2016 was a year full of incredible highs and sadly, some terrible lows too. Here are the most-read news stories on Horseandhound.co.uk from the past 12 months
Two riders were disqualified in the first round of showjumping at the Rio Olympics. One was for overuse of the whip and the other for using his spurs excessively. Belgian individual competitor Nicola Philippaerts was riding Zilverstar T — a 12-year-old KWPN stallion by Berlin. The horse refused twice at 11b, the second part of the difficult double on the final line of fences. Nicola, 23, was then disqualified by the ground jury for excessive use of his spurs. The Netherlands’ Jur Vrieling was riding Zirocco Blue and had two refusals, one at 4b — the second part of the treble — and one at 11a. He and the 12-year-old stallion by Mr Blue were disqualified after the ground jury deemed the rider to have used his whip excessively.
Robbie Sanderson was injured during the team dressage medal ceremony at the Rio Olympics
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Robbie Sanderson, a British groom working for the German team at the Rio Olympics was injured in the team medal ceremony. He was leading Sönke Rothenerger’s nine-year-old Cosmo 59, who was part of the German gold medal winning team, when the horse reared up and struck out, catching him on the head and knocking him to the ground.
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Ashley Gowanlock (CAN) & Di Scansano - Individual Championship Test Grade Ib – Rio 2016 Paralympic Games – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 14 September 2016
(Image credit: Jon Stroud Media)
There was panic at the equestrian stadium in Rio when Canadian rider Ashley Gowanlock suffered a dramatic fall at the end of her individual championship test. Ashley was taken to hospital as a precaution, but suffered no serious injuries, just bruising and a slightly sprained ankle.
Young showjumper Richard Howley (pictured) was stripped of his win in the under-25 class on Clane K at the Equestrian.com Liverpool International horse show, disqualified from the remainder of the competition and handed an FEI yellow card after walking his horse in-hand in a non-designated area on 2 January.
Charlotte Dujardin GBR winner of the gold medal during the Grand Prix Freestyle for the individual Dressage competition at the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Deodoro near Rio, Brazil on 15th August 2016 kisses kiss valegro
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The moment Carl Hester revealed that Valegro would not compete again and that he would be retired at Olympia Horse Show.
The British groom working for the German team at the Olympics in Rio who was injured in the team dressage prize-giving assured Horse & Hound that he is “really fine”. Robbie Sanderson was taken to hospital immediately after the incident, but was discharged within an hour and a half. “I’m phenomenally well,” said Robbie. “It really looked a lot worse than it was. It was just the wrong place at the wrong time and a shame it had to happen in front of everyone.”
A video of Penelope Leprevost appearing to use excessive force while warming up for a class in Gothenburg, where the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping final took place, sparked heated debate online.
If you wanted to walk the Rio Olympics cross-country course but your bank account didn’t quite allow for the airfare to Brazil, our fence-by-fence pictures were the next best thing to taking a stroll around the Deodoro venue yourself.
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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.
