Kitty King, who has competed at five European Championships, winning four medals, previews Mark Phillips’ course for the forthcoming 2025 Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country course, with the event taking place between 17 and 21 September.

Course-designer Mark Phillips is in charge of Blenheim’s track for the first time this year and has made some alterations to previous years although the direction in which the track runs remains mostly the same.

“T year’s course has a similar feel to past events at Blenheim,” says Kitty. “The direction it takes is mostly the same, but Mark Phillips has introduced and re-introduced some questions.”

The 2025 Blenheim European Eventing Championships cross-country course features 31 numbered fences.

“I feel the course is appropriate for the level given it has to cater for lots of different nations with varying levels of experience,” says Kitty. “I think it’s of a similar level of technicality to other European Championship tracks I’ve seen. It’s difficult to say how strong some of the angled combinations will be without the brush inserted at this stage, but it could make it look a lot more tricky.

“Mark is testing the rider’s ability to know their horse and their horse’s footwork and their ability to maintain a line at the correct speed – it’s very clear for the horses what the questions are, as long as riders can achieve this.”

Kitty has assessed and rated each of the fences in an exclusive Horse & Hound course walk in the current (11 September) issue of the magazine – out now.

Kitty King walks the Blenheim European Championships cross-country course

Watch below as Kitty walks the direct routes at three key combinations on the 2025 Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country course…

The Suregrow Dew Pond (fence 6abc)

After jumping fence five, you are suddenly into the throngs of tradestands, cameras and spectators, with a lot for horses to look at.

The direct route involves going up a mound to a narrow triple bar where horses will be able to see the water at the bottom of the bank behind.

“How they jump this and use their footwork down the bank will determine how many strides they will get to the final part, which is another narrow triple bar,” explains Kitty. “Although the distance walks on four strides, many will get five and maybe even six if their horse scuttles cautiously down the bank.”

There are long route options here that will add a minimum of five seconds.

Churchill Corners (fence 11abc)

Built on a straight line in front of the palace, this combination includes a box-type fence, followed by a moving four strides to a tricky corner, followed by another moving four strides to another tricky corner.

“This should ride OK if horses stay on their line,” states Kitty. “As you get closer to the corners, the angle becomes more severe and this is a serious test. There are alternatives to parts b and c, but each option will take five or six seconds.”

FEI Mounds (fence 22ab)

This combination comes at the top of a two-minute climb and marks the highest point of the course. There is a right-handed rollback approach to part a, which is an open oxer on top of a mound, before horses run back down the mound and up another mound to an open corner on a tight angle.

There will be some strategically placed trees on the right-hand side of the base of the bottom of the second mound, which will mean riders won’t be able to ride a curve to reduce the angle to the corner.

“The oxer is big, so horses will still have to be jumping well at the top of the climb in order to jump it well,” says Kitty.

Again, there are options here, but they are twisty and time-consuming and will take even more petrol out of the tank.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from the Blenheim Europeans, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Caroline Moore, a former five-star eventer who enjoyed great success during her time as British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use this gridwork exercise to encourage your horse to become straighter and quick on his feet. But, the horse in this video – which was filmed six years ago – is none other than the current European eventing champion and 2023 Badminton winner Lordships Graffalo, who is heading to the Paris Olympics next week with Ros Canter, who is also riding ‘Walter’ in this video.

Caroline says that while this is a fairly advanced exercise, it can be adapted to make it suitable for young horses.

The aims of the exercise are to:

• Develop confidence with a narrow fence
• Develop rider steering aids
• Help to train horse’s jumping technique
• Hold a line
• Develop straightness

Caroline explains this exercise:

“You jump into this exercise over an upright, followed by one non-jumping stride to a skinny. This teaches the horse to stay straight immediately. From that narrow fence we move onto a spread fence — I’m using an oxer that is square and encourages a good round shape. This is directly followed by another skinny on one stride to again establish straightness. The final element of this exercise is a bounce, which encourages the horse to read the pattern we’re asking him to negotiate and to improve their sharpness coming out of an exercise.

“This is a multi-directional exercise, so we can use the bounce coming in to start instead. The important thing when riding this initially is that the rider keeps their eyesight looking straight ahead, and if the horse backs off, they ride really positively, with a secure lower leg so that you’re in a good posture to land and ride forward to come out of the exercise with plenty of confidence.

“Riding a straight line through this exercise is imperative. As you come in, you must jump the first fence dead in the middle, keeping the inside leg very secure to maintain the line.

“You can then add another fence on a turn from the final element and then jump it either way. This makes it quite an advanced exercise and if you are jumping the single fence first, it’s crucial to make a good turn onto the line of fences. You need to keep hold of your outside rein, always looking to the next fence and with the weight down your inside heel to help keep your horse balanced.

“Once your horse has confidence jumping through this exercise at a small height, you can increase the size of the fences.

“You need to really concentrate on thinking about your horse’s outside shoulder coming through the turn first.”

Caroline’s points to be aware of:

• Losing balance and rhythm on the turn
• Drifting at the first fence
• Maintaining energy while jumping down the line
• Praise and reward

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the Paris Olympics, Royal International, Burghley and more 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

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If you want to know the best way to clip a horse from start to finish, you should find this video and its accompanying step-by-step guide helpful.

This archive video of Mary King and her former groom Jodie Summers clipping out the late Kings Temptress contains expert advice on what to wear, where to do it and how to get it right.

Before you start though, make sure you’ve got the best clippers for the job and decide which type of clip you’re going to do and draw on the lines with chalk if that’s helpful.

NOTE: this is archive material filmed in 2008

How to clip a horse: the basics

1. Wear appropriate clothing

• Wear sturdy footwear, ideally with steel toecaps
• Don’t wear fleecy clothes. Overalls are a good idea – if not, a long waterproof riding coat and/or waterproof trousers are handy
• Use a cap to keep your hair back or a riding hat for extra safety

2. Find the right location

• Outside gives good natural light
• Indoors is best in wet weather
• Choose a place where the horse is relaxed

3. Make sure the horse has a clean, dry coat to avoid blunting the blades. The best way to do this is by using a hot cloth or by bathing your horse.

4. When using mains clippers use a circuit breaker and be careful the horse does not stand on the wires.

5. Before starting to clip:

• Check the clippers are working
• Check the blades are in good order and have been recently sharpened
• Make sure the tension is correct. This is different for each clipper brand. For Lister Clippers, which were used in the video, screw the tension nut down until tight. Turn the tension nut back one and a half turns.
• Apply clipper oil along the teeth of the blades, and also on the sides at the heel

6. Introducing the clippers to the horse

• Show the horse the clippers while they are turned off
• Rub the clippers against the horse’s shoulder
• Take the clippers away and turn them on. Let the horse listen to the noise
• Take the clippers gently to the horse and place against the horse to feel the vibration
• If the horse appears relaxed you can start clipping

7. While clipping:

• Use long smooth strokes against the lie of the hair
• Stop every 10 minutes to clean the hair from the blades and apply oil along the teeth of the blades and also on the sides at the heel
• If the blades start to get hot, stop and set them aside to cool down, or swap to new blades. Apply a blade coolant spray if necessary. Do not put the blades in water or paraffin to cool them.
• Take your time!

8. When the clip is complete, wipe the horse down with a warm, damp sponge to remove any loose hair, then rug up appropriately.

9. Caring for your clippers:

• Brush off all the loose hairs
• Remove the tension set and the blades
• Clean the blades with a brush and/or rag and put them away. Do not put them back on the handset while in storage
• Clean the handset and pack away carefully
• Store your clippers in a cool, dry place
• Send your clippers and blades away at the end of the clipping season to be serviced and sharpened ready for the following year

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Father Christmas has called upon two Shetland ponies and their merry gang of friends to help make his deliveries this year.

The tale unfolds in Devon-based trainer and film-maker Emma Massingale’s latest video, in partnership with NAF, starring everyone’s favourite actors, Albert and Ernie. When Dalmatian Nancy takes an important call from Father Christmas, she rounds up Albert and Ernie, and the group can be seen boarding a double-decker bus as they head off on their latest mission. The film also features Comet the Connemara, donkey Charlie, Douglas the Hungarian vizsla, Siamese cat Louis, part-bred percheron Max, and puppies Pippin and Luna, a miniature dachshund and a labrador.

Emma Massingale, who is known for her heart-warming Christmas films, said coming up with this year’s idea was a bit harder than in some years.

“There’s been a lot of doom and gloom on the news and a lot of the Christmas adverts on the television have gone down the more political route. I thought, ‘What are we going to do to make something a bit different when it’s not feeling very Christmassy yet?’” Emma told H&H.

“I decided just to tell a story and when you come up with a story you can put the different components in. I started with a skeleton idea, and then I started thinking about the different tricks I might like to do. You’re trying to include as many tricks as you can, but at the same time make it look natural and there has to be a bit of humour too.”

And it is not just the actors Emma has to think about, it is props too. While trying to stay warm one of the ponies turns on the outdoor heater, causing a Christmas tree to dry up and lose its pine needles. Meanwhile the other pony goes off to seek out their best Christmas jumpers. The gang help gather the presents for Father Christmas and he can be seen heading off to start his deliveries.

“I spent about four hours plucking a Christmas tree, and then I had the needles in my oven for six hours trying to get them the right colour. Everything we ate for days afterwards tasted of pine needles!,” said Emma.

“We also have to consider the locations, for example doors need to be right for the ponies opening them. We don’t get to practise at the location before filming so I do all the training at home, and then we go and film. But we always joke that Albert and Ernie are the masters of one-take wonders, they know their job so well. The dogs are definitely a newer thing for me, but it’s great – they can do different things from the horses, so it ties in really well when telling a story.”

The video was filmed at Powderham Castle, a remote cottage on Bodmin Moor, and South Devon railway station.

“It’s really nice to be at Powderham Castle, I used to event there when it held horse trials and it’s a great location,” said Emma.

“It was quite funny getting to the cottage on the moor; it has no drive and you could only get to it by an off-road Land Rover. My fiancé Jeremy took the Land Rover with the filming equipment, and I had to tread across the moor with two ponies and four dogs.

“A man checking his cows spotted me and rode across on horseback to check I wasn’t dumping the ponies there, but he took one look at them in their lycra suits to keep them clean and said ‘Perhaps not!’”.

Emma, who has a busy 2023 planned including filming a TV advert, said she enjoys making people smile with her films.

“I just love it when you see something and it makes you smile, or inspires you in some way. I think that’s the joy of Christmas.”

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Give a subscription to H&H this Christmas

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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

*Please be patient for the video below to load*

Showjumping legend John Whitaker confirmed he has no plans to retire as he collected the British Equestrian Writers’ Association (BEWA) lifetime achievement award in front of a home crowd at the London International Horse Show.

The 67-year-old, who has been competing at the top of the sport for nearly five decades, was presented with the award as a surprise in the main arena at the ExCeL on Saturday (17 December).

John, who has won more than 20 Olympic, World and European medals during his lengthy career, received the accolade from incoming BEWA chairman Rupert Bell.

He said he was “a bit taken aback” to have been surprised with the award.

“I got tricked, nobody told me!” said John, who was joined in the ring by family and friends including including Stanny Van Paesschen, Marcus Ehning, Nick Skelton, Di Lampard, his son Robert Whitaker, and two of his granddaughters.

“It was very nice, it’s nice to be appreciated – as long as you don’t think I’m going to start thinking about retiring yet! I’m not retiring.

“We love coming to this show, it’s an unbelievable atmosphere just before Christmas.”

On being as competitive as ever, he added: “I can still beat them on my day, and I’m making all the young ones work for it. It’s a nice feeling. I don’t really have anything to prove, but I still want to go in there and be competitive.”

As well as the legendary Milton – the first horse to win £1m prize money in showjumping and with whom John was crowned European champion in 1989 – Whitaker’s stable stars have included greats such as Ryan’s Son, Gammon, Argento, Peppermill, Hopscotch, Welham, Grannusch and Calvaro Z to name a few.

His CV also boasts victory at two World Cup finals, the King George V Gold Cup in 1986, 1990 and 1997, and the Hickstead Derby on four occasions, as well as countless other major classes and grands prix.

Britain’s reigning eventing and dressage world champions, Yasmin Ingham and Lottie Fry, were also honoured for their achievements with BEWA awards, facilitated by show organisers rEvolution and HPower.

At a drinks reception on Friday (16 December), Yasmin, 25, who won gold in Pratoni with Sue Davies and Janette Chinn’s 11-year-old gelding Banzai Du Loir, was presented with the BEWA personality of the year trophy by Rupert, and BEWA treasurer Lynne Reed.

Lottie, 26, was the winner of the moment of the year for her gold medal-winning freestyle performance with the Van Olst Horses’ 11-year-old stallion Glamourdale at the World Dressage Championships in Herning. Lottie’s father, Simon Fry, collected the award on his daughter’s behalf. Hours later, Lottie and Glamourdale set a new personal best of 90.99% in the World Cup freestyle at the show.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

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

Horse & Hound catches up with newly crowned Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials champion Piggy March, as well as second placed Tom Jackson, New Zealand’s Tim Price, who finished third, and hears from several other success stories of the 2022 five-star *please be patient for the video below to load*

A three-year wait for the return of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials was rewarded with a vintage result as a true Burghley mare secured her place on Winners’ Avenue.

Piggy March and Vanir Kamira have finished second twice at the Lincolnshire five-star, along with a fifth-place finish, on their previous three runs here. Bridesmaids no more, as the pair enjoyed a result “that dreams are made of” to lift the Burghley trophy.

“I owe her so very much and it’s her heart and her mind that has separated her from normal horses that I’ve had,” Piggy told H&H in the video above.

“She wants to do it for me, and I have nothing but pure respect for her. I’m so proud of everything that she’s done.”

Trevor Dickens’ 17-year-old mare joins two elite clubs with her Burghley Horse Trials victory – the 14-strong band of horses who have won both Badminton and Burghley, and the even more exclusive society of Burghley winning mares. That second club now counts three members in its ranks, with Vanir Kamira joining Headley Britannia (2007) and Maid Marion (1973).

British youth medal-winner Tom Jackson franked his place among the senior ranks at this level with a stunning Burghley debut, finishing second on the 11-year-old Capels Hollow Drift.

“I was thinking in the back of my mind ‘top five’, but to be second – especially to Piggy – almost feels like winning anyway,” said Tom, 29.

The Prices filled the next to spots for New Zealand. Former winner Tim eyeing a big future for his third-placed ride Vitali, while the 19-year-old five-star great Classic Moet and Jonelle claimed fourth and the Avebury Trophy for the best cross-country round.

“He’s just so good at a lot of things, so he’s really worth the investment and time and energy,” said Tim, reflecting on how, despite the result on paper of three down, this horse’s showjumping is improving and he has a bright future ahead.

While Kitty King finished feeling somewhat frustrated that Vendredi Biats did not get the “result he deserved” – breaking a frangible pin on the cross-country and rolling a pole with the showjumping in two otherwise stunning rounds – sixth at Burghley is not to be sniffed at.

And there were fairytales in the top 10 in a way that only sport can deliver. Alice Casburn, the youngest rider in this years field at 20 – born just one year before Classic Moet – shone with the second generation homebred Topspin to take fifth with a double jumping clear.

Tom Crisp, whose place at Burghley hovered under a question mark of injury, piloted the gutsy homebred mare Liberty And Glory to ninth on the mare’s first long-format and first five-star run since 2019.

“Two weeks ago I didn’t think I was going to be here after a nasty fall at home, but this place is magical and it brought the best out of me and the horse today,” he said.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster in the weeks coming into this event, but somehow it brought the best out in us.”

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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

Burghley Horse Trials first-timer Phil Brown speaks to Horse & Hound about realising his ‘childhood dream’ and why there were two horses with him when he passed the cross-country finish line on Saturday.... *please be patient for video to load*

Five-star first-timer Phil Brown realised a childhood dream by completing the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials on his debut – with two very special horses with him as he crossed the cross-country finish line.

The 35-year-old, who hails from a non-horsey background, was given a hero’s welcome as he completed his clear cross-country jumping round with the 14-year-old Harry Robinson on Saturday.

“The whole week has been incredible. It’s a childhood dream, I think it’s every Pony Club kid’s dream even to get here. Even just to arrive at the gates with a fit, sound, healthy horse ready to start is an achievement in itself,” said Phil.

“So to have the week I’ve had, with a personal best in the dressage, clear round yesterday and, yes, a few poles fell today, but that would be his tricky phase. I couldn’t be more over the moon with him.”

Phil, who is originally from North Yorkshire, has been living in Stamford, next-door to Burghley, for the past two years.

“My parents aren’t horsey at all. They are both very supportive, but Mum in particular absolutely loves it,” he said, with a laugh.

“We can see Burghley House from our yard, so if that’s not motivation to get here, I don’t know what is.

“I was maybe a little bit over the top when I came through, but it was just the elation to even finish from that dream of getting here to then to jump a clear round. The cheers from the crowd, being local, was just amazing. It all came out when I crossed the finish line.”

He found his love of cross-country riding through Pony Club tetrathlon and didn’t compete at his first affiliated event until he was 18. A year with Ruth Edge confirmed that this was the career path for him.

His five-star achievement is made all the more special as his dream has been on ice for six years. In 2016, Phil came within a whisker of riding at the iconic five-star. Fate had a different plan, but his 2022 achievement carries a poignant connection to that year.

“I had a wonderful horse called Miss Brodie, I actually wore a bracelet of her hair when I went cross-country yesterday – she’s still with us, but she’s 20 now,” he said.

“She qualified to come here in 2016, then a rule change meant I had to go and do another long-format [four-star]. She picked up an injury at that. She did come back from that, but to four-star so we never quite finished that five-star dream. Being from North Yorkshire, my initial aim was Bramham and she achieved that for me. I thought maybe a five-star is possible, it’s taken six long years to do that – and Harry has just done that for me.

“Weirdly, when I got the draw and saw I was number 59, I was quite stressed about being late in the day and wondering how I was going to hold it together. Then I looked up at the wall at my pictures from Bramham and saw I was number 59 there as well – I believed that was a bit of a sign and thought ‘if it was good enough for then, it’s good enough for now’.”

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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

Horse & Hound’s Lucy Elder rounds up the action on cross-country day at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, speaking to leader Piggy March, Tim and Jonelle Price, top British Burghley first-timers Tom Jackson, Bubby Upton and Alice Casburn, plus world champion Ros Canter *Please be patient to allow the video below to load*

Burghley Horse Trials queen Vanir Kamira franked her place as one of the event’s greatest cross-country horses of all time with an eminent performance over Derek di Grazia’s five-star course with Piggy March.

Today was a celebration of two Badminton-winning five-star mares of the finest vintage. Vanir Kamira, evergreen at 17, and Jonelle Price’s ride Classic Moet, two years her senior, bookend the podium.

“She’s got so much tiger,” said Piggy, who heads the results at this stage on a score of 23. “I’m so glad it’s over and that she’s all in one piece, I just wanted her to come back and enjoy it like she always has done.

“I find there’s more pressure on me now, because she owes us nothing. So I don’t want to push her past any point, I would love her to finish at the top of the sport and enjoying it. I don’t want to do anything wrong by her, so I’m probably at the stage where I pressurise myself. It’s important to me that she is well and happy. The day that she’s not, I’ll put my hand up and come home.”

That same sense of pressure is felt, too, by Jonelle. The New Zealand rider and Classic Moet rose from 25th overnight with their trademark clear to hold third ahead of the final phase on a score of 32.2.

“She’s so well known for her cross-country prowess, for her speed, that if I do anything other than go fast and clear, it’s all on my shoulders,” said Jonelle, the only rider to make the time of 11 minutes 20 seconds – coming home with three seconds to spare, even with a broken stopwatch.

“We come here making sure we tick all the boxes in terms of preparation. But you never quite know when that battery is going to run out! It could have happened in France last week, but no, it waited for Burghley – just one of the challenges to add to this track, but how lucky am I to sit on a mare like this.”

Former winner Tim Price is sandwiched between the pair with Vitali on 26.5, retaining their second place after dressage amid the leaderboard shifts around them.

“It was a lovely, pleasant surprise with how well he coped with everything,” said Tim.

“We were much more down on the clock at some points – we finished 13 seconds over, but we would have been maybe 25 or so earlier on – so he really pulled a lot back. Credit to him and I’m really excited about him.”

While Vitali counts the Olympics on his CV, he is relatively inexperienced at this top level – Burghley was just his second five-star following his debut at Luhmühlen. Showjumping is his Achilles heel, but with impressive cross-country clears at both his five-star starts over very different courses, this is an exciting rising star for Tim’s string.

The younger faces making their mark alongside the pair of five-star equine matriarchs, were in many ways, the two threads that weave the story of the top 10.

Tom Jackson and the elegant grey Capels Hollow Drift followed up their sparkling Badminton with a classy Burghley performance to sit fourth overnight (32.5).

“It was hard work out there, but he got his second wind at the top of the course and then flew home,” said Tom, who was held on course owing to Sammi Birch and Findus PFB’s fall.

“[Being held on course] is six of one and half a dozen of the other really. We were in a nice rhythm which was broken, but it gave me an opportunity to get some air back in his lungs, so it’s hard to say. I just know that I’m super proud!”

Pencos Crown Jewel, fourth at Bicton’s one-off CCI5* last year, proved herself a true five-star horse in a slick round with Ros Canter to take provisional fifth on 36.2. Meanwhile, Burghley first-timers Bubby Upton (Cola III) and Alice Casburn (Topspin) powered into the top 10 to sit seventh and eighth respectively.

It was an influential day on Derek di Grazia’s first Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course. Overnight leaders Kitty King and Vendredi Biats broke a frangible device at the Fairfax & Favour Boot Racks. While it added a costly 11 penalties, the pin saved a fall and the pair remain in touch with the leaders in sixth.

Sarah Bullimore and Corouet, who led day one and were in third after dressage, walked home from the Leaf Pit after a run-out. And it was not Oliver Townend’s day, with two falls.

A total of 31 of the 51 cross-country starters made it through the finish, with 24 clears and just one – Jonelle and Classic Moet – remaining on their dressage score.

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Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September). 

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

Burghley Horse Trials and five-star debutante Kristina Hall-Jackson speaks to Horse & Hound about being mentored by her hero, Pippa Funnell, and her ‘sweet mare with a heart of gold’, CMS Google *Please be patient to allow the video below to load*

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials first-timer Kristina Hall-Jackson grew up watching Pippa Funnell. This week, she makes her five-star debut under the guide of her hero.

“I’ve always gone to watch Burghley, Badminton and Bramham and Pip has always been my idol – we share the same birthday,” said Wesko Equestrian Foundation rider Kristina, who pilots her own 12-year-old “quirky little” mare CMS Google at this year’s event.

“From being a little kid I’ve always followed Pip, so to be on the Wesko programme with her as my mentor is a dream come true.”

The 25-year-old grew up riding and cut her teeth on the showing circuit, before catching the eventing bug. The pair come to Burghley with a strong four-star record, including double clears at Blenheim and Bramham in the past 12 months.

“I’ve had Google from the start of her career and it’s very special to do your first five-star on a horse you have such a partnership with,” she said.

“There’s no other horse I would rather do my first five-star on.”

The Baltimore daughter had showjumped in Ireland before joining Kristina, who introduced her to eventing.

“She’s a wonderful jumper, real brave. But I’ll take her hacking and she will be petrified of some grass. She’s a sweet mare with a heart of gold,” she said.

Jumping is this mare’s strength – the pair climbed from 42nd after dressage at Bramham CCI4*-L in June to finish sixth. Their score of 33 in Burghley’s first phase puts them in 27th place ahead of cross-country.

“I’m thrilled with her,” said Kristina after her test. “Dressage isn’t her strong point, she’s an out and out jumper.”

She said she is “kicking herself” for a mistake in the half-pass, adding the mare did “everything she could”.

“She really does try her heart out for me and has really improved in this phase, so I’m thrilled to bits if I’m honest,” added Kristina, who is trained by Ian Woodhead and Chris Bartle.

“The course is very big and very bold. I wouldn’t want to go out on any other horse than her. She gives me all the confidence in the world, so hopefully we can do our best job and get round clear and safe and sound.”

Kristina and Google are set to tackle Derek di Grazia’s Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course at 1.55pm.

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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

Horse & Hound’s Lucy Elder caught up with Burghley Horse Trials first-timer Harry Mutch after his dressage test with HD Bronze to find out about this pair’s incredible story, which all started with a broken down car... *Please be patient to allow the video below to load*

It was a broken down car that brought about a life-changing moment for Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials first-timer Harry Mutch.

Twelve years ago, Harry’s parents were on their way to a riding lesson when their car broke down. Harry, who was 13 at the time, had never ridden – rugby was his sport.

“My dad had to stay with the car and said to my mum, ‘You’re going to have to take Harry for a riding lesson’.

“I said, ‘I don’t know about that!’,” says Harry.

“I got dragged along, quite enjoyed it and decided I would go back the next week. From there on, I was hooked.”

If it wasn’t for that sliding doors moment, Harry believes he “would probably never have been here”.

And it wasn’t until Harry left school that he really considered riding as a career.

“I hadn’t even ridden round a novice then, so it was a big commitment to go that way” says Harry, who is supported by the Wesko Equestrian Foundation.

“I left school and went straight to work on a yard and learnt the ropes. It was there I realised that was what I wanted to do.”

The Lincolnshire fixture also had a leading role to play in that summer of 2010.

“Burghley was the first event I actually came to watch, I think I had actually only been riding a couple of months then,” he remembers.

“I turned up here and thought, ‘oh my God, what’s this?’ Never thinking one day I was going to ride here. Then a few years later that became the dream – and now, we are here.”

Harry partners his mother Carole Mutch’s 16-year-old Irish sport horse HD Bronze at his first Burghley Horse Trials, and the pair’s CV include completions at Badminton Horse Trials and the one-off Bicton Horse Trials CCI5* last summer.

Their first-phase score of 30.8 is a personal best at five-star, and reigning Burghley champion Pippa Funnell was on hand to support the pair before their test.

“She told me just to enjoy it,” says Harry, who has been based with Pippa for the past two months in preparation for Burghley.

“She’s really good at just making you feel relaxed before your test, you are doing the right thing, that you know where you should be and how to do it. It takes the pressure off a bit so you can relax, go in and think you are doing a good job. That’s really helped me over the last few months to knock my scores up.”

Harry Mutch and HD Bronze will be the fourth combination to tackle Derek di Grazia’s 2022 Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course today (3 September), leaving the start box at 11.45am.

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

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September). 

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

Horse & Hound’s Lucy Elder rounds up the action on day two of dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, speaking to leader Kitty King about her ‘point to prove’ as well as Tim Price, Tom McEwen and highest-placed first-timer at this stage, Bubby Upton. *Please be patient to allow the video below to load*

Kitty King came to Burghley Horse Trials with a point to prove – a point she made loud and clear by storming into the lead with the best ever international test of her career with her European team gold medallist Vendredi Biats.

Kitty had pinned her sights on World Eventing Championship selection with the 13-year-old grey, with “Froggy’s” season and preparations planned with Pratoni in mind. But the pair are not on the five-strong squad and were named instead among the reserve combinations.

“My plan, to put it bluntly, was to stick two fingers up at the selectors to say, ‘you should have taken me’. We’ve got a point to prove and will be putting our best foot forward [on the cross-country] tomorrow,” Kitty told H&H in the video above.

Their harmonious test was peppered with nines, ending with a perfect 10 from Andrew Bennie at C for one of their collective marks, earning the pair a career-best score of 21.2.

Tears came – a mix of relief and emotion – as Kitty completed the test of her life. The long walk out of Burghley’s main arena gave time enough for her provisional score to be relayed across the loudspeaker, flashing up on the big screen to applause from the crowd. Kitty clutched her hand to her face as a fresh wave filled her eyes.

“It’s been tricky as I was really hoping to go to Pratoni, so I would have done a different final run than if I had been aiming for Burghley,” said Kitty, who rides Froggy for owners Diana Bown, Sally Lloyd Baker, Sally Eyre and Samantha Wilson.

“Instead he ran round Hartpury really quickly, so I hope that hasn’t made him too keen. He needs to be listening to me when I tell him to slow down, and not arguing with me.”

She added: “[Tomorrow] will be a tough day, but we will give it our best shot.”

Former winner Tim Price and his Burghley first-timer Vitali, first to go on Friday morning, offered an instant refresh of the standings – nudging ahead of overnight leaders Sarah Bullimore and Corouet.

“Because the horse is capable it’s on me to bring it out of him, he could do a nine everywhere,” said Tim. “But I’m not a dressage rider; I just gallop around jumps quite well sometimes.”

Modesty on a five-star scale from the world number two, who ends the first phase in provisional second with the Giannamores’ gelding on a score of 21.3. Sarah and Corouet remain on the podium, sitting provisional third after dressage on 22.5.

Day two delivered a significant shake up to the top 10. Oliver Townend is in touch of the leaders with both of today’s rides, taking provisional fifth with the Ridgeons’ Swallow Springs (23.6), who was third here with Andrew Nicholson in 2018. Oliver is also provisional ninth with the Hazeldines and Mitchell Fox Group’s Tregilder on 27.5.

Reigning Burghley Horse Trials champion Pippa Funnell also has two horses in the top 10, with her first day ride Billy Walk On now in provisional eighth (26.2) and her second horse Majas Hope in 10th on 28.2.

Ros Canter and the delightful Pencos Crown Jewel, owned by Annie Makin and Kate James, dazzled. Their score of 24.2 for provisional sixth is Ros’ best Burghley dressage score and is as much testament to her skill as a rider as the mare’s attitude.

“I’m quite protective of little Jasmine so I just want her to enjoy it,” said Ros, explaining the mare isn’t naturally built for dressage. “If she comes back happy, that will do for me, but my plan A is to go for it – it’s the only way to tackle a five-star.”

The 2021 Pau runner-up CHF Cooliser, ridden by Tom McEwen, completes the trio of mares in Burghley’s top 10 after dressage. The 12-year-old Womanizer daughter, owned by Vicky Bates and David Myers, shaved four percent off her previous five-star personal best in this phase to sit seventh on 25.6.

“She’s completely quirky, so tomorrow everyone will be wondering what I’m up to as I’m walking alongside her and jumping on in the start box,” said Tom, likening Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course as “Tokyo on steroids”.

“She loves it, she looks for flags for fun, but with that comes a few chestnut mare aspects, which you’ve just got to love. I’m really looking forward to finding out what she’s like around a track like this.”

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Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September). 

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

Irish Burghley Horse Trials first-timer Susie Berry Eventing chats to Horse & Hound about what sparked her love of horses, catching the eventing bug and her World Championships call-up *Please be patient to allow the video below to load*

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials first-timer Susie Berry had planned to keep eventing as a hobby, a sporting passion enjoyed for fun while she forged her career elsewhere.

Fast forward eight years and the Irish event rider is one of the nation’s most exciting breakthrough talents, with a string of horses at top level and her first senior championship on the horizon.

“I feel like all this year has been a little bit crazy. Until I stop, it won’t really sink in,” says Susie, whose top rides are owned by Nick and Helen Caton.

This has been a pivotal year for the 25-year-old, who made her five-star debut at Badminton in the spring with John The Bull and is competing at Burghley Horse Trials this week with the 13-year-old Ringwood LB (pictured, top). Added to that, Susie was named on Tuesday as part of the Irish squad heading to the eventing World Championships with Monbeg By Design.

“Monbeg By Design is just the most gorgeous horse. Last year he picked up a little injury. We didn’t know if he would come back from it, but he has come back better than ever and it makes it even more special,” she says.

“I love them all, don’t get me wrong. But he wouldn’t naturally find it that easy and he tries so hard. It makes me a bit emotional talking about him, because he is such a little trier.”

This step up to top level has been meticulously planned and is supported by a solid foundation of competition experience.

“I’ve put it off a few times to make sure I’m really ready,” says the Wesko Equestrian Foundation graduate, who brings Helen Caton’s Ringwood LB here following a strong performance at Bramham Horse Trials CCI4*-L, where they finished fifth.

“My mum breeds National Hunt horses and sells them as foals, so we have always had horses growing up. I showjumped until I was 14 then I got a Connemara pony who got me into it and I got the bug. I always told myself that I wanted to have it as a hobby and just enjoy it, without the pressure of making it your business. Then I went to Piggy [March]. I was meant to be there for a gap year. Eight years later, here we are.”

That love of horses and the horse-human connection underpins Susie’s drive and ethos as a rider, and as a competitor.

“Getting on the cross-country course, there’s no feeling like it. You can’t get that thrill really any other way,” says Susie.

“You think as one, rather than you make a decision and they have to catch up with your thought process.

“I love it, nothing else gives me the excitement as making a partnership with a horse and getting them to this level.”

Susie and Ringwood LB’s performance between Burghley’s white boards was rewarded with a score of 29.3, putting them in touching distance of the leaders at this stage.

“I’m over the moon with him and there’s way more to come,” she adds. “He must be nearly 18hh, but he doesn’t ride that big. He is very polite, but quite lazy.

“He has done a lot of four-stars, seen a lot of atmosphere, and I think he grows with that. Doing one-day events is a bit of a pain, a bit of a crowd atmosphere brings him to life.”

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

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September). 

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

Horse & Hound’s Lucy Elder rounds up the action on day one of dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, catching with Sarah Bullimore, Piggy March, Pippa Funnell and Zara Tindall for their thoughts on the opening day of the 2022 five-star.

*Please be patient to allow the video below to load*

The opening chapter of the 2022 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials delivered on a class scale to a crowd that had waited three years to turn that first page.

Thursday’s Keats of an autumn morning was as if the Covid dust sheets of the cancelled years had been lifted, revealing the waiting gem in eventing’s crown.

Sarah Bullimore, nursing an injured knee, and her homebred Corouet – a pint-sized star packed with the “attitude of a 22hh horse” out of her former championship ride Lilly Corrine – sit atop the Burghley Horse Trials overnight leaderboard after day one of dressage.

“To ride, he is not a small horse. He feels enormous. He has huge attitude, huge personality, and true belief in himself,” said Sarah in the video above, who owns the 11-year-old Balou De Rouet gelding with her husband Brett and the Kew Jumping Syndicate.

Their 22.5 test, the third best score in the event’s history, inched them ahead of provisional leaders Piggy March and the great veteran Burghley campaigner Vanir Kamira, now in second after day one on 22.6.

Piggy said victory for Trevor Dickens’ 17-year-old Badminton-winning mare this week would be a “complete fairytale”.

“But I don’t care what happens as long as she goes out being a great Burghley horse and finishes sound and well. That’s all she owes us these days – but we’ll be trying,” she said.

The exclusive club of Badminton winning mares was also represented with 2018 winners Classic Moet and Jonelle Price, provisional 12th overnight on 32.2.

“I’m a realist in day-to-day life, but forever an optimist on these old mares and getting a test out of them. Everytime I think I’m going to squeak that 29.5, I’m just the usual 1.5 mark adrift,” said Jonelle. “We are not a million miles away and a bit of luck the time will be tough on Saturday and we will have buckets of rain on Friday night, then it’s anyones.”

Reigning Burghley Horse Trials title holder Pippa Funnell is in provisional third with the first of her two rides this year, her Bicton CCI5* runner-up Billy Walk On.

Pippa said she was delighted with Billy Walk On’s test, but “a little bit disappointed” that the judge at E, Judy Hancock, had given her a mark 4-5% lower than the other two judges, Andrew Bennie and Katrin Eichinger-Kniely.

“That was frustrating because I felt I got the balance right with him,” said Pippa. “I would say it was definitely a personal best for him at this level. I was very happy, it’s just a shame that judge wasn’t the same as the other two.”

Pippa is wearing two hats this week, supporting several other competitors including Tom Jackson and Wesko Foundation riders Harry Mutch and Kristina Hall-Jackson alongside her own Burghley campaign.

“I love helping nice horses, I love helping keen, talented riders that really want to learn,” she said. “To me, it’s not about the winning and the big events. It’s about the partnership and the relationship [with the horse] – that’s what’s most important.”

Zara Tindall cracked the 30 barrier to sit provisional fourth on 28.4 aboard Class Affair, with Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent the highest placed international combination in fifth on 29.6 for the US.

Former winner Tim Price is in equal sixth with Bango the first, and most experienced, of his three rides this year, on 29.8 – the same score as US first-timer Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135.

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September). 

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

Horse & Hound’s Lucy Elder caught up with Emma Hyslop-Webb at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials to find out about how she’s managed to come back from a broken foot just five weeks ago to be ready to compete at the autumn five-star *Please be patient to allow the video below to load*

It takes a village to get a horse to a five-star. And for Emma Hyslop-Webb, that support team has been wider and more crucial than ever in her final preparations for the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Five weeks ago, an accident “not on, but that did involve, a horse” left Emma with a fractures to her foot and a stint on the sidelines.

“It makes me emotional,” said Emma in the video above, reflecting on the pivotal role her support squad have played, more than ever, this summer. “Because without the team, this doesn’t happen. They’ve had to work harder, and I’ve had to do less because my foot wasn’t as strong, so it really has been a massive team effort.”

Her injury meant that her two Burghley contenders – the veteran grey Waldo III and five-star debutant Darrant – missed their plan A preparation runs at Burgham and Hartpury. Instead re-routing for the open intermediate at Frickley.

Meanwhile Emma’s own preparation has included physio, oxygen therapy, laser therapy and pulse-magnetic therapy to “try to get it as strong as possible”.

“You think it’s just a little bone in your foot, but that’s your balancing point when you’re in the stirrup,” she said, going on to explain how her recovery included a psychological element as well as the physical healing.

“Once I’d had laser treatment, the doctor told me I needed to ‘train my brain that it didn’t hurt’. That’s what I’ve been spending the last two weeks doing.”

Burghley has returned in a different world to the one it left when the park gates closed after the five-star in 2019.

“Burghley has meant so many things to so many people,” said Leicestershire-based Emma.

For her, it is her local five-star – a place she grew up being inspired by, taking part in the Pony Club showjumping in ring two, watching her heroes. This year’s event is also a poignant marker for Emma, who revealed it will be her 19-year-old campaigner Waldo’s final five-star.

“Whatever happens this week for him, it’s just lovely to have him here feeling so well,” said Emma, who owns the Faldo son with Sophia Robinson.

“He has never felt or looked so well. He is 19, but we missed two years through Covid, and I feel that horses tell you when they are ready to step down. If at any stage over the next few days I feel he isn’t ready, he won’t run.

“We call him Grandpa at home, he is an absolute yard favourite and he means the world to everybody.”

Her two rides are like “chalk and cheese”, with the 14-year-old Darrant, known to his friends as David or Davide, as laid back as Waldo is expressive.

“He was bought and turned up at my yard as a hunter about five years ago – he had been out on the showjumping circuit and had been a bit naughty,” said Emma, who owns the Warrant gelding with Rowena Stevenson. “He found himself on the hunting field and I thought ‘this horse has a bit of potential’. And here he is now about to tackle his first five-star.”

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September). 

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

Olympic gold medallist and 2022 Badminton winner Laura Collett shares her thoughts on the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course 2022 as she walks the five-star track exclusively for H&H.

This is designer Derek di Grazia’s first Burghley course – 2020 was supposed to be long-standing Burghley course-designer Mark Phillips’ swansong at the Lincolnshire five-star. But the pandemic forced the cancellation of that event and 2021, which would have been Derek’s first year in post.

In H&H’s Burghley preview issue, out today (Thursday, 25 August), Laura reflects on her memories of competing here, including feeling “quite sick” on seeing the Leaf Pit for the first time on the weekend that marked both her five-star debut and 21st birthday in 2010.

Laura describes the 2022 Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course as a track that is clear and fair to horses, while challenging riders’ reactions.

“What he is asking is can the rider react to what is happening underneath them, rather than just being able to stick to a plan,” says Laura.

“That’s where the ground plays such a big part, because you can’t totally predict the striding. It’s how the horses land, take a stride and read the ground. That’s what makes it a five-star.”

She adds she can see similarities to Tokyo, where Derek designed the Olympic cross-country course for last summer’s Games, particularly in its intensity and how quickly jumps will come up at each questions.

“It’s a brilliant track that will require proper cross-country riding, which is what the sport should be,” says Laura.

“Best of luck to everyone giving it a crack this year, there is no other feeling like coming through the finish at a five-star.”

Watch Laura discuss key combinations on the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course below and read her full thoughts on the track in H&H’s Burghley preview, out today (25 August).

Fence 7abcdef: Holland Cooper Leaf Pit

“The Leaf Pit is where you recognise that you are at a proper five-star,” says Laura, who walks the direct route on the video above.

“Even just jumping down the drop is a serious question and then what’s to follow for me is as complicated and as intense as I’ve ever seen the Leaf Pit.

“I think that’s where the first batch of riders are going to have to show us how it’s done.”

She adds: “Riders don’t want to come too fast [to the drop at 7ab], but will have to keep your leg to the horse as they suddenly realise that the ground disappears away from them.

“There is then a curving line to a brush fence [7cd] – I wouldn’t be worrying about the distance here, as you don’t know how the horses are going to jump down. I think the most important thing is to make sure you are accelerating up to the brush, as the landing stride needs to be forward and moving to the corner [7ef] – I think the ground is going to play a really big part here.”

There is a lengthy alternative that avoids the drop at 7ab.

“If you want to win Burghley, you’re going to have to commit to the straight route,” she adds.

Fence 10abcdef: Trout Hatchery

“The ground in front of the first element rises slightly, so you can be really positive to it,” says Laura.

The direct line takes riders down into a corner brush in the water, before swinging left-handed out onto dry land and then over another roll-top trailer back into the second water. A related distance to the final skinny fence in the second water completes the direct route at the Trout Hatchery. There is a lengthy alternative at this fence.

“You need to land in balance, come down the ramp and into the water,” Laura explains. “Riders will want to stay on their line and be pretty square on at this corner, as they will be turning left afterwards.

“I think horses will be landing pretty much in the water after the second trailer and then there is a very skinny triple-brush. It is in a straight line – riders will have a gauge of how their horse went into the first water and over the corner, so they will then know how positive they need to be on the landing side of this, to get the distance to the final skinny triple-brush.”

Fences 13 & 14abc: Joules at the Maltings

“Competitors have a long run up the hill here before they jump the white gate, which is very cleverly positioned slightly on an angle. The direct line makes the gate quite angled, and it’s a case of respecting that,” she says, adding it might cost half a second or so to square it off, but that may prevent other problems at this fence.

“Horses can sometimes get a bit disorientated at the Maltings, as they are essentially doing a full circle, which you don’t often do on cross-country. Riders have to make sure the horse’s mind is focused on the job.

“[The direct route at fence 14] is the very large white parallel, followed by the curving right-hand turn to the bc-element, which is the corner. It walks a nice level five strides.

“If the track was going off to the left, or straight on, afterwards, I think you would definitely see people coming on the inside line on four strides. But because the course heads right after this, I don’t think you would gain anything by doing that as you would lose it on the turn afterwards.

“I think we will see some people staying slightly wider and coming a little bit squarer at this corner to prevent a run-out, maybe going on the six strides.”

How long is the Burghley cross-country course?

The Land Rover Burghley cross-country course is just over 4 miles in length (6,445 meters) and makes its way around the beautiful Burghley parkland, which was designed by famous 18th century landscape architect Capability Brown. The course is renowned for its use of the natural terrain so a horse that is able to gallop fluently with excellent stamina and rideability for more than 11 minutes (the optimum time is 11min19sec) is needed for to the task. This year the course runs through the main arena early on, before heading out the Leaf Pit, then back to the Trout Hatchery. Riders are then sent out to the Waterloo Plain and have to negotiate the big banks at the Dairy Farm before heading up to the famous Cottesmore Leap and coming down Winners’ Avenue towards the Lion Bridge.

What day is cross country at Burghley 2022?

As usual, the cross-country phase of the five-star competition will be held on Saturday (3 September), with the action expected to get underway at 11am. If you’re planning to attend on Saturday, it is recommended that you arrive in plenty of time before the cross-country gets underway as with many thousands of spectators expected, there may be some delays in gaining access to the site. By arriving early you can take the opportunity to browse the extensive shopping village, and pick your favourite point to view the cross-country course.

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A “miracle” foal and his mother who both overcame difficulties – including the mare being struck by a car while pregnant – are now enjoying time out together “frolicking” in the sunshine.

In February the Hackney-type mare was found in a “terrible state” stuck in railings on a central reservation in Essex. She had suffered a broken nose and chest injuries, and although she was microchipped, her owner’s details were not registered so they could not be identified.

The mare, who has since been named Majesty in honour of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, was taken to a private boarding establishment where she began her initial recovery, but after it was found that she was in foal she was taken into the care of Redwings.

Majesty recovered from her injuries and eight weeks later welcomed a colt, named Monarch. The foal had a difficult start as he struggled to feed, but two months on Monarch has become stronger and the charity have shared footage of the pair enjoying their first time out on grass together.

Redwings vet Nicola Berryman said it was wonderful to see Majesty and Monarch doing so well after all that the mare went through, and the “tricky” start the pair had when Monarch was born.

“They had some initial problems with him feeding and needed a little bit of extra help and support, which does sometimes happen with the mares who come into us in foal,” she said.

“We don’t know who the father is but it’s clear he was a big horse as Monarch is huge. He’s a strapping boy, who’s growing quickly and will soon tower over his mum. We were all overjoyed when Monarch was born, and we know those who have followed their story so far will love to see them galloping together and frolicking in their new field.”

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Pregnant mare who suffered serious injuries in road collision rescued to give birth in safety

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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

Liphook Equine Hospital veterinary nurse Anna Stone talks you through how to put a stable bandage on your horse — ensuring correct positioning and that you are not applying too much pressure.

All horse owners should know how to put on stable bandages – which can also be described as “wrapping legs” – correctly.

If bandages are applied too tightly, they can cause pressure sores, necrosis due to restricted blood flow or soft tissue damage. If they are too loose they can slip off and become a trip hazard.

You will need:

• quilted pad, Fybagee or Gamgee pads
• stable bandages (fastening with Velcro)

How to put on a stable bandage

•  First, brush the horse’s legs off so that there is no bedding or mud that will get stuck underneath the bandage and cause rubbing or pressure sores
• Crouch beside the horse (do not kneel)
• Aiming for the bandage to cover from just below the horse’s knee or hock down to the coronet band, wrap the pad around the leg with even pressure, finishing with the seam on the outside of the leg, so that any extra pressure won’t lie on the tendons or the front of the leg. Some quilted pads, such as Waldhausen’s, have a velcro strip to help keep it in place
• While holding the pad in place, take the bandage and start midway down the leg. Wrap the bandage around the leg with a nice even pressure, aiming for half a width of wrap covering each time
• Go down to just below the fetlock and then start to come back up the leg
• Continue wrapping in the same way up to just below the knee or hock, fastening at the top with the velcro
• There should be no creases or wrinkles, as these will cause pressure points and restrict blood flow
• Check the pressure. You should easily be able to fit two fingers down from the top and up from the bottom, so you know it won’t be too tight and will be comfortable for the horse
• Change stable bandages at least once a day
• To remove, unfasten the velcro and carefully but quickly unwind the bandage by passing the bandage from hand to hand, neatly collecting the bandage up as you go so that there is no loose trail.
• Shake off any bedding and roll up the bandage with the Velcro inside so that this comes out last when you are putting the stable bandage on. The Velcro fastening should be stuck to itself and facing upwards as you reroll. Quick tip: new bandages are often fastened with the Velcro on the outside, so you’ll need to reroll them before you start.

Why use stable bandages?

• The horse’s legs might need support, for instance if he has an injury such as to his tendon. You should also bandage the opposite leg to provide additional support to the uninjured leg, which is likely to be taking more weight
• You might want to protect a wound that requires a bit of cover, and some owners choose to use them as protection during transport
• Stable bandages can reduce swelling of the lower limbs for horses on box rest
• They can also provide some warmth and comfort to recuperating horses and protect the lower limbs from bruising if he is lying down more than usual due to illness or injury.

However, a bandage applied incorrectly can do more harm than no bandage at all, so make sure you practise this skill dozens of times with someone knowledgeable to check your work to become proficient.

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Some of the best stable bandages and wraps — essential items to have on your yard

Stable bandages and leg wraps provide support for tired legs, help to prevent post-exercise swelling and also give warmth and

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

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

We’ve rounded up 10 of the funny horse videos on the internet. Get ready to crack a smile…

1. French and Saunders go riding

The comedy duo don jodhpurs and gear up to tackle a jumping course on their steeds Jigsaw and Peter Pan. But things don’t quite go to plan…

2. This is one very naughty pony…

We’ve all ridden naughty ponies — but Ed knows how to do naughty best. Luckily there’s YouTube evidence of Ed being good too… so it’s not all bucks and bolting.

3. The dancing Shetland

Will we ever get bored of Socks the dancing Shetland?

4. The puppy-loving Clydesdale

We wait with bated breath for Budweiser’s Super Bowl advert each year. And 2014’s didn’t disappoint…

5. Blue Hors Matine and Andreas Helgstrand wow at WEG

At the World Equestrian Games in 2006, Blue Hors Matine and Andreas Helgstrand wowed the judges with their grand prix freestyle performance to take the silver medal. After being retured to stud, Matine was put down in 2010 after sustaining a broken leg in the field

6. Have you heard snoring like this?

If you think your husband’s snoring is bad, think again. Earplugs at the ready. The very definition of funny horse videos…

7. The escape artist

This horse certainly knows his way around the yard. And he wastes no time in making himself at home.

8. The puissance record-holder

Germany’s Franke Sloothaak holds the world puissance record, after clearing 7ft 10 1/2in (2.40m) at Chaudfontaine in Belgium in June, 1991, on Optiebeurs Golo.

9. And finally… not quite a horse but close enough…

A plod through the desert might be where you think a camel’s uses end. But not this dressage-loving one.

23 great (or awful) horsey jokes to put a smile on your face

Seven phrases non-horsey people say that are likely to offend equestrians

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11 hay-larious horse puns and one-liners to have you foal-ded over with laughter!

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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

You can enjoy racing from not one, but two point-to-points this Bank Holiday weekend via the Devon and Cornwall Point-To-Point livestream. This afternoon (29 May), point-to-point action will get underway at Bratton Down in Devon for the Exmoor Foxhounds fixture, and you can watch all of the sport from the comfort of your sofa right here, thanks to the livestreaming service provided by Devon and Cornwall Point-To-Point Horse Racing.

The livestream will be hosted by the presentation team, lead by former BBC voice of racing Cornelius Lysaght. He will be joined by former Grade One-winning jockey Lizzie Kelly, betting pundit Simon Nott and Devon and Cornwall Point-To-Point Horse Racing press officer Donna Harris.

The card, which has attracted 100 entries, gets underway at 2pm and can be watched right here when coverage starts at 1.30pm:

On Bank Holiday Monday, you can follow more point-to-point action from Upcott Cross in Devon for the South Tetcott Hunt fixture via the Devon and Cornwall Point-To-Point livestream.

This fast, relatively flat track will provide some exciting competitive racing and it has attracted over 100 entries. Pony racing kicks off the action at The South Tetcott meeting at 12 noon, followed by the main six race card at 2pm. You can enjoy all the sport right here when coverage starts at 12.30pm:

Continues below…

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The coverage will kick off with a recap of the last fixture’s races and you will even get taken for a trip around a circuit of the course by drone. There will be coverage from the paddock ahead of each race and post-race interviews to boot.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use this exercise to begin to teach your horse how to turn to and over a fence

The aims of the exercise are to:

• Warm up the horse’s muscles before jumping
• Improve hoof/brain co-ordination
• Aid correct muscle build-up and develop the horse’s core
• To teach the horse a rider’s directional aids
• To improve the horse’s eye
• Encourage the horse to be physically and mentally careful

I have three variations on this exercise — I have raised poles, dressage boards and blocks of square poles. All of these obstacles cannot be easily moved, so they encourage the horse to draw back, use its shoulder and develop its core.

To begin with, go in a straight line and use a focal point to help you keep straight. This also helps the horse use its own balance and to develop its rhythm.

You can then add a turn into this exercise which helps the horse learn about their rider’s directional aids. Ask your horse to think about the beginning of their turn at the start of the first set of poles — the horse will then know where they’re going by the time the actual turn comes around. This is the first building block for teaching a horse about turning over a fence. Your turning aids are:

• Eyes
• Weight into inside heel
• Left rein closing towards right rein
• Inside shoulder staying forward

With this exercise, it’s really important to set up early, else you risk your horse falling out through their outside shoulder.

Points to be aware of:

• Maintaining balance and rhythm
• Eye level
• Energy levels and fatigue
• Praise and reward

More expert training advice from Caroline:

The ultimate exercise to get you and your horse on the ball before going eventing

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use

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Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use this raised pole exercise for horses to develop your horse’s hoof/brain co-ordination. It is an exercise she regularly uses when warming up for jumping or to help a young horse develop elevation in its paces.

The aims of the exercise are to improve:

• Hoof/brain co-ordination
• Accuracy
• The use of the hind leg through the transition
• Rider’s posture
• Rider’s technique in preparing for transitions

Caroline explains: “I’m using dressage boards, one metre apart from each other, but you can also use raised poles. Around 10-12m away, I have an area where I’m going to ask the rider to ride a transition. We can use the energy created from riding over the dressage boards to help the hind leg with the walk and halt transition. We then move on to some more boards coming out of the exercise — this is all about the transition forward into trot and gaining balance and rhythm as early as possible to successfully negotiate the second half of the exercise.”

The grey horse being ridden by Ros Canter in the video is just four-years-old.

“You can see how this exercise encourages the mare to use her eye, and you can see that she is raising her toes just enough,” says Caroline. “This helps improve the core stomach muscles and raising the shoulder, so it’s a great exercise for a young horse — it’s like taking them to the gym.

“Then in the downwards transition, you want to get four to five good steps of walk with the horse staying relaxed — it’s important to prepare this transition as early as you possibly can. Then move forward back into the trot and this is where you really have to work at regaining the energy to ride through the second set of boards.”

Caroline warns that this is a fairly difficult exercise but a really useful one: “This exercise also shows how important it is to look where you’re going and stay in symmetry with the horse so that you stay in perfect balance, allowing the horse to soften.”

After successfully executing the exercise with a walk transition between the two sets of raised poles, the difficulty is heightened by changing the downwards transition to halt.

“Riders need to prepare by using some half halts and thinking forward into the transition. Think of riding forward from behind so that you finish the halt off square. Then you ask the horse to move forward into the trot and it’s really important to gain activity in the step. The poles or the boards afterwards help with this because it focuses the horse on going forward.”

Points to be aware of:

• Maintaining rhythm
• Energy levels
• Fatigue
• Praise and reward

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Caroline Moore: How to train your horse to jump an angled skinny fence

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, we learn how to teach

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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

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to teach a horse and rider to turn onto a new line over a fence

Aims of the exercise:

• Develop balance and confidence with a fence on a turning line
• Develop rider strength through inside heel
• To improve horse’s suppleness

This is a really important exercise to do a lot in training. You are always going to get what I call a turning fence in competition, where your horse has to follow your steering aids, either through a serpentine, a change of direction or just holding your line over a fence.

This exercise looks to develop a horse’s balance, confidence and safety when turning over a fence. The most important thing is that the rider needs to use a really good, strong weight down the inside heel and keep the inside shoulder forward so they keep themselves in balance and so that the horse can then stay in balance going to the new direction. It’s really important to use a guiding aid rather than a turning aid — this keeps the instruction to turn very subtle and it is very useful for the horse so that he doesn’t react against it and lose his shoulder.

You don’t have to use cavaletti — you can use any type of jump. I like to use them because it makes the hind leg work really hard and it also makes the horse careful.

To start with, I just go round the outside of the middle fence so that you can just practice doing a nice little turn on a gentle curve.

Use a small middle fence, but get the horse landing to the new direction. The rider really needs to look to the new direction and put their body on the line over the middle fence, putting a new inside heel down.

You can build this up so that you ride a full serpentine through the exercise. It’s really important to work hard to try and stay on the inside of centre, as this then makes the horse work hard with the inside front leg, which is a great part of this exercise. This brings the inside front leg higher than the outside one and encourages the horse to become more athletic.

You will see I then put a flag near the centre of the middle fence to encourage the rider to stay on the inside line.

Common mistakes for this exercise include:

• The rider’s weight slipping to the outside
• Their inside hip collapses
• The rider’s inside knee comes up

As a rider you have got to look to the new direction, control the horse’s shoulder and then start thinking about the new direction again, so you really improve the horse’s suppleness and ability to follow the rider’s eye and hand.

Points to be aware of:

• Keeping strength and balance to the inside
• Rider sighting the next fence
• Maintaining horse’s outside shoulder
• Praise and reward

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Holding a straight line across country — the difference between success and failure

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to teach a

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For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, we learn how to teach a horse how to jump this technical cross-country question

Developing the horse and rider’s eye to stay straight across an angled skinny is a crucial part of the training when moving up through the grades. This is how Caroline trains this particular skill in an arena before moving onto grass.

Aims of the exercise

• Develop confidence to jump across an angle
• Take-off and land in the corresponding spot
• To advance the horse’s eyesight to pick up a line

Start with two narrow fences on a straight line on a 24 yard distance (approximately 22 metres). Your horse should jump through these very squarely and straight with confidence.

Once you have achieved this, you can start putting a small amount of angle on the second skinny fence. The horse will probably hardly notice it to start with, but it’s important for you to maintain your focal point. Keep riding straight, all the while giving the horse confidence.

Then you can add some more angle onto the second skinny fence to make it more of a significant question. On the last couple of strides before take-off, the horse might question what you are asking him to do. As a rider you have to work very hard to make sure the horse stays straight.

If you are working with a younger horse, always go back to the building blocks of their education by using poles on the ground for example, to help hold them in to the narrow fences. This will help them to gain confidence and to learn to stay straight.

Developing this exercise further, I have built a skinny fence to a corner. It is important that you give a horse a good stride pattern to a corner in a combination to start with to give them confidence. I have then tested horse and rider more with this combination by placing another skinny after the corner as a third element. This way horse and rider always have something to focus on. It’s important that the rider keeps their eyes looking through the flags.

Another exercise I use a lot, is a flatwork one. It is all about focal point. I place two narrow poles on the ground on a related distance. This is all about developing a rider’s inside and outside aids so the horse sits between the leg and rein. Using shoulder-in or travers between the two poles is important because it makes the rider really look where they are going. Make sure that you don’t take your eye or body off the line. Straighten your horse up coming out over the second pole and you will find your horse will learn to go where your eyes go.

Continued below…

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Points to be aware of:

• Being reactive
• Rider sighting the next fence
• Maintaining rider balance
• Making sure the horse doesn’t fall onto his shoulder in-between fences
• Always praise and reward your horse

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use this exercise to develop footwork in your horse’s canter

The aims of the exercise are to:

• Develop energy in the canter
• Improves horse’s footwork
• Develop the balance and obedience between two fences
• Improve suppleness
• Learn to hold a curving line

I use two sets of three poles on a curving line for this exercise — square poles and also raised, round poles.

Using this exercise has a really good effect on a horse’s hind legs in the canter.

The rider will have to work hard, using their inside leg to help keep the horse in an upright way of going, while making sure the horse stays very symmetrical and straight in his balance.

As the horse opens himself a little bit over the poles, you have to land and shorten the canter up a little bit again, ready for the next set of poles, so that the horse is always in balance.

In another exercise to help teach a horse about turning to a new direction in relation to jumping, you will need:

• Cavaletti or similar
• 3.2m distance between the two obstacles
• A minimum of 20m for the change of direction

Firstly, allow the horse time to work out the exercise and what he will need to do with his feet. The event horse has always got to look and think about his feet and how to use them.

When turning to the new direction, use the inside leg and rein to support the horse and to show them where they are going, to encourage a change of canter lead.

Points to be aware of:

• Be reactive
• Rider must sight the next fence
• A loss of rider balance
• The horse falling onto its shoulder between fences
• Praise and reward

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Slick and sharp: the building block cross-country exercise that will aid your success

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Welcome to the first Horse & Hound eTraining elesson with grand prix dressage rider Keith Robertson. This week, Keith focuses on riding accurate circles, with a view to pushing up your percentages when riding prelim 1

This guide is broken into two sessions, giving you plenty to work on in the school this week. The first focuses entirely on how to ride circles, and the second gives further advice specific to riding British Dressage prelim 1. Once you’ve tried out Keith’s suggestions, let us know how you got on.

Session 1: Using markers to achieve well-shaped circles 

In prelim 1, you ride a 20m circle on each rein right in front of the judge at C, so it’s important that you perfect these.

Tip one: Whenever you’re asked to ride a circle, remember to produce a circle, not a corner or series of corners — it seems obvious, but circles should always be round. Ensure you know where the markers are and where to position your circle between them. A 20m circle at C should touch X, but only touch the arena at three points including C – the judge wants to see that you’ve positioned your circle well.

Tip two: You also ride half 20m circles in prelim 1. When practicing these, aim to achieve a maximum of one or two strides of straightness over X — you’ll need to illustrate that you’re straight for this moment before changing the bend and beginning the next half circle. 

Tip three: If you’re struggling with accuracy, break the movement down and ride it as four quarters, rather than attempting the circle as a whole. Put markers down and aim for the quarter marker each time.

Riding 20m circles in canter 

Tip four: When practicing circles in canter, ensure you keep the rhythm, maintain a bold canter and think about keeping the horse straight when you come out of the circle and go large – it’s tempting to ride too much off the inside rein and end up with too much inside bend, especially with a greener horse.

Tip five: In canter, judges commonly see the horse’s quarters coming in on a circle and his weight going onto the outside shoulder. If you have a horse that’s quarters have a tendency to come in, he may need a little bit of outside rein to help stay straight. This will also help make a smoother transition to trot. Try using counter-canter in your training to help improve the evenness of the true canter.

Tip six: If your horse is stiff on one rein, you’ll often find it’s the one on which he looks straight in canter, while on the softer rein he may be too bent to the inside, even though you think the canter feels nicer. Make sure you work your horse evenly on both reins.

Let others know if you found this session useful by sharing your progress and pictures with the rest of our e-Community.

Session 2: Practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test, remembering what you learned in session one, but first, watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels.

If you can not see the video player above please click here to view

We will focus on other movements throughout the series that will also help improve your prelim 1 marks, but taking things one step at the time for now ensure that you are comfortable with the following given Keith and Isobel’s advice:

• Riding half circles — both 20m and 10m diameter
• Riding accurate 20m diameter circles
• Changing the rein in free walk and staying straight

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week. 

Welcome to your midweek eTraining lesson with grand prix rider Keith Robertson. This week Keith explains how to improve your stretch on a circle with a view to improving your prelim test riding — and we focus on prelim 19. Enjoy your schooling and remember to let us know how you got on!

Session 1: 15m circles 

In prelim 19 the first challenge you’ll face is riding an accurate 15m circle. Firstly, ensure that you know where your three-quarter line should be. Remember, a 15m circle from a marker on the long side has to come three-quarters of the way across the school. You can get away with the circle being deeper, but the width needs to be spot on.

To try at home…

Find an imaginary line down the three-quarter line and ride accurately to it. Try using a cone and riding around it to get a feel for the dimensions of the circle required.

When you start the circle you want to be able to keep turning consistently until you reach the three-quarter mark. The horse must be bending evenly around the rider’s leg, remaining soft and supple and working in a good rhythm. No collection is required at prelim; the judges want to see the horse trotting with relaxed energy.

Horses tend to fall in or out through one shoulder in one direction, therefore riders end up producing 15m circles that are bigger one way than the other. The judge will notice this, so work on controlling the outside shoulder in training and ensure that you practise this on both reins. 

Session 2: trot stretches 

Prelim 19 requires you to perform your first trot stretch, so it’s important that you practice this when schooling this week. Two issues can arise when doing this: giving away control and steering, and asking your horse to demonstrate it on a circle. Therefore it’s advisable to educate your horse on how to do this in terms of performing the stretch and executing a circle without full guidance from the rider. 

To try at home…

Start by working on your stretch on a straight line. The horse should be seen to slowly and calmly take the contact down and forward – allowing a stretch of his topline, but avoiding curling behind the contact. 

If your horse tilts his head to one side, check that you don’t have a stronger contact on that side. When he tilts, deliberately lighten the contact on that side by exaggeratedly moving your hand forward. Push him more strongly with your leg on that same side — you need to get that particular hindleg to take a more energetic step forward.

As his head straightens, allow him to reconnect to the contact, but only lightly: too strong a contact may block his hindleg from stepping forward correctly. In time, he will step into the contact equally without tilting. 

Learn whether your horse is likely to drop off the stretch and come off the contact, or plunge and take you with him. You need to know were your horse stretches most consistently and correctly.

Practise this for short periods of time over smaller segments of a circle. Use these segments as a stepping-stone, and gradually build up to your horse being confident and balanced enough to take a full stretch over course of time.

Remember, the stretch doesn’t need to be for the entire circle in the test, so give yourself time to allow yourself to bring the horse back onto centre line in a balanced working trot in balanced way. 

Session 3: practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the video player above, please click here

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/?bctid=5307671107001

Welcome to the fifth e-Lesson in the series. This week Keith Robertson explains how to master your give and retake during prelim 14 and gives us some top tips for training your horse to have a soft and accepting mouth. Enjoy your schooling and remember to let us know how you got on!

Session 1: mastering your give and retake 

The give and retake is designed to show that your horse is in balance and is not relying on your hands.

You need to demonstrate a clear and obvious release of contact for three or four steps over the centre line. You should allow enough opportunity for the judge to see, but not so long that the horse loses balance.

Give and retake your reins smoothly so that the horse isn’t shocked or disturbed and therefore loses the consistency of the circle. Your horse should look comfortable when you retake the contact.

To try at home…

First practise giving and retaking your reins in a corner, as you don’t want a big, hot horse powering round corners or cutting them. If you do have an onwards horse, give him a forewarning, such as the odd half-halt.

Then work on keeping your horse between leg and hand during the give and retake. You want him to remain in self-carriage and not speed up — the temptation for him will be to surge forward but you must hold him with your seat. 

Don’t give and retake unless you feel that you have your horse collected. If he’s not it will give him the opportunity to run away with you. If, when you give the reins, he puts his head up or runs off, try just giving with the inside rein quietly, keeping the outside rein to half-halt, and build it up from there.

Let others know if you found this session effective in our Facebook group.

Session 2: training your horse to have a soft and accepting mouth 

At prelim level a lot of riders ask how they can train their horse to have a soft and accepting mouth, so these tips should help.

To start with, try riding in a loose-ring snaffle — the judge wants to see the horse accepting the bridle in a natural and soft way, so this is a good place to begin.

When riding, never pull back — your hands should stay there for the horse to work into so never try and balance him with the rein. Pulling is the beginning of the end as it blocks the horse and stops his hind leg from coming through and stepping underneath. The secret is never to allow the horse out of balance, so you’re never inclined to draw back.

Use your voice for downward transitions and don’t rely on your hands. Even if your horse breaks to canter from trot allow him to go forward for a moment and circle to bring him back to you.

Top tip: lungeing in loose side-reins helps the horse get used to working into that soft, consistent contact.

Session 3: practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the video player above please click here

Ensure that you are comfortable with the following given Keith and Isobel’s advice:

• Demonstrating a release of contact while maintaining the shape of the circle during the give and retake
• Medium walk (double score)
• Transitions to walk for one horse length

Welcome to your final e-Training lesson with Keith Robertson. This week Keith explains how to ride super serpentines with a view to improving your prelim test riding — and we focus on prelim 18. Enjoy your schooling and remember to let us know how you got on!

Session 1: serpentines 

In prelim 18 you’re required to ride serpentines for the first time, so it’s essential that you practise these at home this week.

Your horse should show a consistent bend – not big variations or massive turns – and look like no change is occurring through his body. Serpentines are a great way to display a horse with a good rhythm and an easy change of bend from left to right, and vice versa, so mastering these will really put you at an advantage.

To try at home…

View the tops of your serpentines as half circles – don’t ride them as squared off edges – remain smooth and consistent.

Remember that when crossing the centre line your horse should be completely straight for a few strides. 

First, you need to know your arena and think about where you should be in the arena within your turn. Put markers down to help you if need be. Start on the left rein and ride a three-loop serpentine, ensuring that all of your loops are the same size.

If you are struggling, break the serpentine down and focus on the flow and regularity of the trot. 

All horses will have a stronger side, so be sure to practise these serpentines starting on both reins at home – some horses will have an easier change from one direction to the other, but you want to orchestrate them to be as equal as possible. Return to focus on the straightness of your horse now you’ve bent on both reins.

Let others know if you found this effective in our Facebook group. 

Session 2: balancing a big horse 

It’s important that your horse is balanced when riding a serpentine, and this can be trickier if you have a big horse.

A big horse and will take longer to mature than a smaller one. Try to help him develop strength and balance in canter by riding smaller circles, at first just down to 18m, and then as he finds that easier reduce them to 15m.

As long as he remains upright (i.e. not leaning over) with a genuine bend, he will bring his inside hindleg further underneath himself, which will improve both his balance and the weight carrying capacity of his hindquarters.

Session 3: practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the video player above, please click here

Welcome to your third e-Training lesson. Here Keith Robertson shares his top tips for mastering your free walk, and we focus on prelim 12.

Session 1: Changing the rein in free walk

With a free walk, the braver you are, the better the mark can be. You want to allow the horse to stretch and take the contact, without throwing the reins at him.

Look to achieve rhythm in your walk and softness in the neck. Although it’s a free walk, a clear four beat rhythm is preferable, rather than one that hurries.

To try at home…

Tip one: If your horse struggles to stretch, ride a circle to help keep the shape through his body and neck.

Tip two: If he is inconsistent in the hand, gently hold the contact until he’s still and then try and let go a little more.

Tip three: Repetition is key — you want to teach your horse to be confident, eventually allowing him to stretch down further.

Tip four: When you take up the reins the judge wants to see a smooth transition, so practise gradually picking up the contact at home, so the horse doesn’t struggle or tighten.

Tip five: If he gets tense, take the contact up slowly over a period of three or four sections, rather than all in one go.

Let others know if you found this session effective in our Facebook group.

Session 2: Half 20m circles in free walk

In prelim 12 you are required to ride a half 20m circle in free walk (double score). Lots of people allow the horse to become inattentive during this movement, so don’t drop him onto the buckle of the reins.

To try at home…

Tip one: Practise riding a free walk on a curved line. It is beneficial for green horses, or those who struggle with the contact, as it encourages them to have more bend. Ensure you keep an even contact between your hands – don’t hang off the rein to get the bend. Instead, think about creating the bend with your legs as well as your hands.

Tip two: When riding the half circle, be careful not to “strangle” the walk — allow the horse to continue marching forward. If the horse gets tense when returning to medium walk from free walk, wait longer to pick up your reins.

Tip three: Have several walk breaks in training so that when you pick the horse up again he doesn’t necessarily anticipate he’s about to be asked to trot — you want him to expect to be asked but not predict when. 

Session 3: Practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the video player above, please click here

Focus on ensuring you are comfortable with the following prelim 12 movements:

• Half circle 10m diameter
• Half circle 20m diameter in free walk (double score)
• Transitions when changing the rein

How are you getting on so far with your e-Training? Remember to let us know how you find this week’s session in our Facebook group.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Welcome to this week's Horse & Hound eTraining lesson with grand prix dressage rider Keith Robertson. Now that the series is well under way it’s time to think about what judges are looking for at prelim level.

This week we focus on accuracy, rhythm and impulsion so that you can really push up your percentages when riding prelim 15.

Session 1: accuracy and rhythm 

At prelim level it’s important to keep your horse attentive. You need to work on keeping the same rhythm for long distances without variation while showing positive paces.

Simple polework exercises can help if you struggle with maintaining your horse’s rhythm and balance, and focus both your own and your horse’s mind.

To try at home…

Use circles to gain the horse’s attention and focus on accuracy. You don’t have a fence line when riding your circle in prelim 15, so practise riding quarter turns, rather than an oval. If your circle is misshapen look to see if you’ve had too much or too little bend – you don’t need much at this level. 

Set out four poles on a 20m circle at the four points of a clock face. Canter around the poles first and then raise them, altogether or one by one, depending on your horse’s level.

This will help keep your horse supple through the turn and also help with his rhythm and balance. The exercise should help your horse to sit in the canter, carry himself and lighten the forehand more easily.

Let others know if you found this session useful by sharing your progress and pictures with the rest of our e-Community.

Session 2: impulsion 

If your horse lacks impulsion you must train him to become responsive to your aids, rather than ignoring them.

To try at home…

Practise walk to trot transitions to keep your horse alert. Use quick, sharp aids – don’t nag.

If he’s slow to respond to the upward transition, use one quick aid from your leg and try clicking with your tongue. Carry a schooling whip if needed.

If he goes forwards quickly don’t restrict him in the mouth and give mixed messages – if necessary school with a neck strap. Praise him when he goes forward immediately.

This will help train him to go off light, effective aids so that when you come to ride your test it looks effortless and you don’t need as much work to keep the forward impulsion.

Repeat this until your horse understands he is to go off a light leg aid.

Session 3: practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the video player, please click here

Key movements to ensure you’re comfortable with before riding the test include the following:

• Riding in a 20x60m arena
• Half circle 20m diameter in free walk (double score)
• Quick, sharp transitions

We have expert training tips from Keith Robertson plus test riding tips with international judge Isobel Wessels

 Hertfordshire-based dressage trainer Keith Robertson offers the following advice to work on improving these movements at home…

Session 1: canter to trot transitions across the diagonal

In prelim 17A you’re required to change the rein in canter, coming back to trot as you approach the track.

It’s important to set yourself up well for changing the rein, ensuring that your horse is attentive and listening to your aids.

Remember, the judge wants to see how straight you can perform the transition. A common mistake is to break into trot early at this level, so introduce variety in where on the line you perform the transition at home.

To try at home…

Try using your voice initially when practising your transitions, so that you’re not interfering with the balance of the canter, and then slowly fade the use of the voice out. This will mean that your horse will become used to little rein aid and therefore won’t expect you to carry him. 

It’s important you get to know what to expect from your horse while you’re at home. If your horse is likely to drop the canter, leave the transition as late as possible. Conversely, if he is very bold, adjust yourself before the marker. 

Work on steadying your canter while keeping your leg on, so your horse doesn’t break before trot. The tiniest amount of flexion towards the leading canter leg will help the horse find his balance and maintain roundness before the transition to trot.

When returning to the track, make it clear to the horse that you’re now remaining in trot. It’s advisable to resume rising trot so he doesn’t think he’s about to canter again. Keep him straight, don’t use too much outside leg and push him into an even contact.

You must also work on sustaining canter for longer periods of time, so the horse doesn’t learn to make a transition every time he gets to a certain point. 

Keep practising riding transitions at home to help build confidence. Your horse should be ready for a transition at any time, and not be surprised.

Session 2: improving your horse’s self-carriage

Transitions are also a great way to improve your horse’s self-carriage — and good self-carriage will help push up your percentage scores.

To try at home…

You should not use your hands to create an outline, but ride the horse forward into a light contact, encouraging self-carriage.

Repeat lots of trot-to-canter and canter-to-trot transitions at home. Make sure you have the horse forward in the trot before you make the next transition and that he’s on the bit and that you’re riding him from “back to front”. Think of keeping his forehand slightly to the inside to keep him straight and avoid the hind quarters creaping to the inside — only the forehand though, don’t bend the neck.

Session 3: practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test as a whole, but first watch this test riding video with Isobel Wessels, key movements to look out for:

• Transitions across the diagonal
• Half circles returning to the track
• Transitions to medium walk
• Halting from trot

If you can not view the video player above, please click here

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Welcome to your fourth e-Training lesson with Keith Robertson. This week Keith explains how to improve your centre-lines and we take a look at prelim 13, which includes three of them.

Session 1: Nailing your centre line

You’re required to ride three centre lines in prelim 13, so it’s vital that you perfect them for this test.

When you don’t have the luxury of warming up outside the arena, you can often trace a bad centre line back to the horse not being turned correctly at A. The rider either overshoots the centre line with too much neck bend and lets the horse’s quarters fall in or out, or doesn’t complete the turn, meaning the quarters are not following the shoulders. Both these faults mean the entry cannot be straight, which leads to a low mark.

To try at home…

Tip one: If you’re in a 20x60m arena, work on an accurate turn and trot down the centre line with confidence with the horse working between your hand and leg — imagine you want to ride through the judge at C.

Tip two: If you have the space, enter from outside the arena so you’re already straight and on the centre line by the time you enter.

Tip three: If the line gets wobbly, straighten it by asking for more power using your legs — don’t try to straighten the horse with your hands.

Tip four: Think “short reins and longer arms”, so you don’t end up riding with your hands in your stomach. You want there to be a straight line from the bit through your hands to your elbows.

Tip five: You also need to practise turning back onto the centre line, as it can be a tight turn. It’s better to practise steadying slightly and achieving it comfortably.

Tip six: If your horse tends to overshoot, pay attention to the outside contact and turn him through the shoulder rather than the nose. Remember, the judge will prefer to see a turn that is slightly smaller and drifts, as this is the easier correction, rather than a horse overshooting the centre line.

Tip seven: The key to making a good turn is to think about riding the horse straight into both reins with only a small amount of flexion at the poll to control the bend. Don’t push the horse sideways, as you will cause his legs to cross. Instead, think about turning just a little bit with every stride, lifting your ribcage and looking ahead.

Tip eight: It is easy for the horse to drop behind the leg and start anticipating the halt, so at home practise plenty of turns onto the centre line, but do not halt every time. Instead, use half-halts so he learns to accept the preparation, but keeps moving forward.

Tip nine: If you have to chase your horse down the centre line to prevent him jamming on the brakes, you are advertising the fact that he is behind your leg.

Let others know if you found this session useful by sharing your progress and pictures with the rest of our e-Community.

Session 2: Practise the whole test

It’s now time to practise riding the test, remembering what you learned in session one, but first watch this week’s test riding video with Isobel Wessels:

If you can not view the player above, please click here

Ensure that you are comfortable with the following given Keith and Isobel’s advice:

• Mid test centre line
• Transitions to walk for one horse’s length
• Give and retake of reins
• Trot to canter transitions on a circle
• Changing the rein in free walk (double score)

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Last week (23-26 October), we were treated to the sole five-star of 2020 at Pau. Some of the world’s top riders and horses did battle, including having to navigate course designer Pierre Michelet’s testing cross-country course. The track was over a distance of 6,340m, featuring 31 numbered fences and with an optimum time of 11min 8sec.

To give us a proper feel of how the course rode, here is a video of young British talent Mollie Summerland and Charly Van Ter Heiden tackling their first five-star track. They went on to finish clear inside the time across country to move up from eighth after dressage to fifth. They unfortunately lowered two rails on the final day in the showjumping and incurred 1.2 time-faults to finish in eventual 10th, which is still a huge achievement nonetheless.

So, buckle up and enjoy the ride!

After her round, Mollie told H&H: “It doesn’t feel like it’s sunk in how well he went. When I finished I thought it wasn’t the prettiest round I’ve ever ridden. He is so genuine and that’s where our partnership really counts. When I heard them say I had finished bang on the optimum time, I was expecting to burst into tears and have strong emotions, but I think I was in complete disbelief — it was a very strange feeling.”

Article continues below…

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Mollie continued: “I didn’t have time to watch anybody go before me as I was 11th to go, but I’ve been training with Robin Dumas leading up to this event and he had given us such a good tune up. I sent him videos of the course for him to offer me advice and training with him has given me a lot of confidence in the run-up to my first five-star.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

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

Have you always dreamt of riding round the iconic five-star cross-country course at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials? Well, now you can thanks to this incredible video, on the day when we should have been at the great event on cross-country day, if it hadn’t been for its cancellation owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

This great footage by SAP Sports was taken from a hat camera attached to 2018’s winning Burghley combination, Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy.

The pair were drawn as number 96, so they were later to go on cross-country day (1 September). This also means that on the video you can see the hoofprints of the competitors that went before him, giving a great idea of where Tim saved time on the 11min11sec course over the 6374m track.

The optimum speed Tim and Ringwood Sky Boy were required to travel at in order to reach the optimum time was 570m/m (or 21.25mph), with the course incorporating 30 fences and 52 jumping efforts.

On this video, you can really get a sense of the speed, distance and terrain horses must travel over at Burghley. And not only that, but also the volume of the crowd and how quickly some of the fences come up.

Tim and Ringwood Sky Boy started on course in second place after the dressage phase. Tim and ‘Ozzie’ were behind first-placed Mark Todd and Kiltubrid Rhapsody, but the latter pair fell at the seemingly innocuous Gurkha Kukri at fence 10.

This left the door wide open for fellow New Zealander Tim, and he made the most of it, motoring round with Ozzie to finish just one second over the optimum time.

Continues below…

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Only four combinations actually made the optimum time — Oliver Townend (Ballaghmor Class), Andrew Nicholson (Swallow Springs), Elizabeth Power (Soladun) and Tina Cook (Star Witness).

Tim and Ozzie went on to showjump clear on the final day of competition, to win with over four faults in hand over second-placed Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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

We’re not going to lie, we are pretty sad not to be heading to the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials today (2 September). But to pick ourselves up, we have delved into the Horse & Hound archives to reminisce about Burghleys of the past, including bringing you some Burghley Horse Trials trot-up videos from the 2008 event, featuring big names you may well recognise…

As with any eventing trot-up, there’s always a handful of horses that find the occasion terribly exciting — and who can blame them when they are five-star fit and have a pensive crowd watching on?

Here are a few horses from the 2008 event who helped entertain the crowds, including the eventual winner that year, Tamarillo with his rider William Fox-Pitt.

William is our special guest on tomorrow’s episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast during which he chats to H&H eventing editor and podcast host Pippa Roome about his six Burghley-winning rides.

Every year the best turned-out prizes are hotly contested, by both grooms and their riders, but which was your favourite outfit in 2008? Here are some of the highlights.

Stay tuned to the Horse & Hound website this week for more Burghley archive content, showcasing some of our favourite moments from one of the toughest five-star events there is.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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

The great Totilas took the dressage world by storm around the last turn of the decade, producing world record scores and gasp-inducing performances under the Netherlands’ Edward Gal. Now his progeny are starting to follow in his footsteps at grand prix level, including Glock’s Toto Jr...

This nine-year-old Glock’s Toto Jr is certainly one of Totilas’ most interesting and high-profile offspring, being from his first crop of foals. He was licensed in 2013 at Verden, and sold for €100,000 to Glock, Edward Gal’s sponsors. He has since become a very popular breeding stallion, with amost 700 offspring to date, among them several licensed sons.

The Hanoverian stallion, who is out of the Desperados daughter Desperada, has now put himself firmly in the frame for a top level dressage career with a stunning grand prix debut performance under Edward Gal last week at the CDN Schijndel in the Netherlands.

The pair pulled off a mistake-free test, with clean tempi-changes and well-established piaffe-passage work. They received a huge score of 79.43%, putting them well ahead of Edward’s partner, Hans Peter Minderhoud, in second riding Glock’s Casper to 73.73%.

This is the first time Edward has competed the black stallion, who has concentrated on breeding duties up until now, and is yet to make his first international competitive appearance.

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Earlier this year, Edward hinted that he is aiming Toto Jr at the Tokyo Olympics, originally due to be held this summer, but now postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Edward’s current top ride is the 12-year-old Danish warmblood stallion Glock’s Zonik NOP, by Blue Hors Zack x Romanov, with whom he lead the Dutch team to silver at last year’s European Championships, also finishing individually eighth and sixth in the grand prix special and the freestyle respectively.

But this impressive debut from Zonik’s younger stablemate certainly makes him a realistic prospect for the Olympics in 2021.

We are continuing to produce Horse & Hound as a weekly magazine during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as to keep our website at horseandhound.co.uk up to date with breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

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

With Dublin Horse Show, which was meant to take place this week (15-19 July) cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, we thought we would take a look back through the archives to bring you one of our recent highlights from the Irish equine bonanza — hold onto your hats!

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Watch out Ruby Walsh, hold on to your hat Shane Breen, because a seriously speedy — and stylish — new jockey has hit the turf.

While the senior showjumping stars of the Stena Line Dublin Horse Show were battling it out for the big-money prizes, the undoubted hero of the 2018 event (8-12 August) was nine-year-old Senan Reape and his whizzy pony Mickybo.

Together this dynamic duo won the prestigious 128cm national championship — and the hearts of the nation. The video of their winning round has been shared all around the world, already approaching some one million views.

Eighteen young hopefuls lined up for the championship in Dublin’s main arena, where seven pairs jumped clear to contest a hugely competitive jump-off. But only two could produce faultless rounds against the clock and it was Senan and the 18-year-old Mickybo who pelted round in superb style — to huge cheers from the stands — to finish some 2.5sec faster than their nearest rivals, Jack Conlon Gateau riding the appropriately name Blaengwen Kato Star in a racing finish that brought the curtain down on the third day of the show.

“We tried to be a bit confident going in to the final as they’d been jumping well, but to pull it off was an unbelievable achievement for Senan,” his father Jonathan Reape told H&H. “To win the 128cm championship at Dublin really is the Olympic Games for kids their age.”

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The Reape family run Ard Chuain Equestrian Centre in Co. Mayo and were out in force to support Senan, and his brother Paddy, who also made it to the final but picked up eight faults in round one on Heartbreaker. The previous week, Paddy had jumped double clear for Ireland at the Welsh Home Pony show and elder sister Amy won the 138cm championship at Dublin two years ago with Youghal Paddy.

The family offered their gratitude to Mickybo’s owner Anita Duffy, whose daughter Orla also won the 128cm championship on the gelding at Dublin in 2015 when she was nine. The 18-year-old gelding is a 10-time visitor to the show as he has carried numerous young jockeys expertly round the coloured poles.

“He’s 18 but like a five-year-old and a real character around the yard,” said Jonathan. “He had a couple of days off after Dublin and has just got back from a hack now. Senan absolutely loves him to bits.”

With Senan’s competitive spirit, the sympathetic encouragement he gave this legendary schoolmaster over the fences and his effortlessly stylish riding, nine-year-old Senan undoubtedly has all the core ingredients to make it to the top of his profession, should he so choose.

Ireland’s superstar showjumper Bertram Allen, now 24, won Dublin’s 128cm championship at the age of 11 riding Magic Shadow, and if his stratospheric rise to the upper echelons of the sport is anything to go by, Senan Reape is a name to remember — he is surely going places.

We are continuing to produce Horse & Hound as a weekly magazine during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as to keep our website at horseandhound.co.uk up to date with breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

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On 19 April 2015, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro scored 94.196% to successfully defend their World Cup title in Las Vegas. Today (15 April), is the day that the dressage World Cup final should have been getting underway before the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic, so we’re taking a trip down memory lane instead...

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro performed a flawless grand prix freestyle this afternoon in Las Vegas to take the Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage title for the second year in a row.

Carl Hester, Roly Luard and Ann Bar’s 13-year-old Valegro scored 94.196%, just short of their own world record of 94.3%. They finished nearly 10% ahead of the opposition.

“I’m living the dream,” said Charlotte. “Coming here and doing what I do in front of 12,000 people is an incredible feeling. I never knew how Valegro was going to cope with the clapping, but he loved the American crowd — every time they clapped, it was like he was saying ‘Woohoo, I did something good.’

“I don’t look at the expectations as pressure — if I did I’d get nervous and worry about things. I just go in to do my best and that’s all I can do.”

The Netherlands’ Edward Gal finished second with Glock’s Undercover NOP, as in Thursday’s grand prix. He finished on a mark of 84.696%.

Asked about being the senior rider on the podium, he joked: “I feel 25 and after a few operations I can look 25. It’s not nice she keeps in front of me — I’m older, she should treat me with more respect.”

On a serious note, he added: “Charlotte does an amazing job and when the best person wins it’s good for the sport — and when I’m second that’s also good. And I know how it feels, so that’s good too.”

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl managed to upset the grand prix placings by pushing into third with 80.393% on Unee BB.

“For me today was a rollercoaster of emotions — I came in and he was a bit scared of the light on the trophy. We started with a mistake [in the two-time changes] so I thought, ‘Now I have to go for it.’”

Jessica slipped ahead of Steffen Peters (80.357%) — third in the grand prix — although this became irrelevant when the American rider was eliminated after blood was found from a spur on Legolas’ side.

This left up-and-coming rider Laura Graves on Verdades as the best of the home side in fourth with 79.125% on Verdades.

Results

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As part of Horse & Hound’s 135th anniversary celebrations, we welcomed the chance to pit Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin against each other to find out how much they really know about one another...

Ever wondered what Carl Hester’s school reports said about him? Or the best Christmas present Charlotte Dujardin ever bought him? We go behind the scenes and play a quick game of Mr and Mrs with British dressage’s most loved pair, and find out a few things we never knew…

They’ve both had the privilege of riding and competing so many wonderful horses in their time, but which are their favourites, and more tellingly — who do they think is the other’s favourite?

Charlotte names Escapado as Carl’s top horse of all time, but Carl counters her with Nip Tuck, before going on to guess Charlotte’s favourite — aside from Valegro — as En Vogue.

Ultimately though, both of them turned out to be wrong, as each said they loved all their horses so much they couldn’t pick a favourite.

When it comes to their favourite tipple, Carl and Charlotte have it nailed — Carl correctly identifies Charlotte’s drink of choice as a gin and tonic, while Charlotte can even name the specific brand of Spanish white wine that Carl favours. But when it comes to food, they’re not so sure.

“Chips!” exclaims Charlotte, on Carl’s favourite food is, before reaching the right answer — lamb — with a few clues and sound effects from Carl.

And as for Charlotte’s favourite food?

“Pasta,” guesses Carl, before going on to correct himself: “Actually, I know what you love — fish.”

“But what’s my favourite type, what’s the one you taught me?” presses Charlotte. It turns out to be sweet chilli salmon cooked in foil with spring onions.

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We ask Charlotte how Carl has changed over the 13 years they’ve worked together — “longer than most marriages!,” says Charlotte.

“I don’t think he’s really changed — he’s still funny, he’s still silly…”

“I’m still immature,” Carl agrees. “In fact, that’s what my last school report said about me — ‘we’ll know when Carl’s grown up because he’ll stop calling people names’.

Don’t miss the H&H’s 135th birthday bumper issue, which includes an exclusive interview between Carl and Charlotte, on sale until 26 June

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

Find out what some of the world’s top event riders, such as Pippa Funnell, Tina Cook and Nicola Wilson make of this year’s Badminton cross-country course

This year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course is as big and bold as ever. The track is designed by Eric Winter, and is 6697m in length with an optimum time of 11min 45sec.

Pippa Funnell said: “I think it’s a very clever course with how the course designer has used the terrain. There are plenty of places where a horse will really have to use its footwork. The fences invite you to ride and attack the course and there are certainly places where you have got to be accurate.”

Tina Cook said: “There are a few combinations where the striding could be quite interesting where, as a rider, it’s going to be difficult to know what your horse is going to go on, jumping off the bank and out of The Lake the direct way, for example. So you will have to ride with feel and be positive with the horses.”

Gemma Tattersall said: “There are some really tricky distances where horses are going to have to have really good footwork. But, maybe it’s not as tough as past Badmintons.”

Chris Burton said: “Eric has designed a few tricky lines and a few things to make us think, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Badminton final scores

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Nicola Wilson said: “It’s massive from start to finish with questions one after the other.”

Emily King said: “It’s a really big, bold, attacking course, but with fairly-built questions for the horses. There are a couple of distances that are a bit unusual so we’ll have to work them out.”

Read our full Badminton form guide in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (issue dated 2 May 2019).

Our bumper 25-page Badminton report will be in our 9 May issue, including opinion from Mark Phillips and Peter Storr.

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

Since my last vlog I have finished up in Dubai and travelled back home. I had an unforgettable time out in the UAE, with all the horses going from strength to strength and giving me some amazing results.

Highlights have to be the three five-star shows I went to. With the incredible eight-year-old Z7 Caretina taking the win in the accumulator at the World Cup show in Dubai, and the legend that is Cash Up was insanely consistent, jumping double clears in two World Cup classes and finishing off the tour with a placing in the five-star grand prix at the Nations Cup show in Abu Dhabi.

Many, many thanks to Sheika Maitha and Team Z7, to Breen Equestrian and to Leo Tierney. I know I mention this a lot, but us riders are nothing without our teams, and the final results are an accumulation of what everybody puts in. The final thank you has to go to all the wonderful horses — never have I had such an exciting group to ride, and what a couple of months they have given me.

I have now been in the UK for a couple of weeks and settled the horses back down to try and cope with the English weather(!). They all felt quite fresh when the wind wouldn’t stop blowing — something I haven’t missed while being out in Dubai. Although it’s nice this week to feel that spring could be on its way and how lucky I am not to have had to battle through a whole English winter!

Last weekend we headed out to Paris and Cash Up delivered once again. I have honestly run out of words for how much I love this horse! He was mega, finishing second in the under-25 grand prix and then we won the team competition along with Amy Inglis. Amy and I have been friends for a long time, so it was great that us Sussex girls picked up the win out in France.

I have to sometimes pinch myself for how much Cash Up has done for me — he is an absolute hero and I love every minute of riding him.

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2019 marks my first year as a fully-fledged senior in showjumping and it’s always a slightly daunting moment when youth teams are no longer an option. You spend a lot of your junior years with these championships as such huge aims and I can’t quite believe I am now out of them — where does time go?! But what I do know is that I am so hugely fortunate to have the team I’ve got behind me. With the support of Breen Equestrian, I couldn’t be better set up so feel as ready as I can be for the next step — bring it on!

G x

Music: ‘Funday’ from Bensound.com

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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It’s been a busy couple of weeks since I last vlogged, and there’s so much to tell you all about.

After a quiet January, we set off to Royan for the two-star competition. Compared to a lot of the shows we go to the drive isn’t as far for the horses as they can be. However, something I always like to do with all the horses when they’ve been travelling for any amount of time to a show is hack them out on the first day. I find this makes a difference for them in helping them to relax and stretch out after being on the truck.

If you follow me on Instagram (@kirstie_leightley), you will have seen that while at Royan I got the exciting news that I have been selected to be an ambassador for Equine America. To me, deciding to be an ambassador for a product is a really big decision and I only want to work with brands that I use and love. This why I am over the moon that Equine America chose me. It is no secret that chestnut mares aren’t everyone’s first choice to ride, but I seem to have a strange attachment to them. I have always used Equine America to help me make sure they are fit and healthy, while slightly taking the edge off them!

So, for this show I took Thais, Love and Roaletta. Rosaletta is a horse I haven’t talked about in my blogs before, but she is one of Guy’s home-breds. This was her first show back after a while off and she jumped superbly.

My main girl Thais finished in the placings in every class we competed in, which is something I am really proud of as we have been working so hard together. To top this off we won our first world ranking two-star grand prix, which nicely rounded off the week after Love and I jumped our first ranking class together. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve any of this without Guy and everyone at team Williams, and I know I say this a lot, but I am hugely grateful to them for the opportunities that I am getting.

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Speaking of the team, we are all now looking to work on our fitness and nutrition to maximise our performance. With so much concentration going on the horses’ well-being, and getting them competition ready, it’s so easy to forget that we ourselves are athletes and we need to make sure we are as fit an healthy as we can be in order to the horses justice. To help us achieve our goals we have partnered with Intergrum Nutrition and I can’t wait to keep you all updated on our results (although I already miss the cheeky plate of chips that we all know and love to indulge in!).

Next up we head to Le Mans two-star then I’m on to Lanaken for the under-25’s. I’ll make sure to keep you posted with how we get on, and I promise to be honest if I break my nutrition programme!

Kirstie

Music credit: Purple Planet

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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For this year’s dressage special issue of H&H we go behind the scenes of Elite Dressage, the new business venture of international grand prix rider Anna Ross. Watch this video of Anna answering some burning questions to find out a little bit more about her. Please be patient waiting for the video to load below…

Anna and her business partners, Lorna Wilson and Eddie Hosegood of Newton Stud, aim to help broach the gap between dressage breeders and riders in the UK, breeding and producing top quality horses at Anna’s new base, Barons Wood Equestrian Centre, deep in rural Devon.

They already have some exciting horses in residence and Anna highlights two mares in particular as ones to watch this year.

The first is Habouche, a seven-year-old grey mare by Ampere out of a Sydney mare.

“Beth Bainbridge will ride her this year and I will probably take over next year,” explains Anna.

“Then there’s Newton Flexitime, who is a very exciting four-year we have here.”

Anna also reveals what she believes to be the biggest achievement career, which she thinks may come as a surprise.

“Probably on paper my biggest achievement was coming 10th at the European championships, but in my opinion my biggest achievement was actually coming eighth at the German selection trial at Balve, a big German show,” she says.

But for all her success there have been quite a few slip-ups along the way, including one particularly memorable incident.

“I have literally hundreds of embarrassing moments,” she admits. “One was when I was in a dressage arena next to another arena and I lost control of my horse and he ran into the other arena. There was a lady piaffing and passaging at the top end and there I was I was galloping round in circles at the bottom. She just seamlessly kept going — well done Kay Maxted!” Anna laughs.

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Anna also reveals the answers to the most important questions in life: her favourite food — chocolate — and her favourite drink — champagne, on every occasion.

Don’t miss the full interview with Anna in this week’s dressage special issue of Horse & Hound, on sale now.

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

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all well and getting back into the swing of things — I can’t believe we are in February already!

It’s all back to business here at Team Williams and our first show for 2019 was at Sentower two-star in Belgium, where I had my main girl Thais back returning from her holidays and new ride Sunshine de la Love. I’ve watched this horse with a good friend for a while and always loved her, but never thought I would get the chance to ride her. So to say I was excited to pick her up a week before the show, was an understatement!

I am sometimes lucky enough to get Betty to help me out at shows, and it was great to have her at Sentower. She did an awesome job capturing all the show on camera, not just the jumping rounds, so I hope you enjoy this week’s vlog with full behind the scenes access. Sentower is a great venue and again I think the vlog shows it off quite well.

While watching the footage back, I really noticed how much Guy is there as a support throughout the shows. To have someone like him on the floor, giving me advice from the course walk, warm-up, as I wait to go in and a de-brief afterwards, is invaluable, and I would urge any young rider interested in pursuing showjumping to try and base themselves at a yard — there is so much to learn!

As shown, both mares jumped really well. With it being Thais’ first show back, we didn’t expect too much from her, but she was good throughout. The other mare, Sunshine de la Love, put in some great rounds and had two top 10 placings in the 1.35m — a great start to the year.

You will see from the videos that the two mares are pretty similar and interestingly Sunshine has very similar Selle Francais breeding to Thais. She is only tiny but a typical blood chestnut mare and quite sharp — again just like Thais! The plan for her this year is to jump some ranking classes and run her alongside my others.

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In terms of my plans for Thais, I’m aiming her at some more Derby classes. We’re looking to head back to the Speed Derby at Hickstead to see if we can improve on our eighth position last year.

The next stop for us is to sunny (hopefully!) Spain, where we’ll be taking some of the younger horses and a few of the older for a few weeks. If the weather is on our side, I’m looking forward to vlogging for you without having to wrap up in all these big puffa jackets!

Until next time,

Kirstie

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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

It feels like we’re back where it all began. It my very first vlog for H&H I talked to you about my amazing experience out in Dubai with the Breen Team riding for Team Z7. Throw it forward a year and I am happy to say we are back in sunny Dubai!

A lot has happened in January so far. The horses left England just before the New Year, and spent a few days in quarantine before travelling to the fabulous Z7 stables in Zabeel in Dubai. I flew out with super grooms Leo and Ludo (who makes a cameo in the video — blink and you might miss it), to meet the horses the other end, where we were joined by DLS Showjumping’s David Simpson, Breen Sport Horses’ Trevor Breen, and of course Shane.

We were straight into the competing mix with the Abu Dhabi CSI4*-W, a World Cup show, on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. We are so lucky that all the shows on the UAE tour are within two hours of the Z7 stables, so once the horses arrive in Dubai they spend very little time travelling.

On the first day, Z7 Caretina jumped the 1.40m for just four faults and Z7 Cordanos V jumped the 1.45m. Z7 Caretina is only eight and is just stepping up from young horse classes, so it was great to ride her in her first 1.45m Longines ranking class, where we finished fifth on day two. On the final day, Z7 Cordanos V jumped a fantastic round in the World Cup for just four faults and Carentina jumped double clear in the ranking class to finish fourth.

The second show was the CSI4* Al Shira’aa show, also right next to Abu Dhabi, but at a different showground. Cordanos jumped the ranking class as his first class, which was a big ask and he made a couple of mistakes, but I was still really proud of him. Cash-Up then jumped clear with one time fault in the 1.40m and Z7 Canya Dance jumped in the 1.30m.

On the second day both Cordanos and Cash-Up jumped the 1.50m and Canya Dance was sixth in the 1.30m.

Saturday was a very exciting day as Abu Dhabi hosted its first ever Derby. Edward Bunn came from Hickstead to advise on building the course, which was very impressive and full of derby fences — ditches, water, rustic rails and, of course, the Hickstead planks — it felt just like home! The competition was very fast and furious and was great to have such an excited crowd getting behind us all as we jumped round.

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Georgia gives us a look behind the scenes at a particularly busy show, where she rode several horses

Next up was the five-star World Cup show in Dubai. The ring here was big and beautiful which always makes jumping very enjoyable. The horses jumped great throughout the week but it was Saturday that turned into the day I have dreamt about: the amazing Z7 Caretina won the 1.45m accumulator. This marked the biggest win of my career so far and just further cements in me how lucky I am to have the opportunities and such wonderful horses, all under such amazing tutelage — sometimes I have to pinch myself!

There’s still a lot more shows to ride at before we head back to England — let’s hope we can carry on as we have started!

G x

Music on vlog credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

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Four-star event rider Imogen Murray set herself a challenge to steer a horse round a course of showjumps with no bridle — and called it part fun, part training.

“I wanted a winter challenge,” said Imogen, 25. “I like doing silly things sometimes — everything is so serious and it’s nice to have a bit of fun.

“I’ll never have to do that in competition, but it’s good to know I can — it improves your riding. It makes you more conscious of what you’re doing with the rest of your body — not being able to rely on the reins. And it’s good fun for the horses too, it improves their outlook.”

Imogen’s selected mount was the 14.2hh Ive Dun Talking — known as Petal — who has won at intermediate level this year.

“The girls [on the yard] said Petal would be wild, because she goes so fast with a bridle on, but she was great,” Imogen added. “She’s such fun to ride — she can go on a horse or a pony stride, so you can charge around.”

Imogen first tackled the course with a bridle, but the reins knotted. Then she added the neckstrap — and removed the bridle.

“This video was taken the first time I’d jumped without a bridle,” Imogen said. “We nearly jumped out of the arena when I just had the knotted reins, because I wasn’t looking exactly where I wanted to go and Petal locked on to the arena fence.”

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And Imogen is already eyeing up another dare.

“I want to do it without a bridle or saddle — just a neck strap,” she said, “but I need to find another horse, as Petal is too round.”

More’s the shame, as Petal is a honeypot for Imogen’s social media exposure.

“If people come to visit the yard, they’re not interested in seeing the four-star horse — everyone loves Petal,” Imogen says.

To read a full interview with Imogen Murray, don’t miss the latest issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out now

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Hi everyone,

Welcome to my second blog. Some of you may have seen, but it has been quite an eventful time out here in France, with lots of demonstrations going on which have led to road blocks and some serious traffic jams all across the country. As you can imagine, this has made travelling horses and making plans quite difficult! However, us horsey lot have to be resilient and there has been lots of last-minute changes, but sadly we did have to admit defeat with a few shows as we just couldn’t take the risk of being totally stuck on the roads with horses on board.

We did make it to Rouen with my main girl Thais. In my vlog this week I go through all the show prep we do at home before we head off to competitions. Watching it back made me realise how much we all put in to get to shows, whatever the level, but it is usually always worth it and it was for Thais and I this week.

We had a fab time, getting placed in the 1.45m and, wait for it — also jumped our first Puissance. What an experience! I have to say that big brick wall is quite intimidating when you walk into the ring, especially when you are not on an overly big, typical Puissance type horse. Luckily Thais doesn’t know this and would take on the world if we asked her to, which is a nice feeling when you are approaching a huge obstacle!

She was amazing and went three rounds, which we are all mega pleased with and I can’t wait to give it another shot. This mare just keeps on amazing me with her bravery and scope— I am so lucky to ride her.

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So that is it for us at Team Williams in terms of competitions for 2018 and all the horses will have a bit of break before we hit the road (hopefully!) again in January. It’s been a great season for me, with brilliant highlights with Thais, especially in the Hickstead Speed Derby and this weekend in the Puissance. She’s proved herself to be pretty multi-talented and I can’t wait to see what next year brings.

In the meantime, I will be heading to Olympia next week then catching up with my family in the UK over the festive break — I’m very excited about that, and the turkey!

I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and I will catch up with all of you in the New Year.

K x

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine out every Thursday

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Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been at lots of shows, but I wanted to share with you what we’ve been doing with some of the younger horses.

It is so important to give them as much experience away from home as possible, and Cherwell is a great place to do this because of the big arena, the scary fillers and competition atmosphere it gives. This show starts at 90cm and goes up to 1.20m, which may seem small compared to some of the courses you’ve seen me jump in previous blogs, but is just as significant to the horses’ training as any of those larger events.

For this trip to Cherwell we took 14 horses (by we I mean myself, Scott, Jackie, Mikey and Sunniva, who all make a guest appearance in the video). It’s so important with this kind of event to work together and be organised. As it’s a day show we don’t have stabling, so have to rely on getting the horses on and off the lorries as and when we need them. This in itself can be a whole logistical nightmare, and even with the five of us, there still isn’t enough hands for horses!

I was jumping four horses — this time I’ve decided to show you less in the ring and more behind the scenes. As any rider will tell you, it’s not all glamour, it’s rainy days, muddy car parks and busy teams that can often be the basis of what we’re doing – but I still love it! Cherwell was no exception to this rule. The centre is amazing but can’t control the weather, and as I mention (a few times) in my vlog, I’m not huge fan of the mud, especially in my new smart Filli Fabbri boots, that I am particularly fussy about keeping in perfect condition!

You can see here I’m with a lot of the Z7 horses who will be jetting off to Dubai with us in December, when I return to jump with Team Z7 for a few months (much less wet, much less muddy!). But it’s important that when we go out there, all the horses have the right training and have experienced as many different arenas as we can.

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The horses are so well behaved, which I think is a huge credit to the Breen Team and how they are handled by everyone here. Taking them on and off the lorry could stress a lot of horses out, but all our guys need is a little encouragement and they’re good as gold!

This month was particularly special for me as it was my 21st birthday. I couldn’t help but add a small video in at the end of this, as my wonderful friends and team mates organised a surprise party for me — bucking bronco and all!

G x

Music credit: bensound.com

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We travelled down to Le Mans CDI via the ferry at Dover to Calais. It took us about 12 hours to get there. Every time we stop, like before and after getting on/off the ferry and at petrol stations, I open up the partitions in the lorry to allow Apollo to stretch his neck and have water and a feed. He’s a super traveller and will eat and drink happily — his favourites are Baileys fibre nuggets, which can honestly get anything to eat as horses LOVE them, not forgetting apple bobbing too. I also get him to do some carrot stretches. This just makes sure he’s still feeling fully flexible and doesn’t get uptight and stiff.

Once there, he settled into his stable with a huge bed of shavings. The showground was small which is nice as it meant not too much walking! Luckily my dad comes with us to drive the lorry so I can rely on him to carry multiple things back and forth for me.

The trot-up was the following day, which Apollo sailed through. Trot-ups aren’t my favourite thing as it always seems slightly chaotic, but this one was super quick and smooth. I then got to ride in the main arena in my set time and was nearly on my own save for one other who was only walking. This was super as it meant I could really work Apollo and get him used to the scary aspects of the arena without having to dodge oncoming horses.

Friday was a day off for us, so we had a cowboy gallop round the big outdoor arenas and browsed the amazing on-site shops.

Saturday brought the Inter 2 first thing in the morning. This was my first winter CDI too, but it was actually warmer than some I’ve been to in April! Luckily it was indoors too.

Apollo warmed up well and then it was show time; I was last to go. He did a super sweet clear round for 67.7%, which I was thrilled with! Mum even had to whip out the Kleenex tissues she was so proud. We lacked power in our piaffe and passage work, but everything was smooth. For my first international under-25 CDI, I just wanted an easy way round and to build confidence. I was chuffed with a second place too (video top from the prize-giving)!

Sunday was again an early start, with me in first this time. I tried for more power in the trot work resulting in better piaffe, but a few mistakes crept in which kept the mark down on a 66%. The under-25 grand prix test is so fiddly and difficult though, so I was again over the moon to finish in second!

It was then the usual mad dash to get packed and home. Overall it was a really fun, enjoyable show and I would love to go back for the February show.

Back home, we had an easy week settling back into the winter yard routine. However, the weather continues to throw things at us and the musical rug dance carries on. Our three-year-olds are now turned out again for winter. I think it’s important to let young horses just be horses and not over push them. They won’t work again until next spring.

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After a recovery week, it was back to the arena for Apollo. We competed our first grand prix freestyle at the Bury Farm gala evening. My music was made for me by Equidance, and features 80’s tunes. As it was nearly Halloween, my piaffe/passage music was Ghostbusters and canter work Stayin’ Alive! I had so much fun riding it and was amazed to get a 73% and finish in third place behind Gareth Hughes and Louise Bell. The judges loved the music and complex floor plan too, but I think during winter training I can make it even more difficult as Apollo progresses.

That’s all from me for now, I’ve had a busy few weeks and a lot more to fill you in on.

Until next time, Joanna x

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This is my first H&H Vlog, in fact it’s my first ever vlog of any kind! So I guess a very good place to start is with who I am. I’m Kirstie Leightley, I am a showjumper and I live and breathe my job.

I’m lucky enough to be the stable jockey at Guy Williams’ yard out here in France, so I really do get opportunities to ride some of the most amazing horses, which I absolutely love. I have been here for three years and before that, was based with Portuguese rider Joao Charlesworth in the UK.

I don’t come from a particularly horsey family but I do come from a very supportive one. Growing up, my parents have always been there to support me with my riding, despite wanting me to follow the traditional route of A levels followed by university, I made the decision having finished my A levels to pursue a full-time career in showjumping.

Out here we are more often than not travelling to or from a show around Europe and get the opportunity to compete at some great venues. Last week we were at St Lo CSI2*, and next up is Ruoen CSI4* Deauville.

We’ve had a great year with the team and my highlight so far was probably taking the win with Thais (more on her later) in the 1.40m Derby in the Le Touquet three-star Derby in May and finishing in the top 10. Oh, and we had a great time jumping in the Speed Derby at Hickstead too!

However recently I’ve had a very rare week at home, so I’ve taken this opportunity to give you a quick look around the yard and show you what the team and I get up to on a daily basis.

As you can tell from the video, the majority of what I do is ride. First up is Thais D’la Verrerie (Tilly), seen jumping the grand prix, who is strutting herself in the arena at St Lo. I absolutely adore this mare. Guy found her at a French stud a few years back. She is a real blood type and before she came to us no-one could really get on with her. When she arrived off the truck she was only tiny and rode like a pony — it was love at first sight! We took her straight to Hickstead popping round the novice classes and she then qualified for the Horse of the Year Show on the final day! We then stepped up from there jumping world ranking classes by the end of the year, and the following season jumped in some international four-star classes and the speed derby. Guy has nearly sold her on a number of occasions but I’ve always managed to persuade him otherwise, and as you can imagine, I put up a hell of a fight and wouldn’t let him — we now share the ride. Although she is sharp, she has such a super big heart and has done so much for me as a rider.

Continued below…

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The other horses in the video are five-year-old Bella (who is one of my favourites), the grey is creatively named Blue and finally we have Haras de Lillebecs Vindaloo do Vercol, who you can see me schooling at home.

I literally love what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else but horses. I am so grateful to Guy and the team for helping me to realise my dreams. I am really looking forward to giving all the H&H readers a bit of an insight into showjumping life French side and sharing the highs and lows of competition as well, plus how we do things at home.

Until next time.

Kirst x

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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