Innholdsfortegnelse for 02-Apr-2020 i Horse & Hound

LAST Friday, the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) advised against riding. With the number of people in the UK to have died with Covid-19 passing 1,000 on Saturday, 28 March, it is dubious to quibble any measures aimed at saving lives. But the guidance will not be without issues – and not riding will cause its own heartbreak. The BEF’s advice is sensible. As a community we should consider the greater impact of our actions, and if avoiding higher risk situations or staying off horses stops accidents that would otherwise have led to riders being in intensive care, that place then free to treat someone suffering with the virus, that would seem ethical. Then there are the practicalities. Not riding doesn’t mean equestrians won’t end up in hospital. Horses lacking exercise…

Eventer Pippa Funnell has launched a children’s poetry competition. A winner in each of two age categories – 10 and under, and 11 to 16 – will receive a lesson, yard tour or meet and greet. Dressage rider Fiona Bigwood is recovering from suspected coronavirus. Fiona said she is “fairly sure” she had the illness and is now “coming out the other side”. Equestrian safety products manufacturer Charles Owen announced Matt Bullock as the new chief executive. Matt worked in senior management positions at Nike, JD Sports and Go Outdoors. Eventer Lauren Blades (neé Shannon) is recovering from being injured in a fall at Lincolnshire Horse Trials. She suffered breaks to her pelvis, rib, collarbone and a bone in her back. Wiltshire-based Clare King was the highest-placed British rider in…

FERNHILL NOW OR NEVER The eventer, produced from a five-year-old by Kate Honey, has died aged 17. The pair completed Luhmühlen and Pau CCI4*s (now CCI5*s,) and represented Britain in what is now known as the European Cup. FAWNSPARK EMILY The Clydesdale has completed her trial with Police Scotland and is now part of the force’s mounted section. The nine-year-old mare enjoyed a successful career in the show ring before her new venture. YORKIES DELIGHT The advanced eventer has died aged 20. He was most recently piloted by Louisa Milne Home, who owned him with Valerie Gilmour and Marianne Harper Gow, and said he was an “amazing softy and a real favourite”.…

LUNGEING Last week’s column proposed a 15-minute lunge for children to take the edge off before homeschooling. And while this was not entirely a serious recommendation, we agree with a recent meme that perhaps 2020 should have been lunged first… POSTMEN As many riders turn from the saddle to the ground to keep their horses exercised, spare a thought for the hardworking British postmen and women. Imagine turning up to work to find a van full of lunge whips to be delivered. “Please order the ones in two halves!” protested one knackered postie. ETIQUETTE Those who do still have to walk the streets of London are slightly frustrated by the lack of social distancing shown by others. “They don’t even pass left to left!” sighed one rider. A show steward…

SADLY, many riders and horse owners are facing major disappointments as coronavirus hits sporting fixtures. As someone old enough to remember World War II and the early post-war years of intense austerity, I can offer valid testimony to the ability of equestrian enterprises to survive and flourish after the crisis years. The post-war revival of top-class showjumping was born in a German prisoner-of-war camp, where Colonel Sir Mike Ansell formed a strategy with fellow equestrians. I am sure that Britain will revive the Blitz spirit and equestrianism will regain its position as a premier sport. When I hunted during World War II, I heard nothing but confidence from the senior hunting people keeping packs on a limited basis that hunting would regain its full strength soon after the war. They…

WHEN I was 28, I was unlucky enough to have a life-threatening blood clot. It went right from the top of my lungs down to my groin and I was in intensive care for five weeks. On leaving, I was under strict instructions from the consultant to take it easy and not ride. But – me being me – within three weeks of being home I was back on a horse. When I went back to see him he couldn’t believe how much the leg had gone down; he was gobsmacked and hailed horse riding as the cure for any swelling. The injury did change how I used my leg when riding, until in 2004, when I was asked to take on a horse who was due to compete in…

Farrell (9yo, Furstenball x Dacaprio) Despite missing a year of breeding and training due to a broken leg as a four-year-old, Farrell has already had seven sons licensed in Germany and a daughter named Danish warmblood mare of the year. Now competing at PSG level, he is proving to stamp his stock well. “Farrell makes a great type – we always know a foal by him,” says Martin. Kingston (5yo, Glock’s Toto Jr x Turbo Magic, pictured) This young stallion has been busy – he covered 150 mares in 2018 and his foals have fetched high prices at auction. “He has a lot of great qualities – his rideability and his talent for the collected work,” says Martin. Monte Carlo (3yo, Dream Boy x United) This powerful young stallion is…

• “I once won a show class and was then bucked off on the lap of honour after the prize-giving. I was later told that someone had objected and I was deprived of my win, which caused lots of tears. However I was then given the ‘best rider’ cup by the same judge and that made my day. This taught me two lessons for life – all within the space of an hour.” – Di Lampard • “I was competing in the then-Spillers dressage with jumping qualifier at Southampton Show. As I was riding Xenocles on the way to the arena, a woman came down on a wire from a helicopter and he stood up. I fell off backwards, but got back on and went on to win the competition…

AMY TATE will be using the pause in activities to train Catherston Tango at home, after a promising start to the young mare’s dressage career. The Tate family had multiple reasons to celebrate when their Timolinsired five-year-old headed two prelims at Richmond EC, North Yorkshire – on Amy’s birthday. “When I saw her come back from the scoreboard with such a big smile, I thought it must be a good score,” said mother Jenna, after the pair’s 74.04% prelim 13 win. “Tango was a big step up for Amy from her Welsh section C pony, but she’s a lovely mare with a fantastic temperament and a genuine willingness to learn. Hopefully they’ll be stronger still when competitions restart.”…

CROFTON MANOR EC 18 Mar: prelim 17A gold (F Wilson).— 1, Sunglow Monarch (J Blowers) 70.34; 2, Gamblers Treasure (C Gay) 66.03. silv.— 1, Krakov (L Henderson) 65.69. brnz.— 1, Sunglow Skyler (S Hobday) 67.07; 2, Estemeya (J Hoarton) 60.52. nov 23 silv (L Dawes).— 1, Amber Flight (K Andrews) 67.5; 2, Smokin Gun (R Hamilton-Fletcher) 67.29; 3, Cillusion (V Leabeater) 56.88. nov 38 silv (F Wilson).— 1, Smokin Gun 71.45; 2, Cillusion 69.68. brnz.— 1, Iisis Kandahar (H Gale) 67.1. elem 40 silv (L Dawes).— 1, Amber Flight (L Wickes) 69.84. brnz.— 1, Jolie Fleur (I Sexton) 63.06. elem 57 brnz (F Wilson).— 1, Jolie Fleur 63.75. med 69 brnz (S Lanning).— 1, Holme Park Korbel (T Mills) 60.76. med 75 gold.— 1, Kekezza April Dawn (G Davis) 67.7.…

Felbridge, W Sussex WHEN Hannah Tiley arrives at any show, her rivals have to look out. This was certainly true at Felbridge, where over the space of two days she won five classes and picked up four other top three placings on the horses she rides for Vicki Morton. It was a “home fixture” for the team, as Vicki rents a block of stables at the centre. The star of the show was Touch Of Fabulous, who won a 1.05m amateur qualifier and followed this up by heading a 1.20m class. Also taking red rosettes were Dun Over, the 15hh dun who stars every year in Olympia’s jockeys’ jumping class, Mojave, who won a 90cm open, and State Of Independence (Seti), another Olympia jockeys’ ride who headed a 1m class.…

NIGEL has contributed a great deal to the foxhound by breeding a wonderful, level pack of hounds – having enhanced the quality over the years. Early on, he improved the shoulders by his use of Cotswold Glencoyne 84, whose sire Blencathra Glider 76 made such an impact in the fellhound, hill hound and modern foxhound world. Coupled with good line breeding – Heythrop Busby 96 would be one of the best he bred back to – and by ringing the changes with the different tail female lines, this enabled him to maintain the high standard. Martin Scott, hound breeder and former VWH master…

AFTER hunting the Royal Agricultural College beagles for a season, it was the general consensus that before taking a pack myself I ought to do a season or two somewhere to round off my schooling. Time at the North Cotswold with Nigel and Sophia was recommended – and rightly so. I had two very happy seasons there where education, sport, and enjoyment came in equal measure. The painstaking attention to detail, considered management of people and quiet handling of hounds were attributes that I have never forgotten. It must also be said that things were much easier after one had got used to several eccentricities! On my last morning at Broadway, Nigel and I walked the hounds out together. As we wandered round the fields that sit below Broadway Tower…

“If I go from more than two strides out, people know there’s something coming” A FEW weeks ago, Will Spencer, joint-master of the Pytchley with Woodland, entered the yard to find utter chaos, courtesy of “character” Humphrey. “His stable is like a teenager’s bedroom,” Will explains. “It’s the biggest mess. Anything within reach will be on the floor; rugs, headcollars, he’ll fling them all down.” When he got out in the night, he wrought havoc. “Everything was on the floor. His own bucket was in someone else’s stable and he’d taught the other horses to throw theirs over the doors. He was so pleased.” Despite his teenage tendencies, Humphrey is the one that “everyone loves the most; he’ll put his head over the door for a cuddle”. When he first…

THERE is and will be enough horse feed for everyone, experts agree, as riders are urged not to panic-buy equine provisions. There are no reported shortages of horse feed or feed materials in the UK and buying in bulk, as has been reported, could be counterproductive. British Equestrian Trade Association executive director Claire Williams told H&H she understands owners may be concerned about supplies. “But if everyone buys exactly what their horses need, and stops panic-buying, there will be more than enough to go round,” she said. “Snapping up large quantities will only put unnecessary pressure on manufacturers, who are already working round the clock to fulfil stockist orders and meet customer demand. If everyone can pull together at this challenging time, we will all be able to access our…

VETS and farriers have been urged to provide essential and emergency work during the coronavirus lockdown, and consider all other visits carefully. On 23 March, the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) said the health and safety of all “must be at the forefront of our decisions”. “BEVA’s view is that we should be doing everything possible to protect human health and follow the recommendations and advice from the UK government, which is based on efforts to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus and to protect the NHS. At the same time, we need to maintain the provision of 24-hour emergency care,” it said. BEVA believes vets should concentrate on maintaining a 24-hour emergency service but stop all routine work. Routine six-monthly influenza booster vaccinations should be stopped and BEVA…

PANDEMIC HALTS WHIP DEBATE RACING’S whip consultation has been postponed owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. The consultation was announced in February as part of the industry’s Horse Welfare Board’s (HWB) recommendations. The delay is on the grounds the review would require “significant focus” from senior officials, who are involved in the sport’s coronavirus operational plan and the consultation would mean face-to-face contact. HWB chair Barry Johnson said the board is keen any consultation is done “thoroughly and well, with maximum involvement from people in the sport, which would be enormously challenging [now]”. SURVEY LOOKS AT COVID-19 EFFECTS EQUESTRIANS are asked to complete a survey on the impact of coronavirus on horse management. David Marlin, Jane Williams of Hartpury College and vet Louisa Taylor aim to identify owners’ concerns and hope…

AS competitions are off, inventive riders staged a virtual three-day event – on foot. Kate Bunby, who lives in France, and Debbie Newton in the UK ran Lockdown International Horse Trials; Kate posted videos of each phase on Facebook, and competitors added their own. Kate told H&H slight issues included her hobby horse’s spook in the dressage, another stopping across country and a dispute over a frangible pin. “It’s brought so many people together. This is a dreadful thing that’s happening but we’re all in it together, we’re all in the same boat,” she said. “The virtual horse trials has taken over my husband’s and my lives, but all for the best, and I’m sure we’ll do something else on the same lines as everyone’s enjoyed it so much.”…

It still amazes me that so many people watch my videos on YouTube. It was the summer after my GCSEs that I started making videos of my horses and, one day, I made one called “How to tack up a horse”. I had no clue people would watch it. I thought it would just be friends and family – but that video got me a couple of hundred subscribers. My YouTube channel “This Esme” now has 370,000 subscribers, and I get 12 million views across my social media platforms each month. As my channel has got more and more views, I have realised the unintentional responsibility I now have; I really have to look at the content I’m posting and I want to give a realistic view of what life…

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THE last time eventing was in lockdown was during foot-and-mouth in 2001. However, I had managed to break my neck in a fall and by the time I recovered, the season was up and running at the end of May with Tweseldown and, I seem to remember, the Wiegersmas’ fun event at Penzance. A sort of “bargain” Burghley was salvaged thanks to the generous donations – of several thousand pounds – from owners and supporters. And in Ireland, which was also in lockdown, everyone was cheered up by the determination of Georgina Colthurst to run Blarney Castle. Although one can hardly compare 2001 with the current crisis, it is similar in that we’ve been advised only to ride on our own property and to avoid taking risks which could add…

Windmill Farm, Bucks “I GET the best of everything with this mare,” said Kathryn Babb of Oculto’s Hope, a double advanced medium winner who is equally at home at a sponsored ride. “She’s so versatile.” Hope is the offspring of a Welsh section C mare, based at Kathryn’s livery yard, and a visiting Andalusian stallion. “I eventually bought her and backed her,” Kathryn explained. “She may not have the warmblood paces, but she has a real engine. Although, because she is short-coupled and short in the neck, any tenseness does show.” Kathryn, who trains with Lizzie Robertson, adds: “But she has a definite work ethic. We’ve started passage at home and our next goal will be prix st georges (PSG).” Jenna Roddy scored novice and elementary wins with Tim II,…

NOAH BROOK’S multitalented nine-year-old Gabana HFD dominated at elementary at Elms Farm EC, Lincolnshire, breaking the 70% barrier in both classes. “He has been on the back-burner as I’ve been getting to grips with running my business,” said the event rider, whose training and livery yard is near Melton Mowbray. “But he’s cool. He has evented to novice level, has jumped Foxhunters and is winning at elementary. “We’re a bit ring-rusty together, but he is a big mover and the dressage comes quite naturally to him,” added Noah. “His temperament is good and he’s on-side and very consistent in the ring. I’m developing a real connection with him.”…

PATIENT retraining is paying dividends for Rachel Lorimer, who rode her 11-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding Eloquent to a medium 69 win at Crow Wood Equestrian, Lancashire. According to Rachel, Eloquent was “anxious and dangerous” when she bought him two years ago as a project. “I broke my hand twice in the first six months because he would spin and buck,” she said. “I turned him out and did lots of hacking and jumping, riding him forwards. I only took him back in the school when he felt more confident. “We still do lots of work to keep his head happy, but he’s past all his bad habits and really enjoying the advanced work. People say he looks like a ballet dancer.” Rachel and Clara Withers’ Dee Jay Asgard continues to…

Sparket Equestrian Events, Newton Rigg College, Cumbria AFTER standing coloured of the year at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) last October, traditional stallion Del Boy V attended his first show as a veteran. He kept his strike rate up as he not only won his class, but also stood section champion for owner and rider Michelle Cuerden. Sophie Barker and her native mare Paintball Rachel May took reserve. The duo are already Royal International (RIHS) bound after winning at Westmorland county. Yearling Akins Silver Sahara took the in-hand championship for owner Jennifer Atkinson. Eleanor Lancaster and her husband Jason have produced the filly since she was two months old. Georgina Mallinson rode her own novice Fell Hardendale Rosie to stand mountain and moorland (M&M) ridden champion. Thirteen-year-old Georgina has…

Brook Farm, Essex BROOKE HUNTER had a day to remember at her local Brook Farm centre, when she won three classes in a day. Two of Brooke’s victories were in the 90cm and 1m open classes on Little Cruise, a horse bought as a six-year-old at the end of her final pony season six years ago. Little Cruise is now grade B, but sticks to classes up to 1.10m. “He does what he’s happiest doing and as long as he enjoys himself, that’s fine by me,” said Romford-based Brooke, who trained as an eyelash technician and ran her own business until she had to give it up due to health problems. She now focuses on horses and currently has five to compete. She won the discovery class at Brook Farm…

Mixed 100 team.— 1, Northallerton RC (H Stewart, A Williamson, H Thomson, E Thomson) 12.4; 2, Area 11 (F Wilson, F Elliot, C White, L Crichton) 18; 3, Three Valleys RC (L Turnbull, I Thornton, C Wall, C Ramsay) 19.6. mixed 100 ind.— 1, Cavalier Clooney (H Stewart, Northallerton RC); 2, Rainstown Michael (N Grayson, Rearsby Lodge RC); 3, Grantstown Class Act (A Tate, Rother Valley RC). snr 90 team.— 1, East Clwyd RC (J Edwards, K Maloney, S Griffith, J Yorke) 8.4; 2, Saffron Walden & District RC (S Reason, E Caton, S Hamlett, S Engelmann) 10.4; 3, Warwickshire Hunt RC (J Bateman, J Adams, P Montgomery, L Deakin) 10.8. snr 90 ind.— 1, Womble (C Bradshaw, Elstead RC); 2, Numptiana (L Nickson, East Midlands Dressage Group); 3, Mister…

I HAD the privilege of working for Mr and Mrs Peel as their kennel-huntsman at the North Cotswold. Mr Peel’s enthusiasm was infectious and the teamwork he inspired within the kennels meant that he maintained the highest of standards in everything he did. His passion for the hounds showed continuously, winning prizes on the flags and producing a level, well-educated, settled pack of hounds who produced sport of the highest order. Farmers and landowners welcomed the hounds and staff wherever they ran, and due to Mr Peel’s unique charm the North Cotswold seemed to have limitless boundaries. The knowledge gained over many years of crossing into the Heythrop country would have come as a great advantage on his last day hunting hounds. He has bred an exceptional pack and produced…

AS a master of hounds, Nigel Peel’s watchwords are “standards” and “style”. From the moment he arrives at the meet – immaculately turned out – and sweeps off his hat, there is an element of theatre to the whole day. Traditional standards are rigidly adhered to and the result is a high standard of sport. Nigel is also extremely well read and knowledgeable on many subjects. He is an amusing companion, a raconteur par excellence, and not one to let the complete truth get in the way of a good story. I remember attending Nigel’s first meet following the Hunting Act, where he had a golden eagle in attendance – at that time a recommended way to remain within the law. Admiring the magnificent bird of prey, I rather facetiously…

WHAT a difference a week can make. This time two weeks ago, coronavirus was still something happening out there in the wider world. Watching our neighbours in Italy and Spain, it was clear that big changes were imminent at home too, but life was carrying on as normal. Now, everything has been cancelled, and we are trying our best to stay at home. “Life as normal for you lot,” quipped one of the builders, who are still working away on the house next door. And of course, he has a point. Living on a farm, in one of Britain’s most sparsely populated counties, we are better off than most when it comes to space away from other human beings. But we will all be affected by this in one way…

THE dates for the postponed Tokyo Olympics have been confirmed: 23 July to 8 August 2021 – exactly a year later than scheduled. The Paralympics will also run on the equivalent dates: 24 August to 5 September 2021. The aim is to give all those involved in organising the Games, as well as health authorities, as much time as possible to deal with the disruption caused by the coronavirus. FEI president Ingmar de Vos said the FEI is “looking at ways we can minimise that impact” on the competition calendar. The 2021 dressage, showjumping, vaulting and driving European Championships were due to take place in Hungary, on 23 to 29 August 2021, and the eventing on 11 to 15 August in France. “Now we have confirmed dates for the Games,…

MR MICK Lucinda Freedman’s show hunter has been put down aged 16. His highlights included standing supreme hunter twice at the Hickstead Derby meeting and taking the RIHS amateur lightweight title twice. BAYRO The 14-year-old ride of Dutch eventer Tim Lips has been put down owing to colic. They were sixth at last year’s European Championships and had secured one of the Netherlands’ two Tokyo Olympic places. LOOSE CHIPS The 14-year-old stalwart of Charlie Longsdon’s Oxfordshire yard has retired after a racing career spanning nine years, 62 races and 11 wins. He will enjoy retirement with Claire Hart, leading her youngsters.…

ALISON KING A HUGE supporter of equestrianism and Hong Kong’s first FEI official, Ms King died on 3 March, aged 69. Ms King was appointed as an FEI official in 2008, and was the first person in Hong Kong to become a five-star para dressage judge. She was also a five-star technical delegate for para dressage, a four-star and young horse dressage judge, and a level two steward for jumping, eventing, dressage and para dressage. Ms King officiated at almost 90 FEI events during a 12-year period, including the 2014 World Equestrian Games, where she was a para dressage judge. She was on the dressage ground jury at the 2019 Asian Championships, assistant steward at the Longines Masters of Hong Kong from 2013 to 2018, and chief steward in 2019.…

INGENUITY Any non-horsey other halves who have ever rolled their eyes at a rider’s propensity for buying white bandages, think carefully. Rolled-up white things? Shortage of toilet roll? Never say again that a horsey shopping habit is a bad thing. HOUSEWORK Well, with no competitions and no time at the yard at all for some, floors, fridges and ovens across the land are gleaming like horses’ feet would otherwise have been. “I’m mucking out my house this weekend,” as one rider put it. Might even give the tack a clean. (Steady! Ed) HORSE WALKERS We cannot, of course, condone the enterprising parent who may or may not use her walker to good effect for the kids’ PE lesson. Absolutely no comment, admiration or anything else of that nature.…

HEADS UP EVENTER Hayden Hanky rode Catherine Witt’s then five-year-old Irish-bred gelding to top a 39-strong field of working hunters at HOYS last October. The OBOS Quality son was only contending his second-ever worker class. SILVANO KR HELEN CHRISTIE’S Wolfgang-sired gelding has won up to advanced medium in the dressage arena. But the 21-year-old took the show scene by storm in 2019 when he won the SSADL veteran supreme at Olympia in his debut season, with fellow showing newbie Gracie Catling. BARBERS SHOP WHO can forget The Queen’s former racehorse (pictured) who forged a stellar partnership with producer Katie Jerram-Hunnable? Before his showing career, the bay gelding – who was supreme at Windsor and won at HOYS – ran 24 times under Rules and had eight wins.…

OVER the years, the show ring has been the launchpad of many stellar careers in other disciplines. Sometimes, the “new” careers might seem far removed, but many aspects of that showing experience have proved the ideal grounding for young talent. Top jump jockey Nico de Boinville showed ponies as a child, and his successes began with winning the SEIB Search For A Star final at Horse Of The Year Show (HOYS) in 1998 on Barkway Black Magic. His racing CV now includes three Queen Mother Champion Chase wins – two on Altior and one on Sprinter Sacre – and a Cheltenham Gold Cup victory on Coneygree; he has ridden more than 350 winners. “Being subjected to a competitive atmosphere from a young age has most definitely helped me,” says Nico,…

WINDMILL FARM 18 Mar: nov 23 silv (A Nicell). — 1, WFD Donnergold (A Perry) 66.25; 2, Claughaun Lilly (J Johnston) 60.83. brnz.— 1, Ramzes Van Silesia (M Woods) 66.25. nov 37A silv.— 1, Tim II (J Roddy) 67.22; 2, WFD Donnergold 66.3; 3, Claughaun Lilly 62.96. brnz.— 1, Ramzes Van Silesia 65.74. elem 59 silv.— 1, Tim II 66.88; 2, Seven For 12 (G Farrar) 62.97. adv med 91 silv.— 1, Oculto’s Hope (K Babb) 67.05; 2, First Kirche (H Bates) 63.08. brnz.— 1, Freeman H (L Ruffle) 65.64; 2, Minna Bonita (C Yetton) 63.21. adv med 96 silv.— 1, Oculto’s Hope 65.92.…

THE news we had all been waiting for came in as I sat down to write this; the 2020 Olympic Games have been postponed until 2021. Many people, myself included, felt this decision could have been made a lot earlier; good on Canada and Australia for withdrawing first and setting the precedent. My own view perhaps comes from a different angle to some – having competed in previous Olympics, I can be objective and pragmatic. It’s more emotional for those potential first-timers, the new, young and up- and-coming, although they would have been unable to qualify and educate their horses due to show cancellations. Then there are those with older horses in their last year. But if these Games had gone ahead they could have proved very unfair. For the…

NCPA Spring Spectacular, South View EC, Cheshire STEPH PETO took home two championships as well as the supreme of show. Her overall titleholder was Jenny Crane’s nine-year-old Fell stallion Murthwaite Heir Hunter. “He’s a chilled-out guy,” said Steph. “He gets a lot of confidence from his rider and you could never get cross with him; he would think his world has ended.” Steph also rode her own four-year-old Connemara Loughmore Rebel to stand champion in the reckoning for the National Pony Society (NPS) silver medal rosette. The in-hand silver medal was awarded to Paul and Jane Steeples’ two-year-old Fell pony filly Lunesdale Celine. Team Moore headed the horse section with Jemma Ellison and the seven-year-old hunter SCT Master Of The Hounds. “He’s spent the winter doing dressage and jumping,” said…

AS we embark on another decade of showing, we also find ourselves living amid an unprecedented and movie-like crisis with increases of Covid-19 cases reported daily throughout the world. The motivational poster published by the British Government in 1939 in preparation for World War II, stating “Keep calm and carry on”, has never been more relevant. Last month, as show secretary of the now-postponed North of England spring show – originally scheduled for Easter – I felt as if I was preparing for an exam I was not likely to pass. The nearest comparable scenario I’ve encountered was in 2001, when county shows and events fell victim to the foot-and-mouth epidemic. With this is mind, I ventured into my loft to dust off a bundle of treasured Horse & Hound…

Thurlow, Eyford Hill, Glos AFTER nearly 50 years as an outstanding master and huntsman of foxhounds, Nigel Peel has decided it is time to hang up his boots. Nigel has been a true leader on and off the hunting field and a wonderful promoter and teacher of both hunt staff and up-and-coming masters. His ability to breed hounds that not only perform on the flags but also in the field has strengthened the modern foxhound. His long-standing mastership at the North Cotswold created great continuity of a sort that is rarely found nowadays. With Nigel having finished hunting in the Thurlow country, where he has spent the past two seasons as joint-master and huntsman, it seemed right and proper that the offer of a final day’s hunting within in reach…

I BEGAN working at the North Cotswold for Mr and Mrs Peel in May 2006. Mr Peel ran a very high-class operation, having the North Cotswold punching above their weight in the hunting field and the show ring. He’s bred a fantastic pack of hunting hounds, with his knowledge of breeding being second to none. We had 10 great seasons together with a lot of laughs. He always loved the gossip and banter on hound exercise. Only he can tell you why he fell off his bike at Didbrook one morning on hound exercise! Nick Hopkins, former North Cotswold kennel-huntsman and now Beaufort kennel-huntsman…