Innehållsförteckning för 31-Jul-2025 från Horse & Hound

EQUESTRIANS are urged to ensure they are not overloading horseboxes. Some have been stopped – and drivers face fines if they are over the weight limit. The National Association of Racing Staff (NARS) recently shared a warning to members who drive small (3.5 tonne) horseboxes. It said it is “aware of three different boxes that have been stopped recently”. “Please ensure compliance before embarking on any journey, take necessary precautions to avoid fines and disruptions to your journey,” added the spokesperson. NARS also referred to technology used to identify overweight vehicles on British roads; weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensors, linked to automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. “Horses are precious cargo so it's important owners are aware” THE DVSA A spokesperson for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) told H&H it…

A FORMER rider celebrated her 90th birthday with a surprise carriage driving lesson and wants to do it again. Dorset-based Sylvia Pope thought she was visiting the zoo to mark turning 90 on 14 July, but the trip turned out instead to be a lesson at Madgwick Carriage Masters, organised by her daughter Julia Wilkie and granddaughter Clare Woodward. Sylvia was taught the ropes by Kevin Madgwick and drove Friesian stallions Ant and Dec in the school, then on the road. “My grandma last rode when she was about 70 and although she's still very active she probably wouldn't be able to get on a horse, so we thought that carriage driving would still give her that feel for holding the reins, and she absolutely loved it,” said Clare. “She…

CASTRATION of horses and donkeys is the most common surgical procedure in equine veterinary practice performed worldwide. However, there is currently widespread variation in how the surgery is performed, and in which medications are given pre- and post-operatively. Castration does not come without risks and although most complications reported for this routine procedure are mild, when complications do occur, some are serious and can even be fatal. Currently, no two research studies use the same system to categorise complications, and no two research papers have focused on the exact same surgical technique or have the same perioperative management. This highlights just how many factors may have influence on various complications that can arise. There is a vast variation used by various vets in the different methods to geld or castrate…

AGRIA ROYAL INTERNATIONAL Ponies ISABELLA WALKER – daughter of Robert Walker – proved to be a chip off the old block, well and truly rising to the occasion in the Supreme Products supreme ridden pony championship with Helen Davies’ Stoneleigh Showtime (Charlie). Isabella and the Cusop Dimension eight-year-old, who was bred by Stephanie Horton, had landed the Enablelink British Show Pony Society (BSPS) supreme show pony championship before a swift turnaround for the supreme. There, a determined Isabella and Charlie gave an utterly charming display including a serpentine and canter loops, with Charlie never missing a beat to gain an impressive score of 29 from judges Vanessa De Quincey, Tim Gredley and Maggie Wyeth. “I love this pony so much. He goes in there with no plugs and no calmers.…

AGRIA ROYAL INTERNATIONAL Natives A DAZZLING performance by Welsh section B mare Waxwing Perlina (Lena) and 15-year-old Samantha Taylor secured the pair the Equine Giveaways British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Heritage mountain and moorland (M&M) supreme ridden championship. The eight-year-old, by Eyarth Beau Geste out of Cwrtycadno Perlen, is owned by Samantha's mother, Rebecca Abba, and her sister Chrissy Knipe. “Her breeders, David Blair and Tom Best, approached us at the Royal Highland three years ago and asked if we'd take a pony that was a bit special, but needed a job before going back to the stud for breeding,” said Chrissy. “We instantly said yes. “When she went into that ring, she just pinged” CHRISSY KNIPE “This is our third season with Lena and she just loves her job.…

A LONG-AWAITED sash brought joy to the Inskip family as Popalbee Temptation (Jerry) was crowned supreme champion in the New Horizon Plastics Co Ltd Senior Showing and Dressage Ltd (SSADL) supreme championship. Pip Inskip's 15-year-old home-bred show pony, out of Sycamore Temptation, who herself won the 128cm show pony final here, is ridden by Pip's daughter Bonnie. In his third season with Bonnie, Jerry has also qualified for both London International (LIHS) and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Outside the show ring, their partnership continues to blossom through Pony Club and dressage, where Bonnie has recently started competing at novice level and completed her first Area Festival. Jerry is equally happy jumping and enjoying life at home. Celebrating the family's first major win at Hickstead, Pip commented: “This is…

AGRIA ROYAL INTERNATIONAL Agria Nations Cup AGRIA NATIONS CUP 1st Germany 2nd Great Britain 3rd Belgium GREAT BRITAIN came so close to winning a third consecutive Agria Nations Cup on home soil at Hickstead – but in the end took a hard-fought second place to Germany. The team of Ben Maher (Enjeu De Grisien), Adrian Whiteway (Chacco Volo), Jessica Mendoza (Summerhouse) and Georgia Tame (Be Golden) finished on 12 faults, a single pole behind winners Germany, and five faults ahead of Belgium, completing the same team podium as at the European Championships a week beforehand – only with the first and third swapping places. “It's fantastic to be on the podium,” said British Equestrian showjumping performance manager Di Lampard. “It was close in the end, and we had new riders…

PDV CONSTANZA (Cornet Oblensky x Casall; pictured, above) blitzed the Breen Equestrian CSIYH* final for Pippa Goddard. Seven-year-olds fronted the pack in this seven- and eight-year-old contest, with Holly Smith and her future superstar Nike Van Het Singraven taking runner-up. The win was another strong victory for Pippa and Tom Williams’ diminutive grey mare, who burst onto the scene with a win in Felbridge's newcomers second round, just two weeks after forming a partnership in May. “She loves to run and jump, she's very brave and careful and atmosphere doesn't affect her at all,” said Pippa. “She's quite a simple horse – I don't need to do lots with her. She's governed by food, she'd happily go and have a snack in the main ring!” ONE TO WATCH…

GEMMA STEVENS secured her second Ashby Underwriting eventers’ challenge, with “probably one of the nicest horses I've ever had. He went round with such ease,” Gemma said. “He was second in his first advanced on Saturday, and he's come out of that absolutely bouncing and was ready to give his best.” It appeared as if Gemma had set cruise control on the Rex Syndicate's nine-year-old stallion as she barely took a check throughout, finishing on 122.36sec, over eight seconds clear of Alex Bragg and Ardeo Premier. MULTI WINNER “Thank you, Hickstead, for still running this class,” Gemma added. “This is the best surface in the world. It felt wonderful today, he's very exciting. He just enjoys going to these big arenas and doing it.”…

HIGHLIGHTS 17–20 July DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THIS PAGE? HAVE YOU WON A CLASS? Email jennifer.donald@futurenet.com within 24 hours of your event and please include a contact telephone number Hartpury Summer Showjumping Spectacular, Glos IT was déjà vu for Anna Power and the stallion Oxford VD Witte Driesendijk, as they took the Fairfax Saddles area trial here for the second consecutive year. Last time, it was the sole double clear that landed Anna victory with the 11-year-old son of Emerald, who enjoyed a successful run on the Continent over winter and into spring, and has been kept ticking over since. But on this occasion, they had to prove their mettle against the clock, taking the win over Holly Smith and her future top prospect Nike Van Het Singraven,…

LIZZIE BAUGH enjoyed her first victory with En Taro Des Vernier (pictured, above), in the open intermediate, in which she also finished ninth with Crazy Du Loir. Lizzie took on the ride of the Caunton Manor Stud-owned pair earlier this year from Oliver Townend, who brought them both up to five-star. “I'm so grateful for the chance to have these two lovely horses. I've been really enjoying getting to know them and I'm starting to know where all the buttons are,” said Lizzie. “The Burgham track had a few things to make them think, but with horses of this calibre it was no trouble for them. I'm getting my minimum eligibility requirements with them this season, and we'll step up to CCI4*-S at Scone.” FIRST WIN Oliver Townend won an…

WHIP use, flag penalties and ensuring that horse and riders are ready before they move up a level are among the topics under discussion in the FEI eventing rules revision. The first draft of the 2026 rule change proposals has been published, as the eventing rules undergo a full review this year. The US federation has called for the whip to only be permitted “to support the natural aids in encouraging the horse forward”, not to discipline. The FEI eventing committee supports this, adding that the whip is not to be used when its action is not related to a jump. TIRED HORSES THE FEI proposed that pressing a tired horse should mean an automatic 25 penalties, and the existing recorded warning. British Equestrian (BEF) tackled experience, proposing that in…

● THE choice of surgical method may be based on cost rather than lowest risk. This is often true with ponies, where the cost of castration can exceed the monetary value of the animal, particularly if there are complications. Some veterinary clinics have special castration days, whereby a large number of colts are castrated at a subsidised cost. ● In Britain, the law dictates that an appropriate anaesthetic must be used to geld a horse of any age and that castration is a surgical procedure that must be performed by a vet. Gelding without veterinary involvement and without use of painkillers or anaesthetics is barbaric and illegal. ● Ensure that painkillers are given before, during and after the procedure. ● Check tetanus vaccinations. Any wound is a potential entry site…

ISABELLA STANLEY took a cracking turn around a technical intermediate working hunter track to land The Ian and Shelagh Darcy BSPS intermediate working hunter title and bag a coveted blue sash astride her “best friend” Moorland Whiteriver (Niall). Isabella and Niall were runners-up at both HOYS and Burghley last term, and stood fourth earlier in the week in the 153cm division. The pair have dipped a toe in the class this season as Isabella is out of 153cm classes at the end of the year. “We thought we'd give it a go and he's stepped up and won. He's such a character – and this is just the best feeling.”…

HARRISON TAYLOR and Caroline Hamilton's striking home-bred six-year-old, Lostock Up Till Dark swept straight through the card to claim the coloured pony championship and later the Alan Marnie and Family overall coloured supreme. “I've had a bit of a drought when it comes to wins here, so I was ready for this. She's a dream to ride,” said Harrison of “Susie”, who was lightly but successfully campaigned as a novice last season. This year, the pair stepped up to open competition, winning their first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifier at Derbyshire Festival. “She's super-easy and now she deserves an easy life until HOYS,” said Harrison. The win was a particularly special moment for the mare's breeder Caroline. “She's not been out much,” Caroline said. “But she's kept sweet…

VIKKI SMITH finally bagged a Hickstead win when she won the National Pony Society (NPS) Baileys Horse Feeds 143cm M&M working hunter pony final and overall section championship. She was riding Penny Sutton's former HOYSwinning New Forest stallion, Lovelyhill Folklore. “I've had seconds here – in fact, he's been second here in the workers and second in the flats. But it's always been my nemesis show – it's always eluded me,” said Vikki. “He's 14 now, so you always wonder how many years you've got left. He gives everything in that jumping arena; I prayed one day he'd get that moment.”…

JOHN WHITAKER'S 70th birthday (see tribute, p30) celebrations started early at Hickstead, with a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday and a special procession of seven Colin the Caterpillar cakes. “We decided we'd go for an iconic cake for an iconic person – one for each decade of his life,” Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn said. “A different Whitaker carried each one in, with a sparkler in each!” TALKING POINT The cakes were received by an emotional John, surrounded by his extended family.…

Royal Lancashire, Salesbury Hall LAST year, Rebecca Marsh hit a purple patch at this show with the brilliant Stevie G, going on to be crowned national champion at Stoneleigh. This year, she retraced her footsteps, clinching the area trial and taking runner-up in the Salesbury Hall grand prix. “Last time, it was the grand prix I won, but I just got beaten this time,” she said. “He's had a really good year and he's been going great.” Both feature classes were struck by heavy downpours, following a long run of arid conditions, but the ground held up well, ensuring the competition remained intense. In the area trial, five clears returned for the jump-off, where Rebecca had the benefit of last draw thanks to her quick opening round. “The others were…

HIGHLIGHTS 18–20 July DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THIS PAGE? HAVE YOU WON A SECTION? Email eventinghighlights@gmail.com within 24 hours of your event and please include a contact telephone number Aston-le-Walls (2), Northants SARAH FARNSWORTH, 20, achieved her first win at advanced in the under-25 class, riding her sister Ruth's 14-year-old The Ridge Cardento. “I took him over about three years ago when Ruth went to university,” said Sarah. “She brought him over from Ireland and is the driving force behind how good he is across country as she rides with such determination and has made him super-confident. I'm a more precise rider, so we've made a good partnership.” The pair were 11th after dressage, but moved up with the fastest cross-country round of the section. Sarah added: “The…

Parwood EC Regional Championships, Surrey EVELINA SHRIEVE and Insist TC claimed the prix st georges (PSG) silver, before achieving a personal best at inter I to win a second title. “We finally scored more than 70% at the level,” Evelina said. “I'd been apprehensive about the heat, but he rolled up his sleeves and dug deep for me.” Evelina, a rider at the Turville Valley Stud where she trains with Samantha Thurman-Pickett, bought “Terry” as an eight-year-old. “He hadn't done much and neither had I, but we've progressed from novice to inter I in four years, reaching the regionals and nationals at every level,” she said. “The higher the level, the more up for it he's been. He seems to thrive on the more complicated work and the bigger show…

THE eight-year-old Welsh section B gelding Skellorn Aventus (George) rounded off a superb week, winning three qualifiers with three different jockeys. Owned by Rachel James, George was purchased as a three-year-old direct from breeder Kerry Wainwright and was ridden by daughter Libby to win the British Show Pony Society performance pony final at London International (LIHS) last season. This year, East Cheshire branch of the Pony Club member Libby (pictured), 11, stood supreme at Ashby with George, having booked their LIHS nursery stakes pass and stood mini champions there. At Stoneleigh, George was partnered by Ollie Rowlands to head a 37-strong HOYS M&M 133cm working hunter pony qualifier. Later in the day, Rebecca Penny landed the HOYS Welsh section B qualifier with him; this will be George's first visit to…

HORSES can show conflict behaviours in double bridles and snaffles during dressage - as new research backs up the need to give riders choice. In a study published in Animals, researchers from Aberystwyth University and the University of Portsmouth examined the effects of double versus snaffle on behaviour in competition. They assessed 135 tests, filmed at two British Dressage (BD) competitions, from elementary to intermediate I level. Of the 135 tests, 70 were ridden in doubles and 65 in snaffles. An ethogram was used to assess behaviour; on average horses spent 27.4% of the test showing conflict behaviour, and there was mouth opening in all tests. Tail swishing was seen in 86.7% of horses. CONFLICT BEHAVIOUR THE study highlighted differences between bridle type: head tilting and tossing, tripping and low…

THE much-loved showing and jumping reporter and judge Margaret Shaw would have been honoured by her final resting place, in Hickstead's International Arena. Margaret, who died in April aged 76, reported for H&H for over 30 years. She was a familiar and popular face at Hickstead, where her ashes have been laid to rest on the famous turf, a stone's throw from the place in which she judged the supreme horse at the 2015 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS). “It's a very fitting place; she loved it here,” Margaret's daughter Heather told H&H, adding that even when her mother was unable to go to the All England Jumping Course owing to her mobility issues, the Bunn family who own it offered anything they could that might enable her to come…

A NATIONAL championship and safety helmets were discussed at the Weigh to Win equine weight forum – as was the idea of not giving awards if all horses are overweight. At the annual overview of the Weigh to Win scheme, at the Royal International on 23 July, delegates were given an overview of progress since the pilot in 2019. The initiative, funded by The Horse Trust and supported by the University of Liverpool, involves presenting a special rosette to the horse or pony in the healthiest body condition in participating showing classes. “The awards this year have been phenomenal,” said Rachael Holdsworth, event manager and PR for the programme. “The shows have really grasped what we plan to do. We've had loads approaching us to host the awards; up 15%…

HARRIET MILLER'S eight-year-old Model Farm UK Midnight Meadow (pictured, right) – who is by CDM Blaze Of Glory - claimed the British Miniature Horse Society supreme miniature horse title for the third time. “She's a once-in-a-lifetime mare and this is her last show. She retires today, so she's going out with style,” said Harriet. “It's really emotional – and exciting to think about what's next for her as a broodmare.” Reserve champion was awarded to Sylvia Hook's Model Farm UK Oh Whatta Man (left), a striking two-year-old colt by Rosemont Majestics Blazin Thunder. IN THE GENES “He qualified last year, but was so poorly he didn't show in the latter part of the year,” said Sylvia. “To see him in the ring like this is just marvellous.”…

AGRIA ROYAL INTERNATIONAL Amateurs and coloureds FRANCOISE BABINGTON and her own amateur lightweight victor Scarlet Ribbons (J-Lo) ended their campaign in style as they claimed the Alan Marnie Meta Lounge Ltd supreme amateur hunter championship. J-Lo – who is by Wish Upon A Star – has had a packed schedule this week. “It's been a really long week,” said Francoise. “We were sixth in the open lightweights, third in the ladies’ side-saddle, and then we jumped the worker course at 7.30 this morning. “We call her J-Lo because she's sassy, but she just loves showing off. To have her and be able to take this win, doing her from home is so special.” The home-produced amateur hunter tricolour went to small hunter Constantine, 12, owned and ridden by Pretoria Lee.…

DAISY OVENS, 12, and her mother Francesca Ovens’ super-cute Melliver Willy Wonka, 10 – the reigning HOYS junior large breeds winners – had another centre-stage moment here when they captured the UKPH amateur riders ridden M&M final. “He always comes out and performs,” said Francesca. “He's so consistent - he was third in the opens, too, and has qualified for London in the performance pony classes. He's one of those special ponies and we're so lucky to have him. He's so easy and loves a fuss.” FIRST RIHS WIN…

AGRIA ROYAL INTERNATIONAL 22–27 July Edited by Jennifer Donald jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Agria Royal International, All England Jumping Course, W Sussex ROBERT WHITAKER joined an elite group of riders to have lifted both the Derby and the Al Shira'aa King George V Gold Cup in the same year, when he extended his reign over Hickstead's classics with a masterful performance on Vermento. It's the second time in three years that Robert and Caroline Blatchford's stallion has claimed this grand prix, while Robert also guided Gentlemen VH Veldhof to victory in this year's Derby. “Every stride I got was at the right moment” ROBERT WHITAKER “I was really confident today. Sometimes you have these rounds that don't work, but my round worked everywhere – every turn, every stride I got was at…

THERE can't be many Hickstead firsts remaining for the Whitakers but James secured one of them when he became the first family member to etch his name twice on the 76-year-old JCL Insurance Brokers Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The trophy was James's principal aim for the summer with his top horse Just Call Me Henry and he bullseyed his target with 1.43sec to spare. “My plan ended here – I'll have to make another one now!” said James, who was so confident he'd outclassed the opposition, he punched the air as he crossed the finish. “It's a great class to win. Some feel lucky to win it once and I've been lucky enough to win it twice.” James first captured this esteemed national title at the age of 20, riding…

TREVOR BREEN won the Unibed High Performance Equine Bedding British Showjumping winter grades B&C final, with a “cool, cool horse, who loves going fast”. Trevor and Konrad Obolensky, owned by his parents-in-law Ian and Heather Black, gave a faultless display of speed and control, the nippy, agile little gelding revelling in his athleticism to finish almost a second ahead of Hollie Pearce and James O Hara H. The Blacks bought the Cornet Obolensky gelding in December and Trevor's brother Shane kept him ticking over at first as Trevor was abroad. “I then took him to Oliva and was riding him a bit slow, and it was fine,” he said. “Then I started to ride him like that – more ‘aggressive’, for want of a better word – and he just…

SANDY MCLEAN had a strong show two weeks after starting full-time work for Tom Williams, winning a qualifier and the six-year-old final with Miss Contoulonia PS (pictured) and Friday's CSI3* small tour two-phase special with Chanaga PS. “I sat on Contoulonia the week before the show, she's done nothing since Spain at the start of the year. She's really careful and quick and a proper fighter. She jumped clear all four days which is very consistent for how green she is, especially with a new rider,” said Sandy, who has taken his top rides Gino F, recently returned from eight months off, and Laura Tinto's Johnnie Walker with him to Tom's. I OWE IT TO… “I rode Chanaga the first time in the ring the day before and then she…

Portman, Wilts KATIE INGRAM steered her own home-bred Hollyhatch High Hopes to victory at BE90. The eight-year-old mare was born the day after Katie returned from competing another horse at Badminton's grassroots championship in 2017 and Katie's wish is that her aptly named successor, Hope, will earn her a return ticket. “She's not been easy, but this is our second year at BE90 and everything seems to be coming together now,” said New Forest-based Katie, who works full-time for her family's commercial vehicle hire business and, as a hobby, breeds around five foals a year combining New Forest and thoroughbred bloodlines. “Hope was out of a thoroughbred mare, by our New Forest stallion Hollyhatch Huntsman,” she explained. “It's a lovely cross because you get the pony footwork and agility of…

Will Bryer The new joint-master and huntsman of the Duke of Beaufort's was master and huntsman of the Cattistock from 2010 to 2021 and prior to that professional huntsman of the Co Limerick. What was your first pony A 12.2hh called Minto, who was a palomino superstar. Your weirdest superstition? I always fall off wearing new clothes it could also be poor riding, but it is nice to blame it on that. If you weren't a rider you would be… An artist. What was the last TV show you bingewatched? Champions: Full Gallop and Horsepower were worth switching on the TV for. Otherwise I prefer podcasts and I suppose you could say I binge on The Rest Is History, The Rest is Politics and Ukraine: The Latest. If you could…