Innholdsfortegnelse for 21-Oct-2021 i Horse & Hound

WHAT a year it has been for Britain’s eventers – can you recall one better? From team gold and individual silver at the Tokyo Olympics to a podium clean sweep on top of team gold at the European Championships, plus Nations Cup success. And now we have a British runner-up at the inaugural Maryland five-star – Oliver Townend on Cooley Master Class (report, p54). Huge congratulations to Oliver and the horse’s owner, who opted to make the significant trip to the first running of this exciting new pinnacle of the season, with a course designed by British multi-medallist Ian Stark – his first designing at five-star level. And the winner was British-bred, too! Attention turns to Pau, France, in a fortnight, for the last five-star of the season, where Laura…

THE Hunting Office is “considering an appeal” after Mark Hankinson, director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA), was found guilty last Friday (15 October) of encouraging or assisting others to commit an offence under the Hunting Act. The charges were brought following leaked webinars on trail-hunting which took place in 2020. “This verdict is hugely disappointing; however, we are considering an appeal,” the Hunting Office said in a statement. “The MFHA is aware that this outcome raises concern over the perception of our lawful trail-hunting activities and as a result, we will be setting up a review, which will be conducted to ensure that hunts are in a position to offer reassurances to all landowners and other stakeholders that hunts are operating within the law.” Mr Hankinson, formerly master…

BUDDING AUTHORS APPLY TO H&H HERE LOVE The Horse Whisperer? Inspired by Jill and her ponies? For budding authors who fancy getting their own script in print, Horse & Hound is running a Christmas shortstory competition, open to all ages, on the theme of winter and horses or ponies. Stories should be no longer than 1,000 words. There are two age categories: under and over 16. • Visit: horseandhound.co.uk/short-story by 14 November NEW SPONSOR FOR BADMINTON FINALS VOLTAIRE DESIGN is the new title sponsor of the grassroots eventing championships at Badminton Horse Trials. The BE90 and BE100 finals will run on 3 and 4 May 2022 at the Gloucestershire venue, after two years of Covid-related cancellations. Event director Jane Tuckwell said: “We have very much enjoyed hosting the grassroots championships…

THE life of a King’s Troop horse isn’t all state occasions in London – the unit has been turning its hooves to crosscountry, showjumping and hacking. The horses and mounted gunners have been enjoying a well-earned break at the Defence Animal Training Regiment in Leicestershire, which Captain Jonathan Brooks said made a “relaxing change” for the central London-based horses. “It is a fun week for the horses and the troops and it also helps strengthen the trust and confidence between horse and rider, which is vital when performing ceremonial duties. “When not practising their equestrian skills, the soldiers enjoyed adventure training including white-water rafting and high ropes,” he said.…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW (HOYS) is the most challenging but also the most spectacular show of the season. This year there were some interesting facts about the show printed on the wall leading down to the International Arena. One that really struck a chord was that more than 17,000 competitors attempt to qualify for this show each year, which I found incredible. It’s easy to come away disappointed if you did not achieve the place you hoped for, but you must rationalise it and take your season as a whole. The achievement of just qualifying to compete there is immense. I took a team of young horses this year, many of whom were first-timers. In the lead-up, with Covid and then the fuel shortage, preparation was difficult.…

Need to know SAKURA Age: seven Breeding: Supertramp x Rockstar Studbook: Oldenburg Breeder: Geri Eilberg Owner: rider and her parents Geoff and Julie Rider: Georgia Wilson Greatest achievements: grade II freestyle win at Hartpury CPEDI 2021; double individual grade II bronze at Tokyo Paralympics 2021. RIDER GEORGIA WILSON “‘SUKI’ came to me from the Eilbergs in 2020. We tried her and said yes to her on the spot – she had such a nice big walk and really wanted to please. I liked her big nostrils as well. Michael [Eilberg’s] child was playing near the manège while his wife Maya was riding Suki, and she wasn’t at all bothered. “She doesn’t act like a seven-year-old, even though when we bought her she had only done one competition and only been…

FOXHOUNDS ENGLAND, WALES AND SCOTLAND ALBRIGHTON AND WOODLANDContact: Alison Lawton, secretary@aawh.co.ukMeet: Tuesdays and Saturdays AVON VALEContact: Kitkat Money-Kyrle or Kelly Smith; secretary@avonvalehunt.com, 07966 799747Meet: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdaysavonvalehunt.com AXE VALEContact: Sally Maynard; sally. axevale@gmail.com, 07810 442355Meet: Wednesdays and Saturdays BEDALEContact: Laura Jennings; secretary@thebedalehunt.co.uk, 07973 886487 BERWICKSHIREContact: Simon Winpenny; secretaryberwickshire@gmail.com, 07980 146582Meet: Tuesdays and Saturdays BICESTER WITH WHADDON CHASEContact: Susie Beecroft; susie@bicesterhunt.co.ukMeet: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdaysbicesterhunt.co.uk BLACKMORE AND SPARKFORD VALEContact: Rose Cameron; bsvsecretary@gmail.com, 07800513010Meet: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdaysblackmoreandsparkfordvalehunt.co.uk BLANKNEYContact: Graham Royce; blankney. honsec@gmail.com, 07946576020Meet: Wednesdays and Saturdaysblankneyhunt.co.uk CAMBRIDGESHIRE WITH ENFIELD CHACEContact: Tim Ireson; tim.ireson@ntlworld.com, 07771 998024 or Diana Nelson; diananelson34@btinternet.com, 07768 905429Meet: Tuesdays and Saturdays with bye-day Thursdays from Februarycambridgeshirehuntwithenfieldchace.co.uk CARMARTHENSHIRE HUNT CLUBContact: Anthony James; CarmarthenshireHuntClub@gmail.com, 07786 550321Meet: Tuesdays and Saturdays CHIDDINGFOLD, LECONFIELD AND COWDRAYContact: Deborah Boulton; speak@clandchunt.co.uk, 07720…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ Veteran Horse Society championships, Arena UK, Lincs THE Veteran Horse Society (VHS) hosted its annual national championship show, with the largest number of entries in its eight-year history. The fixture’s most coveted honour is the national veteran supreme overall final, which comprises the four veterans that have qualified from the respective in-hand and ridden supremes. Netting overall glory for the second time was Millie Bowles leading her 24-year-old Welsh section B gelding Cottrell Riverdance (Ronnie), a former Olympia finalist. “Ronnie absolutely loved the opportunity to show off here again,” said Millie, who has owned Ronnie for seven years and last won the accolade in 2019. “He’s the funniest, quirkiest character and is a ball of energy to ride. “Keeping Ronnie in tip-top condition is a team effort, and…

Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ A PENSIONER jailed after 131 horses were found living in squalid conditions with bones “strewn across” a farm has been told the care and consideration he will receive in prison will be “many times greater” than that which he showed animals in his charge. Geoffrey John Bennett, 67, of Portsmouth Road, Ripley, was jailed for 19 weeks at Guildford Magistrates’ Court on 15 October, of which he will serve half behind bars. The judge also ordered that he receive 12 months supervision. He was banned from keeping animals, and cannot apply to have that lifted for at least five years. The sentence was in relation to two Animal Welfare Act offences, relating to the 131 horses as well as…

ELUSIVE Suzannah Welby’s 11-year-old hack has retired from the show ring. Double Windsor winner “Chalky” was ridden and produced by Jo Bates. Together they were HOYS champions in 2016 and RIHS champions in 2017. HABOUCHE Britain’s Beth Bainbridge and the nine-year-old mare, owned by Anna Ross and Marcelo Tosi, both scored their first win at an overseas international show, topping the inter I freestyle at Le Mans on 73.5%. LADY BOWTHORPE Emma Banks’s five-year-old, who ended trainer William Jarvis’ 27-year wait for another Group One victory, in the Nassau Stakes in July, has retired after finishing third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (report, p70).…

RISK profiles could be constructed for combinations competing at international level aimed at reducing the number of cross-country falls. In an FEI-commissioned study, researchers analysed data from 187,602 starts in the cross-country phase of FEI events between January 2008 and December 2018. Of these, 2,894 horse falls were recorded and 6,557 unseated riders. A statistical model found potential risk factors that could be applied, based on combinations’ history and course-level factors. Combinations competing at two-star and above and over longer courses were at increased odds of a horse fall or unseated rider, compared to those at one-star. Mares were found to be at increased odds of a fall over geldings and stallions, as were horses with a previous fall at an FEI event compared to horses who had never fallen…

FRIENDS AND MEMORIES MY 95-year-old mother, affectionately known as the Grandmoomin, passed away recently. She was classified as one of those non-horsey mothers who learnt about ponies on a joint journey through the Grafton Hunt branch of the Pony Club with my sister Susie and me. She became a super-groom, able to tack up and keep my pony fit so I could hunt through winter. She loved to come eventing, and “watched” my cross-country rounds with her back to the course and her fingers in her ears! With bad press and complaints (at times) within the horse industry, one must never forget the friends made and memories created, no matter what discipline you are involved in. The support from our worldwide horse family has given us so much comfort through…

“SUKI’S two priorities in life are food and sleep - she was even half asleep for the medal ceremonies in Tokyo as they were at about 11pm. Rob [Oulton], the vet, travelled with them to Tokyo and she didn’t lose any weight on the flight, but then she is more interested in food than anything else. “I’ve also never known a horse to snore so loudly in my life. When she is fast asleep she snores like an old grandad - you can hear her from a stable block away! But she is very sweet and easy to look after, the textbook horse really: respectful of your space in the stable, and stands still while you plait her. “It was incredible to be on the kiss and cry stand in…

A 14-YEAR-OLD Arab gelding who was attacked by two dogs while out hacking bolted into the woods, causing his elderly owner to fall off. The horse was found around 30 minutes later, covered in abrasions, suggesting that he had fallen multiple times, and with blood pouring from both nostrils. Understandably, he was very distressed. He was placed on box rest while he recovered from his injuries, but, once turned out again, he was like a different horse. While he had always been slightly jumpy and sensitive to change, he was now very reactive to any noise and could respond violently - jumping or barging without warning. He had also become more aggressive, biting people that came into his stable. Clicker (reward-based) training with the referring vet worked well, although between…

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Matt Ramsden JOINT-MASTER AND HUNTSMAN OF THE DUKE OF BEAUFORT’S THE Beaufort have been meeting at Freeth Farm, Compton Bassett for generations. It was historically presided over by the late Mrs Henly, who was a legend. Mrs Henly died a couple of years before I arrived at the Beaufort but teas with her reputedly included any manner of animal or bird, live or dead, buckets to catch the dripping rain through the roof and, on one occasion, Bisto gravy granules in Capt Farquhar’s bath. Her son Jasper now hosts us in the autumn, helped by his sister Richenda who normally comes down from the Heythrop country for the day. Breakfast this year was an enormous joint of pork prepared by Jasper’s wife, Carol. It is a family effort and adored…

pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle Maryland, USA BOYD MARTIN won the inaugural event at Maryland, achieving his second five-star triumph 18 years after his first at Adelaide back in 2003. His mount On Cue’s story is unusual for a five-star winner – the British-bred (see box, right) mare is 15 years old, but didn’t do an FEI event until she was 11 and only tackled her first five-star at Kentucky this spring. “I’m on the best horse in the world, she’s flamboyant, she’s a mover, she digs deep and fights for you,” said Boyd, who felt he had a good chance, particularly as the Turner family’s mare was very fit, having been prepped for the Olympics as Boyd’s reserve horse then built up again for this. The fact On Cue is a late…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival Championships, Arena UK, Lincs SIAN TURNER enjoyed an incredibly successful time at the Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival Championships when taking both the inter I silver and inter I silver freestyle titles with Loverboy II. “It was quite energetic and, of course, we need to work on bits, but I love riding the changes, which are something that ‘Robin’ is good at,” Sian said after her inter I test, which earned her 69.86%. “He really takes me in the extended trots, too.” Loverboy, an 11-year-old by Lord Of Loxley, is owned by Sian’s trainer and boss, Sara Gallop. “I’m so grateful to Sara for giving me the opportunity to ride and compete Robin over the past two years,” explained Sian, who scored an…

EMMA JABLONSKI’S British-bred four-year-old Multivision twice achieved 74%-plus to head prelim and novice classes at Vale View EC, Leics. “He’s had a cracking year,” said Emma, who is seeing the performance potential she spotted in the coloured Dream Boy son as a foal develop as he matures. “He’s a cheeky chap and I liked his confidence when I saw him with his mum, which is already translating into confidence in the arena. What we get at home, he pretty much brings to the table at a show.” ONE TO WATCH…

IN a successful career switch, Teghan Cantrell-Bennett’s childhood all-round and eventing pony Plasnewydd Artie is proving himself an FEI dressage prospect. The 14.2hh Welsh section D gelding headed both mediums at Pachesham EC, Surrey, taking the medium 73 qualifier with 71%. “He tries at everything”TEGHAN CANTRELL-BENNETT ON PLASNEWYDD ARTIE “He tries at everything, so it has been a pretty smooth journey from the beginning,” said A-level student Teghan, who trains with her mother, grand prix rider Katrina Cantrell. “His canter has improved so much, from being four-time, lumpy and long. It is now so collected that we managed five fourtime tempi changes at home.” Contemplating the prospect of selling him at the end of the year, Teghan added: “I will be heartbroken. There’s not a bad bone in his body.”…

THE ridden diamond final, for animals over aged 25, was awarded to Jackie Banks aboard her own Bizzie B (BB), a 25-year-old mare who Jackie bought as a two-year-old. Jackie has done everything with BB herself. The pair first forayed into side-saddle in 2014. “She’s my best friend and we’ve done a bit of everything along the way, including dressage, eventing and she also had a foal at a similar time to when I had my children,” explained Jackie, who works as a head of fleet. In 2018 BB sustained an injury after an accident, and was on box rest for a considerable amount of time. “She was really lucky to recover and return to competition the following year, though we missed the VHS championships,” said Jackie, who has been…

Showjumper Emily Moffitt has appointed Italian showjumper Lorenzo de Luca as her new trainer. Lorenzo replaces Olympic champion Ben Maher who worked with Emily for five years. Irish jockey Oisin Murphy, 26, was crowned British champion Flat jockey for the third year in a row. Oisin, who pipped William Buick to the post, said taking his third title was a “dream come true”. Germany’s Martin Plewa is retiring from ground juries, with Maryland five-star his final event. A former top-level rider, Martin has judged at numerous international championships. Team GB modern pentathlete Kate French, 30, has been nominated for The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year award 2021. Kate was crowned Olympic champion at the Tokyo Games. The Queen was inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series racing hall of fame…

▲ MATHS Overheard at a show, a trainer asking a child how many strides she had done on a certain distance, to which she replied: “Six.” “You were supposed to do a slow eight,” the trainer said. After a moment’s thought, the child answered: “Six is close to eight.” We like your maths, young lady. ▲ STAYING ON Also overheard at a show, a beaming rider declaring: “I remembered the course and stayed on board. I don’t care whether we’re placed or not!” Always the first and biggest achievement, to keep the horse between yourself and the ground. ▲ COURAGE Hats off to every horse that jumped the fearsome crab created by course-designer Ian Stark on the Maryland CCI5* cross-country. We’re thinking we’d have been terrified, that was some hard-core…

1) Which event horse has won team gold at consecutive Olympics with diff erent riders? 2) Which horse holds the record for the winning distance in the Derby? 3) What is the Italian horse Promotea famous for? 4) Who was the first female rider to win Badminton? 5) How many RIHS supremes did recently retired showman Allister Hood win during his career? Answers from 14 October 1) Monaveen; 2) Sleipnir; 3) Bridget Parker; 4) Isabell Werth (12, seven of them gold); 5) Whorl.…

pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle I WAS lucky enough to be at the inaugural Maryland five-star to watch my daughter Zara Tindall and Class Affair and also to see what Ian Stark was doing with his first five-star course. People had been talking about the terrain at the venue for weeks and walking the course, there were more hills than Burghley and even Bicton. I was very impressed with all Ian’s clever ideas. Everybody thought this would be another of Ian’s big and bold courses, but instead he used the terrain rather than a lot of top spread. Controversy is never far away, though, at the five-star level. The senior riders and coaches all made the course around 180m shorter than specified. After remeasuring and adding an extra loop, Ian and technical delegate…

LITTLE DURDHAM BARN Southwell, Notts For you: a beautifully presented four-bed barn conversion with outbuildings and pastureland set in 12.55 acres, plus far-reaching views over the Trent Valley. For the horses: well-maintained pastureland and fenced paddocks extending to 11.8 acres with an access track to the individual fields. There is an enclosed 25x45m manège with a fibre sand and rubber surface over a granite base. £910,000 Fisher German, 01636 642500, fishergerman.co.uk WONASTOW BARN Mitchel Troy, Monmouthshire For you: a splendid three-bed barn conversion. A bridleway skirts the property’s boundary, leading to excellent local hacking. Outside there is a sun terrace, bar area and hot tub, set in well-maintained gardens. For the horses: three stables, plus a small waxed sand and fibre arena. Solar panels on the roof of the stables.…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 THE benefits of starting a young horse on the hunting field, and how it can more or less set him up for a life in any discipline, are well documented. But why isn’t our sport given more credit for the riders it churns out, the experience it gives and benefits to our own riding and wellbeing? It’s no coincidence that time and again, top-level riders will mention their hunting career - whether it is a childhood spent gate-opening, bringing on youngsters for competition or down-time visiting days on a hireling. While hunting may have changed and evolved over the years, there can still be few better places to cut your teeth riding than across country, to learn about horsemanship, to get (and stay) fit and sharpen your eye…

WHEN Heythrop joint-master and huntsman Charles Frampton took his third bitch championship in a row at the Festival of Hunting this summer with hounds of his breeding, there were no dramatic celebrations in the formality of the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show. His quiet satisfaction at Heythrop Radiant’s victory was evident, however, in his smile. Radiant is a daughter of Charles’ first Peterborough championship winner, Racket 17. He says: “Racket proved herself not only to be a lovely looking hound, but also a good hunter and a good brood bitch. I had high hopes she would produce quality offspring, and Radiant is clearly an example of this. “Radiant’s sire, North Cotswold Gripton 13, is, in my opinion, one of the best stallion hounds of the past decade. Nigel Peel [his breeder;…

CRIMSON GOLD, who switched from a career in racing two years ago, was top of the leaderboard in the elementary bronze championship on 69.8% under Hayley Ford. “It’s such a surprise. I didn’t expect it all, but I was so pleased with her test. People like us don’t win things like this,” said Hayley, who travelled from Devon to compete. “Crimson Gold was given to us by some friends, point-to-point trainers Lisa and Leslie Jefford, a couple of years ago. They bred her and she hated racing. They caught us when we went to see them and asked if we wanted a horse. We thought a freebie sounds good and we’d see how she went with a view to selling her, but now she’s staying.” Hayley credited much of her…

Hunters Equestrian, Glos THEY teamed up just a month ago, but Maddy Frewin and Blue Hors Dexter are already returning solid scores at PSG – winning with 65% on their second outing. “Dexter knows his job and loves the work,” said Maddy, who was given the opportunity to take on the 14-year-old Don Schufro gelding, previously ridden to grand prix by Andrew Gould, by owners Mark Philpott and Nigel Sibley. “It’s all there with him, so it’s a question of us getting to know each other and putting it all together. “This test was an improvement in his general way of going, which I found valuable,” said Maddy, who trains with Jackie Beaven and represented Great Britain three times at pony and junior European Championships. “We’ll now iron out some…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Aintree International EC, Merseyside SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Rachel Proudley collected a pair of wins, heading the Blue Chip Dynamic B&C qualifier with Shearwater Icaterina before adding an accumulator victory on Cartino III. Rachel, who started riding for Steven Whitaker this year, was at only her third show with Icaterina, an eight-year-old mare owned by Kathy Tansey. The 17hh grey had been competed by Joe Whitaker until recently, and Rachel will be aiming her at under-25 qualifiers this winter. “She’s jumped up to 1.40m with Joe,” Rachel said. Sue Lincoln’s 14-year-old Cartino III was taking another win on the bounce from his victory in the silver league final at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) earlier in the week. “He’s a lovely horse and is on really good form at the…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @ jen_donald QIPCO British Champions Day, Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire RACING proclaimed a new superhero in Baaeed, William Haggas’s now unbeaten Sea The Stars colt after he beat Palace Pier a neck in an outstanding Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (QEII) at Ascot on Saturday. On its 10th anniversary, it finally felt like QIPCO British Champions Day had properly come of age – all the horses (still standing) were there, 21 individual Group One winners assembled, the competition was fierce and even the truncated jockeys’ championship, won for a third time by Oisin Murphy, came down to the last day. If the day belonged to a human it was Baaeed’s jockey Jim Crowley. I am not sure this has been his best season ever. As first jockey to the late Sheikh…

WHEN Mary’s school nurse rang to say that a girl in Mary’s dorm had tested positive for Covid, I felt certain that Mary would be fine. She had tested negative in the immediate aftermath and would do so again. The following morning, I was out autumn hunting over the border when my phone rang, the name of Mary’s school clearly illuminated on the screen. I picked up and was greeted by the pleasant tones of Mary’s headmaster. “Good morning,” he began. Along with the early hour of the call, the hint of graveness in his voice gave a good indication of what was coming next. “I’m afraid to say that Mary’s test has come back positive.” “Thank you very much for letting me know,” I replied hastily. “I will come…