Innehållsförteckning för 15-May-2025 från Horse & Hound

THE equestrian world has been praised as somewhere that can offer a safe space for riders struggling with their mental wellbeing. The theme of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May) is community, and UK charity the Mental Health Foundation said being part of a safe, positive community is “vital for our mental health and wellbeing”. Katie Turner, yard manager of Brookhouse Farm Riding School in the West Midlands, told H&H riding schools can provide a “safe space” for adults and children to be themselves. “After Covid, a lot of people were struggling and they would come here and talk to us because it is their happy place, there's no stress here. They get to be with the animals they love and talk to people they get along with,”…

A NEW study has provided evidence to support previous thinking on the benefits of track systems for equine weight management. HorseWorld and Hartpury University have published a peer-reviewed paper in scientific journal Animals looking at the impact of different grazing strategies on managing equine obesity. The work was carried out at HorseWorld in Bristol, where 19 horses, “all susceptible to excessive weight gain”, were observed either on a track or on a traditional paddock, both designed to restrict grass intake. Welfare indicators including hoof health, body weight, body condition score and behavioural measures were monitored. From July to September the horses kept on the track lost an average of 3.4% of their initial bodyweight, compared to those on the paddock, who gained an average of 1.5%. The body condition score…

SPRING is in the air and new life is all around. As foals take their first, tentative steps their breeders will do all they can to optimise their physical health, from vaccinations to farriery evaluation and early intervention to address any conformational weaknesses. But what about their mental health? Maximising a horse's chance of a successful career depends on both good physical and mental health. Yet many people are unaware that how a foal copes with life as an adult is affected by how the developing brain is exposed to stress. IN UTERO MENTAL resilience is not something we start worrying about only when a foal is born. Obviously, the temperament of the mare and stallion will play a key role. These genetic influences are fixed, but as the brain…

“THAT'S NOT THE TEST I'VE BEEN PRACTISING…” FIONA KASHEL mixed it with the big names in seventh on Creevagh Silver De Haar. The 42-year-old made it off the wait list just three days before arriving – with an extra complication. Fiona has been having a lesson with Damian Hallam every two weeks since the end of January, working on five-star test B. “On Friday, I saw Kirsty Chabert doing a run through of her test on Facebook, and thought, ‘That's not the one I've been practising.’ I'm going to blame my mother, who does all my scheduling,” said Fiona, who realised the right test was fivestar C. “I thought, ‘It doesn't matter, because I'm not in, I'm not even going to say anything to my mum.’ Then I got the…

TAYLA MASON'S fortunes took a remarkable turn during Badminton week, as the New Zealander was summoned off the wait list only 48 hours before the trot-up. Her mum Sonya hotfooted it across the world to watch her daughter and their home-bred Centennial, whose dam she evented at novice. “I'd cancelled my flights as Tayla wasn't going – then she called me at 3am on Tuesday and said, ‘Mum, I'm in!’” said Sonya. “I booked my flight and left the house by 6am.” The 14-year-old Centennial scored 40.2 to sit down the dressage leaderboard, but an electric cross-country round for 4.4 time-faults boosted them 52 places to 19th and they won the Glentrool Trophy for the greatest rise. “He's so strong, naturally fit and fast,” said Tayla. “He gives me the…

FOUR Belgians started at Badminton, as that nation continues to build in strength. They were led by Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, who was 10th here in 2014 on Ducati Van Den Overdam. Lara's ride was the 12-year-old Hooney D'Arville (pictured, right), her partner in her first five-star win, at Luhmühlen last year. The rider had planned to go to Kentucky, but the financial outlay of the trip to the US had been too much. “Even if you are third, you almost don't break even and when I saw the field, it wasn't packed but it was strong,” she said. “She won Luhmühlen, but that was a surprise to everyone, me included, and I'm not that arrogant yet to feel I could do it again.” Hooney's dam was Nooney Blue, who was…

JANE ROGERS and her home-bred palomino Corrieview Merlin Magic (pictured) led the BE100 class after dressage on 22.9, but had one pole down in the showjumping and eventually took third place. Axminster-based Jane, 60, and Corrieview Merlin Magic, 18, have qualified for the grassroots championships every year since 2017 and finished second in 2023. AGAINST THE ODDS “It's been a rather manic time getting ready for this, because on 12 January I had a crashing fall off the horse I rode in the BE90 class here today [Corrieview Oscar, ninth]. I broke my pelvis and ribs, I was in hospital for four days, I was concussed and suffered from vertigo afterwards, so it was a real rush to get ready to come here this week,” she said.…

HARRIET BEEBY WYNN was the surprised winner of the intermediate novice at Moreton Morrell (1) with her mother Tracey Beeby's Shannondale Courage. “I had no idea what my dressage score was until after I had finished the cross-country,” said Harriet, who added 1.2 time-penalties across country to her first-phase mark of 31.1. “Mum knew, but she didn't tell me.” Harriet combines eventing with racing and she works for Oxfordshire-based trainers Alan and Lawney Hill as a novice jockey. “Racing has made me a more confident cross-country rider as I'm comfortable coming to fences at speed and not interfering,” she explained. “It's also really helpful to ride so many different horses a day.” Harriet is eyeing up a CCI3*-L at the end of the season. FIRST WIN “This is my second…

PRODUCER Vicky Smith's team were took home a collection of titles from British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Area 2A. Team newcomer Minella Rebellion (Rebel) and his owner Katie Dashwood won both the amateur and open RIHS large riding horse classes and took both championships. “Rebel is an absolute professional – a lovely horse and a lovely ride,” said Vicky. “I feel lucky to have him on the yard.” Former racehorse Rebel has thrived in the show ring, produced formerly by Jo Bates. He stood Racehorse to Riding Horse winner at HOYS 2021 and took the riding horse championship there two years later. Vicky also claimed the reserve spot here with the small riding horse qualifier winner and class debutante, Miranda Wallace's Ashleas Perfect Spirit, and she booked Pauline Binks’ Molly…

Kimblewick, Kingston Blount, Oxon A HORSE bought for £1,000 has cemented his reputation as the ultimate bargain. Seb Mead won the first of two races in the men's open aboard the Gunshots Paddocks Racing Club's Empire De Maulde, an 11-year-old son of Spanish Moon trained by Rob Varnham. Rob bought him last year from Doncaster sales on 22 July – Rob's birthday. “We were looking at the lots and my wife, Lucie, picked him out,” Rob said. “‘He'd be a lovely birthday present for you,’ she said, so we put a bid in and got lucky. He was an absolute steal at £1,000.” In February, this gelding won both his runs at Charing, and he's continued to impress. “Today, he took it up from about four out, eventually finishing about…

WILLIAM PITCAIRN NUNNELEY FEW combined a love of hunting and racing as well as William Nunneley, who died on 23 April, aged 77. William was born in West Germany, to Major David Nunneley (Gordon Highlanders) and his wife Rosemary, who became a well-known secretary of the Cotswold Hunt. He was brought up in Gloucestershire. William's early hunting days were with the New Forest Beagles. He went as a farm student to the Scottish borders and Africa but his love of the foxhound steered him to mastership of the Tedworth. In 1970 he moved to Northumberland and began seven memorable years hunting the Morpeth with Ron Mackay as his kennel-huntsman. In 1976 he married Fiona Grant. By 1977 they moved - William taking the horn with the Bedale, then the Middleton.…

PASSING through the emerald green gates of Heath House Stables feels like stepping back in time. Every stable in this historic Newmarket racing yard holds memories of equine stars from bygone eras and many centuries-old traditions are adhered to within its fortress-like walls, which heighten the air of mystery and reverence that surround legendary Flat trainer Sir Mark Prescott's establishment. Hundreds of the town's racehorses file past his boutique collection of 50 thoroughbreds on their way to Newmarket's epicentre, the Warren Hill gallops, beneath which Heath House lies. Under strict instructions from Sir Mark not to be late for our 10am appointment, I knock tentatively on the office door and we're marched straight into the hub of the action. The unashamedly old-school and non-PC septuagenarian is one of the sport's…

MARS BADMINTON In pictures…

● DEBUTANT Patrick Whelan's martingale broke at fence four, but he achieved a jumping clear with Ikoon Lan (pictured, 36th). “It broke at his chest, so I held it in my hand the whole way and thought I wouldn't worry about it too much, it's just one of those things,” said the Irishman. ● A dog chased Lithuania's Aistis Vitkauskis (37th on Commander VG), but was brought up when it tried to fly the ditch at the KBIS Chasm and fell into the chasm. ● The British first-timers who jumped clear were Katie Magee (Treworra, 11th, see box p38), Jack Mantel (Jack Daniels, 32nd), Jack Pinkney (Rehy Revelation, 38th), Tom Bird (Cowling Hot Gossip, 39th), Kate Rocher-Smith (Dassett Select, 48th), Yasmin Ingham (Rehy DJ, withdrawn from 14th overnight) and Lizzie…

MARS BADMINTON Leaderboard Withdrawn after cross-country: Google Van Alsingen (Senne Vervaecke, BEL) 38.4,-,28; Rehy DJ (Yasmin Ingham, GBR) 29.1,-,9.6; B Exclusive (Lizzie Baugh, GBR) 39.2,-,32; MGH Bingo Boy (Nicky Hill, GBR) 40.1,-,12.8; Shanbeg Cooley (Harry Mutch, GBR) 40.1,20,11.6; Ballaghmor Class (Oliver Townend, GBR) 29.3,-,4.8. Eliminated on crosscountry: Carat De Bremoy (Manuel Grave, POR) 41.5; Galileo Nieuwmoed (David Doel, GBR) 38.8; SRS Kan Do (Kylie Roddy, GBR) 30.1; Luthien NRW (Arne Bergendahl, GER) 36.2; Graftango (Samantha Cesnik, AUS) 36.2; Kilcannon Ramiro (Daragh Byrne, IRL) 41.8; Cartania (Felix Vogg, SUI) 29.7; Global Fision M (Lauren Innes, NZL) 48.6. Retired on cross-country: Quintilius (Tom Rowland, GBR) 37.6; Chicko (Alex Hua Tian, CHN) 31.6; Harbin (Joe Meyer, NZL) 40.4; Kawa De La Cour Z (Seppe Vilain, BEL) 33.9; Low Moor Lucky (Tom Woodward, GBR)…

HIGHLIGHTS 1–4 May Aspen Cooling Ltd Osberton (1), Lincs JOSHUA LEVETT enjoyed a red letter weekend when he dominated a sizeable CCI3*-S, winning with his long-term partner, This Ones On You, and finishing fourth with a more recent acquisition, Huberthus AC. Both horses, who were previously competed by Josh's father Bill Levett to advanced and five-star levels respectively, finished on their dressage scores. “There's only one ‘Bert’ – he does things his own way, but he always gets them done,” said Josh of his winning partner, who despite an occasional disdain for dressage – “he can get quite grumpy and shake his head and swish his tail a bit” – knuckled down and delivered a foot-perfect performance from to start to finish. Josh, 20, who took over the ride on…

Field House EC, Staffs AFTER a “whirlwind” first year together, in which they finished third in the prelim silver at the 2024 Area Festival Championships, Danielle Annable and Penstrumbly Maid Me Smile are climbing the levels. The pair headed the prelim 6 silver and the novice 5 outright. The 14.2hh Welsh section D mare, who was previously in a showing home, has helped restore Danielle's confidence. “I'd had a couple of difficult horses and was at the point where I just wanted to feel safe,” said Danielle, an equine dental technician who trains with Julie Yardley. “I was offered Smiley by a client who must've known we'd be a good match. She found me, really. “She's absolutely lovely,” added Danielle of the 12-year-old Gwynfaes Culhwch daughter. “Together, we hit the…

MARK EDWARDS won three out of the four CSI2* medium tour classes at Chepstow, taking two, including the final, with Flying Tinker II (pictured) and the third with Royale Tale. He also added a victory in the CSI* platinum tour grand prix with Tinkers Touch. It was 14-year-old Flying Tinker's first truly competitive return to the ring since he injured a tendon at Sopot last year and he showed he had lost none of his former brilliance, topping a competitive field in the medium tour grand prix. This class was as gripping as they come, with the lead changing hands with each of the first five horses to jump before Mark found a 1.71sec advantage – leaving following competitors Rachel Proudly (Happy Du Thot) and Henry Squibb (Kimba Kasino) in…

ELLIS TAVERNER-BURNS’ victorious challenge intermediate, Marwyn Born To Wyn (pictured), caught many eyes on his march to the section title, including that of the day's supreme judge Stephen Howard. “If I could have picked a reserve, it would have gone to this horse who must have a big future,” he said. “Sadly, though, he wasn't quite as spot on in his supreme show as the winner, but his moment will surely come.” The upstanding English-bred bay is by the much-missed Irish Draught sire Avanti Amorous Archie out of a riding horse mare. He was advertised locally to Team Harvey's base and because of this proximity, John Harvey and Peter Green went to see him late in 2023. “He was still entire and had done nothing,” John said. “But even though…

NANCY LYONS, 11, set the bar securing no fewer than four HOYS tickets in three days. She piloted Welsh section B Tynffrwd Carys to a return pass in the 122cm M&M working hunter pony (WHP) class and five-year-old Dartans Seóda Bán to exceed expectations and take the 133cm plaited WHP qualification. Last, with Welsh section D Newydd Lady Marmalade (pictured, left) Nancy won both the M&M and plaited 143cm classes. “I was beyond proud,” said her mother, Louise Lyons. “Nancy's much younger than some of the children against her, she really rode beyond her years.” Younger siblings Robin, nine, and Nicky George, eight, also brought home wins. Both piloted Carys to win a cradle stakes class each, and Robin also won the restricted and novice nursery stakes astride Seóda Bán.…

Derwent – Scarborough Races, Charm Park, N Yorks FATHER-DAUGHTER team Ashley and Marina Bealby celebrated as their own Precious Bounty sailed to their fourth win of the season in the mixed open after setting the pace from the off. Ellie Callwood, second in this race with Andrew Pennock's Hardline, produced the Yeats 11-year-old during his novice period. When she decided to sell him, she offered him to Marina as a schoolmaster to show her the ropes. The pair ran once last season before winning in November on firm ground at Badbury Rings. “Since then, we've been waiting for the right ground for him,” said Ashley, who noted that this was Marina's sixth victory of the season. “He's a total schoolmaster; we all ride him at home. We've had a lot…

QUESTIONS have been raised over laws that apply in buying and selling horses - and whether sellers get the raw end of the deal. An equine lawyer told H&H about frustrations from horse traders, who believe buyers are using the Consumer Rights Act to return a horse and absolve responsibility for, rather than working through, issues while a horse is settling in a new home. Horses are considered goods in UK consumer law. As with other goods, a horse sold by a trader to an individual must be fit for its intended purposes, of satisfactory quality and as described. If a horse is not fit for purpose, the buyer has a right to reject it and receive a refund within 30 days. Hannah Bradley, of Aria Grace Equine Law, told…

TWO stalwarts of the “jewel in the crown of eventing” were among those honoured at Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2025. British Equestrian (BEF) presented medals of honour to Jane Tuckwell and Nicky Salmon on Sunday (11 May). Mrs Tuckwell has been part of Badminton for over half a century; she was a Pony Club “runner” in the 1970s, event secretary, then assistant director to Hugh Thomas. “When Hugh retired, there was no one more qualified and knowledgeable to take on the challenge of running one of the world's premier equestrian fixtures,” a BEF spokesperson said. “Jane's exceptional eye for detail, ability to deal with a multitude of tasks and extreme organisational skills ensure Badminton Horse Trials remains the jewel in the crown of eventing.” The spokesperson said Ms Salmon has…

As a child I did lots of Pony Club eventing and my father used to drive me. We had a blue trailer with a rotten floor and my pony would travel clinging on for dear life. When we arrived I'd walk the course and my father would muck the trailer out, set up a portable TV and bring out the drinks cabinet that he kept in the back. He'd entertain all the mothers with the racing on the television. Meanwhile I had probably fallen off at fence three. When I got to 16 my father said, “You have a choice: parties or ponies?” I went for parties. I have always been very proud of Belsay's equestrian heritage. My family had a stud and a racing stable in the late 18th…

HILLFIELDS FARM Lower Basildon, Pangbourne, Berks For you: a seven-bed home, parts of which date back to 1770, set within in a 250-acre country estate. Highlights include a tennis court, swimming pool and access to the Thames for watersport fun. There's a tithe barn used as part of a wedding business, too. For your horse: a charming 18-box yard split into two blocks with a wash box, feed room and two tack rooms. There's a 20x40m indoor school with a viewing area on both the ground and first floors. There are 50 acres of post-and-rail paddocks with automatic water troughs and shelters. OIEO £10m Savills, 02070163784, savills.com GROOMS COTTAGE Dallington, Heathfield, E Sussex For you: a character two-/three-bedroom detached home with a tennis court. Highlights include a large kitchen, sitting…

KATIE MAGEE was crowned the best British first-timer, in 11th. The 43-year-old contested her first CCI5* at Pau in October, an effort she described as “20 years in the making”. Starting out as a “semi-professional eventer” with a racing background, she's steadily been climbing the ranks, and featured in H&H's “riders to watch” for 2025, starring on the 3 January cover. Katie smashed her Pau dressage mark with Angela Hislop's Jaguar Mail son Treworra (Wilf, pictured) for 31.8 (equal 23rd), and their bold cross-country round clocked 5.3 time-faults to move them up to 12th before showjumping. FIRST BADMINTON “There won't be many feelings that come close to that,” said Katie. “Wilf is threequarters thoroughbred; he's like an old-fashioned chaser, but adjustable so I've got the best of both.” Such was…

MARS BADMINTON Dressage THE best was saved until almost last on both dressage days. Near the end of Friday, Oliver Townend showed all his experience to abort his first arena entry when Cooley Rosalent spooked a stride or two before it and then to pilot the grey through a smooth, elegant test. He didn't draw more than a couple of nines from the ground jury – France's Xavier Le Sauce, Britain's Nick Burton and the US's Robert Stevenson – but received bucketfuls of eights and, crucially, stayed mistake-free. The end result was the fifthbest Badminton dressage score ever, 21.1, and top spot. “That horse honestly did his best shuffling ever” GEMMA STEVENS ON CHILLI KNIGHT “She went in and brightened up with the crowd. She's still relatively babyish,” said Oliver,…

MARS BADMINTON Cross-country NO one likes to say a five-star is easy before riding it, but riders agreed that Eric Winter's seventh Badminton track was dimensionally huge, but more flowing than in some previous years. “I don't know if it's as technically difficult as normal, but there are lots of places you could have a frustrating problem,” said Harry Meade. “It wheels quite tight, which is good, because obviously the conditions are so fast.” After the dry spring, riders were grateful to the Badminton team for their efforts to provide the best going possible. With 12 minutes the maximum permitted optimum time at five-star, a target of 11min 40sec meant the track was one of the longest in the modern sport. And while Badminton is quite flat, the course tends…

MARS BADMINTON Showjumping SIX horses were withdrawn before the showjumping including, from the sharp end, Oliver Townend's Ballaghmor Class (eighth overnight), who was sent to the holding box at the inspection and then pulled out, and Rehy DJ, who had sat 14th, denying Yasmin Ingham a debut completion. The big winners of the morning session were British amateur Libby Seed, up from 25th to 18th with a fault-free performance on Heartbreaker Star Quality, and Alice Casburn, who rose six spots to 17th, jumping clear just one second over the time on Topspin. Numerous riders before lunch had the first fence on Kelvin Bywater's track down, which was probably largely attributable to its position next to the busy members’ enclosure. Alex Bragg – an early faulter here in the afternoon as…

MARS BADMINTON LeMieux Grassroots Championships POWER COUPLES Tim and Jonelle Price weren't the only husband and wife team competing here. Mary and Oliver Lofthouse both rode in the BE100 championship, finishing 28th and 32nd respectively. 21% OF STARTERS FINISHED ON THEIR DRESSAGE SCORES TEMPERATURE HIGH 17° LeMieux Grassroots Championships, Badminton, Glos KATY LAWRENCE won the BE100 section on her own 14-year-old mare Cheyenne Balloon, adding nothing to her dressage score of 25.9. Katy, a freelance coach from near Gatwick, Surrey, was given Cheyenne Balloon three years ago, and the pair started eventing then. “This is way above anything we'd have dreamt of – wow, it's such a lovely feeling,” said Katy. “I knew she was capable, but she's either very relaxed and chilled or she can get quite het up and…

Bicton Arena, Devon “TO have reached anywhere near medium is a miracle,” said Annie Brooker of Jegro V, a winner at the level with 68.13%. “He's had a whole world of problems.” After buying the Negro son as a three-year-old, Annie has produced “Jet” herself. “He had a couple of nasty injuries as a young horse and also has various neurological issues – he's a shiverer and has locking stifles,” she said. “It's all about careful management and consistency in his work. We have a good team, including our physio Helen Tompkins and trainer Helen Griffiths, and we take every day as it comes. “It helps that Jet is a dream, and the most mannerly horse to deal with,” added Annie. “He's improving every week.” Jane Murray and Hebog Mischief…

HIGHLIGHTS 28 April–4 May HAVE YOU HAD A NOTABLE WIN IN THE SHOW RING? Email bethan.simons@futurenet.com within 24 hours of the show for your chance to appear in this section Northern Ireland Festival, Cavan EC, Co Cavan, Ireland COLANDRA MEANT TO BE (Robbie) has had a remarkable turnaround in the space of a year in the hands of sisters Cherie Mchugh and Chloe Connon. The part-bred leadrein and novice lead-rein victor, novice mini show pony champion and novice mini supreme was spotted by the sisters’ Scottish friends at a travellers’ camp. “He was semi-feral. His mane was at his shoulders,” recalled Cherie, who led him on this occasion. “He's taken a long time, but has been worth it.” Robbie is ridden by Brylei Gallagher, who is in her last year…

AT Kingston Blount, Jack Andrews led a six-horse restricted by 10 lengths riding Pop The Cork Syndicate's Pillar Coral son Pillar Rock (pictured). This six-year-old joined the Andrews’ yard from Dan Skelton after lacking promise under Rules. And he's only gone from strength to strength, as trainer Gina Andrews explains: “He's been a bit of a revelation, having run four times and won three. He never sees another rival when he's out there and his jumping is only improving. He impressed us all again today.” ONE TO WATCH Gina then posted The Signy and Marriage Families’ I'm Spellbound's ninth win of his career in the ladies’ open. The much-loved Doyen nine-year-old will now head to Stratford.…