Innholdsfortegnelse for 12-Mar-2020 i Horse & Hound

I AM brimming with pride that Horse & Hound’s excellent news editor, Eleanor Jones, has been recognised for all her hard work, receiving the Colin Spedding Award at the National Equine Forum on 5 March (news, p5). A spokesman noted that her writing has “changed perceptions and improved welfare”. Eleanor, like the rest of the H&H editorial team, thinks nothing of writing and making calls out of hours or getting up at 4am to head off to do an interview. And no one is doing it for the paycheck – it’s the love of horses, predominantly, and our sports and this brand that motivates everyone here. I feel so lucky to work with such an incredible, strong, compassionate, talented and passionate team and am utterly chuffed that the industry has…

SHANNONDALE VINTAGE The gelding, competed up to four-star by Imogen Murray, has joined Hong Kong eventer Thomas Heffernan Ho. The 11-year-old and Thomas jumped double clear in their first FEI event together, a CCI3*-S. BECCONSALL NORTHERN REFLECTION Jean Walsh-Wright’s prolific broodmare has died aged 32. She was the dam of two-time RIHS winner Becconsall Pick Pocket and multi-HOYS and RIHS finalist Becconsall Regal Ruby. UUSMINKA The full sister to Totilas has arrived at Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Stud for breeding. The 19-year-old was shortlisted to represent the Netherlands at the World Championships for young horses as a five-year-old.…

TOILET ROLL Top marks to Brendon Stud, which advertised a multi-pack of toilet rolls for sale at the bargain price of £30,000 – and you get a free showjumping horse. If the buyer asks really nicely, they might throw in a bottle of hand sanitiser as well… MORE TOILET ROLL On a similar note, racing trainer Fergal O’Brien was offering a free toilet roll with every share bought in a summer racing partnership. Not as generous, possibly, but it is quilted, for the luxury hoarders. PANIC-BUYING With the threat of coronavirus, we’re thinking it is sensible to stock up on the essentials. So far, the yard count stands at three turnout rugs, two fleeces, six lead-ropes, 12 hoof-picks and a pair of scissors. That should do the trick.…

I AM your typical professional amateur (PA), but it’s very hard work. I spend a fortune on lessons and at times really do think I can give Oliver Townend and Piggy March (née French) a run for their money. Over the winter, I invested in a lot of lessons with some top professionals (no name dropping) and suffice to say, improvements have been made. But Oliver and Piggy are still fairly safe and I think the Olympics this year is a touch ambitious – maybe 2028 if I’m not planning my Saga holiday. My trainer recently found it very funny as I kept having to wipe my drippy nose, a condition you succumb to as you get older. But obviously I can’t wipe as I need both hands on the…

Warm up and cool down appropriately, to prepare the horse’s muscles for strenuous exercise and to assist recovery. Make sure that his body is worked symmetrically, to encourage even muscle development and minimise any uneven loading on the limbs. It’s important to canter and gallop on both left and right leads for similar periods. Any unevenness of gait or a tendency to “hang” in one direction should be investigated before an injury or lameness develops. Hillwork may not be ideal for horses with certain injuries or conditions. Sacroiliac pain may be aggravated by going up or down steep hills, so a gentle incline is better for training horses with this condition. Some hillwork is beneficial, however, to build muscle through the thoracolumbar region and to help strengthen the muscles that…

“Find time to make it work” LAUREN INNES works full time as an auditor for KPMG in Reading, an hour’s commute from her home. She is on a training contract, which means she is also completing exams alongside her job so she can gain her chartered accountancy qualification. “I’m on the client side of things so although I always start work at 9am, my finish time can vary from 5pm to midnight depending on what deadlines we’re working to,” says Lauren, 29. “I once finished at 5am and day-to-day I don’t know exactly when I’ll be home, so I always get up at 6am to ride before work.” Lauren owns one horse, Global Fision M, and is on the lookout for a young horse. She sourced “Flipper” five years ago…

Oasby (1), Lincs RISING talent and some of the world’s best combinations opened their 2020 campaigns with strong results. Piggy March (née French) continued her commanding form with a pair of open intermediate (OI) wins on two of her stable stars, giving a double to owners Alison Swinburn, and John and Chloe Perry. Her 2019 Blenheim-winning ride Brookfield Inocent led from start to finish to win with two fences in hand. The pair added 0.8 of a cross-country time-penalty to their dressage of 21.8, scooping victory on a final total of 22.6. “The more times I get him out the better he is, as he is very spooky,” said Piggy. “I was delighted for his first time out that he was as settled as he was. He’s on the list…

THE eventing season has started – for some people. I tried to go eventing at Tweseldown last Thursday, and I was quite sure that if I started the dressage, I’d get a complete run into my horses. Yes, it was wet and cold, but only once have I started the dressage there and not finished the day – about 25 years ago, when it snowed. I’d already been round the cross-country twice when they called it a day because the snow was so heavy. Last week, we knew before we started that the ground in the dressage warm-up and arenas was going to be messy, but it can look bad there and the ground takes it well. I was first to go in the advanced intermediate (AI), which was the…

Myerscough Premier League, Lancs AMY WOODHEAD was in sparkling form with three nationals tickets secured. Amy’s wins came in Thursday’s prix st georges (PSG) and Friday’s inter I with MSJ Top Secret and Friday’s inter I with Mount St John Kom Fairy Tale. She has had the ride on the Mount St John mares, both of whom have youngsters on the ground using embryo transfer, since last November, and following a fact-finding outing with both in the past fortnight this was a first foray into the big time. “They’re two beautifully trained horses and I’m just so excited to have been entrusted with them,” said Amy. “My mum Tracy has been my eyes on the ground and I’ve done lots of hacking, a bit of jumping and trips to the…

THE situation surrounding coronavirus is changing by the day, but it seems that the effects of this virus are going to be unavoidable, with travel being one of the main things to affect our sport. Many people are already speculating whether the Tokyo Olympics will go ahead as planned or whether it will have to be moved, postponed or cancelled. All these possibilities would have a bigger impact than we can conceive – it is hard to imagine the number of flights already booked, the hotels organised, and the numbers of volunteers, officials and teams around the athletes themselves that have been part of precision planning for months and even years in advance. To change venues, or even just the time frame, would be huge, and the financial implications are…

AT her first show since fracturing two vertebrae in a freak accident last August, Steffi Riley returned in style to beat huge fields in the 1m and 1.10m open classes at Addington. “I didn’t even fall off. I hit my leg on a wing, twisted my body in mid-air and ended up being unable to do anything for eight weeks,” explained Steffi, who has given up a lucrative office job for a full-time career with horses. “I was going to work, then doing my four horses and getting home at 11pm every night. I’m now managing Crossoaks Equestrian in Borehamwood, running clinics and teaching every day. I have a new lorry being built and once that’s finished, I’ll have eight horses to compete, plus youngsters to back and break. It’s…

BSPS Area 3B, Bishop Burton College, Yorks NO strangers to early qualifications, William Pittendrigh and Silver Lough (Scully) stormed to the Royal International (RIHS) working hunter pony championship after winning the intermediates on their first try of the term. “The course jumped well but was up to height and very twisty,” remarked William, who has already bagged a Hickstead place in horse worker ranks with Scully. “He’s feeling very well. I’ve mainly hunted him over winter to let him have some fun as last season was a big one for him. Now he’s got his RIHS tickets I’m thinking about eventing him.” “The course jumped well”WILLIAM PITTENDRIGH Slotting into reserve were the 143cm victors Alice Cowie riding Beech Hall Ryan. The former RIHS working hunter pony supreme was fourth at…

BEAUFORT, DIDMARTON Saturday, 7 March Hunt members’.— 1, C Dando’s According To Harry (B Gardener-Wollen) C Dando. intermediate.— 1, C Bennett’s Miss Seagreen (S Jukes) S Jukes. PPORA club members’ conditions.— 1, C Dope, Mr & Mrs Cope, L Hartley, S Sharratt & C Mellard’s Salvatore (A Edwards) P Rowley. novice riders’ conditions.— 1, D Pugh’s Doc Carver (R Pugh) D Pugh. Oriental Club owner-trainer conditions.— 1, J Banks’ Vasco Du Mee (J Banks) C Banks. restricted.— 1, C Sherriff’s Premier Magic (B Gibbs) B Gibbs . open maiden div 1.— 1, T Malone’s Milanford (W Biddick) T Malone. div 2.—1, The Kilkenny Racing Partnership’s Smoking Pigeon (N Phillips) E Brown. SUFFOLK, AMPTON Saturday, 7 March Conditions 9yo&up.— 1, The Huntin, Shootin, Fishin Partnership’s Generous Ransom (J Andrews) D Phelan.…

A “VISIONARY” change to the Central Equine Database (CED) has the potential to benefit owners, businesses, sports and, most importantly, the horses themselves. Defra minister Lord Gardiner announced at the National Equine Forum on 5 March that owners will be able to change passport information themselves through the CED’s “digital stable”, free. While owners may still update details through passport-issuing organisations (PIOs) as they can currently, the changes are aimed at making it easier for them to ensure that information held by PIOs on themselves and their horses is correct. “Now we as owners will have no excuse for ignoring our legal obligations”BRITISH HORSE COUNCIL CHAIR DAVID MOUNTFORD “The digital stable is protected by rigorous security and identity checks to ensure owners’ information and equine records are safe,” a spokesman…

FEI SPORTS FORUM 2020 TO GO ONLINE THE FEI’s 2020 Sports Forum is moving online only (6–7 April) owing to coronavirus. A spokesman for the FEI said after a risk assessment of the COVID-19 situation, in line with recommendations of the relevant health authorities, the FEI decided to cancel the in-person event in Lausanne, Switzerland. The full sessions on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics and on FEI anti-doping rules will be held online – but other topics including event requirements and standards, status of grooms and coaching will be addressed at a later stage. MUM’S THE WORD THANKS TO H&H LOOKING for something different for Mother’s Day? Bespoke H&H magazine front covers, using your photographs and your chosen text, would make an ideal gift. “If you’re looking for something…

Eventer Piggy March (née French) has won her sixth class this year, two weeks into the new season. Piggy enjoyed three wins at Isleham on 29 February and three at Oasby on 6-7 March. Showjumper Amy Inglis has graduated from the European Equestrian Federation’s Young Rider Academy. The programme supports talented riders with elite potential. H&H eventing and magazine editor Pippa Roome took part in a special episode of the EquiRatings podcast celebrating women involved in eventing for International Women’s Day. H&H contributor Owen Griffiths was awarded the title honorary international ambassador for the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America after delivering talks in Colorado on the breed. Irish showjumper Kevin Babington has joined Horse Sport Ireland’s high performance showjumping committee as technical advisor to the senior jumping programme.…

WORMERS Lots of interest online in an H&H piece about the dangers of wormer resistance – and also lots of ignorance. Top comment of the week goes to she who said: “How about these so-called ‘experts’ develop safe new drugs that target the types that are resistant to current wormers?” Well, why didn’t they think of that? Sigh. SHEEP A farrier who left his van open while at a yard was surprised to find it being stolen from – by an errant sheep. The sheep stuck its head in a door pocket and tried to make off with a pot of antihistamine pills. Fleeced. THERMOMETERS A rider feeling rather under the weather wanted to take her temperature – but the only thermometer she could find was in the horses’ first-aid…

IT’S been 29 years since the Whitaker name was last etched on the World Cup trophy. But next month, Robert is hoping to join the elopers, gamblers and thrill-seekers boarding a Las Vegas-bound flight for the prestigious final. It was Robert’s father John who rode Milton to the first of their back-to-back World Cup victories back in 1990, but memories of his uncle Michael’s runner-up finish at the world-famous Thomas and Mack Center in 2005 have really inspired Robert this season. “That event was something special. I’ve jumped in a few World Cup Finals, but I’ve always wanted to compete in Vegas,” says the 37-year-old Yorkshireman, who just missed out on automatic qualification – competition to secure a place at this year’s finale has been hotter than the Nevada sun.…

SIX APPEAL NICOLA WILSON went home with six top-10 placings from seven rides on her return to eventing after fracturing four vertebrae in an eventing fall in June. Nicola, who also came down with pneumonia during her recovery, said she had had a “lovely weekend” at Oasby and it was “amazing to be back out competing”. She finished third in OI section H on the nine-year-old JL Dublin (pictured), owned by Deidre Johnston, and James and Jo Lambert. “He had a great deal of fun,” said Nicola, adding JL Dublin will be aimed for the CCI4*-L at Bramham. “He has always been a lovely, exciting horse and I think the break the horses had from competing last year seems to have done them good.” TALKING HEADS THE 2019 Horse of…

4 Mar: med 75Q gold (J Bailey, S Pimbley).— 1, French Noir MFS (D Lever) 72.09; 2, Jerrydale (S Taylor) 70.74; 3, Showstar (J Ainscough) 70. adv med 96Q gold (K Barker, S Kingwells).— 1, Helga (M Frost) 71.84; 2, Woodcroft Ferdinand (J Dunn) 69.74; 3, Ghita Fille De Zita S (F Quinn) 69.74. BD 6yo Q (H Bradley, C Halsall).— 1, Woodcroft Django Mon Ami (D Hicks) 8.26; 2, SJL Baks Zacco (D Greenwood) 7.78; 3, Duchess Calina (D Hicks) 7.86. adv 102 (H Bradley, P Hayler).— 1, Guess Van De Moerhoef (B Bainbridge) 70; 2, Whoopy (P Keenan) 66.99; 3, Faydirmie ZH (S Rao) 65.22. 5 Mar: adv med 92Q gold (K Barker, H Bradley, S Stewart).— 1, Mount St John Di Romantica (R Todd) 69.82; 2, Helga…

5 Mar: Theraplate Ltd med 75 gold (J Robinson, J Lorriston-Clarke, P Bushell).— 1, M Obarma (C McDowall) 70.18; 2, Virtuoso G (J Stolper) 68.92; 3, Findatie Bracken (C Pickles) 67.3. Charles Owen adv med 98 gold (T Cowie, S Cumine, A Bennie).— 1, Hawtins Rossana (D Skeates) 71.27; 2, Hennessy T (C Whitworth) 70.92; 3, Godin (J Wade) 69.69. silv (T Cowie, S Cumine, A Bennie).— 1, Keystone Diego (G Davis) 69.65; 2, Dolce Vita IV (R Wintle) 68.86; 3, Likoto’s Luke (A Brooker) 67.32. Superflex inter I gold (J Robinson, J Lorriston-Clarke, P Bushell).— 1, Cruz III (J Turney) 69.47; 2, Berrifield Stuntman (D Childs) 68.29; 3 Berkeley TH (A Bradley) 67.15. Spillers med FSM gold (D Collins, S Smith, A Duck)— 1, Virtuoso G (J Stolper) 73.5;…

SADDLESDANE EC 1 Mar: prelim 15 gold (G Catling).— 1eq, Orbi VD Wateringhoeve (J Whitehead) & Serupgards Salento (I Sinclair) 63.8. silv.— 1, KMD Rockstar (R Grieve) 61.4. brnz.— 1, Palmela (D Gower) 66.6; 2, Radar Knight (L Druggan) 65.6; 3, Delaroche Black Gold (C Johnson) 64. prelim 19 gold.— 1, Orbi VD Wateringhoeve 67.92. silv.— 1, KMD Rockstar 58.75. brnz.— 1, Palmela 70.83; 2, Radar Knight 65.42; 3, Delaroche Black Gold 65. nov 22 gold (M Lawrence).— 1, Joy II (S Scott) 73.1. silv.— 1, DHI Diamond Fantasy (L Stebbings) 73.97; 2, Tangle (H Loveridge) 67.93; 3, Ridgedales Chocaholic (S Young) 63.1. brnz.— 1, Kingsleypark Panther (C Drury) 69.31; 2, Rosepoint Lace (C Evans) 69.14; 3, Sidnifigant (K Connell) 66.9. nov 37A gold.— 1, Joy II 75.56. silv.— 1,…

SPARSHOLT COLLEGE 1 Mar: prelim 17A Q silv (S Prew).— 1, Inishturkbeg Topsail (R Hooper) 67.07; 2, Rogue One (T Chan) 66.72; 3, Ru Bear (J Taylor) 65.69. brnz.— 1, Angelina Ballerina (I Hellawell) 69.66; 2, Doogle (B Carlin) 69.66; 3, Killasins Hero (T Carter) 65. prelim 19Q silv (H Evelyn-Wood).— 1, Rogue One 68.96; 2, Inishturkbeg Topsail 67.92; 3, Ru Bear 60. brnz.— 1, Furstin Firefly (I Thompson-Bland) 67.5; 2, Ferro Curry (S Robertson) 65.83; 3, Doogle 60.83. nov 23 gold (C Weston).— 1, Khaleesi M (J Palmer) 74.58; 2, Swanmore Jaeger (S Alderman) 67.71; 3, Lor Ruadh’s Cedro I (A Francis) 64.17. silv.— 1, Woodlander Wales (E Nelson) 64.58; 2, My Spirit (A Dunford) 63.96; 3, Douglas VI (A Smith) 63.75. brnz.— 1, Furstin Firefly 68.75; 2, Celeste…

Solihull Riding Club, Warks AT the age of 73, one-horse owner Ian Marklew is used to proving that age is simply a number and he did it again, scoring a 90cm and 1m open double on his mare, Portroyal. Tamworth-based Ian has owned the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare for five years and has produced her from novice level to grade B. “I call her my ‘carer’,” he said. “She’s a wonder horse who never disappoints and I can’t believe how fortunate I was to find her. I’ve been truly blessed.” Ian began his showjumping career as a teenager, when he competed against top riders in his area, such as Stephen Hadley and Bob Ellis. “I’m still serious about my sport,” he said. “I may not be jumping 1.40m or…

IT may come as a surprise to those of you who know my appetite for hunting that I’m quite relieved the season has now finished. The Pytchley, like many other packs in this part of the country, called time a couple of weeks earlier than usual. The reason for this was the unprecedented wet that has dogged us all winter from about 1 October onwards and a general desire not to take advantage of the extraordinary generosity our farmers have shown us all season. As a huntsman, the season is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. I look forward to each and every day with eager anticipation – then there is the comedown if it’s cancelled or if things don’t go to plan, or the elation of a good day.…

Beaufort, Didmarton, Glos A YEAR after his last victory, seven-year-old Premier Magic topped the restricted to give jockey Bradley Gibbs his first win as a trainer. The Welsh champion jockey bought the gelding from Ireland in 2018, but foot troubles have delayed the pair’s progress. Bradley said of his fiancée Claire Sherriff ’s gelding: “He was one of the best horses in the yard from what he was showing me at home. “He won a maiden last year in March, but his feet were really soft and he punctured his sole, so was out of action for the rest of last season. “We’ve tried a few different things which seem to have worked, and his feet are brilliant now. He’s also grown into himself and is a bigger, stronger horse.”…

INDIGO BREEZE (pictured), one of the most expensive horses seen at Alnwick (costing €90,000 last June), justified his star billing in the two-mile Flat race, under Jack Andrews. The four-year-old Martaline gelding didn’t see another rival and it was one-way traffic in the closing stages, as he cruised home 20 lengths ahead of Simplystic (Emma Todd). “I’ve been trying to run him for four weeks, but his intended engagements were all called off,” said the youngster’s Marlborough handler, Gearoid Costelloe. “He was barely out of second gear and could have gone round again – Jack had a job to pull him up. He’ll now head to the Tattersalls Cheltenham sale.”…

OLIVIA POOLTON has had to make four separate major claims with two different insurers for her 10-year-old thoroughbred Chater Garden (Jimmy) – he suffered a tendon injury, ruptured spleen, kissing spine and synovitis. “In general, the process was easy each time and it wasn’t stressful as my vets were really good at dealing with my insurance company,” explains Olivia. “To begin with lots of exclusions were placed on my policy, but my vets were able to help me get some of them lifted. “Being insured means I don’t have to question whether I can afford to provide the care Jimmy needs and I don’t have to make any tricky decisions.”…

WE must all take responsibility for ensuring horse sport keeps its social licence – and thrives. World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said all riders have a part to play in telling the story, at the National Equine Forum on 5 March. “We live in a changing world where public opinion is evolving,” he said, adding that some people, such as the increasing number of animal rights campaigners, believe riding is exploitation. “There’s a growing number of people who say it’s abuse, and this is a global issue,” he said, adding that public outcry over poor treatment of former racehorses in Australia, or issues in Middle Eastern endurance, for example, reflect on all horse sport. “Public perception and reality may be completely divorced, but even if the perception isn’t…

HAWTINS DELICATO The British team dressage horse posted the highest grand prix score of his career at the weekend. The 12-year-old gelding earned 80.4% at Myerscough Premier League (4–8 March) under Carl Hester. VITIKI The 12-year-old ride of Brazilian showjumper Yuri Mansur jumped clear in a 1.50m grand prix in Florida on 8 March, 20 months after Vitiki broke his off-fore pastern in a fall. The combination finished in ninth place on one time-fault. BALLAGHMOR CLASS Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s 2017 Burghley winner started his season in style at Oasby. The 13-year-old and Oliver Townend won an open intermediate section.…

THE Event Rider Masters (ERM) series will be held over four competitions this season. Organisers had said the series would run across six events, but decided to run a “shortened intense season in 2020”. The ERM team cited Tokyo 2020 (eventing 31 July–3 August) as a reason for the shortening, and prioritising a focus on securing increased global live terrestrial television broadcast coverage at all events. Burnham Market will open the 2020 series (10–11 April), followed by Chatsworth (16–17 May). The third leg will be at Arville in Belgium (27–28 June). Millstreet, Ireland (28–29 August), and Lignières, France (10–11 October), will no longer host ERM legs in 2020, with the final now at Jardy, Paris (11–12 July). “We will continue to create exciting new innovations in the presentation of eventing…

A 30-year-old horse and a 14-year-old foxhound who hunted together for many seasons have retired with the same family. Factor was the first hound puppy the Robbinses walked. He enjoyed seven seasons trail-hunting with the Albrighton and Woodland before returning to the family for some R&R following an operation. The intention was for him to go back to the field, but Factor had other ideas. “He very quickly adjusted to being a pet and seemed to like his new life,” Kay Robbins said. Mickey and Factor spent many days in the field together and parading hounds at shows. “Mickey was quirky, but he has mellowed so much over the years,” Mrs Robbins said. “He is 30 now and very happy in his field.”…

IT is important in the equestrian world – regardless of your discipline – to have a feel for horses and be surrounded by the right people. You have to be willing to learn, take advice and soak up knowledge from those who are experts in their own field. As a horseperson you can never stop learning and you have to be able to admit when you are wrong. I’ve always had a love for the Connemara pony and have bred many over the years; they are incredibly alert, quick-thinking, but sharp animals. You always have to be one step ahead of them, which is the same when it comes to educating any young horses, especially thoroughbreds – you must always be on the ball. My inspiration growing up was my…

DIARMUID says: “The five simple metrics are designed for everyone. You can work out your OBP, XC10 and SJ10 with as few as three competitions. “For any of these metrics, you can use only a given horse’s runs or you can use all horses. You can look at only BE100 events, or only 2019 runs, or you can include all levels and multiple seasons. It depends what you want to measure and improve. “You know yourself, you know your horse, you know your past performance. If you want to improve, know your numbers, improve digit by digit, and repeat. You’ve got this.”…

OI sec H.— 1, Ballaghmor Class (O Townend) 20,0,0=20; 2, Monkeying Around (I Taylor) 21.4,0,0=21.4; 3, JL Dublin (N Wilson) 25.5,0,0.8=26.3. sec I.— 1, Brookfield Quality (P March) 22.5,0,2.8=25.3; 2, Dreamaway II (T McEwen) 23.2,0,4.4=27.6; 3, Fonbherna Lancer (P March) 26.1,0,4.4=30.5. sec L.— 1, Brookfield Inocent (P March) 21.8,0,0.8=22.6; 2, Ivar Gooden (I Murray) 27.1,0,4=31.1; 3, Call Me Maggie May (I Taylor) 29.6,0,2.4=32. OIu21.— 1, Russal Z (H Coy) 24.1,0,3.2=27.3; 2, Cruz V (H Needham) 28.9,0,0=28.9; 3, CDS Lu Ca (D Proctor) 30.7,0,0=30.7. int sec K.— 1, Edison NJ (J Sommerville) 35.5,0,0=35.5; 2, MBF Dassett Legacy (C Barr) 33.4,0,3.2=36.6; 3, Charming Boy JR (N Mills) 28.9,0,8.8=37.7. sec M.— 1, Fools In Love (H Hankey) 29.8,0,1.6=31.4; 2, Teamar (G Taylor) 32.5,0,0.8=33.3; 3, Banzai Du Loir (Y Ingham) 28.9,0,6=34.9. ON sec C.—…

OI.— 1, Cola III (B Upton) 22.5,0,10.4=32.9; 2, Game Changer (G Taylor) 27.1,0,6=33.1; 3, Crambamboli (A Clark) 27.7,0,7.6=35.3. int.— 1, Capital T (C March) 34.6,0,11.2=45.8; 2, Cassiana De Riverland (T McEwen) 31.1,0,16.4=47.5; 3, Baskin Wicked Game (A Clark) 33,0,17.6=50.6. ON.— 1, Porridge Town (M Edmundson) 32,0,2.4=34.4; 2, Just A Jewel (S Sweeney) 33.5,0,2.8=36.3; 3, Jana De Cavaignac (C Copestake) 32.3,0,5.2=37.5. ONu18.— 1, Morelands Casanova (E Finston) 30.8,0,1.2=32; 2, Foxdon Half Pint (O Hall) 32.3,0,0=32.3; 3, Hexmaleys Hayday (O Kidner) 33.3,0,1.2=34.5. nov.— 1, Bank C IV (R Hilton) 27.5,0,0.8=28.3; 2, Tick Toc Tim (W Morton) 25,0,8=33; 3, MSH Bonanza (S Way) 27,0,6.4=33.4. BE100open.— 1, Diamond II (R Spalding) 22.5,0,0.8=23.3; 2, Sorastro TW (A Hallows) 30.5,0,0=30.5; 3, Fenomeen L (C Day) 27.3,0,3.2=30.5. BE100open u18.— 1, Fast Fuse (I Elwes) 27,0,0=27; 2, Alvescot…

A “BACKWARD” youngster is flourishing in the capable hands of Polly Schwerdt. The former British youth team event rider and her Dutch-bred gelding, Jackpot, dominated the prelims at Bicton Arena, Devon. This was a British Dressage (BD) debut for both. “I bought him a year ago as an immature four-year-old,” said Polly, a junior and young rider medalist and regular at Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials before moving to New Zealand, where she trained racehorses. “He was bred to showjump and had no muscle tone, but he’d been nicely backed and had a lovely softness. “I’ve taken my time and let him be a baby, building his strength,” said Polly, now based back in the UK. “He made a good start in eventing last season, winning his first British Eventing…

I’M writing this during the final weekend of this year’s Atlantic Tour in Vilamoura. We must have been travelling to Portugal for these shows for the past six years and Vilamoura Equestrian Centre has certainly become a home from home. I wouldn’t swap it for anywhere at this time of year. Of course, the unbelievable weather here helps. I’m not exactly looking forward to coming home to the cold, rain and what appears to be the virus from hell, but I’ll also really miss the whole atmosphere in Vilamoura. The organisers are so helpful and friendly and the facilities aren’t just good for riders – the horses love them, too. There’s loads of hacking and turnout paddocks for us to use. In fact, Frenchman Michel Hecart’s horses have spent the…

Teme Valley, Beguildy Hill, Powys THE last half-dozen of the mounted field stood in the relative shelter of the stunted oaks that clung to the bottom of the valley. These hounds had produced an excellent day in tough conditions. We set off homewards at 6pm, but when we reached the rise and turned the horses into the wind, the horizontal snow and hail was so painfully cold, we could barely walk into it. The torturous cold had nearly beaten us by the time we arrived at the trailers and, until hounds and horses were safely installed and the comfort of the vehicle cabs reached, there was barely a word uttered. The wind had been fairly howling at the meet on Beguildy Hill, one of the high points on this wild…

HOW long do you expect to carry on riding? Hunting, for that matter? Make a clean break at 60? Carry on for as long as you can like The Queen? Wait until your horse gives up the ghost and retire with them, or plan to “die in action” on the hunting field, as a friend from the South and West Wilts once told me she hoped to do. I’ve heard people make a case for all of the above, and I was thinking about this on Saturday as I watched my mother gamely step aboard a friend’s horse for a day with the College Valley. “Hats off to Mother,” my sister and I said the following day, “nuff respect and all that.” “Of course, she doesn’t get nervous,” said Gillian…