Innholdsfortegnelse for 07-Jan-2021 i Horse & Hound

WE revisit the subject of turnout in this week’s issue (p44), which always prompts much discussion. Views are changing, with the benefits of turnout for sport horses deemed to outweigh the risks, once you factor in the health implications associated with not turning out. As the writer notes, if 2020 taught us anything it is an appreciation of the freedoms we once had. And though we shouldn’t anthropomorphise, this is one instance when it seems the right way round to do so. Having had to spend Christmas self-isolating, while ironically receiving a Fitbit, I paced around the garden to increase my daily steps, imagining myself like a horse in a turnout pen. The arguments against turnout don’t change – either owners fear the injuries a horse could sustain, or they…

ALL UK studbooks have been recognised by the EU, it has been confirmed. This means horses with studbook passports will be considered “registered”, and so can travel to EU states without extra UK Government-issued ID, and via border control posts specifically approved for registered equines. Any registered horse travelling to the EU, for up to 90 days, must have been living in the UK, or a country with the same health status, for 40 days. The horse must have had a blood test for equine infectious anaemia within 90 days of departure, and stallions who do not meet vaccination requirements must also have a blood test for equine viral artertitis within 21 days. Horses will have to have export health certificates, signed by an official vet, and extra supporting documents.…

2021 GAMES WILL RUN DESPITE COVID JAPANESE prime minister Yoshihide Suga has reiterated his promise to hold the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this year as the country battles rising Covid-19 cases. In his new year’s address, he said Japan “will advance our preparations thoroughly so as to achieve Games that are safe and secure”. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said in his new year message “Tokyo is still the best-prepared Olympic city ever”. The Games are scheduled for 23 July to 8 August, and 24 August to 5 September. CHARITIES VOTED TO WIN 2021 HELP THE Horse Trust, the Riding for the Disabled Association and Brooke are the winners of the Harry Hall Help for Charities campaign 2021. The charities, voted for by the public, will receive donations from…

LEN BIGLEY THE showing stalwart died peacefully in hospital on 22 December aged 72, following a long illness. Mr Bigley was born in 1948 in the United States, where he lived as a child until his father died. The family moved to Shropshire and Mr Bigley’s interest in horses began from helping his uncle, who showed Shires. While at school he developed an interest in ponies, by helping his neighbour Mrs Borthwick with her Trefesgob Welsh section B stud. Following a recommendation from Mr Borthwick, the former chairman of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society (WPCS), Mr Bigley took a summer job at Llanarth Stud in 1964. He remained at Llanarth until his move to Quakers Farm, Herefordshire, to settle with his own family. In 1975 he married Ann, and…

A MINIATURE horse called Duncan has made an “excellent” recovery from what is believed to be the first successful equine total hip replacement. The 85kg stallion spent three weeks in the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, at the University of Liverpool, this summer, but is now walking and trotting “almost normally”. Duncan had dislocated a hip, and sustained “irreparable” joint damage prior to surgery. Rob Pettitt, professor of small animal orthopaedics at the university, said: “The opportunity to give Duncan a normal life using a procedure we perform regularly in dogs but that has never been successful longer-term in equids was a unique experience. Our role was just a small part of the huge teamwork that has resulted in this outcome.”…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 HAPPY new year first and foremost, although with the Covid-19 pandemic dragging on and, as I write, three-quarters of the nation in tier four, the first week of the year has lost a little of its usual magic. Certainly, the prospect of “dry January”, “Veganuary” or “sugar free” January are all looking rather bleak and uninspiring amid another lockdown. I spent Christmas and New Year without any of my Bechtolsheimer family for the first time ever. It was very strange, although I did have the chance to enjoy being at home with my husband and our children, with everything being just about us. I have never really been at home but not ridden any horses, so that felt strange, too, but it was also quite nice just to…

How to listen via the Horse & Hound website 1. On your computer or phone, open a web browser (such as Safari or Google Chrome) and type in horseandhound.co.uk/podcast 2. You will see each episode of the podcast listed. Click on the one you want to listen to 3. Scroll down the page until you find a Soundcloud window (pictured, above) 4. Click on the red arrow to play the podcast Listen using an app 1. Download a podcast app – such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Soundcloud – for free from the App Store on your phone (app logos pictured below) 2. Open the app 3. Set up an account if you are asked to do so 4. Go to the search function (this may be denoted…

It has to be Headmore Bella Ruby (pictured, left). She’s only nine but is already showing all the ability to be a good grand prix horse. The first day I rode her at home after she had been backed, I trotted two steps and said, “Oh my God, this horse is amazing.” My mum thought she looked a bit ordinary, but I could just feel her endless scope and suppleness. As Bella has got stronger she has shown more and more impressive movement, and now Mum tries to say she always knew she’d be good really!…

Need to know WESKO Age: 18 Breeding: Karandasj x Mytens xx Rider: Tim Price Owner: Windrush Equestrian Foundation and rider Breeder: RJM Schoenaker Greatest achievements: second Hartpury CCI4*-S 2013; first Blair CCI4*-L 2013; first Tattersalls CCI4*-S 2014; first Luhmühlen CCI5* 2014; second Hartpury CCI4*-S 2014; represented Australia at the 2014 World Equestrian Games; second Kentucky CCI5* 2015; fourth Aachen CCIO4*-S 2015; third Pau CCI5* 2015; second Jardy Event Rider Masters (ERM) CCI4*-S 2018; first Arville ERM CCI4*-S 2019; fourth Aachen CCIO4*-S 2019; fourth Strzegom CCI4*-L 2020; third Pau CCI5* 2020 (all class names updated to current format). RIDER TIM PRICE “WE found Wesko while looking at another horse for Christina Knudsen. He was an unproven showjumper and he was sharp – he can spin out of nowhere in a warm-up…

“I always make myself remember how lucky I am to do this sport, we are just so fortunate”MARY KING NERVES happen to the best of us. When Emily Philp was contesting her first Burghley, in 2019, she passed Pippa Funnell’s lorry en route to the cross-country. Bear in mind Pippa has a dozen Olympic, world and European medals, six five-star trophies and 30 five-star starts under her belt. Pippa leaned out of her lorry window to wish Emily good luck and check she was OK. “I said, ‘No, I feel dreadful,’” Emily says. “And Pippa laughed, and said, ‘Trust me, it gets worse, not better.’” Pippa went on to win, proving that nerves are no barrier to success. But how familiar her angst is to so many riders, whether we’re…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Wellington, Hants NATASHA SWALES and her social media star Queen Of Clouds spearheaded a brilliant day out for Julian Mincher’s yard when she topped a one-two-three for their team in the Blue Chip RLF Joint Power qualifier. The eight-year-old mare has picked up a Facebook following after Natasha posted a series of videos of her tackling her napping and rearing. “Natasha wasn’t working for me when she bought her, and what she didn’t realise was that she was originally my horse,” Julian said. “I sold her as a four-year-old and later on she went a bit wayward. “Natasha has done really well with her and she is good as gold now, we don’t have any problems with her, although she takes a bit of management as she likes…

WHEN Sheila was approached by a member of the Olympic select committee at Badminton in 1956 to say that Chips was wanted for the Stockholm Olympics for Michael Naylor-Leyland to ride, she was horrified. “I was shattered […] Chips needed a certain type of riding and a love and understanding that no man would be capable of giving him,” she wrote. It took an equerry to The Queen – asking on behalf of Her Majesty for her to lend or sell Chips for the Olympics – to persuade Sheila and her parents that there was no other option. “I felt as if my heart was breaking. I knew that I would never have another Chips. He was my one true love,” she said. Fellow eventer and British selector Ted Marsh…

Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @jones_eleanor_ THERE is “still a long way to go” for equestrian centres following the past difficult year – but there have been some positives, as the industry looks ahead to 2021. It is hoped there is “light at the end of the tunnel” after a hugely challenging year for venues. British Showjumping (BS) chief executive Iain Graham told H&H one of the biggest challenges for venues has been the different lockdown rules applying in different parts of the UK. “We’ve had centres in Wales not able to run jumping competitions since March, and Scottish competitors going to England when Scottish venues weren’t allowed to open,” he said. “In England, some venues haven’t managed to reopen, just due to the costs of…

DON POLI Darren Yates’ three-time Grade One winner has been retired. The 12-year-old won eight times under Rules for Willie Mullins, moving to Gordon Elliott, then Britain, where he was most recently trained by Dan Skelton. GLOCK’S TOTO JR NOP The 10-year-old dressage stallion owned by the Glock Horse Performance Centre has been added to the Dutch Olympic Horse Foundation’s list. The initiative secures horses for Dutch teams, so they are not sold abroad. FRODON Bryony Frost became the first woman to win the King George VI Chase, on Frodon on Boxing Day. It was the second Grade One triumph for Paul Vogt’s gelding, and trainer Paul Nicholls’ 12th King George (report, p56). QUICKLY DE KREISKER The showjumper has retired, aged 16, to the yard of owner King Mohammed VI…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. THIS LITTLE PIGGY… I FOUND your “Friend or foe” article (vet, 17 December 2020) very interesting, particularly the “Pig tales” section. Years ago, my then boss presented me with a large white piglet for my 30th birthday (an odd present I thought). We built her a pen on the yard and with the exception of one newbie turning tail and running off on initial sighting, none of the other horses worried at all. In fact, they’d go and say hello to her over the fence. Katie the pig grew to be very large and lived to a grand old age. Helen Waites Hearn Greenfield, Beds MUM’S THE WORD I READ your story about motherhood in racing (news,…

What is a podcast? A podcast is similar to a radio programme, but one you can listen to at any time. Many people listen to podcasts while doing something else, be it cleaning tack, running or mucking out. How often are episodes released and how long can you listen to them for? The Horse & Hound podcast is released every Thursday to our H&H Plus members (find out more at horseandhound.co.uk/hhplus), before its general release on Friday, when anyone can listen to the podcast, free of charge. You can listen to any of the past shows at any time. What do you talk about on the podcast? Each episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast lasts 35 to 45 minutes and has three segments. The first is an interview with…

WE’RE always told that to be successful you should surround yourself with those who inspire and encourage you to be the very best version of yourself. This is something Katy Green has done her entire life. Looking ahead to the 2021 season, Katy has her carefully selected string of athletic working hunters ready to hit the circuit. While her natural gift for scouting out show ring talent can’t be denied, she is quick to credit her mentors for steering her in the right direction. “Good workers are hard to find,” explains Katy, 35, as we chat remotely one morning in between Katy’s yard jobs and dropping her four-year-old son Freddie at school. “They need a decent brain, be able to jump 1.25m with ease, give an amazing ride, move and…

“Elite performers have the same worries as we do” Through my time as chief executive at the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), I met some fascinating characters, from Lester Piggott, Willie Carson and Pat Eddery to Peter Scudamore, Richard Dunwoody and Sir AP McCoy. It’s well known that Richard went to see a sports psychologist in the mid-1990s, which triggered my initial interest. Then AP said he’d been to see a couple of sport psychologists but, in his words, they didn’t understand his madness. He said, “You do, and if you were a psychologist I’d pay to see you.” That led me to research what it involved and I retrained. I’m amazed how often elite performers have the same worries, doubts, hopes and fears as we do. Most people already have…

“DASH is the most placid, kindest horse – like a little teddy bear. He’s just a nice guy to be around. He gets on well with all the horses and all the people. “At competitions he knows his job and, as his favourite thing is eating, he loves to go out grazing whenever he can. He wobbles around quite a lot travelling on the truck, so we treat him like a princess, try to put him in the same spot every time, with friends near him and give him lots of hay to keep him happy. “I do get very nervous when he competes; previously I couldn’t watch Tim on any of his horses across country. Dash and Ringwood Sky Boy are my favourites and I’ve learnt to watch and…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 ONE does not have to spend long in Mary Kehoe’s home in Co Wexford to realise that this is a house full of workers rather than talkers. Sitting round the homely kitchen table in Clondaw, eating Irish stew and not wasting undue time on small talk, I found the redoubtable Ms Kehoe, who hunts two separate packs of Wexford foxhounds, with her partner Michael Condon, their protégé Jason Higgins, and her sister Muriel Howard. Michael is father to international showjumper Anthony Condon, and is himself much in demand as a showjumping coach. Jason is a grand prix rider and top producer of young horses, who came to work with the Kehoes aged 14 and, 16 years on, still lives with Michael and Mary. Muriel has spent a lifetime…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Sandown Park, Surrey YOU rarely see jockeys congratulating someone else’s winning horse, but 13-year-old Seeyouatmidnight, a mainstay of Sandy Thomson’s Borders yard for almost as long as some of them have been riding, received their acclaim after running out a popular winner of the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final at Sandown on Saturday. It was some comeback for horse and for jockey Ryan Mania who, not so long ago, were both retired; the 13-year-old because of suspensory problems, the jockey who quit to hunt a pack of hounds after winning the National on Auroras Encore. Seeyouatmidnight may not be quite the force he was when he won a Dipper Novices’ Chase – beating the subsequent 2016 RSA Chase winner Blaklion – and when he beat Bristol De Mai…

WHEN Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day meeting succumbed to waterlogging, Al Boum Photo became the focus of the day. As he has done in both his Gold Cup winning seasons, he made a winning reappearance in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore. He beat Acapella Bourgeois 19 lengths, but while fans of the horse thought he ran a belter, those with an inclination to pick holes in his performances had enough ammo to confirm their view that he will not be joining Best Mate or Arkle as a three-time winner in March. My view was somewhere in the middle. I did think Paul Townend was having to ride him along and squeeze him up just to get him competitive but he finished the race off well, it was testing…

Record-breaking jockey Hollie Doyle and fellow Group One-winning rider Tom Marquand have announced their engagement. The couple shared the news pictured on a beach while on a winter break. The FEI has appointed Marco Fuste as jumping director. Marco has been director of jumping at the Spanish Equestrian Federation and chef d’équipe of the Spanish jumping team since 2006. Monbeg Stables’ point-to-point trainer Donnchadh Doyle and wife Susan welcomed a baby girl, Poppy, on 1 January. The stables congratulated the couple on their newest addition. Trainer Seamus Mullins was appointed to British racing’s independent Horse Welfare Board to represent the Horsemen’s Group. Seamus said he is “greatly” looking forward to the role. Real Madrid footballer Sergio Ramos has bought eight-year-old Eliante Z for Spanish showjumper Sergio Alvarez Moyes. The mare…

▲ GIRL POWER A yard owner branching out into deliveries emailed a client about access to his yard. “It’s tight but I’ve had an HGV in there,” he replied. “As long as it’s not a woman driver, you’ll be fine.” Let’s hope the driver waited until after her perfect turn to reveal her identity... ▲ SEEDS A community garden benefited from some green-hoofed help; London mounted police were asked to cut up the ground. Apparently, grazers’ feet push in seeds and create microhabitats. One to tell the other half when he complains about hoofprints on the lawn? ▲ BAD JOKES A comedian revealed that his son was bitten by a horse while the family was on a bike ride. Later, his father asked: “Why the long face?” Even famous comedians…

ALTHOUGH many people seem to complain about the cost of livery, surely the right yard is priceless? With the minimum wage increasing and good grooms being few and far between, I dare say most owners are getting a good deal if they factor in their time to do yard jobs, fuel twice a day and time off work for vets and farriers. I couldn’t imagine going back to DIY livery and never more so than now. My horse is well looked after and as I’ve had major surgery recently, I can go and enjoy time with him when I feel up to it and focus on my recovery. Therefore, next time someone wonders if the cost of livery is worth it, think about all that your yard staff do and…

The back catalogue of guests on The Horse & Hound Podcast includes Carl Hester, Mark Todd, Michael Whitaker, Jayne Ross, Louise Bell, William Fox-Pitt, Geoff Billington, Ian Stark, Laura Collett and Sam Roberts. All these are still available to hear. You can also still check out our Christmas and New Year’s Eve specials – a quiz with six top riders and an interview with Rio Olympic champion Nick Skelton. Our upcoming guests include: 7 January: five-star winner Tim Price 14 January: double Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin 21 January: Olympic gold medallist Laura Tomlinson…

Describe your first pony… My sister Kate and I shared two Shetlands, Jimmy and Bertie. Jimmy was naughty, but Bertie was a gem. We used to do a lot of fancy dress – my mum was very competitive and spent ages making the outfits. We always had a theme – one year we did “British beef”. Bertie was dressed as a cow, complete with udders, and I was a butcher and Kate was a farmer. What are your superstitions? I’m not crazy superstitious – I don’t have to wear the same socks for competitions for example – but I do have to put on everything in the same order. It’s more to do with routine than superstition, really. I do salute the odd magpie though. What do you eat for…

AIMEE is a native pony producer based in Berkshire. She is a regular face at all the major championships, and ponies under her instruction have won Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), Olympia, the Royal International (RIHS) and the Royal Welsh. WITHOUT proper lateral work, natives can become rigid and strong in their neck; if you can’t create proper flexion you can’t do a lot with them. I am a big fan of shoulder-fore work, especially with those breeds who struggle with the higher-level movements, such as Highlands, who can fall on to the forehand, and the Welshes, who can get set in the front end. These days, I put a lot more groundwork into the youngsters at the beginning and don’t rush the mouthing process. Getting a good mouth…

AFTER seven years working as a PA for a consultancy firm, Claire Stevenson was made redundant in April last year, her security and income dashed. But not one to sit and dwell on the negatives, Claire brushed herself off and trotted straight to the yard where she keeps her horse to ask for a part-time job. “I keep my horse at Dynamo Stud and they very kindly gave me two days a week, organising the arena hire, running the Facebook page and helping with their new holiday-let business,” explains Claire, who was also offered one day a week on a freelance basis with her previous employer. “I never imagined being self-employed because I found the idea frightening, but I’m really enjoying the diversity.” Previously, Claire spent five days a week…

FOLLOWING the “stars of the West” across the expanse of Exmoor requires speed and clever feet, qualities Button Up Bill had in abundance. “I like my horses to slip down over a cleave at a good pace and Bill was amazing,” says Exmoor master Felicita Busby. “He was light as a feather to ride and extremely foot-sure.” Button Up Bill found his niche as a field master’s horse after a couple of false starts. Bred, owned and trained by the Thomases, a great farming, hunting and racing Exmoor family, he won a race, then went to Chris and Tortie Eveleigh to hunt. “One meet, he went berserk and the next thing we saw he was galloping round a field,” Felicita says. He was sent to the kennels instead, but even…

ABOVE anything else, hunt balls are put on to raise money for the hunt, so having a committee who knows how to throw a good party while bringing in the pennies is vital. The South Durham’s hunt ball organiser Sam Riddington is one such person. An event planner by trade, Sam has turned the event into a huge money-making enterprise. “If you can keep your overheads low, you will run a profitable hunt ball,” explains Sam, who had 420 guests at the ball last year. “The ball used to make £6,000 and the first year I took it on, it made £21,500.” The key to making a hunt ball profitable is to know your margins. “Before I sell tickets, I know what I’ve spent and how much to charge,” says…

TIME and time again racing has proven its capacity for otherworldly results. There was never a better example of this than at Plumpton on Sunday when Zoe Davison, the Sussex trainer who was diagnosed with cancer four-and-a-half years ago, died an hour and a half after Mr Jack (pictured) completed a double for the stable initiated by Brown Bullet. Davison, 60, had been a big part of the southern racing circuit and saddled over 100 winners, the first in 1997. Her best season was in 2017/18 when she sent out 15 winners. She enjoyed most success at her local courses Plumpton, Lingfield and Fontwell. TALKING POINT…

WATCHING High And Mighty thrashing around in merciless sinking sand, Sheila Willcox – who died in 2017 – wondered if she was about to lose the gelding that she’d brought home to Lancashire just a few short months earlier. Hacking in the country behind the seaside town of Lytham, she had approached a stream which “Chips” had leapt at in an effort to stay dry, resulting in both horse and rider landing in the water. Scrambling out, Sheila turned to see her new mount trying in vain to reach the bank. A breathless dash to a nearby farm followed, and Chips was rescued with a tractor. As her brother John Willcox says: “Sheila was always good with horses, but I think she had a particularly good bond with High And…

CHRISTMAS hunting. How was it for you? Many live in areas of the country where hunting wasn’t possible, but we were still permitted to do so at that stage. At the sharp end, Adam is pleased. Hounds have hunted well on their last three outings. At my end of the scale – mother with appendages on the periphery – it has been slightly up and down. On the Tuesday before Christmas, we met at a farm down the road. Mary was feeling worried because she broke her wrist there last season and is now convinced that the place, for her, is doomed. “Don’t be daft,” I said blithely, as we hacked down the road. “We need to keep going to break the jinx.” A friend called Morag, who grew up…