Innholdsfortegnelse for 27-Jan-2022 i Horse & Hound

IT is fantastic to have Tokyo Olympic eventing team gold medallist Laura Collett writing in this week’s issue about her day with the Beaufort one very wet Saturday in January (p44). There are some lovely surprises in her copy, not least that a rider we see tackling the greatest of five-star tracks says she questioned her sanity and felt a few nerves when driving to the meet. As we’ve heard so many times regarding different horses, the eventer she rode, Moonlight Charmer, who Dickie Waygood suggested would benefit from hunting, has indeed done so, and is now thinking for himself, rather than relying on Laura’s extensive expertise. Also in this week’s issue, our vet expert investigates why hydrotherapy is becoming a more and more popular activity for those looking to…

BOBS WORTH The 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, trained by Nicky Henderson, has died aged 17 after a field accident. The three-time Festival victor, who also won the Hennessy, lived with the Vigors family at Hillwood Stud in retirement. BJÖRSELLS BRIAR The dressage stallion, who competed at three Olympics with Sweden’s Jan Brink, has died aged 31. The Magini son, owned by his breeder Hans-Yngve Göransson, was a stalwart of the Swedish team for close to a decade. COSSAN LAD Kirsty Short’s campaigner, whom she rode from Pony Club to five-star, has retired. The 20-year-old contested 32 international events including 10 CCI5*s – Pau, Badminton, two Luhmühlens and six Burghleys.…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 WHILE following the recent debate regarding top riders competing at lower levels, I wondered if I was missing something? British Dressage (BD) has catered for so many below medium level; surely between the Associated Championships, Area Festivals, Team Quest, My Quest, bronze, silver and gold at championships, there is something for everyone? Fairness is an emotive topic, especially in a subjective sport. Broadly, it appears that BD is aiming regionals and nationals towards professional riders and Area Festivals towards amateurs. Splitting the silver section over both gives riders the choice of where they pitch it and for some it will always be the letter of the law over the spirit of the class. Adding the word “amateur” to the Area Festival Championship title could define the spirit of…

MANOR FARM Bempton, Yorks For you: a Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse built in 1820, Manor Farm is a five-bedroom family home set in mature gardens. Adjoining the main house is a self-contained annexe ideal for holiday lets or extra accommodation. The coastal village of Bempton is known for its breathtaking views, spectacular cliffs and RSPB seabird centre. For the horses: a range of five stables, tack room plus storage. There are two paddocks, one with a stable and one with a shelter. Set in approximately two acres. £895,000 Carter Jonas, 01904 200062, carterjonas.co.uk NEW FARM Mowsley, Leics For you: a four-bedroom family house surrounded by open countryside with numerous bridleways, five minutes from British Showjumping’s national training centre, Hothorpe. For the horses: a concrete yard with five looseboxes, a tack/feed…

SAFETY first: wear gloves, a hat and sturdy footwear. Make sure you are working in a safe enclosure, gates shut, on good going. The tack and equipment you use depend on your goals, but the basics are a snaffle bridle, saddle or surcingle, a lunge rein and, depending on horse and purpose, possibly a lunge cavesson. Anything else, such as side-reins, a chambon and Pessoa, are valuable training aids when used correctly. Consider asking someone with experience in using that particular tool for a demo or lesson. If you’re starting off a youngster, check his teeth before bitting and use a gentle one. Katie says: “You don’t want him to try to run away from the bit.”…

Hunting and point-to-point groom LIZZY BROWN SWAIN “MY mum always used to say, ‘You get out of a job what you put in,’ and there’s never been a truer word said in my industry,” says Lizzy. “I feel truly blessed to have the chance to work with and ride so many lovely horses.” Lizzy’s first grooming job, at a point-to-point yard, sent her down the hunting path in qualifying the point-to-pointers. She’s been in her current role with the Scott family in Suffolk for the past 15 years, having initially been a livery at the small family-run yard. But for all her enthusiasm, it’s a hard grind. There are 15 horses to look after – hunters, eventers, youngstock, ponies and retired horses – and Lizzy has had her share of…

DENGIE’S Katie Williams discusses frequency and sizes of meals for the competition horse. “Ideally, meal sizes need to be kept below 1.5kg of cereal-based feeds, as horses have a limited capacity in their digestive system,” she says. “As performance horses have greater nutrient and energy requirements, the meals need to be more frequent so that the total daily intake can be divided into sufficiently small meals to avoid an overload situation occurring. “This doesn’t apply to fibre-based feeds; if you use a feed like Dengie Alfa-A Oil - which has an energy value equivalent to a competition mix - you can feed it in one feed. This is because the fibre it contains is digested in the hindgut and also because it is naturally so low in starch. “There are…

“He could jump a hedge with a ditch in front cold, and never pulled” CHIDDINGFOLD, Leconfield and Cowdray (CLC) legend John Langdon and Beano defined partnership. Once, hounds were in full cry and John set off over the South Downs to reach them. “It got steeper and steeper. I was leading him and hanging onto the reins. We couldn’t turn round or we’d have fallen. He just trusted me,” he says. Beano came through Carol Collins, wife of CLC kennel-huntsman Bob (brother to Quorn huntsman Peter). When she was a groom at the Cotley, her boss bought a chestnut Irish mare from the farmers’ market. “She turned out to be a brilliant hunter and they put her to the teaser stallion at a local thoroughbred stud,” says John. Beano was…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Ascot Racecourse, Berks SOMETIMES, a race hyped as “the race of the season” lives up to its billing. On Saturday, Shishkin and Energumene, the best twomilers either side of the Irish Sea and respectively unbeaten in nine and seven starts, served up an absolute thriller in the SBK Clarence House Chase. The handicapper had them 1lb (a length) apart on ratings going into the Grade One and, a feather in his hat, he was absolutely right as Shishkin (172) came home a length in front of Energumene (171). But that did not tell the story of the race in which, for the most part, Shishkin looked second best or, as Nicky Henderson succinctly put it, “on the ropes”. Energumene and Paul Townend set off to make the running…

gemma.redrup@futurenet.com @gemmaredrup Tiverton Foxhounds, Chipley Park, Somerset HIGHWAY JEWEL delivered a gem of a performance on her seasonal debut in the INEOS Grenadier mixed open under Bradley Gibbs as connections eye Cheltenham on the horizon. The Highway Partnership’s Irish-bred mare (Ask x Presenting) surged ahead of Singapore Saga (Darren Andrews) at the bottom of the final climb, gaining ground over her two rivals as she powered up the hill. She was a little tight into the penultimate fence, but remained well clear to maintain her 100% strike-rate in British point-to-points. “She may have one more run in a hunter chase and then go to Cheltenham Foxhunter [now the St James’ Place Festival Hunters’ Chase],” said Bradley, who also trains the eight-year-old. “We will see how she is in the next…

Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ RIDERS are calling for the equestrian world to unite to beat the “scumbags” behind what they think is organised, targeted theft. Wayne Garrick and Ibi Whatley lost tack worth about £30,000 from a locked lorry locker at Arena UK during a show (14-16 January). There were also several other thefts. The riders told H&H they want to do all they can to prevent other people suffering in the same way and to stop those responsible. “We’ve learnt so much,” Wayne said. “The locker was locked, but I’ve found out that many tacklocker keys are generic, which is a kick in the teeth – I’ve emailed some lorry companies since to say they need to put different locks on. “My…

BANNED JOCKEY LODGES APPEAL ROBBIE DUNNE has lodged an appeal after receiving an 18-month ban for bullying and harassing fellow jockey Bryony Frost. The independent disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) found Dunne guilty on all four counts of conduct prejudicial to horseracing in a hearing (news, 16 December). He is appealing the panel’s finding and the penalty. A BHA statement said the independent judicial panel had received an appeal from Dunne’s representatives, adding that this panel will convene an appeal board for the hearing and liaise with representatives of all parties on a date for the hearing. EXCITING PLAN FOR FORUM BIRTHDAY THE National Equine Forum (NEF) is to run an “exciting, practical programme” to mark its 30th birthday. The plan is an event at the Institution…

Showjumper Donald Whitaker, 29, jumped double clear on Di Caprio in his first five-star Nations Cup in Abu Dhabi, sharing the show’s double-clear bonus. The British team came third. Irish Olympic eventer Camilla Speirs and partner Ethen Ahearne welcomed baby girl Mathilde on 19 January. Camilla said “Tilly” was a little late, but “definitely worth the wait”. Irish showjumper Shane Breen and Z7 Ipswich won the CSIO5* President of the UAE Showjumping Cup grand prix at the Abu Dhabi Nations Cup leg (20-23 January). Former eventer turned skeleton racer Laura Deas has been selected for her second Winter Olympics, Beijing 2022 (4-20 February). Laura won bronze at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games. Trainer Donald McCain became the first to saddle 100 winners in Britain this season, with a win with…

AGE is but a number – to Bobby and Amy, anyway. The 35-year-old pony, also known as Charn Florin (pictured, right), and his six-year-old rider won their first one-day event last summer on their dressage score, and Amy hopes to repeat the feat this year. “He’s an absolute superstar,” mum Sally told H&H. “Amy can tack him up by herself, muck him out and bring him in from the field, and she absolutely loves him to bits.” Bobby has frequent vet checks, and is happy with his light workload, Sally said. “Every little girl or boy who wants to ride needs a Bobby in their life because he’s an absolute gem,” she said. “Amy is desperate to do the 30cm event off the lead-rein this year and I’m not sure…

1) In Chinese astrology, when is the next Year of the Horse? 2) At what age can a rider start competing in British Eventing fixtures? 3) What is the name of the horse that President Macron of France presented to his host, Xi Jinping, when he visited China? 4) Which horse won Badminton four years after winning the Junior Cup at the Pony Club Championships? 5) Name the only horse to regain his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown. Answers from 20 January 1) Tempest 2) £45,000 3) Eohippus 4) Desert Orchid 5) A mule who entered his first dressage competition and won.…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ DURING my twenties, winter was a very different experience as a horseman. After Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), a show horse would usually be thrown out in the field until the end of January, and they’d be able to cope well with the snow and ice as long as they had plenty of shelter and forage. Today, the impact of global warming has meant winter is just downpour after downpour, and the unpredictable weather means we can no longer just turn our horses away. The young horses are inside more and you’re often risking your life riding in gale-force winds just to give them a bit of exercise. Keeping the horses happy requires more work from the staff, so a nice, long break seems to be a…

TOPSPEC ALL-IN-ONE This caramel-flavoured broadspectrum supplement contains many specialised supplements, as well as antioxidants. It is suitable for all horses and ponies. £35.50 for 4kg topspec.com NAF IN THE PINK POWDER Contains probiotics and live yeasts, plus vitamins, minerals and micronutrients to support health, vitality and performance. £23.10 for 700g naf-equine.eu ROWEN BARBARY KEEP WELL Provides essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements to support wellbeing, with a focus on joint and digestive health. £32.40 for 5kg rowenbarbary.co.uk DODSON & HORRELL DAILY VITAMINS & MINERALS Contains natural antioxidants and is an ideal dietary addition for horses who hold weight well. £17.70 for 2kg dodsonandhorrell.com AVIFORM PRO-COMPLETE Provides multivitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, B-complex vitamins, hoof conditioner, blood tonic and muscle/bone tonic. £39.95 for 2kg aviform.co.uk H BRADSHAW’S MULTIVIT PRO A liquid blending…

PRIORITISE STAMINA DEPENDING on the type of discipline a horse is competing in, most riders will be looking to maintain a degree of stamina for multiple rounds or stay-over shows. “Nearly every performance horse will require a degree of stamina to complete what is being asked of him on the day. But it’s also important that he remains able not only to perform at his best throughout the season, but also recover,” explains Saracen Horse Feeds’ senior registered nutritionist, Lizzie Drury. “The choice of feed selected will also depend upon the individual horse’s temperament.” If your horse has an excitable temperament and is performing exercise based on slower speeds and for longer periods, he is likely to benefit from a concentrate feed based on digestible fibres such as soya hulls,…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 THERE’S nothing like “missing” at the first fence of the day – a pretty good hedge – on your first day’s hunting for years, on a very smart event horse, with the entire Beaufort Saturday field looking on. Rupert Sturgis set off at a gallop with me just behind and to the forefront of my mind were his wife’s – fellow Beaufort field master and eventer Beanie – last words to me: “Don’t you dare take a pull,” so I didn’t. But whereas a few months ago, when I saw a distance to a jump on Moonlight Charmer, I might have needed to press a bit to get there and there would have been a touch of a delay to his reaction, this time his response was so…

Keysoe Area Festival, Beds “WE decided to go for gold,” said Anna Bostrand-Daly, who triumphed in the inter I bronze with It’s Avo. “I’d held back a bit in the PSG the previous day, as we had a long journey home overnight. But the harder it gets, the better he is. He’s a machine!” Since Anna bought “Bo” at five, the Chippendale gelding has moved swiftly through the levels. “We did the inter I at the summer Area Festival championship in October, but after training over winter, he came back this time with a score way better,” she said of Bo’s 66.96% performance. “He’s a high-octane horse who always comes out super-keen, so the lockdown was tough on us. I’ve had to teach him how to have a day off,…

▲ A CHEEKY TIPPLE A group of riders were discussing the BD structure. “I’ve hardly competed since the new system came in as I barely understand it,” said one. “I can’t be bothered to work it out so I take mine district or county showing, where my husband and I can always get a beer.” Cheers! ▲ DATING A study found animals, including horses, play a role in online dating, as users tend to include them in pictures. The study found animal pictures are used to communicate facts about the user: always broke, cold and knackered, perhaps? ▲ SPORTS A rider who swapped skiing for Lake District walking was musing on the similarities. One is ruled by the weather, may fall and be hurt, talks much about kit, and may…

FURTHER to the new French law requiring people to have a knowledge certificate to own horses (news, 13 January), I believe this should be a prerequisite in the UK. As we know from the various campaigns for pet welfare – “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas” and concerns over the recent “pandemic pet” boom – some acquire an animal on a whim, with little consideration for and knowledge about the animal’s requirements or how much it will cost to keep it. In the case of a large animal that is very expensive to care for even adequately, let alone well, this can have devastating consequences. And do I agree with the French laws? Absolutely! Personally, I would like to see this for all pets and companion animals.…

WHEN Carl Hester asked Alan Davies to accompany him and Charlotte Dujardin to the south of France as a stand-in groom for two upcoming grand prix dressage horses in early 2011, Alan could hardly have imagined what the next decade would have in store – for all of them. Because, of course, those horses were none other than Uthopia and Valegro, whose journey and achievements would go on to become the stuff of dressage legend. “My life completely changed because of Valegro,” says Alan, as he sips tea in the tack room at Carl’s delightful Gloucestershire yard, the superstar in question contentedly munching hay around the corner as he enters his sixth year of blissful retirement. “He is still a massive part of all our lives; he and I travelled…

SPILLERS nutritionist Sarah Nelson advises on common mistakes sometimes made when planning a horse’s feeding regime: • Don’t underestimate the importance of forage – it should be the foundation of every horse’s diet, as it’s essential for both digestive health and mental wellbeing and makes a significant contribution towards total daily energy intake. • Treat every horse as an individual, regardless of discipline. Therefore, the amount of energy (calories) fed should be adjusted according to body condition. Balancers are a great way of supplying vitamins, minerals and amino acids for horses that maintain condition well on reduced rations of feed. • More does not equal better – vitamin A and some minerals can be harmful if oversupplied, with iron, selenium and iodine being of particular concern because undesirable effects can…

“WHEN Tommy arrived in the autumn, I said to his owners and Laura that there was no point firing him straight in and blowing his brain; he needed to learn the game, so I went trail-laying from him and going quietly. “These horses are here to be improved and to come out as ‘better men’, and it’s always at the forefront of my mind that I am doing a job on them, not just hunting for my own pleasure. “Coming from a professional rider, all the buttons worked. He was well-mannered, never nappy and never spooky – a charming horse who just needed a bit more fire in his belly. I popped away round the farm on him at home and the first day I field mastered from him, we…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 Burrows Court Farm, Glos “SHE has come on a treat,” said Sarah Stewart of Newho Philharmonic, after scoring 65% at grand prix with the Polarion mare. “Since dipping a toe in at grand prix last spring, we’ve tried a few,” added Sarah, who trains with Carl Hester. “She had a really good piaffe, but our biggest problem was the passage. Recently, she just got it. She’s now looking like the real deal.” Sarah bought “Polly”, who was bred by the Bechtolsheimer family, as a four-year-old. Now rising 17, Polly had two foals after suffering a hind suspensory injury at eight. “The grand prix work has transformed her figure,” said Sarah. “She’s a hot little number and very willing. Carl always had faith in her.” Sarah will now share…

WITH Christmas over and everyone back at school, I am back at the kitchen table, gazing out at the brown hill with just the wind in the treetops and the hum of the washing machine to break the silence. This was the time that I had set aside to go hunting as much as possible, but Sod’s law had other ideas. There has been a rash of ailments and injuries through the stables. Sally is on the mend after skidding over on the road, but I am still hosing the swelling on her chest. Issy has succumbed to mud fever. Indestructible Jack has an abscess on his back the size of an egg and big old Mikado has nicked his leg. I am resting my horse until the back lady…