Innholdsfortegnelse for 13-Jul-2023 i Horse & Hound

“HOW I won...” is back (feature, p16), with David Simpson telling Martha Terry precisely how he won the Hickstead Derby - from the adjustments to his warm-up through to “Freddie's” care in the minutes before the jump-off. Journalists ask a huge amount of sportspeople to relay how they feel moments after great wins. The response can be limited, which is no criticism of the rider, footballer or Formula One driver, with adrenaline pumping, time limited and many stakeholders to consider. This feature allows us to catch up with the winners of the greatest events of the year after the dust has settled and hear that intriguing detail. Often the victory still hasn't sunk in - I wonder if it ever does? But they have replayed the minutes of the day…

IN THE NEWS LADY ELEANOR Debbie Barr's Shetland has been back in the ring with Debbie's grandson, James. The mare, 28, went to HOYS and Olympia with James's mother Isabel and her sister Alice. FRANZISKUS FRH Ingrid Klimke's World Cup leg winner and dressage world team bronze medallist has had surgery for a hairline fracture. Ingrid said the 15-yearold's operation went well. CHACUN POUR SOI The six-time Grade One winner, trained by Willie Mullins to nine wins and third in the 2021 Queen Mother Champion Chase for owner Susannah Ricci, has been retired aged 11 JACKAROO William Micklem's stallion, a full brother to Olympic and world eventing team silver medallist High Kingdom and sire to upand-coming progeny, has been put down, aged 16. APPLEWOOD ODORADO Australian para dressage rider Sharon…

Dressage legend Carl Hester won the Hartpury Premier League grand prix on Fame, then the CDI3* grand prix and special with En Vogue. Report, p34. Olympic team gold medallist Henrik von Eckermann has now held the top spot in the world showjumping rankings for a year, on 3,655 points. Point-topoint trainer Joe O'Shea announced his retirement. He trained 102 winners, and was recently crowned champion hunters' chase trainer. Equestrian Australia high performance jumping manager and rider Todd Hinde has been appointed FEI jumping director. He starts in September. Egyptian showjumper Nayel Nassar and Coronado beat 34 combinations to win the $lm Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows.…

STRAW Top designers are cashing in on straw bags, selling them for an eye-watering £1,650 in some cases. Hmm. Harvest time is approaching, could a couple of spare bales pay for the winter's supply? (Unlikely. Ed) HIDING Claims abound online that a certain celeb hid horses in his bedroom when debt collectors turned up at his house. A perfectly rational, sensible move, we feel. Possibly less beneficial to the carpet. PONIES Spotted on Facebook, a different version of an old saying: “Tell a gelding, ask a mare, discuss with a stallion... pray if it's a pony.” Wise words. RIDING Overheard at a show, from a rider leaving the ring: “When I was young, I wanted to ride really badly. After years of effort, I do ride really badly.” We feel…

pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle OPINION MY recent trip to the great German horse show, Aachen, was the first time I have been there without riding at it. I thought it was even more impressive than ever - I'd never realised that the tradestands were packed with people at the same time as all the seats in the stadium were full, which is quite a feat. It's the place to advertise eventing - an invitationonly, limited field of the best riders, mixing with the top showjumpers and dressage riders. It's quite something to wander around and look at the big rolls of honour for each discipline; seeing Nereo's name on there from our win in 2010 made me very proud. You need to see it to appreciate just how difficult the showjumping phase…

MEL CARTER used to run a racing yard in Malaysia, and started as groom for David in April. This was her first big show in charge of Pjotr - as well as Flashback VL, David's other Derby ride. “‘Freddie' is polite for a stallion,” says Mel. “He's intelligent and beautiful to ride with very good movement. I ride him most days, and do his flatwork; David jumps him. “He can be cheeky and loves being spoiled. He likes carrots and Polos, and is always searching your pockets in case he finds some.' With the horse being only eight, Mel had no expectations - “We thought he was just going for a look-around” - but tension soon set in. “I was OK when he went into the ring, but once he…

RIDER TOM JACKSON “THE owners of ‘Walshy' bought him from Ireland when he was a foal and he was initially produced by Georgie Campbell (neé Strang) until he was six. He came to me because Georgie was moving yards and his owners didn't want him to move so far away. I hadn't seen him before he arrived, bar on a couple of videos his owners sent me. Georgie said he was a very nice horse and I was fortunate to end up with him. “One of his best aspects has always been his level brain. We probably have horses that move better than him, but he is so trainable and wants to do the right thing. “We thought he was going to be a serious horse early on in our…

NAF FIVE STAR HARTPURY FESTIVAL OF DRESSAGE 4-9 July NAF Five Star Hartpury Festival of Dressage CDI3*, Glos BECKY MOODY and Carl Hester were the leading lights of this year's Hartpury CDI3*. Becky and the nine-year-old Jagerbomb stole the show on gala night, blowing away the opposition with their highenergy grand prix freestyle to a Tom Jones medley, which received a 10 for music and interpretation and a lot of love from spectators. The imposing Dante Weltino gelding is in his first season of grand prix but is a seriously hot prospect. He'd already finished second behind Carl and En Vogue in the straight grand prix, with his highest international grand prix score so far of 73.26%, and upped it to 79.99% in the freestyle. Becky explained that she has…

SIX months out of competition to concentrate on training has paid off for eight-year-old Johnson mare Woodcraft Kika Quina (pictured). “Luna” achieved a plus-71% medium double at Parwood EC, Surrey, with Georgie Nicholls, who explained that the break has done wonders for the mare's confidence. “She flew up the levels as a young horse but advanced medium has been the biggest challenge yet. We took some time to train, getting her stronger and more confident, then thought we'd have a go at medium. And she felt massively different, so happy and confident in her work.” Georgie has focused on balance and frame with Katie Haigh's mare, as well as using the TRT training method to help build Luna's confidence. I OWE IT To…

HIGHLIGHTS 30 June-2 July World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, Germany VERY few combinations have shifted Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH from the highest podium step, especially on home turf, but the reigning world champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir did just that when they beat the German stars fair and square en route to victory in the SAP Cup. Yasmin riding Janette Chinn and the Sue Davies Fund's spring-heeled chestnut led the dressage, added a couple of time-penalties in the showjumping to drop momentarily to third, but regrouped at the head of affairs after a super-speedy cross-country round for just 1.6 time-penalties. “I'm absolutely over the moon with Banzai today, he jumped an incredible round,” said Yasmin, who also etched her name in the history books by being the…

AT Weston Lawns summer young horse show, Philip Spivey showcased three exceptional Billy Stud auction purchases, landing a hat-trick one day and a string of excellent placings through the week with Billy Van Gogh (Billy Congo x Kroongraaf), eight-year-old Billy Pearl (Cevin Z x Turtle Island), who finished second to Holly Smith on Jordan W in the grand prix, and seven-year-old champion Billy Foxtrot (Billy Mexico x Billy Congo; below). “Foxtrot is a little, fun machine!” said Phillip. “He's so quick and careful.”…

COLOURED mare So Sweet (Kandi, pictured) will make her first appearance at HOYS since 2019, this time with her usual pilot's mother, Rachel Cowan. The pair won a pass after standing second at NCPA Staffordshire Country Festival behind already qualified Vicky Smith and Mysterie Van De Heuvel, providing Rachel with a first HOYS ride. “My daughter, Megan, rode Kandi from 2015 until 2019 and they were placed at HOYS every year,” said Rachel. “We then retired Kandi to begin her journey into motherhood.” In May 2021, Kandi gave birth to a filly by Classic Opera. “I put her back in foal to the same stallion and she gave us a lovely colt who was an absolute double of the filly,” continued Rachel. “Devastatingly, we lost him just before Christmas. I…

A WISE man once remarked, regarding an approach to hounds and hunting, that “once you think you know it all; it's time to give up”. This is nothing new in any facet of life, although, until recently I'd been under the misconception that driving a car did have its limits in terms of learning. This was before I made the journey into London the other day. As I held my breath for lengthy periods while wending past doubledecker buses, I felt what a young hound must feel, trying to catch up with their mates but needing to navigate past the clumping hooves of the field. OPINION Equally, watching huntsmen show hounds through the summer months might look like a doddle. Striding into the ring with confidence, throwing a biscuit from…

SEE YOU THEN was the fourth horse to win three consecutive Champion Hurdles. The first was Hatton's Grace, in 1949-51, for trainer Vincent O'Brien; the second was Sir Ken in 1952-54, trained by Willie Stephenson. Sir Ken also won two races at the same 1956 Festival, and 16 consecutive races - a feat surpassed only by Big Buck's record of 18 in 2012. Next was Persian War (pictured) in 1968-70, a horse so tough that he once lost two teeth when he misjudged a hurdle, and went through six trainers in his eight-year career. After See You Then came Istabraq, sired by Sadler's Wells, trained by Aidan O'Brien and owned by JP McManus, who was the fifth treble winner in 1998-2000. He was only denied a chance for his fourth…

• Tessa Waugh will be back for the hunting season NEXT WEEK 3 September 1998: Andrew Nicholson…

THE true test for the three-yearold Classic-winner - and Nijinsky had already scored three - is how they match up against the older generations. In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Nijinksy simply smashed it. “On a tight rein”, he beat the previous year's Derby victor Blakeney by two lengths. His effort prompted Audax (John Oaksey) to write: “We who saw him at Ascot will not easily be convinced that there ever was a better middle-distance horse”, while his “garage man's” verdict was, “If all horses were like that, they would never have invented cars.” Here was a horse that propelled the sport to be admired by a wider, uninitiated audience. “To appreciate Nijinsky, you don't have to know which end kicks and which bites, the difference between…

Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ A NEW “suitably mounted” working group aims to help tackle the issue of incompatible horse-rider combinations. The group will address the issue of rider size and help those looking to tackle it. Researcher Tamzin Furtado, one of those behind the group, told H&H it came about after discussion of the issue. “This is for everyone,” she said. “Every riding school, event, organisation. Anyone who feels they need someone to help tackle a tricky issue. “I was working with Amanda Stoddart-West of the Great Yorkshire Show [GYS] on equine obesity, and we were talking about how there are no resources for anyone who needs to think about this.” The group includes show organisers and researchers, as well as experts…

THE six top establishments in the country have been named, at the fifth SEIB Yard of the Year Awards, in association with British Equestrian and Horse & Hound. Arrow Riding Centre in Kent took the RDA centre of the year title, and Chard Equestrian Centre the competition venue award. Mill Farm DIY Livery Yard and Hurston Dressage and Eventing took the DIY and full livery yard awards respectively, and Hemps Green Riding Stables and Pinkmead Farm Equestrian Centre were the small and large riding schools of the year respectively. SEIB marketing and events manager Nicolina MacKenzie said: “What a celebration of excellence in yards from Scotland to Kent we have had. So many customers, owners and riders have put time and thought into their nominations for yards they love. “To…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ I'VE noticed a few trends now that the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers are well and truly underway. Mountain and moorland classes seem to be thriving, yet show secretaries must be tearing out their hair at the quantity of entries in the plaited classes. Historically, securing HOYS qualifiers for your show would guarantee its success and profitability. A few years ago, it was commonplace for there to be 20-plus entries forward at the earlier qualifiers. Even in plaited ranks pre-Covid, you'd expect to have entry numbers well into the teens. However, after analysing the entries at these first HOYS qualifiers, to have more than 10 competitors forward in any plaited horse or pony class would be an exception to the rule. Bizarrely, though, lead-rein of hunter…

WHEN I was getting ready for the jump-off, Shane Breen told me I would definitely win, because William hadn't trained in my grass ring [with replica Derby fences]. The first horse that ever schooled there, Mikey Pender's Hearton Du Bois Halleux, won the Hickstead Derby, and since then every horse that's won the class has trained in my field. When we bought Bridgehill in 2015, it was an old racehorse sanctuary, and from the minute I walked in, I knew where I'd put my grass ring. It's not fancy or beautifully manicured; it's just a DIY, purely functional field. I called up Charles Britton and David Andrews and asked if I could have any old sand from arenas they were refurbing and I'd tip it on. Whenever I had a…

“WALSHY is handsome and a real eye-catcher on the yard. He is so easy to deal with and very quickly becomes everyone's favourite. “Given his colour, he has to enjoy bath time, but apart from being grey, he is pretty low maintenance. He hasn't got any quirks and you always know where you stand with him. “This year was my first time grooming at Badminton, so to come fifth and have an amazing week there with such an easy horse was amazing. “I tried to enjoy my time at Badminton and take it all in - even just grazing Walshy outside the front of Badminton House was incredible and it was so surreal for me to be there. It made me proud watching Walshy and Tom, knowing that I'd played…

NAF FIVE STAR HARTPURY FESTIVAL OF DRESSAGE Premier League CARL HESTER and Fame are what you could call a match made in heaven - or Hartpury. It was here that they made their debut as a partnership together, in January this year, and they returned this week to claim the Premier League grand prix in fine style. Carl has made no secret of the fact that he's head over heels about this horse, and with every ride - and every win - his love for Fiona Bigwood's 13-year-old Bordeaux stallion grows. “He's talented but with a talented brain as well and when you put those together it's so lovely to ride,” said Carl, who scored 77.39%. “When I have him relaxed like that he's a dream to ride. “He got…

ASTON-LE-WALLS 5-9 July pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle Aston-le-Walls, Northants DUTCH rider Andrew Heffeman said that he is “appreciating horses and competing more than ever” following his win in the Dassett Eventing CCI4*-S with Harthill Phantom. “I think having my Dutch eventing team coach job has taken the pressure off my riding and I'm really enjoying it,” said Andrew, for whom this was a first four-star victory. Harthill Phantom, who Andrew owns in conjunction with the Top Eventers Syndicate, “surprised” his connections when topping the leaderboard in a section with over 100 starters. “He has a massive heart and is a real trier, but he's not a bigmoving horse and he doesn't have a natural jump, meaning he doesn't find it as easy as some, so I didn't expect him to win,” said…

VETERINARY physiotherapist Ros Smith had one eye on the clock as she crossed the finish line on Connemara Flying Star (Flint, pictured) to win BE90 section K at Chepstow at Howick (2). “Flint is Mr Consistent but I have a habit of going too fast across country and throwing away wins,” said Ros. “This time, my boyfriend gave me a good talking to about looking at my watch as I came out of the water, and I finished spot on the time. FIRST WIN “Flint doesn't always think dressage is fun but he tried so hard,” said Ellie, the pair scoring a personal best dressage of 21.3 here at Howick. ”I came out of the test thinking we couldn't have done any better.”…

THE results from last year's intermediate show riding type final at HOYS were repeated at NCPA Staffordshire Country Festival. Abbie Kirkbride and her small contender Shildons Royal Affair (Alfie, pictured) reigned in the championship over Poppy Carter and Danni Radford's large type Ladies Man. “It's great to be going back after some near misses,” said Abbie, who won and was reserve champion at Derbyshire Festival, won at Royal Cheshire and was second and reserve at the Royal Highland with Alfie this year. “He's returning with my sister too in the 148cm show ponies. I'm so grateful to Team Helliwell for all they do.”…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfaustenl23 IF you want to glimpse into the future of hunting, go along to the young handlers' class at the Festival of Hunting at Peterborough on 19 July (ring one at 3pm). That is, if you can get anywhere near for the crowds. Hounds of all types are shown by their junior handlers, who are often bedecked in oversized white coats, but betraying a golden thread woven of skill, hard work and mutual respect. Nearly every show recognised by the Masters of Foxhounds Association and others besides hold a young handlers' class, the brainchild of Richard Walton who organised the first class at the West of England Hound Show in 2017. Entrants are 10-16 years old and actively involved in helping at a hunt kennels. Patrick Martin, former huntsman…

HORSE&HOUND MEMORY ANE HOW many stars can you count on one page? A round-up gallery from the Royal International Horse Show (then held at Wembley) features Princess Anne in Spanish dress, the Italian 1960 Olympic champion Raimondo D'lnzeo winning a puissance class, British showjumping Olympians David Broome, Harvey Smith, Marion Mould (and the mighty Stroller) and Michael Saywell claiming the Nations Cup, the inaugural Burghley winner Anneli Drummond-Hay aboard Merely-A-Monarch, and showing doyenne Stella Harries.…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. A REFRESHING VIEW HOW refreshing Mark Phillips' comment (29 June issue) was. With his depth of knowledge of eventing, riders and coaches must listen. When riders encounter a problem cross country it is all too easy for some to simply hope it doesn't worsen, rather than correcting the mistakes with their coaches. Some riders spend too much time on dressage and showjumping, and rely too heavily on all-weather arena cross-country courses - which have their place, but are not a substitute for cross-country. “Coaches need to ensure mistakes are corrected“ ROBIN DUMAS Coaches need to incorporate regular training between competitions on cross-country courses to ensure mistakes are corrected. Most cross-country faults are self-inflicted and can be fixed by…

I didn't come from a horsey family, but have always been obsessed with horses. One of my earliest memories is sitting on a rocking horse at my grandmother's, watching Horse of the Year Show on TV, joining in as best I could. I badgered my parents for a pony and they finally relented when I was 10.1 competed in the usual competitions, but dressage was always my favourite. I wasn't a talented rider, so I knew that if I wanted to be involved in toplevel sport, I had to find a way other than being an athlete. My parents didn't want me to work with horses “ there's no money in it”. So I got it into my head to become an actress, not that there is money in that…

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Aintree, Merseyside CHLOE VELL had a red-letter day, with five wins from six tests on three exciting horses. She picked up novice and elementary wins on six-yearold Moonraise, who produced “two of the best tests he's ever done”, medium and advanced medium wins on eight-year-old Dynamo V, whose scores are climbing now he has “come out of his shell” and an elementary win and medium second on her own six-year-old mare Mia Cara v/d Debbehoeve. “She has so much talent” CHLOE VELL ON MIA CARA V/D DEBBEHOEVE “I've had Cara since she was three and backed her myself. She's sensitive but incredibly talented and I'm just keeping her up my sleeve at the moment and exposing her every now and again,” said Chloe. “She has so much talent for the higher…

HIGHLIGHTS 25 June-2 July alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ Royal Norfolk, Norfolk Showground A FOUR-YEAR-OLD stallion will return to contest the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) supreme in-hand final two years after he made his debut. Thistledown Harper Royale, handled by his owner, producer Craig Elenor, was Robert Allcock's choice for the ticket. By riding pony Rendene Royal Charm, the impressive bay finished seventh in the pony section of the HOYS final in 2021. He came through to the final championship at Norfolk after heading the hunter pony breeding section. “He's been at home since HOYS and he's now broken in; he absolutely loves his work,” explained Craig's fiancee, Sara Parrott, who also recently booked a HOYS place with her own coloured mare Starlight, at the Royal Highland. “It's really nice to…