Innholdsfortegnelse for 07-Nov-2019 i Horse & Hound

WITH 18-year-old horses contesting championships and 30-year-olds winning veteran classes, veteran horses are a growing bracket. I presume these horses are carrying on working for longer on account of better breeding, management and veterinary care. It is wonderful to see those like cover star Happy Times — Sam Griffiths’ Badminton and Burghley podium star — enjoying life at a slower pace under a new rider. Plenty more golden oldies have been in the same ownership for decades and due to owners’ diligent care are thriving, some not even yet retired. Given how much can go wrong with any horse, I’m all for celebrating those who are fit as fiddles in their 20s or even 30s — it is quite some achievement and gives hope to anyone with a wonderful equine…

MAGICAL The 2019 Champion Stakes winner has been retired to stud, where she will be covered by No Nay Never. The four-year-old was due to head to the Breeders’ Cup meeting, but was scratched owing to a temperature. HELLO SHELBY The 10-year-old gelding helped Scott Brash secure back-to-back victories in the 1.60m Equita Masters class at the Lyon CSI5* leg of the World Cup series. Scott took the 2018 win aboard Hello Mr President. BELVOIR BAY Gary Barber’s mare, who went missing for two days in the 2017 San Luis Rey fires, took the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint win on 2 November. This was the third consecutive win in the race for trainer Peter Miller.…

A “LANDMARK” report is calling for the government to act on fireworks, saying irresponsible use should be as socially unacceptable as drink-driving. The petitions committee undertook an inquiry after petitions for tighter restrictions on use and sales were signed more than 750,000 times, resulting in three Commons debates. “But the government’s responses, and ministers’ replies, left petitioners feeling frustrated and ignored,” a committee spokesman said. The committee did not support a ban on public sales, finding this could have negative effects on community groups and charities, as well as a black market. “But the inquiry found clear evidence action is needed to protect animals and some people from serious adverse effects,” the spokesman said. Key recommendations include laws to empower councils to tackle the issue and a review of firework…

KEN HORNER A HIGHLY regarded judge and Cleveland Bay breeder, Mr Horner died on 13 October aged 86. He was a greatly respected hunt supporter, following the Badsworth and Bramham Moor, before and after the packs’ 2002 merger. In his spare time he helped with fence repairs, terrier work and anything else that was needed. He was a joiner and known for his generosity, giving profits from his crafted sticks to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. He would also seat 100 guests to dinner on his birthday in aid of the service. Mr Horner was among a group of dedicated Cleveland Bay supporters who have worked to save the endangered breed. He also bred top showjumpers. Among those to pass through his Highmoor Stud was Channel Five, who won the Cock…

WASHING Pictured, Kendall Jenner (Who? Ed) with two grey horses, instantly outraging Pony Club DCs everywhere. Not only did they not look very enthusiastic, their legs were the same colour as Kendall’s yellowish goldish dress. Sponge, Kendall? BUYING Feel for the rider who “accidentally” bought a new rug (it happens) then chucked it in the back of the van when she gave her partner a lift — to save him the worry over money. Unfortunately, he decided to drive and the first thing that came on was the internal camera, which was covering the back of the van. Oops. SPORT Overheard, a chess fan describing it as “the only sport in which men and women compete on equal terms”. One thinks readers may have two slight issues with that, perhaps…

WEARING hi-vis undoubtedly helps horse riders to be seen out on the roads. However, what I think is desperately needed is the British Horse Society’s “slow down to a maximum of 15mph” speed advice imprinted onto riders’ tabards and coats. I have yet to meet any motorist who knows of this advisory speed limit when passing a horse. Are there any manufacturers out there who could help? P Colton-Taylor Carnon Downs, Cornwall The writer of letter of the week wins a bottle of Champagne Taittinger…

1 Keep them warm — older horses feel 2 the cold more. Pay attention to detail, even more so than with a younger horse as they don’t have the same reserves if something goes wrong. 3 Keep their skin, feet, back and teeth in good nick with regular visits from the farrier, dentist, physio and saddle-fitter. 4 Warm up and cool down 5 for longer. Incorporate a lot of suppling work into your daily routine. 6 Movement is key — provide as much 7 turn out as you can. Keep them fit and don’t give them long periods of time off if avoidable.…

THE late Simon Clarke, old Etonian, Blues officer and master of foxhounds for more than 30 years, was an unlikely radical. He could have made a success of any career, but chose to dedicate his considerable skills to the management and execution of foxhunting to the highest standards, on both a macro and micro scale. He was always supportive of the young and ready to impart advice. For three years in Dorset, Simon acted as my kindly “sage on the hill”, offering tea, cake and something stronger on the countless occasions I would make an impromptu call during my first mastership, nearly 20 years ago. On the eve of last week’s opening meet I carried out my annual ritual, as it was his, and re-read Lord Henry Bentinck’s Goodall’s Practice,…

ON.— 1, Fernhill G (S Berry) 28.3,0,0=28.3; 2, Bee My King (R Starey) 31.3,0,0=31.3; 3, Rock Harbour (G Leech) 32.8,0,0=32.8. nov sec D.— 1, Westwood Appeal (S Brown) 27.3,0,2.4=29.7; 2, Global Promise (H Payne) 30.5,0,3.2=33.7; 3, Ballyshan Bellissimo (N Hill) 34,0,1.2=35.2. sec E.— 1, Igel (P French) 26.3,0,1.6=27.9; 2, Tell Em Nothin (A Clark) 30.8,0,0=30.8; 3, Alvescot Dance Time (N Hill) 33,0,0.4=33.4. BE100open.— 1, Union Fortunus (D Amin) 29.5,0,0=29.5; 2, Royal March (P French) 30,0,0=30; 3, Noble Superman (E Barratt) 32.3,0,0=32.3. BE100 sec A.— 1, Honey IX (G Leech) 25.3,0,0=25.3; 2, Aristoteles S Z (I Watson) 24,0,2.8=26.8; 3, Lan Y Mor Leander (L Irby) 27.5,0,0=27.5. sec B.— 1, Candito (I Wibble) 20.5,4,0=24.5; 2, James Bond Van’T Akkerhof (G Leech) 24.8,0,0=24.8; 3, Dolores II (L Stokoe) 26.3,0,0=26.3.…

Prelim 19 silv (K Warren, S Dobell, J Evans).— 1, Amour Just Cruising (P Graepel) 70.21; 2, Tic-Tok (E Chamberlain) 69.79; 3, Hebog Amy (B Cutler) 67.64. brnz (J Evans, C Mirylees, S Wilson).— 1, Torygraig Black Jack (A Smith) 76.04; 2, Brickell Mr Pickwick (R Lock) 71.32; 3, Larch (L Proctor) 67.78. U21 (S Dobell, C Mirylees, K Warren).— 1, Foxcourt French Lady (R James) 67.01; 2, Twm Cernyw Lady (T Bendigeidfran) 66.74; 3, Spirit IX (J Fisher) 66.25. nov 23 silv (S Frost, C Mirylees, S Dobell).— 1, Winsome Girl (D John) 73.68; 2, Mystic Spirit (D Squires) 69.86; 3, Project Vilmar (C Ravenhill) 69.86. brnz (K Warren, S Dobell, S Wilson).— 1, Jara-H (G Lynch) 69.51; 2, Pastures Green (J Cook) 68.61; 3, Jake XIV (D Price)…

JULIETTE LINDSAY stepped up at Keysoe, Beds, to win her first two PSGs and an advanced medium with Joanna Thurman-Baker’s grand prix partner Highcliffe Apollo. “I’m leasing Apollo while I spend a year working with the Thurman-Bakers,” said Juliette, who teamed up with the Der Lenz 17-year-old a month ago. “He’s very sensitive and won’t put up with me being wonky. We went to Keysoe with no expectations and he was so well-behaved — he guided me through the tests.” Juliette, who is off to university next September to study veterinary medicine, also scored an advanced medium freestyle win with her Dutch-bred gelding Prince May The First. ‘He’s sensitive and won’t put up with me being wonky’JULLIETTE LINDSAY ON HIGHCLIFFE APOLLO “We bought Prince when I was 14, because he…

A LOCAL WIN FOR MADDOCKS ISLE OF WIGHT estate agent Gemma Maddocks took time out of work to win an inter I with El Paso Van Overis at the island’s Lake Farm. “We’ve had a quiet summer after our first grand prix earlier this year,” said Gemma, who uses her holidays to compete her 16.1hh Belgian warmblood. “He’s a straightforward horse and fun to ride but he can be quirky on the ground and in the warm-up. We just need to get a bit more confident in the pirouettes and chip away at things before we try another grand prix.” Gemma, who trains with Nicola Buchanan, added: “He’s quite used to taking the ferry to the mainland — he’s got his sea legs.” A TRUE ALL-ROUNDER VERSATILE 16hh Holsteiner/ thoroughbred…

30 Oct: Connolly’s Red Mills newcomers.— 1, Hallsmill Talent (C Whinnett); 2, Hammer (T Dovkants); 3, Tara (S Slater). Equitop GLME Foxhunter/grade C.— 1, Bianca Du Rouet (H Rees); 2, Bouhlarouz (L Jackson); 3, Vistogrand (C Nicol). 1.25m A4.— 1, Abrisco (J Halim); 2 & 3, Fygo Von D’Ouwegrint & Warriors Crème (B Walker). B&C.— 1, Givenchy II (A Bradstock); 2, Galant IV (J Crippen); 3, Hip Hop L (K Doyle). winter 1.35m.— 1, Zanbowa Z (Y Davis); 2, Bonito VI (R O’Sullivan); 3, Harlequin Dunraven (K Doyle). 31 Oct: Connolly’s Red Mills newcomers.— 1 & 3, Kimba Castello & Calcourt Ruby (E-J Slater); 2, Solsboro Ziva (L Beveridge). Equitop GLME Foxhunter/grade C.— 1, Bianca Du Rouet; 2, Catoo Van De Helle Z (T Greenwood); 3, Kimba Castello. 1.25m A4.—…

Ascot Racecourse, Berks VINNDICATION stood out as a contender for serious end-of-season honours on a day when high-class action from Ascot came so thick and fast, many armchair viewers probably felt they had also completed a three-mile chase. Trainer Kim Bailey (comment, p74) — who had wrapped up Cheltenham and Aintree’s holy trinity of National Hunt races by the mid-1990s and has reemerged from a tricky few years in the wilderness — is not a trainer to make wild pronouncements about his horses, but has suggested for several seasons now that this gelding could be special. With only four starts over fences under his belt and back from a breathing operation over the summer, the 2/1 favourite was slightly ponderous over the first few obstacles in the Sodexo Gold Cup,…

THE summer was a good one, even though I didn’t have many runners during the early part of the National Hunt season because I am not a huge fan of summer jump racing. However, my time has not been wasted as I have been at the sales, restocking and rebuilding for the season ahead — I now probably have the best bunch of horses since relocating to the delights of Gloucestershire. For all jump trainers, this is a time of dreams and looking forward to the winter ahead. It is a special time because not too many of our swans have been relegated to geese. Talking of dreams, Vinndication winning the Soxedo Gold Cup at Ascot on Saturday, 2 November, certainly proved that swans still float around our yard at…

WHO was it who said, “There is only one certainty in life and that is change”? We all know that nothing stays the same for long and yet when change comes, we feel the rug has been ripped from under our feet. The other morning, Laury, who helps us with the horses and, well, just about everything really (children, sheep, general sanity) knocked on the door and said, “I’ve got something to tell you.” The big news — drum roll — is that she is expecting a baby at the beginning of April. Not an outlandish thing for a 29-year-old woman in a long-term relationship to announce, but it came as a shock all the same. Laury is a key person in all our lives. When she started working here,…

ATTENTION, riders. It is possible to charge a phone with 200ml of horse poo. Furthermore, the manure produced daily by two horses can heat a home for a year. Before you leap for the muck heap, it’s not something you can do at home, but for the fifth year, Helsinki International was entirely powered by poo. More than 100 tonnes of manure from horses at the four-day event, which finished on 27 October, generated enough energy to power the show, the excess heating local homes. “The manure-to-energy system holds immense potential for countries with large horse populations,” said Anssi Paalanen, vice-president of Fortum HorsePower, which specialises in electricity generation, heat production and waste recycling.…

MILLIE, 26, was twice on the British Nations Cup team last year, winning silver at Millstreet and gold at Waregem. Millie was on the silver medal-winning team in 2013 at the young rider European Championships aboard Artistiek, with whom she made her Badminton debut this year. TRAINING THE STARS ARTISTIEK has been the spookiest horse I’ve ever ridden. When he was a five-year-old, I would never have thought he would make a top horse as he wouldn’t go near a filler. He spent more time shooting from side to side spooking at things on the sideline. However, at 14, he is now the bravest horse to any fence on the cross-country. It has taken a lot of time and patience, but it has been totally worth it. MILLIE DUMAS…

THE vision of a much-loved old horse seeing out their days in lush grass, comfort and good company is one most of us aspire to, but few of us manage. For one thing, as many know, a lot of effort goes into keeping that horse — and field — healthy. Ann Atkinson, whose beloved gelding Patrick is now 25, agrees, but it’s a commitment she is very happy to meet. “After seven years of fun with Patrick, he retired when he developed white line disease and a shopping list of ailments, including arthritis,” she explains. Patrick has now been retired at Ann’s Isle of Man home for six years, living with her other three horses and with access to “two super-deluxe field shelters”. “I pick his feet out religiously each…

Tetcott, Marhamchurch, Cornwall SWEEPING round the last bend into Marhamchurch just over the Devon/Cornwall border, late autumnal sun glinted off the sea, highlighting Bude’s coastal haven. But dark clouds were closing in. A black scree brought down the curtain on any theatre further out to sea. Exposed atop a Cornish bank, a lonely hawthorn, bent double from years of weathering southwesterly gales, started to quiver. It wouldn’t be long before we were lashed with the same force battering the Atlantic just three miles away. The timing was appalling. It was half-term and this was the Tetcott’s newcomers’ meet. Twenty children far outnumbered adults gathered with hounds in a field on the edge of the village. Junior dominance is de facto here. Raindrops turned to stair rods. Our backs were soaked…

‘He is the pride of my yard and the horse of my heart’ ARTIST Daniel Crane was tempted to choose the “awesome” Twenty Grand for this page, who carries him in his role as joint-master of the Scarteen in Ireland, but “a friend who lives at home” to follow the Brocklesby and Belvoir won the crown. The 16.3hh dapple grey shares the characteristics of Ron Weasley’s owl, Pigwidgeon, in the Harry Potter series: “An excitable creature with a lively disposition” — hence his name. He came to Daniel after a chance conversation with a client in Quorn country, who described him as “sharp to ride”. Daniel tried him and brought him home a day later — earning exclamations from friends who had known him: “Oh, it was you who bought…

31 Oct: med 75Q gold (A Bennie).— 1, Don Cara M (A Woodhead) 72.97; 2, Fiderstan (J Martell) 70.95; 3, Quasar TD (R Todd) 68.24. silv.— 1, Ekko Falkenfurst (G Zaremba) 70.95; 2, DHI Cuba (L Huzzey) 69.32; 3, Cubea N (I Keates-Robinson) 67.43. adv med 91Q gold (S Cooper).— 1, Don Cara M 71.41; 2, Fhilipo (A Woodhead) 69.36; 3, Escade (A Staines) 69.23. silv.— 1, Fiderstan 67.56; 2, Cubea N 65; 3, Profile (J Coltman) 63.33. PSG Q gold (S Cooper, J Peberdy, A Bennie).— 1, Freya FST (E Harris) 77.37; 2, Sir Charlie Chaplin (L Hewitt) 72.5; 3, Flow Motion (A Jesty) 74.61. silv.— 1, Walentino 77 (T Millward) 68.16; 2, Whispers (L Woodcock) 65.39; 3, Cadalma (L Hedger) 63.42. inter I Q (S Cooper, CJ Tupling,…

SCOTTISH NATIONAL EC 27 Oct: prelim 13Q gold (L Lucey).— 1, Hartcliff Barley Sugar (J Maxwell) 69.23. silv.— 1, Hawtins Florizel (A McLain) 73.27; 2, Jupiter’s Orbit (S Dow) 72.12; 3, Sparrow Ian (E Scott) 69.04. brnz.— 1, Salt N Pepper (L Denholm) 65.38; 2, Miss Newtown Poppy (J Johnston) 64.62. prelim 15Q gold (H Carstairs).— 1, Hartcliff Barley Sugar 69.2. silv.— 1, Spartan Star (E Bryson) 79.8; 2, Hawtins Florizel 74.4; 3, Sparrow Ian 72.6. brnz.— 1, Salt N Pepper 65.6; 2, Miss Newton Poppy 65.2; 3, Silver Dove (S Lamb) 61.6 nov 27 gold (L Love).— 1, Suarez (J Struthers) 75.71; 2, Dalriada (J Struthers) 74.64; 3, D Mockingbird (K Matheson) 73.32. silv.— 1, Little Render Cut N Shut (M Paterson) 68.04; 2, Creggan Red (A Oakes) 66.07;…

Addington Winter Classic, Bucks “I NEEDED that. I haven’t jumped a double clear for a while,” said Mark Edwards after he and Montreuxs Tale galloped into the top spot in the winter grand prix. The man from Wales has enjoyed a wonderful season that culminated in a place in the international classes at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), but he recently suffered a frustrating four-fault run. Mark competed at St Lô in France the previous weekend and said this grand prix was ideal for the big home-bred nine-year-old, who has the perfect attitude to his job. The more Mark asks, the harder he tries. “After jumping world ranking classes at three-star shows, it was a little bit of a sweetener for him,” said Mark, whose next international date will…

WHILE her top pony is having a holiday after a season that included coming close to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualification, Evie Tighe is producing some great results with her other rides. The 14-year-old was on top form at Bury Farm’s recent show and the following weekend at Duckhurst Farm finished first and second in the junior Foxhunter and members cup classes. Evie got the ride on the JA Eastside Mirah in September and they won their Blue Chip JC/JA ticket within a fortnight. Ballycarrow Mirahs Sparrow, by Eastside Mirah’s sire Westside Mirah, joined her at the start of October with only five points, and at only their second show together they qualified for the Blue Chip novice and discovery finals. The Dutch-bred Orchids Mila, on whom Evie…

DRESSAGE riders look set to continue competing for three sets of championship medals after an FEI U-turn as a result of fierce opposition to a suggestion to chop a set of individual medals from 2020 onwards. The FEI’s dressage committee proposed abolishing the medals for the grand prix special. This would bring dressage in line with showjumping and eventing. In the first draft of 2020 rule changes, made public in July, the FEI dressage committee proposed that the team medals remain unchanged, while the special would serve as a qualifier for the freestyle, where the individual medals would be decided. Currently, there are separate medals for the special and the freestyle. The proposals would not affect next year’s Olympics, which has its own set of rules and one set of…

CALLING FOR BEST BRITISH MARES DO you know a mare who has made a valuable contribution to British breeding? The nominations for the 2019 Horse & Hound Outstanding Mare Award will open on Monday, 11 November, and close on Monday, 2 December. This annual award, which celebrates and recognises the mares behind our top competition horses, will be presented at the British Breeders Awards Dinner on 11 January 2020. Whether your mare has bred a successful dynasty or progeny who have gone on to succeed in sport, we want to hear about her. Mares do not need to be alive to be nominated, and past nominees may be resubmitted. • Visit britishhorse foundation.org.uk NEWCOMERS TO HUNTING WELCOME NEWCOMERS to hunting have been welcomed by packs across the country as part of…

Dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin won the grand prix at the Lyon World Cup leg on Mount St John Freestyle, then finished second in the qualifier, to take maximum points. Report, p58. Former jockey Joseph O’Brien, 26, became the youngest trainer to win a Breeders’ Cup race, with Iridessa on 3 November. Joseph was also the youngest rider to achieve this in 2011. Five-star French event rider Thibault Fournier has taken his first steps in hospital since his cross-country fall at Pompadour (12-13 October) where he sustained a serious head injury. Trainer Mark Johnston has broken the record for the highest number of UK Flat racing winners trained in a calendar year. Mark recorded his 236th winner, overtaking the 235 set in 2013. Jump jockey Wayne Hutchinson, 38, announced his retirement…

ADVERTISE The triple Group One winner has joined the National Stud’s roster for the 2020 breeding season. Martyn Meade trained him to success at Curragh in 2018 and as a three-year-old at Ascot and Deauville this year. BUD The police horse has retired to the Horse Trust after more than 14 years on the beat. The 20-year-old part-bred Shire, who was punched on the nose by a football fan in 2013, served with West Yorkshire and the Met. LLANARTH FAIR LADY Geraint and Jess Hughes’ star (Penlangrug Deio x Thorneyside Flyer) topped Brightwells’ 56th autumn cob sales, where she sold for £25,500. The six-year-old’s record includes top results at the Royal Welsh and HOYS.…

COVFEFE Remember that tweet by Donald Trump in which he talked about “covfefe” and no one knew what he meant? A horse named Covfefe, who apparently pokes fun at Trump on social media, has just won a $1m race. Anyone fancy calling a horse Mexican Wall? STATING FACTS Overheard at the yard, as a rider decked out in high-vis prepared to leave for a hack. “Blimey, I can see you a mile off,” a fellow rider sniffed disdainfully. Um, yep. That’s the point, really… MEMORY The parents of an eight-year-old rider due to perform her first dressage test off the lead-rein were proud of her score — and her attitude. “What’s the most important thing to remember?” asked Mum, thinking she’d say “smile”. “Ride your bloody corners!” she replied. Well…

SOMEWHERE in Cathal Daniels’ Kildare home are eight eventing championship medals. Collected over eight years, they comprise pony team and individual gold, two junior team golds and one individual silver, young rider team bronze, senior team silver and this year’s addition, senior individual bronze. All, with the exception of those two pony medals, were won with the same horse, the 15.2hh chestnut mare Rioghan Rua. “Championships have been good for me,” admits the slight 23-year-old, somewhat understating the case. Can he even begin to imagine what it would be like to go home from a championship empty-handed? “I was fourth in Millstreet [at the 2017 young rider Europeans] and I didn’t like it!” he says with a grin. Luckily, he was a member of the Irish squad that won team…

OLD age comes to us all, but life need not be a bore in our twilight years. Many veteran horse-and-rider combinations are still fighting fit and holding their own competitively, proving there’s still plenty to look forward to in later life. “I can’t imagine not riding,” muses Mouse Berry, 60, who has had the pleasure of riding Sam Griffiths’ former Olympic eventer and Badminton and Burghley podium finisher Happy Times since he was retired last year. The same could be said for the 20-year-old Oldenburg gelding. “He would deteriorate significantly out in the field because he would lose his muscle tone,” says Mouse, who keeps Happy at her house, two miles from Sam’s yard, where she worked for many years as groom and nanny. “He’s still up for doing lots…

GIO, a 16.2hh German warmblood, is by no means retired, but at the age of 21 he no longer contests BE90 and BE100 events as he did for 15 years with his owner Lucy Hadden Wight. “He’s got older as I’m getting older too,” says Lucy. “I broke some ribs and lost my confidence a couple of years ago, and neither of us are fit enough to event any more. Instead, we do the odd fun ride, beach ride, lower level dressage and showjumping on surfaces. And I’m a big fan of eventers’ challenges.” Gio has always had good legs and does very little roadwork since he’s stabled across the road from Windsor Great Park. “He’s no longer insured for illness, but is covered for flesh wounds and so on,…

The hunt: in 1872 George Brendon bought the freehold of Bude’s Falcon Hotel. On taking a shine to a hotel guest, such as the noted author Sabine Baring-Gould, George invited them out for a day’s hunting. Years later Baring-Gould wrote in his autobiography, “You have to go right to the West of England to meet that kind of hospitality.” Masters: Tom Phillips (huntsman); Di Stevens; Andrew Youldon Hon secretaries: Teresa Dennis, 07940 858525; Steph Rakhshani Hunt stalwart: “Rare as hens’ teeth and worth his weight in gold. Ken Baker takes cap, cooks hunt breakfasts and is chief cook in the hunt’s bespoke catering trailer. His is the first number on speed dial when hounds are running and Tom needs help,” said Di Stevens. Hound of note: Magic 18 (Spooners and…

Aston-le-Walls (X), Northants SAMANTHA BROWN rounded off a phenomenal season with six-year-old Westwood Appeal when topping novice section D. In all 11 of the gelding’s affiliated eventing starts over the past two seasons, he has never finished outside the top four. “He’s super-duper,” said Samantha, who runs a yard near Ross-on-Wye. “It was wet and muddy and I wondered why I was there when we arrived in the dark.” Samantha and “Markus” added 2.4 cross-country time-faults to a 27.3 dressage. “It was only his second novice and he struggled in the wet on his previous run at Calmsden,” explained Samantha, 29. “Here he did his best-ever dressage test followed by a very slick showjumping round, despite the fact he is still a little green. I started steadily across country to…

Vale View High Profile , Leics GARETH HUGHES and KK Woodstock sailed to grand prix victory in the “best test the horse has done” with a plus-6% margin. The 13-year-old, now in his second season at this level, has been lightly competed in 2019 due to a couple of unlucky incidents combined with Gareth’s focus on the Europeans. He picked up a minor injury at the start of the season, then grazed himself in the lorry meaning that Gareth had to withdraw from Keysoe and Le Mans CDIs last month. But Martin and Claudine Kroll’s talented gelding has continually impressed the judges on his handful of outings this year, and Friday’s test lit up the arena on a damp October night, which was rewarded with a winning score of 74.37%.…

I WAS recently invited to give an all-levels masterclass in Perth, Western Australia, which happens to be the home of German dressage legend Harry Boldt. It was a delight to catch up with him, now nearly 90, but looking like a spring chicken. Back in the late 80s I trained with Harry while I was at the Bechtolsheimers’. The phrase I really took away from that time is “half-halt”. In a world where “half-halt” is bandied around a lot but not always with meaning, it reminded me that explanation is what is so important in a lesson, not orders. So many people misunderstand the term’s usage, definition, and what a half-halt really means. My favourite way of explaining it is as a circle of “whoa, release, go”, and a rider…

A LAST-MINUTE decision to enter the only remaining semi-final and an 11-hour round trip from Manchester paid dividends for Hiawatha La Perle and Sarah Clarke, when they exceeded 70% to win the elementary silver. “I was a bit tired when we arrived, but I put my competition playlist on which includes Bonnie Tyler and Queen and the adrenalin kicked in,” said Sarah, 30, who is helped by Stephen Clarke, Isobel Wessels and Val Smyth. The seven-year-old Negro-sired Hiawatha La Perle, whom Sarah has owned for three years, was diagnosed with degenerative bone disease earlier this year when he was found to have arthritis in five of his joints. “I’m very tuned in to how he’s feeling — when he didn’t want to be caught, I knew something must be wrong,”…

CROFTON MANOR EC 23 Oct: prelim 15Q gold (Y Huber).— 1, Cillusion (V Leadbeater) 67.4. silv.— 1, Janton Barcardi (P Kett) 66.4; 2, Blackdymond Onyx (L Starks) 64.8. brnz.— 1, Lachain Crux (A Denham-Harding) 65.8; 2, Mylor II (G Marsden) 65.4; 3, Quarry Field Kaydee (S Hanson) 63.4. nov 22 gold (J West).— 1, Hazelhope Jackpot (D Hallam) 65.86; 2, Clooney Boy (L Wickes) 65.34. silv.— 1, Conigrees Dumpling (J Wheeldon) 65; 2, Lachain Crux (K Carss) 64.31. brnz.— 1, Blackdymond Onyx 65.86; 2, Mylor II 63.96; 3, BC Ibn Hejaz (S Smalley) 58.1. nov 39Q gold (Y Huber).— 1, Hazelhope Jackpot 70.96. silv.— 1, Glen Morange (Y Blachford) 65.38; 2, Lachain Crux 64.61; 3, Clooney Boy (H Mullenger) 65.23. brnz.— 1, Tawnmore Well Able (J Clothier) 65.96; 2, Carrowbaun…

Bury Farm, Bucks REFORMED character Remi II scored 81.93% to take the novice 38 qualifier. “His trajectory has gone up and up,” said Louise Robson, who trains para athlete Amanda Shirtcliffe and competes their co-owned ride “Kevin” in able-bodied dressage. “He was quite piggy and arrogant when he came to me two years ago to be sold, and he put a few of us on the floor. Now he understands his job, he wants to be part of the team. “Some of his issues were maybe because of his conformation, as he’s big and long, but he went to Doha CPEDI this summer and came back a dressage horse,” she added of the current national novice silver champion. “Kevin is lording it at the moment,” laughed Amanda, an elementary 43…

A REUNITED pair made a winning comeback at Yorkshire Dressage, South Yorks, heading the novice 28 with 77.5%. Lindsay Hancock no longer knew the whereabouts of Meacham Metz, a warmblood she once competed, until the mare’s new owners contacted for schooling help earlier this year. “I’ve literally picked up with her where I left off,” said Linsday, who now owns the 16-year-old chestnut and is planning more dressage and veteran show classes. “I absolutely adore her — she’s so easy to deal with.”…

RIDERS from many nations gave Addington an international feel, and Robert Whitaker, James Wilson and Laura Kraut competed here straight after top World Cup results. Northern Ireland-based Egyptian star Sameh El Dahan also brought a string of horses. “I have lots of nice novices at the moment and it’s tough to get them out when you spend most of your time at big international shows. We’re stabled near Oxford for a few weeks and will give them experience at some nice English shows,” explained the rider, who was integral to his country’s recent Tokyo Olympics qualification.…

A RIDER who has returned after five months out of the saddle due to serious injury galloped to victory in the Voltaire novice qualifier at Crofton Manor. In December 2018, Hannah Vickery broke her pelvis in five places after a horse fell over backwards on her. “It’s been a tough year because at one point I wasn’t even sure if I’d walk again,” said Hannah, who works at her mother’s yard near Reading. Her ride in the qualifier was Freya O’Donohoe’s Irish-bred Burnlea Sea Dancer (pictured), a six-year-old Ard VDL Douglas mare who also events. “She really is an eventer and has only showjumped a handful of times. I think she’d make a pure showjumper, but I don’t think she’ll be allowed to stop eventing! We’ll see if we can…

Open.— 1, Fox Grant Dot Com (Y Goss, A Stone, P Nichols, W Grant); 2, Team Ride Away II (P Thomason, J Stevenson, C Alexander, L Davies); 3, Team Ride Away I (J Stevenson, C Alexander, L Davies, R Stanning). int (speed).— 1, Team Ride Away IV (J Stevenson, R Stanning, S Clark, E Walker); 2, Fox Grant Thrusters I (L Fowler, A Stone, P Lovett, B Allen); 3, More Boring Gorings (G Weare, F French, G Fisher, C Holiday). nov (speed).— 1, Oddballs (G Parish, K Long, R Grissell, L Ryan); 2, Not Fast But Furious (L Paske, G Consterdine, A Watt, A Cawburn); 3, Winston Warriors (J James, L Steele, M Girling, C Long). nov (bogey time).— 1, Suffolk Mix N Match (A&C Hogan, F Housden, F Jackson);…