Indholdsfortegnelse for 3-Jul-2025 i Horse & Hound

IT’S surreal to be guest editing this magazine. H&H is the only thing I ever read as a child. My English teacher asked Mum at a parents’ evening how much reading I did and she replied: “The whole of H&H magazine once a week.” I remember how excited I was to get my first front cover, in 2011, and I still get excited now! It’s been fun choosing features. I was thrilled to be able to grill John Whitaker (p18) because he’s an icon and I wanted to delve into his mindset of his longevity at the top. This year’s been less stressful than 2024 without Olympic fever, but I’m just home from my second CCI5* of the season. I’ve been so lucky lately that I’ve had so many dreams…

PACINO AMIRO Irish showjumper Bertram Allen’s Tokyo Olympic ride returned from injury to win a 1.50m class at Rotterdam on 21 June. It was the 13-year-old’s first CSI5* since Aachen 2024. VIDA The Household Cavalry grey, who has had rehab for the serious injury he sustained when loose in London in April 2024, enjoyed a beach swim with his regiment. ILEX The 12-year-old gelding, partnered by showjumper McLain Ward to help the US to team silver at Paris 2024, will now be ridden by Brazilian Olympian Marlon Modolo Zanotelli.…

STAYING ON A trainer told one child in a lesson how well she was doing. “Well, I haven’t fallen off yet so that’s a good sign,” she replied. Well done, that girl. DYE A rider who tried the “buy another horse but don’t tell the husband” trick fell at the first hurdle as the second one is roan, not bay. No chance, hence her asking if anyone knows of a horse-friendly dye… YOUNGSTERS A rider bumping into a pal asked: “How’s the young horse?” Then on noticing a freshly stitched scar, added: “And what have you done to your head?” “Well,” the pal replied. “Same answer to both questions…” Oops. MATHS A farmer bemoaning this spring’s weather and the resulting hay crop complained that he had only made 32 round…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. FOR THE HORSE THANK you for your article on exams for horse owners and public trust (news, 12 June), and to World Horse Welfare for continuing to research public opinions and perceptions about the standard of horses’ lives, especially those that we compete. So many good people in the horse world work hard to ensure that every horse that comes their way gets all the right care, but when some competitors allow themselves to be in€ uenced by the result they want to achieve, welfare can sometimes take a back seat, and neglect can occur unwittingly or otherwise. “Forceful and abusive riding must be eradicated” MARY FRANCES As your article says, coaches have huge influence, not only on…

Penwayn Ryan “Win or bust” TUBBY, as we called him, was an 11.2hh Welsh section A that we got off the Welsh mountains as a feral, unbroken pony. I broke him in and he ended up going supreme at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) when I was 13. That was really my farewell to showing, which I’d been doing since I was six. I remember thinking that he might just bolt back to the lorry. He did it once at Royal Three Counties – turned round and bolted out of the arena midway through! Tubby was the first to teach me about the highs and lows of the sport – it was win or bust. It felt pretty epic just to get to HOYS; going supreme was a final…

AVA SHAW, 10, posted her biggest win to date when she rode the six-year-old roan gelding Settvalley The Watchman (Jimmy) into the top spot in the first ridden mountain and moorland (M&M) HOYS qualifier. The pair then went on to stand section reserve – earning their very first HOYS ticket. FIRST HOYS TICKET “Days like these don’t usually happen for us; this was our first qualifier this season,” commented Ava’s proud father Joe Shaw. Jimmy, who is on loan from breeders Hannah Turnock and Sarah Lee, has been with the Shaw family for two seasons. He enjoyed a successful novice season last year and will now take a shot at the HOYS junior qualifiers; the pair are already RIHS-bound in both first ridden and junior ranks.…

IT has been a long four years for Amy Struthers and Hotshot GN, who bounced back to form with an open novice win at the Dubarry-sponsored Eland Lodge (2). “He had a tough time coming back from a tendon injury that he picked up at the end of the 2021 season,” said Amy, who completed Hartpury CCI4*-S that year with the Dutch-bred gelding. “It’s been an up-and-down couple of years getting him Št again. I’m taking it step by step, but he loves his job, so it’s fantastic to have him back out and happy.” Lincolnshire-based Amy runs a livery yard alongside her mother and divides her time between riding and coaching.…

Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ AN emergency FEI rule change banning “unnatural foam” on horses’ mouths, likely to mask oral issues, has been welcomed. But the “true impact of any rule lies in its enforcement”. At the June FEI board meeting, a dressage and para dressage rule was replaced by the new one, applicable in all disciplines from 1 July. It bans any substance or product in or around the horse’s mouth that “may imitate, induce or cause foaming” or “coat or otherwise cover, or partially cover the bit”. Breaking it will incur a yellow warning card and elimination. The FEI told H&H it had been sent “numerous images from FEI events showing horses’ mouths covered in thick sticky foam”. “The FEI investigated…

MAJOR DEAL FOR OUR TOP RIDERS AGRIA and British Equestrian (BEF) have confirmed a “ground-breaking” partnership to make the insurer the main partner of the BEF World Class Programme (WCP). The deal means “vital support” for the WCP to “continue accessing the very best technology, training and other expertise” as they work towards the Europeans and the LA28 Games. A joint statement said: “Agria and BEF will work together to inspire and develop the next generation through exemplary horsemanship, leading in equine advocacy and delivering performances to be proud of.” The agreement runs until 2028 and is the first of its type for the BEF. NEW REGISTER FOR NUTRITIONISTS THE British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) has launched the Equine Nutritionist & Feed Adviser Register (ENFAR) to “support wellbeing in horses…

Eventer Ben Hobday had his biggest showjumping win to date, the 1.50m area trial at Lincolnshire Show with 15hh Lonely Van De Rikse. Report, p50. Showjumper Matt Sampson and Daniel won the $500,000 1.60m AON grand prix at the Spruce Meadow CSI5* Pan American tournament, on 29 June. Multiple para dressage medallist Natasha Jaconelli (née Baker) and her husband Marc welcomed their second son, Oliver Enzo, on 24 June. Former point-to-point men’s champion Jack Andrews has taken out his conditional licence. He finished fifth out of seven with Just A Memory at Cartmel on 27 June. Five-star New Zealand event rider Dan Jocelyn broke a bone in his neck in a fall at Farley Hall on 20 June. Dan said: “I’m fine and will be back.”…

oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscnwilliams WELLINGTON CDI was a brilliant competition with standout numbers across the board. Over 110 FEI tests were ridden, and more than 400 in the Premier League. More than 50 national grand prix tests were ridden, and the Nirvana Collection prix st georges evening drew 17 combinations, with £2,500 going to the winner, the highest prize for any British Dressage (BD) Premier League class. Just as impressive were the facilities at Wellington. This year, they added another inch of surface at a cost of £50,000 to keep the arena in good condition and upgraded the stabling and clubhouse facilities. David Sheerin FBHS, Wellington’s general manager, explained: “Our policy is to invest ahead of the game before repairs are needed. We reinvest any profits, and it pays off as people…

It began at Stepney Bank Stables, which is an amazing charity in Newcastle. The team works to support underprivileged children to get into horses. My parents got me a few riding lessons there when I was three, thinking that that would be it – that was 24 years ago and I’m still going! I was hooked from the first time and just loved it more and more. I’m still in touch with them and have recently been enrolled as a patron, which is a really cool full-circle moment. The riding school had a scheme, funded by the Emile Faurie Foundation, where you could work towards British Horse Society exams, which I did. That’s another full-circle moment, as I’m now helping Emile with his foundation. I volunteered at Stepney Bank Stables from…

FIND MORE GREAT PRODUCTS ONLINE Visit horseandhound.co.uk/buyers-guides to find more fantastic new products HX3 BODY PROTECTOR BY RACESAFE Engineered for riders at every level, the HX3 combines a slim, ergonomic profile with Racesafe’s latest hexagonal foam innovation for flexibility in all directions. Certified to BETA level 3 2018. Colours: navy or black Sizes: youth XS–adult XL; in short, regular or long From £160 racesafe.co SWINGERS BUMPER PACK BY SILVERMOOR Contains four of Silvermoor’s tasty low-sugar and molasses-free grass swingers. Made from compressed dried grass, they’re designed to support your horse’s natural foraging instincts while providing mental stimulation to prevent boredom. £13.97 silvermoor.com THERAPY-TEC COLD WATER BOOTS BY WEATHERBEETA These boots provide consistent and effective cooling after strenuous exercise or at a competition, without the need for a freezer. They feature a…

Laura’s choice These riders are my heroes! I had my own ideas of who each rider’s horse of a lifetime would be, that their partnership was, for me, the dream, so it’s been fascinating to see if they were the same. I got three out of four correct – I’m such a geek – but I did wonder if maybe Carl would choose Valegro even though he wasn’t competing him. ELITE athletes are “not like you or me or 99.9% of the population”, according to esteemed sports psychologist Michael Caulfield. One of the points of difference for the equestrian is that maintaining extraordinary success requires a constant ebb and flow of the finest horses. Ruby Walsh says he could have chosen “about seven” horses to be his horse of a…

LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW 18–19 June bethan.simons@futurenet.com Lincolnshire Show, Lincs ANYA DEWEY CLARKE, 10, posted the only clear in the 143cm plaited working hunter pony (WHP) class – and one of just seven across all sections – to book her return ticket to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and bag the championship title aboard the 16-year-old grey gelding Tullibards Silver Mine (Monty). As one of the youngest riders in the class, Anya used her showjumping experience to guide Monty around David Cole’s challenging track to impress judges Nigel and Stuart Hollings. “It was a brave and exciting round that went at a proper hunting pace,” said Nigel. Anya and Monty have also qualified for Royal International (RIHS) in both the plaited WHP class and the 138cm showjumping final in the main…

IN her first affiliated showing year, eight-year-old Ruby Beesley secured a first HOYS ticket at Royal Cheshire in the first ridden show pony class aboard Zoe Barbery-Mountford’s exquisite Newoak Midnight Charm (Beauty). Beauty has been brought on solely by Ruby in the past six months. “Ruby is the most talented little rider and Beauty has really stepped up to the big occasions, looking after her jockey in the grass rings,” said Zoe, who credits her own family and Ruby’s for their dedication behind the scenes: “We are both home-produced families with multiple full-time jobs and working nights; it really has taken a village to get this golden ticket.”…

LIZZIE LUXTON and St Tropez’s 11th-hour entry to Launceston yielded a convincing novice win for the pair, who are gearing up for Burgham CCI3*-S. FIRST WIN “We went to Farley on Friday, where he was supposed to run in the intermediate, but I felt the ground was firm for him so I withdrew after showjumping and rerouted here,” explained Lizzie, who lives “three minutes down the road” from the Cornwall venue. “It was a good track that caused a lot of trouble, but I was happy to let the handbrake off as there was a heap of grass cover,” she said. St Tropez was bred by Lizzie’s best friend from primary school, Tash Aldridge, and Lizzie has known him since the day he was born. “I’d always thought he was…

LORETTA JOYNSON enjoyed prelim and novice success at the Welsh Dressage Championships at Little Mill Equestrian, Carmarthenshire, with Ojengel CVH (Fred) and Tresais Lancelot (Bailey). Fred, bought as an unbacked three-year-old during the Covid-19 lockdown, headed both prelim silver sections. “He has grown much bigger than expected,” said Loretta of the Bel Amour gelding, now six and 18hh. “He’s realistically where a five-year-old would be. He can become anxious, so we’ve done a lot of arena hires and a BD Ride and Refine session, which is a helpful tool for a young horse. I was ecstatic with his behaviour.” Loretta now rides with a looped left rein due to injuries sustained in a rotational fall while eventing in 2018. Her para ride, Bailey, scored a 76% grade V score and…

Your first pony was… A Welsh section A called Kevin. He was definitely a lead-rein not a first ridden; he didn’t like to canter and bucked every time you asked him to! What do you eat for breakfast? A fried egg sandwich every day, on a white bap, with lots of butter – Kerrygold – and salt and pepper. If you weren’t a rider you would be… A maths teacher. Maths was always my go-to. I was studying for my A levels when I left school and moved to work for Katie Jerram-Hunnable. I’m a bit of a geek and love maths. If you could have dinner with any three people, who would they be? My grandfather – Grandy – who was a proper horseman, Elton John, and The late…

THE British European Showjumping Championships team has been confirmed for the event in A Coruña, Spain (16–20 July). The riders on the squad, in partnership with Agria, are Ben Maher, Scott Brash, Matt Sampson, Jessica Mendoza and Donald Whitaker. “This is a hugely exciting group with a mix of experience and huge potential,” said jumping performance manager Di Lampard. “Ben and Scott’s horses make a championship debut, Matt makes a long-awaited first senior championship appearance, Jess is back for the first time since she was reserve for Rio 2016 and Donald will be looking to build on the experience of the last Europeans, with a new horse. “The combinations have shown consistent good form this year. We aim to build on this, peaking to be competitive at A Coruña, using…

MARLENE EDWARDS THE devoted horsewoman and owner of top showjumper Flying Tinker II passed away peacefully, aged 93, leaving a legacy defined by passion, dedication and love of horses. Born in south Wales, Marlene’s affinity for animals was evident from a young age. She started work with BP and left to support her husband Roy in his building company, but horses became their hallmark. Her late husband was an accomplished horseman as well as businessman; he and Marlene bred and produced jumpers. They had success with horses such as Perth and Zermis, who competed at events including Horse of the Year Show and Hickstead. It was Flying Tinker II who brought them greatest pride. This extraordinary stallion, under the skilful guidance of Mark Edwards, rose rapidly through the ranks. His…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald IT was great to see very large numbers of horses and riders competing at Hickstead, one of our best shows in the country. The improvements they have made are outstanding and the new international barn was faultless. My partner Alex had his top horse in the CSI4* classes and although we had some very hot days, the international stables were at least 10°C cooler than outside. The thought that has gone into the layout and architecture, such as muck heaps and windows for horses, was admirable. The stands were packed – it was good to see that showjumping is still relevant and attracting people for a day out. The footfall added to the atmosphere, which is vital for young horses to experience. Even the VIP catering, which we…

JACK WHITAKER first started to get an inkling that he came from a famous equestrian family when he was about nine years old. “We used to go to London Olympia and Dad [Michael] and John used to get a big cheer when they went in the ring,” he recalls. “You couldn’t get anywhere because of people taking their photo.” Seeing his family’s success made Jack want to pursue a career in showjumping. “You see Dad and the rest of the family winning week in and week out, then, when you get that first taste of winning, you want to replicate that feeling,” he says. Isabelle Cook was also inspired by one of her parents, eventing legend Tina. “I remember going to all the big events at a young age, the…

WHEN Galopin Des Champs failed in his bid to join the most select of clubs as a three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it might have been tempting to suggest that the era of perhaps the best staying chaser trained in Ireland since Arkle had ended. The thing about champions is that they don’t tend to like giving up their crown. If Galopin Des Champs had been a little ponderous and lethargic in his unexpected defeat to Inothewayurthinkin in the Cotswolds, seven weeks later he roared back with defiance. The Punchestown Gold Cup had been the last of the classic chases to have evaded the jet-black gelding. This time, he set the record straight with a performance of rare athleticism, bouncing 22 lengths clear of the up-and-coming Spillane’s Tower.…

HIGHLIGHTS 18–22 June pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle Alnwick Ford, Northumberland THE reigning British Eventing national six-year-old champion Barrington Boy added another victory to his already glittering CV when Izzy Taylor steered him to a win in a competitive WL Straughan & Sons CCI3*-S. The Sligo Candy Boy seven-year-old, who is owned by Johnny Hornby, was fourth after dressage on a score of 26.9 and added nothing to that in the showjumping or cross-country phases. “He gives everything a foot” JAGO JACKSON “He has the most amazing brain and is incredibly adjustable given his size,” said Izzy, for whom this was a ninth career win with the 17.1hh gelding – and fifth this year. “He finds everything ridiculously easy and oozes quality. The plan is to take him back to Le Lion later in…

HIGHLIGHTS 16–22 June oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscnwilliams Chard Equestrian BD Festival, Somerset T&P QUEENS GAMBIT scored a clutch of prelim gold section wins on his affiliated debut before twice winning outright, with 73% and 79%. “This was his first stay-away show and his first real experience of competition,” said Patrick Troddyn of the five-year-old Glamourdale gelding, who contested a young horse class last month. “He went into the first test very green. As he grew in confidence over the three days, his marks went up. Next thing, he’s at 79%.” Bought as a foal, Britishbred “Nelson” failed to impress when he was brought in from the field aged three. “He was short and dumpy – I didn’t think he’d be my sort of animal,” said Patrick. “We nicknamed him ‘Glamourcob’, which stuck,…

“IT’S nice that she had a bit of sparkle,” said Emma Forsyth of Dolly Ann, a silver and outright winner in both novice classes at Solihull Equestrian Centre, West Midlands. “She’s a relaxed, level-headed character.” Bred and owned by the Wrestow Stud in Warwickshire, the six-year-old Danone I mare has been produced by Emma for two years. “She’s a big horse, so we’ve been quite steady so far, getting the building blocks right and allowing her to grow and find balance,” said Emma, an eventing and dressage coach. “I’ve tried to give her consistent, thoughtful training as she develops the physical strength to cope with it. She was lovely in the arena – focused, forward and with me.”…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 BACK in the olden days, hunters had one job. It started in September and ended sometime between March and April. At that point, their feed was cut back, their shoes and rugs came off and they were “turned away” or “roughed off” until the process of getting them fit began months later. This all-or-nothing trend has changed over the years and hunting people now are more inclined to keep their horses going all year round. Older horses, it is generally acknowledged, are better for being in work and no one minds missing out on the weeks of slow work required after a long break. Some hunters do little more in the off-season than just hack – it’s a case of keeping them ticking over – while others event…