Innholdsfortegnelse for 6-Oct-2016 i Horse & Hound

THE British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will make structural changes so it is “seen and accepted to deliver justice to all”. The news follows a review conducted by Christopher Quinlan QC. The BHA announced the review in June, after it was found that the chair of the disciplinary board, Matthew Lohn, had undertaken paid legal work for the body. “While there was no suggestion of any actual bias in this case, the BHA accepts it was an error not to disclose details of Mr Lohn’s other paid work,” said a BHA statement at the time. The changes include the appointment of a new independent chairman to lead the disciplinary panel, licensing committee and appeal board. This person will be a senior legal practitioner with judicial experience, or a serving or retired…

OWNERS have been warned about the risks of cross-contamination after a Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) supreme champion failed a drug test. Golden Tasset, who won the supreme ridden pony and supreme intermediate championships with Olivia Bowen, is now unable to compete at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), as a test showed flunixin, an anti-inflammatory drug. Owner Leo Bowen was suspended for a year by the British Show Pony Society (BSPS), fined £1,000 and must pay £1,128 for the test, while Golden Tasset lost his placings and was suspended from BSPS shows for three months. Mr Bowen said another pony at the yard had suffered colic, and was given the drug in feed. “We can’t believe it has happened, and he can’t go to HOYS,” he told H&H.…

COLM MURPHY The trainer, who won the champion hurdle at Cheltenham 10 years ago with Brave Inca, is to retire. Wexford-based Colm, who also claimed the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2010 with Big Zeb, said his decision was due to financial reasons. HECTOR PAYNE After three seasons working for William Fox-Pitt, the event rider will be going it alone. “It would be impossible to explain how much I have learnt,” said Hector, who rode many of William’s horses while he was recovering from injury. TERRY COURT The auctioneer is to retire after 61 years. Mr Court joined Brightwells in 1955 and together with his late boss, Michael Wyatt, they established its equine department. Brightwells now sells more horses than any other company in Europe . IAN BALDING The former…

HIGHCLERE THOROUGHBRED RACING (pictured, top) has been operating for 24 years, but it continues to run syndicates with a twist. In the past it has named them after prime ministers and poets, but in an Olympic year, it has called them after sporting icons, such as Dame Kelly Holmes and Victoria Pendleton. The stars gave permission for their names to be used and some are showing interest. “Victoria Pendleton is coming to Highclere’s yearling parade, while I hope most syndicate members will get to meet her at the races,” says Alice Cooper on behalf of Highclere. “By involving sporting stars we feel we are opening up a sport which can seem a bit niche.”…

HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW (HOYS) organisers have cracked down on competitors trying to sell wristbands. Grandstand Media said people were trying to sell some of the three passes given to each competitor, intended for the rider and two others. “We are compiling a list of names of those discovered to be attempting to sell the wristlets,” a spokesman said. “Persons whose names appear may be refused the wristlets at the event.” Grandstand Media said other people were buying standard HOYS tickets and attempting to use “stables only” wristbands to access the “back end” of the event, which includes the horse walk and collecting rings.…

EQUINE RESEARCH A study carried out by a team of European scientists has been recognised with an “alternative” Nobel Prize. The researchers explored the effects of coat colour on horseflies and found that greys attracted less interest from the insects. HUNGRY HORSES Staff from the Royal Horticultural Society’s Rosemoor Garden have donated around 300 bales of hay to Dartmoor-based charity South West Equine Protection. QUIET ROADS Road safety charity Brake encouraged all drivers to ditch the car and use alternative forms of transport on World Car Free Day (22 September). EQUINE ART The Kelpies, the largest horse sculptures in the world, have won the Pioneer Award at the World Canals Conference in Inverness. The Kelpie sculptures stand 30 metres tall in Falkirk, Scotland.…

RENEWED calls have been made for riders to log their off-road hacking routes to prevent them from being lost in the future. Many historic paths will be extinguished if they are not formally recorded as bridleways or restricted byways by 2026 under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000. After this date, the right to ride any unrecorded routes — no matter how well used they are — will be lost. “If these routes are not researched and applied for now we risk losing thousands of kilometres,” said Mark Weston, British Horse Society (BHS) director of access. “These are routes that are currently ridden, and also some that are not, which could help to link up the existing network.” Sarah Whiteley, chair of Calderdale Council’s local access forum,…

SNAP SHOTS OF LUCKY JIM Sir — Reading the article on that wonderful hunting photographer, Jim Meads (interview, 29 September), I’d like to add mention of his equally great ability as a wedding photographer. In 1990 he agreed to photograph our youngest daughter Diane’s wedding and he did the most fantastic job. He was so utterly unobtrusive that several people asked why we hadn’t booked a photographer, and yet she had an exceptionally lovely album of photographs. “Lucky Jim” is a man of many talents. My great regret is that we did not know he would cover weddings when our two older girls were married. Ann Vyvyan-Robinson Droitwich, Worcs A DELICATE LINE Sir — The Countryside Alliance’s (CA) chief executive Tim Bonner recently announced that the government was pushing for…

NOT since 2008 has the sport of eventing experienced the shock of so many rider fatalities in one year, with news of Argentinian Santiago Zone’s accident in Buenos Aires last Saturday making his death the fifth tragedy of this kind in seven months. Questions will continue to be asked about the safety of this sport, the construction of fences, the qualification process to higher levels and the safety equipment available. Whatever the solutions, we hope they come efficiently and effectively, since inevitably riders will remain undeterred by the risks and set on pursuing sports that bring them joy. Closer to home, that means sending clippers for servicing and digging out thermals in preparation for a winter of consolidating training and indoor — with luck — competition. In this issue, H&H…

Ending on a high • The amount of time I am in the saddle is completely irrelevant. If I have a horse who has been struggling with learning something new and he comes out and does it with a great effort in the first 15 minutes, he is done. • I may take him for a hack or just let him go back to the barn. I cannot stress enough how important it is that the horses feel proud of themselves and appreciated in their work. Riding through mistakes • As a trainer who is always looking for a 10, it is hard to have a mistake and not correct it. But on show day, you cannot start again. You must continue. • If you never practise this at home,…

TIM CHEFFINGS recorded the first CCI win of his career in some style when he took the Bloomfields CCI2*. His own, Anne Chapman and Ros Fisher-Smith’s Donateur rose from an initial sixth after the dressage to the top spot as one by one his rivals faltered. Sam Griffiths led the dressage, riding Sue Brendish’s Paulank Kings River, a half-brother to two advanced horses including Sam’s Badminton winner and Rio team bronze medallist Paulank Brockagh. An impressive cross-country round secured the lead ahead of the final phase, but two fences down dropped him to fourth. A good clear elevated Alex Whewall and the Gatcombe intermediate champion Chakiris Star to second, ahead of the in-form James Avery and Cadillac. Tim bought Donateur after a tip-off from Mark Bosanko of Bosanko Sports Horses.…

STORM STRAKER put aside the disappointment of being non-travelling reserve on the British junior European team to win the CIC* with Well Designed, finishing on her dressage score. They were one of only a handful to keep a clean sheet over the revamped track. Storm also came sixth on her second ride, William Wordsworth. Storm was lying second after the dressage on Archie (Well Designed), behind Alex Postolowsky, who scored 28.5 in this phase on All Or Nothing II. An unfortunate 20 penalties at the triple brush at fence six dropped them to eventual 10th. “I was thrilled with Archie’s dressage score and knew his showjumping is usually good,” said Storm, who is on a gap year. “I walked all my lines tightly on the cross-country and, apart from getting…

TWO early starts for Amanda Edwards-Sutton proved worthwhile when she collected a pair of winning Hartpury tickets. Riding her own 12-year-old Donnerscon, Norfolk-based Amanda pulled off a foot-perfect test to win the elementary silver section. Picking up her final qualifying sheet a week before the Arena UK entries closed, it was touch and go whether Amanda would contest this year’s Area Festival due to Donnerscon’s lameness issues. “Donnerscon has been out of work for the best part of this year due to lameness, so to pick up a ticket to Hartpury is fantastic,” said Amanda. “It was a mad panic to collect the qualifying scores we needed to be able to compete here as he’s only been back in work for a couple of weeks,” she added. Despite feeling less…

‘She was admitted as an emergency four times’ PAULINE JAGGS’ medium bronze victory was particularly poignant, as she nearly lost Rosenfee (pictured) to very bad cellulitis around her hocks in January. “She was admitted to Three Counties Equine Hospital as an emergency about four times,” said Pauline, who is based at Court Farm Stud in Herefordshire and trains with Darren Mattia. “This is only her third show back from her illness, and just to get her out competing again is amazing. “She’s so well, and scored the highest marks here she’s ever had.” Pauline has only owned the 14-year-old Rosenthal mare since last April, so it has been a rollercoaster ride. “She’s a lovely, dainty mare who is always on the go and so enthusiastic about her work,” said Pauline.…

HOW brilliant that our para riders brought back such a huge haul of medals from Rio. Even more brilliant is their unblemished record of team gold. So what’s the secret? Is it the riders, the management, the support, the selectors, the grooms, the horses or the team trainers? Or all of the above, plus sheer hard work, dedication, determination, discipline and drive? In truth, there are probably a few other things in the mix too. I’m not a fan of the pyramid model for success. I prefer to think of a bicycle wheel with each spoke helping the wheels go around. It’s not one person at the top with layers of less important people under them; it’s everyone working together to complete the circle, each spoke perfectly connected. Maybe some…

AIDAN O’BRIEN made yet more racing history last Sunday (2 October) when Found led home Highland Reel and Order Of St George to fill the first three places in the 95th Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly. Not only was it a terrific result for O’Brien but if one race could encapsulate the success and strength of Coolmore’s worldwide breeding operation and John Magnier’s original foresight to invest heavily in the progeny of Northern Dancer, it was this: all three horses were sired by Galileo, the Derby-winning grandson of the great American stallion. “Making history” is a hackneyed phrase in racing, but this time the accolade was absolutely genuine as Found burst through a gap between Order Of St George and Postponed two furlongs out and, with a…

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“ONE of the most common issues I find when I am teaching is riders having problems with their horses spooking, shying and not going into corners. This can be a combination of lack of confidence and lack of trust in their rider,” says Olympic dressage rider Spencer Wilton. “It’s not necessarily naughtiness, but whatever the cause, the rider needs to be able to control the horse’s body. “One of the first steps is to be able to control the horse’s neck and shoulders. The horse needs to respond to the rider’s aids whatever the situation. These are the exercises I use to build these responses and enable the rider to take better control when the horse is insecure.” Flexion on a 20m circle in trot The aim: to focus the…

BD Affiliated to British Dressage BE Affiliated to British Eventing BS Affiliated to British Showjumping BHTDA Affiliated to the British Horse Driving Trials Association BDS British Driving Society IHDTUK Affiliated to Indoor Horse Driving Trials UK EGB/SERC/Sport Endurance Affiliated to Endurance GB/Scottish Endurance Riding Club/Sport Endurance MGAGB Affiliated to the Mounted Games Association of Great Britain BHS British Horse Society BSHA British Show Horse Association BSPA British Skewbald and Piebald Association BSPS British Show Pony Society P(UK) Ponies UK NPS National Pony Society WPCS Welsh Pony and Cob Society WPCA Welsh Pony and Cob Association CHAPS Coloured Horse and Pony Society SHB(GB) Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain Sgd showground EC equestrian centre RC Riding Club or Centre DG/DC/HC/DTG Driving Group/Driving Club/ Harness Club/Driving Trials Group JAS British Eventing jumping…

Leanne Ehren, south-east rider “USING Equo, I’ve had the opportunity to go to show and clinic providers that I’d never been to before and try things that I didn’t even know had previously existed. Having all event listings in one place is a dream concept and I only hope that one day we can have all our entries on such a system - I really did hate having to fill out paper forms for entries!”…

OWNERS have been urged to identify and take steps to mitigate risks posed by any sycamore trees on or near their horses’ grazing. The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has issued advice on steps to prevent seasonal pasture myopathy, a fatal disease that can be caused by sycamore seeds. BEVA senior vice president Mark Bowen said: “Please take steps now to prevent the risk of your horse contracting seasonal pasture myopathy. “It’s a devastating condition that can frequently be fatal despite treatment. If you are worried about the safety of your grazing, speak to your veterinary practice.” Seasonal pasture myopathy, or atypical myopathy, is a muscle disease caused by a toxin found in seeds. The seeds are not palatable to horses, but those on poor grazing may ingest large numbers…

FLEUR DE L’AUBE Tim Stockdale’s ride, with whom he was shortlisted for Rio, has been sold to Stal Tops for Jessica Springsteen to ride. The 11-year-old Belgian mare was due to be flown to America on 4 October, having spent a year with Tim. JESTERS QUEST Gemma Tattersall’s first four-star horse has been put down having suffered a bout of colic, aged 25. The pair won two young rider team gold medals and won the best under-25 prize at Badminton Horse Trials in 2007. CIRRUS DES AIGLES The racing legend is to be part of Champions Day at Ascot. The 10-year-old, the highest-earning European racehorse, will join the opening ceremony on 15 October. He was retired in March having earned more than £6m. SULTAN DU CHATEAU Simon Delestre has taken…

BRITISH EVENTING (BE) has become the latest equestrian organisation to update its body protector rules, writes Lucy Elder. From 1 January 2018, only body protectors carrying the BETA level three 2009 label, or any subsequent standard, will be allowed at BE competitions. Currently, competitors can wear body protectors that carry either a BETA 2000 or 2009 label. BE said the decision follows discussions by its risk management committee and advice from the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA). Roy Burek, managing director of Charles Owen, which owns Airowear, said materials for body protectors continue to develop in their ability to protect. “We do know that the rubber foam [used in many brands of body protector] does have chemicals in it, which will leech out over time, making the material harder,” he…

Chris Bartle has applied to take over as eventing performance manager for the British team following Yogi Breisner’s retirement. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ chris-bartle-british-team Horse of the Year Show has warned competitors that anyone deemed to be an inappropriate weight for their horse will be asked to dismount. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ hoys-rider-weights A mother and son are calling for riders with learning disabilities to be able to compete in the Paralympics. • www.horsesandhound.co.uk/ learning-disabilities-campaign A race was stopped and voided at Fontwell park on 30 September when Indiana Bay had a heart attack and collapsed mid-run. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ indiana-bay-collapsed Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has taken all 60 of his horses from leading Irish National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins (pictured, below). • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ michael-oleary Police have appealed for information about intruders who inflicted fatal head wounds on a 28-year-old pony. • www.horseandhound.co.uk/ pony-attacked-fence-post Emergency services had…

POLICE are investigating the death of a rider in an international endurance event in South America. Chilean rider Hugo Valdés Barros, 58, fell from his horse MP Sifax on the second loop of the event, at Llay Llay, Chile, on Saturday, 24 September. The FEI said it is thought the 10-year-old gelding “failed to make a turn on the track and jumped a small canal”. Organisers cancelled the day’s remaining events and a “full police investigation” has been launched. “We send our deepest condolences to Hugo’s wife María Pía, sons Cristián and Ignacio and daughter María Elisa, and his relatives and friends,” said the president of the Chilean endurance association, Cristian Herrera.…

VARIATIONS in poll pressure caused by different bits have been revealed in a study, with some unexpected results on loose ring snaffles and pelhams, writes Rachael Turner . The research, by bit specialists Neue Schule, involved using cheek piece and rein sensors to measure poll pressure. “There were surprises,” said Dr Caroline Benoist of Neue Schule. “The first was that loose rings do add quite a bit of poll pressure, because they act like a pulley. “The second was that in some instances, pelham roundings can create poll relief.” Another notable finding surrounded the hanging cheek snaffle (pictured), or Baucher. Some have argued the Baucher exerts poll pressure, but others say it alleviates it. Neue Schule found it has the latter effect. “These results didn’t surprise us because there is…

AN ATTACKED DONKEY A donkey foal in India was found by a welfare charity with severe wounds after being bitten by a wild animal. The filly has since made a full recovery. REDWINGS HORSE SANCTUARY A Shetland pony was stolen from the charity’s Ada Cole centre in Essex. The 6hh appaloosa named Yogi has since been found safe a few miles away from the centre. Police and Redwings staff are asking anyone with information about the theft to come forwards. A TRAPPED HORSE A mare found herself stuck on a bridge in Alfreton, Derbyshire, on 27 September. Firefighters were able to free the unlucky equine, who was not seriously injured despite the ordeal. A RESCUE CENTRE Around $700 (£540) of horse food was stolen from Mid-America Horse Rescue in Illinois.…

HOYS Go to the Horse of the Year Show at Birmingham NEC on 5-9 October. Watch top showjumping, showing, dressage, driving, mounted games and displays. www.hoys.co.uk DRESSAGE The British Dressage Forces Equine National Championships take place at Moreton Morrell, Warks, on 8-9 October. www.forcesequine.org.uk EVENTERS’ CHALLENGE Enter the two-phase eventers’ challenge at Tumpy Green Equestrian Centre, Glos, on 9 October. www.equoevents.co.uk MEMORIAL SHOW A showjumping show in memory of young eventer Hannah Francis will take place at West Wilts Equestrian Centre on 7 October. www.britishshowjumping.co.uk TEAM CHASING Visit the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase team chase at Newton Morrell, near Bicester, on 9 October. www.teamchasing.co.uk RACING Enjoy the Future Champions festival at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile on 7-8 October. newmarket.thejockeyclub.co.uk EVENTING Weston Park, Shrops, hosts British Eventing regional finals at 90…

My horse (Alfie) is on box rest with a check ligament injury, and I am trying to avoid him becoming bored. He is Irish and is quite sociable, and I think will get tired of looking at himself in a mirror, which is one of the suggestions I have received. The best idea seems to be to get him a TV, and I have been looking into this. However I wonder if any of your readers have experienced a similar situation and can advise me? First, it is not clear whether he will need a TV licence. The TV licencing website states that “if you’re watching live TV, you need to be covered by a TV licence”. However the word “you” is not defined, and I do not know whether…

Earliest riding memory… On a piebald called Diamond, who was an absolute bastard. After a controlled family ride on a beach he bolted flat out for what seemed like miles. I held on to the neck strap until it snapped and then I fell on what must have been the only stone on the beach. I cried for hours. My fi rst pony… Diamond, who also bolted with me at Pony Club camp, carting me into a bramble bush. When my dad, Clive, saw my lacerated face he called me Tiger, a name that has stuck to this day. Horsey blunders… Aged 10 at Pony Club camp I dressed up in a thong for a musical ride. It was my one and only time wearing one. My secret weapon... My…

WHEN eight-year-old Irish sport horse King suffered a stop-start nosebleed and a painful swelling on the side of his face, vets at St David’s Equine Practice took X-rays of his head (pictured below). These revealed a fracture to the incisive bone, which supports the front teeth and allows the horse to grab and bite feed. King was referred to Langford Veterinary Services for a CT scan. A 3D reconstruction of the injury showed slight displacement of the fracture (pictured below). Surgeons used these images to plan their approach to fitting a metal plate to the broken bone, to provide support while it healed. Three months after he had undergone surgery, King was allowed to return to ridden work. He is now competing successfully once again.…

DAN JOCELYN was the man in form at Dauntsey, taking the £1,000 first prize in the open intermediate (OI) and winning one of the two remaining standard intermediate sections. Dan, who moved to a new yard near Cirencester a few weeks ago, whizzed round the OI on his own thoroughbred Beaucatcher to record their second win in succession, having lifted the CIC2* at Gatcombe two weeks ago. “He’s known as ‘the mighty Beaucatcher’ now,” said Dan with a grin. “He was second in this class last year, and he feels even better this time. “He did a good, solid dressage [scoring 30] and his clear showjumping round was the best he’s done all season. I went quick across country, and it was a great preparation for Boekelo.” Louise Harwood and…

‘This is a complete shock’ GRANTHAM-BASED Suzy Dawe and her 12-year-old Hanoverian HRH Romancier led the advanced medium bronze class despite a rollercoaster year. “I’ve only been back in the saddle for two weeks after an operation to treat a hernia, so this is a complete shock,” said Suzy. “It’s only ‘Hans’’ second competition since my return, so I didn’t expect to collect a ticket to Hartpury. “I was pleased with the test, but didn’t think we would score highly enough to win after he spooked in the corner just before the changes. However, despite that he was brilliant and did a reasonable job.” The pair have previously competed successfully at both regionals and nationals, but have had a quiet two years due to Suzy struggling to breathe because of…

‘The worst case the vet had ever seen’ KATE DORNEY was only able to start schooling nine-year-old Cocu II when he was seven, despite having bought him three years previously. “I bought ÔDC’ in Belgium when he was four to event, but within a month my vet diagnosed a frog condition in one of his feet as the worst case of canker [proliferative pododermatitis] he had seen,” explained Kate. DC’s frog fell out and a cauliflower-like growth appeared from the foot. It needed debridement, the foot treated and a metal plate screwed on that had to be unbolted daily for retreatment. “DC was intermittently on box rest for two and a half years as the canker kept recurring, so I was advised to put him down,” added Kate. “But my…

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‘Responsible OLD was not like a typical mare at all; she was quiet, easy to handle but with a very strong character’ RESPONSIBLE OLD (Resi) was five when she came to me. By Rohdiamant, she was bred and owned by Gabriele Mertens-Gahlen, she had been trained up to A/L [novice/elementary] level and was up for sale, but no one wanted to buy her. I thought she was something special, but no one else could see it yet. She was not like a typical mare at all; she was quiet, easy to handle but with a very strong character — the nicest horse I’ve ever had. Our first international prix st georges and inter I was at Wiesbaden. Resi was only seven, and to win and to hear the national anthem…

Dressage rider Maria Griffin: “Thermatex quarter sheets that fit over the horse’s back and under the saddle. The shape and durability are just right.” Dressage rider Laura Wollen: “My Pikeur winter breeches, which are soft-shell, water-resistant and fleece-lined.“ Showing producer Justine Armstrong- Small: “Carr & Day & Martin Green Spot Remover. We tend not to bath horses in winter, as it’s too cold, but this is brilliant for getting rid of stable stains on greys.” Showjumper Holly Smith: “NAF Sheer Luxe leather products, which keep tack in good order in winter.” Eventer Anna Horton: “Waterproof trousers. I buy the jockey trousers and breeches from EJ Wicks.”…

Claire Taylor, north-east rider “Entering through Equo really is so easy - with a memory like a goldfish I was always forgetting to send entry forms in, or would fill them in and forget to buy a stamp. With Equo, once I’d decided to go somewhere, I could enter straight away in a matter seconds. I’ve entered competitions in breaks at work, in bed and even riding out! Being a creature of habit, I would often stick to going to the same venues all the time, but seeing new venues on Equo has encouraged me to broaden my horizons massively.”…

A fifth event rider has been killed in a cross-country accident in the past seven months, writes Rachael Turner. Argentinian Santiago Zone (pictured) had a fatal fall at a national horse trials at Campo de Mayo, Buenos Aires, on 1 October. The 34-year-old married father of two, was a first lieutenant in the Argentine Army. He had competed at one-star level this year, riding two army-owned horses, Remonta Nunhil and Perdigon. On 23 June, Santiago was placed fifth in the CCI* at Campo de Mayo Horse Trials with 11-year-old gelding Remonata Nunhil. His brother Ignacio “Nacho” Zone is also an event rider. “We have been informed by the national safety officer in Argentina that tragically there was a rider fatality at this national event,” an FEI spokesman told H&H. The…

A beefed-up Area Festival series, new combined training classes and further competition structure changes are among the developments British Dressage (BD) members can expect from 1 December, writes Lucy Elder. The 2017 BD rule book revealed that Area Festivals will now feature semi-finals as well as classes up to inter II. There will also be under-18 sections at Area Festivals, and additional bronze sections for inter I and prix st georges. BD’s sport operations manager Paul Graham explained that the volume of members competing at Area Festivals and demand from organisers to host legs of the series has driven the changes. “The current structure is at bursting point and needed to change in order to cater for the demand,” he told H&H. “We have had more and more organisers requesting…

SIX venues are in the running to host the 2022 World Equestrian Games (WEG) — as information on who will host the 2018 Games is still under wraps. Kentucky Horse Park is among those hoping to host the 2022 event. However Australia, which submitted a “non-binding expression of interest” to the FEI earlier this year, has since ruled itself out. “We have six strong expressions of interest for hosting the 2022 Games and will be announcing these once we have done our initial evaluations and entered the candidate phase later this year,” said an FEI spokesman. A decision over where the 2018 event will be held still has not been made, after the initial venue, Bromont, Canada, could not fund the event. The spokesman added the FEI has received expressions…

THE FEI is to make a final decision on the number of teams in the top European Nations Cup tier at its general assembly next month. The jumping committee discussed whether eight teams should be involved, as was to be the case, or 10, which has previously been, at a meeting last week (news, 29 September). Britain is expected to be relegated from the tier due to our eighth-place finish this season (news, 4 August). An FEI spokesman told H&H : “The rules are not finalised and will be presented to the bureau for approval at the forthcoming bureau meeting in Tokyo [19-22 November].”…

JOHN GOODE MR GOODE passed away peacefully on 15 September. He worked for Sir Michael Stoute for more than 30 years, during which time he was farrier to Shergar (pictured with Mr Goode). Mr Goode also assisted the International League for the Protection of Horses (now World Horse Welfare) in Morocco. His stallion Orlando, bred by The Queen, stood for many years. Mr Goode’s pleasure was his racehorses, trained by Chris Dwyer, who secured numerous wins. GEORGE A MOORE THE owner of top 1980s sprinter Moorestyle died on 16 September, aged 88. Mr Moore bought the horse as a yearling and named him to promote Mr Moore’s Yorkshire-based furniture company. The stallion’s major wins included the July Cup, Haydock Sprint Cup and Prix de l’Abbaye. In 1988 Mr Moore was…

AN MP is to call for the driving theory test to be altered to benefit horses on the roads after a “terrible” accident in his constituency, writes Eleanor Jones . Next Monday (10 October) Jake Berry is to ask in the House of Commons for a debate on how to improve horse and rider safety. The Rossendale and Darwen MP will also ask, on 17 November, for the theory test to be more explicit on how to pass horses. “A constituent recently told me of a terrible accident she had been involved in, so I decided to see what could be done to reduce the number of incidents of this nature,” Mr Berry said. “Although Rossendale and Darwen is a semi-rural area, many drivers are not taught how to pass…

IF you thought manure was only good for fertilising roses, think again. South African researchers are proposing donkey dung as an alternative energy provider for the country. The team found that the manure can be used to produce biogas, due to its high methane content. Dung was collected from the University of Fort Hare’s (UFH) Honeydale Farm in the Eastern Cape and its methane level was analysed. “The methane content in donkey dung is 50-60%, which means you can use it for engines and generators,” said Dr Patrick Mukumba, renewable energy researcher at UFH. “We have plenty of donkeys, and they are producing lots of waste. There are a lot of places that don’t have electricity, so if you were to use the biogas from donkey dung, we could solve…

WE must hope that the FEI eventing committee will be allowed to be heard on the issue of Olympic format, which is due to come up at the general assembly next month. The theory is that three in a team would mean more flags — the allotted field of 65 would divide into nearly 22 teams — but the problem is that there aren’t 22 nations currently able to field a remotely competitive Olympic team. Those proposing the change are misguidedly doing so in the name of making eventing more likely to remain in the Olympics; sending dramatically substandard riders to a watered down test will make the sport look like a joke and be a fast track to Olympic exclusion. If the issue is that of awarding medals to…

The Piccola line PICCOLA DIAVOLA, with whom Sam Cutts won intermediate section A (pictured), is the daughter of Piccola Star, who took Sam from Pony Club to four-star, via the 2003 junior European Championships. From three live foals, eight-year-old Piccola Diavola, by Devil’s Jump, is the only one Sam has kept. But the line continues - Piccola Diavola has two embryo transfer foals by Wish Upon A Star in utero at the moment. Sam plans to move up a level with the mare next season, and said: “It would be nice if their mother emulated their grandmother in going advanced by the time the foals are born.”…

Georgia Thomson THE 13-year-old from East Sussex celebrated two milestones at the SsangYong-sponsored South of England (2). Not only did she head the BE100u18, but she also almost made it across the whole diagonal in a free-rein walk without her pony, Super Snoop II, jogging. “He’s an amazing jumper and has been so consistent this year, but we’ve had to work hard on our dressage,” said Georgia, who started riding Snoop, who belongs to Home Farm Equestrian Centre, at the end of last year. “He gets very excited and buzzed up at events and doesn’t like walking in the arena.” Georgia, who is a riding scholar at Mayfield School in East Sussex, has help from Emily Baldwin and Jill Barker. “They are fantastic and together we’ve found a way to…

Gypsy cob Silverbarton NEW BD member Alix Henderson posted 70% to top the prelim bronze with the traditional gypsy cob Silverbarton (pictured) to book their first visit to the championships. Alix, a BHSAI and freelance instructor based in Edinburgh, rides the nine-year-old gelding for owner Elli Moug. It was a rags to riches story for “Sammy” as he had an inauspicious start having originated from a travellers’ caravan park in Chipping Norton. He was purchased from Scottish endurance rider Candy Cameron five years ago for Elli to ride at home while Alix competes. “I’ve been working on improving his connection, balance and working uphill,” said Alix, who trains with Katie Smith and Claire Moir. “He can be spooky but held it together. He has a huge work ethic - he’s…

A musical hiccup VICKI THOMPSON-WINFIELD rode a challenging grand prix kür, but her music stopped mid-test. All was going well with the active Andalusian stallion Mango Jacaro (pictured) and his exciting James Bond theme when the arena suddenly went silent. Vicki stoically and professionally continued her ride, and the audience neither spoke nor breathed until the end of the test when the pair received a standing ovation, and 70.1% for seventh. After much discussion among the judges, it is understood they judged the artistic element of the test on the basis of the choreography and music in the first half of the test. “I had to make a decision on whether to stop and see if they could restart the music or to continue,” Vicki explained. “In that moment I…

JOE WHITAKER made a profitable return to Northcote to claim the top prize of £650 when Lareeco galloped to a win in the final winter 1.35m open, a class that offered three tickets to the new London Spring International Show (12-17 April). A day earlier, this pair had also shown their rivals a clean pair of heels in the national 1.30m competition and Joe had almost decided to finish on a high note there and then. However, the Yorkshire rider didn’t take much persuading from Northcote’s Alistair Mizon to return the following day to have “a crack at the big one”. “They were both fast classes and with some good horses coming through to the jump-off it proved tougher today and we needed the edge and some good early strides,”…

HEADING to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS)? Good luck — but remember that to some degree, you can make your own luck. We all need good fortune, whether we’re old hands or new to the game, but there’s still time to boost your chances. Last week, I ran some pre-HOYS clinics, which showed that the mistakes we see every year at Birmingham can be ironed out before riders get there. First, make sure you’re not in the naughty corner. The rings are tight, so you have to ride your corners correctly to make maximum use of available space. Overtaking should, ideally, be avoided. If you cut corners, you’ll overlap another competitor and when you pull in, you’ll steal space from a correctly positioned rider and leave them with nowhere…

WENTWORTH EBONY put aside a troubled build-up to these championships to claim the open horse title for the third time in four years. It was touch and go whether the 14-year-old would be ready for the ring, after an injury at Equifest (12-16 August) nearly put him out of contention. But when judge Stephen Bamford narrowed the 10-strong field down to two black stallions — the other being Gary Haffenden’s novice Black Challenger — it was the more experienced Ebony who settled better to take the sash. “He’s only been back in training two weeks,” said owner-driver Joey Peters, who bought the stallion from Lambertus Huckriede and the Van Nispen brothers in April. “I came out of the ring with him at Equifest and he was lame. He’d hit a…

SPOOKS RICARDA FULL GRIP THERMO BREECHES Ideal for winter competing with a thermal fleece lining. £118.99 www.equiport.co.uk MUSTO BR2 BREECHES Fully weatherproof breeches that are close fitting and provide extra grip in the saddle. £149.00 www.musto.com ARIAT MIKELLI BREECHES vesigned for elegance and performance, but with ultimate insulation. £119.99 www.redpostequestrian.co.uk HARRY HALL HIGHAM SOFTSHELL JODHPURS Highly warm and waterproof, made of three-layer stretch softshell. £60 www.harryhall.co.uk HYPERFORMANCE SOFTSHELL WINTER BREECHES Made from a dirt-repellent outer fabric and a fleece lining. £64.99 www.equestrian.com HORSEWARE NINA WINTER BREECHES Suitable for everyday use with a cosy fleece lining and a technical leg. £79 www.rideaway.co.uk TOGGI FRESIAN LADIES WINTER BREECHES Fleece-lined breeches with a stretch panel at the ankle for comfort. £48…

ONCE inside some of Britain’s best equestrian centres, riders can forget the storm clouds threatening snow and give their youngsters or seasoned veterans a useful pipe-opener this winter. So where do familiar names head either side of the Christmas break? The Cabin Equestrian Centre Where is it? Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. What’s on offer? Clinics, British Dressage (BD) and British Showjumping (BS) classes, plus unaffiliated fixtures and a Christmas show on 11 December. You can also bring your dog for grooming. Blow away the winter blues: great arenas, with a particularly large one outside for warming up — Scottish riders are made of stern stuff — but if there is snow on the ground, the warm-up moves indoors, so don’t be put off. Winter warmers: fabulous bacon rolls, as well as homemade…

RUPERT ONSLOW didn’t have his first point-to-point ride until he was 45, and has since completed hunt rides and been team chasing. “I do remember, aged four, watching a cowboy film and thinking that I wanted to ride horses. But I knew nothing other than London at that stage,” he says. His family moved to the country soon after, and Rupert hunted and did the usual Pony Club activities. “I desperately wanted to go point-to-pointing, and had two unsuccessful shots at it, one in my 20s and one in my 30s, until finally, when I was 45 and my father was dying, I said to him I was going to do it. “He said, ‘that’s f***ing irresponsible - enjoy yourself.’ “This time, I got the right horse. My entire family,…

ALNWICK FORD EQUESTRIAN NORTHUMBERLAND, NE65 8EQ Alnwick Ford Equestrian holds more than 150 affiliated and unaffiliated showjumping, dressage, cross-country and demonstration events a year. Facilities include a 28x90m indoor arena, a 30x60m outdoor arena, more than 80 jumps, a cross-country course, conference facilities and a café. NOVEMBER ALTOGETHER EQUESTRIAN WILTS, SP4 0DW Altogether Equestrian encompasses a multitude of equestrian services providing high quality training, events and services in a fun, friendly but professional environment. The core of Altogether Equestrian lies with dressage training for horse and rider at all standards. Based at the beautiful and historic stables at Cholderton House it provides fantastic facilities to train horses and riders to international levels. NOVEMBER BADGWORTH ARENA SOMERSET, BS26 2QU Badgworth Arena is situated close to Junction 22 of the M5 and…

THE Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, is every rider’s dream as the equestrian school provides riding lessons and facilities for every discipline of horsemanship, and at every level of experience. Gleneagles Equestrian School is a BHS exam centre, hosting BHS exams from stage 1-4, plus the Preliminary Teaching Test (PTT) and IT exams throughout the year. Gleneagles Equestrian School is an approved BHS “Where to train” venue. It offers dedicated training days to cover each exam and offers riding and stable management sessions. Through spring to autumn Gleneagles runs dressage, showjumping and cross-country competitions outdoors. These competitions are the perfect opportunity to bring young horses or riders to events for the first time. For those competition veterans out there, there is the chance to compete up to elementary dressage, showjumping…