Innholdsfortegnelse for 22-Sep-2016 i Horse & Hound

YEARS of “blood, sweat and tears that most people don’t see” paid off for Britain as our equestrian Paralympians remained on top of the world in Rio. Between them, the ParalympicsGB dressage riders amassed 11 medals at the Games; six individual golds and four silvers, plus team gold. The Brits have triumphed at every Paralympic Games since dressage was introduced in 1996, and are unbeaten in European and World Championships. “I’m absolutely thrilled,” said chef d’equipe Sarah Armstrong. “I couldn’t have wished for a better result and the guys have been great.” The team, of Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham (grade Ia), Natasha Baker (grade II) and Sophie Wells (grade IV), achieved a combined score of 453.306 to finish 20 points ahead of silver medallists Germany, on 433.321. The Netherlands…

AOIFE CLARK The Irish eventer fractured her neck in a fall but went on to complete Blenheim (7-11 September). She thought the pain she suffered from the fall at Millstreet (25-28 August) was due to a trapped nerve until doctors said otherwise. PAUL TAPNER The 2010 Badminton winner will retire as a professional rider at the end of this season, to work as digital and technical manager for the Event Rider Masters series. He will have “about four” horses, and be an amateur at “elite” level (report, p66). ROLY OWERS World Horse Welfare’s chief executive has been presented with 2016 British Equine Veterinary Association award in recognition of his “outstanding commitment” to equine welfare. “I am over the moon to receive this award,” said Roly. CLAIRE LOMAS The former eventer,…

CLARE ANDREWS is recovering from breaking her back in August while hacking, having received care from East Anglian Air Ambulance. “To know the helicopter is available is invaluable,” she told H&H . “We are on the Fens and the ground gets very heavy. Most of our riding is on tracks. “At another time of year, the land ambulance would not have been able to pick me up.” H&H blogger Suzanna Hext (pictured) became a volunteer for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, which came to her aid when she sustained a life-changing accident while backing a young horse in 2012. “Competition venues and yards can be fairly remote, which is why riders need to get behind the service — it’s life-saving,” Suzanna told H&H . “They were incredible, so quick; it just all…

A call for owners to think about what would happen to their horses in the event of their death has been made by an equine welfare charity, writes Lucy Elder. World Horse Welfare has been asking owners to think about what would happen should they outlive their horses as part of the national initiative — legacy awareness week (12-18 September). If horses are not specifically mentioned in a will, they will be passed on to the next of kin and can even be used to pay existing debts. Hanna Campbell, a director at HorseSolicitor, explained to H&H how the law relates to equines upon their owner’s death. “A horse is treated as any other chattel and as such provisions can be made within a will specifying exactly what should happen…

A MUDDY HORSE A grey horse found himself stuck in a boggy ditch in France. He was unable to escape despite numerous attempts to climb out until a group of cyclists pulled him to safety. A PUZZLED POLICE HORSE A Queensland Police horse named Cecil took a shine to a plastic model equine. A video shows Cecil nuzzling the model, which was modelling equipment outside a Brisbane tack shop. KALEY CUOCO The Big Bang Theory actress has had to use a secret name when she competes her horse so as not to attract attention. The keen showjumper uses an alias to avoid paparazzi coming to shows. A WASTED JOURNEY Jockey Dougie Costello endured a 10-hour round trip to Yarmouth for no reason, after his single race, the final one of…

FUN DAY The Exeter Group of Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary at Powderham Castle on 25 September. There will be RDA displays, pony rides and a dog show. www.powderham.co.uk EVENTING Watch CIC* and CIC2* eventing at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, Sussex, on 24-25 September. seesltd.com TEAM CHASING Go to the Meynell & South Staffordshire Hunt team chase at Upper Booth Hay Farm in Alkmonton, Derbys, on 25 September. www.teamchasing.co.uk CONFERENCE The British Horse Society’s Yorkshire Bridleway Day takes place on 24 September at Bridge Inn, Walshford. www.bhs.org.uk RACING The Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile racecourse will be held on 22-24 September. newmarket.thejockeyclub.co.uk HUNTER TRIALS Enter Frampton Family Riding Club’s hunter trials at Frampton Court Estate, Glos, on 25 September. www.equoevents.co.uk…

I read your editorial regarding the lack of British riders in the placings at Burghley (comment, 8 September) with interest. About three years ago H&H published a letter in which I suggested riders should only be able to ride one horse at major events, as to do otherwise provides a practice round in playing conditions and means top horses tend to be concentrated in few hands. The Olympics run with a single horse and riders must produce a perfect round under pressure. The editorial response was that it was essential for our team’s success that riders hone their skills by repeatedly riding round the most difficult courses. Since then, in his comment (24 September 2015), Mark Todd also highlighted the lack of young British riders achieving at the top level.…

My earliest equestrian memory… It was probably when I watched a movie called Sylvester (above). I saw it when I was 18 and it was the first time I’d really thought about eventing. There was a grey horse called Sylvester in it, who is transformed from rodeo horse to eventing at Kentucky. I wouldn’t say it inspired me but it definitely got me thinking about horses. I was a bricklayer until then. My dad also bought a trail-riding horse around that time, so I used to go out with him. My next-door neighbours had horses too, and so one thing led to another. I joined Kevin McNab as a working pupil and within two years I was competing. When I go on holiday… I choose a beach over a city…

THE BUZZ ABOUT FLIES FLIES, midges and other biting insects are not only irritating to horses but they can cause real problems, too. Bites can cause hypersensitivity, leading to sweet itch, while flies can also spread disease. No wonder we go to such lengths to keep horses fly-free. All warm-blooded creatures give off chemical signals that attract flies and tell them that there is blood available to be sucked. It turns out, however, that some mammals also secrete natural repellent chemicals onto their skin that keep flies away. These compounds confuse insects by masking the chemical “smell” that radiates from the mammals’ warm skin into the air. One of the best groups of these natural fly repellents is produced by badgers, wolverines and racoons in their cheek glands. It may…

Mind games • Sports psychologist Niamh Fitzpatrick helped me to approach every competition in the same way, whether it is a novice one-day event or the Olympics. That means not getting involved in any hype and regarding every contest as merely a process. It totally quells the nerves and meant that in Rio I very nearly wasn’t nervous at all. Brain power • I believe the key to all success lies in the horse’s brain. You can overcome any number of physical difficulties if the mental attitude is right. • Using my experience, if I felt a horse was struggling mentally, I wouldn’t be afraid to suggest a career change. Perfect poles • I introduce poles as soon as the horse is not going to buck me off, starting with…

• FLAT RACING: Regret and Genuine Risk, Kentucky Derby, 1915 and 1980. Fifinella, Epsom Derby, 1916. • NATIONAL HUNT: Annie Power, Champion Hurdle, 2016. Ballinode and Glencaraig Lady, Gold Cup, 1925 and 1972. • EVENTING: Headley Britannia, Burghley 2006, Badminton 2007 and Kentucky 2009. Feine Dame, Olympic individual silver, 1992. • SHOWJUMPING: Mill Pearl, Olympic team silver, 1988. Sapphire, double Olympic team gold (2004 and 2008), WEG team silver 2006. Flora De Mariposa, Olympic team gold, 2016, WEG team silver, 2014. • DRESSAGE: DV Stenkjers Nadonna, world team silver 2014. Wanseula Suerte, team gold Olympics 2004, WEG 2006 and Europeans 2005. Brentina, WEG team silver 2002, team bronze Olympics 2004 and WEG team bronze 2006.…

OUR riders achieved so much out in Rio and I was delighted for all of them. Maintaining their unbeaten run under such pressure was fantastic. I was especially pleased for Sophie Wells. She’s been waiting for that individual gold for four years and she’s one of the most hardworking, dedicated people I’ve ever met, not just with her horses but in life. The selectors had an extremely difficult job in deciding who should be on the team. They look at past performance and have to estimate what will happen. Many people have said that Lee Pearson should have been on the team. Granted, the scores Lee produced would not have been our discard score had he been, but the selectors aren’t psychic — they have to go on the information…

THE national anthem of Great Britain rang out so many times across the equestrian stadium on freestyle day that it could have been a Paralympic theme tune. It was a day when the medals and the tears just kept coming. Britain upped their medal count to 11, with three further golds, and two silvers, making this the most successful Paralympic Games to date. Both Sophie Christiansen and Natasha Baker came to Rio well aware of the challenge it would be to repeat their phenomenal London success. But it seemed neither golden girl could put a foot wrong as both successfully defended their freestyle titles. By this point, Natasha had simply run out of tears. “I was already feeling emotional beforehand as this was our last championship test together,” she said,…

DOES anything ever happen when we columnists raise issues? Reading our musings might be enjoyable to some, to others a load of codswallop but believe me coming up with fresh ideas is not always easy! There’s always something to say, but my suggestion that our pony, junior, young riders and under-25s be offered wildcards to compete at the nationals having given their time to teams instead of qualifiers has fallen on deaf ears. Surely these riders who are (or whose parents are) investing in our future deserve this — and free entries. With funding due to be cut and parents forking out more, wouldn’t this be a nice gesture from British Dressage (BD)? Not just test riding BEING still inundated with requests to give demos, from a half-hour slot at…

1 diamond: medium winner Ashley Jenkins’ granny clapped so enthusiastically for him that the diamond fell out of her ring. After much searching, it could not be found. The next day a guest crossed his legs and the diamond was seen sparking brightly, wedged in the sole of his shoe! 20 boxes of coffee were consumed on the BD stand, raising £183.79 for Macmillan Cancer Research 3 the number of offspring from Hawtins Stud’s phenomenal mare World’s Finest who were entered here. She also had four grand-children competing at the show 396 tests ridden over the four days of competition 2 horses by Bernstein competed in the grand prix — Keith Robertson’s Boheme Af Sulsted and Pummy Hutton and Stephen Day’s Belmondo III, ridden by Pippa Hutton 6 the…

NORMALLY for Izzy Taylor the third weekend in September signals a trip over the Irish Sea for the international at Ballindenisk. This year, however, with not quite enough horse power to make the trip commercially viable, Izzy was left, as she put it, “engaging brain and finding somewhere else to go”. That turned out to be Allerton and she made her first visit to the rolling parkland count with victory in the advanced on new ride Trevidden, by Fleetwater Opposition out of the intermediate mare Assinie. The horse is owned by Dr Patricia Turner and Izzy has had the ride for less than a fortnight, taking over from the currently sidelined Simon Grieve. In that time the new combination has racked up two wins and is now bound for Waregem.…

Wiz Warde-Aldam THE 18-year-old made a last-minute decision to enter a BE100 section on home turf at the Ideal Financial Management-sponsored Frickley Park (2), and was rewarded with a win aboard her showjumper, Lux II. “My aim was just to stay in the dressage arena,” laughed Wiz, whose parents, Charlie and Jayne, run this popular Yorkshire fixture. “I showjump Lux up to newcomers level, but thought it would be a bit of fun to give him a spin around here. I never imagined I’d win.”…

WORLD RANKINGS Michael Jung (GER) BRITISH EVENTING LISTS Leading rider Oliver Townend Leading horse Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell’s Leonidas II, ridden by Mark Todd Goldman Cup (under-21) Sam Ecroyd Fairfax Britannia League Sam Ecroyd’s Wodan III, ridden by the owner Calver Wealth Management Two-Star League Barbara and Nicholas Walkinshaw’s Billy Walk On, ridden by Pippa Funnell Gatehouse One-Star League Holly Needham’s Strike A Pose, ridden by the owner Foundation points rider Vicky Tuffs Foundation points horse Vicky Tuffs’ Goldwin, ridden by the owner Mitsubishi Motors Cup foundation points rider Stephen Rankin Mitsubishi Motors Cup foundation points horse Zoe Warren’s Foxs Castle, ridden by Kathy Staples…

ROB BEVIS’ super-consistent Courtney Z maintained his track record at Newbury as he headed the International Stairway for the second consecutive year. There was quality and quantity in the field, with 31 combinations turning out for the season’s final county outing, all bidding to collect the first Stairway league points of 2017. They were met with a suitable test from course-builder Paul Thompson, who worked the undulating ring well to produce three first-round clears, with the majority of faulters tallying just the one or two poles. Bucks County area trial winners Holly Smith and Lammy Beach produced the first clean sheet before being joined by Tracy Priest with her star nine-year-old Caristo VDL. Rob and his 15-year-old grey executed the third and fastest of the first-round clears to earn the…

The best show yet DESPITE its infancy, this show is already one of the circuit’s major success stories – but it probably would not have got off the ground had Addington proprietor Tim Price not stuck his neck out. The concept was born in 2014, after BSHA took over the running of HOYS hunter qualifiers from Sport Horse Breeding(GB). “I was in a meeting with Nigel Hollings and Charles Wilkerson [of BSHA], and we were discussing running a ‘hunter day’ prior to the BSHA national championships,” said Tim. “I was convinced it would work but they were worried about the financial risk, so I said I’d stand any loss that first show made. But it was an immediate success. The popularity of the society has been a major factor too…

‘My vet said he wouldn’t survive’ KELLY DRIVER’S novice traditional winner, Billy Wilson (pictured), qualified for the RIHS last year as a four-year-old but was lucky to survive, let alone make it into the show ring. “I bought him with a bunch of colts at weaning and he had pneumonia,” said Kelly. “My vet said he wouldn’t survive, but I took him home and kept him in our garage to nurse him. “He’s always been a bit ‘backward’ because of that bad start and was really naughty to break. “I work on my own and although he was fine once I was on him, it took six months for him to accept me getting on. He’s all right at home now, but at shows I give him a mint before…

DOES a horse or pony you own, or one you know deserve to be featured as an “H&H Hunt Hero”? If so, we want to know about it! We are looking for nominations of true hunters from across the country that have something special that sets them apart from other horses on the hunting field. Sadly not all horses put forward will be featured throughout the hunting season, however those that are will be given their own double-page spread for our readers to learn more about their history and their character. Please email huntinglife@timeinc.com with details of why your suggestion deserves to be featured, along with a suitable picture (of reproduction quality that could be in the magazine to accompany the report).…

‘He could be like a naughty schoolboy, but this year he’s been amazing’Paul Atkinson on his supreme winner Black Boy PAUL ATKINSON’S Black Boy monopolised this championship, taking both the private drive title and the show supreme. While the supreme featured a drive-off for second, Paul and the eight-year-old Dutch warmblood stood clear victors scoring two 10s and a nine from the panel of judges. “It was a hard-won championship with a nail-biting finish,” said Paul, who defeated challenges from this year’s British Driving Society Annual champions Joe Rowe and Brookeborough Stepping Star, as well as eventual reserves Michael Howell and his flashy Welsh stallion Gwenllan Gwilym. It was a first major win for Black Boy, who is in his second season in harness after being imported from Europe. “We…

DO you, like me, reach for a rug to put on your horse as soon as temperatures start to drop? Apparently a large proportion of owners are guilty of over-rugging their charges and the scientific reasons for this make interesting reading (p4). I was surprised to learn that nearly half of the equine population are not protected against deadly tetanus (p76), which is a worrying thought. So is the risk of an internal blockage (p78) for those with a penchant for chewing stable doors and lead ropes — my horses are all guilty of this! One reader endured a grisly sight when she saw her horse break his jaw while in the field (p18), and a study’s findings on how Cushing’s disease affects an equine’s blood count is fascinating (p56).…

ONE rider was eliminated during the Paralympics under the FEI’s blood rule. South Africa’s Philippa Johnson-Dwyer’s mount Lord Louis was found to have blood on his flank at the post-test check on the final day of competition in Rio (16 September). An FEI spokesman said it appeared as though the mark had been caused by Philippa’s spur. “There’s no way of knowing whether it was a welfare issue or a mistake — the ruling has to be black and white,” she added. Philippa said: “This was really disappointing but such is the nature of top sport — some days everything goes right, on others it all seems to unravel. It is having the courage to stand back up, dust yourself off and keep going that counts.” Philippa, who was competing…

AUTHORITIES from across the industry are working together in an attempt to combat the issue of riders who are too heavy for their mounts, writes Eleanor Jones . The British Equestrian Federation (BEF), World Horse Welfare (WHW) and member bodies are among those hoping to mitigate what is becoming “an increasing concern”. The Animal Health Trust’s Sue Dyson has proposed research into the ideal weight ratio, which will be carried out if enough funding is put forward. BEF head of equine development Jan Rogers told H&H the BEF had been contacted by a number of bodies, representatives of which have attended meetings on the issue in the past year. “It’s good everyone’s come together as this is an issue across the board,” she said. “We don’t want to be punitive.…

Ferry staff were “horrified” to find five dead horses in a lorry on board, on arrival in France from the UK. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ dead-horses-ferry The owners of popular British Eventing venue and show centre Littleton Manor say they have put it on the market with “heavy hearts”. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ littleton-manor Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro are to “dance under the New York skyline”, in a freestyle dressage demonstration in the Big Apple. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ valegro-big-apple Great-grandmother “Granny Annie” (pictured) said her “dreams came true” when she entered her first horse show, and won her first rosette, at the age of 81. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ granny-annie Cheltenham racecourse has taken steps towards evicting travellers who set up camp weeks before the start of the jump season. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ travellers-cheltenham A teenager who sustained a fractured pelvis and broken hips in a fall credited…

THERE’S a week left for you to vote for the Horse & Hound Awards winners. The shortlists were announced last week ( H&H , 15 September) and voting is open until 29 September. H&H content director Sarah Jenkins said: “Please read these exceptional, emotional and often humorous stories and vote today.” The winners will be announced at Ascot racecourse on 3 November. Unfortunately the wrong link to the voting terms and conditions was published in last week’s magazine. The correct link is: www.horseandhound.co.uk/awards-voting-terms • To vote, visit: www.horseandhound.co.uk/awards…

KEY areas to focus on in future equine regenerative treatment include methods to reduce costs and increase cell retention, according to an expert. The treatments, which include stem cell therapy and “growth factor” methods such as platelet-rich plasma, were discussed at the British Equine Veterinary Association’s annual congress (7-10 September). Roger Smith, of the Royal Veterinary College, spoke about the limitations of current regenerative medicine for equines, in particular for tendon injuries and joint disease, and potential areas for future research and development. He said characterisation, which includes defining products’ properties and effects, is “woefully inadequate”, but that it is important for patients’ safety, “and our confidence in using it, especially if we use cells from another animal”. Other limitations include the specialist methods needed to transport cells, delivery methods…

FANS have been frustrated by the lack of television coverage of equestrian sports at the Paralympics, writes Rachael Turner . H&H has received countless complaints from readers who were keen to watch the action in Rio, but were unable to do so. Channel 4 has been sharing some video content on its All 4 microsite, as well as footage on Channel 4 and More4, but very few complete dressage tests have aired. “There has been no opportunity to see our great Paralympic riders in action,” said Northumberland-based Diane Holmes. “The team are posting great results but I only know thanks to Facebook.” Lindsay Smith of Monmouth agreed. “Channel 4 only started talking about the dressage once medals had been dished out, and it’s just talking heads,” she said. A Channel…

WHEN miniature Shetland Dandelion bit off more than she could chew, her owners noticed a heavy discharge from her left nostril. “We couldn’t see a direct cause, so we monitored her for a few hours before calling the vet,” says Malcolm Collett, who bought the 12hh mare 10 years ago for his daughter Amy. “They diagnosed choke and put a tube down her, but the blockage wouldn’t clear. After another failed attempt the next day, we had to take her to St David’s Equine Practice in Exeter. “We were very worried about Dandy, as she’d stopped drinking and nothing was moving through her system,” Malcolm continues. “The vets used a camera and found bits of carrot and matted hay blocking the top part of her oesophagus. They spent a good…

THAT was the question uttered all around the Olympic Equestrian Centre as Britain’s team medal was confirmed, with Germany and the Netherlands trailing 20 marks in arrears. “We’re the best-prepared, best-trained squad in world,” said Anne Dunham simply. “We have a strong Riding for the Disabled [RDA] tradition, funding from UK Sport and the National Lottery and very generous owners who give us fabulous horses to compete.” When it comes to pulling it out of the bag when it matters, chef d’equipe Sarah Armstrong puts it down to the details. “Since London, everybody has upped their game and other nations have been delivering sterling performances. So we keep looking for the tiny things that can make even a tiny difference,” she said. “We’ve tried to wrap a bespoke package around…

THE most decorated Paralympic dressage rider proved he is still at the top of the game, with individual gold and silver to add to his haul. His career total now stands at 14 medals, among them 11 golds, and he is the fifth most successful British Paralympian of all time. SYDNEY 2000 Team gold, double individual gold, on Chip Chase Mekne ATHENS 2004 Team gold, double individual gold, on Blue Circle Boy BEIJING 2008 Team gold, individual gold, on Gentleman LONDON 2012 Team gold, individual silver, freestyle bronze, on Gentleman RIO 2016 Individual silver, freestyle gold, on Zion…

‘I climbed the wall to wash her face and she bolted with the groom’ THIS might be the last time Michael Eilberg and Woodlander Dornroschen (Rosie; pictured right) are seen in competition. Having been competing since 2007 when the pair started at novice, they have grown together as Michael made his chrysalis-like mutation from showjumper to dressage rider. The Dimaggio x Caprimond mare, owned by Michael’s parents Ferdi and Geri in partnership with Lynne Crowden, will shortly return to the Woodlander proprietor to focus on breeding - although an exact date is yet to be set. Michael has a real soft spot for the leggy Dimaggio mare, whom he describes as “an amazing character and not plain in any sense”. “She felt great in the freestyle,” said Michael of their…

In 2015, the final restricted championship rugs were dished out. This year ushered in the era of silver and gold here. BD had touted the new silver section as being equivalent to the old restricted, but the reality was that this year it was dominated by professional riders - albeit competing completely within the rules - who would mostly have been open under the old rules. Every score out of the comparable 15 was higher this year, bar one.…

NEW ZEALAND riders made a clean sweep of the international classes, with Dan Jocelyn winning the CIC2* and Tim Price taking the CIC*. Dan was only 16th after dressage on 48.3 with the experienced Beaucatcher, but rose to the top by adding just 0.4 of a time-fault to that score. The 10-year-old thoroughbred tackled Badminton this year, but lost his confidence across country there. “We’ve been rebuilding since, and he felt back to his best here. It was a lovely run to have before Boekelo,” said Dan. “Beaucatcher is everybody’s favourite — a laid-back horse who gives you his heart.” Kitty King won this class in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and just missed out this time by 0.1 of a penalty, finishing second with 48.8 on Diana Bown, Sally Lloyd-Baker,…

LUCINDA CRAWFORD not only bagged a one-two in the BE100open section at Dalston Green (2), but she did so with an average dressage mark of 10.4. Her secret? Listening to music on her headphones while warming up. “I first tried it with a very buzzy 14hh pony. It kept me relaxed and diverted my mind away from situations that might have caused tension,” she said. With her winner, Vattrick (pictured) — who scored 8.5 — Lucinda listens to upbeat music that “sharpens me up”. But with her runner-up Turbo Toy — who posted a 12.3 — she puts on soothing melodies. This was a sixth win of the year for Lucinda, who is a GCSE student at St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh. “I board two nights a week,…

ASKE (2) will not host the usual intermediate classes at its autumn fixture this weekend (24-25 September). Organiser Peter Hurley explained that the showjumping arena is being resited, but that this impedes on an area that would have been used for the intermediate dressage and cross-country. “It was in the back of our minds to consider dropping the intermediate and this made the decision for us,” said Peter. “Last year we had fewer than 40 intermediate and open intermediate runners and financially it doesn’t stack up. Allerton runs intermediates the Sunday before, plus there is Kelsall Hill the same weekend. There are plenty of opportunities for intermediates and not many intermediate horses at this time of year.” Aske will run a CIC* this year as well as grassroots classes, and…

• CAMERON HANLEY and the nine-year-old Cas (Indoctro x Numero Uno) took the runner-up spot behind Lisa Nooren (VDL Groep Sabech D’Ha) of the Netherlands in the grand prix at the CSI3* Donaueschingen in Germany. The Irishman collected nearly € 10,500 (£9,000). • At the CSI2* Moorsele, Belgium, Ireland’s Michael Duffy was a dual winner, taking a 1.45m ranking class and a 1.40m two-phase with Castleforbes Talitha. Joe Whitaker won in the young horse classes with seven-year-old Diola.…

An ultimate display of showmanship delighted more than 700 spectators and resulted in a popular Leeman supreme victory for Allister Hood with Lady Caroline Tyrrell’s charismatic Classic Supreme champion cob, Our Cashel Blue. This made up for last year when the pair — having earned the Classic Supreme title then, too — were pipped to the overall top spot by one mark. Allister, last of the 10 finalists to go, pulled out every stop, using the arena to the full to demonstrate Blue’s ground-covering paces and superb manners. It was pure theatre when, after a scorching gallop, the pair came to a smooth halt, Allister threw away the reins and doffed his hat to the three judges, earning 28 from a possible 30 marks and scoring the only 10 of…

Ashowjumper unwittingly rattled my cage at the Hunter Show/ Scope Festival last month when I overheard him refer to showing competitors as ‘‘the glitter brigade’’. Let me tell you, sir, that showing has produced many accomplished equestrians over the years and continues to do so. Our greatest ambassador is without doubt Olympic golden girl Charlotte Dujardin, who enjoyed much success in the show ring, most notably with show pony of the year Ardenhall Royal Secret. She told me after Rio that showing has helped her to perform in front of crowds and use the ring, as well as deal with pressure from a young age. Another is Nick Schofield, who took the supreme Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) accolade on show hunter pony Chiddock Over The Limit in 2004,…

SALISBURY PLAIN is the venue for the Royal Artillery Hunt’s annual hunting clinic. The pack — the only surviving military foxhounds pack — is hosting a special weekend to encourage newcomers, with a visit to their hunt kennels on the list of planned events that will take place on 1-2 October. “This established event is especially designed as a taster for those new to hunting — either horse or rider — but is equally challenging for those with more experience,” explained joint-master Pippa Grob. For details regarding this event, contact Pippa on bmgrob@aol.com Other packs across the country will also be organising events to welcome newcomers. These form part of the Countryside Alliance’s wider annual newcomers’ week initiative, which will take place on 22-29 October. Hunts are being encouraged to…

CROUCHING by the ladies’ lingerie section in Sainsbury’s to study the denier quality of opaque knee highs isn’t, perhaps, the most glamorous image of a Master of Foxhounds (MFH) going about his preparation for the season ahead… and without a single MP in sight. However, for anyone who has panicked with the agony of calf cramp when putting on or removing their hunting boots, talcum powder and smooth lower leg tights are life-savers. Hounds and horses aren’t packed away in the spring while the masters and staff go to Barbados for the summer, returning for the puppy show and occasional hound parade. Financial and organisational arrangements for the new season should have been confirmed months ago. After all, the autumn is the busiest time of year for masters and staff…

FOUR foot-perfect clear rounds secured a double victory for Ashley Daniel and the East Cheshire Combined Training Group in the open team showjumping. Torrential unrelenting rain on the first day of the championships resulted in testing conditions in Lincolnshire Showground’s main arena. Just two teams made it through to the jump-off on equal scores of four faults. Three clears from the East Cheshire meant they took the win ahead of second-placed Darlington & District. Although faults were spread evenly around Nick Staines’ championship track, the planks at fence seven caught out a number of combinations. But the wet weather was not enough to stop Ashley and her own Abba, who finished less than half a second ahead of Area 14’s Louise Hawkins and Rinroe Supreme. “Abba jumped absolutely amazingly —…

For a straightward diagnosis, clinical signs are: • Swelling • Excessive drooling • Inability to eat • A protruding tongue • Bleeding • Instability of part of the jaw • Malalignment (displacement) of the teeth and bones • Foul smell from the mouth (if fracture has gone unnoticed for a few days) For a definitive diagnosis, the following is required: • X-rays • Ultrasound can be useful for fractures in the cheek region of the mandible • CT scan for complicated fractures, such as to the temporomandibular…

CUE CARD The 2015 King George VI winner is to make another attempt at the £1m Jockey Club “triple crown” bonus this season. The 10-year-old almost landed the hat-trick last season, but fell at the third-last in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. SOUTHWIND VDL The horse described by his rider Tiffany Foster as “the most dependable soldier ” has been retired aged 17. The KWPN gelding also jumped at the top level under Ireland’s Cameron Hanley and Belgium’s Jos Lansink. KORENBLOEM O’NEILL British dressage rider Sarah Mills’ former ride was put down aged 20 on 10 September after a severe attack of colic. Sarah paid tribute to the “amazing” KWPN gelding, who took her to the top, competing across Europe. BLACK CAVIAR The legendary sprinter has given birth to her third…

RECENT studies could help identify horses at risk of developing pasture-associated laminitis. The first, carried out in Denmark, evaluated risk factors in a group of horses and ponies. It confirmed that “coldblooded” animals under 14.3hh, such as certain native ponies as well as those kept on high-quality pasture, were at an increased risk of developing laminitis for the first time. The research also highlighted the role a change in grass intake may play. The second study, by Nicola Menzies-Gow of the Royal Veterinary College, also evaluated risk factors. It found that low concentrations of the hormone adiponectin, with high serum insulin concentrations, may predict an increased risk of future pasture-associated laminitis. “The Danish study is particularly applicable to natives in the UK,” said Spillers research and development manager Clare Barfoot.…

NORTHERN IRELAND has taken a major step towards having its own air ambulance service with the conclusion of a deal for two fully equipped helicopters, writes Lucy Elder. Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore will supply two aircraft, pilots and aviation training for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (AANI). The contract will run for three years, with a possible extension for a further two . “The two EC 135s will be fully equipped HEMS [helicopter emergency medical service] aircraft,” said AANI chairman Ian Crowe. “Having one on duty every day will ensure AANI is there for those who need it.” Why are they important for riders? HARD-TO-REACH locations, cardiac arrest, serious, time-sensitive, spinal or possibly life-threatening injuries are the usual criteria for an air ambulance being dispatched. As a risk-sport often practised…

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will remain at Chantilly in 2017. The entire meeting has been relocated from Longchamp to Chantilly this year (1-2 October) due to renovations. Longchamp racecourse closed its gates to the public for two years on 5 October 2015, the day after last year’s race. A spokesman for France Galop told H&H Longchamp racecourse is set to be ready on 21 September 2017, and that it would be impossible to accommodate the event, which is due to be held the following week.…

A BURGHLEY BABY Fiona and Tom Horsepool’s baby boy made a surprise entrance into the world on 2 September at Burghley Horse Trials. Monty was born seven weeks early and weighed 5lb 2oz. Both mother and baby are in good health and doing well. PADDLING Point-to-point jockey Harry Wallace covered 131 miles in a canoe from Wiltshire to Westminster. The challenge took 32 hours and raised £4,000 for Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation. BODMIN PONIES A four-day microchipping and passporting operation took place on 12-15 September, aiming to identify ponies on Eastmoor, Bodmin. The project was developed by Redwings Horse Sanctuary. NICK SKELTON FANS Fans of the Olympic legend can meet their hero at this year’s Horse of the Year Show (5-9 October). Nick will be doing signings in the retail…

A former equestrian centre has been given a £500,000 makeover for its new purpose as a police horse training base. The Hand Equestrian Centre was bought by Avon and Somerset police earlier this year (news, 17 July). The force’s horses have left their stables in Bower Ashton and will now be based at the Clevedon site, which has been renamed The Hand Specialist Operations Centre. The centre was bought for £1.35m and the force has since carried out £500,000 worth of maintenance work. “While there has been an initial outlay to buy the centre, this will be offset by the sale of the Bower Ashton site to The Caravan Club, as well as future maintenance and rates savings,” said a spokesman for Avon and Somerset police. The stable block has…

WE MUST HELP OURSELVES Sir — Discussions continue as to why the British eventing team didn’t do better at the Olympics or why more British riders didn’t feature in the higher placings at Burghley (Mark Phillips comment, 8 September; letters, 15 September). Much has been made of the success of the Australian and New Zealand riders. In most cases they live here, have the benefit of the British Eventing set-up for developing their young horses, and many have British owners, who invest hugely into the development of “opposing teams”. The sport would be worse off without these excellent riders and horses but we are helping to develop teams that will move us off the podium in the big championships. Perhaps potential owners can be persuaded to buy good young horses…

BRITAIN’S Paralympic riders excelled in Rio with seven gold medals and four silvers (news, p4; report p32). Para results can be confusing because there are so many categories, but of their maximum achievable haul Team GB’s riders won 78% of possible golds and picked up medals at every single opportunity. No argument — that’s impressive. Britain has never been beaten to a para dressage championship team gold. We hear annually that other nations are catching up, but so far, our dominance continues. At home, many were frustrated by the lack of TV coverage, although we’re told Channel 4 were doing their best (news, p12). It’s true that for non-equestrian viewers dressage doesn’t have the turbo pace of swimming or athletics — I saw a lot of Channel 4’s coverage and…

Classification Athletes are classified across five grades, according to the impact their disability has on their ability to ride. Grade Ia is for those who are most severely impaired and grade IV is for those who are the least impaired. Riders may use certain devices such as dressage whips, looped reins, and/or callers. Scoring Each of the five combinations in Britain’s squad performed the team test (11-13 September), the individual test (13-15 September) and the freestyle to music (16 September). The results of the team and individual tests are added together to calculate the team standings. The lowest total score in each team is discarded. Medals There are 11 sets of medals up for grabs. Medals are awarded for each individual championship class across the five grades, and for each…

WINNING individual gold at an Olympic or Paralympic Games always feels incredible. But when it comes after being haunted for four years by the agony of missing out so narrowly in London, the feeling is, as Sophie Wells said through uncharacteristic tears, “indescribable”. For Sophie, Rio was all about righting that wrong and under the searing Brazilian sun, she and her darling Valerius finally put those demons to bed. “I couldn’t have done any more, or expected any more from him out there. I started crying at the salute and haven’t stopped since,” said Sophie. The grade IV pair pulled off a fantastic test, with Sophie scoring nine for her riding. The Flemmingh gelding, whom Sophie has trained for 10 years, has power and expression to burn, but nerves can…

NOVICE reserve champions Jess and Paul Keenan’s five-year-old Flying Dream II (pictured), the first horse the Burnley-based rider has produced from scratch, were a picture of harmony in their flawless test, which included a 10, a rare sight at the nationals, for their final halt. “The first time I set eyes on him, in Germany, he was in a field with the other three-year-olds but standing alone,” said Jess. “He then launched into the most beautiful medium trot across the field, and straight away I knew I wanted him.” Flying Dream is yet another in the gold classes to carry Fidertanz blood, being by his son Feedback. “He’s always been very trainable, although he did have a ‘wild child’ phase for a while after a perfect first few weeks during…

Annabel Scrimgeour WHY did the CIC2* cross-country cause such chaos? Out of 78 cross-country starters, 20 were eliminated or retired across country and a further 21 completed with 20 penalties or more. Many of the problems came at fence 4abc - a bank with a big ditch off it and a skinny three or four strides further on, or at fence 10ab, another bank on the edge of the Gatcombe woods with a drop off to a narrow log. The first of these seemed to disrupt horses’ rhythm at an early stage on the course - perhaps if the skinny had been a couple of strides further away, they would have been able to compensate better for a bad jump off the bank. And, particularly in the morning, the contrast…

SEPTEMBER is always a busy month and this one is no exception. I get emotionally drained after Burghley, but have been encouraged by receiving letters of support. With the rain, the track was tougher than it can be, but riders, officials and spectators seem to have enjoyed it. Last week I was at Vairano, near Milan, where I designed the courses for a CCI3*, a CICO3* Nations Cup and a CIC2*. Building far from home always makes me nervous, especially as we had no frangible technology there. But I was surprised that so many riders appreciated big, old-fashioned fences. Even more surprising was how well the vast majority rode it. Many people have said for a long time that the greatest aid to a “safe sport” is riders respecting the…

GEMMA TATTERSALL rides a horse whose parents were both four-star competitors in the seven-year-old World Championships at Le Lion d’Angers, France, next month (20-23 October). Chillis Gem is by the 2015 Badminton winner Chilli Morning and her dam is Kings Gem (by Rock King), who was under-25 national champion at Bramham with Gemma in 2010. The future star was bred by embryo transfer while Kings Gem was still competing. Both parents and Chillis Gem are owned by Chris Stone, at whose Tattleton yard Gemma is based. “It’s exciting because she is the only Chilli baby of ours born here at Tattleton,” said Gemma. “She’s only 15.3hh, but a lovely mixture of her parents. Her trainable brain in the dressage comes from Chilli Morning — she’s very easy and wants to…

FOR the second year running, Jayne Ross galloped away with the supreme of show title aboard Dianne Stennett’s in-form small hunter victor, Hello Dolly. The ever-willing eight-year-old never missed a beat in the final showdown, where clever positioning by Jayne allowed her to go last of the seven contenders. A mannerly, expressive show included three stirring gallops and a rock-solid halt, gaining two nines and a perfect 10. “What is there left to say about Dolly?” mused Jayne. “I’ve run out of superlatives.” Ian McKie, who judged alongside his wife Tockie and Pearl Underwood, commented: “It’s all about performance on the night and for me, this was by far the most accurate show which also had the wow factor. I was pleased I had an extra mark left at the…

David Tatlow on Whalton Forgery, Edgar supreme champion “I’m fanatical about a still head carriage, and I like to see a rider do nothing. This horse never moved its head — which was in the correct position — and I never saw the rider move her hands or legs. What swayed me to give a 10, and not a nine, was that she exhibited it as the horse it is — a champion hack. The rider hadn’t got sucked into doing a Hooray Henry gallop like some others did.” Valerie Redbart on Our Cashel Blue, Leeman supreme champion “This was a happy rider on a happy horse that had a charming outlook. It was very active and a good mover — I could imagine taking it for a full day’s…

A change of bit A year spent solving a bitting issue has paid dividends for Natalie Barlow and her large plaited horse winner, Sambuca B. Natalie, who was third on Sambuca B in the Search for a Star finals at HOYS in 2013, competes in elementary level dressage successfully using a snaffle, but Sambuca B tended to open his mouth when in a double bridle for showing. Natalie’s equine dentist told her that because the horse doesn’t have a fat tongue, she should be able to find a bitting arrangement he’d accept. The answer was a combination of a turtle-top bradoon and a curb designed for typical warmblood mouth conformation. The turtle-top central lozenge is curved on top and flat underneath and the curb has a wide port to minimise…

JOHN SMITH, an ardent hunting and racing man for over 60 years, recently passed away aged 87. A former newspaper journalist in London and the West Midlands, he spent much of his leisure time following hounds in the Midlands, the Cotswolds and the West Country. During his time as joint-master and huntsman of the Staffordshire Beagles (1955-59) his hounds showed a high standard of sport before a growing number of followers. His profound interest in all field sports started before World War II. During his time at Stowe School in the 1940s he hunted with the Grafton and with the South Staffordshire during the holidays. He later subscribed to the former North Warwickshire and the Atherstone, and was a member of the Warwickshire. Survived by his wife Pat, whom he…

FOX GRANT THRUSTERS took the first qualifier for the Skinner’s Pet Foods national team chase championship with a helter-skelter round over one of the sport’s biggest open tracks. Highfield Farm near Bedworth has the flat, strongly fenced enclosures that hunting dreams are made of — huge solid hedges with good ditches in front that make riders tremble and horses fly. Heather Moodie and Primo led Fox Grant Thrusters off at a great gallop, before Yvonne Goss and Jaffa headed them into a sequence of 180° turns over hedge and ditch combinations. Steering going awry, Heather had to take a turn coming back, while Anna Stone and Yvonne galloped on, with Lucy Hyde Thompson working hard to stay in touch. Yvonne survived a hairy jump over the first big drop, before…

Option one: stabling horses THE British Horse Society’s official advice is to keep horses stabled during a thunderstorm if you have access to well-grounded stabling with lightning rods. This acts as a lightning protection system that intercepts high currents and sends them to the ground. Some horses appear unconcerned by stormy weather, while others are spooked and risk injuring themselves. This is why showing producer and judge Michael Cooper brings his horses in from the field during a thunderstorm. “We had one horse bolt and smash through a gate. It got stuck and it was a real mess,” says Michael. Clifton Lush, the CCI4* mount who finished third at Badminton in 2015 under Kiwi Jock Paget, broke his withers as a youngster when caught out in a thunderstorm while turned…