Innholdsfortegnelse for 16-May-2024 i Horse & Hound

BADMINTON'S 75th anniversary run provided yet another sporting extravaganza (report, p42). Bathed in sunshine the event looked, and felt, glorious. As for the result, congratulations to Caroline Powell, who stealthily rose up the leaderboard with her consistent performance on a mare who is a new favourite – Greenacres Special Cavalier – being absolutely beautiful in stature and stunning and comfortable to watch. Had first-timer Lucy Latta won riding RCA Patron Saint, wow, what an unbelievable result that would have been. But slotting into second was phenomenal enough for this extraordinarily talented young rider – an amateur with one top horse, and some horse at that. Again they were a joy to watch, and I hope Paris beckons for this pair. If only William Fox-Pitt had been able to end his…

MAJOR GENERAL JAMES TEMPLER THE King's Troop officer, Olympic rider and former Badminton winner died on 14 December, aged 87. Born 8 January 1936, James was the son of Brigadier Cecil Robert Templer and Angela Mary Henderson. He attended Charterhouse School in Surrey, then the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. James was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1955. He became British crosscountry ski champion in 1958 and was offered a place in the Winter Olympics team, but instead joined The King's Troop and attended the equitation course at Melton Mowbray. He bought Anglo-Arab M'Lord Connolly in 1961. The next year they were second at Little Badminton, and became European champions at Burghley. In 1963, they won the international three-day event in Munich, and in 1964 won Badminton. That year, they…

Irish jumper Trevor Breen is recovering from surgery on his C1 vertebra after a fall. His family said “there is every sign” he will make a full recovery. Paralympic medallist Natasha Baker made a winning return to competition at Hickstead, following the birth of her son Joshua last April. Report, p72 Lance Bombardier Abbie Robinson-Wyss has made history by becoming the first woman in the British Army to fully qualify as a military farrier. German showjumper Marvin Jüngel, 22, won the Hamburg Derby for a second consecutive year with 15-year-old mare Balou's Erbin OLD, on 12 May. Irish jockey Adrian Heskin has retired from race-riding, aged 32. Adrian became the youngest jockey to ride a Cheltenham Festival winner, in 2010 aged 17.…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. @horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND WHAT a delight it was to see SD Red Gambler, the gypsy cob stallion owned by Hannah Miller-Burton, stand ridden coloured champion at Royal Windsor last week. He'd already taken the reserve in-hand championship with Philip Ward-Burton. Although the ring was full of quality, this was Gambler's time to shine and this he did very brightly, ridden beautifully by Kaitlyn Fairhurst as his owner and rider is pregnant. At the age of 11, he is not new to the big occasions and has delivered quality performances many times in the past, only to be overlooked. “It's indeed difficult to imagine a life without horses” JOY LUCAS But this time…

WE began by discussing some of the family's earliest memories of the sport: DAVID: I first rode at HOYS [Horse of the Year Show] when it was held at Harringay Arena. I can imagine I didn't have any proper clothes, probably riding in jeans and a jumper. My father rode show horses and so he was an influence. While you should never speak ill of your father, he went on showing when he was far too old. I didn't get much of a chance to come into it in my early years, something I vowed I'd never do with Loraine, who in turn has done exactly the same with Alice. She's given Alice wonderful opportunities from the word go, and I admire her for that. But that's enough about me,…

BUBBY UPTON's comeback was one of the great stories of this Badminton. The 25-year-old, who finished 10th, suffered a fall at home in August last year, sustaining a complete burst fracture of vertebra L3 and a horizontal fracture of L2, among other vertebrae fractures. “If you told me seven months ago that we'd be here, I wouldn't have believed you,” said Bubby. “No one will ever really understand or know what we've been through as a team. “In the first few months I was learning to walk again. When I was able to ride, I really had to learn to do it all again. The more work we did in the gym and in the pool at the Injured Jockeys’ Fund centre in Newmarket, the stronger my riding became.” Bubby…

OPINION THE judging was very consistent from start to finish – the ground jury were not overly generous, but that doesn't matter because they stuck to their level. The top pairs were all in the right order. It's always easy to criticise from outside the hot seat, but I feel a few more eights could have been awarded and Ros Canter could have been a fraction further ahead because of the quality of her work. I think that a clearer difference could have been made on individual movements. For instance, too often the transitions in and out of a good, powerful extended trot would get a seven, and so would the transitions of a more conservative extension. Half-points here and there could have made a difference and pulled the field…

THREE first-timers besides Lucy Latta completed with crosscountry jumping clears. ● Northamptonshirebased US rider Grace Taylor was 18th on Game Changer, saying: “He's a very laid-back horse, but his eye was taken by the crowd the odd time. Once he was in front of the jump, he just jumped and I'm so grateful to him for what he did today.” ● Will Rawlin was the best British first-timer in 24th on Ballycoog Breaker Boy and said: “It was a bit hairy in places – he's a very big horse, very rangy. It just amazes me that if I did get the stride wrong, he'll chip in and get his whole body out the way.” “I tell myself I can do it” COSBY GREEN ● US competitor Cosby Green, who is…

HIGHLIGHTS 3–6 May Edited by Jennifer Donald 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 British Showjumping Area 30, Dallas Burston Polo Club, Warks ADAM TAYLOR has established conspicuous form since stepping up to grand prix with Gangster II last autumn and they transitioned effortlessly to their first 1.50m here, claiming victory in the season's opening area trial. Adam and the 13-yearold gelding, who he has produced all the way from 1m classes, found themselves in experienced company in the five-strong second round, where they jumped the fastest of four double clears to win over Helen Tredwell (Independence TN). JP Sheffield was third on Be Careful As and…

HIGHLIGHTS 24 March–27 April Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ ONE TO WATCH “HE'LL STEP INTO MY TOP MARE'S SHOES” A PROMISING four-year-old small riding horse led the field of the novice horse championship at British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Area 1A held at Northallerton EC, North Yorkshire. Comberton Upbeat (Beetle, pictured), who is by Uthopia out of Comberton Calulla, was sourced by home-producer Jess Hardiman last August from Sally and Peter Hobbs, breeders of Jess’ successful coloured mare Comberton Cirrus (Puzzle), who gave Jess her first HOYS rides in 2021 and 2022. Peter and Sally had shown Beetle successfully in-hand, aiding him to titles at Devon County and Royal Three Counties during his two-year-old year. Jess, who is en route to becoming a veterinary nurse having recently passed her…

FOR many years now, and we have lived here for 14, Adam has been wary of going away. Not because he doesn't enjoy a change of scene, but for fear of what might happen in his absence. It is an old farmers’ superstition – tried and proved by many more seasoned farmers than him – that you leave the premises at your peril. No matter that there are perfectly competent people on hand to deal with whatever may occur, invariably all of hell's fury will be unleashed upon the farm of a farmer who goes away. At calving and lambing time, you can dial this threat up to 10. Having just got back from dropping Adam at the station for a long-arranged trip to France, I headed straight to the…

Edited by Eleanor Jones Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ IT was the end of an era at Mars Badminton Horse Trials as William Fox-Pitt announced his retirement from the highest level of the sport, bowing out at the top as one of eventing's all-time greats. William came so close to a fairy-tale ending to his stellar career after he and Grafennacht gave a crosscountry masterclass, but poles down meant they finished 13th. “It wasn't my day, but I've had these moments before and it will all be fine tomorrow,” said William. “At least it was properly not my day – there were no ifs and buts and maybes and on to the next one, because I won't come back. “That will be it.…

MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY EXPANDS ITS SERVICES EQUESTRIAN mental health and wellbeing charity Riders Minds is bringing its helplines inhouse to offer additional services, including support for people experiencing bullying or confidence issues. The change, made ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week (13–19 May), will enable people to be supported by trained individuals who also have knowledge and understanding of the equestrian industry. The new helpline will allow counsellors to be linked into calls. The development of a volunteers’ database also means events can book a mental health first aider via the charity's website to offer on-site support to competitors. ● To access the helplines, call 0800 088 2073 or text 07480 488103. EXTRA SUPPORT FOR GROOMS THE FEI and stakeholders signed a grooms’ charter at its 2024 Sports Forum (29–30…

▲ A CHEEKY TIPPLE To a horse safari holiday, where the boss was asked if the horses are ever reluctant to drink. “They don't always want to eat but always want to drink,” he said, adding after a pause: “Like our guests.” ▲ VOLUME Overheard in a lesson, a trainer telling her young riders: “OK, but no screaming this time. If you're going to fall off, do it quietly.” Clearly a long day's teaching. ▲ INGENUITY A couple of riders stuck with a piece of cake between them and no knife; it could have all ended in tears. But a piece of baler twine did a beautiful job. Is there anything it can't do?…

Edited by Pippa Roome pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle OPINION HARKING back to Kentucky, some of our British Paris hopefuls decided that a Derek di Grazia course there would be a better preparation for the Games than Eric Winter's Badminton track. The final result, with Oliver Townend, Tom McEwen and Yasmin Ingham first, second and third was a great achievement. But remember, the US A-team pairs were in the CCI4*-S and not the five-star! All were disappointed with their dressage for different reasons. Oliver rode like the world number one he is across country and over the coloured poles. I suspect Tom and Yasmin both know they could have won if they had ridden a little more positively. The Badminton crosscountry was bigger than Kentucky, but less technical, as in many combinations Eric…

I'm seventh-generation Batten. As a child, I'd spend the weekends with my grandfather, working alongside him as he made boots. At college I did relevant courses in shoe design and footwear and when I came to work here, it was surprising how much I already knew. It never crossed my mind that I wouldn't join the company. I'm the managing director; head honcho and tea girl. The truth is there's no way any of it could happen without the full support of the devoted people who work here. They're in charge – I do as I'm told. We work on about 20 pairs at a time. We work through at least 50 processes and we make fewer than 100 pairs a year. The front of every single pair of pull-on…

FENCE 7ABCD VOLTAIRE DESIGN HUNTSMAN'S CLOSE CBI Aldo R Monbeg Exclusive R+B Diamond Sundance B+Ret Kan-Do 2 B CMS Google B+UR DHI Purple Rain R RSH Contend Or R+Ret Morswood UR Kilcannon Ramiro R Chilli Knight MF FENCE 9 LIGHTSOURCE BP LOG Topspin R FENCE 10 – MARS BADMINTON LAKE SAP Talisman B Topspin Ret between fences Kan-Do 2 B Native Spirit R Alfies Clover R+Ret Izilot DHI B+R FENCE 11 – WORLD HORSE WELFARE WATERFALL Kan-Do 2 Ret between fences Izilot DHI Ret between fences FENCE 15ABC LEMIEUX EYELASH BRUSHES Monbeg Exclusive R Kilcannon Ramiro R Hester R+Ret FENCE 18 – MARS SUSTAINABILITY BAY DHI Purple Rain R FENCE 19 – SOMERSET OPEN DITCH DHI Purple Rain Ret between fences FENCE 20ABC – INEOS GRENADIER SUNKEN ROAD CBI Aldo…

MARS BADMINTON Leaderboard Withdrawn after cross-country – Farndon (Tom Jackson, GBR) 33,0,14.4; Andreas (Helen Martin, GBR) 38.2,20,33.2; MGH Bingo Boy (Nicky Hill, GBR) 37.8,0,9.2. Eliminated final horse inspection – HD Bronze (Harry Mutch, GBR) 32.6,0,30.8. Eliminated on cross-country – SRS Kan Do (Kylie Roddy, GBR) 34; Palm Crescent (Meghan O'Donoghue, USA) 34.7; Blue Bird De Beaufour (Florian Ganneval, FRA) 34.7; CMS Google (Kristina Hall-Jackson, GBR) 36.2; Church'Ile (Arthur Marx, FRA) 43; Morswood (Alexandra Knowles, USA) 35.6; Bally Louis (Holly Richardson, GBR) 37.7; A Class Cooley (Wills Oakden, GBR) 36.2; KND Steel Pulse (Tom Rowland, GBR) 36.9. Retired on cross-country – CBI Aldo (Caroline Powell, NZL) 35.6; Diamond Sundance (India Wishart, GBR) 38.8; Topspin (Alice Casburn, GBR) 35.3; Huberthus AC (William Levett, AUS) 35.8; Kan-Do 2 (Gaspard Maksud, FRA) 38.1; Alfies…

JILL MALCOLM steered her own Connemara mare, Oran's Autumn Lass, to a BE80 win at Brechin Castle at Kirriemuir. “Oran had come over from Ireland as a threeyear-old with another couple of ponies. None of them were in a good condition and they were all in need of homes, so I bought her for £200,” explained Jill, who has returned to eventing after a break. “I spent a number of years being an unpaid groom for my daughter, Holly, but the tables have now turned and Holly comes and grooms for me when she has time.” The duo finished a squeak over the crosscountry optimum to add 0.4 of a time-penalty to their dressage score of 31.5. “At Kirriemuir it all came together – she's a wee pocket rocket,” said…

ALMOST 10 years to the day after riding him at his debut event, in a potential international dressage horse four-year-old class at a Wellington Riding Premier League show, Matt Hicks competed San Marco for the second time – winning the grand prix at the same Hampshire venue with a 68.7% score. “He is amazing,” said Matt of the Status Quo gelding, who has been partnered by Lucy Cartwright, the late Caroline Church and Matt's former rider Dylan Deutrom, who took him up to grand prix in 2023 and has since moved to his own premises. “He's on the small side for me, but I've lost weight and I've been riding him all winter. I never thought I'd compete him again, but we went straight in at grand prix.” FIRST WINS…

HIGHLIGHTS 11–12 May Edited by Gemma Redrup gemma.redrup@futurenet.com @gemmaredrup Minehead Harriers and West Somerset, Holnicote, Somerset OCEAN DRIFTER made a winning comeback after time off with a leg injury to win the conditions (level two) 8yo&up under rider/trainer Cameron Johnstone-Baker for owner Sarah Johnstone-Cooke. This was the nine-year-old gelding by Aizavoski's first point-topoint for connections. “I knew the horse from when I worked at Oliver Sherwood's two years ago,” explained Cameron. “I rode him every day and got to know him well. I then moved to Robbie Llewellyn's, and a year later, Oliver called and offered for me to have him. He had done a leg not long after I left, so he'd had time off to recover and they'd picked him back up to do some pre-training. “I collected…

OVERDRIVE Georgina Andrews’ show horse, an intermediate show hunter, working hunter, and ladies’ show horse, has died, aged 34. He won many supremes, and the RIHS eight times. DARK CHOCOLATE The 10-year-old grand prix showjumping stallion, produced and ridden by Denis Lynch, sold for €2.3m at the Aloga auction (6 May) for a student of Cian O'Connor. STAR DREAM Suzy Feltham's show horse has died, aged 22, after a bout of colic. The coloured gelding lost an eye later in life but this did not stop him winning many titles in-hand.…

OUT-OF-COMPETITION testing could be introduced for FEI-registered horses, with the aim of ensuring a level playing field for all. A session at the FEI Sports Forum (29–30 April) focused on anti-doping and controlled medication regulations (EACMRs), which will undergo a full revision this year. Out-of-competition testing was a key talking point, following the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission's (EEWC) recommendation that the FEI implement a process for ensuring “high standards of welfare and investigating risk practices” for horses when outside of competition. The aim would be to test for banned substances – not controlled medications. “We are a sports federation, not the police” MIKAEL RENTSCH The EACMRs already allow for out-of-competition testing, but it does not take place. The FEI said this is owing to the challenges around establishing who…

▼ PHONES A dressage rider said she's heard that if one has one's phone in one's pocket during a test, it's a -2 score immediately. It does beg the question why one would need one's phone; at X, take a quick selfie in working trot? ▼ SCAMMERS This week's award goes to the seller of an unusual-looking gelding, who apparently doesn't buck and “has no hump”. Glad to see we're not buying a camel, as the saddle would never fit… ▼ ISSUES Spotted in a collective mark on a dressage sheet, a one-word comment: “Problems”. That sounds like the judge had had a long, possibly rather trying day. So had the rider, come to that……

Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ OPINION I RECENTLY attended an informative body condition scoring open day held in conjunction with The Horse Trust, which focused on how we can understand equine weight to help our horses be happier and healthier. For the first time, UK Ponies and Horses had body scoring rosettes awarded at the spring show to the horses and ponies deemed to be in the healthiest condition in several sections. I was also pleased to see that the Royal Windsor again decided to present the body condition prizes in some of their classes. I had the privilege of judging the hack classes at Royal Windsor. I was pleased to see that none of the exhibits presented in the ring were overweight – a positive for the sport.…

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IRELAND'S Lucy Latta, who made an extraordinary Badminton debut by finishing second, comes from a family steeped in horsemanship. Her grandfather William Powell Harris competed at Badminton in the early 1970s and was reserve for the 1972 Munich Olympics. Her cousins are six-time Badminton rider Elizabeth Power (Esib) and Robbie Power, who won the 2007 Grand National. “Esib is my coach and she's phenomenal,” said Lucy, who was based with her cousin for five weeks before Badminton. Lucy, a pony and junior medallist, works full-time for the canned drinks company White Claw. “I work on the innovation team, so I look after innovation for the US, which includes everything to do with new flavours, packaging and brand design,” she explained. “I adore eventing, but doing it full-time is a tough…

EVENTING MARS BADMINTON Showjumping THE morning session over Kelvin Bywater's showjumping track yielded no clears. Jonelle Price said it was the toughest Badminton course she'd seen: “I said to Tim, ‘Normally the morning group who have gone a bit slower across country jump well and we skittle them all in the afternoon – but they skittled them all. There isn't much hope for us.” Bubby Upton jumped the first clear, which raised her from 16th to 10th. “I've worked with Tina Fletcher and we've tried to compact Cola's canter – similarly to the dressage, we need that better level of collection and the strength behind, which has made him push up instead of at the front rail,” she said. She was followed by Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight, who just…

CHLOE MILNE recovered from a stroke last October to make her first run of the season a winning one at Brechin Castle, held at Kirriemuir. Chloe, who won a BE80 with her partner of 10 years, Cremmdalla Crem (Dory), was diagnosed with a small hole in her heart, which required surgery in March. “We had a long pause over the winter and although I've made a full recovery, having had nearly six months off hard work, I wasn't sure how either of us would come back out,” she admitted. “But Dory didn't disappoint.”…

LOTUS WL, who is by the Gem Twist clone Murka's Gem, went three rounds in both the newcomers and Foxhunter HOYS qualifiers under Danielle Farnsworth, finishing second in the Foxhunter and just missing out on a ticket in the newcomers after lowering the last to finish fifth. The sub-16hh mare, who was bred by Sofia Abramovich, originally came in on sales livery but is now owned by Danielle's long-term owners Judy and Dougie Bryce. “I think she's the best-performing offspring of Murka's Gem so far,” Danielle said, adding that her full thoroughbred sire had probably helped her manage three rounds for two consecutive days. “She is quite hot and the blood worked in her favour. She is a proper little fighter. “My friend sent her to me on sales livery…

WIRELESS OPERATOR headed the conditions (level two) for novice riders at Holnicote to give Ollie Chamings his first pointing victory. It was the nine-year-old Presenting gelding's fourth win in total, and his first win this season for trainer Hannah Clarke and The Chamings Family Partnership. “It felt right yesterday,” said Ollie, who is taking a year out from studying land management at Harper Adams. “I've had a few ups and downs along the road, but yesterday went like a dream and I'm very happy. “He's a very good horse but wants good ground. We got him in August and my mum Rachel Chamings did the roadwork with him to start him off. “We might be tempted by another novice riders’ in a few weeks as long as the ground stays…

Kimblewick (May), Kingston Blount, Oxon JAMES KING celebrated a treble at Kingston Blount, his first win coming in the conditions (level two) with Mot Pour Mot for Fred Hutsby and Marcine Marshall. The seven-year-old pulled up last time and was fourth on his first time out. “It's been a case of getting him back on track,” said James of the Martaline son. “He shows a lot at home and his schooling has always been good. The track and the ground both seemed to suit him today, and Fred is on hot form after a double at Mollington on Monday.” Next came a win in the maiden (division one) with six-year-old Get Cracking for Max Comley and S W Racing. “Max bought him just over a month ago and has got…

Edited by Catherine Austen catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 ONE winter's evening in the 1920s, as Raoul Millais hacked home from a day with the Beaufort, he found himself riding alongside Lieutenant–Colonel Guy Hanmer. “You the painter fellow?” Guy asked. Raoul confirmed that he was. They clopped along in silence for a couple of minutes while the Colonel digested this, then he declared, “You must agree, old boy, it's damned odd for a fellow to paint.” It would have been odd if Raoul Millais hadn't painted. His grandfather was John Everett Millais, who co-founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and went on to be one of the most successful artists of the Victorian age. Everett Millais was also a keen rider to hounds, who hunted extensively in the Shires in the company of his good…