Innholdsfortegnelse for 6-Oct-2022 i Horse & Hound

ONE of my favourite things about visiting top riders’ yards is catching a glimpse of their hero rides of yesteryear enjoying a well-earned retirement, mooching out on a hack or loving the sun on their backs as they graze with companions. These horses give their all in competition, just as leisure horses give their all to their amateur riders, and it is wonderful to see those that can retire happy and sound and have a good life doing so. Therefore, I particularly enjoyed Martha Terry's Access All Areas (feature, p28) with Richard Johnson this week. Here we see just one example of legends of the sport having the best of times after their competitive careers. In the case of ex-racehorses, we have tremendous, well-bred athletes, often with hearts of gold,…

EDUCATOR The William Haggas-trained three-year-old Deep Impact son was the first horse to run for The King as monarch. The colt, bred by The Queen, finished second at Salisbury on 29 September, ridden by Tom Marquand. HAWTINS DELICATO The 14-year-old, who won 2018 world team bronze and was part of the 2019 European side with Carl Hester before joining Fiona Bigwood, has moved to join British-based Irish dressage rider Fenella Quinn. EBANKING British world medal-winning showjumper Joe Stockdale has taken on Barbara Hester's eight-year-old stallion. He enjoyed young horse success with Adam Botham and stepped up to ranking classes. CHILLI MORNING Two of Chris and Lisa Stones’ Chilli Morning clones made their eventing debuts with double clears – Chilli Morning III and Alex Hua-Tian at Kelsall Hill unaffiliated, Chilli Morning…

The British Horse Society board has appointed Sally McCarthy as its new chair. Sally, who manages riding school and livery yard Aberdeen Riding Club, takes over from Tim Lord. Former FEI dressage committee chair Frank Kemperman has retired from his role as CHIO Aachen chairman after 29 years. He will remain on the show's supervisory board. Trainer Sir Mark Prescott, 74, saddled the Prix de L'Arc De Triomphe winner Alpinista, ridden by jockey Luke Morris, on 2 October. Sir Mark said it was the “best day of his racing life”. Dressage rider Dane Rawlins became Irish national champion for a second year in a row when he won the grand prix championship on 13-year-old gelding Espoire at Barnadown. The British Equine Veterinary Association's equine welfare award went to Charlie Thornycroft at…

▴ DROPPINGS An enterprising owner who spent a lot of time mixing picked poo with water, forming sludge into bricks and drying them, is reaping the rewards as she heats her home with poo bricks. We salute such forward thinking – and are now eyeing our own fields with pound signs in our eyes… ▴ NAMES The owner of an in-foal mare was pondering passport names for next year's arrival. “I think I'm going to have to call it either In The Nude or Badly,” she said. “Just for the entertainment of hearing future commentators say: ‘Now in the ring, Sarah Smith riding…’” Class. ▴ MORE NAMES A conversation that moved on to the best horse names ever resulted in one US rider having a horse called Foolish It. Sounds…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. CHALLENGING TIMES WITH regard to riding school licencing, riding schools are facing challenges never before faced and consequently are in dire straits. For example, we have come through the disruption of Covid and lockdowns, all contributing to financial hardship, and now we are faced with rising costs due to inflation. What's more, the difficulty in finding suitable horses is perhaps due to riding school riders purchasing horses during lockdown to amuse themselves. When it came to our recent inspection, it seemed overly complicated. The council officer had 45 pages of tick-box questions and the vet had 25 – the questions mostly the same as the council's. We'd also answered the same questions for the British Horse Society…

SHOWING ONLY IN HORSE & HOUND Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ OPINION I, LIKE the rest of the equestrian community, was deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her influence on the horse world has been so great and I personally have been so lucky to work closely with her by riding her home-bred horses for the past 20 years. She really was the most remarkable and knowledgeable horsewoman, something you might not realise unless you met her. She was so passionate about her horses as well as breeding, and to have been involved with The Queen, her home-breds and head groom Terry Pendry was an honour and a pleasure. We will all miss her greatly. SHOWS WILL DISAPPEAR THIS year it has been…

VISIT HORSE & HOUND'S VIRTUAL SHOPPING VILLAGE horseandhound.co.uk/directory/shopping MANE & TAIL ELIXIR BY HONEST HORSE This multipurpose, silicone-free serum can be used on wet and dry hair as a leave-in conditioner. It is designed to add shine, smooth fly-aways, help prevent breakage and assist plaiting. The bottle is made from recyclable aluminium, with refills also available. £19.95 for 250ml honestriders.co.uk TECHNICAL LEGGINGS BY MOCHARA Part of Mochara's new recycled collection, these leggings are made from technical materials that provide SPF40+ protection and are accredited by the Global Recycled Standard. Super-stretchy, with two large phone pockets, they are designed to take you from the yard to the gym and everywhere in between. Available in black, charcoal grey, slate grey or indigo blue. Sizes: XXS-XXL £45 mochara.co.uk EXCLUSIVE PUFFER COAT BY EQCOUTURE…

• ASK yourself what discipline you want to do with your horse and consider your own ability. Do you want something steadier or sharper? • Consider your height. Would you suit a compact or bigger-frame horse? • Do your research. View the horse's races, ask about his character and what the trainer thinks the horse will be suited to, and speak to the jockey and stable staff if you can. • Consider what you can offer the horse. Can you provide turnout and keep him in a regular routine? • Ask for help. Take advice from someone with experience in retraining racehorses, or have regular lessons with a coach who knows about racehorses.…

HUNTING has been key for Ann Butler's Summer Dancer, who was piloted to second in the five-year-olds by Dani Evans, who also rode the gelding's mother, two-star winning mare Marstonpark Lupina. “It's special and the owners have been long-term supporters. We hunted him a lot in the winter,” said Dani. “He's been out with the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale, Portman and Mendip, He's been hunted properly and I think that was the making of him. It's transformed him into the horse he is now.” I OWE IT TO……

BARELY a West Country event goes by without Jane Rogers’ name featuring in the line-up, and at Launceston (X) the freelance instructor capped a successful run with a double BE100 win with her two Corrieview-prefixed geidings, Corrieview Merlin Magic and Corrieview Oscar. The stablemates, who are unrelated, are being aimed at Bicton BE100 three-day event and Jane will be hoping to go one better than her two second places there last year. “They have both been really consistent this season. Magic has quite a lot of pony in him, so he's fantastic to ride across country, while Oscar's more forward going and awesome over a hedge,” she said. “But both desperately want to please you, which is half the battle in this game.”…

West Wilts EC, Wiltshire JOANNA POTTERTON scored a 71-08% medium win with Godington Oriel, the nine-yearold Trakehner mare she rides for Maggie Abbott. “We don't compete much as both Maggie and I are knocking on,” said Joanna, 78, who is planning an advanced medium debut for “Jazz”. “Everything is done in a fun way; we're just enjoying it. She's a nice, straightforward mare to work with,” she added. “Her tempi twos are there and her canter pirouettes are coming along. I'd like to think I'd manage one PSG with her, at least.” BACK IN ACTION KATHARINE LEWIS made a successful start with SLS Maurits, the five-year-old Dutch harness horse she co-owns with Di Hayes, to win the novice freestyle. Katharine returned to competition this year following a serious riding accident.…

ANYONE lucky enough to have read Major Guy Paget's biography of Frank Freeman will recall the touching final paragraphs. While describing the last moments of the career of one of foxhunting's finest exponents, the author also depicts Queen Elizabeth II's first experience of the sport. In 1931, the Duke of York who was to become King George VI five years later – expressed a desire that his young daughter should see the “greatest of all huntsmen” on her first outing behind hounds. And thus, on 4 April that year, the Pytchley arranged a bye-day, with the royal party set to join as hounds were supposedly hacking home. At around 4pm, Freeman put his famous bitches into Broughton Covert where they quickly found and, in the spine-tingling style that hunting has…

NEWS Insider Edited by Eleanor Jones Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @jones_eleanor_ BRITISH and European reiners have come out in force against the “horrifying” decision to allow horses to compete on a sedative in the US. H&H reported on the recently approved changes made by the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) to its animal welfare and medications policy to allow romifidine to be given to horses 30 minutes before a competition (news, 22 September). The move was described as “as outrageous as it is wrong” by World Horse Welfare, and reiners outside the US have also spoken in the strongest possible terms against the change. British Reining chair Francesca Sternberg told H&H the European NRHA subsidiary has its own rules “and specifically our own medication policy”,…

DENISE AYLMER-AYLMORE THE respected and passionate horsewoman, trainer and judge died on 11 August, aged 98. Born in Richmond-upon-Thames on 13 August 1924, Ms Aylmer-Aylmore came from a non-equestrian family, but was drawn to horses from a young age. She attended Stonar School in Wiltshire and during World War II helped run the school's stables. After she left school, she worked on a farm in Devon, then went on to work at the Melton Mowbray remount depot, looking after the horses and mules who had served in the war. Later, Ms Aylmer-Aylmore worked for Enid Williamson of the Dartmoor Pony Society, the late Ponies of Britain founder Glenda Spooner, then British Horse Society fellow Marie Stokes at her riding school in Tadworth, Surrey. She gained her teaching qualifications and in…

The Horse & Hound Podcast H&H discusses the latest news on The Horse & Hound Podcast: horseandhound.co.uk/podcast WELFARE issues identified for horses during long-distance transport to slaughter build an “irrefutable case for change” – as it is hoped recommendations will pave the way for change to EU law. The European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to review the welfare of livestock in transport, ahead of a possible update to EU laws. EFSA published its findings, in which the equine report identified 13 “welfare consequences” as “highly relevant” for welfare during transport. These included handling stress, restriction of movement and injuries – and it was found horses may experience associated fear, pain, discomfort or fatigue. EFSA stated that to reduce the impact on welfare, greater space, lower temperatures…

▾ PROTESTS Some are slightly confused by the protest against the FEI proposal to make spurs and double bridles optional. Surely the word “optional” means you can choose to use them, or not, and everyone's a winner… no? ▾ A CHEEKY TIPPLE Overheard at the yard, a young trainee instructor talking to some parents about their ages, and the fact the coach had not been born until late 2004. “What, you're not old enough to drink and you do this job?” asked the stunned parent. A fair point. ▾ COMMENTS It's always worth revisiting the “most entertaining dressage judges’ comments ever” topic. Strong contenders for this week's award are “exuberant”, next to a nice healthy two and, in the final comments section, a heartfelt “Thank you for staying on.” We've…

EVENTING ONLY IN HORSE & HOUND Edited by Pippa Roome pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle OPINION YOUTH has been a big feature of the autumn season, with Tom Jackson, 29, second at Burghley and Yasmin Ingham, 25, landing world individual gold. There was talk earlier this year about under-qualified combinations heading to five-stars and potentially that contributed to the small Burghley field of just 52 – if people are considering whether they are really ready before entering, that's no bad thing. Piggy March wrote last week that you can have a great day's sport with a smaller start list (opinion, 29 September). I agree, though I do wonder if spectators would still prefer to have four-minute cross-country starting intervals, rather than the five minutes used at Burghley. It can be a long wait between…

RETRAINED RACEHORSES SPECIAL IT's not everyone who gets to partner a Gold Cup winner on the hunting field. But, as the four-time champion jockey Richard Johnson found out, some racehorses never lose their touch. “I took Looks Like Trouble hunting one Christmas Eve, because there wasn't any racing on Christmas Day,” says Richard, whose hunting outings were limited before his retirement last year. “There's a line called the railway line, and he just got quicker and braver the further he went – I did wonder if we'd ever be able to pull up. He was such an exuberant jumper, so bold, he gave everything six inches.” Richard's 2000 Gold Cup-winning partner came to the Johnsons’ Twyford Stud when the horse retired in 2003, and has lived the life of Riley ever…

Pony Blue Chip qualifier show, Bury Farm, Buckinghamshire WITH just a few months left of his pony career, Alfie Miles brought his mare, Strawberry Rojo, out for a fun trip round the Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA handicap, storming to an almost seven-second win. “I took a bit of a shortcut,” said Alfie. “I did a turn inside to a double and a turn after the double into an oxer of planks. She loves a jump-off and is careful, so you can take those risks.” “I didn't think she'd win. I'll never make a deal with my daughter again” NATALIE PARRY This first pony Blue Chip qualifier of the season was a good chance for riders to give their ponies a trip indoors before HOYS. Thomas Bradburne brought Claire Crossmans…

SHOWING NATIVE BREED SHOW ROUNDUP July-August 2022 Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ Exmoor Exmoor Pony Society breed show, Exford Showground, Somerset THE dream team of Elizabeth Etchells and her mother Mary Rose Bryant's stallion Warrenmere Woodcock (Woody) made recorded history by securing both in-hand and ridden supreme titles, as well as the overall supreme of show crown. It is believed that Woody is the first pony in the society's 101-year history to win both accolades at the breed show in the same year. The 14-year-old was bred on the RSPB conservation grazing site at Minsmere in Suffolk and has had a prolific career under saddle with Elizabeth, appearing at the Royal International and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). A week before the 2022 breed show, he booked a…

TO celebrate 100 years of the Fell Pony Society, events and initiatives were held throughout 2022. These included the “ride 100 miles with a Fell” challenge, held throughout the year both in the UK and overseas, with centenary branded merchandise, displays, an educational video on conformation and type, and a parade of 40 Fell ponies led by Lady Louise Windsor at Royal Windsor. A purple silk headscarf with black pony heads and white grass of Parnassus flowers, latterly available as a limited edition purchase, was presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor as a personal gift. Stud visits were also held alongside events and talks at the Old Courthouse in Shap, Cumbria. “We hoped to enable everyone with a connection to the breed to celebrate 100 years of…

WE exist in the same part of England. In the same county. But as hunts go, we couldn't be more different. The Tynedale are a premiership outfit with a large supportbase. Adam often says it is one of the best hunt countries in Britain. Meanwhile we are chilling in a different league, one for the woolly hill types. I'm not running our lot down. We are extremely lucky with what we have here, but if the sport for you is big fields, cut-and-thrust and fences aplenty, you are probably better off with our friends in the south. ADAM was there with the hounds last week thanks to an invitation from their joint-master and huntsman. It was an afternoon meet so we set out after lunch, winding our way out into…

DRESSAGE ONLY IN HORSE & HOUND Edited by Polly Bryan polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 OPINION I RECENTLY had a “big” birthday. I have always taken a robust view when it comes to birthdays; after all, the alternative is not an attractive prospect. Riding can be a career with great longevity if your body holds up. There were 40 years of age difference between Lottie Fry and Richard Davison, both members of the British team at the dressage World Championships in August. Lottie's individual gold medals at the senior World Championships, followed by winning the seven-year-old World Championship shortly afterwards, were inspiring for everyone. We were all young and fearless once. I've long joked that young horses are for riders in “Club 18-30”. I remember a teenage Jezz Palmer backing a young horse that…

ELMSWELL PARK STUD Newmarket, Suffolk For you: a Grade II-listed Georgian dwelling and private stud farm, with three additional three-bed cottages. The main house has six generous bedrooms and is set in a garden with lawns, mature trees, tennis court and croquet lawn. For the horses: a range of buildings including 40 boxes, with 91 of the property's 120 acres laid out to paddocks of varying sizes. £5m-£5.75m (available in lots) Savills, 01473 234822, savills.com SADBERGE HALL Middleton St George, Co Durham For you: a splendid Grade II-listed six-bed mansion in the Queen Anne style set in landscaped gardens within glorious countryside. This Victorian hall boasts a luxurious leisure suite with indoor pool, spa and sauna, plus snooker and games room, as well as an outdoor tennis court. There is…

EX-RACEHORSES I T'S no secret that racehorses can flourish in other disciplines when they retire from the track. The eventing circuit has seen horses such as Parklane Hawk, Ready Teddy and Arctic Soul reach the highest levels, to name just a few. Showjumper David Broome rode the one-time American racehorse Philco to team gold at the 1978 World Championships. “Probably the only downfall in an ei-racer is that they find it that little bit harder to collect” RIA SMULOVIC In dressage, former Royal Ascot runner Quadrille has paved the way, earning points at inter I level. Racehorses have also shone in the show ring, with the likes of top chaser Cue Card and the late Queens Barbers Shop putting ex-racehorses on the map. Of course, eyes have more recently turned…

EVENTING OSBERTON 28 September-2 October Edited by Pippa Roeme pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle Osberton International and Young Horse Championships, supported by The Howden Way, Nottinghamshire BURGHLEY winner Piggy March showed the strength in depth to her firepower with a one-two in The Howden Way seven-year-old championship. She headed into the final phase holding provisional first and second place with Dassett Arthalent and Brookfield Future News respectively. Her clear round on Brookfield Future News jumping out of order, meant Piggy had the title in the bag from mid-afternoon. The question was with which horse. Star pupil “Little Arthur” answered that, keeping a clean sheet over the coloured poles to secure his fifth international win. “They are lovely horses, very different types, but they love their job and are so exciting for the future,”…