Over the past week, most of our time in the Blair European eventing Championship office has been spent co-ordinating deliveries to site, collating packs for our trade stands and sending our grandstand tickets out.
Sponsor’s boards and adverts are starting to arrive and we look forward to setting them up closer to the event.
The event programme is also coming together and this year we will be unveiling a new look and we can’t wait to see the final product.
I work closely with our event director, Alec Lochore who I have been playing time zone tennis with this week as he has been in Rio as part of his role as technical delegate for the 2016 Olympics while the test event was taking place.
The course building team are sanding and painting the wooden carvings to create course designer, Ian Stark’s cross-country fences. The course is going to look spectacular and we can’t wait for you all to see it. Now that the livestock are out of the fields, our fencer is taking out all of the field fences, so that we can mow the course from end to end.
My job as assistant event director has many parts. This week we spent a day helping with the annual ragwort pull. The horse trials take place on part of the organic farm at Blair Castle, therefore we cannot use herbicides to eradicate the ragwort. One day a year the horse trials, garden team and rural department work together to keep this toxic plant under control — a glamorous side of the job!
The British Eventing BE90 and BE100 Arena Eventing Championships, sponsored by Kent & Masters, and Open Intermediate Arena Eventing will take place on Wednesday 9 September at Blair Castle. Entries are still coming in and our onsite stabling is filling up fast, but please send your forms in quickly as we do have limited spaces left.
Do you fancy being part of the Blair 2015 team? We are searching for a couple of members to join our site team to help for a couple of weeks prior to the event. It will include mainly manual labour on site to help set up the stables area, horse walks and country fair arena. In return you will have tickets to the event and there will also be a monetary contribution. If you are interested and would like to find out more please contact info@blairhorsetrials.co.uk
There is excitement in the office this week because Joules has just launched their Official Joules collection for Blair 2015 (pictured). Take a look at the new collection here www.joules.com
Bricky Farm is just north of the A35 between Dorchester and Bridport.
What the organisers say
All dressage is in 60x20m arenas.
There is excellent going in the grass jumping arena and ample warm-up. The cross-country is on good going over undulating terrain. The tracks are generally up to size and use inviting natural timber, with no portables.
The BE80(T) and BE90 courses offer an enjoyable ride across the country, suitable for both confident first-timers or experienced combinations.
The BE100plus track now provides a genuine step up towards novice technicality, while using BE100 dimensions. This increased technicality on the plus class allows the BE100 track to be more straightforward; it remains a true Bricky-style course, now suitable for all-comers.
A dedicated intermediate novice course has been added for 2015 to complete this class. This will provide a real step up in technicality from the novice track, again using novice dimensions. The novice course retains plenty of height and spread, with a choice of routes at the more technical questions, and is now suitable for all novice riders.
Lots more detail will be on the Bricky website in due course.
What the riders say
Dressage & showjumping — “The warm-up is on a bit of a slope for the dressage which can make it a bit tricky, but the actual arenas are flatter.” “The arenas are close to the lorry park so you haven’t got a huge trek to get there.” “The showjumping is lovely and held in a big, flat arena with plenty of room to move in, on good going.” “The course is always up to height and flowing.”
Cross-country — “The course is up to height, technical from the word go, big and long.” “You need a fit horse and rider as it is an undulating course.” “More suited to a mid-season run or a combination about to move up a level than a first-timer [see organiser comments].” “It was a hot day last season and they did really well to produce the ground so that it had a bit of give.”
With the Pony Club Championships just around the corner (21-25 August), here are 15 Pony Club personalities that we all know and love
1. The pushy parent
This is the stereotypical competitive mother who enthusiastically signs her child up for every rally, team and event on the agenda. Her child competes every weekend and you can’t help but think that they’d be happier jumping a slightly smaller class… You also have a suspicion that this mum is more excited and enthusiastic than her child at all times.
2. The DC
This mum is the branch’s ‘top dog’. She is a bit of a celebrity in the area and we can’t help but try to befriend her, and her child. She is extremely organised, knows your event schedule better than you do and is always suggesting that you should join the committee.
Do you miss the water fights and musical rides? Read on to discover what legacy Pony Club camp has left More…
3. The flashy mum
We all know the flashy mum… she boasts all the latest gear, has the nicest lorry and owns a top competition pony, complete with diamante encrusted tack. This is the mum who still manages to look effortlessly glamorous whilst mucking out 10 stables and you can’t help but be a little jealous.
4. The proud parent
This is the mum who hangs every ‘clear round’ rosette on the mantle piece and proudly shows you the videos of her daughter’s dressage tests from the weekend. All of them. She buys a photo from every competition and her home is filled with framed photographs.
5. The gossip
This nosey mum knows everything. Think ‘Gossip girl’ meets Pony Club. She knows all the scandal and drama within your branch — or one fifty miles away. She even knows how much your friend’s neighbour purchased their new pony for. She is somewhat opinionated and is more than happy to share her news over a cup of tea.
6. The mumsy mum
The ‘mumsy’ mum is everyone’s best friend. She is very sweet and friendly and always has time to ask how you are. She’s the one that brings the delicious chocolate brownies to rallies and packs extra snacks for you to take on the lorry.
7. The strict mum
We’re all secretly a bit scared of the strict mum. This is the mum that doesn’t let her daughter stay after the disco on the last night of camp and wouldn’t dream of letting her participate in any pony swaps.
8. The over achiever
This mum is good at everything. She was a top event rider when she was younger and you keep your fingers crossed that she’ll offer you a lesson. Her children seem to be equally as talented, taking home every red rosette and studying for their B tests in their spare time.
9. The non-horsey mum
This endearing mum can’t tell one end of a horse from the other. She finds horses a bit intimidating, but supports her child none-the-less. On the odd occasion you overhear her wondering how she was the one to end up mucking out three stables and driving a 3.5 tonne horsebox…
10. The snap-happy mum
This is the mum who films her child’s every round and always has a camera in hand. She even films other children’s rounds ‘just in case’. However, when you come to admire her photography you often find only a tail caught in the corner of the frame or a gripping video of the grass…
11. The one who washes the dishes
This mum is a little quieter than the others and avoids any drama. She wants to help out at Pony Club camp, but finds her forte lies in breakfast, lunch and dinner duty. She usually befriends the non-horsey mum.
12. The nervous mum
This is the cant watch hands-over-eyes mum who is anxiously biting her nails from the sidelines whilst pretending to watch her daughter’s cross-country. Her child loyally wears a body protector, hat and gloves at all times and quickly dismounts if the pony misbehaves.
13. The get-on-and-do-it-herself mum
It doesn’t matter if her child is competing in the unaffiliated 2’6’’ class on a 14hh pony, this mother will be shouting from the sidelines at any competition. If her child’s pony refuses a fence she will storm in, get on and complete the course herself. She can be found next to the pushy parent and is quick to give you riding advice.
14. The lost looking dad
Sorry dads. We’ve all seen at least one lost looking dad wandering around the cross-country course in search of a particular fence, or watching the wrong child’s jumping round. Thanks for tagging along though.
15. The bored sibling
It wouldn’t be right to forget the rest of the family… this is the sibling who has no interest in horses, yet has been dragged along to shows for as long as they can remember. They would much rather be at home playing on the computer than standing in a field, but have come to support you all the same.
The Weatherbys Private Banking Pony Club Championships runs from Friday 21 August-Tuesday 25 August 2015 at Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire
Don’t miss the full report in the 3 September issue of Horse & Hound magazine
Organisation has never been my strong point, but I think I must be getting better. Mainly because the last few weeks have been manic, but we have ended up at five venues, with all twelve runners on the right days, with the required equipment at the correct time which I think is pretty good going (it also has a lot to do with the help I get at home, so thank you guys).
We went to Aston-le-Walls first, where Bozzie (Cornacrew, pictured) had a spin round the advanced and really enjoyed himself. He’s so jolly at the moment and simply loves his job, which in turn makes me love mine. It’s not often that I find myself laughing going round an advanced course, and going “Whee!” over jumps, but I do with him. He’s such a special horse and it’s brilliant that he’s having so much fun, as he owes us nothing!
He is swimming twice a week at present in addition to galloping, to get him up to fitness for the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in a few weeks time.
He runs at Somerford next, and then will hopefully be all set for the big “B”! Fingers crossed, as he loves it there.
Hugo (Woodland Rock) and Ed (Edison) contested the novice at Aston, with both going well and then Chatty (The Loudest Whisper) was rather Chatty like in the intermediate.
A friend who came to watch said within ear shot of Chatty: “You know what, you could win this after that dressage and clear round jumping.”
Chatty replied across country with: “Not so fast sunshine, I decide if we’re going to win, and it’s not today,” as she jammed on the anchors between fence three and four. She’s frustrating, but brilliant on her day.
The following weekend we went to compete in the Express Eventing competition at the CLA Game Fair. What great fun. Dressage to music (which we did to a James Bond compilation), condensed cross-country over corners, skinnies and angles in the main arena, followed by an enormous showjumping track.
Chatty was back on form finishing ninth and we had a super day with great atmosphere and a lovely organising committee. Keep it up team!
Back to the day job the following week, where King (Traveller Royale) and Splash (Drumbilla Metro) headed to the intermediate championship at Gatcombe. This is a fantastic venue with serious courses and amazing scenery.
Both boys tried really hard. Our dressage let us down a little but both completed well enough, with Splash especially making it all feel remarkably easy in both jumping phases. He is a seriously class horse. Lucky Simon to be riding him! I was very concerned to hear of Andrew Nicholson’s fall at the final fence, and I have everything crossed that he makes a full recovery. Get well soon, Andrew.
Two days later we were off again to Smiths Lawn in Windsor Great Park. Leaving at 3.30am was not a popular decision, and returning at 10pm ensured a particularly long day, but it was well worth it with Ed winning the novice and Freddie (Mr Fahrenheit III) finishing second in his BE100 class. The other three all went really well, and I so very nearly made it five double clears out of five, but my last ride, Hugo glanced off at a skinny, probably just after I had thought to myself “this could be my fifth double clear out of five today!” Horses are so good at putting you in your place aren’t they?
So another busy day at home followed, with Bozzie going to the gallops early to avoid the heat, and then I was off again to Aston-le-Walls, where Rocky (Generoso) contested his first intermediate and tried exceptionally hard to pull of a seventh placing despite rolling an unlucky pole in the showjumping. He’s such a lovely chap, and is sadly on the market but would make someone a cracking partner in crime.
I travelled on from Aston to see my wonderful friend Amy and her lovely husband Stuart’s newborn son, Rupert in Swindon Hospital for the first time. It’s great to be able to do something friend related that doesn’t involve a horse.
What we as event riders do is all consuming, I haven’t had a day off from riding in at least 25 weeks. I wouldn’t have it any other way, I love it, but those riders close to us have to put up with a lot.
Reading Lucie McNichol’s article on why she is giving up struck a chord with me. There needs to be a balance, which I don’t think I have found yet, but at the moment, in my head if I’m not striving to be better every hour of every day, then I don’t deserve to be successful. I’m lucky and grateful that I have a partner, friends and family who understand and support me in that.
With thirteen horses running at different venues next week I shall keep striving, and I’ll have plenty to keep you updated with in the next instalment. So until next time.
This week’s new to the market round-up features clothing from Timothy Foxx, Equiline, Equetech, Carrots and Just Chaps
Timothy Foxx Men’s Polo Shirt
This gorgeous men’s polo shirt is brand new to the Timothy Foxx summer collection and has all the elements you would expect from a quality polo shirt! Styled in 100% cool cotton, the Men’s Wild Foxx Country Polo Shirt in available in a stunning sage, white and royal blue and features a contrast white yolk across the back and front, royal blue cuffs, a super soft collar and the bold number 1 printed on the back in complimenting colours. Available in sizes small to extra large. RRP: £42 Visit: www.timothyfoxx.co.uk or call 01296 423 399
The Mandy Polo Shirt from Equiline
The stylish Mandy Polo Shirt from Equiline is made from a technical, anti-bacterial piqué weave fabric featuring X-Premium to ensure it is elasticised and breathable, so you feel comfortable and look great, whether competing or relaxing at the ring-side. Designed in Italy, this fashionable, yet high-performance polo shirt is embellished with the Italian flag colours in a vertical stripe on the left side of the garment. The shirt is fully machine washable and dries easily. Available in white in sizes 6 to 16. RRP: £63 Visit: www.fearnsfarmpartnership.co.uk or call 01704 823539
Roll with it with Equetech
This comfortable polo neck boasts designer style and a great fit. It features Equetech’s unique ‘Snaffle Bridle’ print in beautiful petrol blue. Finished with a subtle Equetech metal disk, this polo neck is the perfect machine washable layer for the more chilly summer evenings. Available in sizes 8-18. RRP: £39.50 Visit: www.equetech.com or call 01296 688 966
Carrots’ #Ride Hoodie
Any social media savvy rider will now have an equestrian-themed hashtag at their fingertips. These stylish top layers are a sure-fire way to turn heads out in the fields, on horseback and around the yard. Equally stylish with jeans as with jodhpurs, these funky hoodies are just perfect to take you from horseback to the high street! Available in classic navy, bold purple and versatile black, each cotton hoodie features a pop of hot pink and contrasting #Ride, “top rider” and “winner” text. Available in sizes from age seven upwards. RRP: from £20 Visit: www.carrotsuk.com or call 01245 445 362
Just Chaps Waterproof Trousers
Just Chaps have developed a new style of waterproof trousers that are lightweight and breathable. These trousers feature a different cut to most, ensuring a great fit and look. Available in all sizes in two different lengths. RRP: £65 Visit: www.justchaps.com or call 01730 825797
It seems that the trend of “judge bashing” on social media and gossip sites is on the rise. No matter how you feel when you come out of the ring, it is never acceptable to do this! If you feel hard done by or feel there has been something underhand, you should complain to the relevant society.
Of course judges should be transparent and whiter than white, and should quite rightly be reprimanded if they are not acting impartially, but I strongly believe that competitors should be dealt with equally as fiercely if they start vendettas, or bully judges or other riders. Judges should not be made to feel pressured by competitors.
Following a show I judged recently, I was the subject of personal rants on social media, because one disgruntled competitor was placed second. Societies need to do more to protect their judges — I always thought the judge’s decision was final. I have thick skin and the criticism is water off a duck’s back to me, but I’m sure there are some who could be intimidated.
When I go in to judge I put my judge’s hat on and judge fairly, and I do so regardless of who I hunt with, have bought horses from or sold them to, or who I’m friendly with. And yet sadly I have been inundated with tales of classes being influenced by “connections”, in both the horses and ponies.
To be told weeks before a class who will win, and then to connect the dots and watch it all click into place is not right. In any other sport this would be classed as match fixing.
Surely there is no satisfaction in winning a class in this way? It’s time these judges were held morally accountable, and classes were judged without them thinking of their pockets or personal friendships.
Good times at RIHS
What a treat for competitors that the all-weather canter track has been extended around the whole of ring five at Hickstead. It allowed competitors to really gallop and show their horses off in the best possible conditions.
The extended track is a much-needed asset, given the sheer volume of horses that use that ring. I certainly appreciated it on hunter day, when you could flow on safe in the knowledge that we were minimising the risk of injury and that the horses felt secure off the corners.
We took the time to watch the supreme championships at the Royal International. It was a real spectacle and immensely enjoyable. There were some cracking shows, in particular Oliver Hood and the cob champion, Chaplin, who ended up on top of the Derby bank. I’m glad he took a pull and not a kick! It certainly was a crowd pleaser.
The main arena looked magnificent and was a credit to the Hickstead team — the going was superb.
Showing director Roger Stack never failed to keep us amused with his hilarious tales. As he left on his buggy at one point he enquired, “Do you like sex and travel?” I replied yes, to which he smirked, “Well… f*** off!” Typical Roger!
Following the arrival of her first baby, H&H's Content Director Sarah Jenkins realises that owning a horse has stood her in good stead for motherhood
1. You’re no doubt familiar with hospitals — you may even be on first name terms with some of the medical staff at your local A&E. Admittedly you’ll be meeting new faces on the maternity ward, but you’ve probably clocked signs for that on your way through the building that time you broke your thumb lungeing/got bucked off one fresh spring morning/took a hoof to the nose while hand walking your horse when he was on box rest. So when those contractions are three in 10, at least you’ll know where you’re going and how much car parking costs.
2. In a similar vein, you’re quite likely to be fairly familiar with discomfort. If you can handle breaking your leg out hacking and walking back to the yard on it (the blessed horse having legged it), or dislocating your shoulder but getting back on to finish the course, then labour will be a breeze.
If you want to keep your yard owner happy and on side, here are some things to avoid...
3. Having been trusted by the vet to inject your horse with antibiotics in the past, you’ll not bat an eyelid when the midwife sends you home with a set of needles to stick in your belly each morning to stave off deep vein thrombosis should you be less than mobile post c-section.
4. You’re au fait with how a nappy is fitted — even if up until now you’ve only used them over poultices when your horse has had pus in the foot. (Similarly, stocks of baby oil are good.)
5. Which brings us neatly on to poo. If you can walk over a steaming muck heap daily with a barrow load of horse manure, then a whiffy little yellow parcel isn’t going to bother you now is it?
6. You’re perfectly used to getting up at 5am to go and feed.
7. You’re pretty used to getting up at 3am, too, particularly if you event, or are chasing a qualification on the other side of the country, or have a grey.
8. Generally, if your horse is accident prone (I say “if”, but he’s a horse right?) sleepless nights are standard anyway.
9. You already have serious biceps from shifting haybales/poo picking/riding an ox, therefore carrying a two-month-old (even a 15lb one) in one arm while you dismantle and pop the buggy in the car with the other is a piece of cake.
10. If you can load up the lorry for a one-day event and not forget a single piece of equipment required for any phase – not even your over-girth – then you are qualified to pack a nappy bag (hint: it doesn’t just need nappies in it, oh no..).
11. And speaking of all the gear. Remember when you got your first horse and acquired everything in the Robinsons catalogue? It’s just like that, only now it’s Mamas and Papas. And whereas you used to spend your Sunday morning/hard earned cash in Countrywide, now it’s John Lewis (because they have comfy feeding sofas, more changing tables than you can shake a stick at and toilet cubicles that you can take a buggy in. Priorities…).
Riders across the country have been stripping off to raise awareness of road safety around horses.
Lauren De Gruchy set up Facebook page Slow Down For My Horse Campaign earlier this month (4 August) and the page already has over 10,000 likes.
Hundreds of riders have posted pictures of themselves leading or riding their horses in their underwear with the caption “Will you slow down for me now?”
Men and women across the country have been taking part in the campaign
Lauren set up the campaign in a bid to make motorists pay attention to horses on the roads.
Number of British Eventing (BE) fixtures: five (Smiths Lawn, Homme House (Much Marcle), Aston-le-Walls (4), Hartpury and Bold Heath) Number of BE sections run this week: 75 Number of FEI sections run in Britain this week: three Event with most sections: Aston-le-Walls and Bold Heath — 21 sections Number of BE sections run so far this year: 1786 Number of combined BE and FEI sections run so far this year: 1833 Number of BE fixtures run so far this year: 119
Best dressage scores
Smiths Lawn: 17.3, for Paul Tapner (AUS) and Wickstead Kangaroo, who won novice section D on their dressage score Homme House: 13.3, for Alexander Bragg and LVS Stonehavens Quebec, who won five-year-olds section G, despite 7.2 time-faults Aston-le-Walls: 20, scored by Jesse Campbell (NZL) and Jjamaica who finished second in novice section H and also by John-Paul Sheffield and El Gaucho Dhi, who finished sixth in open novice section K Bold Heath: 18.3, scored by Gareth Thomas and Crabbies Cloudy, winning BE80(T) section I, despite 3.2 time-faults
And also…
100: percentage of male riders making up this week’s best dressage scores 54: percentage of starters who completed the open novice section D at Homme House 4: number of sections won by Oliver Townend at Aston-le-Walls (novice sections H and I, BE100 sections O and P). He also finished second in three sections – well done Oliver 98: percentage of starters who completed the BE100 section L at Smiths Lawn 3: number of non-British riders placed within the top three in the novice section D at Smith Lawn. They were Paul Tapner (AUS), Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (USA) and Rebecca Howard (CAN) 3: number of horses William Fox-Pitt competed in the CIC3* at Hartpury. They were Bay My Hero (finishing first), Luxury FH (finishing fifth) and Fernhill Pimms (finishing seventh)
Today (Tuesday 18 August), Paul Schockemöhle, in consultation with co-owners the Linsenhof/Rath family, released a statement confirming the 15-year-old Dutch warmblood was to be retired.
“After the past week and the now circulating speculations about Totilas’ future, we — as a family — would like to take a stand on this matter,” it read.
“How much the international dressage sport owes to this horse is almost impossible to put into words. Never before has a dressage horse moved and thrilled these masses — no matter if horse-enthusiast or not, young or old.
“The examination last weekend showed that Totilas has an edema in the bone. This is being treated in the best possible way by a superb team of veterinarians.
“As a result we collectively came to the decision, Totilas will not come back into competitive sport in the future.”
The statement continued that the horse would return home to recover, in “all the time” that the injury needs.
Providing it is possible, he is expected to continue to be available for breeding.
“We really hope for the understanding of all those people, that are moved by this horse as much as we are. Also we would like to take the opportunity to thank all the admirers and fans for their support during all this time,” the statement concluded.
With former rider Edward Gal of the Netherlands, the jet black Gribaldi x Glendale stallion broke records in all three grand prix tests. He was also the first horse to break the 90% barrier.
They did hit form for a time, beating Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro twice at Aachen in July of last year, but cold never reproduce that form on the world stage.
In the individual rankings in the grand prix at the European Championships, the pair finished sixth with 75.91% – with individual judges’ scores varying between 71.6% and 80.1%.
For a full report on all the action from the FEI European Dressage Championships, see our bumper H&H magazine edition, out Thursday (20 August).
Myrtille Paulois, Orient Express, Nino des Buissonnets, Paille de la Roque, Ornella Mail, Opgun Louvo, Quickly de Kreisker… We have stopped counting French horses which perform at the highest international level. Ridden by people from all nationalities, they represent French excellence throughout the world.
France is a land for horses and breeding, where genetic inheritance is transmitted carefully, generation after generation. Selle Français, Anglo-Arabs and French sport ponies are today the perfect examples of the success of breeding at the service of sport, in all disciplines, especially showjumping and eventing.
But to become an equine star, the young horse has to learn his job. The French SHF training circuit allows young horses, from four years old, to evolve through adapted classes, developing their abilities for potential buyers. So until the age of seven, young French sport horses and ponies go to “school competition” and benefit from a strong experience.
The best of each generation meet during the Grandes Semaines, the national finals reserved for young horses, which crown the champions of each generation. For six and seven-year-old horses, they are the way to discover the high level stars of the future. The place to be for breeders and riders searching for a new horse, the Grandes Semaines take place every year from August to October, for all the disciplines: ponies, showjumping and hunter, eventing, dressage, driving and endurance.
In 2015, the France Young Horses Show Jumping Championships will be in Fontainebleau (near Paris) from 29 August to 6 September. The Fences sales will be the moment to unearth a champion. A lot of equine stars, such as Itôt du Château, or the worldwide champion Quickly de Kreisker, have been sold thanks to the Fences auction.
The three-year-old horses presented this year offer high quality jumping. The Paille de la Roque’s full brother or the Rock’n Roll Semilly’s brother will also be auctioned. As to the France Young Horses Eventing Championships, it will take place 7-13 September in Pompadour, equally close to Paris.
For a breeder, to have a good horse is not enough. That’s why the website SHF Market was born in 2014, to give a highest visibility and a full transparency on young horses and ponies for sale. The Internet portal www.shf-market.com/en/ allows to access to more than 1,000 young sport horses and ponies for sale, which have already proved themselves on official arenas.
With one click, due to a detailed search engine, the web surfer can display the horses that best correspond with what he is looking for. After each national class photos and videos are updated in order to help the buyer having the most precise idea of the horse. The seller’s contact details are also on line, to facilitate the contact with the potential buyer. Since June 2015, the website has also featured two and three-year-old horses and ponies.
The French equine performance market is now accessible for all: meet our sport horses for sale on www.shf-market.com/en/.
Spain finished fourth, Sweden fifth and France sixth.
The Spanish team was spear-headed by Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (pictured, above).
The rider also picked up individual bronze in the freestyle with Delgado scoring 82.714% behind Charlotte Dujardin in Gold (89.054%) and Kristina Bröring-Sprehe in silver (88.804%).
Sweden’s best results came from Patrik Kittel and Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén, who both pulled the team’s average up with plus-74% scores.
Denmark — the team who finished fourth behind Britain, Germany and the Netherlands at London 2012 — failed to secure a place and will have to rely on individual FEI rankings places to try to make up a composite team.
Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland and Italy also remain without teams at Rio.
From outside of Europe, Australia and the USA have already qualified, with Brazil as host nation gaining an automatic spot at the Games.
If you've always wondered what life is like on the yard of a four-star eventer, wonder no more. We visit Piggy French, in association with Animalife, to talk routines, young horses and what keeps her going
Piggy with OBOS COOLEY (I think, please check) at Piggy French's yard at Maidwell Lodge Farm, Maidwell, Northamptonshire, UK on 2nd June 2015
7am — the time that things kick off on Piggy’s yard
“The guys start in the yard at 7am when the horses have their breakfast and hay,” says Piggy. “And I start to ride after that. I have a work list that I go through with staff either the night before or generally in the morning.
“We make a plan for the horses for the day, whether I school them at home, we go cross-country schooling, ride on the gallops, hack some or teach my working pupils on some.”
6-12 — the number of horses Piggy rides each day
“Being an event rider is very busy and there’s a lot of variation within the day. Every day is different and I ride between six and 12 horses a day,” she says.
Take a virtual tour round event rider Piggy French’s beautiful Leicestershire base
24 — the number of horses on Piggy’s yard
“We have 24 horses in the yard at the moment and it’s very much a team effort. We all work together throughout the day to achieve the same things — which is getting the horses to the competitions as fit and ready as we can to enjoy ourselves and hopefully have some success,” says Piggy.
“What makes me keep doing this every day and what makes me love it as much as I do? Horses are great levellers. We have fantastic days which is what I think keeps us all doing it — and a lot of bad days that bring us back to reality.”
2 — the number of horses Piggy has going to Blenheim Horse Trials
“The event that I’m most looking forward to at the end of this year is Blenheim (17-20 September),” she says. “I have two horses going for the CCI3* — Seapatrick Dark Cruise and a new ride to me this year called Obos Cooley who is a very exciting addition to the team.”
1-4 October — when Piggy will be heading to Osberton Horse Trials with her young horses
“A lot of the horses on my yard at the moment are young because I’m rebuilding the team for the future,” says Piggy. “So Osberton Horse Trials at the beginning of October is a busy time for us because we’ve qualified a few four-and-five-year-olds for that. It’s all about the future with those guys.”
I will also be watching the reining competition with interest as a friend, Shane Borland, is competing on Shiners Lena Oak. Although Shane is originally from South Africa, we have a similar background and got to know each other through playing polocrosse against each other a good few years ago in the UK. While we have since pursued different career paths with horses, he remains one of a group of riders who I enjoy a good chat about horse training with. I am sure he will do GB proud.
The yard is very busy at the moment, with 17 horses in for starting under saddle or retraining. I try to have between 10 and 14 horses at any one time, which I ride myself and supervise my apprentice trainer, Annie, working with. However, some take a little longer than envisaged and there is always the odd “emergency” that we get sent so the numbers can creep up! When you add in the lessons, clinics and the launch of Your Horsemanship, my online training website, life gets a bit hectic at times. You have to remind yourself that there are absolutely no short cuts and I have to take as long as each horse needs, rather than rushing through any processes to shorten the day.
It is not just the horses that need time, owners need it too. This is especially the case with horses in for retraining that have developed behavioural and ridden problems and have either hurt or shaken the confidence of their owners and riders.
A case in point is a big horse I have in at the moment for hacking problems. I have got him to the point where I can trot him down the lanes happily but he reverted to type when his rider hopped on during a recent session. Unfortunately, he has diminished her confidence to the point where she is finding it hard to ride with enough positivity and conviction to make him realise that she is boss. In this case, I am confident that I can turn the partnership around so he views her as someone he can respect and trust to go where she asks him.
I mentioned in my last blog that I am fortunate enough to be starting Headley Britannia twins (gelding pictured). They are coming on really well and have nearly finished their four weeks. They will go home for a break before coming back for a couple of weeks consolidating the work I have done before they go and start their careers. I can’t wait to follow their progress; it would be a wonderful story if her progeny had half the success their mother did!
I was interested to see what differences they had, if any, in either temperament or trainability. The research into embryo transfer and the influence of the recipient mare is mainly focused on physical aspects and there is evidence that the size of the recipient mare can influence the size of the foal and bone measurements. However, I am more interested in whether the temperament of the recipient mare can influence, or nurture, that of their foal or whether the foal takes their temperament from the dam.
Although they look very similar, the filly is smaller than the gelding, which was probably due to a virus she contracted as a two-year-old. She is also a little more confident under saddle than the gelding, which may be due to her having more handling and life experiences due to her illness rather than traits from the recipient mare. However, with embryo transfer becoming increasingly popular, it could be that assessing the recipient mare will become an important factor.
On a completely different note my new tractor arrived today! Although I much prefer the four-legged variety of horsepower, I am secretly very proud of my new purchase and looking forward to testing it out on the fields tomorrow!
The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) released a statement this morning saying: “The British eventing senior selectors have decided to substitute Bayano… following the horse’s recent lack of form at the eventing CICO3* Nations Cup event in Aachen… All selected athlete/horse combinations are required to maintain their performance and fitness ahead of a championship.”
Tom Jackson, 22, sprang into the spotlight when he won the under-25 CCI3* at Bramham last year on his parents’ and his own Waltham Fiddlers Find. The pair have also won junior team gold (2011) and young rider team silver (2013) and team bronze medals (2014). They finished sixth in the under-25 class at Bramham this year.
Waltham Fiddlers Find is a 12-year-old by Jetset D, out of a Lux mare called Sabina. He has 440 British Eventing points and Tom has produced him throughout his eventing career, starting from BE90 and BE100 in 2009. The pair will make their senior championship debut at Blair.
In addition to this change, there has been a change of horse for Blair squad rider Izzy Taylor. She was initially selected with Allercombe Ellie, but the mare was lame in Aachen so did not compete. Izzy will now ride her direct reserve horse, Guy Avis’ 15-year-old KBIS Briarlands Matilda.
Full report of the eventing Nations Cup in Aachen in H&H this week, out Thursday, 20 August. This issue also contains our bumper report on the European Dressage Championships.
Come December when it's pouring with rain or we're breaking the ice on the trough, these things will be the least of our worries. But right now, here are a few summer hardships we're struggling with...
1. White hands on brown arms
Thanks to following sage advice to wear gloves at all times while riding/handling horses — and not caring for the alternative hardship of sweeping-with-sweaty-hands-induced-über-blisters — summertime riders are blessed with some interesting tan lines. The most amusing of these lies around the wrists, with hands that are so pale by comparison to your forearms that you wouldn’t need half the outfit required to take up that role as a Marcel Marceau impersonator.
2. White legs (despite incredibly brown arms)
Continuing with a theme here. Riders legs, never being out of breeches, can be so pasty in relation to the corresponding arms that they actually reflect sunlight when on a rare Sunday afternoon off they are exposed to a few rays. Given this unprecedented exposure they will proceed to turn the shade of a winner’s rosette in the time it takes to ride prelim 18.
If you want to keep your yard owner happy and on side, here are some things to avoid...
3. Deeply (un)attractive red lumps on both arms and legs
Courtesy of horseflies. For us more delicate specimens, a horsefly bite (or three) can render us not just cursing and scratching, but coming up in impressively large welds as our skin reacts as aggressively as a mare you’ve decided to ride at feed time. Nothing eases the irritation, whereas the heat exacerbates it tenfold. *scratch, scratch*
4. Soggy socks
Because, despite all advice, reason and common sense, you can’t face staying in your boots all day in this heat, and so swap out of your long, sensible, protective footwear into trainers. Trainers that have holes in them — either because they’re your old, knackered trainers that are now consigned to the yard, or because they’re your smart running trainers you paid extra for to have holes in, to make you more aerodynamic or something, and they happen to be in the car and it won’t destroy them to wear them at the yard just this once (it will). You will inevitably end up hosing off a horse in these shoes. Because it’s hot. So hot you even put your trainers on. And if you avoid hosing off a horse in them you’ll spill not insignificant amounts from a water bucket over one anyway.
5. In addition to being soggy (see above) your socks (and consequently feet) will also be filled/covered with sand/dirt/bedding from the school/field gateway/stable
Because it’s so damn hot you put on those trainers with holes in. And then you got on with things.
6. Tail lash, invariably to the face, while you try to groom your equine as a bluebottle lands on his flank.
And another one. Oh it’s back again. Relentlessly. Unsurprisingly, since horse tail is used to string violins I believe, this stings rather a lot.
Other than that, summer with horses (relaxing ride on a chilled equine before sunset anyone?) is heaven, and we wouldn’t swap it for the world.
Huntsmen new to carrying the horn triumphed with their charges at the 105th Irish Masters of Foxhounds’ Association (IMFHA) Show at Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, Eire on 5 July.
Conor Dwyer, 22, in his third season hunting the Island Foxhounds in Co. Wexford’s famous bank country, won five classes and took home the reserve unentered doghound championship with the home-bred Island Barrister (Paragon 11–Biscuit 10). They also claimed the stallion hound class with Island Paragon 11 (South Dorset Panther 08–Pickle 07) plus the doghound championship with Island Buster 11 (pictured top) (South & West Wiltshire Vanguard 08–Bunny 10).
Not a bad haul for a young huntsman from Co. Laois who gave up a business and law course to enter hunt service.
“It has been a learning curve but I either had to sink or swim,” said Dwyer. He readily acknowledges the legacy of his predecessors and the wealth of keen foxhound breeders in the country.
Assessing a record entry of 19 packs were doghound judges Henry Berkeley MFH and William Bryer MFH, the latter being no stranger to the Stradbally hound ring, and the afternoon bitch judges were Alastair Jackson and Charles Carter MFH.
The Co Limerick’s 26-year-old huntsman Fergus Stokes, now in his second season hunting this famous pack of Old English hounds, took the unentered class for their type with Co Limerick Sabbath (Carbery Commander 11–Sahara 11). They came second in the Old English part of the stallion hound class — the only Stradbally class where draft hounds may be shown — with Co Limerick Sizzler 12 (Duhallow Trooper 07–North Galway Sari 09). They also secured the same placing in the afternoon with his brood bitch sister Sidewalk 12.
Niall Dunne, in his second season at the Waterford, took the Old English division of the stallion hound class with the home-bred Waterford Lawrence 13 (Arnie 09–Ladybird 09).
In the Old English unentered bitch hound class, the Waterford’s winning unentered Snowdrop (Co Limerick Santa 11-Angle 10) was one of the few of that type showing size and real quality. They also took the Old English brood bitch title with Waterford Charity 12 (Chukka 07–Lavish 07).
The new kids on the block did not have it all their own way.Chris Francis, in his ninth season as Kildare huntsman from their Punchestown Racecourse kennels, won the unentered doghound championship with Fathom (Duke of Beaufort’s Hostage 10–East Galway Grammar 11) from the couples class.
The Wicklow’s Paisley (Cattistock Bramble 12–South Dorset Parody 13) took the ribbons in the unentered bitches and she went on to be reserve champion bitch shown by huntsman Philip Lazenby.
The experienced Henry brothers at the Meath produced the unentered bitch champion with Barmaid (Cottesmore Barty-Fabric 07) who came from the couples class. The Horse & Hound Cup presented in that class was taken home by East Down Bauble & Bargain (Bailey 10–Mistletoe 10), shown by huntsman Declan Feeney.
Not to be outdone by the bigger kennels, West Wicklow Label 14 (Middleton Gunner 07–Kildare Saintly 08) beat the East Down in the entered bitch class to the delight of their joint-master and huntsman Rupert Macauley, chairman of the IMFHA.
The stars of the early afternoon were from Mount Juliet, where huntsman Sam Staniland produced the winning bitch couple in Kilkenny Chutney 14 & Chariot 14 (Kildare Chaplin 07–Dorothy 11) in front of the South Tyrone and Wicklow.
The South Tyrone, whose hounds have a quality not seen in their Dungannon kennels for some years, reaped revenge by taking the two couples bitch class well shown by huntsman Ryan Carvill. This was the class of the day with eight packs producing an impressive sight in front of Stradbally Hall. The West Wicklow came second, the Kilkenny third and the Louth took reserve with their Old English entry shown by huntsman Alan Riley.
The Meath’s Mabel (North Shropshire Pirate 09-Madonna 09) won the brood bitch, with Waterford Charity 12 taking the Old English part of the class.
Rosettes were scattered evenly among other exhibiting hunts. The North Down’s new huntsman Barry Jones took a ticket in the unentered bitch couples, as did the South Union (Co Cork) with their Comedy 14 (Tipperary Captain 09-Crunchie 12). Not to be outdone by his Co. Cork neighbor, the United Hunt Club’s Sonny O’Donnell collected an Old English placing with their Tackler (Waterford Tanker 10-Lacey 11).
The Kilkenny deservedly won the bitch championship with Chutney 14 in front of the unentered Wicklow Paisley.
Before the doghound championship a presentation of certificates was made to those young students who had completed the Michael Morris Memorial Bursary Scheme. Michael Higgens, former master and huntsman of the four-day-a-week Tipperary Foxhounds, made the awards to Shane McGillick, who trained at the Westmeath with huntsman Niall Mahon, and Keith Broderick, who served with Ballymacad huntsman Kevin Donohoe. The IMFHA-sponsored scheme is now in its third year.
Founded in 1859 the IMFHA oversees 46 hunts in 32 counties including 6 packs in Northern Ireland. The annual show started at Clonmel on 6 August 1910 and settled at its present stunning location at Stradbally Hall, Co Laois in 2000, home of the hugely supportive Cosby family.
The show’s impressive trophies and cups are on display at the Foxhound Show ringside and tend to outshine in appearance and number those of any other hound show, some silverware dating from 1891.
Since moving to Stradbally the Foxhound Show, which is part of the Irish National Hound Show consisting of Harriers, Foot Harriers, Beagles plus equestrian rings, has become a major fixture in the hunting world. Northern Ireland hosts a second official Hound Show in Co Armagh with similar classes but with over 200 hounds in three rings on 5th July this year Stradbally can rightly claim to be “Ireland’s Peterborough”.
“It is great to see such interest”, said hound show chairman David Lalor MFH, “especially from those packs that have not previously shown”.
Results
JUDGES: Doghounds: Henry Berkeley MFH (the Berkeley) & William Bryer MFH (the Cattistock)
Bitch hounds: Alastair Jackson & Charles Carter MFH (the West Norfolk)
DOGHOUNDS
Class 1: Best unentered doghound whelped on or after 1 December 2013 (restricted).
1. West Wicklow Label (Middleton Gunner 07–Kildare Saintly 08).
2. East Down Risky (Heythrop Wiseman 11–Rascal 08)
3. Island Passive 11 (South Dorset Panther 08-Pickle 07).
4. South Union Crystal 14 (Tipperary Captain 09–Crunchie 12).
Class 12: Best couple of entered bitches (open)
1. Kilkenny Chutney 14 & Chariot 14 (Kildare Chaplin 07–Dorothy 11)
2. West Wicklow Boozy 14 (Middleton Gunner 07–Ledbury Ballad 09) & Label (Middleton Gunner 07–Kildare Saintly 08)
3. South Tyrone Beverage 14 & Benefit 14 (North Down Shylock 11–Fitzwilliam (Milton) Beverage 10)
4. East Down Ringlet 14 & Risky 14 (Heythrop Wiseman 11–Rascal 08)
Best entered bitch in this class: Kilkenny Chutney ’14
Class 13: Best two couple of entered bitches (open)
An advanced event horse proved his skill and honesty after jumping clear through a three-star water complex despite his bridle slipping and his ear covers dropping down in front of his eyes.
Man Hunt, ridden by Richard Skelt, suffered a “tack mishap” as he came into the first water at Hartpury CIC3* on 15 August.
“I jumped the fence before the water and I noticed the bridle had moved forward a little bit,” Richard told H&H.
“As I was galloping along, I reached forward and pulled it back into place.”
However, unbeknown to Richard, who was focusing on the fence, Man Hunt’s bridle slipped again and pushed his ear covers over his eyes.
The 11-year-old gelding carried on and jumped cleanly through the one-strided double, despite the ear covers interfering with his vision.
Credit: Helen Revington and Stephen Sparke
As he went to gallop away from the water complex, Richard realised what had happened.
“I pulled up straight after the water and took the ears off,” he told H&H.
The pair carried on, but later on the course the bridle slipped again and Richard decided to retire.
It was only when he saw the photos and watched it back on video that the rider could see what had happened.
“He jumped it like he could see, I am amazed that he actually did it,” he said.
“It felt like a good jump – It is not like he scrambled over it.”
He added the bridle had not slipped before.
Man Hunt, by Bonnie Prince, is owned by Una Roe and is in his fifth season of competition with Richard, who is based at Norman Cross near Peterborough.
The pair jumped clear across country at Tattersalls CCI3* and Belton CIC3* earlier this year and were hoping to secure their Burghley qualification at Hartpury.
They are now re-routing to Blenheim — with a new bridle.
Richard added they will also tie the bridle to a plait in future to ensure it does not happen again.
A horsebox crash near Stansted Airport caused traffic chaos on Sunday (16 August).
A silver horsebox was traveling southbound on the M11 at 9.10am when it struck the central reservation between Junction 8 (Bishop’s Stortford) and Junction 9 (Saffron Waldon).
Police closed one lane of the motorway in both directions while the road was cleared.
There were lengthy delays in both directions.
Officers believe those travelling inside the horsebox were not hurt in the accident.
“The horsebox had struck the central reservation, blocking one lane,” a spokesman for Essex Police told H&H.
“No other vehicle was involved in the collision and no animals or people are thought to have been injured.
“One lane was closed northbound and one lane was closed southbound while the scene was cleared.
“Officers from Highways England took over the situation at about 10.45am.”
Joe Clee and Utamaro D'Ecaussines in the speed competition at the 2015 European Showjumping Championships. Picture by Peter Nixon
Britain’s showjumpers made a fantastic start to their campaign at the FEI European Showjumping Championships in Aachen, Germany, today (19 August).
The team sit in bronze position after the speed and handiness competition, with Joe Clee also third individually.
Placings in today’s competition are converted into points to determine the team standings. Riders then carry these points with them throughout the team competition (Thursday and Friday) and, for the top 25, into Sunday’s individual final.
Joe was the final team member today and he rode tight, economical lines to finish clear in 69.67sec on Ludwig Criel’s Utamaro D’Ecaussines.
“I was aware I had to go fast and he’s a great horse to go fast on — the faster you go, the more he tries,” said Joe. “But I was worried about going fast for the first time in the arena as the faster you go the bigger he jumps. But he handled it well and the further round I went, the more risks I felt I could take.”
Joe Clee and Utamaro D’Ecaussines in the speed competition at the 2015 European Showjumping Championships. Picture by Peter Nixon
Britain’s first and second team members in, Michael Whitaker and Ben Maher, put the team in a strong position.
Michael was sent in first for the team as his horse is not particularly fast. His clear with Beverly Widdowson’s Cassionato put him 41st of the 92 starters today in 76.56sec.
“My horse is pretty inexperienced and not very fast because he jumps so high,” said Michael. “I did as good as I can today and I just need to carry on doing that, but the other three need to be faster than me.”
Ben was next in on Tatiana Korsakova’s Diva II and had a fantastic round for seventh place in 70.78sec.
“I played it safe to one jump, the Mercedes fence at number 10,” he said. “I saw one less stride quite a way back, but I felt her lose balance a bit [so I added a stride].”
Ben Maher and Diva II during the speed competition at the 2015 European Showjumping Championships. Picture by Peter Nixon
Jessica Mendoza took the number three slot today on her senior championship debut with Sarah Mendoza’s Spirit T. She started off well, but had the second part of the double at fence 8 down and then also fence 11, a purple oxer off four strides from the Mercedes upright. Her time was fast, but with 8sec added for the knockdowns she sits 56th on a total of 79.35sec.
“It wasn’t my best round,” said Jessica. “The first fence was a bit unlucky, then I pushed her on and she found the distance a bit short in there [to fence 11]. I try not to get nervous, but today I was a bit nervous.”
Britain’s focus here in Aachen is to win qualification for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, which means finishing in the top three, excluding the teams already qualified (the Netherlands, France, Germany, Sweden, the Ukraine). The team certainly got off the start blocks towards that aim in great style today.
Home side lead
Germany leads the team competition after today’s speed class. Three of their riders went clear, with Ludger Beerbaum (Chiara 222) sitting second, Christian Allman (Taloubet Z) eighth and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Fibonacci 17) 11th.
“We’ve only done a third of the team competition, so no one went completely flat out like you would in a jump-off, but I’m happy with my performance and that of my team,” said Ludger.
The fourth home side pair, Daniel Deusser and his 2014 World Cup champion Cornet D’Amour, had the gate at fence six down to sit 22nd — this was the largest fence on the course at 1.53m. This was one of the two places where course-designer Frank Rothenberger had given riders a choice of an inside or outside line over different fences, but the slower outside route was barely used.
France holds silver position, spearheaded by Penelope Leprovost, who retained the individual lead she took as the seventh rider into the arena today. She scorched round in 67.67sec on Flora De Mariposa.
“I was too long to the triple bar, but she was amazing,” said Penelope. “I didn’t think I would be so fast.”
Penelope Leprovost and Flora De Mariposa win the speed competition at the 2015 European Showjumping Championships. Picture by Peter Nixon
The ground in the arena felt a little soft underfoot today after some rain over the past few days, but riders said it rode well. Frank Rothenberger explained that he avoided setting any tight turns to protect the ground with nearly 100 horses running over it.
All the competitors progress to tomorrow’s team competition. After that, only the top 10 teams (out of 23 who have started today) and the top 50 individuals will move forward to Friday’s class.
Full report on the European Showjumping Championships in H&H next week, out Thursday, 27 August.
their mother did!
