Innholdsfortegnelse for 23-Apr-2020 i Horse & Hound

I’VE written before in this column that I look back and kick myself for not loaning my older mare while I was on maternity leave, choosing to turn her away for fear of risking her being overworked somewhere that I couldn’t see her. When I brought her back into work later, she became quite lame. X-rays showed a significant bone spur on her patella, steroid injections proved unsuccessful after an initial hurrah, and at the point pain relief didn’t ensure her comfort and she could not get up we called it a day. When the lockdown was announced, livery yards closed their doors and the British Equestrian Federation stated riding should be avoided, my heart went out to those with arthritic horses to manage – it went out all over…

VACCINATIONS and some other routine veterinary work may take place under government movement restrictions – if social distancing guidelines can be met. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has provided guidance in a flowchart to allow vets to determine which services they can carry out, leaving it to individuals to use their judgement on what they can offer. Based on this, the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) said it will not tell members what can and cannot be done, but vets should risk-assess every visit and record justification, and should not attend if they cannot mitigate the risks. “Vaccination for example might be safe in one situation, and unsafe and unjustifiable in another,” said BEVA chief executive David Mountford. “No one should be being pressurised to attend a call…

NEW LOOK FOR YOUR MAGAZINE THE Horse & Hound team is proud to unveil a new-look magazine from this week’s issue (23 April). With the coronavirus cancelling or postponing events, the team has created a re-imagined magazine, packed with features offering expert advice and enjoyable escapism. “Like everyone and every business affected by the lockdown measures, H&H has had to adapt its working practices and evolve,” said Editor-in-Chief Sarah Jenkins. “I truly hope readers enjoy it, and look forward to hearing your thoughts.” CONTESSA SCHOOL SCALES BACK CONTESSA Riding Centre in Hertfordshire is to close the main part of its operations as a result of finances and the coronavirus pandemic. The family-run business, founded more than 40 years ago by Tina Layton-Elliott, will continue to run vaulting, advanced schoolmaster lessons,…

THOSE missing competition are invited to try dressage… with a difference. Dressage Anywhere is running online hobby horse classes, with 80% of the £10 entry going to NHS Charities Together’s Covid-19 appeal. Classes are being held at novice and grand prix, along with freestyle, Pony Club and Riding for the Disabled Association tests. Alice Oppenheimer (Legless) and Hayley Watson-Greaves (Pinkie Pie) were among the early stars to take on the grand prix, which they followed up with a critical commentary. Tests can be “ridden” in any size arena and on any surface, such as living rooms and gardens, and marks will be awarded by top judges. LE • To enter, visit: dressageanywhere.com…

AT the start of the 2020 season, I made a mistake and tempted fate. I remember being so excited that we possibly had the best string of horses we have ever had. I was waking up earlier each day in anticipation of working with these beautiful horses; I think I lost a stone with all the riding I was doing. While we never usually venture south before Windsor, we were all set to attend the Ponies (UK) Spring Classic at Addington during March, as we were so looking forward to getting the novices out. But then coronavirus kicked off and a brick wall was put up. With no shows for the foreseeable future, I did wonder if I’d lose the motivation that was so strong. However, I do think that…

What was the last book you read? I recently finished Michelle Obama’s Becoming, and also started reading Outer Order Inner Calm, which is about decluttering your home – but I gave up on that by page four. If you weren’t a rider, you would be… A pub landlord. What’s your favourite thing to cook? Probably steak with my home-made coriander and peanut pesto, although I cook quite a lot of things. What’s your most annoying habit? I think it’s always repeating myself, but my rider, Alex Baker, tells me that it’s taking off bridles without undoing anything. I admit to being guilty of that. Do you speak any other languages? It depends whom you ask. I can understand Portuguese, but my Brazilian partner, Marcelo Tosi, says I speak Portuguese like…

OUR thoughts are very much turned towards all things coronavirus, but we are still here and the horses still need their daily care. Indeed, as so many come to us as welfare cases, they often need extra care and treatments. “Along with the great camaraderie that this shared situation has brought out in us, we are all supporting each other” Right now, all four of our centres are bursting with record numbers of rescued horses, adding to our daily challenge of seeing to their needs while following government guidance. We always practise stringent biosecurity, but we have had to find ways of introducing social distancing to the way we work, although when you are out on your own in a field poo-picking it’s not such an issue! To keep staff…

WE riders are luckier than most in this pandemic. We are likely to live in the more rural areas of the UK. We may have space around us and our horses nearby. While the rest of the country is told to lock down, we have an excuse to be out in the fields. We have a duty of care to our animals. We must see them fed and watered and sometimes even ridden to keep them healthy. Like dog owners, who must exercise their canines, this gives us a sense of purpose at a time when the world is full of miserable stories and economic distress. This virus as far as we know is not bold enough to take on equines. Our fields are not full of animals breathing their…

CONCERNS have been raised that equestrian businesses may think they have to stop trading during the coronavirus pandemic, when this may not be the case. In its guidance, the government has stated that “during this time of unprecedented disruption, the UK government is not asking all businesses to shut – indeed it is important for business to carry on”, adding: “Only some nonessential shops and public venues have been asked to close.” The guidelines also state that going to work is an acceptable reason for people to leave the house during lockdown, if they cannot work from home. British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) executive director Claire Williams said she has become concerned about the “disconnect” between government guidelines and enforcement of the coronavirus legislation. “It’s important people understand the guidelines,”…

JANEIRO 6 Sophie Christiansen’s multiple medal-winning partner has died aged 23. The pair won eight golds and one silver together, with their personal best in the freestyle at London 2012 Paralympics, where they scored 84.75% KINGS TEMPTRESS Mary King’s home-bred 2011 Kentucky winner has died aged 20 following complications after foaling. “Tess” completed five four-stars (now five-stars). Her colt King Vincent is with a foster mare. DYNAMITE DOLLARS The Paul Nicholls-trained Grade One winner, who returned from injury to finish second in the Champion Chase, has died of a heart attack aged seven. He won six races, including the 2018 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.…

LUNGEING A rider’s Muggle mother asked why the lorry was running, in a sad not-going-anywhere fashion, in the yard. “Just to keep it going,” the rider said. “I think it’s bored.” After a pause, the mother said: “Could you lunge it instead?” Now there’s a thought… NAMES A leading racehorse owner who wanted to honour our heroes has secured the name Enaitchess for a future purchase. A slightly better naming technique than the parents one heard of who called their new twins Corona and Covid… GATECRASHING Anyone bored in online meetings while working from home could consider the services of a US farm that, for $50, will allow one of its miniature donkeys to crash said meeting. Or if it takes off, we’re happy to do it for £25……

AT my first show of 2020, a friendly steward pulled me up for carrying the wrong whip. I had absolutely no idea that British Showjumping (BS) had changed the rules on 1 January, deciding to adopt similar rules to racing and making it mandatory to use one of the floppy type of whips. Somebody kindly lent me a whip; I didn’t think I’d need to use it, but of course my horse decided to be a bit awkward that day and crashed into a fence. I tried to get his attention by giving him a tap with this new whip, which had no effect whatsoever. So I gave him a slightly harder smack and that certainly grabbed his attention because the noise scared the living daylights out of him, me…

Delgado (pictured) is the king of the stable. He has just got to grand prix, and is my much-loved pet. He’s so friendly and has been easy to train because he has a totally relaxed persona. Then there’s the queen of the yard, Habouche (Holly), who is totally different. I rode her at Myerscough Premier League recently and we did a nice, tidy prix st georges on the first day. The next day, I decided to put my foot down a bit, and realised once you up the power you can’t go back.…

WORLD HORSE WELFARE is an international charity that strives to support and improve the horse-human partnership in all of its guises. The charity’s mission is to work with horses, owners, communities, organisations and governments to improve welfare standards and stamp out suffering in the UK and worldwide. Their work includes front-line care, research, education, advocacy and campaigns. Since being founded in 1927, World Horse Welfare has influenced more than 50 pieces of legislation that have helped bring about better welfare provision for horses. To learn more and find out how you can support World Horse Welfare’s work, visit: worldhorsewelfare.org…

SEVERAL scientific studies have been carried out on loose jumping. At Ireland’s University of Limerick, the take-off point of 16 untrained young horses was studied over a 1m by 50cm oxer and it was discovered that the horses that approached a fence faster and those that took off further away were less likely to show a careful jump. “Only a handful went on to reproduce what they showed loose when they were ridden” An American study of 31 horses, aged between three and five, loose jumping over a similar-sized fence, discovered that although the take-off point was crucial, the suspension period (the time in midair) and landing were also important. The horses that made the process look easy usually took off and cleared the fence slowly and landed more steeply.…

EACH individual hunt has its own specific and unique infrastructure that has evolved over time to suit the hunt. The requirements of a large four-day-a-week foxhound pack are totally different to those of a two-day-a-week foot pack. The former might have horse power for two, or even three, members of staff, with two horses each per hunting day, and the stable staff and transport to service that need, a fallen stock collection round with a knacker truck, a fully equipped fencing repair service and a kennelman to help with hounds in kennels. A foot pack that hunts two days a week may just require one employee and a vehicle. The Warwickshire foxhounds fit into the first category and, according to chairman Sam Butler, their annual running costs are somewhere in…

“WHAT was impressive to his fellow competitors was that he had a lot of success with horses that didn’t match his own talent,” says Blyth (pictured above, far left), who was on numerous New Zealand teams with Mark, including those which won gold at the 1990 and 1998 World Equestrian Games. “He made whatever he had successful; often we’d say we weren’t fans of a particular horse, and that would make him more determined to get the best out of it. “Success never went to his head. He is comfortable with people from all walks of life – he was always just one of the gang, and stayed exactly the person he was before he was successful.”…

DURING his first “retirement” from eventing, Mark trained in New Zealand and, in just his second season, achieved the Holy Grail – a Classic winner. He bought Bramble Rose as a yearling at Karaka Sale in 2001. “There was something about her – she marched up and down with her ears pricked,” says Mark (pictured above at the races with his wife Carolyn). She won on her second start at three, and earned her place in the New Zealand Oaks. “The jockey who had been riding her all along smashed his foot against the stalls in an earlier race, so I had to find a last-minute replacement and we ended up with Opie Bosson, a very good jockey who had been out for a while and had just started riding…

FEI vice-president Mark Samuel has received the Equestrian Canada gold medal award. This is for “exceeding expectations” in providing exceptional service to the organisation. Trainer Mark Johnston is recovering from coronavirus. Mark’s son Charlie said his father had a couple of days in bed but is back up and “eager” to get back to work. An online auction raised £9,000 for showing producer Rory Gilsenan. The money will fund physiotherapy treatment for Rory who is suffering from the effects of a stroke and brain cancer. Irish jockey Jamie Spencer has undergone surgery after breaking his hip in a fall on the gallops at Newmarket. The 39-year-old said he is on the “road to recovery”. Showing judge Nigel Hollings celebrated his 60th birthday on 17 April. His brother Stuart framed Nigel’s…

SUEDOIS The nine-year-old gelding has retired after a glittering international career. Trained by Christian Baillet and most recently David O’Meara, he finished in the top three in 33 of 50 starts on the Flat, winning more than £1.5m. HARRY K The 16-year-old stallion, owned and ridden by Turkish showjumper Derin Demirsoy, has been retired to stud. His CV includes international grands prix wins and multiple senior championship appearances. MIGHT AND POWER The seven-time Group One victor, who won the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate, has died aged 26. He last ran in 1998 and had since lived at the Living Legends retirement facility in Australia.…

ITCHING A rider was surprised when her young son told her he had “sweet itch”. No doubt he needed a scratch but probably wouldn’t have appreciated being turned out in a fly rug… MONEY A national publication looking into the cost of keeping different animals estimated the amount for horses as £280 per month. Lots of wry amusement ensued but top response was from she who said: “That’s how much I tell my husband it costs.” We hear you, madam. THIEVES Oops moment of the coronavirus pandemic so far goes to whoever thought it was a good idea to steal an old chest freezer from a livery yard. What will the thief do with his ill-gotten stockpile when he realises the only food said ancient item is good for storing…

EVEN before the hardships brought on by Covid-19, I found myself reading too frequently about dead ponies tied to lamp posts and rescues of ponies so weak they were not expected to live. Enough is enough. Most of us want to do our best by our animals but it’s always the unscrupulous who seem to get away with it. It’s time to stand up and be counted. Perhaps compulsory gelding? I believe before anyone is allowed to buy an animal, they should pass a test of competency as to the care of that animal. They must also prove that they understand the costs involved in keeping them. Usually I am against red tape, but it’s time to take a stand. Neglect is becoming an everyday occurrence and it’s not good…

WAYNE CHANNON boasts a unique CV. An entrepreneur specialising in life sciences, and chairman of three innovative companies, he has also represented Britain in dressage on a number of occasions, including the 2005 European Championships, 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) and 2007 World Cup Final. And now, Wayne is hoping to make another huge addition to his list of achievements – a solution to the devastating coronavirus pandemic. As chairman of the biotechnology company Stabilitech Biopharma, Wayne and his team are currently at the forefront of the most urgent public health project of a generation – the development of a vital vaccine to protect against Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has rampaged across the globe in the past three months. On the day of our interview…

“You’re with people of a completely different age and walk of life – you don’t get that in any other school activity” On my first morning at Stowe, aged 13, I woke up and missed my first lesson because I went straight down to see the beagles at the kennels. When I’d arrived with my father the night before, I saw the hounds being exercised in the Grecian Valley in the school’s grounds, with the sun going down on them, and I wanted to find out what it was all about. My father Richard Gurney has been the master of the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent for 12 seasons, and he was field master for two years before that, and so I’ve hunted my whole life. I went beagling…

HIS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP HORSE, SPECIAL ENVOY: “He put me on the map. He taught me to be competitive, forgave my mistakes. We were able to win a lot of grands prix and he took me to the Olympics and World Equestrian Games when I was a teenager, even though it was tough for him because he didn’t really have the power to do it.” HIS THREE-TIME WORLD CUP FINAL WINNER BALOUBET DU ROUET: “He was the horse of a lifetime and a freak of nature, a horse who had everything you want from a showjumper. He had the power, was careful, intelligent. “I don’t expect that I’ll come across another one like that. Everyone who’s had a horse like that – whether it’s Shutterfly, Hickstead or Ratina Z – you…

LEMIEUX LEBATON The company has released a new batch of this popular baton whip to meet the new BS rules. It’s a jumping and general purpose whip with kind, shock-absorbing gel and a generous grip handle. Available in black, burgundy, navy, grey or bronze. One size. £19.95 lemieuxproducts.com DELTA PRO JOCKEY BAT FROM FLECK A classic bat handmade to the highest standards and from the finest materials. This bat is designed with a fibreglass core, a long soft cushion flap and a Delta Pro grip. The slim, ergonomically shaped grip is designed in a triangular shape for optimum hold and handling. Length 60cm and available in black only. Around £34 zebraproducts.co.uk PROCUSH SHOWJUMPING WHIP Available in two lengths – the standard 67cm or the short 60cm – and with two…

OF course, it isn’t just top riders who are dealing with the disappointment of broken dreams. One person’s local show is another’s Olympics, and the same principles of dealing with the disappointment apply throughout the levels. H&H’s news editor Eleanor Jones had qualified her mares Silver Chablis (Panther, pictured) and Iline Van De Smeets (Squirrel) for the Blue Chip Championships due to run at Hartpury from 1 to 5 April. It was the first time Eleanor had qualified with either horse and, after Panther jumped clear, but not fast enough, in the star qualifier at Pyecombe last October, she planned her December training around targeting the same class at Duckhurst Farm, Kent, at the end of the year, where she picked up her ticket. “Squirrel was right on the maximum…

“TEN years is enough – it’s time to move on and do something else, not just for me but also for the Hunting Office,” says Tim Easby. He has just handed over the reins as director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) and of the Hunting Office, which acts as the administrative hub of the various hunting associations and supervises and administers the activities of hunting. “You need fresh blood, fresh ideas and enthusiasm in different directions, and, while I’m still really enjoying it, I knew in my heart of hearts it was the right time to go.” That decade – he took over from Alastair Jackson in 2009 – has spanned considerable change as hunting has come to terms with life after the Hunting Act, as much within…

“HE’S always been a very positive person,” says Ginny (pictured above with Mark at the 1984 Olympics). “I don’t think he looks ahead and thinks, ‘Oh, what if…’; he thinks, ‘It will be fine,’ and it always is! “I was with him when Charisma arrived. I thought, ‘He’s jolly sweet, but you’re going to need rollerskates to ride him.’ But, typically, Mark thought, ‘Why not?’, and there you go, he became a double Olympic champion. “He’s very modest, but confident with it, without ever being arrogant. He’s a strong character, but is also very kind and thoughtful. “His wife Carolyn is a wonderful supporter and team player. She also has that attitude of ‘it’ll be all right on the night’, and they are a great combination.”…

“MY lasting memory of when NZB Land Vision [pictured] won Badminton is, when sitting round the lorry chatting afterwards, the number of other competitors who came up and who were genuinely delighted for Mark – I’ve never seen that in any other sport, and I thought it was remarkable,” says Sir Peter. “He has a skill and affinity with and understanding of the horse that I’ve never seen in anybody else. He’s gifted. I have no doubt that he will be outstanding at training racehorses again. He’s a genius – what more can I say?”…

WHEN we first moved here, I can remember telling a farming friend from Wiltshire about our new home. “It sometimes feels as if the world is happening elsewhere,” I said. “That’s probably true of farming everywhere,” he told me. And never more than now. With all hell letting loose around the world, it’s business as usual here on the farm. Calving has nearly finished and lambing is imminent. Everyone in sheep farming goes into lockdown at this time of year anyway, barely leaving home apart from the odd trip out to buy supplies. “Everyone in sheep farming goes into lockdown at this time of year anyway” THE horses have been enjoying some downtime since hunting finished, but this morning they also had some work to do. Our job – to…