Innholdsfortegnelse for 13-Dec-2018 i Horse & Hound

RIDER weight in relation to horse welfare is unsurprisingly a hot topic. The punchline from Dr Sue Dyson’s most recent research on the subject — presented at the Saddle Research Trust conference last weekend (news, p4) — appears to be that everything is relative. Rather than trying to put people off riding, the results should simply encourage people to ride an animal of the appropriate size. You need a saddle that fits both horse and rider, too. It’s still not clear precisely at what weight a rider is too heavy for a horse — I’d like to see a chart that matches rider height and weight to horse height and type. We’re told it’s not quite that simple, with factors ranging from rider balance to the horse’s back length. Riding…

ENDURANCE rider Dr Margaret (Meg) Sleeper has stepped down from her role on the FEI’s new temporary committee to urgently review the current endurance rules, prior to its first meeting. The American rider has been given a two month suspension due to breaking the FEI’s rules on mandatory rest periods after competing in two national events in her home country. Dr Sleeper, who has competed in international endurance since 2005 and is also a trainer, official veterinarian and veterinary cardiologist, said: “As soon as I realised I could be in violation of FEI rest period rules I immediately contacted the FEI and explained the situation. “Once it was confirmed, I knew that the right thing to do was to resign. I made a mistake and I bitterly regret it, but…

NATIONAL HUNT trainer and H&H columnist Fergal O’Brien welcomed the news and said it is “vital” the industry makes life as normal as possible for those who work in racing. “I know from being a lad myself, starting at 16, how difficult it can be — the work is hard and we certainly don’t do it for the money,” he said, adding he was always well treated, but the job is tough. “Staff are the backbone of the industry — we are all in the same boat — you can have the best horses and owners in the world, but if you don’t have the staff to look after them and ride them, you are nothing.”…

RIDERS typically rank how stirrups feel once mounted as the most important factor when deciding stirrup length, recent research has shown, despite the fact many riders struggle to assess whether they are sitting straight and level in the saddle. The study, conducted by Melissa Rudd, Charlotte Farmer-Day, Dr Hilary Clayton, Dr Jane Williams and Dr David Marlin, surveyed more than 2,000 riders online from a range of disciplines. Riders completed a questionnaire using a scale to rate how important each statement was when deciding stirrup length. Dr Marlin told H&H there has been little research done on stirrups: “We wanted to look at stirrups in more detail, while making sure we weren’t missing anything obvious. ‘Feeling and being level are not the same thing’ DR DAVID MARLIN “We know…

STARTERS Guests at a wedding were slightly surprised to see, on the order of service, that between the ceremony itself and the wedding breakfast, they were to be treated to “horse ovaries”. Was it simply a spelling error for hors d’oeuvres, one wonders, or were stallion testicles also lined up for dessert? RACEHORSES Prior to Sandown’s Tingle Creek Chase last weekend, a racing organisation asked people: “Which horse first comes to mind” when they thought about the race. Next week’s teaser: which horse comes to mind when you mention the Big Star championship… TACK CLEANING Overheard in a lesson, a trainer asking a rider why she had changed the level of the horse’s bit, after he had set it in a previous session. “I must have put it back wrong…

I started drawing aged seven and drew anything that inspired me. My prep school art master was great and encouraged me. As a teenager, I was a rebel and flunked all my exams, so I didn’t get into the University of Edinburgh to study art history as I had planned. I wanted to be an art collector. All I could do was draw; I couldn’t paint and hadn’t picked up clay at that point. ‘I want to make a copper horse 18ft tall, and float it down the Grand Canal in Venice’ I ended up in London with a painter in a garret in Chelsea. He suggested I study art, so I did a foundation course at Chelsea College of Arts. In the last term, we went into the sculpture…

CHOOSE a large-volume (16 litre) drinker if you can, especially if your water pressure is low. Ensure that each drinker has its own isolating tap. This allows it to be turned off when necessary; for example for cleaning, if it develops a leak, in very cold weather or, importantly, to allow measurement of water intake by changing to buckets. Many horses drink immediately after eating their hard feed and contaminate the bowl with food particles (pictured). Check the drinker daily and clean it frequently; the best ones have a drain plug for easy rinsing. Site the drinker well away from haynets and feeding troughs, ideally off the bedded area. Secure it firmly, ideally bracing it against a partition. Many horses like to scratch their bottom on the drinker, causing it…

LAST weekend I mowed our lawns for what I hope will be the last time in 2018. I resisted the temptation to announce this unseasonal effort on social media, along with my son’s maths test result and a picture of what the terrier had for dinner, primarily because I can’t imagine why anyone would be vaguely interested. In recent years, hunting has been consumed by social media. Of course, we all want to use it to our advantage. Public hunt events are boosted by clever advertising, and cyberspace is full of photos of hounds from all corners of the earth. Our opponents are cybermasters. Through “smoke and shadows”, distorted facts and blatant fiction are posted as irrefutable truths. Once posted, these mistruths gain instant credence by mere virtue of being…

COLRAINE EC, CORNWALL | WEST WILTS EC Tess Bettens, 16, was offered the ride on the 18-year-old Spanish stallion Guardadamas I, who has competed at international grand prix, a month ago and Colraine was their first show together. “He has all the right buttons, typical Spanish movement and loves to show off,” said Tess. “The phone call from his owner, Naomi Vance Webb, was the best news I’d heard all year. “Our big goal is the under-25 championships at Sheepgate and I’d like to move up to prix st georges (PSG) when we’re ready.” Rachel Tetley won the silver advanced medium freestyle in strong winds with Bono. “I hadn’t done a music test for a long time and was a bit behind when I rode it earlier in the week,”…

KEYSOE 27 NOV: PRELIM 15Q SILV (D MORGAN).— 1, Rio IX (P Coles) 65.6. BRNZ.— 1, Bloomfield Executive (H Norris) 65.6; 2, Stefano III (H Allardyce) 64.8; 3, Slaney River (R Moreton) 59.4. PRELIM 17A Q SILV (A WILKS).— 1, Rio IX 60.51. BRNZ.— 1, Bloomfield Executive 63.44; 2, Stefano III 61.2; 3, Slaney River 56.55. NOV 23 GOLD (D MORGAN).— 1, Iwan (N Barker) 71.88; 2, SJL Generous (A Brown) 68.54; 3, Hilkins Showgirl (J Turney) 67.29. SILV.— 1, Showkira (S Smyth) 68.33; 2, Father’s Compromise (M Pritchard) 67.7. BRNZ.— 1, Winsome Girl (D John) 63.33; 2, Esporao (H Delgaudio) 62.29. NOV 37A Q GOLD (A WILKS).— 1, SJL Generous 77.04; 2, Iwan 76.48; 3, Impressive (E Jamieson) 66.67. SILV.— 1, Father’s Compromise 68.33; 2, Baskin Wicked Game (A…

FAIROAK GRANGE, BERKS | WIDMER, BUCKS | WELLINGTON RIDING, HANTS The pair posted wins at both prelim and novice. Ursula retired as a GP through ill health two years ago and is now a grade V para rider. She found Tyler three months ago after the 15-year-old skewbald had had a successful Pony Club career. “He has made the last two years feel like nothing,” said a delighted Ursula. “He’s an absolute joy and has not put a foot wrong since he arrived.” Ursula competes in both able-bodied and para classes and is aiming to qualify for the coloured and veteran BD associated championships. Danielle Rhodes won the elementary freestyle with Denise Kearsley’s gypsy cob stallion, Tiger Tim. Tim has had a good season with wins at the Traditional Gypsy…

STOURPORT 30 NOV: ELEM 53Q GOLD.— 1, Sunshine (H Cumming) 67.65. SILV.— 1, Rocky Rockstar (E Hitchman) 69.27; 2, Zalentine (H Gill) 68.82; 3, Free To Dream (S Holloway) 64.27. ELEM FSM Q SILV.— 1, Ravenswing (N Hill) 71.15; 2, Zalentine 69.43. MED 75Q GOLD.— 1, Fandango V (N Lawson) 70.54. SILV.— 1, Babybel (H Charlesworth) 70.54. BRNZ.— 1, Stanley Grange Overture (R Bullock) 62.43. MED FSM Q GOLD.— 1, Ruxton Showgirl (M Phillips) 74.17; 2, Ruxton Shogun (M Phillips) 72.33. SILV.— 1, Blue River Cocktail (L Danton) 70.83; 2, Ravenswing 65.83; 3, Stanley Grange Overture 64. ADV MED 98Q GOLD.— 1, Woodlander Buddy Holly (L Wollen) 66.45. SILV.— 1, Bocelli V (A Brown) 72.9; 2, Sheepcote Well To Do (J Viney) 66.32. BRNZ.— 1, Plutschina (J Davies-Bennetts) 65.26. ADV…

IAN STARK EC, ROXBURGHSHIRE The 10-year-old KWPN mare, D Mockingbird (Dayano x Ramiro Z), is owned by Fiona and Iain McCombie, with Kirsty competing her for the past 18 months. “I’ve been following the judges’ comments on my sheets; she’s now more engaged and balanced,” said Kirsty. “This was my first visit to the centre. I used to train with Ian Stark when I evented and lived in the Borders but now I’ve moved to Perthshire. As I was looking for winter qualification points I decided to travel here. I’m enjoying focusing on dressage with her — she does enjoy a party and competition.” Helen Meikle accounted for a novice silver on their first affiliated outing with Srilanka Gold, an eight-year-old Irish throughbred mare by Kings Master. “She was bought…

WE’RE flat out at this time of year with the young horses, hopefully seeing some uncut diamonds for the future. It’s also an excellent time to get some training in myself. Pippa and I were lucky enough to have a break from it all and enjoyed 10 days in the sun recently with friends. However, Nick Skelton and I both returned from our holiday considerably heavier than when we left, so we decided to have a charity weigh-in. We videoed ourselves being weighed the day after our return and again two weeks later. I thought I’d done extremely well having lost 10lb, only to discover Nick had lost 15lb! I like to think I put on muscle — or maybe Nick just has more willpower than me. I’m feeling a…

I HATE to bore you, but Altior was imperious when winning this year’s Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park. The 2018 contest was billed as the “race of the season” and four top-class two-mile chasers battled it out. It certainly lived up to the hype and was a wonderful race. One horse had to win and Altior was that horse — at the expense of Ireland’s Un De Sceaux. Nico de Boinville, who understands Altior so well, must have wondered what he was riding when the winner took off at the second fence, so far away that they almost landed on it. Riding two-mile chasers at speed must be one of the most exhilarating feelings you can have as a jockey, but that leap must have all the same ingredients…

SUCCESSFUL point-to-points are organised by enthusiastic hunting people, who draw on the help of hunt supporters. A great point-to-point is part of the fabric of the countryside and it is thanks to the people who help out to make their meeting a success, come rain or shine. The fact that the PPORA (Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Association) no longer holds a point-to-point probably says everything about the likely success of clubs running points. Centralisation of every part of our sport is alienating many of the organisers, who feel the PPA (Point-to-Point Authority) board push through many new regulations — some of which are not that well received. If you feel strongly about our sport, please speak up and email info@p2pa.co.uk — our new chief executive, Peter Wright, is very receptive…

CORNWALL HUNT CLUB, WADEBRIDGE, SUNDAY 9 DECEMBER CONDITIONS (FOR VETERAN AND NOVICE RIDERS).— 1, The Rosinvale Partners’ Rockinrolldixie (N Vergne) C Mather. OPEN MAIDEN (DIV I).— 1, The Big Brook Racing Club’s Dragon De La Tour (D Prichard) N McLean. OPEN MAIDEN (DIV II).— 1, D Stevens & K Woollacott’s Shelcomeonfordrun (D Pritchard) N McLean. LADIES’ OPEN.— 1, R Sims’ Double Captain (N Sims) J Tickle. MEN’S OPEN.— 1, J&S Head, M Heard, J Trevarthen, P Care & D Hooper’s Navanman (B Carver) J Heard. INTERMEDIATE.— 1, T Faulkner’s Kensington Castle (B Moorcroft) T Faulkner. RESTRICTED.— 1, S Trump’s Raddon Top (B Carver) L Jefford.…

EDUCATION, saddle fit and the possibility of breeding bigger horses were key points mentioned in the rider weight debate at the 2018 Saddle Research Trust (SRT) conference. Guests at the University of Nottingham heard about the issue in depth on 8 December, at the conference titled “Horse, rider, saddlery interactions: welfare and performance”. Sue Dyson, head of clinical orthopaedics at the Centre for Equine Studies at the Animal Health Trust (AHT), gave a presentation on her 2017 pilot study on the effects of rider weight, which had found that a high rider-to-horse bodyweight ratio can cause lameness and discomfort (news, 8 March). Dr Dyson said the study had found heavier riders and unsuitable saddles can cause equine muscle tension and pain. She and her team assessed horses’ gait, signs of…

URSULA XII The 17-year-old showjumping super-mare, owned by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham, was retired from competition by her rider Scott Brash after finishing sixth in the grand prix at CHI Geneva on 9 December. MY TENT OR YOURS The double Grade One winner and three-time Champion Hurdle runner-up has retired, aged 11. Trained by Nicky Henderson, he will return to owner JP McManus’ Martinstown Stud to enjoy his retirement. STAKKARIEALLA The six-year-old mare, bred at the Schockemöhles’ Lewitz Stud, topped the PSI Auction in Germany (8-9 December), selling for €2.4m (£2.16m). The mare qualified for the young horse 2018 world championship. DROMGURRIHY BLUE Michael McGrath’s CCI4* stalwart has retired aged 16. The gelding, by Puissance, had a number of riders including Oliver Townend with whom he won Burgham CIC3*…

SCOTTISH HUNT DUO CLEARED TIM ALLEN, joint-master and huntsman of the Duke of Buccleuch’s, and whipper-in Sean Anderson have been found not guilty of breaching the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 by hunting a wild mammal with dogs on 20 November 2017. The case was heard at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on 5 December. Countryside Alliance director for Scotland Jamie Stewart said: “We are delighted for Tim Allen, Sean Anderson and their families. This has been a very long, stressful and expensive process, which should never have happened. “Sheriff Paterson conducted the most thorough examination of the Act since its introduction in 2002, [but found] no evidence to support the allegations of illegal hunting.” INVESTIGATION INTO RACING DEATHS THE British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has opened an investigation after four…

Showjumper BEN MAHER has moved back into the top 10 of the FEI jumping world rankings. Ben was recently crowned the Longines Global Champions Tour 2018 champion of champions. Canadian showjumper ERIC LAMAZE pulled out from the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping in Geneva (6-9 December) due to “health concerns”. Eric said he was “so disappointed” to miss out. Former British Dressage (BD) chairman PENNY POLLARD has been presented with the BD medal of honour for outstanding contribution to the sport after more than 10 years on the board. Jockey JAMES BOWEN, 17, has been crowned BBC Wales’ Young Sportsman of the Year after winning the 2017 Welsh Grand National at the age of 16 on board Raz De Maree. Native pony producer SAM ROBERTS was awarded the outstanding achievement…

HAROLD MCGAHERN THE Irish equestrian community is mourning the loss of Mr McGahern, who died suddenly at home on 26 November aged 68. Mr McGahern bred a number of top sport horses, including Rincoola Abu and Will Wimble, who both jumped at Nations Cups. The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society said he was “instrumental” in the creation of the Connemara performance hunter, young event horse series and the performance Irish Draught classes at the Royal Dublin Show. Mr McGahern co-founded the Longford Hunt branch of the Irish wife, Margaret, four children and five grandchildren. ELIZABETH SLINN A FORMER top showjumper, Mrs Slinn died on 3 November aged 90. Based in Norfolk, she rode under her maiden name of Anderson and her biggest achievement came in 1957, where she won the Queen…

MOTS Spotted at the yard, a rider swinging up into the cab of her lorry. “Off to a show?” called out a colleague. “No, I’m taking it to fail its MOT,” came the answer. Nothing like a bit of positive thinking, eh? PETA An, er, animal rights organisation believes we should stop using animal-related phrases such as “bring home the bacon”. As an alternative to “flogging a dead horse”, they suggested “feeding a fed horse”. Hmm. Causing colic, obesity and laminitis isn’t very ethical either, is it? GOLDFISH “What works with a horse works with all living things”, according to the man behind an equine-related therapy course. We’re not sure that’s entirely true: has he ever tried putting a double bridle on a goldfish? We think not.…

CANDY and her fellow nine-year-old friends, Ruby and Emerald, are seriously excited. This is the first year they have been old enough to go on the Smashington Vale Hunt branch of the Pony Club’s annual coach trip to Olympia. Their DC, Miss Morgan, has been organising this Christmas holiday highlight for more than 30 years, and every year she delights in watching her charges’ faces as they watch “proper” showjumping for the first time and are thrilled by the displays. By the time the finale comes round and Father Christmas throws his sweets to the crowd, they are spellbound. Miss Morgan insists on Pony Club sweatshirts as a dress code — she tells the children they are ambassadors for their branch and must behave as such. The sweatshirts also make…

SHARN LINNEY LEAD-REIN specialist Sharn has won at all the major county shows, including the supreme title at Horse of the Year show in 2017, overall mini supreme at the Royal International Horse Show and reserve supreme at Royal Windsor this year. Her passion lies in breaking and producing young ponies for both on and off the lead-rein. TRAINING THE STARS BIG-MOVING ponies, such as Hollybush Enchantment, who was HOYS lead-rein show pony of the year in 2013, can be difficult to lead as they cover a lot of ground. As a leader, you also have to “move big”, as well as making it look effortless — it’s not easy.…

RING the changes next year with a flying visit to one of Europe’s finest festive events… • The Paris Horse Show in the last week of November is a feast of famous faces, spectacular displays and nail-biting competition — and a chance to start Christmas shopping in style. • Father Christmas makes his first appearance at the end of November at the Sweden International Horse Show in Stockholm, driving his own carriage. Amid the revelry, the riders mean business: prize money for the new Saab Top 10 dressage this year was in the region of €300,000 (£261,640). • The main arena at the Geneva International Horse Show in early December is decorated with baubled trees and features showjumps in the shape of alpine chalets and wooden cows. Spectators can meet…

BLACKMORE AND SPARKFORD VALE, ELM FARM, SOMERSET SOMETIMES, as we all know, you can just have one of “those” days out hunting. When it gets to 3.50pm with no significant action, it is easy to become despondent. Having a huge sense of optimism is quite a useful attribute and I never give up hope until the last vestiges of daylight. Occasionally it works, but often it doesn’t. Sadly, those days of yore with cracking double-figure hunts are getting rarer and rarer, and unfortunately the majority of my day with the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale was looking like one of “those”. However, Lady Luck was on our side and smiled on us towards the eve of the day. The last time I hunted here, on my hen weekend, I ended up…

Hounds sleep in lodges. “The bed is L-shaped, so shier hounds can slip past one looking for trouble and find another place to jump up. There should be a gap between the bed and the lodge door, so troublesome hounds can’t stand in the doorway and taunt others. Otherwise they ‘boo woo’ at each other and fight,” explained Duncan. “Beds are two-and-a-half feet off the ground. Ours are filled with hundreds of empty wine bottles packed together with sand. There is a layer of sand on top and then a skim of concrete. The hounds’ warmth seeps into the base and hot air is trapped in the wine bottles. “Proper ventilation is essential to keep warm, dry air flowing and avoid the dreaded cough.” Beds are changed once a week.…

WEST WILTS EC 29 NOV: PRELIM 15Q BRNZ (R DOBSON).— 1, Yocasta (J Holt) 67. PRELIM FSM SILV (S CUMINE).— 1, Starstruck (S Blake) 67.22. NOV 38Q GOLD (R DOBSON).— 1, Ilowette (S Khairallah) 67.9; 2, Haribo II (M Williamson) 65. SILV.— 1, Lila’s Girl (C Wiederkehr) 70.8; 2, Jodona (J Davies) 67.9; 3, In Your Dreams (E Hitchman) 67.09. BRNZ.— 1, Curtis Des Chaumes (G Serbource) 68.87; 2, Darcy Dancer II (C Carleton-Smith) 66.77. NOV FSM Q SILV (S CUMINE).— 1, Cloherview Eddie (S Martin) 72.22; 2, Starstruck 67.5; 3, Parcvalley Comet (A Crimp) 67.22. ELEM 57Q GOLD.— 1, Dior VIII (E Klatzko) 69.82. SILV.— 1, Formidible (H Fortin) 66.07; 2, Rocky Rockstar (E Hitchman) 65.53; 3, Iskaheen Queen (R Stanhope) 65. BRNZ.— 1, Curtis Des Chaumes 63.57. ELEM…

HUNTERS EQUESTRIAN, GLOS Nineteen-year-old Jade was riding Porsches Eloy, the Earl-sired 15-year-old gelding she bought 18 months ago. “I moved back from Holland in September and I’m now working for and training with Henriette Andersen in the Cotswolds,” said Jade, who rode Eloy on the British junior European team last year and was shortlisted for the young rider team this summer. “This was my first show in England — a useful run-through to see where we’re at. “Eloy just makes me smile,” added Jade. “He has the kindest character and he has taken me everywhere. I’m now trying to improve my accuracy throughout the test, filling in the bits that make the overall picture, with the goal of making it onto the young rider team next year.” The Totilas son…

WELLINGTON RIDING 25-26 NOV: MED 61 SILV (J SURR).— 1, Santino II (J Hansen) 67.24; 2, Royal Reflection (S Homewood) 62.24. BRNZ.— 1, Compadre Z (M Chaffin) 65.17; 2, Little Lion (J Gee) 64.82; 3, Zappelin (D Cobley) 62.24. MED 75Q SILV (F WILSON).— 1, Cognac IX (A Pidgley) 74.73; 2, Virtue V (A Towle) 68.37; 3, Domus (R Thomson) 66.21. BRNZ.— 1, Harnells Erasmus (M Graham) 67.16; 2, Little Lion 64.32. ADV MED 85 (J SURR).— 1, Beaulissimo (E McCarthy) 65.88. SILV.— 1, Probono II (C Oakley) 68.82; 2, Domus 63.08; 3, Thorneyside Tornado (M Rees) 62.2. BRNZ.— 1, Southern Cross Brisbane (F Gready) 58.38; 2, Holme Park Sophia (D Terrill) 58.23. ADV MED 92Q GOLD (F WILSON).— 1, Santana IV (C Spark) 73.37. SILV.— 1, Probono II 67.16;…

YORKSHIRE RIDING CENTRE, NORTH YORKS | AIKE GRANGE STUD, EAST YORKS Helen won both mediums with Chris McGrann’s Moonshine II and the elementary qualifier with What A Day, who has returned to competition after time on the injury list. Moonshine, aka Billy, is by Touch Of The Blues out of Starlight Express, Chris’ former event mare. He has had a successful showing career and has evented but is now concentrating on dressage with Helen. “He’s just won the novice and elementary titles in the part-bred Irish Draught championships, and this was his first competition at medium, so we were very pleased with him,” said Helen, who trains with Chris and Sarah Rogers. “What A Day has had 12 months on the sidelines, so he found competing inside rather exciting.” Joanne…

BRIGHTWELLS DECEMBER ELITE SALE, ADDINGTON MANOR, BUCKS TWO young event riders went home with exciting additions to their strings after this year’s Brightwells December Elite sale. Eliza Stoddart, who purchased the top lot in partnership with an owner, described the three-year-old De Pleasure as a class above the rest, and was thrilled to secure him for £34,000. “We went along on the Friday and had plenty of time to assess the horses over two days. We identified him as a stand-out model before the sale,” Eliza said of the smart grey son of Diacontinus (by Diarado), who is out of a For Pleasure mare. “We admired the way he’d been produced in Germany and handled, and his movement and jump were outstanding. I admire horses by Diarado and we knew…

BETFAIR TINGLE CREEK CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL, SANDOWN PARK, SURREY THERE is no question the current jump season has stuttered along while it has waited for the rain and, less than a week after Leicester was forced to run an all-hurdle card due to the firm ground, winter ground was finally delivered at Sandown Park on Saturday, 8 December, promptly producing the “race of the season” so far. Sloppy, heavy ground was unknown territory for Altior, the reigning champion chaser and unbeaten in all 14 starts over obstacles going into Saturday’s race. But those conditions are beloved of his main adversary, the Irish challenger Un De Sceaux, and in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase the pair delivered a contest to set the pulses racing. Upsides over the last three obstacles, Un De…

CORNWALL HUNT CLUB, WADEBRIDGE, CORNWALL JOCKEY David Prichard won both divisions of the open maiden contest at a blustery Wadebridge, partnering two Neil McLean-trained horses. Dragon De La Tour finished five lengths ahead in the first division. “He was unlucky last season and looked like he should win but kept finishing second, so we were dubious whether his heart was in this,” said David. “He had the summer off and has done lots of hunting. The plan today was to keep him interested as he can switch off. He isn’t the most forward-going so I didn’t want to hit the front too soon.” Hannah Welch looked set to win aboard Ragged Dream after leading the majority of the race, but had to settle for third behind Sam Lee’s Captain Cuckoo.…

MARY, Jack and I were down in Wiltshire this week to meet my sister Billy’s new baby — Lily. As Billy is out of action, she offered me her horse, Tommy, to hunt on Saturday. My father was going, the meet was close to home, it was all going to be great. Then on Saturday morning, a text came through saying Tommy was lame. Not for the first time the words “bloody horses” echoed through the house. Daddy told me to go on his horse — Hercules — but I declined, rather pathetically, and resigned myself to a day on foot. If I’m totally honest, I felt slightly relieved. I haven’t hunted with the South and West Wilts (SWW) more than a couple of times since we moved away, but…

A STUDY has found owners may be rugging horses when it is not needed — and may be compromising their welfare. Kim Hodgess, an MSc student from Duchy College, Devon, presented her findings at the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) conference in Rome in September. Horses have a wider range of temperatures within which they can comfortably maintain their own body temperature — the “thermoneutral zone” (TNZ) — than humans, who may decide on whether or not to rug solely based on whether they feel cold. Ms Hodgess’ work involved horses who were routinely rugged, while stabled and turned out. Three wore sweet itch rugs, six fleeces and six “light quilted” rugs, while two were left unrugged; one stabled and one turned out. The horses’ surface temperature and environmental…

HE had never done a dressage test on a horse — but when Phil Stocker attempted it on a motorbike, the crowd went wild. Phil, on his bike, and his partner’s son, Austyn Perry, on Chyvounder Night Fever, gave a pas de deux dressage to music display in aid of riding club Cornwall Trec on 23 November. Austyn’s proud mother, Verity Perry, said they used the test Austyn rode at the riding club national championships dressage to music, and the motorbike mirrored it. Verity said both Austyn and Phil took the challenge seriously. “My partner rides a bit but he’s never done a dressage test on a horse, let alone a motorbike!” she said. “Austyn’s like any normal boy, using rock music was the way to persuade him to do…

Sir — Following on from Bill Beeson’s interesting letter about the safety of horses on our roads and the need for greater awareness of their presence (29 November), I think that the British Horse Society (BHS) and cycling organisations are certainly missing a trick. On the handles of all fuel pumps — in the area when I live anyway — I have noticed there is advertising space that is usually empty. Therefore, utilising that space with “wide and slow” messaging, together with images of horses, bikes and pedestrians, would be a really effective way to reach all drivers. Deborah Dobson Saunderton, Bucks The writer of letter of the week wins a bottle of Champagne Taittinger…

STABLED horses need plenty of clean drinking water, especially in winter months when dry rations tend to increase and access to grazing is limited or even denied altogether. The drudgery involved with filling water buckets twice a day has understandably prompted many people to change to automatic waterers. Although used successfully by a large number of yards, various issues can arise when these “drinkers” are installed in place of buckets and horses are expected to help themselves. The most common criticism of automatic waterers is that it is not possible to monitor how much a horse is drinking, although curiously this issue is never raised when horses are out at grass with a self-filling trough. While excessive drinking is often mentioned as a sign of the hormonal condition PPID (pituitary…

RARELY do a horse and rider make Mark Phillips’ Burghley cross-country track look easy. Usually, those who have sailed round other four-stars come back and tell the press that today their horse had to “dig deep for the first time”. So when Elizabeth “Esib” Power and CCI4* first-timer Soladoun (Alfie) streaked round Burghley in September eight seconds under the time with barely a raised pulse between them, it caught the attention of the world. The Irish rider laughs: “People think I am a fast rider and that I am putting my foot to the floor on Alfie. I’m not — we are lolloping along at his cruising speed. You almost need to go that fast to keep his mind on the job.” It was Esib’s first four-star since 2015, and…

FOUR-STAR EVENTER HARRY MEADE Christmas Day yard routine: we all get stuck in and have the mucking out and yard done in good time, so that everyone can have a big chunk of the day off to enjoy Christmas. I also try to ride a few horses on Christmas morning to lighten the load on Boxing Day. Typical Christmas Day at home: we’re away for much of the year so Christmas is a very special family time, particularly for the children. We all pile into our bed for stockings first thing, then get the yard done before going to church. We have parents, siblings, friends, nieces and nephews staying so it’s a big team. The afternoon and evening is usually a mass session of present opening and entertaining after-dinner games.…

REASEHEATH EQUINE, CHESHIRE | FIELD HOUSE EC, STAFFS Heather White’s Reaseheath winner, the 18hh seven-year-old Hawklands Echo, is by Avanti Amorous Archie out of a Silver Wind mare and was bought as an unbacked youngster. “I’d always competed in showing but my last mare suffered an injury and we decided the more uniform surfaces of the dressage arenas would be better for her. Having got the bug I went out and bought Echo,” explained Heather, who trains with Claire Ballantyne and Steph Cooper. “His sire has a great reputation for siring nice, rideable horses, so I got in contact with his owner and she put me in touch with Echo’s breeder.” Their Reaseheath scores, following on from two the day before at Vale View, have put the combination close to…

KEYSOE, BEDS | EASTON AND OTLEY COLLEGE, NORFOLK | BLUEGATE HALL, ESSEX Jane Hood posted a day-high of 72.79% in the elementary qualifier at Bluegate Hall, riding her home-bred eight-year-old Santolina — one of three Showmaker offspring in the class. “I originally bred her to sell, but she had a serious field injury as a two-year-old and is badly scarred, so not very saleable. This was only her second outing and I was delighted with her attitude: she was confident and in front of my leg,” said Jane, who trains with Matthew Cox and John Bowen. At the same level but at Easton College, Sarah Heath and Feuertanz (by Fidertanz) took both classes, with a day-high of 71.17% in the qualifier. “‘Ferdi’ was bought by me and my sister Fiona…

HUNTERS EQUESTRIAN 2 DEC: PRELIM 14Q GOLD (G LEVERETT).— 1, Bendigo II (J Matthews) 68.26. BRNZ.— 1, Randi’s Mystery (D Amer) 67.88; 2, Pauldarys Rebel X (C Wright) 64.42. PRELIM 15Q GOLD (J SURR).— 1, Tottola (M Whelan) 73.5. BRNZ.— 1, Randi’s Mystery 70; 2, Pauldarys Rebel X 69.6. NOV 27 GOLD (G LEVERETT).— 1, Tottola 66.42; 2, La Canterina (P Torlonia) 64.46. SILV.— 1, Wasara (D Brown) 76.07; 2, Cavicii (H Stenvall) 67.5; 3, Stanley VII (J Weaver) 66.96. BRNZ.— 1, Quantock Puzzle (R Thomas) 65. NOV 37Q SILV (J SURR).— 1, Wasara 69.44; 2eq, Cavicii & Headmore Braithwaite (K Palmer) 65.92. BRNZ.— 1, Riff (S Toland) 64.07; 2, Elady-Liberty D (L Blake) 63.88; 3, Quantock Puzzle 63.33. ELEM 42 BRNZ (G LEVERETT).— 1, Cuarento (C Georgiadis) 65.62; 2,…

WITH less than six weeks until my third baby is due, I am on the yard every day watching Lara Butler and Sarah Rogers ride my horses. It should be frustrating, but it’s actually really interesting for me. I know my horses well and know exactly how I want them to go, but I have to work them through someone else. This is challenging for me and for Lara and Sarah, yet it gives them the opportunity to learn to feel what I feel when I ride. I cannot just jump on and correct or show them. I have to find ways to explain things so they understand; the best moment is when they feel it for themselves and it clicks. I have become very aware of the language I…

1 DEC: KBIS INSURANCE BRITISH NOVICE.— 1, Starlux (N Roe); 2, Bungowla Blue Cavalier (Z Owen); 3, Highlander (A Dobson). HAYGAIN STEAMERS DIAMOND QUAL.— 1, Brooklands Dun Dreamer (D Brown); 2, Kensons Trickster (H Nelson); 3, Urban Splash (N Roe). NUPAFEED DISCOVERY.— 1, Grande Dam Q (K Baslington); 2, Identity II (A Pritchard); 3, Seve B (R Melia). DODSON & HORRELL 1.05M AMATEUR.— 1, Croft Ghetto Kid (C Thompson); 2, Eragon Von De Held (B Kenyon); 3, Fiorello II (J Holding). CONNOLLY’S RED MILLS NEWCOMERS.— 1, Seve B; 2, Invisible Power (C Scott); 3, Nepal VD Withoeve (C Ravenscroft). D&H AMATEUR 1.10M.— 1, Haughton Archie (C Thompson); 2, Ecaratina (G Wallace); 3, Vampire III (D Hughes). 2 DEC: D&H 85CM AMATEUR.— 1, To Be Continued (C Clewlow); 2, Zeppelin II…