Innholdsfortegnelse for 22-Nov-2018 i Horse & Hound

THE response to Tim Stockdale’s death reflects an incredible level of adoration and respect towards this incredible rider. It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t have a story to tell that gives an example of why they held him in such high regard. Most of those anecdotes include an element of kindness — Tim appears to have had time for everyone, which is hard to do when you are working flat out for the success he will also be remembered for. Tim was a journalist’s dream, always coming back with a quote — an insightful, enigmatic one at that — and came across incredibly well. When TV producers were looking for someone to front the showsFaking ItandOnly Fools On Horses, Tim was the ideal candidate. Here was someone viewers could…

ROARING LION The three-year-old colt, trained by John Gosden and owned by Qatar Racing, was named Cartier Horse of the Year on 13 November. The son of Kitten’s Joy won four Group One races between July and October this year. LOT 38 The unnamed gelding, by OBOS Quality 004, topped Goresbridge’s Go For Gold event horse sale in Ireland (12-13 November). The three-year-old was bought by British rider Sam Ecroyd for €59,000 (£52,495). LALOR The six-year-old won on his debut over fences at Cheltenham. He was ridden by Richard Johnson for Kayley Woollacott, who took over the licence from her late husband, Richard Woollacott DUBLIN The 11-year-old has joined British showjumper Jessica Mendoza’s string. The German-bred gelding, by Cobra 18, was most recently competed by Kent Farrington and had several…

A HUNTSMAN has been found not guilty of a charge under the Hunting Act, in a case which should “never have got this far”. Quantock Staghounds huntsman Richard Down was acquitted of hunting a red deer with dogs, at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on 13 November. Judge David Taylor said the evidence provided, in relation to the incident in January, was “circumstantial”. He also threw out a case against Martin Watts, a member of the hunt. The evidence, provided by the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), included footage LACS said showed red deer being hunted by hounds led by Mr Down. Mr Down maintained he was trail-hunting with 15 hounds. Defending, Peter Glenser QC said: “Mr Down was aware he had members of the public and anti-hunt campaign groups watching. “To…

BLING Spotted on Facebook, a distraught rider looking for advice on storing her bling. “Both our browbands have lost gems; they’re stored in a bridle bag but still losing them,” she wailed (a typed wail, but still). The life of a rider is a hard one indeed. VETS Also spotted on Facebook, a picture of a well-covered pony described as obese by the vet. “But what do you think?” the owner said, going, of course, for the sensible option of discarding the advice of a highly trained and qualified veterinary professional for that of randoms online. Nice work. WORMS Overheard, a rider warning others of the dangers of “encrypted small redworm”. One was intrigued as to what might be involved here. Computer codes? Fiendishly difficult conversion of data? Enigma-style ciphers?…

PATTY relishes announcing to people that she and her Welsh cob, Dragon, have a combined age of 107. Add her Jack Russell, Sinbad, to that and you get 121. All three are made of tough stuff and are rather intimidating to those who don’t know them — they live alone, halfway up a Welsh mountain, and set off to meets of the Llareggub Farmers in an ancient, rattling Rice trailer and battered Defender. Sinbad curls up on the passenger seat underneath a rather noxious old Puffa coat, but Patty (wearing a bowler hat) and beautifully turned-out Dragon follow hounds briskly for a few hours. Everyone says how marvellous they are and that they don’t know how Patty does it. She swears by a joint supplement that she has sent to…

The three most important things that people struggle with in these exercises are lack of engagement, suppleness and straightness. Always ride forwards in each exercise, even when you bring your horse back to working trot from medium trot. You should feel he is working through from engaged hindquarters into a consistent contact and is connected between both legs and both reins. His hindleg should directly follow the footprints of the front leg. If you’re crooked in the working trot, the medium is going to be the same. When transitioning up into medium trot, sit up — avoid losing the connection by leaning forwards, hoping your horse will come with you.…

THERE have always been tales of horses who have lived to remarkable old age. “Old Billy” lived to the age of 62, dying in 1882, and legendary showjumper Stroller reached 36. But what about contemporary elite horses, those who have been at the very top of their game? Some of the older legends who follow are still ridden — none of our featured retirees do absolutely nothing, at the very least they go on a walker. Scientific and equine consultant Dr David Marlin agrees that older horses should remain in work: “Light exercise is better than complete rest,” he advocates. Arko III, partnered by Nick Skelton at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and European number one in 2004, 2005 and 2006 with a list of grand prix wins as long…

ONE trademark of Phil Rowley is that he is very flexible when it comes to the horses’ routine. “I’ve learnt a lot over the years — not from what horses do, but how they look,” says Phil. “You’ll never see any of our horses looking weak and unhappy. They are always strong and bright, and that all comes down to core strength. Mel [wife and dressage rider] has instilled that into me.” Mel, who has competed up to grand prix level in dressage, schools the racehorses weekly. “We like our horses to go in a certain way, so work a lot on their core strength, cantering steadily uphill and ensuring they are soft and on the bit,” she adds. “They could all easily go and do a prelim dressage test…

I HAD always thought that a black sheep was just a black sheep (or in this case, a flock of black sheep), but apparently not. As we trotted through the drizzle on a lane near Banc Maes-yr-Haidd, my hosts were keen to point out that these were Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep, not to be confused with Torwen Badger Face Welsh Mountain sheep. But, before my lesson in ovine colouration could be concluded, there was a crash of hound music to our right and everyone’s attention was immediately fixed on the barely discernible shapes moving in the gloom out on Figyn Common. Before long, the pack was running hard over the track to Blaensannen Farm and down the narrow valley toward Pant-gwyrdd. Shortly afterwards there was a clattering of hoofs behind…

Oldencraig, Surrey | Pachesham, Surrey The nine-year-old PRE stallion, known as “Amo”, short for ammunition, produced 68.08% and 70.52% tests under Vicki Thompson-Winfield. Sam said: “I would like Ambicioso to be considered a serious team horse. He’s got the ability and class to do it. “Vicki will have Amo at small tour next year, and another ride, Artist, at grand prix, so [her current PRE grand prix ride] Mango Jacaro is for sale. He’s been a great ambassador for the breed. Now it’s time for someone else to have fun on him.” Ambicioso covered mares in Spain, and Vicki commented: “Spanish horses love to work for you, but I need to introduce Amo gradually to social life. So far he’s doing better than I expected.” This year Pip Blain, who…

ROCKROSE EC 10 Nov: prelim 14Q.— 1, Roger Wilco (H Hunter) 68.85. silv.— 1, King Cottons Miracle (E Grimwood) 68.46; 2, Gems Kristina (G Chalmers-Gray) 65.38; 3, Chesterhill Dexter (L Sturgeon) 64.81. brnz.— 1, Opposite Reflection (S Rodgers) 67.31; 2, Master Of Play (S Aitken) 66.73; 3, Magic Milly (K Scott) 64.42. prelim 17Q.— 1, Roger Wilco 68.10. silv.— 1eq, King Cottons Miracle & Gems Kristina 71.55; 3, Chesterhill Dexter 70.17. brnz.— 1, Opposite Reflection 72.24; 2, W Oscar (A Travers) 68.1; 3, Magic Milly 68.1. nov 24.— 1, Dalriada (J Struthers) 65.65. silv.— 1, Fools Gold V (K Lawson) 63.48; 2, Craigmancie Symphony (G Walkingshaw) 63.26; 3, Kilmacomical (J McFarlane) 62.61. brnz.— 1, Samuel II (C Marshall) 72.61; 2, Waterlane Diamond Lady (E Fenwick) 65; 3, Kingsmeadow House Kadabra…

Northallerton EC, N Yorks | Alnwick Ford EC, Northumberland Lauren, who is the yard manager at Angela Sykes-Brown’s Ash Tree Farm, won both elementaries, one on Angela’s eight-year-old Czech warmblood Quinta and the other on Angela’s 17-year-old Tjerco (TJ). She then made her dressage debut with Fiona Bain’s Sugarhill Trifle and took both mediums with good scores. “Angela couldn’t be with us, but we had a good day,” said Lauren, who hopes to qualify all the horses for the winter regionals. “Quinta used to hunt but has made a good transition to dressage and this is her second season. TJ was Angela’s first dressage horse and, although he’s a grumpy old man, he’s still got it,” said Lauren who trains with Paul Hayler. “Fiona is part of the team and…

Wellington Riding, Hants | Cherwell, Oxon | Sparsholt, Hants | Checkendon, Oxon Olivia, 16, and the home-bred Don De Luxe (Champion De Luxe x Dornik D) were reserves for the British team at the pony Europeans this year. “He’s really coming into his own,” said Olivia, who will continue to train him before he is offered for sale. Olivia also had her first advanced medium win on a new ride, Disneyland, who is on lease from Nicky Hand and Tessa Thorne. Olivia acknowledged the move up to juniors has required a “more adult way of riding”. “This was my first advanced medium so I’m chuffed to win,” she said. “He’s a real character and really looked after me in the ring.” Sally Green’s summer music elementary silver champion, Keystone Rhia…

IN order to grow our sport, we have to appeal more to the public. Without doubt, equestrian sport — particularly dressage — is seen by Joe public as a sport for toffs. But in reality, it isn’t. I was brought up in Brixton, south London and learned to ride there — if I can do it why can’t others? We missed a trick after 2012 — thousands watched dressage at the London Olympics but we didn’t use the opportunity to capitalize on it. Were we asleep? Did we assume that everyone was going to come running? We have wonderful characters in dressage — Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin both came from “normal” backgrounds and have done fantastically, but we have to get better at selling that fact. We need dressage…

IT’S extraordinary that much of the British horse world is unregulated in any official way. Anyone can buy or keep a horse, run a livery yard or sell feed and tack. Anyone can call themselves a trainer and give lessons. Anyone can run a show, judge a horse and present a certificate. Anyone can buy a stallion, start a stud and breed horses. Yes, within all these industry sectors there are qualifications to be gained and rules to adhere to, but not a lot is compulsory. The result is that we have a confusing plethora of societies, clubs, shows, studbooks, passport issuing organisations, and systems within systems. While diversity and free enterprise is to be encouraged, you can have too much of a good thing — can’t you? One of…

ONE of the youngest competitors at the show, Charley Hamilton (pictured), saved her best until the last day when she took victory in the DDS Demolition 1.25m with Johnny Aird’s Amadora JX. Holding off a strong challenge from Robert Murphy with Kensington, the 16-year-old Aberdeen rider — competing at her first senior premier show — couldn’t have been happier. “I’ve been knocking on the door all week and just missed out yesterday with the fastest time and a pole down,” said Charley. “I feel that Amadora really deserved a red rosette today. I’m so lucky to have the ride.”…

65cm jnr starter stakes.— 1, 6 tied. new recruits ch.— 1, Chapelmill Choir (S Paxton); 2, Woodpark Pippa (L Seath); 3, King Of Rock And Roll (P Ashe). 85cm jnr trophy.— 1, Peanut IV (P Walker); 2, Greenbarrow Desert Rose (R Stormonth); 3, Miss Dolly Mixture (H Muir). 95cm jnr trophy.— 1, Apache Joe (K Woods-Young); 2, Little Red Cloud (C Lockhead Anderson); 3, Mountcoal Warrior (G Purves). 1m jnr trophy.— 1, Killack King (N Lockhead Anderson); 2, Apache Joe; 3, Vigo V1 (N Lockhead Anderson). Scottish indoor 128cm.— 1, Billibob (W Stewart); 2, My Little Sweetheart (M Archibald); 3, Styx Evo VIII (S Roper). Scottish indoor 138cm.— 1, Rockmount Renegade (E McGee); 2, Kiltormer Curragh (R McCornick); 3, Stoney Burke (P Archibald). 1.10m jnr trophy.— 1, Castletown Lady Ricardo…

10 Nov: pony British nov.— 1, Clyde Barrows (E Burrell-Squibb); 2, Carraun Phaidin (E Souter); 3, One Cool Star (L McDonald). pony 80cm.— 1, Jim Bob II (G Sims); 2, Secret Squirrel IV (B Furneaux); 3, Marilyn Monroe (B Damps). Eskadron pony winter discovery.— 1, Smokey Rockie (C Fletcher); 2, Ballinaclough Ice (F Nash); 3, Kildare Casper (L Venables). pony 95cm.— 1, Silverlea Peppermint (V Beach); 2, Marilyn Monroe; 3, Copshawholm Autumn Cloud (E Burrell-Squibb). HorseQuest UK pony sapphire.— 1, Taffechan Dylan (E Cook); 2, Western King (J Good); 3, FJ Dunn Enough (T Francis-Jones). pony Foxhunter/1.10m.— 1, Rocky Robin I (J Howard); 2, Money Spider V (R Hayward); 3, Hibernia Quality (T Clarke). Blue Chip Pro sparkle JC/ JA.— 1 & 3, Grey Palace & Brooklyn IV (T Rowlands);…

SEIB Search For A Star mountain and moorland championship, Stoneleigh Park, Warks A RAFT of quality home-produced combinations came forward for the first ever SEIB Search For A Star (SFAS) ridden mountain and moorland (M&M) final held at Your Horse Live. Judges Matthew Lawrence (ride) and Sandy Wooderson (conformation) had the task of sorting the 14 large breed competitors who had qualified at selected shows throughout the 2018 season. Topping the final line-up was the youngest competitor in the ring, 13-year-old Chantelle Chapman and her mother Victoria Oliver’s typey Fell gelding, Greenholme Falcon (Dan). The Greenholme Look At Me seven-year-old was bought last August from Ida Beer and has since racked up some good placings in junior and open M&M classes with Essex-based Chantelle, who is in her first term…

The November Meeting, Cheltenham Racecourse, Glos THE Moore family, a byword for hard graft, are unlikely to ever top the day at Cheltenham when Sire De Grugy won the 2014 Champion Chase. But father Gary and son Jamie, in the saddle, returned on Saturday, 17 November, and scooped up the first big prize of the jump season when Baron Alco won the £160,000 BetVictor Gold Cup. It was a dramatic race although Jamie, making all the running on the winner, would have been fairly oblivious to it apart from the occasional company up front of a loose horse. Behind him, nine of the 18 starters conspired to finish without riders and though only three actually fell, two were brought down and a further four unseated. Up front you will not,…

THE BetVictor Gold Cup winner, Baron Alco, is an Autre Que Pur-Sang (AQPS or “other than thoroughbred”), a product of five generations of breeding by Count Yves de la Forest Armaillé, who died, aged 85, in 2013 — two years after Baron Alco was foaled in 2011. Yves’ father bred hunters, crossing them with thoroughbreds for more speed, and starting in the 1950’s Yves did the same. He is credited with developing the AQPS as a breed, with Ubu III, Grand Steeplechase de Paris winner in 1995, the pinnacle of his achievements. The AQPS stud book was opened in 2005. Prior to this, horses such as Baron Alco’s dam Paula were registered as Selle Français. The breed mainly continues through the female line, as few colts are kept entire, with…

‘It took me back 30 years — you’re an honorary child if you ride a pony’ WITH my horse, Jim, sidelined, I’m hunting the ponies again. But standing at the meet last Tuesday, on Rusty (who is the size of a large dog), I felt a bit glum. When you’re on a small pony, children loom over you on their 14.2hhs and people greet you laughing as if you’d come to the meet dressed as a clown. I know I look ridiculous, but I’m over the joke. In fact, I’m over riding ponies full stop. You don’t really ride them anyway, you balance with your legs hanging around their knees and your bottom bouncing painfully on the cantle. With this in mind, I planned to mosey about at the back…

HE was a showjumping legend, a grafter, a family man and passionate about his sport — and he had a smile that “lit up a room”. The equestrian world is mourning the loss of Tim Stockdale, who died on 14 November, aged 54. Tim, who had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in October, died peacefully at Cynthia Spencer Hospice, Northampton, surrounded by his devoted wife, Laura, and sons Joseph and Mark. Social media has been flooded with tributes from riders of all disciplines and levels, from members of the public and figures from outside the equestrian world. “He was a legend,” showjumper Geoff Billington told H&H. “He was always so passionate about the sport, and optimistic. He wasn’t a top rider when he started out, not a born superstar, but…

RIDERS must be aware of bridle fit and how it affects their horses, but also consider the bigger picture, experts have warned. At the International Dressage Trainers Club (IDTC) annual meeting on 9-10 October, Dr Rachel Murray, a veterinary specialist in equine orthopaedics, presented recent research about the interaction between bridles, nosebands and horses’ heads. Dr Murray cited a recent study by Mette Uldahl and Hilary Clayton on Danish competition horses that found lesions at the corners of the lips in 9.2% of horses. The study suggested looser nosebands decreased the risk of lesions, but also that the absence of a noseband also increased the risk of lesions in the same place, by 2.39 times compared with the loosest noseband. But Dr Murray told H&H the study did not take…

MPs are to discuss firework laws for the third time in two years. The latest government petition calls for a ban on sales to the public and only licensed venues to be allowed to hold displays. It received close to 286,000 signatures and will be debated in parliament on 26 November. A separate petition to the Office for Product Safety and Standards, started by horse owner and firework campaigner Julie Doorne of FAB Fireworks Abatement, has garnered the support of more than 355,000 people in four weeks. Ms Doorne is calling for private use of fireworks to be restricted to 5 November, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali, all public displays to be licensed, firework packaging to indicate noise level, and the maximum noise level for private-use fireworks…

Sir — I applaud British Eventing’s intention to roll out the EquiRatings Quality Index (ERQI) to show riders if they need to drop down a level for safety’s sake (news, 8 November). As a former Olympic rower turned amateur event rider, I have been surprised at how difficult it is to find decent benchmarks against which to measure my performance and guide my development. I have done my own stats since I started competing and know that out of all the events I’ve ridden at this year, I go clear in 80% of my cross-country rounds, yet I do a double clear in showjumping and cross-country only 10% of the time. How does this compare to the average amateur and the top-ranked professionals? Relatively straightforward metrics could enhance the performance…

‘Not many horses have an amazing trot by nature, so our job is to train them to be the best they can be’ FOR a horse to be able to lengthen his stride, he needs to be engaged, supple, in front of the leg, straight and have a back-to-front connection maintained by being ridden between the hand and the leg. Not many horses have an amazing trot by nature, so our job is to train them to be the best they can be. Try these exercises... TACKLING THE ISSUE 1 Trot in a figure of eight with straight lines across the diagonal, ensuring the trot feels the same on the half-circle and diagonal. Often, the trot loses rhythm and cadence across the diagonal, so keep your leg on as you…

FIRST 40 was hailed as the new 30, then it was “50 is the new 40”. The retirement age has gone up, while life expectancy has leapt from an average of 70.83 in 1963 to 81.63 in 2015. Humans are living longer and maintaining their working lives until later, and horses are no different in this respect. “The veteran market is the largest growth sector in this industry,” says equine vet Mike Byers. “Because of improvements in science and education, horses are undoubtedly going on for longer.” Today, 15 is generally the age at which horses are classed as veterans, with those in their 20s and 30s referred to as geriatric. “Showing regards horses as veterans by 15 years, but this is something that was decided a long time ago…

NOT all old horses retire to a life of leisure. Laura Kerr bought former advanced eventer Easter Escapade when he was a spritely 18. He had been so naughty while being backed, he ended up nicknamed Squirrel Nutkin. It was decided early on that his future was not on the racetrack, so he went eventing. Yet “Nutty” did eventually race; his (and Laura’s) maiden point-to-point was when he was 23. Nutty then also team chased with the Bitch Pack alongside Rosie Vestey and Jane Evans, and did hunt races, coming fourth in the Berkeley hunt race when he was well into his 20s. “He then came to Ireland with me and hunted with the Tipperary,” says Laura. “He was amazing at angles; you could ride parallel to a five-bar gate…

AS the aphorism says, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid. While many racehorses thrive on working in a string on the gallops, for some a different approach can prove key to unlocking — or rediscovering — a love for the job. Leading point-to-point trainer Alan Hill, who has decades of experience and success, says they do not adopt to a “tunnel vision” approach when it comes to training. “About 90% of horses will get fit and cope with going on all-weather and grass gallops and daily routine but, if they are not coping, there’s usually something that will help them,” he explains. “Consigliere, for example, is retired now, but he was a very good…

MANY horses that are in good condition, fit, well, unclipped and not old, do well living out without rugs as long as they have shelter and adequate forage. Rebecca Harvie overwinters a number of high-goal polo ponies at her farm near Godalming, Surrey. “We have around 25 polo ponies each year on about 30 acres,” she explains. All of the ponies live out from when they arrive at the end of September until they go back into work around March, and none of them wear a rug. “It allows their coat to do what it’s supposed to do, and they grow their own big, thick, woolly rugs,” she says. “The first year we had polo ponies they all had rugs and it was a right pain, because they ripped them…

ANY follower of the fortunes of the foxhound on the flags over the past few years would be under no illusion as to the impact the Grove and Rufford have made at hound shows. It is a success story that can be laid firmly at the feet of their huntsman Paul Larby, assisted by his wife, Lynne, who mainly stays at home overseeing the wellbeing of the whelps and puppies. Paul is a consummate professional, having been in hunt service for nearly 40 years. He helped out as a boy at Mr Goschen’s in Hampshire before getting a job at the Heythrop as second horseman. He then whipped-in to Captain Wallace at the Exmoor before hunting hounds at the Eggesford for 14 seasons. A move to the Meynell followed, but…

PACHESHAM 11 Nov: med 69 gold (S Rowlands).— 1, Blake III (C Hammerson) 68.03. silv.— 1, Sandro’s Storm (H Bown) 68.33; 2, Ravel (J Mawer) 65.75; 3, Such A Jarma (S Royce-Hoare) 65.6. med 73Q gold (M Drewe).— 1, Reeno Primeur (S Edwards) 71.32; 2, Blake III 67.35. silv.— 1, Such A Jarma 69.84; 2, Sandro’s Storm 67.94; 3, Waldon Wild Skye (T Dahdi) 67.64. brnz.— 1, Jumping Jack Flash (V Ayling) 57.94. adv med 85 gold (S Rowlands).— 1, Fyrst Lyng (J Hill) 68.52; 2, Eastborn D (M Key) 66.61. silv.— 1, Donatella IV (C Blain) 67.05; 2, Mon Elysee (A Kempner) 66.76; 3, Daneur (B Tatchell) 66.61. brnz.— 1, Kamil T (M Gover) 68.67. adv med 98Q gold (M Drewe).— 1, Eastborn D 64.47. silv.— 1, Donatella IV…

WELLINGTON RIDING 4-5 Nov: prelim 17A Q gold (P Frankish).— 1, Crossboyne (A Bruce) 67.93. silv.— 1, Hero (Huroos) (G Peckham) 70.69; 2, Don Maurico (R Almond) 67.93; 3, Dycott Classy Rose (C Stagg) 67.75. brnz.— 1, Marylou II (A Smith) 60.86; 2, Any News (K Stokes) 60.17; 3, Stockshill Toffee Apple (F Miller) 58.62. prelim 19Q silv.— 1, Hero (Huroos) 73.95; 2, Dycott Classy Rose 69.16; 3, Togher Tourist I (J Merrifield) 68.95. brnz.— 1, Dunkerrin Boy (L Pinder) 62.7; 2, Glalin Boy (L Hoskins) 62.08; 3, Any News 62.08. nov 22 gold (L Fraser).— 1, Wayfarer (I Jones) 74.82; 2, Tierce De Picardy (D Wilson) 62.41. silv.— 1, Bogelys Corporal (E Maisey) 72.41; 2, Santana HH (D Joyce) 68.1; 3, Atlantic Lad (O Randell) 66.89. brnz.— 1, Dunkerrin…

Breeder: AMCM van Bezouw (NED) Owners: Thomas Tierney, Simon Roosevelt, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran and Ann Jones Rider: Phillip Dutton (USA) THE horse with the shortest name, Z, is the leading event horse in the 2018 WBFSH rankings. With American team rider Phillip Dutton, he was 13th at his first major championship, the World Equestrian Games (WEG), has wins at three-star and was fourth at Lexington, his first CCI4*. Registered with the Zangersheide studbook, Z’s pedigree would suggest he was bred to be a showjumper. His sire — Asca Z, a son of Askari — was approved in Holstein before being acquired by Zangersheide and jumped internationally with Germany’s Christian Ahlmann. Askari (Acord II x Carthago) is now increasingly in demand as a jumping sire as he is the sire…

15 Nov: 1.10m.— 1, Cleopatra XI (K Connor); 2, Hattrick Magic (A Craig); 3, Sandor’s Legacy II (B Smart). SEIB winter novice.— 1, Ma Fleur JS (G Babes); 2, Adalia II (C Rogan); 3, Cool Berlin (N Williams). Equitop Myoplast Foxhunter.— 1, Manzana De Rigo (K Shore); 2, Coalition II (S McLean); 3, Liu Jo VLS (L Lorimer). winter grade C.— 1, Guus-Geluk (J Dixon) 2, Hanleen Beatrice (R Pindar); 3, Highcross Violet (R Murphy). accumulator.— 1&2, Happy Boy & Lux Fabulous (P Barker); 3, Creevagh Carisma (A Shields). 16 Nov: Connolly’s Red Mills newcomers.— 1, Mirannan (D Ockenden); 2, Edenside Coco (A Gatherum); 3, Millfield Cloe (B Thompson). 1.10m.— 1, Cludo IV (B Smart); 2, Cleopatra XI; 3, Che Can St Ghyvan Z (J Aston). Blue Chip Karma performance…

KEEP IT NATURAL As part of the SEIB SFAS format, ride judge Matthew Lawrence was asked to discuss each combination after their individual performances. One comment made throughout was the exceptionally high standard of turnout witnessed right down the line, but Matthew also noted that some of the ponies had been overly trimmed in accordance to their breed standards. “Some of them look like they’ve had their manes and tails pulled a bit too short. It’s important to keep them neat but we mustn’t forget that turnout must adhere to their native breed standards. “While Welsh ponies can have shorter manes and trimmed tails, some were too short, and some of the hairies lacked feather. Our champion had lovely, quality hair and was very true to the Fell pony type.”…

ANY time you can ride a winner at Cheltenham is great, but to have ridden three on the same day is special. I also live nearby and, although the Festival is more high-profile, The November Meeting is a big one in the jump season. I always knew my best rides were on Friday, 16 November. I was going there hoping to have a winner, but to have three was something that I never thought was possible. I thought that Bun Doran would run well fresh; he had been trained for the race and had done a good piece of work at home, so I was feeling the pressure on him a little bit. With the other two, I was really just hoping for a good run. Red Hot Chilly was…

TIMOTHY MARK STOCKDALE TIM was born in 1964, with twin brother Ivan, to Nancy and Geoffrey Stockdale. The boys joined three brothers, and a sixth sibling, their sister, came later. Tim’s introduction to riding was met with “some disdain”. It was a summer when he, his twin brother and sister were sent to a riding school to “get them out from under their mother’s feet”. Tim did not like the idea of riding because “it hurt and the ponies smelled”. He preferred football and cricket to academic subjects at school, and followed in the footsteps of his father, whose business was construction, as he became an “eight-year-old handyman” at the riding school, with payment in lessons. His equestrian “eureka” moment came one evening when, encouraged to canter, his fear gave…

FREE ADVENT CALENDAR IN H&H H&H readers are in for a treat this December as, for the first time in the weekly magazine’s long history, the front cover of next week’s issue is also an advent calendar. The advent calendar appears as the cover of the Thursday, 29 November issue — just in time to open the first door on Saturday, 1 December. The cover is produced in partnership with equine supplement company NAF and has a Thelwell theme. H&H editor-in-chief Sarah Jenkins said: “We are so excited to be bringing readers this unique front cover, a publishing first in H&H’s 134-year history. As print creatives go, this one is both a joy for us to produce and for readers to experience.” SAFETY AWARDS FOR CAMPAIGNERS CAMPAIGNERS who work tirelessly…

HRH the Duchess of Cornwall is the first patron of the National Stud. The duchess, who works with oranisations to promote racing education and welfare, is also an honorary Jockey Club member. Dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin has announced her new ride, four-year-old Alive And Kicking (Audrey). The mare by All At Once was bred by Michael Schulte in Germany. Interim chairman Christopher Bromfield has been voted in as chairman of the Pony Club at the AGM on 14 November with immediate effect. Christopher has been interim chairman since April. Jockey Bryony Frost, 23, rode out her claim with her 75th win at Kempton. Bryony, who rode Neil King-trained Marienstar, is the second female jockey to ride out her claim over jumps in Britain. British Horseracing Authority starter Sophia Upton has…

TWITTER Flat horse Enable can not only run, she’s also a dab hand on Twitter. The filly made a good point on the Cartier awards, and her ban from attending as she “might make a mess”. “I’m not a rock band and I’ve only ever done drugs once,” she snorted. A good point. RULES Ah, Defra, that stanchion of good advice. Latest news is that sellers should ask to see horses’ passports before they hand over wormers or other medicines. All for good reasons, but if you don’t take the passport, you can buy them anyway. And the point is…? CASH An email arriving at H&H Towers asked: “Do stable coins have any real value?” Confused, one realised “stable” coins are something to do with “crypto”, whatever that is. Sigh.…

AS a young horse, home-bred eventer Jesmond Justice started making a respiratory noise. The Welton Justice son underwent surgery to fix the paralysed side of his larynx in an open position — known as a tie-back — at six years old, before he continued his career. When he reached advanced level, however, a slight noise was still noticeable. “It was only when he was at full speed that the problem was noticeable,” explains Ron Pearson of the Jesmond Stud. “Mark Kyle had just ridden him in the eight- and nine-year-old class at Blenheim and suggested we had him checked out. “When he was galloping flat out, dynamic endoscopy revealed that the larynx was still obstructing his airway. He had a relatively minor op involving laser treatment, under local anaesthetic, at…

RUTH EDGE RUTH began her equestrian career in eventing with many wins at the highest level, including the Luhmühlen CCI4* in 2007 with Two Thyme. She has always been passionate about dressage and since 2016 has made this her focus. With her sights firmly set on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she already has six national titles to her name. She is based at the Foston Stud, near Uttoxeter, where she trains competition horses and teaches. TRAINING THE STARS I had a dressage horse, Zero, who had a very ordinary trot as a young horse, but I always had the feeling there was a “big trot” in him somewhere. Having developed in strength and suppleness, by the time he was seven he had a medium trot that had so much scope,…

• While veteran classes in unaffiliated showing are popular, in professional ranks, horses tend not to stay at top level for long — producers don’t often bring out a horse season after season. But Elizabeth Bury’s show cob Waterford IV was 20 when he was retired from the show ring, having qualified for Horse of the Year Show for 15 consecutive years. • Harry recently won the supreme veteran title at the Coloured Horse and Pony Society championship show — at the ripe old age of 36. • Alexander Peternell’s Asih is the oldest horse to complete Badminton, having competed there for the first and last time at the age of 20. He broke the previous record of 19 held jointly by Midnight Dazzler, Hooray Henry II and Over To…

IT’S hard to imagine that the sprawling point-to-point yard bursting with top-class facilities and home to last season’s champion trainer, Phil Rowley, was once a sheep farm with only one shed. Now a thriving breaking, pre-training and point-to-point establishment, Rowley Racing at Poplar Cottage Farm near Bridgnorth boasts all the facilities that a top-class business could wish for, including four American-style barns with stabling for up to 65 horses, two horse walkers, a lunge pen, a 20x60m arena with mirrors and a five-furlong all-weather gallop. Set in 75 acres, the farm has been gradually transformed over the years by sheep and cattle farmer Phil, who bought it in 1999. Phil also owns the tenancy on nearby 200-acre Bank Farm where he grew up. It is currently home to Phil and…

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BY this point in the season, all hounds should be settled into their work. With autumn hunting finished and opening meets out of the way, the young entry should be hunting well. I always compare getting a pack of hounds right to managing a good football team — not Newcastle United! By mixing in the young hounds with the old, the pack as a whole can work most effectively as a team with differing strengths. You need the younger hounds for their drive and speed, but it’s also essential to have the older hounds there to steady the pack and keep the job right on the more challenging days. For the past few seasons, a lot has been said about scent, or the lack of it when hunting a trail.…

‘My God, the feel of him. It’s like climbing into a Rolls-Royce’ THE quality of PJ is testament to taking a young horse slowly. “Renee Tuck, my groom, brought him on quietly,” says Lord Mancroft, “and he’s now the perfect gentleman’s hunter.” It was a call from John White, Beaufort field master and “excellent judge of a horse”, that prompted Lord Mancroft (Benjy) to jump on a flight to Cork and the yard of Duhallow secretary Pat Coleman. “I arrived to find a big dark brown horse popping telegraph poles God knows how high in an indoor school,” remembers Benjy. Liking the look of him, Benjy mounted and they set off down a road with high banks on either side. “Rather boring, I thought, then we got to a gap.…

Cabin EC, Aberdeen | Muirmill EC, Ayrshire | Rockrose, E Lothian Jennifer, who has enjoyed much success with Moray Firth Stud’s horses, enjoyed a brace of novice wins at the Cabin with Jazzman. The Wynton x Krack C four-year-old gelding was purchased as a foal from the Moray Firth Stud, based in Aberdeenshire. “He’s only been out a few times, but now needs exposure and to learn to put on his brave pants in the arena,” said Jennifer, who has previously qualified MFS Caliana for the nationals and winter championships. “Jazzman has a very trainable brain. He’s quite tall and is the most naturally balanced young horse I’ve sat on with an incredible canter. I’ll spend time training him through the winter and then aim for summer regional qualification,” added…

Myerscough Arena, Lancs | Cockshot Dressage, Cheshire Hannah Heaton’s Myerscough novice win secured winter qualification for Sahara Hit, her British-bred Santana x Hohenstein mare. Hannah, who trains with the mare’s breeder Andrew Hackett, bought the now nine-year-old seven years ago. “I really wanted to bring on one myself,” explained Hannah. “Andrew, along with Sam Cawkwell, helped me back her and it’s been great fun. She’s a bit behind as I have auto-immune arthritis which started from a horse-fly bite. Among other things, I’ve had to have an ankle broken and set because of it but I’m looking forward to the winters and hopefully elementary next summer.” Joanne Lundy bought her Cockshot double elementary winner Dominica after being hospitalised for a few weeks with what was ultimately diagnosed as irritable bowel…

TALL TREES ARENA 7 Nov: prelim 2Q silv.— 1, Pebbles (M Morgan) 67.07; 2, Newton Brentwood (L Brydon) 66.55; 3, Bosulval Caddell (H Young) 63.1. prelim 13Q silv.— 1, Pebbles 64.62; 2, Bosulval Caddell 64.42. nov 24 gold.— 1, Henry (B Bainbridge) 76.09; 2, A Blue Eyed Boy (L Rivett) 68.48. nov 30Q gold.— 1, Henry 71.92; 2, Herbert (L Carrier) 60.58. silv.— 1, A Blue Eyed Boy 65.77. nov FSM Q gold.— 1, Goyla (B Bainbridge) 77.22; 2, Java Du Ritz (A Baker) 69.72; 3, Herbert 66.39. silv.— 1, Tranwheal Tineth Moon (S Pidsley) 68.89; 2, Horeb Ioan (S Cullen) 67.22. elem 40 silv.— 1, Drayford Charisma (S Proudfoot) 65.48. elem 53Q gold.— 1, Goyla 64.41; 2, Hendraburnick Charles (P Dent) 63.38. silv.— 1, El Paso (C Daniels) 64.41;…

HUNTERS EQUESTRIAN 11 Nov: prelim 13Q gold (C Hogg).— 1, Tottola (M Whelan) 70.96; 2, Stanley VII (J Weaver) 68.65. brnz.— 1, Bochym Royal Cassidy (M Caldecott) 63.84. prelim 15Q gold (S Buttenshaw).— 1, Tottola 71.4. silv.— 1, Alamo II (E Glover) 65.6; 2eq, Ingmar (P Lewis) & Don Johnson III (J Cooper) 65.4. brnz.— 1, Bochym Royal Cassidy 64.8. nov 28 gold (C Hogg).— 1, Hawtins Quattro (L Elliott) 74.58. silv.— 1, In Your Dreams (E Hitchman) 71.87; 2, Damaskas (K Vince) 69.16; 3, Haver II (A Searle) 68.75. brnz.— 1, Garvie Bay (L Taylor) 68.5. nov 37Q gold (S Buttenshaw).— 1, Hawtins Quattro 72.22. silv.— 1, In Your Dreams 68.33; 2eq, Haver II & Headmore Braithwaite (K Palmer) 67.22. brnz.— 1, Daan Fan Tusken De Dobben (A Jones)…

THE outdoor season reached its conclusion last week and hats off to Ben Maher, he’s had a fantastic year. He had already been crowned champion of the Global Champions Tour (GCT) ahead of last week’s final in Doha, but the way he’s riding at the moment you fully expected him to win the last grand prix, too — which he did in style. He is enjoying one of those runs when as a rider you’re full of confidence and it feels as if you can win anything. Explosion W is an exceptional horse, too. The horses I jumped in Doha, Valmy De La Lande and new ride Strides Hilanasterne, are part of an exciting string of horses I have now. The GCT is full-on: it’s nearly impossible to do all…

LET me finish the season on a feel-good note with some highlights that have made me smile. The matriarch of showing’s “royal family’’, Ghita Jago, celebrated her 94th birthday at Royal Windsor — her favourite event, which she has attended since 1965. She’s out every morning at 7am to feed the ponies and has won every major championship, including twice at the Royal Show, Royal Windsor, Royal International and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). One of her eight children, Jamie Mead, describes her mother as a showing addict for whom there is no cure: “There’s no 12-step recovery programme or a stay at The Priory for this’’. Asked by her family what she had given up for Lent this time, Ghita’s reply was “speeding’’! Tracey Milward lifted the prestigious…

SILVERTON & MID DEVON, BUCKFASTLEIGH Open maiden 4,5&6yo.— 1, J Dennis’ Tide Times (J Bament) J Dennis. conditions.— 1, K&R Smith-Maxwell’s Blackwater Bramble (J Smith-Maxwell) A Dunn. restricted.— 1, E Kessler’s Druid Spitfire (T Chanin) R Chanin. mixed open.— 1, J&S Heard, M Heard, J Trevarthen, P Care & D Cooper’s Navanman (B Carver) J Heard. open maiden.— 1, G Briscoe’s Road To Rome (T O’Brien) J O’Shea. intermediate.— 1, S Trump’s Broadclyst (T Chanin) R Chanin.…