Innholdsfortegnelse for 10-Mar-2022 i Horse & Hound

IT’S hard to think beyond the events taking place in Ukraine today, and the equestrian community in the UK is joining those millions around the world who are moved to help in any way that they can. The situation is changing rapidly, but the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation’s website is being updated with the best ways in which those desperate to help horse owners and their equines specifically can do so. For the latest information on this, visit: helpukrainehorses.eu At the time of going to press, assistance included the possibility of buying feed and haylage directly from retailers to be sent to a collection point in Poland, from where it would be transported to those stables in Ukraine reporting the greatest need, many with less than a week’s supply…

Former top swimmer and horse owner Helen Nicholls will be British Equestrian performance director from May. She was performance director for Paralympic sport boccia. Spanish dressage rider Juan Matute Guimón, who suffered a serious head injury last year, won the CDI4* grand prix freestyle with Quantico at the Global Dressage Festival in Florida. Olympic US jumper Laura Kraut received the US Equestrian Team Foundation’s 2022 Whitney Stone Cup for “consistent excellence” and being an “ambassador” for the sport. A young rider has become the first British Racing School foundation course graduate via the Riding A Dream Academy. Oshane, 16, was one of the first on the Khadijah Mellah scholarship. Italian showjumper Alberto Zorzi has joined Team Scuderia 1918 after leaving Jan Tops’ Valkenswaard in the Netherlands. Alberto said his dream…

A FOUNDATION has been created to help horses in Ukraine, as thousands of pounds are raised by the equestrian community. The Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation, which works with the FEI and national federations, is collating offers of help and donations, and trying to help get horses out of the country, where possible. The foundation says there are more than 100,000 horses in Ukraine, many of which have no shelter and care. The foundation has representatives in countries including the UK coordinating offers of help and donations. People can buy feed, haylage and shavings from Polish merchants via the foundation website, to be delivered to Ukraine and distributed. A bank account is being set up for donations. Other organisations involved in sending donations include Country Haylage and Sid Hill Transport,…

1) Name a former Badminton Horse Trials director who was also a world individual bronze medallist. 2) What is the horse Red Splash most famous for? 3) Which equestrian author wrote about the sporting Cockney grocer John Jorrocks? 4) Whistlejacket was an 18th-century racehorse, but what else is a whistlejacket? 5) In July 2010, a famous, stuff ed horse was auctioned at Christie’s in New York. Who was the horse and how much did it fetch? Answers from 3 March 1) David Broome in 1970 2) Chris Burton 3) 2.25 times 4) True 5) Australia’s Susan Hoevenaars.…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ I READ a recent article on the H&H website (“It’s about equine welfare, not flattening ponies”, 24 February). The article is in part about Horse of the Year Show’s (HOYS) decision to remove some of its qualifiers for plaited ponies from the Great Yorkshire Show’s schedule, because the show would not drop its rider age rule with an open mind. However, I believe that HOYS’ removal of qualifiers is an unfair decision. There are two key elements that need to be addressed head on, yet they seem to have been swept under the carpet. First, why is it that only plaited pony classes are being targeted? If rules on rider size and weight are to be brought in, which I agree with, these should be brought in across…

EQUINE insurance provides policyholders with reassurance and financial protection against mortality (death), theft, veterinary fees, loss of use and tack cover. But how sustainable is it, given ever-increasing costs of medical care? As with any insurance policy, cover is provided by underwriters who assess the risk levels and set the premiums. The cover is then arranged by brokers who act as the intermediary between the policyholders and underwriters. Equine insurance is designed to provide cover for normal risks; in cases where an increased risk may be present, exclusions may be applied to reflect this. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about equine insurance. Horse owners may debate whether or not insurance is a justifiable expense, sometimes citing examples where insurance claims were not paid. However, there are usually justifiable reasons for…

SHILSTONE Chagford, Devon For you: an exceptional small estate on the edge of Dartmoor with a restored Grade II-listed house, dating back to Saxon times, with four en-suite bedrooms. There are also two separate two/ three-bed cottages. Set in mature gardens with a stream. For the horses: a stable building incorporating four looseboxes with lighting, heaters, rubber matting, drinkers and mangers. There are two further boxes in an adjoining thatched barn. There is also a 20×60m sand school, plus an additional arena. Gently sloping post-and-railed paddocks with field shelters set in a total of 30 acres. OIEO £3.5m Knight Frank, 01392 848842, knightfrank.co.uk APPERLEY FARMHOUSE Stocksfield, Northumberland For you: a substantial Grade II-listed 17th-century stone-built house. There are six bedrooms, and the property is heated by a biomass system. Formal…

MORE gripping than any Netflix series, the Cheltenham Festival has every ingredient to keep the nation enthralled – thrills, heroes and villains, winners and losers, and some of the most dramatic plot twists. So whether you’re heading trackside or enjoying the action from your sofa, what might this year’s Festival (15-18 March) have in store? THE BEST OF RIVALRIES FOR decades, some of the sport’s fiercest rivalries have played out on the Prestbury Park stage, adding to the rich narrative of the great occasion. We warmly welcome the annual Irish invasion to Cheltenham, and debates as to which nation will train the most winners during the four-day Festival invariably echo around the Guinness Village – there’s plenty of money wagered on it, too. The Prestbury Cup is presented to the…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Bury Farm Winter Classic, Bucks A LIGHTER competition schedule over the past two months did nothing to curb Mark Edwards’ form – he claimed the grand prix and added a feature class at each strata at his first winter classic of 2022. It was Marlene Edwards’ 11-year-old Flying Tinker II who topped the four-strong jump-off in the grand prix, stealing a 5.9sec headway from final draw with the quickest of two double clears. Phillip Miller and the nine-year-old stallion, Don Royale, were the only other combination to leave the fences standing around Phil Ashworth’s track. Mark had entered three horses for the grand prix and had not expected the smaller gelding to beat his larger stablemates, Montreuxs Tale and Ede Peasy, who are both over 17hh. “I thought…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo BSPS Area 5, Arena UK, Lincs PRODUCER Lucy Glover and her team of both young and seasoned ponies enjoyed a red-letter day at their first show of the term, capturing four wins with all four animals, as well as a section championship and reserve. After a post-Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) winter holiday, 148cm show pony Carmens Novello was back better than ever to head the overall show pony championship with Isabella O’Donnell in the saddle. “Horace”, now a nine-year-old, shot to fame in 2018 when he scored the HOYS supreme pony of the year title at the tender age of five under Lucy, who has produced him throughout his career. “He’s just been the best pony,” said Lucy, who has a packed yard – including more…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 Bishop Burton College Winter Regionals, East Yorks WITH victories at both advanced medium freestyle and prix st georges (PSG) gold, Victoria Maw’s nine-year-old gelding Benito Dorato has now claimed a regional title at every level from novice to PSG – in addition to two national titles. “We missed out on an advanced medium win by one collective mark at the Vale View Area Festival recently, because I went wrong,” said Victoria, who bought German-bred “Benny” as a three-day-old foal and has produced him herself since he was three years old. “He’s awesome. What an amazing road he has taken me down. “Since he went on a diet we can see a real dressage horse emerging”CHARLIE TREVOR “I also own his older brother, who’s really clever, but once Benny…

AFTER a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an injury, Rob Barker scored a 79.1% elementary win with Vicky Archer’s eight-year-old gelding Damon’s Destiny at Hunters Equestrian, Gloucestershire. It was Rob’s second show back after a horse came down on him in September. “I fractured my tibia and femur and sustained ligament and meniscus damage,” said Rob. “I’m still weak but just so grateful to be riding again. I’ve got a great bunch of horses this year, which is exciting.”…

ONLY two trainers, Donald McCain and Paul Nicholls, have had more winners than Fergal O’Brien this season, and the Withington trainer landed another good pot on Saturday when Paint The Dream landed the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup under the owner’s grandson, Connor Brace (pictured). David Brace bred Paint The Dream and his half-brother Gats And Co, which he trains himself in Wales. “He’s a lovely horse,” said the owner, “and we always thought there was a good day in him. Connor told me yesterday to be positive and that the horse would do the job. We’ve just come from the Beaufort point-to-point where Connor’s brother Jude has just ridden a winner. Jude’s 13 today, so we rushed from there to here and only arrived when Paint The Dream was going…

BLACK tie parties can pose a problem here in the north of England, the main priority being how to look halfway decent without freezing to death. I pondered this as I rummaged through my wardrobe, rejecting a slinky sleeveless number and a floaty skirt in favour of a blue velvet dress and a thick black jacket. Flimsy dresses can be suicide in Northumberland, even in July. Adam and I were off to a party given by the RS Surtees Society, a wonderful organisation whose main aim is to keep the Surtees flame alive and the books in print. Some of their members were here for their annual northern tour, staying in a medieval castle and taking in a day’s hunting with the College Valley. Walking into Chillingham Castle at night…

Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ THE “writing is on the wall” for more equine disease and death if the industry does not take urgent action on wormer resistance. This was the message at the National Equine Forum on 3 March, on the “collective responsibility” to tackle the issue. There is evidence of resistance to all four classes of wormer available for horses, and no new types expected in the near future. “This is a significant threat to our industry and uncontrolled, will lead to critical health and welfare issues,” said Claire Stratford, head of the efficacy team and anthelmintic policy lead at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). “Responsible use of [these drugs] is essential to maintain them. “It’s not cause for panic, but it…

BRITISH HORSE SOCIETY CEO James Hick launched the BHS’s “career transition fund” at the National Equine Forum. The scheme will offer training grants to people who have completed their BHS stage one, to allow them to progress to two and three, which the BHS hopes will improve things for staff and employers. The fund will pay for training from BHS accredited coaches or at approved centres. “We hope it will attract more grooms and coaches as we run it this year, and... in years ahead,” Mr Hick said. “This is a job for life and if you’ve got your stage two or three, you’re eminently employable and have so many choices. Having that gives you earning potential, helps support long careers and to be employed by good employers.”…

HUNT KENNELS’ UKRAINE BOOST THE Kimblewick hunt kennels have been opened to accept donations to Ukraine. Among the items needed since the Russians invaded are blankets, sleeping bags, warm clothing and rucksacks. The hunt will deliver items left at the kennels to the Aid Ukraine depot that has been set up via the Ukrainian embassy. Hunt spokesman Eleasha Sallis said: “It feels a tiny thing to do in light of the desperate situation, but we have a strong community around Kimblewick and everyone wants to help.” CRIMINAL DAMAGE SAB SENTENCED AN anti-hunt activist who hit and damaged a car with young children inside at a fun ride has been ordered to pay £200 to the victim. Tracey Cox, also known as Tracey Clayton, pleaded guilty to criminal damage, and was…

GOOD WEEK ▴ APPENDAGES To the National Equine Forum, where the inimitable Tullis Matson gave a lecture on techniques in breeding horses – and other animals. “I ended up holding on to an elephant’s penis for two hours a day,” he said cheerfully. Haven’t we all? ▴ MORE APPENDAGES Mr Matson also revealed that the testicles of a mouse deer weigh about a gram; those of a horse are more like 300g. “I can’t remember who I spoke to an hour ago but ask me the weight of any species’ testicles…” he said. ▴ GAS A rider hand-walking her cob was stopped by some walkers who asked if they could stroke him. “Of course,” she said. The cob, who may have been less keen, gave them a Look while “farting…

HAVING read the excellent article by vet Kieran O’Brien on farriery exams (17 February), I would like to express my thanks to Horse & Hound. Kieran’s articles have been insightful, informative and interesting. While I appreciate my fantastic farrier’s skill and judgement, I feel I now have a better understanding of what he had to do to become a farrier – something I had previously taken for granted. The horseworld is very fragmented – not just between disciplines but geographically, too, by the very nature of our horses’ requirements. We can be quite isolated in our own little worlds, so Horse & Hound plays a major part in uniting us. The magazine often sparks a useful discussion between me and my equestrian friends. Marie-Anne Rose Sway, Hants The writer of…

SPRENGER FLEXCITE GRIP STIRRUPS The bow shape helps with balance, while the wide foot pad has a stainless steel grip inlay. £224.95 sprenger.de STÜBBEN MAXI GRIP STIRRUPS Milled from a high-quality aluminium alloy that is both lightweight and strong. £189.50 stuebben.co.uk SHIRES BENT LEG STIRRUP IRONS Designed to help prevent the foot becoming caught in the stirrup in the event of a fall. £47.99 shiresequestrian.com FREEJUMP SOFT’UP PRO+ Single-branch stirrups with a flexible outer so the foot can be released in the event of a fall. They offer a high degree of shock absorption. From £259 freejumpsystem.com RID’UP STIRRUPS These stirrups feature a hinged junction with the stirrup leather, which releases in the event of abnormal twisting forces. £240 rid-up.com OPHENA S MAGNETIC SAFETY STIRRUPS Includes magnetic boot insoles that…

HELP! I’M CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT MEMBERSHIP I NEED TO compete at BE80(T) or BE90, you have two options. The first is to take out an introductory rider membership, which is £80 for the cheapest payment method, direct debit. The second is to use the pay as you go (PAYG) option. This costs £30 and then you are charged an additional £15 fee on top of your entry each time you compete. BE membership for people works on a rolling annual basis, so you are buying 12 months of membership whatever time of the year you purchase it. WHAT REGISTRATION DOES MY HORSE NEED? AGAIN, choose between a season ticket or PAYG. A season ticket for horses with no BE points costs £67 for 2022 (or £45 for a half season,…

THE very best masterships are those that resemble a family. They may be quite different characters with contrasting strengths, they may bicker and – occasionally – slam the phone down on each other. But ultimately they respect one another, laugh together, work their socks off for each other and are very fond of each other. They have the confidence to challenge one another, but when challenged from outside, they are united. This is certainly the case for the current Heythrop mastership, and when Simon Lawrance, the longest-standing member of the team of six, stands down on 1 May, he will be a great loss. In 14 seasons his influence, particularly in his Monday/Thursday domain where his superb field mastering and personal charisma have made him both loved and highly respected,…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @ jen_donald Kelso Racecourse, Scottish Borders IT has been quite a season for permit holder Ann and Ian Hamilton, Northumberland hill farmers from Bavington (hence their four-time winning novice chaser, Bavington Bob). Next week, the sheep and cattle farmers with just six horses will take on the might of Willie Mullins, Henry de Bromhead, Gordon Elliott and Nicky Henderson (who probably have an aggregate of 1,000 horses between them) when they run Tommy’s Oscar, the highest-rated British horse, in the Unibet Champion Hurdle to sustain one of the great Cheltenham traditions – David versus Goliath (see preview, p42). Their horses could not have been in better form going into such an important race. Their last two runners have won, equalling their best-ever season of 12 winners. Nuts Well, their…

A MAN who shows “tireless energy” in breaking down barriers to the horse world has been recognised with the Sir Colin Spedding Award. The trophy was presented to Imran Atcha, founder member of St James City Farm & Riding School, Gloucester, at the National Equine Forum. The award goes annually to an unsung hero of the equestrian world. “For the past 15 years, Imran Atcha has shown dedication and tireless energy in breaking down barriers to provide access to horses and other animals,” the citation read. “The riding school introduces children to horses in one of the most built-up and deprived areas of Gloucestershire, especially children from ethnic minority communities. “Imran also advises British Equestrian and other equestrian establishments on measures to make horses more accessible.” Imran said the project…

BALLAGHMOR CLASS The Olympic eventing team gold medallist, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan, ridden by Oliver Townend, won his first start since Tokyo on a personal best dressage score (18.9) in an OI at Poplar Park. GLAMOURDALE The 11-year-old stallion, owned by Van Olst Horses and Lottie Fry, topped the grand prix special at Lier CDI4* with Lottie on 78.68%. The combination were also third in Saturday’s grand prix, with 74.39%. KBS MAJOR PLAYER The 10-year-old and Holly Smith finished fifth in their first grand prix at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour. The Kennedy Brothers Sport Horses and Breen Team’s gelding has had success with Shane Breen and Jack Ryan.…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. @ horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound THE PERSONAL TOUCH FURTHER to your “Testing times” feature (17 February), I am old enough to have been able to tow without ever having to take a test and am happy to say that I never had a mishap or saw one happening. Of course, there were far fewer vehicles on the road then. As an aside, I noticed the number plate on the car pictured in the feature (ending NAG) and thought readers might similarly enjoy our lorry, complete with its cherished number plate. Pete and Suellen Brake Sherborne, Dorset UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD I HAVE been competing at the British Dressage Petplan Area Festivals on and off since 2017 and having recently…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald LAST year turned out to be a good year for me, with a second-place finish in the London Global Champions Tour grand prix and third place in the London World Cup, both riding my now 14-year-old Unick Du Francport. The London International Horse Show proved a huge success, having moved from Olympia to ExCeL. Olympia’s magic can’t be reproduced, but the show worked well in its new home – logistically, it was much easier to get the horses in and out and being able to park the trucks on site makes a world of difference. We enjoyed plenty of space, including in the stables which were also much quieter for the horses – I think everyone agreed from the riders’ side of things that it all worked really…

I’m currently the physiotherapist with the England Rugby men’s senior team. We’re in the middle of the Six Nations campaign and I’m with them through to the World Cup next autumn. There are loads of crossovers with the horse world, from muscle bruising and joint and cartilage problems to working on strength and flexibility and similar injuries. My clients vary from rugby to the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the British equestrian team for the 2016 Rio Olympics and the Japanese equestrian team for Tokyo 2020. “The worldclass athletes are the ones who will train smart, not just flog themselves. Performance is the heart of all of it” Pain is so subjective; a two out of 10 level for one person is a 10 for another. With injuries, there’s the biological side,…

AS with all forms of insurance, fraud can occur with vet cover. Equine insurance fraud can range from submitting extra items on a claim (such as an extra box of bute on a lameness claim) through to incorrectly declaring the date of onset of a condition, or failing to declare prior treatment history. This might be using several different veterinary practices but submitting the history from only one practice (owners are now required to sign a declaration that they have submitted all of the horse’s treatment history to prevent this). Simply asking a vet not to mention conditions on a vetting certificate constitutes an attempt at insurance fraud. To someone prepared to commit fraud, it may feel that there’s no downsides as “it’s just a company”, but aside from the…

“THEY are freaks.” So says Richard Sheane describing the horses that will go on to be Badminton contenders. Richard, who is the mastermind behind Cooley, the leading Irish operation sourcing sports horses, spends his life searching and sifting – looking for the future stars. Examine the breeding of the horses in the Badminton start list and you can see what he means. Very few stallions come up more than once, and all shapes and sizes are on view in the collecting ring. Ex-racehorses, like Gemma Tattersall’s Arctic Soul, line up against the perfectly bred warmbloods such as Michael Jung’s La Biosthetique-Sam FBW. If there is no blueprint for the Badminton event horse, is it just a lottery? “Well, certain people are luckier than others,” says Sir Mark Todd, fourtime Badminton…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 IF you were asked to name five hunts in Britain without a railway line, dual carriageway, motorway or large town or city, you might struggle a bit. They do exist, however, and the West Percy in North Northumberland is one of them, hunting two days a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, in one of England’s most unpopulated areas. Anyone from further down the country who has hunted in and around housing and industrial estates, within earshot of motorways and mainline trains, would look enviously at this mixture of permanent pasture and hill ground. The West Percy country has just one A road to contend with and no railway lines. The lack of hazards, people and hustle and bustle is like much of rural Britain 20 or 30 years…

“THIS BODES WELL FOR IRISH SHOWJUMPING” THE Irish squad of Andrew Bourns (Sea TopBlue), Cian O’Connor (Cerruti Van Ter Hulst Z), Eoin McMahon (Chakra 9) and Max Wachman (Berlux Z, pictured below) beat 10 other teams, including fourth-placed Great Britain to win the CSIO4* Nations Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, USA. “When you see guys like Eoin, Max and Andrew and how well they’re able to get stuck in and do the job, it really bodes well for the future of Irish showjumping,” said Cian, who trains 18-year-old Max, who jumped one of five double clears. Great Britain, represented by Jessica Mendoza (Play), Sam Hutton (H&M Kirlo Van Den Bosrand), team debutant Matthew Boddy (Balotelli 5) and Ben Maher, who produced a double clear on Faltic HB,…

DIONNE and Steven Tiffers Holding’s lead-rein contender, Danwood Supernova (pictured), debuted with his new jockey Niamh Tiffers Holding, six, at BSPS Area 3A, winning the mini Heritage M&M championship in the process. The nine-year-old Welsh section A, by Lacy Delman, joined producers Mark Robert Reeves and Steven Hulston of the Cuddington Stud from the Emmerson show team, after a successful lead-rein career. “He is a real little showman and has that Welsh pony character that helps him stand out,” said Steven of the gelding, who finished at eighth at HOYS last year. Mark added: “I’ve always admired Supernova, so I was delighted when Dionne asked if we would have him on our yard.”…

“THE PERFECT FIT” ANNA DALRYMPLE scored a 70.59% inter I win at Beechwood EC, Essex, with Maxine Vainio’s Lusitano gelding Vagabond De Massa, on her first attempt at the level. “The breed was completely new to me, but he was the perfect fit at the right time,” said Anna, who rides for Sarah Millis and teamed up with “V” a year ago. QWINTON TAKES TWO, AGAIN WITH glue-on shoes, Qwinton is notching up the wins with Gracie Catling. Anke Hoeffler’s 14-year-old gelding, who suffered foot abscesses and laminitis last year, added to a novice double at Bury Farm, Bucks, last month with a high-scoring elementary double at Onley Grounds EC, Warks.…