Lucy Higginson says . . .
“The news broke last week that Di Lampard’s Abbervail Dream and Tim Stockdale’s ride, Fresh Direct Parcival, are confined to barracks with injuries. Coming on the back of It’s Magic Max’s sale to Lord Harris for Ireland’s Peter Charles to ride, this is a gloomy time for British show jumping.
“If there’s one time we need horses going soundly and sweetly for British riders, it’s now;August’s European Show Jumping Championships are our last chance to qualify for next year’s Olympics.”
Mark Phillips says . . .
“Since the end of April I have been to no less than four three-star and two four-star events. The whispers of “four-star” on the continent are getting louder as organisers recognise the possible returns from putting on something very special.
“I am sure we will see the world’s three- and four-star organisers jockeying to stage the World Championship, free from the shackles of the seven-discipline equestrian games, in the years either side of the World and Olympic CICs. To me, the upper level three-day events have never looked better.”
Graham Fletcher says . . .
“Let nobody think that top horses are in plentiful supply. In all countries, they are extremely hard to find. British teams of old could call on the likes of Milton, Anglezarke and Sportsman — greathorses produced and which stayed in this country. What a bearing it would have had if any of them had been sold abroad.
“I don’t blame anybody for selling, but I don’t believe this would have been allowed to happen anywhere else. Whilethe Irish managed to get a consortium together to buy Liscalgot for Dermott Lennon, all we in Britain do is shrug our shoulders.”
Richard Phillips says . . .
“The trouble with the Queen’s Birthday Honours List is that of all those deserved awards, many of them do not get the publicity they are due.
“Two worthy MBE recipients last week were the remarkable AP McCoy and Carrie Humble, founder of the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre.
“Carrie Humble’s deserved award will help the increasing numbers of people involved inthe future of ex-racehorses.”
