Innholdsfortegnelse for 09-Apr-2020 i Horse & Hound

THE Queen’s broadcast on Saturday urged Britons to find self-discipline, quiet good-humoured resolve and fellow-feeling. I’m digging deep on the middle one. Athletes are well versed in calling on all such resolve. Editors a little less so. I was buoyed, though, and hope readers will be, too, by Charlie Unwin’s excellent new series starting in this week’s issue (p32). His advice is certainly useful for riders and utilised by athletes, but it is pertinent for everyone right now. As he states: “It is not adversity itself that affects us during times like this, rather it’s our attitude towards it.” Reframing health fears, job losses and solitary confinement is easier said than done, but I completely take his point. We can, as Charlie suggests, get up each morning on time, plan…

GOVERNING bodies are to look at a “transition period” on six-monthly equine flu vaccinations once the coronavirus pandemic restrictions are lifted. The British Equestrian Federation (BEF), with the British Equine Veterinary Association and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), said it has approved a proposal regarding the vaccination schedule in competition horses. “All competitive disciplines under the BEF umbrella currently operate a requirement for an annual booster every 12 months after an initial course of two injections and the first booster. This will remain the case throughout 2020, which means any horse who goes beyond its annual renewal date will be required to start again,” a BEF statement read. Intervals for primary and booster vaccinations will remain in place, and governing bodies with six-monthly requirements will look at transition periods to…

NEW FORMULA FOR WORLD RANKINGS THE FEI has developed a new way of calculating world rankings during the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of efforts to minimise the impact on the FEI calendar, the system will be used for all disciplines where a rolling 12-month period is used in calculations. From 1 April, the period during which ranking points remain valid will be prolonged for a month, and will be prolonged for an additional month with each new ranking until the competition calendar returns to normal, for the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. Points in driving, vaulting, endurance and reining, which are calculated on fixed periods, will not change. NHS THE WINNER IN VIRTUAL NATIONAL BOOKIES are to donate more than £2.6m from bets on the virtual Grand National to NHS Charities…

Equine orthopaedics expert Sue Dyson is the new chief veterinary advisor at Moorcroft Equine Rehabilitation Centre. Dr Dyson will support the rehabilitating and schooling work. Harry Skelton has been named March’s jockey of the month. Harry and second- and third-placed Barry Geraghty and Paul Townend will donate the £2,500 prize to the Jockeys’ Association Trust. Seven-time champion National Hunt jockey John Francome is the Racehorse Sanctuary’s new patron. The charity supports horses after their racing careers. Olympic and world medal-winning US eventer Bruce Davidson has joined the Fairhill Foundation’s board of directors, to help sustain the venue’s “vision as a world-class equestrian centre”. Eventer Panda Christie is urging others to be aware of less-known symptoms of Covid-19. Panda lost her sense of smell when she had other symptoms of coronavirus.…

OFFSHORE ACCOUNT Pandora Lovett’s star retrained racehorse has retired, aged 20. “Offy” had much success under Rules, hunter-chasing and point-to-pointing before enjoying his second venture of team chasing and hunt races. LLANARTH ARISTOCAT The prolific show pony and hack sire has died, aged 26. By Cusop Disciplin and out of Carolinas Pussycat, “Harry” produced numerous champions at HOYS and the Royal International Horse Show among others. KEEPSAKE A US event horse, who went missing for six days after escaping from her field, has been found safe and well. It is thought Jennie Brannigan’s five-year-old was spooked by wild hogs who live in the Florida woods.…

RESTING Poor old Tiger Roll had a rough deal on the day of the superb virtual Grand National. Was it any wonder he didn’t win the 2020 race, as he’d run the champions’ race just 10 minutes earlier? A bit much, surely, even for such a legend. FRONT-RUNNING Legend and 2010 National winner AP McCoy did not come out on top in the champions’ race. But, as he said, he wouldn’t have gone to the front that soon. “I thought you were just practising social distancing,” a fan piped up. Good point. COLOUR SCHEMES Oops of the week to pointing grand fromage Jim Squires, who stocked up on orange paint for take-off boards, just before it was announced the boards would be white from now on. Guests at the Squires’…

WITH regard to the Point-to-Point Authority seeking feedback on the season starting earlier (news, 2 April), in October, some of us believe the existing season is already too long, particularly when compared with the continual decline in the number of horses qualified. Comparisons with Ireland following foot-and-mouth seem far-fetched and the sport here and in Ireland is very different. Point-to-points here are becoming increasingly expensive to run without our sponsors and advertisers, and if it weren’t for that wonderful army of volunteers, we would be completely scuppered. No one knows when the current lockdown will ease, but in the meantime many of those on whom our sport depends will be fighting for their very existences, both commercially and literally. That must be where our energies should be concentrated. Charles Dixey,…

IF she weren’t so warm and smiley, it would be hard not to feel just a teensy bit jealous of Laura Tomlinson. Aside from bagging Olympic gold and bronze medals aged just 27, she has a state-of-the-art new yard, complete with a clutch of classy horses and the requisite gaggle of delightful dogs. Not to mention the fact she snapped back into shape, à la Kate Middleton, seemingly straight after having her third child. When H&H visits, Laura’s three-year-old son Wilfred is out on the digger with the groundsman, while a brilliant nanny, Jane, wheels baby Hanni around near the stables, enabling Laura to concentrate on her job. “We go into mourning whenever Jane is off,” laughs Laura. “We hope she never leaves, even when the children grow up.” The…

FROM adversity springs opportunity. For me, that opportunity came in the form of Zoom technology. Within 48 hours of learning how to set up an account and use the virtual whiteboard, I found myself hosting an online conference for 40 coaches, and never have I been so nervous. In the two weeks since, I have spoken to a multitude of riders using the platform, all trying to make sense of the situation we find ourselves in. It has occurred to me that only when we are jolted out of our daily rhythm and forced to live in ways with which we are unfamiliar, do we start to reflect back on what we considered normal before. Therefore, what a great opportunity we have to recognise and appreciate the things most important…

• Don’t canter round and round jumping both the vertical and the oxer – it’s confusing for the other riders, who don’t know what you’re doing next. If you are using the vertical, jump it, wait for it to be adjusted and jump it again. Once you have finished that, do the same with the oxer. • Always pass left to left. • If you’re coming to the fence and someone is in the way, shout, “Oxer,” or, “Coming to the vertical.” Afterwards, make sure you say thank you. • Use your brain and remember your manners; it makes life easier for everyone.…

WE all had a bit of fun with the virtual Grand National, which was won by the Christian Williams-trained Welsh National winner Potters Cross, on Saturday, 4 April. It was watched by nearly five million people – half the number who watched the actual Grand National in 2019 in the UK, but about seven times the number who watched the virtual National the same year. More importantly, though, bookmakers raised a staggering £2.6m for the NHS. This was an amazing amount, given that the maximum bet was £10 per horse, per person, and the average amount bet was just over £2. There was some entertaining banter around it. Within minutes of having fallen at the second last when going clear on Aso, jockey Charlie Deutsch had changed his Twitter profile…

THESE are strange and stressful times for all, with experiences that none of us have ever seen before or want to repeat. Despite the tragic spiralling death toll, the rapid spread of the virus and the unprecedented strain on the NHS, I can’t help wondering if we are doing the right thing. In Sweden, older and more vulnerable people are isolating, with gatherings of over 50 people banned, but life otherwise carries on as normal. The UK lockdown will be responsible for bankrupting thousands of businesses and putting the country into a debt situation that will take generations to recover from. I’m currently in Florida, although hoping to be home before the end of April. In the US, all horse shows are cancelled until 3 May, subject to a two-weekly…

WE are now all becoming accustomed to life under lockdown. Here’s how it started in the Waugh household... Day one of quarantine. It’s 8.30am and the children are up and dressed. They have eaten a wholesome breakfast of porridge, cleaned their teeth for two minutes each, opened their curtains, made their beds, tidied their rooms and are sitting, pencils poised, to begin the first lesson of the day. Having prepared a stimulating lesson plan for six-year-old Jack the night before, I get him going with that while the older two attack some holiday material set by their teachers. 10am: first lesson of the day completed, we head outside for some fresh air. The children race to get their ponies in, brush them and tack them up, while I stand idly…

EQUESTRIANS are encouraged to talk to their insurers and avoid listening to hearsay during the coronavirus pandemic. As rumours spread online, insurers have assured clients they will consider cases carefully – and that they are there for guidance and advice, including on how premiums could be reduced. A spokesman for SEIB Insurance Brokers told H&H communication is key in these unprecedented circumstances. “Talk to your insurer and keep them informed of any relevant changes to circumstances,” she said. “SEIB is continuing to service clients and is in constant communication with insurers.” Clients have raised questions such as whether the 12-month window in which to claim could be extended while vets and those providing alternative therapy are unable to carry out routine work. “All our insurers have said they will look…

MASTER MONARCH Andrew Hoy’s 2006 Kentucky-winning ride, owned by Tom Attwood, has died, aged 29. The pair were also on the bronze medal-winning team at the 2006 World Equestrian Games and were third at Burghley 2007. PICCOLINO Klaus Husenbeth’s double team gold medal-winning ride has died, aged 28. The pair helped secure team gold for Germany at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, and the 2005 European Championships. GRANDEUR The former successful Flat racer who retrained as a top show horse with producer Jo Bates has retired from competition aged 11. He will enjoy life as a nanny to owner Yvonne Jacques’ youngsters.…

STARS of the equestrian world are taking part in a fun campaign to raise money in support of NHS staff and volunteers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Carl Hester, Zara Tindall and Scott Brash are among riders, in teams from racing, dressage, showjumping, eventing, polo and presenting, taking part in the “Equestrian Relief ” challenge. The campaign is the brainchild of the organising teams behind Bolesworth and Liverpool shows, with daily challenges testing riders’ skills “physically, creatively and artistically”. The highlights are shown on social media each day at 7pm between 6 and 13 April and all funds raised will go to NHS Charities Together Covid-19 emergency appeal. The challenges include baking, planking, painting and more. A charity auction is also running online across the week. “Our priority is to…

SHOWJUMPERS will be taking on a very special fence when shows resume at Willow Banks EC. The Lincolnshire show centre will introduce an NHSthemed jump, thanks to young rider Harrison Bellamy. Owner Piers Warmoth told H&H the centre had conceived the idea of a “design a jump” competition to entertain customers who were bored on lockdown. Harrison’s #thankyouNHS fence, with clapping hands, will be made free by a firm that wanted to be anonymous. Harrison’s proud mother Katie told H&H the 10-year-old’s grandfather works for, and his grandmother volunteers for, the NHS. “It means a lot to him,” she said. “He said it would be nice to show we still think about them when it’s all over.”…

“WE would have won, for sure,” Robert Walford laughs hollowly. “This would have been our year.” He trains Walk In the Mill (Miller), who was among the favourites for the 2020 Grand National before it was abandoned. Last Saturday, instead of saddling up the 10-year-old for the Aintree showpiece and sending him out to improve on last year’s fourth, Robert was roughing off most of his string and pretending it’s already summertime. “We’ve packed up six to eight weeks before normal,” says Robert. “I don’t think we’ll be racing before the end of July. We’re doing what we’d normally do with the novice hurdlers and bumper horses in May, giving them a school over fences and preparing for next season.” Next year, Miller will be 11 and Robert shrugs at…

COULD fighter pilot technology help give Britain’s equestrian teams a competitive edge for Tokyo next year? What sounds like a comic teaser on Have I Got News For You, in fact is not: the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) and BAE Systems really have been working together to develop a “bespoke environmental monitoring unit” called Equus-Sense. The unit builds on the sensors used to monitor cockpit conditions and air quality in Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft. Now our horses should benefit from technology developed for pilots, as the system will monitor sound, vibration, humidity, dust and more as they fly all the way to Tokyo. Welcome to the diverse and often secretive world of performance analysis, whose tendrils extend to data and video analysis, nutrition, performance lifestyle coaching, strength and conditioning, sports…

LOCKDOWN means my family’s riding school has already taken a huge hit financially. And as I write, we’re waiting to hear if we have secured a substantial six-figure loan from the bank to stay afloat during the predicted prolonged shutdown and time to restart. But something upsets me even more. Coronavirus has put the lives of 40 wonderful school horses here at Talland in jeopardy. We love them dearly, but they are also worth £1m. Also keeping me awake at night is potentially losing our ability to train students for equestrian careers, to inspire people of all ages to enjoy riding and to hone the talents of Olympic riders to come. I’ve tried to bite my lower lip and be brave. But a residential student’s naive words following a ridden…

ALL hunting has sadly come to an abrupt end due to the Covid-19 virus. My children, the Frampettes, are elated by the lack of school but savage about having to cancel their long-awaited hunting trip to Dorset. What a dismal end to the wettest season I can ever remember. Despite these conditions, our farmers have been amazing with their generosity and support throughout. HAPPY SHOPPER OUR hunt, like many, has created teams within our community to support those in need. The hunt country has been divided into areas, and people assigned to coordinate the help that has been offered. I am personally not a great shopper, but seem to have been given this little challenge. The thought of a supermarket scares me at the best of times, but we are…

STAYING IN One very persuasive argument for staying in came, apparently, from vets. Because, they pointed out, if doctors are in short supply, they might have to step in to treat people. And we all know how a horse’s temperature is taken… EXPLANATIONS An alternative way to explain the whole staying in thing to riders is: we are all on box rest. In-hand walking is allowed for most of us, but if we run around too much, the box rest period may have to be extended. It all makes sense now. APRIL FOOLS This year’s H&H April fool was on the “fact” scientific advances meant winged horses were a realistic prospect. Top marks to those who saw through the comments of expert Peggy Soose; less so to those who protested…

A FLASH CLASS ACT HOW lovely it was to see the beautiful Ballaghmor Class on the front cover (19 March) wearing a correctly fitted flash strap. As a 66-year-old traditionalist, it’s been a pet hate of mine to see some people putting it on upside down. In my Pony Club days we were taught that all straps should face the tail, so come on everyone – let’s bring tradition back. Marg Whalley Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs WHAT AN INSPIRATION IT was lovely to read book author Gillian Baxter’s letter (19 March) about her memories of horses in Hyde Park in the 1950s. Gillian Baxter inspired my dream as a child to have two ponies called Magic and Moonshine. And now, more than 40 years later, I am making that dream a reality,…

“I was so emotional at the end of a Badminton or Burghley ride, I had so much respect for the horses” I’M incredibly superstitious. At a competition, I always used to put my left boot and right spur on first and I do it most days at home, too. Don’t ask me why – it’s just a ritual. At Badminton and Burghley, I used to get very nervous and I miss that “Saturday morning stomach” on cross-country day. I always had a cooked breakfast, though, because if I was riding two horses, I didn’t know when my next meal would be. Once I was on the horse, I was 100% focused on the course and riding. I watched a lot of showjumping growing up and remember seeing Harvey Smith and…

ONLINE competitions, in which tests filmed in real-time are then submitted for judging, are gaining credibility in the dressage world. “Some people were a bit sniffy at first and thought it might be easier to get a good mark,” says Ruth Chappell of Dressage Anywhere. “That’s not the case, as we work to British Dressage (BD) rules and mainly with BD List One and Two judges. Your horse may be more relaxed in his own environment, where he is familiar with each bush and knows there’s not a tiger behind it, but our judges are not kinder because it’s online.” Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Dressage Anywhere has more than 11,000 members worldwide. Classes run up to grand prix and include para, Pony Club, ex-racehorse and British Eventing, with…

FOINAVON was a 100/1 shot in the 1967 Grand National, and the horse’s trainer John Kempton was hoping to ride him in the big race. However, being over six foot, making the weight was impossible, and so three days before, Grand National debutant John Buckingham took the ride. The race turned into an historic one at the 23rd fence, when riderless horse Popham Down veered to his right, running across the fence and causing a huge pileup. As horses crashed into one another and refused, Foinavon slowed, found a gap in the chaos and cleared the fence, continuing with his jockey and leaving the carnage in their wake. At the next fence, John realised he was riding solo, with 17 horses – many remounted – giving a distant chase. The…

RUG options are endless now, with plenty of funky designs and colours. • You can kit your horse out in rainbow (pictured), or dino print if you choose, with Derby House’s waterproof turnout sheets, available in no-fill standard neck. • The Masta Vento fly rug comes in a watermelon print – a fun addition to your horse’s wardrobe, and functional as well. • The Nardus Stratus no-fill turnout rug with neck cover provides protection from rain in warmer weather and has a seriously sporty design with contrast panels and lines.…

WE had 48 horses down in Spain for the Sunshine Tour, but I had returned home for the Cheltenham Festival when the call came in that the country was going into lockdown and we had to get everyone home immediately. It was just a case of get yourselves out of there as quickly as you could, and we did. We’ve actually been busier than ever in the three weeks since – all the horses have been kept in work because it’s still too wet to turn them out and we just have no idea when shows may start running again. We’re very fortunate that the whole family lives within half a mile of each other and nearly all our staff – both for the showjumpers and at my son Dan’s…

JAMES SCOTT of stable manufacturer Scotts of Thrapston has these fixes for making your yard more sustainable: • The saying goes, “Buy cheap, buy twice,” so buy quality instead. The environmental effects caused by repairs and refurbishments can be significant. • Additional windows can help keep horses stimulated which, in turn, decreases damage to the boxes, reducing the requirement for expensive repairs. • Glazed roofing panels add heat to the environment. Don’t do it. Always choose a window in a wall. • Harvest rainwater to use throughout the summer months to service an outside tap for watering plants, washing down the yard and soaking hay. • Invest in a solar-powered lighting system to reduce electricity usage. • Self-composting muck helps reduce the machinery required to remove it. • Recycle and…