Innholdsfortegnelse for 20-Apr-2023 i Horse & Hound

WHAT an emotional feeling and huge accomplishment for all the connections of Grand National winner Corach Rambler – a “bargain” at £17,000, bought into by some in the syndicate as a “starter horse” and now well on his way to becoming one of the all-time greats (p42). Questions were raised following the event, reviews are rightly pending, and such a protest must never again be allowed to impact horses in the way we saw at the start of Saturday's race. Last year's Badminton winner Laura Collett had a perfect preparation for this year's event with a win at Burnham Market (p56) on her second Badminton entry, Dacapo – London 52 having suffered a slight overreach and giving this weekend a miss. Do read Pippa Roome's predictions for Kentucky and Badminton…

UPSILON Tom Carlile's stallion has died aged 15. The double Barbury and young horse world silver winner was nursed back to health from illness in 2019. His progeny are excelling. ROSEBERRY FINAL EDITION Kirsty Andrews’ 2021 HOYS supreme pony has made a winning return after injury to stand show pony champion and qualify for Hickstead. COOLEY LANDS Kate Walls’ “horse of a lifetime” has retired aged 15. With Chris Burton he was third at Badminton, won the Blenheim young horse class and competed at the 2018 worlds.…

▼ ROLLING Talking of spring, we're thinking of a sweepstake on the annual six-minute window for rolling, during which fields go from bog to concrete. Our money's on 22 April, 5.42pm. ▼ SCAMMERS This week's award goes to the seller of a yearling – that's a seven-year-old yearling just to be clear – who's palomino (never seen a palomino that colour) and you can crack a whip by him. And don't worry! The deposit is fully refundable! ▼ MORE SCAMMERS A close second this week goes to he who is selling horses from his native Liverpool. The mountains in the background of his horses’ picture must of course be the Rocky Merseysides……

EVENTING ONLY IN HORSE & HOUND Edited by Pippa Roome pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle OPINION BADMINTON will have a different feel this year with the Coronation also taking place over the weekend and consequently the change of dates to run dressage on Friday and Saturday, cross-country on Sunday and showjumping on Monday. The event ran to this timetable over the 2010 and 2011 bank holiday weekends, driven by a BBC TV deal to guarantee coverage. This schedule always adds an extra dimension to our coverage at H&H, because we still have to put the magazine to press on Monday despite the event not finishing until that day. The field is a little smaller than usual, at least in part due to the tightening of the qualifications for five-star. As such, there is no…

PRIESTWOOD FARM Kedleston, Derbyshire For you: a former farmhouse with six bedrooms, dating back to the 1800s. There is also an integral one-bed flat and a two-bed detached cottage. It is situated in an attractive rural position on the edge of the Peak District National Park, yet has excellent commuter links. For the horses: an L-shaped brick-built stable range with eight boxes, tack room and internal feed store. There is a 25x40m sand and rubber manège with floodlights and surrounded by a grass jumping lane. Set in 22.39 acres. £2.5m Fisher German, 01530 410840, fishergerman.co.uk THE PADDOCK Horse Race Lane, Bristol, Somerset For you: an 18th-century home combining modern convenience with period charm. The property has five bedrooms and a luxurious kitchen opening out onto a south-west-facing terrace and stunning…

● George Stevens is the winning-most jockey in Grand National history with five successes between 1856 and 1870. ● With the retirement of jockey Davy Russell, Derek Fox is now the only current jockey to have ridden more than one winner. Several previous jockeys, including Carl Llewellyn, Ruby Walsh and Leighton Aspell, have the honour of winning more than once. ● Trainer Lucinda Russell now has two wins to her name, but she has yet to catch Ginger McCain and Fred Rimell, the most successful trainers in the race with four wins apiece. ● Corach Rambler brings the number of Scotlandtrained winners to three. It started with Rubstic in 1979, followed by One For Arthur (for Lucinda Russell) in 2017. ● Red Rum remains the only horse to have won…

WET ground has played havoc with the spring eventing season and organiser Alec Lochore had to cancel Saturday's classes that morning when the forecast 2mm of rain overnight turned into between 10 and 12mm. “Two miles away it was very different and we are often the ones that miss it, but not this time,” he said. “We couldn't get emergency vehicles around the loop, so it wasn't safe and there was only one decision to make. “Some people were critical of the late decision and I have sympathy with them and know it's unfair when people have driven a long way, but it certainly wasn't obvious on Friday we wouldn't be able to run.” The ground dried well for Sunday and from 88 starters in the CCI4*-S, just two withdrew…

AMANDA GREEN enjoyed the perfect start to her preparations for the Badminton Grassroots Championship when she won BE100 section S at Norton Disney (1) with her own Josia-S (pictured). “I've worked hard on my test riding over the winter, so I was delighted to score 27 in the dressage,” said Amanda, who works for event horse owner Jane Heerbeck and is trained by Jane's rider, J-P Sheffield. “J-P has helped me enormously – he has really pushed me out of my comfort zone and this was the first time that I'd gone straight out at BE100 at the beginning of the season without a BE90 run first,” she commented. Also at Norton Disney, Penny Hancox and Circus Standing Ovation put the finishing touches to their Badminton preparation when they won…

DRESSAGE HIGHLIGHTS 3-9 April Edited by Polly Bryan polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 HAVE YOU WON A BD CLASS? DO YOU OR YOUR HORSE HAVE A GREAT STORY? Email dressagehighlights@yahoo.com within 24 hours of your win for a chance to feature on these pages Hunters Equestrian, Glos “SHE'S piaffing like a ninja,” said Anna Ross of her grand prix winner Habouche. “She's ridiculously powerful and such a big mover that it has taken time for her to get to grips with the collected work. “We're now putting the polish on,” added Anna, who has spent time training “Holly” with Emile Faurie and his team. According to Anna, the exuberant side of the 11-yearold Ampère mare bubbles just beneath the surface. “The important thing with her is that she has to be happy, but…

Lauderdale Hunt, Mosshouses, Borders DUKE ACCOUNT showed his versatility to excel in a new discipline after dipping his toe in eventing and enjoying life on the hunting field. Charles and Gilda Brader's home-bred eight-year-old won the 10-strong maiden with trainer John Dawson in the saddle. “We were sent him in the summer to do a bit of eventing,” said John. “We did some of that and took him on a few hedgehops towards the end of the summer. We all agreed that it might be worth having a go at pointing with him.” Duke Account made his pointing debut in March and is taking to his job well. “The penny has dropped now and he is definitely going the right way,” said John. “He's an intelligent horse and very careful,…

Edited by Eleanor Jones Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ UNSHOD hooves show increased widening and contraction, and so a greater range of motion, than those with shoes, a study has found. Results from research into the impact of shoeing on equine movement has been released, showing that the internal movement of the hoof is affected. Last year H&H reported on the project that involved top showjumper Peder Fredricson, vet Staffan Lidbeck and professor Lars Roepstorff from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and was sponsored by insurer Agria. The finding announced then was that when unshod, the movement in the hoof is “freer and larger”, widening over the heels, and contraction of heels during the breakover. HOOF EXPANSION IT has now been revealed…

RDA INDEPENDENT REVIEW UNDER WAY THE board of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has announced an independent review. On 23 March, the board had a formal complaint from volunteers, after which CEO Kathryn England and Rachel Medill, chair of trustees, resigned. Having reviewed the complaint and events, the board resolved to commission the review. Acting chair Frances Lochrane said this would “help us identify the steps required to take RDA forward in a way that best serves RDA as a whole and our ongoing work providing life-changing experiences for disabled children and adults”. An RDA spokesman said the resignations were significant and the complaint has been “taken very seriously”. “This approach reflects the desire of the board to learn any and all lessons that enable it to navigate…

Dressage superstar Carl Hester and Fame, 13, won the grand prix and special at Tolbert CDI3*. The show was Carl's first on foreign soil since 2021. Olympic team gold medallist Laura Collett won Burnham Market CSI4*-S on one of her two Badmintonbound rides, Dacapo, finishing on a score of 27.3. Report, p56. Eventer Georgie Goss and her husband Toby welcomed their first child, Archie Michael, on 5 April. Georgie said the couple are “loving being parents” Irish jockey Davy Russell has retired after his Grand National ride on Galvin. He retired in December but returned for Gordon Elliott while Jack Kennedy was injured. Dressage rider Sophia Doheny, 14, is the youngest Irish rider to compete at grand prix, with Enrico at a French national show. They were fifth on +64%.…

IT'S possibly a position many of us have felt like assuming if we're told we have to do dressage first, then wait a long time to jump. Erin, two, was at her “first big girls’ show”, aunt Kirsty McNulty told H&H, with her miniature Shetland, Bobby. It was when she was told she would have to wait an hour to jump that “the meltdown occurred”, according to Kirsty. “She was not happy. Words to that effect!” Kirsty said. But of course the hour passed and Erin got to jump. “She went round clear; it was brilliant,” Kirsty said. “She loved it, and I'm sure a lot of people would have shared her sentiment!”…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. THE COST OF HORSES WITH the current cost-ofliving crisis, I have pondered the future of horse ownership for the average owner. Sky-high interest rates and increased daily costs mean we have less to spend on our horses. The horse industry has had to put up its prices with regards to livery, farriery, feed and vet bills, and we horse lovers have made cuts in areas such as grocery bills and holidays. We look for cheaper yards to find they don't exist, but whatever happened to grass livery? “I will have been outpriced from the sport I love” JESSICA PARKER While professionals may be able to pass on the costs of breeding and producing a horse, often that's…

Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ OPINION THIS winter has dragged on, especially for the equestrian world. In early March, it appeared that spring had sprung early; everything dried out and we spent a fortune on getting our fields rolled, only for the weather to turn impossibly wet again two weeks later. However, the clocks have now changed and I can see light at the end of the tunnel. As most will know, I won't have my horse of a lifetime, View Point (Sean), on the team this season as he retired from the ring after taking the supreme horse title at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) last October. He's been jumping and having fun while being looked after like a king, but while we were renewing the annual…

GUTTURAL pouch disease is rare, but may be life threatening and very difficult to treat. The horse has two guttural pouches, which are unique structures positioned at the base of the skull, below the ears. Each pouch is an air-filled sac about the size of a tennis ball and is an extension of the Eustachian tube (a small tube that connects the throat and the inner ear). The role of the guttural pouches is not known for certain, but they are thought to regulate the pressure between the inner ear and throat, help in cooling the blood that flows to the brain during exercise, function as a resonating chamber for vocalisation, and warm inhaled air. Each guttural pouch is divided into two compartments by the stylohyoid bone and houses a…

What to give – and ideas to treat yourself to – this month VISIT HORSE & HOUND'S VIRTUAL SHOPPING VILLAGE horseandhound.co.uk/directory/shopping…

LORI WALSH (pictured) looks after Randox Grand National winner Corach Rambler at the stables of Lucinda Russell in Milnathort, Scotland, and the pair received a huge reception as they were welcomed home on Sunday. HERO AT HOME “He loves the cameras, he's always looking for them,” she said. “He loves carrots and parsnips, and he gets shovels-full of them every day. “For him to go and win the Grand National was amazing. I had Jaimie Duff [assistant trainer] next to me while we watched the race, so I had to explain where Corach was as she couldn't watch it. He's obviously got those distinctive markings, so you could see where he was during the race. “The tears were flowing when we came back in to the winner's enclosure. Fingers crossed…

SHOWJUMPING BLUE CHIP WINTER SHOWJUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS 12-16 April Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Blue Chip Winter Showjumping Championships, Hartpury Arena, Glos ANTHONY CONDON and the Hales's Shaw Farm Stud celebrated an impeccable result in the Blue Chip grand prix when half-brother and -sister SFS Mirage and SFS Vincomte topped the leaderboard just 0.5sec apart. “I'd be surprised if a halfbrother and -sister taking first and second in a grand prix has happened before,” he said. “It's a great result for Shaw Farm Stud and their breeding programme.” Seven combinations had made the second round, giving the Friday night gala crowd plenty of action to get behind, at a show already characterised by some ferociously competitive jump-offs. Early in the draw, Anthony set an unassailable bar when he delivered a…

Bliss of London Novice Championship: Nakante (Jessica Cunnington), owned by Samantha Hemsley Blue Chip Joint RLF Power Championship: Careful Touched Numo Z, owned and ridden by Daniella Ryder Joshua Jones UK Discovery Championship: Troys Vivendi, owned and ridden by Natasha Bailey FMBs Therapy Systems Star Championship: Freule TN (Emma-Jo Slater), owned by Kim Barzilay Blue Chip Karma Performance Championship: Sanavisto, owned and ridden by Angela Thompson Lister 1.25m Winter Championship: F Kwanah IS, owned and ridden by Adam Ellery Heritage Insurance Diamond Championship: Fanta-Astic, owned and ridden by Louise McDonald Blue Chip Dynamic B&C Championship: Kokonut Van De Nethe Z (Angela Thompson), owned by Deborah Gilder Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA Championship: Derryinver Rocky (Katie Bradburne), owned by Gee Bradburne Pikeur Pony Winter Novice Championship: Alverley Honeysuckle Rose (Ruby Birchenough),…

CAROLINE COOK soared to the front in BE90 section I at Norton Disney (1) by virtue of finishing on her excellent dressage score of 23.3 with her pint-sized partner, the 14hh gelding Cloonagh Shadow. Caroline, who works for Blue Chip Feed, juggles her busy full-time job with riding. “We don't have an arena, but we do have fantastic hacking, which really helps,” said Caroline. “Mum does the mucking out and the horses are turned out for a long holiday over the winter, so we don't have to worry about keeping them fit at that time of year.” WORKING RIDER…

SHOWING HIGHLIGHTS 3-9 April Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ North of England Spring, Warren Farm EC, Merseyside THE reigning Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) children's riding pony of the year runnerup triumphed in spectacular fashion on his season debut. Emma Andrews’ Copybush Time Lord (Dennis) and Harriett Storey, 14, lifted the Royal International (RIHS) part-bred tri-colour on their first outing since their victory at the NEC last October. The Small-Land Maytino six-year-old is based with Karl Morris and Liam Glynn. Emma purchased him from Ron and Debbie Thomas in 2021 after a “long search”. “I'd practically sent Karl and Liam from Inverness to Land's End to find the right pony for Harriett,” Emma said. “And then Dennis came along.” As a yearling, Dennis was part-bred champion at the…

BROTHER and sister stood side by side on two HOYS winners in the M&M young riders championship at North of England. William Leeming, 11, pipped older sister Lucinda, 14, to the overall sash on his mother Diana's home-produced Welsh Thistledown San-Siro (Rocky). Lucinda, who reigned with Rocky at HOYS in the open Welsh section A and B final last season, was riding Susan Pool's Connemara gelding Eastlands Dunedin (Harry). “Lucinda rode Harry beautifully,” said the nine-year-old's producer Lauren Beaumont, who rode him to win at HOYS. Lucinda was back on board Rocky later at Warren Farm to take top honours in the RIHS Welsh section A and B qualifier. “We've had the most unbelievable start to the year,” confirmed Diana, who also watched William and Rocky lift both RIHS young…

HUNTING Life Edited by Catherine Austen catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 ANDREW OSBORNE, former joint-master and huntsman of the Cottesmore and Bedale, and chairman of the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA), has completed his solo row across the Atlantic. It took 57-year-old Andrew 78 days to reach Antigua, where his family and friends were waiting for him. He took on the immense challenge to raise funds for the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young). His daughter Amy died in her sleep five years ago from an undiagnosed heart condition at the age of 25, and her family have since set up a memorial fund at CRY, which has enabled more than 500 children and young adults to be screened to identify those at risk. The total amount raised so far is more…

MANY hunts took part in the Countryside Alliance's nationwide Countryside Clean-up between 25 March and 2 April. Hunt officials and staff, farmers, subscribers and other supporters from within the hunting and rural communities were out in force clearing rubbish from roadside verges, footpaths, river banks, fields and hedgerows throughout the UK. These included the Heythrop, pictured right, the Sinnington, North Cotswold, Beaufort, Warwickshire, Dumfriesshire and Stewartry and the Cambridgeshire and Enfield Chace. Polly Portwin, director of the Campaign for Hunting at the Countryside Alliance, said: “We were delighted that so many of those who follow hounds engaged with this initiative again this year, making a difference in their local area and protecting livestock, wildlife and domestic pets in the process. It is disheartening that some of those who access our…

This new jigsaw showcases a painting by artist Mary Ann Rogers At the retirement party for Gerry and Diane Dodd, honorary treasurers of the Hursley Hambledon for 25 and 30 years respectively, six past-and-present chairmen gave speeches in recognition of the tremendous contribution they had both given to the hunt. Pictured are Hilary Harper, present chairman Simon Cobden, Philip Mason, Gerry Dodd, Mark Thistlethwayte, Michael Langdon, Diane Dodd and Sir John Chadwick, at Carolyn Humphrey's home, Little Manor.…

OPINION EVERY year, towards the end of February, a white shed miraculously appears in what has been an otherwise unblemished Badminton Park. Said shed houses a man called Harry – and Harry, Barbour-clad with pipe in mouth, begins to “peg out” the site for the horse trials. The arrival of his temporary office – complete with stove and veranda – is the real indicator to me that the end is nigh for our season, and time has come to make way for what is known locally as the “three-day event” (now five). From that day, hundreds of colour-coordinated markers, which are meticulously planted to act as a blueprint for the tentage, begin to spread across the park. Each has its own individual code meaning I know not what, but I…

WHEN the children were younger, more seasoned mothers would tell me, “Enjoy it, because it will all be over before you know it”. Their happy reminiscences of the pony years bore little relation to my more fraught experiences. Hock-deep in the trials and tribulations, I received their remarks with disbelief. Now that two of our children are in their teens, I understand what those mums were talking about. The stage does pass quickly – children grow and before you know it those innocent days are over. This was on my mind as Mary and I helped out at our branch of the Pony Club's Easter show. This popular event has run for years and it wasn't long ago that I was watching in trepidation as Mary and Alec piloted various…

▲ POULTRY A rider filling haynets thought she was pulling out a stick – no, no it wasn't. It was a duck's leg. No clue as to the rest of the duck's whereabouts. And no cucumber and pancakes either. Sigh. ▲ BEING RICH Overheard, to a rider who wasn't having the best ride: “If I had a dollar for every horse I'd cried on, I could afford a horse who didn't make me cry.” Oof. ▲ SPRING Cautious optimism abounds as it looks like January may finally have realised it's someone's else's turn… but did the midges have to appear so soon after temperatures finally reached double figures? Really?…

1) Which is the oldest equine charity in the world? 2) Which horse did John Whitaker ride when he won team silver at the 1984 Olympics? 3) Only one horse since Red Rum has won back-to-back Grand Nationals – who was it and when? Answers from 13 April 1) Karen Stives won silver and Ginny Leng bronze at Los Angeles in 1984 2) Shania Twain 3) No, strangles is not a notifiable disease, but yards with outbreaks should implement stringent biosecurity precautions and notify neighbouring premises.…

THERE are a number of questions that are commonly asked when it comes to the “right” age to start exercising a horse. When is too early? Are there benefits to the early introduction of exercise? What impact might starting too early have on later athletic ability? Of course, there is no simple answer to these questions, with variation in breed and discipline playing a large part. Let us explore the development of the equine musculoskeletal system, examining the processes from early development to maturity, and highlighting current understanding of the topic. HOW BONES DEVELOP FIRST, what is musculoskeletal development? It refers to the growth of all the structures of the skeleton, and those that support it, including bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. The process of this development is fascinating to…

DON'T ✗ Present a horse that has been out of work. It raises suspicion and you're looking at a horse that isn't physically fit, which has to be recorded. ✗ Overdo the presentation. Vets don't need to see the horse in show ring condition with hoof oil and plaits, and it raises the question as to why the vendor is trying so hard. ✗ Bring out fresh horses that won't stand still or behave when being trotted up or lunged. This makes it very difficult for the vet and could affect their assessment. ✗ Have the horse shod within a week of being presented. If they're foot sore from the farrier, the vet will send them away and ask for them to be re-presented. ✗ Do anything that might compromise…

RACING RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL 13–15 April Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Randox Grand National, Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside CORACH RAMBLER, an improving nine-year-old, ran out a comfortable 2¼-length winner of a disrupted 175th Randox Grand National at Aintree to add his name to the honours board for the first time. But having won it with One For Arthur in 2017, the names of trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Derek Fox were already familiar to the engraver. After a start delayed 15 minutes by protestors, the end result was great on numerous levels, not least because it was a third win for Scotland and a favourite for the punters. Russell and her partner Peter Scudamore – the multiple champion jockey who never managed to replicate his father Michael's feat of riding…

HALF-SIBLINGS SFS Mirage (pictured, below) and SFS Vincomte, first and second in the grand prix, are both out of a mare called Illusion, by Magic Darco, who the Hales owned, out of Nick Skelton's mare Florida. Mirage is by Unex Barichello, a Heartbreaker son. Vincomte, who has competed to 1.60m, is by Vini Vidi Vici. “I have four horses out of the same mare; seven-year-old SFS Houdini [runner-up in the seven-year-old championship at Arena UK, by SFS Aristio], and five-year-old SFS Valente [a full sister to Vincomte], who is showing promise. It's a very good mother line,” their rider Anthony Condon said. Pat Hales added: “As you can imagine, we think Illusion is the best mum out there. She only competed to newcomers. She was well bred and careful but…

BAREFOOT RETREATS BURNHAM MARKET (1) 14–16 April Edited by Pippa Roome pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market, Norfolk LAURA COLLETT gave Dacapo the perfect Badminton warm-up run when she led from start to finish to win the CCI4*-S. “I always planned to run him competitively here because if you run him too slow too many times, he switches off and forgets he can get excited about cross-country,” said the rider of the 14-year-old, who belongs to Gillian Morris-Adams, Diana Chappell, Carolyn Taylor, and the Smedleys. “He's always had the ability, it's just working out what makes him tick. Over the years we've learnt how to play mind games with him and hopefully we have him figured out now.” Laura said she couldn't fault Dacapo's performance in any phase and he…

GEORGIE WOOD was delighted to claim her firstever win, in novice section B at Breckenbrough on her own Morelands Hero (pictured). “I've been eventing for 15 years, but this is the first time I've won a section of any kind,” said Georgie, who is based with Ian and Heidi Woodhead and bought the eight-year-old gelding by Billy Be Cool as a rising six-year-old from Chuffy Clarke. “Having spent his early years in lockdown, Hero has led a fairly sheltered life, but he has surpassed my expectations since then.” FIRST WIN Georgie relocated from Gloucestershire to the Woodheads’ yard three years ago. “Ian and Heidi have given me the most fantastic opportunity and I am so grateful for their endless patience and fun,” she added. Also at Breckenbrough, Sarah Farnsworth was…