The British squad for the eventing World Championships in Aachen (12-16 August) has been revealed, following much speculation. Unsurprisingly, the effort is spearheaded by the trio who won team gold at the Olympics two years ago.

Laura Collett (London 52) and Tom McEwen (JL Dublin), the individual gold and bronze medallists at last year’s Agria European Championships, are joined by their Paris team-mate Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo), who missed the Europeans owing to her pregnancy but made a spectacular comeback at Mars Badminton Horse Trials with her third win there.

Their selection will shock nobody and will not be in any way controversial.

Gemma Stevens had emerged as a favourite for a place on the squad this spring with Flash Cooley and they have duly landed a spot.

The West Sussex-based rider and this smart grey have banked lots of super four-star form in the past few years, including experience at Aachen. This will be Gemma’s first senior championship since she was on the gold medal-winning team at the 2018 worlds in Tryon with Arctic Soul. Flash Cooley is the only horse or rider on the squad making a championship debut.

One has to assume the fifth and final spot was a tough decision – and whoever received that magic phone call, several others could feel aggrieved.

Caroline Harris is the one heading to Aachen, her recent win at Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials with D. Day evidently sealing the deal. Their two five-star wins bracket five top-10 four-star short results over the past two seasons – and a single, high-profile error at the European Championships at Blenheim Horse Trials.

It will be announced once the British squad are in Aachen for the eventing World Championships which four riders are on the team and who rides as an individual but at this stage, it’s probably fair to assume Caroline, the least experienced rider of the squad, will be the individual.

The reserve list gives us an idea of who narrowly missed out on a spot – alphabetically, David Doel (Galileo Nieuwmoed), Yasmin Ingham (Gypsie Du Loir), Tom Jackson (United 36) and Harry Meade (Cavalier Crystal).

The obvious omission from the combined squad and reserve lists? Bubby Upton with Its Cooley Time. Selectors obviously decided their run of falls couldn’t be overlooked, despite their win at Defender Bramham Horse Trials. It will be a harsh blow to Bubby, but she will no doubt come back fighting and has plenty of team appearances in her future.

British squad for the eventing World Championships 2026

The entries are announced in collaboration with the British Eventing selectors and World Class Programme principal partner Agria.

Ros Canter with 14-year-old gelding Lordships Graffalo
Owners: Michele and Archie Saul
Breeder: Lordships Stud and Pennie Wallace
Breeding: by Birkhof’s Grafenstolz TSF, out of a mare by Rock King
Groom: Sarah Charnley

Laura Collett with 17-year-old gelding London 52
Owners: Keith Scott, Karen Bartlett and rider
Breeder: Ocke Riewerts
Breeding: by Landos, out of a mare by Quinar Z
Groom: Tilly Hughes

Caroline Harris with 12-year-old gelding D. Day
Owners: Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle
Breeder: Fiona Olivier
Breeding: by Billy Mexico, out of a mare by Dilum
Groom: Nellie Smith

Tom McEwen with 15-year-old gelding JL Dublin
Owners: Deirdre Johnston and Jo and James Lambert
Breeder: Volker Goettsche-Goetze
Breeding: by Diarado, out of a mare by Canto 16
Groom: Adam Short

Gemma Stevens with 14-year-old gelding Flash Cooley, 14
Owner: Pru Dawes
Breeder: Jim O’Neill
Breeding: by CSF Mr Croon, out of a mare by OBOS Quality
Groom: Georgie Driver

Reserves in alphabetical order

David Doel with 15-year-old gelding Galileo Nieuwmoed
Owners: Mary Fox, Gillian Jonas and rider
Breeders: J. W. and A. P. Jurrius
Breeding: by Carambole, out of a mare by Harcos

Yasmin Ingham with 10-year-old mare Gypsie Du Loir
Owners: Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund
Breeder: Pierre Gouye
Breeding: by Herald 3 out of a mare by Canaletto

Tom Jackson with 10-year-old gelding United 36
Owner: Michael Stenning
Breeder: Heinrich Bohmke
Breeding: by Ucello out of a mare by Espiri

Harry Meade with 16-year-old mare Cavalier Crystal
Owners: Charlotte and Peter Opperman
Breeder: Thomas Horgan
Breeding: by Jack Of Diamonds out of a mare by Cavalier Royale

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The iconic British lifestyle brand Cath Kidston, renowned for its famous vintage-inspired prints and nostalgic charm, has launched its very first equestrian collection, bringing its signature heritage prints to horse wear and stable accessories.

Cath Kidston’s first dedicated equestrian collection includes a co-ordinated range of waterproof fly rugs, fly masks, saddle pads, headcollars and durable stable toys, developed in partnership with licensing specialist Pet Brands Limited.

The range features Cath Kidston's recognisable print-led designs with two exclusive patterns – the much-loved “Strawberry Garden” and the reimagined “Cowgirl” classic – seen throughout the launch collection.

Pet Brands Limited described the launch as “a landmark moment”, saying the expansion bridges specialist equestrian retail with the wider lifestyle market and brings “joyful, print-led design” to horse wear and accessories.

This collection is tailored for horse owners seeking to bring a unique British design aesthetic to their daily yard essentials. Alongside practical kit, including headcollars, saddle pads and fly protection, the range also includes stable toys, which highlights the growing emphasis on equine enrichment and horse welfare.

The collection is available now via selected equestrian retailers.

Cath Kidston Equestrian collection

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Welcome to Horse & Hound’s live reporting service covering all the showing action from the Agria Royal International Horse Show 2026. I am here at Hickstead every day, from Wednesday through to Sunday, dashing from ring to ring to bring you all the showing news as it happens. So stand by to hear who is at the top of the line in their classes, and which pairs will be heading through to the all-important section championships.

In the meantime, check out our showing editor Bethan Simons preview in which she looks back at some historic highlights from Royal International Horse Show.

• When Winston Churchill visited the Royal International, and other standout showing highlights from Hickstead’s history

Meet our Royal International live reporter

Good morning from a beautiful sunny morning at Hickstead.

I'll be ringside all day bringing you the latest results from the Royal International. Currently underway, we have the 153cm show hunter ponies – six of 22 ponies have done their shows already – and the M&M young rider small breeds are kicking off proceedings in the Roger Stack arena

It will be interesting to see how the initial pulls translate to final placings currently we have Brynrodyn Danielle (Mia Bella Long) holding the top spot. We still have 10 individual shows to go though and some lovely performances…

The first sets of results are due imminently in the 153cm show hunter pony ring, as the judges are having their final discussions.

The New Horizon Plastics Ltd 153cms Show Hunter Pony Championship results

Scarlett Davis holds her top pull to take the win on Brynteg Llwynau Red Rose!

1. Brynteg Llwynau Red Rose
2. Carnsdale Toy Boy
3. Goretermone Corneto
4. Ballarin Baroness
5. Oscar Cookson
6. Just Murphy II
7. Carnsdale Wise Guy
8. Rosscon Copycat

UK Ponies & Horses/Anthony Evans Insurance Young Riders M&M Small Breeds Championship results

The M&M young rider small breeds results are in…

1. Marsh Walk On By
2. Cadlanvalley Royal Bronze
3. Thistledown Princess Letitia
4. Brynrodyn Danielle
5. Dykes Blue Moon
6. Blackertor Boston
7. Tromps Sugar Rush
8. Nevanscott Call The Shots

The M&M amateur riders are in the ring and it’s lovely to see the class split in half for the go-round. Gives everyone plenty of space, and the judges a good opportunity for their initial assessment of the 23 exhibits forward ahead of pulling in.

So who's made the best first impression in the amateur riders ridden M&M championship?

New Forest Purewell Poppy Lou – winner of this class in 2022 – holds the top spot, followed by Highland Kincardine Uist (need I tell any showing buffs that they were dual winners at HOYS last year), then Welsh C Dorneyrow Jackpot Boy. How will this translate in the final placings?

Two of the 143cm show hunter ponies have left the ring after the go-round – we wish both combinations all the best. Sutton Grange Fancy That and Isla Smith have the top pull at the moment.

UKPH/Anthony Evans Insurance amateur riders ridden M&M championship results

She does it! Jessica Norris wins back her crown from four years previously – and proves judges were spot on with their first impressions!

1. Purewell Poppy Lou
2. Playmaker
3. Glencarrig Dubai
4. Melliver Willy Wonka
5. Saulire Thunder Struck
6. Dorneyrow Jackpot Boy
7. Llangorra Ginger Port
8. Kincardine Uist

New Horizon Plastics 143cm show hunter pony results

21 beautiful 143cm show hunter ponies whittled down to a top eight, and Isla Smith and Sutton Grange Fancy That top the line up!

1. Sutton Grange Fancy That
2. Tandridge First Edition
3. Derw Easy Tiger
4. Cloneyogan Guy
5. Morning Sunflower
6. Annandale Super Trouper
7. Annandale Aragon
8. Bonhitas Subject Of Circumstance

Isla Smith and "FT" actually won this class last year too, having only very recently joined forces at that point, and they were reserve section champions. It’ll be interesting to see how the championship unfolds for them this time.

Not all wins come from topping the class. Victoria Walker – who dabbled in show reporting herself some years ago before "going to uni and having to get a real job" – says she was "ready to quit showing" before coming up from a fifth-place pull to be second in the M&M amateur ridden championship on seven-year-old Connemara stallion Playmaker.

"He's a really traditional stamp, with a lot of bone and in a world with so much variety in terms of type, judges either love him or don't," she says.

"Recently we just had a string of bad luck and I just thought 'we've got no chance, maybe we need to switch disciplines'," she adds. "He likes jumping. Maybe we go eventing – I'd actually really like to do Badminton grassroots!

"But I just can't believe that happened today. He came out, gave it his all and I'm so pleased the judges liked it too.”

The smallest show hunter ponies – the 123cm division – are in ring five now, with the judges' initial pull putting a very polished looking Isabella Walker and Westfirle Cinnamon Star in their top spot for now. They've done their show, and stripped, and so begins the long waiting game!

Behind them at the moment are Lily Cowley-Bickenson and Sancarlo – a seven-year-old pony who won this class in 2024.

An emaciated pony found dead in a stream is thought to have fallen in while in search of water.

Owner Harriet Midgley, of York Place, York Street, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, has been banned from keeping equids for life after the “horrible” circumstances in which her pony Pip was found.

The 26-year-old had pleaded guilty to one Animal Welfare Act offence at a hearing on 30 April, and was sentenced on 10 July by Kirklees magistrates, who described Pip’s circumstances as “horrible”.

The court heard the RSPCA was called in after the 12-year-old Shetland’s body was found in the stream at Wood Bottom Lane, Brighouse, on 11 January 2024.

RSPCA Inspector Adam Dickinson, who went to the scene the next day, gave a written statement to the court. He said the field was covered in snow and ice, and there were hazards including barbed and razor wire, sharp, rusty fragments of metal and broken fence posts.

“Several trees had teeth/gnaw marks where the bark had been stripped,” he said, adding that bins used to store horse feed appeared “quite old” and there was a “strong, unpleasant smell” coming from them.

“This is an area where there was once a pig barn,” he said. “Several hazards were present, and the floor was very unsteady, with lots of gaps and areas where an animal could become stuck or fall through. The floor was completely covered in faeces and was approximately 10cm thick for the most part, some areas 20 to 30cm deep.”

Mr Dickinson said there was an empty bucket and an empty haynet, and that a supporting beam and some fence panels appeared to have been gnawed.

“The area of the beck where Pip was found could not be accessed any other way than down the bank,” he said. “This was down a seven to eight-metre drop and a gradient of approximately 70 degrees. You could see the flattened vegetation and it appeared that Pip had fallen down the bank, rather than walked.”

The RSPCA spokesperson said there were seven buckets and a large tub in two other “hazard-strewn” areas but all were frozen solid, and the only accessible water was in the stream in which Pip was found dead.

“The court heard the grey Shetland, who was taken to an equine crematorium, was in very poor bodily condition,” an RSPCA spokesperson said. “His spine, ribs and hips were visibly prominent and there was a small wound above his left eye. Pip’s shoulders, neck and head were all stained brown from where he had been submerged under water.”

The spokesperson said the court heard other people had raised concerns with Midgley about the fencing, lack of grazing and unsuitable environment “but offers of help were refused multiple times”.

“Following snowfall on 5 January, no footprints were seen in the field afterwards, and Midgley confirmed to someone else that she had not been out to feed Pip since,” the spokesperson said. “CCTV showed the Shetland had been provided with hay by a member of the public on 30 December before the pony was discovered dead 13 days later.”

A vet who gave written evidence said it was unclear whether Pip was alive when he went into the stream, and drowned, or had died before he went in.

“It is likely from the evidence of Adam Dickinson that the pony fell from the top of the banking due to the environment in that area on his arrival,” the vet said.

“The stream was the only available water source for a number of days and so it is highly likely the pony was trying to access it. The pony was in an emaciated state and as such, he would have been far too weak to traverse a bank as steep as that.

“I cannot confirm this was the absolute scenario that led to the pony being found dead within the stream, but given the circumstances of the environment and the emaciated condition of the pony it seems highly probable.

“However, there is clear and consistent evidence that the pony was in an emaciated condition and that the cause of this was likely primary malnutrition over many weeks. The pony was visually and obviously underweight in July 2024, as demonstrated by photographs, and therefore the owner had more than ample time to respond to his failing health.”

The vet said Midgley had failed to provide an adequate diet, suitable environment and appropriate veterinary care and had neglected “the most basic aspects of equine ownership”, which had led Pip to suffer, the spokesperson said.

“In interview with the RSPCA, Midgley said Pip had never looked as thin to her as he did in the image she was shown when he was found. She said he looked to be losing weight about two to four weeks before she last saw him but that he was fed often. Apart from an initial visit, he had not seen a vet in the time she had owned him and she saw no reason to, the court was told.”

In mitigation it was said that Midgley had provided “well-intentioned but incompetent care”. The court heard she had a “deep love of horses” and was well thought of at the premises where she had previously kept equines.

Midgley was also given an 18-month community order and must carry out 270 hours of unpaid work. She was ordered to pay costs of £750 and a victim surcharge of £114. She will not be able to contest the ban for 10 years.

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Following the heartbreaking news that two riders lost their lives competing affiliated horse trials on Saturday 18 July, we decided to hold fellow event rider Harry Meade’s planned guest edit as a mark of respect to Sophie Fouracre and Kerry Donoghue. Our thoughts remain with their families and friends. Harry Meade’s special issue will be published in September.

Instead this week’s edition of Horse & Hound, in shops from Thursday 23 July, features William Whitaker and his Hickstead Derby victor Flamboyant III as our cover star. Inside William talks us through his epic win. We also detail the major reforms proposed for the veterinary sector, the protection confirmed for Dartmoor hill ponies and more in our news pages.

Hear from Mark Philips and Chris Smith on hot topics in eventing and showjumping and read our in-depth analysis of champion Connemara Castle Comet as a legend of the sport.

In this week’s Vet Clinic, we cover everything horse buyers should look for. We also take a peek at eyecatching equestrian properties and discuss horses’ social lives in the magazine. This week’s foal file is Harry Meade’s eventing star Annaghmore Valoner.

As ever, enjoy in-depth reports from the latest fixtures, including the Great Yorkshire Show, Project Pony Aston-le-Walls and much, much more. There are many other articles for equestrians to enjoy inside – see a more detailed breakdown below.

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• Order a single issue for delivery
• Subscribe to the paper magazine
• Download FREE digital magazine

What’s in Horse & Hound magazine: on sale 23 July 2026

News

• Major reforms proposed for the veterinary sector
• Immense sadness as two event riders lose their lives
• Protection confirmed for Dartmoor hill ponies
• Government finally listens to firework concerns

Opinion

• Letters of the week
• Eventing: Mark Phillips
• Showjumping: Chris Smith

People and horses

• How I won: William Whitaker reflects on his second Hickstead Derby win
• All in a day’s work: Pony Club instructor, Chris Barnett
• Legends of the sport: Connemara showing stallion Castle Comet
• Foal files: Top eventer Annaghmore Valoner 

Property

• Made you look: Three eye-catching equestrian properties 

Vet Clinic

• What buyers should look out for when shopping for a new horse

Features

• Harmonious herds: What we know about our horses’ social lives

Reports

• Eventing: Project Pony Aston-le-Walls
• Showjumping: Chard International, Scottish Home Pony and more 
• Showing: Great Yorkshire and Stithians Show
• Dressage: Youth Europeans and more

Hunting

• Great Yorkshire hound show: Gloucestershire packs take the top two titles

Classified Ads

• Horses for sale, horseboxes, vehicles, stabling, jobs, insurance and more

Get your magazine

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• Order a single issue for delivery
• Subscribe to the paper magazine
• Download FREE digital magazine
  

Reigning Olympic champions Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH spearhead the German team hunting for individual and team glory at the 2026 eventing World Championships (11 to 23 August).

Michael will start as one of the big individual gold medal hopes with the 18-year-old gelding, who has been a stalwart of German teams since the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon. To win the individual world title on home soil with this remarkable horse would be a special moment for a man who has, really, won it all.

The pair, who won Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2022 and 2025, scored individual glory at Paris 2024 and finished runner-up to Laura Collett and London 52 at last year’s Europeans. Although the British team is yet to be announced, it’s likely those eventing heavyweights will meet again in Aachen. Add in three-time Mars Badminton Horse Trials winners Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo to the likely mix and the race for gold is shaping up to be a clash of eventing giants.

The German team is very strong, and competing on home ground should be an advantage. Although the word “should” must be taken with a pinch of salt in horse sport, as we saw with the unlucky Brits at their home Europeans last year.

Three combinations from last year’s victorious team at the Blenheim Europeans feature in the line-up for the 2026 World Championships: Michael and FischerChipmunk FRH, Malin Hansen-Hotopp with Carlitos Quidditch K and Libussa Lübbeke with Caramia FRH.

Julia Krajewski and Uelzener's Nickel are back on the squad, after withdrawing their bid for selection for the 2025 Europeans. Julia, who was crowned Olympic champion in Tokyo with Amande De B’Neville, will be one to watch among the individual medal hopes, too, with this exciting 12-year-old.

Christoph Wahler, who helped the German team to gold at the last World Championships in Pratoni, also rejoins the squad after missing last year’s Europeans. He rides his five-star campaigner and championship debutant D’Accord FRH, with whom he has finished ninth at Kentucky and seventh at Badminton.

A notable absentee is Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice, part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2025 Europeans and who have finished in the top 10 on both their senior championship starts. The 16-year-old gelding hasn’t competed internationally this year and did not feature on the nominated entries, so is presumably on the sidelines this season.

German eventing team for the 2026 World Championships

The full squad, in alphabetical order by athlete surname, is:

Malin Hansen-Hotopp with 14-year-old gelding Carlitos Quidditch K

Owner: Dr Bodil Ipsen

Breeder: Miriam Kühl

Breeding: Quiwi Dream, out of a mare by San Patrignano Cassini

Michael Jung with 18-year-old gelding FischerChipmunk FRH

Owner: Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Joachim Jung and the DOKR

Breeder: Sabine and Dr Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff

Breeding: by Contendro I, out of a mare by Heraldik

Julia Krajewski with 12-year-old gelding Uelzener's Nickel

Owner: Prof Dr Bernd Heicke

Breeder: Hindrick Stüvel

Breeding: by Numero Uno, out of a mare by Lorentin

Libussa Lübbeke with 16-year-old mare Caramia FRH

Owner: Annelie and Dr Martin Lübbeke

Breeder: Annelie Lübbeke

Breeding: by Comte, out of a mare by Fabriano

Christoph Wahler with 14-year-old gelding D'Accord FRH

Owner: Hendrik von Paepcke and Stefan Haupt

Breeder: Christa von Paepcke

Breeding: by Diarado, out of a mare by Aarking

Reserves:

Arne Bergendahl with 10-year-old gelding Bronco NRW

Owner: Dr Susanne Dörner

Breeder: Helmut Bergendahl

Breeding: by Blockbuster, out of a mare by La Calido

Julia Krajewski with 12-year-old gelding Tullabeg Platinum

Owner: Michael Sperl

Breeder: Nicholas Cousins

Breeding: by Dignified Van't Zorgvliet, out of a mare by Cult Hero

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Ben Maher and his team were unsure whether Maddox VH Haringvliet Z would ever come back to his sport after extensive treatment for a stomach issue – but he rode the nine-year-old to a fabulous grand prix win at Chard.

The Zangersheide gelding had six months off after last summer but was on top form on Sunday, looking full of jumping and zest as they cruised to win the CSI3* Chedington Equestrian grand prix over six and a half seconds ahead of Carron Nicol and RRH Out Of The Blue.

“He’s a big horse with a great brain and one of the nicest in the stable. This is his first big win and we’re going to enjoy it,” said Ben.

“I didn’t expect to win with such a big margin, but I went early, don’t like not being fast enough and expected the others to come much closer. I can’t remember the last time I won by such a big margin.

“Maddox is amazing, very promising, but last year he had a horrible time, and he missed the best of the whole year. He’d jumped well in Aachen, but he wasn’t quite right; we eventually found out there was something wrong with his stomach and under a specialist, he had a lot of treatment which took a long time. We weren’t sure he was ever going to make a comeback.”

Maddox VH Haringvliet Z on good form

But Maddox VH Haringvliet Z has been in fine form since he has returned to the ring, securing CSI5* placings at Aachen and St Gallen before this Ben’s first trip to Chard.

“It’s a great place, good food and with great people who try really hard – Jane [Gregory] and her team of organisers deserve the thanks,” Ben said. “I had my kids here and it was lovely to have a place where they could get out of the sun. I was very happy to support this show – good courses and good sport and my horses learned a lot here; it was a high standard and there were no easy wins.”

Only eight of 27 starters went through to the jump-off; Ben said the course was big and technical.

“This show at Chard was ideal for [Maddox] to be at a level where he needs to be to show what he can do,” Ben said. “He’s nine but lost so much [time] last year. On Friday he was second, there were a couple of turns that were for a more experienced horse and he just hung a lot, but the grand prix was more free-flowing and we were quicker.

“I’ll pick and choose the shows for him, he doesn’t need to be pushed. I think he’s got what it takes and I’ll try to produce him to be ready for next year.”

Tim Gredley and his championship ride Medoc De Toxandria took third place.

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With top-class showjumping on offer in one of the nation’s most beloved arenas, there have been some truly fantastic moments at the Agria Royal International Horse Show.

Top Royal International showjumping memories

In no particular order, I’ve chosen a few favourites to whet your appetite ahead of this year’s fixture.

Janet Hunter and Lisnamarrow’s remarkable run

Scotland’s leading lady Janet Hunter and her spectacular white-faced Lisnamarrow were one of the most memorable partnerships of the late 1980s and the early ’90s.

Together, they won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 1988, 1989 and 1991 – holding a unique place in history as the only combination to have accomplished this impressive hat-trick.

Lisnamarrow, known as Scotty, had made comebacks from injury to take the wins, having had the best part of a year out following the Olympic selection trial at Hickstead in 1988. He returned to the ring three months before their 1989 victory, when Janet beat her mentor Liz Edgar and Everest Rapier by more than three seconds.

“I was based at Ted and Liz Edgars’ and beat Liz in the jump-off, which didn’t go down well with Ted! They all packed up and left me to celebrate without them!” Janet recalls.

The pair’s 1991 victory was a nostalgic milestone as it was the final year the RIHS was held at Birmingham NEC, which had hosted it from 1982.

Great Britain’s Nations Cup triumph

A spine-tingling roar echoed around Hickstead on Nations Cup Friday in 2023, when Great Britain put an end to a 13-year drought without a home victory.

The spell was broken in spectacular fashion by maestros John Whitaker and Unick Du Francport, who sealed the deal with a fairy-tale clear round.

On his 180th team appearance, John was joined by Ben Maher, Harry Charles and Tim Gredley to finish on four faults.

“The first time I came to Hickstead was in 1970 or 1971 with a pony. But today was – after all those years – probably the best day,” said John, who was 67 at the time.

The enormity of the occasion also affected Britain’s team manager Di Lampard.

“I have to confess, I took myself off and shed a tear. I’m not normally like that, but this did hit me because I wanted it so badly,” she said.

The win kicked off a historic week for the home side – on Sunday, John’s son Robert added to the family legacy by securing his first King George V Gold Cup aboard Vermento.

It heralded a new era of Whitaker family dominance at Hickstead – with cousin Donald winning the King’s Cup in 2024, Robert regaining it in 2025 and James picking up the Queen’s Cup the same year.

Sibling double

Were you at Wembley – one of the venues that has been home to the Royal International until it moved to Hickstead, where it has remained ever since, in 1992 – when David Broome and Liz Edgar pulled off an incredible sibling double act not once, but twice?

In both 1977 and 1981, they lifted the King George V Gold Cup and Queen Elizabeth II Cup in the same year, conquering what were then entirely separate male and female championships.

H&H’s report by Pamela McGregor-Morris records how in 1977 the Broome family “saved the show” and that their father, Fred Broome, was awarded “the Sherry Sippers award for the personality making the most impact during the week”.

David – who had apparently “talked seriously of retiring at Hickstead” – won five classes that year, including his fourth King’s. He also secured the Radio Rentals champion horseman title after jumping clear on “four strange horses”. Liz, riding Everest Wallaby, finally laid her hands on the Queen’s after 16 years of trying.

David and Liz’s records in both classes remain unsurpassed. David lifted the King’s Cup six times between 1960 and 1991, while Liz dominated the Queen’s between 1977 and 1986, winning on five occasions.

Tim Stockdale finally lifts the King’s Cup

Few moments capture the electrifying highs and lows of showjumping quite like the afternoon in 2010 when the late Tim Stockdale fulfilled his 34-year dream to lift the King George V Gold Cup with Kalico Bay.

The previous year, a heartbreaking fault at the final fence denied him victory on his Olympic ride Corlato, leaving them runners-up to Peter Charles and Murkas Pall Mall H.

By 2010, Corlato had been forced into retirement, so Tim brought forward the inexperienced Kalico Bay, who was facing his biggest test to date. The pair navigated a hair-raising first round, where the nine-year-old banked an oxer and Tim was nearly thrown out of the plate at the notorious double of ditches.

Yet the jump-off delivered the ultimate redemption arc. Tim found himself in an identical position to 12 months earlier – drawn last and chasing down a target, this time set by Robert Smith and Talan.

Refusing to repeat his mistake, he took a crucial check to the last, still crossing the line a massive 1.88sec clear to trigger an epic standing ovation.

“When I was 12, I watched Mike Saywell win this on Chainbridge [1976] and said, ‘One day I am going to win that’ – and now I’ve done it,” Tim said in his post-victory interview.

What’s on this year at Royal International?

• The Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain, the JCL Insurance Brokers Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup are just three highlights from the showjumping ring.
• There are showing championships galore across the six days, with the best of these competing in the Barberstown Castle supreme ridden horse and the Supreme Products supreme pony championships on the final Sunday.
• Plus there’s arena eventing, scurry driving, cross-pole jumping and a shopping village, bars, restaurants, children’s entertainment and hospitality options to enjoy, with “Style Saturday” a hugely popular competition for anyone who likes to dress up.

How to follow the action

The Agria Royal International takes place at The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead in West Sussex from 21–26 July. For more information on Royal International tickets, visit hickstead.co.uk

Horse & Hound will be creating extensive online coverage including breaking news, exclusive interviews and expert insight, in addition to what will be included in the magazine report (on sale 30 July).

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The individual European showjumping bronze medallists Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone have withdrawn from the World Championships as the stallion has sustained an injury.

Gilles and Joris van Dijck’s stallion clinched the team gold for Belgium in Spain last summer, then went on to stand on the individual podium behind Richard Vogel on United Touch S and Scott Brash with Hello Folie. But Gilles confirmed yesterday (20 July) that they will not be competing in Aachen.

“After the grand prix of Riesenbeck, Ermitage sustained an injury,” he said.

“Following further examinations, it has become clear that it would not be responsible to bring him to the start of the championship. His health and wellbeing will always come first, no matter how difficult this decision is.”

The final Belgian team for Aachen had not yet been confirmed – the deadline for definite entries is 27 July – but Gilles and 12-year-old Ermitage Kalone were on the short list. They had been on good form at five-star level, jumping clear in the La Baule Nations Cup and coming sixth in the five-star Rolex grand prix that weekend.

“The disappointment is immense,” Gilles said. “We had made this championship one of our biggest goals, and the form we showed over the past few weeks in La Baule and Riesenbeck gave us great confidence and motivation heading into Aachen.

“Wishing team Belgium the very best of luck.”

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HAPPY tears flowed freely at the Great Yorkshire Show as Class One Irish Draught mare Appleton Aristocratic Lady (Libby) was led to victory in the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Price Family supreme in-hand championship qualifier by her speechless breeder Jane Strickland.

It’s believed that the seven-year-old is the first of her breed to qualify here, a bonus for Yorkshire lass Jane.

Libby is out of Hazevern Royal Concerto – initially bought for Jane’s partner Ian to hunt – and by Corrindon Dancer.

When “Draughtie” needed assistance to foal, Jane called on her brother Andrew, who was ringside with Ian during the championship, and between them, they delivered Libby.

Determined that the foal would be a colt, Jane had intended to name him Walter after her father, but switched to Libby in honour of her mother Alice Elizabeth instead.

“And we were fortunate enough to take the prefix Mum had when we were showing riding ponies many years ago,” she explained.

Jane started showing the mare last year, both in hand and ridden.

“We started to realise we had something a bit better than we thought so we thought we’d do a bit more with her this year. I’ve always looked at her in the field and thought I like her, but I’m biased,” said Jane.

“I was wondering ‘what am I doing, entering back into this competitive world’, so for my 60th, my friend got me a ringcraft lesson.”

Having worked hard to improve their ridden performances, Jane and Libby are bound for Hickstead in the amateur hunter ranks this term, and her initial aim was the ridden Irish Draught class here – they finished fifth in extremely strong company – but thought that she “may as well enter the in-hand too”.

Standing supreme champion was more than she had dared dream.

“We showed here as children with riding ponies, but we never got into the main ring. I had no idea what we were going to do. Someone said I’d need to run the length of the grandstand and I thought I’d need oxygen! To run all the way round was impossible but it was nice to hear the cheers for the Irish Draught.

“This will take a few days to sink in. I just wish my mum and dad could have seen her, though I’m sure they’re watching from above.”

In reserve was Inverness-based Hunter Macdonald with his grandfather David Shand’s home-bred sports horse champion Achilty Miss Isabella. The two-year-old Trakehner filly is lightly but successfully shown, with two wins and a reserve title at the Royal Highland, and standing reserve overall light horse champion at Hambleton en route to Harrogate.

“It was incredible and such a privilege to show in that ring with that electric atmosphere. She’ll do a few more shows now and hopefully luck will be on our side somewhere along the road,” said Hunter, who had also watched Achilty Top Gun qualify for HOYS in the middleweight hunters earlier in the week with Richard Telford on board.

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It’s been a sad few months for the international officiating community, with the deaths of Bob Ellis, Jacques van Daele and Stephen Clarke – all three lifelong servants of the sport, and all three officials at the London Olympics.

Bob’s team used to build the dressage arena for me in the early years of the London International and Jacques, the FEI’s dressage steward general, judged there too. It was always reassuring to have him on the panel.

Stephen and I first met as teenagers, competing at local shows. He went into judging to find out if the system could be improved from within rather than moaned about from the outside.

Nearly 50 years ago, international judging looked nothing like it does today. Consensus barely existed and where it did, it was usually as a small circle of judges had officiated together often enough to compare notes.

Riding style still varied by nation – a judge schooled in the French tradition prized lightness, one from the mid-European school would place more importance on accuracy and obedience – and judging reflected that split. Riding has harmonised a great deal since and judging with it, though enough discrepancies remain worldwide that consensus can’t be taken for granted.

A great leader from the back

Stephen’s judging combined obvious personal qualities – empathy, humility, integrity, self-reflection – with real clarity of method. He worked movement by movement, comparing what he saw against what the rules required, then gave his score. He never dwelt on the mark just given, nor guessed what might come next. He stayed in the moment, indifferent to how his total might compare with anyone else’s.

He also had extraordinary leadership qualities, which followed the same quiet pattern – he led from the back and pushed others into the light rather than himself. It’s little surprise his fellow judges made him president of the International Dressage Officials Club, or that the FEI made him their judge general.

He’d already helped produce the FEI’s first judging guidelines, a handbook that still serves as the sport’s definitive reference. But he recognised that dressage had outgrown what that handbook envisaged 20 years earlier, and no one pushed harder to recruit and cater for new judges entering our sport.

In 2018, the FEI mandated its dressage committee to produce a code of points to make scoring more transparent. Stephen, working with fellow consultees, put at least three years of work into helping create it, burning the midnight oil, distilling the judges’ handbook’s 250 pages into summary sheets setting out which “observables” take priority for each movement, and how to score them 0–10.

It has sat on a shelf in Lausanne ever since, while the ongoing lack of scoring consensus takes its toll on the integrity of the sport. The FEI could honour Stephen’s hard work properly by finally bringing his code of points into effect – not as tribute alone, but because it’s what the federation asked for and what the sport still needs.

It’s a tough call

Congratulations to Mette Dahl on her individual bronze medal at last weekend’s young rider Europeans, and commiserations to Annabella Pidgley who just missed out on a medal.

The selection meeting to settle our World Championship dressage team is looming and is going to be a tough call. Lottie Fry, Becky Moody and Carl Hester are certainties and, notwithstanding Germany’s strength and home advantage, are capable of securing team gold for us.

The fourth slot has gone to the wire, with Fiona Bigwood and Charlotte Dujardin being separated by a whisker due to Charlotte’s test-riding masterclass at Hartpury CDI3*. On my own rough sums Fiona edges it, and her five-star result nudges it further her way.

But there will always be information concerning specific criteria that those of us on the outside are rightly never party to. An independent observer and chair ensures that the decision is made in accordance with British Dressage’s selection policy. I have been on both sides of these procedures. I feel for the selectors, but more so for Fiona and Charlotte.

Good luck to everyone in contention and also to our junior and children-on-horses teams battling it out for European medals as we go to press.

● Who would you pick for the fourth team slot at the worlds? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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Five-star winners Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue head a strong Irish eventing squad for the 2026 World Championships (11 to 23 August).

Colorado Blue, who won Maryland 5 Star with Austin in 2023 and was runner-up at Defender Burghley last year, missed a five-star tilt this spring owing to a “bit of a set back in training”. Austin said at the time that he hoped it was a “fairly short-term” setback and that he hoped they would have the Aachen World Championships to look forward to.

The 17-year-old gelding, who has also been on the Mars Badminton podium twice, had his first run since April last week, jumping a steady clear across country in an open intermediate section at Upton House (14 July).

Austin said “Salty” was “very happy indeed to be back out, doing his favourite thing”.

The duo were part of the Irish team at the last worlds in Pratoni, as well as the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games.

They are joined by two combinations who helped Ireland to the historic European team silver medal at Blenheim last year: Aoife Clark with Full Monty De Lacense and Ian Cassells on Millridge Atlantis.

Double world silver medallist Padraig McCarthy, who was also part of the medal-winning side at Blenheim, is named on the squad with his home-bred MGH Zabaione. This will be a first senior championships for the 10-year-old gelding, who won Blenheim’s kingmaker eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S in 2024, Ballindenisk CCI4*-L in 2025, and has had other exciting four-star results to his name.

Georgie Goss, a former youth medallist for Britain who switched to represent Ireland in 2023, will have make her senior championship debut wearing the Irish flag with Kojak.

Horse Sport Ireland high performance eventing manager Sam Griffiths said the selection panel “had some incredibly tough decisions to make, which really reflects positively on the growing strength of Irish eventing”.

“There were lots of combinations that could have made the team but just missed it,” he said. “But having said that, the combinations we have are very strong. I firmly believe that if they can maintain their current form and compete to the level of their current form, we’ll be very competitive.

“We’ve got a really strong team. We know we’re going to be against some fierce competition but we’re going with a lot of confidence and we’re all very proud to be able to represent the nation.”

Irish eventing squad for the 2026 Aachen World Championships

The full squad, in alphabetical order by athlete surname, is:

Ian Cassells, Millridge Atlantis, 12

Owners: Ber, Fiona and Gerry Leahy

Breeder: Sean O’Loughlin

Breeding: Dinan Cascaletto x Warrenstown You 2

Aoife Clark, Full Monty De Lacense, 11

Owners: Ace of Spades Syndicate

Breeder: SCEA Du Noron

Breeding: Quickly De Kreisker x Vesontio Du Mesnil

Padraig McCarthy, MGH Zabaione, 10

Owners: Peter Cattell, Diane Brunsden and rider

Breeder: rider

Breeding: Zavall VDL x Acobat I

Georgie Goss, Kojak, 11

Owners: Molly Fisher, Lucy Fleming and Samantha Wilson

Breeder: H Vos

Breeding: Namelus R x Contender

Austin O’Connor, Colorado Blue, 17

Owners: The Salty Syndicate

Breeder: Mellon Stud

Breeding: Jaguar Mail x Rock King

Irish eventing squad reserves

Susie Berry with 15-year-old gelding John The Bull

Owners: Nick & Helen Caton

Breeder: James Byrne

Breeding: by Luidam, out of a mare by Houmayoun

Sarah Ennis with 11-year-old gelding Dourough Ferro Class Act

Owners: James and Niki Potterton

Breeder: Gordon Dury

Breeding: by Creevagh Ferro out of a mare by OBOS Quality 004

Padraig McCarthy with 12-year-old gelding Pomp N Circumstance

Owners: Rachel and Sarah Gough

Breeder: Sarah Gough

Breeding: by Pompadour xx out of a mare by Furisto

Joseph Murphy with 15-year-old gelding Calmaro

Owners: Richard and Tanja Ames, Annette O’Callaghan and Alan Bell

Breeder: Hartmut Schack

Breeding: by Carpalano out of a mare by Elsurimo xx

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With top-notch showing on offer in one of the nation’s most beloved arenas, there have been some cracking moments and great memories at the Agria Royal International Horse Show.

Epic moments at Royal International

In no particular order, here are a few of my favourites to whet your appetite ahead of this year’s fixture.

“A super show combination”

With two contenders – the mountain and moorland (M&M) and show pony champions – on the same marks, it was all to play for in the 2018 pony supreme.

In a nail-biting ride-off, Melanie Stanford and her daughter Gemma’s Highland stallion Benbreac Of Croila and Matt Cooper rose to the occasion, and remain the only M&M champions to lift the title.

Matt and the then 11-year-old gave a stunning performance to demonstrate Benbreac’s impeccable manners despite torrential rain and soggy ground conditions.

“He’s a dream ride and I think the weather and the occasion helped us as he just ploughed on regardless and he loves a big atmosphere,” said Matt at the time.

Looking back, Gemma agrees. “That ring and that atmosphere was made for Benbreac, and the ride-off really played to our strengths. Matt is so competitive and the more people cheered the more Benbreac loved it. Together the pair of them were a super show combination.

“I remember that week so clearly. There was a heatwave at the beginning and we were working so hard to keep him comfortable with ice packs and so on. Then it poured for the supreme – two extremes.”

“A magical day”

The poignant moment that the late legendary showman Allister Hood retired from the arena hand-in-hand with his wife Anne marked the end of an era for showing.

Earlier, he had been presented with his ninth supreme trophy aboard the twice-supreme Our Cashel Blue after the pair scored a perfect 30/30 for their sparkling individual performance.

Once crowned, Blue was led from the ring and show director Lizzie Bunn presented Allister with an engraved crystal, he removed his jacket and left the arena through a guard of honour.

“Allister loved Hickstead – that main ring is so special to ride in – so early in the year he formed a plan to retire there,” said Anne.

“We took Blue to one local show to qualify and it worked out so well. He was champion coloured on the Tuesday – Allister’s dialysis days were Monday, Wednesday and Friday – and returned for the supreme.

“Hickstead and Lizzie went above and beyond. It was a magical day. A day we never thought would happen so it was extremely special and very emotional.”

Cob’s prime ministerial moment

Winston Churchill took time out from his second term to visit the show then known as the International Horse Show. He’s photographed with multigarlanded Alexander, who was champion cob thrice on the trot.

Churchill was a famously keen horseman, and his name remains synonymous with the crème de la crème at the show as his eponymous trophy is still presented to the supreme champion horse, making it one of the most coveted of the fixture.

It’s believed it was first presented by Mr Holland Martin in Churchill’s honour in 1949 to the famous hack combination, Liberty Light and Count Orssich, who “entranced the public” according to a H&H report of the event. In those days, the supreme was judged “entirely by the acclamation of the onlookers”, at the time and he “received the greatest number of claps.”

“A flag-flying moment”

Now, pony champions vie for the Dick Saunders trophy, presented in honour of the late legendary figure in their own supreme. But once upon a time, they were pitted against the horses.

Dick was judging alongside Nick Skelton and Sarah Sutton in 1993 when show pony champion Royal Bronze became the first pony to outshine the horses. The Team Hollings-produced 148cm was ridden to glory by owner Anna Evans.

“The atmosphere was electric,” recalls Stuart Hollings. “Royal and legendary cob Super Ted were on equal points after their individual shows and had to go again. Royal ended his show with a great gallop to capture the title after gaining two 10s and a nine compared to Super Ted’s one 10 and two nines.”

Six-time Royal International and four-time Horse of the Year Show champion Super Ted had already cemented his place in history at this point, so “that day was a flag-flying moment for pony showing”, adds Stuart.

What’s on this year at Royal International?

• There are showing championships galore across the six days, with the best of these competing in the Barberstown Castle supreme ridden horse and the Supreme Products supreme pony championships on the final Sunday.
• The Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain, the JCL Insurance Brokers Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup are just three highlights from the showjumping ring.
• Plus there’s arena eventing, scurry driving, cross-pole jumping and a shopping village, bars, restaurants, children’s entertainment and hospitality options to enjoy, with “Style Saturday” a hugely popular competition for anyone who likes to dress up.

How to follow the action

The Agria Royal International takes place at The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead in West Sussex from 21–26 July. For more information on Royal International tickets, visit hickstead.co.uk

Horse & Hound will be creating extensive online coverage including breaking news, exclusive interviews and expert insight, in addition to what will be included in the magazine report (on sale 30 July).

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A rider due to compete at the World Championships aged 71 said her aim is of course to win a medal – but also show there is “no such thing as ‘it can’t be done’.”

Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing will start at Aachen, a home championship, as the overall world number two in the para dressage rankings but she is top of the Grade II list. She brings her 11-year-old mare Poesie 123, with whom she has won seven of her eight international starts this year.

“Naturally, my aim is to win a medal,” Heidemarie said. “At my first World Championships in 2022, the 2021 Paralympics and the 2019 European Championships, I came fourth several times. While I was fortunate enough to take three gold medals home with me from last year’s European Championships in Ermelo, the desire to make it on to the podium at the home World Championships in Aachen is very strong.

“Beyond that, however, I also want to inspire older people and serve as a role model, because there is no such thing as ‘it can’t be done’! If you exert yourself and stay active, you can achieve amazing feats even at an advanced age.”

Heidemarie has multiple sclerosis, which means she has neurological and muscular impairments such as balance issues, fatigue and reduced muscle strength. She relies on a wheelchair, as she said she can only walk a few metres without it.

“Staying active keeps me fit!” she said.

Heidemarie first rode aged eight; her mother had always loved horses, she said. She had riding lessons and first competed in showjumping, then bought a horse with “the first real money I earned”.

Heidemarie Dresing: horses are my life

“Horses are my life,” she said “I can’t imagine life without them. Naturally, my training has changed since the onset of the illness, but I am still absolutely thrilled by the sense of unity and harmony we can create together.

“Sometimes I am moved to tears when I see everything the horses do for me and how considerate they are. They respond to the subtlest of aids and are forgiving of mistakes, too, which is something really special.

“Competing has always been part of my life, because I am very ambitious. When I thought my illness meant I would no longer be able to compete at shows, I initially wanted to quit. But then I learnt about para sports from [German para dressage rider] Hanne Brenner and suddenly I was able to compete again – albeit in a different way compared to before.”

Heidemarie Dresing added that Poesie is “as crazy as I am!”

“She is a fighter and has a mind of her own – after all, she is a girl!” she said. “But that is precisely the attraction of it. She is a truly special horse and the two of us harmonise extremely well together and share a very subtle form of communication.

“The horses provide fresh motivation for me every single day, they are the best medicine. It is fantastic that we para athletes are now part of the event in Aachen. It is great to have this opportunity to demonstrate our skills on such an impressive stage.”

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British Eventing (BE) has confirmed “with immense sadness” that two riders have died as a result of cross-country accidents at different events this weekend.

Sophie Fouracre, 34, was fatally injured while riding Rhubarbsfox Britannia at Swalcliffe Park in Oxfordshire yesterday (18 July). Hours later, Kerry Donoghue died after an accident while riding Carneyhaugh Rua at Penrith in Cumbria.

“At both venues, the event medical teams responded immediately and provided emergency treatment. Despite their best efforts sadly neither rider could be saved,” a BE spokesperson said.

“Both horses were examined by the attending veterinary team and were found to be uninjured.”

All competition was abandoned at both fixtures.

BE chief executive Rosie Williams said: “The British Eventing community is heartbroken.

“On behalf of everyone at British Eventing, I want to extend our deepest condolences to Kerry and Sophie’s families, friends and loved ones at this devastating time. Our thoughts are also with their fellow competitors, organisers, officials, volunteers and everyone who has been affected by these tragic events.

“We are immensely grateful to the organisers, doctors, paramedics, veterinary teams, officials and emergency services at both events for the professionalism, compassion and care they showed in the most difficult of circumstances.

“The loss of two members of our eventing family on the same day is almost beyond words, and we know the sadness of these events will be felt profoundly across the sport for some time to come.”

Kerry was entered in the open novice with Carneyhaugh Rua, a 16-year-old former five-star horse with whom David Doel finished 10th at Luhmühlen Horse Trials in 2021 and completed Pau Horse Trials five-star. They had jumped clear at novice to finish ninth together in April this year.

Sophie, who has completed Defender Burghley Horse Trials three times, was riding a five-year-old mare.

In accordance with BE procedures, “comprehensive reviews of both accidents will now be undertaken”.

“We recognise the impact these tragic events will have across the eventing community,” the BE spokesperson said. “Anyone affected is encouraged to seek support through the British Eventing Support Trust helpline, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 07780 008877.

“We respectfully ask that the privacy of both families is respected during this incredibly difficult time.”

Riders can also access support from mental health charity Riders Minds by calling 0800 088 2073 or texting 07480 488 103.

A picture tells a thousand words, so the old adage goes – and horse lovers are looking at images through a “welfare-centred lens” above all else.

A new study published in the Journal of Physical Fitness, Medicine & Treatment in Sports dug into how equestrians read “partnership and positive practice” in photos taken at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Researchers from Hartpury, universities in the US and Sweden and media and marketing agency Equerry Co teamed up to look into what visual characteristics of a photo strengthen or erode perceived legitimacy of horse sport’s social licence.

The overarching conclusion is that positive images of Olympic equestrian sport “were viewed through a welfare-centred lens, prioritising horse comfort, agency and partnership over performance aesthetics or athleticism”.

“Imagery that conveys relaxation, empathy and genuine partnership may help sustain social licence, whereas imagery depicting discomfort risks eroding trust and intensifying ethical scrutiny,” stated the study.

A selection of 30 photos, taken by Equerry’s accredited photographer at the Games, were put into a survey, which was shared worldwide on social media and garnered more than 500 responses. Participants were asked to rank images, choose their favourites and answer five open-ended questions.

The study found that participants did not engage with the photos as neutral spectators, but as “evaluators of welfare, ethics and legitimacy”. What people were comfortable with varied between the disciplines.

The researchers also found that although participants showed “strong awareness of the limitations of still photography” and that images "represent only a moment in time”, that acknowledgment didn’t “reduce ethical weight” given to images, but rather intensified concern about how frequently certain patterns were repeated.

“While discipline-specific expectations influenced tolerance for effort, risk and athletic ability, a consistent pattern emerged: images were read as ethical statements about how horses are treated, trained and valued within Olympic sport,” stated the study.

The study found that in dressage, judgements centred on biomechanics, such as self-carriage and poll position, and concerns about restrictive tack. In showjumping, evaluations “blended athleticism with equipment scrutiny”, such as nosebands, bits and martingales, and post-round reward. In eventing, appraisals “weighed dynamism and bravery against fatigue, safety and ethical risk”.

Co-author Victoria Lewis told H&H the study stemmed from conversations around the demand for good-news stories in horse sport, which led the researchers to think about quantifying what “good” looks like.

Dr Lewis said an aspect the team found particularly interesting were comments people made and how respondents used the images to almost confirm or state where they felt the industry, or discipline, sat in terms of their own ethical and philosophical position on welfare in that discipline.

“I think that shows how powerful an image actually is,” she said. “It shows how strongly people feel about welfare and equestrianism as a whole, and that was positive and negative. There were some really amazing comments that came through about the partnership and the trust and that element that I think you know is important for us to acknowledge.”

In terms of what equestrians can take away from the study, Dr Lewis said that it goes “a lot deeper” than choosing which photo to post. She said participants showed awareness of evidence-based training principles, which they wanted to see reflected in photos.

“When we started, we thought this was going to be useful to people wanting to post their own horse pictures on social media or for media outlets to be a little bit more wary of the type of pictures that they use. But actually, what we took from the analysis actually went a lot deeper than that,” she said.

“It really was about how we train our horses, how we look after them. The more holistic approach to getting that horse to the Olympics is not all about just the image; it's what’s behind the image.”

‘It quantifies what we’ve long believed to be true’

H&H’s editor-in-chief Sarah Jenkins shared her thoughts on the findings.

“For the past decade Horse & Hound’s editorial team members have given increasing thought to ensuring the harmony that we witness between horses and riders at events is what is depicted in our pages and on our website and social channels,” she said.

“Photographing horses is a real skill, and it is possible to watch a beautiful test or round with the feeling that horse and rider are working together in complete co-operation and yet still manage to take pictures that do not reflect that. We talk about pictures being a ‘moment in time’, and that’s not to excuse poor training or riding, but it is true that if you take a picture of a horse in the moment in the canter when one front leg is on the ground, it will look awkward and unpleasing to the viewer.

“It makes sense that as humans we want to see horses looking ‘happy’ and making their sports appear effortless. But the reality is that going cross-country and jumping 1m20 is not effortless and in the same way athletes look more relaxed in their wedding photos, horses will look more relaxed in their fields.”

She added: “This research is interesting in that it quantifies what we’ve long believed to be true – people like pleasing pictures, people love horses and want horses to live enjoyable lives, and people are becoming more tuned in to reading signs of discomfort in horses, which is all positive.

“I’d love to see even more research and understanding of what happy and content horses look like (as much as has been done to research signs of discomfort or stress in horses) and sense-check whether when people see that in photographs they interpret it as such.

“For example, we put pictures on our front covers of horses with their ears pricked, because to me certainly it is more aesthetically pleasing, possibly because traditionally we were all taught ‘ears pricked equals happy horse’. But some would say a horse with ears to the side and head lower is actually happier. So I still think there's a slight gap between what we know to be true and what we see as a beautiful photograph, in some instances. Or perhaps that’s for me to get past. I'd be interested to hear readers thoughts for our letters pages.”

● What do you think? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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Merseyside Police has paid tribute to a horse with the biggest feet – and the longest wees – in the country, and who has left “the biggest hoofprints on our hearts” after his death aged 27.

PH Major served in Liverpool for 20 years, then enjoyed three “fabulous years” of retirement with mounted branch groom Claire and her veteran horse Ed. The pair were best friends until the decision had to be made to let them go.

Stable and mounted training manager Lindsay Gaven told H&H the mounted branch bought 17.2hh part-bred Shire Major as a four-year-old.

“He was the most kind, affectionate horse who loved to conserve energy between his shifts and sleep and snore really loudly,” she said, adding that Major’s hooves, at 23cm wide, were the biggest of any police horse in the UK.

“Major had a reputation for showing his excitement when any hoof touched grass; he would leap into the air and squeal, hoping his rider could stay with him and share his delight. If they didn’t manage to stay with him, he would just look down at the floor and wait for them to get to their feet and climb back on.

“This meant Major could not contain his excitement reliably enough to lead the winner in of the Grand National at Aintree. On any other surface he was a true reliable gentleman but ridden on grass, he was just way too excitable.

Ms Gaven said that when the police horses were ridden on the beach at Formby, no one wanted to be behind him as his huge feet would scoop up huge amounts of seawater and soak anyone within range.

“Major also bucked so hard with excitement one day in a musical ride, he managed to break the girth straps off both sides of the saddle,” she said. “He came to a halt with a face of glee as a musical ride was just way too exciting when you got to run around in patterns with all your favourite colleagues.

“He would always select the busiest road in Liverpool city centre to decide to have a wee. These wees usually lasted two full cycles of red/amber/green traffic light changes, much to the disgust of his equine colleagues who had to tolerate the splashback.”

But Major was also a “true leader”, policing football matches, heading numerous parades and helping train and support both equine and human colleagues.

“He held his position, helping guide the bus through the crowds at the Liverpool FC homecoming parade [after their Champions League victory] in 2005,” Ms Gaven said. “He paced the bus with his rider, who could not see ahead because of the sheer number of people lining the route. He would often be the sergeant’s horse at the football matches; he knew where to stand, and he would park up and await the fans and their Polo mints, who of course in his mind were all there to see him.”

Major was given a long service award from Merseyside Police in 2022, for his 20 years’ continuous service. He retired to live with Claire not long afterwards.

“He had very little respect for fencing of any sort and also needed his feet picking out in a specific order otherwise this confused him and he wouldn’t lift any,” Ms Gaven said. “So in Major’s best interests, we wanted to rehome him with someone who didn’t mind the old boy’s attitude to life and could understand him.

“He lived three fabulous years with more love than you can imagine, full CCTV monitoring for his fence breakage and escape attempts, he grazed in his patrol pair with his best friend Ed and every day would climb upon his muckheap to survey his kingdom.

“Every day, he was Mr Reliable, a brave strong horse with a heart of gold who leaves the biggest hoofprints on our heart.”

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police paid tribute to Major’s character and service, thanking Claire for giving him “the best retirement”.

“We loved him more than you can imagine,” the spokesperson said.

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A new coaching qualification framework with a stronger focus on horse and human welfare has launched, which aims to be more streamlined and ensure qualifications are “fit for the future”.

The revitalised equestrian coaching certificate, revealed by British Equestrian (BEF) and others, features a single core qualification at each level, covering fundamental coaching skills plus technical certificates in recognition of the discipline or context in which competence has been shown.

Coaches will be able to add technical certificates as they progress.

The qualification will be offered by the Association of British Riding Schools, British Carriagedriving, British Dressage (BD), British Eventing, the British Horseracing Authority, British Showjumping, Endurance GB and the Pony Club.

The development follows a review led by the BEF’s coaching development action team, chaired by Charlotte Osborne, BD’s head of development.

“This review is about more than updating qualifications, it’s about embedding a strong culture of equine welfare and truly inclusive, person-centred coaching,” said Ms Osborne. “By creating a more unified and consistent qualification pathway, we are supporting the development of great coaches and ensuring our qualifications are fit for the future and trusted across the industry.”

She added that it will also allow for greater flexibility and career progression, as coaches will be able to expand their expertise by completing additional technical coaching certificates without needing to repeat the entire core qualification.

World Horse Welfare and the British Horse Foundation (BHF) contributed resources to the updated qualification, which features the latest in equine learning theory. It also incorporates strengthened safeguarding standards and more inclusive language.

Jan Birch, co-chair of the BHF and member of the BEF education welfare group, shared her support for the new framework, emphasising the benefits for horses and the industry as a whole.

“The BHF is delighted to contribute content for the certificates by sharing evidence-based, best-practice knowledge about breeding, youngstock management and equine-centric early training methods that underpin all equine disciplines,” Dr Birch told H&H.

“This will help the next generation of horses benefit from ‘better beginnings’ – leading to improvements in lifelong wellbeing and performance, more suitable horses bred for a wider range of riders and supporting the development of a more skilled workforce.”

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H the charity believes the revitalised certificate is “very good news for both the horses and the sport and applauds British Equestrian for taking this initiative”.

“Putting the horse at the centre of how they are trained goes to the heart of what responsible horse sport means in practice – it is ethically right and is what society expects,” he said. “Having a stronger focus on equine welfare and how horses learn embedded in coaching provides a substantive foundation to the ‘horse comes first’ mantra that is often cited in horse sport.”

BD chief executive Jason Brautigam said the launch “marks a pivotal moment for coaching across our sport”.

“This new framework reflects our collective commitment to raising standards, prioritising horse welfare and supporting coaches in developing the skills they need for working in the equestrian sector,” he said.

For coaches with qualifications issued before 1 June 2026, transition arrangements will be shared this year. From 2027, coaches will be able to access conversion courses to align with the new framework.

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Sometimes you just want to stay in your pyjamas all day – and if you’re a donkey, this has an extra benefit.

Residents of The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon have been spotted sporting the season’s must-have wide-leg look, thanks to students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

The alma mater of the Prince and Princess of Wales has donated suitable legwear from a recycling initiative, which is now being used to protect the donkeys from biting insects.

“Like many equine owners, the sanctuary experiences the annual challenge of biting flies during the warmer months,” a Donkey Sanctuary spokesperson said.

“For several years, staff have been using trousers, leggings or pyjama bottoms to help protect the donkeys’ legs from bites. The loose-fitting legwear is cut to fit individual donkeys, which by their nature, can get through several pairs a week as they roam around their pastures.”

The charity launched an appeal for suitable used trousers to boost its supplies; groom Lisa Coles said the older donkeys seem to suffer most from the insects, which is “heartbreaking to see”.

The spokesperson said: “The charity recently received an unexpected boost from an inspiring recycling initiative at the University of St Andrews. After hearing how unwanted trousers and leggings can help protect the resident herds, staff and students gathered up a collection of suitable items left over from their recycling project.

“The university has its own Reuse shop where students can donate their old clothing when they leave for the summer break or graduate for other students. Some of the clothing gets donated for reuse or upcycling to Fife charities, local creators and schools, and the remaining unwanted pieces are normally thrown away. Fortunately, these have now found a new lease of life over 500 miles south in Devon.” 

Anya Hart Dyke of the university said the team was  “tickled pink” by the thought of donkeys wearing pyjamas for protection.

“We hate seeing any clothes go to waste so we were delighted to source items that were too faded, or worse for wear, to be reworn by students,” she said. ”We’re always looking for new opportunities to keep clothes in play so were thrilled when The Donkey Sanctuary agreed to make use of clothes that would have otherwise been incinerated.”

Lisa said the charity was delighted by the donation.

“Even though the legwear may look a bit unusual at first glance, it really does make a difference to the welfare of our donkeys, and we hope others may be inspired to donate any suitable items we can use,” she said.

Unwanted loose-fitting trousers, leggings, pyjamas or maternity trousers, from women’s size 16 and men’s size L upwards, can be taken to the Sidmouth sanctuary’s onsite gift shop.

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With just a month to go before the World Championships, Frank Rothenberger tells H&H how his career in course-designing took off, and why Aachen is like his own Olympics.

In Frank’s words

I originally wanted to be an architect, but started building courses when I was 16. I was showjumping at the time and didn’t have jumps at home, so I built them for myself. My grandfather was a carpenter, who taught me how to work timber, and my father ran a manufacturing company, so I bought machines to make the jumps.

I had water, ditches, hedges, walls, banks, gates – everything. Then people started asking me to use my field, so I would keep building new courses for them.

I competed in three German young rider championships – but in 1980 I stopped riding for three years to set up my own business manufacturing jumps as I had so much work. I was 22. I had a couple of good horses, and was competing alongside Otto Becker. I intended to go back to riding, but I found out I was more successful at designing.

The company is called isiTrade, after my daughter Isabel – Isi. She runs it with my son, who does the 3D design. Isabel is also an FEI level three course-designer and is assisting me in Aachen. I support them but they are running the business now.

I’ve been involved in six Olympic Games so far, as a technical delegate and assistant course-designer. I was shortlisted as designer for London 2012 with Bob Ellis and wrote out a 100-page concept. Bob just told the team what he planned to do and he got the job! I did the same for Rio 2016 but they took on my former assistant Guilherme Jorge, a Brazilian.

But I have my Olympics every year in Aachen – and in some years, like 2026, two big shows with the CSI5* and a championship.

The 2006 grand prix at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen was probably the best course I’ve ever built. We had 25 horses in the final round and there were faults at every fence: planks, walls, bush oxer, skinny gate – these are the courses I like. One of the most spectacular rounds I’ve ever seen over one of my courses was Scott Brash winning the Rolex grand prix on Hello Sanctos in 2015.

A course-designer should have his own “handwriting”. It’s like with artists – they have their signature style. Take Picasso and Rubens – Picasso paints in straight lines and Rubens paints voluptuous women. If you give Picasso a blank canvas, he’d paint straight lines, never anything like Rubens. But within that they can both do so many different things and they are both successful.

Twenty years ago, I would know who the course-designer was just by looking at the course – that’s not so easy now because everything is so unified.

Variety is so important. Nowadays the fences might be beautiful but it’s all poles and planks. We should not bore horses; we need new stimuli for them. I like to see bush oxers, a double of Liverpools, water jumps, skinny gates. Horses come from the landscape, from hunting and they should be brave – but poles and planks don’t require bravery.

Likewise, riders need to be able to react in the moment. I may be old-fashioned but I believe if you create variety, interrupt the rhythm, speed and breathing, asking horses to collect, you challenge the partnership more.

I fought against the proposal to cancel the open water. I said, “It’s natural, it’s only 5cm deep, not dangerous and it’s attractive for the spectator.” It tests how the rider can collect their horse, get him on the hindleg and accelerate. For me it’s not about forcing faults, but breaking the rhythm.

But I would change the faults system because how can you train a horse that landing on the plasticine is a mistake? He thinks he did everything right. So I would say if the hoof makes a mark on the plasticine, that should be counted as landing on dry land.

At recent international championships we’ve had brand new showgrounds and so all the fences were new designs. However, Aachen is the oldest show in Germany, so I will be keeping all the traditional Aachen jumps that everyone knows, like the Barbarossa Wall and the Globe, as well as producing some new fences. Otherwise it would be like designing a course at Hickstead without all the beautiful, world-famous jumps people want to see.

I love a big grass arena – like Dublin, Calgary, Falsterbo and Aachen – as the more space you have, the more opportunity there is to be creative. Aachen is challenging to design because the arena is so big – with a dressage arena in the middle for this year’s World Championships – and there are 40,000 spectators. The course has to go into each corner or fans will complain they didn’t see the riders.

The challenge is to cover the whole arena in the jump-off without turning it into a flat race.

At the World Championships we might have over 100 horses and the standard will vary. However, the aim is not to punish the weaker riders by just building for the 20 top ones. I’d finalised my courses three months before the championships and I won’t feel nervous.

You’re under pressure, but I’ve done so many courses in my life – over 100 Nations Cups, seven European Championships, six World Cup Finals. I have good assistants around me and we discuss everything.

Course-designing is my hobby, the other one being sailing. After Aachen I’m booked on a catamaran in Sicily – and when that’s over I’m designing a two-star in Sicily.

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John Whitaker joked that he “didn’t want to make it too easy” for the younger members of his family as he pipped nephew James to win the Cock O’ the North at the Great Yorkshire Show for the seventh time – 51 years after he first won the prestigious title.

John and his veteran superstar Equine America Unick Du Francport were second-last to go in the seven-strong final round, and as they went in in was James and Just Call Me Henry’s time of 40.7sec that was the one to beat.

John said it was “one of those rounds that everything came off”; they accelerated from the start, 18-year-old “Frank” looking like a horse 10 years younger as they cruised fast and sure, getting a cracking turn to the multicoloured oxer and taking a stride out to the second-last.

The noise from the crowd was building from the double of walls – and it became a roar as they cleared the final GYS planks to stop the clock on 38.77sec. Last to go Richard Howley and Hornet Des Grange finished a shade in front – but agonisingly tipped the very last fence for four faults.

“It felt really good,” John said. “My plan was just to try to beat James as Call Me Henry and James are very quick and mine isn’t really that quick. I made a plan and just knew I had to do everything from the word go.

“We were quick everywhere and everything came up; every time I turned, I had a stride, and he’s on really good form, which helps. He’s great.”

John added that it was “fantastic” to win the title again.

“It’s just a great show,” he said. “The Cock O’ the North is always an unbelievable atmosphere, and not a spare seat. It’s proper lovely, nice jumping.”

And asked what James said afterwards, John said “he didn’t say a lot, really!”

“I don’t want to make it too easy for the younger guys!” he said.

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The Irish showjumping team for the World Championships next month boasts “proven championship and Olympic experience as well as outstanding recent form”.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) high performance jumping manager Jessica Kürten has confirmed the horses and riders who will be travelling to Aachen “aiming to build on a successful season on the international stage”.

Ireland finished a whisker off the team podium at last year’s European Championships, and the 2022 worlds, but won silver in Milan at the 2023 Europeans, and this team includes riders and horses from these recent successes.

The Irish showjumping team World Championships:

Bertram Allen and Qonquest De Rigo were on the European team that finished fourth last year – and second at the LLN final shortly afterwards – and they go to Aachen on good recent form. Their 2026 started with good results at four- and five-star level in the US and has continued in the same vein, including a double jumping clear in the CSI5* La Baule Nations Cup and fifth place in the Rolex grand prix that weekend.

Darragh Kenny said after he and Eddy Blue won the London World Cup leg in 2024 that this may be one of the best horses he’s ridden. He proved why, as they went on to be on the fourth-placed team at the Europeans the next summer, and have since won and been placed at four-and five-star level including a CSI5* US grand prix in March.

Team stalwart Cian O’Connor is selected with relatively new ride Chatolinue PS; he took the reins last October, but they finished on a CSI5* podium in Geneva, and in the London World Cup leg, two months later. They have jumped on five-star Nations Cups this year, including a double clear in the US, and finished fourth in the La Baule grand prix.

Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz were on the Irish team that won European silver in 2023, and they are selected for Aachen straight after Shane’s first five-star win, in the Falsterbo grand prix last weekend. They had been knocking at the door for months though, securing second and third places at this level, jumped LLN double clear and finishing seventh in the Aachen grand prix.

Travelling reserves

The travelling reserves are Denis Lynch and British-bred Vistogrand, who were also on the European team last year, having represented Ireland as individuals in 2023. The powerful stallion’s early promise has developed into a top talent showing consistent form at the top level. Recent results include top-10 finishes at CSI5* level in Rome.

Daniel Coyle with Gisbourne VDL and Jordan Coyle with Chaccolino are the non-travelling reserves.

“The selected squad heads to Aachen on the back of an outstanding run of performances at the highest level of international jumping,” an HSI spokesperson said. “The reserve combinations further underline the current depth in Irish jumping.”

Jessica said this is a strong Irish showjumping team that will be leading contenders at the World Championships.

“I’m excited to go to Aachen with outstanding riders and fantastic horses,” she said. “My thanks go to their owners and their grooms, who have put so much work into this journey to the championships.”

The Irish showjumping team for the World Championships:

Bertram Allen with 10-year-old gelding Qonquest De Rigo

Owner: Aloha Stables

Breeder: U Goossens

Breeding: by Fantomas De Muze, out of a mare by VDL Indoctro

Groom: Lovisa Munter

Darragh Kenny with 14-year-old gelding Eddy Blue

Owner: Carol Sollak

Breeder: Gestut Lewitz

Breeding: by Eldorado VD Zeshoek TN, out of a mare by Chacco-Blue

Groom: Shauna Murray

Cian O’Connor with 13-year-old gelding Chatolinue PS

Owner: Karlswood Partners

Breeder: Gestut Lewitz

Breeding: by Diablo Blanco, out of a mare by Stakkatol

Groom: Johanna Berg

Shane Sweetnam with 13-year-old James Kann Cruz

Owner: Gizmo Partners

Breeder: Patrick Connolly

Breeding: by Kannan, out of a mare by Cruising

Groom: Maria Israelsson

Travelling reserve

Denis Lynch with 13-year-old stallion Vistogrand

Owners: Tipperary’s Finest Est and rider

Breeder: Carron Nicol

Breeding: by Fantaland, out of a mare by Vistoland

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Former European champions André Thieme and DSP Chakaria have withdrawn from the German team for next month’s World Championships.

The 2021 individual gold medallists, who also represented Germany at the 2022 worlds, made the decision after the Nations Cup in Falsterbo, Sweden, last week, as “the trusting relationship with my horse” is his top priority.

“The deciding factor was some slight uncertainty at the water jump that had become apparent during the show,” a spokesperson for the German federation said. Marcus Ehning and Coolio move into the team and Olympic champions Christian Kukuk and Checker are the reserve.

André said: “In Falsterbo, I noticed that Chakaria wasn’t jumping the water jump with her usual confidence. Therefore, in the interest of my horse and the team, I’ve decided to withdraw from the World Championships.

“We don’t want to take any risks and will now work calmly to regain her full confidence over the water. Of course, I would have loved to be part of this fantastic team in Aachen. But for me, the trusting partnership with my horse is paramount. That’s why it’s the right decision, even though it’s a difficult one. Now I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed from home and wishing our team the best of luck.”

The Germans had confirmed their team before the cut-off for definite entries (27 July) but “short-term adjustments were reserved in case sporting or veterinary reasons necessitated them”.

National coach Otto Becker said he supported André’s decision on the World Championships.

“Such decisions are never easy in top-level sports, but unfortunately they are part of the game,” he said. “André Thieme assessed the situation with Chakaria very responsibly. His decision has my utmost respect. Marcus Ehning and Coolio, a pair with championship experience, will be taking their place.”

The German showjumping team for the Aachen World Championships is now Daniel Deusser (Otello De Guldenboom), Sophie Hinners (Iron Dames Singclair), Richard Vogel (United Touch S) and Marcus Ehning (Coolio). Christian Kukuk and Checker are the travelling reserves.

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Reigning world champion Denmark has announced its dressage team for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen, Germany (11–23 August).

It feels a lifetime ago that the Danish team secured that historic win – their first world title – in front of a rapturous home crowd in Herning with a squad hailed at the time as the strongest Denmark had ever fielded.

Carina Cassøe Krüth and Heiline's Danciera, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle, Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Flash Gordon 37 and Nadja Aaboe Sloth and Favour Gersdorf will carry Danish hopes into Aachen.

Three of the Herning four return to defend the title – Carina, Cathrine and Daniel all make the trip to Aachen, with Nadja stepping in for Nanna Merrald Rasmussen. But look past the riders' names, and it's a much changed team: only Carina's Heiline's Danciera survives from that gold-medal line-up, with Cathrine and Daniel both on different partners four years on.

Set against Herning, there’s a gap on paper – though it's worth remembering that was arguably the high-water mark of Danish dressage, and not a fair yardstick to judge any team against. The counting three that day – Nanna's 76.72% on Blue Hors Zack, Carina's 76.86% on Heiline's Danciera and Cathrine's 81.86% on Vamos Amigos – added up to 235.451, enough for a historic 1.2-point margin over a fast-finishing British team.

This team looks a little over four points shy of that total on current form – but it’s a stronger projection than that of the Danish team that took bronze at the Europeans last summer.

Cathrine and Mount St John Freestyle are the obvious standouts, averaging 83.43% across three CDI grands prix this year – well clear of what Vamos Amigos delivered in Herning.

Everywhere else, the numbers point the other way. Daniel's promising but inexperienced new partner, Flash Gordon 37 – who only joined his string in January 2025 and made his international debut under him this March – has averaged 73.53%. That’s some three points shy of his score with Marshall-Bell in Herning.

Carina, still on Heiline's Danciera, sits at 74.04% from her one qualifying CDI this year, marginally down on her own Herning contribution on the same horse. Nadja, in for Nanna, averages 72.17% – over four and a half points below the score she’s directly replacing.

Add up the best three of this season’s four – Cathrine, Carina and Daniel, with Nadja’s score dropped as it would be in a team final – and you get 231, 4.45 points down on the total that won gold four years ago.

Set alongside this year's international grand prix form for their two closest challengers, Denmark’s projected total puts them third of the three – but not by much.

The German team was announced last week, and their best three (Isabell Werth, Katharina Hemmer and Frederic Wandres, with Raphael Netz’s score dropped) average out to 233.47.

Britain has announced its shortlist but not the definite team yet – we’re expecting that next week. However, their core trio (Lottie Fry, Carl Hester and Becky Moody) are almost guaranteed to be riding down the centre line in Aachen, and total 232.8. Denmark’s 231 leaves them 2.47 points off Germany and 1.80 off Britain – a gap, but not an unbridgeable one, and tighter than the 6.25 points that separated gold from bronze at last summer’s Europeans.

None of that decides anything on its own – form guides aren’t championship pressure. Anyone who was at Herning will remember how a rapturous home crowd can lift a combination past what the season’s numbers suggest and unnerve others. This time, it’s Germany who'll have that roar behind them, not Denmark.

Add in the eliminations, the one bad step nobody saw coming – championship week has a way of making a mockery of spreadsheets – but what’s certain is this: the Danes are experienced riders who know how to find their best when it matters.

Most nations have already confirmed their teams ahead of the FEI’s 27 July deadline for definite entries – follow our Aachen dressage teams page as the rest come in.

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour peaking at the right time

Last summer’s Europeans showed just how fine the margins are between Cathrine on Freestyle and Belgium’s Justin Verboomen on Zonik Plus, the reigning European champions. Justin and Zonik Plus edged her in both individual tests – 82.37% to 81.69% in the special, then 89.96% to 89.82% in the freestyle, with barely half a point in it.

It was a thrilling and refreshing battle – in a sport that has so often been dominated by one outstanding horse – between two of the finest combinations in the world.

And we look set for a repeat of that titanic clash at the top. The two haven't met since – studiously avoiding a potential match-up. Cathrine and Mount St John Freestyle have been in career-best form all year, regardless. The pair opened the season with a personal-best 84.17% to win the Herning CDI5* grand prix in March, then added another lifetime-high 83.1% in the special at Hagen in April.

That form held through last week's Nations Cup finale at Falsterbo – Denmark's only outing in the series this year – where Cathrine's 83.72% headlined a dominant team display, before she added the freestyle title on 88.42% with a brand-new musical programme.

“I really had that dancing feeling and especially my last line, felt so uplifting having the crowd beside me as well," Cathrine said. “It’s been a lot of work putting this new freestyle together, and I think today was a perfect rehearsal, because now I know that there needs to be some small changes before the World Championships.”

Against Justin specifically, the freestyle picture is close to Crozet's, his 90.36% average this year nudging Cathrine’s 89.44% by under a point. But he hasn't yet ridden a special this year to set against her 83.1% at Hagen.

At 17 now, Mount St John Freestyle is entering the latter part of her career, and there’s no doubt she and Cathrine will be remembered among the finest partnerships of the modern era. But the individual gold or individual honour that would truly crown it remains agonisingly out of reach – time is running out to turn a career of silver into gold.

Danish dressage team for the 2026 Aachen World Championships

Daniel Bachmann Andersen with 12-year-old gelding Flash Gordon 37

Owner: Sofia Ek

Breeder: Jan Lueder Cornelius

Breeding: by Fiderbach, out of a mare by Don Romantic

Carina Cassøe Krüth with 15-year-old mare Heline’s Danciera

Owner: Poul Thøgersen

Breeder: Stald Heiline

Breeding: by Fürstenball, out of a mare by De Niro

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour with 17-year-old mare Mount St John Freestyle

Owner: Laudrup-Dufour & Zinglersen ApS and Mount St John Equestrian LLP

Breeder: Stephan Kurz

Breeding: by Fidermark, out of a mare by Donnerhall

Nadja Aaboe Sloth with 13-year-old gelding Favour Gersdorf

Owner: rider

Breeder: Inger Marie Andreasen

Breeding: by Foundation, out of a mare by Leandro

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Fancy joining the ranks of LA28 Olympic equestrian volunteers? Applications to be part of the crew at the Olympic (14 to 30 July 2028) and Paralympic Games (15 to 27 August 2028) are now open.

Applicants are asked to select up to two zones in which they would prefer to volunteer – the equestrian events are taking place in the Arcadia zone. The online form states that “preferences will be taken into consideration, but cannot be guaranteed”.

People are asked to give a first, second and third choice of role. These include sport, driver, medical, operations, technology, ceremony, communications and more.

Nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis, who won four gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, is an official ambassador for the LA28 volunteer programme; he said that “the role of a lifetime is waiting”.

“I know what it means to compete on the world's biggest stage, and I know first-hand that the magic of the Olympic Games is not just made by the athletes – it is made by the people who show up to support them,” he said.

“Los Angeles has always shown up for me, and now it's our turn to show up for the world. If you want to be part of something historic, apply today.”

Up to 60,000 people will make up the volunteer crew for the 2028 Games. Some roles require specialist skills, for areas such as medicine and translation, and there are spaces in the application form for people to highlight these.

“In 2028, the world’s attention will be on LA as the world’s best athletes make history, but it's the crew behind the scenes that help make those moments possible,” said LA28 chief executive officer Reynold Hoover.

“Their impact cannot be overstated – behind every event, every venue and every moment will be the LA28 volunteer crew, ready and eager to play a vital role in the delivery of the LA28 Games.”

For information, visit: https://volunteer.la28.org/en

● Do you enjoy volunteering? What have been some of your favourite memories and why should people get involved? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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Martin Jones has been tasked with officiating two sections at this year’s Royal International Horse Show: the jump phase of the mountain and moorland (M&M) working hunter pony finals, and the conformation phase of the mini M&Ms.

Martin’s co-judges are Sara Hird and Emma Hector respectively. With just days to go, Martin shares an insight into what he will be looking for in the ring.

Martin Jones’ background in horses

Martin has been involved with ponies all of his life.

“As children, my sister and I had our own ponies, which we enjoyed taking to Pony Club, riding club, gymkhanas and hunting. We were very much grassroots competitors, attending local agricultural shows, and so I didn’t really get into showing properly until I was in my twenties and began keeping my own broodmares and so on,” says Martin.

After leaving school, Martin went to Millfields in Newmarket, and under the tutorship of Anne Rolinson, he gained both his British Horse Society intermediate instructor’s certificate (BHSII) and National Pony Society diploma in stud management (NPS Dip).

“While working in Newmarket, I had the fortune to visit and work at some of the major thoroughbred studs and benefited from the teaching of both the renowned vet, Peter Rossdale, as well as the late Colonel Gray, director of the National Stud,” says Martin

His first love has always been the British Riding Pony though, and he “was fortunate enough” to work for Liz Mansfield-Parnell at her Rotherwood Stud.

“I learnt so much about the successful production, breeding and showing of world class ponies, where standards were always the highest and only perfection would do,” he recalls.

Latterly, Martin worked in the banking industry, breeding British Riding Ponies under the Landemann prefix, with a small, select number of mares, chosen for their bloodlines as well as their pony characteristics, movement and good temperaments.

Several of his mares enjoyed successful ridden careers previous to motherhood, and their progeny have continued to shine under saddle.

Landemann Peony, for example, is a former supreme champion at the BSPS championships, and Landemann Bird Of Paradise claimed the show pony championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in 2024.

“I’m delighted to have bred show ponies to win at HOYS and the RIHS,” says Martin. “But being presented with the Bwlch Valentino trophy – a beautiful bronze first presented by the Eckley family in 1968 – for breeding the champion show pony at HOYS was a bit of a dream come true. If you breed show ponies, it’s the trophy you want to win, so to have it on my dining room table for a year was a real thrill.”

Since his semi-retirement, Martin has been more heavily involved with the NPS, having served many terms as a council member over the past 30 years or so. He is currently the vice-chair of the society, having held the chairman’s role for three years previously. He’s also an active member of his own area – NPS Area 29.

Martin Jones’ judging experience

Martin sits on a whole host of panels covering a vast array of types, including the British Show Pony Society (BSPS), National Pony Society (NPS), British Show Horse Association (BSHA), British Connemara Pony Society, Coloured Horse and Pony Society (CHAPS UK), Sport Horse Breeding GB (SHB GB), The Showing Register and the British Miniature Horse Society.

As well as judging at many of the UK’s leading county shows, he’s had the pleasure of judging in Europe, New Zealand and Australia, and considers officiating at the latter two some of his judging highlights.

“The judging systems are different over there and it was a real learning experience to see their ways. Ponies and horses are produced and ridden to the highest standards, and I particularly enjoyed judging the young rider classes, which are really popular in Australia and New Zealand.

“Over here, we don’t really have similar classes at the same level, where the children are judged primarily on their riding abilities. The standard of riding in these classes is so high and they’re fantastic to judge because of it.”

Of course, he also considers previous appointments at HOYS and RIHS to be some other highlights.

What will Martin be looking for in the M&M workers?

“I’m looking for what I would describe as a balanced and fluid round with ponies moving through the track in a good forward rhythm, in a way that is appropriate for their breed,” he says.

“In the plaited workers, I would look for a more bold and enthusiastic round, but some mountain and moorland breeds are not necessarily built to gallop around a worker track, so I’ll want to see these ponies working in balance and covering the ground in a forward rhythm.”

Martin has words to the wise for competitors.

“I’ve watched these working hunter pony classes for many years and so know it to be a long track in a big ring, with up-to-height fences and on an incline. I’ve noticed that a lot of ponies demonstrate a lack of fitness and start to tire and sound ‘breathy’ in the latter half, losing their rhythm and forwardness as a result.

“So I would say, make sure that you and your pony are of the appropriate condition and fitness to jump around a long, testing track. The course at the Royal International finals is very different to the courses that many will have qualified on, which in many cases is likely to have been on a flat surface in a small arena.

“I’ve also noticed that the bogey fence is often the open ditch or water tray, so practice that in advance if you can. It catches some of the most seasoned campaigners out.

“In short, be prepared. Be prepared for a long, varied and testing track, and for undulating ground.

“I would also advise competitors that it’s always a good idea to take some coaching, on a regular basis if you can. Even Olympic riders have coaches on the ground. It’s a good thing to have someone helping you and your pony improve your technique and the investment will help you be fully prepared.”

Martin Jones’ pet hates

“Having been so involved in the NPS and its welfare remit over the past few years, I’m very aware of welfare as I’m judging, too. No matter how frustrated you may feel if things aren’t going to plan during your round, inappropriate use of the whip is not acceptable.

“I also get a little bit frustrated by the number of people walking the course. It’s not a family day out, so I prefer to see competitors accompanied by one other person. Walking round chatting to your friends is not an effective way to walk the course!

“And I may sound a bit of a ‘fuddy-duddy’, but those walking the course should also be dressed appropriately for the occasion, and in a way that is respectful to the show, its officials, sponsors and fellow competitors. The weather may be hot, but that’s not an excuse to walk the course in beach wear.”

What will Martin be looking for in the M&M mini classes?

As well as the M&M working hunter ponies, Martin will also be assessing the mini classes, which naturally have very different requirements.

“These classes are always a joy to officiate,” he says, “though it’s easy for the grandness of the occasion to unsettle some young riders, whose mental and physical ability can be so different, even though of similar ages.

“I do love to see a pony with a good walk, and an animal that marches into the ring, tracking up, ears pricked and looking through its bridle – rather than down at the ground – will catch my attention. A pony that carries its jockey forward, in a safe and steady manner, without having to be encouraged forward every stride, is always more enjoyable to watch, and more comfortable to ride.

“During conversations I hear, my experiences of judging and comments on social media, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the ridden classes are judged solely on way of going. Please remember that 50 marks are for conformation and freedom of action, so it’s important as much time and effort is put into this phase, too. It makes the judge’s job much easier, and shows the pony off to its best advantage if it is correctly presented to the conformation judge – which means an adjustment by the rider/ handler as the judge walks round the pony.

“You can’t change the pony’s conformation, but presenting your pony correctly will give you the best chance. Again, practice at home so that this phase comes naturally and is easy on the day. A pony reluctant to trot up, with its ears back and tail swishing, is not going to show itself off in the best way, and can easily lose marks as a result. Don’t let the conformation phase be an afterthought.”

Martin’s tips for major final first-timers

“Planning is everything. If you’ve not competed at the Royal International Horse Show before, you are in for a treat, as it’s a wonderful venue. But it can be a long walk to the ring, and a long way back to the stable area if you realise you’ve forgotten something just minutes before you’re due to enter the ring.

“It takes a lot of time, effort, energy and money to qualify, so you want to give you and your pony the best chance. Ask someone experienced before the show for their advice.

“Most judges would be happy to help if asked in the right way and at a suitable time. Often, it’s the attention to detail that makes the difference, and shortening a pony’s tail an inch or two, or suggesting a rider try their stirrups a hole longer, can make all the difference to the overall look and impression.

“Practise at home, but not so much that your pony becomes disinterested. And remember, though everyone wants to do well and get a rosette, there’s only one winner on the day. Win or lose, there’s always another show, but your pony’s trust and happiness are the real prize worth taking home.”

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Now is the time to make your voice heard on the impact fireworks can have on horses – as the Government has finally asked for the public’s opinion.

Today (16 July) the Government has launched a public fireworks consultation on “common-sense proposals” that would mean the loudest fireworks could be used only in professional displays.

– Take part in the public fireworks consultation.

The aim is to “crack down on anti-social behaviour and protect vulnerable people, pets and wildlife” and “target a small number of fireworks which have caused distress for residents across the country for too long”, but allow professional displays to continue as before.

This follows multiple debates in parliament sparked by hundreds of thousands of signatures on petitions calling for tougher firework laws, as well as sustained campaigning.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary, one of 19 charities in the Fireworks Impact Coalition highlighting the effect of fireworks can have on people, pets, horses, farm animals and wildlife, has been working for change for years.

Fireworks consultation welcomed

“Having campaigned for improved fireworks regulations after tragically losing three of our own rescued horses due to loud fireworks, Redwings knows the scale of distress, suffering and risk to life that fireworks cause every year, not only to horses, but to the people around them,” said Redwings campaigns manager Helen Whitelegg. “In our survey of more than 5,000 UK horse owners, over 95% told us they wanted to see tighter fireworks regulations; loud bangs cited as the most significant risk factor.

“We therefore warmly welcome the news today that the Government will be consulting with the public on this issue and would encourage animal lovers everywhere to participate and have their say on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. These proposals aim to tackle the biggest concerns raised by the public – particularly noise and antisocial behaviour – while protecting cherished traditions and organised displays that bring communities together.”

The consultation also includes proposals to review whether other high-risk products should be banned from public sale.

Ms Whitelegg said: “When our petition was discussed by 58 MPs in parliamentary debate in January, we heard several MPs echo the thoughts of Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley and Ilkley, when he said, ‘the time for talk is over and we need action now’. Petition debates have become an almost annual event, and we welcome the public consultation as a key step on the road to meaningful regulatory change that will help protect both animals and people.”

MP’s campaign

Luton MP Sarah Owen introduced a private member’s bill to restrict the noise and sale of fireworks, nearly two years ago. Ms Owen has told H&H she often hears of the “absolute distress” caused by fireworks.

She said today: “It has been over 20 years since our fireworks laws have been looked into, so this review is a major win for the campaign to finally deal with the problem of antisocial fireworks that affects so many across the country.

“Ever since I became an MP in 2019, I have been saying our out-of-date fireworks laws needed to change – it’s so good to see this become reality.

“Between the licensing loophole, high noise limits and lack of proper enforcement, our current laws mean misery for residents, often for months on end. It undermines trust that the council and police can act on things that make life worse for people and turns neighbour against neighbour.

“I look forward to engaging with the Government in its review and continuing to make the argument for change.”

The RSPCA’s head of public affairs David Bowles said the charity is “thrilled by this major step forward”.

“We now urge pet owners and animal lovers across England and Wales to act now and give their voice to this consultation and help ensure safer and more responsible use of fireworks,” he said.

“For too long now, pets, horses, wildlife and farm animals have been deeply affected by the impact of fireworks and the lack of regulation – including from DIY and impromptu displays.

“Animals such as dogs and horses can suffer from tinnitus, hearing loss and long-term hearing damage caused by fireworks, while all animals can experience stress and fear – which has in some instances lead to injury and even death. Similarly, livestock and other animals living outdoors often try to escape the bangs out of fear, sometimes injuring themselves in the process, and the consequences can be devastating.”

The RSPCA is also a member of the coalition, and has long called for tighter restrictions on fireworks.

“We’ve known for some time that the public support restrictions; 66% of pet owners found backyard fireworks displayed to be a major concern, but regulation has lagged behind for too long, so this is a really positive step forward,” Mr Bowles said.

“This campaign has never been about spoiling people’s fun, but only ever about protecting animals, together – and this new UK Government consultation has the potential to be a game-changer for animals..

“We now have an amazing opportunity to give animals a voice by rallying all those who care about animals to respond to the consultation and show their support for these long-awaited restrictions, and a better world for every kind.”

Fireworks consultation is your chance to make change

British Horse Society safety team manager Des Payne told H&H the charity welcomes and supports the consultation; the BHS has also campaigned with other coalition members for years for changes to the law.

“Today’s announcement marks a significant moment and a huge step forward in making vital changes to support the needs of vulnerable people and animals,” he said.

“We know that fireworks can have a devastating impact on horses and other animals, causing fear, distress and, in some cases, serious injury or death. That’s why it is so important that members of the public, horse owners and everyone affected take the time to respond to the consultation. The more evidence and lived experiences that are shared, the stronger the case for meaningful change.

“While we are encouraged to see this issue being considered, we also recognise that there is still a long way to go. This consultation is just the beginning, and we will continue working with Government and partners to ensure the needs of horses and the wider equestrian community are properly recognised in future fireworks legislation.

“We encourage everyone to make their voice heard and help ensure this opportunity leads to lasting improvements for horse safety and welfare.”

Take part in the consultation

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Welsh first minister Rhun ap Iorwerth swerved a question about the future of horse racing in Wales following the ban on greyhound racing.

On 17 March, The Senedd (Welsh parliament) voted to end greyhound racing. The ban will come into effect at some point between 1 April 2027 and 1 April 2030. The following day, members of the Scottish parliament voted in favour of a ban in Scotland.

On 1 July, Reform UK Senedd member (MS) Cai Parry-Jones raised the topic during first minister’s questions.

“First minister, your party supported the banning of greyhound racing in Wales, as a result, it will be fully banned in Wales as early as next April. I am seriously concerned that Plaid Cymru’s thirst for banning British cultural sports will not stop here,” he said.

“Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville [Roberts] said a few months ago that Grand National-style horse racing should be banned. First minister, horse racing is not only a cultural part of our British identity, but an economic one – generating hundreds of millions of pounds for Wales, supporting jobs from stables to tracks to bars at the races. Will you confirm to the Senedd today that you will not be moving to ban horse racing with jumps here in Wales?”

Mr Ap Iorwerth responded, saying: “I’m afraid I have to correct the member, the vote on greyhound racing was a free vote, and I believe it was for most parties in the last Senedd.”

Responding to the exchange, a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) spokesperson told H&H the BHA “has been active in the Senedd for a number of years, running a cross party group and engaging with the Welsh Government on behalf of the industry”.

“The industry has invested over £63m since 2000 in equine welfare initiatives, which have helped deliver genuine progress, and politicians from across the political spectrum were previously on the record in the last Senedd praising the high standards of equine welfare in the sport,” added the spokesperson.

“The Welsh horseracing sector continues to be an economic and sporting success story for the Welsh nation and it is worthy of Government support.”

In March, the BHA was quoted as saying that at every stage, both governments have been keen to stress that there is no connection between these bills and the future of the horseracing industry in Scotland and Wales.

At the time, World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H: “We know that society is increasingly questioning how we involve animals in our lives in so many different ways, from pets, to livestock, to animals involved in sport, and the greyhound ban in Wales and Scotland is another timely reminder about what the consequences can be if a sport loses public trust.

“Equally, it is well recognised that maintaining trust is one the key drivers of public acceptance and this can be strengthened by genuine, ongoing and evidence-led actions to improve safety and welfare. So this must remain a strategic priority for horse sport, along with being transparent and accountable for the actions undertaken. In this way sport will truly be putting the horse first, which should help avoid future restrictions and provide for a more sustainable future.”

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The future of the Dartmoor hill pony has been secured – and the voices of more than 220,000 people heard – as the Government has agreed new protections for them.

Natural England announced yesterday (15 July) that the ponies will be removed from stocking rate calculations in new agreements with commoners, which means owners will no longer have to choose between ponies and sheep or cattle.

“This is wonderful news for Dartmoor’s ponies and for everyone who loves the moor,” said Dartmoor Hill Pony Association chair Charlotte Faulkner.

“For months, pony keepers, commoners and supporters have been warning that future grazing agreements could unintentionally put these precious herds at risk. Today, the Government has listened.”

H&H reported that campaigners feared the most likely outcome of the new contracts, in which cattle and ponies were both included in stocking density limits, would be culls, and that up to 90% of the remaining 1,000 ponies on the moor would be lost.

Hundreds of thousands of people backed those campaigning for the ponies’ future, and politicians from across the spectrum spoke out against the plans.

The announcement yesterday said the new measures would protect the ponies and support those who keep them on the moor.

“These heritage rare breeds and semi-wild hill ponies are a much-cherished part of Dartmoor’s landscape and cultural heritage,” a Defra and Natural England spokesperson said. “They also play an important role in conserving protected environmental sites on the moor – and the Government is committed to ensuring their numbers do not fall below current levels.

“From today, Dartmoor ponies will be removed from stocking rate calculations in new Environmental Management agreements, so that farmers do not face a choice between keeping ponies and maintaining sheep or cattle. This implements recommendation 27 of the 2023 Fursdon review, an independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor. Pony numbers will also be monitored across the moor to ensure they remain stable.

“A new dedicated pony supplement will be introduced into farming schemes to remove any financial incentive to reduce pony populations. In addition, the Government has asked the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group to develop a whole-moor grazing framework ensuring all interests are considered together.”

The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association said the announcement is a “landmark moment for Dartmoor’s ponies, its commoners, biodiversity and cultural heritage”.

Political clout

Ms Faulkner thanked Defra minister Emma Reynolds for putting her political clout behind the campaign.

“We would like to thank the secretary of state for listening to over 220,000 people who care about the future of the semi-wild Dartmoor hill pony herds,” she said.

“This will support Dartmoor’s biodiversity, culture and tourism, keeping Dartmoor as we know and love it for generations to come.

“This announcement means Dartmoor’s ponies are being recognised for what they are: rare, native, semi-wild herds that are part of Dartmoor’s history, its biodiversity and its future.

“Removing ponies from stocking rate calculations is exactly the assurance we have been asking for. It means commoners should no longer be placed in the impossible position of having to choose between keeping ponies on the moor and maintaining viable farm businesses.

“We are hugely grateful to the secretary of state, Defra, Natural England, Steve Race MP and everyone who has helped bring this issue to national attention.

“Most of all, we want to thank the more than 220,000 people who stood up for Dartmoor’s ponies. Their voices have made a real difference.

“This is a day to celebrate. Dartmoor’s hill ponies belong on Dartmoor, and today’s announcement is a major step towards securing their future where they belong: on the moor.”

Working together for the Dartmoor hill ponies’ future

The association said it looks forward to working with all the other stakeholders to ensure the new arrangement delivers on all fronts.

Secretary Joss Hibbs added: “This is a brilliant result, but it is also the beginning of the next chapter. We now want to work constructively with everyone involved to make sure these protections are delivered on the ground.

“Today has shown what can happen when commoners, campaigners, politicians and the public come together for Dartmoor. It is a victory for the ponies, but also for the moor itself.”

Natural England chief executive Marian Spain added: “Natural England has always been clear that Dartmoor’s ponies play a central role in shaping the landscape and supporting nature, and we want to see them continue to do so.

“The Government policy changes announced today will enable us to work with farmers to secure the agreements we need to recover nature on Dartmoor. We will continue to work with Dartmoor Land Use Management Group and other local groups on the new framework to ensure a healthy, sustainable future for Dartmoor.”

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Adult riding camps – have you ever thought about attending one?

Perhaps you went to Pony Club camp when you were younger or maybe you fancy a UK horse riding holiday with some added dressage training. Or is going to camp on your horsey bucket list?

Whether you’re thinking of some horsey time away to help smash training goals or simply a break with like-minded people, adult riding camps offer many possibilities.

Jump to...

• What are adult riding camps?
• Who are adult riding camps for?
• Do I need to have my own horse?
• What to expect
• Packing checklist

What are adult riding camps?

Adult riding camps are residential trips with your horse and last anywhere from a couple of days to a week or more.

They usually take place at an equestrian centre that has facilities beyond simply an arena and jumps on offer. These facilities might include a horse simulator, cross-country course or gallops. Alternatively, the centre might have great things on offer locally, like beach riding or a forest with extensive off-road hacking.

Depending on where the camp is and how much it costs, accommodation might be provided or there might be a field for camping. Meals are usually included in the price.

Who are adult riding camps for?

Simply put, they are for everyone. However, it’s definitely worth finding the right one for you with a bit of research.

For example, you can find camps geared towards:

• confidence and mindset
• general training
• discipline-specific training
• new skills, such as groundwork or liberty
• Western equestrian sports

Do I need to have my own horse?

In short, no! Adult riding camps based at riding schools frequently have horses available for those who don’t have one.

Depending on where you’d like to go and your experience level, there are options available for anyone from a beginner to someone ready to take on high-level dressage movements with a schoolmaster.

If you do have a horse, however, there is plenty of choice when it comes to adult riding camps.

What to expect at an adult riding camp

Jessica Jackson and her 19-year-old Irish sports pony, Bonnie, are riding camp veterans.

“I typically attend one or two a year all over the country,” she tells H&H. “For some I went with friends; others I braved alone.”

Jessica says camps are a great way to bond with your horse, meet like-minded people and challenge yourself.

“You become completely consumed by horses while gaining invaluable knowledge from experienced coaches in a supportive environment.”

In addition, camps offer Jessica a way to switch off.

“My favourite thing about them is the mental escape they gives me, with uninterrupted time to focus on myself, my riding and to strengthen my partnership with Bonnie.”

Jessica also tells us how riding camps have evolved over the years.

“They’re no longer just about time in the saddle, but improving from a more holistic standpoint. Nowadays, many camps often incorporate activities such as Pilates, mindfulness talks, wellbeing sessions, team-building games, sports massages and even mechanical horse sessions.”

Some camps also have talks and demos from equine professionals, such as nutritionists who might bring a weigh bridge to weigh your horse, for example.

Jessica’s advice for would-be adult riding camp attendees is to do your research before booking. “Start by looking at the venue’s location and facilities. Do they suit your requirements, goals and expectations?

“Check out the camp itinerary and ensure it is appropriate. Are you looking to improve a particular discipline? Enjoy a relaxing getaway? Or set a challenge in a new environment?”

Jessica also suggests looking into the coaches. “Their experience, teaching style and areas of expertise should align with what you want to achieve.”

Finally, Jessica suggests making sure the facilities are suitable for you and your horse.

“Do they provide turnout? Stabling options? Check out what accommodation and amenities are available for riders too. Some camps offer an all-inclusive package, while others will require you to bring your own bedding, for example, more like DIY.”

Preparing for your first camp

“At your first riding camp, expect to challenge yourself, learn a lot and have plenty of fun!” says Jessica. “From experience, they all offer a supportive, friendly and relaxed environment where riders and horses are encouraged to develop and progress at their own pace.”

Jessica adds that camps can be physically demanding with multiple sessions each day. “Make sure you and your horse are fit enough to make the most of the experience.”

Jessica also states the importance of going with an open mind. “Be willing to step out of your comfort zone, embrace the opportunity to learn, make new friends and try new things. Book the camp – you won’t regret it!”

Horse camp checklist

Wondering what you might need for a camp? Here is what you should consider:

For your horse

• passport
• tack – saddle, bridle, martingale or breastplate (if you need one) and his girth
• a saddle pad, plus spares so you always have a dry clean one
• protective boots, such as brushing boots or overreach boots
• hi-vis for hacking
• headcollar and leadrope
• any rugs currently in use
• a fly mask (if using)
• enough forage (unless supplied), feed and supplements for the duration
• bedding (if stabling and not supplied)
• water carrier (like this one, for the journey and to put in your wheelbarrow to save lugging buckets)
• feed and wash-down buckets
• haynets
• any licks or treats you use daily
• grooming kit
• first-aid kits, including relevant medication, creams and ointments
• everything on your normal travel kit checklist

For you

• riding hat
• riding boots
• body protector
• air jacket (if you have one)
• riding tights and/or breeches
• riding tops, with extras so you always have clean, dry one
• long riding socks
• lightweight waterproof jacket
• warm layers or a riding robe
• enough pairs of underwear
• toiletries
• a torch
• towels
• your phone charger
• a power bank
• personal first aid/medication

If you’re camping, you’ll also need:

• tent
• sleeping bag
• sleeping mat
• pillow
• camping light
• portable camping fan (if it is likely to be hot)
• plastic crockery and cutlery
• sit mat or picnic blanket
• camping table and chair
• camping stove, kettle and cooking implements (depending on your camp setup)

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

One of the biggest misconceptions about showing – and equestrian sport in general – is that it’s easy. What makes our sport unique is that we’re not simply training ourselves; we’re producing another athlete at the same time.

To add to the challenge, a show horse doesn’t just perform for us but is also expected to carry a stranger.

A horse will truly perform only when a connection is established. It’s difficult to explain a partnership you have forged to a non-horsey person – it’s often unseen and can only be described as a feeling.

But first, you must find the horse. Often, they’re young, inexperienced or completely unbroken. You become the trainer, teacher, psychologist, fitness coach and full-time carer, all while trying to improve yourself as a rider. And whoever coined the phrase “never work with children or animals” clearly never met a pony producer.

A producer’s story with a horse usually ends when he retires, is sold or moves on, and you’re back to square one.

“A different breed” 

I learnt the lesson of resilience very early. Riding ponies for Dad, one week I could be riding a pony that had jumped for England, the next I’d be lying across a breaker fresh from the sales.

I’m not alone in sustaining serious injury – including breaking my back. No wonder horsey people are described as “a different breed”.

I remember coming home from one of my most successful trips to Horse of the Year Show with a string of wins. However, it was time for my top horses to retire, and one was sold.

I went on holiday, came home and walked into the empty yard, and I remember thinking, “What now?”

I didn’t have the next generation waiting in the wings.

Finding another top horse isn’t like popping to the supermarket. It takes years. One minute I’d been on top of the world; the next I genuinely wondered whether I’d ever win another class.

The challenge of starting over

It struck me that I can’t think of many other sports where you can reach the pinnacle of your profession and then, almost overnight, find yourself starting all over again.

Athletes in most sports spend years conditioning the same body and refining their own skills. While riders improve with experience, every success comes with a different horse.

After decades of producing horses across different disciplines, I’ve come to realise that while every horse is absolutely an individual, there is the occasional moment of thinking, “I’ve seen this horse before.”

Not the horse itself, of course, but the personality. Somewhere over the years, I’ve worked with another horse just like it. I know what worked, what didn’t and, perhaps more importantly, the mistakes I made.

The horses that taught me the most weren’t always the champions. Quite often, they were the ones that had me scratching my head, questioning myself and occasionally wondering why I ever thought this was a sensible career!

Perhaps that’s why the sport is so often misunderstood.

I still remember Gary Lineker’s tweet after Nick Skelton’s comeback in 2016 from a broken neck to win Olympic gold in Rio, describing the moment as “an old bloke on a horse jumping It’s a Knockout-style obstacles”.

It was hopefully meant as humour, but it was a reminder of how invisible the skill in our sport can be to those who have never experienced it.

The culture we create

It's disappointing when I see horse people turning on one another online. Spend a day at a show, and you’ll see competitors applauding each other and congratulating the winners. A few hours later, social media can paint a very different picture.

I’ve noticed the same thing during the FIFA World Cup. Supporters cheer their team from the pub, then go home and criticise the very players they’ve just been singing about. It’s a mentality I’ll never understand. We all have a responsibility for the culture we create.

● Have you experienced the “empty yard” feeling after a top horse retired or moved on – and how did you find your way back? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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Equestrians are calling for the Highway Code to be amended to make rider hand signals to drivers clear – as there is disagreement on what they mean.

Kelly Westgate’s Government petition asks for pictorial representation in the code of how riders ask drivers to slow down, as “the current advice could cause dangerous confusion”.

Ms Westgate told H&H the misunderstanding became clear after she shared a video on social media of her 10-year-old daughter Mia hacking out, explaining to drivers that if she raises and lowers her outstretched arm, it is a request to drivers to slow down.

“When we’re out, we get loads of people waving back or completely ignoring us,” she said.

“But when we posted the video on TikTok, there were lots of comments saying, ‘No, that means you’re slowing down.’ It generated debate and it made me look into it.”

Ms Westgate realised that although the Highway Code, which was updated in 2022 to feature more specific guidance on passing horses, states: “Look out for horse riders’ and horse drivers’ signals and heed a request to slow down or stop.”

Rider signal picture confusion

But the code neither describes nor pictures the up-and-down motion riders use for this request, as backed by police forces and the British Horse Society (BHS) But it does picture arm signals used by motorcyclists, for whom the same action does mean “I am slowing down”.

“It’s a contradictory element in the Highway Code,” Ms Westgate said. “It seems a bit daft; the BHS videos, mounted police videos, all riders use that signal to ask to slow down but it gets ignored.

“The code mentions rider signals asking you to slow down but then shows the signal people give to say they are slowing down, so what signal are they looking for? What do we need to do to get them to slow down? I know the Highway Code isn’t up for review again so this is an ongoing battle.”

Sign the petition

BHS director of safety Alan Hiscox told H&H that Ms Westgate is “right to point this out” and that he supports her; he has raised the issue with the Government department for transport (DfT) previously.

“The Highway Code has the picture of the motorcyclist and a bit of wording that says ‘also for use by pedal cyclists and those in charge of horses’,” he said.

“There’s obviously a bit of confusion there, but what I think – and I’ve brought this up with the DfT several times but haven’t got anywhere and it’s still on my to-do list with them – is that if they just take out the words ‘and those in charge of horses’, that will clear up any confusion.”

But, Mr Hiscox added, he hopes that the rider’s real meaning, if they give the signal, is being communicated to new drivers.

“We give presentations to driving instructors and one of the questions I put to them is, ‘If you saw a horse rider giving this signal, what does that mean to you?’ and all the driving instructors have said, ‘That means they want us to slow down,’” he said.

Asked by H&H about this specific issue, a DfT spokesperson cited road safety measures taken by the Government, including the updating of the Highway Code in 2022 and the publication this year of the national road safety strategy – in which equestrians have been “largely overlooked” as reported by H&H (news, 15 January).

“The safety of all road users is a top priority for the Government and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads,” the spokesperson said.

“The Highway Code includes the hierarchy of road users, which identifies horse riders among the most vulnerable, with strengthened guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking horse riders.”

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Olympic medallists Andrew Hoy and Vassily De Lassos return to the Australian eventing team for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen, after missing selection for Paris 2024.

Andrew and the then 12-year-old gelding won individual bronze and helped the Aussie side to team silver in Tokyo five years ago. They also have a superb record at Aachen, jumping double clear to be placed on all three visits, including finishing second in 2022.

When they were on the bench for the last Olympics – which would have been Andrew’s ninth – Andrew said the “chapter of ‘Paris 2024’ may be closing but the book isn’t finished”. This year is their 10th season together and Aachen will be their third World Championships. Vassily is an incredibly consistent competitor; he has kept a clean jumping sheet at 36 of his 44 international eventing starts, and he and Andrew have been in the top 10 at 28 out of their 35 runs together.

Their dressage marks tend to be slightly adrift of the likely favourites for these World Championships, but their experience, consistency in the jumping phases and course form are three strong aces coming into Aachen – they will be ones to watch.

A fresh look for the Australian eventing team

The Aussie squad has a fresh feel for these championships. Former squad stalwart Virgil, ridden by Shane Rose, retired in 2024; Shadow Man, Chris Burton’s individual silver medal-winning ride at Paris, is back with regular rider Ben Hobday and Kevin McNab’s Olympic and worlds ride Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam last competed at Paris.

With the exception of Andrew and Vassily, Aachen will be the first senior championships for the other four combinations.

Sophia Hill and former racehorse Humble Glory bring global five-star experience, most recently finishing 10th at Kentucky. The pair have also completed Burghley and been placed at Adelaide and Maryland. This is a pair who are likely to climb after the first phase.

This will be the first time we see 2026 Adelaide winner Oliver Barrett (Sandhills Briar) and runner-up Sam Woods (SS Eight Count) compete in the northern hemisphere. Both have strong jumping records – a real theme of this Aussie squad – down under, so it will be exciting to see them now go up against the cream of the rest of the world.

Belgium-based Olivia Barton completes the five-strong squad with rising home-bred star APH Sodoku, with whom she has a wealth of four-star form.

Olympic qualification and gaining valuable championship experience will surely be the target for the Australians, but a medal would be the icing on the cake.

Australian eventing team for the 2026 Aachen World Championships

The full squad, in alphabetical order by athlete surname, is:

Oliver Barrett with 10-year-old gelding Sandhills Briar

Owner: Craig and Prue Barrett

Breeder: Craig, Prue and Jesper Barrett

Breeding: by Christian 25

Olivia Barton with 10-year-old gelding APH Sodoku

Owner: Carlene Barton

Breeder: APH Sporthorses

Breeding: by APH Rocardo, out of a mare by APH Coriandus

Sophia Hill with 15-year-old gelding Humble Glory

Owner: Rider, Caroline Duddy, Olivia Greenwood, Andrew Hill, Michelle and Ted Landy

Breeder: Emerald Thoroughbreds

Breeding: by Bernardini, out of a mare by Shovhog

Andrew Hoy with 17-year-old gelding Vassily De Lassos

Owner: Linda Mars, Pat Harris and rider

Breeder: Jérôme Bergès, Sonia Eyraud and Jean-Louis Beth

Breeding: by Jaguar Mail, out of a mare by Jalienny

Samuel Woods with 13-year-old gelding SS Eight Count

Owner: rider

Breeding: by Hamlet

Australian eventing squad reserves for Aachen 2026 World Championships

Isabel English with nine-year-old gelding Cil Dara Bombay S

Owner: Sarah English, Sofia von Moltke, Jenny and John Curtis

Breeder: Nicholas and Sarah English

Breeding: Balout Du Rouet, out of a mare by Diarado

Sophia Hill with 11-year-old gelding Tulara Baltango

Owner: rider, Caroline Duddy, Olivia Greenwood, Michelle and Ted Landy

Breeder: Tulara Warmbloods

Breeding: by Tulara Balouch

Sam Jeffree with 14-year-old gelding Santoro

Owner: rider

Breeder: Ryan’s Horses

Breeding: by Starnberg, out of a mare by Regardez Moi

Kevin McNab with 10-year-old gelding Faro Imp

Owner: James and Sofia von Moltke

Breeder: Martin Gronert

Breeding: by Wathnan F One USA, out of a mare by Master Imp

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news in the run up to the World Championships in Aachen, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Australian rider Jayden Brown has paid tribute to his “amazing” Olympic ride Quincy B, who has left his yard to be sold.

Owner Willinga Park, in New South Wales, has confirmed that the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, with whom Jayden helped the Australian team to ninth place at the Paris Olympic Games, is on the market.

“Olympic dressage horse Quincy B will be offered for sale, marking the next chapter for the much-admired horse,” a spokesperson for the venue said.

“They are open to accepting offers from suitable buyers who can support Quincy B’s continued success and wellbeing.”

Jayden has played a major role in the venue’s high-performance programme since he started there in 2020. He competed at the 2022 World Championships with Willingapark Sky Diamond, as well as in Paris.

Jayden congratulated those who had been selected for this year’s World Championships and wished them luck, adding that Willinga Park had withdrawn Quincy B from selection on 10 July.

“I am disappointed not to be joining our team in Aachen, however I am proud of the results Quincy B and I achieved during our qualification campaign,” he said.

“I hope that together we showed Australian riders that it is possible to achieve one of the strongest qualifying positions for our team as a combination based in Australia.”

Quincy B and Jayden Brown: top results

Jayden and Quincy B have had a fabulous year, winning all five of the grands prix and freestyle classes they have contested.

“I am grateful for many years riding and training Quincy from a young horse through to grand prix and the opportunity to represent Australia on our team at the Paris Olympics,” Jayden said. “Quincy left us yesterday [14 July] and will be stabled locally while he awaits export to Europe to be sold.

“Quincy has always held a special place in my heart and his ability to charm ‘his girls’ in the stable will be missed. I wish nothing but the best for an amazing horse who truly deserves the best in life.”

The Willinga Park spokesperson said the decision is part of a “gradual wind-down” of its high-performance programme, as it focuses on hosting equestrian events and offering vet services, accommodation and hospitality.

“Quincy B has been owned by Willinga Park for seven years and has become one of Australia’s most recognised dressage horses, including representing Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Jayden Brown,” the spokesperson said.

“Quincy B has been an exceptional horse for Willinga Park and Australian dressage, and we are incredibly proud of what he and Jayden achieved together.

“We thank Jayden for his professionalism, dedication and care, and wish him every success in the next stage of his career.”

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Don’t miss this week’s edition of Horse & Hound, in shops from Thursday 16 July. We have the pleasure of speaking to double Burghley and Badminton champion and Olympic medallist Ros Canter about her junior days, managing mindset and everything in between. Plus, we bring you our Royal International Horse Show preview. In the news pages, we discuss the importance of qualified equine practitioners, examine the future of racing in Wales, and much more. We speak to the World Championships showjumping course designer and hear from Simon Reynolds and Richard Davison on hot topics in showing and dressage. In this week’s Vet Clinic, we cover heat stress in horses and other vet news. We also get up close with Stubbs’ painting The Grosvenor Hunt and go in-depth on managing water on the yard during shortages. This week’s foal file is showjumper Klent Kick On. As ever, enjoy in-depth reports from the latest fixtures, including NCPA Staffordshire Country Festival, Bogenraith and much, much more. There are many other articles for equestrians to enjoy – see a more detailed breakdown below.

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What’s in Horse & Hound magazine: on sale 16 July 2026

News

• Welfare first when viewing horse pictures
• The importance of qualified practitioners
• Rider hand signals to drivers: petition to Government
• Questions asked on future of racing in Wales 

Opinion

• Letters of the week
• Dressage: Richard Davison
• Showing: Simon Reynolds

People and horses

• H&H interview: Three-time Badminton winner Ros Canter
• All in a day’s work: The World Champs showjumping course-designer
• Foal files: Top showjumper Klent Kick On

Property and kit

• Gorgeous Georgian: Pretty 18th-century homes, with stables and more
• Shampoos to get your horse’s coat gleaming

Vet Clinic

• Heat stress in horses, plus latest veterinary news

Features

• Hickstead highlights: Gear up for this year’s Royal International
• Managing water on the yard in a time of shortages

Reports

• Showjumping: Bogenraith and more 
• Showing: NCPA Staffordshire Country Festival and more
• Eventing: Bradwall and Chepstow at Howick
• Dressage: Parwood, Golden Cross and more

Hunting

• Stubbs’s painting, The Grosvenor Hunt 

Classified Ads

• Horses for sale, horseboxes, vehicles, stabling, jobs, insurance and more

Get your magazine

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Welcome to the Tryon World Equestrian Games 2018, brought to you by Horse & Hound. Our reporters Pippa Roome and Polly Bryan were on site in North Carolina, United States throughout the Games (11-25 September 2018) to report all the highs and lows. The World Equestrian Games (WEG) brings together the world championships of eight disciplines to a single location once every four years, and once again this proved to be a very challenging undertaking, made more so by the arrival of Hurricane/Storm Florence at the end of the first week of competition.

How to watch World Equestrian Games on TV

Latest from Tryon

Para dressage

Showjumping

Driving

Vaulting

Eventing

Dressage

Endurance

Reining

Britain’s Ben Maher MBE is one of the world’s leading showjumpers and the new Olympic champion having won individual gold at the Tokyo Games with his current top horse Explosion W. Ben is also an Olympic team gold medallist from the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Born in Enfield in 1983, Ben Maher began riding when he was eight and competed in pony classes from an early age. After leaving school, he trained with British rider Liz Edgar, before travelling to Switzerland where he spent two years riding for Swiss show jumper Beat Mandli. He has since gone on to become one of the most successful riders in the world, including being ranked as the world number one for some time.

He now runs his global equestrian enterprise Ben Maher Stables and splits his time between his stables in Florida and Hertfordshire. He’s engaged to fellow showjumper Sophie Gracida from USA.

Ben underwent serious back surgery in 2020 after suffering with pain for many years.

“I’d had a couple of bad falls and in the end it catches up with you,” he said. “Riding wasn’t at all comfortable, but it was the best place to be. Through the European Championships in 2019, I struggled with simple things like putting my boots on and walking the course. You get tired of fighting that all the time. Now, I feel like a new person.”

Ben Maher and Explosion W

Ben Maher’s current top horse is Explosion W, a huge 12-year-old gelding by the stallion Chacco-Blue, known at home as the “BFG”, and widely considered to be one of the best horses in the world. Pamela Wright and Charlotte Rossetter stepped in to buy the gelding from previous owners Poden Farms after “multiple offers and a series of negotiations headed up by owner Neil Moffitt, whose priority was to keep Explosion W with Ben and under the British flag”.

Talking about his “horse of a lifetime”, Ben says: “He’s so powerful off the floor, even over a cross-pole. But I think that’s what separates him from other horses. He’s such an intelligent animal and loves attention.”

Among Ben’s other top horses in recent years have been Concona, Cella, Diva II, Tic Tac, Robin Hood W, Rolette and his home-bred London 2012 Olympic horse, Tripple X III, who was sold as part of the resolution of a long-term legal dispute between Ben and his former backers Michael and Emma Phillips of Quainton Stud LLP.

What else has Ben Maher achieved?

• In addition to his team and individual Olympic gold medals, Ben has also represented Britain at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong and the 2016 Games in Rio.
• Ben won team bronze at the 2011 European Championships in Madrid, claimed individual silver and team gold at the 2013 European Championships and most recently he claimed individual silver and team bronze at the 2019 European Championships.
• He also represented Team GB at the 2009 European Championships in Windsor and the 2015 European Championships in Aachen. 
• Ben was selected to compete at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2014 with the brilliant grey mare, Cella but a late training injury ruled them out.
• In 2005 Ben became the youngest person to win the Hickstead Derby
• He won one of the world’s richest prizes, the Global Champions Super Grand Prix, in Prague in 2019 with Explosion W.
• He has won many other international grands prix including Olympia, Madrid and the King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead.
• In 2013, Ben Maher reached number one in the world ranking.
• He won the Longines Global Champions Tour championship two years in a row.

Ben Maher’s offical social media pages

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

Michael Whitaker is one of the best known names in showjumping. He has won an astonishing 15 championship medals during a 40-year career in the saddle.

Michael is one of the senior members of the Whitaker family showjumping dynasty, and began competing at the young age of seven. Michael trained with legendary Swedish coach Lars Sederholm when he was 16, the age at which he made his international debut. At the age of 20 he became Hickstead Derby’s youngest winner in 1980 and went on to win it three times in succession with his great horse Monsanta.

Michael Whitaker has ridden in five Olympic Games, the first time being in 1984 and most recently in Rio in 2016. Michael has competed in more than 20 FEI World Cup finals, finishing second in 2005.

In 2013, Michael helped Britain win team gold at the Europeans with Viking as well as playing a vital role when gaining team qualification for the Rio Olympics at the 2015 Europeans in Aachen. Britain fnished fourth to claim their Olympic spot.

Michael Whitaker lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife Melissa and three children. Oldest son Jack Whitaker is a rising star on the international showjumping circuit.

Bubby Upton is a British event rider who has won medals at under-21 championships and is now impressing at senior level.

Bubby first rode on a British team at the 2014 pony European Championships, where she took team and individual silver on Alfie.

She then contested two junior European Championships on Eros DHI, taking team bronze at the first in 2016 and individual gold and team silver at the second a year later.

Bubby rode at the young rider Europeans in 2018 and 2019 on Cola and came home with individual silver and team gold in the second year.

In 2021, Bubby won the under-25 CCI4*-L at Bicton Horse Trials on Cannavaro.

“It feels good finally to be a British champion,” said Bubby after her victory – she reckoned she had held the lead six times in under-age championships, without ever winning one. “They always ended up pulling it out the bag at the pony, junior or young rider Europeans so I didn’t mind. But there’s no under-25 Europeans, so it’s nice actually to seal the deal.

“Cannavaro really deserves it. He’s got a heart of pure gold and he showed it all week, so I’m delighted for him.”

After her Bicton win, Bubby was long-listed for the senior European Championships with both Cannavaro and Cola, but was unable to fight for a place when she contracted Covid and then broke her back.

She made her comeback in the autumn by contesting her first five-star at Pau Horse Trials, with both Cannavaro and Cola. She retired Cannavaro on the cross-country, but finished 12th on Cola.

Bubby had a devastating run-out at the last fence on her Badminton Horse Trials debut in 2022, but finished 14th at Burghley Horse Trials that autumn and went on to rack up a string of good five-star results on Cola.

Bubby had a very serious riding accident at home in August 2023, but has made a remarkable comeback to continue riding at the top level.

In 2025, Bubby made her senior championship debut at the Blenheim European Championships. She and Its Cooley Time were eighth after dressage but Bubby fell off across country.

Is Bubby at university?

Bubby has now graduated with a degree in sports management from Edinburgh University.

“I hope my degree will help if I event as a career,” said Bubby in an interview in 2019. “It’ll help me to make financial sense out of this and make it a successful business.

“I’ve always juggled education with riding as I was away at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire and commuted back and forth at the weekend and Mum would drive the horses to school.

“We are based just outside Newmarket, which is half an hour from Stansted and the most regular flights to Edinburgh are from Stansted. That makes it affordable and do-able — if it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have been allowed to apply to Edinburgh.”

What is Bubby Upton’s real name?

Bubby’s real name is Isabelle.

What age is Bubby?

Bubby’s date of birth is 25 January 1999.

Has Bubby Upton had a riding accident?

Bubby broke eight vertebrae and her collarbone when she fell from a youngster while cross-country schooling at home in early August 2021. She returned to competition in September and went on to complete her first five-star at Pau that October, finishing 12th on Cola III.

Two years later, in August 2023, Bubby had a fall riding on the flat, which led to spinal surgery. She made a spectacular comeback in the spring of 2024, finishing 10th at Badminton on Cola.

Where is Bubby based?

Bubby is based at a yard at her parents Rachel and Hugo’s home near Newmarket.

Jump to the latest William Whitaker news

William Whitaker was born on 26 July 1989 into the Whitaker showjumping dynasty. Nephew of John and Michael, William’s father Ian is the only brother in the family who doesn’t showjump, but the sport is clearly in William’s blood.

Cousin to Ellen and Robert Whitaker, William grew up surrounded by horses and has competed since he was a child. In 2001 aged 12, William won the Horse of the Year Show 138cm championship on his pony Mystic Starlight Express. Two years later he won the Junior Foxhunter riding Devlin and in 2005 he won the Junior Show Jumper of the Year.

William won individual European gold (and team bronze) as a junior plus team gold and team bronze as a young rider, before stepping up to senior ranks. He also represented Britain in the Australian Youth Olympic Final, riding a borrowed horse, and brought home a bronze medal.

When William left school he trained with American showjumper Aaron Vale, who helped him with the transition from ponies to horses. On his return to England William worked on Michael’s yard. He set up on his own in 2011.

William has a son and a daughter with his girlfriend Elisabeth Fredlund.

William, who is the tallest of the Whitaker family at 6ft1in, has represented Britain in a number of senior Nations Cups. He has won three World Cup qualifiers, the first in Mechelen in 2007, followed by Stuttgart in November 2014 and Olympia in December 2018.

By David Renney

Lewis Hartland Thomas, the co-founder of Vets for Hunting, later the Veterinary Association for Wildlife Management (VAWM), has died aged 85.

Lewis was born in Bath, where his mother, Alex, was an evacuee from London during the war. His father, Mark Hartland Thomas, was an architect.

He attended Westminster School in London, then Trinity College, Dublin, briefly to read classics. Questioned by his father, whom he greatly respected, on what he planned to do with his degree, he changed his course at Trinity to zoology, then gained a place at Cambridge to read veterinary medicine.

The family moved to Kent while he was a teenager, where he met Rosemary, who became his wife of 60 years. He and Rosemary spent the early part of their marriage in Cambridge, where Lewis rowed for his college.

After graduation, Thomas went into mixed practice, briefly joining Messrs Gilbert, Kirkwood and Gale in Newbury. He soon switched to an academic career, taking a position at the Institute for the Research on Animal Diseases, at Compton, Berkshire. There, he worked on bovine conditions, earning his doctorate and becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists.

It was one of his many published letters, in this case to The Times, that was the catalyst for the formation of Vets for Hunting. William “Twink” Allen read it and thought it so articulate he made contact to arrange the first vets’ meeting.

In retirement, Thomas threw himself into the work of Vets for Hunting and the VAWM. The name change was intended to show that the remit was not limited to wildlife management by hunting, particularly important when an informed veterinary voice was needed on the subject of badger culling. It was also intended to show that the association’s interest was not limited to hunting but extended to its purpose.

Lewis organised two successful conferences on wildlife management, attracting eminent speakers and delegates, putting on show the intellectual ballast that supports the case for hunting with hounds.

He was an indefatigable writer of letters to newspapers and politicians, making the case that hunting with hounds was better for the welfare of the quarry species than any other method of management. No VAWM committee meeting was complete without a report of his most recent correspondence with the secretary of state.

He was a keen fly fisher and sang in his church choir. He did not ride, but was an enthusiastic follower of hounds and his son, Charlie, went into hunt service. Having started as professional whipper-in at the Vine and Craven Hunt, last year he was made a joint-master. Lewis and Rosemary gave a lawn meet for Charlie’s hounds last season.

It was only his responsibility for caring for Rosemary and his own failing health that finally began to limit him. He felt cheated that in old age he did not reap the benefit of a daily 15-mile round commute on his bicycle for almost all his working life. But he never lost his fighting spirit.

He leaves Rosemary, his son Charlie, an estate agent, and daughter Lucy, a vet.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Owners have been reminded of the importance of using qualified and registered practitioners when seeking musculoskeletal therapy for their horse.

Industry professionals have reported a rise in people offering treatments, with little or no qualifications. In January Defra held a consultation on reforms to the Veterinary Services Act that could include regulation and protection of titles for allied professionals, including musculoskeletal therapists (news, 5 Feb).

Vet Lorna Brokenshire-Dyke is a qualified veterinary physiotherapist and president of the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP). Dr Brokenshire-Dyke told H&H that she had seen clients “bypass” their vet in favour of practitioners such as bodyworkers, massage therapists or physios, some of whom operate without appropriate training and qualifications.

“Practitioners with the right training and qualifications will recognise when there’s a problem and refer back to the vet – but without that foundation, a horse can end up being treated repeatedly without the underlying issue ever being properly addressed,” said Dr Brokenshire-Dyke.

“I’ve seen what happens when treatment isn’t underpinned by appropriate training and qualifications: conditions are missed, problems are masked, horses are pushed on when they should have been rested, all at the expense of the animal’s welfare.”

Dr Brokenshire-Dyke had a case where a horse had been seen by a musculoskeletal therapist for lameness on multiple occasions – and only months later when the horse did not improve was she consulted in a veterinary capacity.

“Ultimately the horse was in pain for months because the root problem wasn’t being addressed, but the owner was being reassured by the therapist that they were doing the right thing,” said Dr Brokenshire-Dyke.

“The owner’s bank account suffered, but more importantly the horse didn’t receive the right treatment at the right time.”

Dr Brokenshire-Dyke added that any therapist should be open to being asked about their qualifications and insurance and whether they are a member of an association such as NAVP, the Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP) or the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT).

“As a veterinary physiotherapist, I understand exactly why that training and qualifications pathway has to be rigorous, not optional. It’s what gives a practitioner genuine professional standing, the knowledge, judgement and accountability that proper qualification actually represents,” said Dr Brokenshire-Dyke.

Veterinary physiotherapist Emma Green told H&H she has seen an increase in unqualified individuals advertising therapy services on social media.

“There’s been various different therapy machines used within the industry for years and they offer effective results – but we’re increasingly seeing unqualified people offering treatments, in cases where it’s not appropriate,” she said, adding she believes the industry is not regulated enough.

“It’s concerning. I don’t want to discredit anybody; there is a place for various therapy types within the industry, but if an owner wants a veterinary physiotherapist, they should visit a register where they know those on it are thoroughly checked. The main concern has got to be for the welfare of the horse”.

RAMP past president and chartered physiotherapist Jo Paul told H&H that by using someone on a professional register or member of an association, owners can be assured that person is qualified.

“RAMP is a voluntary register; it doesn’t mean that everybody who’s not a member isn’t qualified, but it does mean that we’ve done due diligence of who is on our register,” she said.

“Everybody is invested in doing the best for their horse, but owners need to take some responsibility.

“When somebody comes along with a new shiny machine or offering, owners need to consider whether the person providing that service has the anatomical, pathological and physiological knowledge to use the modality safely and effectively.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:’

Your ‘once-in-a-generation chance’ to have your say on changes to ‘outdated’ vet regulations

‘An urgent need for change’: calls for new veterinary law continue

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Small but mighty, miniature horse breeds pack a large punch in a diminutive body. In fact, the world’s smallest horse is a miniature horse breed.

But what is a miniature horse? Aren’t we just talking ponies here?

Is a miniature horse a pony?

Crucially, no. There’s a horse fact for you to break out at parties!

Miniature horses and ponies are two different classifications of equine – it’s all to do with conformation.

Hundreds of years of selective breeding give us the miniature horses we recognise today. Stand a miniature horse next to a pony of the same height, and you’ll soon see the difference.

In general, ponies have short, stocky legs and thicker necks. They usually have a wider barrel compared to horses and have proportionally shorter bodies, too.

In contrast, a miniature horse looks just like a scaled down sport or competition horse. They have proportionally longer bodies and legs, slender necks and elegant heads.

Can you ride miniature horses?

Miniature horse breeds are not commonly used for riding – only a very young child would be small and light enough to do so. They would still need to be backed, trained and selected for an appropriate career like a regular-sized horse.

Many minis are used in driving, showing, and agility, and are also bred as pets and used as therapy animals.

Miniature horse breeds

1. Falabella

Height: 24–28 inches

Weight: 50–80kg

Country of origin: Argentina

This tiny rare horse breed is the world’s smallest, and quite possibly the hardiest because they can withstand extreme temperatures and unforgiving landscapes.

Spanish horses brought to South America from the 16th century represent this breed’s origins. After some of them ended up getting loose and turning feral – even wild – they carved a path to some of the most hard-to-reach areas, such as isolated places outside Buenos Aires. Some of this equine population joined the indigenous Mapuche people.

How did the breed become so small? Generation upon generation was exposed to harsh climates, limited food and scarce water. The Falabella grew smaller and smaller to adapt to these conditions. And, because finding food and water was so tough, they became more intelligent over time in order to survive.

Falabellas were noticed by outsiders in 1845, when Irish settler Patrick Newell observed the remarkably small horses were kept alongside the Mapuche’s riding horses. He and his family took to keeping Falabellas and breeding them. His son-in-law, Juan Falabella, took up the mantle and gave the breed his name.

Juan brought Shetland pony and English thoroughbred blood into the breed to refine the Falabella into what we know today.

2. American Miniature

Height: Less than 34 inches

Weight: 68–136kg

Country of origin: USA

According to the American Miniature Horse Society, American Miniatures are the result of nearly 400 years of selective breeding, with the earliest record of a small horse arriving in the country from overseas appearing in 1888. However, mini horses didn’t land in the wider public consciousness until as late as 1960.

The breed is understood to have been cultivated from the blood of English and Dutch working horses, particularly those put to work in mines (no prizes for guessing why!). These horses arrived in the US in the 19th century and went into the Appalachian Mountains to mine.

There is some evidence that the Shetland pony was also introduced to help achieve the desired miniature stature.

3. Dutch Miniature

Height: 42 inches or less

Weight: 68–159kg

Country of origin: Netherlands

In Dutch, this tiny horse’s name is the Nederlands Minipaard.

With a studbook established in 1993, the original rules for registration with the breed society (Nederlandse Mini Paarden Registratie Stamboek) allowed any horse under 42 inches (106cm) to register. This allowed the inclusion of greater genetic diversity when establishing this miniature horse breed.

Today, foals hoping to enter the stud book must follow much more stringent criteria. This includes having registered parents.

The breed society hosts an annual summer show for all mini breeds in July. There are no ridden classes on the schedule, but participants compete in competitions like showing, jumping and driving.

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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After a busy first half of the season, it’s likely your grooming kit or stripping basket are in need of a refresh – this could be true whether your next stop is an area show or you’re prepping for a week at the Royal International.

From emergency saviours to cheap hacks, we asked some top producers what they can’t live without on show days.

Show kit essentials

Hannah Horton: “I wouldn’t contemplate going showing without good old baby wipes – they can be used for anything. We also make sure we have drinks for humans in the stripping basket.”

Emma Burrows: “For me, I need a good mane and tail detangler, coat gloss and a bit of baby oil gel [like this one] to smooth the hair.”

Danielle Heath: “We love Smart Grooming Super Shine; it’s fantastic on faces and gives a mega shine on bodies, too, especially in an evening performance.”

Joe Watson: “This olive oil sheen spray is brilliant on our natives’ manes and tails especially,” he says, “and we use it as a coat gloss and highlighter, too. It’s not very expensive, which is great as we go through tons of the stuff.”

Leon King: “It has to be this Got2b hair gel for plaiting. We always have Leovet’s Power Phaser fly spray and this Cowboy Magic shampoo as well as their Detangler and Shine on tails; it’s incredible – like nothing else I have tried.”

Sara Parrott: “If I had to choose one product that I couldn’t be without it would have to be Supreme Products’ Sparkle Spray for those last minute finishing touches, manes, coats and tails – and even hooves and rider’s boots at a push!”

Sue-Helen Shuttleworth: “On the lorry we always have a good shampoo to quickly wash and dry if horses need it after travelling or working in. Personally I use Equioils Super Soap, Equioils Whitening Wood Flour and towels.

“In the strip basket there’s always a good, clean damp sponge for wiping away saddle marks before the conformation phase, and a good mane and tail brush.

And there’s always full fat Coke and sweets to keep us going.”

Harrison Taylor: “We use glycerine mixed in water for a sponge over, then Arena Products’ Show Shine spray on top. I also use Arena Products’ Clear Highlighter, which contains SPF for eyes and muzzle, black make up, Brylcreem, hair spray and baby wipes.”

Edward Young: “We always have tea, sugar and milk on the lorry. We also have a portable shower to wash any plaiting gel out of the manes and condition them when we unplait; it must be more comfortable for them, and it stops the mane getting too brittle. In my stripping bucket I carry fly spray, Brylcreem as long as it’s not too hot and sunny, hoof-stain, a good brush and a cloth [like this one].”

Simon Reynolds: “Our basket is like Mary Poppins’ bag; we carry everything we could possibly need as there’s nothing worse than having to go back to the lorry if you have forgotten something. But essentials include wet wipes and plaiting bands, plus electrical tape [like this] can be a great save in an emergency. And I’m diabetic so we always have fizzy sweets, too.”

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