Innholdsfortegnelse for 11-Aug-16 i Horse &amp; Hound

HORSES IN THE NEWS

CENNIN The nine-year-old Dutch Olympic dressage team reserve did not go to the Games. In agreement with the Dutch equestrian federation and team trainer Johan Rockx, rider Madeleine Witte-Vrees declined to take her mount to Rio with the team. CHAPLIN Sue Rawding has sold her lightweight show cob to Ian Darcy for his grandson Callum Potts. The eight-year-old was cob champion at last year’s Hickstead Derby meeting and lightweight cob and reserve cob champion at the 2015 Horse of the Year Show. ARASH The 11-year-old was put down on 7 August after he broke his leg in the field . “Max”, who was bred by Brendon Stud and completed the Hickstead speed derby three times, won an eventers’ challenge at Pyecombe on 3 August with Tony Pearson. WOODLANDER IGOR Trevoulter…

Heavy riders: action taken

THE Great Yorkshire Show’s (GYS) policy of asking anyone too heavy for the horse they are riding to dismount is a positive step in tackling the problem, according to World Horse Welfare, writes Eleanor Jones. Vet Julian Rishworth, acting on a rule set by the GYS committee in the interests of horse welfare, spoke to any rider deemed to be more than 20% of their mount’s weight. About eight adults warming up children’s ponies were asked to dismount on 14 July, while Tom Best, who was judging ridden mountain and moorland Horse of the Year Show qualifiers, spoke to riders he felt were too heavy for their ponies. “There’s a growing feeling among judges and the showing community that something needs to be done,” he told H&H. “But knowing what…

IN BRIEF

A photography business that posted a picture of a foxhound on Facebook has been targeted by anti-hunt campaigners. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ business-bullied A voucher website claims to have calculated how much riders would have to spend to compete at the 2020 Olympics. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ cost-to-olympics French eventer Jean Teulère had a shock when Tom Carlile’s loose horse decided to follow him over some cross-country jumps at the Saint Cyr du Doret event in France. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ loose-horse-xc Jock Paget’s ride Clifton Lush (pictured, above) was withdrawn from the New Zealand Rio eventing team after he cut his cheek on a pipe outside his stable. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ clifton-lush-injured Italian dressage coach Enzo Truppa has been banned from the Rio Olympics following an appeal against his suspension. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ enzo-truppa-banned Researchers have found classical music can have a relaxing effect on horses in…

IT may not have been the fairytale ending to William Fox-Pitt’s Olympic story but for him to have made it to Rio — let alone led after the dressage — fewer than 10 months after he suffered serious head injuries in a fall at Le Lion d’Angers is incredible. Less than eight months since he first rode after his accident, he and Chilli Morning finished best of the Brits in Rio, in 12th place. “People are so supportive,” he said. “Our sport can have sad stories and I’m not a sad story. I’m a good example that we can do it. “To have people wishing you well is brilliant, but they do anyway. If I go to the start and see Michael Jung I’ll say good luck — in what…

Bullet lands in Rio press centre

THE security of athletes and media at the Olympic equestrian venue in Deodoro, Rio de Janeiro, was called into question after a bullet pierced the white tent roof of the press centre and landed on the floor, writes Alice Collins . The media centre at Deodoro is a large, temporary structure made of heavy-duty white plastic. The hole made by the bullet could be seen in the ceiling, with a ray of sunshine shining through it and onto the fabric of the wall. There were more than 100 journalists working when the bullet hit the floor at lunchtime on Saturday, the first day of the eventing competition. No one was hurt. It fell within feet of photographer Jon Stroud, as well as H&H’s journalists Alice Collins and Pippa Roome, plus…

‘She won those races in spite of all the novice mistakes I made with her, so she was obviously forgiving as well!’ MAKING EYES was the first horse I bought — before I had a licence to train, or even a real intention to do so. I had just come back from Australia, and wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do. Bloodstock agent Amanda Skiffington took me to see this Dansili filly at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale in April 2010. We ended up buying her together for 25,000 guineas and syndicating her. As I didn’t have a licence or a yard, we sent her to Chris Wall, who did a wonderful job in looking after her and training her for her first two runs. I got my…

A TOUGH TEST

RIDERS agreed that the Rio cross-country was the toughest at an Olympics for years. Only three competitors — 4.7% of the field — finished the course clear and inside the time, compared to 12.2% in London 2012. “It’s one of the most physically demanding courses for a rider I’ve tackled. I’ve never been that gassed after a cross-country round,” said American Boyd Martin, who finished on 3.2 time-faults. Seventeen horses — 26.6% — were eliminated or retired, compared to 20.3% in 2012. William Fox-Pitt said he “didn’t see any horses not finish tired”, adding: “It’s a short course, but it’s still quite warm, it’s humid and the ground was firm. It’s demanding.” Five horses fell: the Netherlands’ Zindane, ridden by Theo van de Vendel, Tim Price’s Ringwood Sky Boy, who…

‘THE SET-UP IS PERFECT’

RIDERS have praised the Deodoro venue. “The facilities are fantastic, very similar to what we had in London,” said British travelling reserve Tina Cook. “There are plenty of areas to work the horses and the stables are first class.” German star Michael Jung added: “The set-up is perfect. The stables are brilliant and the horses feel happy.” Joris van Springel, a Belgian rider at his fourth Games, said: “This is the best Olympics I’ve been to. The transport is always on time.” The equestrian stadium’s capacity is 14,354 and while no attendance figures were available for eventing dressage, the stands ranged from 10% to nearly half full. On the first day (6 August) the crowds occasionally showed enthusiasm by cheering when horses halted at the start of tests, but as…

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

CHRISTIAN AHLMANN The German showjumper is the new world number one in the Longines rankings. Former leading rider Simon Delestre is now in second place, while Penelope Leprevost is ranked third. SPENCER STURMEY The commentator will have his head shaved by Zara Tindall at Blenheim (8-11 September) in aid of Willberry Wonder Pony. The charity was set up by teenage event rider Hannah Francis who died of cancer on 1 August. VAL BOWLEY Ms Bowley has been awarded the BHS Ride Out Week Access Award. During her 20 years as a bridleway officer for Bromley Bridleways Access Group, she successfully campaigned for a mirror to be installed on a spot dangerous for riders. ALMA WIGMORE Alma was presented with a Lifetime in Racing award on 4 August at Great Yarmouth…

LAST week, I made a flying visit to the Royal International (RIHS) where once again the mountain and moorland (M&M) riders drew the short straw, just as we did at the Derby meeting. While hunter and cob exhibitors had superb going, we had to make do with the poor relation of the River Lawn ring, complete with potholes. Some competitors were so worried about the risk to their ponies that they filled in some of the holes the night before their class — a bit like treading in the divots on a polo ground, but more extreme. Even then, a lead-rein jockey took a tumble after her pony lost its footing. Fortunately, she was unhurt. It’s disheartening to have to be so negative, but surely all riders, whether in the…

When the heavens open

WHEN the first day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show had to be cancelled this year due to waterlogged car parks, it was another reminder of the flash flooding that we have come to expect at some point during the British summer. In June, Donna Butcher’s Arab stud farm in Maldon, Essex was flooded after continual torrential rain. “Due to a deluge of rain that continued for over a week, drains, ditches and other watercourses became overloaded and we ended up with 15 flooded stables, including those housing mares and foals, and the stallion block,” says Donna. “The fields were unusable, being over a foot deep in water in places, and had turned to skating rinks with the slime running over the top. None of the horses had proper turnout…

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‘Our arena was a nightmare’

WHEN light rainfall was leaving large puddles throughout her outdoor arena, dressage rider Becky Moody decided to call in the experts. “Our outdoor arena had become an absolute nightmare,” said Becky. “It didn’t even need to be torrential rain — it couldn’t cope with any kind of rain more than a light downpour! Over 30% would be covered in standing water. We are on clay, and the sand and rubber surface had broken down to the point that it was so fine it just didn’t drain. “We called in Equestrian Surfaces, who did a brilliant job. They removed the old surface, levelled the arena, put in new drains and retaining boards before relaying a new surface. “It has been, quite simply, amazing — even with all the rain we’ve had,…