Innholdsfortegnelse for 11-Sep-2025 i Horse & Hound

WHAT an incredible partnership Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo have, to win four five-stars, the toughest two twice, no less, and this time around with Ros adapting her riding style to account for her pregnancy. What an amazing athlete and savvy rider, and what a beautiful rapport she has with this phenomenal horse. It's fascinating to learn how Ros handles the pressure she is under riding such a star (report, p48) – keeping her cool to bring out the best in Walter time after time. Talking of cool customers, of course it would be Scott Brash who kept his nerve to win the richest prize in showjumping (report, p96). Britain's para dressage team spent a long time right at the top, the expectation being gold all the way. Other nations…

TOLEDO DE KERSER The Olympic medallist returned to Burghley for Carl Hester's masterclass with Tom McEwen. The 18-year-old's last event was Burghley 2023, when he pulled up with an injury. JOVIAN Andreas Helgstrand's top ride has died aged 11 following complications related to gelding, days after helping Denmark win team bronze at the European Championships. QUANTUM LEAP The five-year-old won the Burghley young event horse final with Piggy March. The gelding, formerly Quantum March, won the four-year-old title in 2024. Report, p72.…

▲ MUCKING OUT Eventer Caroline Powell reveals the post-Burghley blues are real, and she gets back to normal by mucking out. We've got a few stables to do if you want another boost, Caroline, happy to help. ▲ SNAKES After last week's mention of an eagle dropping a catfish at a horse show, news emerges of a hawk dropping a rattlesnake during a US dressage event. At X, turn and extended gallop, 150m? ▲ WALKING Overheard, a rider asking another, who appeared in some pain: “You haven't fallen off, have you?” “No,” came the reply. “Rode without stirrups yesterday.” Say no more.…

Edited by Oscar Williams oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscnwilliams OPINION ALTHOUGH Crozet wasn't the biggest venue you'd expect for a major championship, what a fantastic job the organisers did – from the stabling to the healthy, plentiful food. Geneva, a 20-minute drive away, is a stunning city, and our day off after the grand prix was a memorable one of team bonding around the picturesque lake. Of course, team gold would have been wonderful, but it doesn't always go to plan. Still, I'm so proud of our riders, horses, grooms and support crew. The 2025 Europeans were a positive experience, not just for the British team but for dressage as a sport. Before the competition began, there was a comprehensive briefing that all judges, stewards and riders had to attend. I liked this…

WONGA SWINGER Stable name: Wonga Breeder: Melanie Duff Owner/rider: Tori Thomas Sex: gelding Age: 15 Height: 168cm Breeding: by Lucky Star out of Chippewa (by Cricket Ball) Greatest achievements: 2021, first Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) former National Hunt ridden class and champion Royal Windsor; 2022, first RoR ridden and champion Royal Three Counties, first Tattersalls RoR amateur ridden series final Hickstead Derby Meeting; 2023, first Tattersalls RoR open ridden show series final, first Tattersalls RoR amateur ridden series final and Tattersalls RoR Elite Champion Hickstead Derby Meeting, second SEIB R2R HOYS; 2024, first SEIB R2R HOYS, champion Rising Stars riding horse London International; 2025, champion open and champion amateur riding horses Devon County, first BSHA amateur riding horse Royal International, champion riding horse Bucks County.…

DEFENDER BURGHLEY 4–7 September Edited by Pippa Roome pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle Defender Burghley, Lincs ARKLE, Frankel, and now Lordships Graffalo. Very rarely, once in a generation, a horse comes along who transcends the sport. In defending his Burghley title, by a record nine-penalty margin, Lordships Graffalo has surely galloped his way out of the eventing niche and into the realm of household names. “What an amazing horse –I hope he'll go down in history as a legend of our sport, a legend of all time, not only for his performances but also his character,” said his rider Ros Canter after sealing this historic victory. “‘Walter’ is an unbelievable horse who thrives on these occasions. I could have dropped the reins and waved at the crowd for 15 minutes – not many…

JEMIMA GREEN and Fantabulous made a dream championship debut – the first Brits down the centre line on day one and the last to go in the individual grade II – when they scored 73% to win bronze. In the lead-up to the Europeans, the pair had been posting solid scores and earned their place in Ermelo, but as championship first-timers, and Fantabulous only seven, the pair were untested in this environment – so a medal was far from guaranteed. Their test was flowing, and Jemima kept Fanta's confidence up, scoring eights for their medium walk and final centre line. When Jemima found out she had earned her spot on the podium, it was clear just how much it meant. “I wasn't expecting this at our first championship. He is…

Reaseheath College, Cheshire TRACY TOMLINSON enjoyed a standout show, winning across the levels with two home-produced horses. On 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Floristo, Tracy took both the prix st georges (PSG) freestyle on 72.25% and the straight PSG with 71.03%. “Floristo's always been a sensitive soul,” said Tracy. “He didn't have the easiest start – he was nervous and unsure when he first came over from Germany. We've taken our time, and it's paying off. Riding to music helps him settle and gives him something to focus on.” Not to be outdone, Tracy's 10-year-old mare Delta Nu also impressed, winning the advanced medium on 72.97% and the advanced with 73.28%. “She's a little more straightforward than her half-brother, but still needs confidence in the arena,” Tracy said. “It's been so rewarding…

CONNEMARA PONY SHOW 19–22 August Edited by Bethan Simons bethan.simons@futurenet.com Connemara Pony Show, Clifden, Co Galway GLENCARRIG DOUVAN well and truly earned his place in the history books by securing both ridden and in-hand supremes at the 100th showcase of Ireland's native pony here. Douvan is bred and owned by Patrick Curran, who led him to the in-hand spoils, following in his father Ciaran's footsteps as the latter led Douvan's sire Glencarrig Knight to the supreme spot in 2014. “It's everything you hope and dream for,” said Patrick. “I'm delighted for the pony. He is such a star and he deserves these titles. For him more than anything, we are absolutely thrilled.” He was ridden by Grace Maxwell Murphy, who has formerly ridden him to win at Dublin twice. “It's…

Edited by Eleanor Jones Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ ROS CANTER and Lordships Graffalo have cemented their place among the greatest eventing combinations of all time, winning a second successive Defender Burghley Horse Trials title. Ros and “Walter”, owned by Michele and Archie Saul, won by nine penalties, the only combination to go clear inside the time across country. They add this second Burghley title to their two Mars Badminton wins, in 2023 and 2025, not to mention Olympic team gold, and European team and individual gold. The 13-year-old British-bred gelding is the only horse to have won twice at both Badminton and Burghley. “I hope he goes down as a legend of our sport, a legend of all time, not only for…

TO SUBMIT AN OBITUARY Visit horseandhound.co.uk/obits JIM LANG THE hugely influential figure in the hunting world died on 31 July, aged 86. Jim was born in St Day in Cornwall, where his father was stud groom to Percival Williams, master of the Four Burrow Hunt. Not learning to ride until after he left school, he proved an excellent jockey spurred on initially by the promise of “10 shillings more in his pay packet when he learned to bump the saddle”. His work included side-saddle schooling Mrs Williams’ horse and riding as second horseman bareback so one saddle would do for two horses. When his national service papers arrived, Percival was advised that work in a hunt kennel could exempt you from the call-up. So Jim secured a role as kennelman/second…

Showjumping superstar Scott Brash won the C$5m Spruce Meadows grand prix, with Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham's Hello Jefferson. Report, p96 Top jockey Frankie Dettori and Wimbledon Hawkeye won the $3.5m Nashville Derby in the US, for trainer James Owen and the Gredley family. Showjumper Joe Stockdale broke the six-bar record in Spruce Meadows, clearing 2.13m with Ben Carus's 11-year-old gelding Its Confidential. Young rider Ruby Ward won the British Show Pony Society Burghley Gold Cup sports pony championship with seven-year-old Noble Banksy. Showjumper Jess Mendoza won her first five-star grand prix, the Longines Hampton Classic in New York, with her European Championships ride In The Air.…

▼ SENSE Overheard at the yard, a non-horsey boyfriend asking confusedly: “So the rubbish bins have horse feed in them?” Yep. “And the horse food bags have rubbish in them?” Also yes. Nothing to see here, chaps. ▼ TACT Overheard in a jump lesson, a trainer trying to find a polite way of telling the rider she was going too far forward over the fence. “Try not actually eating his ears,” he advised. Nailed it. ▼ SPELLING To the BBC, which showed a Burghley highlights show on Sunday afternoon, starting its coverage with the legend “Burghley Horse Trails”. Oh, the trails and tribulations of television……

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. @ horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound VALUABLE MANNERS RECENT discussion about behaviour at shows resonated with me after a visit to a local showjumping venue. We were parked next to a smart trailer belonging to a mother and her teenage daughter, whose attractive young horse I saw jumping well in its first class. I didn't see the next class, but the daughter returned to the trailer with a face like thunder, dragging the horse by the bit before yanking off the tack and slamming the door of the trailer, the last of which she was eventually reprimanded for by her mother. “Etiquette and education starts with parents and trainers” HELEN GALE Contrast this with the lovely young teenagers whose…

OWNER TORI THOMAS “WONGA was owned and trained by my husband Sam Thomas. He was difficult to break in – we both fell off him so many times. I once came off four times in one day. He was so quirky. Sam ran him in point-topoints first, then hurdles and he won two on the bounce but fell out of love with it. “Sam wanted to sell him but I didn't and I kept him. I hunted, evented and team-chased him first. We began showing in 2019 and post Covid, we really started to get into it. He's gone to Horse of the Year Show [HOYS] every year since as an exracehorse in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse [R2R] final, getting better placings each time until he won, and…

HORSE & HOUND will have four journalists and a photographer at Blenheim throughout the competition. WEBSITE HORSE & HOUND will be creating extensive online coverage of the European Championships in addition to what will be included in the magazine report. Our coverage will include: ● Course photos of the fivestar cross-country track on Wednesday, 17 September. ● Photos from the first trot-up. ● Times for the next day's competition so you know when the British riders and top contenders compete. ● Breaking news and numerous reports on all the action as it unfolds throughout the event. ● Interviews with firsttimers, comeback stars, British heroes, grooms and more. ● To keep reading at horseandhound.co.uk after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription either to the website or to the…

FOR the past year Lordships Graffalo has been mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jung's mighty double Olympic champion La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, but could we now be witnessing the greatest event horse of all time? Both are no-nonsense bays, with Graffalo the more likely to be in the top few after dressage. They would both add precious little to that first-phase score, with cross-country prowess their superpower. Both seem in a different league to their peers, and can stamp their superiority at both fivestar and championships. By the time Sam was 13, Graffalo's age now, he'd won one standalone five-star to Graffalo's four, but 17 internationals compared to eight, and four individual medals to his rival's one. The question is how much more Graffalo can achieve. LA BIOSTHETIQUESAM FBW…

OPINION THE five-star B test is quite intricate. In the trot work tour, there are several changes of direction and therefore clear changes of bend are also required. Overall, many combinations managed the trot work well. In this test, the shoulderin is placed on the centre line from X to G, and a few riders lost control of their horse's hindquarters coming out of the 8m circle, which led to the following movement becoming “quarters-out” rather than a correctly presented shoulder-in. Some struggled to maintain the three-track angle here. Performing correct, straight and well-placed flying changes, especially on the quarter line in this test, also proved a challenge! PERSONAL BESTS OLIVER TOWNEND rode a super test with Cooley Rosalent. This horse offers such an impressive range of movement, with elasticity,…

Team medals GERMANY won a historic team gold in a hard-fought battle that went down to the wire, while Britain, despite heart-filled efforts, finished just outside of the medals in fourth. The team medals remained open right until the final combination came down the centre line, Britain's grade IV Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, who would determine if a medal was on the cards for the Brits, lying only 0.499 points behind Denmark who were in line for bronze (221.974), and 3.187 points behind Germany (224.454) eying up the gold. In the end, Britain finished on a score of 221.276. Germany won gold, the Netherlands took silver on 223.362, and Denmark held on to bronze. “It's like a dream right now,” said German chef d'equipe Nico Hörmann. “Thank you to…

TOBIAS THORNING JØRGENSEN announced that these championships were to be his long-term partner Jolene Hill's swansong. The 17-year-old Blue Hors Schufro Hit daughter bows out having won medals at all five championships in which she and Tobias have competed, including double individual gold at the Tokyo Paralympics, the 2022 World Championships, 2019 and the 2023 Europeans. Jolene missed the Paris Paralympics last summer, and earlier this year was treated in an equine hospital for stomach problems. “She's been very unlucky this year, but everything is ok now and she's happy,” said Tobias. Jolene bows out on a high, winning three silvers and team bronze at these Europeans. “There's a lot of emotions, when I came out of the freestyle, I was crying for 30 minutes,” said Tobias. “Now is the…

Aintree International EC, Merseyside RYAN TODD continued his strong season with two impressive wins, topping both novice tests with plus-70% on his promising six-year-old Oldenburg gelding Merikanto SLF (Morricone x Showmaker). “I've had him since he was four when he came to me from the stud for backing, and I was lucky enough to be in a position to keep him,” Ryan said. Although relatively inexperienced, Merikanto SLF showed maturity and presence in both tests. “He's very brave and not much fazes him, but it's really about building his confidence to show off what he can do in the ring,” Ryan continued. “At home, he has more to give, so we're working on getting that to come through in competition.” The Aintree outing served as a perfect prep run for…

MALACHY GORHAM'S Moate Echo (Vinny) was awarded the youngstock title for 2025. Bred by Vincent Kelly, the two-year-old Magherafadda Lad colt is out of Derrynamacka Rose. “We bought him as a foal and we've just adored him since he's landed in the yard,” said Malachy's daughter Maria Gorham. “He lives out 24/7 and loves being in your company – he's the first to come to say hello in the morning – we just adore his personality – but what he really loves is the sea. He'd swim forever when he hits the waters of Cleggan. “He won last year as a yearling and we were beyond proud of him winning his class again but to take the junior championship is an absolute dream.” The Gorham family last claimed this championship…

BRC NAF FIVE STAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 31 August–1 September Edited by Martha Terry martha.terry@futurenet.com @marthaowenorterry BRC NAF Five Star National Championships, Lincolnshire Showground, Lincs HARRIETT BEAMAN, 17, and her instructor of 10 years, Cheryl Mundy, triumphed in the British Riding Clubs (BRC) pairs dressage contest to take the overall title on Diva Dancer and Pippi Longpark Stockings for South Molton Riding Club (RC). Both horses are homebred and produced by Cheryl, who provides rides for the club's members from her North Devon riding school, and the pair “work well as a team”. “Last Friday we revamped the test,” said Cheryl, “and this morning, we revamped the ending! We might have had a slight detour in the walk, but the floorplan is quirky and we had good energy, so the judges…

IF there is one thing that living in hostile times for our sport has taught us, it is to enjoy the moment. Anyone who has dragged themselves out of bed to partake in their first morning's autumn trail-hunting will make a silent prayer of thanks when the hounds start to speak. And hounds will be speaking – in some cases have been doing so for a month or more – all over Britain. In the Welsh mountains, Exmoor, Dartmoor, the Yorkshire Wolds and the flatlands of Norfolk there will be people on foot and horses feeling grateful, loving the sight, the scene, the sound and the late summer backdrop. We are yet to start, but one of the markers of summer's end in this part of the world is our…

SCHOLARSHIP UP FOR APPLICATIONS ABBEY ENGLAND is inviting craftspeople to apply for its scholarship. The leatherwork and equestrian product supplier aims to “celebrate talented makers and crafters from saddlers to leatherworkers”. The successful candidate will get tools worth £500, £200 towards training, expert advice and business support. Applicants must complete a submission form and submit photos of their work. Abbey England CEO Richard Brown said: “We are always so inspired by the entries we receive, and can't wait to see the passion entrants have for keeping heritage skills alive in new and exciting ways.” • Visit: abbeyengland.com by 24 October FIRST ICSI CLINIC OPENS IN BRITAIN THE first fully operational ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) clinic for horses opens in the UK on 1 October. OPU (ovum pick-up) has been available…

Edited by Pippa Roome pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle OPINION THIS was a real Burghley, where cross-country was at the core. We must preserve that, with Burghley as the pinnacle. Worryingly, entry numbers are decreasing – 52 starters this year, with an average of 57 in the past four years, compared to an average of 69 for 2015 to 2019. We're not lacking five-star horses, but maybe riders are scared and don't need to do Burghley any more – an annual five-star campaign can be Badminton and then Pau or Maryland. Modern flashy horses, with great movement and a careful jump over 1.30m, are less suited to Burghley. We should embrace different horses suiting different venues and there are incredible eventers who shouldn't run at Burghley. But Burghley mustn't become just for horses…

“WHEN I judged him, it was in an R2R class and I was overseeing the conformation phase. My immediate thought was that he is a beautiful pattern of a horse – a classic thoroughbred with quality flat bone and knees. He's also a great mover – he has a very good canter and a lovely walk. “On the go, he has a beautiful outlook and way of going, and when I judged him he was perfectly behaved with super manners. A lot of former racehorses can show some tension but he didn't, he was relaxed. “I said at the time that he really ought to do some open classes as he's such a fantastic pattern as a riding horse. It's brilliant to see how he has progressed through to open…

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● All the action will be shown on FEI TV powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. An annual premium subscription costs £207.99. Visit clipmyhorse.tv ● All days are available on ClipMyHorse.TV with English or no commentary, with German commentary also available on Saturday and Sunday. ● You can watch the cross-country and showjumping live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. You can also play back those phases on iPlayer for 30 days after the event. ● There will be a live stream on the Blenheim Facebook page (facebook.com/blenheimhorse) of the draw of nations (9.30am), first horse inspection (noon), allocation of starting positions and individual draw (2pm) and opening ceremony (3.30pm) on Wednesday, 17 September. The second horse inspection is also likely to be streamed there.…

DEFENDER BURGHLEY Showjumping ONLY one horse was withdrawn before the showjumping – Selina Milnes’ Gelmer, from 20th position overnight. The final horse inspection passed without incident; no horses were even asked to trot twice, testament to the perfect cross-country going, leaving 29 in the last phase. The co-founder of data analytics company EquiRatings Sam Watson predicted a relatively high number of clears owing to the “number of good jumpers in the field”. “The ground is amazing,” said Sam, who jumped clear himself on Ballyneety Rocketman. “It walks a big, square track right from the first fence. Fences one to eight is where a lot of the jumping is, it's quite a nice turning track after that.” Four of nine horses jumped clear in the morning session, setting the standard for…

Edited by Oscar Williams oscar.williams@futurenet.com European Para Dressage Championships, Ermelo, Netherlands THE 2025 FEI European Para Dressage Championships at the Netherlands’ National Equestrian Centre in Ermelo welcomed more than 50 athletes from 20 countries. No qualifying places for the 2028 LA Paralympics were up for grabs, so it was an opportunity for many nations to field new teams and combinations. Any suggestion that this meant the competition would become predictable or any less tough was quickly blown out of the water. History was made, new combinations shone, young horses stepped up and unfamiliar teams gelled. “Brits delivered a performance to be proud of” The competition offered excitement and suspense from the beginning, starting with the individual medals in the grand prix A test. While there were some notable favourite combinations,…

THE Brits missed out on a team medal by the smallest margin, but they can return home with their heads held high, with five individual medals, at a championship where nothing was guaranteed. “I'm incredibly proud. We have a new team here, two championship debutants and a sevenyear-old horse,” said British Equestrian para dressage performance manager Georgina Sharples, adding she believes a team medal is “well within our grasp”. “We've been thrilled with the performances and I think the selectors did a really good job in picking a team that was ready. They've come here, they've performed, they've won medals. We're developing people and horses for the future. They'll take so much away from this, there are so many positives.”…

ALL ENGLAND SEPTEMBER TOUR (PART TWO) 3–7 September Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald All England September Tour (part two), All England Jumping Course, W Sussex YOUNG rider European champion Rachel Proudley took her first two International Arena wins in the space of two days, namely the Billy Stud Auction All England five-yearold championship with NFS Super Freak – and the Breen Equestrian All England grand prix with Guess Du Mont. The 60 grand prix starters were whittled down to nine for the jump-off, and Rachel and HK Horses’ nine-year-old set an unbeatable time from second draw. The athletic mare turned in the air and showed staggering acceleration to the last line to finish nearly two seconds ahead of Benjamin Bick and Dirk IV. “I didn't have the best draw…

A RECORDBREAKING HIGH JUMP JOE STOCKDALE followed in the footsteps of his late father Tim Stockdale when winning the ATCO Electric six-bar. Under the lights, the 25-year-old rider and Ben Carus's 11-year-old gelding Its Confidential (pictured, above) cleared a final fence set at 2.13m (more than 6ft 11in) to share the spoils with Czechia rider Vaclav Stanek riding Quintin. This was Joe's first visit to the Calgary venue since he watched his father Tim and Fresh Direct K2 win the world-famous high-jump class in 2011, clearing 2.03m. The winning duo smashed Spruce Meadows’ six-bar record height of 2.12m set by Jessica Kürten of Ireland in 2004. “Breaking the six-bar record at Spruce Meadows and winning the same class as my dad is one I won't forget,” commented Joe.…

TEAM HOOD enjoyed a stellar week. At Edenbridge and Oxted, Oliver topped the cob championship with Catherine Dickens’ decorated heavyweight Carters Top Gun, and he also rode Julia Moorhouse's former Hickstead lightweight winner Timpany Imperial (Timmy) to top the novice workers. ON FORM “We felt Timmy was getting a bit bored of showing,” said Oliver, “but luckily he enjoys jumping.” Oliver opted to ride Top Gun in the supreme and team member Izzy Stanley took over Timmy's reins to beat the boss to stand reserve to Jayne Ross and KBF Lucia. Later in the week, Oliver rode Eamon and Rachel McCourt's novice lightweight cob The Archers Arrow (Cabbage) to be runner-up at Bucks County and win at Stoneleigh, and Richard and Auriol Wilson's Indigo Jones to win the maxi cobs…

M&M ridden classes at Stoneleigh were bumper. Topping the Dales class was Joe Watson with his own and Rob McIvor's former HOYS champion Griseburn Major, who was gelded just a month ago but hasn't looked back, looking as well as ever. Also bouncing back – albeit from retirement and a 20-month break from work – was the winner of the Welsh section D class and reserve large breed, Thorneyside Guardsman, ridden by his owner Katy Marks. This was his second time in the ring this term, having tested the waters at the last Stoneleigh fixture in July, when the pair finished third. Both were pipped to the large breed championship, though, by Amy Canavan-Smith and Laura Marshall's Fell stallion Hardendale Ray. They had finally claimed their spot at the NEC…

PURSUING a passion for horses while keeping up with schoolwork isn't easy. The daily demands of training, competitions and academic study can be relentless, yet many young riders are finding ways to combine the two. For some, the support comes from Pony Club or a local riding school, while for others, it's the chance to train at schools with first-class equestrian facilities. Increasingly, families are also turning to online education, giving riders the flexibility to learn whenever and wherever suits their schedule. The National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) has been central to this growth. Its competitions allow children from both state and independent schools to compete for their schools, fostering a culture in which riding can sit alongside academic achievement. NSEA chairman Jill Barker says: “We are aiming to make…