Innholdsfortegnelse for 30-Nov-2023 i Horse & Hound

THIS week’s issue combines our review of the year (p50) with the stories of all your winners from the 2023 Horse & Hound Awards in partnership with NAF (p34). Since creating these awards we have been blown away by the passion the equestrian public show for their heroes within the sport, equine or human, medal winners or those unsung heroes who work hard behind the scenes. Every shortlisted individual was worthy of winning, and those who did step up on stage to collect top honours were moved by the tremendous support you have shown them. Terry Pendry, military knight of Windsor Castle and former stud groom to The late Queen, was a popular winner of the lifetime achievement award, which is the only category not voted for by the public. Terry’s…

IN THE NEWS THYME HILL The Philip Hobbs-trained three-time Grade One winner has died aged nine, after he sustained a fatal injury on the gallops while in training for Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle. Z Eventer Phillip Dutton’s championship ride has retired from international competition aged 15. They were placed at CCI5* and competed at Olympics and World Championships. FBW DEJA'VU Mount St John Stud’s broodmare has died aged 23. She produced 11 foals including grand prix mare MSJ Top Secret and the stud’s first licensed stallion MSJ Bachelor.…

▲ INSPIRATION So much respect to H&H inspiration Dylan Ward, who was asked who his favourite dressage rider is. After thought, he said: “Myself!” Ours too, Dylan. ▲ RACING Carl and Charlotte had a ride round Cheltenham as a fundraiser for the Olympic team… or was it? Will we see them in next year’s Gold Cup? Couple of pirouettes at the start to distract the others, and the title’s secure… ▲ LOGOS An eagle-eyed someone spotted, and queried, the fact that the Worshipful Company of Farriers’ logo features only three shoes. “It’s because that’s when the phone call comes,” a rider said. Makes sense. ▼ SCAMMERS This week’s award to the seller of a piebald Clydesdale (a 14.4hh one, no less), who has “taken all his shots”. At goal? At…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. @ horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound HACKING, PLEASE FIONA LYNCH’S letter (26 October) struck a chord with me. I am 76 and had not ridden for 10 years by September last year. I lost my husband around then, and after a while thought I might like to take a riding holiday as something I could do on my own. I set about finding a riding school for some practice. I found several fairly nearby, but the closest couldn’t help because their insurance only covered riders up to 75 years old. I tried two others, but neither offered hacking. I had some lessons and duly enjoyed a short break holiday with hacking, but was not inclined to continue with just…

TROTTING down the centre line after securing one of the supreme horse or pony sashes during Sunday night’s closing evening performance at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) is an ambition many riders strive to achieve over their careers. That position under the spotlights is the ultimate aspiration on many producers and breeders’ bucket lists, too, but with only one horse and one pony of the year crowned each season, it’s a dream that will never be a reality for the majority of people. Sophie Staveley had been riding at HOYS for 21 years before she joined the elite few who have their name etched onto the Timberwolf Trophy awarded to the overall pony of the year winner. Her victory in the 2023 Supreme Products supreme pony championship was…

THREE words have always been important to me – look, listen and learn. You never stop learning if you are around horses. Looking means really looking. Don’t fall in love at first sight with a horse and later wish you hadn’t. Looking means observing your horse from the start and all the time you have him. The more you look the more you get to know him and that’s important. Listen means taking in knowledge and you can never have too much of that, especially with horses. When I was younger I’d try to sit near horse people – showjumpers and others who worked with horses including drivers, owners, jockeys and vets. I listened to them talking and learned so much. Learning never stops. Nobody is such an expert that…

THERE are three levels of protection tested for in the UK and BETA level 3 offers the highest standard. If your governing body or organisation (for example, British Eventing) requires you wear a body protector, this is the standard they look for. There are currently two versions of this standard – the 2009 (purple label) and the 2018 (blue label). Products that met the 2009 version ceased manufacturing in 2018. From 1 January 2024 the Pony Club, British Eventing and British Riding Clubs will only accept those that meet the 2018 version of the standard. All of the body protectors featured here meet BETA level 3 (2018), unless stated otherwise. The protection offered by a body protector deteriorates over time and, therefore, it is recommended that they are replaced every…

A MY DIXON’S superb year continued when she topped the Amateur Rider of the Year category. Amy has enjoyed a stellar season, winning both the Badminton and Scottish grassroots championships at BE90. “It’s amazing for an amateur, to go to these great venues alongside the international classes and compete on that stage,” said Amy. Amy has had her horse Goodluck II (Ronnie) since he was a four-year-old and backed him herself. “I didn’t have any expectations and he’s become an absolute superstar,” she said. “He’s quite a nervous horse, but he rises to the occasion at big events and luck’s been on our side this year.” While eventing is Amy’s passion, her job is looking after the admin for her family’s two cafes in the Lake District, helping on the…

SOPHIE FULTON hot-footed it from a day sorting out a client’s export arrangements to an evening being crowned Horse & Hound’s Vet of the Year. Sophie set up her own practice, SF Equine Vets in Essex, in 2019, having spent her childhood setting up vet surgeries at home with her teddies in the spare room. Besides running her own business, Sophie also has a passion for showjumping and competes regularly. She originally worked for an FEI showjumping vet before starting up her own business. “I work all day and all night, it is my life,” she says. “But I also have five horses, a young baby and the business is mine, so it has become my world. I can’t put into words what it means to win tonight. “I’ve always…

WINNING the unsung hero of the year was an emotional moment for Sarah Hills. The 43-year-old has covered well over 7,000 miles as a mounted volunteer for Suffolk Constabulary and raised thousands of pounds for children’s palliative care charity, Together for Short Lives. Sarah became involved in volunteering and charity support, as she wanted to give something back. This December marks 10 years since she was diagnosed with a spinal tumour and her horse, Robbie, 20, has been with her every step of the way. “He has helped me through my entire journey, staying focused, and has done lots of great things for other people,” she said. Robbie joined Sarah as a four-year-old and the pair competed in dressage and showing, before his injuries and Sarah’s diagnosis resulted in a…

EVENTING CUPID MARCH, 5 The March Stud’s promising home-bred stallion, who died of colic, won the Burghley young event horse title last year with Piggy March. He was due to stand at stud for the first time this year. He was by the jumpingbred sire Clarksville and out of five-star event mare Valentina II. PRIMMORES'S PRIDE, 30 Roger and Denise Lincoln’s brilliant eventer won three five-stars in the days of longformat and brought home two Olympic medals. His rider Pippa Funnell said: “Of all the horses I have ever had, he was the one right from the first day I sat on him that I knew would become a champion.” MARIUS VOIGT-LOGISTIK, 29 The Olympic eventing champion in 2008, ridden by German dentist Hinrich Romeike, was one of the world’s…

WITH a background in racing, Kirstin Mellor is off to a flying start in dressage with Jupiter TN. She and the showjumping-bred nine-year-old scored a 73.46% outright novice win at Hill House EC, Lincolnshire. “I was a bit naïve thinking it would be easy to put a showjumper in the dressage ring, so it’s taken a while for us to get to know one another and for him to carry himself in a different way,” she said. “He’s the first warmblood I’ve worked with and he’s been super. We’re training with Jess Griffiths and I hope he’ll be able to take me up the levels.” ONE TO WATCH…

THE SKELTON brothers, trainer Dan and jockey Harry, are no strangers to multiplewinners, but Saturday’s Haydock double was a particularly memorable one. Ten years after Harry rode his first winner for his brother on Mister Grez at Ffos Las, the brothers united to record their 1,000th winner in the Betfair Exchange graduation chase where the exciting Grey Dawning (pictured), in only his second start over fences, beat the Willie Mullins-trained Cheltenham Festival winner and Grand National-third Gaillard Du Mesnil. “To do that together was special – a red-letter day,” said Harry. “It’s a great number but you’re onto the next one, too. “Grey Dawning is a horse we’ve always really liked, so it’s nice to see him progressing. There’s plenty to look forward to with him.” Earlier in the afternoon,…

HORSE&HOUND GOODNIGHT Picture by sarahfarnsworth.co.uk WHEN Caroline, one of Adam’s joint-masters, suggested back in the summer that we should run a second-hand clothes sale in aid of the hunt, I was all for it. Everyone has stuff in their wardrobe they never wear and as a fundraiser it sounded like a winner. Several months later, the first donations were coming in. “Got anything good?” I asked Caroline, as we stood at the meet one day. Her face was a picture of concern. While we had imagined Mulberry bags and Brora dresses, the reality, so far, had been more along the lines of misshapen knitwear and “fat day” trousers. The trendy term of “pre-loved” didn’t quite fit somehow. “I’m sure we’ll get some good things in a minute,” I said, making…

Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ THE people and horses who have “gone above and beyond in the search for excellence” have been named at the 2023 Horse & Hound Awards, in partnership with NAF. The winners in all 14 categories were announced in a ceremony on 22 November at Dallas Burston Polo Club, in the presence of some 300 of the horse world’s great and good. “It was fantastic as ever to join so many riders, supporters and industry experts to celebrate those who have achieved greatness and made a difference to the horse world in 2023,” said H&H Editor-inChief Sarah Jenkins. “Thank you as ever to our long-term partners for these awards, NAF, and to all our hugely supportive individual award sponsors.…

IN THE NEWS EROS Australian Lyndal Oatley’s 2022 World Championship ride has retired aged 14, after a rib injury was found. The pair achieved top results at big tour across Europe. KJENTO Van Olst Horses’ six- and seven-year-old dressage young horse world champion made his debut in “regular” competition with Lottie Fry, winning a national prix st georges. HASENACHER BALOU COULEUR The 11-year-old evented by Andrew Hoy before switching to jumping has moved to Michael Jung to continue his career over coloured poles.…

Olympic dressage champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl won the FEI’s best athlete award. She said it was TSF Dalera BB’s success too. Olympic showjumping champion Ben Maher has finished on the podium in his last three World Cup legs, including second with Enjeu De Grisien in Madrid. Seriously injured jockey Graham Lee is out of intensive care and has moved hospitals to a specialist spinal unit, where he will remain “for the foreseeable future”. European and world champion Matt Randles was crowned national champion at the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association national championships. Flat jockey Hayley Turner, 40, became the first female jockey in Europe to ride 1,000 winners when she rode Tradesman to victory at Chelmsford.…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald I HAVE just returned from competing in the Global Champions League (GCL) Super Cup Final at the Global Champions Prague Playoffs, where I was the under-25s rider for Georgina Bloomberg’s New York Empire team. It’s one of the calendar’s most spectacular events, held in a sold-out O2 Arena, and the atmosphere is one of a kind. Being part of the “Walk of Champions” parade alongside some of the best riders in the world is an unforgettable feeling and although I can still feel out of place besides them, it’s remarkable. It was my third year at the playoffs – I guess you could say I am becoming a veteran! The competition did not quite go our way as my team was knocked out in the quarter finals but…

My path into the world of horses began with Black Beauty. I fell in love with the novel as a little girl, and asked my parents for riding lessons, aged seven, so I went full circle when I got the opportunity to write and direct the film. I became a screenwriter, with a body of work, and at a meeting with the producer Jeremy Bolt, he asked what inspired me. I blurted out everything I love about the beach scene of the 1970s film The Black Stallion. It’s five minutes, set to music and no dialogue, about the beautiful, mysterious communication and connection you can have with a horse. He said he’d been wanting to remake Black Beauty for about a decade; 10 days later I sent him a 40-page…

TIMES have certainly changed and they go on changing. My first hiring out of a pony was half a crown – today we charge £15 for a half-hour riding lesson and £20 for a full hour. Other stables charge more but a number of them around Lincoln have closed down in recent times because they couldn’t make it work in today’s financial climate. Everything is much more expensive now. We have our own hay but if I ever buy a few more bales I will not be paying more than £4 for a standard bale. We used to pay pennies all those years ago. There are many other changes and some of them make me laugh. I never thought I’d see the day when children would come riding in their…

GUY MEARS’ magnificent gelding has become one of the most consistent show horses of the present day after his stellar run in large hack and intermediate classes, so it was no surprise he lifted the inaugural EQUO Show Horse of the Year title. Produced in order by his breeders Carol Jackson and Camilla Cottle, Jayne Ross, Robert Walker and Danielle Heath (pictured), “Will” scored his fifth HOYS title in October, before standing overall supreme horse. The now 12-year-old has also lifted RIHS and Royal Windsor championships during his career. “He’s been with me for about three years now, and he’d had a great career prior to joining us, so I felt so lucky to get him,” Danielle explained. “He’s so special and he knows it.” Will was also reserve supreme…

MATT STRAWSON, a farrier from Louth in Lincolnshire, landed the hotly contested award for Farrier of the Year. “This means everything to me – it’s a bit of recognition for what we put our bodies through,” he said. “I speak for every farrier in this room, it’s amazing.” Matt was asked by compère John Kyle whether his favourite clients were those who brought him a cup of tea – “well, it helps, that’s an amazing sight”. “But for me, it’s about seeing my clients going well,” he said. “If my clients are doing well on their horses, that reflects well professionally on me as a farrier. “It’s been a good year,” he added understatedly – Matt is also one of Rider of the Year Ros Canter’s farriers, as well as…

WORKING hunter pony Cashelbay JJ is no stranger to top accolades. Now 20, he has won at the likes of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), Royal Windsor, the Royal International (RIHS) and Royal Dublin, as well as eventing to BE100 level. Now he’s added the Horse of a Lifetime award to his overflowing trophy cabinet. Maisie Kivlochan has been riding him since 2021 and collected his award. “He was my first worker ride at HOYS and he’s taught me a lot,” she said. “I took on a lot of pressure riding him, but I couldn’t have a better partner. He has a quirky personality, but he’s worth every second.” Bred by Robbie and Barbara Fallon, “Cash” was bought by Polly Eddis for her daughters Lucy and, later, Susie, in…

A FAMILY in their first season of showing topped a 53-strong M&M lead-rein final. Krystal Parry led her daughter Myla Grundy, seven, and their typey 12-year-old Welsh section A, Isycoed Dragon Slayer, to the crown for the Wow Factor Showing Series. Krystal bought Dragon as a foal for her son, but after he was backed, he was later sold on and gelded. “He’s only a small boy so he wasn’t going to be big enough for me to ride when my son lost interest,” said Krystal. “After his owner’s grandchildren outgrew him, he joined a local riding school and a few years later, when I was looking for a pony for Myla, a friend suggested I try to buy Dragon back. So in 2020, he came home as Myla’s Christmas…

MOTHER and daughter Rebecca Chalmers and Georgina Chalmers-Gray each scored a double at Netherton EC, Perthshire. Rebecca rode Sheena Melvin’s 20-year-old former broodmare Miss Schufro to elementary silver and medium bronze wins, while Georgina claimed outright wins at both levels with Jekaterina (pictured). “We have to be careful about when and where we compete with Miss Schufro, but she’s had an amazing year,” said Rebecca, who rode her to third in the elementary silver Area Festival finals at Hartpury. “Training with Debby Lush has been a game-changer.” Describing her nineyear-old mare Jekaterina as “spicy”, Georgina added: “She’s quite hot but very clever. We had a few issues even getting up the centre line to start with, but in the past 18 months she has grown up and really got it.”…

HIGHLIGHTS 24–26 November jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Haydock Park, Merseyside WITH Herefordshire trainer Venetia Williams in flying form, sending out winners at an astonishing strike rate of 30%, we should have read the signs that Royale Pagaille was in with a shout in Saturday’s feature race, the 3m1½f Betfair Chase. But he was sent off the 5/1 third favourite of a small but mighty field of four for the first domestic Grade One of the season, worth more than £112,000 to the winner. “He wasn’t stopping. He came alive underneath me” JOCKEY CHARLIE DEUTSCH ON ROYALE PAGAILLE King George hero, Bravemansgame, with Daryl Jacob deputising for a rerouted Harry Cobden (see box below), was sent off favourite and made much of the running, with Charlie Deutsch sitting ominously on his heels aboard…

WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED TO SHISHKIN? HOT favourite Shishkin marched round the Ascot paddock, seemingly raring to go for his seasonal return in the Grade Two chase. The only tweak to his arsenal came in the form of cheekpieces to assist Nico de Boinville on the track. “I don’t know why” NICKY HENDERSON But alarm bells rang as soon as Nicky Henderson’s quirky but brilliant Sholokhov gelding reached the start, where he was eventually cajoled into joining his three rivals but whipped away when the flag went up, dramatically planting himself and drawing huge gasps from a shocked grandstand. His clearly frustrated trainer reflected, “I don’t know why he’s done that,” expressing concern that, if it was caused by the start being positioned away from home, he will face the…

A VIDEO showing a strange man urinating in a family’s dining room as they eat may not be what you’d expect from the FEI, but it’s part of the new Think Outside The Box campaign to raise awareness of contamination. The video shows a family enjoying a meal, when a man walks past their table, unzips and relieves himself. “Shocked?” a caption asks. As the scene changes to the man mid-wee in a stable with a horse, the caption says: “So am I”. H&H has reported on horses’ positive dope tests caused by people who were taking the drugs and had urinated in a stable or lorry. The FEI hopes its video will “astonish viewers and challenge expectations associated with the FEI”.…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_ journo_ OPINION AS always, the end of the showing season was a whirlwind of championship shows for us, swiftly followed by the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). I was fortunate enough to enjoy a relaxing end-of-season family holiday, where I managed to switch off and reflect on what has been a very successful year. More importantly, I was able to not think about coats, timetables and 1.30am alarm calls! We have also waved some of the horses off to pastures new, and I really look forward to seeing what they can achieve in their new homes. There’s a saying that horses are a great leveller; if you were fortunate to have a good run at HOYS, then you are soon brought back to earth while breaking in…

Need to know REALITY BITES Stable name: Reg Owner/rider: Laura Tylor Sex: gelding Age: 12 Height: 16.2hh Breed: thoroughbred Breeding: by Mahler out of Seeds Of Doubt (by Night Shift) Breeder: A S O’Brien Best results: first and champion novice Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Blenheim 2021; first intro dressage RoR southern championships, champion horse Blakesley, first novice and first newcomers RoR championships, reserve champion RoR Wiltshire Spring, first intro, first prelim and overall section champion British Riding Clubs championships 2022; champion RoR Wiltshire Autumn, champion RoR and champion British Show Horse Association (BSHA) novice show horse British Show Pony Society Area 7, first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse qualifier RoR winter championships, Friday supreme ridden champion RoR national championships, reserve champion RoR BSHA championships,…

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GLAMOURDALE, the exceptional black stallion owned by Van Olst Horses, continues to captivate his ever-expanding fan base with his commanding presence and power. With all four of the European team champions shortlisted, Glamourdale was voted the pick of an exceptional bunch. “Glamourdale is one in a million, there’s no one else like him,” said his rider Lottie Fry. “The feeling he gives is incredible – he never touches the ground, it’s like flying. When he enters the ring, he just gets even better, he’s such a showman. He’s one of those horses that, wherever you are, you just have to stop and watch him.” “I can’t thank everyone enough for voting for him – his owners are the best and I know they’re very proud.” Reflecting on their team gold…

LUCY SCUDAMORE is used to working for champions in her role as groom to Carl Hester, and at the H&H Awards, she took the spotlight in winning the Groom of the Year award. Lucy has worked for Carl for nearly seven years, with her highlight this year being when the British team took gold at the European Championships in Riesenbeck, as well as Carl’s 11th national title on En Vogue. “En Vogue is my favourite, I’ve been looking after him since he was a five-year-old,” she said. “From the moment I saw him, he has been a dream horse. To watch him go from being a rather wild young horse, to watching him canter down the centre line at his first Olympics, was very emotional for me.” Lucy’s charges at…

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE 18 November catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 North Staffordshire, Staffs IT has long been suspected that great horsemen have a streak of madness in them and the latest Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Racing to Hunting Challenge final, hosted by the North Staffordshire, proved it. The winner was sporting a broken foot and the runnerup a broken collarbone, but both skipped around the hedges and rails without the slightest hesitation. The four finalists – two had to pull out at the last moment – made a smart picture in their green RoR saddlecloths against the mellow red brick of the farmyard where we met, hosted by senior master Ann Hartley. She, too, was defying injury, not long back in the saddle after breaking her knee in an innocuous but nasty accident at…

STARS CHAMPIONS OF CHAMPIONS 23–26 November alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ Show Teams and Rising Stars (STARS) Champions of Champions, Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside A HACK dazzled under the spotlights to clinch the ridden supreme sash at STARS Champions of Champions. Judges Stuart Hollings, Anthony Evans and Bryony Gribbin each had 20 points to play with and they scored Three Valleys Riding Club member Hayley Clements and the impeccable gelding, Roseberry Super Trooper (Hero), a winning total of 57/60, with Stuart awarding the pair a perfect 20/20. “They gave the most magical performance,” Stuart confirmed. Hero, a 13-year-old by Ninfield Midnight Mink out of Roseberry County Affair, was formerly shown at top level in small hack and intermediate ranks, winning at Royal Windsor and appearing at all major finals, including Horse of the Year…

HIGHLIGHTS 12–19 November oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscarw_dr Associated Championships, Vale View EC, Leics FORMER racehorse Salubrious, a prolific winner with champion trainer Paul Nicholls and one of the most famous faces at the five-day dressage bonanza, headed the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) medium bronze section and was a runaway champion in the thoroughbred medium with 71.55%. “I remember riding him in my first intro test, expecting nothing,” said Yasmin Wright, who bought him straight off the track four years ago. “To think he’s now winning at medium championships level, with a lead of nearly 4%. He just gets better every day.” Now 16, “Loubie” is learning his flying changes under the guidance of trainer Sadie Smith. “Sadie has taken us back to nail the basics and I can’t thank her enough for…

HIGHLIGHTS 15–19 November Arena UK Winter Classic I, Lincs YAZMIN DAVIS and Zanbowa Z remained dependable performers in the winter grand prix, where they delivered the quickest of just two double clears. The bar was set by Ronnie Lee Jones and Ruth Dowie’s gifted eight-year-old Kaleche, who jumped an impressively clean and competitive round on her grand prix debut. With the benefit of experience, Yazmin and her 14-year-old gelding were able to snatch victory by 0.32sec. “I didn’t really have a clue how quick Ronnie had gone but I know my horse is quick – he can turn and has a big stride for a little horse,” said Yazmin, who has owned the “very sharp” Zanbowa since a five-year-old and although “still a rogue”, he has proved himself reliable at…