Innholdsfortegnelse for 12-Aug-2021 i Horse & Hound

WELL, what an Olympic Games, the one we feared would never happen, that took place with aplomb, with everything but the crowds, and by all accounts feeling like any other Olympics in spite of the comparatively empty stadiums. It turns out the equestrian support crews are many and vocal, creating an atmosphere against the odds. Huge congratulations to worthy Olympic champion Ben Maher and his horse of a lifetime, the greatest horse in the world, and all the other great labels he has rightfully been awarded in the past week – Explosion W was sensational, and a joy to watch. The team competition didn’t go Team GB’s way, it didn’t go a lot of teams’ ways, leading the format to be labelled a disaster by former Olympic gold medallist Nick…

DOUVAN The former Willie Mullins-trained National Hunt hero, owned by Susannah Ricci, finished fourth on his show-ring debut with Clare Ricketts at Glandoran Island Summer Show, Ireland. The 11-year-old won 15 races. SCHIAPARELLI The 18-year-old won the Horse & Hound Cup as leading British-based active stallion at the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s National Hunt breeders’ awards. It was a seventh win in a row for Overbury Stud. KASHMAN VD BERGHOEVE Z The full brother to Peder Fredricson’s double Olympic individual silver and team gold medal-winner All In topped the August Flanders Foal Auction (Opglabbeek), selling for €130,000. LITTLEBYROM HARRY POTTER The seven-time HOYS and triple RIHS finalist has retired from top-level showing, aged 17. Liane Evans’ Welsh B stallion’s accolades also include wins at the Great Yorkshire. JUST BEAUTY QUEEN The…

Jockey Oisin Murphy rode 16 winners last week to extend his lead in the Flat championship. He said he was grateful to everyone, “especially the stable staff who get the horses in top condition”. Eventer Bubby Upton broke her collarbone and multiple vertebrae in a “freak fall” cross country schooling. Bubby, who was long-listed for the 2021 Europeans, said she is “heartbroken”. Jockey Fern O’Brien enjoyed a victorious debut under Rules for her father, trainer Fergal, on 2 August. Fern, who celebrated her 16th birthday two days before, won at Carlisle with Lord P. Showjumper Adrian Speight and Millfield Baloney took the national title at the British Showjumping National Championships. Sienna Charles on Havanna M won the under-21 title. Flat jockey Will Buick married his fiancée Jane Duncan in a…

TWO police horses who served together have met again in retirement. Bransby Horses welcomed 18-year-old Captain from Greater Manchester Police in July, and last week he was joined by 17-year-old Steele. Steele’s duties included patrolling the city after the Manchester Arena bombings, and on one occasion Captain led 6,000 football fans from the city centre to Old Trafford for a European fixture. Steele was described as being in a “league of his own”, while Captain was one of the force’s “steadfast, best of the best police horses”. “We hope they enjoy a very long and happy retirement with us,” said a Bransby spokesman.…

1) What do the initials NM stand for in an eventing class? 2) Which colour can be blue or mouse? 3) Which pack has won the most open championships - doghounds and bitches - at the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show since 1949? 4) Who said: “A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!” 5) Which riders have won six Olympic gold medals? Answers from 5 August 1) Showjumper David Broome 2) Alexander the Great 3) Ian Stark 4) Benjamin Disraeli 5) Fairly bad.…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 THE new format for the dressage event in Tokyo meant that the grand prix test, instead of contributing to the team medals, determined the starting order for the grand prix special and qualification for the individual final. Combined with there being only three riders and no drop score, the competition was “game on” from the get-go. The excitement of the buildup for the special was palpable, you could feel it in the air. My only problem with it was, had there been a stadium full of spectators, would they have been able to sit there in the heat and humidity for an hour while the intermediate team placings and the starting order for the final group were worked out? A loo-break is fine, but… The pressure on riders…

“I FIRST spotted Red on social media. He’d won and taken champion at the CHAPS championships as a three-year-old for his then owners, Val Sheehan and Camilla Neame. I’d previously bought cobs off Val so instantly got in touch with him, but at the time Red was promised to someone else. After a series of events and some serious pestering – I think I rang Val at least once a week – I was told I could have him. “I admit that I’m quite a nervous rider, but Red was everything they promised he was. He’s as bombproof as they come. “I had him at home for a couple of seasons, and he did some dressage with Debbie Randall and qualified for HOYS with Jess Cronk. He had a great…

HOPE FARM Billingshurst, West Sussex For you: a rank of barns converted into a beautifully presented Grade II-listed four-bed home with annexe, ideal for family living and large-scale entertaining. Landscaped gardens, mature trees and kitchen garden. For the horses: American barn with eight boxes, washroom, tack room and 22x44m indoor school. The property sits in 220 acres, which are currently farmed but agreement can be terminated. For a groom: there’s enough space here for a staff team, or for a groom with a family – a Grade II-listed five-bedroom farmhouse and two-bedroom cottage. OIE £8.5m Knight Frank, 020 3866 7863, knightfrank.co.uk WELLS HOUSE Skelton Wood End, Penrith, Cumbria For you: a substantial 18th-century farmhouse in an idyllic rural location. Formal dining room with entertaining space including mezzanine and bar. For…

YOU could say that there were two winners on the night of the individual final: Ben Maher, the new Olympic champion, and Santiago Varela, who designed a course that left no rider in doubt that this was the sport’s biggest stage. In both the individual qualifier and final, Santiago’s huge tracks tested – but never tricked – horse and riders to the max, and ensured that all those who prospered truly deserved it. Only 30 combinations would qualify for the final, and remarkably, exactly 30 combinations jumped clear. Japan’s Daisuke Fukushima and Chanyon blazed the trail on home soil, becoming the first pair to leave all the fences standing within the time allowed of 89 seconds. All three Irish riders – Darragh Kenny, Cian O’Connor and Bertram Allen – also…

“I FEEL like a new person,” said Ben Maher of the life-changing surgery he underwent in January 2020, without which he almost certainly would not be here riding for Olympic gold. “I struggled for a long time after a couple of falls and in 2018 and 2019, I had to have a physio travelling with me – I couldn’t even walk very well,” he explained. “Actually on a horse I felt more comfortable but life wasn’t much fun, so it was planned six months in advance that I’d have lower back surgery in London.” Amazingly, Ben was back in the gym only a week after the operation, and made his return to riding nine weeks later – just in time for the Covid pandemic to kick off. “Last year was…

ALL three equestrian disciplines produced a terrific spectacle in Tokyo and congratulations must go to British Equestrian performance director Dickie Waygood for pulling it all together – five medals, including two golds, is an outstanding achievement. Hats off also to the coursedesigner Santiago Varela. He built visually interesting courses, which looked spectacular under the lights, and the right combinations reached the podiums. It spoke for itself that Ben Maher’s horse Explosion W was able to show his class – he has a much faster car than the rest of us when it comes to a jump-off! But from a British point of view, that result was exactly what we hoped for and it was an unbelievable performance. It was gutting for Scott Brash to miss out on the jump off…

pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle Baileys Horse Feeds Bishop Burton International Youth Championships, East Yorkshire PHOEBE HUGHES and Top Biats made it three wins on the trot when they cruised to victory in CCIYR2*-L section C. The pair, who also won at Dauntsey Park (1) and Farley Hall, posted the leading dressage score of 21.6 to which they added just 0.4 of a penalty in the final showjumping phase. “He’s the coolest horse in the world. He’s ultra-sleepy in the stable, but as soon as you put tack on him he gets really buzzy and is raring to go,” said Phoebe of the 14-year-old gelding, who started his career with William Fox-Pitt before joining Hector Payne’s team. “I train with Hector and about a year ago he introduced me to Top Biats. One…

DESPITE losing three shoes on the way round the cross country, Lauren West and Valentino 46 (Fergus) still came up trumps in the open novice at the Ideal Financial Management Frickley Park (1), completing on their dressage score of 31. This result was something of a relief for Lauren, who works full-time as a land agent, as at their previous two outings with Katherine Barker’s 10-year-old gelding – in the CCI2*-L at Houghton and the intermediate at Keysoe (2) – the pair had trouble at the water. “He’s developed a bit of a dislike for jumping into water, so this run was designed as a confidence boost,” explained Lauren, who fits in riding Fergus around site visits and office work. “Katherine does a brilliant job putting in the hard work…

THE Collective Equestrian team scored eight wins with four horses at Kings Sedgemoor EC, Somerset. Elizabeth Allen rode Bernard Mealing’s eight-year-old mare Indracarla to head both advanced mediums. “Balance is now much easier for her and she loves the harder tests,” said Elizabeth. “I’ve also teamed up once more with Jessica Clare’s 15-year-old gelding Borado S, after a four-year competition break. He’s the kindest character and has picked up where he left off. He took the elementary 55 qualifier silver with a whopping 76%.” The yard’s new apprentice, Rachael Rhys-Hurn, topped both novice bronze sections at this, her first affiliated show. Her seven-year-old event gelding Castle Howard Octavian was competed by Harry Meade as a young horse. Isla Sully was also in on the action – her 14.2hh gelding Reitland’s…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 West of England, Honiton Showground, Devon THE VWH claimed the last championship of the hound show season with their elegant white bitch Nocturne 18. “She’s a good hunting bitch from a great family,” said huntsman Philip Hague, “but I’m pleased not to have to throw any more biscuits this year and to be able to concentrate on the hunting.” Martin Scott has been breeding the VWH hounds for years. “Her tail female line goes back to Portman Maxim 31,” he said, “a line that my father [Bill Scott] brought to the Old Berks from Sir Edward Curre.” The judges, Jacky Thomas and Fred Eames, were particularly taken by Nocturne’s quicksilver movement across the ring. Reserve champion at Peterborough, her outstanding action was shown to its best in the…

YESTERDAY, Alec and Mary, a couple of their Pony Club friends and I stepped through a portal into a shiny parallel universe. We left the woolly environs of the Cheviots and headed south to a field in the Morpeth country. Here we found lines of lorries the size of small houses, many people dressed in jodhpurs and baseball caps, small dogs on leads, a plethora of e-bikes and some beautiful horses going fast over some seriously meaty obstacles. Burgham Horse Trials had lured the itinerant eventing tribe to Northumberland. Burgham has classes up to CCI4* level and it is great for spectators because you can get up close to the action in a way that you can’t at the larger, more crowded events. It was a shame that the weather…

Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ THE phenomenal combination of Ben Maher and Explosion W topped off an incredible fortnight for Britain by winning individual Olympic showjumping gold. In only the second time a country has retained the individual title – Germany won in 1992 and 1996 – Ben and his superstar 12-year-old ride proved unbeatable in a six-combination jump-off, with Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and All In taking a second consecutive individual Olympic silver and Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z of the Netherlands claiming the bronze. “It doesn’t seem real,” Ben said. “It’s been a lot of pressure the last couple of weeks. I may be biased but I believe I am on the best horse, he’s incredible and I’m very fortunate to…

BRIAN HIGHAM MR HIGHAM (pictured, right) died on 21 July, at the age of 88. Although he lived in Badminton for more than 60 years, in his heart Mr Higham was always a proud Yorkshireman, born in the Vale of Pickering. The 10th Duke of Beaufort (Master) was judging at the Great Yorkshire Show and interviewed Mr Higham to come to Badminton as second man in the stables. He arrived at Badminton in 1959, the start of a 51-year career – 25 years for the 10th Duke and 26 for the 11th Duke. Mr Higham worked under Major McDonald, then Sidney Bird, whom he used to say taught him much about turnout, legs and more. He was second horseman for seven years, then succeeded Sidney as stud groom in 1966.…

GOOD WEEK ▲ MASSAGE Our favourite subtitle of the Games came during dressage coverage when, apparently, we were “seeing this transition into extended tropical massage”. Who knew dressage was so exotic? ▲ CLARITY US rider Jessica Springsteen got a lot of attention relating to her famous father for winning an Olympic silver showjumping medal, including one report that referred to Jessica and her “equestrian horse”. Not to be confused with a canine or feline horse, that is. ▲ SELLING HORSES Feel for the rider in search of a new horse, who posted on social media: “What’s about for under £2,000?” You can probably imagine the responses, which included “A saddle if you’re lucky” and “A cat?” Although going by the price of dogs recently, the cat may be pushing it……

I COULDN’T agree more with Rebecca Penny (opinion, 29 July) asking for fabric designers to produce a hot weather-friendly showing jacket, particularly for children. For years I’ve been searching in vain for a lightweight, technically clever tweed-style show jacket, even though this problem has been cracked successfully for dressage and jumping disciplines. Interestingly, the wheel may not need to be completely re-invented - in 1984, I bought a lightweight and reasonably priced jacket made of 55% wool, 30% polyester, 10% nylon, 5% other fibres. I still have this lovely jacket, but sadly can’t quite do it up these days, so I have to boil in my wool jacket with the rest in the show ring. However, I live in hope! The writer of letter of the week wins a bottle…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald IT has been a few weeks since this comment tipped Ben Maher and Explosion W for an individual Olympic gold medal. But mine was the easy bit, because nobody realises how difficult it is to produce a horse at his peak on the hour and day that you’re aiming for – then ride him to the best of your ability for everything to come good at once. All this, Ben did magnificently. His first round, over a massive course that tested scope and carefulness to the absolute maximum, was poetry to watch. And then to see him ride the jump-off at full throttle and blast the opposition away was just mind-blowing. A truly great horse ridden by a great rider. Is Explosion the best of all time? Well,…

THE GOLDEN PASTE COMPANY TURMERAID Supports the body’s natural inflammation process, aids digestion and promotes a healthy skin and coat. £19.99 for 2kg goldenpastecompany.co.uk HORSE FIRST MY JOINTS PLUS Provides all-round care and contains ingredients that aid the core building blocks of the joint and connective tissue. £35 for 750g horsefirst.net TOPSPEC 10:10 JOINT SUPPORT A caramel-flavoured additive that includes nutrients to help maintain joint health. It includes a combination of natural sources of glucosamine and MSM. £35.25 for 1.5kg topspec.com NAF FIVE STAR SUPERFLEX Contains the right combination of key nutrients, as well as a powerful antioxidant formula that tackles excess free-radical build-up around the joint. £22.99 for 400g naf-equine.eu EQUITOP GLME Contains high-quality green lipped mussel extract, which provides nutrients to support optimal joint health. Tested free of…

SEVERAL riders that most would have expected to be challenging for the medals were cast adrift before the final after uncharacteristic faults in the qualifier. Most notable of these was Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, Olympic champion in 2012, who tipped the back rail of the vast triple bar with Venard De Cerisy (pictured, below). “Maybe I underestimated the triple bar – it is normally his favourite jump,” pondered the great Swiss rider. “I felt he backed off at the take-off, but it was too late for me to react and I couldn’t help.” Also among the shock departures was Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, who brought down an upright with Identity Vitseroel. Edwina revealed that she had a “crash” in the warm-up before her round, when the horse-shy 13-year-old mare spotted another horse…

SANTIAGO VARELA’S courses (pictured) were widely praised and highly respected across both rounds, being deemed fair, but suitably testing for such an occasion. They were also stunningly beautiful – with every fence depicting an element of Japanese culture or Olympic heritage and the spaces between fences adorned with stunning displays. It made for a wonderful spectacle under the lights, with the huge, empty stands rising high into the air only adding to the unique drama of these Games. While determining a worthy champion was of course an objective in his course design, Santiago also pointed out that an Olympic course must achieve more than this. “An Olympic Games is the biggest sport in the world and many people not with the sport are seeing it for the first time. So…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ National Pony Society (NPS) Summer Championships, Three Counties Showground, Worcs IN-HAND supremo Ian Boylan returned to the Malvern setting to clinch the Price Family supreme in-hand championship, a title he also won here in 2019. Roseberry Great Expectations, a three-year-old gelding, was one of the many to contest this final after winning the sports pony championship. Produced and handled by an elated Ian, Great Expectations is by Ian’s own stallion Alonby Chardonnier and was bred by Susie Hinchliffe of the Roseberry Stud. “It’s a very emotional win for us all as Susie has been unwell and wasn’t able to be here,” said Ian, who explained Susie’s daughter Tammy once won Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) with his dam Roseberry Serendipity. “Now, it’s hoped he’ll go on under…

LUCY ROBINSON was unstoppable at the Ideal Financial Management-sponsored Frickley Park (1), winning both BE105 sections and finishing as runner-up to herself. She topped section M with Alan Bell’s 10-year-old Irish-bred gelding, Belline Second Chance. “This was the ideal stepping stone for him before he tackles his first novice,” said Lucy, who also finished second on Sonia Winter’s Dunkerrin Pandora. Her section N winner was Cozima Curzon’s Genia, who finished on her dressage score of 29.5. “Genia is a livery at my yard and I share the ride on her with her owner,” she continued. “At 15.2hh she’s a bit of a pocket rocket, but she’s great fun to ride.” Lucy’s fruitful weekend propelled her to the top of the Science Supplements foundation points league.…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 Hunters Equestrian, Gloucestershire MARK FORREST and his working pupil Harry Corkett gave a masterclass at medium, heading their respective gold and silver sections in each of the two classes with standout scores. Mark’s 80.88% with Francesco S in the medium 73 qualifier topped the scoreboard at the end of a competitive day. “He’s getting braver and braver,” said Mark, who describes Cara Sweeney’s Fürstenball sevenyear-old as “beautiful – with a personality to match”. “We backed him as a four-year- old and I have the fantastic job of producing him. Covid interrupted our competition schedule but we’re making up mileage and experience,” he added. Harry’s own Destino H produced a medium 73 qualifier score of 75%. The nine-year-old Destano gelding was ridden by Mark until three years ago, when…

@ Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. @horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound VA VA GROOM MY favourite equestrian moment of the Olympic Games was Gio and En Vogue grooming each other - horses being allowed to be horses, doing horse stuff ! It’s important for their welfare and allows the public to see the care these equine athletes receive at rest. It’s not all about schooling. Bella Craven Peterborough, Cambs ARISE, SIR CARL HUGE congratulations to the Great British Olympic dressage team and additional congrats to Charlotte Dujardin on her individual medal. However, I do feel there is not enough credit given to Carl Hester, the man who - in the words of many - “has done more for British dressage than anyone else”. Carl…

pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle CONGRATULATIONS to the Japanese for putting on a very good Olympics under such difficult circumstances. The only thing it lacked were the crowds; in every other aspect, it felt just like a “normal” Olympic Games. From the moment I arrived, as part of a delegation from a nation - in my case the Swiss - you were made to feel part of it all. We were escorted through the Covid testing areas - it was a lot of walking, but I think that was deliberate as by the time we got to the end, the results were ready and we could get straight on the bus to the Olympic Village, which itself was very busy and well-organised. All we saw of Tokyo was through the bus windows, but…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ PRIOR to this year’s Royal International (RIHS) in late July I had the privilege of judging at Bolesworth International. I officiated the “straight through” qualifying classes and championship for the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Heritage supreme ridden mountain and moorland final to be held at Liverpool International in the new year. The venue was stunning and the competitors seemed honoured to be able to ride in the main international arena, which I am sure is an experience they will all remember for a long time. Myself and my co-judge met prior to starting and had a discussion over how we were going to judge the classes given that the BSPS had given us the option of not using the marks system. We both decided that after the…

Need to know RED ROCK III Age:nine Type:lightweight coloured show cob Breeding:unknown Owner:Tracey Veale Rider:Vicky Hesford Height:153cm Greatest achievements: 2017, first and champion Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) coloured qualifier Coloured Horse and Pony Society (CHAPS) Midlands, first HOYS lightweight cob qualifier Wales and West, fourth HOYS coloured final; 2018, third Royal International (RIHS) coloured final; 2019, first HOYS lightweight cob and champion Great Yorkshire, first HOYS coloured and reserve champion Great Yorkshire, first Royal Windsor (RWHS) coloured, first RIHS coloured final, supreme British Skewbald and Piebald Association festival of showing, first lightweight cob and champion Derbyshire Festival, first and coloured champion Devon County, first HOYS coloured final; 2021, champion coloured supreme North of England, first and champion coloured RWHS, first and champion coloured HOYS qualifier Derbyshire Festival, fourth…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com Olympic Games, Tokyo, Japan “NEVER again in my lifetime will I ride a horse like Explosion W.” It’s a bold statement from Ben Maher, but one suspects he is not wrong. The 12-year-old Chacco-Blue gelding is one in a million, and with one of the best jumping riders in the world on his back, he showed every inch of his class on the biggest stage of them all. Many remarked ahead of the Games that it would be a travesty if Ben and Explosion did not win the individual gold medal here in Tokyo. The pressure of expectation is felt even by riders as experienced as Ben, and he admitted that he had been feeling nervous. But he also said that sitting on a horse like Explosion means his…

BEN MAHER and Explosion went to Tokyo as favourites and were great to watch. I know from experience all the emotions Ben must have been going through jumping-off for a gold medal, but he did an outstanding job to take my Olympic crown! Six is probably too many for a jump-off – I’d have preferred to see three – but for all of them to jump against the clock without knocking a fence down, and it was very big and very fast, was a great achievement. You have to feel for Peder Fredricson finishing second yet again, but you saw what it meant to Maikel van der Vleuten to make it to the Olympic podium. That is what the Games is all about. The team jump-off was fantastic. My partner…

SWEDEN claimed the team gold after a virtually flawless display of jumping throughout the week. The format was a hot topic at these Games, including the fact that each nation started on a clean slate every day rather than consistency being rewarded as at previous Olympics. The three Swedes were footperfect in the first three days of jumping, including all going clear in the individual jump-off, but momentarily faltered in the team final, when two rails down allowed the US to draw level and force them into a jump-off. “It’s not that you don’t want a silver, but in these situations, you really want to win”PEDER FREDRICSON ON THE JUMP-OFF It would have been a travesty if the blue and yellow victory had slipped away in these final moments. However,…

US TEAM silver medallist Jessica Springsteen, 29, was the only championship debutante on the podium. With mainstream media circling around her with questions about her father, rock legend Bruce, she handled herself beautifully in and out of the ring, putting in three four-fault rounds and then a jump-off clear on her ride of two years, Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve. “He came from Eleonore Lambilliotte in Belgium – she rides quite similarly to me so it was a fast click,” she said. Describing the closing stages, Jessica said: “It was wild. Watching the last couple go, wondering if we were going to have to jump off, you definitely start to get the jitters, but it was also super exciting.” Jessica was trained by teammate Laura Kraut and her partner Nick…

RELEASED WITH MULTIPLE STITCHES DAY three was marred by an unfortunate accident to show director Scott Dixon, who slipped and fell on wet ground, almost slicing off his thumb on a metal structure in the process. He was rushed to hospital but released after precautionary scans and multiple stitches. “IT’S A BRILLIANT CONCEPT” AFTER a fairly slow start on day one – probably because many were travelling here from the NPS championships – the show began to build and it was hailed as a major success by exhibitors and officials alike. The format is loosely based on the glitzy – and highly successful – Australian “Grand Nationals,” and in many ways is also reminiscent of the sadly missed Cherif show here in the UK. Fabulous trophies, superb prize money and…

LOTTERA ZOE (Lottie), a “bargain purchase” as a three-year-old, rewarded hunter specialist Jasean Spraggett when taking a first HOYS ticket in a competitive Connemara class at Norfolk. “She was bought just to hunt and be a play pony – she only cost £1,000 – but has exceeded all my expectations,” said Jasean, who has ridden at HOYS in natives several times and won the Welsh section As in 2003 on Springbourne Camelot. “I train with dressage rider Nick Lawson and Lottie is now a fabulous ride – this is her first season in opens but she was sixth at Royal International. We decided to come here on the back of that and just enjoy a road-trip – it was well worth the 4am start.” FIRST HOYS…

Beacons Equestrian Area Festival, Carmarthenshire IN a father and son double, stallion Sunset Boulevard and his first-ever offspring Foxcourt Solar Eclipse excelled to take a class apiece. Brendan Tegg, who rides both for Foxcourt Stud, is pleased with recent progress with his advanced medium bronze winner Sunset Boulevard. “The changes are good at home, just not yet reliable in a test situation,” he explained. “When we’re out and he backs off a little, he’s not always quick enough behind. But everything else is ready to go.” Six-year-old Solar Eclipse, known as “Junior”, impressed with a confident medium silver win. “Junior is so supple and naturally swinging, and was willing to keep moving forwards in the ring,” added Brendan. “Both horses have really kind temperaments.” Shelby Dowding’s 13.2hh “pocket rocket” gelding…

Parwood EC, Surrey A DOUBLE advanced medium win with Despicable Me proved a tonic for Liz Diegutis after a turbulent two weeks. She first ended up in A&E after suffering stomach pains on the way to the regional championships, then experienced fan belt trouble with her lorry, “Big Bertha”. “I seem to have had a complication with a Covid jab, so I’m now some sort of Government guinea pig,” explained Liz, who was well enough to ride just days before competing “Diesel”. “I bought Diesel when he was still inside his mum, a Sandro Hit mare, and he has proved the perfect all-rounder – he’s a happy trier. Although still a little green in competition and a year behind in strength, he is way ahead for his age with his…