The past 12 months were full of highs and sadly, some terrible lows too. Here is the list of the most-read news stories on Horseandhound.co.uk during 2015...
1. Horse owner killed in clipping accident
Read by +116,000 website visitors
Fifty-five-year-old Mary Hance from Norfolk was killed due to injuries she sustained while clipping her horse. Her daughter said at the time of her death: “She had dedicated her whole life to horses”. Many tributes poured in for the “exceptional horse woman”.
2. William Fox-Pitt conscious but still very ill in hospital
Read by +99,700 website visitors
One of the updates that followed William Fox-Pitt’s serious fall while competing at Le Lion d’Angers in France provided a glimmer of hope for his fans. The news that he had “made progress” and was now conscious in hospital was a promising sign and we continue to wish William well in his recovery.
3. Outrage after riders jump car: welfare investigation underway
Read by +94,500 website visitors
Photographs online of horses and riders jumping a car during a ride in Ireland left H&H readers horrified. Welfare organisations were unindated with concerns from the public who saw images of horses jumping the car that still had a windscreen and glass in the windows.
4. ‘I’m utterly devastated’: Drama on final night of Olympia as winner is eliminated *VIDEO*
Read by +88,500 website visitors
The equestrian world was left shocked when young Irishman Bertram Allen was disqualified from the Olympia grand prix after blood was found on the flanks of Quiet Easy 4, promoting Michael Whitaker on Viking into first place.
5. Black horse returns to Lloyds Bank advertising campaign *VIDEO*
Read by +74,900 website visitors
The return of the Lloyds Bank’s iconic black horse proved a huge success and very popular with both horse enthusiasts and the general public alike.
6 and 7. William Fox-Pitt fall updates
Read by +73,146/+72,500 website visitors
The ongoing story of top British event rider William Fox-Pitt following his serious fall while competing in France in October 2015 had his fans on tenterhooks as they awaited updates. The initial story that he had suffered injuries was a massive shock to us all but the subsequent news that he was stable in hospital provided a little comfort.
Continued below…
Top 10 stories that made you laugh in 2015
From horsey stereotypes to the day-to-day struggles we are all too familiar with, check out the humorous articles that you've More…
8. First I’ve heard of it — Carl Hester clarifies the recent Valegro retirement story
Read by +65,000 website visitors
Carl Hester was shocked to read a story claiming that superstar dressage horse Valegro was retiring after the 2016 Olympic Games. He told H&H what was actually going on after Charlotte Dujardin told film crews that the horse wouldn’t continue competing after Rio.
9. Horse rescued after pony was ‘eaten by dogs’ *Warning* contains graphic images
Read by +63,500 website visitors
Three horses were rescued from a property in North Lincolnshire in January after reports a pony was being eaten by a pack of dogs.
10. Horror endurance pictures continue to shock
Read by +61,500 website visitors
It was a case of extreme cruelty which was inconceivable as pictures of Splitters Creek Bundy, the horse with two broken forelegs, caused a storm on social media (not pictured).