Innholdsfortegnelse for 16-Dec-2021 i Horse & Hound

I’M glad that every week we feature columnists, from Nick Skelton to Andrew Nicholson, who are respected by their followers and are not afraid to say what they think. Because if they think it, they are not alone. As an industry, we do not agree on the many issues that face the horseworld. Even within any H&H meeting, you will hear differences of opinion, respectful of the others’, be it on the Olympic format or blood rules. It is good we have Julie Templeton this week (p15) questioning whether the way the Great Yorkshire Show (GYS) has taken to banning competitors whose horses have trimmed whiskers is right. I’m pleased GYS have accelerated change, when waiting for collaboration from organisations would have taken time, but many in the showing world…

EXPLOSION W Ben Maher and his Tokyo Olympic champion won the International Jumping Riders Club Top 10 Final at CHI Geneva. The 12-year-old stopped the clock just over a second ahead of Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward. FINE LADY 5 Canadian showjumper Eric Lamaze retired his Rio 2016 individual bronze medal-winning mare aged 18 at CHI Geneva. Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines Stable’s mare scored grand prix wins across the world. WALNUT The horse who helped launch eventing careers, including that of Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett, has died aged 33. The 15.1hh gelding partnered Laura in her first three-day victory, at Weston Park in 2004. DRESSAGE PRICES TO RISE FROM 2022 MOST riders will pay about £5 more for British Dressage (BD) membership next year as BD seeks…

Jockey Gina Andrews claimed her 300th point-to-point win, with Latenightpass, at Alnwick on 13 December. Gina congratulated the gelding’s owner and breeder Pippa Ellis, and groom Kim Hopley. Riding for the Disabled Association chief executive Ed Bracher will Leave the charity in April after 17 years at the helm. Ed said the time was right to look for a new challenge. Champion Flat jockey Oisin Murphy has enjoyed his first international showjumping win. He and Medusa Van De Kooldries took the 1.30m accumulator in Oliva Nova, Spain, on 11 December. German gold medal-winning Olympic eventer Peter Thomsen, 60, is the new national coach for the German eventing squad. Peter takes over from Hans Melzer. who steps down after 20 years. Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, 46, was crowned champion Flat trainer…

▲ UNICORNS One’s favourite ad of the week was for two “purebred unicorns”, at £75,000 each. Apparently the seller is the UK’s only licensed unicorn breeder, and for anyone short of cash, he also sells unicorn eggs for £15,00 each. What’s not to like? ▲ ERRORS A mother and daughter who went to a dressage show managed both to make an error. “Mum said hers was because she was concentrating; I just didn’t fancy that movement,” the daughter revealed. Could take-your-own-line novice 21 be a thing? We approve. ▲ SHOPAHOLICS Hats off to Dark Horse Equestrian, which not only offers unbranded packaging but will include a certificate reading “Congratulations to our winner! Please find enclosed your prize.” Now, if actual horse sellers could just do the same… ▼ SAINTHOOD One…

1) Name the only horse who won the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same year. 2) What happened to Frankie Dettori’s superseventh Ascot winner Fujijama Crest in retirement? 3) What year were the first pony Dressage European Championships held? 4) Name Princess Anne’s first Shetland pony. 5) Which rider said: “I love proving people wrong about what a Muslim girl can do”? Answers from 9 December 1) Dawn Run 2) Colonist II, won or placed in 18 of 24 races 3) Tom Queally 4) A white horse with wings who can fly instantly from one cosmic plane to another 5) Falco is owned by the London 2012 cross-country course-designer, Sue Benson.…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ AT this time in the showing calendar, as we all enjoy some well-earned rest and start working with some of the younger ponies, the show societies are all working hard to revise and renew their rule books ready to send out to members ahead of the 2022 season. This is a thankless but necessary task that most members will not even realise is occurring. It’s so important that we check the current version of the rules so we can keep up to date with any changes. Over the past several months many of the showing societies have been working together, alongside shows such as the Royal International (RIHS), on a number of issues. One such topic is the alignment of amateur rulings across all societies so that the…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 East Essex, Paines Manor, Suffolk GARY THORPE nudged his hounds along the crest of a ridge above the River Stour, slowly drawing the strips of wild bird covert and shelter belts on the farm of Peter Maddever, a keen hunting man who hunts with both the East Essex and the Thurlow. It was past 3pm and no one has second horses here. Hounds and horses had been busy all day, but there was time for one more hunt if things worked in our favour. It is easy to see that shooting is the dominant sport here and the open landscape lends itself to commercial wheat farming, with fertile soils and large fields the norm. There is, however, a lot of space and, despite the cultivation, it is very…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 Keysoe High Profile, Beds WHILE temperatures at Keysoe were chilly, the competition was seriously hot over the four-day show. Fiona Bigwood took top honours in both the grand prix and grand prix special with her top horse Hawtins Delicato, who posted scores of 69.9% and 69.34% respectively, consistently scoring sevens and 7.5s across the board. Fiona took the ride on this 13-year-old, who was campaigned to top level by Carl Hester, in March 2020. The change in rider came about after the postponement of the Olympics in 2020 and Carl, who trains Fiona, offering her the chance to try riding the son of Diamond Hit. This latest result tops off a very successful year for the pair, who have enjoyed grand prix wins both nationally and abroad. Not…

JUST four weeks after teaming up with her new horse Uncle Desmond, Poppy Burner rode the 11-year-old gelding to a double prelim win at Bicton College, Devon, both scores in excess of 75%. “HE’S PEAKING LATE IN LIFE” FORMER “wild child” Hanoverian gelding Decorum headed the medium 73 and freestyle at Wix EC, Essex. “He was tricky as a youngster and it was a joke that I used to come home via A&E,” said Juliet Penwarden of her 15-year-old. “He took a while to mature and I think he’s peaking late in life. It has taken a long time for him to get his changes and they don’t lack expression, but we’re knocking on the door of PSG now.” ONES TO WATCH…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ Royal Welsh Winter Fair, Royal Welsh Showground, Powys SMALL-SCALE breeder Owen Griffiths had cause for celebration when his home-bred Welsh section A colt, Ilar Dakota, stole the show and scored him his first Royal Welsh Winter Fair win and subsequent supreme title. The Winter Fair was, as per usual, a showcase of future stars of both the breeding field and show ring. Bumper entries were witnessed across the two days, with breeders using the fixture as a shop window for their stock. After scoring the colt foal class, Dakota – the first foal from his dam, Waxwing Dainty Dinah, whom Owen has on lease from the notable Waxwing Stud – was pulled forward as overall supreme with handler Sam Morsley, ahead of the Bigley family’s championed Welsh section…

THE name Arwen sounded strangely benign, but of all the named storms that have rattled through here, she was the worst, taking out whole woods and buildings like the tornado in The Wizard of Oz. It all kicked off while I was ferrying Mary and her friend Paloma back from school for the weekend. As we cruised along the A1, there was already a strong side wind, white breakers out to sea and a murky mess of sleet and drizzle in the air. Back here on the hill, it was snowing, sending big, sloppy flakes buffeting past the window. Adam had seen our neighbour Colin on the way home and he had already rung his wife, Katie, to ask if they could have supper early. There was bound to be…

Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @jones_eleanor_ JOCKEY Robbie Dunne has been given an 18-month ban, with three months suspended, after he was found in breach on four counts of conduct prejudicial to horseracing as a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary panel ruled he had bullied and harassed fellow rider Bryony Frost. Dunne was charged with seven breaches, four of conduct prejudicial to horseracing and three of violent and threatening behaviour, all but one of which he denied. The 36-year-old, who was not fined, was told “a combination of factors” meant his punishment was above the entry point. BREACHES PROVEN THE panel, chaired by Brian Barker QC, found the four conduct breaches proven; the latter three are to be considered. The majority of the incidents in question…

A SENIOR endurance figure who admitted to using a vet’s stamp to falsify horse passports has had his suspension reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Trainer Pierre Arnould, former Belgian endurance national team leader and member of the FEI endurance committee, used FEI vet Peter Wijnendaele’s old stamp and added a forged signature to four horses’ passports between 2017 and 2018. In March, the FEI Tribunal suspended him for 20 months, fined him 5,000 Swiss francs (£4,108) and ordered him to pay 7,000 francs in costs. Arnould appealed to CAS, in asking for the suspension and the fine to be reduced, and argued the sanction was not proportionate to comparable decisions ruled by CAS or the Tribunal. On 25 October, A CAS panel noted there were no…

BACK in the 1970s, following the first report in Horse & Hound mentioning my older brother, I wrote a letter to the showing correspondent, Pamela Macgregor-Morris, pointing out that his name was spelt A-L-L-I-S-T-E-R. I received a reply saying “if she ever had cause to mention him again, she would try to remember”. I think that over the past 50 years and judging by the Lifetime Achievement accolade awarded at the H&H Awards on 1 December, you have been happy to mention the great Allister Hood on many occasions. We’re all proud that he and his wonderful team have achieved so much success from humble beginnings. It shows that if you work hard and have a bit of luck, you can make your dreams come true. Fay Grace Driffield, E…

TOLEMAC FARM Jasper, Georgia, USA For you: a beautifully managed farm in the rolling foothills of North Georgia. The main house, with eight bedrooms, dates back to 1895. There is also a three-bed caretaker’s home. The farm is situated in more than 400 acres, offering everything from equestrian facilities to hunting, fishing and luxurious relaxation. For the horses: an eight-stall barn with feed room and tack room, plus 2,000sqft of living space above the barn, with views of the pasture and riding arena, that can sleep 20. $5.495m Harry Norman Realtors, harrynorman.com, +1 (404) 233-4142 FINCA LA COLINA Coin, Andalucia, Spain For you: a stunning property with views of the valley and mountains, set in magnificent irrigated gardens with a courtyard and an outdoor pool. There are eight bedrooms, 12…

FOUR-TIME OLYMPIC DRESSAGE RIDER RICHARD DAVISON “ON Christmas Day, we do all the horses here as our grooms are on holiday. We don’t open presents until the mucking out is done; that’s the incentive! We have festive songs playing on the sound system in the stables and I generally direct operations and empty wheelbarrows as apparently my mucking out is not up to scratch. “On Christmas Eve we always put a wreath on the grave of my parents and go back for midnight mass. On Christmas Day, after lunch and too much food, we walk across the fields on Gill’s family farm and put a freshly empty champagne bottle, stuck in the soil upside down, on her dad’s grave. He chose to be buried in his favourite hunting and shooting…

HUNTS are getting into the Christmas spirit, even in the thick of the season. The Worcestershire Hunt Supporters Club has organised another shoebox collection for Operation Christmas Child, which was very well supported last year with over 100 boxes stuffed with toys, donated for children who would not otherwise receive any gifts at Christmas. “We also have two fundraising events coming up, again both organised by our keen supporters club,” says Chloe Stiley of the Worcestershire hunt. “First, a Christmas party at a local pub, which not only raises money for the hunt, but it also supports the local pubs and businesses – particularly those who support us through the year. “Second is the Christmas showjumping at Gracelands Equestrian Centre. This is always a fantastic evening with loads of laughs,…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald CHI Geneva, Switzerland AS Ben Maher nears the end of a truly memorable year, he and the extraordinary Explosion W claimed another of the world’s most coveted titles, winning the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final. As has so often been the case through 2021, it came down to a thrilling battle of the chestnuts – the 12-year-old Chacco-Blue gelding Explosion W versus Henrik von Eckermann’s mighty King Edward. Neither looked like erring over two tracks set by Gérard Lachat and Louis Konickx and the Swede described his own round as “an unbelievable feeling” but, with the advantage of a superior cruising speed, the Olympic champions flashed home nearly two seconds faster to claim the 160,000 Swiss francs (£130,640) top prize. “What an amazing feeling to win this class,”…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Cheltenham Racecourse, Glos THERE was expectation that Midnight Shadow would become the first horse since Exotic Dancer 15 years ago to complete the Paddy Power Gold Cup-Racing Post Gold Cup double in the same season but, though the double was completed, it was the Evan Williams-trained Coole Cody who did it – albeit a year apart. The 10-year-old was still in front but was being challenged for the lead by Midnight Shadow in the Paddy Power last month when he fell at the second-last. So while a collective breath was held as he approached the same fence this time, there was never any doubt in Williams’s or jockey Adam Wedge’s minds that he would negotiate it and, instead, it was owner Wayne Clifford who slipped and fell while…

NO-FIREWORK zones near livery yards and riding schools are among the suggestions to come out of a public consultation on fireworks in Scotland, as the Government looks to bring in new legislation “at the earliest opportunity”. In June, the Scottish Government launched a consultation on proposed amendments to firework laws. These included conditions at the point of sale of fireworks, no-firework zones and making it an offence to carry pyrotechnics such as flares or smoke devices in a public place (news, 3 June). Findings released this month include the fact 84% backed introducing a licensing system, 92% agreed with creating a new offence to criminalise the supply of fireworks to under-18s, and 83% agreed with creating no-firework zones, suggestions for which included areas around livery yards, riding schools and vet…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 STARTING each day with a smile is always more difficult at this time of year, although it is possible with practice. It’s cold, dark and the cost of keeping horses has increased. British Dressage membership is going up with entry fees expected to follow suit, and “ouch” is my response to the price of fuel. It’s not always easy to see competition days as “fun days out” any more, and while appreciating the difficulty of trying to please all stakeholders, it’s not only the costs that can reduce the fun. International riders in novice classes and the perception that only mega horses qualify for championships all adds to the frustration for amateur riders. Real amateurs can feel defeated even at silver regionals, where gold riders put up their…

Those of you who know me (and if you don’t then I have to ask, “Where in the name of the nativity have you been all these years peoples?” Quick recap – Horse & Hound’s one-and-only equine blogger, celebrity ride to the stars and author of seven literary masterpieces) know I’m not a fan of this Kissmuss lark. The concept of Kissmuss is great – loads of presents, snogging under mistle-hoof – however, there is a dark side. A sinister side. A side that allows humans to degrade us publicly in the name of “festive fun”. One word people: antlers. They’re not cute, they’re a breach of my equine rights; I still have PTSD from my lady love singing, “There’s a moose loose about this hoose,” every time I walked…

AH, the magic of Christmas. Bright stars shining in a frosty sky, stockings hanging round the fireplace, the whisper of a reindeer in flight – or your dad stripping down to the altogether to ride his horse naked but for a Santa hat. This last may not be a widespread festive tradition, but for Stewart Turner last Christmas Day was a rather chilly one. The father of three had only started riding in his forties, when his daughters did. Documenting his experiences as a novice horse-owner on social media, he amassed thousands of followers, who helped him to raise money for equestrian charities. Realising last winter that he had some 16,000 followers, including Carl Hester, he came up with an idea. “I said if I made it to 20,000 by…

Keysoe, Bedfordshire “I JOKED that if I ever scored 70% at prix st georges [PSG], I would retire,” said Antonia Brown, who reached the magic number with SJL Duuk to take the class. “But being as stubborn and competitive as I am, I now want to do the next thing.” Former event rider Antonia teamed up with Sara Lucas’s 13-year-old Vivaldi gelding, known as Vinnie, a decade ago. “I imagined then that we’d buy him to produce and sell on, but it turned out that he had the kindest nature and he became a firm favourite,” she explained. “We’ve learnt the ropes together and we’ve gradually improved our scores since starting PSG, with guidance and training from Dan Greenwood and great support from Sara. I’m so glad I achieved my…

gemma.redrup@futurenet.com @gemmaredrup Barbury International Racing Club, Barbury Racecourse, Wilts DAVID BRACE’S full-time rider, Osian Radford, landed his first-ever riding win when heading the PPORA club members’ conditions novice riders aboard the 10-year-old gelding Looksnowtlikebrian. It was third time lucky for the pair, who had finished third twice so far this season. “The ground was a bit tacky, but I hit the front with a circuit to go and luckily he kept it,” said Osian, who previously worked for Tim Vaughan. “The last two rides on him, I dropped him in, but this time I let him do what he wanted and he pulled me to the front and did the job. “It makes all the early mornings worth it.” Five-year-old mare Honey I’m Good performed impressively to land The Jockey…