Innholdsfortegnelse for 31-Aug-2023 i Horse & Hound

WE are in the thick of competition season, with the European Showjumping Championships taking place as well as Burghley, and the European Dressage Championships imminent. You can check out top combinations’ chances at the latter on page 30 – spoiler alert, the Brits have a good chance of gold. It will be brilliant to watch reigning Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl go head to head with reigning world champion Lottie Fry, having been on maternity leave last year. We’ll see both given a run for their money by, among others, Charlotte Dujardin, also back from maternity leave. I and many would love to see Carl Hester or Gareth Hughes take well-deserved individual medals for all their years of team efforts, too. For many years Britain’s para dressage team dominated at…

IN THE NEWS SIRE DE GRUGY The 2014 Champion Chase winner has died aged 17. Owned by the Preston family and friends, he stayed at trainer Gary Moore’s yard, as “part of the family”. DSP CHAKARIA The 13-year-old European champion was ruled out of defending her title as she had sustained a slight injury. She and Germany’s André Thieme took the title in 2021. HAZEL HILL The 15-year-old stood ridden showing supreme, with Jane Williams, at the Retraining of Racehorses National Championships. Trained by Philip Rowley, he won 19 races.…

▲ JOKES A group of riders passed a dapper elderly gentleman who remarked: “They’re in pretty good condition… so are the horses.” “I don’t think he was being creepy,” one rider said. “I think he meant it, but couldn’t pass up the potential for a joke.” ▲ SALT Overheard, one rider telling another: “There are two types of people: those who know what a salt lick tastes like, and liars.” Um. Which one are you…? ▲ FACTS Apparently the fastest horsefly was clocked doing 90mph. If that’s the case, why can’t they all do that, somewhere else? Instead of veryslowmph straight onto our horses… ▼ SELLING Overheard in a riding lesson, a child asking another their age. On hearing the answer “10”, she replied: “Oh, so you’re eight in sale…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 OPINION I RECENTLY had the privilege of riding our seven-year-old home-bred Full Moon II at the World Breeding Championships in Ermelo, and it was indeed an experience. The standard of horses there was unreal. I found it a little scary that most of what I could hear being called across the collecting ring was “more” and “poll up”, as some very young horses were being pushed to what may well be their limit. It will be interesting to see how many of the top three in each age category go on to be successful at grand prix. Historically, not as many as you might expect have, given the talent we see at these championships. There were a few horses at the top, and some that were a little…

I grew up with horses and both my parents rode. I was in the Grafton branch of the Pony Club, competed on teams and went to the Pony Club championships, and was master of the Stowe Beagles while at school. I did some novice eventing and a lot of hunting in my youth, as one could at that age without any other responsibilities in life. My father and I tried to farm pigs for a few years. Then my parents converted the pig buildings into hunter livery stables, which was great fun. I went to New Zealand on the Inter-Pacific Pony Club exchange, involving teams from the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. That was wonderful. When the month was up, I stayed for five more. We lived in…

EACH team is made up of three or four riders, with a maximum of three scores to count in the team competition. A total of 16 nations will field teams in 2023, with seven nations nominating representatives to ride as individuals. All combinations will contest the grand prix on Wednesday, 6 and Thursday, 7 September. This test solely decides the team medals and also doubles up as the first individual qualifier. There are two sets of individual medals at a European Championships; the first is decided in the grand prix special, which takes place on Friday, 8 September. The 30 best combinations from the grand prix are eligible to compete in the special – including any tied for 30th place. On Sunday, 10 September, the 15 best combinations from the…

SORRELL KLATZKO, 43 HORSE: Turbo, 10 BREEDING: Totilas x Florestan I OWNERS: rider and Janine Shoffner GROOM: Alex Kinsella BEST RESULTS: fifth grand prix freestyle Geesteren CDI3* 2023, seventh grand prix and fifth freestyle Hartpury CDI3* 2023. FORM: their form has been up and down during the early part of 2023, but solid results at the recent Hartpury CDI will give this promising pair confidence. ABI LYLE, 38 HORSE: Farrell, 12 BREEDING: Fabregas x Davignon OWNER: Fenella Quinn GROOM: Mark McVicar BEST RESULTS: fourth grand prix and third freestyle Tolbert CDI3* 2023, fifth grand prix special Hartpury CDI3* 2023. FORM: Farrell has improved significantly this year. His grand prix scores are now hovering around the 70% mark, but this pair definitely have all the ability to go higher. ANNA MERVELDT,…

GABRIELLA BLAKE, 30 GRADE: I HORSE: Strong Beau, 14 BREEDING: by Spinway Blackthorn OWNER: rider and her parents Estelle and Gavin Blake BEST RESULTS: triple second Keysoe CPEDI3* 2022; first grade I winter para championships, double third Waregem CPEDI3* 2023 FORM: this pair haven’t scored under 70% internationally since early 2022. CHARLOTTE CUNDALL, 38 GRADE: V HORSE: FJ Veyron, 13 BREEDING: by Vivaldi OWNER: The Veyron Partnership BEST RESULTS: first Keysoe CPEDI3* 2022; triple first Addington CPEDI3*, second Hartpury CPEDI3* 2023 FORM: their average scores for straight tests sit around 70%. This pair know each other very well now and are ready to make their long-awaited team debut. SOPHIE WELLS, 33 HORSE: LJT Egebjerggards Samoa, seven GRADE: V BREEDING: St Schufro x Gribaldi OWNER: The Lady Joseph Trust BEST RESULTS:…

JESSICA MCKENNA, 22 GRADE: III HORSE: Davidoff 188, 13 BREEDING: Diomedes x Rubinstein 46 OWNER: Emma McKenna BEST RESULTS: double first Hickstead CPEDI3*, first Hartpury CPEDI3* 2023 FORM: impressive newcomers to the international scene, this pair have shown good form this year and will be valuable additions to the team. MICHAEL MURPHY, 26 GRADE: I HORSE: Cleverboy, 16 BREEDING: Vivaldi x Kennedy OWNER: rider, his parents John and Sue Murphy, Bronte Watson, Elder Klatzko BEST RESULTS: double individual bronze World Championships 2022; triple first Addington CPEDI3* 2023 FORM: these two have maintained strong scores and the extra experience they have could see them back in the medals. KATIE REILLY, 15 GRADE: III HORSE: Impulz W, 10 BREEDING: Wynton x Rubinstein 46 OWNER: Karen Reilly BEST RESULTS: triple third Hartpury CPEDI3*…

STAY UP TO DATE WITH H&H HORSE & HOUND is sending two journalists and a photographer to Riesenbeck to cover the European Championships on site, with additional staff providing further coverage from the UK. ONLINE KEEP your eyes glued to the H&H website for extensive, detailed coverage of all the action, in addition to the print reports in the magazine. You can find all our coverage at horseandhound.co.uk/ european-dressage-championships, including: ● Photos from the dressage trot-up. ● The times at which the British riders and other major medal contenders will be in action each day, so you can be sure not to miss your favourites. ● All the breaking news and reports as the action unfolds throughout the week of the championships. ● Test analysis and video interviews from riders,…

ALEC LOCHORE explained that it had been quite a “stressful” weekend but that it had “ultimately gone quite well” – and now the large-scale clean-up will begin to repair the site. He said that removing a number of cross-country fences ahead of the CCI2*-L, CCI3*-L and four-stars, owing to the testing ground conditions, was the right call. “Some horses are used to these conditions now after this year, and some seem not to be. It certainly makes the courses at Blair more testing, so I think the ground duty and technical delegates did a great job of considering all of the options all of the time,” he said. “It’s really important people come to Blair and have fun, and the most important thing is we must look after the horses.”…

BSPS SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS 22–26 August alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Summer Championships, Arena UK, Lincs HOME-PRODUCERS were flying high against the might of the country’s top teams, and one of the smallest combinations claimed the biggest prize. Lancashire-based Emelia O’Brien, 10, and her charming first ridden Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) mini section victor Sandboro Sugar Tot (Elsa), produced a foot-perfect show under the eagle eye of Sue Rawding to trounce a host of big winners and take the Philip Judge overall supreme of show title. “The picture was absolutely right,” said Sue. “It’s a lovely combination and they never missed a beat. The pony had brilliant manners and did exactly what it said on its tin.” Emilia’s mother Emma was overwhelmed. “We could only have dreamed…

A WELSH section A scored an impressive hat-trick in Pembrokeshire, winning across three sections. Maggie Simons was on board her own Haverford Fauntleroy (Rory) to reign in both open ridden and working hunter pony ranks, before finishing as overall M&M worker champion, while his junior jockey Tabitha Curtis took the reins to win the first riddens and stand mini M&M reserve. The eight-year-old was introduced into the family by Maggie’s great uncle, who delivered turkeys for a farm where Rory lived. “He’s known as the turkey pony as he was initially swapped as a foal for two turkeys,” said Maggie, who jumped the gelding at HOYS last season. “My uncle spotted him in the field one day while doing a delivery and he liked the look of him. A few…

BURY FARM HIGH PROFILE 25–27 August polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 Bury Farm High Profile, Beds RICHARD WHITE has been a popular trainer for many years, helping riders to both national and international competition success. For the past year he has been enjoying triumphs of his own with his own and his wife – Finnish Olympian Kyra Kyrklund’s – rising Lusitano star, Heroi Do Seixo, by the Portuguese Olympic horse Rubi AR. The pair improved on their fourth place in the Saturday’s grand prix to win on Sunday. “He’s willing to learn and thinks everything is fun. He’s not had a lot of competition experience and can get excited and over-enthusiastic,“ said Richard. “Yesterday he wanted to look at everything, but today was much easier and he was more relaxed. “I hadn’t competed…

HIGHLIGHTS 19–22 August jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THIS PAGE? HAVE YOU WON A CLASS? Email jennifer.donald@futurenet.com within 24 hours of your event and please include a contact telephone number Scope Festival, South View, Cheshire IT was déjà vu in the 1.40m championship when exeventers Paul Sims and Dream Roller took the sash for the second consecutive year. Paul had just brought the one horse for the one class and repeated his 2022 feat when he topped the line-up again. On this occasion, there were just two clears from six jump-off contenders, with Paul winning by 17.71sec over Abbie Bevan and Klaudius. “He didn’t go to Bolesworth and it’s close to home, so I just thought, ‘Why not pop down for the one class’ and we ended…

● “I JUST wanted her to enjoy herself as she can get quite tense in the dressage, but being able to do warm-up tests – a new initiative – meant that she actually did a nice relaxed test this time. “She was great in the jumping phases, but it’s taken a lot of training and trust to get this far as even at the beginning of this year, I couldn’t get past the first field when going across country – we took her schooling in the same places to gain her trust and it’s done the trick. “I’ve had her for five years, since she was four, and I have my mum, Rachel, to thank too – I’ve just finished my third year of vet school at Liverpool University, and…

Hot debate FROM 1 September, the practice of firing horses legs would be banned. The controversial treatment for sprained tendons was labelled “that most barbarous of all practices” a century before. As far back as AD500, Publius Vegetius Renatus, in the first report of the firing of horses’ legs, doubted the efficacy of the procedure. But in 1991 some experts still maintain that “there are situations where it is efficacious, and if properly done, causes little or no discomfort to the horse”. Despite this ban, firing’s advocates were vociferous in its defence and the Royal College agreed that it could be used, “but only when other methods have failed”. A slice of history A FITZWILLIAM hound puppy is the cover star during the summer break from hunting. The Fitzwilliam is…

Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ HORSES galloped across a purpose-built pontoon over Versailles’ historic Grand Canal in a pivotal moment for Paris 2024 Olympic preparations. The Grand Canal, designed by André le Nôtre and built in the mid-17th century, was home to boats of kings and a place to skate in frozen winters. Some 305 years later, it will be a focal point for another sport – Olympic eventing. The spectacular scene was part of the two-day operational test event (22–23 August) at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which will host all equestrian events at next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. Five members of the French youth eventing squad were the guinea-pig riders, crossing the pontoon and jumping five fences on the cross-country…

Five-star event rider Bubby Upton, 25, had surgery on her spine following a fall. Bubby, who was due to ride at Burghley, said there is a “long road to recovery ahead”. The top Brit in this year’s 1,000km Mongol Derby race was Holly Conyer, who finished sixth. Swedish rider Linda Hermann was the winner. Burghley winner Piggy March withdrew from this year’s event after Brookfield Inocent sustained a “minor bone injury”. Piggy won last year with Vanir Kamira. Flat jockey Paul Hanagan, 42, announced his retirement following his final race at York on 23 August. He will be the Good Racing Company’s director of racing. Eventer Wills Oakden won a brace at Blair; the CCI4*-L on A Class Cooley and the CCI3*-L on Keep It Cooley. “It’s unbelievable,” he said. Report,…

HOPE that the 2026 World Eventing Championships could come to Britain is alive, as Burghley is one of the shortlisted venues. Aachen, Germany, has applied to host the jumping, dressage and para dressage, eventing, driving four-in-hand and vaulting. Boekelo, the Netherlands, and Burghley have applied for eventing, and Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, and Samorin, Slovakia, endurance. The FEI will allocate the championships in November. Burghley, which has hosted two world and six European Championships, said the bid has the support of British Equestrian, British Eventing and UK Sport. “With our long association with championships, unbeatable parkland setting, huge loyal following and world-class course, we know we can run a brilliant World Championship and very much look forward to making our final presentation to the FEI board,” said Burghley event director…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald OPINION THE recent Al Shira’aasponsored British Young Horse Championships at Bolesworth showcased the best of British-bred and British-produced horses in a fantastic setting. But it was sad to hear from organiser Nina Barbour that, as a stand-alone show with high set-up costs, it is no longer financially viable to run. Having chaired the committee that established and spearheaded these championships 15 years ago, we wanted to ensure we had a qualifier in this country for the World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Lanaken. We set up bonuses for breeders as well as for jumping clear rounds, to encourage people to jump clear all week rather than racing their horses round, and it works really well. The championships started life at Addington before Nina took over at her…

CHILDREN’S KIYOMI BREECHES BY FELIX BÜHLER These stylish children’s breeches are sporty and chic. They have a full seat for grip and are made from breathable, quick-drying, water-repellent material. Glitter detail adds glamour; a phone pocket and flexible leg cuffs offer practicality. In navy or vineyard. Sizes: 8–16yrs £79.90 kramer.co.uk MAGNO PASTERN WRAPS BY LEMIEUX These close-fitting pastern wraps are made from soft neoprene and use magnets to help increase blood flow to the hoof to support recovery from exercise. Can be used before or after exercise. One size £22.95 a pair lemieux.com HIGHLAND MOO BASE LAYER BY HACK & HOUND A quick-drying, practical base layer with an eye-catching design. Features a quarter zip and flatlock seams and offers a flattering, fitted shape. Matching accessories available. Sizes: 6–18 £34.95 hackandhound.co.uk…

CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN, 38 HORSE: Imhotep, 10 BREEDING: Everdale x Vivaldi OWNERS: Carl Hester and Coral Ingham GROOM: Francesca Gorni BEST RESULTS: team silver World Dressage Championships 2022; second grand prix and special, third freestyle Aachen CDIO5* 2023. FORM: unbeaten internationally at home in 2023. A huge team asset and major contender for individual medals. LOTTIE FRY, 27 HORSE: Glamourdale, 12 BREEDING: Lord Leatherdale x Negro OWNER: Van Olst Horses GROOM: Richard Hauwaerts BEST RESULTS: double individual gold World Dressage Championships 2022; first grand prix and freestyle Fontainebleu CDI5* 2023, first grand prix and special Kronenberg CDI3* 2023. FORM: the reigning world champions, unbeaten for over a year. Not at their absolute best on their last outing but on track to peak in Riesenbeck. CARL HESTER, 56 HORSE: Fame, 13 BREEDING:…

f.EI EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS RIESENBECK 2023 DRESSAGE PARA-DRESSAGE A RETURNING MEDALLIST ANDREAS HELGSTRAND last rode on a championship team in 2013, but the Dane will return to the fray this year riding the popular breeding stallion Jovian (above), with whom he enjoyed huge success in young horse championships. The Apache son, who was five- and seven-year-old world champion in 2019 and 2021 is still only nine, but is already laying down consistent scores in the mid70s and over 80% in freestyles. Olympic and world medallist Andreas has, somewhat surprisingly, never won a medal at a European Championship – will Jovian be the horse to help change that? A HEARTWARMING PARTNERSHIP HORSE and rider partnerships don’t get much stronger than the one between Belgium’s Charlotte Defalque and the 17-year-old Vivaldi stallion, Botticelli…

f.EI EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS RIESENBECK 2023 DRESSAGE PARA-DRESSAGE EVERY para rider is classified according to their disability and the degree to which it affects their riding. Grade I is for the most severely impaired athletes, and grade V is for the least. Each nation can enter either a maximum of two individuals, or one team of three or four. Every team must field at least one rider from grade I, II or III, and no more than two from the same grade. Grades IV and V classes take place in a long arena, with riders from the other three grades competing in short arenas. The European Para Dressage Championships is split into three tests. On day one, every rider will complete the grand prix A test (formerly known as the individual…

EUROPEAN TEAM MEDALS SINCE 2009 2009 – THE FIRST-EVER FEI EUROPEAN PARA DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS WERE HELD, IN KRISTIANSAND, NORWAY 2019 the last time a European Para Dressage Championships was held; it was cancelled due to Covid and not rearranged in 2021 15 the number of European Championship medals that Britain’s Sophie Wells has won 65 the combined age of the Dutch team horses; the combined age of the British horses is 43 21 – NATIONS WITH NOMINATED ENTRIES FOR THE PARA EUROPEANS…

DEFENDER BURGHLEY Preview KEY Information FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION WITH H&H • Website: the Horse & Hound team will be creating extensive online coverage of Burghley in addition to what will be included in the magazine report. • To keep reading after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com/XHH-brandsite for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more. • Magazine: 7 September issue–20-page special report, containing the best photos, analysis and insight from our team on the ground at Burghley, as well as from…

A NOTABLE combination in the 47-strong CCI4*-S was third-placed Josie Proctor on Imogen Coughlan’s 15.3hh 14-year-old mare Bee Naround, in their highest placing at the level to date. The pair were the fastest across country, incurring 8.8 time-penalties. “The ground felt so sapping, but she’s quite little so I think we just pinged across the top of it quite a lot,” joked Josie, who recently made the decision to give up managing two pubs alongside riding for others, to concentrate on her career with horses. “She’s got such a massive heart. We’ve got good hills in Yorkshire to train on. She was still pinging, so I kept kicking. We’ve nicknamed her ‘Stumpy’ because she has such a stumpy little stride, but when she gets to the bottom of a fence…

CLARA WILSON put the disappointment of missing the pony Europeans, due to equine injury, firmly behind her with a win in the under-18 open novice at Solihull on her horse, Omard Hawaii Five O. This was a first novice for the pair and they were the only combination across both novice under-18 sections to go inside the time across country. “It’s not been the easiest summer,” said Clara. “My pony, Kildromin Banjo, wasn’t quite right in the days leading up to the departure for the Europeans so I had to withdraw, but Hawaii has put a smile back on our faces.” The eight-year-old gelding was bought a year ago from an advert on social media. “It was the easiest, quickest purchase ever – we saw the ad on a Friday…

Cherwell Competition Centre, Oxon HELEN TREDWELL claimed a one-two in the 1.30m open, heading the class with her successful campaigner, 17-year-old Sebastian VIII, who was taking his first win since returning from injury. She rode nine-year-old home-bred Serenity B into the runner-up spot, a mare who is the offspring of two Foxhunter champions, being out of the great Opportunity B and by Luidam. Sebastian, who was bought for Helen as an eight-year-old by Ann and Colin Garrett, has been “ticking away” this summer with a handful of small outings. “He had a small tendon injury at the beginning of last summer, and we brought him back into work early this year and did a lot of road work, taking it slowly to build him back up. He got to 16…

Ev: Chairman’s Cup team. – 1, Warwickshire Hunt (M Jarrett, I & C FranckSteier, C Stevens). Chairman’s Cup ind. – 1, The Classic Composer (R Ringer, West Norfolk) 26.1,0,0=26.1; 2, Gloster Boy (J England, Quorn Hunt) 27.5,0,0=27.5; 3, El Gaucho DHI (L Wittich, Newmarket & Thurlow Hunt) 30.3,0,0=30.3. PC100 team. – 1, Heythrop Eagles (E Barker, F Hall, C Thomas, M Froggatt); 2, Newmarket & Thurlow (G Featherstone, E Wise, L Wittich, M Plumb); 3, Heythrop Ospreys (C Thomas, E Thwaites, M Froggatt, B Chamberlayne). PC100 ind sec A. – 1, Aberlour (T Wealleans, Braes of Derwent South) 31.4,0,0=31.4; 2, Ronnoco Silver (H Luddington, Beaufort Hunt) 31.5,0,0=31.5; 3, Haddon House Madam Shutterfly (A James, East Cheshire) 31.5,0,0=31.5. sec B. – 1, Pure Britannia (H Maudlin, Ivel Valley) 28.7,0,0=28.7; 2, Lord Shadowfax…

THE awarding of special prizes to the most harmonious horse and rider combinations at Equifest is just the start, it is hoped, in a positive change for the equestrian industry. Four awards were given out on Saturday, 5 August, to the most suitable combinations. These were presented to those who were not only an ideal match in terms of horse or pony and rider size, but also those about whom “everything just looked right”. Amanda Stoddart-West is livestock and entries coordinator for the Great Yorkshire (GYS), which has for years enforced a strict rider weight limit everywhere on the showground. She was approached about the idea by Equifest show director Betsy Branyan, who she had helped with a similar rule at Royal Three Counties this summer. Amanda and experienced steward…

DO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH US? WOULD you like to join the Horse & Hound team? We are recruiting for a dressage and sport horse breeding editor and products assistant. The job will include planning and managing all dressage content and sport horse breeding specials, and writing and editing features, reports and news for the magazine and online. The ideal candidate will have dressage knowledge and experience and good organisation and literacy. Experience in journalism, and knowledge of sport horse breeding and equestrian kit, is desirable but not essential to apply. This is a full-time position working from home, with occasional trips to the office. ● Visit: horseandhound.co.uk/dressage-editor DOG-RELATED INCIDENTS RISE NEW figures show dogrelated incidents around horses have risen by 111%. The British Horse Society (BHS) said that…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. @ horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound A NOTABLE PARTY I ENJOYED reading your article on Chilli Morning (Legends of the sport, 10 August) and his successes with William Fox-Pitt, and am pleased Nick Gauntlett was given full credit for beautifully producing him up the levels. I’d like to add to the information on his legacy with a shout-out for his son, Party Trick, whom Nick also produced to four-star before he was sadly taken too soon. Party Trick won many accolades himself both in gradings and competition, and has gone on to sire lovely offspring – many of whom Nick, his wife Amanda and his team have retained to produce at Chescombe Stud with the aim of international competition…

DEFENDER BURGHLEY Preview LAUREN INNES is no ordinary accountant. Amateur riders lining up to compete at Burghley, arguably the biggest and most daunting of the five-stars, are as rare as hen’s teeth. Lauren competes just one (equally extraordinary) horse, Global Fision M, whom she has produced from a five-year-old alongside a full-time job at KPMG. No groom, no flashy facilities, no string of also-rans to complement her top horse and give her experience up the levels. “The top riders I’m competing against probably do the same number of runs in a weekend that I do in a season,” muses the 32-year-old, who has two Badminton cross-country clears under her five-star belt. “But I’ve said since ‘Flipper’ was a five-year-old that he’s a Burghley horse, because he loves huge jumps, and…

THE term “developmental orthopaedic disease” includes a group of bone and joint problems that can seriously impede athletic function. They all arise as horses grow, and include bone cysts, physitis (abnormal bone growth plates), angular deformities and, most importantly, osteochondrosis (OC). Horses with OC of the joints develop premature arthritis because of fragmentation of the cartilage and underlying bone. The big joints of the hocks and stifles are most commonly affected, but shoulders, elbows, knees and fetlocks can also suffer. Osteochondrosis arises when the process of changing cartilage to bone in the growing young horse is disrupted. This process goes on beneath the joint cartilage and at the growth plates of the long bones. The hock is a complicated structure with one large, mobile joint, below which is a series…

JESSICA VON BREDOW-WERNDL THE world number one and reigning Olympic and European champion with TSF Dalera BB (right), Germany’s Jessica is a hot favourite for individual gold medals – if she can beat Lottie Fry and Glamourdale. Dalera, now 16 and seemingly all the better for her six-month break while Jessica welcomed baby Ella Marie, oozes grace and quality, with swoon-worthy piaffe-passage and no signs that she is feeling her age. CARINA CASSØE KRÜTH CARINA dazzled at the Tokyo Olympics, and then again at the World Championships with the delightful black mare, Heiline’s Danciera (above). This Danish pair have real harmony and are a pleasure to watch dancing together. Get ready to sing along to their Whitney Houston freestyle – and don’t be surprised to see them well in the…

TOBIAS THORNING JØRGENSEN THIS 23-year-old Dane and his grey mare Jolene Hill (above) are yet to be beaten individually at any major championship, with double gold at the Europeans, worlds and Paralympics. In fact, the only time they have been beaten in international grade III competition was earlier this year – by Tobias himself on Blue Hors Zackorado, his new ride who is his direct reserve for the Europeans. Tobias rides with great finesse and it adds to the graceful, harmonious picture this pair seem able to produce in the arena time after time. Expect to see them back in the medals this year. SARA MORGANTI ITALY’S Sara Morganti has been a force to be reckoned with in grade I ranks for some time, with 14 individual medals to her…

f.EI EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS RIESENBECK 2023 DRESSAGE PARA-DRESSAGE THE MOTHER AND SON DUO PARA dressage has become something of a family tradition for Tobias Thorning Jørgensen, whose mother Line (pictured with Tobias, right) herself a multi-medalled para dressage rider, has ridden for Denmark at three Paralympic Games. When Tobias developed myopathy aged 13, leaving him with muscular weakness and fatigue, he rerouted from showjumping to follow in his mother’s footsteps. Now, they are competing alongside one another on the Danish team, with Line making her fifth European Championships appearance, this year riding Hoejgaardens Zackzimo DWB. THE EXCITING IRISH TEENAGER IRELAND’S Katie Reilly doesn’t turn 16 until October, making her one of the youngest riders at the European Para Dressage Championships. She’s also only been competing her team horse, Impulz W, by…

DEFENDER BLAIR CASTLE 24–27 August pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle Defender Blair Castle, Perthshire WILLS OAKDEN and A Class Cooley showed skill and grit to rise from 11th after the dressage to take the honours in the CCI4*-L. “How am I feeling? Unbelievable,” Wills said after winning with the 11-year-old grey gelding, owned by Wills’ aunt Frances Hay-Smith and Bridget Mazdon. Testing ground conditions were the theme of the weekend as Britain’s wet summer continued to plague the eventing calendar, and combined with Blair’s renowned tough terrain, unsurprisingly no combinations made the 9min 55sec optimum time in the feature class. The heavens opened during the cross-country phase, and although 18 of 26 combinations jumped clear across Alec Lochore’s course, horses and riders had to dig deep, with many opting for the longer route…

HIGHLIGHTS 15–20 August The Horse&Hound Poudcast Hear Caroline Powell remembering her Burghley victory on Lenamore on The Horse & Hound Podcast: horseandhound.co.uk/podcast Frickley Park, S Yorks AMATEUR winners of internationals are few and far between, but full-time physiotherapist Abigail Tomlinson proved that happy sporting anomalies still exist when she cruised to Ideal Finance MGT CCI3*-S victory with her “horse of a lifetime” PN Hugo. Abigail, 30, capitalised on Frickley’s influential jumping phases with her spring-heeled 14-year-old gelding and leapfrogged up the leaderboard from 44th place after dressage onto the top podium spot. “With help, I’ve learnt how to eek out the marks” ABIGAIL TOMLINSON “I’m in shock,” admitted Abigail, who concentrated on dressage as a teenager and only briefly dabbled at Pony Club eventing before teaming up with Hugo, whom…

IN THE GENES SMALL animal vet Suzie McGeorge piloted her home-bred mare, Horgans Mayflower, to a BE90 win at Launceston (2). Suzie, who bred Mayflower from her ex-JRN (under-18) mare, Toyd Cinnamon, is currently juggling eventing with veterinary work, doing a Masters, being mum to her two-year-old daughter and overseeing the family’s small breeding enterprise. “It’s hard work, but days like this make it all worthwhile,” said Suzie who, along with her mother, Caroline, breeds one or two foals most years. “I only have time to compete one at a time, but we both enjoy the breeding side of things and it’s something we’ve been doing for a while.” The duo used the thoroughbred sire Arvico to produce Mayflower. “Her dam was only small and we wanted to breed something…

FIRST AREA FESTIVAL WIN VIOLET HAWKINS, 13, and DZL Royal Sunrise finally added an elusive Area Festival title to their tally of wins over the past two years, which includes regional and national championships at prelim, and Premier League and CDI success in children-on-horses. The pair took the medium bronze at Onley Grounds EC, Warwickshire, despite being relatively new to the level. “He can be very spooky,” said Violet’s mother Alex of the 14hh gelding, known as Paddy. “Violet has to school him at home mostly on a 20m circle, so practising the half-passes can be a challenge. But he knows how to rise to the occasion and he loves to pull a win out of the bag when you’re least expecting it.”…

JCB PONY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS 11–19 August pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle JCB Pony Club Championships, Offchurch Bury, Warks WEST NORFOLK branch member Rosie Ringer was the inaugural winner of the Chairman’s Cup eventing, a new class for this year. The competition ran over a 1.05m cross-country course and 1.10m showjumping track, with a slightly more technical dressage test than the one used at 100 level. Competitors had to qualify to compete. Rosie, 19, led from start to finish on The Classic Composer, completing on their 26.1 dressage. “I’ve had a bit of an up-anddown season, especially with my showjumping,” explained Rosie, who works coaching sport at a school. “It’s taken time for our partnership to come together in that phase and it’s just been a case of practising. I’ve had a lot of…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 FOR the climax of the hound parade, Dr Olivier de la Bouillerie would dismount and swim with his hounds in full cry, up the ornamental canal to his chateau, trompe bell aloft and resounding fanfares. More than 20,000 visitors attended his Fête de la Chasse at Breil in the Loire and lined the canal banks for the pre-fireworks parade, holloaing in excitement at “le drag”, a feature of a French hound parade. On our side of the Channel, hound parades have also been at the heart of country shows, and while some huntsmen might still recoil at the idea of including a trail-hunting demonstration in the hound parade, times may be changing. Polly Portwin, director of the Countryside Alliance’s Campaign for Hunting, points out, “Country shows and other…