Innholdsfortegnelse for 03-Dec-15 i Horse & Hound

OWNERS seeking advice on when to put a horse down could soon benefit from more support thanks to new research. A euthanasia survey is being conducted by Liane Preshaw of The Horse Trust and is open to owners, as well as vets and farriers. The survey asks respondents which factors led them to put the horse to sleep, including aspects of the animal’s health or welfare that contributed, and how confident the person was with their decision. Results will be collated to find out if there is a common understanding between owners and professionals of the signs that indicate a horse’s quality of life has been sufficiently compromised to give grounds for euthanasia, as well as any other situations that justify putting a horse down. “Having a horse put to…

HOYS released its judges list for the 2016 championships on 23 November. However, the judges for both a new junior M&M class and a number of other classes at the Birmingham event are still yet to be confirmed. For the first time next year, judges of the Cuddy supreme in-hand and the horse and pony supremes will not be revealed until the 2016 show. A Grandstand Media spokesman told H&H that there would be contingency plans in place should a competitor qualify for the supreme only to then find that they have a connection with the judge.…

PLANS to build houses on the site of a third equestrian centre in Hertfordshire have been submitted to the council. Bucks Meadow Riding School closed on 30 September after 23 years as it was “not finanically viable”. The application to build more than 30 houses on the site in Oxhey Village, Watford, was put to Hertsmere Borough Council on 28 October. So far, the application has received 80 objections and seven letters of support. This is the third application to build on an equestrian centre in Hertfordshire. Patchetts, which is less than three miles away, shut in August and plans for a 58-house development in its place were put to councillors that month. An application to develop South Medburn EC in Borehamwood — which is still open — was submitted…

IRISH showjumper Cian O’Connor and Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) will spend the day before Olympia at a legal hearing into the “running steward” incident at the European Championships, which they allege cost their showjumping team its Olympicplace, writes Pippa Cuckson. HSI appealed directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and the case will be heard in London on 16 December. At Aachen, Cian was in the middle of his round with Good Luck when a member of the arena party dashed across his path and jumped into the flowerbed that Cian was turning around before tackling an oxer. Cian says the distraction caused Good Luck to have his only fault of the round. Ireland lost out on a Rio place to Spain by 0.38pen. On the day the…

EVER wanted to know what it feels like to ride a winner home? Well now you can, thanks to a new app by bookies William Hill. The company’s “Get in the Race” app, developed with production company Unit9, lets racing fans virtually “ride” in a real race as it happens. Using GPS technology and 3D graphics, the user will be able to “sit” on the horse they have backed and see the race from the jockey’s perspective. You can also activate a “head up” display, which reveals your horse’s heart rate, stride length, distance remaining and race position. All you need is a smartphone and a Google Cardboard device (around £10) or an Oculus headset. A prototype was launched in May as part of the Digital Shoreditch Festival and is…

WITH the ebb and flow of another equestrian year, I’m reminded what a generous and widely talented creature the horse is. From the incredible grit shown by Grand National winner Many Clouds to the sky-high trainability and willingness of Loughnatousa WB, who scooped his second Hickstead Derby — under two different riders — horses truly are remarkable. Then there’s Hello Sanctos, La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, Valegro and all the other equine athletes who’ve contributed to a thrilling year of sport. At every level we, as owners, take responsibility for the precious horses in our care having good lives, and also good deaths (news, p4-5). Euthanasia shouldn’t only be considered if every other avenue has been exhausted; it is a legitimate option in many situations, and not just when the horse is…

25-1 — the odds on Grand National winner Many Clouds FIRST STALLION TO WIN BADMINTON CHILLI MORNING 17,000 grand prix spectators in Aachen for the Euros £230,000 money raised for the injured Jockeys Fund at the Cheltenham Festival 25 age of jockey Nico de Boinville when he took the Cheltenham Gold Cup 1st — German rider to triumph at a British four-star, when Michael Jung took the Burghley title 75.971% Totilas’ disappointing grand prix score at the Euros 19 age of the oldest horse at the Hickstead derby TWO Prices in the top five at Burghley — husband and wife, Tim and Jonelle the number of wins 9 last season by the women’s point-to-point champion, Gina Ellis 5th — HOYS supreme horse title for Jayne Ross 13 age…

“YOU’LL have to go for it,” said Michael Whitaker to his nephew William just before he went into the ring as last to go in the 12-horse jump-off for the world ranking grand prix. Michael never said a truer word, as William and the 10-year-old Balibu had to chase what looked an impossible target set by an inspired William Funnell on Billy Angelo. Paul Connor’s first-round track demanded care from horse and rider, and in the jump-off he tested nerve and bravery with inviting inside options and a long gallop to a huge final oxer. William (Whitaker) set off carefully, but once the first few fences were out of the way, he upped the pace and Balibu answered heroically. William even had time to take a pull to make sure…

SONNAR MURRAYBROWN earned his highest ever score of 84.82% when Damon’s Gold, a four-year-old by Damon Hill, won the novice 39 open qualifier at West Wilts EC, (19 November). The pair also claimed the novice 23 with a score of 77.03%, writes Annabel Kerby. Based at Catherston Stud, Sonnar spotted Damon’s Gold at a Westfalian auction in October last year while he was training in Germany. “I always liked Damon Hill and I knew I was the only person who wanted Damon’s Gold as I was the only one to try him. He was a bit hot,” said Sonnar. “He’s become more and more settled each time I take him out. To start with, he found everything very scary. He’s a joy to ride, but you can’t see any of…

THE dominance of Germany continued to the indoor cross-country competition in Stockholm. Ingrid Klimke once again proved why she is one of the best eventers in the world, walking away with a brand new John Deere tractor and € 2,000 (£1,400) in prize money courtesy of her round on Marion and Eric Gottschalk’s 11-year-old Parmenides. The Trakehner by Sir Chamberlain was placed at the seven-year-old World Championships at Le Lion d’Angers in 2011 and then went on to secure two top-10 placings at CIC3* level in 2012 before he was retired from eventing due to injury. The atmosphere at the Swedish show was electric, with a packed out audience and loud music more akin to a dance club than a high-profile equestrian event. Swedish competitor Ludwig Svennerstal even got the…

HAVE you taken a brilliant eventing photo in 2015? If so, enter our amateur photographer competition. The prize is one money can’t buy: press accreditation to the Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials 2016. We’re looking for classic great action pictures, but also backstage shots, quirky angles and innovative photos. To enter, send a maximum of three photos — taken at British Eventing or FEI affiliated events during the 2015 season — as prints, together with the same pictures as high resolution jpgs on disc to Photography Competition, Horse & Hound , 8th Floor, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU. Please include details of the horse/rider/venue, plus the photographer’s name, address, phone number and email address. This contest is only open to amateurs who have never had their pictures…

OVER-RUGGING horses has been a particular bugbear of mine for several years. I am not alone. At the recent World Horse Welfare conference it was cited as one of the reasons that we have an epidemic of overweight and obese horses. Not that long ago, rugs were the preserve of clipped horses only. They had two rugs; a New Zealand to wear outside and a jute stable rug worn with blankets underneath for inside. And when turned out for holidays they wore nothing but their own coat — and survived. Now there is barely a horse in the land that doesn’t have a veritable wardrobe of rugs for every occasion and climate. Even unclipped native types are commonly seen wrapped in a parcel of Gore-Tex while many horses live their…

BALTHAZAR KING The popular chaser who broke several ribs falling in this year’s Grand National is “full of himself” and back being ridden. The 11-year-old has recovered and is aimed at the cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival. FANVILLE DAVID The coloured non-native has died aged 15 duetoa tumour. The pony had success competing at the Royal International for 11 years, and Horse of the Year Show for 10 years, ridden by Brogan Taverner, Zoe Cutmore and Harry Chandler. PRIVATE COLIN The former four-star eventer has been put down at the age of 21 due to arthritis. British-bred Private Colin was produced up to top level by Australian rider Sam Griffiths. He was sixth at Blenheim in 2003 and sixth at Badminton in 2004. DRESDEN MANN Ingrid Klimke has retired…

PART of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Agenda 2020 is based on attracting a new audience to the sport, and one way is through media coverage. Since the last Olympics, equestrianism has been demoted from category C to D (with the bottom level being E), despite its popularity at London 2012. When asked if the BBC cuts would affect the sport’sratings, the IOC told H&Hitwas “hard to say”. The category wasdetermined by the coverage during the Olympic period, however, a spokesman said that sports provide data to the IOC throughout the year, one part of which is coverage. In April at the FEI sport forum Stefan Kürten from the European Broadcasting Union said “ratings are king” but sports are expensive to air due to rights hire and production costs, and…

EMILY KING British eventer Emily will be training with Cooley Currency at German showjumper Marcus Ehning’s yard this winter. “Marcus is a huge idol of mine, and I feel privileged to be spending time learning from such a master,” she said. JOCK PAGET The New Zealand team event rider married his long-term Australian girlfriend Tegan Niven while in Australia last week. Jock, who won Badminton in 2013, has also won an Olympic bronze medal and is now focussed on Rio selection. MARC HOUTZAGER The Dutch rider welcomed the arrival of his second child with his partner and fellow showjumper Julia Kayser. The couple have one daughter called Nina, and celebrated the arrival of another, Liz, on 23 November. JAMIE DOUGLAS The rider and instructor based at Erme Valley Riding for…

A record-breaking number of horses have found a new home in the past two months, according to equine charity World Horse Welfare, writes Amy Mathieson. The organisations’ “rehome a horse month” in September helped 44 horses find somewhere new to live. In October a further 41 were rehomed — doubling the average number of around 23 rehomed each month throughout the rest of 2015. The charity has recently launched a new website to help make the process easier. It currently has 1,700 horses out at homes around the UK. “We are absolutely delighted to see the huge boost in the number of horses rehomed over the past two months, and would like to thank everyone who has supported us in reaching these figures,” said World Horse Welfare’s Tony Tyler. “We’re…

WORLD number one showjumper Scott Brash is one of four equestrian greats to have been inducted into the British Horse Society’s (BHS) hall of fame. The BHS hall of fame celebrates the heroes and heroines — human and equine — of the equestrian world. This year Olympic gold medallist Scott made history, becoming the first rider to win the Rolex Grand Slam of showjumping. Scott’s partner Hello Sanctos was also welcomed to the roll of honour. “I think Hello Sanctos and I really understand one another,” said Scott. “We just click as a partnership.” Showing producer and rider Jayne Ross and Lucinda Fredericks’ prolific eventing mare Headley Britannia were also inducted. “This is beyond my wildest dreams,” said Jayne.…

HORSEY FILMS Horseware’s anniversary video Made by horses, for horseswon the best non-broadcast award at the EQUUS Film Festival in New York (20-22 November). The video featured trainer Emma Massingale’s Connemara ponies “working” in Horseware’s factory. THE INJURED JOCKEYS FUND Betfair raised £50,000 for the Injured Jockeys Fund with its #nationaljockeyday campaign. Every tweet with the hashtag raised £1 for the charity. EQUESTRIAN FASHION Sporting Hares has celebrated receiving the fashion entrepreneur of the year award. The countryside fashion company collected the honour at the Entrepreneur Wales Awards (12 November). A FUNDRAISING EVENING More than 100 supporters of the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund gathered for “An Evening with Clare Balding”, on 11 November. The event raise £7,000 for the charity.…

A livery yard owner has had a claim of more than £75,000 against her dismissed — reassuring fellow business owners to fight their cases. The yard owner, who wished to remain anonymous, runs a DIY yard of 45 horses. The claimant was a 10-year-old girl who stabled a pony that she had on loan at the yard. The child took the pony off the yard on an unsupervised hack on 14 August 2012 and was thrown off — sustaining two fractures to her thoracic spine, which required surgery. The child’s solicitors said that as well as providing livery services, the owner was also responsible for the provision of riding lessons, the pony’s loan scheme, and for supervising minors while they were on the yard. They claimed that the owner had…

WATCH THAT WORM Sir — Further to your article on pinworm (news, 5 November), I agree with Edd Knowles that our understanding of Oxyuris equi (pinworm) has evolved. With the exception of one tapeworm-specific drug on the market, all the worming drugs available are broad spectrum. Therefore when dosing against pinworm, all other worm species within the horse are exposed to the drug at the same time, including those species that have evolved to become drug resistant. Effective pinworm treatment is as much about good management as chemical intervention. Anthelmintic (wormer) resistance is a growing problem, and it is paramount that we use the worming drugs we have sustainably to ensure they last into the future to allow us to treat parasites of clinical significance when required. While pinworm cannot…

• H&H presents The 2015 Equestrian Year in this beautiful annual, with the very best of eventing, dressage, showjumping, racing and showing action. £9.99 Available in WHSmith, Easons and Martin McColl • Freejump’s Soft’Up Lite stirrups offer a safer, better position for riders under 60kg. A great range of colours are available. £175 www.freejumpsystem.com  01335 370 737 • A voucher for five entries to The Mane Show, a fun and interactive way for you or your friends to compete in online showing classes. £15 www.themaneshow.co.uk • Kempton Park racecourse membership — an ideal and indulgent gift for anyone with a love of racing, giving access to all 13 jump fixtures and reciprocal visits to other racecourses. From £170 www.kempton.co.uk • The Riding Club London…

Valegro HOW could we leave out the spectacular 13-year-old gelding, currently world, Olympic and European champion? He retained his World Cup title in Las Vegas and helped secure Britain team silver at the Europeans in Aachen, en route to nailing double individual gold with Charlotte Dujardin for the fourth championship in a row. In doing so, “Blueberry” has held on to all three world records, and has sealed his position at the top of the FEI rankings for the fourth consecutive year. Carinsio THIS has been a stellar year for this Painted Black eight-year-old. Under Becky Moody he has dominated the UK small tour circuit, taking the inter I and prix st georges (PSG) titles at the British Dressage (BD) winter championships, claiming inter I victories at both Hartpury and…

AS someone who goes hunting unashamedly to experience the thrill of galloping and jumping across open country following hounds, this date burned a hole in my diary. The Quorn, founded in 1696, has to be one of the oldest hunts in the UK and is part of the Melton Hunt Club. This club is made up of packs enabling visitors access to Leicestershire’s famous old turf with pastures divided by cut and laid hedges, patched with timber and guarded by ditches, ideal for galloping and jumping horses at speed. Huntsman Peter Collins is one of nature’s true gentlemen. His first love was actually motorbikes and he still rides them in the quieter summer months. I’d hunted with Peter a good deal 20 or so years ago when I was a…

NEAR the Fox and Hounds at Eggesford, where the hunt hold their opening meet dinner, meets and other functions, lives Patrick Ellis, 85, who has just published his engaging memoirs: Living the Dream: Tales of a Hunting Man. Educated at Stowe (where he first read H&H and bought it every week ever since), Patrick hunted the North Kildare Harriers, Sparkford Vale and several packs in America. He recalls hunting with the film director John Huston — “he was a lad” — Roderic More O’Ferrall — “a brilliant horseman” — and Irish showjumping legend Diana Connolly Carew. Copies of Patrick Ellis’ book are available for £15 (incl p&p), cheques made payable to Hounds Magazine, Rose Cottage, Hughley, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY5 6NX. Call 01746 785637 for information.…

TEAM Harmony’s nine-year-old has caught the eye since Louise Whitaker first rode her in newcomers classes in July. The Kannan daughter, who was bred in Britain by her owner, Princess Haya of Jordan, was again impressive here. The chestnut mare, whom François Mathy Jnr started in Belgium, has a huge jump, but was a late starter after suffering a freak accident on a horse walker in which her tongue was severed. “She’s done much less than other horses of her age, so she’s had to catch up,” said Louise. “She’s really careful and has all her double clears for next year. She’s improving all the time and she’s ready to step up now. She’s definitely one for the future.”…

LOTTIE FLINN counts herself lucky every time she rides Korenbloem Royal Rebel down the centre line. The pair debuted their advanced medium freestyle music at Myerscough Arena, Lancs (21-22 November), and duly triumphed with a score of 74.83%. “Two years ago he contracted meningitis and the vets gave him a 2% chance of survival,” said Lottie. “With their care he’s made a miraculous recovery and it’s ironic that he had a year off for all the wrong reasons but has come back better than ever. Lottie bought the Rubels x Bright Speed gelding as a five-year-old and has brought him on herself. “I hadn’t even ridden him through the freestyle beforehand,” she admitted. “My arena is only 20x40m and I’ve been too busy to box him anywhere to have a…

SWEDEN’S Linda Algotsson rode the 10-year-old Swedish warmblood stallion Fairnando (pictured, below), owned by her parents Margareta and Bo Christer Algotsson. She jumped a clear round to clinch fourth place. By World, European and Olympic silver medallist showjumper Cardento, Fairnando — who is a successful three-star eventer — is out of Fairlisia, who competed to 1.20m showjumping and one-star eventing. Fairnando’s nine-year-old half-brother Fairnet has also clocked up four top-10 placings at three-star level in 2015. Fairnando’s granddam is the Algotsson family’s foundation mare Princess Fair. Her offspring include Stand By Me, who competed at two Olympic Games (2004 and 2008) and took individual silver with Linda at the 1999 European Championships. She also produced European Championship horse My Fair Lady, and one of her granddaughters is 2012 London Olympic…

• THE FEI eventing committee will adapt the guidelines for indoor eventing classes into formal rules. The issue was raised at the recent FEI General Assembly, with the intention of regulating demonstration classes at FEI jumping and dressage events, such as the one at Stockholm (report, p80). Among the existing recommendations are that competitors and the course-designer should be qualified to three-star level. • IRISH rider Ciaran Glynn and his wife Emily have a new daughter, Megan Edna Glynn, who was born on 4 November. Italian Olympian Susanna Bordone and her husband Simone are celebrating the arrival of Agata, a sister to two-year-old Alfonso. • BADMINTON’S charity of the year for 2016 will be World Horse Welfare. H&H is also supporting a charity in 2016 — find out which one…

OLYMPIC cyclist Victoria Pendleton’s pointing debut gave the Black Forest Lodge meeting a buzz. She rode the Alan Hill-trained Minella Theatre in the club members’ race but pulled up two from home. “The agenda was for me to get around safely by doing our own thing,” said Victoria. “Hopefully we will have Sedgemoor Express and According To Sarah out in a couple of weeks.” Ed Barrett, who sustained spinal injuries in a fall at Upcott Cross last season, was watching the West Country action from a four-wheel drive. And he was not just an impartial observer. “I’m here to watch my horse Kisha Lad, who is trained by Kayley Woollacott and ridden by Jamie Thomas,” said Ed, who is living at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Oaksey House while undergoing physio.…

TRAINER Alan Hill is no stranger to sending out winners at Cottenham, East Anglia, and his son Joe rode the odds-on favourite Consigliere to a cosy victory in the men’s open in the fastest time of the day, writes Will Hickman (29 November). “He’s class isn’t he?” said Alan’s wife, National Hunt trainer Lawney. “Every time they came to him he jumped them into trouble. “He won’t be running in the Foxhunters this year, we’d rather keep bringing him out every three weeks and pick up races like this.” Sam Davies-Thomas put down an early marker for the jockeys’ championship when riding winners for Tommy and Kelly Morgan. Lough Inch made all the running in the opening 2m4f Point-to-Point Owners’ and Riders’ association (PPORA) Club members’ conditions race, taking his…

IN the UK and Ireland it is the responsibility of the owner to decide if and when a horse should be put down. However, many countries in Europe only allow horses to be euthanised on veterinary advice. These include France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. There are also areas across the world where equine euthanasia is rejected for cultural or religious reasons. “The anthropology of euthanising animals is a passionate and complex issue,” said vet Josep Subriana. “Religion is often mixed with tradition and in some areas like west Africa, the belief of animism — that all living things have a spirit or soul — is also a factor. “Generally speaking, Islamic, Sub-Saharan, Buddhist and Hindu countries tend to be more reluctant to euthanise, along with less developed countries or…

DALHAM Hall-based sire Dubawi was responsible for the three top priced lots — at 800,000gns (£840,000), 720,000gns and 625,000gns — at the foal sales in Newmarket. They were his only representatives in the catalogue. All were fillies. The trio was headed by the daughter of Oaks third High Heeled, bought by Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock manager John Ferguson and offered from the Wigan family’s West Blagdon Stud in Dorset. The last time one stallion had a clean sweep of the Tattersalls foal leaderboard was in 1988, when youngsters by Sadler’s Wells provided the top three prices — headed by a 300,000gns colt from West Blagdon.…

PETER WILLETT HORSE & HOUND’S authoritative bloodstock correspondent for more than 40 years, Peter Willett, died on 22 November aged 96. “Peter was very highly regarded in the racing world,” said former H&H editor Michael Clayton. “His weekly column in Horse & Hound was a fount of knowledge for generations of bloodstock breeders. He made a major contribution to racing in general. “Peter reviewed the entire race calendar for the Jockey Club in the late 1960s, and was a leading figure in the design of Pattern races, which ensured that highest-class performers peaked for the biggest races. The system was adopted in Europe and America. “He was a co-founder of the European Breeders’ Fund in 1983, persuading stud farms to contribute prize money to put on races that the breeding…

A horse trader from north Staffordshire who used a registered vet’s details fraudulently to obtain passports to sell his animals has been ordered to pay more than £3,500 in compensation, writes Amy Mathieson. Mark Allman, 54, of Madeley Heath Farm, Madeley, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of fraud at Stafford Crown Court on 15 October. Allman used the registration details of Moorlands vet Ian Elkington and a business stamp from Mr Elkington’s practice, Moorlands Veterinary Centre in Leek, to obtain horse passports from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Allman was handed a two-year prison sentence — suspended for two years on each of the 11 offences — plus 200 hours unpaid community work, to be done in 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £4,226 costs and compensation…

THEFT A horse ambulance has been stolen from a barn in Ryarsh, Kent. Police are appealing for information after thieves cut the trailer free from its wheel clamp. A HORSE IN A HARROW Sussex firefighters rescued a horse after it became trapped in a small harrow on 23 November. The animal was released by crews and was left in the care of the vet. FLOODED HORSES Four horses became stuck in their field after flooding in Yorkshire. Racehorse trainer Andy Crook, 5ft 2in, came to their rescue by wading through the water and leading them to safety. SUSSEX PONIES The Sussex Pony Grazing Conservation Trust has withdrawn its offer to loan its animals to graze on downland in Brighton due to concerns about the site’s security.…

GO TO THE SALES Brightwells’ Elite December Auction of dressage, showjumping and event horses is at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Bucks, on 5 December. www.brightwells.com RACING Enjoy National Hunt racing at Sandown at the Tingle Creek Christmas Festival on 4-5 December. Arrive in style with a free carriage ride from Esher train station. sandown.thejockeyclub.co.uk CHAMPIONSHIPS The British Dressage small tour championships will be held at Houghton Hall Equestrian Centre, Cambs, on 5-6 December. www.hheqc.co.uk EXHIBITION Work of equestrian artist Jacques-Chalom des Cordes will be on display at the Sladmore Gallery in Jermyn Street, London, on 2 December-31 January. www.sladmore.com FESTIVE FAIR Do some Christmas shopping at the Westcountry Equine Fair in Westpoint, Exeter, on 5-6 December. Gifts for the Children’s Hospice South West will also be collected during the fair.…

Further to Carl Hester’s visit to the south-west British Young Rider Dressage Scheme (BYRDS) I wanted to write and let people know what a truly wonderful ambassador Carl is to our up-and-coming riders. After the excitement of his arrival calmed down, he began talking, not about how amazing the winners were, but how fantastic the 43 children who had not won anything were. He likened it to being on a yard with Charlotte and Valegro, knowing you are not going to come first. What a breath of fresh air. I too believe that we are not all born champions, but with grit and determination we must strive to be the best we can while keeping the enjoyment factor. Every child (and, as importantly, parent) must remember it is not the…

EVERY showjumping horse needs to learn to move in a straight line without the support of the wall. To achieve this, I spend time working my horses anywhere but on the outside track, so that they have to use themselves and stay in balance. After cantering around the short end of the school I’ll turn down the three-quarter line. I then pick a target at the other end of the school and try to canter straight towards it. The aim is to come off the corner and soften the hand so that the horse maintains rhythm and direction. A young horse will still need some support from the wall, but this is a useful exercise to introduce a little further along in his education. It’s not as easy as it…

Countryside Alliance A collection of photographs depicting the rural way of life and country sports through the seasons — from hunting and hound shows to racing and fishing. £9.99 inc p&p www.countryside-alliance.org  01295 680 180 World Horse Welfare Each month has a photo of a different World Horse Welfare horse, pony or donkey, taken by the charity’s staff. £4.99 plus £2.95 p&p shop.worldhorse welfare.org  01953 497 239 The Brooke Photos of cute foals, happy horses and donkeys from around the globe, as well as ideas of how to get involved with the charity in 2016. The calendar is not available to buy but is free for those who donate to The Brooke. www.thebrooke.org 020 7470 9390 Equine Grass Sickness A different equine scene for every month —…

Joint-masters: Joss Hanbury (1997), James Mossman (2006), Jo Jewell (2015), Liz Murfitt (2015) Huntsman: Peter Collins First whipper-in: Elliot Stokes Stud groom: Lorna Collins Countrymen: Neil Brockbank and Fran Fence builder: Phil Kirk Trail layer: Bruce Langley-McKim Amateur whip: David Bland Hon sec: Peter Morritt, 01664 813661 Country: bordered in the north by the South Notts, to the south the Fernie, to the west the Atherstone and Meynell & South Staffs and to the east the Cottesmore. Hunting days: Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays…

IT is the time of year when team managers decide which four legs of the 2016 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cups they would like to pick as their nation’s qualifying competitions for the final. For next year’s series there will be a whole different agenda as the main focus falls on selecting a team for Rio. As Britain finished runners-up last year, Di Lampard has been one of the first to select, choosing three Nations Cups — La Baule, Rome and Rotterdam — before our compulsory home CSIO at Hickstead, as the ones that will count for points. Two of which, Rome and Rotterdam, are on a surface, as is Rio. Rotterdam will be the last before Di makes her final Olympic selection. All riders who want to be considered will…

AS Olympic year approaches, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, Carl Hester with Nip Tuck, plus Fiona Bigwood and Atterupgaards Orthilia must be near certainties for team places. It’s the question of “the other one” — and soundness — that will keep us all enthralled. In the mix are Michael Eilberg, Gareth Hughes, Spencer Wilton, Hayley Watson-Greaves, Alice Oppenheimer, Laura Tomlinson, Lara Griffith and Anna Ross. But never doubt Richard Davison’s ability to come from behind. My spies tell me that Bubblingh, his home-bred, nine-year-old, lightly competed Lingh x Picandt gelding, showed huge promise on an international outing to Lier, Belgium last month (report, 12 November). They have yet to achieve high enough scores, but with Richard’s impeccable timing, they could be “the one”. A logical lateral move IS the turn on…

SPORT worldwide is facing a crisis. Hardly a week passes without a new scandal across countless different sports, whether it be allegations of corruption at major championships or charges of widespread doping. In any sport, to be the best takes total commitment. The rewards, although not necessarily financial, are enough to tempt athletes away from the moral code of fair play. While there is much to be positive about in equestrian sport, we walk a tightrope — inclusion at the Olympics after 2016 is not a given. But disappointingly in eventing we are notoriously apathetic. The FEI committee rider rep was elected with a mere 27 rider votes, while there were many empty seats at the British Eventing AGM this autumn, despite it being held at Osberton, which was awash…

IN some ways Newbury’s Hennessy meeting felt like a changing of the guard. A battalion of young up-and-coming trainers — Harry Whittington, Ali Stronge, Kerry Lee, Harry Fry, Dan Skelton and Warren Greatrex — all got on the score-sheet, some of them more than once, at the Berkshire racecourse’s highest profile meeting. And leading jockey Gavin Sheehan appeared to be auditioning for the title role in Being AP 2. But it was one of the old guard, the long-established trainer Alan King, who won the biggest prize of all. He added his name to the honours board for the greatest handicap chase outside of Aintree — and the longest commercially sponsored sporting event in the world — by sending out Smad Place to win the 59th running of the Hennessy…

THE realisation that the new season is upon us hit me two weeks ago when Storm Barney blew through. I’d already taken the first phone call: “I have an unraced five-year-old for you to school… it’s never been off the farm” — but it was the arrival of “pointing weather” that did it. The closed season for many involves turning towards other interests, but not for the key stakeholders running our sport. A number of important race-planning changes, well publicised last season, have now been implemented. The intricacies associated with making rule changes caused a frustrating delay in the release of The Planner , but change is necessary to bolster the decline in numbers. So much time and effort has gone into the consultation, and therefore the Point-to-Point Authority (PPA),…

THE first time I saw Blue Circle Boy (Gus) I’d gone to buy a horse from a local lady where I live in Staffordshire and she had a yearling colt she kept in her garden. He was bright dun with infected legs, his mum had died when he was a day old and he was bottle-fed. Three-and-a-half years later she phoned and said she had this stallion in the field and the only way she could keep him there was to put mares in with him. I went to see him and he was a massive, shaggy thing with hair down to his knees. I just thought he was a big horse, I knew nothing about dressage. A couple of months later, after castration, we put him on the lunge…