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...
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”.
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.
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.
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Bertram ALLEN ( IRL ) riding Quiet Easy 4, (in 2nd Round), winner of The Olympia Grand Prix (Class 25), at The London International Horse Show 2015 at Olympia, London, UK on 21th December 2015
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
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.
Chilli Morning conformation and William Fox Pitt Portraits portrait
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
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.
Dressage; du jardin; hester; lucinda green; valegro
(Image credit: Jon Stroud)
Carl Hester explained to H&H what his plans were for superstar dressage horse Valegro after the BBC claimed the horse was to retire after the 2016 Olympic Games following an interview with Blueberry’s rider Charlotte Dujardin.
In a extreme case of inconceivable cruelty, pictures of Splitters Creek Bundy, the horse with two broken forelegs, caused a storm on social media (not pictured).
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Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor
Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
