Horse_amp_amp_Hound__06_February_2018

‘I FREELY ADMIT THAT THE BEST OF MY FUN
I OWE IT TO HORSE AND HOUND’ - Whyte Melville
8 F
EVERY
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HUNTING
edale glamour,
plus Farquhar
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NEWS
Bad riding:
when should
judges step in?
How you
can beat the
professionals
Amateur CCI3*horse
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John Ho lday
Bel or
huntsman
Volume CXXXIV Issue 6
8 February 2018
NEWS
4 Anti-rollkur campaign takes
a step forward
5 When does ‘bad’ riding
become abuse?
6 Research proves ladies ride
just as well as men
9 Charity’s scheme is
Changing Lives
55 Sport Horse Breeding Life
Lynne Crowden recognised for
British breeding contribution and
Patrik Kittel takes on triple world
young horse champion
71 Eventing Life Family doubles
at first JAS of 2018,plus one new
baby and scholarships in the mix
FEATURES
28 2018 spectator guide Our
selection of must-see events
for your diary this year
32 Extraordinary amateurs We
meet the riders who juggle highpowered
jobs with competing
36 Bruges H&H visits the city
to discover what life is like for the
horses who take centre stage
40 Products A round up some
of the innovative new products
revealed at this year’s BETA
International trade show
48 Hunting meet cards We
outline what’s involved in the
planning process and production
REGULARS
16 All in a day’s work
Trick rider Camilla Naprous
18 Property Wonderful homes
in West Sussex
20 Vet clinic How friendly
bacteria could provide the key to a
horse’s overall health
22 Horse hero Puissance
winner Top Dollar VI
24 Masterclass Trainer and
judge Jennie Loriston-Clarke on
achieving a more balanced canter
26 H&H interview New Zealand
event rider Jonelle Price
90 Goodnight Columnist
Tessa Waugh’s hunting diary,
plus ‘The Nespresso machine’
OPINION
14 Letters, plus content
director’s comment
52 Dressage Dan Sherriff
59 Showjumping Peter Charles
73 Point-to-point
David Simpson
REPORTS
42 Hunting The Bedale, plus
Farquhar’s diary
50 Dressage Highlights
56 Showjumping Aintree
Elite, Keysoe, plus international
highlights and Glock CSI3*
64 Racing Leopardstown,
Sandown Park, plus bloodstock
72 Point-to-point Horseheath,
Milborne St Andrew, Wadebridge
and Alnwick
ON THE COVER
5 News: bad riding
20 Vet: improving
your horse’s health
26 H&H interview:
Jonelle Price
28 Spectator guide
42 Hunting: Bedale,
plus Farquhar’s diary
Page 42: one young follower flies a hedge while out with the Bedale
Page 64: Joseph O’Brien and Derek O’Connor celebrate their success
Pictures by Peter Nixon, Getty Images and Horst Bernhard
Page 26: H&H talks to New
Zealand eventer Jonelle Price
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of what
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87 Jobs
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Cover: Findonfirecracker, owned by
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Page 62: the snow arrives in
Austria during Glock’s CSI3*
LOVE HORSES?
WE KNOW HOW YOU FEEL...
I FREELY ADM T THAT THE BEST OF MY FUN
I OWE T TO HORSE AND HOUND - Whyte Melville 8
EVERY
WEEK
ATOR SPECIAL
How you
can beat the
professionals
u’re missing
VET
The secret to
mproving your
horse’s health
HUNTING
Bedale glamour,
plus Farquhar
at the Meynell
NEWS
Bad riding:
when should
judges step in?
British
pecial
Inside the
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What it’s really
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ue grit at the
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I FREELY ADMIT THAT THE BEST OF MY FUN
I OWE IT TO HORSE AND HOUND - Why eM lvi le 1
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 3
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EVERY
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NEWSInsider
Edited by Eleanor Jones
Anti-rollkur campaign
‘starts to make tracks’
A petition calling for an end to hyperflexion is to be submitted to the FEI within
weeks, while top judges and trainers are among those joining the call for action
Judges and trainers should
‘explain the right way of
schooling horses’
Library image
A CAMPAIGN against rollkur,
also known as hyperflexion, is
gathering momentum, with
support from top judges and the
British Horse Society (BHS).
A group of BHS Fellows and
dressage trainers have created a
petition calling for an end to the
use of rollkur. The petition, which
will be submitted to the FEI in the
coming weeks, also calls for the
federation to define the difference
between “forced hyperflexion” and
“classical training systems” and
their different influences on horse
wellbeing and performance.
“I think we’re really starting
to make tracks,” said classical
dressage trainer Heather Moffett,
who helped launch the campaign.
“We have List One judges on
board and quite a lot of grand prix
riders. I think the FEI will find it
quite difficult to ignore us.
“We have to be careful that
we don’t lose Olympic dressage
through public outcry over
rollkur. Many horses in stages
of training get overbent, but
when you see them with their
chins welded to their chests, that
has come from enforced training.”
Four-star judge Christoph
Hess is supporting the petition.
He said it is important to
By RACHAEL TURNER
understand the different reasons
why horses can be behind the
vertical, and that this is not always
damaging to the horse.
“A horse that’s shorter in the
neck isn’t necessarily going the
wrong way,” he said.
“What’s important is that
the horse is in front of the rider,
seeking the bit and moving
forwards. When this happens it’s
nothing to do with rollkur.
“It’s important judges, trainers
and riders explain the right way
of schooling horses. I think we
also have to educate stewards as
much as possible so they can see
how harmonious the horse and
rider are. If there are a couple
of moments of disharmony, that
happens. If it always has a positive
forwards tendency then it’s fine.”
Mr Hess said rollkur is an
ongoing issue, but one that has
improved in recent years.
“British dressage riders have
had an amazing influence on good
riding,” he said. “You have Carl
Hester and Charlotte Dujardin,
who give a really good example.”
The BHS is in support and
plans to spread the word about
the petition.
Dressage rider, trainer and
H&H columnist Pammy Hutton,
who has been instrumental in
the campaign, said this is an
important development.
“We’re excited the
BHS is joining the campaign,”
she told H&H. “They’re going to
make more noise about us at their
conventions. I also want to thank
Horse & Hound for running with
this. As a welfare issue I think
it’s really important — anything
to make horses’ lives more
comfortable.
“We are weeks away from
sending the petition to the FEI.”
BHS BACKING
BHS director of education Alex
Copeland said the charity is “fully
behind the campaign”.
“We’re working with Pammy,
Heather and Tim [Downes] to
promote what they’re doing,” he
told H&H. “The right people
are talking, like Christoph Hess.
We’ve updated our education and
training and made sure we are
recommending best practice, and
hope the FEI follows.”
The BHS has offered
the campaigners stands at
its coaching conventions at
‘Anything to make horses’ lives more comfortable’
PAMMY HUTTON
Hartpury (26-28 March) and
Myerscough (16-18 April).
“It is a chance for us to show
best practice around coaching,
but also to make sure people are
aware of the big issues,” added
Mr Copeland.
Trainer and BHS Fellow Mr
Downes, who has been assisting
the campaign, told H&H it is
important not to point fingers
at individual riders. He said
positively influencing top-level
riders would feed down correct
training methods to the less
experienced.
“If we want to improve the
image of the sport and keep it
in the Olympics we shouldn’t be
pointing out its shortcomings
— none of that is good for its
image,” he said.
“We need to educate people
better — some are only looking
at the horse’s head and neck and
they don’t have the education and
understanding [to see the whole
picture].
“The education of these people
is just as important [as those that
are riding incorrectly].”
British Dressage (BD)
reiterated its statement provided
to H&H after a letter written by
BHS Fellows about rollkur (news,
28 December).
“Dressage is all about the
harmony that can be achieved
between horse and rider,” said BD
chief executive Jason Brautigam.
“Hyperflexion has no place in our
sport. We are proud to be at the
forefront of developing sensitive
training methods in the UK and
will continue to promote a more
considerate approach to riding.”
A spokesman for the FEI
told H&H it is in “constant
consultation” with the equestrian
community and “respects all
views on the sport”.
She added that the federation
will “carefully consider” any
approaches on the subject.
● To read the "time to act" letter,
visit tinyurl.com/y9fp4e2z
and to sign the petition,
visit surveymonkey.co.uk/r/
RLNGCQV
Pictures by Lucy Merrell, Sportsfile, PA Archive/PA Images and trevor-meeks-photography.co.uk
4 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

Share your news story
Call 01252 555021
Email eleanor.m.jones@timeinc.com
@ eleanor_jones_
US dressage video sparks debate on
qualification criteria and judging
THE issue of “bad” riding, horse
welfare and when officials can
step in has raised its head again
as video emerged of an amateur
dressage rider at a US show.
Footage of one combination
riding at inter II level shows the
rider using her whip, and kicking
while wearing spurs, as she
attempts some movements, while
the horse can be seen at times
bucking and tail-swishing.
The video sparked debate
online, with some criticising
the rider while others spoke
out against “bullying” personal
comments, or said judges should
have stopped the tests.
Hallye Griffin, dressage
managing director of US
Equestrian (USEF), said that
apart from a score required to
qualify for freestyle competitions,
USEF “does not have rules in
place regarding riding standards
or qualifying requirements to
move up the levels”.
There is a USEF rule outlining
possible reasons for elimination,
which states that during a class
or test, the judge at C has the
authority to eliminate for reasons
including “cruelty and abuse”.
“Performance standards and
qualifying requirement proposals
have been and continue to be
explored,” Ms Griffin said. “A 2008
proposal generated a great deal
of debate but little support, but
discussions have taken place to
Judges consider
riders’ aids and
effectiveness
When riding turns
‘bad’: time to act?
By ELEANOR JONES
revisit the topics. We look forward
to working with USEF affiliate
the US Dressage Federation,
in obtaining feedback and
coordinating forums on the issue.”
Top British dressage rider and
H&H columnist Anna Ross said
one UK rule could help prevent
scenes such as the one filmed.
“It can be a very blurred line
between bad riding and a welfare
FIVE-YEAR BAN FOR SHOWJUMPER
issue,” she told H&H. “You could
say anything that’s uncomfortable
for the horse is a welfare issue,
and people make a lot of fuss
about balanced riders whose
horses are a centimetre behind
the vertical, but bad riding can be
much worse.”
Anna said she believes rules
should “protect horse and rider”,
including those riders who may
“get a bit ahead of the game”.
“As trainers, we have to point
people the right way but some
seem to think we can physically
stop someone competing, which
we can’t,” she said.
“I think we’ve got a really good
system in Britain. You qualify with
a certain score for prix st georges
(PSG), but if you get a score under
a certain level, it means you have
to requalify.
“Judges try not to humiliate
people but rules should protect
the horse.”
A British Dressage (BD)
spokesman said that to compete
at PSG, riders must achieve 62%
or above in advanced 102 or 105
or FEI young rider level in the
previous 12 months. Should a
rider score below 50% at PSG or
above, he or she has to requalify.
“At the heart of our sport is
the horse and its welfare must
be paramount at all times,” she
added. “When judging a test, at
any level, effectiveness and aids
of the rider are considered and
marked. If the horse’s welfare is
compromised by misuse of aids,
the judge reserves the right to
eliminate the combination from
the competition immediately on
welfare grounds.”
BD rules state that riders must
keep both hands on the reins,
apart from to salute or pat the
horse, so taking a hand off to use
the whip would mean elimination.
THE video was released during the same week Austrian showjumper
Bernhard Maier was banned from equestrian events for five years.
Mr Maier, whose round on Paddys Darco that ended in elimination
at a one-star show in June 2017 was filmed and widely shared online, is
forbidden to enter events until December 2022, as a rider, spectator or
coach. He was also fined €5,000 (£4,400).
The Austrian federation said the rider had shown “unsportsmanlike
behaviour”, threats to third parties and “overburdening” his horse, as
well as “damaging the reputation of equestrian sports”.
The punishment was not only for the show in June, the federation
clarified, as there had been a negative response to his riding last
March, as well as arguments at shows.
A report to which the federation’s statement directs online readers
states that his “list of offences was long”.
Last June, Mr Maier released a statement in which he admitted he
is not a strong rider, but that he had completed harder courses than
the one shown in the video. He said he had been suffering from cardiac
problems and was not feeling well, and that a smear campaign was
being run against him, which he believed was due to envy of himself
and his daughter, showjumper Johanna Sixt.
“It always has been important to me that the sport is fair and good
sporting results are achieved for [Austrian riding],” he said.
HORSES
IN THE NEWS
EDWULF
The racehorse who collapsed
and nearly lost his life at
Cheltenham last year has
won the Irish Gold Cup
(racing, p64). “I can’t stress
enough the job the vets did
and how well he was looked
after at Martinstown Stud
over the summer,” said trainer
Joseph O’Brien.
PORTERSIZE JUST A JIFF
Irish event rider Camilla
Speirs has announced the
retirement of her pint-sized
four-star partner, aged 18. The
15.1hh part-bred Connemara
took Camilla from Pony
Club to the Olympic Games.
The pair competed at
Badminton five times, two
World Equestrian Games,
an Olympics, two senior
European Championships
and four Nations Cups.
WHISPER
The Grand National hopeful
trained by Nicky Henderson
has been ruled out for
the season following a vet
inspection. The Grade Onewinning
10-year-old had been
giving a 33/1 chance for
Aintree’s iconic race but “an
issue reared its ugly head”
and he was not entered.
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 5

NEWSInsider
HORSES
IN THE NEWS
Here come the girls:
ladies ‘as good as men’
New research shows that female jockeys are just as good as
their male counterparts, although they get fewer rides
SMAD PLACE
The 2015 Hennessy Gold Cup
winner has been retired aged
11 due to injury. The Alan
King-trained grey gelding
won nine of his 37 races and
earned almost £500,000 in
prize money, gaining his final
victory in the Old Roan Chase
at Aintree last October.
BILLY LIFFY
The four-star eventer
produced by Britain’s Olivia
Craddock has joined Sam
Griffiths’ string. “It’s an
exciting time for me and his
new owners, Claudia and
Jonathan Rothermere,” said
the Australian rider.
MARCEL
The first colt by the Grade
One-winning two-year-old
has been born at Martin
Walsh’s Kiltown Stud. Marcel,
now five, was one of the
top three European colts of
his generation. His owner
Paul Makin bred the bay out
of Visalia, the daughter of
Virginia Waters.
WATCH out boys — research has
found that female jockeys are just
as good as their male rivals.
While the study’s finding is
not a surprise to many, there are
hopes this evidence will help open
up more opportunities for women.
Vanessa Cashmore analysed
14 years of data while studying
for her masters in thoroughbred
horseracing industries at the
University of Liverpool. She
found that when horse quality is
considered, women riders were
“every bit as good” as men.
Only 11.3% of professional
jockey licences are held by
women, who took just 5.2% of
available rides during those 14
years. But women make up 51% of
the sport’s stable staff workforce,
up from 42% since 2010. Women
also make up 24% of all jockeys
holding a licence — the same
percentage as 10 years ago.
Leading Flat jockey Hollie
Doyle told H&H the research is
useful proof that women can get
“just as much” out of a horse.
“It isn’t just about power and
strength — obviously that’s an
advantage men have — but you
have to be tactically switched on
and a good horseman,” said Hollie,
who has ridden more than 100
winners. “In racing, regardless of
gender, it’s really hard to get going
and to get rides and winners; it
takes a lot of hard work.”
Hollie said she has never felt at
a disadvantage as she is a woman.
“If you’re in fashion; riding
By LUCY ELDER
winners and riding well, whoever
you are you’ll do well,” she said.
British Horseracing Authority
(BHA) chief executive Nick
Rust added the organisation is
“determined to address” why
women get fewer rides than men,
particularly in high-profile races.
“We are proud British racing is
one of the few sports where men
and women can compete on equal
terms,” he said. “But if female
jockeys are not being given the
same opportunities as men, this
cannot be considered equality.”
He added the BHA is looking
at “any short- and long-term steps
that must be taken to improve
equal opportunities”.
Day change for Nations Cup
BRITAIN’S Nations Cup leg at
Hickstead’s Royal International
Horse Show is to move from its
usual Friday to the show’s final
day (Sunday).
The move to a weekend day is
part of the FEI’s efforts to keep
the series as “the best possible
product”; of all the CSI5* Nations
Cup competitions, only Dublin’s
Aga Khan trophy will retain its
original slot on the Friday.
The rejigging of the schedule
for Hickstead’s five-star event
Gemma Tutty has ridden nearly 50 winners
(25-29 July) comes as the show
also takes on a new name, the
Longines FEI Jumping Nations
Cup of Great Britain at the BHS
Royal International Horse Show.
The show said the move
reflects “the importance of this
showcase class and the long-term
relationship with series title
partner Longines”.
“The Hickstead leg gives
showjumping fans their only
opportunity to watch the Brits
compete as a team on home turf,
Apprentice Gemma Tutty, who
has ridden nearly 50 winners and
is balancing riding with studying
for a degree in psychology and
counselling, told H&H she was
interested horse quality was taken
into account. She wants trainers
to remain free to choose who they
want, without rules or penalties,
but hopes widespread opinions
can move to regard male and
female jockeys on a level.
“I have seen a lot of girls retire
through lack of opportunities
when there will be a lad riding to
the same standard and he has had
opportunities,” said Gemma.
“Not all lads get opportunities
either, but the fact some
trainers won’t use girls puts us
at a disadvantage, even if some
trainers use them all the time.”
and we hope the move from Friday
to Sunday will give even more
people the chance to cheer on
their home nation,” said Hickstead
director Lizzie Bunn.
The King George V Gold Cup
will now take place on the Friday.
After a year of competing in
division two, the Brits are back in
the top Nations Cup league and
will be campaigning to retain their
place and qualify for the final in
Barcelona in October. SR
● Comment, p59
Pictures by RacingFotos.com, Peter Nixon and PA Wire/PA Images
6 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

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NEWSInsider
‘Amazing police’ step up in fight
against dog attacks on horses
A community resolution scheme signed by both horse and dog owner meant
both were satisfied with the outcome after a rider was injured in an incident
THE positive outcome of a
dog attack on a horse has
demonstrated how the law can
work for all concerned.
Viv Spencer fell when a loose
dog spooked her home-bred mare
Toynton Zaraah at her home in
Lincolnshire on 17 January. Both
escaped serious injury, although
Mrs Spencer’s new riding hat was
“totally smashed”.
Mrs Spencer reported the
incident to police, who paid the
owner a visit and asked him to
apologise to Viv, which he did, also
giving her a cheque to cover the
cost of a new hat.
“The police were amazing,” she
told H&H. “Apparently, he told
them he’d seen me limping off so
thought I was ok. They went to see
him straight after they came here
and he came round that night.
“The policeman who took
my statement asked me what I
wanted to happen: they could do
nothing, or start this community
resolution, which you both sign.
I said I wanted him to agree to
keep the dog on a lead and maybe
pay for a new hat, and they went
straight round to see him. I can’t
praise the police enough.”
The British Horse Society
(BHS) announced last year that
three riders and 18 horses had
died as a result of dog attacks
since 2010.
The statistics were released
after a parliamentary report called
for responsible dog ownership to
reduce attacks on livestock. The
report was instigated following
concerns about the “apparent
increase in incidences of livestockworrying
by dogs”.
It found ensuring responsible
dog ownership should be a focus
in tackling the issue.
BHS director of safety Alan
Hiscox said the BHS was not
By ELEANOR JONES
aware of many cases that have
been resolved in this way.
“It was really good to see Viv
had a positive experience with the
police after her incident, and we
are pleased she and her horse are
recovering well,” he told H&H.
“Although some riders have
reported that police haven’t
pursued an incident where it’s an
animal-on-animal attack, it is our
understanding that the law does
cover these attacks. It states that it
if the owner or keeper has allowed
their dog to be dangerously out of
control and as a result, injured or
caused fear of injury to the rider
through alarming the horse, then
there will be an offence under
section three of the Dangerous
Dogs Act (1991).
“We would recommend anyone
who has had a dog attack to report
it to the police or dog warden.
We also urge people to report
incidents to us, as our statistics
help us lobby the government.”
For the purposes of the above
Act, a dog has to be considered
“dangerously out of control in any
place… so that there are grounds
for reasonable apprehension that
it will injure any person, whether
or not it actually does so”. The
dog’s actions could cause the horse
to react and injure the rider.
CIVIL CASES
EQUESTRIAN solicitor Hannah
Bradley said if police do not
prosecute, and the owner of a
dog involved in an attack does
not offer adequate compensation,
riders can claim for damages.
“One route is under the
provisions of the Animals Act
1971,” she told H&H.
“Section 3 of the Animals Act
provides that where a dog causes
damage by killing or injuring
livestock [which includes horses],
any person who is a keeper of the
dog is liable. It is also possible
to bring a claim for damages for
losses such as personal injury or
‘It is important the victim
is happy with the outcome’
LINCOLNSHIRE POLICE
Riders whose horses are
attacked by dogs have
different options for action
damage to property under the Act.
“A civil claim will be long and
stressful but, if you are left with
significant losses and the dog
owner refuses to reimburse you,
it may be the only option. You
should check home or equine
insurance to see if you have legal
expenses cover for the costs.”
A Lincolnshire Police
spokesman said the incident could
have been investigated as a dog
being dangerously out of control.
“But the victim was content
we sought a restorative solution,”
she added. “A restorative solution
can only be effective, and is only
applied, in less serious cases. It is
also important the victim is happy
and that the accused has shown
remorse and a willingness to abide
by the conditions agreed.”
PC Robert Hauxwell, who
dealt with the incident, said the
dog owner was “very apologetic”.
“It’s great to hear how satisfied
the horse owner was,” he said. “It’s
fortunate she was not seriously
injured, and happy to engage in
the resolution, which enabled
us to get the incident resolved
quickly and with an outcome
which suited both parties. The
dog owner felt what was being
requested was reasonable given
the situation caused by his dog.”
PEOPLE
IN THE NEWS
Former cabinet
minister and
MP for North
Shrewsbury
Owen Paterson
has broken his
back in a riding accident. He was
taken to hospital after his horse
fell and is on “complete bed rest”.
French trainer
Criquette
Head-Maarek
has retired after
a 41-year career.
Criquette trained
dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
champion Treve. “It was a tough
decision,” said the 70-year-old.
Dressage rider
Lucy Straker
is aiming for
grand prix this
summer after
recovering from
a serious injury. She smashed ribs
and punctured a lung in 2015 while
loading a youngster.
8 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

The scheme is aimed
at young people
Pictures by the BHS, Mark Fairhurst, Allstar Picture Library/Alamy, Selene Scarsi, Peter Nixon and Getty Images
A year on, scheme
is Changing Lives
British Horse Society initiative is living
up to its name, a year after its launch
IN its first year, the British Horse
Society’s (BHS) Changing Lives
Through Horses has lived up to
its name, with 71% of participants
“re-engaging” with society.
The initiative, launched last
January, has more than doubled in
size, with 30 participating centres
from an initial 12.
Its aim is to support young
people who are, or are at risk
of becoming, NEETs — not
in employment, education or
training. Participants work with
horses, with the aim of getting
them back into society.
More than 100 young people
have accessed Changing Lives so
far and the BHS wants to expand,
with more coaches and centres
and supporting more participants.
“We want it to grow as much
as possible, but it relies on
donations and sponsorship, so
we can only grow as fast as funds
allow,” programme leader Katie
Field told H&H.“What’sso
important, from the start it’s been
quality over quantity; making
sure centres are comfortable and
coaches supported so they can
support the young people.
“We need to monitor and
evaluate to make sure it’s having
the effect we want it to.”
Ms Field explained this would
mean the scheme’s success would
be “proved”, and ensure its aims
By ELEANOR JONES
and methods will be consistent
with government policy.
Asked what would be the best
thing a participant could say, Ms
Field said: “Just that they wouldn’t
be where they are now without it.
“Then we know it’s having the
impact we want — and we do hear
that, frequently.
“All the success stories are
massive but some — the selective
mute who said his first words to
a horse and his parents heard, or
students who thought they’d never
achieve anything but are doing
their GCSEs — are monumental.”
BHS CEO Lynn Petersen said
the charity is “deeply pleased”.
“The horses gave [the
young people] confidence and
motivation to change the course
of their lives,” she said. “We are
proud of the young people, and of
the horses who gave them support
when they needed it most.”
Melissa, who was unable to
cope in mainstream schools owing
to a disability, is back in education
and working for her exams, since
accessing the programme.
“We really can’t believe it,” her
mother said. “It’s life-changing,
completely and utterly.”
● Visit: bhs.org.uk/
changinglivesthroughhorses
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Dutch Olympic
showjumper
Maikel van der
Vleuten broke
a bone in his
hand at Jumping
Amsterdam. His horse Salomon
suffered a tendon injury. The pair
are hoped to make a full recovery.
Former Hovis
CEO Martyn
Wilks has been
appointed senior
independent
director of the
British Equestrian Federation
board. He is also a non-executive
director of Netball England.
+256( 321< _ +256(%2; 75$,/(5 _ /,9(5<

NEWSInsider
IN BRIEF
FOLLOWER DIES IN
HUNTING FALL
A RIDER has died in a “tragic
accident” while out with the
Fernie on 31 January.
The 54-year-old suffered
fatal injuries in a fall.
A statement released by
the Fernie read: “Our sincere
condolences are with his
family and friends at such
a difficult time for them,
and we ask that everyone
respects their privacy as they
overcome such a devastating
and early loss.
“Both the joint-masters of
the hunt and the gentleman’s
family would like to extend
their immense thanks to
the emergency services and
others who were present
at the accident for all their
assistance at the time.”
MPS CHANGE MINDS
ON FIREWORKS
FIREWORKS campaigners
have welcomed a “change in
attitudes” from MPs.
A petition calling for a ban
on the public use of fireworks
and for the government
to collect statistics about
related incidents was
debated in parliament on 29
January after receiving more
than 111,000 signatures.
It was started by horse
owner Julie Doorne, who
has been lobbying with the
Firework Abatement Group
for a change to the laws.
“I think there has been a
massive groundswell among
politicians,” she told H&H.
RACING TO REVIEW
ITS DOPING RULES
A FULL review of racing’s
anti-doping rules will be
conducted by the British
Horseracing Authority (BHA)
this year.
The review will involve
consultation with the
National Trainers’ Federation
and the Racehorse Owners’
Association, among others.
BHA chief executive Nick
Rust said the organisation’s
zero-tolerance of prohibitedat-all-times
substances is the
right approach.
He added the rules about
this and how they affect
those responsible for horses
need to be clear, as do the
penalties when these rules
are broken.
“We want our rules to be
fair to all concerned,” he said.
OBITUARIES
Bay Lane was a horseman throughout his life, riding into his 80s
BENJAMIN FRANK
(BAY) LANE
A PIONEERING showjumper, Mr
Lane died on 29 January aged 89.
A slip of the tongue resulted in
his nickname — when he was born,
Mr Lane’s father announced “it’s
a bay!”, which stuck.
When he was young his
father would often lift him on
to the backs of plough horses.
He became more involved in
his father’s farming and dealing
business as he grew up. His riding
career also blossomed as he
progressed from gymkhanas to
international showjumping.
Mr Lane was a member of the
first British Nations Cup team to
travel abroad following World War
II, competing in Nice in 1948.
His top horse, Trueman, was
found on a trip to Dublin Horse
Show in the 1950s.
The combination won speed
classes at the Horse of the Year
Show in three consecutive years
from 1959 to 1961.
He was also a familiar figure
on the West Warwickshire hunting
field and had a passion for racing
and point-to-pointing. A true
horseman until his death, Mr
Lane continued to buy and ride
youngsters until the age of 83.
His funeral is to take place at
St James’ Church, Alveston, Warks,
on 12 February.
STEPHEN DAVENPORT
AN expert horseman, Mr
Davenport died on 24 January
aged 73.
He was showjumping and
hunting before he was 10, and
went on to enjoy a successful
racing career. He became
champion amateur in 1964,
riding 192 winners that season
and finishing fourth in the Grand
National aboard the 66/1 shot
Eternal. After turning professional,
one of his greatest victories
was with Surcharge in the 1968
Topham Chase at Aintree.
Mr Davenport set up a training
yard at Mobberley, Cheshire,
before establishing a successful
breeding programme.
Among the top horses he bred
were international showjumpers
Jordan II, One Man, Newton Nickel
and Zoe II.
Malcolm Jefferson had his first
Cheltenham success in 1994
MALCOLM JEFFERSON
THE Cheltenham Festival-winning
trainer died on 2 February aged 71.
Mr Jefferson’s first success
at the Festival came in 1994 with
Tindari in the Hurdle Final. The
following year he became the
first British trainer to win the
Champion Bumper, with Dato Star.
In 2012 he saddled a double
of winners at the Festival, Cape
Tribulation and Attaglance.
“His experienced and guiding
hand has benefited not only the
horses and staff in his care, but
the racing community in Malton
and the north for many years,” said
BHA chief executive Nick Rust.
MICHAEL HIGGENS
ONE of Ireland’s best-known
hunting figures, Mr Higgens died
on 28 January aged 76.
Master of the Tipperary for 18
seasons, he bred a first-class pack
of modern foxhounds.
He started his career with the
late Captain Charlie Barclay of
the Puckeridge in Britain, before
venturing to the Findon Harriers
in Victoria, Australia. He decided
Ireland was more suited to him
and moved to north Wexford in the
late 1960s to serve as kennelhuntsman
at the Island. In 1970 he
was appointed master of the East
Galway, moving to the Tipperary as
master and huntsman in 1973.
Mr Higgens was a successful
breeder of foxhounds; the
Tipperary hounds won many
classes in Britain and at
Peterborough. He was also
a respected hound judge on
both sides of the Irish Sea.
He later hunted the Avondhu
for a season in the 1990s and
helped breed the Golden Vale
hounds, moving on to the
Kilmoganny in 1993, where he
served for six seasons.
After retiring in 1999, he
continued to hunt and this year
rode with the Tipperary to mark
his 50th season in Ireland.
BRIGIT POWELL
A DEDICATED dressage judge,
owner and supporter of the sport,
Mrs Powell died in January at the
age of 84.
A chance meeting with
Isobel Wessells at a judges’
course in Cornwall led to a great
partnership. Mrs Powell expressed
an interest in buying a horse with
Isobel, which resulted in her
co-owning Isobel’s grand prix
horse Chagall.
She was an active member of
the British Dressage Supporters
Club and frequently judged at
shows in Cornwall and Devon.
PETER CASEY
MULTIPLE Grade One-winning
trainer Mr Casey died on 27
January aged 82.
The Irishman enjoyed
three Grade One victories with
Flemenstar. The first of these
came at Leopardstown in January
2012. His stable star went on
to win the Powers Gold Cup at
Fairyhouse that April, before
taking the John Durkan Chase at
Punchestown in December 2013.
His funeral was held on 31
January in Balscadden.
Peter Casey was a multiple
Grade One-winning trainer
Pictures by RacingFotos.com and trevor-meeks-photography.co.uk
10 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

NEWSInsider
▲
PLAYING CHICKEN
Two deer were caught on
film last week, belting across
the track at Newcastle just
as the runners were making
their way round the corner.
Showing a fair turn of speed
though, both whisked across
well in front of the leading
horse. Has talent, needs
direction perhaps?
▲
STREAKING
Talking of unexpected
visitors, there was also
the streaker who decided
to cartwheel through an
equine auction house in
New Zealand. As you do.
“An unusual lot,” mused one
bystander. Indeed.
▲
WORDS
And on the above streaker,
one was intrigued to read,
in a national newspaper’s
coverage of the incident,
that the unknown naked
one “shouted something
illegible”. “At least she didn’t
write something inaudible,”
quipped a wag.
GOOD WEEK
BAD WEEK
H&H
When a parcel arrived at
H&H Towers bearing a Swiss
postmark and a label saying
“chocolate”, you can be sure
it was not left unopened
for long. So imagine the
reaction when inside was
just a calendar, with not as
much as a solitary Malteser
anywhere in sight. Sigh.
COMMENTATORS
So instead of the Royal
International Horse Show,
Hickstead’s July fixture
is now called, wait for it,
the Longines FEI Jumping
Nations Cup of Great
Britain at the BHS Royal
International Horse Show. Try
saying that three times fast.
POLICE
Video has emerged of a US
cop trying to stop a runaway
pony on the road, by asking
it to: “Please stop.” In the
same vein, he adds: “Come
on. Can you stop? Please?”
Nothing like a bit of courtesy,
although the pony did not
seem impressed, and five
more officers were needed
to apprehend her…
Hard work is rewarded
as companies honoured
British equestrian companies celebrated the best among
their ranks at the annual BETA business awards
“THERE are no secrets, just hard
work” is the view of Shires founder
Malcolm Ainge, who received the
2018 British Equestrian Trade
Business Association (BETA)
lifetime achievement award.
Mr Ainge was one of a host
of winners at this year’s BETA
business awards, in which BETA
director Claire Williams said
the standard of the finalists was
“exceptionally strong”.
Shires Equestrian Products
was the most successful company
on the night, claiming two awards.
The company, which celebrates
its 50th anniversary this year, won
the trade supplier of the year prize
as well as Mr Ainge’s award.
In 1968, Mr Ainge started the
company with £200. He used this
to buy stock and sold it at cattle
markets and racecourses. He grew
the business to manufacture its
own products and today it has a
base in Herefordshire, a factory in
China and distribution centres in
Ireland and the US.
“I wasn’t expecting it!” Mr
Ainge told H&H. “It was just me
for a couple of years, then my
father-in-law came in and we
started the manufacturing.
“It’s taken a lot of hard work,
there are no secrets to being in
business, it is just hard work.”
This was also the second year
And finally... Cavalry goes back to work
IF your horse has a penchant for
mud, winter can seem eternal.
But as you watch your
horse enjoying a lovely roll in
the swampiest patch of the
field, spare a thought for the
servicemen and women of the
Household Cavalry.
The unit’s horses have
returned from a long, welldeserved
Christmas holiday
in the wide-open fields of the
Defence Animal Centre at
Melton Mowbray.
The soldiers are busy
washing, clipping, pulling,
trimming and polishing to
transform the mudlarks back
into gleaming cavalry horses,
fit to present to The Queen.
Malcom Ainge
of Shires
By LUCY ELDER
in a row and the third in total that
Shires has won the trade supplier
prize. The award recognises
exceptional customer service,
product knowledge and awareness
of retailers’ requirements.
Eventers William Fox-Pitt and
Georgie Wood took the pro and
amateur sponsored-rider awards.
Musto, which nominated
William, said he goes “above and
beyond in everything he does”.
The retailer of the year award
was split, with Feedmark winning
the online category and Houghton
Country the retail store prize.
Feedmark’s Chris Townsend
Perseus is to be groomed to perfection
Among these is the Shire
Perseus, the regiment’s newest
drum horse, who has taken
muddy feathers to an art form.
“The boisterous Shire horse
is back on his fitness regime,
will be groomed back to sleek
perfection, and begin the
important work of learning how
thanked customers for their
nomination and employees for
their “dedication” and “expert
nutritional advice”.
Bramham International Horse
Trials won equestrian event of the
year, while the two social media
awards went to Simple System
Horse Feeds and Horseware.
Charlotte Bilbie, of Tower
Farm Saddlers, took retail
employee of the year and Patrick
Robertson, of Allen & Page, the
sales representative title.
TopSpec Equine won the
helpline award and Dengie Crops
the equestrian export title.
The awards were held at the
National Motorcycle Museum,
near Birmingham, on 22 January.
to lead the mounted band in
the nation’s biggest and most
important parades,” said a
Household Cavalry spokesman.
“The troopers of the
Household Cavalry regiment
certainly have a challenge
ahead, but Perseus’ lovely
nature makes the job easy.” LE
Pictures by Sgt Paul Randall @armyinlondon and Simon D Jones
12 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

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LETTERS
Email to hhletters@timeinc.com
Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited.
A baler twine wisp
is washable, cheap
and easy to replace
A WISP WORKS A TREAT
Sir — I really enjoyed your
turnout feature (18 January) and
was particularly interested in Kate
Johnson’s homemade wisps made
from hessian rope or baler twine.
I like making mine out of baler
twine (pictured, above). They
cost nothing to make, work a
treat, are washable and once
SOCIAL media informs me a lot of people
got terribly excited about a supermoon last
week — one that, to the untrained eye (mine),
looked rather like the moon on any other day. In
a slightly unconnected point, there will no doubt
be tears of joy on the pavements around Windsor
on the day of the royal wedding this year. It does
appear that in an era of economic uncertainty,
many in this country are simply looking for
something far less practical and depressing,
something entirely joyous, at which to marvel.
Riding out last Tuesday morning as the
fog lifted over the weald, I was reminded once
again that this is where, as riders and equestrian
enthusiasts, we are so very lucky. Whether
amateur (see feature, p32) or professional, if
we want to enjoy our sport there will be early
mornings in every season. And the payoff for
that — peace, crunching frost, pink sky, warmth
they’re worn out, you can simply
make another one.
Susan Pearson
Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham
THEY’RE NOT MACHINES
Sir — I so endorse the views of
Sarah Laye with regard to riders
wanting the quick fix (letters, 25
January). It appears parents are
becoming ever more competitive
for their children to achieve
good results, all at the expense of
forming a bond with their pony.
I come from a non-horsey
background, but was given a
course of lessons for my ninth
birthday. I not only learnt to ride,
but was also shown how to muck
out, groom and clean tack. But the
most important lesson learnt was
to always put my pony first.
I desperately wanted a pony of
my own so to prove to my parents
how committed I was, I went
without Christmas and birthday
presents for three years and had
money instead. I eventually saved
£50. Then on 28 August 1964,
Misty came into my life. I am 66
years old, have owned three horses
since then and now in my life is
Raymond, with whom another
close bond has formed. We
compete at novice level affiliated
dressage, when the enjoyment is
in sharing the experience with my
Nothing beats riding as
a means of escape
In these times of economic uncertainty, is it any wonder
we’re relying on the simplest pleasures to lift our spirits?
H&H Content Director SARAH JENKINS
from his withers and a horse’s cloud breath — is a
fine antidote to the loomin rise in interest rates,
the uncertainty that
follows Brexit and
the highest rate
of inflation for six
years. Skippy doesn’t
know her feed just
went up 50p per bag.
And those carrots
just keep coming
if she nuzzles my
pocket. I like her
optimism. And I
love the escape she
brings. H&H
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Sir — While reading
“Be more honest”
(letters, 18 January),
a weary feeling came
over me.
In my younger
years, I spent many
long days driving to
view horses and ponies with
clients who requested support
and advice. In those days,
we did not have the luxury of
viewing videos and were lucky
to be able to see more than one
photograph — usually the only
one was the photograph in the
advertisement in H&H.
Like Mrs Green, I was
astounded at the sad
misrepresentation of many
sellers of their horses. One
had to laugh that some had
put in their advert “no time
wasters please”.
After one too many
wasted journeys, I adopted
a new approach and while
speaking to vendors, I’d ask
the following: “If this horse
is misdescribed in any way
regarding temperament,
rideability or conformation, are
you happy to pay my fuel bill
before I leave your premises?”
If the answer was no, then I
simply stayed at home! Worth
a try Mrs Green and good luck
in your search.
Ginny Oakley Pope
Potterspury, Northants
The writer of letter of
the week wins a bottle of
Champagne Taittinger
lovely horse, and bringing home a
rosette is the icing on the cake.
Children and parents should
realise that ponies and horses
are not machines to win on, but
flesh and blood to be loved and
respected — learning this will
stand them in good stead for life.
Elizabeth Gabriel
Avonwick, Devon

@ horseandhound
facebook.com/horseandhound
instagram.com/horseandhound
TREASURE TROVE
Sir — Your recent letters page
(25 January) sparked some very
happy memories for me from
Horse of the Year Show when it
was based at Harringay Arena,
and the Royal International at
White City Arena. However, the
difference then was that as
school girls, we were allowed to
wander around the stables and
speak to the riders and heroes
of our day — just as we did outside
Foxhunter’s stable.
NEXT WEEK
WHY
EVERYONE
LOVES A DUN
Plus the tooth problem every
horse owner needs to know
about. Don’t miss it!
I remember caressing his noble
head and found a single forelock
hair in my hand. I kept it and still
have it today in a frame. Now in
my 85th year, needing to pass on
“stuff”, is there anyone interested
in acquiring this treasure for
their equine archive? A small
donation to my local Riding for
the Disabled Association would
secure and I am confident that any
DNA test would prove positive.
Angela Doughty, MBE
Walgrave, Northants
H&H replies: If you’d like to get
in touch with Angela, write to
her at hhletters@timeinc.com
and we’ll forward your email.
HORSEBOX HORRORS
Sir — Having loaded a pony into
our Ifor Williams 505 trailer, he
suddenly started rearing. He got
his front legs over the breast-bar,
then tried to get his hinds over
but couldn’t and was stuck fast.
So we had to unscrew the breastbar
retaining bolts (thankfully
we’d located the Allen key), but
one would not unscrew. So I
removed the rear partition, then
the centre post with the front
partition attached. This worked
and the pony walked out.
So the lessons learnt are to
always carry the correct Allen
key; check that the breast-bar
retaining bolts have not rusted in
place as ours had; and regularly
grease the bolts.
David Larmour
Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumb
A spokesperson for Ifor
Williams Trailers replies:
“This incident highlights the
need to be aware of what can go
wrong when handling even the
most calm natured of horses.
Your reader’s experience
underlines the need to service
your horsebox regularly,
checking the obvious things
like brakes and floors, but also
the safety features that you
may need in an emergency.”
AIMING FOR THE BEST
Sir — In reading your recent story
about bullying (news, 1 February),
I so agree with Olympic dressage
rider and trainer Robert Dover.
There is a lot of bullying and
criticism in the equestrian world
and I am pleased that Robert is
standing up against it.
It can be tough trying to do the
best for your horse, and it’s easy
to have your confidence dented by
unwarranted criticism. Even those
of us who compete at a lower
level can come up against it. I
myself have been on the receiving
end, but have been lucky to be
supported by positive friends and
trainers — we need more of that.
Tricia Kilbank
Dorchester, Dorset
NOT ENOUGH TURNOUT
Sir — I am so saddened by the
number of horses stabled 24/7
with little exercise during the
week and no opportunity to let off
steam and be “a horse”.
It is well understood by vets,
and top riders and trainers that
horses need several hours out
of the stable each day to ensure
that their mental and physical
wellbeing needs are met.
Why on earth would anyone
think of keeping a horse where
there is no facility to turn out?
Caroline Robinson
Frolesworth, Leics
Established 1884
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ALL IN A DAY’S WORK
The trick rider
Camilla Naprous on performing for Madonna and the
county show display that nearly ended in disaster
My family company, The Devil’s
Horsemen, has been involved in
Cossack or trick riding on the
county show circuit since the
1970s. The moves, including the
shoulder stand and “death hang”
— when the rider is suspended
by their ankle from the top of the
saddle with their head about five
inches from the floor — haven’t
really changed, although the
routines are regularly reinvented
using new music and costumes.
I started off by riding
conventionally, although usually
bareback. Playing cowboys and
Indians with my brother, Daniel,
was a favourite. It involved
numerous tumbles — but you
can’t be a decent rider without
falling off.
My earliest experience of
Roman riding — standing on top
of two horses — in public occurred
at Horse of the Year Show at
Wembley in 1995. I was eight.
I galloped around the ring on
Charlie and Foxy, my two Welsh
section As. I did my first stunt
aged nine, when I threw myself
‘The audience
reaction at any show
makes you feel like
a rock star’
off two ponies in a circus ring,
and I was 12 when I started
Cossack riding.
The biggest risk to trick riders
are trips and slips on wet
ground. If you are hanging upside
down with your leg in straps,
there is no quick release. If you
are keen to have a go, learn from
the experts. Don’t try it at home.
I particularly enjoy trick
riding at the Festival
of British Eventing at
Gatcombe and at the
New Forest Show,
although the audience
reaction at any show
makes you feel like
a rock star. Our
trick team,
generally
made up of
nine riders, works on the circuit
every weekend between April
and September. We also take
private bookings, and once put
on a gypsy-themed show for
Madonna at her Wiltshire home.
My most impressive “save”
occurred at a county show in
Northamptonshire. Four of us
were Roman riding eight horses
around the arena at a gallop. On
a corner, my inside horse slipped
down to his knees. I fell,
ending up on his neck, but as
he got up he propelled me
back into the saddle. I still
don’t know how I escaped
a really serious fall.
We have 100 horses, all
of whom are trained
from a young age
to ride, drive and
trick ride. All the
staff have their
favourites. For
many years mine
was Raphael,
a 15.3hh dark
bay Welsh
cob/Lusitano. He retired last
year, so on the show circuit I now
ride Moses, who’s an eight-yearold
roan Lusitano stallion. We
don’t feel “married” yet and I feel
slightly unsafer on him than I did
on Raphael.
My father, Gerard, began stunt
riding in Paris in the 1970s,
jousting on stage at The Lido.
Now stunt riding is rarely live,
being restricted mainly to films
and TV. I was a stunt double from
my late teens to my mid-20s,
generally standing in for the pretty
lead actress and galloping across
a moor. Back then, very few
female parts included impressive
stunts — that was a man’s game.
Although I don’t stunt ride
any more, I’m involved in
choreographing the sequences for
the films and TV series we work
on, including Game Of Thrones.
Generally we are informed of the
sequence required six months in
advance, giving plenty of time
for rehearsals. When it’s time to
film, every movement has been
pre-rehearsed and timetabled
almost down to the second.
My life is non-stop. Alongside
the summer trick riding, I run
a yard of 100 horses and a team
of staff. Along with my assistant,
Rebecca Horan, I also work out
the logistics of getting numerous
horses to their film and TV
commitments. I spend 80% of my
time on film sets, but I wouldn’t
have it any other way. H&H
NEXT
WEEK
Legendary tack
shop owner
Shirley Rankin
Words by Julie Harding. Picture by Graham Stone/REX/Shutterstock
16 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

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PROPERTIES of the WEEK
West Sussex wonders
Equestrian homes situated in Hickstead showground’s home county
£
WESTBROOK LEA
Bognor Road, near Horsham
For you: surrounded by rolling
fields, this single-storey home is
nestled in a tranquil area of rural
countryside. The versatile interior
layout includes an entrance
lobby, dining and sitting rooms,
conservatory, kitchen, utility
room, three double bedrooms
including one en suite, and a
family bathroom. Outside there
is an attractive garden area with a
swimming pool, hot tub, summer
house and dog compound.
For the horses: situated on the
three acres of pasture is a stable
yard, which consists of seven loose
boxes. The 20x40m Pasadasurfaced
outdoor riding arena
has been well maintained by the
present owner and the paddocks
are all fenced with quality postand-rail.
As well as four field
shelters, the yard benefits from
a CCTV system. There is also
a boot room/tack room facility.
USP: the property offers a chance
to enjoy living in your own rural
enclave, yet be within a short
drive of Warnham, Dorking and
Horsham, which offer mainline
rail links to London, and easy
access to the A24 linking to the
A264 and M25.
£795,000, Equus Country
and Equestrian, 01892 829014,
equusproperty.co.uk
££
AMBLEHURST MANOR FARM
Wisborough Green, near Horsham
£££
For you: sitting in over 10 acres
of grounds, this traditional Sussex
barn conversion benefits from
a number of impressive
rooms, which are coupled with
delightful views. Offering
accommodation mostly over
a single level, the house has
a family kitchen complete
with a sitting area, four double
bedrooms, one bedroom guest
annexe, six bathrooms, and also
features landscaped gardens.
For the horses: four purposebuilt
loose boxes, a solarium
and a tack room sit alongside
spacious paddocks that overlook
a picturesque River Kird frontage.
WINEHAM PLACE
Wineham, near Henfield
For you: a nine-bedroom country
house set in the centre of its own
grounds. There are five bathrooms
and the master bedroom has an en
suite bathroom with underfloor
heating. A top-floor viewing
platform provides a spectacular
sight of the surrounding grounds.
For the horses: included in
the 46.5 acres of woodland
and pasture is a selection
of outbuildings which lend
themselves to equestrian use.
There are three separate lots
of paddock and woodland
available by separate negotiation.
Ideally situated for the local
equestrian scene with The
There is an external washdown
area with lighting. The land gently
undulates and is laid to pasture,
part post-and-rail fenced.
USP: the property features
a detached period outbuilding,
which has been recently renovated
to provide a gym, office and home
cinema facilities. The village
of Wisborough Green is the
archetypal English village with
its cricket green, primary school,
church, pubs, village store and
post office, also offering residents
regular main line services into
Victoria and Waterloo stations.
£2.65m Savills Guildford,
01483 796800, savills.co.uk
All England Jumping Course,
Hickstead, and arena polo club
within three miles.
USP: dating back to the early
20th century, the property has
been considerably updated and
was extended in 2006, creating
a modern feature room on
the west side of the property
overlooking the gardens. The
grounds include a lake located
at the end of the driveway.
£3.2m Knight Frank,
020 7167 2491, knightfrank.co.uk
NEXT
WEEK
Equestrian
properties in
Leicestershire
Compiled by Alex Robinson. All properties were for sale at the time of going to press
18 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

VET CLINIC
An army inside
Your horse’s intestines are teeming with millions of friendly bacteria that could
provide the key to his overall health. Richard Hepburn MRCVS explains
IN both human and veterinary
medicine there is a growing
understanding of the importance
of gut microorganisms to overall
health, and their role in various
disease states.
This is an emerging science
that is complex and rapidly
evolving. In man, there is an
increasing appreciation of the link
between the gut microbiome (see
glossary, opposite) and immunity
and metabolic function. This is
in addition to the alterations to
this microbiome that are linked
to intestinal disease such as
irritable bowel syndrome, as well
as obesity and metabolic disorders
including type 2 diabetes. In
the horse, similar changes
are being identified, although
equine intestinal physiology is
fundamentally more complex.
The horse’s stomach and small
intestine lead to the hindgut,
which comprises the caecum,
ventral colon, dorsal colon, small
colon and rectum. Within the
hindgut there are differences in
the microbiota — the community
of microorganisms — between
these regions, with the main
change occurring at the junction
of the ventral and dorsal colon,
known as the pelvic flexure.
The microbiota from the dorsal
colon through to the rectum
are very similar to those found
in fresh droppings. Given the
importance of the dorsal colon
to fermentation of dietary fibre,
this allows researchers to study
the impact of changes in faecal
microbiota. If this relationship
did not exist, more invasive
techniques would be required to
sample intestinal contents.
The gut of the horse has two
sets of genetic material. The
genes inside the cells that make
up the gut wall are inherited from
the horse’s sire and dam, and
remain almost stable throughout
his life. In addition, there’s the
microbiome, acquired from the
horse’s environment and dynamic
in its population.
The bacterial component of
this microbiome is predominantly
made up of “super families”
of bacteria. These minuscule
organisms are able to exist within
the inhospitable gut environment
due to the activity of their “core
community” — a “housekeeping”
microbial population that creates
the environment and functions
necessary for microbial life and
the stability of the microbiome.
The equine core community
is smaller than that of humans,
and is smallest if the horse is on
a starch-rich diet. This less stable
gut environment can increase the
potential for adverse microbiotal
change and disease.
WHY MICROBES MATTER
LIKE a human, a horse is not
born with a functioning gut
microbiome. The uterus in which
he has developed is largely sterile,
so he must acquire this genetic
material from his environment.
The gut microbiota are already
complex within the foal on its first
day of life — although individual
microorganisms are relatively
low in number. Marked change
then occurs between two and 30
days of age as the foal encounters
‘An increased understanding of the equine
microbiota could revolutionise veterinary care’
RICHARD HEPBURN MRCVS
Pictures by Alamy Stock Photo and Steve Bardens
20 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

The gut’s community of organisms is
already complex within the foal on its
first day of life, after which it starts to
become similar to that of its dam
GUT GLOSSARY
The horse’s gut has its own
language:
O MICROBIOTA
The community of
microorganisms (bacteria,
viruses, single-celled organisms
and fungi, sometimes called
microbes) living in a specific
environment — in this case,
the gastrointestinal tract. An
estimated 1,000 different
bacterial species perform many
of the functions vital for the
survival of the host animal.
a wide range of maternal and
environmental organisms.
These come from ingestion of
colostrum (the mare’s first milk)
and as the foal starts to eat the
mare’s droppings and explore
his surroundings.
These transient organisms
quickly reduce in number as the
true colonisers take hold. From 60
days of age, the foal’s microbiota
remain relatively stable and are
similar to that of his dam.
An established and stable
microbiome brings many benefits.
As hindgut fermenters, horses are
reliant upon microbiotal activity
to break down the fibre in their
diet efficiently. This produces
the short-chain fatty acids that
are crucial to the horse’s daily
energy requirements, along with
essential nutrients.
The microbiome also boosts
immune function — both
locally, through production of
antimicrobial products, which
limit pathogenic (disease-causing)
activity in the gut and neutralise
toxins, and also by guiding the
development and regulation of the
horse’s immune system on a wider
scale throughout his body.
Within adult horses, the
gut microbiome shows great
individual diversity and is more
variable than our own: only
about 65% of the equine bacterial
community is retained over
a six-week period — even when
the horse is fed a consistent diet.
Given the importance of
the microorganisms to fibre
digestion, it is not surprising
that dietary change alters the gut
microbiota rapidly — within
just four days. Stability and
resistance to change are
greater in horses fed plenty of
fibre, compared to those on a
concentrate-supplemented diet.
Starch fed in small quantities
is digested and absorbed in the
small intestine. If more is fed,
the small intestine’s absorptive
capacity can become overloaded.
The starch is then delivered to the
hindgut, where it undergoes rapid
microbial fermentation, leading
to production of lactic acid and
reduction in the hindgut pH (an
increase in acidity).
This alters the microbiome,
increasing the population of
certain bacteria and reducing
those that break down fibre.
This change has been found in
horses fed a high-concentrate
diet and those with colic due to
intestinal impaction.
To limit starch overload,
the concentrate level should be
gradually increased over a threeweek
period to allow sufficient
time for increased production of
a specific starch-digesting enzyme
in the small intestine.
STRESS RESPONSE
THE equine gut microbiome
also responds to stressors such as
fasting, exercise, anaesthesia and
transport, all of which lead
to a reduced population of
a family of bacteria that break
down fibre and could have
anti-inflammatory functions.
Additionally, the use of
antimicrobials to treat bacterial
infection, both orally and by
injection, leads to reduced
diversity of the hindgut
microbiota and population
changes that are specific to
the antimicrobial given. After
finishing treatment, however,
the microbiota gradually return
to their pre-treatment population
over 30 days.
For general health, the best
advice is to maintain a diverse,
stable hindgut microbiota
by keeping your horse on a
forage-based diet with the
minimum amount of
concentrates needed for the
work performed.
There is no evidence of
a beneficial effect of probiotics
to the hindgut microbiome,
because it is unknown which
microorganisms are beneficial
and in what quantity or
formulation. Neither is there
evidence to suggest that they are
harmful, however, so keep feeding
them if you think that they help
your horse.
One day it may be possible to
manipulate the gut microbiome
in a good way. A current example
of this is faecal transplantation,
where droppings from a healthy
horse are given by stomach tube
to one with diarrhoea — in some
cases causing complete resolution.
Keep watching this
space, because an increased
understanding of equine
microbiota in general could
revolutionise vet care. H&H
NEXT
WEEK
Dealing with
diastemata — gaps
between the teeth
O MICROBIOME
Genetic material (DNA and
RNA) from the microbiota
— which is about five million
genes. Recent technological
advances have made it easier
to identify this genetic
material. It’s still a painstaking
task, but much easier than
trying physically to grow,
separate and identify all of
the microorganisms by
traditional methods.
O METAGENOMICS
Scientific techniques used
to identify and study the
complexity of the microbiome.
Many microbiota will not grow
outside the gut, but nextgeneration
sequencing enables
quick and easy identification
of microorganisms with similar
DNA, which can then be
grouped together.
O METABOLOME
Chemical products made
by the microbiota. These
include enzymes that deal
with the otherwise indigestible
components of the diet,
products required for synthesis
of vitamins, as well as proteins
essential for the horse’s
immune function and many
other physiological processes,
such as fermentation. Foragefed
horses may obtain 50%
to 70% of their daily energy
requirements from short-chain
fatty acids, which are produced
by microbial fermentation
within the hindgut.
For general health, keep your horse on a forage-based diet with the
minimum amount of concentrates needed for his workload
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 21

HORSE HERO
Top
Dollar VI
The ‘XXL’ puissance winner with
incredible self-belief
WHILE only nine years old, Top
Dollar VI is a horse whose raw
talent earmarks him as a potential
world class contender.
Although the rangey chestnut’s
rideability still needs honing,
his early appearances on the
international circuit have shown
he has ability to burn. At Olympia
in December, he stood outright
winner in the puissance before
producing an impressive fourfault
round over a demanding
World Cup track.
“I’ve been lucky to have had
some very good horses but when
I jumped the World Cup at
Olympia, it felt the easiest it’s
ever felt, even if it wasn’t the most
controlled round,” says his rider
Laura Renwick.
“The feeling ‘Dollar’ gives you
over a fence is phenomenal, it just
doesn’t take anything out of him.
I don’t think there’d be a course in
the world he couldn’t jump.”
As well as his awesome scope,
Dollar’s fearless temperament also
stands in his favour.
“Sometimes he can land
himself in trouble but because he
has the ability to prop himself,
he can always get out of it. He
has incredible self-belief — he
doesn’t think there’s anything he
can’t do,” says Laura.
While the 17.2hh can be “a bit
bolshy” in his stable, he thrives in
his job.
“After half an hour in the field,
he wants to come in but when
you’re riding him, that’s when he’s
at his happiest,” Laura adds.
Laura and her husband John
had tried to buy Dollar’s dam,
Elegant C, as a four-year-old
and had continued to follow her
career. They bumped into her
owner Sue Clark at Scope, and
discovered she had bred two colts
from the mare — three-year-old
Dollar and two-year-old Kankan,
his half-brother by Kannan.
“His dam was an out-andout
winner,” says John. “We saw
some video of the colts and liked
Dollar — he had the same sire as
Oz De Breve, who we’d sold, and
we thought he’d be like him except
that he turned out to be XXL.”
A big but weak youngster,
Dollar was kept as a stallion
until he was four years old (the
Renwicks have retained some
semen) and has been produced
slowly. He was competed as a
young horse by Claire Gredley and
Emily Mason, finishing 13th in the
2016 Talent Seekers final at Horse
of the Year Show (HOYS).
“He’s not our normal type but
we’re happy with what we’ve got.
He’s a big horse with lots of scope
and a strong chance of being a
team prospect,” John adds. H&H
NEXT
WEEK
By SARAH RADFORD
HOYS lead-rein pony
hunter champion
Cadlanvalley Super Ted
FRAME
“He’s come from a couple of
big shows and you can see he’s
competition fit. Ideally you’d like
to see more weight and topline on
him, and some better definition
behind,” says showjumper Peter
Charles. “That said, he’s jumping
at a high level and he’s not
struggling for scope or power.
“The problem he has at the
moment is in shortening down a
distance. As well as his size, he
does stand with his leg a little set
back behind — ideally you’d like
to see that set further under him.
From his stance you can see he’s
a big, rangey horse that’s built to
have a very big stride.”
9yo chestnut Anglo European Studbook gelding, 17.2hh
Stable name: Dollar
Breeder: Sue Clark
Owners: John and Laura Renwick
Rider: Laura Renwick
Results: first puissance
Rouen 2017; first Olympia
puissance 2017; third Olympia
Masters 2017; 15th Olympia
World Cup 2017; third Liverpool
rankings class 2017, first Olympia
six-bar 2016.
Picture by Peter Nixon
Dollar Du
Murier
Elegant C
Jalisco B
Karielle
(by Uriel)
Darco
Quandora Cru
De Montagne
(by Landetto)
22 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

OVERALL IMPRESSION
“He has a nice head, a nice eye and good strong limbs, but he’s a
workmanlike horse rather than one blessed with the most perfect
conformation,” says Peter. “When you see him in the flesh, he is
closer to 18hh than 17hh, and he’s a rib too long if I’m honest. You
don’t see that many quite as big as him in showjumping and his size
wouldn’t make him as manoeuvrable as a 16.2hh or 16.3hh horse.
“While there are a few problems with his conformation which
bear out in the ride, as an overall package he compensates
through his ability and carefulness in the ring. A big horse like
this could be clumsy, but he’s no fool and can get himself out of
awkward situations.
“He’s by Dollar Du Murier out of a mother by Darco, two big,
scopey, top-class jumping horses. He gets his power and scope
from his mother’s side and they usually have fantastic technique.”
LIMBS
“He’s got a good set of pegs
on him and he looks to have
good feet. I’d imagine this
is quite a sound horse,”
Peter says. “He has nice
front legs, his pasterns are a
good length and angle, and
he doesn’t look to be down
on the heels or have any
problems there.”
FRONT END
“He has a nice head and eye.
His head is set slightly high
and he has a little bit of an
upright, ewe neck,” Peter
says. “He also has a very high
wither, which I would imagine
makes him quite difficult to
fit a saddle for as it would
have a tendency to slip back.
“You can see that he’s
a strong horse and not
one I would necessarily
pick for a girl to ride as a
showjumper. But then Laura
is no ordinary girl!”

MASTERCLASS
Jennie Loriston-Clarke
on achieving a more balanced canter
The dressage trainer shares her exercise using loops to improve the canter
Using suppling
exercises are
essential in every
stage of training,
but especially when
looking to achieve a
more balanced canter
DIAGRAM 1
20m circle
2-3m
AIM
AS a dressage judge, I often see
horses and riders at the lower levels
that simply can’t canter properly.
The horses aren’t straight and are
unbalanced. Using loops, especially
if combined with circles, the horse
can be taught to find its balance
and sit more on its hindlegs. The
result is a much better canter. It is
a useful suppling exercise at every
stage of the horse’s training.
The exercise also makes the
rider think about their own
position, how they are positioning
their horse and they learn to ride
more correctly to the outside rein
through changes of direction.
Canter
DIAGRAM 2
10m circle
THE EXERCISE
1Put your horse into a working
canter. On the short side of
the arena, canter a 20-metre
circle. Go large and at the first
marker, ask the horse to come in
off the track for two to three metres
before going straight and then
changing the direction in a shallow
counter-canter back to the track.
Ride a neat corner and then repeat.
Do the exercise on both reins.
(See diagram 1).
10m circle
2As the horse gains its
confidence and balance,
increase the depth of the
loop and decrease the size of the
circle beforehand. If the horse
starts to fall onto its shoulder or
the quarters swing, go back to
a shallow loop until the balance
is established.
3Ride a 10-metre canter
circle at M or H, then ride
straight towards the centre
line. Straighten for a few steps on
the centre line over X and then
turn back towards the track. Ride
another 10m circle at the corner
marker. Repeat on both reins.
(See diagram 2). H&H
TIPS AND PITFALLS
O The rider must keep their
weight evenly distributed in the
centre of the saddle, particularly in
the counter-canter section. Keep
the legs in the correct position:
outside leg back and inside leg on
the girth creating the impulsion.
O In both exercises, ask for
very little bend over the leading
leg — eventually you should be
able to do it with the horse’s neck
completely straight.
O Adjust where you start the
relevant loops depending on the
size of your arena — in a 20x60m
arena, make the loop deeper.
O Note in point three, make sure
you ride straight towards the
Canter
NEXT
WEEK
Dressage rider
Dan Greenwood on
improving suppleness
centre line and straight back to the
track as this way the horse learns
to stay into the outside rein.
O These exercises are the first
steps of teaching a horse the
three-loop canter serpentine.
Eventually you can miss out the
circles and ride three loops to
each side of the arena.
Picture by Lucy Merrell. Words by Helen Triggs
24 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

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THE INTERVIEW
‘My ultimate dream is
a team gold medal’: Kiwi
eventer Jonelle Price,
pictured with promising
nine-year-old Cooley
Showtime, states her
mission for the 2018
World Equestrian Games
Jonelle Price
The Kiwi eventer talks to Lucy Higginson about juggling first-time motherhood
with horses — and her secret to keeping the show on the road
JONELLE PRICE’S son Otis, who
is in the next-door room when we
meet, may be only five months old
but the 37-year-old’s mission for
September’s World Equestrian
Games is clear: not just to make the New
Zealand team, but “to deliver the goods”.
Making life that bit more complicated is the
fact her husband Tim is also odds-on to make
the team — and Otis’ grandparents all live on
the other side of the world.
“This is certainly a big year,” agrees Jonelle,
a team bronze medallist at London 2012. “The
past six years have been pretty disappointing
as a team. Individually we’ve had fantastic
results, yet we’ve failed when it matters at
championships. It’s haunting us a bit, and
we’re under pressure to deliver.
“My ultimate dream is a team gold medal.
Plus, I’m desperate for Toddy [Mark Todd]
to win a team gold before he retires, and
we’re running out of chances. We’re a small
but mighty group from New Zealand and we
genuinely are great mates. To do that with
your friends and your husband would be the
ultimate [dream].”
THAT Jonelle has this goal and the
resolve to meet it will surprise no one
who has watched her across country.
She never gives less than 100%, and
rarely puts a foot wrong while nailing brilliant
times. It’s this flair and feel that have taken her
from a non-horsey background all the way to
the Olympic podium.
Pregnancy and birth hardly broke her
Pictures by Peter Nixon
26 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

stride — “I rode two to three horses a day right
up to Otis being born” — and she was back
competing in a month. Yet the Prices have been
upfront about the fact that Otis’ arrival was a
welcome surprise.
“Never in a million years did I think we
would have a baby in 2017,” laughs Jonelle.
“But if it didn’t happen then, possibly it would
not have happened. The time when we should
have been thinking about a family, our careers
had just started to gather momentum. I’d
definitely been dragging my feet about it.”
While Jonelle found pregnancy easy —
“Badminton came round and I really felt like
I could have been there riding” — mentally it
was tougher.
“It was the first time in my life that I had no
focus and drive,” she says. “Plus I’m a control
freak so handing over the horses was hard.”
Having “begun to drive Tim bonkers”, she
started working twice a week with a personal
trainer to maintain fitness while Tim took on
five of her rides.
“We were lucky,” she acknowledges. “So
many women have to outsource during
pregnancy which is hard on business — and
dangerous [in case horses don’t come back].”
Jonelle’s mini-season culminated with
Faerie Dianimo at Pau, where they came 10th,
a result she found disappointing but still gave
her “a lot of positives to take away”.
Key to Jonelle’s 2018 ambitions — and no
doubt her best Christmas present — is Harriet,
Otis’ new nanny. She will now accompany the
family for a month on the Spanish Sunshine
Tour. This trip to the five-week international
showjumping event is something Jonelle first
did on her own before Rio.
“It was the phase I thought I could improve
the most,” she explains, “and I want my horses
to feel a bit ‘overqualified’ when it comes to the
last day of Badminton or Burghley.”
It’s all part of the Prices’ constant quest for
improvement, as is some proper downtime
over the winter rather than zooming round the
world giving clinics, so they’re both raring to go
for the new season.
AMONTH overseas might not suit every
nanny, but Harriet, happily, is horsey,
and the plan is for her and Otis to come
Jonelle and Tim admit
that five-month-old Otis
was a welcome surprise:
‘If it hadn’t happened
then, it might never have
happened at all’
‘The time when we
should have been
thinking about a
family, our careers
had just started to
gather momentum.
I’d definitely been
dragging my feet
about it’
to many events “or we’d never see him”.
“When we advertise any job we say: ‘There
are no set hours. We are your life and we want
you to be part of ours’,” explains Jonelle. “When
there’s work to do, we work, and when there’s
not, we rest. We work on a give-and-take basis
Jonelle riding Faerie Dianimo at
Pau CCI4* in 2014. ‘Small feisty
mares’ are right up her street
and like to think we help them in return.”
If this might make an HR department
flinch it certainly works for the Prices, who
enjoy very low staff turnover.
But then few couples are as much fun to
be around as Tim and Jonelle. Tim long ago
marked himself as a reporter’s favourite with
his comic quotes and he doesn’t let me down
this time: “I don’t know who he looks like,” I
muse, admiring Otis. “The farrier…?” he teases.
Even juggling the baby with calls to delivery
men who’ve just dropped off the wrong sofa,
there is humour in the air and they seem
a truly happy team. Tim and Jonelle have
been together for 17 years, married for five
and built a business from nothing after
arriving here 13 years ago, albeit at a slightly
slower rate than expected.
“Being foreign, it’s definitely harder,”
Jonelle says. “We don’t have young riders
and juniors in New Zealand, or a network of
parents’ friends and so on. At one stage we had
about 12 horses and owned them all. Now we
probably have 25 and own two.”
Almost all of them are out every night in
small groups in large paddocks.
“We encourage horses to be horses,” says
Jonelle. “We hack them a lot and give them
a good seven-week holiday with their shoes off.
There are definitely elements of New Zealand
in us, for sure.”
Their Wiltshire base fits their style of
horsecare so well that they have no immediate
plans to look for their own yard.
“We love Mere Farm,” stresses Jonelle. “Tim
and Melissa Brown [its owners] have been
instrumental to our survival in this country,
and having 120 acres is very important to us.”
Instead they have bought themselves
a postcard-pretty thatched cottage in
Marlborough, “so we felt we had something”.
Fate has decreed that most of Jonelle’s rides
are mares, which is not without irony.
“Before Faerie Dianimo, I didn’t ride or buy
mares; the perception back then was that they
were harder to manage. By chance I ended up
with a couple that have become very good —
and discovered that I love them. Now I have
only three geldings. Small, feisty mares are
right up my street,” she laughs. “They challenge
me — they are so bloody determined. We’re
a good match.” H&H
NEXT
WEEK
Zetland huntsman
David Jukes
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 27

2018 SPECTATOR GUIDE
Your must-see
guide for 2018
Badminton, Burghley, Hickstead and HOYS may already
be firmly penned in your diary, but make space for our pick
of some of the best horsey days out for spectators that you
might not know you’re missing

BEST FOR BREATHTAKING VIEWS
Laytown Races
When? 6 September
Where? Laytown, Co. Meath
What to expect:
Every September hooves can be heard
pounding along the beach at the small seaside
resort of Laytown (main picture), 29 miles
north of Dublin, for the only race event run on
a beach under the Rules of the Turf Club. All
races must be completed before the tide comes
in — which adds to the drama — and although
it’s busy you can see for miles, whether you’re
on the beach itself or up in the stand.
“The thrill of the horses thundering
by on the saltwater sands is a unique and
exhilarating experience,” says Co. Fermanaghbased
writer Helen Sharp. “The weather can
be ‘Irish’, so dress for cosy rather than catwalk
and be sure to have a punt and some craic on
one of the betting stands.”
Tickets €10
laytownstrandraces.ie
Treborough Hill Horse Trials
When? 23-24 June and 25-26 August
Where? Treborough Hill, Somerset
What to expect:
If there was a competition for the highest
geographical venue in the British Eventing
calendar, Treborough would be in the running.
“Situated in Exmoor National Park in an
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it has
panoramic views of heather-covered hills and
the sea looking towards the Welsh mountains,”
says organiser Sarah Weatherlake. “There is
ample safe space out on the cross-country
course close to the start, where, weather
permitting, spectators are welcome to picnic
and enjoy the sport. We are lucky to have
skylarks and curlew here on Treborough
Common — a real treat on a summer’s day.
“And our top tip for your day? Come
prepared with suncream and an extra coat.
Being at the top of a Somerset hill we are likely
to experience a range of weather.”
Free to watch
treboroughhill.co.uk
Blair Castle International
Horse Trials
When? 23-26 August
Where? Blair Castle, Perthshire
What to expect:
Arm yourself with midge repellent, prepare
yourself for every weather outcome (who could
forget the biblical rain of the 2015 European
Eventing Championships?) and stand by to
see the Scottish Highlands at their best. With
the magical Blair Castle as the backdrop, this
is a place to escape the everyday bustle of the
south, and watch some of Britain’s top eventers
in action in the three-star competition and
sixth leg of the Event Riders Masters. Plus
you can marvel at the Highland ponies in the
showing classes and keep less-horsey family
members entertained with the country fair
that runs simultaneously.
Don’t leave for home without swinging
past the House of Bruar in the village
(a Harrods of the north) to stock up in the
food hall: think smoked salmon, buttery
fudge and venison sausages.
Tickets from £12
blairhorsetrials.co.uk
Words by Madeleine Silver. Picture by Design Pics Inc/Alamy
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 29

2018 SPECTATOR GUIDE
BEST FOR OLD-FASHIONED FUN
Royal Cornwall Show
When? 7-9 June
Where? Wadebridge, Cornwall
What to expect:
Cornwall’s biggest annual event retains
all the elements of the good old-fashioned
country show, without reams of corporate
banking stands and general tat. And with
excellent grass arenas and Steve Williams’
course-building, expect to see some quality
showjumping combinations competing. Plus
there’s the celeb-spotting factor.
“As the title of the show alludes to,
a member of the Royal family can often be
found touring the showground during an
official visit,” says the show’s Steve Michell.
“Dawn French and Will Young are among the
other well-known faces that love attending.”
The showground extends to more than 100
A storybook picture: Dunster Show takes
place on the lawns below Dunster Castle
acres so it can take more than a day to explore
everything on offer — luckily it runs for three
days, so there’s plenty of time...
Tickets £19.50 for adults
royalcornwallshow.org
Dunster Show
When? 17 August
Where? Dunster Castle, Somerset
What to expect:
If you were to draw a storybook picture of
a country show, this would be it. This one-day
agricultural show takes place on the lawns
below Dunster Castle on the edge of Exmoor
National Park, with the sea beyond.
“While it does have some Horse of the
Year Show qualifiers, it’s also just a great
all-round country show — with cattle, sheep,
jocular tractor salesmen who cheerfully put
up with small boys wanting to check out their
machinery; archery, a busy beer tent and even a
bonkers roving circus which does a mini show
each hour. And of course there’s a hound parade
and chance to meet the hounds,” says Horse &
Hound’s former editor Lucy Higginson.
Tickets £12 for adults
thedunstershow.co.uk
Royal Welsh Show
When? 23-26 July
Where? Royal Welsh Showground,
Llanelwedd, Powys
What to expect:
Navigate your way to Llanelwedd in the middle
of Wales for one of the largest agricultural
Bulls in the ring at the Royal Welsh, one of
the largest agricultural shows in Europe
shows in Europe. “Welsh cob Wednesday”
is a highlight with football-like crowds
cheering the Welsh cob breeders as they
take to the ring.
“One of the focal events you won’t want
to miss is the Welsh section D stallion class
held in the main ring,” says Horse & Hound’s
showing editor Alex Robinson. “Get set for
an electric display of the crème de la crème of
Welsh cob breeding sires.”
But aside from the horses this is a chance
to celebrate the best of British farming — with
classes for an encyclopaedic variety of cattle,
sheep, pigs and goats — plus more than 1,000
trade stands to splurge on.
Tickets from £22 for adults
rwas.wales
BEST FOR HAVING A SNOOP
At the Lambourn Open Day on Good Friday,
top trainers open up their yards to the public
Lambourn Open Day
When? 30 March
Where? Lambourn, Berkshire
What to expect:
You may well pinch yourself as you get within
touching distance of racing’s biggest stars
as trainers in the Lambourn Valley open their
doors to the public.
“I have been going to the Lambourn Open
Day for about 15 years now and it is always
a great family day out regardless of what the
weather decides to do,” says Horse & Hound’s
30 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018
racing editor Hannah Lemieux. “Being allowed
to walk freely around top trainers’ yards, such
as Nicky Henderson, Oliver Sherwood, Warren
Greatrex and Jamie Osborne, is really special.”
Tickets £15
lambournopenday.com
Middleham Open Day
When? 30 March
Where? Middleham, Yorkshire
What to expect:
Head 200 miles north from Lambourn and
you can get an equally revealing glimpse
behind the scenes of the racing industry in
the picturesque village of Middleham, where
13 yards open their doors to visitors.
“The yards make a huge effort to have
knowledgeable people on hand to answer
any and every question,” says local trainer
Ben Haslam, whose dual-purpose yard is
in the shadow of the iconic 12th-century
Middleham Castle. “There are often raffles
and competitions on each yard, and in the
afternoon there is a great competition run
with the stable lads and local Pony Club,
showjumping against each other, which is
very entertaining.”
Tickets £10 for adults
middlehamopenday.co.uk
BEST FOR PARTY ANIMALS
British Beach Polo
Championships
When? 13-14 July
Where? Sandbanks, Dorset
What to expect:
Polo in any form isn’t short of glamour, but
add sea and sand and you have an intoxicating
combination. And with the polo played in
an enclosed arena you’re in the midst of the
action with the ball flying around at speeds
of 100mph. As the sun goes down, the music
turns up with beach parties (pictured above)
keeping revellers entertained until 1am.
“You can’t beat the beachfront location —
you’re literally metres from the sea,” says Horse
& Hound’s polo reporter Polly Bryan. “This is
an event not short of glamour — and the polo’s
not bad either.”
Tickets from £22.50
sandpolo.com

BEST FOR
ADRENALIN JUNKIES
Duke of Beaufort’s
Point-to-Point
When? 3 March
Where? Didmarton, Gloucestershire
Pictures by Greg Balfour Evans/Alamy, aberCPC Alamy, Gary Blake/Alamy, Peter Nixon, PA Archive/PA Images, Sandpolo/Christian Lawson, Gary Blake/Alamy and PA Archive/PA Images
Common Ridings: an adrenalin-pumping ride in the Borders to commemorate a slice of history
BEST FOR GETTING YOUR CULTURAL FIX
Common Ridings
When? Throughout the summer
Where? Eleven towns in the Scottish Borders
What to expect:
Dating back to the lawless 13th and 14th
centuries, Common Ridings began when
townspeople rode their boundaries to check
them and protect them from marauders.
The summer spectacle continues today
with adrenalin-pumping rides across open
country. Multi-medalled eventer Ian Stark
is a regular.
“The first time I took part in the Common
Ridings, I was helping out at a local riding
school, getting the horses ready. When one
of the borrowers didn’t turn up, I got to ride
instead and after that I wanted to go every
year,” he remembers.
Set your alarm early doors to bag a prime
picnic spot — and try to borrow a 4x4 to keep
up with the action.
Free to watch
returntotheridings.co.uk
BEST FOR DRESSING UP
Trooping The Colour
When? 9 June
Where? Horse Guards Parade, London
What to expect:
There is something mesmerising about
watching more than 1,400 officers and
men, 200 gleaming horses, more than
400 musicians from 10 bands and corps
of drums march and play as one on Horse
Guards Parade.
The spectacle of pageantry is in aid of
The Queen’s official birthday — and you can’t
help thinking that her well-trained eye is
mostly focused on the horses of the Household
Cavalry and King’s Troop.
“The Queen’s eye for detail and equestrian
expertise exceeds all others on duty that day,”
says Lieutenant Piers Flay of The Blues and
Royals. “Her eyes and those of the world are
upon our soldiers — there is simply no greater
privilege or honour.”
While tickets are hard fought for the real
deal on 9 June when The Queen takes centre
stage, there are rehearsals the preceding
Saturdays, with The Major General’s Review
on 26 May and The Colonel’s Review on
2 June. The dress code escalates during
these three, culminating in morning dress
for Trooping the Colour.
£5 for The Major General’s Review
£10 for The Colonel’s Review
£35 for Trooping the Colour
householddivision.org.uk
Munnings Exhibition
When? Until 7 May
Where? National Heritage Centre at Palace
House, Newmarket, Suffolk
What to expect:
Horse lovers can’t help but feel inspired —
and a little nostalgic — by the work of Sir
Alfred Munnings, one of England’s finest
equestrian artists.
Head to the Moller Exhibition Gallery at
Palace House in Newmarket for his Painting
Winners exhibition, which looks at how his
work was influenced by Newmarket and racing
scenes. Drawings, sketchbooks, studies and
the finished pieces are on display, alongside
the methodology that he used to create his
masterpieces. And when you’re in need of a
pick-me-up, grab a table at the Tack Room
restaurant next door, where saddles hang from
the walls and jockey silks replace paintings.
Tickets £11 (for general admission to the
whole of Palace House)
palacehousenewmarket.co.uk
Hats, frills and a buzz at York’s Ebor Festival
Ebor Festival
When? 22-25 August
Where? York Racecourse, Yorkshire
What to expect:
Dust off your hats and pray for good weather to
see York Racecourse at its best.
“York’s facilities are second to none with
easy access for racegoers and excellent views
of the horses in both the paddocks and on the
track,” says North Yorkshire-based trainer Brian
Ellison, who landed the Ebor with Moyenne
Corniche in 2011. “If I was to recommend a day
at the races to any racing fan it would be York’s
Ebor Festival. The atmosphere there is electric
and you always feel a real buzz — a sense of
excitement and anticipation.”
Tickets from £12 for the Ebor Festival
yorkracecourse.co.uk
What to expect:
Locate all of your clothes before heading to the
Duke of Beaufort’s Point-to-Point; you’ll need
them at this picture-perfect spot nestled on the
Badminton Estate. But you don’t need to be on
a horse for the adrenalin to start pumping, and
there’s no shortage of steaming food stands to
thaw you out in between races.
Besides the racing there’s a dog show,
bucking bronco and shooting simulator —
but the raffle alone should lure you; last year
£1,000 cash was up for grabs, alongside
a season ticket to Badminton Horse Trials,
and a day’s hunting for two with the Beaufort.
Tickets £12.50 for adults
beauforthunt.com
Bravery, stamina and instinct at the Melton
Melton Hunt Club Ride
When? To be announced in the early autumn.
From November.
Where? Moves around the Quorn, Belvoir and
Cottesmore hunting countries
What to expect:
An adrenalin fix (without putting yourself in
the firing line...) and a terrific spectacle.
“The Melton Hunt Club Ride is one of the
great tests of horse and rider,” says H&H’s
hunting editor Catherine Austen. “Unlike most
other hunt races, there are very few ‘markers’
you have to keep to a certain side of — it is
as much of a test of a competitor’s ability to
‘read’ natural country and decide on a route
that suits their horse as it is a test of bravery,
jumping power and stamina.”
Tickets around £5
melton-hunt-club.org.uk
Tipperary Side-Saddle Meet
When? 17 February, 11am
Where? Cloneen, Co. Tipperary
What to expect: Like an old-fashioned
painting coming to life, “The Tipps” side-saddle
meet will take you back in history, as beautifully
turned-out followers (with nerves of steel…) dig
out their habits and tackle this famous country.
The hunt ball follows that evening at the Hotel
Minella & Leisure Centre in Clonmel.
Free to watch
tipperaryfoxhounds.com H&H
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 31

EXTRAORDINARY AMATEURS
‘It’s all planned
minute by minute’
Andrea Oakes meets the extraordinary amateur riders who flit seamlessly
between their wildly different lives, to find out how they juggle their
high-powered careers with riding and competing
like I lead two different
lives,” says Sharon Polding,
referring to her frankly aweinspiring
double identity.
“IT’S
There’s corporate Sharon,
travelling worldwide as a global client
director for Vodafone. Then there’s competitor
Sharon, who last year earned a Union flag
with a place on the British team at the amateur
European Eventing Championships in
Belgium. Only her husband Robert and
six-year-old daughter Poppy, at home in
Kent, see this real-world superhero switch
seamlessly between characters.
Like many extraordinary amateur riders,
her approach is nothing short of professional.
She manages her schedule with military
precision — starting with a crack-of-dawn
alarm call and finishing late each night
on the yard.
“I’m lucky to have a job with some
flexibility,” admits Sharon, who frequently
flies to Germany, Paris and New York. “If I’m
working from home, I might call Australia
at 6am, making more calls in the evening.
Another day I’ll spend an hour on the train to
the London office, or three hours on the road
to headquarters in Newbury.”
Work commitments mean that Sharon
competes just one horse at high level,
Findonfirecracker. She was there when “Dizzy”
was born and they’ve since climbed the
international ladder together.
“I’d had other good horses at two-star,
but Dizzy has taken me that extra step,” says
Sharon of the mare she calls “a quirky old cow”.
“We did Bramham CIC3* last year and were
one of only seven combinations to produce a
double clear at Blenheim CCI3*,” she adds.
Sharon regularly questions her hectic
lifestyle. Times are particularly tough at the
moment, since the family’s house burnt
down while they were at Olympia Horse Show
in December.
“I’m knackered most of the time,” she says.
“I don’t go out much and I had to buy an extra
week’s annual leave for a family holiday, as I’d
used all mine up competing. But horses are
how I de-stress — while I love being in London
and taking clients out, I’m happiest at the yard,
playing with the horses.”
Sharon lacked the finances to follow her
dreams of being a professional event rider,
so at 19 she started working in the City to
fund her hobby. Over nearly three decades
she has honed the art of combining a career
with competition.
“I’m a big one for core fitness, especially
now that Dizzy is at this level, and couldn’t
be without my horse walker,” she says. “I
also have a girl who hacks her out a couple of
times a week.
“Otherwise, it’s about making do with the
Picture by Alamy Stock Photo
32 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

time I have — and being incredibly organised,”
adds Sharon, who has received “invaluable”
training and support from the Mark Todd
Bridging The Gap initiative. “I plan the season
in advance, as most of our competitions now
involve weekdays, and I particularly enjoy
residential camps as I can totally immerse
myself in horses.
“My current boss went to the World
Championships to do kickboxing, so he
understands the pressures of training.”
THESE early-morning activities are not
unusual. By 5.30am, Emily Green is on
a horse at a Surrey livery yard — and
she’s not alone.
“There’ll be a few of us riding at that time,
so there’s always someone to hack out with or
to cast an eye over me in the school,” she says.
“I’m lucky to have super-flexible trainers who
are willing to get up early to teach.”
Emily’s day gathers pace as she drives
through rush-hour traffic back home to Parsons
Green in west London, before commuting
by tube for a further hour. After four years
as a corporate lawyer in the city, finishing
somewhere between 10pm and midnight
every night, she soon starts a new job as a legal
counsel with HSBC in Canary Wharf — with
the prospect of slightly more sensible hours.
Why does she put herself through this
punishing regime?
“Horses are my therapy before sitting in
an office all day,” she says. “I didn’t start riding
until I was at law school then bought my first
horse shortly before taking on my first job as
a solicitor. It’s what motivates me and keeps
me sane, paying for the horses and planning
the next competition.”
Emily evented her Irish gelding Beg To
Differ up to BE90. While he steps down
to do some unaffiliated dressage, she has
just taken a share in Sarah Gledhill’s
thoroughbred mare, Queen B.
The mind boggles at how she will fit
another horse into her day.
“It’s all planned minute by minute,” she
explains. “The challenge is never the getting
out of bed, because I want to do it, but
balancing each horse’s exercise routine. It’s in
the diary that they’ll hack and school so many
times each week, otherwise it’s too easy to say,
‘I’ll just lunge today’.
“It’s all about efficiency,” she adds. “I know,
for example, that I need 12 minutes between
arriving at the yard and getting on a horse,
and I have my warm-up time programmed
on my phone. I don’t particularly love the
fact that there’s no fussing, but fitting things
in is a fine art.”
Emily’s secret weapon is a “buddy system”
(see box, p34), a network of contacts she can
text in times of need.
“Every couple of months, you panic and
realise you can’t do it all,” she says. “But
having a hobby is important, otherwise it can
become all about work.”
CORA KWIATKOWSKI, a divisional
director at Bristol-based architectural
practice Stride Treglown, rides
mornings or evenings — sometimes both.
“I plan a week ahead to make time, treating
each riding session like a meeting,” says
Cora, who has a retired showjumper, a mini
Shetland and the loan of dressage horse
Cool Customer III (Troy). “It can be tempting
not to bother after a 12-hour day but I commit
to ride, whatever the weather.”
Cora makes work calls as she drives to the
office after morning stables, using the shower
facilities there to freshen up.
“It’s important not to go in smelling of
horses,” she says, recommending a good pair
of gloves for every yard job. “My time-saving
advice is not to chat — people at the yard know
that I’m running about in the mornings.
“I’m not usually home before 9pm, when
I have something to eat and the day is over,”
adds Cora. “I’ll occasionally go out and meet
friends, or visit an art exhibition or the theatre.
It’s like a normal life, but scaled down.”
This relentless routine is a choice, she says,
and benefits both work and performance.
“You want to be at the top of your game
when you go out and compete, so I schedule
shows early and they serve as a target,” explains
Cora, who recently rode her first prix st georges
test. “My job doesn’t suffer, as I put in long
hours to get it done, and I’m more focused on

EXTRAORDINARY AMATEURS
Cora Kwiatkowski and dressage horse Troy
Sharon Polding gets up at the crack of dawn to ride her event horse, Findonfirecracker
work because I know I only have so much time.
Switching off completely [with horses] is good
for your brain; the effects of fresh air and sport
are well documented.”
Lauren Innes admits that she only works
to afford her horses — advanced eventer
Monarchs Larko and promising eight-year-old
Fision M.
“I put off being an adult for so long, but
I needed some real income to have the right
training and support,” says Lauren, who
recently started as a trainee auditor at KPMG
in Reading. “I’m still feeling my way, but I hope
to make it work. This will be a key season.”
Lauren, who is also studying for
accountancy exams, plans to be on the gallops
in summer before she starts work at 9am. It
helps that her horses are based at home.
“Skipping them out at 10pm makes
morning mucking-out easier,” she explains.
“I save time with rubber matting and autowaterers,
and cereal bars that I eat in the
car for breakfast.”
Day-to-day management is one thing, but
how easy is it for an amateur to switch into
competition mode?
“Once I’m at a show, it’s all I’m thinking
about,” says Claudia Rees, who is jumping
1.35m tracks with Renkum Knopfler when
not working as operations director at stem
cell company Cells4Life. “But showjumping
against professionals who ride a lot of horses
every day can be difficult. When I start again
after a winter break, I’ll feel a bit more rusty
than I did in October.”
Despite a lot of juggling, Claudia values all
aspects of her busy life.
“I never wanted to turn pro and was always
keen to have a job,” she says. “Doing horses
full-time is a different type of hard work,
but I enjoy the more intellectually rigorous
side of things.
“Time management is key — and being
prepared to get up early,” adds Claudia, who
is also bringing Ashbank Arabella through
Foxhunters. “At first, I paid someone to
do the yard so that I could have a lie-in, but
I couldn’t justify the cost. Now I set the alarm
and get on with it.” H&H
‘I’m knackered most of the time,’ says
Sharon. ‘Horses are how I de-stress’
RALLYING SUPPORT
GOING it alone can be tough. Two years ago,
Emily Green set up a networking group of
like-minded horsey friends.
“I’d met a few girls through groups
such as the London Riding Club and
#twittereventing — lawyers, consultants and
accountants who were working in the City
and competing,” she says. “We’d get together
occasionally to discuss how ridiculously
busy our lifestyles were. Now there are
50 or 60 in the group and we meet for drinks
once a month.
“It’s amazing to learn from these
girls — many of whom have been through
Pony Club, unlike me — and reassuring to
have someone to text the night before if
I have a big deadline and can’t do the horses.
We synchronise competitions and discuss
issues that often arise when you move
somewhere new: a nice yard, someone
to train with and the best vets or equine
dentists. It’s a massive source of support.”
‘Paying for the horses
and planning the next
competition is what
motivates me,’ says
Emily Green
Picture by Lucy Merrell
34 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

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WORKING IN THE CITY
Ears pricked: when a
horse has been working in
Bruges for eight hours, it is
entitled to a two-day rest

In Bruges
As Valentine’s Day looms, Madeleine Silver visits
the romantic city of Bruges in Belgium to find out
what life is really like for those horses that take
centre stage in ‘the Venice of the North’
Pictures by hippo.be
OF all the cliché things to do on
Valentine’s Day, clambering
aboard a horse and carriage
in the Belgian city of Bruges
— “the Venice of the North” —
and settling down under a rug with a date
is up there.
But if it’s the horses you’re interested
in, rather than the tour of this somewhat
Disney-like city, you can’t help wondering if
this whole set-up is a bit sad; horses waiting
with unfathomable patience to be picked by
tourists, plodding around the same old cobbled
route, bracing the bitter winter weather and
madly trying to rid themselves of flies come
the summer.
Look a little closer though, and it seems all
this pity could be unfounded; hindquarters
are full, coats are gleaming (despite the grey
January day) and ears are pricked. Rewind an
hour or two and the day started in the most
unlikely of set-ups for these working horses.
Three-and-a-half kilometres outside the
city centre is the home of Mark Wentein —
international driving judge, proposed chef
d’equipe for the Belgian driving team at the
World Equestrian Games this September,
editor and publisher of Belgium’s equestrian
magazine Hippo Revue, and himself a Belgian
single pony champion. With his son Mathias,
he owns four of the 13 licences for carriages in
the city and has turned his 17th-century farm
into a yard that most top competition horses
would consider lavish.
“We forget that horses even 100 years ago
used to work 10, 12, or 14 hours a day — they
had a job, and that’s the reason that they were
bred,” Mark tells me as we settle down to lunch
in a dimly lit restaurant, the sound of hooves
gently echoing around the city walls. “People
forget that horses can still work if you treat
them well.”
TWENTY-SEVEN horses fill his
sprawling American barn, which was
finished four years ago, along with the
farm’s original stables — a mixture of Mark’s
competition horses, his son’s eventers and the
city’s carriage horses.
The working day for these horses is capped
at eight hours, after which they head back to
Mark’s yard for a compulsory two-day break.
And the lines between their jobs are blurred
— he likes all his carriage horses to be ridden
under saddle, and one that was in the city
yesterday could find itself drag-hunting
the next.
“All of my horses that I have competed were
Mark is passionate about drag hunting —
often taking his carriage horses out
started in the city,” says Mark, now in his early
60s and seemingly styled on an English gent,
all tweed and shiny brown brogues (“I love the
British equestrian tradition,” he says).“We have
no horse walker, so they walk in the city and at
the same time they bring us an income.”
With his matter-of-fact approach to
horses — “it’s all about time and money — it’s
a business” — Mark has built a thriving trade.
Stables have been designed so that they can
be mucked out using a machine, the carriage
drivers can open and close the yard’s electric
gates from the touch of a button on their
Mark Wentein, an
international judge, also
competes in driving
phones — so they don’t have to get out of the
carriage — and a futuristic app is used by all
employees showing which horses are in the
city, which are in need of the farrier and so on,
all of which is relayed on to a big screen in the
yard. A “washing parlour” with hot water and a
solarium is in place to make grooming easier —
the horses are turned out without rugs — and
natty fixtures abound, including magnets to
hold back the stable door windows.
But underlying this business focus is a
fixation on all things equestrian; looking
around his farmhouse you start to wonder if
you are having horsey hallucinations. You enter
via a door with a horse knocker, to the right of
which is a statue made from horseshoes. Inside
it’s hard to see wall space for the collection of
equestrian art adorning every room, a mirror
is framed by a harness, lamps appear out of
horse statues, a library has been dedicated to
his equestrian literature, and double doors in
the sitting room open on to the all-weather
outdoor arena.
Do your friends think you are a little
obsessed, I ask, only half joking? “I think so,”
he laughs. But it hasn’t always been this way.
Mark didn’t sit on a horse until he was 17,
when by chance he was next to someone
at school who was going to the local riding
school for his choice of sport that afternoon,
and Mark thought it sounded preferable to
basketball.
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 37

WORKING IN THE CITY
CITY LIFE
O Until World War I Bruges had more than
200 licensed “equestrian cabs”.
O Today there are a total of 13 licences
run by five companies, with 85 horses
altogether, showing nearly 300,000 tourists
the sights each year.
O Carriages circulate between 9am and
10pm, and when a horse has been
working for eight hours, it’s entitled to
a 48-hour rest.
O Together the 13 horses circulating the
city at any one time produce around 50kg
of manure and urine a day — most of which
is caught in the poo bags that hang under
their tails. The bag is attached to the front
axle, so the weight is kept by the carriage,
not by the horse.
O The rest is cleaned up by the city council
— a service that is included in the hefty
annual cost of a licence (€6,500/£5,700).
O They tuck into 15kg of hard feed a day
when working, taking breaks to eat and
drink in between tours.
‘If you never cheat on trust, they follow you,’ says Mark, who once invited a horse into his pub
While he was there, one of the drivers from
the city came with his carriage and asked if
Mark would be interested in doing that as
a job.
“And the next Saturday I was in the box
seat,” he says. “My mother, who was not horsey,
was completely against it at the beginning
— she thought it was an exclusive sport for
wealthy people and that you couldn’t live off it,”
he says. “But when I could prove I could make
money from it and pay for my studies while I
was at university, I proved her wrong.”
Some years after university, he was working
in a publishing house and living outside Bruges
with his wife and small child.
“One evening someone was ringing at my
door without an appointment, and it was the
man I had worked for as a student, Luc Laloo.
He said he was stopping his business and as
he had no one to take over in his family, asked
if I wanted to take it on,” remembers Mark. “I
didn’t have a penny to buy the business, but in
20 minutes we made a deal and agreed that
every month I would pay him 10% of
my income.”
“I have quite a lot of horses that were
imported from Romania, Bulgaria and
Hungary to Belgium as slaughter horses,” he
says. “Sometimes they are a little skinny but
most of them have been working in agriculture,
so when you put a harness on they are used to
the work.”
But of course not all horses take to the job.
“I have bought horses that didn’t work out
— it’s often in their character,” he says. “If you
buy them from a dealer, you don’t know what
might have happened to them previously in
their life. And if you get a real sport horse, they
can flip sometimes and get stressy in the city.”
Twenty-five-year-old Rex, Mark’s oldest
resident, knows the route of the tour, stops for
the buses and cars, and helps the new horses
attune to city life — “the music, cars, flags
and people”.
“Eventually they aren’t afraid of anything,”
says Mark, which means they make the ideal
The American-style barn at Mark’s yard. The
stables can be mucked out using machines
and there is a ‘washing parlour’ and solarium
O A new carriage costs in the region of
€20,000 (£17,600) — made using light
aluminium and kitted out with modern
suspension, disk brakes and electric lights.
O During peak season (July to September)
the farrier is at Mark’s yard at least twice
a week and the vet comes once a week for
preventive check-ups.
equine film stars (including rubbing shoulders
with Colin Farrell in the film In Bruges…).
His old Welsh cob Lucky, whom he drove
at Royal Windsor — where he is now a
commentator — once came on stage for a play
his daughter was in, which involved taking him
up two floors in a lift. For a TV programme his
horses came into his sitting room — “my wife
thought I was mad” — and they’ve stopped by
at the pub he owns while he pulls a pint.
“It proves that if you have a good
relationship and you never cheat on trust, they
follow you,” he says. “In America being a horse
whisperer is a job — here it’s logic. You need to
be able to communicate with them so they can
tell you when something is wrong.”
And looking out on to the horses grazing on
Mark’s 27 acres, nestled between the walls of
the city and the canal, you can’t help thinking
that these horses have got their work-life
balance just right. H&H
WAS Mark ever cautious of this
new departure? Stepping into the
unknown, to dedicate his life
to horses?
“No I wasn’t nervous, I think I have a little
talent [with horses],” he says. “And I have
always been the sort of person that decides that
if I’m going to do something, I want to do it
really well.”
The secret to his line-up of gleaming
equine tour guides is, he says, “in the eye of the
master”.
“We pamper them because I want horses
that are full, so I need to be able to see which
horse needs more oats, or one that is not in
good shape.”
Not all the horses that come to Mark start
off looking quite so fit and healthy.
38 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

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PRODUCTS
Frontline revelation
H&H’s products editor Polly Bryan rounds up some of the innovative products
at the BETA International trade show that are new to the market in 2018
AIVER LUXE DRESSAGE SADDLE
This unique saddle stabilises seat bones
as well as reducing concussion in the lower
back. It is also possible to adjust the width of
the saddle quickly, even while mounted, to
give a perfect fit.
£2,587.71 aiversport.com
CHAMPION CPX SUPREME HAT
The lightweight Ruby hat offers a traditional
look with a four-point, padded harness.
It also features a shock-absorbing peak,
quick-release stainless steel buckle and
moisture-wicking lining for ultimate comfort.
From £146 championhats.co.uk
ESTRIDE
This clever tracker is worn by the horse in
a neoprene or leather boot. Monitor stride
count and regularity, as well as calorie burn
for both of you, and access the data on your
smartphone or computer.
From £299 estride.store
WELL-GEL MANE EVENT
This is a natural, coconut oil-based product
for hair regrowth and hair-loss prevention,
with added essential oils. Spray on to the
affected area and gently massage in to
encourage new, stronger hair growth.
£14.95 well-gel.com
MYCROCAM UHWK HELMET
CAMERA
Designed for sport, this tiny, high-definition
camera weighs one ounce and is contoured to
fit on the front of a helmet. It has single-button
control and comes with an 8GB SD card.
£149.95 mycrocamuk.com
HORSEWARE AIR MK2
COMPETITION JACKET
This jacket is made from a lightweight,
machine-washable fabric with four-way
stretch. Breathable mesh panels in key areas
provide temperature regulation.
£119.95 horseware.com
BACK ON TRACK ROSE HIP
A natural supplement that supports
joint mobility in horses, containing only
wild-grown, oven-dried rose hips from the
Chilean Andes. Rich in antioxidants and
high in vitamins B and C.
£30 backontrack-uk.co.uk
40 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018
ARIAT TRI FACTOR BREECHES
These breeches with flexible silicone grip
incorporate cooling technology, Ariat’s Calf
Fit system to alleviate pressure points and
friction under boots, as well as moisturemovement
technology to wick away sweat.
From £109.99 ariat.com
TREEHOUSE AEROCHILL
COOLING RUG
Pour water over this award-winning rug before
putting on the horse to help muscle recovery
and alleviates heat exhaustion. Ideal for
horses travelling in hot conditions.
From £159 treehouseonline.co.uk

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HUNTING
BEDALE
13 January
dited by Catherine Austen
atherine.austen@timeinc.com
@cfausten
Mixing business
Known as much for its hospitality as its challenging country, it’s clear that
when it comes to the riding, the popular Bedale don’t mess about
Bedale, Rookwith Farm,
North Yorkshire
IT only takes two hours to get
to North Yorkshire from home,
but when I arrived at Rookwith
Farm near Bedale, I felt as if I had
arrived in a parallel universe.
People from all over the north
had converged on the popular
meet at Ed (one of the jointmasters)
and Chloe Page’s farm,
and the day was getting off to a
great start at a lavish pre-meet in
their kitchen. At 10am, the place
was crammed with immaculately
made-up ladies and rosy-cheeked
By TESSA WAUGH
men in hunting kit and an island
groaning with booze. Joint-master
and huntsman Tim Coulson was
there, looking fresh-faced for a
40-year-old, and secretary Nick
Thomas handed me a large glass
of sloe gin and introduced me
to Chloe Page and joint-master
Jo Lambert — both glamorous
blondes. Outside in the Pages’
yard, it was wall-to-wall lorries —
no trailers or battered pick-ups
— with some pretty special horse
flesh emerging down the ramps.
I think I’ve lived in the hills too
long. I felt like Eddie Grundy from
The Archers landing on the pages
of Hello! magazine.
I had a hireling for the day
from Jacqueline Coward, which
her mother, Cherry, had kindly
brought all the way from the
Middleton country. The sight of
the big, handsome thoroughbred
Phoenix went some way to
soothing my nerves.
“Don’t try to ride him like an
eventer,” Cherry warned. “Just
remember to kick going into the
fences. As long as you kick, you’ll
be fine.”
By this stage, Tim and his
hounds and more than 100 people
on horses had assembled in the
field opposite the farmhouse.
The Pages’ son, three-year-old
Max, was also there on his pony.
Seeing the members of this large
field sitting confidently on their
smart horses, it was abundantly
clear that when it comes to the
riding side of things, this lot mean
serious business.
Subscriber Laura Jennings was
there on a nice bay with her friend
Clara Nicholl from the Haydon
and two other Haydonites. Clara
joked that disentangling herself
Bedale joint-master and huntsman
Tim Coulson, who is standing down
at the end of the season
Bedale joint-master and meet
host Ed Page gives the field
a great lead over a hedge
42 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

with pleasure
from home was not easy that
morning — husband Will is
master of the Haydon — but she
tries to get down to the Bedale
several times a season. On his
feet was Laura’s partner “Robbo”
Robinson, chairman of the hunt
supporters’ club, off games due
to a broken leg, and Ron Dobson,
who pointed out his wife Vanessa
Fleming, the former master of
the Badsworth and Bramham
Moor, looking the business on an
immaculate grey.
Ed Page MFH was our field
master on another quality grey
and, while Tim went off to draw
the Fairbairns’ Bungalow Wood,
we set sail across the first field,
over a set of rails and up a small
hill to a wall. It was not a big
wall, but it evidently had a bit of
drop. Kick, kick, kick I went, but
the person in front stopped and
Phoenix and I ground to a halt
by his bottom. Not great. I had
another try, but Phoenix put the
brakes on again. Then someone
fell off and we melted down
through a gateway to join the rest
of the field, who were lining up for
another rail.
“Can I go behind you?” I
squeaked at the lady beside me.
“Follow my husband,” she
said, pointing to former master
Stephen Swires, a dashing jockey
type in a red coat.
Kick, kick and over we go
before heading off around some
field margins. Everyone was
cantering on as if we were on the
hunt of the season. Phoenix took
a bit of a hold and we thundered
past a couple of people in a less
than dignified way, getting filthy
in the process.
“I hope you had your Weetabix
this morning,” quipped Andy
Wilkinson, one of several regular
visitors from the East Durham as
he caught up with me on the road.
POPULAR FOR THE
JUMPING
THERE were no trails in
Bungalow Wood, so Tim and
his hounds headed a mile or so
by road to the hunt covert at
Marriforth Farm. It was good
to see a familiar face in the
form of Vanessa Fleming, who
explained that this is one of the
Bedale’s harder bits of country,
although it is popular for the
jumping. The Page family own
several farms in the area that are
laid out with plenty of timber
and newly laid hedges, but their
farms are intermingled with
others where the larger fields
are not so welcome and shooting
dominates. We were stopped in
our conversation by the cheerful
IN KENNELS
Chairman:
Robert McKenzie Johnson
Joint-masters:
Robert Ropner, Tim Coulson
(huntsman), Jo Lambert,
Matthew Penrose, Ed Page
Hon secretary:
Nick Thomas, 07973 886487
Kennel-huntsman:
Mikey Francis
note of hounds speaking through
the covert and watched as they
took a line out across a grass field,
leaving the field to take a route via
the road with hounds out of sight.
We get a glimpse of hounds
at No Man’s Moor Lane, where
there was an upright rail to jump
onto the road. Lettie Thomas,
daughter of the secretary, was up
from Leeds having recently taken
up hunting again. Her friend Alice
Milverton told me she was riding
her mum’s “happy hacker” and
tried to get home once a month
from London for some hunting.
Two well-mounted 12-year-olds
told me they go every Saturday
and provided sufficient evidence
Right: Susie Penrose with
Bedale joint-masters
Matthew Penrose and
Robert Ropner

HUNTING
BEDALE
13 January
Kennel-huntsman Mikey Francis, who
will take over as huntsman next season,
walking out hounds before hunting
‘If you worry about the future of
hunting, a visit to this part
of North Yorkshire should allay
your fears’
The next generation: a litter of hound puppies at the kennels
that the “thruster” gene is present
in the next generation.
We piled on due east through
Ian Carlisle’s farm towards
Thornton Lodge and caught
up with Tim. The hounds had
checked and he was casting them
in Ruswick Gill on the farm
belonging to Thomas and Angie
Fall, who was out with their
daughter Kate. I chatted to the
new hunt chairman and retired
headmaster, Robert McKenzie
Johnson, and we discovered
we have a friend in common,
Miranda Osborne. Minutes later,
we saw Miranda standing outside
her house waving as we trotted
past. Susie Penrose, wife of
joint-master Matthew Penrose,
came up to introduce herself —
she works at the family sawmill
and has taken up hunting since
meeting Matthew.
Meanwhile, Tim had gathered
his hounds and was taking them
back through the farm buildings
to hold them on to a nice grass
farm called Thornton Lodge,
where they hit the line off again
and took us back across the lane,
jumping off it this time, towards
Marriforth where the trail had
started. The roads in this area are
not busy, but there were masses
of car followers, most of whom
seemed to be women in Frimble
bobble hats.
There had been a sense of
anticipation all day about going
back to Rookwith, where a
steeplechase of several hedges
were beckoning. Fortunately,
when we got there, hounds found
a couple of trails at the Pages’ Wild
Duck Carr and they took one that
headed south towards the River
Ure, providing the opportunity
everyone wanted for a bit more
jumping. Johnnie Furness and his
wife Grania were talking about
going home, but when they saw
everyone gathering in front of the
first hedge, they thought better of
it and headed over to join them.
I’m afraid I had spotted an open
gate, plus a couple of people down
on the road, so I headed in that
direction with a view of the field
as they sailed over the hedges in
Ed’s wake. There were still plenty
of people out.
Down on the road, I was
greeted by Cherry booming, “Why
aren’t you up there? Phoenix
would have loved those hedges.”
Master and farmer Matt
Penrose appeared.
Steven Tweddle looks neat over a decent set of rails
“They’ve got to come back
because we’re drawing this next,”
he explained, “and we can’t go
where they are heading.”
Matt joined the mastership
last season and is enjoying it,
he says, but he couldn’t do it
without his joint-master and
landowner Robert Ropner (a
cheerful character in a red coat
out today) who does so much to
keep the show on the road. Matt
also reiterated the big part the
Page family play in the success of
the hunt.
Nicky Morrison, former
master of the Zetland, had also
joined us when Tim and his
hounds reappeared, having
changed horses.
“Come with me if you like,
Tessa,” said Tim, as he hacked
past, so I joined a gang that
included kennel-huntsman
Pictures by Peter Nixon
44 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

Hon secretary Major Nick Thomas at the meet at Rookwith Farm
Starting young: Chloe Page with her three-year-old son Max
Mikey Francis, Holly Bourne-
Arton, Siona Tomlinson and her
daughter Jemima, Brian Robinson
and his grandson Charlie. Tim
put his hounds into Lindale Bog,
encouraging them with a lovely
tone to his voice, but it was soon
obvious that there was no trail,
so we moved on.
BREEDING SUCCESS
SIONA and Jemima were full
of praise for the experience of
being “up front” with Tim. They
had bought the day as a lot in
the hunt auction. Tim himself
seemed philosophical about what
had been a frustrating day. He is
retiring at the end of the season
and it is a massive shame to see
another amateur huntsman fall
by the wayside.
“I’ve got to earn some money,”
he says ruefully.
Throughout the day, many
people expressed their regret
that Tim is going so soon, but
they are all getting behind the
next man, Tim’s kennel-huntsman
Mikey Francis, who will take over
next season.
One of the things that Tim
anticipates he will miss most is
the breeding of the hounds.
“I brought some hounds
from Scotland, one of which,
Lauderdale Anvil, I put to
Middleton Golfer, which
produced the winning dog and
bitch at this year’s puppy show.
The bitch Google went on to win
reserve unentered championship
at Harrogate. I used Tynedale and
Middleton lines at the Lauderdale
to great success and it’s only now
[at the Bedale] that I’m starting to
see a real type emerging from this
strategy,” he said.
From Lindale bog, we hacked
past Aysgarth School and were
greeted by a mob of boys waving
frantically. Opposite the school,
Joint-master Jo Lambert,
who owns eventer Nicola
Wilson’s European gold and
bronze medallist Bulana
Tim drew Newton Beck on his
feet, handing his horse to Holly
Bourne-Arton. Tim told me
later that Holly is a great help on
a hunting day — as you might
expect of someone whose mother
Daphne hunted hounds —
although Holly modestly told me:
“I’m just the one with the drinks
and the fags.”
Bedale people may not carry
hunting whips but everyone
carries a flask, there are a good
number of smokers and the party
vibe continues all day. Sadly,
hounds were unable to pick up a
trail on our forays on to Dalesend,
home of the Ropners. Nor was
there any sign of a trail at Grange
Farm or Craikhall Beck. It was
starting to get dark as we headed
back to the lorries; apparently
there was a party that night.
“There’s a party every night,”
volunteers a jolly man on his feet.
“Except on Sunday when we all
have a rest.”
It wasn’t the greatest day’s
hunting — apparently I should
have gone last Saturday, which
was fantastic — but they made the
best of it. The Bedale country is
not what it used to be (whose is?),
but they are a friendly lot who go
well and if you worry about the
future of hunting, a visit to this
part of North Yorkshire should
allay your fears. H&H
A modest Holly Bourne-Arton:
‘I’m just the one with the drinks
and the fags’
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 45

HUNTING Farquhar’s diary
Capt Ian Farquhar
hunted the Duke of
Beaufort’s hounds
from 1985 to 2011,
and is in his 45th
season as an MFH
Capt Ian Farquhar with Sam
Staniland, acting huntsman
of the Meynell and South
Staffordshire. The Captain’s
own father hunted the
Meynell hounds in the 1930s
Down memory lane
with the Meynell
Capt Ian Farquhar visits the Meynell and South Staffs — a pack which played
a great influence, in several ways, in his decision to make hunting his career
46 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

NEW
SERIES
Farquhar’s
hunting
diary
Pictures by W Parrott Photography and Jo Aldridge
AT the end of January, I had
another trip down memory lane
with a visit to the Meynell and
South Staffordshire.
The proposed outing had not
gone quite according to plan:
originally we had intended to go
on the Tuesday to Walk Farm,
Cauldon, Lowe, the home of David
Barker, a previous huntsman
and famous horseman. A touch
of a bug had put paid to that, but
apparently they had a stormer in
the wall country that day, running
up towards the hills.
However, we were able to
reorganise and go on the Saturday
to the Blythe Inn, near Kingstone
in the South Staffordshire country,
a new venue for them fixed up
by Peter Southwell, joint-master
since 2016 and responsible for
that area.
I must declare a long
admiration of all things Meynell.
My father, Sir Peter Farquhar,
hunted the pack in the early
1930s and it is where he met my
mother, whose family had their
own family pack going up into the
High Peak country — Mr Hurt’s
Hounds — from Alderwasley.
They produced first my
brothers and then me, but more
importantly Meynell Pageant 35,
one of the most influential
pre-war stallion foxhounds.
My uncle, Col Mike Farquhar,
was chairman of the Meynell for
years and lived at Cubley Lodge
near Sudbury in Derbyshire and
as a boy I often stayed there with
my cousins Angela and Daphne.
They had a covert, Beryl’s Gorse,
a famous Meynell find that
had been taken over by starlings,
and every evening for three
nights we were stationed with
guns, horns, and dustbin lids
to bang to try to persuade the
starlings to roost elsewhere as
nothing, not only foxes, but also
little birds and other mammals,
would put up with the starlings’
racket and guano.
BLOODY-MINDED AND
UNCATCHABLE
ANYWAY, some years later,
I and other friends from
Gloucestershire were invited
to the Meynell hunt ball and
to take horses. The ensuing
day’s hunting with Capt Dermot
Kelly was so uplifting — the
drive, the hurry, made such
an impression that I moved
horses there immediately and
hunted with him for the next
two seasons.
Dermot was undoubtedly
one of the best huntsmen I was
ever lucky enough to witness.
He was also one of the most
bloody-minded when things
were going wrong; being near
him then was not a good place
to be, but goodness, he showed
some sport. His main field and
joint-master at the time, Peter
Joint-master Peter
Southwell sits tight over
a well-groomed hedge
Lyster, was as good as any I have
seen. No one dared move until he
dropped the flag and then no one
could catch him.
However, I do remember
one day when we were all sitting
on a bank above a good covert
eyeing up a rather large hedge
below us that was obviously in
line if hounds went that way.
An old Friesian cow with her
fairly generous udder swinging
from side to side came down the
hill, stood back and sailed over
the hedge. We never knew why,
a calf perhaps, but there was
immediately talk of a whip-round
to buy her for the master!
Personally, the sport I had in
the Meynell country invigorated
in me a love of the chase which
may well have been a contributing
factor to my taking the Bicester
and going there with Mrs
Farquhar a year later.
In the early days at the Bicester
we still kept in close contact with
the Meynell using their Growler
74, great, great, great-grandsire
of Beaufort Bailey 05, as well as
using their Latimer 75.
More recently, Johnny
Greenall and David Barker also
knew their onions, as does current
joint-master Will Tatler now,
and so it was not surprising on
the Saturday to see a real quality
selection of bitches arrive outside
the pub at noon on a rather dank
day. The morning had started,
I might add, with a hunt breakfast
that some 40 or 50 stalwarts had
partaken of. I don’t think I can
recall seeing so much food piled
upon our plates; certainly no one
was going to go hungry for the rest
of the day.
‘No one would go
hungry’ thanks to
a huge pre-hunt
breakfast
GOOD SCENT AND
A TREMENDOUS CRY
TO return to the matter in
hand — the acting huntsman
Sam Staniland certainly looked
business-like and, judging by
previous photos taken by our guide
for the day, Erica Byrne, displayed
on a collage in the pub, the
impression was not misleading.
Sam told me he had whippedin
at the Worcestershire to Ian
Starsmore before Ian’s accident
and that he held him in the
highest esteem, and was also
a friend of his Ian’s son Neil,
now our whipper-in at the
Beaufort. It is always nice to
know that the circle goes round.
Wingman for the day, and
apparently for most days they
go out, was Ollie Finnegan from
Leicestershire. He is no mug on
a horse either, in fact there are
not many better, and I would have
loved to have seen the two of them
operate across the best of the old
Meynell country. The hunt horses
we saw that day, produced by Sally
Bowler, certainly looked up to it.
The country we were in was
fairly heavily wooded and not
easily accessible from a car but
the acoustics were excellent.
Although the trails had been
laid in the morning the scenting
conditions were favourable and
we could hear 12 1 ⁄2 couple hunting
with a tremendous cry and up
together all day.
It had been great fun to catch
up with a number of old faces,
and in particular the trouble that
Rachael Morley had taken in
making sure we were well looked
after underlines why she is such
an efficient and popular secretary.
I suggest that if old Meynell
Pageant 35 were to go back there
today he would be happy to climb
into the beds and join the present
incumbents. H&H
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 47

HUNTING
Covering
the country
The production of a meet card is the first indication for
many of what the season holds in store. Polly Portwin
explains what is involved in the planning process
“DEVISING a meet card is
like putting together a large
jigsaw puzzle,” explains Tim
Easby, director of the Masters of
Foxhounds Association (MFHA)
when asked to describe one of
the most challenging — and
important — aspects of the role of
a master of a pack of hounds.
“The fact is, things have
changed considerably over the
years and the majority of packs
have moved on from issuing
identical meet cards year on year.
“The number of influencing
factors is getting larger, effectively
meaning the number of pieces in
the jigsaw is increasing — and if
one piece is missing, the whole
thing very easily falls apart and
you have to start again.”
Every hunt country has its
unique challenges and with those
come many of the varying factors
that influence the structure of
a pack’s meet card planning. By
the time that February meets are
revealed, there is a likelihood that
some of the most fashionable
parts of the hunt country that
have been hunted regularly
since the autumn will no longer
feature. Farming practices such as
lambing, or environmental factors
including waterlogging, may
inevitably mean that some areas
are simply inaccessible. However,
the end of the shooting season
often means that where one door
closes, another one opens.
The importance of getting
a meet card together that satisfies
the desires of all those who
follow hounds, the landowners,
the shooting fraternity and any
others that may need to know the
hunt’s whereabouts cannot be
underestimated.
Each master will know how
often it is acceptable to visit
a particular part of their hunt
country. This will influence the
rotation of draws to ensure that
no one area is over-hunted, while
other areas are covered sufficiently
to ensure the country stays open.
A pragmatic approach is vital
to knowing when to accept that
certain parts of the hunt country
are perhaps no longer viable,
while plenty of “summer hunting”
around the country will help to
avoid planning a meet where an
entirely new housing estate — or
solar panel farm — has been
erected virtually overnight.
As a child, the arrival of a new
meet card was highly anticipated;
within moments of arrival, the
highlighter pen was usually in
action with suitable dates written
straight on to the family calendar.
Seeing the much-heralded and
traditional “Pony Club proficiency
Picture by sarahfarnsworth.co.uk
48 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

adge holders only” meet on the
card around Christmas was
always greeted with glee, while
the traditional Christmas Eve
meet for many is second only
to the opening meet in terms of
a compulsory appearance.
SO HOW DOES IT ALL
COME TOGETHER?
“ULTIMATELY, it comes down to
the planning,” advises Sam Butler,
chairman of the Warwickshire.
“Like many packs, our outline
draws would stay largely the same
each year, but we always ensure
we ask for shoot dates well in
advance to minimise the risk of
any clashes and we usually have to
factor in numerous other requests
throughout the season too.”
The relationship between
those organising hunting and
The importance of creating
a meet card that satisfies
the desires of followers,
landowners and the
shooting fraternity cannot
be underestimated
those involved in shooting is vital
and the arrangements between
the two varies dramatically even
within the same hunt country.
Some landowners with vast
commercial shoots welcome
hounds throughout the entire
season, while some prefer to
limit access until after the
season finishes, hence the reason
why new doors open from the
beginning of February.
Some expect the meet dates
to be organised around their
shooting, while others will “fit in”
once they know when the hunt is
in the area.
The same applies for smaller,
family-run or syndicate shoots,
of which there are an increasing
number to consider. Their requests
and those of every landowner
should all be treated with the same
respect and consideration.
Knowing whose responsibility
it is for finding meets and
organising the days should be
established early on among the
mastership and secretariat, many
of whom also have their own busy
lives and need to factor hunting
in wherever possible. Getting the
first draft produced can be the
most challenging, but it works as
a useful framework to build upon.
It would be fair to say that
the majority of packs would have
certain dates and associated
meets that are set in stone, such
as the opening meet and Boxing
Day, which form the basis for the
meet card.
“We organise our meet card in
three parts — autumn hunting,
shooting and after-shooting,”
reveals Charles Carter MFH,
joint-master and huntsman of
the Middleton.
“We start with drawing up a
‘Saturday skeleton’ then stick with
our pattern of hunting where we
hunt different parts of the country
on specific days of the week.”
In addition to knowing shoot
dates in advance, a memory
for significant birthdays and
anniversaries can be a great
advantage for a master when the
planning process is in its infancy.
Receiving a call to ask that “our
meet takes place on a date after
Christmas this season” instead of
its traditional date in November
can throw a few additional balls
into the air.
LANDOWNERS ARE KEY
MODERN methods of
communication, concerns about
meet security and a requirement
to be more flexible means that
fewer packs print a traditional
meet card that arrives through the
post. Printing off an emailed list
of meets or taking a screen shot
having logged on to the dedicated
secure zone on a hunt website
might not be quite the same as
the more traditional type of card,
but the information is still held in
equally as high regard.
Some packs plan an entire
season’s card in advance, but an
increasing number of packs now
advise their supporters of meets
only a few weeks at a time, often
with an outline of the area to be
hunted but with meet details to
be advised nearer the time. This
allows for readjustments if meets
are lost due to frost, snow, fog or
other unforeseen circumstances.
“We plan our card in two
halves — up until Christmas and
then the second card to the end of
the season,” explains Ryan Mania,
joint-master of the Berwickshire.
“However, we let our subscribers
know two weeks in advance
because the weather can be an
influencing factor and it means
we can be more flexible if we need
to reschedule meets.”
Gary Thorpe, huntsman at the
East Essex believes that “planning
meet cards for the entire season is
great for subscribers but it can be
a nightmare for masters.”
Landowners are always the
key to piecing together the draw
for a hunting day. A number of
packs are reliant on large blocks
of land owned by different bodies
such as the Forestry Commission,
the Ministry of Defence, United
Utilities and the National Trust,
land where licences are required
before being granted permission
to conduct legal hunting activities.
This season the licensing terms
were amended in relation to the
National Trust, which caused
a delay in the application process
for some packs.
“We’ve been operating without
a meet card as such so far this
season,” says Charlie Watts,
master and huntsman of the
Western in Cornwall. “A lot of our
hunt country is National Trust
land and we’ve been working it
out on an ad hoc basis while the
application goes through.”
Although not everyone has
the pleasure of still being able to
place their hunt logo-embossed
meet card on the mantelpiece
for all to see, whatever form it
takes, the meet card should still
be seen as an object of pride, both
by those receiving it and those
producing it. H&H
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 49

DRESSAGE
HIGHLIGHTS
22-28 January
dited by Polly Bryan
olly.bryan@timeinc.com
@pollybryan
SOUTH-EAST
Merrist Wood, Surrey
Several riders set exciting plus-75%
targets ahead of the Merrist regionals.
Alice Oppenheimer and
Headmore Dirubinio threw down
the gauntlet for advanced medium
gold with 76.31%.
However, the most exciting
win of the show came from Nicola
Byam-Cook and pony Twyford
Salamander, whose 75.15% stood
at the top of the elementary
scoreboard for some four hours
before the win was confirmed.
Nicola commented: “I’m glad
our test looked as good as it felt.
I found myself smiling because it
felt lovely and I thought, ‘I’m so
lucky to be riding this pony’.
“It was very rewarding to
earn eights and 8.5s for all our
collectives when we’ve worked
so hard on suppleness and selfcarriage,
but it was one of those
days when the score seemed
irrelevant. We showed what we
are capable of at the moment
at that level. That’s all you can
ever ask.”
It was noticeable that winning
riders attempting two levels in one
day did not fare so well in their
second tests.
By CELIA CADWALLADER
An exception was Shaun
O’Sullivan riding Yuri Jinno’s
Oldencraig Choice. The duo,
performing at the top of their
game, relegated Alice and
Headmore’s super-talented, stillmaturing
Dimaggio son to second
in the prix st georges (PSG).
Shaun and Choice, a Merrist
Wood first-timer, won the class
on 69.07% as well as the inter
I gold with 67.76%. The latter
just exceeded the combination’s
previous best produced at the
Hickstead international last July.
“Choice has a super calm, levelheaded
temperament and finds
the higher level collected work
easy,” said Shaun.
“He hasn’t competed a great
deal and had never done an
evening class. But he managed to
cope with coming in from a dark
warm-up into a brightly lit indoor
arena, and didn’t get distracted by
noises from the lorry park, as he
would have a year ago.”
At the top of their game:
Shaun O’Sullivan and Oldencraig
Choice triumph at PSG and inter I
RESULTS
MERRIST WOOD
27 Jan: med 75Q gold (L Waller).—1,So
Enamoured (M Pook) 73.78; 2, Amicella (K
Mepham) 71.08; 3, Finetime (D Rumsey) 68.64.
silv.— 1, Tango III (T Slade) 71.89; 2eq, Medburn
Singer (F Jopling) & Dalvangs Lorenzo (H
Colgate Hardaway) 68.24. brnz.— 1, Clounties
Mr Darcy (G Way) 63.78; 2, Treliver Delicious (J
Brown) 62.83. adv med 98Q gold (P Watts).—
1, Headmore Dirubinio (A Oppenheimer) 76.31;
2, Dutch Class (J Palmer) 69.86; 3, Finetime
(D Rumsey) 69.34. silv.— 1, Southern Cross
Braemar (D Morgan) 71.44; 2, Dalvangs Lorenzo
(H Colgate Hardaway) 67.89; 3, Esmerilhao
Sernadin (K Shepherd) 67.89. brnz.— 1, Grey
Fox II (P Comley) 62.63; 2, Agent Orange (S
Whitehouse) 62.5. adv 102 gold (P Watts).—1,
Mi Amigo (S-J Lanning) 72.5; 2, Southern Cross
Braemar 69.26; 3, Doetelaar (S Dickinson)
63.08. FEI PSG gold (S Merrison).—1,
Oldencraig Choice (S O’Sullivan) 69.07; 2,
Headmore Dirubinio 66.84; 3, Keystone For
Real (D Poynter) 66.57. silv.— 1, Don King (J
Wort) 63.55. brnz.— 1, Alef (G Rickard) 64.86.
FEI inter I gold (S Merrison).— 1, Oldencraig
Choice 67.76; 2, Samarino (T Grantham)
67.36. silv.— 1, Bentley IV (C Pedder) 70.13.
28 Jan: prelim 17A Q gold (C Kershaw).—1,
Keystone Rhia (S Green) 74.48. silv.— 1, William
Wildstar (R Head) 69.82; 2, Camiro II (I Diggens)
69.31; 3, Rayid Heart Breaker (D Mansfield)
68.1. brnz.— 1, Hawai (C De Metz) 67.93; 2,
Hedron (C Ganjou) 66.2; 3, Rosepoint Lace (C
Evans) 65.51. nov 37A Q gold (J Hudson).—
1, Laurentina (G Davis) & Such A Jarma (C
Sparks) 75; 3, Gucci III (T Fenwick) 73.33.
silv.— 1, Divertimento (R Christopher) 70.55; 2,
Silken Crème (M Joannides) 69.25; 3, Forever
Endeavor (L Moses) 68.14. brnz.— 1, Smooth
Emperor (E McFarlane) 67.96; 2, Laithehill Flute
(K Hewson) 65.92; 3, Tiger UK (V Woodbridge)
62.96. elem 59Q gold (W Jago).— 1, Belushka
(T Fenwick) 69.53; 2, Eastborn D (M Key) 68.9;
3, Harley Beau (S Ridd) 65. silv.— 1, Twyford
Salamander (N Byam-Cook) 75.15; 2, Sandro’s
Storm (H Bown) 72.34; 3, Casino Scandal (J
Price) 72.03. brnz.— 1, Luckatime (J Baldwin)
65; 2, Rondo (L Farrant) 62.65; 3, Catheradoo
Hugo (C Hartley) 61.87.
OLDENCRAIG
26 Jan: prelim 17 Q gold (A Greenaway).—1,
Florida (L Scott) 62.5. silv.— 1, Prevelly Future
(J Leight) 64.1. brnz.— 1, Kalooki (G Milne)
68.39 2, Purple Cosmos (J Robinson) 66.78.
prelim 19Q gold (C Stothard).— 1, Sarago
Raphael (A Ho) 67.08; 2, Jockey Club Cathegus
M (A Ho) 66.25; 3, Florida (L Scott) 63.75.
silv.— 1, Soulman (M Powell) 65.41; 2, Prevelly
Future 64.16; 3, Hazy’s Boy (E Robinson) 62.91.
brnz.— 1, Longhalves Renoir (M Austin) 62.91.
nov 23 gold (A Greenaway).— 1, Vaterloo (A
Farina) 70. silv.— 1, Armitano (E Roche) 71.04; 2,
Rowdown Walkabout (C Freed) 67.7; 3, Forrest
Clooney (S Allen) 66.45. brnz.— 1, Hazy’s Boy
66.04; 2, Longhalves Renoir 64.79; 3, Soulman
62.91. nov 38Q gold (C Stothard).— 1, Vaterloo
66.93. silv.— 1, Jockey Club Cathegus M 70.48;
2, Sarago Raphael 70.16; 3, Armitano 69.67.
elem 45 silv (A Greenaway).— 1, Baxo (A
Ho) 67.93; 2, Fay’s Choice (S Jeffery) 67.41;
3, Will-I-Am (J Elkins) 63.27. brnz.— 1, Super
Ted III (S Allen) 59.31. elem 57Q gold (M-A
Horn).— 1, Waldon Wild Skye (T Dahdi) 68.75.
silv.— 1, Will-I-Am 68.21; 2, Fay’s Choice 64.82;
3, Baxo 63.03. brnz.— 1, Super Ted III 59.1. med
69 gold (A Greenaway).— 1, Fiorella (A Farina)
64.39. silv.— 1, Charming Lady (J Barry) 65.9;
2, Waldon Wild Skye 64.69. brnz.— 1, Fumiko (L
Bunn) 61.06. med 76Q gold (M-A Horn).—1,
Fiorella 69.54. silv.— 1, Charming Lady 61.96.
PYO FEI gold.— 1, Caleo (L Baber-Davies)
69.21; 2, Impression G (A Rawlins) 64.86; 3,
Baldovino (F Bradley) 63.15.
NORTH
Epworth EC, North Lincs | Yorkshire Dressage, South Yorks
A rider on the comeback trail after a
head injury recorded two good wins
in her prep run for the regionals.
Emma Barbery won both novices
at Epworth in her warm-up for a
tilt at the regional prelim title on
Lowlands Rolling Stone. She has
just recovered her confidence after
suffering a head injury when the
eight-year-old Swarovski gelding
slipped and fell when out hacking.
By HELEN SCOTT
“It’s just over two years since
the accident, when I was taken by
air ambulance to hospital,” said
Emma, the finance director at
Askham Bryan College.
“I couldn’t ride for a long time
and I had to recover my strength
and confidence. It has finally got
to the point when I feel, ‘yes, we
can do this’.
“I also had to make my work
a priority as I had just moved to
my new job when the accident
happened, and the dressage has
to fit round it.”
Steph Crowther is another
rider fitting dressage round
her job — she runs an equine
crematorium — but aced one
novice with 75% and came second
in the other at Yorkshire Dressage
with her showjumping-bred
Huevo. The six-year-old had a
fetlock injury as a youngster, so is
being aimed at a career between
the white boards.
“We only began competing
last June, and have made some
mistakes along the way, but he
was absolutely on song and got
positive comments from the
judge,” said Steph, who trains
with Caroline Saynor. “We’re just
one point off qualifying for the
regional finals.”
Huevo was named because he
needed a name beginning with H
for the KWPN studbook.
“It’s Spanish for egg, and
that’s what we call him at home,”
added Steph.
Pictures by kevinsparrow.co.uk and Harry Skelton
50 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

EAST
Centaur Trust, Suffolk | Easton & Otley College, Norfolk
Elli Darling and Fix Up Look Sharp
collected two advanced medium
wins at the Centaur Trust.
The 11-year-old Rhinelander
gelding by Showmaker x
Frühlingstraum II was competing
at his second show after his winter
holiday, and picked up the highest
scores of the day, winning both
advanced mediums on 71.76%
and 71.71%.
“He’s feeling really good. We
stupidly made the decision to
sell him last year, but I obviously
wasn’t thinking straight.
Fortunately, he failed the vetting,
and got to stay,” said Elli, who
runs Darling Dressage in
Stradbroke, Suffolk.
“He’s now just getting fit
enough to get back out at PSG and
then, hopefully, we’ll be debuting
at inter I in the near future.”
Tahley Reeve-Smith posted
a show-high of 77.5% in the
novice freestyle at Easton & Otley
By SELENE SCARSI
College, riding Sarah Carmichael’s
six-year-old Lord Leatherdale
daughter Hoemathika M.
“We call her ‘Happy’ at home
as Sarah says her competition
name sounds like a blood
disorder,” joked Tahley.
“I had her at the winter
championships last year, where
she was fourth, and then again
to bring her back into work after
she had a break, as my hacking is
amazing and Sarah was booked in
for an operation. We received an
email saying she had qualified for
the regionals, so we got a wiggle
on — this was her first show since
May,” explained the rider, who will
be giving the ride back to Sarah
after the regionals.
Elli Darling and Fix Up Look Sharp score an advanced medium double
RESULTS
EASTON & OTLEY COLLEGE
27 Jan: prelim 17Q silv (A Green).— 1, Just
Look At Me (Z Saville) 66.72; 2, Carvella (J
Rushmer) 61.72; 3, Ciderpress (Z Saville)
57.58. brnz.— 1, Vernice (D Linney) 59.48. nov
28Q gold (M Fenwick).— 1, AD Destination
(J Thompson) 74.37. silv.— 1, Rouvin (C
Steward) 71.66; 2, San Giovanni (K Boyd)
68.33; 3, Carlung Peregrine (C Kinsley) 67.7.
brnz.— 1, Vernice 65.62; 2, Oliver XXVI (C
Bullock) 65.41. nov 37Q gold (A Green).—1,
Woodcroft Valentino (T Reeve-Smith) 67.22;
2, AD Destination 63.33. silv.— 1, Rouvin 71.29;
2, Boyne Valley Royal (J Bradshaw) 67.4; 3,
Carlung Peregrine 66.11. nov FSM Q gold (M
Gedge).— 1, Hoematika M (T Reeve-Smith)
77.5; 2, Woodcroft Valentino 74.72. silv.—1,
Rouvin 73.33; 2, TT Amika (J Clarke) 72.5; 3,
Hollypark Smoothie (A De Silva) 68.05. brnz.—
1, Catchphrase (A Cameron) 64.44. elem 42Q
gold (J Patchett).— 1, Carentino Z (C Pegrum)
67.34. silv.— 1, Mount Pleasant Herman (T
Fall) 71.4; 2, Feuertanz (S Heath) 70.93; 3,
Deluxe II (K Haywood-Rand) 66.87. brnz.—1,
Cwmmawr Cosmos (J Hatfield) 65. elem
59Q gold (J Allen).— 1, Donner HD (S Ward)
70.46; 2, Carentino Z 66.4; 3, Biggles Tosha
(M Dowman) 65.46. silv.— 1, Mount Pleasant
Herman 69.84; 2, Feuertanz (S Heath) 68.75; 3,
Cavendish De Vere (J Maddever) 68.75. elem
FSM Q gold.— 1, Good Guy (M Phizacklea)
74.42. silv.— 1, TT Amika 76.92; 2, Woodthorpe
Little Madame (S Campbell) 72.11; 3, Figaro III
(S Gibbs) 71.73. brnz.— 1, Catchphrase 65.57.
med 69 silv (S Broom).— 1, Good Guy 65. med
75Q gold.— 1, Sharola Show Star (T Reeve-
Smith) 71.62; 2, Zidane III (R Murray) 68.24;
3, Chuachaqui LAT (R Murray) 67.97. silv.—1,
Rossandro (L Casbolt) 61.48. med FSM Q gold
(R Hillier).— 1, Sharola Show Star 76.5. silv.—1,
Nolton Tobago (S Gibbs) 68.33; 2, Felice 41 (D
Pack) 63.5. adv med 85Q gold.— 1, Dolcetto
(L McQuiston) 72.5. silv.— 1, Sonnen Prinz III
(B Spence) 64.85. adv med 98Q gold.—1,
Dolcetto 70.13. silv.— 1, Bjornsun (J Howard)
71.31; 2, Sonnen Prinz III 65.52; 3, Con Leche
(T Knight) 65.13. adv med FSM Q silv.—1,
Bjornsun 72; 2, Fabia Bee (H Theobald) 67.83.
FEI PSG gold.— 1, Winnetou GEP (R Murray)
74.21; 2, Sander II (L McQuiston) 71.97.
CENTRAL
Addington Manor EC, Bucks | Barleyfields, Derbys
A two-and-a-half hour trip from Essex
to Addington Manor paid off for Katie
Roberts and Nemo VII, who landed a
double novice silver win.
Former PE teacher Katie hadn’t
competed since the regionals
last summer due to work
commitments, so was thrilled with
her eight-year-old home-bred.
“He’s 17hh, so I’ve given him
loads of time and only started
competing him last year,” Katie
said of the gelding by Showmaker.
“He’s better each time and is
taking things on board. He trusts
me because we’ve done everything
together from the start.”
Katie, whose horses are based
at Bluegate Hall in Essex with her
trainer Kaye De Graaff, left her job
as a teacher to embark on a new
By STEPHANIE BATEMAN
career in sports events.
“I used to have to work
Saturdays and couldn’t take time
off during termtime, which limited
the amount I could compete, so
I’m having a go at another career.”
Despite falling down the stairs
and cracking three ribs a few days
before, Kathryn Crinson headed
both novices at Barleyfields with
her Irish draught, Embla Maxwell.
Kathryn has owned the
18-year-old gelding by Maurice
Minor for 12 years.
“This is our first attempt
at regionals and I’ve only got
four points left to qualify,”
said Kathryn, who trains with
Charlotte Thomas.
‘He’s better each time’: Katie
Roberts’ long journey pays off
with a double win at novice with
her eight-year-old home-bred
Showmaker son Nemo VII
RESULTS
ADDINGTON MANOR EC
25 Jan: prelim 19Q gold (L Waller).—1,
Tantoni Flametta (L Crutcher) 70.83; 2,
Bluewood Tallulah (J Sutton) 70; 3, Keatinge
Savannah (J Sutton) 69.38. silv.— 1, Davala
(C Phillips) 70; 2, OSH Gaudi (T Purcell)
66.99; 3, OSH Showmaker Sunshine (T
Purcell) 62.29. brnz.— 1, Royale Ransom
(H Tyler) 67.71; 2, Phantom Firefly II
(J Nash) 64.38. prelim 17A Q gold (C
Trendell).— 1, Bluewood Tallulah 74.83; 2,
Tantoni Flametta 70.52. silv.— 1, Fourstar
Buck (C Roberts) 69.48; 2, Davala 65.86;
3, Westcroft Coco Chanel (B Raymond)
65.86. brnz.— 1, Grovepark Dassett (J
Moorman) 67.76; 2, Royale Ransom 67.41;
3, Phantom Firefly II 63.62. nov 22 gold (C
Alston).— 1, History (N Barker) 72.76; 2,
Celeste Pilliere (S Reeve-Smith) 71.38; 3,
Berloz II (A Wilson) 70. silv.— 1, Nemo VII
(K Roberts) 70.69; 2, Kaizer (E Beresford)
70; 3, Amon II (A Harding) 67.76. brnz.—1,
Puzzle V (V Heath) 64.48. nov 37A Q gold
(L Waller).— 1, Faberge Egg (E Johnson)
70.93; 2, Dayrells Summer (J Turney)
69.07; 3, Berloz II (A Wilson) 68.7. silv.—1,
Nemo VII 74.44; 2, Faco (P Thomas) 68.7;
3, Amon II 66.85. brnz.— 1, Fourstar Buck
66.48; 2, Fourstar Struck (C Roberts)
66.11. elem 45 gold (C Trendell).—1,
San Pedro (N Barker) 66.21. silv.—1,
Tantoni Lisbochan (N Rumble) 68.62; 2,
De Magic (G Armstrong) 68.1; 3, Furst
Shallin (T Perry) 67.07. elem 59Q gold (P
Bushell).— 1, San Pedro 69.69. silv.—1,
Faco 72.97; 2, Furst Shallin 70.47; 3, Tinie
Tempah (H Keatinge) 69.06. med 69 silv
(C Alston).— 1, Eurythmic (S Halonen)
65.91; 2, Foxtrott (S Reeve-Smith) 65.15;
3, Sicilia Van De Helle (S Van Meighem)
64.85. med 76Q gold.— 1, Tantoni Dallaglio
(R Hughes) 70.61; 2, Distinction (J Turney)
69.39. silv.— 1, Foxtrott 65.45; 2, Eurythmic
64.39; 3, Comico XXXIII (S Allen) 63.33.
adv med 98Q gold (P Bushell).— 1, Diablo
VIII (N Mahoney) 72.63; 2, Wanadoo (M
Ingham) 71.18; 3, Gorklintgards San Barolo
(C Robson) 70.39. silv.— 1, Fairnes O
(J Turney) 64.87; 2, Dais (K Lainsbury)
63.16. PSG Q gold.— 1, Durable (N Barker)
73.68; 2, Celena T (A Patel) 70.26. silv.—1,
Sinderella (S Reeve-Smith) 66.32.
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 51

DRESSAGE
HIGHLIGHTS
22-28 January
WALES & WEST
Burrows Court Farm, Glos | Coleg Cambria, Flintshire
Girl power ruled at Burrows Court.
“I’ve only ever had geldings, but
I’d go with mares all the way now,”
said Tamsin Hembrough, double
novice winner with Sancerre.
Tamsin has owned the sevenyear-old
Scolari daughter for
three years after she was found
in Germany by Darren Mattia.
She stamped her authority with
two scores topping 72%, which
followed the 80.18% she achieved
at Summerhouse EC last autumn.
“We’re quietly climbing up the
levels,” said Tamsin, who trains
every few weeks with Darren and
Mark Forrest in Herefordshire,
despite living four hours away
near Cambridge.
Hazel Coombes won the novice
30 silver at Coleg Cambria with
her six-year-old CDS Oreo Jazz.
“He takes things in his stride,
but I don’t like to rush him,” said
Hazel of the 17hh gelding, who is
Hazel Coombes on CDS Oreo Jazz
By ANDREA OAKES
a grandson of Glock’s Johnson on
one side and Goshka Ringo VII
on the other. The pair train with
Stephen Clarke and occasionally
with German coach Jörgen Rask.
Stena Hoerner won both
novices outright with the homebred
gelding Fidalgo T, before
taking a medium with Serafina T.
SCOTLAND
Cabin EC, Aberdeen
An exciting Welsh section D mare
achieved 75.85% in a qualifying
novice with Nicky Heale.
By MELANIE SCOTT
Owned by Nicky and her fiancé
Nick Veitch, the talented rising
six-year-old Balhagarty Royal
Dhu has qualified for the novice
under-18 Area Festival final with
Zoe Florence.
“Dhu can be quite hot, so I
wanted to get her out before the
regionals,” said Nicky. “It’s almost
a year since I last competed her as
Zoe has been riding her.”
“I first saw her as a two-dayold
foal, and thought she was just
beautiful. She’s been incredibly
easy with a huge character. She has
a good temperament and doesn’t
need to be ridden every day.”
Medium silver winner Sam
Turpitt was pleased to be out
competing with her seven-yearold
Bali Dancer (Barclay x Del
Piero) after an icy winter.
“I haven’t been out competing
since November and we’ve had
nothing but ice and snow,” said
Sam. “Up until about 10 days ago,
I thought I wouldn’t be entering
the winter regionals as I haven’t
been able to ride enough, however,
we seem to have a small break in
the weather, so I thought I’d test
the water.
“Bali was great and, although
the tests felt a bit rusty, I was
pleased with how she felt, given
the amount of time off she’s had
over the past few months.”
ONLY IN HORSE & HOUND
‘Motivate yourself through training’
Dan Sherriff on beating the blues and the gap between ponies and juniors
EVERYONE suffers with winter
blues, including the horses. We
all just want to hibernate until
spring. But if you can’t afford to
get away to the sunshine — and
let’s face it, it’s unrealistic when
we’re all busy with horses — try
to motivate yourself through the
winter months by putting more
effort into your training.
Choose a trainer who is
not only inspirational, but
also somebody who is honest;
someone who can lift you up
when you need it and also bring
you back down to earth.
I’ve trained with some of the
best in the world, and the thing
they all have in common is that
they make me come away from
their sessions feeling inspired
and excited. Training can often
provoke that feeling, even more
than winning at a show.
Talk to other riders as well.
It’s difficult when you usually
ride at home alone, but we can
all help each other along.
Dan Sherriff is an international
grand prix rider and well-respected
trainer, who has multiple national
titles to his name. He also works
closely with British Dressage as
trainer to the pony progress squad.
OPINION
CHILDREN ON HORSES
BRITISH dressage is still
lagging behind other countries
and disciplines when it comes to
the children-on-horses division
for 12- to 14-year-olds. There’s
a lack of awareness about it
and, as the pony progress squad
trainer, this is something I’m
keen to change, and started
talking about three years ago.
The pony section is
competitive as we have many
children who are talented
riders, which is great. But there
are only four places on a team,
meaning most won’t have that
opportunity. However, there
is another option — for those
talented young riders to move
on to horses sooner.
There’s always a big drop-off
in numbers after ponies, and
we’re thin on the ground when it
comes to quality riders at junior
and young rider levels. But if
we had children riding horses
earlier, not only does it give
them a chance to gain valuable
international experience, but
it also gives them more time
to train themselves, and their
horses, to be ready for juniors
by the time they’re 16.
If you want to know more,
please get in touch with British
Dressage (BD).
TEAMWORK
I’M delighted the pony progress
squad now works much more
closely with the prime squad.
The riders from both squads
work together in training, with
each coach at either end of the
same arena. It means I have the
chance to show my younger,
less-experienced riders those
combinations they are aspiring
to be like. How often would they
get the chance to share an arena
with a gold medal-winning pony
such as SL Lucci? For those
children who learn visually, it’s
invaluable when I can stop for
a moment and show them what
they should be working towards.
It also helps keep the
costs down — it’s using one
venue rather than two — and
we’re working with the same
nutritionists, physios and
advisors for both squads. It
makes so much sense—Idon’t
know why the other groups
aren’t doing it.
TIME TO SUPPORT BD
BD has had a lot of stick in
recent months. Many people
have been disgruntled, and
seemingly out for blood. But it’s
time we let BD have a chance to
see if all the changes are going
to work. BD has made a lot of
effort to listen to reviews and
complaints, and is trying hard
to take them on board.
It saddens me to see the
sport I love so passionately
being ripped apart by, in some
cases, bitter members. People
need to quieten down and get
behind BD in its efforts. H&H
NEXT
WEEK
International rider
and trainer
Anna Ross
Pictures by Jon Stroud Media. emmpix.co.uk and Shaz Stanley Photography
52 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

NORTH-WEST
Cockshot Dressage, Cheshire | Myerscough Arena, Lancs
Comeback king River Rico won on
his first outing in 18 months at both
prelim and novice at Cockshot.
“Did I ever think I’d be back
out competing him again?
No,” said owner/rider Stacey
Jones, who bought the horse as
a yearling. “He’s had a kissing
spine operation, but the real
breakthrough has been from my
farrier Mark Caldwell.”
The Riverside x Bergamot
12-year-old was fitted with a
RESULTS
FIELD HOUSE EC
25 Jan: prelim 17AQ (S Woore).— 1,
I’m Spartacus (L Robinson) 68.79; 2,
Furlongs Black Jack (J Nolan) 68.62;
3, Llangybi Deio (S Wall) 67.59. prelim
19Q gold.— 1, Bathsjeba (G Turnbull)
66.25; 2, Canterbury Himself (H Upton)
support shoe on his near fore
in December.
“His conformation is not
the best and the shoe acts as a
stabiliser,” explained Stacey. “It’s
like a switch has been flicked. I
was ready to retire him and now
I’ve got my horse back.”
Lisa Marriott was another
winning at prelim level, this
64.42; 3, Beldam’s Dublin (E Rarity)
60. brnz.— 1, Credit Crunch (K Jeffels)
64.79; 2, Llangybi Deio 64.79. nov 22
gold.— 1, Kardinal (G Turnbull) 68.28;
2, Fidalgo Classic (G Turnbull) 66.38.
silv.— 1, Lux Zee (K Grundy) 67.59; 2,
Carman Of Westoak (E Wooliscroft)
66.9; 3, Tara Pat (C Bradley) 66.03.
nov 37AQ silv.— 1, Breezer II (R Wood)
73.89; 2, Ernesto (I Dearman) 69.81; 3,
Aberville (G Clarke) 66.85. elem 53Q
time at Myerscough with her
Rock Forever x Stedinger son.
The five-year-old Rockstar I was
bought as a three-year-old from
the Excellent Dressage Sales at
Academy Bartels in Holland.
“It was one of the best nights of
my life,” said Lisa, who went to the
auction with her partner Jan. “We
(K Barker) gold.— 1, Zion (L Pearson)
69.85; 2, Movinight (J Stoyell) 68.24.
silv.— 1, Breezer II 65.15. med 73Q
gold.— 1, Movinight 68.24; 2, Zion
64,56. silv.— 1, Cinderella II (E Van
Mourik) 64.12; 2, Styletta (R Wood)
63.09. adv med 85 gold.— 1, Lothario
(J Critchley) 67.97. adv med 91Q
gold.— 1, Lothario 66.79. silv.— 1,
Styletta 67.97. inter I.— 1, Die Fie (J
Yardley) 67.11.
River Rico, by Riverside, beats
kissing spines to win at prelim
and novice under Stacey Jones
only went to watch, but we ended
up buying ‘Rocket’.”
The then three-year-old colt
was initially left with the Bartels.
“We collected semen from
him and my mare Paris is due
to him this year,” said Lisa. “He’s
been gelded now though as I have
mares and foals around at home.”
This was the horse’s first
affiliated outing.
“Jan’s company DDP Group
are sponsoring me now, but the
deal meant I had to get out and do
some competing,” Lisa quipped.
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8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 53

DRESSAGE
HIGHLIGHTS
22-28 January
SOUTH
Bury Farm, Beds | Sparsholt College, Hants
Lucy Amy’s PSG win at Sparsholt
with Extra Time was a boost ahead
of her international young rider
appearance at Le Mans CDI.
Lucy and the nine-year-old Good
Times gelding (Hughie) will make
their international debut later this
month. She works for grand prix
rider Richard Barrett.
“Since working for Richard, the
horses and I have learned such a
lot,” she said. “Hughie is becoming
more confident in indoor arenas,
too — we come from Jersey, where
there aren’t many.”
Lucy also qualified Hughie for
the advanced medium freestyle,
as well as winning the elementary
gold freestyle on her other horse,
Rudy, who has taken a back seat
while Lucy focuses on earning a
place on the young rider team.
At Bury Farm, Leah Beckett
was also a double winner on
Jacqueline West’s Sexy Back,
by San Amour, in the advanced
mediums, competing for the first
time in six months.
“She stayed with me despite
gale-force winds and flagpoles
rattling,” said Leah, who also won
the inter I with Tony Asker’s Apple
King. “Sexy’s self-carriage is so
much better as she has become
stronger — I was thrilled with such
a good performance after time off.”
Bruce Matthew’s Shamwari
Debonair (De Niro x Showstar)
returned to competition under
Leah to finish second in the
By HELEN TRIGGS
advanced medium 96.
“I rode him as a four-year-old
for Woodlander Stud; he has been
doing his licensing in Germany in
the meantime,” said Leah.
RESULTS
BURY FARM
22 Jan: prelim 15Q silv.— 1, MK San Cero (S
Hetherington) 67; 2, Cwmhafod Royal (S Mawer)
66.8; 3, Loughrea Prince (M Cooper) 65.6.
brnz.— 1, Keano (J Johnson) 62.4. prelim 19Q
silv.— 1eq, Silver Flintstone (S Shackleton) &
Cwmhafod Royal 67.92; 3, MK San Cero 65.21.
brnz.— 1, Keano 66.25. nov 22 gold.—1,New
Princess (A Shirtcliffe) 73.28; 2, Donner HD (S
Ward) 70.34; 3, Thybos Logan (T Reeve-Smith)
69.48. silv.— 1, Cyber Girl (P Watson-Bardot)
67.07; 2, Active Testarossa (A Shirtcliffe) 64.14.
brnz.— 1, Brandy IV (C Leahy) 63.1; 2, Flypast
White Gold (S Allen) 60. nov 38Q gold.—1,
Donner HD 73.23; 2, New Princess 71.94; 3,
Thybos Logan 68.87. silv.— 1, Cyber Girl 68.55.
brnz.— 1, Brandy IV 64.84. elem 42 gold.—1,
Szerafina (D Trott) 70.47. brnz.— 1, Crofters
Flory (J Hussell) 62.97; 2, Katja (J Campbell)
62.66. elem 59Q gold.— 1, Szerafina 74.69;
2, Fabulous Khan (R Algar) 65.16. silv.—1,
Gabiano Del Ferro (T Glen) 64.38. brnz.—1,
Dassett Design (K Reddrop) 66.41; 2, Katja
61.56; 3, Crofters Flory 61.25. med 61 gold.—1,
Fabulous Khan 62.07. silv.– 1, North Dancer (N
Trinder) 67.93. med 73Q gold.— 1, Corona S (C
Knowles) 63.38. silv.— 1, North Dancer 65.88; 2,
Watteau HA (A Montague) 64.71. adv med 92
gold.— 1, Sexy Back (L Beckett) 69.46; 2, Electra
2 (A Rawlins) 67.03; 3, Shamwari Debonair (L
Beckett) 64.58. silv.— 1, Watteau HA 61.08; 2,
Warchild II (L Hunt) 60.68. adv med 96Q gold.—
Lucy Amy and Extra Time enjoy a confidence-boosting PSG victory
1, Sexy Back 73.68; 2, Shamwari Debonair
68.68. adv 102 gold.— 1, Penhaligon’s Jupiter
(J Turney) 68.09. PSG Q gold.— 1, Behroez (S
Millis) 73.68; 2, Guardadamus I (M Beer) 65.66;
3, Carbo (J Giner) 63.82. silv.— 1, Disco Diva (D
Hawes) 66.32; 2, Royalty (S Butchart) 64.47;
3, Wonderland (S Gordon) 61.32. brnz.—1,
Everton L (E Robertson) 66.71. inter I Q gold.—1,
Apple King (L Beckett) 67.63; 2, Ramazzotti
39 (B Spence) 65.39; 3, Baldovino (F Bradley)
65.26. silv.— 1, Wonderland 62.76; 2, Union (M
Smockum Owen) 60.79; 3, Coole Contender (S
Brener) 56.84. inter II Q gold.— 1, Furst Henrik
(S Millis) 67.76; 2, Wytens (J Giner) 62.98.
SPARSHOLT COLLEGE
28 Jan: prelim 19Q gold (A Duck).— 1,
Painted Jewel (C Bezants) 65.62; 2, Grace IX (A
Branfoot) 63.95; 3, Zaronno (L McGill) 63.75.
silv.— 1, Jumpingdale Cinderella (K Warner)
65.62. brnz.— 1, Vox Pop (A Wigmore) 67.08; 2,
Dhamma Fielen (K Britton) 65.83; 3, Mackintosh
(A Cornell) 63.75. nov 39Q gold.— 1, Woodhams
Dexter (N Gregory) 71.15; 2, Queen Of Clouds (A
Francis) 69.61; 3, Virtuoso G (J Stolper) 66.53.
silv.— 1, Mannin Bay (H Smith) 69.42; 2, Frank
Sinatra I (C Babbs) 67.88; 3, SOS Sealpoint
(K Oppenheimer) 65.57. brnz.— 1, Lesmo (C
Hexton) 68.65; 2, Glenvar Prince (E Howell)
68.28; 3, Dhamma Fielen 66.34. elem 59Q gold
(S Wood).— 1, Loxleys Optimism (C Speer); 2,
Dragunov (Y Dadkhah) 67.34. silv.— 1, Armada
Magic Cadillac (L Laughton) 68.28; 2, Candover
Wishing Star (E Maxwell) 67.34; 3, Briljant (K
Warner) 65.15. brnz.— 1, Mannin Bay 67.18; 2,
TJ Jackson (R Herbert) 66.4; 3, Indio XXXV (A
Andresen) 62.34. med 95Q gold.— 1, Knoxx’s
Figaro (A Schiessl) 68.1; 2, Rudy (L Amy) 66.62.
silv.— 1, Seagry Belmario (E Maskery) 64.86;
2, Da Vinci III (J Vanassche) 64.05; 3, Woodlea
Farm Eleanor (S Cox) 63.91. brnz.— 1, Wessel
H (G Dean) 65.94; 2, Machno Countryman (A
McCall) 65; 3, Stackpole Golden Plover (B Grose)
63.91. adv med 98Q gold (F Wilson).— 1, Furo (J
Stolper) 65.39. silv.— 1, Leandro II (B Sommerau)
70; 2, Haysden Woodstock (A Eastwood)
63.28. brnz.— 1, Da Vinci III 65.1; 2, Korenbloem
Uptimes (L Morgan) 64.86; 3, Firenze III (S
Ealson) 61.31. adv 105 gold.— 1, Fabio V (C
Heap) 66.94. PSG Q silv.— 1, Extra Time (L
Amy) 71.71; 2, Sheepcote Casablanca (E Cotterill)
67.36; 3, Zeilinger (Firfod) (A Bork Eppers)
66.47. brnz.— 1, Under Discussion (A Jenden)
63.68; 2, Tres Chic (T Lord) 59.32; 3, Zelador
(R Butler) 56.97. inter I Q gold (H Ashley).—1,
Sundance (K Rockingham-Smith) 68.55. silv.—1,
Gkar (A Blount) 66.78; 2, Longstock Sinatra
(L Burtenshaw) 65. inter II gold.— 1, Canhoto
Laranjeira (H Lewis) 60.78. silv.— 1, El Paso Van
Overis (G Maddocks) 65.78. nov FSM Q gold (A
Duck).— 1, Queen Of Clouds 70.27; 2, Virtuoso
G 69.44. silv.— 1, Dolores II (L Stokoe) 68.33.
brnz.— 1, Lilburn (S Boulter) 64.16. elem FSM
Q gold (P Watts).— 1, Rudy 77.69; 2, Loxleys
Optimism 73.65. silv.— 1, G Vano (S Amos) 71.53;
2, Just The One IV (M Keen) 66.73; 3, Saris Salsa
(S Goddard) 64.61. brnz.— 1, Dolores II 66.53;
2, Lilburn 53.65. adv med FSM Q silv.— 1, Extra
Time 72.5; 2, Chico Too (C Sawyer) 71.5; 3, Under
Discussion 69.15. PSG FSM Q gold.— 1, Canhoto
Laranjeira 66.37. silv.— 1, Zeilinger Firfod 68.87;
2, Gkar 67.75. brnz.– 1, Tres Chic 62.75.
SOUTH-WEST
Bicton College, Devon | Stretcholt Farm, Somerset |
Badgworth Arena, Somerset
A horse who was given a 5% chance
of recovery after a severe foot infection
won an elementary at Bicton College.
After 13-year-old Camills Walter
stood on a fence nail which went
into his coffin joint, he was put on
an intravenous antibiotic drip.
“The wound was pressureflushed
every 48 hours, but it took
10 days before he showed any
signs of improving,” said Debbie
Summerfield, who rode him at
Bicton. “He had 12 weeks box rest
before we had any idea whether he
would be sound again.”
Debbie keeps Camills Walter,
by Maximillian Voltucky, at
livery at Bicton as, after three hip
By ANNABEL KERBY
replacement operations, she no
longer has full use of her left leg.
Geography teacher Kathryn
Oldfield and her 12-year-old
coloured cob, Lion Heart
Xanthius Of Phthia, headed both
the elementary silver and medium
bronze freestyle tests at Stretcholt.
Kathryn bought him as a foal
with an inheritance from her
grandmother.
“I was 18 and fell in love with
‘I fell in love with him as a foal in the field’: medium victors Kathryn
Oldfield and Lion Heart Xanthius Of Phthia are aiming for PSG
him in the field. I’m hoping
we’ll do our first PSG this year,”
said Kathryn, who created her
floorplan and music compilation.
Millfield pupil Bronte Monks,
13, who is trained by Pammy
Hutton, won both novices at
Badgworth Arena on her eightyear-old
Cuffesgrange Lord
Admiral, who is being aimed at
British Eventing pony trials.
“I’d love Bronte to become a
dressage rider as I won’t even walk
the cross-country courses — they
scare me,” said Bronte’s mother,
Jenni. H&H
Pictures by kevinsparrow.co.uk and ESP Photography
54 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

BREEDINGLife
Please sent your Sport horse Breeding
stories to polly.bryan@timeinc.com
@pollybryan
Lynne Crowden is recognised for her contribution to British breeding, and
Patrik Kittel takes on the triple world young horse champion for training
Crowden honoured
with lifetime award
WOODLANDER STUD’S Lynne
Crowden was a popular winner of
the Stallion AI Services Meritoire
Lifetime Achievement award
at the British Breeders’ awards
dinner in London on 13 January.
The outcome was kept a secret
until the end of the night, when
Lynne was full of surprise and
emotion at receiving the award.
“I’m very honoured. The
biggest surprise was that
Carsten [Sandrock, Woodlander
Stud’s head rider] managed to
keep it a secret!” said Lynne,
breeder of double world young
horse champion Farouche, as
well as record-breaking stallion
Wild Child.
“I was also a little worried as
‘Such an exciting
journey’: Lynne
Crowden accepts
her lifetime
achievement award
from Stallion AI’s
Tullis Matson
usually a lifetime achievement
award means that you’re at the
end, and I really don’t feel like
that. It’s been such an exciting
journey — when I began I had no
sense of how far away the finish
line was because I didn’t even
know I was in the race. I just
started off doing the best I could.”
With her husband Dave, Lynne
has bred more than 400 foals,
with a particular focus on the
very best damlines. Woodlander’s
progeny have dominated the
Futurity scheme in recent years,
with the three-year-old Gloria
the highest scoring Futurity
entrant of 2017, and Wild Love
being judged the year’s top
two-year-old.
“Farouche winning the world
young horse championships was
game-changing from a breeding
point of view — we were quite
well known in the UK then, but
it gave us an international
presence,” Lynne told H&H.
“Without Farouche we wouldn’t
be on our current journey with
Wild Child.”
Kittel takes on
Sezuan training
Sezuan (Zack x Don Schufro)
is now in training with Swedish
Olympian Patrik Kittel
SWEDISH Olympic dressage
rider Patrik Kittel has taken over
the training of triple world young
horse champion Sezuan.
The nine-year-old Zack x
Don Schufro son was ridden by
German Olympian Dorothee
Schneider until her collaboration
with the stallion’s owners Gestüt
Peterhof ended last November.
“Currently we are evaluating
every option for [Sezuan’s] further
schooling. The stallion is top fit
and there is a worldwide demand
[for] the stallion. Patrik Kittel
is supporting us in the training,”
said the Peterhof stud’s Arlette
Jasper-Kohl and Edwin Kohl
in a statement.
The international rider, who
helped Sweden claim team bronze
at the Gothenburg Europeans in
August, will present Sezuan at
Peterhof’s upcoming stallion
show on 10 February, as well as
in Vechta on 18 February and
on the gala evening of the Danish
stallion licensing in Herning
on 10 March.
Patrik has posted several
videos on his social media
channels of the nine-year-old
displaying impressive grand prix
work, though it is unconfirmed
whether he will continue the
stallion’s competition career.
Under Dorothee, Sezuan
claimed the world young horse
championship in 2014, 2015 and
2016, and has since scored more
than 80% at international small
tour level. H&H
IN BRIEF
OLYMPIC STALLIONS
ON DISPLAY
BIG STAR, Chilli Morning,
Arko III and Jaguar Mail will be
among the stallions lining up
for the inaugural Competition
Stallions Event at Addington
Manor on 18 February.
Sixty top competition
stallions will be presented, and
can be viewed in the warm-up
and in the stables. Other sires
on display will include Ramiro B,
Caretino Glory and T Movistar.
The event will also feature
the Competition Stallions
Awards, which recognise sires
of progeny assessed during
the 2017 British Equestrian
Federation Futurity evaluations.
For information and tickets
visit competition-stallions.com
TOP TITLE FOR SIRES
DUTCH stallions Vivaldi,
Johnson, Painted Black and
Rousseau will be awarded
preferent sire status — the
highest title a stallion can earn
— at the KWPN licensing in ‘s
Hertogenbosch on 2 February.
Johnson, by Jazz, won gold
with the Dutch team at the
2015 Europeans and team
bronze at the World Equestrian
Games (WEG) in 2014. He is the
sire of the exciting upcoming
stallion Bretton Woods.
Painted Black, by Gribaldi,
first competed with Anky van
Grunsven, then at London 2012
and the 2014 WEG with Spain’s
Morgan Barbançon Mestre.
Among the Krack C son
Vivaldi’s offspring are Charlotte
Dujardin’s four-time national
champion Mount St John VIP
and Madeleine Witte-Vrees’ 2017
Europeans ride Cennin, plus
licensed stallions Desperado,
Dream Boy, Chinook, Expression
and Eye Catcher.
Rousseau, by Ferro, is the
sire of successful stallions Blue
Hors Zack and Ampere, as well
as Patrick van der Meer’s grand
prix ride Zippo.
FAREWELL TO...
THE elite mare Annabel (De
Niro x Romancier) has died
aged 21. The liver chestnut
was bred in Germany by Rolf
Klockgether and acquired
as a foal by the Jansens. She
produced 13 foals, including
the KWPN-licensed Jazz son
President’s Chagall D&R, now
competing at international
small tour with Patrick van der
Meer; the Johnson son Bretton
Woods and the AES-approved
Totilas son Gaudi.
Pictures by Craig Payne Photography and courtesy of Gestüt Peterhof
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 55

SHOWJUMPING
AW
JENKINSON NATURAL
FLAKE ELITE SHOW
25-28 January
Richard Howley and Electra
B produce a breathtaking
double clear to take the
honours in the grand prix
Electra powers
to victory
The grand prix has an edge-of-the-seat climax with Richard
Howley nearly making it a one-two over a testing course
Aintree, Liverpool
RICHARD HOWLEY and Electra
B produced a breathtaking double
clear to take the honours in the
AW Jenkinson Natural Flake
grand prix.
“She’s a consistent mare with
plenty of blood, so it’s easy to
be fast. I tried to settle her into
a nice rhythm and a good roll
back at number 10 helped us,” said
Richard, who almost made it a
one-two, as Cruising Star posted
the fastest time of all, but a rail
fell after a tight turnback to the
second fence.
Raf Suarez set a suitably
testing course for round one.
Almost every fence came down,
although an airy oxer off a corner
at number two, followed by a
double on a forward five strides,
accounted for most faults.
With 16 from the start list of 53
By MARGARET SHAW
winning through to the jump-off,
this was always going to be an
edge-of-your-seat climax and it
provided a fitting finale to four
days of top-drawer jumping.
Once Holly Smith and
Hearts Destiny (sixth) and Alex
Thompson riding Cathalina V
(seventh) produced two good early
second clears, the challenge was
set and the top five came from the
last five combinations to jump.
Eventual third, Holly
Smith and Fruselli (see One To
Watch) first took a three-second
advantage, but that was shortlived
when local rider Julie
Andrews and Ayrton IV pulled
off two tight turns at either end
of the arena to take the lead and
eventual second in 31.08 seconds.
“This horse ticks all the boxes.
He loves to win and I can trust
him to gallop and turn short,”
said Julie.
However, next-drawn Richard
Howley was waiting in the wings
with Electra B and, although he
gave the troublesome second fence
some space this time, his turnback
to a top-of-the-wings upright
three from home saw Electra pick
up off barely one stride.
“I was determined not to make
the same mistake with the second
fence,” said Richard. “We are just
a few months into our partnership
and Electra is growing in
confidence with every outing and
will be going to Spain as my grand
prix horse. I had planned to come
here on the first day as a warm-up
and return today to go well in the
grand prix, and the plan worked,”
said Richard, who claimed the top
two 1.35m places on the first day
with Cruising Star and Electra B.
The final two grand prix
places were decided next, the
new partnership of Anthony
Condon and Courtney 6 taking
fourth and the 2017 winning rider
James Whitaker and Glenavadra
Brilliant finishing fifth.
Raf Suarez was happy with
the result: “The course was big
enough and testing everywhere.
It’s quite difficult to accommodate
those stepping up to this level and
established grand prix horses and
riders, but I was pleased it rode
so well.”
There was another hardfought
contest in the British
Showjumping winter amateur
qualifier, where 19 of the field of
48 came through to the jump-off.
After Richard Jenkinson
posted a quick time with
early-drawn Culto, many of the
following riders had no choice
but to take risks over a tempting
course, and it was only two
stunning turnbacks successfully
pulled off by Sarah Williams that
relegated the early leaders.
Riding the home-bred Calvaro
Star, Sarah steered inside lines all
the way and, although arriving
a bit deep to the last fence on an
acute turnback, her 11-year-old
daughter of Calvaro left the top
rail up.
“She’s brave and careful — she
Pictures by Majestic Photography
56 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

Edited by Jennifer Donald
jennifer.donald@timeinc.com
@ donaldjdonald
The long journey from Cornwall pays off for Adam Ellery and eightyear-old
Fairway, who headed the Blue Chip Karma performance
never lets me down. I’m normally
busy with our tack stand, Williams
Equestrian, so we don’t get out
that often, but she comes out and
does her job every time. I’m not
usually that brave, but she’s such
an honest mare, I thought we’d
have a real go,” said Sarah.
The long journey from
Cornwall proved worthwhile for
Adam Ellery, who proved a force
to be reckoned with over this
four-day meeting.
Good preparation with
Fairway (Fai) paid rich dividends
for Adam as Darren Jueleff’s
eight-year-old mare pulled off
a brilliant spin-back to a tall
upright to win the Blue Chip
Karma performance.
Drawn fairly early in the
77-starter Karma qualifier, Adam
signalled his intentions from the
start with a quick scurry through
the beams and Fai hugged the
wings throughout.
“I only started riding her in
winter and, after concentrating
on getting our newcomers and
Foxhunter double clears, we have
been building up confidence doing
the odd turn.
“This was a tough class to win,
but she is getting quicker with
every outing,” said Adam, who
owns a share of the daughter of
Baldwin and enjoyed a lucrative
first visit to Aintree.
“This is the furthest north
I have ever travelled to compete
and we have really enjoyed the
show,” said Adam.
Having his first outing of the
year, Quality Old Joker scored
a brilliant win for Holly Smith in
a fiercely contested 1.40m.
After going the full five
rounds to share first place in the
Liverpool International puissance,
the Irish son of OBOS Quality had
enjoyed some lazy days hacking,
but he soon returned to winning
form and curled his massive frame
around to the wings to post a time
even the best efforts of reunited
Kerry Brennan and Wellington M
could not match.
“He loves a challenge. We’ve
done nothing since Liverpool, but
he’s better fresh,” said Holly. “The
turns were tight, but he never
tries to second-guess me and
everything came off,”
As fast finishes go, Paul Barker
provided two of the speediest
riding Cartouche II (Pogo), whose
ground-devouring stride and
spin-back turns came into play
in the 1.30m classes on days one
and four.
These were among some of the
most competitive classes of this
meeting and Paul employed some
daring tactics to finish ahead of
some speedy combinations.
Pogo is normally ridden by
Paul’s niece Hannah Barker in
young rider and children-onhorses
competitions, but while she
Sarah Williams and Calvaro win
the BS winter amateur qualifier
FRUSELLI
HOLLY SMITH headed
the Blue Chip Dynamic
B&C qualifier with
Gordon and Sue
Hall’s Fruselli.
Second-placed Jessica Crosby and Harvey scurried
round to set a real uphill challenge, but penultimate-drawn Holly
sliced the merest fraction off the leading time.
“It was a last-minute decision to come here, but as we were
both bored at home and bursting with life, we decided to have some
action,” said Holly, who first tried the impressive stallion at South
View last summer following a tip-off.
The Zambesi eight-year-old stallion was bred by Mark Evans and
Amanda Forster at Castell Sport Horses and was first ridden by
Amanda. In just a few months, Fruselli progressed from Foxhunter
level to jump two rankings classes at Liverpool and he ended on a
high note here, producing two clears to finish third in the grand prix.
“He’s not a horse to turn up short, so we’ve been practising
keeping our turns smooth and taking fewer strides —
ONE TO
WATCH
is concentrating on ponies, Paul
keeps the 15-year-old ticking over.
“As I had a few horses in these
classes, I didn’t manage to watch
the leading rounds. Pogo covers
a lot of ground; he turns well and
it felt easy for him,” said Paul, who
beat next-placed Ben Walker on
Native Warrior and Keith Shore
with Coriander.
Ben Walker, who is based
with Pennie Cornish and Phillip
Miller, gained a winning double
at the upper height classes riding
Roulette H and Victory VI.
Roulette H, a nine-year-old
bred by Lancashire dealer Downes
Howard, is by the showjumping
stallion Moschino and has been
with the Pennie Cornish stable
for the past five years. He stepped
up to area trials and 1.45m
competitions last season.
“He likes to jump the bigger
RESULTS
he’s getting an expert at it now,” said Holly, who was due
to have the plates removed from her right leg (injured
early last year) just two days after this show, before
competing on the Sunshine Tour.
25 Jan: KBIS Insurance British novi—1&
2, Richious & MEC Look At Me (A Tough); 3,
Urban Splash (N Roe). 90cm.— 1 & 2, Urano
III & Starlux (N Roe). Nupafeed discovery.— 1,
Pandoras Box (B Smart); 2, Call Me What You
Want (K Shore); 3, Running Gingerbread Man
(A Walters). 1m.— 1, CSH Starlet (J Holding);
2, Cor De Crykon (E Hope). Connolly’s Red
Mills newcomers.—1, Ebrusa (G Azevedo-
Silva); 2, Gassara (E Forrester); 3, Harlequin
Vivendi (A Walters). 1.10m.— 1, B Valeree (R
Connor); 2, Jupistar Van’t Langbos (K Shore);
3, Grass (G Billington). Equitop Myoplast
Foxhunter.— 1, Icon III (E Williams); 2, Harvey
(J Crosby); 3, Quality Street (C Bolam).
1.25m.— 1, Fantastic (R Connor); 2, Elo (G
Billington); 3, Flintstone De Ness (L Smith).
AW Jenkinson Natural Flake 1.35m.—1&2,
Cruising Star & Electra B (R Howley); 3, Zaha
(R Connor). 26 Jan: Connolly’s Red Mills
newcomers.—1, Jeppsen K (C Arnold); 2,
Gassara; 3, Footloose LG (C Smith). Equitop
Myoplast Foxhunter.— 1, Blue Pilot (J
Elliott); 2, Fairway (A Ellery); 3, Peppercorn (T
Whitaker). 1.20m.— 1,Contessa M (S Buckley);
2, El Diablo Grande (C Shepherd-Bramham); 3,
Cartouche (P Barker). nat 1.30m.— 1, 2 & 3eq,
Cartouche, Lux Fabulous & Sandors Legacy
stuff and, as we are going to the
Sunshine Tour hoping to find
Nations Cup form, this was the
ideal preparation for him,” said
Ben. “This was a fast class and
we had to find somewhere to save
time, so while most riders steered
around the Christmas tree island,
I knew he would probably spook
at it, so I went for a nice drop and
turn inside to the next vertical. It
was tight, but it paid off.”
Ben’s second victory came
courtesy of Victory VI, who
maintained a relentless pace
to record a 1.30m win on the
following day.
“He can be quirky and he was
naughty yesterday, but at least he’s
redeemed himself with a round
like this,” said Ben.
“He’s economical in the air and
has a big stride, which makes him
a good indoor speed horse.” H&H
(P Barker); 3eq, Billy Starlet (E O’Dwyer). AW
Jenkinson nati 1.40m.— 1, Roulette H (B
Walker); 2, Ubank (A Ellery); 3, Wellington M
(K Brennan). 27 Jan: Connolly’s Red Mills
newcomers.— 1, Tinkabella (B Vernon); 2,
Mount Pleasant Lily (D Coogan); 3, Flemenco
T (S Stockdale). 1.15m.— 1, B Valeree (R
Connor); 2, Drewmain Dark Star (A Ellery);
3, Capriool III (C Bolam). Blue Chip Karma
performance.— 1, Fairway; 2, Courageux
(C West); 3, Footloose LG (C Smith). nat
1.30m.— 1, Victory VI (B Walker); 2, Divedent
SB (C Arnhold); 3, Darcobal Fravanca (J
McGlory). Blue Chip Dynamic B&C.—1,
Fruselli (H Smith); 2, Harvey (J Crosby); 3,
Django Blue (J Elliott). AW Jenkinson nat
1.40m.— 1, Quality Old Joker (H Smith); 2,
Wellington M; 3, Waldemar (C Pritchard). 28
Jan: Connolly’s Red Mills newcomers.—1,
Ebrusa; 2, E Papa FM (B Mitchell); 3, Highclass
B (C Bolam). 1.10m.— 1, Lester Van T Laahof
(E O’Dwyer); 2, Classic Raphael (K Sutcliffe);
3, Cassius XI (M Prenty). BS winter amateur
Q.— 1, Calvaro Star (S Williams); 2, Culto (R
Jenkinson); 3, Nonstop III (S Sellars). Equitop
Myoplast Foxhunter.— 1, Quality Street (C
Bolam); 2, Ulisina II (A Tough); 3, Hermionie
II (Z Beesley). nat 1.30m.— 1, Cartouche; 2,
Native Warrior (B Walker); 3, Coriander Van’t
Vennehof (K Shore). National 1.40m/AW
Jenkinson Natural Flake grand prix.—1,
Electra B; 2, Ayrton IV (J Andrews); 3, Fruselli.
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 57

SHOWJUMPING
INTERNATIONAL
HIGHLIGHTS
31 January-4 February
Amanda Derbyshire lands the WEF
Challenge Cup on the ‘adjustable’
Luibanta H, by Luidam
Cita
Daniel Coyle and
Ben Maher post
some impressive
wins for this side
of the Atlantic
CSI4* CP Palm Beach Masters,
Deeridge Farms, Wellington, USA
Derbyshire
banks a win
British rider
Amanda
Derbyshire takes
the spoils on
American soil
CSI4* Winter Equestrian
Festival week 4, Palm Beach
International EC, Florida, USA
GREAT BRITAIN’S Amanda
Derbyshire, fresh from a return
to home soil to compete at
Olympia and Liverpool, notched
up a superb victory in the
$70,000 (£62,000) Equinimity
WEF Challenge Cup riding
Luibanta BH.
Jumping on the venue’s turf
arena, Amanda and the 10-yearold
Irish sport horse (Luidam x
Abantos), who was bought from
Ellen Whitaker, held off nine
jump-off rivals for victory, but
there was a nerve-racking run
to the finish.
“I planned seven strides to
the last and I turned really tight
into the double, which made her
land a little shallow coming out,”
Amanda said. “I decided still to try
to do seven, so I was just telling
her we could do it!”
Ireland’s Kevin Babington took
the runner-up spot with another
Irish-bred, Super Chilled, by
Gelvin Clover, while Amber Harte
(USA) and Cafino came third.
“At the end of last summer
Luibanta really stepped up to
doing whatever grands prix
we have asked of her,” said
30-year-old Amanda, who hopes
‘Even if you
really let her
go, she will
always come
back to you’
AMANDA DERBYSHIRE
to represent Great Britain in
the Nations Cup at WEF at the
beginning of March. “We’re going
to save her, and hopefully she’ll
last a long time.
“She’s really fast because she’s
so easy to turn and so athletic and
adjustable; even if you really let
her go, she’ll always come back to
you, which is a huge advantage so
I can open her up and then ask her
to turn tightly.”
IN BRIEF
BIG WINS AND A
NEWBORN BABY
IN Europe, the penultimate leg
of the World Cup series went
to Belgium’s Pieter Devos
(Espoir). In Sunday’s grand
prix, Harrie Smolders took top
spot with Emerald NOP, while
Robert Whitaker and Catwalk
IV collected fourth, just 1.5
seconds off the pace, after
JUST down the road from WEF,
US-based Irishman Daniel
Coyle secured victory in the
$220,000 (£195,000) Longines
FEI World Cup qualifier at the
CSI3* in Deerridge, Wellington,
with the 12-year-old mare Cita
(Casall x Pik Ramiro).
The 23-year-old collected the
$72,600 (£64,300) top prize —
his first World Cup — by 0.35sec
from USA’s last drawn Laura
Kraut (Confu) and Margie
Goldstein-Engle (Royce) in a
five-way jump-off over a track
designed by Irishman Alan Wade.
“It’s an amazing feeling to
beat any one of these two women,
and everybody in that jump-off,”
he said. “I saw Margie’s round
and thought that was going to be
tough to beat, let alone McLain
[Ward] and Laura, [who were
jumping] after me.
“I did one less stride [than
Laura] in the first line and I think
that’s only the real place that I got
her,” he said. “I was really tight
back to the third jump, and then
I just tried to smooth out the
finish instead of trying to do
something crazy.”
British number two rider
Ben Maher teamed up with his
own and Jane Clark’s 15-year-old
stallion Tic Tac for victory in the
1.60m qualifier, snatching an
$11,550 paycheque, just days after
his 35th birthday.
a 14-strong jump-off.
Mark McAuley took just
four days to record his first win
since becoming a first-time
dad. His new wife Charlotte
gave birth on Wednesday and,
having soared into the lead on
Sunday’s accumulator with her
nine-year-old Valentino Tuiliere,
Mark jumped on a plane home,
leaving his team-mate Bertram
Allen to attend the prizegiving
on his behalf. A week to
remember for Mark!
Pictures by Thierry Billet and Kathy Russell Photography
58 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

scores for Doyle
Ben Maher enjoys a 1.60m victory on his Rio 2016 partner Tic Tac
Daniel Coyle bags the World Cup qualifier on Cita
“It’s been a lean time for
me over the past year or so and
I haven’t sat up here very often,”
said Ben, who was last to go in a
five-horse jump-off with his 2016
Olympic partner. “Sometimes
jump-offs just go right. Every
time I turned, I picked up the
first distance. Tic Tac covers the
ground and it went our way today.
“Tic Tac goes his own way, he
has his own style,” explained Ben,
who now uses the son of Clinton
sparingly. “When he come to me
from Leslie Howard, he had to
go very fast to build for the team
for Rio. He’s 15 years old now
so I think you have to protect
him a little bit. He jumped one
small round a week ago and then
straight into this class today.
“Maybe we’ll head over [to
Europe] and jump some Nations
Cups, Global Champions Tour,
that kind of thing. I don’t have so
many old horses to choose from
right now, so we’ll pick and choose
where to go.” H&H
ONLY IN HORSE & HOUND
‘We need the crowd behind our team’
Peter Charles on why Nations Cup competitions are such dream occasions
I’VE been lucky enough to
ride on a Dublin Aga Khan
winning Nations Cup team on
six occasions: three times for
Ireland and three for Britain.
I can personally say it’s one
of the best experiences for
a showjumper. So the news
that Hickstead is moving its
superleague leg to the Sunday
of the Royal International has
put a smile on my face.
We should embrace this
opportunity to make it the most
important outdoor spectacle we
can put on in showjumping.
It should be the dream of
every young rider to participate
in that parade of teams in the
main ring and go on to represent
their country. Hopefully, when
all the back rings have finished,
they will have the opportunity
to stay on, watch, and gain some
inspiration.
I finished school at 15 —
through no fault of my own —
and left Liverpool to work with
Peter Charles was a member of the
gold medal-winning British team at
the 2012 London Olympics. He also
won three consecutive Hickstead
Derbys in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
OPINION
horses in Ireland. I was lucky
enough to be one of a group of
young lads who were all starting
at the bottom and trying to work
their way to the top.
I remember well going
to Dublin Horse Show to see
the Nations Cup — one of
the biggest sporting events in
Ireland — and watching the
whole showground come to
a standstill as Eddie Macken,
Paul Darragh, Con Power and
James Kernan paraded in front
of the band.
As a young boy, perched up
in a tree, it was incredible to
see them go on to win the Aga
Khan trophy. It was the best
thing I could imagine, and it
gave me more motivation to
succeed than ever.
The whole of Ireland was
behind that team: it was on the
news; the stands were packed
and the streets were packed.
The responsibility to win was
enormous but the rewards were
fantastic. There was widespread
recognition and the horses
became household names.
UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE
WHEN I moved back to
England aged 21, Hickstead’s
Nations Cup used to be in
the Sunday slot, before it was
replaced by the King George
V Gold Cup. I can recall the
outside rings being finished and
seeing Harvey Smith and David
Broome jumping on the team,
with the support of a full house.
The atmosphere was fantastic
then — a bit like Derby day.
I’m in the unusual position of
having ridden both for Ireland
at Dublin and for Britain at
Hickstead. With the level of
crowd participation, the history
of the event and the buy-in of
all the riders, the atmosphere at
Dublin is undoubtedly unique.
No one ever shies off taking
a team place there.
Hopefully, moving the event
to the Sunday at Hickstead will
now bring back some of the
prestige and allow people to give
the competition the focus and
respect it deserves.
If we build the day up to
really mean something, then
owners and riders will buy in
and we’ll get the likes of Scott
Brash and Ben Maher to put
their best foot forward.
We should get as many
ex-riders as possible to support
it and give interviews. I would
like to see a lot of Union flags
waving in the stands for the
parade — we need a partisan
crowd behind our team and
there’s no reason we can’t
make this a fantastic British
showjumping day. H&H
NEXT
WEEK
Regular columnist
William Funnell
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 59

SHOWJUMPING
KEYSOE
SMALL PONY PREMIER
3-4 February
A birthday boy’s
perfect present
‘We keep asking and he keeps giving’: Ollie Fry and Colliyers Pal Joey cruise to victory in the winter 128cm
A sole treble clear clinches a win for Ollie Fry, while an
eight-year-old champ gets into the groove to triumph and
three battle it out in a finale finish
Keysoe Small Pony Premier,
Beds
RIDERS aged 14 and under
arrived in huge numbers at this
popular venue, where they were
chasing 10 tickets to the Royal
International Horse Show (RIHS)
at the third qualifying show of the
winter series.
Saturday’s 128cm second
round set the scene for the rest
of the show. David Cole’s course
needed concentration, but three
pairs jumped against the clock
in round three. Ollie Fry then
gave himself a late 12th birthday
present with the sole treble clear
on Colliyers Pal Joey.
The 11-year-old gelding and
Wiltshire-based Ollie had a
great 2017, culminating in third
place at Olympia.
“We keep asking and he
keeps giving,” said Ollie’s father
Jamie, himself a former toplevel
showjumper.
Dad may have been delighted
by qualification, but the best thing
as far as Ollie was concerned was
By PENNY RICHARDSON
the coveted winner’s rug, given by
the show organisers for all four
second rounds.
“I’ve never won one before and
it’s brilliant,” he said.
One of the show’s most
extraordinary results came from
Connie Mensley. This eight-yearold
from Leicestershire is the
reigning national 10-and-under
style and performance champion
and represented the Quorn
branch of the Pony Club in the
mini major at Olympia, but she
had never attempted anything
like this before.
Connie never missed a beat
on Madonna, with a couple of
time-faults in round three,
leaving them in second place. The
15-year-old Madonna, who won at
Horse of the Year Show (HOYS)
for Amy Morris last year, joined
Connie, who is helped by Tanya
Kyle, in January.
“I talked my mum into
letting me have a go in the class
last night,” said Connie.
We suspect that Mum is glad
she agreed!
The already qualified Izabella
Rogers (Whinney Lass) finished
third, so the final RIHS place
went to Ellie Burrell-Squibb, the
fastest four-faulter from round
two on Telynau Royal Damask.
Ellie, 11, has grown so fast that her
128cm ponies are now for sale, but
she will ride at Hickstead if she
still has “Damask”.
Tabitha Kyle just missed
qualification on Borderhill
William, but the 10-year-old
bounced back in the best
possible way to win the winter
138cm second round on her
Liverpool International champion
Lissduff Royal.
Twelve of a classy field reached
round two, with seven going
against the clock. Tabitha then
set the standard on the 15-yearold
gelding who came to her
in December 2016. They were
deceptively quick, as was proved
when Claudia Moore set sail on
the already qualified Tullineaskey
Fear Deas and had to settle for
second place.
Tabitha, who just missed
qualification in Scotland, had
to work hard to keep her pony’s
concentration.
“He doesn’t like it here,
although we are regulars. He’s a
bit of a monkey and he either wins
or decides it’s not for him,” said
Tabitha’s father, Mark.
The second ticket went to
Devon, courtesy of Jake Myers
and the amazing 25-year-old The
Agent, a pony looking fitter than
many half his age.
“He’s our pony of a lifetime
and has taken us to places we’d
only dreamt of,” said Jake’s mum
Joanna. “We thought of retiring
him, but he loves his job so much.
He just hacks between shows and
never gets jumped at home.”
Iwan Carpenter already had
one RIHS place booked and
added another ticket in fourth
place on Follow Jazzy Lady.
THE KYLES CLEAR UP
SUNDAY’S qualifiers turned
into a “Kylefest” after Tabitha
won the winter 128cm second
round and took another 138cm
ticket. The pressure was off when
only Tabitha and Olivia Sponer
(Trefriw Eros) reached round two
of the 128cm class to take the two
In tune: Connie Mensley and Madonna soar in the winter 128cm
Pictures by hoofprintsphotography.co.uk
60 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

tickets on offer, although Henry
Squibb was desperately unlucky
when he and Pussy Cat Doll
were clear, finishing a
heartbreaking 0.17 of a second
over the time allowed.
Another clear from Coreys
Princess was good enough to land
Tabitha the win after Olivia and
her chestnut rolled a pole. The
Kyles bought Coreys Princess in
Ireland as a green four-year-old.
“She got fatter and we then
realised that she was in-foal.
We now have her three-yearold
son at home,” said Tabitha’s
mother Tanya.
Eleven-year-old Olivia Sponer
lives in London — “next door to
Olympia” — and commutes to
Windsor to ride her ponies. Olivia,
who has joint British, American
and German nationality, has
produced Trefriw Eros from
bronze league classes to top level.
“She just missed out on HOYS
twice last year, so we’re hoping to
be in it to win it this season,” said
her mother Jennifer.
The 138cm equivalent was
another great competition,
although Rachel Proudley could
probably have done without
some of the excitement. In the
Tabitha Kyle (Lissduff Royal) tops the winter 138cm second round
nine-pony jump-off, she and
Buttons Two parted company
and the pony enjoyed herself
throughout an impromptu looseschooling
session that included
some of the jump-off fences!
The finish was fought out by
already qualified combinations.
Jake Myers and The Agent set the
ball rolling with a terrific clear
and when Claudia Moore just
missed the time on Sonas Barney,
it looked as though they had done
enough. But back came Claudia
with one of the rounds of the show
on Tullineaskey Fear Deas to win
by more than half a second.
Claudia added her results
here to first and second places at
South View and a runner-up spot
in Scotland.
“I messed up there because I
was four seconds late starting my
jump-off round,” she confided.
The top RIHS ticket went to
Tabitha Kyle, whose round on
Playboy Van De Zoetewei was
good enough for fourth.
“He’s only seven, so I went
for a clear and hoped I’d done
enough,” she said.
Fifth-placed Luli Loveridge
and Arrow Head Quiver just
missed out the previous day and
RESULTS
3 Feb: sml pony 90cm.— 1, Foyfins
Close Call (M Digby); 2, Red Sail
Lady (M Spittle); 3, Glenairlie Miss
Moneypenny (K Bromley). 11 &
under.— 1, 17 tied. Graham Heath
128/138cm.— 1, Tullineaskey Fear
Deas (C Moore); 2, Gorm And Ban
(T Squibb); 3, Shappen Pilgrim
(R Proudley). winter 128cm 2nd
round.— 1, Colliyers Pal Joey (O Fry);
2, Madonna (C Mensley); 3, Whinney
Lass (I Rogers). winter 138cm 2nd
round.— 1, Lissduff Royal (T Kyle); 2,
Tullineaskey Fear Deas; 3, The Agent
(J Myers). 128/138cm special.—1,
Penchwintan Glynle (N Von Bulow); 2,
Ferrybank Roy (O Banks); 3, Ballywillan
Hotshot (Z Webber). 4 Feb: Graham
Heath 128/138cm.— 1, Lissduff Royal;
2, Sweet Delight (O Hobby); 3, Buttons
Two (R Proudley). winter 128cm 2nd
round.— 1, Coreys Princess (T Kyle);
2, Trefriw Eros (O Sponer); 3, Pussy
Cat Doll (H Squibb). winter 138cm 2nd
round.— 1, Tullineaskey Fear Das; 2,
The Agent; 3, Sonas Barney (C Moore).
11 & under/10 & under style &
performance.— 1, 17 tied. 128/138cm
special.— 1, Gelvin Castle Grey (F
Marriott); 2, Fairrose Fantasy (I Doyle);
3, Sweet Delight.
put things right this time to take a
precious ticket home to Bridport
in Dorset.
“This is my lucky place,” said
Luli, 13. “I’ve been to Hickstead
for the 128cm final and I qualified
here as well.” H&H
(QWHU &RPSHWH 5HSHDW
ZZZHTXRHYHQWVFRXN

SHOWJUMPING
GLOCK
HORSE PERFORMANCE
CENTER CSI3*
1-4 February
‘Chilled but competitive’:
Martin Fuchs and Cool And
Easy en route to their first
grand prix success together
Glock Horse Performance Center
CSI3*, Treffen, Austria
SWITZERLAND’S Martin Fuchs
cemented his new partnership
with the highly experienced
Cool And Easy by winning the
grand prix at Glock’s. It was
a first victory for the pair, and
they breezed round the jump-off
in 43.3sec in a manner fitting to
the 14-year-old grey’s name.
“He’s a very fast, competitive
horse so I knew I could win if it
all came together,” said Martin.
“He’s a chilled, cool character
but also very sensitive — he’s got
a lot of blood.”
The Contender gelding, who
is owned by Paul Bücheler, came
to the 25-year-old rising star in
November, but has competed at
CSI5* and Nations Cup level with
the likes of Hans-Dieter Dreher,
Jessica Kurten and Beat Mändli
over the years.
Martin will aim Cool And Easy
at CSI5* shows now, and he is
one of three horses Martin hopes
will earn him a place on the Swiss
team for the World Equestrian
Games in September.
Latvia’s Kristaps Neretnieks
posted a valiant effort in second
on 13-year-old Moon Ray, going
flat out to the final oxer. Wilm
Vermeir rode with a little more
caution on the less experienced
Victory’s a breeze
for Cool And Easy
A new partnership coasts to grand prix success, while
Laura Renwick wins on a promising young mare and
Michael Duffy lands a 1.50m with a ‘special’ horse
By CATHERINE AUSTEN
nine-year-old DM Jacqmotte and
collected third.
Undoubtedly the biggest
cheer of the show was reserved
for fourth-placed Gerco Schröder
and Glock’s London NOP. The
handsome chestnut, who many
will remember winning individual
and team silver medals six years
ago at the London Olympics, is
owned by the show’s sponsors,
Gaston and Kathrin Glock, and
has been one of the superstars
of the sport.
Gerco rode two immaculate
rounds, but didn’t hassle his old
friend, who is now 16 years old.
“He’s a very special horse
to me,” said Gerco. “He knows
when it matters. He is like a
machine — you press the button
and he goes.
“He feels great again, but we
don’t overjump him now. He will
tell us what he wants to do.”
Gerco was elated — and
a little relieved — to take a 1.45m
class on Saturday with Glock’s
Dobelensky, a 10-year-old by
Cornet Obolensky.
“He doesn’t have much
experience in jump-offs at this
level, so I concentrated on getting
into a good rhythm,” said Gerco.
“It was a tough track for this
height, but Dobelensky is a nice
horse; he is strong mentally and
has a lot of quality and power.
He goes in a rubber snaffle,
Gerco Schröder and Glock’s
Dobelensky, 1.45m winners
62 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

RESULTS
Pictures by Michael Rzepa
and with some more practice he
could be special.”
NOVITA JOVIAL‘HAS THE
ATTRIBUTES’ FOR THE TOP
LAURA RENWICK was out
of luck in the grand prix, just
brushing the top pole off an
upright on a curving six-stride
line from the triple bar when
her Olympia puissance winner
Top Dollar VI leaned hard on
her inside rein and lost a little
balance to the fence. But the
British national anthem sounded
out when she took the Glock’s
youngster tour final for sevenand
eight-year-olds on Sunday
morning with Sharon and Lara
Whiteway’s Novita Jovial Z.
Laura has been riding the
talented seven-year-old chestnut
mare for only six weeks, but
Sharon originally bought her from
the Renwicks as a three-year-old.
“She felt really good from the
first fence onwards today,” said
Laura, who rode some brave lines
in the jump-off. “Even though
she’s big, she’s quick, agile and
athletic. Nothing seems to faze
her; she’s adaptable, rideable
and has a good brain — she’s
almost an old head on young
shoulders and just needs to
mature physically. She has all
the attributes to be a top horse.”
Ireland’s Michael Duffy won
Gaston Glock’s Championat, a
1.50m class on Friday by being the
only the rider to take an incredibly
tight turn after the first fence in
the jump-off. He rode the 10-yearold
Livello gelding Lapuccino 2,
a rangey, scopey roan.
Michael, 21, works for Carl
Hanley near Osnabrück in northwest
Germany, and Lapuccino 2
was bred by Carl’s wife, Nadja,
and produced by Eoin McMahon.
“He’s a bit ‘special’ — he will
only come off the lorry in reverse,
that sort of thing — but he’s sweet
and intelligent and I really enjoy
working with him,” said Michael.
“He’s super-careful but has plenty
of blood so is also fast, so I could
ride tight lines but keep galloping.
He’s still green at the highest level,
but he has the ability to jump
anything; we just have to take our
time with him.”
Second was another exciting
young rider, the Netherlands’
Sanne Thijssen, with the grey
Crusador mare Celine M Z. Sanne,
19, took a young horse class on
Thursday with Dior P Z, and
impressed throughout the show
with her light, balanced riding.
Saturday’s 1.55m class
went to Belgium’s Christophe
Vanderhasselt and the 10-yearold
Air Jordan Z mare Identity
Vitseroel. There were only three
clears in the first round over
a track that seemed even stronger
than Sunday’s grand prix.
“The course-designer here
[Franz Mandl] doesn’t take any
prisoners,” commented Laura.
“The last line — the treble to
the oxer — was really tough for
a three-star show.” H&H
SNOW AND SUPERSTARS
Laura Renwick and promising
seven-year-old Novita Jovial Z
take the youngster tour final
THE Glock Performance Horse Center, nestled in
the snow-covered Alps in southern Austria, hosts
a CSI3* in February and a CSI5* in June. Facilities
for horses and humans are almost unprecedented
in equestrian sport.
The Riders’ Lounge at Glock’s takes hospitality to
a completely different level in terms of luxury and
glamour. Famous chefs produce superb food round
the clock; professional stylists and beauticians
are on hand — and even dogs can enjoy their own
“wellness lounge” with massages and bespoke meals.
Thousands of orchids and other hothouse flowers
decorate every inch of the temporary structure.
Each night Gaston and Kathrin Glock host a private
party for riders, owners and guests — which include
Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, John Travolta and Hugh
1 Feb: Glock’s opening competition
1.40m.— 1, Hacienda D’Eversem
(W Vermeir, BEL); 2, Cornet’s Spirit
(K Neretnieks, LAT); 3, Quitoki (J
Skrzyczynski, POL). Glock’s youngster
tour.— 1, Dior P Z (S Thijssen, NED); 2,
Aladina Du Val Henry (M Fuchs, SUI);
3, Glamour (S Sleiderink, NED). 2 Feb:
Glock’s perfection tour 1.40m.—1,
Tina De L’Yserand (P Schwizer, SUI); 2,
Hacienda D’Eversem; 3, Daiane Blue V (D
Will, GER). Gaston Glock’s championat
1.50m.— 1, Lapuccino 2 (M Duffy, IRE);
2, Celine M Z (S Thijssen, NED); 3,
Identity Vitseroel (C Vanderhasselt, BEL).
Glock’s youngster tour 1.30/1.35m.—1,
Glamour; 2, Colincor (M Kutscher, GER);
3, Aladina Du Val Henry. 3 Feb: Glock’s
perfection tour 1.45m.— 1, Glock’s
Dobelensky (G Schröder, NED); 2, Chica
B Z (M Fuchs, SUI); 3, H&M Cue Channa
(M Baryard-Johnsson, SWE). Glock’s
perfection tour 1.55m.— 1, Identity
Vitseroel; 2, H&M Indiana (M Baryard-
Johnsson, SWE); 3, Nicole (MH Skollerud,
NOR). 4 Feb: Glock’s youngster tour
final 1.35/1.40m.— 1, Novita Jovial Z (L
Renwick, GBR); 2, Colincor; 3, Flipper La
Première (J-F Meyer-Zimmermann, GER).
Glock’s 3* grand prix 1.55m.— 1, Cool
And Easy (M Fuchs, SUI); 2, Moon Ray (K
Neretnieks, LAT); 3, DM Jacqmotte (W
Vermeir, BEL).
Michael Duffy and Lapuccino 2 triumph in the 1.50m Championat
Grant. The entertainment included live performances
from Robbie Williams, Rod Stewart and Leona Lewis.
“It’s unbelievable — and the organisers pay as
much attention to the comfort of the horses as they
do to the riders,” says Laura Renwick, who is a regular
visitor to the show.
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 63

RACING
LEOPARDSTOWN
3-4 February
Edited by Hannah Lemieux
hannah.lemieux@timeinc.com
@hannah_lemieux1
Samcro (Jack Kennedy)
annihilates the opposition to
win the Grade One Deloitte
Novice Hurdle and maintain
his unbeaten record
Superstar
Samcro
Samcro lives up to the hype, Edwulf comes back from the dead
and Supasundae downs Faugheen at the Dublin Racing Festival
Leopardstown, Ireland
IRELAND’S new Dublin Racing
Festival seemed to gain instant
traction in terms of quality
of racing and popularity with
the crowds.
It had a bit of everything,
including the confirmation
By MARCUS ARMYTAGE
that Faugheen is probably not
the Faugheen of old, plus some
surprises including the heartwarming
victory of Edwulf in
the Irish Gold Cup and the
superb jumping of the novices
Footpad and Monalee, however,
capping it all was the pure
brilliance of Samcro.
Some, including myself, may
have been slightly sceptical of all
the lavish praise heaped upon the
Gigginstown-owned six-year-old
gelding by Germany, however,
you will not see many novices
travel with such contemptuous
ease through a race as Samcro
did in the Grade One Deloitte
Novice Hurdle.
Gigginstown owner Michael
O’Leary has been trying to douse
the flames of hype and, though he
is a great businessman, achieving
that aim is going to be beyond
64 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

NOTEBOOK...
THE Dublin Racing Festival may be a destination in itself but it also
highlighted some of the exciting Irish prospects for the “away match”
in the Cotswolds in March.
One imagines Footpad (pictured) will be an Irish banker in the
Arkle after making all the running in the Grade One Frank Ward
Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase.
Ironically, the best of the British seems to be Alan King’s Sceau
Royal — who is also owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
However, there won’t be many that can match Footpad this side of
the Irish Sea — or indeed Petit Mouchoir, who finished runner-up.
The latter kept up with Footpad for much of the way, but didn’t jump
as well, however, he stayed on, which might be in his favour up the
Cheltenham hill. Footpad, on the other hand, does not jump like
a novice and barely breaks stride to jump.
“He jumps like a stag,” said jockey Paul Townend. “You’d swear
he has been jumping fences all his life. It was a great thrill riding
him — he was deadly.”
Meanwhile, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Monalee made all and
jumped like a proverbial buck under Noel Fehily to win the Grade One
Flogas Novice Chase by three-quarters of a length. He had fallen on
his previous start but you would never have known it.
There was a lot to like about his performance, aside from his
jumping, which will win him plenty of races. It looked like five or
six horses might have swamped him at the last, but Fehily had kept
a bit up his sleeve.
As the runner-up in last year’s Albert Bartlett, he should figure
prominently in this year’s RSA Chase at the Festival.
“The horse had a bad fall at Christmas and it
ONES TO
WATCH
took him a week to get over it but he’s hardy,” said de
Bromhead, who is a great advocate of loose schooling.
“To come straight back into a Grade One was throwing
him in the deep end but it is testament to the horse.”
him — the horse will go to
Cheltenham as the odds-on
favourite for the Ballymore
Novices’ Hurdle with the Irish
economy probably riding on him.
It will be no surprise if the
trainers of horses with decent
chances in the two-and-a-half
mile Ballymore think again about
whether the Supreme or Albert
Bartlett might be a more winnable
option, because if Samcro turns
up there will only be one winner.
At Leopardstown and over two
miles, he never came out of first
gear cruising to the smoothest
of wins by five lengths and
maintaining his 100% record —
one point-to-point, three bumpers
and now three hurdles victories.
“He’s going the right way,” said
O’Leary, who does not care much
for hurdle races. “He’s still not
Jesus Christ but hopefully he
will be when he wins a chase,
a proper race!”
Edwulf heads for a fairytale success in the Grade One Irish Gold Cup
Pictures by Steve Davies/Racingfotos.com and PA Images
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 65

RACING
LEOPARDSTOWN
3-4 February
Supasundae (red hat) reels in
Faugheen en route to a 2 1 ⁄4-length
victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle
‘Robbie Power
was sure
when he had
Faugheen in his
sights, he’d pick
him up — it was
some prep race’
JESSICA HARRINGTON ON
SUPASUNDAE
MIRACLE EDWULF
SCORES UNLIKELY WIN
THE Grade One Unibet Irish
Gold Cup did not look the greatest
race on paper. It contained a
number of the usual suspects,
including Outlander, Djakadam,
the Irish National winner Our
Duke — trying to get back to form
after injury — and Killultagh Vic.
On what was otherwise
a big weekend for Willie Mullins,
he had no luck in this race as
Killultagh Vic was coming
through to win the race when
he fell at the last. That appeared
to open it up for Outlander,
however, it was the Joseph
O’Brien-trained Edwulf — a 33/1
shot patiently ridden by crack
amateur Derek O’Connor — who
outstayed him up the run-in to
win by a neck.
After running in last year’s
four-miler at Cheltenham,
Edwulf suffered oxygen depletion,
collapsed and was on the floor
for over an hour. It is testament
to Cheltenham’s vets that he is
alive, let alone winning at the
top level.
“It didn’t look good at
Cheltenham,” recalled O’Brien.
“But the Cheltenham vets did a
terrific job and encouraged us
that he might recover. He was at
Cheltenham for two weeks before
he came home and I can’t stress
enough the job the vets did. We
started him off at Christmas,
when he just got tired having
been off so long.”
Gold Cup-wise a more telling
result may have been the victory of
the Ladbroke Trophy winner Total
Recall, who claimed the William
Fry Hurdle — his first start since
his win at Newbury in December.
He will go for the Bobbyjo Chase
at Fairyhouse, traditionally more
of a National trial, before Mullins
thinks about the Gold Cup.
SUNDAE’S SUPER SCALP
FAUGHEEN, meanwhile, was out
to put himself back on track for
the Champion Hurdle in the
BHP Insurance Irish Champion
Hurdle and it was certainly better
than his run at Christmas, when
he pulled up. However, finishing
two-and-a-quarter lengths
second to Supasundae — a horse
ostensibly having a warm-up for
the Stayers’ Hurdle — was some
way short of his best.
“I’m disappointed,” said Willie
Mullins. “It wasn’t half as bad as
his run here in December. He had
no spark and he’s going to have to
improve a lot if he is to get back to
anything like he was.”
Supasundae, trained by Jessica
Harrington for the late Alan
and Ann Potts, won last season’s
Coral Hurdle and will now go
to the Stayers’, for which he is
now joint-favourite with Sam
Spinner. Though he clearly gets
three miles, he is yet to win over
it — having been narrowly beaten
by Yanworth at Aintree and
Apple’s Jade at Leopardstown
at Christmas.
“It was basically a sharpener
for the Stayers’,” Harrington said.
“I’ve never seen him jump so well
and he was always travelling —
I thought they might go too quick
for him over two miles but they
didn’t. Robbie Power was sure
when he had Faugheen in his
sights he would pick him up and
he did. When he jumped the last
he pricked his ears and galloped
all the way to the line.”
She added: “It was some prep.
He’s only in the three-mile race
at Cheltenham and that’s where
he will go. He’s a much better
horse on better ground and
doesn’t like slogging around on
heavy, which is why he is so much
better in the spring.”
Total Recall (Paul Townend, red) warms up for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with a winning run over hurdles
Pictures by Getty Images
66 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

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RACING
SANDOWN PARK
3 February
Sandown Park, Surrey
THE reigning champion hurdler
Buveur D’Air was the highlight
of a Sandown treble for Nicky
Henderson on Saturday
(3 February) — three winners
which took the trainer to the
100-winner mark for the
2017/2018 season.
Henderson is building quite
a team for Cheltenham — he will
enter Champion Chase favourite
Altior for a possible reappearance
in the Game Spirit at Newbury on
Saturday (10 February) and take
a view on the ground.
However, if there was any
disappointment for the champion
trainer about Sandown’s Betfred
Contenders Hurdle it was that
there were only three runners, and
nothing capable of getting Buveur
D’Air out of second gear, let alone
his comfort zone.
He only beat last year’s
Swinton Hurdle winner John
Constable a length and three
quarters and having eased down
a bit prematurely — a signal the
seven-year-old gelding took as
the moment to down tools —
Barry Geraghty had to ride him
out over the last 100 yards to
avoid embarrassment, although
the runner-up was substantially
flattered by the winning margin.
Buveur D’Air has now gone
nearly two years unbeaten over
hurdles but Henderson made it
very clear he would keep having
to pump work into him if he is to
retain his title.
“It’s job done but he needs a
huge amount of work so it’s not
really job done,” he explained.
“He’s got to keep working and
I wouldn’t rule out a canter round
Kempton or somewhere like that
nearer the time. He’s a very burly
horse and, like a lot of us, puts
on weight very easily. He loves
that ground; the one thing which
would worry you is good to firm.”
The day started well for
Henderson when the JP
McManus-owned mare Countister
won the Betfred Novices’ Hurdle.
However, racegoers were deprived
of what would have been a
cracking finish when the longtime
leader Ainchea — for the
Potts/Tizzard axis — arrived at
the last on a half stride and in two
minds about whether to come up
Terrefort lands a Grade One novices’ chase, ridden by Daryl Jacob
Buveur brushes
rivals aside
Nicky Henderson fires off a treble, but warns his invincible
Buveur D’Air needs more work after an easy win
long or stick in a short one. In the
end he did neither before falling.
Countister had loomed up on
to the quarters of Ainchea at the
second last but, having led at
a sedate pace, the leader left the
mare a bit flat-footed between the
two hurdles. Ainchea looked like
he might have nicked it, thereby
causing further frustration for the
Colin Tizzard yard.
Henderson’s third winner
was courtesy of Terrefort in the
Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices’
Chase. He has always said that
Apple’s Shakira shows next to
nothing at home and Terrefort
is clearly another one which
hides his light under a bushel
at Seven Barrows.
“I’m happy to keep eating
humble pie as he keeps surprising
me,” he said. “The handicapper
[who put him up a stone at
Huntingdon] is right and I’m
wrong. This seemed an enormous
bounce from a handicap into
Grade One. We schooled him on
Buveur D’Air (Barry Geraghty) stretches his
winning run to almost two years, cantering
home in the Betfred Contenders Hurdle
‘He’s a burly
horse and, like
a lot of us, puts
on weight easily’
NICKY HENDERSON ON
BUVEUR D’AIR’S FITNESS DRIVE
Thursday and when Daryl Jacob
jumped him over 10 fences you’d
have wondered how he’d jump
round here. You couldn’t watch
anything slower at home but I love
horses that do that to you.”
There was also a tremendous
finish between the Bowen
brothers, Sean and James, in the
Betfred Mobile Masters Handicap
with Ballydine, ridden by Sean,
just getting the measure of James
on Holly Bush Henry. Charlie
Longsdon might aim the winner
for the National Hunt Chase
now. H&H
Pictures by Bill Selwyn
68 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

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RACING
BLOODSTOCK
Quality over quantity for Valentines Lady
Irish Gold Cup
victor Edwulf
is one of two by
Valentines Lady
proving classy
over fences
WHATEVER Irish Gold Cup
hero Edwulf does in the future,
he already has his place in
racing folklore. At last year’s
Cheltenham Festival he
collapsed and lay for dead on
the run-in after suffering severe
oxygen deprivation at the end
of the four-mile chase, when
poised to take second.
That JP McManus’ gelding
survived was a testament to the
horse’s own constitution and to
the dedication of vets and the
team around him. And that he
not only raced again, but also
By SUE RUSSELL
fulfilled his trainer Joseph O’Brien’s
faith in his talent at the highest
level, is verging on miraculous.
Edwulf was bred by farrier
Ivor Valentine, for many years
responsible for the feet of the
residents at the Reveley family’s
successful yard near Saltburn,
North Yorks. Among those under
the Irishman’s care was his own
Valentines Lady, dam of Edwulf.
The Zaffaran mare was out of
Jessica One, trained by the late
Mary Reveley to win a bumper
and five hurdle races round the
northern circuit and run in the
money on seven other occasions.
After her racing career, the
daughter of Supreme Leader
was acquired as a broodmare by
Valentine, and produced 10 foals,
all by Irish-based sires.
Her first was Valentines Lady,
who won a bumper and two minor
hurdles for now-retired Keith
Reveley and gained valuable black
type when third in a Listed bumper
at Aintree. Jessica One’s only
other success was bumper winner
Priests Road, by Presenting.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
VALENTINES LADY remained in
Britain for her second career
and though not as prolific as her
dam — she has had two foals to
date — she has made up for it with
quality. Nine-year-old Edwulf, by
Kayf Tara, was her first produce
and his six-year-old Midnight
Legend half-brother Grand Morning
won over hurdles at Ayr last month
for Lucinda Russell.
This branch of the distaff family
is now firmly jumps-orientated, but
another developed in a contrasting
direction, as Jessica One shares
her third dam Peggy West with
two top-class sprinters in Royal
Applause and Lyric Fantasy.
Edwulf was a ninth individual
Grade One winner for Kayf Tara, the
best jump sire ever to have stood
in Britain, after Planet Of Sound,
Special Tiara, Lieutenant Colonel,
Edwulf, by Kayf Tara out of
Valentines Lady (by Zaffaran)
Thistlecrack, Identity Thief, Tea
For Two, Blaklion and Ballyandy.
The son of Sadler’s Wells, now
24, has been at Overbury Stud,
Glos, since he signed off from
racing with a head victory to
win his second Ascot Gold
Cup — having returned to the
track after a severe suspensory
injury. Like father, like son when
courage is needed. H&H
Picture by Healy Racing/Racingfotos.com
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EVENTINGLife
Edited by Pippa Roome
pippa.roome@timeinc.com
@pipparoome
There were doubles by members of the same family at the first JAS events of
2018, while a new baby and scholarships are in the mix for the eventing world
Keeping the wins in the family
daughter Lucy took the BE90.
“Lucy’s win was more
impressive as she had a lot more
competitors,” said Nicola, who
had a wide-margin victory in an
exclusive field of three.
Lucy, 11, and Charlie Go Go
finished on their style mark of six
to beat 29 other pairs.
“He’s awesome, an adorable
little cob,” said Lucy of the
14.2hh pony she teamed up with
last spring.
Nicola added that Simon
Grieve, who was judging, was
obviously smitten.
“He wrote on the sheets,
‘Charlie’s awesome’ and ‘I’m
a Charlie fan’,” she said.
Nicola’s mount was also
a pony, the 14.2hh Connemara
stallion Glencarrig Dolphin, by
Coosheen Stormboy. The rider is
best known for standing the late
Mill Law and she still has two Mill
Law broodmares whom she is
now putting on this Connemara,
who had 47 mares last year.
“We get a lot of grassroots
people who have a nearly
thoroughbred mare and want
a 15.2hh pocket rocket,” she said.
“He seems to be throwing really
nice stock.” H&H
Pictures by Peter Nixon and Ultimate Images
Alice Tregoning, 13, and Uncle Patsy triumph in the BE90 at Hartpury
FAMILY doubles were a theme
at the early Baileys Jumping
& Style (JAS) events, the indoor
arena eventing series run by
British Eventing.
At Hartpury on 6 January, the
Tregoning sisters scored a win
apiece, with Jessica taking the
BE90open and Alice the BE90.
Jessica, 18, has been riding the
14.2hh I Dunno (Mully) since May
last year and he is seven this time.
“I have always done JAS with
my ponies and was second in the
BE100 final in 2016 on Benjamin
Bunny V,” said Jessica. “Mully
hasn’t done much so it’s really
good for him to get the experience
and the judges’ feedback is useful.”
Alice, 13, has had Uncle
Patsy — another 14.2hh — for
four months.
“JAS has really helped our
partnership as I trust him now to
skinnies and corners,” she said.
“He’s fun to ride and quick, with
a neat jump, which helps our
style mark.”
The sisters juggle riding
with studying at Godolphin
School in Wiltshire.
At Arena UK a week later
(13 January), Nicola Baguley
won the BE100open, while her
Amy and Austin O’Connor welcomed son Alfie Frank Alexander on
20 January at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxon. He weighed in at
8lb 10oz. “He was born 54 hours after my waters broke — I think he
was a little too cosy,” said Amy.
IN BRIEF
BRAGG AND COLLETT
WIN SCHOLARSHIPS
THE Horse Trials Support
Group (HTSG) has awarded
its 2018 training scholarships
to Alex Bragg and Laura
Collett (above). The successful
candidates were selected from
a shortlist of 12 announced at
the start of the 2017 season
and the HTSG worked with
data analytics firm EquiRatings
to ensure a thorough analysis
of 2017 results supported the
selection process.
OLYMPIC FORMAT
TRIAL THIS SEASON
TWO fixtures on this year’s
eventing Nations Cup circuit
will be running the new Olympic
format of three combinations
per team with all scores to
count. The venues are Strzegom
(29 June-1 July) and Millstreet
(24-26 August).
POL ROGER WINNER
ZOE ETHERINGTON is the
winner of the inaugural
Champagne Pol Roger novice
event rider bursary. Zoe
juggles studying for an MA
in economics at Edinburgh
with eventing and was chosen
from over 300 applicants.
She receives £2,000
towards entries, training and
travel, as well as a series of
masterclasses.
CHADWICK’S NEW
SQUAD ROLE
PETER BUIST has stood
down as chef de mission and
chairman of selectors for
the British CIC2* European
Championship squad. Peter
has helped the team secure
a medal at every championship
since he became involved in
2007. Andrew Chadwick is the
new chairman of selectors.
EI JUDGES’
QUALIFICATIONS
EVENTING IRELAND (EI) is
tightening its rules so that
dressage judges must be on
the current year’s judges’ list
of Dressage Ireland, British
Dressage or the FEI (dressage
and eventing). Until now,
unlisted or de-listed judges
have been able to judge EI90
or EI100 classes. For 2018,
non-listed judges can
adjudicate E90 classes only,
but from next year they cannot
preside over any class.
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 71

POINT-TO-POINT
HORSEHEATH
4 February
A perfect 10 for Hazel Hill
Hazel Hill extends
his unbeaten
streak, and a
father and son
combine for a
novice success
Hazel Hill shows his class
under Alex Edwards to
win the men’s open at
Horseheath
Cambridgeshire with Enfield
Chace, Horseheath, Cambs
A BLISTERING performance
by Hazel Hill took his unbeaten
streak to 10 consecutive victories.
The 10-year-old gelding showed
his class to secure the men’s open
title by a confident three lengths
under jockey Alex Edwards.
“That was quite a hot race —
that may be the best race we have
run him in,” said Alex, who is
jockey to trainer Philip Rowley.
“We’ve always liked him. Jane
Williams had him before and won
five out of five with him and we’ve
carried that on, he is great.”
Hazel Hill will be aimed at a
hunter chase later this month and
has qualified for the mixed open
final at Cheltenham in May.
The quality of racing was high
throughout the day, with large
fields in all seven races.
A 13-strong field lined up for
the first race, the intermediate,
won by Mr Maclennane — ridden
by Archie Wright and trained by
the jockey's father Nicholas.
“Coming up the hill I just
had Joe [Hill, riding Allie Beag]
in front of me so I knew we had
some work still to do,” said Archie,
adding he dodged both Jack
and Gina Andrews who fell on
the final circuit. “Joe’s horse has
lost nothing in defeat, she went
round brilliantly — unfortunately
someone had to lose.”
FATHER AND SON FULFIL
THE DREAM
ANOTHER family victory was
By LUCY ELDER
celebrated in the novice riders’
race, won by Irish Guardsman
Billy Aprahamian aboard Bayley’s
Dream. The horse is owned by the
Aprahamian family and trained by
Billy’s father John.
“It didn’t help that I dropped
my whip at the open ditch the
second time,” said Billy. “He is
a monster up the hill at home,
normally he comes to the track
and runs for two-and-a-half miles
then decides he has had enough,
but he fought well there — I think
the loose horse at the bottom
helped him.”
Gina Andrews put her fall
behind her to win the ladies’ open
on Blue Mountain Boy.
Welsh’s Castle’s win in the
restricted was particularly special
for joint-owner Malcom Kemp.
The family lost a horse by the
same sire, Mahler, a few years ago
and returned to Ireland in 2017
to look for another, where Welsh’s
Castle caught their eye.
“We are a little bit dreaming of
going to Cheltenham with him for
the final — that’s our dream and
you have to have one in this job,”
said Malcolm.
Jockey Johnny Bailey enjoyed
his first win of the season on the
Michael Kehoe-trained Keel Over
TEAM CHASING AND HUNTING
TRICKY SILENCE won the open maiden by a neck, in the closest
finish of the day.
“I spent all night thinking about the race and it is one of the only
times it has gone as well in my head as it has here,” said jockey Sam
Lee, who credits trainer Jamie Goss and his team.
IOWE
IT TO...
in the final race, the seven-yearolds
and over open maiden.
“He was a bit slow early on,
but once we had warmed up he
took to it nicely,” said Johnny, who
sat on the horse for the first time
that day.
Laganbank sadly collapsed and
died of a suspected heart attack
following the men’s open. Vets
were quickly in attendance, but
he could not be saved.
The horse did his first season of team chasing this
year and hunted with the Farmers Bloodhounds.
“The hunting and team chasing has made a man out
of him,” added Jamie.
THIS WEEK’S WINNERS
WESTERN HUNT, WADEBRIDGE,
SUNDAY 4 FEBRUARY
confined.— 1, C Wonnacott & J Davenport’s
Heaney (M Wonnacott) C Wonnacott.
ladies’ open.— 1, R Newman’s Sobre Tresor
(C Emsley) C Newman. intermediate.—1,
The Bradley Partnership’s The Two Amigos
(D Edwards) N Martin. open maiden.—1,
The Little Acres Racing Club’s Raloo
Rocket (D Edwards) E Summersby. men’s
open.—1,E&TWorth’s Robin De Souza ( D
Edwards) D Summersby. restricted.—1,R
Sims’ Double Captain (N Sims) K Hawke.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE WITH ENFIELD
CHACE, HORSEHEATH, SUNDAY 4
FEBRUARY
intermediate.— 1, N Wright’s Mr
Maclennane (A Wright) N Wright. 4,5&6yo
open maiden.— 1, J Goss’ Tricky Silence
(S Lee) J Goss. novice riders’.—1,J
Aprahamian & B Aprahamian’s Bayley’s
Dream (W Aprahamian) J Aprahamian.
men’s open.— 1, D Williams’ Hazel Hill (A
Edwards) P Rowley. ladies’ open.—1,M
Wills’ Blue Mountain Boy (G Andrews) T
Ellis. restricted.— 1, M Kemp & D Kemp’s
Welsh’s Castle (S Roche) D Kemp. 7yo and
over open maiden.— 1, M Tetley’s Keel
Over (J Bailey) M Kehoe.
SOUTH DORSET, MILBORNE ST
ANDREW, SUNDAY 4 FEBRUARY
4,5&6yo open maiden.—1,K&MYeo’s
Swincombe Toby (L Williams) S Alner.
members.— 1, S Bingham, S Maxse & G
Bingham’s Boher Call (G Bingham) R Bandy.
open maiden.— 1, W Rowles’ Kilcrea Bridge
(N Williams) N Williams. restricted.—1,P
Barber & D Martin’s Blackwater Bramble
(M McIntyre) J Barber. ladies’ open.—1,
S Rippon’s Argocat (S Rippon) S Rippon.
men’s open.— 1, R Waley-Cohen’s Facile
Bien (S Waley-Cohen) R Waley-Cohen.
novice riders’.— 1, J Veysey’s The Dapper
Fox (J Veysey) J Veysey.
PERCY, ALNWICK, SUNDAY 4
FEBRUARY
men’s open.— 1, R Woodward & J Wright’s
Levelling (J Wright) J Landy. ladies’ open.—
1, I Crane’s Knocklong (C Walton) J Landy.
conditions.— 1, The Heading For Home
Partnership’s Weston Flame (J Wright) J
Landy. restricted.— 1, The Gold and Silver
Club’s Sir Lonica (J Wright) J Landy. open
maiden.— 1, D Davidson’s Worcester
Pearmain (C Wood) T Dobbin. members.—
1, Messrs FT Walton’s Ripstick (C Walton)
J Walton.
Picture by Neale Blackburn
72 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

Edited by Hannah Lemieux
hannah.lemieux@timeinc.com
@hannah_lemieux1
MILBORNE ST
ANDREW
4 February
Pictures by Tim Holt
Boher Call leads from
the front to take
the hunt members’
under doctor George
Bingham
Doc makes
the Call
Boher Call battles to the line in the
hunt members’ to land a victory under
doctor George Bingham
South Dorset,
Milborne St Andrew, Dorset
DOCTOR George Bingham didn’t
let a tiring week of night shifts at
St Thomas’ hospital in London
affect his performance as he
steered Boher Call to victory in
LADY riders have been hitting
the headlines in the UK on a
regular basis in recent months
— for all the right reasons —
led by two graduates from the
pointing field, Lizzie Kelly and
Bryony Frost.
It’s a subject which is
close to my heart and I did
my bit to raise the profile
of lady riders during my six
years coordinating the AGAsponsored
lady riders’ point-topoint
series. I remain passionate
about seeing them succeed.
I crossed paths with both
Lizzie and Bryony during the
By LUCY PEARSON
the hunt members’.
George led from the front and
when joined by Creative Inerta in
the finishing stretch, he squeezed
Boher Call on to win.
AGA years, as they both enjoyed
victories in that series, and I was
thrilled when Bryony led home
a one-two for the girls in the
2017 Foxhunter at Cheltenham
on Pacha Du Polder.
She then went on to finish
fourth on the same horse in the
Aintree version and she has
now become a rising star of the
weighing room.
Lizzie led the way by
becoming the first female jockey
to win a Grade One jumps race
in Britain (at Kempton in 2015)
and Bryony has followed suit,
bagging her first Grade One win
last year — in the exact same
race as Lizzie.
With the spotlight firmly on
“I’ve only ridden him about
six times and I was told just to go
out and enjoy myself,” explained
George. “I only get to ride a couple
of times a week, but I cycle and go
to the gym to keep fit.”
Runners in the open maiden,
for four-, five- and six-year-olds,
set out at a sedate pace but as the
field entered their second lap,
Troed Y Melin lifted the speed.
He looked to have the win
in the bag but Swincombe Toby
responded brilliantly to his jockey,
Lorcan Williams, and stormed up
the home straight to steal the win.
KILCREA BRIDGE
DIGS DEEP
RED RASCAL’S chances in the
open maiden were short lived
when he fell at the first — the start
of a few casualties.
By the last circuit only nine of
the sixteen starters remained and
four fences from the finish Dragon
De La Tour and Kilcrea Bridge
were left eyeballing each other out
in front. A tired Kilcrea Bridge,
managed to dig deep to win under
Nick Williams.
Both Argocat and Aikideau
managed to reel in All Great N
Theory, who had set out very
quickly in the ladies’ open. But
Aikideau ran out of steam and left
Argocat to win easily for owner/
trainer and jockey Sarah Rippon.
“I only came here as I fell off
last weekend and wanted to run
him again,” explained Sarah. “I
am a livery at Henrietta Knight’s,
where I have two horses. Argocat
the girls I would hope that more
of them will get the chance to
shine in the 2018 Foxhunters.
Last season there were four
jocked up in the Cheltenham
version and five at Aintree.
‘I TOOK OVER
FROM MY
HUSBAND’
BLACKWATER BRAMBLE
and jockey Martin McIntyre
gave trainer Jade Barber her
first win when landing the
restricted.
“I’m glad to get off the
mark,” said Jade. “I took over
the pointing operation from
by husband, Jack Barber, as
he turned professional at
the beginning of the season.
“This horse has been
off for a long time with a
leg injury and I told Martin
to ride him
FIRST
WIN
handy as he is
a front runner
and a very good
jumper.”
ONLY IN HORSE & HOUND
‘The spotlight’s on the girls’
David Simpson flags up the female jockeys to watch ahead of Cheltenham
David Simpson attended his first
point-to-point in February 2011. He has
since visited 73 courses and became
an owner last year. He writes a blog on
his experiences of point-to-pointing.
OPINION
has so much class and we have a
very good partnership.”
Facile Bien not only won “best
turned-out” in the men’s open but
also out-jumped the field to win
under Sam Waley-Cohen.
Jack Veysey steered The
Dapper Fox to win the last race of
the day, the novice riders’.
“This is the horse of a lifetime
for Jack,” said the jockey’s mentor
Martin Sweetland. “He was only
a cheap horse from Ascot sales
and it is days like today that make
all the bad days and hard work
worthwhile.”
All deserved their place in the
line-up, although there was one
glaring omission from
both races.
I wasn’t the only person who
was astonished that the current
and four-time national ladies’
point-to-point champion, Gina
Andrews did not feature. Gina
won the Kim Muir at last year’s
Festival and may well repeat the
feat this year — let’s hope she
also gets the chance to shine in
the two flagship races for our
amateur riders.
A recent article in the Racing
Post suggested that we could
see a female champion jockey
within the next five years and,
with plenty of talent coming
through the pointing ranks, I
don’t see why this can’t happen
— I certainly hope it does. H&H
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 73

POINT-TO-POINT
WADEBRIDGE
4 February
ALNWICK
4 February
Edwards scores a hat-trick
While a jockey
racks up a treble,
Sobre Tresor
lands his third
Wadebridge win
By MEGAN FURSE
Western Hunt,
Wadebridge, Cornwall
HORSE & HOUND columnist
Darren Edwards picked up an
impressive treble at Wadebridge,
kicking things off aboard the
Nicky Martin-trained The Two
Amigos in the intermediate.
Darren’s further two wins of
the afternoon came courtesy of
the Summersby team. Emma
Summersby trained her first
winner with Raloo Rocket under
Darren in the open maiden. The
pair finished strongly up the hill to
hold off Missyladie.
Emma’s husband and fellow
trainer Dean said: “To quote Nicky
Henderson, ‘he does nothing at
home!’ He is so laid-back — I
took him hunting with the South
Tetcott to freshen him up but that
just made him a steady hunter.
We’ll have a lot of fun with him.”
Robin De Souza completed the
Summersby/Edwards double in
the men’s open. The eight-yearold
gelding, owned by Eileen and
Robin De Souza completes
a double for connections —
and part of a treble for jockey
Darren Edwards — when
winning the men’s open
Tony Worth and trained by Dean,
had a wind operation this season.
“It was the best thing for
him,” explained Dean. “He wasn’t
finishing his races, but today he
did. He battled on and he is a
happier horse for it.”
CAPTAIN’S OFF THE MARK
IT was also an afternoon for the
girls, with Naomi Sims riding
Double Captain to his first win.
The eight-year-old gelding had
finished third twice previously at
Wadebridge this season.
Sobre Tresor, under Chloe
Emsley, made it a hat-trick of wins
when landing the ladies’ open.
“He’s a legend — there is no
stopping him,” said Chloe.
Meanwhile, Millie Wonnacott
continued her winning season
when taking the confined aboard
Heaney, who is trained by her
mother Claire.
“We bought him via a
WhatsApp video and took a bit
of a punt,” said Claire. “He is very
strong but a lovely person to deal
with. He obviously had an engine,
he just needed to fall back in love
with it, so hopefully he has.”
DUCKS & DOUBLES
Doubles
Catherine Walton (Alnwick)
Trebles
Darren Edwards (Wadebridge)
Joe Wright (Alnwick)
Landy seals red-letter day
One four-timer,
plus a dazzling
return from a
fractured pelvis
Percy, Alnwick, Northumberland
LEYBURN trainer Justin Landy
and jockey Joe Wright stole the
show with a four-timer and a
treble respectively.
Levelling kicked off their redletter
day in style when making a
successful return from a ninemonth
break in the men’s open.
The six-year-old cruised up the
hill after four out to lead at the
next and was still a length up at
the last but had to dig deep to
repel a renewed challenge from
Fever Pitch by a head.
On his first start since being
bought privately a fortnight ago
by Ivan Crane, Alnwick specialist
By PETER BURGON
Knocklong kept the Justin Landy
bandwagon rolling in the ladies’
open under Catherine Walton.
However, he only asserted on the
run-in to beat Abbeyview by twoand-a-half
lengths.
Ivan’s daughter, Charlotte,
Levelling makes a winning
return from injury when
taking the men’s open
would have been in the saddle
had she not sustained a broken
collarbone in a fall at Friars
Haugh the previous week.
FLAME REKINDLED
WESTON FLAME bounced
back from a career-threatening
injury to land the conditions race
for Justin’s yard. Always going
well, the mare led two out from
Dynamic Island and stayed on
strongly to score by four lengths.
Justin’s uncle, Jimmy King,
a member of the Heading For
Home Partnership, in whose
colours the eight-year-old runs,
said: “She fractured her pelvis
in the corresponding race last
February and we owe everything
to the Alnorthumbria Veterinary
Group who saved her. She spent
six weeks with them before plenty
of box rest, then after some light
work on the horse walker and a
further month out at grass she was
ready to return in September.’’
Recent Sheriff Hutton winner
Sir Lonica completed a clean
sweep for Justin and Joe in the
restricted. After breezing past
long-time leader Aldergale after
four out, the seven-year-old didn’t
have to move out of second gear to
canter home by 20 lengths from
Lord Usher.
“It’s been the kind of day
you can only dream about,’’
said Justin, who has now sent
out a total of 14 winners from
16 runners at Alnwick since
December 2015. H&H
Pictures by Batters Photography and Grossick Photography
74 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

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8 February 2018 HORSE & HOUND 75

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78 HORSE & HOUND 8 February 2018

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GOODNIGHT
‘The ponies are
getting on my wick’
Enticing her children to ride when the weather is grim proves
tricky for Tessa Waugh — and means she has ponies eyeballing
her through the kitchen window as they stand by the gate
THE ponies are getting on my
nerves at the moment. They
are in a field near the house
and every time I look out of
the kitchen window they are
standing at the gate, eyeballing me, as if to
say, “yoo-hoo, we’re over here, come and do
something with us”. It’s intrusive. I wish they
would go away and graze or something.
It is a rotten time of year for ponies. There
isn’t much going on until Alec gets back from
‘He soon came
looming out of the
darkness with the
whites of his eyes
showing and an
expression that
screamed, “get me
away from her”’
school for some hunting, and enticing Mary
on board is proving difficult when it’s cold/
wet/windy/all of the above. The sheep have
eaten most of the grass (very selfish animals,
sheep), so I’ve been feeding the ponies hay and
bringing them in when the weather is bad.
One evening, to save time, I opened the
gate and let them bring themselves in. Joshy,
the old boy (and only sensible one) trotted
down the road and straight into his stable,
followed by the new one, Rusty, who could
smell food. Typically, our resident “mutton”
and sex pest, Custard, sashayed (albeit slightly
arthritically) in front of Jim as if to say, “fancy
a ride, big boy?” before disappearing behind
the muck heap with Jim on her tail. He soon
came looming out of the darkness with the
whites of his eyes showing and an expression
that screamed, “get me away from her”.
THERE was sad news from Wiltshire
this week that got me thinking about
the special nature of hunting. Dave
Acreman, lifelong follower of the South and
West Wilts, has died after a short struggle
with cancer. Dave was a perennial on the
South and West Wilts scene; recognisable for
a sartorial combo of flat cap and black coat,
belted up with binder twine.
We weren’t exactly friends — most of
our conversations didn’t go beyond “Aaaarrr
Teeessss”; “Morning Dave” — but there was,
certainly on my side, a deep regard borne out
of our shared love of hunting. Dave was there
on the last legal hunting day when the fox was
caught in the twilight after a fast-paced hunt
on Salisbury Plain. It was a very emotional
day and everyone felt it as we packed up in
the twilight. “Aaarrr Teeesss,” said Dave, and
wrapped me in a big bear hug. I won’t forget
that day and I won’t forget Dave. H&H
The Nespresso machine
TERESA arrived at the yard
a month ago in a cloud of Jo
Malone, dressed from head to
toe in Pikeur. She brought with
her two super-shiny German
dressage horses, four Hermès
saddles, a top-of-the-range
Whittaker lorry with pop-out
sides and a Sky dish — and
a Nespresso machine.
“I really can’t drink instant;
I’d rather die,” announces
Teresa, looking in horror at the
catering-size tin of supermarket
own-brand coffee and UHT milk.
“Do help yourselves,” she
adds generously, putting a
By CATHERINE AUSTEN
big box of capsules next to the
machine and four pints of Waitrose
semi-skimmed in the fridge.
The other liveries are pretty
suspicious. What’s wrong with
instant? Why are the capsules
different colours? But, like foals
edging towards something new
and strange, eventually someone
is brave enough to try it. After
a couple of disasters when
overfilling the milk-frother, they are
addicted. They like the purple and
black capsules best, and feel rather
cosmopolitan, standing round
the tackroom heater sipping their
Nespressos after riding.
“And Teresa
says I can borrow
her Equissage pad
whenever I want,”
chirps Cheryl.
“She says she
can give me a lift
to Addington next
month,” pops
in Trisha.
“And she suggested I shared
her lesson with Spencer next time,”
adds Jo. “I think she’s actually all
right...”H&H
NEXT
WEEK
The moody mare
rugby shirt
Illustration by Emma Earnshaw. Picture by sarahfarnsworth.co.uk
90 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018

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