Innholdsfortegnelse for 16-Jan-2020 i Horse & Hound

AS fires rage on in Australia, climate change is rightly under focus. At a recent parent-teachers association meeting — yes, I am now secretary, so if I haven’t asked you for a raffle prize you are in the minority — we discussed replacing the classic tea towel emblazoned with all primary children’s self portraits for a shopping bag, because “these kids are all about the turtles”. It’s obviously right this message has sunk in — children don’t want plastic straws now. As Attenborough’s polar bear on shrinking ice was the message of my generation, so this era’s could be Australia in flames. If any good can come of this tragedy, may it be further cultural shift and keenness from all to do their bit to help reduce our carbon footprint…

VERDADES US dressage rider Laura Graves’ championship medal-winner has retired aged 18. “Diddy” is ranked seventh in the world and the combination were the first US pair to reach world number one. CAROUSEL QUEST Oliver Townend’s 2009 Burghley winner, owned by Andrew Cawthray, has died aged 25. He was produced by Cressy Clague-Reading, who came fourth with him at Burghley, and had three more top-10 CCI4* finishes. ALL STAR 5 Thomas Straumann’s 17-year-old European team gold medal-winning stallion has retired to stud. Under Ireland’s Denis Lynch, he jumped at championships, World Cup finals and had numerous CSI5* wins.…

ARRESTS MADE AT HUNT MEET EIGHT men have been arrested following protests against a hunt earlier this month (4 January). Police attended reports of a disturbance in Spurstow at a meet of the Cheshire Hunt, and later stopped a vehicle nearby. Seven men were arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and one on suspicion of a public order offence. They have since been released on bail. A hunt spokesman said the hunt operates within the law and will assist police with any enquiries. NEW DATE FOR POSTPONED RIDE THE 2019/20 Melton Hunt Club Ride has been cancelled as a result of unprecedented weather and ground conditions. The popular event, which had already been postponed from November to 1 March 2020, will…

Former Flat jockey Donnacha O’Brien, 21, sent out his first runners as a trainer at Dundalk. The Group One winner retired in November to concentrate on training. Amateur eventer Jen Cassidy is the new Horsescotland performance manager. The performance programme aims to develop riders for the British World Class programme. Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons partner Deidre Carson has been appointed trustee of vet-led charity Animal Welfare Foundation. Deidre said she is “delighted”. Swiss owner Luigi Baleri has been crowned Longines owner of the year 2019 for a second year in a row. Luigi’s horses include The Sinner, Chaplin and Martin Fuch’s ride Clooney 51. tures by x Rock star Bruce Springsteen, father of showjumper Jessica, is to auction his signed Fender guitar and a Harley Davidson in aid of US equestrian…

THE FEI has updated its prohibited substances list. The changes, which came into force on 1 January, include reclassifications and additions. Propofol, an anaesthetic, has been reclassified from a banned —so it should never be present in a horse’s system — to a controlled medication. This means it must not be found in a horse on competition days, but has therapeutic use or is commonly used in equine medicine. Beta blocker timolol, used in the treatment of glaucoma, has also been reclassified this way. The FEI has banned rauwolfia, a plant containing banned tranquiliser reserpine, as well as classifying natural and synthetic cannabinoids and other cannabimimetics as both banned and specified substances. A specified substance is one deemed more likely to have been ingested by horses for a reason other…

CROCODILES and horses have more in common than you might imagine, according to research by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). Terrifyingly, the researchers found more species of crocodiles can gallop than was thought. Alligators and caimans — also members of the family — cannot manage more than a trot. A relief? Well not quite. It turns out they can trot just as fast as their heftier friends. RVC researchers set up video cameras at an alligator park. While it was thought only a few species of crocodiles could gallop and bound, they found a further five species can, including the critically endangered Philippine crocodile. Could five-star crocodiles be the future of eventing? Now that is a terrifying thought……

CARINSIO: 13yo gelding, Painted Black x Beaujolais. Back in work after an injury last year, and will continue his grand prix career. FAMKE PF: 10yo mare, Houston x Cabouchon. Yet to compete in the UK but will appear at grand prix. FULL FUSION BS: 10yo mare by Blue Hors Zack, will compete at inter II. JAMES BOND II: 6yo stallion, Desperado x Fidertanz. Current elementary gold national champion. JAGERBOMB: 6yo home-bred gelding, Dante Weltino x Jazz, reserve elementary national champion.…

WHILE a limited selection of bits was available in the latter part of the 20th century, today you’ll find thousands of different designs, shapes and sizes on the market, in a wide range of materials. Bits were originally made from steel before 18/8 stainless steel — which doesn’t rust and is easy to clean, but is colder to the touch — became the most common material. Solid nickel was also frequently used in the past, but it tended to wear badly and is rarely seen now. Instead, other alloys are more in favour, with mouthpieces often boasting a high copper content and better thermal conductivity properties. Popular choices today include sweet iron, which has a high carbon content that oxidises in the horse’s mouth, encouraging salivation and resulting in better…

INTERNATIONAL dressage rider Kate Cowell explains how she kits her horses out for travelling to keep them safe and comfortable. “Most of my horses travel in the obligatory travel boots, but a couple dislike them as they can be restrictive, so I use breathable exercise boots and overreach boots front and back. “I always use a tail guard for protection and to prevent the bog-brush look. A leather headcollar is a must as I know they will break if the horse panics, and I always cross-tie the horses [with a rope on either side of the headcollar]. Each horse is an individual, so I alter the partitions to suit them so they are comfortable. “Rug-wise, it has to be breathable. In the winter I’ll use several layers of Thermatex or…

LOOKING after leather can save your hide financially. Good-quality equipment is expensive, but correct care could give you around 20 years’ use. The basics of traditional leather maintenance remain, but regimes have changed. The old rule of dismantling tack and cleaning it after every use isn’t realistic, and may not be necessary for most owners, says Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) master saddler and bridlemaker Catherine Baker from Wylye Valley Equine, Wilts. “If your horse works hard and gets sweaty, then ideally you should clean your tack thoroughly every time you ride,” she explains. “If he doesn’t, or you’re only riding for short periods, once a week should be enough.” SMS master saddler and British Equestrian Federation consultant Mark Fisher agrees. “Taking tack apart and cleaning after every use is…

BEFORE I met my wife Emma, I’d done a little bit of hunting here and there, but mainly with owners of my horses or customers. The Holcombe Harriers were our local pack, but I’d had a few days with the Wynnstay and the Cheshire over the years. However, going hunting was really about business for me. Emma has hunted all her life — her father, “Sir” Ian Carmichael (@carmichaelcrew5), was joint-master of the Morpeth, and she loves it, it’s in her blood. I’ve learnt much more about it since we’ve been together and it’s a good craic with a real community feel — and it’s great for educating our young horses. Although I will always love the jumping side of it more, I like watching the hounds work to appreciate…

REASEHEATH COLLEGE EC 4 Jan: prelim 2 silv (A Page).— 1, Mill Dancer II (E Bromley) 71.72; 2, Roughcote Jupiter (E Green) 64.31. brnz.— 1, Riversdale Mate (V Smith) 68.1; 2, Kyoco Star (C Carlyle) 66.89; 3, George’s Just Donnie (L Tweats) 62.93. nov 24 silv.— 1, Dypool Miami Reef (F Turner) 76.95; 2, Uppergraig Black Flyer (E Rarity) 73.91; 3, Cavallo Di Pinto (N Kirkham) 73.04. brnz.— 1, King Louis (R Cawley) 75.43; 2, The Racer (E Bainbridge) 71.3; 3, Tyersal Jesso Charly (I Maughan) 69.56. elem 49 gold.— 1, Joep II (C Vell) 67.33. brnz.— 1, Contro D (J Matthews) 65.83. prelim 17 gold (S Dobell).— 1, Bespoke Sandstorm Exclusive (T Sellars) 64.31; 2, Danno (B Wood) 64.13. brnz.— 1, Clonguish Lady Ferro (S Pountain) 66.03; 2, Keela…

HARTPURY UNIVERSITY & HARTPURY COLLEGE 5 Jan: nov 22 gold (S Douglas-Osborn).— 1, Sheepcote Floyd (S Pincus) 75.51; 2, Eternal Kiss (L Cartwright) 70.86. silv.— 1, Branston II (M Jenkins) 70.51; 2, Mercury (D de Wit) 69.82; 3, Capeston Little John (L du Toit) 66.89. brnz.— 1, Saco (H de Wit) 63.44; 2, Dimucci (L Gaunt) 63.27; 3, Jabato CXVI (V Eeles) 57.58. nov 39Q gold.— 1, Gravity (A Peternell) 73.65; 2, Sheepcote Floyd 73.65; 3, Eternal Kiss 70.76. silv.— 1, Branston II 72.11; 2, Soley Magick Tinkerbelle (E Dove) 67.11; 3, AN55 Cedric (M Nichols) 66.53. brnz.— 1, Braveheart IV (C Hull) 63.84; 2, Dimucci 61.15. elem 43 gold (J Surr).— 1, Limerick Dan (L Ferrier) 66.21. silv.— 1, Desiree (A Scourfield) 71.72; 2, Kelsons Fantasy (S Sweet) 69.48;…

THE new year brings new plans, dreams and horses, and I’m getting excited because our first foals are due on 2 February. I'm also excited that after a few turbulent years, it seems British Dressage (BD) is settling into a new decade with a much-improved competition strategy and sport for all, which reflects its charitable aims. The new Middle Tour Festival is a great idea, and I cannot wait to attend the new-look national championships at Somerford Park. Like a brand new brassiere, this should lift the project, separate the various levels and drive forward BD’s quest for excellence. Dressage is growing in all aspects to match demand in the UK. Sales of dressage horses are also high, with demand outstripping supply at the moment. REKINDLING ENTHUSIASM BETH BAINBRIDGE and…

MY BUGSY MALONE, who qualified here for the winter 138cm final with Connie Mensley (pictured), is proof that some ponies go on forever. Now 28, Bugsy has won every major title with many different riders since arriving in Britain from his native Sweden 19 years ago. He still looks magnificent and his performance here would have been impressive from a pony a third of his age. Bugsy is owned by Katrina and Jason Moore, whose daughter Claudia rode him until HOYS 2018. “We tried to retire him, but he wasn’t having it. He would only stay in the field for 45 minutes and then stood at the gate shouting to come in,” explained Jason. “He seems to love Connie. She’s so tiny that he hardly knows she’s on his back.”…

Kingston Maurward, Dorset JAKE FRONDA’S plans came to fruition after he and 15-year-old Fergal Fantasia galloped to victory in the Haygain diamond qualifier. “Ever since my mare took me to HOYS [Horse of the Year Show] for the bronze league final in 2017, I’ve been thinking about retiring her and finding her a husband. I decided at Aintree’s national championships that if we qualified for the Blue Chip finals I’d jump her there and it would be her last show, so things are working out perfectly,” Jake said. Jake first rode the 17.1hh Dutch-bred daughter of Radisson in 2015, when she was sent to him to sell. “She had only done a couple of shows since being imported and had been in the field, but I liked her so much…

Keysoe, Beds ROSIE HULL will pay her first visit to the Blue Chip Championships for many years after beating a big field in the Joshua Jones discovery qualifier on Krafty Vivendi. “We had already qualified for the novice final and I decided that if we had two classes to aim for, we’d go to Hartpury,” said Rosie. “When I arrived at Keysoe and saw the opposition I didn’t think we had a hope, but he jumped so well and it was great fun.” Although she showjumped ponies at top level, Rosie has since been better known for eventing and as a point-to-point jockey. However, horses have had to take a back seat since the birth of her two young children. “I now have a couple of sales liveries and loads…

WEST PERCY, ALNWICK SATURDAY, 11 JANUARY Conditions 5yo&up.— 1, A Waugh’s Son Of Suzie (A Waugh) A Waugh. ladies’ open.— 1, S Westrope’s Kalabaloo (G Andrews) T Ellis. men’s open.— 1, D&A Yates’ Don Poli (T Durrell) N Pearce. restricted.— 1, The Father & Daughter Partnership’s Mr Pepperpot (J Dawson) R Tate. open maiden (div 1).— 1, V McKie’s Rio Des Echanault (N Orpwood) V McKie. div 2.— 1, T Ellis’ Give Us A Swig (G Andrews) T Ellis. Flat race 4&5yo.— 1, R Goldie’s Firth Of Vic (N Orpwood) T Hogarth. YORKSHIRE AREA POINT-TO-POINT CLUB, SHERIFF HUTTON SUNDAY, 12 JANUARY Conditions 5yo&up (div 1).— 1, J Chatfeild-Roberts’ Smoke Man (T Chatfeild-Roberts) H Connors. div 2.— 1, K Mackley & S Dent’s Cup Final (R Wilson) S Dent. restricted.— 1,…

THE aim of a new and different initiative aimed at tackling equine obesity is to help save horses’ lives. The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is launching a six-month pilot of its scheme, developed using knowledge from the behavioural insights team (BIT), a government think tank working on behavioural economics and psychology. The idea is to use routine vaccination visits as a chance to assess equine body condition, and use a traffic light system of vaccination reminder stickers on the front of horse passports. A green sticker indicates an animal in healthy condition, amber is for those with too much fat, advising that moderate action must be taken, and red means the animal has excessive fat, which is putting it in “morbid danger”. BEVA president elect Lucy Grieve, who is…

• Routinely take horses’ temperature twice daily and record these in a diary. It should then be obvious when an animal “spikes” an abnormally increased rectal temperature (usually above 38.5°C). A horse with a temperature should be promptly isolated. • Do not move horses off premises where infectious disease has been recently diagnosed, as seemingly healthy animals may be incubating the disease. • At events, avoid close direct contact between horses or indirect contact arising from sharing feed or water buckets, and tack such as bits or bridles. People going between horses should apply appropriate hand hygiene measures. • Quarantine horses returning to premises after attending events where they may have acquired an infection and might act as a source of that infection for resident horses. • Quarantine periods of…

A WEBSITE giving owners and vets access to up-to-date information on strangles cases has been described as a “huge step forward” by the Animal Health Trust (AHT). The AHT created the website as part of its surveillance of strangles project, launched last April in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College and the universities of Liverpool and Melbourne, with funding by the Horse Trust. An AHT spokesman said the website will be a “vital tool” for owners and people working with horses. It includes a mapping function highlighting regions where cases have been confirmed and allows users to view information relevant to location and seasonal trends. “With more than 600 outbreaks in the UK each year, strangles causes immense welfare problems and significant costs to owners,” he said. AHT director of…

MOUNT ST JOHN FREESTYLE The 11-year-old and Charlotte Dujardin start 2020 as the highest-ranked British combination in the world dressage rankings. They went from 48th to sixth after their Olympia performance. AL BOUM PHOTO The 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner headlines three former winners entered for the race on 13 March at the 2020 Festival. The 2018 winner Native River and 2017 victor Sizing John are also among the 31 entries. DULCAL ROYAL EMBLEM The heavyweight show hunter, whose CV boasted success at the Royal International and HOYS, has died aged 19. He stood champion as a yearling, retiring as champion hunter at the Royal London.…

▲ INITIATIVE The goody bag at the most recent World Horse Welfare conference contained a ruler — which is always handy. Handy in an unexpected way for one delegate, who used it to make a rocket for her son’s homework… ▲ KARMA Regular readers may remember an item in this very column ribbing she who had waved at a friend during an auction and nearly secured an expensive horse. Ironically, she who wrote said item forgot this story, and did the very same at the British Horse Foundation awards and auction, almost inadvertently buying a stallion photoshoot. Karma… ▲ SEMEN One loves the fact that the awards goody bag contained a Stallion AI Services flyer advertising, in big letters: “Semen Freezing”. In any other context……

I HAVE owned horses for 30 years and have had many unpleasant encounters on the road. Few of us have the luxury of enough land to ride on to avoid riding on the roads, and believe it or not we don’t deliberately go out of our way to inconvenience anyone. Many motorists don’t realise the love we have for our horses, a lot of owners treating them like their own children, so maybe they should put themselves in our shoes. How would they feel if their child was knocked off their bike by a vehicle travelling too fast or too close? Road users need to be aware of the devastation road accidents cause families. It’s a painful experience losing a loved one, whether horse or human, so all we riders…

GROWING up, I idolised all the greats: Mary King, Carol Gilbert-Scott, Anky van Grunsven, Richard Dunwoody, Tim Stockdale and, of course, Carl Hester. My house is full of books they’ve written. When I was younger I was very ambitious and driven, and while they are great qualities to have, with horses you have to put things into perspective. Success doesn’t always come in the form of a ribbon. Sometimes the rewards are teaching a youngster to pick up the correct canter lead or starting a pony off to jump. I’m still very driven in all I do. The phrase “quitters never win yet winners never quit” rings true with me. However, while I believe it’s good to be stubborn about your goals I do think you have to be flexible…

TRIPS to the farmers’ market where you can buy ethically produced, healthy, local produce, which has low food miles, was one of the things that inspired Hermione Perry to set up her own animal feed company. “Devon is already renowned in the food industry for the huge array of locally produced, quality and speciality foods for humans, so we felt it was about time our animals also benefited from this,” said Hermione, who worked in equine supplements for industry leaders for 19 years. She set up the online Little Feed Company and now supplies a range of feed products for horses, dogs and chickens, which is in recyclable, sustainable packaging and made only with natural ingredients. “I am in a unique position — scientifically qualified with huge commercial experience but…

“OVER the past five to 10 years, people have started to realise what a difference a bit can make,” explains Claire Lund of Bombers Equestrian Equipment which, along with Sprenger, Myler and Neue Schule, is one of the most innovative bit brands on the market. “It’s no longer about forcing a horse to work with a bit, but about finding a bit that works for that individual horse,” she explains. “Bombers’ bits work largely due to the philosophy behind the bits, that pressure creates resistance and resistance creates a lack of control. By softening the pressure and making the bit as comfortable as possible for the individual horse, we improve the horses’ response to the pressure of the bit.” Using research focusing on the working angle of a bit, Neue…

EQUI-VUE2 is an equestrian camera that uses its own Wi-Fi module to transmit video images from a horsebox or trailer straight to smart devices. Equi-Vue2 features a built-in rechargeable battery, which means there is no complicated wiring. Installation is easy, with a magnetic mount found inside the camera’s base. There is also a Velcro mount if needed. Once installed, users will be able to see their horses from as far as 15 metres away. You can even save photos or videos, via the app, to your phone or tablet. £199.99 trailervision.co.uk…

• Use a cocktail stick to poke out dirt and product deposits from holes. Be careful not to enlarge the hole. • A soft toothbrush is useful for brushing away trapped dirt. • If leather is very dry, clean it first, then apply conditioner. If the product disappears immediately, apply another layer, leave overnight and polish off the next day. • Found a forgotten piece of tack that’s gone mouldy? Work outside to avoid spreading spores. Wipe off mould with a damp cloth, which should be soaked in boiling water with disinfectant if you plan to use it again, then treat the tack with a leather-specific mould inhibitor, and finally condition the leather. Check that stitching hasn’t rotted and that spores haven’t spread to other items. Keeping tack in a…

‘Her ears were always forward, asking, “What are we doing? Let’s get on with it”’ JUST as some hunt staff are professional, so are horses, and Flossie was definitely a professional. “I looked at her on a little farm in Devon,” remembers Lizzie Pinney, outgoing director of the Association of Harriers and Beagles and deputy director of the Hunting Office. “She was hairy as anything and I didn’t want a mare, but the owner threw a little girl on her and I felt rather obliged to buy her.” The next day, half an hour with staghounds turned into two hours: “I named her Flossie after the little girl, Flo — they both knew what they were doing.” With the Burton in Lincolnshire, Flossie adopted a novel approach to the huge…

10 Jan: med 71Q gold (A Bostock).— 1, Insticator BS (R Dowley) 69.73; 2. Gerardo (S Thurman-Baker) 6554; 3, GF Demellia (M Forrest) 63.78. silv.— 1, Mount St John Diva Dannebrog (A Gascoigne) 67.83; 2, Jasper Fan It Alde Honk (A Tilston) 65.94; 3, Foxhill Betty Boo (C Jones) 61.35. adv med 91Q gold (C Tupling).— 1, Freddie Mercury (L Davison) 70.26; 2, GF Dusautoir (M Forrest) 69.94; 3, Sanremo Hit (S Williams) 69.61 silv.— 1, Wind Dance (A Taylor) 67.3; 2, FHS Diamond In The Rough (M Gardner) 66.79; 3, Don Romancier (J Haswell) 66.75. FEI pony team (P Bushell, A Bostock, C Tupling).— 1, DST Carluccio (R Morgan) 68.59; 2, Fin Ce We (D Howard-Cartwright) 66.58; 3, Rosewater Chamonix (P Burner) 65.85. FEI indiv.— 1, DST Carluccio 68.65;…

THE Oppenheimer family’s seasoned campaigner Headmore Delegate is enjoying a change of scenery with new rider Ruth Hole. The 17-year-old grand prix gelding, a prolific winner with Alice Oppenheimer — and more recently a team bronze medallist at the 2018 under-25 European championships with Becky Edwards — has become “the best Pony Club pony around” as Ruth jumps him bareback and hacks him out in a headcollar. “Alice was keen for Del to find his love for dressage again,” explained Ruth, who rode him to a plus-75% PSG win at Martley Hall Stud, Suffolk, after an impressive competition debut in November. “I’m lucky to have him and so proud of how we’ve come together in the last couple of months.” Hot on their heels was Ruth’s mother and equine vet…

West Park Arena, Durham WHILE shopping for an eventer 10 years ago, Clare Hinchliffe inadvertently bought herself a dressage horse — and is now knocking on the door at the highest levels. “I have to keep pinching myself,” said Clare, who has produced jumping-bred Cascento from an unbacked three-year-old to PSG/inter I. “We decided to concentrate on dressage, as he was so spooky. He has his own opinion about how things should be done and such huge paces that he throws me around like a rag doll.” The German-bred gelding headed both medium and advanced medium classes at West Park Arena, Durham, despite a difficult start to the afternoon. “I turned him out during the day because we weren’t on until after 6pm,” said Clare, a small animal vet. “When…

11 Jan: sml pony open.— 1, Another Barney (T Kyle); 2, Ellies Miss Chief (N Lock); 3, Paulank Redbreast (T Travis). 11 & under.— 1, 11 tied. Graham Heath 128/138cm.— 1, 2 & 3, Playboy Van De Zoetewei, Lissduff Royal & Mister Proper (T Kyle). winter 128cm 2nd round.— 1, Essenar Jinja Ninja (H Gerken); 2 & 3, Carrowvila Izzy & Runaway Dolly (K Bradburne). winter 138cm 2nd round.— 1, Top Silvio Hastak (O Sponer); 2, My Bugsy Malone (C Mensley); 3, Playboy Van De Zoetewei. BS 128/138cm special.— 1, Myerscough Maple (G Mattle); 2, Shappen Pilgrim (D Saunders); 3, Buddy II (A Diaper). 12 Jan: Graham Heath 128/138cm.— 1, Mister Proper; 2 & 3, Mayfly Green Peter & Jim (I Harris). winter 138cm 2nd round.— 1, Playboy Van De…

ONLEY GROUNDS is probably the best premier centre in the country. The facilities are superb, they work hard, the food — supplied by their own butchers — is good and there is a warm, dedicated area for spectators. It is paying dividends and the organisers also have big plans to improve it with new indoor and outdoor arenas. This will be very good for the area and, even better, it’s only 35 minutes away from me. These purpose-built centres that are looking to bring in business are the way forward, and hopefully Onley will act as a catalyst for more centres like this in Britain. The tendency for riders is to go abroad where centres are run as businesses and, until British Showjumping gets in line with Europe with age…

Onley Grounds, Warks SCARLETT WARD finished 2019 on top form with six wins at Onley’s final show of the year. Scarlett, a former rider for Team Stockdale, is now back home in Beverley, East Yorks, where she has 14 horses to ride. “It’s too many really, but it keeps me busy,” she said. Her number one ride is the grade A Chianti Rufina, a 17-year-old mare who won twice at Onley. “She belonged to a friend who decided to do other things, and when he told me he was selling her, I said I’d buy her,” explained Scarlett. “I took a huge chance as I’d never even watched her jump, but she’s turned out better than I could have imagined. I couldn’t have a bought a nicer horse.” Also among…

Warwick Racecourse, Warks EVEN though most roads lead to the Cheltenham Festival at this time of year, the occasional one still leads to Aintree. Apart from the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase at the Festival, which has been won by the subsequent Grand National winner, Tiger Roll, for the past two years, the next best race for National winners is probably Warwick’s McCoy Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Handicap Chase, which was run on Saturday, 11 January. It was won by One For Arthur en route to securing his place in Scottish racing history at Aintree in 2017, and Auroras Encore finished fifth in it before winning the National for trainer Sue Smith in 2013. It would not be hard to see this year’s winner, Kimberlite Candy, running a huge race in the…

IT might sound stupid, but when you haven’t had a winner for three weeks you begin to believe that your horses are either ill or you’ve just got it all wrong. From our last 25-plus runners most have been placed, but none have won, and this game is all about the winners — not the losers. So when Two For Gold stuck his neck out to win the Grade Two chase at Warwick on Saturday, 11 January, I hugged his part-owner, Stephen Cannon, like I’d been reunited with a long-lost relation. This game is wonderful when it is going right, but a bloody nightmare when not. We are in it for winning races and second best is never an option. Owners are supportive when things are going well and they…

IT never rains but it pours, so the saying goes. In four seasons’ hunting the hounds here, Adam has kept going with the same two horses and, in the main, they have stayed remarkably sound. In our two-day-a-week country, Adam hunts one horse one day and one the other, alternating between the two all season. He’s no featherweight, but at the same time he doesn’t cane his horses and they keep going remarkably well, barely missing a day. We kept marvelling at their sustained run of soundness, but we were also conscious that two horses in their mid-teens wouldn’t do the work forever and had started a tentative search for replacements. Then, last Saturday, this run of luck came to a crushing end. It happened at the end of the…

KILTS Lastly from the British Horse Foundation awards, Wellington Riding centre grand fromage David Sheerin, resplendent in tartan, was on stage, having his picture taken by a snapper on ground level. “No lower, no lower!” he joshed. Gosh. COMPETING A rider having physio treatment for a horse-related injury was pleased to hear the practitioner was happy with her progress. “So can I go to a jumping show tomorrow?” she asked, in hope. “Only if you don’t fall off,” he replied smartly. Ah. About that... HARES A post on social media said hunt sabs had found “signs of hare activity” including “active entrances to their burrows”. Did they also find badgers’ nests in the trees, one wonders? Ducks’ holes in the woods? (That’s enough animal homes, Ed.)…

I had a bad belly-up at 13, hunting a young horse. I broke my back and neck, and my horse, whom I adored, was fatally injured. I didn’t ride again for many years, then got married and was taken to live in Northamptonshire where I didn’t know anyone. It was really lonely. I’d be walking my dogs and the hunt would come hooning past — they were all so smiley and friendly, I thought, “You have to man up and get back on a horse.” ‘I returned from Mongolia stinking to high hell and hairy like an old ewe’ Like all rational horsey women, I wondered if I’d feel more secure sideways. Philippa Holland and I went off to try side-saddle with Roger Philpott, who was kindness and patience personified.…

CHRISTMAS and New Year are over so it’s back to normal work. I was fortunate enough to go home to England for Christmas — the drive home was also made easier having just finished a fantastic show at Peelbergen CSI2* that weekend, with Icaterma winning the six-year-old final and Stenhaga Tulip Tattoo finishing second in the grand prix. Icaterma is an exciting prospect and is owned jointly by my boss Karel Cox and two of my loyal owners Julia Biddle and Val Attenborough. Christmas at home involved eating my own weight in food and seeing the growth of my previous best horse Avoca Valkyrie’s foal, Odin. It is fair to say he has grown a lot since I saw him in October. He is now very grey — his father…

1 Consider buying from and supporting local businesses that have a lower carbon footprint. 2 Repurpose old plastic feed tubs that cannot be recycled by using them for storage. Where contamination is not a competition risk, use refills to top up old tubs or plastic tupperware (pictured). 3 Recycle wherever possible — check whether the packaging on products you use is recyclable and if so where. You may need to get to know your area’s recycling policies, too. 4 Consider secondhand tack, rugs and other kit that may only be on the market because a horse has sold. 5 Ditch the wipes and sponges. Use biodegradable cleaning pads for tack cleaning, wiping on fly spray, cleaning boots — and even your kitchen...…

WHAT’S new on the market designed to help keep horses safe in transit. EQUI TRAVEL SAFE (ETS) ETS is a harness that stops horses being able to rear high enough to get stuck over the breast bar, yet still allows the freedom to move and balance. It has five points of adjustment for a perfect fit and a padded neoprene back pad for comfort. £249.99 equitravelsafe.co.uk HARRY HALL PROTECHMASTA HEADCOLLAR This headcollar features a “break-free” option — should a horse panic or get stuck, the break-free will release if put under pressure. It has padded sections lined with ceramic that emits far infrared radiation (FIR), which is designed to assist blood circulation and help ease muscle tension. £65 harryhall.com…

BLUE CHIP DYNAMIC JOINT AND BONE SUPPLEMENT Ideal for youngstock, it supports bone development and helps to protect joints. £34.95 for 15kg bluechipfeed.com NAF INSTANT MAGIC Contains a unique combination of herbs and bio-available magnesium known to help reduce anxiety and support concentration and learning. £15 for three 30ml syringes naf-equine.eu/uk EQUI LIFE FORMULA4 FEET Help your horse grow strong and supple hooves ready for the upcoming competition season after his winter break. £36.74 for 7kg equilife.co.uk AVIFORM EQUABLE CALMER POWDER Helps soothe and promote focus in nervous, excitable or highly strung horses, who may be full of beans after being stabled. £17.95 for 500g aviform.co.uk WINERGY VENTIL-ATE Support your horse’s own natural lung defences with the use of important antioxidants to ensure the lungs are functioning at maximum capacity.…

Addington Equestrian High Profile Show, Bucks WITH no sign of first-time nerves, Gio, partnered by Charlotte Dujardin, bounced into the Addington arena like he owned it, and smashed his first-ever competitive grand prix test with a smooth, confident performance and a super score of 79.57%. The nine-year-old, owned by Charlotte and Renai Hart and known as Pumpkin, is the current inter II national champion, but only competed twice last year — at the nationals and before that at the Hartpury Premier League. Here, his half-passes were smooth and expressive and the piaffe and passage had great rhythm and joint articulation. The tempis were clean and high, while the pirouettes were smooth and well ridden. Charlotte bought the 16hh Pumpkin after seeing him at a clinic she gave in America, and…

INTERNATIONAL grand prix rider and trainer Kenneth Dyrby is back on the competition scene, claiming a second plus-70% PSG score in just two outings with Dancing Diamond. “I thought I had retired,” said Kenneth, who impressed with his 11-year-old Diamond Hit gelding at Easton College, Norfolk, after a successful debut at Keysoe in November. “I’d lost a bit of interest in the whole thing to be honest, but last year I said to myself: ‘If you don’t do it now, you ain’t gonna do it at all.’” Kenneth, a Dane who later rode for the USA with top horses including Rholex and Nanette, has produced Dancing Diamond with time and care. “He was a sharp youngster and is sensitive and insecure, so we’ve done a lot of hacking and I’m…