Innholdsfortegnelse for 8-Dec-2022 i Horse & Hound

WHAT a year it has been for British horse sport. Attending the Horse & Hound Awards in partnership with NAF last week, you couldn’t help but be inspired, motivated and moved by the incredible individuals on the shortlists, and all that they stand for and have achieved. There was barely a dry eye when Nicola Wilson received a standing ovation as she walked on stage to collect the HorseDialog Inspiration of the Year Award. All have been inspired by Nicola’s positivity throughout her stellar career. No doubt her influence will continue as she now regroups to start her next venture setting up a training centre of excellence. Carltonlima Emma, Her late Majesty The Queen’s beloved hack, was a popular winner of the Agria Horse of a Lifetime category, the public…

BIG STAR The Widdowsons’ and Oliver Robertson’s double Olympic gold medal winner, with Nick Skelton, will stand at Euro Horse in Belgium next season. This is to give European breeders access owing to Brexit hindrances. MONTY'S PASS The 2003 Grand National winner, trained by Jimmy Mangan for the Dee Racing Syndicate and ridden by Barry Geraghty, has died aged 29. He enjoyed retirement at the Mangan family’s farm. ALCOHOL FREE The four-year-old Group One-winning filly, trained by Andrew Balding for Jeff Smith, sold for 5.4m guineas at Tattersalls to bloodstock agent Michael Donohoe, of BBA Ireland, for a partnership in Australia.…

“HORSES will die” is the warning from campaigners, in response to the World Endurance Championships’ move to the UAE. The event had been to run in Verona, Italy, in October but the FEI pulled the plug as horse and rider safety “could not be guaranteed” (news, 15 September). The FEI reopened bidding and six venues were in the mix, including Samorin, Slovakia, and Pisa, Italy, both of which have previously hosted the event. It will run at Boudheib International Endurance Village (BIEV), in February. The FEI said “the safety and security of human and equine athletes is the FEI's top priority”, and a spokesman added: “Under the guidance and support of the late former deputy UAE prime minister HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Boudheib protocol initiative…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 OPINION EVENTS such as the World Dressage Championships open up our sport to the world. In my recent interview on The Horse & Hound Podcast, I touched on my experience in the commentary box in Herning. I want to reiterate my point, which was that those people who might get judgmental, nitpicky and overly critical when watching such events would do well to remember that when you have a field of 93 starters, as in Herning, not everyone is going to be gold-medal standard. "I want to reiterate, not everyone is going to be gold-medal standard" Riders starting out at that championship level may be training and competing their first horse at the top level, or riding schoolmasters capable of giving experience but not shining, so their “80%”…

A CLUB foot is a relatively uncommon problem in young foals, which develops during the first few months of life. A club foot occurs because of a flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint (also known as the coffin joint). In a normal foal, when viewed side on, the front of the hoof should roughly align with the pastern. When a flexural deformity is present, the hoof wall is more upright than the pastern. As the condition becomes more severe, the heels can come up off the ground. The heels do not wear normally and can become very long, masking the severity of the condition because they still appear close to the ground. Because foals grow rapidly after birth, a club foot can develop and progress in severity quickly, so…

I graduated from Cirencester in 2010, having done a degree in Rural Land Management, and started working at Butler Sherborn’s Cirencester office the same year. After two years, I took my exams to become a chartered surveyor and after a couple more years, I moved into our agency team and developed my specialisation in farm and equestrian property. Butler Sherborn allows me a great deal of flexibility. During the eventing season, I ride one or two before work. When I get home, I am back in the saddle and the number I ride depends on who is running at the next event. My work is varied, so I can be doing anything from pitching for the sale of properties, handling current sales, landlord and tenant negotiations, formal valuations of equestrian property…

SMASHING RECORDS THERE’S something in the air in London! Whether it’s Christmas cheer or combinations rising to the unique atmosphere, the LIHS has been home to the last three world record dressage scores. Edward Gal and the mighty Totilas broke their own world record in an unforgettable evening at Olympia in 2009, with 92.3%, and they held that record for four years before Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro took over the mantle with 93.97%. Just one year later, Charlotte and Valegro broke their own world record, again at Olympia, with a whopping 94.3%. That record still stands today.…

Horse & Hound Awards 2022: celebrating the stars of equestrianism in partnership with SOME 200 of the equestrian world’s great and good gathered at a glittering party at Cheltenham Racecourse on 30 November for a celebration of this year’s sport. This was a bumper season after two years of stop-start competition. The eventers held sway. Burghley winner Piggy March picked up a brace of prizes with both Moment and Horse of the Year for her outstanding efforts with Vanir Kamira. And Nicola Wilson walked up to the stage to rapturous applause to collect the Inspiration award. The H&H Lifetime Achievement award went to showjumper David Broome, who attended five Olympics in his exceptional career and has remained a key player in the sport since retiring from competition. “I wouldn’t like to…

Pivo LIBBY SEED, 25, has proved it’s still possible to event at the highest level alongside a fulltime job. Already with Burghley, Pau and Luhmühlen five-stars under her belt, Libby made her Badminton debut this spring. Riding her mare, Heartbreaker Star Quality, she posted a double clear to finish in the top 30. “Badminton has always been a massive dream, so to get there was amazing,” says Libby, who works five days a week in the medical devices industry. “It’s hard fitting horses around my job. I spend a lot of time in hospitals, travelling around the country. I can only do it because my mum is amazing. I’m so incredibly lucky to be supported by my parents. There is no way I could compete without them.” Libby’s achievement is…

Equipe Horse & Hound Awards 2022: celebrating the stars of equestrianism in partnership with PIGGY MARCH heralded her Burghley win on Vanir Kamira as not just the moment of the year, but “the moment of my life, my whole career”. This was the pair’s second five-star victory, having taken Badminton in 2019, and the mare even seems to be improving at the age of 17. “What a special little mare,” said Piggy. “It’s her personality, her heart, her will to do the job for you, that’s what stands her apart from any other horse I’ve ever had, and makes me so proud.” They scored a personal best dressage of 22.6, finished just a second outside the cross-country time and had one rail down. But it was their immaculate cross-country performance…

NAF Five Star PROFEET THE late Brendan Murray received a standing ovation for this award, proving the breadth and depth of the lives he touched. A veteran of 26 years as the British eventing team’s championship farrier as well as 22 years with the King’s Troop, Brendan passed away after a short illness in September. His “bestie” Haydn Price, who collected the award (pictured with presenter Laura Collett), said: “We spent 16 years together and were known as the ‘Rapid Response’ team. I was privileged to have him as a mentor, who was not only an incredible human being, but an unbelieveable team member. Brendan’s life-partner Louise added: “On behalf of myself and Brendans daughters Melissa and Hannah, we are immensely proud of this award. Brendan was truly dedicated to…

Agria Horse & Hound Awards 2022: celebrating the stars of equestrianism in partnership with EVEN for those who had remained dryeyed throughout the coverage of The Queen’s funeral in September, the floodgates opened on seeing The Queens hack, Carltonlima Emma, waiting faithfully beside stud manager Terry Pendry for the cortége to arrive at Windsor. Fell pony Emma was The Queen’s hack for 15 years, taking their last ride together in July. Prior to that, producer Lizzie Briant rode her in the show ring, including at Olympia and Horse of the Year Show. “I persuaded Terry to buy her as a broodmare, and we managed to buy her in foal,” said Lizzie (pictured, with Agria’s CEO Vicki Wentworth), who collected the award on behalf of Terry and his team. “As she…

Forest Edge, Norfolk COLIN and Georgia Keeling aimed three of their horses at Blue Chip qualification and neatly ticked off the boxes as they claimed first and third in the Blue Chip Karma, and second and fifth in the Blue Chip Dynamic B&C. Colin and the eight-year-old former eventer Jimmy Choo II topped the Karma with a comfortable 4.45sec in hand, while Colin’s wife Georgia collected third with Dynamo Van Broekhoven WF Z, both owned by Samantha Wilson. “We’ve had Jimmy for about a year and he evented until he was six,” Colin said. “Originally, he was sent for my wife to do a bit with as she events, but we decided he was better suited to showjumping, and he recently stepped up to 1.30ms. We went team chasing last…

HIGHLIGHTS 21-27 November polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 Burrows Court, Glos A HORSE bred by Charlotte Dujardin is finally showing his talent in the dressage arena. Under owner Andrew Bradley, 12-year-old DJ Attitude headed the inter I with a whopping 75.44%. “We’ve had him since he was two,” said Andrew of the Ampere son. “Charlotte wanted him to go to someone who could give him the time he needed, and we were lucky enough to get him. He’s quite sharp and quirky, but is finally starting to relax and get the results we know he’s capable of.” “He’s quite sharp and quirky, but is finally starting to relax and get the results he’s capable of” ANDREW BRADLEY ON DJ ATTITUDE Andrew is aiming for inter II next, and hopefully later next year will take…

IT is no coincidence that more people are hunting ex-racehorses this season, or certainly around here they are. Horse prices have stayed close to post-Covid levels and people are looking out for economical options. "If 12 grand is what you have to pay for a hunter, I won’t be doing this for long,” says Adam, who is also looking out for a horse. Whether hunters are making the prices people are asking is another matter but if, like me, you are in a time warp thinking that they cost between £3,000 and £5,000, these high numbers are frightening. Ex-racehorses can be a cheaper option - not free anymore, but affordable if you are happy to put in the work. Nor are they all mad. A friend has a new one…

Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ THOUSANDS of nominations were received, with tens of thousands of votes counted - and the winners of the 2022 Horse & Hound Awards, in partnership with NAF, have been revealed. The equine and human heroes, in 12 categories voted for by H&H readers and the lifetime achievement award decided upon by the H&H team, were announced on 30 November at Cheltenham racecourse. “Huge congratulations to all of our very worthy winners on what was an incredibly inspiring and emotional night in Cheltenham,” said H&H editor-in-chief Sarah Jenkins. “These awards never fail to remind us what incredible people make up the horse world and keep it turning. The work ethic possessed by our winners, and all our shortlisted individuals, is…

FIVE BOYS The horse who started the career of Olympic eventer Kitty King has been put down, aged 30. He was outstanding in age-restricted classes and came seventh at Badminton on horse and rider’s five-star debut. CASTRA Steph Fitt’s six-year-old mare took the Coloured Horse & Pony Society horse or pony of the year title. Produced by Elliee Stunt and ridden by Rhianon Loader, Castra also came second at HOYS this year. PENCOS CROWN JEWEL Annie Makin and Kate James have won £15,000 for their 13-year-old mare’s achievements, with Ros Canter, in winning the Event Horse Owners Association members’ league, for fourstar level consistency.…

Young British dressage rider Annabella Pidgley and Gio won the grand prix special at CDI Kronenberg, their first overseas international, on 3 December, scoring 75.09%. Dressage judge, coach and former British team rider David Hunt has been appointed president of British Dressage (BD). A BD spokesman said there was “no better person” for the role. Jockey Bryony Frost is recovering after breaking her collarbone in a fall with Sir Psycho at Bangor on 26 November. It is hoped she will be fit for the Boxing Day King George VI Chase. Stunt rider Ben Atkinson married fellow rider Georgie Jackson on 19 November. Ben, who proposed at the Great Yorkshire, said the wedding was “magical and perfect in every single way”. Godolphin's Charlie Appleby has won a second consecutive Flat trainers’ championship. The period runs to…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald OPINION IT seems that injuries to horses are more common today than they were three or four decades ago - which is bizarre when I think about how many rounds we used to jump back then. As for the going… We were always pleased when a show watered the ground, because many didn’t; and we also jumped on soft to heavy footing. At what used to be England’s best show, the four-day Royal, for each main-ring class, they’d take the top 24 from a preliminary ring, where 60 to 80 horses had jumped except the last day’s national championship, which was over three rounds. It was possible, therefore, to jump 13 rounds over four days - and the mindset of all riders then was not to give horses…

A THREE-month-old colt foal developed a club foot very quickly. Initially, toe extensions were fitted to the feet to try to correct the deformity by leveraging the foot flat. However, this was unsuccessful, so the foal was referred for surgery. The left fore foot had a severe flexural deformity with the front of the hoof wall past the vertical, and there was a slightly less severe deformity in the right front foot. Surgical options were discussed with the owner. For deformities where the hoof wall is past vertical, a check ligament desmotomy may not be sufficient to correct the problem, and cutting the main tendon (DDFT) can be necessary. However, this makes future athletic use unlikely, so we decided to try the check ligament desmotomy (the check ligament is the…

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Bloomfields VANIR KAMIRA has captured hearts with her tenacity across country. Her owner Trevor Dickens (pictured with rider Piggy March and Bloomfields’ Helen Moody) said: “You won't see another horse like her. “I bought her as an unbacked three-year-old and chose her above hundreds of other horses,” Trevor said. “We had a lot of criteria - movement, jump, blood, breeding and conformation - and she’d score a 10 in all. What we didn’t realise we’d get for free is what’s in between the ears. And that’s what makes her so brilliant. “I said to my son when she was four, ‘One day she'll be the best horse in the world.' He’s ridden at five-star, but he didn’t rate her at all. And although Piggy started her off at novice, she…

Tommy Hilfiger Equestrian “When I go onto the yard and it’s freezing cold and tipping it down with rain, I do wonder if cricket might have been a better option, but I think I made the right decision to stick with showjumping,” grinned Joe Stockdale, on collecting his prize. Joe’s season has been seriously impressive. He capped it by taking home team bronze at the World Championships aboard Equine America Cacharel, the second successive year he has been part of Team GB. Joe recalled the beginning of the week. “When I walked out on the first day, I was a bit terrified,” said Joe, who is following in the footsteps of his late father, legendary international showjumper Tim Stockdale, who passed away in 2018. “The first track was the speed…

H&H Podcast ACCESS champions Sarah Bucks and Phil Wadey’s tireless work in preserving offroad riding routes was recognised. It is the second year running that British Horse Society (BHS) access champions have won the award, with Adrian Bigg taking last year's accolade. Sarah and Phil have submitted more than 800 definitive map modification orders. They have helped hundreds of others take up the cause through training and their book, Rights of Way, Restoring the Record. Sarah said: “The BHS does good training, and The Ramblers do it, too,” said Sarah. “The history is all there, it’s quite easy to pick it up now. You make an application, which won’t be processed for decades - but it preserves the routes for perpetuity, so our greatgrandchildren can use them.” Phil, who traces…

HorseDialog THE audience rose to their feet to cheer Nicola Wilson, who took the HorseDialog Inspiration of the Year title. The reigning eventing European champion walked onto the stage, with her husband Alastair (pictured), nearly seven months after she was seriously injured in a fall at Badminton. Nicola spent more than four months in hospital. This week, she shared a video of her walking at home. After walking on stage to a storm of applause, she said: “Everyone in this room - and the other people nominated are massive inspirations. But everyone who’s supported me through the past few months has been inspirational. The messages of support from people - and of course, this guy here [Alastair] have been phenomenal.” Compére John Kyle asked Nicola about her plans to become…

Eventing ARCTIC SOUL, 19 “Spike” was a former racehorse who switched to eventing and became a superstar, finishing third at both Badminton and Burghley, and winning a world team gold medal for Gemma Stevens (née Tattersall). The Luso-sired thoroughbred was one of the most exceptional cross-country horses of recent times, also winning the British open and Event Rider Masters at Gatcombe Horse Trials in 2017. "Our partnership was something I might never have again - we just understood each other. I always knew what he wanted and he always knew how to look after me,” said Gemma. PARKLANE HAWK, 22 A former racehorse who won Burghley in 2011 and Kentucky in 2012, ridden by William Fox-Pitt. “Parker” raced in New Zealand from the age of two to seven, coming to…

OPINION A COUPLE of weeks ago, local chairmen, masters and huntsmen attended a regional meeting set up by the newly formed British Hound Sports Association (BHSA). I unfortunately had to confine myself to barracks, as I hadn’t been able to hold anything down for the previous 24 hours, but our chairman and senior master were able to go and I hear there was a very welcome, good turnout. To set up a completely new governing body that is inclusive to the whole of the hunting community is not a task I would like to have taken on. Given that this mammoth mission has been carried out swiftly, with due diligence and by a group made up almost entirely of volunteers with the simple mindset of trying to secure hunting for…

Fairyhouse, Co Meath HONEYSUCKLE, the two-time Champion Hurdler, suffered her first defeat in 17 starts under Rules when she finished only third in the Bar One Racing Hattons Grace Hurdle, the traditional starting point to her season and a race she has won three times in the past. All looked to be going to plan when she hit the front going to the second-last. But between the last two, she had no answers for Gordon Elliott’s 20/1 winner Teahupoo, a horse she had beaten 25 lengths and 33 lengths in their two previous meetings, and the Willie Mullins-trained stayer Klassical Dream who beat her a neck and 2½ lengths. Trainer Henry de Bromhead was not unduly worried. “It was disappointing she got beat for sure,” he said, “but she ran…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. A STEP FORWARD FURTHER to your story about British Riding Clubs allowing dark breeches in competition (news, 1 December), I am absolutely in favour of this. I often have to rethink my calendar so as not to enter any competitions during my period, as I often suffer embarrassing leakage despite wearing significant protection two pairs of pants and leggings underneath competition clothes, to try to stop any embarrassing moments. This is a relief for all female riders and a step forward for the sport by allowing the option. Jessica Lowe Stafford, Staffs "I often have to rethink my competition calendar" JESSICA LOWE NOT A FAN I WON’T be wearing dark jods to compete - in my opinion,…

KAT PICKERING’S thoroughbred Morocho, whom she first met in Dubai as a three-and-a-half-year-old, was born with a mild club foot. Any treatment he may or may not have received at birth is unknown to Kat. Now nine, he works with selected riders in a school, and does occasional stunt work with Kat; the pair also take part in horsemanship displays. He is managed carefully. “Morocho’s club foot was very small,” says Kat. “He didn’t have shoes on, and has never had back shoes. He does now wear front shoes to protect against weather-induced cracks, but had no remedial shoeing until he was six. He now wears a pad on the opposite foot to support that tendon. At six he went through a phase of lameness with work, during which time…

THURSDAY, 15 DECEMBER • The Voltaire Design under-25 British championship - young showjumpers go head to head in a two-round competition. • Extreme driving - the world’s leading international drivers take their teams of four horses around a course of obstacles at breakneck speeds. • The LeMieux Puissance - watch your favourite riders and their best steeds take on the big red wall. FRIDAY, 16 DECEMBER • Services Jumping Championship riders from the Royal Air Force, Army and Navy do battle. • The Champagne-Taittinger Ivy Stakes - a prestigious international showjumping class with a jump-off. • The FEI Dressage World Cup (freestyle to music) supported by Horse & Hound - top international riders go head to head. Each combination performs a freestyle dressage test to music, incorporating a selection of…

Pikeur Horse & Hound Awards 2022: celebrating the stars of equestrianism in partnership with LAURA COLLETT admitted she was “totally shocked” to win this title against strong opposition from Britain’s young pair of new world champions, Yasmin Ingham and Lottie Fry, and Hickstead Derby winner Shane Breen. “A huge thank you to everyone who took the time not only to nominate me, but also those of you who voted for me,” said the Tokyo Olympics eventing team gold medallist. “The calibre of nominees was humbling throughout the night, and I was delighted to be able to celebrate with members of my team - Tilly Hughes, last year’s Absorbine Groom of the Year, and Polly Holbrook, a finalist in this year’s Groom of the Year award.” Laura achieved the greatest success of…

Equo A13.2hh Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) pony beat off a European champion and a showing star to stand pony of the year. The chestnut, who died earlier this year at the age of 29, was a stalwart of the South Bucks RDA and helped launch the careers of para-dressage champions such as Natasha Baker and Ricky Balshaw. Theresa Drake, of the South Bucks RDA, who collected the award, said: “Forester was one of those ponies who understood exactly what was required. He would look round and check if the rider needed extra help. If they did, he’d allow everyone to help them. But if anyone tried to help a rider who didn’t need it, they were pushed markedly out of the way. He had a brilliant attitude and…

Absorbine Horse & Hound Awards 2022: celebrating the stars of equestrianism in partnership with THE year 2022 started out as normal for Ruth Asquith, who has been head groom to Nicola Wilson since March 2016. But everything changed when Nicola suffered serious injuries in a fall at Badminton Horse Trials in the spring, meaning she was forced to retire from eventing and riding with immediate effect. Life at Nicola’s Yorkshire yard looks different now, with her top horses moved to be campaigned by other riders and with Nicola recently announcing that she will use her facilities to help train others. “Obviously, the great side of eventing is to go to lots of wonderful events, but even when things went wrong, I have the most incredible role model anyone could have,” said…

Baileys Horse Feeds NOMINATED by her clients for her “outstanding care and attention to detail” in addition to her “uplifting and inspiring personality”, Cumbrian-based vet Emily Willoughby of EW Equine Vets picked up the Baileys Horse Feeds Vet of the Year award. “The day I got the phone call to say that I’d been nominated and shortlisted for this award, I was busy at work, getting on with the daily grind, so it came as a total surprise,” Emily said. “I've got some lovely clients, obviously, and being nominated for this makes everything so worthwhile.” Emily goes above and beyond in her work. While her profession is primarily about helping the equine clients, which is extremely rewarding, she explained that much of the satisfaction actually comes from being able to…

Support for our sport PUBLIC approval and acceptance of the involvement of horses in sport is vital for riding and equestrianism to continue in future, and more and more equestrian bodies are taking action to ensure this. In March, The Showing Council hosted a webinar titled, “Will we be riding in 20 years’ time?” Experts discussed the impact of the digital world sharing negative opinions and images, and the fact “an increasing proportion of Western media believe horses shouldn’t be ridden at all”. It was stressed that the key is not only ensuring horse welfare is the top priority, but that this is communicated to the public. "Equestrian bodies are taking action to ensure horse sport is supported” In June, World Horse Welfare published the results of a study into…

Northallerton EC, North Yorks SARAH FARRAND'S eight-yearold KWPN gelding Jevgeni Van De Falieberg has put his rocky start behind him, and is repaying his owner for her patience by claiming numerous victories. Sarah, who took on the gelding 18 months ago, said: “He’d been passed from pillar to post - the longest home he had was six months - and he had a reputation for being bolshy and tricky to load,” said Sarah. “Reading between the lines, he just needed time and a one-to-one home, so that’s what I’ve given him, along with lots of groundwork to iron out his thug-like behaviour.” The pair’s bond has grown and they pulled off two strong performances to land both prelims, one with plus-70%. “We’ve turned a corner, and he’s turning into a…