tour (GCT) is in full swing and the Nations Cup series is kicking off in Europe, but for riders it’s just a treadmill they could be on for 50 weeks of the year chasing bucket-loads of money. In my job I am fortunate enough to cover many sports, and where these succeed and jumping fails is in providing a narrative. The public needs to be gripped by the storyline. Taking inspiration from golf and tennis, where rankings have a significant impact…

WHEN he found himself short of horsepower, Adrian Speight found the ideal addition to his stable in Nigel and Sue Walker’s Ringwood Cookie (right), and this new partnership qualified for the winter novice championship with a brilliant win here. “He impressed me when I saw him shortly after Sue bought him a few months ago. When I asked if I could ride him and Sue said yes, I was there to pick him up in 20 minutes,” said Adrian. “Cookie” seems to tick many boxes, as the Heritage Fortunus nine-year-old was originally trained to event and had four BE90 starts before Sue bought him as a potential working hunter. Despite being a fairly new recruit to showjumping, Cookie soon racked up lots of double clears and he is now qualified…

THERE are only a handful of shows that, as a team, we would compete at regardless of who was judging. We normally chart the year selecting the judges and the venues which will suit each combination. Royal Windsor is one of those shows that we allow the riders on our team to compete at “just because its Windsor”. Alongside the statutory river photo, the children cherish the official photos with the castle in the background. I would love to be a fly on the wall when some of the younger children go back to their respective schools and tell their teachers they spent the weekend with The Queen at Windsor. This is the 75th anniversary of Royal Windsor Horse Show and the organisers have some extra special activities and displays…

TWO of Britain’s leading female jockeys have retired on a high, each winning their final race at Punchestown this weekend. Katie Walsh announced her retirement on Friday evening (27 April) following a win on the Willie Mullins-trained Anstey. Her sister-in-law Nina Carberry followed suit the next day after victory on Josies Orders, trained by Enda Bolger. Nina, who has seven Cheltenham Festival wins under her belt, as well as the 2011 Irish Grand National, said neither rider knew of the other’s plans in advance of the announcements. “Katie and I were walking the course on Tuesday and I told her this would be my last Punchestown,” she said. “She didn’t know I was retiring and I didn’t know she was — it was just our time. We gave ourselves a…

WOODLANDER FAROUCHE The double world young horse champion is to be retired from competition for the foreseeable future. The 12-year-old Fürst Heinrich x Dimaggio dressage mare will focus on her breeding career after sustaining an injury in 2016. SL LUCCI The multi-medalled dressage pony has been given the all-clear from suspected injury, following lameness earlier in the year. The 16-year-old gelding will return to competition this summer with his owner and former rider Phoebe Peters. PIAF DE B’NEVILLE The four-star eventer has been retired from competition aged 15. Ridden by France’s Astier Nicolas, “Ben” gave Astier his first four-star win at Pau in 2015 and the pair went on to win individual silver and team gold at the Rio Olympics. STAMBROOK MISS BELLINI The 13-year-old 2014 Horse of the Year…

The King’s Troop’s Lance Bombardier Grace Gostelow has received a commendation for bravery. She broke her neck as she tried to halt a gun carriage and team of runaway horses. Jockey Paul Townend has apologised for a “mistake” at Punchestown. He swerved as he thought the field was being waved past a fence and hit two horses. He was given a 21-day ban. Spanish Olympic dressage rider Morgan Barbançon Mestre is now riding for France. Morgan, who was placed 23rd at the 2012 Olympics, is now the highest ranked rider for the nation. Kiwi Olympic champion Blyth Tait will design the novice cross-country track at Barbury Horse Trials (5-8 July). He will work with Mark Phillips, who has designed for Barbury since its inception. British rider Tina Cook has withdrawn…

JANE ROOK A FOUNDING member of British Eventing, Mrs Rook died on 6 April, aged 81. She was involved with eventing with her husband, the late Major Laurence Rook MC, from its inception in the 1950s. Mrs Rook was part of the sport’s progression from its beginnings as the Combined Training Group, to its development into the British Horse Trials Association, which was renamed British Eventing (BE) in 2001. She was chairman of the pony eventing programme in the 1990s, and the Jane Rook Trophy is presented annually to the leading British rider at the pony European Championships. Major Rook was the first European eventing champion, a title he won at Badminton in 1953 on Starlight XV. Mrs Rook gave the Laurence Rook trophy to Badminton after her husband’s death…

AFTER Badminton each year, Karen carefully packs away her Badminton radio earpiece and at the end of April the following year, she gets it out again, ready for the great event. Karen camps at Badminton from the Tuesday until the Sunday night — it is her annual holiday and she can’t understand why you’d spend it any other way. Who needs Corfu when you have the Cotswolds? The weather is irrelevant — this is Britain and that’s what wellies and waterproofs are for. And when the sun does shine, her nifty quick-dry trousers zip off at the knee. She walks the course on Wednesday morning, then gets to the first trot-up in plenty of time to get a good spot. Her earpiece is clamped on from dawn ’til dusk —…

WHEN the first Windsor horse show ran in 1943 — on a Wednesday afternoon — to help raise funds to build Spitfires as part of a wider “Wings for Victory Week”, few could have predicted what it would become. Although it barely extended beyond some private and trade driving, a little showing, a bending and musical chairs race and dog classes, including “dog with the most appealing eyes”, it was attended by hordes of spectators, plus The King, Queen and their two daughters. The organisers instantly knew that they were on to something. Its “remarkable success” soon led to “requests from all quarters to establish this as an annual form”, wrote honorary secretary Ian Hezlett afterwards. He invited key figures to become founder members of a Royal Windsor Horse Show…

“WE have a programme that supports our riders when possible,” said Britain’s World Class eventing performance manager Dickie Waygood (pictured, right), explaining why he and vet Liz Brown accompanied Oliver to the US. “Oliver has quite a string of four-star horses,” Dickie said. “And this is a chance to see how his horses are going first-hand. It’s important when you have a rider at Oliver’s level, championship material, that we make sure we’re doing all we can to support him.” The trip to Kentucky also offered a chance to gather intelligence. “The track out here was built by our 2020 Olympic Games designer, so it’s a bit of a reconnaissance to see what he has in mind with the tracks,” said Dickie. “It’s a great cross-country course and so it’s…

‘Focus on horses who score 28 or less in dressage. Anything bigger than that will likely rule out a win’ IN a season disrupted by wet weather, this week’s 2018 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials is going to get very hot, very quickly, with four key contenders in the first six names drawn and three former Badminton winners in the first 10. In a sport that champions #TwoHearts, the horse of our generation taking on the FEI’s “horseman of the 20th century” was the key battle we were preparing to watch, but as the rain has continued to fall, a third contender joins the mix. Michael Jung’s superstar La Biosthetique-Sam FBW (Sam) holds the record for the lowest ever finishing score in the history of the competition (34.4 in 2016)…

‘I’m feeling my way as Hawtins Delicato is sensitive, but hugely talented — this was a confidence-building outing and a very happy debut’ CARL HESTER Keysoe Premier League, Beds CARL HESTER’S much-anticipated grand prix debut on his own, Ann Cory and Anne Evans’ World Equestrian Games hopeful Hawtins Delicato (Del) didn’t disappoint. The British-bred 10-year-old (Diamond Hit x Regazzoni), who made his debut at the level with Charlotte Dujardin in March, secured Friday’s 26-strong grand prix on a solid score of just below 75%, despite a few mistakes. “It was a test with three super piaffes, but a couple of costly mistakes — one in the two-tempis, and then he changed behind before the left pirouette,” said Carl. “But this was a confidence-building outing before our first international at…

ALONGSIDE her team and individual wins on New Princess, Amanda Shirtcliffe also competed Active Testarossa, her seven-year-old Oldenburg mare by Totilas, who won both her tests, one with over 70%. “We’ve had her six months but Louise Robson (pictured on Active Testarossa), my trainer, has been riding her and training her for me, doing able-bodied tests, so this was our first para show together,” explained Amanda. “She went really well and coped brilliantly with the atmosphere. We brought her out to give her experience and thankfully it was a good one.”…

Quainton Stud, Bucks | Addington Manor EC, Bucks Mary and Robert Middlehurst’s Uthopias Black Pearl landed a double novice win with two plus-70% scores at Addington Manor under Robyn Walker. Robyn, who rides for the Middlehursts at their Dream Maker Stud in Norfolk, competed the mare at the Sheepgate under-25 championships where they were reserve novice champions. She also rides Pearl’s half-brother Master Merlin, who has recently returned from the BD winter championships. “It’s lovely to have two successful siblings running alongside each other,” said Robyn, who trains with Becky Moody. “We call her ‘Perfect Pearl’ because she is so lovely and has the best attitude. I’m so excited about her.” Robyn puts her success down to sport psychologist Dr Lynn Pal who, she says, “has been fab at pushing…

Manor Grange Stud, West Yorks | Alnwick Ford EC, Northumberland Heather won both prelims at Manor Grange on the seven-year-old Sir Shutterfly gelding she bought a few months ago from friends. “I’d always ridden and competed friends’ horses, but decided the time had come to have one of my own,” said Heather, who works in property development. Houdini had been evented by some friends and fell out of love with it, so I had the opportunity to buy him. He was so named because his mother escaped the night he was foaled.” Heather has been encouraged by her trainer Claire Senior, and they have been working on the judges’ comments from her two previous outings. “Claire suggested I could ride for high marks, but I couldn’t believe what I got,”…

Ladyleys, Aberdeen | Morris, Ayrshire The traditional coloured cob Frodo has returned to form after suffering a severe attack of laminitis three years ago, leading freestyles at advanced medium and medium. Sue Grice’s Chao Lingshan, by Ling, wins at advanced medium “Frodo is feeling on top form again, and produced two really nice tests,” said Sue. “He received lovely comments from the judge, who said that he tries really hard for me. That is true as it’s not easy for a hairy cob to do the flying changes.” The home-bred 11-year-old Ling gelding Chao Lingshan, out of Sue’s retired advanced medium mare Tienshan, won two straight advanced mediums, having recently missed a trip to the Area Festival championships. “He was not fit enough due to the snow, as well as…

CSI5*/CSI2* Longines Masters of New York PROUD New Yorker McLain Ward thrilled his home crowd with an incredible round to win the grand prix at the new Longines Grand Slam American venue on Clinta. With 14 top names chasing the $126,324 (£92,000) top prize, the jump-off was always going to be fast and US-based Canadian Erynn Ballard set things up perfectly from first draw on Fantast, the horse on whom she won Friday’s Longines speed challenge. Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire was in exalted company. She produced a lovely first-round clear on the scopey stallion Cornwall BH, but an early jump-off mistake dropped them into eighth. When McLain and Clinta came in from 12th to go, Erynn Ballard was still leading. This was only McLain’s fourth big class on the 11-year-old Clinton…

North of England Spring, Warren Farm, Lancs DESPITE staging 49 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) qualifiers, the show, now in its 28th year, is recognised for launching the careers of new talent. Past winners, such as Caesars Palace and Vantage Point to name just two, have gone on to enjoy success at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). This time Robert Walker captured the novice hunter title with Jill Day’s Power Blade four-year-old Northern Pride, purchased from Northern Ireland-based John Donaghy, who also found Caesars Palace. Judge Vikki Smith agreed with those admiring him ringside. “He is a lovely pattern and rode maturely for his age,” she said. “The reserve was still green in comparison but is also an exciting prospect.” This was Danielle Heath’s heavyweight charge, the Lovick…

AFTER classes described by course-designer Lisa Kelly as “the best standard I’ve ever built for”, the RIHS workers’ title went to the talented 143cm winners: Ella Dalton and the 15-year-old Stambrook Maestro. This pair finished third in a final at showjumping’s Blue Chip championships the previous weekend and Ella now has a big ambition. “He’s a pony in a million and HOYS pony newcomers second rounds are coming up,” she said. “My dream is to qualify him for HOYS in showing and showjumping.”…

FOXHOUNDS • NORTH JILL MORPHET becomes a joint-master of the Badsworth and Bramham Moor, and Joanne Riley joins the team at the Barlow. Mikey Francis takes over from Tim Coulson as joint-master and huntsman of the Bedale, having been kennel-huntsman since 2015. Aidan Beaney becomes kennel-huntsman to the Bedale and the West of Yore — the two packs are kennelled together. At the Cumberland Farmers, David Robinson becomes master. Miles Seston becomes a Middleton master, while Simon Hand, huntsman of the Cotswold until 2017, is the Middleton’s new kennel-huntsman. Meanwhile, Julia Bucknall joins the Percy mastership. The Saltersgate Farmers welcome Gill Smith as a master. Lynn Little joins the North Tyne mastership. The York and Ainsty South have two new masters — James Hudson and Andrew Stainforth. Gordon Bottomley becomes huntsman…

I WOULD like to start by wishing Katie Walsh and Nina Carberry both a happy retirement. They’ve been excellent, not just as lady jockeys, but as jockeys of any gender, with wins at the Cheltenham Festival, Irish Grand National and so on. They are both phenomenal riders and great role models for young female jockeys, too. For kids like my daughter Fern, who’s really getting into her racing, seeing women like that is important. Not only are they a good example in terms of race-riding, but are also a lesson in how to conduct yourself. They will both be very successful whatever they do next, and credit to them for really opening up the sport for lady jockeys to be competitive. On another note, a couple of weeks ago at…

Abbeylands, Worcs TEAM Ride Away III took the spoils in the Skinner’s Pet Foods open qualifier with a measured and neat performance over a challenging track. Persistent rain had caused postponement from the event’s original date and made the going tacky, albeit with a good covering of grass. Susannah Andrew gave a confident lead on former hunter chaser The Nightingale, with Joe Stevenson hot on her heels aboard the diminutive Xucra, while Roddy Stanning (Ted) and Lisette Davies (Taz) made great turns to keep in touch. A switch-back of hedges with twisting turns through the hedgeline showed off their skills. The winning team met the first of the big blackthorns in the centre on a perfect galloping stride — making nothing of the open ditch to follow and a turn-back…

Quorn, Garthorpe, Leics THE long journey from Dorset proved fruitful for novice riders’ final winner Jamie Hepburn. The 28-year-old piloted the eye-catching Robin De Boss to their fourth victory this season. It was also the second Garthorpe win of the horse’s career — he was successful at the Leicestershire course in 2017 for previous trainer Tommy Morgan, with Dale Peters in the saddle. “I haven’t won here for four years — it has been a long time since I’ve even ridden at Garthorpe, so to have a winner like that here is just brilliant,” said Jamie, whose family turned out en masse to support. The horse is owned by family and friends under the Felton, Foulkes, Hepburn, Sunnucks Partnership and trained by Jamie’s mother, Jo. Jamie works full-time for an…

BERKELEY, WOODFORD, SATURDAY 28 APRIL Hunt members’.— 1, P Gibbins & J Selby’s Inch Rock (A Hughes) E Walker. open maiden 4,5,6&7yo.— 1, S Trump’s Raddon Top (M McIntyre) L Jefford. conditions.— 1, A Taylor’s Orange Nassau (T Britten) S Britten. restricted.— 1, E & C Hitch’s Cona River (M McIntyre) C Hitch. ladies’open.— 1, B Houghton’s Wes Hardin (B Houghton) B Houghton. men’s open.—1, M Tucker’s Fishy Story (M McIntyre) S Sampson. open maiden.— 1, J Warner’s Brookthorpe Taylor (G Barfoot-Saunt) J Warner. CHIDDINGFOLD, LECONFIELD & COWDRAY, PARHAM, SATURDAY 28 APRIL Hunt race.— 1, J Phillips-Hill’s Hazy Tom (B Hampson) K Phillips-Hill. intermediate.— 1, I Gibson’s Indian Chance (S Roche) D Phelan. open maiden.— 1, The Hogs Green Racing Club’s Lightonthemountain (W Hickman) H Jones. ladies’ open.— 1, M…

MAY has now arrived and the end of this much-interrupted season is almost upon us. Frustration abounds at the havoc wreaked by the weather, but that has also prompted debate at all levels in the pointing community about what the future holds for the sport. We have no control over the elements (and precious little protection from them if fixtures do go ahead), but my recent pointing experience gave me plenty of food for thought when I attended two vastly different point-to-point fixtures (I thoroughly enjoyed both). The first was at Kingston Blount in Oxfordshire on the Saturday (21 April). It’s an idyllic setting for a point-to-point and one of my favourite venues to visit. It’s easy to get to, the course is well maintained and the quality of racing…

Farmers Bloodhounds, Edgcote, Northants JACK ANDREWS landed a double on Rock Home Late in the open maiden and Toby Lerone in the eight-year-olds-and-over PPORA Club members’ conditions race. After bringing the Liz Harris-trained Irish import Rock Home Late home with a powerful late run to deny Howld Your Whist (Sam Lee) by a length and a half, Jack said: “I would like to think he could step up in grade now.” Toby Lerone bounced back to winning ways with a four-length triumph over High Kite (Billy Aprahamian). Trainer Stuart Morris said: “He had a bit of bad luck at Revesby Park last week when he unseated and this was a massive drop in grade. ” A BIRTHDAY WIN DUNARA CASTLE gave Great Missenden owner/trainer Tom Brockett an early birthday present…

CLAIRE HARDWICK was glowing in her praise for the newly opened track after partnering Western Diva to victory in the ladies’ open. The jockey gave it the thumbs-up following her success over Always A Chance (Fleur Allcorn). “I really like it,” she said. “I think it is a proper racecourse. We are very lucky to have it in the area.” Her colleagues were also enthusiastic about the course, but despite this there were just 26 runners on the seven-race card. Lucy Buckingham, daughter of Foinavon’s jockey John Buckingham, cut the ribbon before the meeting to open the course officially.…

EMOTIONS Research indicates that horses can not only read humans’ mood from their expressions, but remember that mood and adjust their behaviour accordingly when they next meet. Which is an improvement on some husbands’ ability, we feel… NAMES With speculation rife over the royal baby’s name, we’re surprised the Cambridges didn’t go for the obvious: Carl. To go with Charlotte, of course. Although having said that, could Prince Valegro have been a better choice? BAREBACK RIDING One was pointed in the direction of someone I believe the kidz call a “YouTuber”, who in a video extols the virtues of riding “bareback”, and showing off a pricey new “bareback pad”, complete with girth, on which she is to ride. Um. Surely “bareback” means a bare back? Your thoughts, please……

DON’T you just hate it when you wash your hair and then can’t do a thing with it — and someone turns up with a camera? This wasn’t an issue for the stunning equines featured in German animal photographer Wiebke Haas’ photo series, Horse Style. Ms Hass loves photographing horses due to their “beauty and magnificent grace”. “But, there is another reason,” she said. “Horses can be hilarious and I love that, too.” She took the first image of Haflinger stallion Mozart. “During the photo session, I recognised his whirling mane, which I wanted to draw attention to,” Ms Haas said. “By tickling his ears, he shook his head in this brilliant way. “It’s my greatest passion to tease out nearly human expressions of my horse models.” Since then, Ms…

Sir — With regard to Gillian Rabor’s letter (5 April), I am keen to add some comments. Having worked with dressage horses over many years, I find many are unable to facilitate stretching and releasing, yet muscles that are toned should be capable of elasticity and, therefore, be more supportive to the athletic horse. Every dressage horse should work at liberty unencumbered by a rider, and on the lunge in a cavesson with no side-reins. This allows the horse to gain confidence in his movement and teaches him to move with balance and cadence, with no restriction to his breathing — and no evidence of tightness through his body caused by gadgets forcing a frame. Dressage would benefit from riders observing their horse at liberty, assessing his nature and body…

‘This exercise enables you to practise pushing horses on between lines and bringing them back, getting them to focus’ THE AIM THE three main things I consider when riding a showjumping course are time, attention and care. This exercise enables you to practise pushing horses on between lines and bringing them back, getting them to focus. Mistakes are made when horses run on and you no longer have their full concentration, so this helps prevent that. I call it a “gym layout”, which combines a variety of trotting poles, cavaletti, cross-pole oxers and narrow fillers with guide poles arranged into grids. It’s a workout I find especially useful with my top horses when I feel they need to leave the floor, but I don’t want to jump them over big…

PwC Horseheath (1), Cambridgeshire CORINNE ROBERTS so nearly made it a treble at her local event when she notched up two wins and a second place from her three rides. The Bishop’s Stortford-based rider, who only took up eventing when she was 40, topped the first two BE100 sections with Recession and Fourstar Buck respectively. “I share Recession with my daughter, Charlotte, who has been placed with him in under-18 classes,” explained Corinne, who bought the nine-year-old by Cameo’s Reflection directly from his breeder, Sue Rawding, as a four-year-old. “He’s a lovely horse who goes equally well for both of us. His only quirk is that he’s very claustrophobic and hates being hemmed in, so we have to be careful with him in warm-ups. Otherwise, he’s a complete gent.” Corinne…

NATASHA BURROWS’ home-bred Northallerton (1) BE90 winner, Oreo Dynamite Tancerka, was just four months old when she lost her mother from concussion laminitis. “She had already weaned herself, so we continued to hand-rear her,” said Natasha. “Probably because of this she was a very independent youngster, and stroppy and nappy to start with. She has always needed to keep her mind active.” Oreo is now nine and has a string of placings to her name, though this was her first win. “I was very surprised to do so well, as I hadn’t managed to get out cross-country schooling at all with the ground being so wet,” explained Natasha, who juggles eventing with working 40-hour weeks as an apprentice chef in a golf club. “It’s hard work — I have to…

Tall Trees, Cornwall | Colraine EC, Cornwall “I’ve had him for two years, although it’s taken me a while to get used to him,” said Alison. “Weekly lessons from Karen Lisk have been really helpful and she has revolutionised my riding.” “I put an advertisement on the BD website for an honest person selling an honest horse and his owner was the only reply I had. He’s turned into the perfect family horse as I can’t always ride him every day.” Zoe Paramore and her nine-year-old Lusitano mare, Esmeralda II, by Trinko, performed their music compilation for the first time to win the advanced medium freestyle at Tall Trees. “I bought her as a weanling in Portugal as a broodmare for my Lusitano stallion, but she loves working,” said Zoe.…

WITH things starting to hot up for the World Equestrian Games (WEG), it’s an exciting time to be a judge. The standard of the horses and the riding just gets better and better and I suspect the battle for the medals will be hard fought. I have been fortunate to judge twice at the Tryon venue and it’s a pretty amazing facility. This year I will be there as dressage coach for the New Zealand event team. They are amazing athletes and I feel honoured to have trained them for some years. We have some really exciting prospects for the British team this year, but also huge wealth of experience in our riders. Closer to home, Bishop Burton will be hosting the pony European Championships for a second time. I…

SIX-BAR SHARE-OUT AT Maubeuge CSI3* in France, Tim Stockdale (Tornado Des Monts) and Simon Buckley (Elia) were placed in the small grand prix, William Whitaker (Lammy Beach) was third in a world ranking speed class and Nicole Pavitt (Gemmarco 16) and Guy Williams (Stakkatos Boy) shared a six-bar win. GERMAN WIN IRELAND’S Cameron Hanley (Quirex) was third to Denis Nielsen (DSP Cashmoaker) in the grand prix at Hagen CSI4* in Germany, where Harry Charles (Controe) was third in a world ranking class. FAMILY ONE-TWO HUSBAND-and-wife team David and Louise Simpson took the top two places in the grand prix at Moorsele CSI2*, Belgium. Louise won on First Colt, with David just behind on Curly Sue 163, with whom he won a world ranking class. Britain’s David McPherson (Dirka Des Brumes)…

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION THE showground was shared with a production company, filming a new adaptation of HG Wells’ sci-fi classic novel War of the Worlds, due to be screened at Christmas on BBC One and starring Eleanor Tomlinson, Robert Carlyle, Rafe Spall and Rupert Graves. Cast members could be seen in costume en route to locations and some of the extras clocked in at the secretary’s office by mistake. PASS THE SHADES NOT all competitors welcomed the glorious summer weather which blessed the three days of showing. The first fence on the RIHS working hunter course was moved after some competitors complained about having to ride into the sun, which was casting shadows. What would they do out hunting? CUDDLY PRIZES CUDDLY toys made a return as prizes in the…

‘He had muscle problems in the winter, but turning him out helps, so spring is his time of year’ SARA BRADSTOCK ON STEP BACK Sandown Park, Surrey IN many ways, the bet365 Gold Cup is not the race it once was in its halcyon days as the “Whitbread” when horses such as Arkle, What A Myth, Mill House, The Dikler, Diamond Edge and Desert Orchid triumphed in Sandown’s end-of-season long-distance handicap chase. This is due to a number of factors. The value of the Grand National and the changes to that course now mean that any staying chaser with a high enough rating runs at Aintree — whether it can jump or not — and it has been the bet365 Gold Cup’s biggest usurper. Brief stints as sponsor by…

BRITAIN • Champion trainer NICKY HENDERSON for the fifth time. His 141 winners netted £3,477,473 — £950,000 more than runner-up Paul Nicholls. Hard to see him not winning the new season, too. • Champion jockey RICHARD JOHNSON for the third time — 176 winners was 34 more than Brian Hughes. Native River’s Gold Cup was the high point. Should win again but would help enormously if his mainstay, Philip Hobbs, is back in form. • Champion owner JP McMANUS. Buveur D’Air was his biggest winner of his 85 and really it was just numbers that kept Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, with just 30 horses in Britain, at bay. • Champion conditional jockey JAMES BOWEN with 57 winners. The 17-year-old burst on the scene and his ride on Raz De…

‘This time I didn’t bother with the, “I will get rid of those ponies” threat. It’s been said too many times’ HAVE you ever wondered, as you drag yourself out to some waterlogged paddock, what the hell you are doing when two perfectly able-bodied human beings are sitting indoors on screens? Last week I had what can only be described as a damascene moment when I was bringing the ponies in. It was raining, obviously, and they were on particularly ignorant form. Rusty — think Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in pony form — would walk over the top of you if he could. I’ve given up bashing him because I always come off worst. Josh won’t manoeuvre past the gate, he just stands there looking at you with an expression…