Latest from Horse & Hound in Aintree-showjumping

Former international jumper, ‘a freak of nature’, refuses to retire and is still winning aged 25

Jennifer Donald — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 12:33:52 +0000

The 25-year-old Libero Boy II proved just how much he doesn’t want to retire as he headed the Heritage Insurance diamond qualifier for his owner Kim Webster at Aintree Equestrian Centre in Merseyside recently.

Shrewsbury-based Kim, who also took second with 10-year-old mare Melodie Fureen, has owned the Holstein gelding for the past 10 years and tried to retire him last year, but he was having none of it.

“He won two finals at Scope and we retired him but he wasn’t enjoying it,” Kim told H&H. “I got the vet to check him over and brought him back out.”

According to Kim, Libero Boy had been “a different horse since” since he’s returned to the showjumping ring once again.

“He just loves it – he’s done four shows and has won everywhere,” she said of her golden oldie.

‘A tough horse who is built to be sound’

The quality bay gelding, who was bred in Germany and is by the great jumping sire Libero H, had a full career jumping internationally with Niall Talbot before Kim bought him.

“He would have travelled the world. He has more stamps on his passport than me,” Kim said. “No one can believe he is still like he is at his age – I was asked at the show if he was a youngster!”

Kim describes her winning veteran as “just a freak of nature”.

“He’s a tough horse who is built to be sound,” she said.

You can read the full report from Aintree Equestrian Centre in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 23 February.

Do you have a golden oldie horse who refuses to retire? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com

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(Image credit: Majestic Photography)

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‘We’re quite a pair’: horse with limited vision and rider with neurological condition take championship win

Jennifer Donald — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 19:21:03 +0000

Among the many worthy winners at last week’s National Amateur and Veteran Championships at Aintree International Equestrian Centre (8-13 November) was Surrey University veterinary school graduate Paige Staff.

Norfolk-based Paige teamed up with her Irish-bred 15-year-old Laraghlease Blue Jeans to win the hard-fought amateur 85cm final by 0.22sec after a 30-way jump-off.

Paige spotted the mare by chance in a for-lease ad.

“I lost my elderly horse and she was just five minutes down the road – it was fate,” said Paige.

“We’ve clicked and she’ll jump the moon for me although we’re quite a pair – she has an eye condition which restricts her sight in her left eye and I have the neurological movement condition paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis; we’ve had to learn to ride as a team.”

The Norfolk rider has three jobs to help fund her passion.

“I’m a digital communications officer for the John Innes Centre from 9am–5pm, a locum vet on weekends and bank holidays for the MiNight Service at the CVS Group Gorleston Veterinary Hospital and a debut children’s author for Walker Books UK,” she explained.

Finishing second in the 85cm championship on Inshalless, Newbury-based racing permit holder Katharine Davis outpaced her 73 rivals to take the 90cm micro veteran final by 0.19 sec on the 12-year-old Princess Tinara, a dealing horse that stayed.

“We import Irish horses and she came off the transporter with ears flat back as a very grumpy four-year-old,” said Katharine, who paid £800 for the mare.

“She napped and we had big arguments long-reining but eventually turned a corner – and she’s now a delight! She’s won showjumping, dressage, evented to two-star level with Alice Bibby and hunted. She’s so intelligent and happy living in the field. My husband was right – we’ll never get rid of her.”

You can read the full report from the National Amateur and Veteran Championships in Horse & Hound, in the shops Thursday 17 November.

‘His intestine flipped over his spleen’: horse comes back from colic op to win championship

Jennifer Donald — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 10:59:37 +0000

Showjumper Kath James achieved a long-time ambition when winning the major veteran title at the National Amateur and Veteran Championships at Aintree International Equestrian Centre (8-13 November) riding Herciro Van’t Kiezelhof. Her victory came 20 years after Kath won the national amateur 1.05m championship with Cornish Quest.

“I’ve been second, third, fourth; I’ve finally won,” said an emotional Kath, who jumped the only double clear in the 1.20m decider. “I thought I’d be beaten, Brian Thompson had two horses in it and he’s won at a good level.

“I was in tears when my 11-year-old twins raced into the collecting ring saying, ‘We’re so proud of you’, and then ‘A moment like this’ played, I couldn’t stop crying or kissing ‘Snowball’ – I kiss him so often he puckers his lips!”

The Cicero Z x Puccini 15-year-old – a former ride for the USA’s Laura Kraut and the Netherlands’ Jur Vrieling – was bought four years ago.

“We’ve only competed for two years – he took nine months to recover after a colic operation followed by the Covid-19 lockdowns,” said Kath. “I’d sectioned off a paddock so he could graze but not canter and injure himself. He was so fresh he threw five enormous bucks on the spot, flipping his intestine over his spleen.

“I knew something was wrong and went to vet Ollie Crowe at B&W Equine, Gloucestershire. It wasn’t compacted colic and he didn’t have any intestine removed but he has a visible lump on his belly, although it doesn’t affect him.”

Kath is from a non-horsey family.

“My childhood passion has been showjumping and I went to one local annual show and hacked two hours to get there. If I could have applied to be John Whitaker’s groom, I’d have been off,” said Kath, who achieved two university degrees in business, finance and marketing, and first-class honours in property and valuation.

“Now I’m aiming for the veterans’ European championships.”

Gelding recovers from fractured skull to win coveted ticket to national championship

Jennifer Donald — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 16:28:56 +0000

Catching the eye in the 1.05m national amateur qualifier at Tillyoch Equestrian Centre, Aberdeenshire, on 17 September was the lovely gelding Firado II, ridden to great effect by Carolyn Andrews to win the class and earn a coveted ticket to the National Amateur and Veteran Championships at Aintree in November.

The 12-year-old son of Diarado has enjoyed a very strong season with his regular rider, who has owned him since a five-year-old. But their string of top placings comes after an eight-month lay-off in which the gelding, known at home as “Wee Man”, made a remarkable recovery from a fractured skull.

The injury was sustained while the gelding was out in the field and Carolyn suspects he jumped a five bar gate.

“We think he had a rotational fall, landed on his head and took off up the main road,” she told H&H. “My dad was in the house at the time and heard a horse on the road; our first instinct was to check the fields and we realised it was him.”

At first, it was thought that Firado had escaped unscathed from the incident, but when Carolyn tacked him up to ride a couple of days later, the gelding started shaking his head. Eventually, a fracture was discovered just behind the bulb of his ear.

“They said it might not heal and they were unsure whether or not it would affect him, or if he might just be a happy hacker,” explained Carolyn. “He’s been in the top three consistently since coming back and I am just so grateful every time I have him out that he’s still enjoying what he’s doing.”

Among the other winners at Tillyoch was Carol Wivell, who claimed the 1.10m amateur second round and 1.15m members cup with her 16-year-old mare Black Betty. Carol was keen to qualify as her 13-year-old daughter is already headed to Aintree for the 85cm final.

“It was a bit of a last-minute decision as I’m normally too busy and competing gets put on a back-burner,” she said.

You can read the full report from Tillyoch, and more highlights from recent national and international showjumping events, in this week’s Horse & Hound, in the shops Thursday 29 September.

Aintree’s 1.40m battle of the two golden oldies: ‘He’s 19 but he comes out like a nine-year-old’

Jennifer Donald — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 12:04:19 +0000

Spectators were treated to a gripping battle between two 19-year-old golden oldies at Aintree’s Elite Show recently in a blisteringly quick 1.40m open. Jumping legends Wet Wet Wet (Annabel Shields) and Wellington M (Kerry Brennan) are not only well matched through their watery names, they are equally well matched in the ring, going head to head throughout much of their illustrious careers.

The all-conquering grey Wet Wet Wet, a son of Mr Blue, was the 1.40m winner on this occasion, with his fellow veteran Wellington M just finishing a fraction behind in the runner-up spot, but the latter also earned his moment in the spotlight when adding Aintree’s grand prix to his illustrious roll of honour.

But both horses proved once again that they are as keen and fresh as ever despite their advancing years.

“When Kerry’s on Wellington and I’m on ‘Blue’ [Wet Wet Wet] we always say it’s the two old boys out together,” said Annabel.

“I didn’t see Kerry’s round but I know Wellington loves Aintree, so she’s always going to be quick there,” added Annabel of the 1.40m open she won. “Wet Wet Wet is just naturally quick and unbelievably careful though — I know Wellington probably jumped great but Blue just wins those classes so easy. He just loves it. He wants to win as much as I do and if horses want to do it, you’re already halfway there.”

Kerry said of Wellington M after their grand prix win: “I take each show as it comes with him now and enjoy every moment, as I never know when it’s going to end.

“I did drop him down a level over the past few months, and he’s been doing 1.30ms, but it got to the point where he felt he was ready for a big class again. Obviously that’s what he wanted as he went and won it!”

Annabel experienced something similar with her veteran Wet Wet Wet.

“He had a year when my other horse Creevagh Carisma took over jumping all the big classes — I was trying to give Wet Wet Wet an easier life, but I don’t think he liked it!” she said. “He was nowhere near as good in the smaller classes. I think he thought I was taking the p**s out of him! As soon as I put him back in a big class, he was back to life.

“He’s loved being top man in the yard again and I know he’s old but I always pick him over all my other horses for the grand prix.”

‘He could buck me off and I’d still be smiling’

There has been absolutely no sign that Wet Wet Wet is feeling his age.

“He’s 19 but he’s an absolute machine,” said Annabel. “He comes out every single day like a nine-year-old. He loves life.

“He’s never had a hard time, he loves to go hacking three or four times a week. He knows his job now so it’s not like he needs to go in the school and be drilled. He’s my best friend and we know each other inside out.”

“He’s naturally fit and healthy, and he looks incredible for the age he is, so all credit to the team and credit to him — we always say he’s an absolute legend and to look like he does and to go like he does at 19 is amazing,” added Annabel.

“I keep asking how long he can keep doing this, then I bring him out and he wins again! I’m aware he might not have long left so he never gets over-jumped and I’ll keep picking and choosing which shows I want him to go to. He tends to do the same handful of shows each year.

“He makes me smile every day – he could buck me off and I’d still be smiling. This is my seventh year of owning him and he’s as happy now as he was then. We’re very lucky to have him and I’ll probably never find another one like him.”

You can read the full report from Aintree in this week’s magazine, in the shops on Thursday, 10 February.

Splendid victory for Smith at Aintree Winter Classic showjumping H&H Plus

Sarah Radford — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 13:00:05 +0000

Aintree Winter Classic, Merseyside, 14–18 October

James Smith has established a decent pool of horses at 1.40m grand prix, but it was his reliable grey Simply Splendid who proved once again that he was the most competitive of the bunch when he stormed the big class at the Aintree Winter Classic.

The 11-year-old gelding who “always tries” had already laid down some strong form in Aintree Equestrian Centre’s main arena, having collected a second place in Friday’s 1.40m, as well as finishing runner-up in the grand prix qualifier at the preceding week’s championship show. This time, he topped the £2,000 main event when he came away 0.88sec ahead of a field of more than 40 starters after producing one of three double clears.

William Whitaker and the classy 11-year-old mare Eribelle N had looked in strong contention when they delivered a very smooth and economical bid from second of six jump-off contenders. However, their lead was short-lived as next-in James and the ultra-consistent son of Ustinov found the extra ground speed to claw the advantage.

A save from Keith Shore, who narrowly avoided going out the side door on Mystic Hurricane, left him picking up third, a clear four seconds off the pace, while a superb bid from Robert Murphy and Elan V had to settle for fourth after they axed 0.84sec from the target time, but tipped the first part of the double.

“I watched William go as I was in straight after him and I saw the line he did back inside to the black oxer and I knew if I did the same I wouldn’t be far away,” James said. “I wasn’t quite as smooth but Simply Splendid is naturally fast.”

James has been riding the horse for two years, making it one of his longer and most successful partnerships.

“He is so competitive,” said James. “We haven’t done a lot this year but what we have done he has been very consistent. He won at Bolesworth and the grand prix at Scope, so he’s a great horse for these kind of classes.”

Strong entries for Aintree Winter Classic

Riders were full of praise for Aintree’s clockwork handling of the show, which ran almost straight off the back of the British Showjumping national championships. The scheduling meant the classic drew in some riders from further afield who remained north for both competitions.

Entries were strong in all qualifiers, with 51 coming forward for their chance at a Royal International ticket in the winter grade B&C. Seventeen progressed to the decider, where Rafael Suarez’s jump-off track posed sufficient questions to elicit just the two double clears.

Abbie Bevan rode her 10-year-old grey mare Fabiola Fairy V into an emphatic lead from midfield, with her time only pipped by Robert Murphy, who had another unlucky four faults on High Quality III to finish third. Mark Edwards and the powerful chestnut mare Ede Peasy were quick and clean to collect the runner-up spot.

North Wales-based Abbie has produced the mare since she was a four-year-old, jumping this final previously in 2017.

“We know each other inside out,” said Abbie, who was also fourth in the B&C final at the championship show. “I don’t usually get to keep them this long, but she has a lot of sentimental value as she was my first horse. Everyone else has come and gone and ‘Lucy’ is still there in the end stable. She always gives me 100%.”

Another mare known to her friends as “Lucy” headed the second of Saturday’s qualifers, the Blue Chip Karma, where entries were strong enough to have to switch the class to two phase. Ellie Fannon and eight year-old Diamond Cruise V topped the line-up, with the Billingham rider narrowly missing a one-two when she lowered the last with her second horse.

“There weren’t a lot of clears – people were going for the turns and taking the risk and having fences,” said Ellie. “I just used Lucy’s pace and kept her coming at everything as she’s the sort of horse who likes to keep moving. She enjoys a jump-off as she goes better when you ride her more positively and forward.”

“He has a lot to give”

Hickstead tickets were a draw again in the SEIB winter novice qualifier, where 15 clears led to a very competitive second phase.

Allan Birch looked determined to bag the spoils, pushing for an early lead from third draw on his first ride High Spirit I. His advantage was pipped by more than one second when Charlotte Horne and Celine Z II pulled off a bold flyer to the last, but he regained the top spot after galloping to a 0.46sec win with Willbrook Double Diamond.

“It was quite a fast class but I was definitely having it!” said Allan, who has made this qualifier a speciality, adding this ticket to four others he has collected in the past two years. “It was a challenging sort of track which kept you thinking and riding, and it rode very well for me.”

Both High Spirit and Willbrook Double Diamond are eight-year-olds owned by Lucy Greenwood, who more usually shows them in working hunters but has handed over the reins while she is pregnant.

“I rode High Spirit in some working hunters and did a bit with him last year but it’s my third show with Double Diamond,” Allan said. “Luckily for me he’s jumped a lot of working hunters, so he has experience in the ring without having money on his card. He’s a beautiful horse who has a lot to give.”

Nicole Lockhead Anderson, 18, who has been working for Holly Smith for the past year-and-a-half, had a strong show while her boss was away in Vilamoura, pocketing the winter grade C, a newcomers (Intense Royal Z) and a Foxhunter one-two (Akham Hero Z and MHM Laszlo).

It was nine-year-old Akham Hero Z, owned by Jason Nunn, who headed the BS spring championship qualifier.

“He’s a horse I really like; he went back to his owners during the lockdown and then has had one training show before coming here,” Nicole said. “We had a good show all round with lots of double clears for the younger horses.”

The Blue Chip winter 1.25m went to Adam Botham and the nine-year-old Je T’Aime Flamenco gelding Dewpoint Diamond, who had also picked up a win in the preceding 1.20m open. In an all-round excellent outing for the yard, Adam and his wife Jess collected seven top-three placings between them.

The remaining Blue Chip qualifier, the Blue Chip Dynamic B&C went to Christie Pritchard and the grade C Horse Victory’s Improver, who produced the quickest of two double clears.

Ref Horse & Hound; 22 October 2020

11 Aintree showjumping champions destined for stardom

Jennifer Donald — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 15:24:53 +0000

This country’s most talented young horses and riders descended on the Aintree International Equestrian Centre last week (7-11 October) to contest some of the most prestigious championships in showjumping.

Aintree’s showjumping venue stepped in to host the British Showjumping Indoor Championships Finals after this year’s Horse of the Year Show was cancelled owing to coronavirus and organisers pulled out all the stops to ensure a triumphant week of top class sport while balancing pandemic restrictions.

With 16 titles on offer, competition was fierce throughout the show, but here at H&H, we’ve picked out just 11 of the outstanding up-and-coming horse and pony champions from Aintree who look set for showjumping stardom. Watch this space…

1. Tim Davies and the Belgian warmblood Nielson, the new Equitop GLME Foxhunter champions.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

2. Chantelle Duggan and Linton De La Chapelle, winners of the Talent Seekers final.

16 - Talent Seekers Final (Image credit: creditUnknown)

3. Charley Hamilton and Innishannon Red Squirrel take top spot in the Equissage Pulse British Novice Championship.

3 - Equiissage Pulse Senior British Novice Championship (Image credit: MAJESTIC PHOTOGRAPHY)

4. Emma-Jo Slater and Happy Feet III sprint to glory in the Nupafeed Supplements Discovery Championship.

Nupafeed Supplements Senior Discovery Championship (Image credit: creditUnknown)

5. Emma Crawford and Gina Gold are crowned the British Showjumping Speedi-Beet Grade C champions.

BS Speedi-Beet Grade C Championship (Image credit: SHELLEYSMITH)

6. The Winter Grades B & C title goes to Isaac Hall with Conrad VI.

Winter Grades B&C Final (Image credit: SHELLEYSMITH)

7. Tabitha Kyle looks to have found another future star in Teagan Arla Rose, winner of the Pony Foxhunter Final.

14 - The Direct Insurance PLC Pony Discovery Championship Final (Image credit: creditUnknown)

8. Danielle Ryder and Sam VD Tojopehoeve, winners of the Lord & Lady Equestrian Senior Newcomers title.

Equitop GLME Senior Foxhunter Championship (Image credit: creditUnknown)

9. Olivia Sponer and Conella II head the Pony British Novice Championship Final.

The NEDZ Advance Pony British Novice Championship Final (Image credit: SHELLEYSMITH)

10. Henry Squibb and Clyde Barrows take the crown in the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Championship.

Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Championship (Image credit: creditUnknown)

11. The Pony Discovery Championship Final results in a big win for Charlotte Page and Qrevette Gii.

14 - The Direct Insurance PLC Pony Discovery Championship Final (Image credit: SHELLEYSMITH)

Don’t miss all the news and insight from the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals in this week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 15 October.

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.

Tactics and talent prove a winning recipe as veteran star scores grand prix win

Lucy Elder — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 22:49:47 +0000

Kerry Brennan and Wellington M claimed both grand prix qualifiers before taking top honours in Sunday’s feature class at the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals. Find out more about the pair and their winning tactics...

Kerry Brennan and her veteran superstar Wellington M took home the complete grand prix set with wins in both qualifiers and a stellar victory in the main event on the final night of the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals at Aintree International Equestrian Centre.

The pair, who have been travelling between Kerry’s yard in Chesterfield and the venue in a trailer daily, topped the podium in Sunday’s (11 October) grand prix following a masterfully judged jump-off round.

Kerry and the 17-year-old “Welly”, owned by Liane Smith, were last to go and kept a forward rhythm and got inside the head of course designer Mark McGowan to understand the questions he was asking and answer them flawlessly.

“Mark always builds clever courses,” said Kerry. He doesn’t have to build too big, but he knows how to catch them out. I think it was a really good course and it suited Welly.

“To start with I thought it was going to be proper fast [jump-off] because there was long runs [between fences], but it actually caught people out and came down to good jumping rounds that were the top few.”

A total of 13 of the 44 starters progressed through to the jump-off, with four of those ending on clean jumping sheets.

The jump-off course made full use of the arena, with combinations asked to choose between eight and nine strides down to the second fence, a full 1.50m-wide oxer. The roll-back turn to the red post box upright also caught out several pushing for the time, with course designer Mark McGowan commenting competitors who were caught out were those “riding for the time, not the course”. This matched with the results, as all the four-faulters times would have been good enough for a podium place had they jumped clear.

Keith Shore and Mystic Hurricane provided the first double clear of the class, swiftly followed Gemma Ellison and her own British-bred sassy liver chestnut mare Cynthia Flint who set the standard to beat at 42.69 seconds.

With Gemma still in the lead with two left to jump, she knew she was guaranteed a top-three finish.

Tim Davies, fresh from his win in Saturday’s Foxhunter, was the penultimate rider to go, this time on Barrett Watson’s bright chestnut Lionel Van De Markieslanden, the joint winner of the 2019 talent seekers final.

The pair bounded ahead by almost four seconds, with the nine-year-old showing his extra athleticism by throwing in a buck mid-round, but their lead was short lived with Kerry and her “horse of a lifetime” last to go, powering into first place.

“I watched Tim from the shoot and realised how quick I needed to be without pushing [Welly] too far,” she said.

With Kerry firmly securing her top spot on the final podium, Tim claimed the runner-up position with Gemma in third.

Tim explained his tactics from his winning Foxhunter round of establishing a rhythm were also key in the grand prix.

“I think it is so important not to get carried away,” he said.

“For me I like to stay in that rhythm, keep it smooth, keep it tight and although he is nine we haven’t done loads this year so I just thought he was fantastic tonight stepping up to that level.

“He can be a little bit bucky and a little bit naughty, the only buck he decided to do all week was in the jump-off today. But I’ll forgive him that and I’m quite happy to come second to Kerry. She says she goes slowly, but I know how fast she goes!”

Gemma found a last-minute change of bit was a good move ahead of the grand prix.

“Yesterday she didn’t quite feel on her game, so I changed the bit this morning and did some flatwork to make a decision if I should jump her today — we were almost going to go home,” she said, adding she swapped the 10-year-old mare from a Cheltenham gag to a Happy Tongue Pelham, with the reins on the D-ring.

“I think the change in pressure on her mouth, the port relief with the tongue, she seemed so much happier. After jumping the first round, going into the jump-off she just felt really confident. I’ve known she’s got talent, it’s just getting to that point of getting it out of her.

“It’s quite a gamble going in a grand prix with a different bit, but she seemed really happy so I’m over the moon.

“When I learnt the jump-off course, I was a little concerned about the long runs to the verticals and that number one was a vertical off the wall. My mare is naturally much better at her oxers, but she’s not really competed at that height before in a jump-off class and she just seemed to grow in confidence from the first round.

“We had in mind Keysoe for next month and the winter classic shows; Dad is keen to go abroad and she’s certainly made our future plans a bit more exciting by being competitive in that kind of class.”

Fourth place went to Keith and Mystic Hurricane, with Mark Edwards (Montreuxs Tale) and Robert Murphy (High Quality) the fastest two combinations with a rail, finishing fifth and sixth respectively.

On-song teenager completes Aintree hat-trick with pony showjumper of the year crown H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 18:48:14 +0000

Find out what simple training exercise helped Tabitha ‘click’ with her 2020 pony showjumper of the year championship winner Gangnam Style II...

Tabitha Kyle scored her third trophy of the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals with a classy win in the Shaw Farm Stud pony showjumper of the year.

Aintree has proved a happy hunting ground for the 13-year-old, who capped her glittering week with a win in the juniors’ feature class aboard Su and Gordon Hall’s Gangnam Style II.

Six of the 29 starters jumped clear in the first round over Mark McGowan’s championship track, with Tabitha and the 11-year-old gelding third to jump off.

The Leicestershire-based rider gave another of her trademark smooth, forward-flowing clear rounds, stopping the timer on 35.07 seconds and rewarding Gangnam Style with a pat.

This was a true championship jump-off, with the final line of the Jockey Club oxer to the white upright seemingly daring riders to risk going bold and flat, or take a pull to add another short stride.

“In the jump off, the second fence was the scariest fence for me because it was a really small upright and there was a ‘maybe’ turn after, but I actually got that really nicely,” she said.

“The line to the last was risky, and I took a little check, but not a big one. I think if I had taken a bigger check I would have messed up the rhythm and had it down.”

The six combinations who went clear in the first round were all strong, but nobody could match Tabitha’s time against the clock. Last to go Alfie Miles and Quantum Light came close, with a cracking round that was almost neck-and-neck with Tabitha’s time most of the way. The combination passed through the finishing beam fractionally slower than Tabitha’s leading time to settle for the runner-up spot (36.82). Third went to Elsi Jacques and Trevoulter Ladies Man (37.52).

“I didn’t find the first round too big, it was more technical than big. I think it really suited Gangnam Style,” said Tabitha, adding she thought the designer did a great job with both the first round and jump-off courses.

Tabitha took on the ride on the Irish gelding in 2019 to sell for previous owner Claire Lockhead, before the Halls bought the pony at the start of lockdown.

“They bought him for me at the start of lockdown and I’m so grateful to them for setting me up with some great rides,” said Tabitha, explaining one of the jumping exercises that has really helped her “click” with Gangnam Style (“the friendliest pony on our yard”).

“We did lots of canter poles every night after school and that really build up our confidence and link between each other. That made a big difference, just lots of 14-yard sets of four poles every night.

“Because I’m so small we just have to try different techniques and we have really clicked and got that now.”

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(Image credit: Majestic Photography/Shelley Smith)

‘Horses like him deserve to win a final like this’: horse and rider enter the history books as new Foxhunter champions crowned H&H Plus

Find out more about 2020 Foxhunter final winners Tim Davies and Nielson, who have added their names to the roll

(Image credit: Majestic Photography/Shelley Smith)

‘Abnormally careful and super competitive’: Foxhunter runner-up scoops newcomers crown H&H Plus

Find out more about the 2020 newcomers champions, who topped their runner-up spot in Saturday’s Foxhunter final to claim a

(Image credit: Majestic Photography/Shelley Smith)

Exciting partnership take pony newcomers crown with faultless performance H&H Plus

Find out more about the 2020 pony newcomers champions, who look set to be an exciting combination to watch over

Exciting partnership take pony newcomers crown with faultless performance H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 17:17:55 +0000

Find out more about the 2020 pony newcomers champions, who look set to be an exciting combination to watch over the next few years...

A combination to watch for the future were the runaway winners in the Blue Chip pony newcomers final on the last day (11 October) of the British Showjumping Indoor Championships at Aintree International Equestrian Centre.

Henry Squibb and the eight-year-old Clyde Barrows sailed across the jump-off course and into the lead in a time of 32.62 seconds.

The 14-year-old rider kept “Clyde” travelling in an open rhythm and the bright bay showed his effortless scope, making the fences look easy. With just six of the 48 combinations jumping double clear, Mark McGowan’s courses were still very much a championship test.

Henry, who has a further two years left in pony classes, added his trainer, John Renwick, has been a huge help and support.

“He is brilliant,” said Henry, adding John used to ride with his father.

“I’ve only just started training with him — as of just before lockdown. He’s heading out to Vilamoura tomorrow, but came up to the show to help me today.

“He’s definitely good at helping with the jump-off — before I went into the ring he told me he won this class too when he was younger. There’s a great bond between us all.”

Henry has now added his own name to that trophy.

“I watched about three before me and I knew I had to go fast as there were 22 in the jump-off,” he added.

“There weren’t so many turns, it was more about making up the ground, going as fast as I could and whenever there was a turn, to turn tighter than anyone else.”

Henry has been riding the pony, owned by Patricia Squibb, for around 18 months and the pair have had some exciting results abroad.

He said the win feels like a real accomplishment for them both as a combination as he has brought the pony up through the levels himself.

“He’s quite easy and near enough the same at home as at a show and nice in the stable too,” said Henry.

“He is quite careful, he has had the occasional pole, but that is only because he is quite young.”

Second place went to Jake Myers with Oakley III in 33.16 seconds, with Gabriel Ball and Rescue third in 33.36.

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‘Abnormally careful and super competitive’: Foxhunter runner-up scoops newcomers crown H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 16:22:55 +0000

Find out more about the 2020 newcomers champions Sam VD Tojopehoeve Z and Danielle Ryder, who topped their runner-up spot in Saturday’s Foxhunter final to claim a crown on the final day of the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals...

Foxhunter runners up Danielle Ryder and Sam VD Tojopehoeve Z went one better on the final day (11 October) of the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals at Aintree International Equestrian Centre to win the Lord & Lady Equestrian senior newcomers title.

The talented eight-year-old, whom Danielle co-owns with Willem van Hoof and Harrie Smolders, sped across Mark McGowan’s championship jump-off course with a ground-eating stride to bag victory with close to two seconds to spare .

The dark bay never looked at risk of touching a pole and made short work of the last tricky line from the double to the final oxer, which caught out a number of competitors, stopping the clock in 36.61 seconds.

“He is abnormally careful and super competitive,” said Danielle, who found the horse through a clinic she organised at Aintree in January.

“He has an interesting personality — he is super careful and when you have a horse as careful as he is, they tend to be sensitive with everything. He is very competitive and doesn’t take a lot of encouragement to be competitive as he wants to win.

“I think the courses have been very good — there were more clears today than other days — and I knew the jump-off was going to be fast before we started, so there was only one way to go!”

Charlie Dawson (Iloma) and talent seekers winners Chantelle Duggan (Linton De La Chapelle) both caught Danielle on time, but a rail for Charlie at the lamppost oxer and the final fence for Chantelle dropped them into fourth and fifth respectively.

A smart clear from James Smith and Joyride CMS was rewarded with the runner-up spot, while third went to Gemma Chapman and I Luna L.

Danielle and “Sam’s” success this week is even more impressive given the fact that a year ago she was in hospital with a serious back injury.

“This time last year I was in hospital as I had broken my back in six places, so it is a different story here today,” said Danielle.

“I had a really simple fall from a four-year-old and broke my T12 and L1,2,3,4 and 5. At the beginning it looked a disaster, but now I’m good.

“I spent two weeks in hospital; the first week I couldn’t move and slowly I started walking and came home with a zimmer frame.

“We don’t tend to have any ‘gangsters’ or ones who would do you harm, but unfortunately you can fall off nice ones as well.”

Speed proves key in top-class 138cm championship final H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 10:51:53 +0000

Tabitha Kyle and Bella Wild claimed the first five places in a top-class 138cm final. With eight combinations jumping double-clear, speed proved key...

On-form Tabitha Kyle claimed her second title of the week at the British Showjumping Indoor Championships with a win and two more top-five places in the Cats & Pipes 138cm final.

Tabitha, who had three rides in the championship class held at Aintree International Equestrian Centre on Sunday (11 October), set new leading time on all three of her rides, taking the crown with dual Liverpool winner, Lissduff Royal.

“I really got him going at the start of the round — I made sure I had a proper canter on a circle before going to the first fence,” explained Tabitha, who won back-to-back Liverpool titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as the 138cm championship at Bolesworth this summer on the now 17-year-old, owned by Tanya Kyle.

“With my other two [in the 138cm final, Mister Proper and Playboy Van De Zoetewei,] I didn’t go so tight between the first two fences, but on Lissduff Royal I knew what to do and went tighter.

“I set a good time with my second pony [Playboy Van De Zoetewei] and put the pressure on, and then on Lissduff Royal I had to have a go and take the chances.

“He used to be a bit stuffy, but I have really clicked with him now and he is amazing and trusts me to go on the bigger strides.”

With eight of the 13 combinations jumping double clear, time was the deciding factor, which made for a high-octane jump-off.

Bella Wild, who also had three rides in the jump-off, set a strong challenge, pushing ahead of Tabitha and Playboy Van De Zoetewei with Follow Jazzy Lady temporarily hold the top spot.

Lissduff Royal’s ground-covering stride and his time-saving turn between the first two fences meant Tabitha could just afford to take a check down the final tricky line — a double in a patch of morning sunlight on a dog-leg turn to an upright — and reclaim the lead.

But it was tight, with the top-three of Lissduff Royal, Follow Jazzy Lady and Playboy Van De Zoetewei finishing on 29.03, 29.48 and 29.63 seconds respectively.

In all, Tabitha and Bella claimed the first five places, with Bella and Fancy A Baileys taking fourth and Tabitha finishing fifth on Mister Proper.

“I liked the course, although the last line to the upright was tricky,” said Tabitha, 13, who also won the pony Foxhunter championship with Teagan-Arla Rose on Friday (9 October).

“Because of the glass wall, the sun was shining in on the jumps and made them very shiny.

“I made sure I gave the ponies room, but it didn’t affect them that much and they jumped really well.”

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‘Horses like him deserve to win a final like this’: horse and rider enter the history books as new Foxhunter champions crowned H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 23:45:52 +0000

New names have joined the prestigious roll of honour of Foxhunter winners. Find out how the class played out and what gave Tim Davies and Nielson the winning edge...

Tim Davies and Nielson added their names to the history books with their victory in an electric Equitop GLME senior Foxhunter championship.

This year’s running of the iconic class had a different feel — with the cancellation of Horse of the Year Show, the final was held as part of the British Showjumping Indoor Championships at Aintree International Equestrian Centre, behind closed doors.

With no crowds and no spotlights, this was a new atmosphere for the Foxhunter final, but it felt no less special as the crucial elements remained unaltered — the quality of the field and the standard of the competition.

Tim and the seven-year-old Belgian warmblood owned by Lisa Volk, were drawn fifth to go in the jump-off with one clear ahead of them and three further challengers behind. The scopey chestnut powered off the floor, while also managing to be quick through the air and lost no speed in his turns, storming to the top of the leaderboard and setting a winning time of 40.69 seconds.

“I didn’t think I would be quick enough and I was surprised at how quick he was,” said Tim, adding his turns were the key to his success and his main focus was not to push the horse out of his natural rhythm.

“If you do that, you can end up losing time. I was just trying to keep him jumping out of the rhythm all the time and not trying to change it, just keeping things as smooth as possible. When you have a horse like him, it makes it so much easier because he wants to jump and he wants to jump clear.

“Horses like him deserve to win a big final like this.”

Mark McGowan’s first round track featured criss-crossing lines, with the water tray at fence nine followed by a right-handed dog-leg on either six or seven strides to the double at 10AB proving a true championship question.

Emma Crawford and her Grade C champion Gina Gold served the first clear of the class, swiftly followed by Nigel Coupe and the dapple grey Creevyquin Alice to ensure there was a jump-off. Six more of the 33 starters answered answered all questions asked faultlessly, bringing the total in the jump-off to eight.

While there may have been no spectators there in person, the eyes of the showjumping world could still be felt, albeit from behind computer, phone and tablet screens from homes across the country.

Emma and Gina Gold were first to jump off, with the responsive mare showing what makes her so good — throwing all her effort into every question asked, grunting over each fence and eating up the ground between, all with her ears firmly pricked. The pair stopped the clock in a time of 42.6 seconds, setting a tough target for the others to aim for.

A rail at the oxer in the combination for Nigel, followed by an unlucky pole for Harriett Rushton and Laxon Van De Bosweg at the teetering penultimate Lottery upright, meant Emma held her lead for a while longer.

Lorraine Locke and Artisan I, the sole British-bred horse in the jump-off, produced the next clear in a time of 43.8, meaning Emma and Gina Gold momentarily tightened their grip on the top spot.

Tim and Nielson’s masterful round pushed them into the lead, with the final three riders then further shuffling the lower placings.

Danielle Ryder and Sam VD Tojopehoeve Z went for the win, with the bay showing a serious engine, taking a flyer to the final fence for the runner-up spot in a time of 41.71 seconds.

Last to go was Julie Adams and Gladiator VI. The pair remained in touch of the leaders throughout and didn’t let a broken martinagle put them off, finishing third in 42.13.

“[Nielson] is a horse I think a lot of and I do believe he is going to go on to do great things,” added Tim, explaining his aim had been to make the top three in one of the finals this week.

“It is fantastic for the owner, she found him as a two-year-old and saw something in him, so I’m so pleased for her.

“We all know how difficult it is to find good horses and she has found a real superstar there.

“Most of the horses I ride now are my one, I don’t usually ride for other people anymore.

“Lisa and I do him together and it is a great team and it is so nice to have an owner who is so supportive, whatever happens.

“Her daughter started him off and I took him on a year-and-a-half ago. He’s always been a horse who had lots of jump and I’m just thrilled with him. To win something here is the icing on the cake and for that to be the Foxhunter is just something he so deserves.”

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‘I gave my pony a hug when I heard we’d won’: meet the new 128cm champion and her much-loved pony H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 18:35:28 +0000

Just two of the 25 starters jumped double clear in the 128cm championship final, with Cate Kerr and Dunbarover IV producing the fastest fault-free jump-off round. Find out more about Cate, ‘Yogi’ and their winning performance...

New 128cm champion Cate Kerr celebrated “probably her biggest showjumping win” with a hug from her pony at the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals at Aintree International Equestrian Centre.

Cate and Dunbarover IV (“Yogi”) were the fastest of the two combinations who jumped fault-free rounds in the British Showjumping 128cm Championship on Saturday (10 October).

“It’s very exciting,” said Newmarket-based Cate, 11.

“I had just got off my other pony and then there was just the last one to go. When they said I had won I was so happy!” she said, adding she celebrated by giving Yogi a hug.

Cate and Yogi were the third of nine combinations to go in the jump-off on the bouncy dun, producing a neat, quick clear over Mark McGowan’s course in of 32.93 seconds.

“I was thinking that because this is HOYS a lot of people would go quickly, so I thought I had to go for it, but not take any risks,” said Cate, who has help from her Mum and from Mike Maloney.

“I liked the course, it was quite technical in places — from the third to fourth fence and then back round to the double that line there was technical because there wasn’t much room.

“We went to HOYS last year and there was an amazing atmosphere and there is still an amazing atmosphere here this year.

BS 128CM ChampionGet ready for an overload of cuteness! ? The British Showjumping 128cm Championship never disapoints. It's where dreams come true and memories are made. Claiming the title this year is the super talented Cate Kerr ? ?Posted by AINTREE INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTRE on Saturday, October 10, 2020

Sophia Rogers and the lovely grey Whinney Lass were last to go, jumping a faultless round to take second as the only other double clear of the championship in a time of 34.19 seconds. Third went to the fastest four-faulter, Katie Bradburne and Carrowvila Izzy (32.67), with Cate and her second ride, Taggarts Express fourth in 33.17.

Cate, who has been riding Yogi since 2018, added he has a “really nice character”.

“The adrenaline was building up and he was getting a bit nervous [before our round],” she said. “He is more chilled out when he goes in the ring.

“He is quite funny, when you’re riding him in the courtyard [at home] and something goes past he will put his ears back and doesn’t like it — and in the stable he has a really floppy lip. “He is always right in the corner of the stable resting as he just likes that spot, he isn’t lazy, just chilled out.”

His favourite thing?

“I’m not going to say polos, because sometimes he doesn’t want them, but he does like all food!” she laughed.

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Lucy Elder — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 16:06:16 +0000

Find out where Olivia Sponer and Conella II saved valuable seconds to edge victory in the pony British novice championship final...

Speed queens Olivia Sponer and Conella II could not be caught in the competitive Nedz Advance pony British novice championship final.

The pair, who finished second in Friday’s pony discovery championship, went one better on Saturday (10 October) to lift the British novice trophy at the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals at Aintree International Equestrian Centre.

The combination were early to go in the 19-strong jump-off and were the first double clear, setting the time to beat at 29.2 seconds. They were the first to take the inside line between the first and second fences, jumping the blue upright on the angle and wasting no time across the rest of the course, galloping to the last with Olivia and Conella’s pony tails both flying.

“She will never say no to a fence,” said Olivia, 14, who started riding the six-year-old mare over lockdown.

“The height doesn’t matter to her. She’s got a big jump, but she can be quite hot sometimes.”

Paul Kelly gave the combination a hand in the warm-up, while owner and trainer Kerry Grimster helped Olivia with her jump-off plan.

“We saw were we needed to go and knew that everyone would be taking a similar route, so I knew I had to be quick and tight round the fences,” she explained.

“She’s got a big stride but she’s able to adjust and she’s careful too.

“I think my turn back to the penultimate upright was where we made the time — I made a mistake there and went too tight, so she was good to jump it for me.”

Rachel Proudley and Robe Park Bobby took on the challenge, taking a stride out to the last as they went for the win, stopping the clock just over two seconds behind in a time of 31.53 seconds. Third place went to Samuel Hitchen and Bearwood Barney (32.56), with Olivia and her second ride, Indien Legacy fourth in 32.68 seconds.

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Lucy Elder — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 22:42:44 +0000

Find out more about Chantelle Duggan, who was told a year ago that it was possible she may never ride again, and why she chose to keep her quirky but talented talent seekers final winner...

A working rider, who was told she may never ride again 12 months ago, and her quirky “horse of a lifetime” were crowned talent seekers champions in an electric jump-off at the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals at Aintree International Equestrian Centre on Friday night (9 October).

Chantelle Duggan and Linton De La Chapelle were the penultimate combination to go in the jump-off, with Charlie Dawson and seven-year-old Iloma holding the lead.

Linton De La Chapelle has his own trademark style, kicking out with a hind-leg before and during their round, but it did not slow them down. The seven-year-old dark bay gelding was as quick through the air as he was covering the ground and the pair landed over the final fence in a time of 41.13 — 0.43 seconds ahead of runners up Charlie and Iloma. Third place went to Iwan Carpenter and Merllyns Chacco B in a time of 42.52 seconds.

Their victory was made even more special owing to the fact that Chantelle broke her neck in two places just over a year ago in a freak accident while getting on a young horse, which required plating and pinning.

“He is a massive character,” beamed Chantelle, who works full-time for NFU Mutual and had come to Aintree on her own after spending the morning at work.

“He is better the more you dare him — if you try to jump a clear, he would probably have a fence. If you try to win, he pulls it out the bag.”

She added he is very easy to look after at home, with his routine mainly involving hacking and flatwork as they save the jumping for shows, and he is one of the most naturally talented horses she has ever ridden.

“Everything has always been so easy for him, right from when he was a four-year-old, he doesn’t really have to try,” said Chantelle, who bought him as a youngster from breeder Scott Smith in France.

“He was quite defiant as a young horse and he came on so much as a six-year-old and has got better and better.

“We stuck with him because we knew how good he could be and we knew how much jump he had. I have never ridden something where you come down to a 1.45m square oxer and it doesn’t even feel like they have left the floor. That is what made us keep going with him — we knew there was a grand prix horse in there.”

Talent Seekers WinnerThe Talent Seekers is open to horses of all ages, but with a special award being offered for the highest place 7 year old. This year, we think history has been made with both 1st and 2nd placed horses being age 7. The faster of the two was ridden by Chantelle Duggan, your 2020 Talent Seekers Champion ? ? CHANTELLE DUGGAN – LINTON DE LA CHAPELLE? CHARLIE DAWSON – ILOMA? IWAN CARPENTER – MERLLYNS CHACCO BPosted by British Showjumping on Friday, October 9, 2020

Chantelle added owing to her accident (“12 months ago I was told I may never ride again”) and lockdown, he has missed around 10 months of jumping in the last year and this was only the second time he had jumped indoors since February.

Even with the time out, the French-bred seven-year-old, by L’Arc De Triomphe, has been incredibly consistent this year, with majors victories including the Grade C final and the seven-year-old title at the Bolesworth Young Horse Championships, and winnings totalling around £2,500.

“I love him, he’s like my pet,” she laughed, adding he was the first horse he got back on after her accident. “He is the only horse I have to jump big classes on. [As well as my day job,] I also produce young horses to sell and he is the first one we have said we will keep.

“He will be a proper grand prix horse and I would like to think that he will go and jump four- and five-stars.”

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Flying start to championships for Tabitha Kyle and new ride in pony Foxhunter final H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 19:47:41 +0000

Find out more about the new partnership and where the combination saved valuable seconds in the competitive pony Foxhunter championship on Friday evening...

Tabitha Kyle and Teagan-Arla Rose cruised to victory in the pony Foxhunter championship on the third day of the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals at Aintree International Equestrian Centre (9 October).

Tabitha, who has 11 entries from nine rides this week, got her championship campaign off to a winning start with the 10-year-old mare.

Teagan-Arla Rose, previously campaigned by Shaunie Greig, joined Tabitha’s string in February and the pair have spent lockdown establishing their partnership.

Tabitha credited the help her mum, Tanya, has given her with the pony as well as the work Shaunie put into her for the mare’s recent success.

“Mum has really helped take the next step with her in her flatwork,” said Tabitha, who is riding the pony for owner Lance Mcdonald ahead of his granddaughter, Connie Mensley, taking over the reins.

“She already has the scope and is such a good jumper. Sometimes on the flat she can be a bit busy, but Mum has been a big help in getting her right.”

First to go in the eight-strong jump-off was Rachel Proudley and Okehurst Sunrise, who set the standard with a clear round in a time of 41.66 seconds.

Tabitha was next in on another of her rides, the grey Lickaun Lady, tipping a pole at the fourth fence — the lamp-post oxer on a right-handed roll-back.

Jake Myers and bright bay Oakley III took over the lead with a forward, flowing clear, shaving six seconds off Okehurst Sunrise’s time and setting a new goal post of 35.5 seconds.

Competitors faced a nail-biting wait as Tabitha warmed up Teagan-Arla Rose. The pair’s neat, accurate turns helped them save even more valuable seconds, with just one sticky moment at the same lamp-post oxer in an otherwise masterful round. Taking a stride out to the last, the pair stopped the clock in 33.34 seconds.

“Messing up the turn to that oxer gave me the opportunity to cut inside a few fences to the double and the round went really well after that,” said Tabitha, adding the mare is “so sweet and kind”.

“She’s very good with her turns, but I can’t move too quickly on the ground otherwise she gets flat.

“I really enjoyed the course, I wasn’t keen on the two uprights at the beginning, but I could speed up a bit towards the end, which I liked.”

Jake and Oakley claimed the runner-up spot, with last to go Thomas Bradburne and the eye-catching dapple grey Derryinver Rocky third in 38.73 seconds.

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Lightning turns bag championship win for home-produced pony H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 17:16:23 +0000

Charlotte Page and Qrevette Gii, a pony the 15-year-old rider has produced herself from an unbroken five-year-old, upgraded their third place in last year’s discovery final to take victory in the 2020 championship

A teenager and a pony she produced from scratch made a winning return to take first place in the Direct Insurance pony discovery championship.

Charlotte Page and Qrevette Gii, who finished third in the championship last year, showed phenomenal turns in a blistering jump-off to upgrade their 2019 result and claim the 2020 title at the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals at Aintree International Equestrian Centre on Friday (9 October).

Olivia Sponer and Conella II took a convincing five-second lead early on in the 12-strong jump-off with a lightning-quick round in a time of 29.11 seconds, which looked as if it was going to be a challenge to beat.

“Olivia is always really good competition — she always puts the pressure on. I wasn’t planning to go that quick, then Dad told me she’d gone fast, so I went for it,” said Charlotte, 15.

Qrevette Gii (“Shrimpy”) showed her agility and a serious turn of foot, with the pair combining exceptionally tight turns with speed across the ground and taking a stride out to the final oxer to stop the clock in 28.39 seconds — just ahead of Olivia and Conella, who took second with Louise Mcdonald and Maily 17 in third.

Pony Discovery Champion WinnerThe ponies have arrived and the first title up for grabs was the Pony Discovery Championship. It was a jump off that kept us on the edge of our seats! Congrats to 15yo Charlotte Page who went faster than we thought possible to claim the title with her self produced Qrevette Gii. ? CHARLOTTE PAGE – QREVETTE GII? OLIVIA SPOONER – CONELLA II? LOUISE MCDONALD – MAILY 17Posted by British Showjumping on Friday, October 9, 2020

Course designer Mark McGowan’s first round track provided plenty of questions for combinations to answer, with faults spread across the course. Katie Bradburne and Woodland Prince II provided the first clear of the class to become the sole 138cm combination to reach the jump-off, finishing 10th overall.

The jump-off course gave riders plenty of options for places to make up ground, including dog-leg lines, three fences on a circle testing combinations’ turning power, ending with a galloping line to the final fence.

“[Shrimpy] is quick on the turns and I can challenge her because she is so quick on her feet,” explained Charlotte, who has produced the French-bred 148cm mare herself from an unbroken five-year-old.

The daughter of Balou Mena Gii was bred to be a horse, but never grew, and Charlotte and her father bought her from the Gustavii Stud in 2018.

“She is my favourite,” said Charlotte, adding Shrimpy has a very cheeky personality.

“It’s really rewarding producing your own pony as you know that’s your work, nobody else’s.

“I have a really close relationship with her and she’s really protective of me — if the dogs are barking [at home] she will chase them out the field to ‘protect’ me!”

The pair have also qualified for Sunday’s Blue Chip pony newcomers championship.

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(Image credit: Majestic Photography/Shelley Smith)

‘He’s made me as a rider’: milestone victory for young showjumper and horse who overcame life-threatening injury H&H Plus

Find out more about the bond between Isaac Hall and the horse who overcame a life-threatening injury to ‘make him

(Image credit: Majestic Photography/Shelley Smith)

‘Careful as a cat with the heart of a lion’: golden Gina secures Scottish hat-trick at Aintree H&H Plus

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‘He’s made me as a rider’: milestone victory for young showjumper and horse who overcame life-threatening injury H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 21:02:37 +0000

Find out more about the bond between 23-year-old Isaac Hall and the horse who overcame a life-threatening injury to ‘make him as a rider’, as the pair claim one of their biggest career wins to date...

A horse who suffered a serious injury as a youngster and the rider who produced him from a four-year-old showed the strength of their partnership to triumph in the winter Grades B&C final.

Isaac Hall and Conrad VI were the only combination to jump double clear — although there was a moment it appeared the 23-year-old could have played it too safe as the clock ticked over the time allowed.

Five combinations came forward for the championship on Thursday evening (9 October), held as part of the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals at Aintree International Equestrian Centre.

Madison Jamison and At First D’Authuit were the first of the two combinations to go in the jump-off, with the scopey chestnut knocking the back rail of the B element of the double, putting the pressure on Isaac to produce a fault-free round.

Isaac and the big-striding 13-year-old gelding jumped a flowing clear, but a glance at the time showed just how fine he had cut it, with the pair incurring three time penalties.

“I almost played it too safe! It was a lot more nerve wracking for me than a tough, fast jump-off because there was so much pressure to win and to go clear,” said Isaac, adding the small class and “mind games’ of having the win as his to lose created a different kind of pressure.

“I was definitely a lot more nervous than the qualifier [at Southview], which was a very competitive class. Today was different.”

He added he weighed up his options when he saw Madison had a rail, debating whether to go fast to win should he have a pole, or opt for a steadier round with a higher chance of jumping clear.

With tomorrow’s talent seekers final and Sunday’s grand prix still to go, Isaac opted for the latter.

Winter Grades B&C FinalThere may have been a conservative starting field in the Winter Grades B&C Final but it provided edge-of-your-seat action as the jump off brought us a head-to-head battle! In the end, it was Isaac Hall who came out on top ?? ISAAC HALL – CONRAD VI? MADISON JAMISON – AT FIRST D'AUTHUIT? BEN WALKER – CREEVY TAYLORPosted by British Showjumping on Thursday, October 8, 2020

The win was made all the more special for the journey the pair have been on together.

“I’ve had him since he was a four-year-old,” explained the Leicestershire-based rider.

“My uncle, Tim Davies, bought him from Holland. When he was around three, rising four, he had a really bad injury in the field and had to spend a year in the stable recovering.

“We are not sure if he got kicked through the fence or just cut it on something, but it was a massive cut along his back leg, around three/four inches, long right on the joint, so it was very serious.”

The KWPN gelding (Vittorio x Concorde) required daily bandage changes for a long time, which Isaac said is something his “very supportive” parents — both doctors — were hugely helpful with.

“After all that, Tim said I could have him and keep him and I’ve taken him all the way up the levels from British novice,” he said.

“I would say he has made me as a rider. Every time we stepped up, it was a new lesson for both of us and because of that we have developed a lot more trust together than I would have done on a horse that was already made.”

Concord was one of Isaac’s first horses and has been his main ride for around the last nine years. That, combined with caring for him during his recovery, has meant the pair have formed a strong bond.

“He is one horse I can completely trust in the ring. I know if I put him in a bad spot, he will try his best to help me out,” said Isaac.

“If he’s out in the field and I call him, he’ll come running, and he’s quite cheeky at home — he’ll do things like pick up his headcollar from outside his stable and drop it out the window, he’s had a football to play with too.

“I don’t jump him a lot at home, I hack him out and he really enjoys that — we hack round the little village and kids come out to stroke him. He seems to stay quite fit doing that and for a horse his age, he doesn’t have a lot of mileage.”

Isaac added he hopes to give Conrad a bit of a break after this week, with plans to return to jumping some international and ranking classes in the near future.

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(Image credit: MAJESTIC IMAGES/SHELLEY SMITH)

Pint-sized mare with the ‘biggest heart ever’ zips to silver league glory H&H Plus

Whizzy mare Billy Jive defied her size to speed to silver league victory over a ‘gallopy’ course under rider Gemma

(Image credit: MAJESTIC IMAGES/SHELLEY SMITH)

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Pint-sized mare with the ‘biggest heart ever’ zips to silver league glory H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 16:29:22 +0000

Find out more about the whizzy little mare, who defied her size to speed to victory over a ‘gallopy’ course, and her special bond with rider Gemma Hallett, which has resulted in 22 wins in just over a year

The five-hour trip from Somerset was worth the drive for Gemma Hallett and the pint-sized Billy Jive, who took the NAF Five Star summer silver league championship with a masterclass in jump-off style.

This was the 22nd win for the combination since Gemma took on the ride in July 2019 and the fifth consecutive title of the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals at Aintree International Equestrian Centre to be won by a mare.

“We weren’t going to come originally, then she won the qualifier at Chard and so Sue Jarman [her owner] said ‘well if it were HOYS, we would definitely be going’ so we made the decision to come up and it was worth it!” said Gemma, adding while the mare may be “a little bit short in the leg” she has the “biggest heart ever”.

The zippy 15.2hh chestnut mare’s speed through the air and agility in her turns gave her the edge over Mark McGowan’s jump-off course.

“I don’t tend to watch anyone before I go in as it makes me more nervous,” said Gemma.

“I make a plan and stick to it, otherwise I end up over-riding and we have a pole.”

So what was the plan?

“Go as quick as I could,” she laughed. “It was to keep it as neat as I could, because she’s little, I wanted to keep those turns neat and tight as that’s where she’s so quick.

“The course was good — I thought the girls who were second and third would have been quicker [than me] because it was so gallopy and she’s so small, so I thought they would be faster across the ground.

“She’s just so quick in the air and quick on her turns. You don’t have to take a check anywhere, you can just keep her going and trust her.”

The ride of the day – Day 2? The Aintree/Samshield Style Award ?? DAY 2 WINNING ROUND OF THE DAY ?? Gemma Hallett & Billy Jive??We are excited to announce a new competition and prize at the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals.? Each day at the Championships the best winning round from the day will be picked by our panel of judges?The winner from each day (5 in total) will go forward for an overall Aintree/Samshield Style Award competition? The overall best winning round competition will be judged by the public by voting on our Facebook page ? The overall winner will win a voucher for a Samshield hat to the value of £450! All you have to do is, ride your socks off at the Championships and produce the best and most stylish winning round to be in with a chance!Thank you to Samshield for this great prize and something a bit different to look forward to – Who needs the X Factor when you have the Aintree Factor instead! http://www.samshield.com/en/Posted by AINTREE INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTRE on Friday, October 9, 2020

Taunton-based Gemma only rides the 11-year-old daughter of Billy Mexico at shows as the horse is kept with her owner, Sue.

“I meet her at a show and hop on,” she explained. “She is the most genuine horse. The more you push, the harder she tries. She’s so lovely, bless her.

“I love a mare. Maybe that’s the key — I let her go in her funny little way and be herself, she quite likes that.

“She’s a real trier and the more you ask of her, the more she gives. She thrives on being asked questions.”

Just 0.35 seconds separated the top four combinations, with Gemma and Billy Jive stopping the clock in a time of 34.12.

Millicent Cornock continued her successful day, adding second place in the silver league final aboard Boavista Delsendam (34.22) to her two top-five placings in this morning’s discovery championship. Third place went to Lucinda Stewart and Cancun II (34.26).

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5am starts reap rewards for truck driver crowned bronze league champion H&H Plus

Find out more about the full-time lorry driver and his late-starting ‘lovely mare’ named Fluffy, who claimed their first national

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‘Careful as a cat with the heart of a lion’: golden Gina secures Scottish hat-trick at Aintree H&H Plus

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‘She’s really proved herself’: rider claims fifth national discovery title as mares continue their winning streak H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 13:13:17 +0000

Find out how Emma-Jo Slater claimed a convincing fifth national discovery championship title on a mare she wouldn’t consider the fastest...

Defending champion Emma-Jo Slater claimed her fifth Nupafeed Supplements senior discovery championship title with a deceptively fast round aboard the six-year-old Happy Feet III on day two of the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals (8 October).

Emma-Jo and Happy Feet, who were the last of 16 combinations to go in the jump-off, shaved a full two seconds off Millicent Cornock and Forsythe John VDL’s leading time of 38.27 seconds to win.

“We bought her last year — she can be a little bit unsure sometimes and she’s not the fastest and she never used to turn very well, but she turned really well today,” said Emma-Jo, who stopped the clock on a speedy 36.21 seconds.

“I didn’t think I could beat Millie — she asked me if I was going to and I said ‘ah no I won’t beat you on this one!’”

The bay mare, owned by Kim Barzilay, produced a smooth round, with a couple of lucky moments — rattling fence one and the first part of the double — but the poles stayed put. Her win also continued mares’ dominance at the championships at Aintree International Equestrian Centre, with all four championship titles awarded so far going to mares.

The course, built by Mark McGowan, featured many places where combinations could play it safe or go bold. These included two dog-leg lines, where strides could be taken out; a tight turn through a narrow gap between jump wings between the third and fourth fences, which a few brave combinations squeezed through; as well as a sharp roll-back after the double, testing combinations’ balance and steering to nip inside the flower arrangement and save valuable seconds.

“Kim said I took one less stride on the line between the first two fences — I did that in seven strides instead of eight,” said Emma-Jo.

“There was another little turn I didn’t do after the third fence, I decided to go round as I think it was better for her.”

She explained taking a pull to make that turn would have lost the mare’s momentum, which in turn would have slowed them down.

“We’ve done lots of practicing turning at home and it is just clicking in now. Some horses spin round your leg and she’s not quite like that, but she’s getting much better,” said Emma-Jo, adding Happy Feet is a character at home and a big fan of food.

“She’s improved so much in these last few months, and she is also a careful horse, so you can keep her running [forwards] and jumping.

“She really proved herself in that discovery final.”

This was the fifth national discovery title for Emma-Jo, who won last year aboard Kimba Castello and whose other previous winning rides include superstar mare Lizziemary.

It was a successful morning for Millicent, who jumped quick double clears on both her rides in the class to take second with Forsythe John VDL as well as fifth on Calcourt Adje T. Kelly Connor and Lacara II finished third in a time of 38.68 seconds.

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‘Careful as a cat with the heart of a lion’: golden Gina secures Scottish hat-trick at Aintree H&H Plus

Find out more about why the Grade C jump-off course was so influential and the preparation that gave winners Emma

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‘Careful as a cat with the heart of a lion’: golden Gina secures Scottish hat-trick at Aintree H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 20:29:31 +0000

Emma Crawford and Gina Gold secure a hat-trick for Scotland — and a hat-trick for mares — on the opening day of the British Showjumping Indoor Championships at Aintree. Find out more about why the jump-off course was so influential and the planning and preparation that gave Emma and “Gina” the edge in their winning round...

Scotland ended the first day of the British Showjumping Indoor Championships on a full house of titles, with Fife-based Emma Crawford completing the nation’s hat-trick with a win in the Speedi-Beet Grade C finals.

Emma and the nine-year-old Gina Gold, owned by Louise and Graham Davies, were the penultimate combination to go in the 14-strong jump-off.

Mark McGowan’s course proved challenging, with just two double clears ahead of Emma and “Gina” — fast rounds from Mark Edwards and Ede Peasy, lying provisional second, and Richard Howley with Matrone VD Donkhoeve, who were holding the lead.

Emma also already had a round under her belt, acting as trailblazer on her own horse Dukes Of Hazzard.

“When you’re first to go, what else can you do? You kind of have to go for it, because if you go clear, you are then putting the pressure on everyone,” she said.

“Duke had one down and I was a little bit gutted, but he jumped a good round so I was pleased. I watched a others few go and knew there weren’t many of clears, but I knew Richard was one of those — I almost didn’t consider trying to catch him as he is a speed merchant!”

After jumping fences one and two, combinations were asked to turn the opposite direction to the first round course, looping back on themselves over the water tray before jumping two further fences on a circle in a roundabout-style question.

“My round is a bit of a blur as as soon as I’d landed from one fence, I was thinking about the next, but she was perfect,” said Emma, 20, who took on the ride a year ago.

“After you’d jumped fence two, the horse almost wanted to turn right as we had done that in the first round and it is a natural instinct to want to turn right when they see a wall on their left-hand side. That meant you had to jump the first fence in consideration about the second. My mare makes up a lot of room, so I jumped the right-hand side of both the fences to give myself more room and distance so she could set herself up nicely.

“That is the best round she has ever done with me. She’s a very hot horse, definitely a girl’s ride, very responsive — and sharp, yes — but safe to ride.

“She’s as careful as a cat and has the heart of a lion.”

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Emma stopped the clock in a time of 34.29 seconds, pushing her ahead of Richard who finished second on 35.02 seconds, with Mark close behind on 35.10.

Emma added while lockdown has “not been easy”, having the extra time has paid dividends with bringing on younger horses and developing her partnership with Gina, with the mare progressing from jumping 1.10m courses to becoming more established at 1.30m level.

In preparation for Aintree, she took both horses to a friend’s new indoor arena last weekend to give them as close a preparation for the real thing as possible.

“I thought that would be the perfect place — they’d never been there, it’s a brand new indoor, we put up a 1.30m course and they both jumped brilliantly, so i haven’t jumped them since to keep them fresh, explained Emma, who also won the Aintree/Samshield style award for her winning round with Gina.

The win not only marked a hat-trick for Scottish riders, but also for mares, with Innishannon Red Squirrel (Charley Hamilton) and Hanleen O Tess (Alister White) taking the respective NAF Five Star summer bronze league and Equissage Pulse senior British novice championship.

“The show has been brilliant — the stables are amazing, as are the warm-ups, and the people doing the jumps couldn’t be more helpful. It’s one of the best organised shows I’ve been to,” said Emma, who also holds tickets for the talent seeker final and foxhunter championships on Friday and Saturday with the mare.

“The feel of it is very much like Horse of the Year Show [HOYS] — the arena very much so in size and you have to ride it the same. Also with Mark’s course building, he has built it exactly the way it would be at HOYS and that’s what was expected of [us riders].”

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5am starts reap rewards for truck driver crowned bronze league champion H&H Plus

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5am starts reap rewards for truck driver crowned bronze league champion H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 17:01:29 +0000

Find out more about the full-time lorry driver, who claimed his first national title aboard his own late-starting ‘lovely mare’, Fluffy...

Alistair White continued Scotland’s winning streak at the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals with victory in the NAF Five Star summer bronze league final.

Falkirk-based Alistair, who works full-time as a truck driver for a builders’ merchant, and his own Hanleen O Tess (“Fluffy”) were one of just six double clears from 43 starters.

Mark McGowan tested combinations with a mix of long stretches to open up, punctuated with tight roll-back turns and ending with a double to a 270° turn to a big white oxer.

The big 11-year-old mare (Otis x Cruising), who only started jumping as a seven-year-old after being left to mature and grow into her frame, showed her class — eating up the galloping stretches and springing back for the tight turns, with just one sticky moment at the last, to jump clear in a time of 37.58 seconds.

“Her rideability is great and she tries to win all the time — she knows her job and really wants to go in there and do her best every time,” beamed Alistair, who bought her from the Airds in 2016.

“I’m a truck driver, so I’m up at 5am in the morning to exercise the horses before I go to work, then compete at the weekend, but that was something special today.

“She’s such a lovely horse, easy to do in every way, and I’ve had great fun with her. I did try and change her name from Fluffy, but that was the one she came with!

“She had a good rest when we went into lockdown, so had a few months chilling out in the field, then on light work for next few months and just recently back into work. This is only her fourth show back — she qualified on her first show back and I wasn’t even sure if I was going to jump the class as we were only just back out, but she went clear and we qualified so we thought we would give it a go.”

This was the pair’s first national title and they are hoping to return for the Dodson & Horrell National Amateur and Veteran Championships next month.

Second place went to Katherine McKellar and RJM Lucky Lad, double clear in a time of 38.71, with Claire Davies and Arcorana just behind in third in a time of 38.72 seconds.

Alistair and Fluffy’s win was the second championship victory in as many classes for Scottish riders on the opening day of the finals (Wednesday, 7 October), following Charley Hamilton and Innishannon Red Squirrel’s success in the Equissage Pulse senior British novice championship.

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‘She tries her heart out’: championship title for teenager and tricky but talented home-produced mare H&H Plus

From cantering over a pole a year ago, to winning a national title — find out more about Scottish teenager

(Image credit: Majestic Photography)

‘Break the rules and risk the sport — and lives’: rules reminder to riders

‘It is not BS’ responsibility to monitor each individual member’s movements, or those accompanying them at an event, to know

‘She tries her heart out’: championship title for teenager and tricky but talented home-produced mare H&H Plus

Lucy Elder — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 14:56:57 +0000

From cantering over a pole a year ago, to winning a national title — Scottish teenager Charley Hamilton’s British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals victory with the seven-year-old Innishannon Red Squirrel was made extra special owing to the journey the pair have been on together...

A teenager and a horse who has only been jumping for a year scooped the first title at the British Showjumping Indoor Championship Finals.

Charley Hamilton and seven-year-old Innishannon Red Squirrel topped the competitive Equissage Pulse senior British novice championship.

The pair followed up their first-round clear with a speedy jump off, with the forward lines playing to the mare’s strengths, and they stopped the clock in a time of 34.33 — almost a second ahead of closest rivals Mollie Rose Smith and Church Park Elite (35.28), who had held the lead for much of the 22-strong jump-off.

“I’m feeling amazing — I’ve produced her myself, so it’s even more rewarding,” said Aberdeenshire-based Charley, who qualified at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre in September.

“She couldn’t even canter over a pole when we got her [about a year ago], but we’ve done a lot of work with her and are very happy with how things have turned out.”

Charley, 17, explained she has been working hard with the tricky yet talented mare at home with the help of her mum, Sarah.

Their hard work has paid off, with Squirrel going from just starting jumping to winning a national title in one year.

“She is not easy to deal with at all, in every way! But when she gets in the ring, she tries her heart out,” she said, adding the mare loves long galloping stretches between fences and is naturally very careful, which meant Mark McGowan’s course suited her perfectly.

“It was really competitive and I knew there were some fast ones after me, Molly’s time hadn’t been touched so I was surprised I managed to beat her, but very happy.”

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Top-class sport promised at new championships this autumn

‘We thought it was brilliant BS had not just drawn the line; but had taken the initiative to say ‘we

(Image credit: Majestic Photography)

‘Break the rules and risk the sport — and lives’: rules reminder to riders

‘It is not BS’ responsibility to monitor each individual member’s movements, or those accompanying them at an event, to know

‘Break the rules and risk the sport — and lives’: rules reminder to riders

Becky Murray — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 16:27:13 +0000

As the British Showjumping (BS) indoor championship show gets under way later this week (7-11 October), riders have been urged to take their individual responsibilities on the Covid-19 situation as “seriously as possible”.

The event, at Aintree Equestrian Centre, will include junior and senior championships including the British novice and discovery finals, which would have run at the national championships at Stoneleigh, as well as those finals that would have run at the Horse of the Year Show and the B&C championship, which would have run at the Royal International Horse Show.

A BS spokesman said the organisation would like to take the opportunity to remind members of their “legal and social responsibility” in respect of current Covid-19 protocols.

“It is of vital importance, to all involved in the sport and the wider community, that we continue to diligently follow our current sport protocols,” he said.

These include senior riders’ only being accompanied by one other person (with an additional person for every additional horse entered), while junior riders can be accompanied by two adults (with one additional person for any additional ponies/horses. Social distancing must be adhered to at all times.

Other measures include allocated parking slots, tacking up within the designated parking area, only six people allowed in a warm-up (including mounted and dismounted individuals) and only one competitor in a ring at any one time.

The spokesman said these will also be accompanied by venue-specific protocols that competitors will be told when entering the show.

“In recent weeks we have seen an increase in local lockdowns, and we would like to remind members that it is their own personal responsibility to ensure they adhere to these if they have been put in place within their locality,” he said.

“During these unprecedented times we must all take individual responsibility to best ensure the health of those around us in addition to preventing additional strain on the NHS and support services. It is also imperative that the same personal responsibility is applied to those that may have travelled from, to or through any countries that are on the restricted air corridor list and which require an isolation period upon their return.”

The spokesman said BS is “unable to urge members enough” to take their individual responsibilities “as seriously as possible”.

Article continued below…

(Image credit: Steve Dawe)

‘Great regret’ as HOYS 2020 falls victim to coronavirus

Stoneleigh Horse Show has also been cancelled, although the British Showjumping national championships are still due to run

(Image credit: Steve Dawe)

Top-class sport promised at new championships this autumn

‘We thought it was brilliant BS had not just drawn the line; but had taken the initiative to say ‘we

(Image credit: Steve Dawe)

“It is not BS’ responsibility to monitor each individual member’s movements, or those accompanying them at an event, to know whether they are eligible to enter and compete at a show,” he said.

“The responsibility lies entirely with each member to take accountability for both themselves and any others that join them at a showground in a support capacity. By not taking personal ownership and complying to the guidance and protocols put in place you not only put other people at risk but also the ongoing running of the sport during these difficult times which we have worked hard to get to the point of being able to keep open.

“On a final note, we would like to thank everyone who has been supportive of the protocols and assisted greatly in getting the sport to where it currently is today.”

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Top-class sport promised at new championships this autumn

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 10:21:33 +0000

A host of national championships and finals will run at a centre “synonymous with top-class equestrian sport”.

British Showjumping (BS) has announced today (29 July) that Aintree Equestrian Centre will host the new indoor championship show from 7 to 11 October. BS had said it would look to hold such a show after the announcement Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) would not run this year owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event will stage the junior and senior British novice and discovery finals, which would have run at the national championships at Stoneleigh, as well as those finals that would have run at HOYS and the B&C championship, which would have run at the Royal International Horse Show.

Aintree Equestrian Centre manager Carly Sage told H&H the team is “absolutely thrilled” to be hosting the event.

“Even before we thought about tendering for it, we thought it was brilliant BS had not just drawn the line; but had taken the initiative to say ‘we can still do this’,” she said. “We’re very excited they’ve chosen us.”

The Aintree team is experienced in running major events, including the Dodson & Horrell amateur and veteran championships, which are due to be staged there for their 12th year this November, and Ms Sage said she wants to provide the same championship feel for October’s show.

“We really try to make it special for competitors and they get behind it and love it; that’s something I really want to replicate,” she said.

There may of course be restrictions on numbers attending, but Ms Sage the team has ideas on how to enhance the experience.

The event will be live-streamed, and it may be possible for people to watch this in Aintree function rooms on big screens.

“It would be great to get people watching showjumping more,” she said. “We’re in a position where we can hopefully reach out to the public and people will watch.”

Continues below…

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘Great regret’ as HOYS 2020 falls victim to coronavirus

Stoneleigh Horse Show has also been cancelled, although the British Showjumping national championships are still due to run

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Search for indoor venue to host lost HOYS and championship classes

The championships will take place over the week usually occupied by Horse of the Year Show (7-11 October)

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Full details of qualification routes are available on the BS website, as well as changes to the numbers of double clears required.

BS chief executive Iain Graham said: “In awarding the championship show to Aintree Equestrian Centre, we trust our members will be pleased at the prospect of attending a show within an environment that is synonymous with top-class equestrian sport.

“The team at Aintree are fully committed to ensure they deliver a showcase for the sport while also giving members and their horses access to their superb facilities that they have on site. We have full confidence in the team at Aintree and look forward to working with them on delivering this unique show”.

More information on the show and schedule will be published on the BS website as it becomes available.

We continue to publish Horse & Hound magazine weekly during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keeping horseandhound.co.uk up to date with all the breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

Latest from Horse & Hound in Aintree-showjumping

Former international jumper, ‘a freak of nature’, refuses to retire and is still winning aged 25

‘A tough horse who is built to be sound’

The quality bay gelding, who was bred in Germany and is by the great jumping sire Libero H, had a full career jumping internationally with Niall Talbot before Kim bought him.

“He would have travelled the world. He has more stamps on his passport than me,” Kim said. “No one can believe he is still like he is at his age – I was asked at the show if he was a youngster!”

Kim describes her winning veteran as “just a freak of nature”.

“He’s a tough horse who is built to be sound,” she said.

You can read the full report from Aintree Equestrian Centre in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 23 February.

Do you have a golden oldie horse who refuses to retire? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com

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‘We’re quite a pair’: horse with limited vision and rider with neurological condition take championship win

Paige spotted the mare by chance in a for-lease ad.

“I lost my elderly horse and she was just five minutes down the road – it was fate,” said Paige.

“We’ve clicked and she’ll jump the moon for me although we’re quite a pair – she has an eye condition which restricts her sight in her left eye and I have the neurological movement condition paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis; we’ve had to learn to ride as a team.”

The Norfolk rider has three jobs to help fund her passion.

“I’m a digital communications officer for the John Innes Centre from 9am–5pm, a locum vet on weekends and bank holidays for the MiNight Service at the CVS Group Gorleston Veterinary Hospital and a debut children’s author for Walker Books UK,” she explained.

Finishing second in the 85cm championship on Inshalless, Newbury-based racing permit holder Katharine Davis outpaced her 73 rivals to take the 90cm micro veteran final by 0.19 sec on the 12-year-old Princess Tinara, a dealing horse that stayed.

“We import Irish horses and she came off the transporter with ears flat back as a very grumpy four-year-old,” said Katharine, who paid £800 for the mare.

You can read the full report from the National Amateur and Veteran Championships in Horse & Hound, in the shops Thursday 17 November.

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‘His intestine flipped over his spleen’: horse comes back from colic op to win championship

“I knew something was wrong and went to vet Ollie Crowe at B&W Equine, Gloucestershire. It wasn’t compacted colic and he didn’t have any intestine removed but he has a visible lump on his belly, although it doesn’t affect him.”

Kath is from a non-horsey family.

“Now I’m aiming for the veterans’ European championships.”

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‘He could buck me off and I’d still be smiling’

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