
Ellie Hughes
Ellie has been a freelance writer for Horse & Hound since 2009 having cut her journalistic teeth as assistant and then deputy editor of Eventing magazine.
She has contributed to H&H in a variety of roles, as a reporter for all the main disciplines, features writer, veterinary page coordinator and news writer. She has compiled the eventing highlights page since it first appeared in the magazine in 2010.
Ellie has also written extensively on country lifestyle and rural topics for publications such as Country Life and The Country Smallholder, where she has penned features on matters as diverse as the history of the full English breakfast to the business of rewilding. She has co-written two books — Two Brains, One Aim with Olympic event rider and coach, Eric Smiley, and Happy Days and Winning Ways with former junior and young rider team trainer, Gill Watson.
Ellie has worked for media teams at international events, including London 2012, Royal Windsor, Badminton, Burghley, Blenheim, Gatcombe and Blair.
In the saddle, she is a former Pony Club eventing national champion and has produced several horses from scratch to advanced level, including her very special 15hh homebred Short Changed. She trained one of her former eventers to small tour level in dressage, finishing third in the National Championships at advanced medium, and is now trying to complete the hat-trick of disciplines with her current competition horse, who has recently made the switch from eventing to showjumping.
While not at her desk or on a horse, Ellie runs a busy cross-country schooling course at her home in Kent.
-
Foal rescued on Christmas day dies despite ‘incredible’ effort to save himThe skewbald colt, believed to be around eight months old, was found collapsed in mud
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
More than 40 horses die in racing yard fireFirefighters from five different departments were called to Jamie and Barb Miller’s Classy Lane Stables in Canada
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Cross-country safety study given $25,000 boostJacqueline Mar has offered to give the money on the condition that the governing body can raise an equal figure by mid-January
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
British Eventing tests alternative frangible device for cross-country fences *H&H VIP*While the frangible pin is only effective on post and rail fences, the MIM clip allows other jumps, such tables, gates and arrowheads, to collapse
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Back On Track Therapeutic saddlepad: reviewBy Ellie Hughes Published
-
Calls for riding schools to cater for more experienced riders *H&H VIP*Could horse sport be losing out to the mass appeal and better facilities enjoyed by other sports? And how can this be tackled?
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Ex-racehorse rehabilitation and retraining pilot scheme a successA new structure created by World Horse Welfare and Retraining of Racehorses hopes to evolve into a long-term solution for horses who can no longer race
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Popular amateur rider killed in car crashFriends pay tribute to the rider who ran a riding school and livery yard who tragically lost his life
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
10 secrets of winning event rider Flora HarrisThe winner of this year's Equi Trek Bramham CCI3* Horse Trials tells all
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Pressure mounts on FEI to overhaul dressage judging [H&H VIP]As score discrepancies become an increasing bugbear, the International Dressage Riders Club says it’s time for a new-look system
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Do electric fences make horses stressed?A Swiss study has looked at the effects of electric fencing on horses
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Riders propose committee to fight welfare issues [H&H VIP]Riders have proposed a new ethics committee which they hope will improve the process by which welfare issues within equestrian sport is investigated
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Keep on top of FEI rules and regulations with new appThe free FEI RuleApp allows users to view the latest FEI rules and regulations, both online and offline, on mobile devices
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Top judge suffers broken leg when kicked at showRichard Mills was overseeing the Hunter Supreme Championship at Balmoral Show in Belfast
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Top point-to-point mare retired to studChesnut Annie, one of the most successful point-to-pointers of the last decade, has been retired to stud at the age of 14
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Where are all the course-designers? [H&H VIP]Is cross-country course-designing a dying art? We investigate why up-and-coming designers are so few and far between
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Mary King reveals why she withdrew Kings Temptress from BadmintonThe massively popular British event rider has revealed why Kings Temptress was withdrawn after the dressage
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Men take note: if you want to bag yourself a filly, go on a date with a horseForget hot air balloon rides, trips to Paris or even a visit to the cinema, horse riding is your ideal first date
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Rider retires from eventing to focus on racingThe former CCI3* winner has decided to call time on his eventing career
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Dressage competitions stripped from show centreThe centre has had its affiliation to British Dressage removed and has been told to return competitors' entry fees
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Hat camera ban lifted in IrelandEventing Ireland has followed the United States' lead and lifted its ban on hat cameras with immediate effect
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Victoria Pendleton moves a step closer to her racing dream [VIDEO]The Olympic cycling champion has started training over jumps after revealing that she has set her sights on becoming an amateur jockey
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
Is the new eventing test ‘a recipe for disaster’?Eventers have 'cautiously welcomed' new lower level international dressage tests, but there are concerns over the new four-star test
By Ellie Hughes Published
-
New medical armband rule sparks debateThe armbands are no longer compulsory in British Eventing competitions which has caused some concerns within the eventing community
By Ellie Hughes Published
