Innholdsfortegnelse for 31-Oct-2019 i Horse & Hound

STUART HOLLINGS picks up the conversation about pony height checks in his comment this week (showing, p82). He questions whether it is feasible that the current system of fellow competitors being able to request that a pony be remeasured could invite attempts to derail the opposition. It is stressful for connections to have a pony officially remeasured. And it is a completely unnecessary stress should the pony be competing in the correct class and have previously measured in with ease. But it is necessary for competitors to be able to alert officials to possible foul play — just as they should on suspicion of another athlete using performance-enhancing drugs, for example. Stuart suggests having transparency rather than anonymity might help — I agree it might well deter some spurious claims,…

NEW FORMAT FOR UNDER-25 RIDERS A NEW format has been announced for the under-25 British showjumping championship at Olympia (16-22 December). The line-up will comprise 24 riders; the junior and young rider European Championships teams, riders who have been on a senior Nations Cup team in 2019, the top four combinations who qualified at the winter classic shows, and a wildcard, to compete at the qualifying two-round class on Friday morning (20 December). The top 10 will advance to the final on Sunday evening (22 December) with a prize-pot of £13,000 on offer. CHARITY AWARDS OPEN FOR 2020 NOMINATIONS are open for the annual SEIB charity awards 2020. The public has until 28 November to nominate a charity to win the top grant of £25,000, which went to World Horse…

FRH BUTTS AVEDON The 16-year-old has retired from top-level eventing after finishing eighth at Pau CCI5*-L. He and Germany’s Andreas Dibowski won young horse world silver and European team gold, as well as international wins. RISKY BUSINESS Multiple world, Olympic and European medal-winning Dutch dressage rider Edward Gal’s first grand prix horse has died aged 29. Risky, son of Trakehner stallion Iglesias, was bought by Edward as a yearling. THISTLEDOWN BUMBLE BEE The prolific native and plaited lead-rein, first ridden and open contender has died aged 29. He joined Team Ahern in 2016. “He’s the best pony any mother could wish for,” said Alex Ahern.…

DRIVING Spotted at a show centre, an ad for a BMW that’s had, apparently, three drivers including the present one — “a particularly brilliant driver!” along with instructions to contact the show secretary. Does said driver have to prove her (or is it his?) driving brilliance to conclude the sale…? MULES It appears a possible attempt to change the wording that allows mules to compete under FEI rules has been stopped in its tracks, as it is not included in the final rules draft. So we’re looking forward to long-eared teams in Tokyo! MORE MULES At the other end of the scale, a town in Italy is replacing rubbish trucks with mule-drawn carts. Greener, quieter — and could it cut out the middleman in terms of some of the vegetable…

YOU may have covered the basics when it comes to his winter management, yet a horse who leads a largely indoor life during these colder, darker months can be left lacking in certain areas. From promoting your horse’s skin health to making sure he is satisfied and stress-free, our veterinary and behavioural experts have outlined some points worth considering to keep a horse at his mental and physical best. Light in his life THE short, dark winter days can cause humans to suffer with a recognised medical condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which brings about depressive symptoms and lethargy. Are horses susceptible to this condition, sometimes dubbed the winter blues? “SAD in humans is linked to a disruption in our circadian rhythms,” says Gil Riley MRCVS, of Pool House…

JOE STOCKDALE SON of late showjumping legend Tim Stockdale, Joe is making his mark in showjumping ranks and was selected to represent his country as part of the young rider Nations Cup in Austria and European young rider team in 2019. He also won the under-25 grand prix at Royal Windsor in May. TRAINING THE STARS ONE of my top rides, Gunner II (Romeo), anticipates where the fences are and starts taking you to the fence before you want to go there. He’ll come around the corner and fall in on the inside, then end up coming in too tight. He’s a very sensitive horse and picks up on my body language, feeling for the direction my body is turning so he can anticipate the direction, so I’ve had to…

‘Equine recurrent uveitis is the most common cause of blindness in horses’ EYELID LACERATION WHAT IS IT? Eyelid lacerations occur relatively frequently in horses when they catch their eyelid on a sharp object in the stable after rapidly lifting their head in response to a noise or perceived threat. HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED? Your vet will usually need to sedate the horse in order to determine the extent of the damage to the eyelid and the best way to repair it. Many horses that lacerate their eyelid will also have damaged the surface of their eye in the process (a corneal ulcer), so your vet may stain the surface of the eye with fluorescein dye, too. HOW IS IT TREATED? Eyelid lacerations should be regarded as an emergency and your…

HYHEALTH SPORTWRAP Easy to tear, flexible bandage. Ideal for maximum support, strength and protection. £1.62 per roll hy-equestrian.com NAF ARNICA GEL A cooling gel to soothe minor strains, sprains and bruising following muscular exertion, a knock or blow. £12.99 for 400g naf-equine.eu ROBINSON HEALTHCARE ANIMALINTEX The only licensed multi-layered poultice in the UK. £5.50 robinsonanimal healthcare.com EQUI LIFE SOLUTION4 FEET A hoof disinfectant to keep hooves strong and protected. £20.41 for 500ml equilife.co.uk ANIWELL AMH VET Utilises antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits of active manuka honey. From £12.10 for 50g aniwell-uk.com EQUINE PRODUCTS HYGIENE SPRAY Keep wounds clean with this antibacterial spray. £4.99 equineproducts-ukltd.com WOOF WEAR MEDICAL HOOF BOOT Keeps wounds, poultices and dressings clean. £33 p boot woofwear.com STUBBS FIRST-AID BOX Keep your first-aid kit safe and dry in this…

• Fireworks should not be set off near livestock, close to buildings that house livestock or near horses in fields. • It is illegal to sell fireworks to anyone under 18 or for anyone under 18 to buy them, and the most powerful — known as category F4 — are restricted to professional use only. • On Bonfire Night, adults can set off fireworks until midnight and for Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year, the time limit is 1am. Otherwise, no fireworks are allowed between 11pm and 7am. • Breaches of these regulations can result in fines ranging from £90 (on-the-spot) up to £5,000, and even imprisonment for serious illegal use of fireworks. • Fireworks can also be a statutory nuisance if the noise exceeds a certain level.…

• “I never use boots,” says Dave Guilding. “I tried that and think it causes more problems than it helps. We just take the tack off, leave them alone if they’re dry when they come home and let them lie in deep straw.” • Jack Thomas Watson uses a hot powerwash on his horses and then hot-rags them with very dilute Hibiscrub to clean any unseen nicks or cuts. • Vicky Heal also washes her horses off with Hibiscrub — “there’s a lot of slurry in my country and it can irritate the skin” — then cold hoses them and puts them in two Thermatex rugs. “They always get a holiday at the end of the season,” she adds. • Using pig oil last season on legs and underbellies massively…

PHILIP LANGDALE, a significant figure in New Zealand hunting with strong links to the sport in the UK, has died. Having arrived in New Zealand from England with his wife, Jane, 44 years ago, Philip became a long-time member and supporter of the Hawke’s Bay Hunt. Born into a hunting family and brought up in the Cowdray country in West Sussex, he whipped-in to the Eton College Beagles and his early hunting days were with the Whaddon Chase and then with the Duke of Beaufort’s, assisting Gerald Gundry MFH with running the country. His brother Oliver is a former master of the Heythrop. Philip was a well-educated authority on hunting, etiquette, hounds and hound matters. He was instrumental in producing standards for breeding and recording guidelines for the New Zealand…

IMAGINE the reaction if the top three horses at Burghley were all penalised with 15 penalties for missing a flag across country — and so lost their places — especially if all three were considered by the eventing community to have jumped the respective fences sufficiently, albeit at odds with the requirements of the current controversial rule. This is what happened at Fair Hill, the biggest autumn international in the USA, and understandably the public were outraged. The officials have been put in an impossible position, implementing a rule that, as a body — the International Eventing Officials Club (IEOC) — they oppose. The FEI eventing committee has made changes to the wording for 2020, but these will not avert a repetition of Fair Hill; their rule still does not…

KINGS EC 19-20 Oct: med 73Q gold (J Harris).— 1, Imhotep (S Smith) 75. med FSM Q gold.— 1, Imhotep 77.66; 2, Fandango V (N Lawson) 75; 3, Woodlander District Attorney (N Lawson) 74.66. silv.— 1, Any Minute (S Leitch) 68.83; 2, Global Donna Rubina (E Hall) 63.16. adv med 85 gold.— 1, Ruxton Shogun (M Phillips) 71.02. silv.— 1, Fandango V 72.23; 3, Serafino (P Woof) 67.35. brnz.— 1, Mister Pinkerton (S Barnard) 66.17. adv med 91Q silv.— 1, Wellbeloved (N Rollings) 67.82; 2, Stuntmann AF Hvarre (P Jaggs) 67.69. brnz.— 1, Mister Pinkerton 65.38. adv med FSM Q gold.— 1, Barcelona (T Whitaker) 77.66; 2, Ruxton Shogun 75.33. silv.— 1, Sportsfield Quality (N Lawson) 69.83; 2, Woodlander District Attorney 68.66; 3, Wellbeloved 68. PYO silv.— 1, Stuntmann AF…

JONES POSTS SOLID SCORES ERIN JONES and Mr Nelson have upped their percentages from the 63% mark, with help from coach Dane Rawlins. “To get two scores of 69% was amazing,” said Erin, who took both mediums at Coleg Cambria, Flintshire, with her “headstrong” Dutch warmblood/Appaloosa gelding. “Nelson was off for half of last year after a severe reaction to mud fever. He seems to be prone to it because of his pink skin, so he hasn’t been out much.” ALFERO LIMBERS UP FOR VICTORY TRACEY MAY is reaping the rewards of management change, implemented after her 14-year-old Gelderlander gelding Alfero had the summer off with mild arthritis. “Alfie is now at a wonderful DIY livery yard, which allows us much more turnout to keep him moving,” explained Tracey, who…

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Washington, Capital One Arena, USA A COMPLEX course that made even its designer nervous left only two of 30 starters eligible for a jump-off during the feature class of Washington International. After the $136,000 (£106,000) Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier, course-designer Olaf Petersen Jr said with a relieved smile, “I think I have much more grey hair.” It was not until Laura Kraut, the last competitor to go, went clear that the designer knew the spectators would be treated to a tie-breaker. Laura joined another US rider, Andrew Welles, who finished fault-free as the seventh in the order. Nine riders finished on four faults, including the USA’s Kent Farrington (Creedance) and US-based Irish rider Shane Sweetnam (Chaqui Z). “I think there was a chance…

Countryside Live, Great Yorkshire Showground, Yorks MOUNTAIN and moorland (M&M) aficionados Peter Boustead and Stephen Howard sorted the last British Show Pony Society (BSPS) LeMieux Heritage Olympia qualifier of the season. They found their champion in Karen Johnson’s consistent eight-year-old dun stallion Menai Eurostar (GB), expertly presented by Clare Fitch. This charismatic pair, who benefit from training with dressage guru David Pincus, will be joining five other Welsh section Ds at the Christmas final. “We thought Olympia was eluding us this season, after several reserves,’’ said Clare. “And are relieved to clinch a ticket finally. We were delighted with his absolutely flawless performance over the yielding ground and it made our 2am start and eight-hour round trip extremely worthwhile.’’ Karen, who purchased GB as a foal from the Menai stud…

THE Stars riding club points award was netted by the Ribble Valley riding club. Twenty-three members competed, with Amber Danter acting as team captain and three performers coming home with victories. Jude Raywood won the junior handlers, while Clare Edwards was top of the plaited, ridden coloured ranks and Poppy Brennand took the plaited ridden pony. “We took reserve supreme last year so it was great to take the title this time,” said club chairman David Fearnley. “Qualifying for HOYS takes so much commitment and financing that many, despite having the ability, might never get the chance to experience a show like it. “Stars has given people the opportunity to go to compete at a massive show in a brilliant atmosphere.”…

A REWRITE of the flag rule and disputes over checks and standards for safety equipment have come to light in the final draft of FEI eventing rule changes. The first draft of 2020 rules were released in July (news, 18 July) and stakeholders fed back to the FEI ahead of this final draft, published on 23 October. The flag rule is a hot topic — its purpose is to penalise combinations who only partially answer the question at a fence. Its wording has been tinkered with in every rules draft in recent years. The International Eventing Officials Club (IEOC), European Equestrian Federation (EEF) and 15 national federations, sent feedback to the FEI on the rule. ‘Public thinking and the FEI are totally out of sync’HARRY MEADE The IEOC, working with…

Showjumper Robert Whitaker took his first-ever World Cup win at the second leg of the Western European League in Helsinki, Finland, on Catwalk IV. Robert said the 16-year-old was “unbelievable”. Jockey Andrew Tinkler, 34, has retired from the saddle. The dual Cheltenham Festival winner said it is a “change in career” as he joins fellow retired jockey Charlie Poste’s pre-training business. Eventer Tom McEwen won his first CCI5* at Pau, France, on Toledo De Kerser. Tom, who led from the beginning, said the French-bred horse “jumps like an aeroplane”. Report, p64. Eventer Jonty Evans has joined Speaker Buzz, an agency that focuses on mental health and wellbeing, as an inspirational speaker. It is a year since he left hospital following his serious fall. Showjumping collecting ring steward Vince Evans has…

SYLVIA STANIER AN EXCEPTIONAL horsewoman, who trained horses in the art of side-saddle for The Queen, Ms Stanier died this month aged 91. She was born in Gibraltar where her father, Sir Alexander Stanier, was serving as military secretary to the governor, and introduced her to horses as a child. Her parents hunted in Spain with the Royal Calpe and Ms Stanier would frequently travel to stay with her grandfather in Shotover, who was master of the South Oxfordshire. The family moved to England, where she continued to pursue her passion for horses. On her father’s retirement from the army, they moved to his family home, The Citadel in north Shropshire, and Ms Stanier made it very clear to her mother that she had no intention of becoming a debutante…

RULES The final draft of the 2020 FEI rule proposals are out, and it’s a lengthy document (surely not, I hear you cry). If our MPs had to go through that lot before next month, there would surely be less moaning about Brexit deals… HAIRDRESSERS Spotted on social media, a rider asking whether she should go to a show or a hair appointment, as only one would be possible. Well. Let’s just say the show centre will do better that day than the hairdresser. Was anyone surprised? Priorities, ladies, after all. MONEY Also spotted on social media, another post from some well-meaning soul trying to budget and asking people how much they spend to keep their horses every year. Our advice is to scroll past such posts and try not…

I ENJOYED reading Sarah Jenkins’ comment about riding for boys (17 October). Mine are aged 12 and 14, and have been members of the Fitzwilliam branch of the Pony Club since the age of four, taking part in all activities and team competitions. However, if I had £1 for every time I’ve been asked, “Are the boys still riding?”, I’d be a millionaire. Why is it presumed that boys will pack in riding while girls are encouraged to continue? In order to keep boys interested, the Pony Club must target their interests and maybe have more male instructors and role models, and more promotion of tetrathlon. My boys have many older riding role models (local hunt masters, and eventing or showjumping friends), but the equestrian industry and media need to…

‘The first time Khadijah rode out she fell off twice, but she was so driven — every time I tested her she stepped up’TRAINER CHARLIE FELLOWES IT would be hard to weave together a fictitious script more compelling than the real-life story of Khadijah Mellah. In August, the 18-year-old from Peckham, south London, passed the post first to win Goodwood’s charity race the Magnolia Cup; the first person to ride in a race in Britain wearing a hijab. Three months earlier she had had her first taste of riding a racehorse, and prior to that her riding experience had been confined to the Ebony Horse Club, a riding school in Brixton where going fast equated to “a couple of strides of canter in between a jump,” Khadijah says. The frenzy…

It’s vital that you have the basics in place at home before you go to a competition and attempt a jump-off — this is not the place to be schooling your horse. Horses can fall in on turns if they struggle to hold themselves up, so that could be pain related or due to them being too weak. Know your horse, and when things don’t feel right, get him checked out. Horses with an inappropriate or badly fitting bit can have issues with turning, so ensure your horse is properly kitted out.…

THE ARMY VET AND HEAD OF TRAINING ‘I’m a bit of a workaholic, but fortunately have a supportive family’TIM MAIR Carolyn Bates Job roles: I’m a qualified vet and am head of the veterinary training squadron at the Defence Animal Training Regiment. I oversee the veterinary care of all the military working dogs and horses, and help train the newly graduated vets who join the army. We are also a clinical training practice for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ veterinary nurse training scheme. Typical day: I get up at 6am, sort my own horse out, walk the dog and arrive at work for 7.30am. If there are any inpatients, I’ll be in a bit earlier to do the inpatient checks and give any meds. I then check my emails…

THE Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot (23 November): although Altior has racked up 19 straight wins since he last tasted defeat in a Punchestown bumper, last season he started to look as if he needed further. He has done it all over two miles and Nicky Henderson has decided to step him up in trip to see what he is capable of. This is the starting point that could lead to the King George and who knows what else. However, Paul Nicholls plans to run Cyrname — whose 17-length beating of Waiting Patiently last February earned him a higher rating than Altior — in the same race. ‘Nicky Henderson has decided to step Altior up in trip’ The Randox Health Grand National at Aintree (4 April): can Tiger Roll (above)…

1 Keep your horse in the same routine and decide whether he’s likely to be safer in or out — a horse who hates being stabled is possibly more likely to be injured panicking than by a firework. 2 Make sure they are occupied with companions, plenty of hay or grass, screen any windows, leave the lights and a radio on, and, if necessary, speak to your vet about using sedatives, or consider using earplugs. 3 Make sure the yard is safe, with no fire hazards, and fire extinguishers are to hand. Have charged-up phones — and spares — to hand along with a list of essential numbers, not just 999. 4 Check your insurance to make sure that should damage or loss occur, your policy would cover the costs,…

HEYTHROP joint-master Nessie Chanter presented Erin Hughes from the Midlands Air Ambulance with a cheque for £2,000 at the Heythrop kennels open day. The sum was raised by running the inaugural Heythrop Hunt Triathlon at Eyford House, kindly hosted by Rupert and Serena Prest and Charlotte Heber-Percy, in July. “The Midlands Air Ambulance provides a vital service and we are delighted to be able to contribute to a charity that is very close to the hearts of anyone who takes part in countryside activities,” said Nessie. “We all hope that we will never need its services on a day’s hunting, but it is very reassuring to know that it is on hand should an accident happen.”…

Les 5 Étoiles de Pau, France TOM MCEWEN joined eventing’s most select club at Pau by winning his first CCI5*, and propelled himself and Toledo De Kerser to the top of the selection list for the Tokyo Olympics. It was an impressive victory; Tom never surrendered the dressage lead he established with Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Inns and Tom’s mother Ali’s 12-year-old Selle Français. They have shown vast improvement in this phase in 2019, and scored 24.9 — just 0.2 behind the personal best they posted at Badminton. “That was brilliant — uphill, soft, fluent and light,” said Tom. Not a great deal has gone right for 28-year-old Tom and Toledo since that Badminton test. They were late to the start and the clock had already started ticking, and…

Kent & Masters Quest Championships, Bury Farm, Beds THE open title went to TeamQuest first-timers, the Southwood Sasses, comprising Juliet Dennis, Caroline Coleman, Nicola James and Arielle Harter. They hail from Hersham in Surrey, with three of the team based at Laney Pullen’s Southwood Manor livery yard, and one being an ex-livery. All train with Eileen O’Connor, who helped the team members throughout the competition. Juliet and Fabula were the stars of the team and began the weekend with a win in the MyQuest open prelim section. By going through the videos and photos of her performances with Eileen, Juliet was able to improve her scores in both her TeamQuest tests, finishing on a stunning 74.17% in her final test. This helped the Sasses to a final score of 418.27,…

GOOD horsemanship starts with a feeling for horses, and knowing your horse is invaluable. In dressage we seek to replicate the natural movement of the horse, but the horse in nature doesn’t repeat these movements while bearing a load. So what can we do to achieve our goals and keep our horses sound and happy? In an ideal world, repetitions would be kept to a minimum. Sometimes professional riders are lambasted for working their horses at higher levels too soon. However, often the benefit of the rider’s experience means they know how to present the work to the horse in a way that is easy to understand, and so the horses have actually done fewer repetitions of the movements than they may do with a rider who is doing it…

23 Oct: future minis.— 1eq, 28 shared. Pony Club mini major C.— 1, Silver Nero (E Horner); 2, Camizion (A Wicks); 3, Tynebank Royal Jester (M Lawson). 128/138cm.— 1 & 3, Playboy Van De Zoetewei & Mister Proper (T Kyle); 2, Buttons Two (R Proudley). Rising Stars prelim.— 1, Rudgeway Maestro (E Squibb); 2, Tobar King (A Morris); 3, Strawberry Rojo (I Goddard). JC/JA.— 1, Trevoulter Ladies Man (E Jacques); 2, Carrigeen Moores (K Power); 3, Alonsa (J Brennan). discovery.— 1, Gurteen Merlin (L Murphy); 2, Flying Kangaroo (E Carnall); 3, Miami Bubble Gum (E McCulloch). 90cm.— 1, Beauty Bright (T Davies); 2, Little Maggie May (A Diaper); 3, Calusa (S Palin). Blue Chip newcomers.— 1, Portmore Stroller (R Proudley); 2, Dunangel (E Hart); 3, Another Barney (T Kyle). 1m.—…

Summerhouse Equestrian, Glos AFTER missing out on last year's Blue Chip Championships due to a family wedding, Hannah Thorne and Cinderella (Cindy) will be there in April after winning a hot FMBs star class at Summerhouse. Hannah works for her brother’s online clothing brand and has already booked the time off. “I don’t know which day the final will be on, so I have the whole week off. We’re definitely going this time,” she said. With 67 starting in the qualifier, Hannah thought it would be tough to get her ticket. “It’s an open class and I’d ridden against lots of the others before, so I knew it would be a fast jump-off. I didn’t watch any of the others go, but I know what Cindy can do and stuck…

BSPS Olympia ridden M&M (P Boustead/S Howard) Dart/Ex/ Shet.— 1, K Smith’s Bluebarn Whisper. A/B.— n/f. C.— 1, J Baker’s Glebedale Johnny Depp; 2, B Wilson’s Llanidan Wurzel; 3, B Percival’s Banroc Bluebelle. D.— 1 & ch, K Johnson’s Menai Eurostar; 2, L Breeze/E Gant’s Northwick Notorious; 3, J Elliott’s Abergavenny Yasmin. N/F/Con.— 1, E Burke’s Aniar Cashel; 2, J Sehne’s Tyan Ma’Lady; 3, J Rose’s Castle Wizard. lrg.— 1 & res, J Elliott’s Stuffynwood Primrose; 2, H Fisher’s Foalsyke Little Topper; 3, R Roberts’ Wildhoeve Oki Doki.…

The Showcase, Cheltenham Racecourse, Glos CHELTENHAM’S return for the winter season is always about re-acquaintance with familiar faces of both the human and equine variety, and it seemed as if one in particular had never been away. Tobefair has been an extraordinary success story for Debra Hamer, who trains just a dozen horses in Carmarthenshire, and the Down The Quay Club, a 17-strong syndicate gathered from a pub in Cresswell Quay who have been known to empty the tills of the local bookmaker whenever the horse wins. This has happened nine times so far, including at the April meeting, while the giant nine-year-old was beaten only a whisker in the Pertemps Final at the Festival. A horse who never gives in, Tobefair lugged the top weight of 11st 12lb through…

SOMETIMES it feels like a hunting theme park here; you could go hunting, right on the doorstep, every day of the week and get nothing else done. Yesterday, for example. We had our local beagle pack, the Newcastle and District, meeting next door and I was planning to go out with them for a couple of hours; watching those beagles harooshing through the hills should be on everyone’s to-do list. They are fab. At 11 o’clock I was dragging two ponies in from the field when a stern-looking lady, lots of make-up, dyed black hair topped with a tweed cap, drove into the yard. “Are the beagles meeting here today?” she boomed, squinting at my waterproof overtrousers and holey coat with distaste. Naturally, I thought she meant the Newcastle and…

FINBURY HILL Susie Guild’s gelding, who jumped cross-country clears at two Badmintons and two Burghleys with rider Hannah Bate, has been put down aged 20. He also scored top-10 finishes at Bramham, Tattersalls and Blair. MR POTTS Louise Harwood’s home-bred top international eventer, with six Burghley and four Badminton starts to his name, enjoyed the Ludlow’s opening meet as field master’s horse under Alan Nolan. LINE OF DUTY Godolphin’s 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner, trained by Charlie Appleby, has been put down after sustaining a serious injury. The three-year-old was also placed twice in Group One races this year.…

RARE wild horses have been sheltering in buildings inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). Researchers from the University of Georgia captured footage of Przewalski’s horses in buildings abandoned since the 1986 nuclear plant accident. Peter Schlichting used motion-activated cameras in the Polesie State Radiation Ecological Reserve, on the Belarusian side of the CEZ, to capture the horses using abandoned structures as shelters, particularly barns. They were often inside for more than five consecutive hours, using the buildings for sleeping, breeding and avoiding insects in summer. James Beasley, senior author of the study, said: “These structures can serve as important focal points for research and management to obtain key demographic information such as age, sex ratio, population size and genetic structure.” A total of 36 Przewalski’s horses were brought to the…

“ONE thing I’ve learnt is that people who are passionate about animals also seem to be passionate about gin, so when you put the two together it works quite well.” While we admit nothing, we salute Jenny McKerr of the Wee Farm Distillery, Lanarkshire, which is celebrating the great Clydesdale with a new gin. The micro-distillery is to launch the apple and rhubarb spirit on 3 November, its label featuring the Royal Highland Show 2019 winner West Forth Solo, owned by the Tennant family. “We’re trying to promote the local farms, local ingredients and local art to bring the gin together,” said Jenny. And there will even be a Clydesdale at the launch — Bryan Lindsay’s Dillars Rascal, pictured, is to be a special guest.…

ALL of the Audi Q range are great to drive, but when it comes to being able to haul in excess of 2.5 tonnes, few cars can manage it as effortlessly as the Audi Q8 (pictured). It oozes quality. The adaptive air suspension ensures a smooth ride at all times, irrespective of the load. You get masses of kit including sat nav, sports leather seats, powered tailgate, rear view camera and trailer assist. Tap on the colour touchscreen, engage steering assist and the car will help you reverse. Only one engine is available at the moment, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel which gives you 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds and 41.5mpg if you go easily. All-wheel drive is standard, as is an automatic gearbox. You can also raise the ride height for…

IT is no surprise that lethargy or fatigue may lead to poor performance or adverse behaviour in a horse, but the cause of the problem could be less obvious. There are some horses who have a good reason to be tired, such as those in heavy work or those suffering from a clinical disease. However, there is also a subset of horses who seemingly have no reason to be lacking in energy; they aren’t obviously sick, lame or in pain. Some appear to get out of breath quickly while others take a long time to recover after exercise. Others just simply don’t seem to want to work. They may sweat excessively or not at all, and may even resent the rider’s efforts to encourage them by pinning their ears or…

GIVEN the immense responsibility and professionalism that’s involved in hiring out hunters, it seems ironic that many of those doing it don’t have a website but fall into the trade by accident. Jack Thomas Watson, in Northumberland, is typical: “I’m a dealer predominantly, but people would come and try horses out hunting, I’d charge a fee and that’s how it started.” No one hiring hunters seems to do it as their sole form of income, with dealing usually the primary or secondary business. “Most of ours are for sale, so if someone loves their horse and offers the right price, it has to go,” says Dave Guilding, a well-known purveyor of hunters in and around the Berkeley country. More unusual side ventures abound too. In the Borders, Lesley Douglas also…

NOW autumn trail-hunting is nearly over, most packs will be preparing for one of the biggest days in the hunting calendar: the opening meet. In order to get to this point in each season, opening up country and keeping it open is a massive and very important job. The key to a good day’s trail-hunting is organisation and good communication. At one time, just one or two masters would clear country for a day, but this aspect of the day-to-day running of a hunt has changed a lot. Masters often have full-time jobs of their own and, as all of us know, life in general is getting progressively busier. Nowadays masters, committee members and sometimes huntsmen are more involved in clearing country. The countryside has also changed so much in…

CCI3*-S.— 1, VIP Vinnie (W Rawlin) 24,0,0.8=24.8; 2, Fernhill Aldo (L Lockwood) 27.6,0,3.6=31.2; 3, Social Butterfly (A Wilkes) 30,0,2=32. CCI2*-L.— 1, Quingenti (L Stubington) 30.2,0,0=30.2; 3, NPS Elegance (M Warburton) 31.1,0,0=31.1; 3, Iceman III (H Mitchell) 31.3,0,0=31.3. CCI2*-S.— 1, Giant Prospect BB (M Blom) 24.2,0,0=24.2; 2, Fulco (W Van Der Goes-Petter) 26,0,3.2=29.2; 3, Vesuve D’Aveyron (B Venderbosch) 29.9,0,0=29.9. CCI2*-S 6/7yo.— 1, Carrick Diamond Bard (A Holman) 31.3,0,0=31.3; 2, Tempest Wick (D Reader) 33.2,0,0=33.2; 3, Chatter On (V Panizzon) 30.6,4,0=34.6. OI.— 1, Feroza Nieuwmoed (R Kitajima) 28,0,4.4=32.4; 2, Dargle Looks (H Dickin) 32.5,4,0=36.5; 3, Cekatinka JRA (R Kitajima) 29.8,4,7.2=41. int.— 1, Party Trick (N Gauntlett) 29.3,0,2.8=32.1; 2, Merrywell Tradition (H Meade) 26.1,4,5.2=35.3; 3, Murphy May (J Rimmer) 31.6,0,4.4=36. ON.— 1, Vlove D Or Ly (A Whiteway) 29.5,0,0=29.5; 2, Greenlanes Hudson (G…

TeamQuest: open ch.— 1, Southwood Sasses (C Coleman/Perdi, A Harter/ Fairleigh, N James/Tasmanian Pride, J Dennis/Fabula) 418.27; 2, The Cheshire Chicks (J Maughan/Matty, C McLellan/ Flambeau II, C McLellan/Ballastra Van De Cumul, S Rooney/Tobago Bay) 411.48; 3, Needs More Leg (E Savage/Mummy’s Dream, R Smith/Glory Hunter, J Snow/ Menlo Alison, D Young/Sweet Classaroe Boy) 409.33. U21 ch.— 1, Team St James (T Crook/Koko, K Joyce/Tomriland Billy, I Kenworthy/Marcel Midnight Ray, E Smith/Isserkelly Connie) 411.86; 2, Pocket Rockets (S Champion/Ballys Millie, G Daviews/Wynwillow Corniche, F Grabham/Bernwode Broadway, M Knight/Wynwillow Corniche) 410.03; 3, The Four-legged Clovers (G Bateman/ Little Leo II, J Bateman/Lazy Acres Rainey Dancer, G Clarke/Hot Chocolate I, L Clarke/Camills Muriel) 405.77. MyQuest: open intro (L Gammon, J Ellis, T Graham).— 1, Matherion Gethin (A Marshall) 70.4; 2, Glynceirch Awel…

EASTON & OTLEY COLLEGE EC 19 Oct: prelim 15 silv (A Wilks).— 1, Another Furst (M Haggith) 68.8; 2, Coswarth Legacy (I Havens) 68.6; 3, Warwick Clover (L Bates) 65.8. brnz.— 1, D Discovery (L Karayan) 67.2; 2, Rathnageera Casion Royal (R Bell) 66.4; 3, Bruno VI (L Kelly) 65.6. nov 37Q gold.— 1, Ghana Spartacus (S Hunt) 70. silv.— 1, Just Dance BH (J Hancock) 70.55; 2, Another Furst 67.96; 3, Warwick Clover 64.44. brnz.— 1, Jazz D’Atela (C Ramsay) 56.29. elem 53 gold.— 1, Ghana Spartacus 69.41. silv.— 1, Just Dance BH 67.94; 2, Jenson II (S Hawkins) 60.29; 3, Dr Brandy (L King) 56.76. med 69 gold (A Darken).— 1, Fortuna I (J Howard) 68.33. silv.— 1, Deluxe II (K Haywood-Rand) 65.75; 2, Woodthorpe Little Madame (S…

‘He’s forward, but super-safe in every way’AMY RICHARDS ON EROS H2 AMY RICHARDS and Eros H2 claimed four elementary wins in a weekend at Tall Trees Arena, Cornwall, with scores building steadily from the high sixties to 71.77%. It was a remarkable BD debut for the pair after teaming up in July. “We travelled from Cornwall to Amy Woodhead’s yard in Grimsby when we heard that ‘Ross’ was for sale,” said Amy, 14, who trains with Georgia Stokes and monthly with visiting German-based coach William Matthew. “Ross had previously jumped and competed up to novice BD, but hadn’t been to a dressage show for two years. “He’s quite forward but super-safe in every way and he wants to learn,” added Amy. “He felt really calm and relaxed.”…

BLESSED are the cobs! I gave a presentation at the recent British Horse Society (BHS) convention in Surrey and had some anxiety over which students I would be given. But I was in luck with two riders on wonderful cobs. However, the sad truth is that riders may struggle to find cobs or small horses, as they are under threat from a breeding industry focused on high-value elite performers — usually big horses with big paces. This is market forces, but it’s not good for the sport or the industry. Ours is a sport in which the vast majority of riders are female and of novice level, both adults and children, and it’s an industry that has huge untapped potential, given the right horses. When I was young, the values…

CARE worker Lorna Simpson and 11-year-old Rubi VII, a daughter of Randi who once came within seconds of having to be put down, galloped to victory in the Dodson & Horrell 85cm amateur second round at Brook Farm. Rubi suffered from a mystery illness after Lorna’s family bought her at the end of 2012. “The vets never got to the bottom of it, but they thought it was a deep-seated infection that normal drugs didn’t cure,” said Lorna. “They tried her on human medicine and told us that if that didn’t work she’d have to be put down. She wouldn’t get up and we decided she’d had enough, but as the vet walked into her stable she started eating again and they told us to give Rubi another 24 hours.…

THE elephant in the room this season was the call for the remeasuring of two prominent 148cm show ponies just before the Royal International (RIHS) in July. The 2018 RIHS show pony champion, Moluccas Bengal Beauty, measured out nine days before the Hickstead final. Small-Land Dream Maker’s absence was also noted. However, Dream Maker did measure in the following week and went on to stand supreme show pony at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) summer championships. This scenario conjures up more questions than answers. Were the objections made by an exhibitor, a judge, a society or a Joint Measurement Board (JMB) steward? It seems unlikely this information will be released, and so the objector will remain anonymous. I believe there must be a rule to allow objections to take…

Open.— 1, Team Ride Away II (C Alexander, J Stevenson, R Stanning, L Davies) 5.05.14; 2, Team Ride Away I (J Stevenson, C Alexander, L Davies, A Cartlidge) 5.08.51; 3, Wishful Thinkers (S Coady, M Mackley, M Linehan, L Brown) 5.11.66. intermediate (speed).— 1, Team Ride Away IV (R Stanning, S Clark, J Stevenson, E Walker) 5.36.13; 2, Hope Springs Eternal (S Coady, L Terblanche Brown, P Bradley, G Henderson) 5.36.31; 3, Fox Grant Thrusters (L Fowler, A Stone, P Nichols, B Allen) 5.42.44. intermediate (bogey).— 1, Ludlow Lunatics (K Hingley, G Hingley, A Moss, S Watts); 2, Wardos Penguins (T Cheffings, F Ransford, S Rundell, M Rundell); 3, Red Barn Romantics (D Longsdon, K Robinson, C Trehearne, J Fleming). novice (bogey).— 1, Please Go Slow (S Anderson, N Mason,…