Innholdsfortegnelse for 12-Nov-2020 i Horse & Hound

I HESITATE to talk about any positives for riding schools, because the main message I’m hearing is serious concern for these institutions’ survival during the pandemic. But I was buoyed to hear a few managers quoted in our news story this week (p8) saying that they had experienced an increase in interest between the lockdowns, and hadn’t lost clients. As Wellington Riding’s manager David Sheerin admits, he is an optimist, but he sees an opportunity for the industry. I do share some of his optimism - many people are living different lives now, with more working from home and in turn moving further away from their previous workplaces, opening up more opportunities for riding. It is obvious to us why individuals and parents should return or turn to riding and…

HORSES consider humans a “safe haven” but may not form specific attachment bonds with their owners, a new study suggests. Previous research has shown dogs display the same four key attachment behaviours with their owners as children do with their parents, but there has been limited research on whether horses form similar bonds. The study, published in the December 2020 edition of Applied Animal Behaviour Science, studied 26 horses to explore whether they showed the same attachment-related behaviour towards strangers as to their owners. The research involved observing the horses’ behaviour and measuring heart rates when left alone and reunited, first with the handler and then a stranger. The results showed that horses spent most of their time near the door to the arena during separation and sought human proximity…

▲ MESSAGES Anyone with a social media account will be used to weird comments and messages, perhaps none more so than that sent by a man this week. “Hey, you look so beautiful... I hope you have a wonderful night,” he said. Which would have been odd enough even had he not sent it to a horse. ▲ TRAINERS A rider in her last postlockdown lesson sneakily lowered a large oxer before she got on her horse. After a successful lesson, a pal revealed that as soon as her back was turned, the trainer had quietly put the jump back up. We salute you, Sir. ▲ CORONAVIRUS With the pandemic showing no sign of ending, have the authorities not thought of trying some alternative tools? There’s very little baler twine…

HIDDEN TREASURE DURING lockdown, I have spent a bit of time tidying cupboards and I came across this programme (above) for the 1971 Perth horse show – it brought back lots of happy memories. Many riders autographed the back of the programme too and it’s a delight to see that some of the names in this programme are still involved with showjumping today. I wonder how many other H&H readers have uncovered treasures from bygone years during these lockdowns? Fiona Moyes Poynton, Cheshire SAFETY FIRST I WOULD like to wish Harry Meade a very speedy recovery following his dreadful accident at Thoresby. Being a below-the-knee amputee, I have no flexibility in my ankle or foot and being dragged while in competition or at home is something I fear most. I…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @ donaldjdonald OPINION I SPENT most of last week wondering whether it would take longer to get clear guidance on the impact the new restrictions would have on the equestrian industry in England or for the USA to elect a new president. It was a closely fought race, with both seeming to take longer than they should. One finished with a sense of hope and prosperity, the other left a feeling of discombobulation. When Boris Johnson made his announcement about lockdown 2.0, I was commentating at a show and played his speech live on the PA. Both riders and staff asked for the volume to be turned up. I’m hoping this was only due to the impending personal and business implications, and not because they preferred the PM’s voice…

LESLIE LAW was Britain’s 2004 Olympic champion with Shear L’Eau - with him and Shear H2O, he also won six team medals of all colours at European, world and Olympic level. He lives in Florida, USA, where he is US eventing’s developing rider coach. “I constantly watch others in my sport to see where I can improve” I WOULD love to have my good friend Shear H2O (Solo) back now. He was a horse with such heart and if I had him now, I could do a better job producing him. We didn’t dobadly - but we could have done some incredible things. In training, I live by remembering to treat each horse as an individual and progress with him accordingly -there is no cookie-cutter mould for horses. I have…

THE best way to return a horse to exercise after a period of rest is an age-old topic. With the recent lockdown situation many horses have had a prolonged holiday, but with the competition season back up and running there are factors we must consider when returning them to work. The principles discussed are similar for horses that have had a holiday over the winter period or are returning to training following treatment for an injury. The first thing to consider is what effect a period of rest has on a horse’s body. In all cases, a reduction in exercise level will result in a loss of muscle mass which can occur after even a few weeks of reduced activity. The amount of muscle loss is often horse-dependent and will…

JACK is a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding used for general riding club activities. One day Jack returned from the field lame on his right hind limb with swelling surrounding his fetlock joint. Radiographs showed several smaller fragments within the joints and an ultrasound examination showed damage to one of the sesamoidean ligaments. It was suspected that Jack had had an acute traumatic event whereby the foot stayed on the ground while the body and limb turned, resulting in a twist at the level of the fetlock joint. Jack had surgery to remove the fragments and underwent a period of box rest and a controlled exercise rehabilitation programme, with repeated clinical and ultrasonographical examinations every three months. Following nine months of rest and controlled exercise rehabilitation program (and lots of…

IS there a good time to buy a new horse? Perhaps not when your wife is seven months pregnant, it’s nearly Christmas and your work van has just died, but Mac “seemed to find his way to us”. For Jonathon Jarrett, North Staffordshire joint-master, he beat horses such as “Archie the pig” who was bought for £1 and appeared in War Horse, and quirky Lordy. Mac was advertised in 2015 as being “too much horse” for his owner and for far less than she had paid. Accordingly, Jonathon and his wife, Emily, set off to Manchester to view him one dark evening. In a school with limited lighting, they watched him loose-jump. “He wasn’t in ridden work and he stopped at the crosspole but, despite that, there was something about…

AGAINST THE ODDS DEBORAH HOWSON and Belle Dame Noire scored their second novice double in a week, splashing their way through a downpour to a Tina Turner soundtrack for a plus-71% freestyle win at Manor Grange Stud. “Poor ‘Betty’ came down the centre line with her head tilted and halted with her quarters into the rain,” laughed Deborah. Both have bounced back from a disastrous 2018, when Betty fractured a cannon bone in a field accident and Deborah broke some processes in her spine while jumping another horse. “Betty was very scatty as a youngster, with a signature move of dropping a shoulder and shooting off,” she said of the 15.3hh mare, thought to be Gelderlander/Welsh. “She can still be quite spooky but she’s maturing into a lovely character.”…

LORAINE HOMER, one of the individuals instrumental in getting showing back on the road post-lockdown, organised this performance- focused fixture at Dallas Burston Polo Club. The first of its kind, the competition was judged on a points system. Combinations were awarded a single style mark for each fence as well as marks for elements of their individual show. “Arena eventing has risen in popularity this year,” said Loraine. “While everyone enjoys it I noticed that it’s like a schooling session in many ways, and some of the showing lot often questioned how it could be won. I wanted to create something within my remit of showing and working hunter which also promoted style and performance.” There were 15 marked obstacles with the judges awarding a maximum of 10 points for…

hannah.lemieux@futurenet.com @hannah_lemieux1 Wincanton Racecourse, Somerset, and Doncaster Racecourse, South Yorks THERE are plenty of dual-purpose trainers around the country but not many doing as well with their Flat horses as their jumpers as Alan King, and that was never better exemplified than on Saturday, 7 November. Within a few minutes of winning the Unibet Elite Hurdle with Sceau Royal at Wincanton, King completed an outstanding Flat-turf season by winning the last big race at Doncaster, the Betfair November Handicap, with, Henry Ponsonby’s 10/1 shot On To Victory. King is better known for his Cheltenham winners, such as Katchit, My Way De Solzen and Voy Por Ustedes, but has been gradually increasing the size and quality of his Flat string for a while now. However, with three winners at Royal Ascot…

Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @eleanor_jones_ AN equestrian entrepreneur hopes her recent prestigious award will help inspire other young BAME people into all areas of the industry. Sandra Murphy, founder and managing director of Equidiet UK, was announced as the consumer and luxury senior leader winner of the Black British Business Awards, on 30 October. Ms Murphy, whose brand has a European patent, making her the first Black woman to secure such a patent in the UK, is also the founder of the BAME Equine and Rural Activities Focus Group (BERF), which aims to “support, encourage, inspire, educate and progress members of the BAME community in all disciplines, all areas of the equine industry and all rural activities”. Ms Murphy told H&H she hopes her win…

ONE FOR ARTHUR The Lucinda Russell-trained 2017 Grand National winner has been retired aged 11, fit and well. Owned by Deborah Thomson and Belinda McClung, he was Scotland’s first winner of the race in 38 years, ridden by Derek Fox. ROULETTE BH Amanda Derbyshire’s Olympic hopeful ride, owned by the Gochmans, has been retired after sustaining injuries in a fall at Hickstead’s Nations Cup last year. The 11-year-old gelding scored grand prix wins worldwide. KILMANNAN ROBERT THE BRUCE Bill Ireland’s prolific Dales stallion has died aged 15 following a field accident. Ridden and produced by Richard Telford, he was Fell and Dales pony of the year at Horse of the Year Show 2014.…

ANTHONY VAN DYCK The Aidan O’Brien-trained 2019 Epsom Derby winner was put down on 3 November after fracturing a fetlock in the Melbourne Cup. The four-year-old had won six of 19 starts and more than £2.3m in prize money. MAXIOS Coolmore’s 12-year-old National Hunt recruit was Britain and Ireland’s busiest thoroughbred sire in 2020. He covered 298 mares in his first season at Castlehyde, following six years as a Flat sire in Germany. ALL LUCK Australian eventer Shane Rose’s 2008 Olympic team silver medal-winning ride has died aged 26. The pair represented Australia at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen and finished third at Burghley in 2006.…

I WAS absolutely thrilled to see Laura Collett win the five-star event at Pau at the end of October; it is extremely well deserved after being so many times the bridesmaid but never the bride! She made it look so easy, but we all know that it isn’t. After some recent bad luck, it was Laura’s time and that of London 52 to shine. After a beautifully ridden test, a clear cross-country and a nail-biting showjumping round, she managed to maintain her very small lead over Piggy March. Even the top 10 riders were close in scoring. We have such an amazing wealth of talent in the sport of eventing that the future looks really promising. Therefore, let’s hope that when all the usual events and competitions get back to…

RIDER CARL HESTER “I’VE always loved Vogue and Charlotte Dujardin very kindly gave me the ride on him. He is just incredible to ride. He is a proper international horse, and one who has so much eagerness to please all the time. It means that you never feel disappointed even if you make a mistake, because it’s all really just a question of fine-tuning. “It was very interesting to take him to Keysoe CDI3*; our grand prix on the first day was a bit on edge, although I still had a great ride, but a day later in the special he really came up with the goods - and was even more special. I came home on a real high after that. “I still don’t know him well in a…

PAIN management is a vital part of post-operative care. The hospital team uses a pain-scoring system to identify discomfort that may not be immediately apparent. “We observe a horse for 10 minutes, during a quiet part of the day, before trying to interact with him and judging how he responds,” says student veterinary nurse Claire Tottman. “We evaluate certain points, including appetite, respiratory and heart rate, evidence of ‘pain face’ (tension in the nostrils or facial muscles, for example) and signs such as tooth grinding, scoring each from zero to four. This creates an overall pain picture; a higher-than-expected total indicates a need to reassess pain relief. “While different breeds, types and ages have a different approach to pain, a usually stoical cob who goes off his food - but…

MANY riders go by feel, knowledge and experience to monitor fitness levels. Heart-rate response to exercise is one of the primary measures used by veterinary surgeons, traditionally measured using an electrocardiogram (ECG). The recent increase in availability of equine heartrate monitors has made this method widely accessible. Generally, as a horse’s fitness level increases, the heart-rate response to the same level of exercise should decrease. An additional tool is the measurement of blood lactate level, which increases in response to strenuous exercise.…

ALL horses can benefit from complementary athletic exercises to increase muscle strength and improve range of motion. Traditional exercises include hill training and raised pole exercises. The use of training aids such as the Equiband or Pessoa (pictured) can help the horse to work through from behind and build up the topline. These training aids should be gradually introduced by an experienced user to allow the horse to adapt. Recently, the use of water treadmills has gained in popularity. Preliminary research has shown an increase in the flexion (bending) of the legs during the swing (flight) phase of the stride and increased range of motion of the back during water treadmill exercise. However, further research is required. Finally, horse yoga in the form of carrot stretching exercises on the ground…

Q Who should I entrust with caring formy horse’s teeth? A “Either a vet or a suitably qualifiedequine dental technician (EDT). These are the only people sufficiently trainedand legally allowed to diagnose and treatequine teeth, and both groups must holdindemnity insurance and undergo regularprofessional development training. “All equine vets are highly trained in dental care and are qualified to carry out any procedure in a horse’s mouth, but some have a special interest in dentistry and go on to pass EDT exams or to become advanced practitioners or specialists. Qualified EDTs have undergone training and examination to become a member of the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) or the Worldwide Association of Equine Dentistry (WWAED).” Q For basic work, is it worthconsidering an unqualified EDT –or someone sometimes…

THE sarcoid, although a benign cancer, can be aggressive and spread locally. There are various different forms of sarcoid, each having a characteristic appearance, and individual sarcoids can change from one form to another. Bovine papillomavirus is believed to be involved with the development of sarcoids, although its precise role is unknown. The number and type of sarcoids that individual horses develop varies considerably, but in the majority of cases they tend to get larger and more numerous with time. There are many different treatments available for sarcoids, but there is no single one which can be used in all cases. The choice of treatment will vary depending on the type of sarcoid, its size and location. Sarcoids in certain locations, such as around the eyes, can be more difficult…

STEREOTYPIC behaviours, often incorrectly referred to as vices, include crib-biting, wind-sucking, weaving and box-walking. These are common, developing in around one-fifth to one-third of all horses. Their cause is complex and considered to be a combination of genetics and management. Stereotypies are not seen in wild horses and are generally considered to be a coping strategy that some domestic horses develop. The behaviour helps these horses to adapt to a life in which they cannot feed, roam and interact with other horses, as they have evolved to do in the wild. Stereotypies can be a cause of major concern and frustration to some horse owners and carers. In addition, they can reduce the financial value of these horses and can make them more difficult to sell or rehome. But how…

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ONE TO WATCH JOHNSON mare Koko II (pictured, right) is proving wise beyond her years, notching up high-scoring novice and elementary wins at Hunters Equestrian, Glos, after a successful summer in young horse classes. “She’s so sensible and clever, learning new things with no stress or panic,” said New Zealand rider Sarah Wilkinson, who bought the five-year-old last year while based in Germany. “Where she was a little timid, she has really grown in confidence.” Sarah, who moved to the UK in March and set up a yard in Gloucestershire, rode Koko to fourth place at the Britis Dressage Young Horse Championships last month after an 89.6% qualifying win at Cherwell. The pair are due to compete for New Zealand at the World Young Horse Championships in Verden, Germany, in…

ONE TO WATCH AN Alan King treble across the cards looked possible for a moment on Saturday, 7 November, when Potterman landed in front over the last in a terrific Badger Beers Silver Trophy at Wincanton. But he was just run out of it in a pulsating finish by El Presente, who continued the fantastic run this autumn of Kim Bailey-trained horses. Potterman, another who prefers good ground, will be trained for the Ladbrokes Trophy on 28 November, but shall only run if the weather holds out - otherwise, he will be on holiday. Three out, the race looked between the frontrunning My Way and Sizing At Midnight. But trainer Colin Tizzard is having an appalling run of luck with injuries and fallers. Just when it looked like his fortunes…

hannah.lemieux@futurenet.com @hannah_lemieux1 Kimblewick, Kimble, Bucks ALAN HILL’S 10-year-old Hawkhurst returned to form to land the conditions under Will Biddick by 10 lengths, giving Alan the first win of a double. With numerous unseats and pull-ups last season marring his previously impressive record, Alan knew he needed to try a different tack with the son of Flemensfirth to bring him back to his best. “Last year, for some reason we never got going with him and everything seemed to go wrong,” said Alan. “My son, Joe, spent some time with jumps trainer Harry Whittington and was really impressed with his deep sand gallop, so we had one put in at home and it’s been the making of Hawkhurst. It has really helped to settle him and has been great for conditioning…

THERE are times in life when you like yourself, believe you are doing a good job. And then there are the other times, when things are not going so well, and self-esteem turns to mush. That was me, the other weekend. It was the opening meet – a day that is greeted with excitement by many in the hunting world. Fear and loathing by a few. It took me all day on the Friday to work out why Adam was being so prickly. Later that evening, it dawned on me: he was suffering from a severe case of opening-meetitis. A syndrome which will be familiar to wives and girlfriends of huntsmen countrywide. I spoke to a friend yesterday who is also married to an amateur huntsman. Having fallen foul of…

FINE FOR BREACH OF LOCKDOWN RULES AN owner who breached Welsh lockdown rules by trying to visit her horse has been fined by police. The woman was making the trip of some 160 miles from Leicester to Ceredigion, Wales, on 1 November when she was stopped and issued with the fixed penalty notice. Dyfed-Powys Police superintendent Craig Templeton said officers had been conducting high- visibility patrols throughout the lockdown which ended on 9 November. “Enforcement - through the issue of fixed penalty notices - remains only a method of last resort when drivers are determined to flout the rules,” he said. LAST 2020 FIVE- STAR SHOW IS LOST THE last remaining European five-star showjumping event has been cancelled owing to Covid-19. Organisers of CHI Geneva (10-13 December) announced that, despite…

The Curragh jockeys’ room has been named in memory of the late Pat Smullen. Pat had many wins at the venue, which hosted the Pat Smullen Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland 2019. Showing judge Nigel Hollings was elected chairman of the British Show Horse Association for a third year at the society’s AGM on 8 November. Sue Rawding was elected president. Flat jockey Oisin Murphy retained his champion title for a second year with 142 wins. Oisin said he was “incredibly proud” to win a second title, and thankful to his whole team. Trainer Emma Massingale received the YouTube silver creator award for 100,000 subscribers, and being one of the fastest-growing channels in her field. Emma thanked all who watch. Apprentice jockey Cieren Fallon won the champion title for…

JUNE WARREN THE showjumping stalwart who organised the first pre-Wembley Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), died on 29 October aged 97, following a short illness. Born in 1923, Mrs Warren married Peter and they set up home on his parents’ farm at Wing on the Bedfordshire-Buckinghamshire border. The farm was requisitioned as an airfield during the World War II but afterwards, Mrs Warren’s father-in-law bought it back and it was returned to its original purpose, later becoming Old Park Equestrian. Mrs Warren developed the centre and it became the first to have a purpose-built indoor school. In 1964, she ran the first pre-Wembley HOYS event, attracting course-designers such as Alan Oliver and riders including the late Olympian Peter Robeson. A spokesman for British Showjumping (BS) said Mrs Warren’s passion…

AN orphaned foal, born weighing 14kg, is thriving with the help of her teddy. Eight-week-old Welsh section A Buttons had been receiving specialist care at Hillwood Stud after losing her mother, and has since become a permanent resident. The stud’s Tracy Vigors said they had been unable to find a foster mare for the filly but Buttons now weighs 29kg. “Then she fell in love with Pooh Bear, which is lovely as she has some comfort from him,” she said. “I would love for her to have a companion, so I’m on the lookout for a friend for her.” Buttons has developed quite a following on social media, as Tracy shares videos on her Twitter page of Buttons’ busy life playing, snoozing with Pooh Bear and making friends.…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @AlexRRob OPINION IT’S been an unusual showing season. When I look back at some of my highlights, managing to run a successful event during this ongoing crisis most definitely belongs at the top of that list. I also judged at one show and even officiated in a virtual showing competition. The latter was a different experience as one exhibitor submitted a photograph of an in-hand stuffed toy horse shown by Bob the Builder. Needless to say, they didn’t make my top 10! But back to reality. I know competitors have raved over classes starting at set times rather than following on, but as a judge I wasn’t a fan of the breaks in between classes. Empty rings are a no-no for any show organiser. However, without the marks system…

“Many Clouds would never quit; he was an inspiration to me” Riding is an extreme sport. It’s hard to describe what it physically feels like to ride. We set up Equine Productions, specialising in equine films, in 2012, using modern technology, different camera angles and editing styles to create content that puts the audience as close as possible to the horse. Our Original Horsepower film was commissioned by the Jockey Club to promote the start of the Flat season. We used a “Russian Arm” car, with a camera attached to a crane, and filmed alongside, above and in front of the horse on a four-furlong gallop. So many people asked how we did it, the behind-the-scenes film was more popular than the original. Watching eventers go round Badminton blows your…

“VOGUE is a tiny little person in a great big body. He is a terrible worrier, and doesn’t like to think he’s done anything wrong, but he is a sweetheart, too. When you are on the ground with him he is not the most confident, but the change is amazing when you get him into the arena, where he can be the most incredible showman. “At home, he isn’t like most of the others – Charlotte Dujardin’s Mount St John Freestyle, for example, who always has her head over her stable door wanting to know what everybody’s doing; Vogue is more shy and retiring, and would rather just peek out of his stable and do his own thing. “He lives out at night with two younger horses, and it’s great…

THERE are four basic principles. Firstly, at least 15 minutes of walking should be undertaken before starting any faster exercise. This time is crucial to allow the soft tissue structures time to warm up and reduce the likelihood of a strain injury. It is particularly important when having a lesson or schooling, as the temptation is to start trotting quite quickly. A short hack or putting the horse on the walker before the lesson will help to prevent soft tissue injuries. A second consideration is how quickly the exercise level is increased each week. As a rule, the increase in exercise duration should not be by more than 10% each week. This will allow the muscles, tendons and ligaments to adapt to the training stimulus. An increase of about five…

ONE thing that has come to light with the increased use of telemedicine is the need for an equine-specific telemedicine app. “There are several good apps for small animal practice, but what I wanted was an equine-specific app - one where clients can book and pay for the appointment up front, then call the vet via video,” says Liz Somerville. “It is then recorded and the vet makes clinical notes on the app. There has been a huge amount of development through lockdown, but it needs a bit more work.” Jack Wallace agrees: “Having an app would be useful so that vets aren’t being bombarded 24/7.” Patrick Pollock has tested Vidtu, an app for remote conferencing and telemedicine. It enables mobile screen and file share, camera and chat over a…

THANKFULLY, there’s no requirement for twice-daily brushing of a horse’s teeth. Where food tends to become stuck between gappy incisors, however, Kieran suggests removing it gently two or three times a week with a toothbrush or a soft pick. “Another measure to prevent decay is to be selective with the treats,” Kieran adds. “Something natural is best. Avoid mints that are sugary or chewy, as these can stick to the teeth and potentially cause erosion.”…

THESE are skin tumours which are more prominent in grey and cremello horses. They become more common with age and it is estimated that at least 80% of grey horses over the age of 12 years will have melanomas. They most commonly involve the tail and perineum (around the anus and vulva in mares), the sheath of males, the eyelids and the mouth. In young horses, most melanomas behave as benign cancers but with age they are more likely to become malignant and can then spread internally. For this reason, removal (with laser surgery) is advised when the melanomas are small. There is a vaccine that has recently been launched to treat horses with melanomas, but currently there is limited information available about its effectiveness.…

A “VICE” is a behaviour, habit or other negative trait that a person has. But animals don’t have that level of thinking; they aren’t doing these behaviours deliberately. Stereotypic behaviours develop to help some individuals cope with a life where they cannot forage, move around or interact with other horses as nature has designed them to do. One study estimated that around 2.7 million horses worldwide display some form of stereotypic behaviour. These horses don’t need punishment, just a better understanding of why they are doing this and, ideally, methods for preventing these behaviours from developing in the first place.…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten Ludlow, Little Hereford, Herefords WE had been drawing a brambly stream for some time with little success when hounds hit off a line in the corner of Incham, a decent-sized covert on a bank side, separated from the brook by a narrow field. Second horses were waiting here and there was certainly no need to hurry as there was a poor scent in covert. Hounds hunted laboriously in the thick and many of the field sloped off home as the prospects of a hunt diminished. There are no rides in Incham and it was impossible to help and inject any impetus into proceedings. Slowly hounds circled the covert three times, hunting very deliberately but at what seemed like a snail’s pace. Henry Bailey, the joint-master and huntsman, must…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollybryan Manor Grange Stud, West Yorkshire A HORSE with “the biggest heart” earned his owner Samantha Smith a ticket to ride at prix st georges (PSG), fulfilling her long- held dream. The Irish Draught/ Hanoverian gelding Cool Hand Luke headed the advanced with 65.44%. “We wobbled round our first attempt at the level in July, but we’ve worked so hard and Luke never says no,” said Samantha. “I had to sit on my tailcoat that I’ve waited so long to ride in, because he didn’t like it touching his quarters, but I was happy to compromise.” Samantha bought Luke at 18 months old to event, but found herself doing dressage route when he wouldn’t jump. “He made the decision for me, but never in a million years did I…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @ donaldjdonald Pony Masters Special, South View, Cheshire TABITHA KYLE has tallied a phenomenal run of big-class successes in the past year and brought home the spoils once again with a twin victory in the 138cm and 148cm grands prix. She took just one ride through to each jump-off, with Playboy Van De Zoetewei landing the 138cm as he delivered a quick clear from an early draw that led others to fault in pursuit. The ultra-consistent pony was bought from the Netherlands after the family saw a video of him. He won a raft of championships last year, including the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 138cm title, Hickstead, Bolesworth and Scope. “Playboy is an unbelievable pony - he is like a little horse with his technique over a…

alexandra.Robinson@futurenet.com @AlexRRob Lands Style and Performance show, Dallas Burston Polo Club, Warks WHILE her back number - 13 - might have suggested she was in for an unlucky day, home producer Hayley Dolby defied the formbook and achieved the highest score of the competition aboard her own Welsh section D Pendancer Mickey Bricks. Mickey, a 14hh, 11-year-old gelding, was awarded 192 out of 200 for his performance in the 30-strong 80cm class. Hayley has owned Mickey - who was an accidental foal - since he was four months old. “A friend bought a mare from the annual Welsh Pony and Cob Society sales,” explained IT trainer Hayley. “One morning a few months later, she went outside to feed and there was Mickey.” Mickey is an all-rounder; as well as contending…