Innholdsfortegnelse for 19-Dec-2024 i Horse & Hound

THIS is our last publication before Christmas as our London International report issue comes out on Saturday, 28 December, which is the quickest we could get it to you with printing and distribution limitations. If, like me, you've still got Christmas shopping to do, consider a subscription to Horse & Hound, something you can buy online, don't need to wrap, and the recipient can enjoy all year round (p46). All magazine subscribers also get unlimited access to our website included, with searchable vet library, training, news and the breaking stories from major events. I hope you are either heading to London International this week or watching on TV while following with horseandhound.co.uk. Laura Tomlinson (p14) is looking forward to being back at the show for the first time since it…

DAMON HILL NRW Christian Becks’ 2012 Olympic team silver, and world and European team gold medallist with Helen Langehanenberg has died, aged 24. They also won individual medals. CONFU Laura Kraut's great campaigner, who won multiple grands prix and was a core part of US Nations Cup teams – including at the final in 2017 – has retired, aged 17. FRANZISKUS FRH Ingrid Klimke's top dressage horse is to retire, aged 16. They helped Germany to world team bronze in 2022 and were twice in contention for an Olympic place.…

MORE than 100 people from major companies are to work together to try to ensure insurance for horses and pets. The Pet and Equine Insurance Sustainability Network, founded by industry leader Sharon Brown, held a “think tank” on 21 November, to address challenges in equine and small animal insurance. Almost all those present agreed on collaborative action. Ms Brown told H&H she came up with the idea as she has horses, dogs and cats, so relies on insurance but has “watched the premiums climb”. “After over 30 years of working in insurance, I've seen the pressures insurers face too and knew something had to change,” she said. “This gathering was so powerful because nearly everyone in the room had a horse or a pet. We weren't just insurance professionals discussing…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. @ horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound A VERY GOOD YEAR THE Irish Draught Horse Society (GB) has had a fantastic year, with the first Ridden Championship Series Final at the Agria Royal International (RIHS). The series has shown the versatility of the breed, with 39 Irish Draught and 31 Irish Draught Sport Horses (with a minimum of 25% proven Irish Draught breeding) qualifying for the RIHS, culminating with a British-bred champion, Goosey Gander. “Riders seldom seem to question if they give their aids correctly” VERONICA WARD This year's Horse of the Year Show saw the breed represented across all hunter and cob weight sections, and the SEIB Search for a Star series, and an Irish Draught Sport Horse/part-bred winning the working…

I'd been in further education for around 15 years, initially working with students with learning disabilities. I did my teacher training and moved into management as head of business and information and communication technology before returning to equine-linked employment as head of animal management and saddlery at another college. In January 2018, I decided I was ready for a new challenge. I spoke to a friend who told me she knew of “just the job” [at Hertfordshire Showground] and I started work there nine weeks before the county show. There's nothing like getting stuck in. I'm responsible for the showground as well as the county show. I have a fabulous show team – one-full timer in the office and an amazing equine manager who lives in Shropshire, but works remotely…

ALTHOUGH horses’ feet are well adapted to living in wet conditions, good pasture management can help limit any potential problems. Aim to: • keep horses off rain-saturated land to preserve grazing – constant pounding from hooves compacts the underlying soil, decreasing the natural drainage and resulting in surface water collection, causing mud • separate your paddocks into summer and winter grazing – save the higher ground for the winter so it has the advantage of good drainage • consider stocking density – fewer horses on a given area means less compaction of the ground, better drainage and therefore less mud • picking up droppings – although high-maintenance, it means there is less organic material breaking down in your paddocks meaning less raw material for mud formation and to cause infections…

DEHYDRATION is a problem we more commonly associate with summer, but a horse is at just as much risk during the winter (vet clinic, 12 December), says Natalie. Watch out for the following signs: • lethargy – your horse may feel below par • loss of appetite – as well as drinking less, you may notice that your horse is not eating up as normal • reduced faecal output – your horse may produce fewer droppings and they may look hard • reduced urinary output – urine may become darker in colour Sufficient water intake is crucial for a healthy, functioning digestive system and dehydration can slow the passage of food in the digestive tract. “There are more cases of impaction colic during the winter months and dehydration is one…

FOR six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green, the closure of Calcutt & Sons is akin to the death of The Queen. “Both had been a part of my life for as long as I could remember and the loss of these wonderful, well-organised, honest institutions is a sad milestone,” she says. For countless others – for whom a visit to the Hampshire tack shop to have a jacket mended, a saddle fitted or to search the second-hand treasure trove was a cherished event – the loss is equally sad. Streams of people would ring the bell and pass in to where the scent of saddle soap mingled with new leather and bits clinked on the racks. A wall was crowded with advertisements and baskets of string gloves, shelves of velvet caps…

Half Moon Stud, Dorset JAMES GOTHARD's patient approach with his 18.2hh gelding, seven-year-old Homewood Rupert, is paying off. The pair won both prelims with plus-73%, qualifying for the regionals. James has owned the Mooiman son for 18 months. “I've taken it slowly with him, hence why he has only been doing prelim for four months,” said James, who also shows from his competition yard in North Dorset. “He's a lot of horse but really trainable with great paces. We'll ensure he has a varied life because I don't want to break him.” Hannah Alice Jay Bailey and 15-year-old Rosewater Danny Boy, by FS Don't Worry, won both the PSG and the inter I. “He's only 15.2hh,” mused Hannah. “He was supposed to be a dressage pony but overgrew the height. I…

HIGHLIGHTS 15 December Edited by Gemma Redrup gemma.redrup@futurenet.com @gemmaredrup New Forest Hounds, Larkhill, Wilts GRACE A VOUS ENKI continued his love affair with Larkhill, winning at the track for the seventh time when taking the mixed open under James King for trainer Nicky Sheppard and owner. The eight-year-old by Dream Well was last seen winning the 2m 4f mens’ open here on 1 December and had a tough assignment today with top hunter chaser Time Leader lining up in the same race. “He cost £15,000, which is the most I've spent on a horse – Mum wasn't too pleased!” HARRY RYALL ON SNAP FISH “He got the job done in gritty fashion and it was great for his connections to beat a horse like Time Leader,” said James, who finished seven…

Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ A BAN on double bridles, curbs and riding behind the vertical could be coming in Denmark – and has been debated in the European Parliament. The Danish Council on Animal Ethics, which advises the government, published recommendations regarding new “legislative initiatives” for horse sport in Denmark. This 5 December report followed a 2023 warning that if its recommendations were not implemented, the council would advocate legislation. “The council has continued to see worrying examples of sport horses showing signs of discomfort, pain and conflict behaviour,” the report states. “We are aware the equestrian sports organisations have initiated the proposed evaluation work. However, the drafts the council have received are not sufficient in view of the signs that the…

Trainer Henrietta Knight saddled her first jumps winner since 2015; Motazzen ridden by Brendan Powell. Henrietta returned to training last year. Dutch showjumper Harrie Smolders is the live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping having won the Geneva grand prix. Report, p58. Jockey Will Biddick rode his 600th point-to-point winner, at Larkhill. He and Five Bar Gate won for trainer Matthew Hampton and owner Mrs L Osborne. Irish showjumper Cian O'Connor is Swiss equestrian magazine Pferdewoche's most successful Nations Cup rider of 2024, jumping 15 clear rounds. Jockey Rachael Blackmore made her comeback from a three-month injury break, at Naas on Monday with Slade Steel. They finished second.…

CHRISTMAS The chalk white horse on the Downs above Folkestone is sporting a Christmas outfit; a large red nose. Let's hope whoever it is isn't a meteorologist, one hopes it isn't going to rain, dear… INJURIES A rider who had been bucked off was bemoaning her lot. Glad not to be hurt, but miffed to have scraped much of the skin off her chin on the mane. Quite a feat, if that's any consolation… SHOWERS Spotted, a video of a tiny rider washing her pony, in the bathroom. “Not again,” the parent is heard to sigh. To be fair, needs must, when you've got a grey at this time of year. TRANSPORT Also spotted online, a rider who said she'd never paid over £60 to horse transporters for a certain…

oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscarw_dr OPINION I RECENTLY had the pleasure of competing on the Continent at two well-run shows in the Netherlands. I enjoyed being back out on the international scene but the one thing that still makes me nervous throughout a big weekend of competition is the vet check. If a trot-up is badly run it can feel quite scary. At the second show, there was a huge backlog of competitors waiting in one indoor arena, to cross into another for their turn. The horse before me got loose and there was complete carnage. Although Full Moon couldn't quite stifle a squeal each way I was grateful that he kept his front legs to himself and both my enormous beasts behaved very well. The tack check post-test also varies from show…

RIDER TIM PRICE “VITALI is a beautiful horse and a real athletic type. Joe Giannamore, who owns him, calls him an Adonis. He loved his type and the breeding behind it as well. “He's easy on his body with all he does. He gallops and jumps lightly – he knows when to lower his body to get the job done, and at other times, to really get up and over a fence. He's a pleasure to work with. “We've gone from strength to strength. It's easy to focus on the showjumping, where we've lost a few big ones. But you have to remember how he's put himself in that position – by being so amazing in the dressage and super-consistent across country. He's hardly had a cross-country fault in his…

IN the Army, after teaching a lesson, we'd always discuss it with the other instructors. We'd share good practice and ask advice if we were struggling. I missed that when I was teaching outside the Army. I think freelance instructors should be more open with each other. The most important piece of advice I was given was from Captain Wooff. He said to take some knowledge from everyone you meet but also stay true to yourself. I've tried to stick to that in my career. Mrs Wooff, his wife, said that the best way to judge a yard is by the state of its muck heap and water buckets! Bertie Hill used to say you're ready to tackle the cross-country course when you've got that “hospital taste” in your mouth.…

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CHI GENEVA 11–15 December Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald CHI Geneva, Palexpo Arena, Switzerland DUTCH showjumper Harrie Smolders delivered the perfect jump-off performance to land his first major, the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, with his outstanding partner Monaco. This pair have been so consistent at the highest level over several years, but always seems to have played the part of bridesmaid, finishing on the podium at many of the world's five-star grands prix, including in this class in 2021. But they stole the spotlight, producing an electric winning round during an incident-packed jump-off and head to the Dutch Masters early next year as the live contenders in the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping. “Starting first is never easy,” said Harrie. “I risked everything without any tactical planning and…

MADDISON DALLEY is enjoying a change of career from showing to dressage. With her 16.1hh gelding Google II she won both mediums at Burrows Court Farm to complete the pair's Winter Area Festival qualification. “I've owned Google since 2022 and he's my first dressage horse,” she said. “I had show ponies before him but he's fuelled my love for dressage. “He's a joy to ride and enjoys a varied life. He loves hacking, going for a gallop through the fields and doing pole clinics. We've now qualified for the Winter Area Festivals at medium. He loves it when there's a medium trot down the final centre line, as was the case in one of our tests – it always makes me smile!” I OWE IT TO……

HIGHLIGHTS 9–15 December Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Christmas Meeting, Cheltenham Racecourse, Glos JOCKEY Charlie Deutsch hailed trainer Venetia Williams “a magician” after the in-form duo teamed up yet again with a big race winner. This time, it was the turn of quirky eight-year-old Gemirande to earn the silverware, repelling the challenge of favourite Madara, to land Saturday's Nyetimber December Gold Cup. Victory was a rich reward for Deutsch, who had to shed several pounds before the race to make his allotted 10st 2lb. “I had a great spin and I've grown to love this horse – he's a real character and you don't want to take him on because the more you pull at him, the faster he goes,” said the jockey. French-bred Gemirande, a winner last time…

22/1 THE PRICE OF “QUIRKY” OUTSIDER GAME ON FOR GLORY (HARRY COBDEN), WHO WON THE QUINTESSENTIALLY MARES’ HANDICAP CHASE AT CHELTENHAM FOR TRAINER LUCY WADHAM 20 years after Windsor last hosted a jumps meeting, Emma Lavelle-trained Ma Shantou and Harry Cobden made history by winning the track's opening hurdle 15 YEARS SINCE JOCKEY JAMES REVELEY'S LAST CHELTENHAM WINNER, HE LANDED THE GRADE TWO ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE ON FRENCH RAIDER JET BLUE, FOR OWNER PROFESSOR CAROLINE TISDALL HENRIETTA KNIGHT, 78, RECORDED HER 1ST JUMPS WINNER SINCE MAKING HER RETURN THIS YEAR, WHEN MOTAZZEN WON AT FONTWELL…

EARLIER in the month our hunt hosted a talk and dinner by Faiysal Alikhan, a Pakistani landowner and businessman, who is master of the Peshawar Vale Hunt (PVH) in Pakistan. I couldn't go to the talk but I've heard a lot about Faiysal and the PVH from people who have been hunting there. He caught the hunting bug while studying at Oxford and when he returned home set about reinstating the PVH, whose history goes back to the days when the British Army were stationed there. Many Brits came on board to help, some packs provided hounds and several ex-schoolboy huntsmen from Stowe and Radley have been out to hunt them. Charismatic with a great story behind him, Faiysal has become a cause célèbre in hunting circles, this summer cutting…

SALE LEVIES TO AID RACING AFTERCARE NEW levies on every horse bought and sold at several major auction houses will be put towards supporting thoroughbreds after their racing careers. Goffs UK, Tattersalls and ThoroughBid have signed a new agreement with Retraining of Racehorses (RoR). From 1 January 2025 until the end of 2026, RoR will receive a £6 contribution from each sales company for every lot sold plus mandatory levies of £3 each for vendors and buyers, applied to every lot published as sold at thoroughbred auctions, including online sales. “This funding sets a benchmark for racehorse welfare that we hope all other industry stakeholders will follow,” said RoR managing director David Catlow. BRITISH RIDERS’ VIRTUS TICKETS TWO British dressage riders have qualified for the Virtus para equestrian World Championships…

MEET Roana, a pony who is fabulous at 45, enjoying a life lived exactly as she wants it. To mark National Horse Day (13 December), equestrian brand Harry Hall tried to find the UK's oldest horse and thinks Roana is the one. Cerys, who has owned the 13hh mare for nearly 30 years, told H&H she is “everything”. “I know how lucky I am to still have her,” she said. “Every day I see her wee head over the stable door is a bonus.” Cerys started having lessons at her local riding school in Northern Ireland aged five, and when the school closed, her grandmother bought Roana, who has become one of the family, and even appeared at Cerys's wedding to Peter. “We have a different level of bond, I…

“I LOVE top-class horses – it doesn't matter what they do,” says Nico de Boinville. Well, he's ridden enough of them as first jockey to Nicky Henderson's Goliath of a National Hunt yard; enough for him to have 16 Cheltenham Festival winners under his belt and multiple Grade One victories on the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Constitution Hill, Jonbon and so on. He is a brilliant big-race jockey who, at 35, has no interest in driving the length and breadth of Britain chasing small fish, but keeps himself in the best physical shape he can for the stream of Seven Barrows’ stars that appear. But it's fascinating to study the eclectic foundations that underpin Nico's success in the (racing) saddle. At the age of eight, he was showing ponies…

“HE'S a dreamy, easy horse to look after and very sweet-natured. Knowing him for a while now, I can see when he starts to get nervous, so I'll always take him away from a stressful situation if I'm in a position to do so. That's why we've put in special adjustments, such as trotting him up first, and not having the crowd clap this year, which I think have been really good for him. “Vitali's almost one you wish could have a sports psychologist to talk through his feelings – I wish he could talk! We have quite a lot of big personalities on the yard and he's the introvert at the back. I've done most of the big shows with him these last few years, but this year especially,…

PICTURE the scene. It is midday in 1880 on a busy London street. It is very noisy. Having been loaded at King's Cross station, a huge cart laden with hay and towed by two heavy horses trundles past on its way to one of the many stables in the capital, its iron-rimmed wheels clattering along the cobbled street. A double-decker “omnibus” drawn by another two horses passes by. These horses will complete a three-hour shift, then be replaced by another pair. To ensure an unbroken bus service, allowing for injury, lameness and fatigue, each bus required around 11 horses, all housed in central London. “By the end of the Victorian period, more than 300,000 horses were needed to keep the city moving” By 1890 there were 2,000 horse buses in…

WE have been warned of the serious consequences of over-rugging – from overheating to interfering with a horse's natural weight-control system – but it's also key to monitor how much time your horse spends rugged. “I see more skin issues during the winter than any other time of year and a lot of the time it is down to inappropriate rugging,” says Katie. “If a rug is left on for too long the horse's skin doesn't get a chance to breathe and his coat can get clammy and damp. It's really important to regularly remove rugs and give your horse a good groom to improve circulation to skin. If possible, leave rugs off in good weather to let the air get to their skin and feel the full benefit of…

LUDLOW 30 November catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 Cleestanton, Shrops IT'S not often that you're lucky enough to experience the sight and sound that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up within moments of leaving the meet, but this was one of those days. Members of the field had barely tightened their girths when hounds picked up the trail that had been laid earlier in the day. Under the guidance of their professional huntsman, Chris West, hounds were in full cry as they came away from Kitesnest. Our field master, Fred Powell – a four-star international event rider in his second season in the mastership – stylishly led the field in pursuit of hounds. As we pulled up some minutes later, I overheard Davina Daly say: “I'm definitely wearing…

ON his debut at the CHI Geneva, reigning European young rider champion Olli Fletcher opened with a dazzling win in the under-25 speed class on BP Pocahontas (pictured, right). He followed up with third to Belgian Jules van Hoydonck (Minte VD Bisschop) in the 1.45m under-25 grand prix presented by Land Rover Discovery. “It is a privilege to compete here and to watch the world's best horses and riders,” said Olli, who is supported by the Rolex Young Riders Academy. “It is a spectacular event, and it is great to be a part of it this year.” TALKING POINT…

HIGHLIGHTS 2–8 December oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscarw_dr HAVE YOU WON A BD CLASS? DO YOU OR YOUR HORSE HAVE A GREAT STORY? Email dressagehighlights@yahoo.com within 24 hours of your win for a chance to feature on these pages Bromyard Equestrian, Herefords UKCC level two coach and freelance rider Nancy Rollings is enjoying a new ride between the boards. Partnering Nicola Hogg's 11-year-old Dream Boy gelding I Can Dance HRB, she took both advanced mediums with plus-65%. Nancy has had the ride since the beginning of the summer and this was their second competition together. “He's a lovely boy and I'm very lucky to be learning from him,” Nancy said. “He can be quite hot so I was pleased that he stayed with me, especially as he's only been here once before. I…

AT just four years old, SJL Poseidon is making his presence known, landing both prelims at Newbold Verdon EC with 76.19% and 73.4% at his first-ever show. The Erdinger x Don Primaire gelding is ridden by Imogen Swann and owned by Sarah Lucas. “Antonia Brown bought him from the Netherlands and he's been an absolute gentleman from start to finish,” said Imogen. “Considering it was his first competition, he was a star. He was so well behaved.” “He has the attributes to go all the way” IMOGEN SWANN Imogen picked out Poseidon's “enormous canter” as his standout pace: “It's so big that he is still learning to contain it,” she added. “But he's really straightforward and easy. We'll try to qualify him for the winter regionals. He's really special and has…

STUMPTOWN (pictured) made a winning debut over Cheltenham's cross-country fences, setting up an exciting Festival tilt. The seven-year-old, who is trained in Ireland by Gavin Cromwell, had raced three times over the Punchestown banks, winning two of them. He and jockey Keith Donoghue (green and yellow silks) held off the challenge of Mister Coffey (Nico de Boinville) to triumph by a length. “I could see that Mister Coffey was there, but I knew my lad would pick up when he came,” said Donoghue. “He gave me a great spin and has been rejuvenated by these races.” Donoghue, who won the cross-country race at the Festival on Tiger Roll (prior to the horse's two Grand National wins), was asked if he'd ever travelled better at the end of a race at…