Horse_amp_amp_Hound__06_February_2018

NEWSInsider
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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?
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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.
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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