Indholdsfortegnelse for 25-Sep-2025 i Horse & Hound

AS I drove round the M25 on Sunday I heard on the radio that West Ham were booed off the pitch for losing on the weekend, many “fans” having left the stadium early. It reminded me of yet another reason why I love horse sport and its supporters as much as I do. The British team, in partnership with Agria, had a rough time at the eventing European Championships. Going in as favourites, four squad riders fell – two of them part of the team, which meant no chance of a team medal. Performance manager Dickie Waygood explained how riders will “be gutted for themselves…but also for the British public, who have turned out in their thousands to support us”. Those thousands won’t be booing though, that’s for sure. They…

QUANTAS R The High Flyers Syndicate’s nine-yearold, ridden by Samantha Lissington, won the young horse CCI4*-S class at Blenheim on his dressage score, 22.4. Report, p68. C-BRA VAN HET BOKT The foal by J-Nius VV Z, consigned by Steven Dhondt, set records when he sold for €402,000 (£350,650) at Flanders Foal Auction to an online bidder from the UAE. AMADEUS The dressage horse who competed on Nations Cups with Dan Watson and was shortlisted for the Tokyo Paralympics with Nicola Naylor has been put down, aged 20.…

▲ BREATHING Spotted, on TV, the caption: “Could breathing help you live longer?” We’ve always been told by trainers to breathe, and failed to while jumping, but had never considered this conundrum… gosh. ▲ ANSWERS Overheard – a first-aider asked a young rider what happened and was told the pony spooked and the rider fell. “What did you hit?” the medic asked. “The ground,” came the reply. Well said, that child. ▲ JOURNALISTS Equestrian reporters were praising events that provide space, nice colleagues and lunch. “Giving us the three Fs,” one quipped. Good journalist welfare. ▼ WEATHER Top marks to Crewe Police, who put out the appeal: “Officers are appealing for information to help trace the sun, reported missing a few days ago and not seen since. Description: bright, hot,…

Email to hhletters@futurenet.com Name and address must be included. Letters may be edited. horseandhound instagram.com/horseandhound facebook.com/horseandhound DOES MAINSTREAM MEDIA CARE? THE week after Ros Canter won Burghley, a post went viral looking at why the mainstream media hadn’t given her the coverage. It’s because the sport doesn’t give them reason to care and if we want the sport -the industry -to survive, this has to change. To many, equestrianism is seen as an elite sport. And the story here is that essentially someone has won a horse event – a sport only the elite can enjoy. However, what if work was done to help our athletes work with the mainstream and share the stories of the real people? A bit about their life – such as being a parent and…

OWNER MOREAN HAMILTON “I HAD a former racehorse in the late 1990s and loved her, so always thought I’d have another. Robbie was owned and trained by the Kirby family, and was jokingly named Rich Man Poor Man by Philip Kirby’s father and his father’s friend who initially purchased him, one of whom identified as rich and one as poor! He’d run five times and been pulled up four when Pippa Kirby messaged to tell me about him and said he’d make a great middleweight. His record appealed to me as it meant he’d been looked after and not bottomed. “As neither Kirstine nor I had time just then to view him, we looked at lots of photos and videos. At Kirby Racing, all the horses are worked on the…

Megan Wright, of Michael Graham Estate Agents, says these are the considerations that buyers mustn’t overlook… ● planning permissions and businessuse consents ● local authority regulations, particularly for change of use or expansion ● access for large vehicles, such as horseboxes and deliveries ● soil type and drainage, which directly impact pasture management ● staffing and accommodation for employees, especially when in more remote locations And when it comes to selling a property with business potential, she advises the following to maximise the selling price… ● keeping business accounts and occupancy records up to date for credibility ● presenting the property well, both facilities and branding ● highlighting unique selling points, such as proximity to competitions, bridleways and tourist attractions ● obtaining necessary consents so buyers see a “ready-to-go” package…

NOT since Malmö 2013 has the British team finished off the podium at a European Championships. This year’s home championships was only the third time in the 72-year history of the eventing Europeans that Britain has not won a team medal, the other being the nightmare at Achselschwang in 1993. Followers of eventing have become rather accustomed to expecting to see Britain on a team podium. The feeling at Blenheim on Saturday was one of disbelief, as Brits accounted for four of the seven fallers across the entire day. But you can’t win them all. All the horses and riders were fine, and the falls appeared to be a mix of mishaps, misreadings and misfortune, rather than anything deeper. “The British team have had a fantastic run of success in…

THERE had been much build-up to the “battle” between FischerChipmunk FRH and London 52. The sun came out, the crowd was silent. Both the German and British teams had little blips, so the pressure was there for both sides. They were relying on their anchor riders, who delivered. Michael Jung and Laura Collett hold themselves to an extremely high standard; 10 means excellent, not perfect and I know both will have come out saying, “Should have done, could have done…” To watch these horses live up to the dream, the expectation and to see their consistent delivery and dependability when the stakes are high is incredible. Michael and FischerChipmunk showed such presence and confidence even just coming down the centre line. It wasn’t perfect – the horse rested a hindleg…

TWO-AND-A-HALF years ago, Marie Pope’s BE90RF section F winner, Party Pop (pictured), suffered a serious bout of laminitis that left her with significant pedal bone rotation in both front feet. “I’m lucky that she’s alive, let alone eventing,” said Marie, who had been competing at novice with the British-bred daughter of Artisan before disaster struck. Marie, who manages a farm shop in Leyland, Lancashire, spent two years nursing Party Pop back to full fitness. “The only thing that worked initially was cryotherapy,” she said. “I still manage her carefully. She has soaked hay, I watch her grass intake, and I’m picky about the ground I run her on.” Another equine making a remarkable comeback was the winner of BE80 section M, Ardees Bobby, who kicked off 2025 with a 10-day…

MOTHER and daughter Natasha and Bethany Flowers dominated at Wellington Riding, Hampshire, scoring a double win with German Riding Pony Sir Dancer II. Natasha was a silver and outright novice winner, while Bethany, 13 (pictured), achieved the same at elementary bronze. On loan from Isey Roche, 14.2hh Dancer has settled quickly with the Flowers over the last five months. IN THE GENES “Bethany will do pony stuff with him next year, but he’s been fabulous for us both while I look for a new horse for myself,” said Natasha. “He has a big engine but he’s so kind; he tries to work with you. He’s also very adaptable. We train with Rebecca and Ruby Hughes and we’re all on the same page.”…

Share your news story Call 0330 390 6386 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ SPORT horses may need to be competed to have a good life – but how do we show the public and ourselves that our horses enjoy what they’re doing? These were issues raised during a “moral maze” session at the 2025 British Equine Veterinary Association Congress (11–13 September). Panellists considered whether involving horses in sport is to their benefit or detriment. Professor of veterinary ethics Madeleine Campbell said the public view seems to be that there is an ethical difference between that and other human-animal interaction “because it’s trivial”. “I don’t accept that,” she said. “My view is that every human use of animals, apart from medical science, is essentially trivial. We don’t need to eat meat or…

NEW FIREWORKS PETITION OPENS REDWINGS has started a government petition for quieter fireworks. The charity announced its action, which asks for a reduction in the maximum permitted noise level of fireworks from 120 to 90 decibels, 50 days before 5 November. Redwings has lost three rescued horses owing to fireworks and has been campaigning for change. “There is widespread support for calls to tighten firework regulations and we hope this is a positive way for people to make their voice heard and appeal to policymakers,” said Redwings’ Helen Whitelegg. ● Visit: horseandhound.co.uk/tag/fireworks COLLABORATION ON HATS FOR VETS VETS, researchers and helmet manufacturers must work together to develop safety headwear for equine vets. This was agreed at a meeting of stakeholders from the equine vet industry, university and safety experts, CVS…

Olympic eventer Liz Halliday has been back in the saddle. The US rider suffered a serious head injury in August 2024 but is making progress in recovery. Carriage driver Anna Grayston won individual bronze in the two-pony category at the pony driving World Championships held at Haras du Pin, France. US Olympic team showjumping silver medallists Karl Cook and Caracole De La Roque won the Longines League of Nations five-star grand prix of St Tropez. Jockey Bryony Frost landed her first Graded win in France, with Good Girl De Faust on 18 September, having relocated to the continent last spring. Newmarket trainer George Scott won the German St Leger in Dortmund for the second consecutive year, with Caballo De Mar ridden by Adrie de Vries.…

pippa.roome@futurenet.com @pipparoomeorkyle THE Europeans at Blenheim were great and provided a super cross-country day -unless you were on the British team. Not since 1993 have the Brits not finished as a team at the European Championships and never before have four of six Brits had an unscheduled visit to the turf. All the four were going well, then suddenly made rider errors that will haunt them for months. If I was a betting man I’d back the Brits at the worlds in Aachen next year. The experience gained here will be invaluable and they won’t repeat those same mistakes. Laura Collett and Tom McEwen showed the benefit of their experience and put in personal-best performances on cross-country day and immaculate showjumping to secure individual medals. Ros Canter put on a…

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Team medals after dressage Individual medals after dressage 1.4 The difference between team Germany in gold and Britain in silver after dressage Dressage GERMANY nicked an edge over Britain in the battle of margins that defined the first phase. The rematch of Laura Collett and London 52 with Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH dominated the build-up to these championships, and their position as heavyweight team anchors, drawn late on Friday, heightened the anticipation. Laura’s polished test with her triple five-star hero earned a score of 20.6, propelling them into a short-lived lead to a standing ovation from the home crowd, before Michael snatched the ghost of gold from their grasp. He needed 19.6 to put the German team ahead of the home side – and delivered above and beyond with…

Team medals after cross-country Individual medals after cross-country 4 Brits on the floor Cross-country MARK PHILLIPS sprinkled spice over Blenheim to elevate the course from its traditional guise as a CCI4*-L to a championship track. Championship courses don’t test the extremes of a five-star, but instead have to find a balance between challenging the stronger nations and ensuring that those countries where eventing is developing are able to get home via longer alternatives. The Suregrow Dew Pond (fence 6abc) returned for 2025 and was the first real question on course. It was quickly followed by an intense minute comprising three combinations in rapid succession: the Joules Palace View (nine) to Agria Angles (10abc), followed by the Subaru Sensation (11abc), Palace Treasure Chest (12) and Jewellery Box (13) – a challenge…

Team medals Individual medals TEMPERATURE HIGH 15°C DUBLIN'S DOUBLE JL Dublin joins the rare list of horses who have won individual medals for two different riders. He also won individual European gold with Nicola Wilson in 2021. 8 OF THE 41 STARTERS IN THIS PHASE JUMPED CLEAR AND INSIDE THE TIME Showjumping THE morning session had echoes of cross-country day with questions over whether the time would be achievable. It was adjusted after the second rider, British-based Norwegian Yasmin Olsson-Payne, but clean sheets on the final day proved elusive. Sebastien Cavaillon, the 18th rider to start, was the first to record a faultless round over Paul Connor’s airy course, marking the start of the French team’s rise back into medal contention. Dutch rider Florinoor Hoogland was the only other competitor…

INDIA JOHN’S evergreen, 14.2hh Welsh section C pony Grayswood Orlando twice headed the advanced medium to stand individual champion at Chard. According to India, the 24-year-old gelding known as Ginger is still “super-keen”. “He doesn’t feel or act 24, although his grey eyebrows give him away,” said India, a member of the eighth-placed South and West Danger team. “We have to be accurate as he’s only little, although he rides big. “It’s pretty cool when he does well against the pros,” added India, a dentist in the Royal Navy. “We’re off to the Area Festival finals next, then he’ll have a long holiday.”…

PENELOPE OAKEY’S Irish Sport Horse siblings, Minnie Moe (Minnie) and Danger Mousey (Mouse), booked London International tickets here and were ridden by mother-anddaughter duo Tracie and Zoe Spokes. Mouse – who’d already joined the style and performance starting list – bagged a lightweight hunter ticket, while Minnie is London-bound in the working show horse division. Penelope purchased 15-year-old Mouse “by chance in Ireland through a friend” when visiting Dublin Horse Show eight years ago, and she’s owned Minnie, 13, for six years. IN THE GENES “We are so lucky they both qualified; we can’t wait to compete at such a prestigious event.”…

UP here in Northumberland, over the past few weeks the long, fine days have moved into something resembling an Indian summer. “It’s going to be a terrible winter, I fear,” people have been saying for a while now, believing that at some point the tables will be reset with prolonged deluges of much-needed rain or worse. Colin, our farming neighbour, mentioned that the heavy crop of berries, such as on the rowans, indicated a hard winter is in store. The “s” word (snow, that is) has been bandied about and Walter, senior hunt supporter and popular chronicler of these things, was recalling bad winters of the 1960s and even the ’40s, before he was born. Meanwhile, the temperature has dropped, some rain has finally fallen and when the hounds were…

“I SAY dreams come true, but I didn’t even dream this.” Superstar pair Laura Collett and London 52 were crowned European champions on home soil at Agria Blenheim, ahead of Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH, as Tom McEwen and JL Dublin took bronze. In an extraordinary week in which the British team was eliminated when two of the four riders, plus both individuals, fell on Mark Phillips’ challenging cross-country track, the home crowd also had plenty to cheer about. Laura and her own, Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett’s London 52 added to their superb CV with individual gold. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve wanted this,” Laura said. “Mainly for the horse because I feel like since he first made a team, I’ve let him down, and to finally…

A RESCUED cob who may have felt they were always the bridesmaid has performed just that duty for her new owner. Pumpkin, who was rescued in 2023 aged 15, spent more than 500 days at Blue Cross’s Burford centre “watching other horses get rehomed”. Then Natalie King contacted the charity as her cob Domino had lost his friend. “Domino was miserable -he needed a friend and fast,” Natalie said. “I contacted Blue Cross and was matched with Pumpkin, who was looking for a home as a companion.” Pumpkin settled in well and she and Domino became friends; a few months later, Blue Cross Burford’s Bradley Moore-Taylor went to visit and, “realising how happy Pumpkin was”, asked Natalie whether she would like to own her. “That wasn’t the only ‘yes’ Natalie…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald IT’S not often you leave a show and wonder if the whole thing had been scripted. Surely the Spruce Meadows Masters couldn’t have had so many perfect endings by chance? The best came together in a venue like no other to celebrate its 50th anniversary and the results echoed around the world. Friday is the Evening of the Horse. While it features a 1.60m jump-off competition, it also feels like a night of choreographed entertainment as the stadium transitions to being under lights for a fan favourite, the Atco Electric six bar. Britain’s Joe Stockdale and Czechia rider Vaclav Stenek set a new Spruce Meadows record of 2.13m and if that wasn’t enough in the jubilee year, the last time Joe visited Calgary it was to watch his…

“I COULD tell from Pippa’s photos of Robbie that conformation-wise, it was all there. When he arrived, he was just a big raw frame with a lot of filling out to do. We just had to give him time and we couldn’t rush him. He’s developed so much over the years and every year he gets better and better. “Robbie loves his bed, so when he comes in each morning, he eats half his breakfast then goes to bed and after a show he’ll spend all day there. He’s never got his door shut and stands behind a chain. Children go straight to his door and he adores them so he’ll lower his head to be petted. He really is the kindest. “His favourite show days are when he travels…

oscar.williams@futurenet.com @oscnwilliams HIGHLIGHTS 5–14 September Senior Home Nations, Chard Equestrian, Somerset STORMY weather on day two heightened the drama in a close final, in which the South and West Donald Ducks beat Wales Nessa by fewer than two points, to emerge victorious over 31 teams. “It was a nail-biting finish,” said winning team member Jane Littlejohn, elementary champion with Not Just Anyone after consecutive plus-70% wins. “We warmed up in hailstones, but ‘Jet’ went down the centre line like a professional. He was a little reluctant in medium trot, through the puddles, but he always tries his hardest.” Jet, who was prelim champion at last year’s event, continues to impress Jane with his attitude. “It was a nailbiting finish” JANE LITTLEJOHN “He’s a lot of horse, with big movement,” she…

CHARMAINE SENIOR and 15hh mare Emerald Gloria scored a confidence-boosting plus-75% prelim double at Beacons Equestrian, Carmarthenshire. “She’s an absolute pleasure,” said Charmaine of Claire O’Meara’s home-bred Hilkens Gold Card daughter. “She’s very workmanlike, with a good head on her, but sometimes needs a moment when she’s somewhere new to take things in. We walked around and she took a breath before letting go, giving me a lovely ride.”…

A RECORD-BREAKING SIX-BAR WILL REKERT and Tom Williams’ talented Fifty Shades Of Grey (pictured) broke the Arena UK record in the six-bar when they were the sole combination to clear the final 1.93m (6ft 4in) vertical. Four riders – including 14-year-old Honey Bowes – contested the final round where the 11-year-old Fifty Shades demonstrated his effortless scope. “He’s won one before in Spain but not with me,” said Will, who has had a great season at grand prix with the Cellestial x Carolus II gelding who he has been riding since Tom bought him in April. “He is a lovely horse, he is so easy to do, the kids lead him around like a big dog. We’ll take him to HOYS next for the talent seekers final and see if…

bethan.simons@futurenet.com BSHA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 11–13 September British Show Horse Association (BSHA) National Championship Show, Addington Equestrian, Bucks THE 522-mile journey from Inverness, completed in 10 hours over two days, was worthwhile for Hunter MacDonald, 23, and Achilty Eclipse, who claimed the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Price Family supreme in-hand qualifier. Co Pilot three-yearold Eclipse, out of Jazz mare Doranna, was bred by Hunter’s grandfather, David Shand. “I’m totally overwhelmed,” said a teary Hunter. “It’s our first-ever HOYS ticket – a real dream come true – and I’m so grateful to my grandparents for the opportunity to show him.” The pair have been on form this season, including winning two classes at the Royal Highland and a championship at both Cheshire County and the Sports Horse Breeding of…

MEGAN VICTOR, 13, capped an already successful season by adding a ticket to LIHS at to her collection with the small plaited coloured Owston Special Edition at Penistone Agricultural Show. The pair, who have qualified for the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) coloured performance class, have also booked a return ticket to RIHS where they finished eighth earlier this year, and booked their first ticket to HOYS together at Stoneleigh in July. “Megan broke her arm the week after RIHS last year in a quad bike accident so she was out of action until Christmas so she missed the whole summer of showing,” explained Megan’s mother Sally. “Megan last rode at HOYS on the lead-rein and we’ve never been to LIHS so it’s been a magical season for them both.”…

catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123…