This month’s Pau Horse Trials is the 17th running of the French event at five-star (formerly four-star) level. Many of the former Pau Horse Trials winners have been – or have gone on to become – legends in the sport of eventing.

Let’s take a look back at them…

Pau Horse Trials winners, 2007-2023

2007: Nicolas Touzaint (France) and Hildago De L’Ile

The first winners of Pau as a top-level event, a popular victory for the home side. Nicolas went on to become the first French winner of Badminton, piloting Hildago De L’Ile to take the British spring classic in 2008. Hildago De L’Ile was a team silver medallist at the 2005 Blenheim Europeans – although with a fall across country they were the discard score – and he closed out his career by being Nicolas’ ride at the 2012 London Olympics.

2008: Bettina Hoy (Germany) and Ringwood Cockatoo

This was Bettina and Ringwood Cockatoo’s second top-level win, after victory at Luhmühlen in 2005. They were also prolific winners at three-star (now four-star level) and successful championship performers, taking team gold at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, team bronze at the 2005 European Championships and individual bronze at the 2007 Europeans – as well, of course, as being stripped of their double gold medals at the 2004 Olympics after it was discovered Bettina had crossed the start line twice. After Pau, the pair were second at the US flagship event at Kentucky in 2009 before the horse retired from eventing, going on to compete in dressage with Claire Llewellyn until he was 25.

2009: Dirk Schrade (Germany) and King Artus

Not the highest profile Pau Horse Trials winner, but King Artus was consistently placed at three-star (now four-star) level before and after his Pau win. He was fourth as an individual at the 2011 European Championships and a team gold medallist at the 2012 London Olympics. King Artus’s story had a sad end when he collapsed and died after finishing second at Wiesbaden in 2013.

2010: Andreas Dibowski (Germany) and FRH Fantasia

Again, one of Pau’s less well known winners. FRH Fantasia was a team gold medallist at the 2011 Europeans a year after Pau, although she was eliminated so not a counting score. She finished her career doing a season with Korean rider Sangwuk Song and the pair were team and individual gold medallists at the Asian Games.

2011: William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) and Oslo

A six-year-old winner and seven-year-old runner-up at Le Lion, Oslo was also the winner of Tattersalls CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) and the eight- and nine-year-old class at Blenheim in the same year he won Pau. His career peaked here, though, as injury meant he did not compete consistently afterwards, although he did complete Badminton 2013. Oslo started his competition career as a stallion and semen was taken from him and frozen before he was cut; he was the sire of William’s five-star ride Oratorio.

2012: Andrew Nicholson (New Zealand) and Nereo

Pau’s first Antipodean winner and a hugely successful combination. By the time of his Pau win, Nereo had already given Andrew his first individual championship medal – a bronze to match a team gong of the same colour at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. He was a team bronze medallist and fourth individually at London 2012 in the summer before Pau and later provided Andrew with a long-awaited Badminton win in 2017. He was also second at Burghley three times and finished in the top 12 at Badminton on four other occasions.

2013: William Fox-Pitt (Great Britain) and Seacookie TSF

A successful top-level campaigner who was also second and eighth at Burghley and second, sixth and ninth at Kentucky, as well as winning Blenheim. He retired from eventing soon after his Pau win, following the 2014 season. William is the only rider who has won Pau more than once.

2014: Ingrid Klimke (Germany) and SAP Hale Bob OLD

It is extraordinary that Pau was Ingrid’s first five-star victory, despite her many top placings through a long and illustrious career; she made it two when she won Luhmühlen the following season on SAP Escada FRH. SAP Hale Bob OLD has a superb record alongside his Pau win – he was European champion in 2017 and 2019 and is the winner of five other championship medals, including world individual bronze and Olympic team silver. He has won 18 times at international level in all.

2015: Astier Nicolas (France) and Piaf De B’Neville

The first home side Pau Horse Trials winner since Nicolas Touzaint won the inaugural running, but he started a run of French wins at the event. Piaf De B’Neville had already won the under-25s at Bramham and been ninth at Badminton by the time of his Pau win and he capped it with individual silver and team gold at the Rio Olympics less than a year later.

2016: Maxime Livio (France) and Qalao Des Mers

A victory at Pau firmly put to rest the fact Maxime and Qalao Des Mers were until this point most famous for being disqualified from the 2014 World Equestrian Games. They also achieved two seconds on their two four-star (now five-star) runs either side of Pau, Luhmühlen 2016 and Kentucky 2017.

2017: Gwendolen Fer (France) and Romantic Love

Gwendolen’s victory made her the first French female rider to win at the top level. The pair were also 16th at Badminton in 2016 and have won four times at CIC3*/CCI4*-L level.

2018: Thibault Fournier (France) and Siniani De Lathus

Somewhat surprising winners, who had been second in the under-25s at Bramham earlier that season, but were making their debut at the top level. After two years away from the international eventing fray, Siniani De Lathus returned in 2021 and had two top-10 placings at two- and three-star.

2019: Tom McEwen (Great Britain) and Toledo De Kerser

This was the win everyone knew Tom and Toledo had in them and followed three top-11 placings at Badminton, plus world team gold and individual 12th at the World Equestrian Games in 2018. They went on to be members of the British gold medal-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where they also took individual silver.

2020: Laura Collett (Great Britain) and London 52

This was a first five-star win for Laura, while London 52 was making his debut at the level. He had been a successful horse through the grades, but also made some high-profile mistakes, so the rider was thrilled that her faith in him paid off. The pair were selected as members of the British Olympic team the following year and took home team gold from the Tokyo Games. They also competed at the 2022 World Championships and collected team gold at the 2023 Europeans. The following year, 2024, they led the Brits to team gold at the Paris Olympics and collected individual bronze, too.

2021: Tim Price and Falco

Falco delivered victory for Tim on his first time at five-star, while it was the rider’s fourth win at the level. Falco – who is owned by British former championship rider Sue Benson – went on to take individual bronze at the 2022 World Championships and lead the Kiwis to team bronze. Falco was also Tim’s ride at the Paris Olympics, where he was sixth, and finished second at Maryland 5 Star in 2024.

2022: Jonelle Price (New Zealand) and Grappa Nera

Tim Price passed the crown to his wife when Jonelle moved up in the final phase to land the win in 2022, her third at five-star. Grappa Nera did not have a great deal of form coming into the event, but the rider said she had always known the 11-year-old mare was a good horse and it was a case of when she would show that, not if. The mare went on to take sixth at Badminton in 2024.

2023: Ros Canter (Great Britain) and Izilot DHI

Ros scored her first five-star win at Badminton Horse Trials in the spring of 2023 and her second at Pau in the autumn of the same year. Izilot DHI is a very talented but also spooky horse and his Pau win was followed by leading the dressage at both British five-stars in 2024, but Ros retired him during the cross-country phase at both events. He returns to Pau in 2024, so perhaps he will keep up his unblemished Pau record and prove France is his favourite five-star destination.

Pictures by Phil Mingo, trevor-meeks-photography.co.uk, Peter Nixon, Nico Morgan and Libby Law Photography

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Seigneur Medicott, the Tokyo Olympic ride of India’s Fouaad Mirza and a multiple four-star winner with Germany’s Bettina Hoy, has been retired, aged 18.

“There’s no way I could ever thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me and for the equestrian sport in India,” said Fouaad, who also paid tribute to the horse’s owner.

“A huge thank you goes to the Embassy Group’s Mr Jitu Virwani, for having given me the chance to partner this legend of a horse, and to each and everyone who supported us on the way.

“Here’s to you Micky, enjoy your retirement little champion.”

Seigneur Medicott started his career with German multi-medallist Bettina Hoy and won four times at two-star (now three-star) including at Somerford Park and Houghton Hall in Britain.

At three-star (now four-star) he achieved the feat of winning four times in a row, taking Blenheim Horse Trials CCI3* 2016, then Chatsworth, Houghton Hall and Luhmühlen Horse Trials CIC3*s in 2017. The win at Luhmühlen earned him the title of German national champion.

Seigneur Medicott always excelled in the dressage and he and Bettina led the first phase at the European Championships in 2017 by a wide margin, but fell across country.

In the autumn that year, Seigneur Medicott was sold to the Embassy Group for Fouaad, who had trained with Bettina, to ride. The new pair won their first competition together, the CCI* (now CCI2*-L) at Montelibretti in October 2017.

Over the next six years the horse was Fouaad’s partner in a number of milestones in his career, including individual and team silver at the Asian Games in 2018, his first Olympics and World Championships and two second places at four-star.

The pair made headlines when they sat ninth after dressage at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Fouaad was India’s first event rider to compete at an Olympics in two decades and the pair finished 23rd.

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Top German eventer Bettina Hoy is to step down as coach to the Netherlands’ eventing team.

The Netherlands’ equestrian federation (KNHS) confirmed that Bettina, who was appointed in January 2017, will be succeeded by the country’s own British-based eventer Andrew Heffernan. Andrew is based at Somerford Park Farm in Cheshire and has represented the Netherlands at the London 2012 Olympics and 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, where the country took team bronze.

Technical director of the KNHS Maarten van der Heijden said he was enthusiastic about the arrival of Andrew, who will take on the role ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. The Netherlands failed to secure a team place, but has two individual starting places. Read the KNHS statement in full.

In a statement Bettina said it was “mutually agreed” by both parties not to extend her contract with KNHS beyond 2019.

“We have also agreed that I should continue to coach a number of individual Dutch riders and support them in achieving their future goals in top level eventing,” she said.

Article continued below…

‘Going at the top of my game’: Olympic eventer steps down from national team

The rider says she will still event, and would also like to compete at grand prix dressage

Bettina Hoy takes Dutch eventing coach job: ‘I’m not retiring from competing’

The former European champion has revealed her plans after being appointed coach to the reigning eventing world team bronze medallists

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“During the past three years I have learnt a lot, not just about the job of trainer and leading a team, but also about myself and I thank the KNHS for the great experience and opportunity.

“I look forward in the future to having not only more time to coach my private pupils and run clinics worldwide, but also to spending more time in the saddle. Perhaps I can even achieve my dream of competing in dressage at grand prix level. Finally I would like to wish my successor and the team all the best.”

Andrew said he was surprised to be approached for the role, but said he was “very excited” to be the new coach.

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A horse who produced a double Olympic eventing gold-winning performance, without being crowned Olympic champion, has been put down aged 27 after a long and happy retirement.

Bettina Hoy’s former top ride Ringwood Cockatoo left for his “last big journey” on Monday (23 July) after suffering with spasmodic colic.

He and Bettina were on the German gold medal-winning team at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, having won team European Championship bronze the previous year, and also took individual European bronze in 2007.

“He had an amazing life,” Bettina told H&H. “It’s so humbling reading all the messages we’ve had, to realise how much he meant to so many people and how much he inspired them.

“He competed internationally with me until he was 18, when he came second at Kentucky [CCI4*], then he had a very happy retirement.”

Bettina and Cockatoo enjoyed a string of successes including winning the four-star events at Luhmühlen in 2005 and Pau in 2008. They were also named as individual gold medallists and part of a German gold medal-winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, but as the combination were later found to have crossed the showjumping start line twice, they eventually lost both.

“To me he always was the champion,” Bettina said. “He did everything right throughout so to me he was the Olympic champion.”

The Irish sport horse was originally bought for Bettina’s then husband Andrew, but they “did not get on” so Bettina was offered the ride.

“I’d seen Andrew not getting on with him and didn’t know if my way of riding would suit him more,” she said. “We had the odd cross-country stop if I wasn’t quite right or if I was confident but it wasn’t the right distance for him so I had to bear that in mind; he wanted to be ridden a particular way and my way of riding suited that.

“It was a bit like it was the two of us together and the way of riding that led to some amazing results.”

Bettina described Cockatoo as “very cheeky”, adding that he quickly worked out how to escape from stables, and was found by police on a “walkabout” while stabled at Gatcombe.

“He was a very smart horse with an enormous personality,” she said. “He was certainly eager to please, we had an amazing partnership.”

After Cockatoo retired, Bettina chose Claire Llewellyn to take him on, as although he could still have evented, she did not want him “used”, preferring him to go to someone who would compete him in dressage, which he loved.

“In many ways, he made a lot of people very happy,” Bettina said. “Not just me, or from a sporting point of view, but on different levels, which is very special.”

Claire told H&H Cockatoo competed until he was 25, winning his last elementary level class.

“We’re absolutely devastated to have lost him,” she said. “But he had the colic and nothing was working; there was no option but to let him go.

“He was still fit and sound, he adored hacking and he’d been out this weekend; he was an amazing horse.”

Cockatoo had competed at a variety of shows, Claire said, adding: “We tried showing but he didn’t see the point of it at all, he was completely unimpressed!”

And she agreed with Bettina on his personality.

“He knew he was a superstar, and made sure everyone else knew too,” she said. “He demanded attention; we were there just to serve him, but he was the most charming horse ever, everyone adored him.”

Bettina Hoy retires Ringwood Cockatoo from competition

Double four-star winner and eventing world team gold medallist Ringwood Cockatoo was retired in a special ceremony at Boekelo last

‘Going at the top of my game’: Olympic eventer steps down from national team

The rider says she will still event, and would also like to compete at grand prix dressage

Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo win at Pau four-star

Bettina Hoy wins the four-star at Pau while William Fox-Pitt takes the $150,000 first prize of the HSBC FEI Classics

Claire credited Cockatoo for helping her daughter Ros cope after Claire’s husband Justin died some three years after his arrival, saying he was “brilliant for helping her deal with things”.

She also agreed on Cockatoo’s cheekiness, adding: “Bettina warned us he had a buck in him and oh yes, he did, but he was so polite about it. It was as if he said: ‘Hold on while I let this out’, do these huge bucks and then say: ‘Sorry about that, had to let it out’!”

Ros felt the brunt of these bucks on more than one occasion, including a dressage demo at which Cockatoo was supposed to be the calming influence on a young horse. “He did three massive bucks down the long side, shot off, then started doing tempi changes,” she said. “The youngster was behaving perfectly and the 27-year-old was caprioling about with a rider in a dressage saddle. I said to him: ‘Really?!’

“I used to try to get cross with him but he was just far too cute for that.”

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Eventer Bettina Hoy has announced she will step down from the German Olympic squad to concentrate on training commitments and her ambition to ride at grand prix dressage.

The 55-year-old — who was based at Gatcombe Park for 12 years before relocating to the home of the German federation in Warendorf — has represented her country at three Olympic games, five World Championships and ten European Championships.

She made her Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 1984, claiming a team bronze, and in 2004 she was awarded both team and individual gold in Athens, only to be later stripped of the medals following a row over a technical fault in the showjumping.

In a long and successful international career, she has claimed a total of seven individual and team medals, including a highlight victory at the European Championships at Burghley in 1997 on Watermill Stream.

Last year, she claimed her fourth German championship title in Luhmühlen, as well as finishing the season inside the top 10 on the world rankings list.

“It was always clear to me that I would go while I am still at the top of my game,” Bettina said. “2017 was a great year for my horses and myself and it was also the beginning of my second career as a national coach of the Dutch eventing team.

“The work for this fantastic federation is a great honour and very rewarding. Both the Dutch federation and their riders deserve my full attention now.”

Continues below…

Bettina Hoy retires Ringwood Cockatoo from competition

Double four-star winner and eventing world team gold medallist Ringwood Cockatoo was retired in a special ceremony at Boekelo last

Bettina Hoy takes Dutch eventing coach job: ‘I’m not retiring from competing’

The former European champion has revealed her plans after being appointed coach to the reigning eventing world team bronze medallists

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Britain’s most recent individual Olympic eventing champion thanks everyone who played a role in the horse’s incredible career

While Bettina has said she will not stop eventing at “selected” three- and four-star competitions on her top ride Designer and “other new horses”, she wants to pursue her “dream” to ride at grand prix dressage.

“That part of our sport has always been my special strength [and] I will now intensify my training in pure dressage,” she said. “And of course I will keep producing young horses for both dressage and eventing and also train selected riders.”

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Relentlessly twisty with a tight optimum time and an early combination likely to destroy several riders’ hopes at fence four.

That is initial feedback from riders about Rudiger Schwarz’s European Eventing Championship cross-country track.

Oliver Townend described the 30-fence course as the “toughest” Europeans track he’s ever seen.

“It’s definitely not going to be a dressage competition,” said the Brit, 12th overnight with Cooley SRS. “It’s mentally tiring with all the ups and downs, going back and forwards, and some horses will wonder where they’re going.”

The first three cross-country fences and the final five are in a field separate from the rest. Two road crossings take horses into the main field where they will gallop up and down the full length of it twice.

Switzerland’s Felix Vogg, currently fourth on Onfire, described it as being “like a go kart course”.

You can see the fences by clicking here.

Bettina Hoy added: “Rudiger is very clever with where he places fences. Everything out there requires accurate riding and an obedient horse. There’s no place to have the slightest mishap because then you will have a run out.”

The Longines complex (4abc) is the first combination and it is tough, consisting of three skinnies and the b and c elements, both brushes, on an acute angle. This question comes up immediately after horses cross into the main field.

“Fences one, two and three are across the road where it’s quiet, but having been here before I know there will be a lot of people and music playing [around fence four], because it’s by the water and attracts a crowd,” said Ros Canter, best of the British in sixth with Allstar B.

“Some horses might be a bit shocked to suddenly come into a new, busy field and have a meaty question in front of them. Getting through there will give me confidence for the rest of the course.”

France’s Tom Carlile, lying second on Upsilon, added: “Fence four is there to give riders the shits. It’s got a decent angle on it, but I think horses will read it well. It will catch out the weaker riders.”

He agreed with the majority that the optimum time, which is yet to be confirmed, will be hard to get.

“Fences come quick and fast and you haven’t got much space to get your speed up,” said Tom. “You need a horse with a good turn of foot and not too big a stride.”

Piggy French, in 17th with Quarrycrest Echo, added: “Horses and riders will be under pressure to be quick thinking and quick on their feet all the way. It will be easy to nip past a fence [when you’re chasing the clock].”

Sweden’s Niklas Lindback, just outside the top 10 with Focus Filiocus, agreed.

“Lots of fences will slow down the pace, but you can’t go out too fast because you have to conserve energy for the last combination [Ursus Tractors, 28ab], which is at a serious angle and more difficult on a tiring horse.”

New Zealander Andrew Nicholson is in Strzegom to advise the German squad and they walked it together for the first time this afternoon.

“Andrew has something interesting to say about every single fence, even the ones I wouldn’t think that much about being so much less experienced,” said Julia Krajewski, currently third with Samourai du Thot. “He gives us great confidence.”

Continued below…

More eventing news:

Walk the Europeans cross-country course in pictures

European Eventing Championships dressage: mixed emotions for Brits as Germany dominate

European Eventing Championships dressage times and British team order revealed

Dressage continues tomorrow at 10.15am (9.15am BST). Cross-country is on Saturday at 11am (10am BST).

Come back to horseandhound.co.uk tomorrow to find out who will be at the business end after dressage. Full Europeans report in next week’s issue (24 August).

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

Germany’s Bettina Hoy has catapulted herself into a significant lead this afternoon at the European Eventing Championships in Strzegom, Poland.

Riding Seigneur Medicott, Bettina recorded an incredible 24.6 to put herself nearly 10 penalties clear of Frenchman Tom Carlile, who scored 34.4 on Upsilon.

“There isn’t anything I’m unhappy about in my test; he was very focused on me and he’s so beautiful which makes my job easier,” said Bettina.

Tom confessed he felt “relieved” to have ridden the standard of test his stallion is capable of producing. They scored 34.4.

“I dreamed I might get ahead of Bettina but I knew I probably wouldn’t be — although maybe not quite so far behind,” he said.

Julia Krajewski, who held the lead going into the lunch break, lies third aboard Samourai Du Thot. This puts Germany ahead in the team standings on 60.9 following two riders. France is 15-penalties behind in second, less than seven penalties clear of Great Britain.

Ros Canter is best-placed of the British in sixth with Allstar B, behind Swiss rider Felix Vogg (Onfire) and Sweden’s Louise Jahde (Wieloch’s Utah Sun).

Ros, who is making her senior championship debut, rode a lovely test to score a personal best of 38.6. Her marks dropped to a 6.5 on just one occasion during the trot work — for shoulder-in — but 7s and 7.5s dominated, before eights and nines appeared during the canter work. She also earned a nine for the final halt.

“He really knows how to knuckle down in the arena,” said Ros. “The aim was a mistake-free test because that’s what we’re good at and we did it. I’m delighted with him.”

Oliver Townend, who produced a solid test in this morning’s session, lies 12th with Cooley SRS.

There was disappointment for British individual Piggy French, though, who was visibly deflated following her test on Quarrycrest Echo. They scored 46.2 and lie 17th.

It is a hot day here and Piggy said the horse is naturally very laidback, becoming flat in the arena and it particularly affected the quality of the canter.

“He just lost his sparkle and felt so lazy,” she said. “I’m gutted because this week really counts. His trot work was pretty standard for him, but he usually picks up marks in the canter and we didn’t.”

Continued below…

More eventing news:

Germany off to positive start at Europeans; Oliver Townend sixth for Britain

Walk the Europeans cross-country course in pictures

Horse world pays tribute to Duke of Beaufort

The remaining three British riders do their dressage tests tomorrow (Friday): Tina Cook (Billy The Red) at 11.11am (10.11am BST), Gemma Tattersall (Quicklook V) at 2.28pm (1.28pm BST) and Nicola Wilson (Bulana) at 2.56pm (1.56pm BST).

Come back to horseandhound.co.uk later to find out how riders have reacted to Rudiger Schwarz’s cross-country course. Full report from the Europeans in next week’s magazine (out 24 August).

Top 10 after dressage day one:

1, Seigneur Medicott (Bettina Hoy, GER) 24.6

2, Upsilon (Tom Carlile, FRA) 34.4

3, Samourai Du Thot (Julia Krajewski, 36.3)

4, Onfire (Felix Vogg, SUI) 37.2

5, Wieloch’s Utah Sun (Louise Svensson Jahde, SWE)

6, Allstar B (Ros Canter, GBR) 38.6

7, Fletcha van’t Verahof (Karin Donckers, BEL) 40.1

8, Barraduff (Pietro Roman, ITA) 41

9, Hamilton 24 (Josefa Sommer, GER) 41

10, Tresor Mail (Sidney Dufresne, FRA) 41.5

Team standings following two riders:

1, Germany 60.9

2, France 75.9

3, Great Britain 82.4

4, Sweden 83

5, Italy 85.5

6, Switzerland 90.4

7, Belgium 91.6

8, Denmark 97.3

9, Belarus 100.7

10, Poland 102.8

11, Ireland 106.2

12, Spain 106.3

13, Norway 55.1 (only one score recorded today)

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Oliver Townend took to the podium in the Event Rider Masters at Jardy this afternoon (16 July), finishing third with Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class.

The pair moved up from 10th after dressage with a rare clear showjumping in the time this morning and also stayed fault free this afternoon on the cross-country.

“He’s exceeded expectations all this weekend — we knew he’d be ring rusty as he’s come here with little preparation and it’s his first cross-country in four months, but he was very good,” said Oliver.

Oliver said the ERM series is “the biggest step forward in eventing ever”, adding that it changed his life for the better winning the series last year.

The class winner was Germany’s double Olympic champion Michael Jung, riding the relatively inexperienced nine-year-old Star Connection. After fifth place in the dressage and a showjumping clear, he could afford his seven seconds over the cross-country optimum.

“Sometimes he needed help and I changed my plan in a few places, but he answered every question,” said Michael.

The home side’s Karim Florent Laghouag took second on the stallion Entebbe De Hus, who had one down this morning but was clear in the time across country.

Gemma Tattersall finished fourth with Chris Stone’s Chico Bella P, whose two time-faults across country cost her the win.

The time proved surprisingly achievable on Pierre Michelet’s cross-country course and 13 riders beat the clock.

By contrast, the time was an extremely influential factor in the morning’s showjumping session and only three riders managed clears inside the optimum — France’s Donatien Schauly (Pivoine Des Touches, seventh), Oliver and Michael. Three other competitors from the 39 starters came home inside the 68-second target, but these all had at least one pole down.

Dressage leader Bettina Hoy had five time-faults with Seigneur Medicott and took the front rail off the oxer over the water tray at fence 10, dropping to seventh before cross-country. She pulled back up to fifth with 0.8 of a cross-country time-fault.

Andrew Hoy, second overnight, incurred five faults for knocking the first part of the treble at fence six and a single second over the time, which resulted in him slipping to sixth. He and Cheeky Calimbo then had a run-out at the final combination across-country, a double of angled brushes on two strides, after three strides downhill from a spread fence.

Continued below…

More eventing news:

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Bettina Hoy leads Jardy Event Rider Masters dressage; three Brits in top 10

For Britain, Sarah Cohen (Treason) and Gemma Tattersall (Chico Bella P) both had two time-faults showjumping, but jumped clear — Gemma rose from sixth to third and Sarah from 16th to 11th in this phase. Sarah finished ninth, adding useful points on the ERM series leaderboard after her win at Wiesbaden.

Will Furlong lost his top-10 place at this stage with Livingstone as they faulted at the planks at fence five and the spread at fence 10, as well as incurring two time-penalties. Will jumped clear across country, with 17.2 time-faults.

Full report of Jardy’s Event Rider Masters in H&H this Thursday (issue dated 20 July).

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

Germany’s Bettina Hoy leads after the dressage at the first leg of the Event Rider Masters (ERM) to be held in France, taking place at Haras de Jardy.

Bettina and Seigneur Medicott are on a remarkable streak, having won four three-star competitions in a row and they are looking to make it five this weekend.

“He felt quite lively in the warm-up and reacted to the applause for the competitor before, but he’s so reliable in the arena and always gives 150%,” said Bettina, whose score of 31.4 was not quite enough to set a new ERM dressage record as Tom Carlile and Upsilon scored 30.8 last weekend at Barbury.

Bettina herself scored 26.3 at Luhmühlen with Gerd-Hermann Horst’s 11-year-old, but said she agreed with the judges that her test here was not quite as good.

Bettina’s ex-husband, Australia’s Andrew Hoy, holds second on 34.4 with his own and Christiane Classen’s Cheeky Calimbo.

“We’ve been together since one-star and had some interesting moments, but he’s very secure now,” said Andrew.

The crowd had the opportunity to contribute their thoughts on the judging through the spectator judging app, and perhaps unsurprisingly placed the home side’s Thibaut Vallette first. He actually finished the day in third with his Rio team gold medallist and European double bronze medallist Qing Du Briot ENE HN.

Replay the dressage

The high-quality of the field at this leg of the ERM — the high prize money series which started last year in Britain and has extended into Europe this season — was reflected in the fact 10 riders scored in the 30s. These included three Brits.

Gemma Tattersall holds sixth on Chico Bella P, who belongs to ERM chief executive Chris Stone.

“She’s a lovely horse to ride and moves beautifully — the highlights were her extended trot and canter,” said Gemma.

Will Furlong, who is in his first year in seniors after a successful under-21 career, holds seventh on his former young rider European champion Livingstone.

“This is a personal best at the level and to break the 40-barrier is fantastic,” said Will, whose mark was 38.6.

One mistake in the extended canter dropped Oliver Townend’s final marks down with Cooley Master Class and he sits 10th with 39.1.

Britain’s fourth rider, Sarah Cohen, also had an error in this movement when Wiesbaden ERM winner Treason changed legs, which was disappointing and left her 16th after the first phase.

“I didn’t quite have him where I wanted him coming in and then I must have shifted my weight or something in the extended canter as it’s not like him to make that mistake — we usually hope to get eight or nine for that movement,” she said.

Continued below…

More eventing news:

Jonty Evans ‘overwhelmed’ as fans donate £63k in first 24 hours

Event Rider Masters records broken at Barbury

Another rider to be disappointed was Alex Hua Tian, the winner of last year’s Bramham leg of the ERM. Don Geniro, who was also in the top 10 at the Olympics, was not on his side today.

“I’m pretty mad, pretty cross and very disappointed,” he admitted. “He’s 10 years old now and and has been to enough shows — going in there and dropping me is not on.”

Tomorrow riders will tackle the showjumping and then the cross-country course, designed by Pierre Michelet, which is expected to be influential.

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The German selectors have given an indication of the riders likely to make the six-man squad for the eventing European Championships in Strzegom, Poland (17-20 August).

A long-list has been drawn up, with riders named in three groups. The riders in group one (so most likely to go to the championship) are:

• Andreas Dibowski (FRH Butts Avedon and It’s Me xx)
• Bettina Hoy (Designer 10 and Seigneur Medicott)
• Michael Jung (FischerRocana FST and Lennox 364)
• Ingrid Klimke (Horseware Hale Bob OLD)
• Julia Krajewski (Chipmunk FRH and Samourai Du Thot, pictured)

The riders in group two are:

• Leonie Kuhlmann (Cascora)
• Andreas Ostholt (Corvette 31)
• Kai Rüder (Colani Sunrise)
• Josefa Sommer (Hamilton 24)

The riders in group three are:

• Jörg Kurbel (Entertain You)
• Claas Hermann Romeike (Cato 60)
• Falk-Filip-Finn Westerich (FBW Gina K)

The final selection will be made after Aachen (21-22 July), where Sandra Auffarth, Bettina Hoy, Leonie Kuhlmann, Ingrid Klimke, Jörg Kurbel, Andreas Ostholt, Kai Rüder and Josefa Sommer will start on one horse and Michael Jung on two.

Continued below…

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There are no real surprises in the five riders named on the top list.

Andreas Dibowski’s It’s Me won Luhmühlen CCI4* last year while FRH Butts Avedon has a long-term record of consistent top-level performances, although he was retired in the showjumping at Luhmühlen last weekend when he came down on his knees in the combination.

Bettina Hoy finished third at Luhmühlen CCI4* last weekend on Designer 10 and Seigneur Medicott has won four three-stars in a row (Blenheim CCI3* last year and three CIC3*s this spring including Luhmühlen).

Michael Jung and FischerRocana FST have won Kentucky CCI4* for the past three years, while Lennox 364 took fifth at Saumur CCI3* in May.

Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob OLD were members of the gold medal-winning team at the Blair Europeans in 2015 and the silver medal-winning team at the Rio Olympics last year, as well as finishing ninth at Badminton this spring.

Julia Krajewski won Luhmühlen CCI4* last weekend with Samourai Du Thot and has had three top-10 placings in CIC3*s this spring with Chipmunk FRH, including second in the Event Rider Masters at Wiesbaden.

Full report of Luhmühlen in H&H this week, out Thursday, 22 June.

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Britain’s Nicola Wilson moved up to second in the CCI4* at Luhmühlen, presented by DHL, in this afternoon’s final showjumping (18 June) with only her three time-faults preventing her from taking top spot.

Nicola piloted Jo and James Lambert’s Bulana to a clear jumping round over a tough track designed by Martin Otto, but the 88-second time allowed was also influential and she finished three seconds over it to add three penalties to her overnight score of 38.7 and complete on 41.7.

Rising German star Julia Krajewski’s mount Samourai Du Thot took the back rail off fence eight with his hindlegs to finish on 41.1, just 0.6 of a penalty ahead of Nicola.

“It was an expensive time-fault or two but Bulana gets better and better and better — she jumped magnificently,” said Nicola. “I’m thrilled with how she’s gone this week.”

Overnight leader Bettina Hoy therefore gained a fence in hand, but she looked tentative and Designer 10 hit the yellow upright at fence six. She cleared the rest of the fences, but it wasn’t enough — she too incurred three time-faults and dropped to third place, leaving Julia as the winner.

“The showjumping was really big — even bigger than last year,” said Julia. “My horse is quite small and I know he can jump everything, but I have to really ride him forwards, which was good as the time was tight. I didn’t worry too much about the time.

“If I hadn’t taken a pull he wouldn’t have hit fence eight as he didn’t want to touch a pole. After that, I thought ,’Damn’, but there were so few clear rounds and when Bettina had her fence and time-faults, that’s how it happens sometimes and you’re a four-star winner.”

Continued below…

More Luhmühlen news:

British horse eliminated at final trot-up at Luhmühlen; six others not presented

Nicola Wilson rises to third after Luhmühlen cross-country; Bettina Hoy still leads

Riders react to Mike Etherington-Smith’s first Luhmühlen cross-country course: ‘Not the most testing, but you can still trip up’

There were only four fault-free rounds and one of these moved the USA’s Marilyn Little up from ninth to fourth with RF Scandalous. The other clears came from France’s Maxime Livio on Opium Des Verrierers (up from 11th to fifth), Australia’s Shane Rose with Virgil (up from 14th to seventh) and Britain’s Pippa Funnell on Billy The Biz (up from 20th to 10th).

Britain’s Sarah Bullimore went into this final phase in fourth with Lilly Corinne, but she dropped two places when she had the oxer at fence five and the middle part of the treble at fence seven down.

Oliver Townend sank from seventh to 18th with 20 jumping faults on Black Tie, but Britain had a fourth pair in the top 10 when Ros Canter’s five faults moved her and Zenshera up from 10th to ninth.

There was drama for Germany’s Andreas Dibowski, sixth overnight, when he appeared to get lost early in of his round and then FRH Butts Avedon crumpled right down to his knees in the treble at fence seven, blundering through the next element. Andreas, who won this class last year on It’s Me, then retired.

Full report from Luhmühlen in H&H next week, out Thursday, 22 June.

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

British four-star first-timer Libby Seed’s ride What A Catch II was a sad casualty of the final trot-up at Luhmühlen this morning (18 June), in the CCI4* presented by DHL.

The ground jury of Martin Plewa (Germany), Eric Lieby (France) and Nick Burton (Britain) sent What A Catch II to the holding box and then eliminated him when he was re-presented.

Libby, 20, and the 17-year-old chestnut gelding, owned by her parents Jonathon and Lesley, were in 34th place overnight after going clear across country with 14.4 time-faults.

Six competitors did not present at the horse inspection, a surprisingly high attrition rate after a cross-country competition run on excellent ground.

Those who did not come forward were: New Zealand’s Caroline Powell (Sinatra Frank Baby, 23rd), the Netherlands’ Andrew Heffernan (Millthyme Corolla, 37th), New Zealand’s Tim Rusbridge (Oneforthenotebook, 33rd), the USA’s Katherine Coleman (Longwood, 27th), Germany’s Beeke Jankowski (Tiberius 20, 22nd) and Nicolai Aldinger (Tactic 4, 35th).

The CCI4* showjumping starts at 1.30pm local time (12.30pm British time) and 35 pairs will take part in the final phase.

Continued below…

More Luhmühlen news:

Nicola Wilson rises to third after Luhmühlen cross-country; Bettina Hoy still leads

Riders react to Mike Etherington-Smith’s first Luhmühlen cross-country course: ‘Not the most testing, but you can still trip up’

Bettina Hoy leads Luhmühlen after dressage; Nicola Wilson best Brit in fourth

The British competitors still in the competition are: Nicola Wilson (Bulana), Sarah Bullimore (Lilly Corinne), Oliver Townend (Black Tie), Ros Canter (Zenshera), Harry Meade (Away Cruising), Pippa Funnell (Billy The Biz), Flora Harris (Bayano), Alex Bragg (Redpath Ransom), Kate Honey (Fernhill Now Or Never), Harry Dzenis (Xam), Polly Jackson-Griffin (Papillon), Kirsty Short (Cossan Lad) and Nicholas Lucey (Proud Courage).

Germany’s Bettina Hoy currently leads both the CCI4* and the Meßmer Trophy CIC3*, riding Designer 10 and Seigneur Medicott. The CIC3* competition comes to its conclusion with showjumping this morning.

In the CC4*, one fence covers the top four competitors (Bettina Hoy, Julia Krawjewski, Nicola Wilson and Sarah Bullimore) so any mistake is likely to be costly as riders battle it out for the final placings.

Check back for a final update from Luhmühlen later, plus full report in H&H next week, out Thursday, 22 June.

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

Britain’s Nicola Wilson has moved up to a podium position after cross-country day (17 June) at Luhmühlen CCI4*, presented by DHL.

Nicola, riding James and Jo Lambert’s Bulana, went clear inside the time over Mike Etherington-Smith’s track to rise from fourth after dressage.

“I’m just delighted — I love this horse, she’s got so much ability. In the past she’s been incredibly feisty and towed my arms out, but this time she gave me a lovely ride,” said Nicola.

Germany’s Bettina Hoy retained pole position after also finishing fault-free, although she had a couple of risky moments early on when Designer 10 looked hesitant jumping into the first two water jumps at seven and eight.

“We were lucky to have Chris Bartle working with us for so long and he taught us the ‘Oh shit position’ — I could feel him leaving a leg and I just thought, ‘Oh shit, lean back’,” said Bettina.

Her compatriot Julia Krajewski was also clear inside the time on the lovely Samourai Du Thot to hold second.

“It was fun and Sam was absolutely amazing — he couldn’t have been any better,” said Julia. “My plan was to try to make the time as I felt Sam was fitter than last year and more mature, so I pushed from the beginning and I didn’t have one bad moment. I’m very happy and very proud of my horse.”

Although the course didn’t cause a great many problems and 17 pairs went clear inside the 11min 11sec optimum time, there were notable casualties at the top end of the leaderboard.

The USA’s Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous, third after dressage, incurred 6.8 time-faults and dropped to ninth. They were initially judged to have missed the white flag at the triple brush arrowhead at fence 24 and so incurred 50 penalties to drop completely out of the running, but the penalties were later removed.

Frenchman Astier Nicolas, fifth overnight, fell off when Molakai lost his footing in the third water and left his rider sitting on the triple brush arrowhead (fence 19ab).

Continued below…

More Luhmühlen news:

Riders react to Mike Etherington-Smith’s first Luhmühlen cross-country course: ‘Not the most testing, but you can still trip up’

Bettina Hoy leads Luhmühlen after dressage; Nicola Wilson best Brit in fourth

British horse one of two held at Luhmühlen first trot-up, plus loose horse drama

Britain’s riders performed strongly today with six clears inside the time, four clears with time-faults and four other riders completing. Sarah Bullimore is also within touching distance of the top placings, lying fourth with Lilly Corinne. The others who went clear in the time were: Oliver Townend (Black Tie, seventh), Ros Canter (Zenshera, 10th), Harry Meade (Away Cruising, 13th) and Alex Bragg (Redpath Ransom, 26th).

Only one Brit did not finish the course — Emma Hyslop-Webb, who was unable to make the tight turn back to the corner at fence 9ab, overshot the corner and so ran out with Pennlands Douglas, who then ran-out twice more in the same place. The long route at this fence became popular as the day wore on.

Check back for more from Luhmühlen tomorrow, plus full report in H&H next week, out Thursday, 22 June.

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

Bettina Hoy leads after the dressage in the CCI4* at Luhmühlen, Germany, presented by DHL. Riding her own long-term partner Designer 10 this afternoon (16 June), the German pulled off her customary good tests, with highlights including nines for the mid-test halt and rein-back, the medium walk and her riding.

Ever the perfectionist, Bettina was a touch annoyed with herself for two small mistakes.

“He got a bit behind my aids and lost rhythm for a step in first medium trot,” she said. “And the trot after the transition on the last centre line felt so nice, I went too far. Otherwise it felt really good.”

Bettina’s compatriot, rising star Julia Krajewski, holds second on Samourai Du Thot on 37.1. This pair were third here last year. Today, they received a 10 for their final halt from Nick Burton, the judge at E, and the only weakness in their test was a poor fourth flying change.

“Apart from the last change I’m absolutely happy. He was with me, but had that extra spark,” said Julia. “He really kept himself together. He felt excited coming in, but that gave him the extra lift for the trotwork as he’s not a dressage horse naturally.”

Last night’s leader, Marilyn Little of the USA, holds third on RF Scandalous, with Britain’s Nicola Wilson — second overnight — now fourth on Bulana. The best Brit today was Sarah Bullimore, who slotted into sixth on her own and her husband Brett’s Lilly Corinne on a score of 39.3.

“She makes your job so easy when she’s on side. She’s beautiful but she knows it — she is a prima donna,” said Sarah.

Frenchman Astier Nicolas is 0.2 of a penalty ahead of Sarah in fifth with Carole Broad’s Molakai.

“It was a personal best and a good time to do it,” said Astier. “You hope for that, but it doesn’t come every time. He was consistent all the way through.”

Continued below…

Related articles:

Riders react to Mike Etherington-Smith’s first Luhmühlen cross-country course: ‘Not the most testing, but you can still trip up’

Nicola Wilson second after first day of Luhmühlen dressage with ‘feisty’ Bulana

British horse one of two held at Luhmühlen first trot-up, plus loose horse drama

Bettina also leads the CIC3* Meßmer Trophy with a score of 26.3 on Seigneur Medicott.

The CCI4* cross-country, over a course designed for the first time by Mike Etherington-Smith, starts at 1.09pm local time tomorrow (12.09pm British time).

Check back for regular updates from Luhmühlen over the weekend, plus full report in H&H next week, out Thursday, 22 June.

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

Gemma Tattersall became the first female rider to land a leg of the Event Rider Master CIC3* series yesterday (14 May), piloting The Pebbles Syndicate’s Quicklook IV to a clear victory at Chatsworth.

The grey mare, with whom Gemma was a part of the British team at the Rio Olympic Games last year, posted a personal best in the dressage arena (33.7) before recording a double jumping clear and 3.2 cross-country time-faults.

“It’s awesome to be the first girl to win a leg — I’ve been talking about doing it all weekend,” said Gemma, who was presented with a winner’s cheque for £16,000. “My goal is to win the series this year and this is a good start.”

Germany’s Bettina Hoy piloted Designer 10 into second, this horse re-routed from Badminton where he had an early cross-country run-out.

“I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason; we’ve had to put Badminton behind us and today was his day,” said Bettina.

Speed was of the essence and only three horses achieved the 6mins 10secs optimum. One of these was Frenchman Thomas Carlile’s Upsilon, who finished third. The duo led after dressage but incurred nine showjumping faults — four for a refusal plus five for time — and slipped to fifth after the second phase.

“After messing up this morning I didn’t see the point in pushing for the time, but when we were still on target at the fifth minute marker I said ‘come on, let’s do it’,” said Thomas, whose mount is ear-marked for the European Championships in August.

Fourth was Britain’s Nicola Wilson on her 2015 Boekelo CCI3* winner Bulana, ahead of Andrew Nicholson (Swallow Springs), fifth, and Sarah Cohen (Treason), sixth.

Ireland’s Elizabeth Power blitzed Ian Stark’s 18-fence cross-country track to record the fastest clear of the day (5mins 49secs) on Soladoun. This feat saw them climb up the leaderboard to seventh.

The only other penalty-free cross-country round came from ninth-placed Brazilian Marcio Jorge aboard Coronel MCJ.

Rosalind Canter and Zenshera slotted into eighth, while Italy’s Vittoria Panizzon and Borough Pennyz rounded off the top 10.

Two winners crowned

Bettina Hoy went one better in CIC3* section C, landing first place aboard Seigneur Medicott.

“I’m very happy to still have him; he was for sale last year and he still is now, but I love riding him,” said Bettina, who explained that having two horses to ride at this level is not useful because they are so different.

“Designer is bold and always looking for a fence whereas Seigneur Medicott looks to me for confidence,” she said.

Australian Bill Levett piloted Athleet V into second, with Emma Forsyth third on Soltair Justice.

Tom McEwen won CIC3* section B on new ride Strike Smartly.

“He was produced by Daisy Berkeley so it’s all down to her,” said Tom, who pipped Gemma Tattersall (Santiago Bay) and Francis Whittington (Carlchen).

Ireland’s Mark Kyle was taken to hospital with a broken ankle after a fall from Jemilla at the Brocklehursts of Bakewell Corners (14ab). They had been lying fourth in the ERM CIC3*.

Don’t miss the full Chatsworth report in the next issue of Horse & Hound, on sale Thursday 18 May.

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

“Unusual in an attractive and interesting way,” is the Cambridge Dictionary’s definition of “quirky”. So far, so good.

But anyone who has spent their time browsing horses for sale adverts, and travelling to far-flung corners of the country to try promising mounts, knows that this six-letter word can be used to gloss over some distinctly unattractive qualities.

“It doesn’t need to be a bad thing,” says dressage European team silver medallist Maria Eilberg. “If you can get quirkiness under control, it can give you an edge. If you’re looking for a competition horse, they often do need a little something about them. I would be quite intrigued if I saw a horse described as quirky in an advert — I see it as a good thing.”

However we choose to interpret this ambiguous adjective, how can you get the most out 
of such a horse?

How to cope with a quirky horse

1. Rule out any physical problems. Eventer Bettina Hoy advises making a list and ticking it off — “You need to go through the list and first make sure everything is physically OK with the horse.”

2. “Treat the horse as an individual,” says eventer Caroline Powell. “That’s where you either excel in working out a quirk or you fail.”

3. “Keep their minds occupied and learn to expect the quirks,” says dressage rider Maria Eilberg.

4. Showing producer Jayne Ross has proved that getting the most out of a quirky horse is about channelling the energy into something positive. “The Philanderer was bizarre both on and off the ground,” says Jayne of the 2009 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) supreme champion (pictured above). “He would always catch you out when you least expected it, but at the same time he looked magical when he was up and going and got it right. I absolutely adored him.

“You have to learn not to react,” says Jayne. “If a horse spooks because it’s sharp, there is no point in giving it a kick and saying, ‘don’t do that’. Sometimes you have to sit and suffer.”

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5. There is a range of professional riders out there who can help and support you. Don’t ever suffer alone and always take precautions when working with a difficult horse to make the environment as safe as possible for you and your horse.

Read the full feature about what we mean by ‘quirky’ horses — and how to get the most out of them — in the current issue of Horse & Hound magazine (4 May 2017)

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

German event rider Bettina Hoy has dispelled rumours that she plans to retire from top-level competition at the end of this year after being appointed national coach of the Dutch eventing team.

“I do not intend to retire yet and will still compete Designer 10, who is aimed for Badminton, as well as producing young horses to international level,” she told H&H. “I will coordinate both parts of my new life – as a coach for the national team of the Netherlands and as an active rider for this year and see how it works.

“Nevertheless from next year onwards Team Nederland will have priority. The European Championships this year will be only an interim goal to see where we stand to optimise our training for next year’s World Championships. The next goal is to qualify a team for the Olympic Games in Tokyo [in 2020]. Our aim is ultimately to be successful in Tokyo.”

Bettina was appointed last week and has a contract for two years in the role. She will work primarily with the top riders, but will also assist some up-and-coming competitors.

“Contact with the Dutch federation started at the end of last year,” said the 1997 European champion. “So it happened all very quickly and I signed only last week.

“I am very grateful to the Dutch federation that I can now successfully use all my skills, experience and knowledge from competing at top international level myself for the past 35 years to continue the fantastic work of Martin Lips [previous team trainer]. The goal is to help the Dutch eventers to be as successful as their dressage and showjumping teams! And I am very much looking forward to it and feel extremely motivated to start helping Team Nederland.”

The Dutch took the team bronze medal at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, but had a less successful time at the Rio Olympics last summer, finishing out of the medals.

Continued below…

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New name joins Chris Bartle to lead British eventing squad

Bettina Hoy wins Blenheim title; Willa Newton triumphs in young horse CIC

Bettina Hoy leads Blair ERM dressage: ‘He’s a real gentleman; if he was a man I’d marry him’

Bettina has started visiting each rider at home to get a feel for their facilities and work out how she can best help each person.

As well as her own competing, Bettina also acts as a carer for her elderly parents and will juggle all the aspects of her life with her new role.

“It’s a difficult one, but my parents totally understand that this is an amazing opportunity and I will work it out with my brother,” said Bettina. “My family has always been so massively supportive and are just so proud for me to be appointed national coach for the Netherlands, especially having grown up just 30 minutes from the Dutch border.”

Bettina starts a crash course in Dutch next week, but says she doesn’t expect it to be too difficult as the language is fairly similar to the Westphalian dialect her father speaks.

“En ik ben heel goed met dat leren van een nieuwe spraak!” she joked — which google translate tells us means, “I am good at learning new languages!”

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A euphoric Bettina Hoy scored her first CCI3* victory for “a bloody long time” having led at Blenheim Horse Trials from the very first day.

With Gerd-Hermann Horst’s beautiful 10-year-old Westphalian Seigneur Medicott, she added just 8.3 time penalties to his brilliant dressage score to complete over 10 pens ahead of his nearest rival, Andrew Nicholson and his own and Philip Channer’s Teseo.

Bettina, 52, only competes a small string these days, but hopes to put a syndicate together to retain the ride on this horse which shortly goes up for sale.

The horse is not always faultless showjumping as he was today. “But I remembered what [her former teammate] Hinrich Romeike said at the Hong Kong Olympics before showjumping [which they won]. He said he didn’t feel nervous because the horse had never jumped a clear round before — there was no point being nervous.”

Second was Andrew Nicholson on his own and Philip Channer’s diminutive chestnut Teseo, out of the same dam as Qwanza, his four-star winner. “There’s not a lot of him but he’s unbelievably fast,” says Andrew. His show jumping round for just the first down was masterfully ridden.

In third place, scoring the biggest result of her life, was local girl Lydia Hannon, 27, from Thame, on Carol and Christopher Harris’s mare My Royal Touch. They came here primarily to secure Badminton qualification. “But I was secretly wishing for a top 10 finish. If that doesn’t get us into Badminton now I don’t know what will,” said Lydia.

The biggest disappointment on the final day was for USA’s Hannah Sue Burnett on her experienced Harbour Pilot. “We brought him here to try to win Blenheim,” Hannah Sue had said. But two fences down dropped them to fifth. “He obviously worked really hard yesterday, and he doesn’t always jump well off grass. I’m disappointed — but he’s still the best horse in the world.”

Young Brits to the fore in the eight/nine-year-old CIC

Another young Brit scored the biggest win of her career in the CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-olds when Willa Newton, 26, climbed from third overnight with a fast cross-country round on Lady Sarah McCorquodale and her father Joey’s chestnut mare Caja 20.

The pair have numerous German connections as the Hannoverian mare was found for her four years ago by Dirk Schrade and Willa trains with Chris Bartle and Bettina Hoy, among others.

“She’s very sharp, but totally focused when you start,” said Willa. “Chris Bartle told me the time was possible and though she’s only eight she felt so confident.”

The pair added just two time-penalties to their dressage score, and crowned a brilliant Blenheim for Willa as she also came 8th in the CCI on Chance Remark.

Continued below…

Related articles:

Bettina Hoy leads Blenheim CCI3* after wet cross-country: ‘That was hard work!’

Bettina Hoy leads Blenheim CCI3* after dressage: ‘He really tries to concentrate’

Second in the CIC was Laura Collett on Lyn and Nick How, Louise and Keith Scott and her own Mr Bass, her world seven-year-old champion from Le Lion last year. “He’s always been my fun horse, but he’s just getting better and better,” said Laura of the horse who is off to Boekelo next.

They were among just four combinations to go inside the time cross-country, along with Andrew Nicholson and Paul Ridgeon’s Swallow Springs, who finished third. The horse came to him as a “talented but naughty horse” from Donal Barnwell. Much of his early career was spent putting Andrew on the floor, but he’s “good at jumping and dressage and he’s very fast”.

Full report from Blenheim in H&H next week, out Thursday, 15 September.

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After a day’s cross-country in torrential rain, Bettina Hoy remains leader of the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* on the elegant 10-year-old Westphalian Seigneur Medicott.

In slippery conditions — first to go Andrew Nicholson produced the fastest round of the day, just one second over the optimum, putting him fifth on Teseo — Bettina went fast enough to have one showjump in hand going into the final day.

“That was hard work!” she said. Though the round was sticky in places, they came home with 8.4 time-penalties to lie on 41.3. “I went out as fast as I could but you do have to allow an extra stride at times — I have certainly done my fitness work.”

Rising up a place to second on 46.9 is the USA’s Hannah Sue Burnett on her experienced Harbour Pilot. The pair are in Britain especially for Blenheim and ate up the course.

“I’ve not run in this weather too much,” said Hannah. “It was quite slippery. But nothing backs him off.”

She will be hoping to be the second American in succession to win Blenheim after Clark Montgomery’s victory last year.

Wide-eyed at finding herself third with just 3.2 time-penalties is local rider Lydia Hannon, 27, who came 29th here in 2014 on Carol and Christopher Harris’s My Royal Touch.

“I’ve never gone into the final day in such a position,” she said after her round on the mare, who is managed carefully as she has a history of tying up. “We have been at three-star for quite a long time and came here to get a Badminton qualification — anything else is a bonus.”

Oliver Townend rose nine places to fourth after a quick round on Dunbeau.

Harry Meade, who had been second after dressage on the one-eyed Orlando, sensibly pulled up as the horse was not travelling well — “He was hating it.”

Ibby Macpherson, who had been lying fourth, was furious to have a refusal at the second wood shack at fence nine, and retired.

McEwen takes lead in CCI

With the cross-country having run early, from 9am to 2pm, many stayed on to watch the young horse CIC3* showjumping. Britain’s Tom McEwen and his own and Frank and Jane Inns’ Toldeo De Kerser managed to snatch the lead ahead of overnight leader Jonelle Price on Ascona M, though only learnt this from H&H by phone while walking the cross-country.

“I’m really looking forward to the cross-country tomorrow,” he said. “He’s a good galloper and he enjoys the rain — he wouldn’t even mind some more.”

Although Jonelle jumped clear, three time-penalties cost them their lead. Third is Willa Newton with Lady Sarah McCorquodale and her father Joey’s Caja 20. Laura Collett sits sixth and seventh with Mr Bass and Pamero 4.

France shines again in the ERM

The Event Riders Masters (ERM) contestants may have wrung their tailcoats out afterwards, but produced plenty of smart tests. Astier Nicolas leads the way on 41.3 penalties with Carole Broad’s Molakai, but fewer than five penalties separate the top 14. Equal second are New Zealand’s Jonelle Price on Cloud Dancer II (the young horse CIC3* winner here last year) and France’s Thomas Carlile on the smart-moving Upsilon.

Nicola Wilson is the best British rider, equal fifth on One Two Many, while Paul Tapner, Oliver Townened and Gemma Tattersall, all contenders to win the £30,000 prize for the leading rider of the series, lie ninth, 10th and 14th respectively.

Continued below…

Related articles:

Where do the top riders have to finish at Blenheim to win the £30,000 Event Rider Masters title?

Bettina Hoy leads Blenheim CCI3* after dressage: ‘He really tries to concentrate’

Tomorrow’s young horse CIC3* cross-country starts at 9am, with the ERM riders following at 1.15pm after their showjumping. The forecast is for sunshine!

Re-live the ERM dressage and watch the other phases tomorrow

Full report of Blenheim in H&H this week, out Thursday, 15 September.

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At the end of the first phase, the top three placings in Blenheim Horse Trial’s CCI3* are unchanged from the first day’s dressage.

Germany’s Bettina Hoy still holds a commanding lead after a beautiful test on Seigneur Medicott, a former Gatcombe novice champion owned by Gerd-Hermann Horst. They lie more than six penalties ahead of their nearest rival on a score of 32.9 penalties.

“He’s a beautiful mover and a beautiful horse. He really tries to concentrate and is lovely to ride,” said Bettina of the horse, who never blinked in the breezy conditions.

Harry Meade lies second on 39.6 on Di Davies, Irene Graham and Anita Dalton’s Orlando, a ride he took over earlier this year from Izzy Taylor. The USA’s Hannah Sue Burnett holds third on 41.7 on her seasoned campaigner Harbour Pilot.

Lying fourth, just 0.2 of a penalty behind her, is Ibby Macpherson, who delivered a composed test in the teeth of a rain squall on Ballingowan Diamond. The horse has been rerouted after suffering a tack problem early on the cross-country at Burghley last week.

Price set for another Blenheim win

Blenheim’s young horse CIC winner for the past two years, New Zealand’s Jonelle Price, holds the lead after dressage on the eight-year-old mare Ascona M, making her three-star debut. But positions are tight with only two penalties separating the top five.

Jonelle professed herself surprised: “It’s a bit unexpected to be in the lead. Ascona is really quality but a bit green and inexperienced and coming through the grades.”

Thus far she’s taken the mare, by Holstein stallion Cassaro, steadily across country; to win this weekend she will need to step up the pace.

“I really came here to set her up for next year. I feel I’ve got a little bit of a mountain to climb but I’ll have a cut at it!” said Jonelle.

Snapping at her heels, 0.6 of a penalty behind her on a score of 35.2, and also making his three-star debut, is MGH Grafton Street with Pippa Funnell, a horse bought for her last year from Andrew Nicholson by Jonathan and Jane Clarke.

“He is one I am excited about for the future and I brought him here with the future in mind,” said Pippa. “It’s such great education for him here — I won’t run him flat to the boards across country but will ride how he feels. He’s a good jumper, and I was delighted with his dressage; he’s got a lovely brain and three good paces.”

Lying third on 36.1 is Oliver Townend on Angela Hyslop’s Cooley SRS. A former CCI3* winner at Ballindenisk, and 29th in this class here last year, the horse has failed to complete its last two CCI3*s.

Fourth is France’s Sidney Dufresne, competing for the first time on British soil since the same class at Blenheim last year where he came fourth on the same ride, Selle Français stallion Tresor Mail.

ERM reaches its finale

Beginning bright and early tomorrow morning is the sixth and final leg of the Event Riders Masters (ERM) series launched this year. Besides £16,000 to the winner, and prize money to 10th place as usual, a further £30,000 awaits the rider who tops the series on points.

Continued below…

Related articles:

Who will win at Blenheim this weekend?

Where do the top riders have to finish at Blenheim to win the £30,000 Event Rider Masters title?

The 40-strong start list oozes international talent, including 14 four-star winners and five Olympic gold medallists, and a very classy list of horses. Current points leader is Paul Tapner, with Gemma Tattersall in second, but the winner of the past two legs is Oliver Townend who’s competing here too aboard Cillnabradden Evo.

Jonelle Price is another rider who might snatch the title, and is competing her Blenheim CIC winner of last year, Cloud Dancer II.

Watch the ERM live stream — dressage beings at 8.30am on Saturday, 10 September

Full report from Blenheim in H&H next week, out Thursday, 15 September.

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Bettina Hoy was in a league of her own during the first day of dressage (Thursday 1 September) at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials to lead by a full eight marks overnight.

The German star rode Designer 10 into a more consistently correct frame than the horse has typically shown in the past with expression that no other partnership could match. They topped the leader board on 34.5pen. Among the highlights of the test was the halt before the rein back, which earnt a 10 from judge Anne-Mette Binder.

Bettina put Designer 10’s improved performance down to a change of bit and a different warm-up routine.

“Designer doesn’t find the dressage easy. He’s not built to be a dressage horse. But he seems to prefer the double bridle to the snaffle. He doesn’t need the curb at all, but he does stretch more forward to my hand in the double than a snaffle.

“I now do a lot of rising trot in our warm-up – I did rising trot for the last five minutes before coming into the test – to take the pressure off his back and give him a rest from me sitting, which makes him feel more comfortable.”

H&H dressage columnist, Anna Ross, described Bettina’s test as “the best work we’ve seen today” and the judges were clearly in agreement with her.

Bill Levett is in second with a polished, well-presented test from Improvise, who was a reserve for Australia’s Olympic team. They scored 42.5pen to sit in second place overnight.

Continued below…

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“It’s been a year of nearlys for him so far,” explained Bill, who disagreed with William Fox-Pitt’s suggestion in H&H that the cross-country course might be a little softer than in previous years.

“In the riders’ briefing Mark Phillips warned us not to underestimate the track and I think there is plenty out there. It’s a hard track for sure. With good ground it should be possible to get the time, although Improvise is a bit tricky as he can get strong, which makes it difficult to go fast, but he’s got good form here and I’m confident he will keep galloping to the end.”

The highest placed British rider is Paul Sims with Glengarnock in third place. Paul was the second rider into the arena for the second year in a row and he thinks that might have played to his advantage.

“Glengarnock has been here a few times now and this year he’s felt very relaxed. He was working comfortably within himself this morning. I’ve always known he was capable of doing a test like that, but to do it on the day and sit in third overnight is incredible.”

In fourth is United States’ Elisa Wallace riding Simply Priceless on 46.8pen while Rosalind Canter completes the top five for Britain with Allstar B.

View the current leaderboard

Follow the second day of dressage action with H&H Live from 9.30am on Friday 2 September

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Bettina Hoy leads after the dressage phase of the Event Rider Masters (ERM) at Blair Castle Equi-Trek International Horse Trials.

The German rider was the only person to score in the 30s, recording a mark of 34.6 with her own Seigneur Medicott. A number of horses were upset by the fact the horses in the CCI* were running cross-country around the edge of the warm-up, but Bettina’s 10-year-old performed brilliantly.

“He is beautiful to ride — what he does outside, he does inside too. He’s not affected by the atmosphere,” she said. “He’s a real gentleman; if he was a man I’d like to marry him.

“I saw other horses getting affected by the atmosphere — with the cross-country running it can take their concentration in the warm-up and sometimes you pay for it in there, but he was really concentrating.”

Oliver Townend holds second on 42.8 with Sally-Anne Egginton’s Cillnabradden Evo, the recent British open champion and ERM winner at Gatcombe.

Jonelle Price lies third for New Zealand on Cloud Dancer II, who belongs to The Marley and Me Syndicate. The dressage-bred nine-year-old (San Remo x Sandro Hit) was a little more tense today than normal and jogged in the walk.

“He moves beautifully and is built for the job, but we’re a few marks adrift of where I’d like to have been,” she acknowledged. “He’s very fit and it’s the first time ever he’s not walked reliably, but I hope that’ll pay dividends tomorrow [on the hilly cross-country].

“On the one hand I’m disappointed, but on the other, I’m proud he showed some pizazz today and hope he’ll think of that when he’s digging up that hill tomorrow.”

Continued below…

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Tom McEwen is fourth on his former Bramham under-25 winner Diesel (44.5), with Chris Burton fifth for Australia (46.8) riding Polystar I.

Among those who were disappointed were fellow Aussies Bill Levett, who had been trying to settle Shannondale Titan all week but found him still “too lit up” for 49.7 and 11th, and Paul Tapner, who holds 10th on 49.1 with the veteran grey Kilronan. Paul is the ERM series leader going into this event.

“He never put a foot wrong and on the last two movements I told myself to concentrate as I thought I’d nailed it, but the judges didn’t agree,” he said.

Replay the ERM dressage and watch tomorrow’s jumping phases live

Full report from Blair Castle in H&H next week, out 1 September.

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Britain’s team has moved up to third after the showjumping in the eventing Nations Cup at Aachen this evening (Friday, 15 July), having been fourth after dressage.

The first out for Britain, Laura Collett, had a lovely clear with Diana Chappell’s Grand Manoeuvre. She is now 10th individually, from 19th after dressage.

Next up was Franky Reid-Warrilow, who incurred eight faults when Dolley Whisper knocked a brick out of the wall at fence nine and the top rail off the upright at fence 11. Sitting 23rd, she is now the team drop score.

Tina Cook and Calvino II, owned by Pip and Ailsa Wates and Equine Aqua Training, also fell foul of the wall for four faults, but still rose a place to 13th.

Finally, Nicola Wilson pulled off a great fault-free round with Gerry and Mary Kemp and Janine Shewan’s One Two Many, which moved her up from 21st to 11th.

Britain’s individual Zara Tindall had the upright at fence 11 down with Trevor Hemmings’ High Kingdom and climbed up one place to 38th.

Individual leader changes

It is all change at the top of the individual and team leader board.

Bettina Hoy had the front rails off the oxers at fence 10 and 12 with the dressage leader Seigneur Medicott to drop to equal fourth. And she also incurred a cricket score with Designer 10, third after dressage — 17 faults for four down and one time-penalty left him 25th.

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo, the dressage runners-up, had four faults at the final part of the treble at fence four, plus four more at the wall. They slipped down to seventh individually.

Meanwhile clears for German individuals Julia Krajewski (Samourai Du Thot), Michael Jung (FischerTakinou) and Sandra Auffarth (Opgun Louvo) elevated them from fifth, fourth and sixth after dressage to first, second and third. Julia and Michael are on the same score.

In the team standings Australia retains first, although Shane Rose (equal fourth on CP Qualified) was the only one of the quartet to go clear. New Zealand moves up to second, with clears from Jock Paget (Clifton Signature) and Blyth Tait (Xanthus III) added to Jonelle’s eight faults.

Britain sits ahead of Germany, which slipped from second down to fourth with some poor rounds today. Ingrid Klimke went clear on SAP Escada FRH (sixth individually), but Michael Jung had three time-faults on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW (now ninth), Dirk Schrade had two down on Hop And Skip and Andreas Ostholt three with So Is Et.

German team implications

The Germans have yet to finally name their eventing team for the Rio Olympics, although they gave an indication after Luhmühlen. However, tonight’s results raises questions. Sandra looks secure, as does Michael (who has three horses named but has said he is likely to ride FischerTakinou) and Ingrid’s one down on Horseware Hale Bob OLD is unlikely to be a concern. However, Andreas’s 12 faults may be a worry to the team trainers.

Previously, the Germans had said the travelling reserve was likely to be either Designer 10 (Bettina Hoy), Hop And Skip (Dirk Schrade) or Samourai Du Thot (Julia Krajewski). It looks like Julia will be the one getting the nod for that spot after today — or could she even supplant Andreas in the team?

Finally, it would not be a huge surprise if Julia does not run across country tomorrow as Samourai Du Thot completed a full four-star just four weeks ago.

Dramatic incidents

There were two dramatic incidents in tonight’s showjumping. Firstly, there was a huge crashing of plates behind the grandstand as Chris Burton and Nobilis 18 were between fences one and two. To their credit, neither appeared at all distracted and they cleared the fence (and all the rest until they had the final two down).

Secondly, France’s Gwendolen Fer had two run-outs at the double of water trays at fence six with Romantic Love — and in the course of shying away from the fence, knocked over an official. Fortunately he stood up quickly and appeared unharmed.

Team results

Individual results

Full report of Aachen in H&H next week, out Thursday, 21 August.

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Update: the team below was confirmed on Saturday, 15 July at a press conference in Aachen, where FischerTakinou was named as Michael’s ride and Julia Krajewski and Samourai Du Thot were chosen as the travelling reserves. Dirk Schrade and Hop And Skip are the second reserves. 

The Germans have released a “long list” for their eventing team for the Rio Olympics, which names their likely team and reserves.

Team trainer Christopher Bartle confirmed to H&H that the final squad is subject to confirmation after Aachen (15-16 July), but that the four riders named first are the likely team, with the reserves then named in two blocks indicating their current priority order.

The likely team is:

• Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo (pictured)
• Michael Jung on FischerRocana FST, FischerTakinou or La Biosthetique-Sam FBW
• Ingrid Klimke on Horseware Hale Bob OLD
• Andreas Ostholt on So Is Et

Assuming this team is eventually named for Rio, Badminton runner-up Andreas will be making his Olympic debut alongside three riders from the London 2012 gold medal-winning team. Ingrid also won team gold in 2008 in Hong Kong, where Andreas’ brother Frank rode on the team.

The first block of likely reserves is:

• Bettina Hoy on Designer 10
• Julia Krajewski on Samourai Du Thot
• Dirk Schrade on Hop And Skip

The second block of likely reserves is:

• Claas Hermann Romeike on Cato 60
• Andreas Dibowski on It’s Me xx

Claas Hermann’s father Hinrich was the 2008 individual Olympic champion on Marius Voigt-Logistik.

The four riders named as the likely team will compete in Aachen, with Michael piloting FischerTakinou and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW. In addition, Bettina will compete on Designer 10 and Seigneur Medicott, who missed his run in the CCI4* at Luhmühlen after suffering bruises and superficial cuts when he got loose while grazing and slipped over galloping back to the stables.

As well as “Bobby”, Ingrid will start at Aachen on FRH Escada SAP, who is not in the running for Rio as she is not at full fitness after an injury earlier in the year.

Julia Krajewski will perform the guinea pig test at Aachen on Samourai Du Thot.

Continued below…

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Luhmühlen CCI4* trot-up drama: two top-10 contenders including best Brit withdrawn

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“I’m delighted with how the weekend went,” said Christopher, looking back at Luhmühlen. “I’m particularly chuffed for Andreas Dibowski [who won the CCI4*]— he performed fantastically from beginning to end on It’s Me after the disappointment of losing the horse he had on the Olympic list [FRH Butts Avedon, due to injury]. He came back with a bang.

“Julia Krajewski [third] was equally impressive and really came to the fore, not just for the German squad but as a new name on the block.

“It was also great to see Sandra and Ingrid on form, as well as Dirk and Bettina.”

Full report of Luhmühlen in H&H this week, out 23 June.

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Ingrid Klimke will head up the German challenge at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (6-10 May) this year.

Ingrid — who has competed at Badminton several times before, including finishing second in 2006 on the lovely grey Sleep Late — will bring her Pau CCI4* winner Horseware Hale Bob (pictured) to the Gloucestershire four-star.

She will be joined on the starting list by Bettina Hoy and Designer 10, who makes his four-star debut, and young British-based German Niklas Bschorer. Badminton first-timer Niklas brings forward his Bramham under-25 runner-up Tom Tom Go 3, as well as Lord Shostakovich, who jumped a double clear at Blenheim last year.

Also heading to Badminton for a first tilt at “The Great Event” is Claas Hermann Romeike, 22, whose father Hinrich Romeike was sixth at Badminton in 2007 on Marius Voigt-Logistik who went on to be Olympic champion in 2008. He rides Cato 60, with whom he had good CIC3* form in 2014.

German superstar Michael Jung’s plans remain up in the air, although he definitely intends to run both La Biosthetique-Sam FBW and FischerRocana FST at a four-star this spring. The decision on whether he heads to Badminton or Kentucky (23-26 April) rests on finance, as the German riders do not receive central funding for competition trips to America.

Badminton final scores

Andreas Dibowski has secured the support to make the journey this year and will be off to Kentucky with his European team gold medallist FRH Butts Avedon.

More Germans head to four-stars this spring than in other years because the later placement of the European Championships in the calendar, as well as the fact it is sometimes considered a less important championship than an Olympics or World Championships, means it is more feasible to also fit in a big four-star run in the spring.

However, world champions Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo will stick to CIC3*s in their preparation for the European Championships at Blair (10-13 September).

“That’s what the riders are planning at the moment, but of course with horses everything can change in five minutes,” said team trainer Christopher Bartle.

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A spate of saddlery thefts from the stables at Blenheim Horse Trials last weekend (10-14 September) left several eventers begging and borrowing tack in order to complete the competition.

Several top riders’ saddles were stolen from on the Saturday night of the event, including those belonging to Germany’s Bettina Hoy (pictured) and Dutch rider Tim Lips.

Bettina Hoy had her “favourite” jumping saddle stolen from a tack trunk.

She told H&H: “It was one of the Hoy saddles that Passier used to make. There aren’t many of them left and it will be impossible to replace as Passier does not make them anymore.

“It happened in the middle of the night when the stable area is supposedly secure and no-one is allowed in unless there is an emergency.”

Bettina borrowed fellow competitor Kirsty Johnston’s Devoucoux saddle for her showjumping round on Designer 10. She went on to complete in 18th place.

Tim Lips had both his dressage and cross-country saddles taken at the same time. H&H understands these were not locked away.

Blenheim director Mandy Hervieu said that as well as having all-night security patrols in place, there was also CCTV in the stable area.

She added that the theft appeared to have been both well planned and carefully executed.

It is still not clear whether the thieves came from outside the event.

CCTV footage is being examined, and a girth left behind by the thieves, is being tested for fingerprints.

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Andrew Hoy will ride Lanfranco TSF, the 4-star eventer formerly competed by his ex-wife Bettina, this season.

The former spouses put out separate statements on the move, with Andrew’s saying Bettina “has decided to return Lanfranco TSF… to his owner, Hoy Enterprises Ltd“, while Bettina’s states that she “has had to hand over the reins… as part of her divorce settlement“.

Bettina and Lanfranco TSF, a 14-year-old Trakehner by Bulrush, finished 3rd at Blenheim CCI3* in 2011 and 10th at Burghley CCI4* the following year. Their good form continued at CIC3* level last season, but Lanfranco became very upset in the dressage at 4-star, scoring 80.8 at Luhmühlen and being retired in the first phase at Burghley. Eventing fans will therefore be fascinated to see how the horse goes for Andrew.

Bettina described “Frankie” as her “soulmate” in her statement, saying: “He has not always been the easiest as he has struggled with his nerves at the big occasions but I have had some fabulous rides on him.

“Andrew has always been a rider whose talent I respected. I wish him and Frankie the best of luck together and hope they can form a successful partnership.”

Andrew’s statement says that “Hoy Enterprises Ltd would like to thank Bettina Hoy for the work she has put into the education and development of the horse”.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know Lanfranco TSF and commencing our relationship. It is always exciting to add a new horse to my string,” added Andrew.

Lanfranco leaves Germany today to head to Andrew’s new yard in Leicestershire and Andrew plans to start competing him later in the year.

Bettina’s plans for a spring season in the UK are on hold as her father has been hospitalised this week with a stroke.

“My mother really needs me here” she said. “And I would not feel comfortable being away from my parents at this difficult time.”

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Germany’s Bettina Hoy nipped into the lead on the second day of dressage at the Fidelity Investments Blenheim International Horse Trials, beating Piggy French by 0.6pen.

Riding Lanfranco TSF, Bettina scored 42.1 to take the top spot from Piggy and Lemington Lett Dance, who led yesterday on 42.7.

The smart bay 11-year-old looked full of enthusiasm, but was obedient and supple.

“He’s a very sensitive horse and quite smart – he needs to be with a rider who doesn’t have many horses who can give him the reassurance he needs,” said Bettina, who is returning to Blenheim for the first time since the 2005 European Championships.

As well as taking second with Judy Bradwell’s 13-year-old Lemington Lett Dance, who has been very lightly competed this season, Piggy French also lies third with DHI Topper W on a mark of 43.1.

Sarah Cohen and Irish Jester are just behind on 44, 0.8pen ahead of South Africa’s Alexander Peternell and AP Uprising, who lost two marks for forgetting to halt and rein-back.

Sixth is Andrew Nicholson on Quimbo, who scored 45.

Fox-Pitt on top form again

William Fox-Pitt followed up his Burghley triumph last weekend with the top position after dressage in the eight-and-nine-year-old CIC***.

He scored 43.3 on the Lando-sired nine-year-old Oslo to take the lead from Mark Todd and NZB Campino, who topped the board yesterday on 43.1.

William also lies equal third on Lionheart with Sarah Cohen and Treason, both scoring 47.9.

“Both horses are in need of a run because of Highclere’s abandonment and therefore were a little bit buzzy,” said William. “But Oslo did a lovely test. He’s very impressive and did some superb work.”

Lucinda Fredericks is fifth on the Landor S mare Latina 43 with a mark of 49.2, just ahead of Nick Gauntlett and Penguin Ice (49.6).

CCI***

1. Bettina Hoy (GER) Lanfranco TSF 42.1

2. Piggy French (GBR) Lemington Lett Dance 42.7

3. Piggy French (GBR) DHI Topper W 43.1

4. Sarah Cohen (GBR) Irish Jester 44

5. Alexander Peternell (RSA) AP Uprising 44.8

6. Andrew Nicholson (NZL) Quimbo 45

7. Clark Montgomery (USA) Loughan Glen 45.4

8. Julian Stiller (USA) Enjoy Me 46.2

9. Rachael Lupton (GBR) The Chenko Artist 46.9

10. =William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Bay My Hero 47.7

=Pippa Funnell (GBR) Billy Landretti 47.7

Results

CIC***

1. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Oslo 43.3

2. Mark Todd (NZL) NZB Campion 43.1

3. =William Fox-Pitt (GBR) Lionheart 47.9

=Sarah Cohen (GBR) Treason 47.9

5. Lucinda Fredericks (AUS) Latina 43 49.2

6. Nick Gauntlett (GBR) Penguin Ice 49.6

7. Ciaran Glynn (IRE) Don’t Tell Punch 50

8. Jonathan Chapman (GBR) West Side 50.6

9. Alex Hua Tian (CHN) Furst Love 50.8

10. Kristina Cook (GBR) De Novo News 51

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Top eventing couple Andrew and Bettina Hoy are moving back to Britain after spending just over a year in Germany.

Australian Olympic team gold medallist Andrew and his German wife Bettina (pictured), a former European champion, were unable to find a suitable home in Britain after leaving Gatcombe Park in February 2009. They therefore contested the 2009 season from the German equestrian federation base in Warendorf.

But yesterday at the Subaru Houghton International Horse Trials, Andrew revealed that they are moving to the Farley Estate, near Reading.

“It’s a joint-venture between Farley Estate and Hoy Enterprises,” said Andrew. “I’m in the process of moving now and Bettina will spend a bit more time in Germany, preparing for Luhmühlen and selling her dressage horse.”

The couple had a successful weekend at Houghton — Andrew was third in CCI** section C and Bettina won the other CCI**.

Full report from Houghton in H&H this Thursday, 3 June, plus Tina Cook’s comment on the event.

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Bettina Hoy and Lucinda Fredericks, whose husbands have both won Rolex watches at Kentucky, produced outstanding dressage tests to lead after the first phase.

Bettina has the advantage, with the only sub-30 mark — 28.8 — on the wonderful Ringwood Cockatoo, at 18 the oldest horse in the field.

“He never disappoints me in this phase,” said Bettina, “but this time he was just fantastic, so supple. He owes me nothing.”

Bettina’s husband Andrew, who won Kentucky on Master Monarch in 2006, is back at home in Germany, working the couple’s young horses. They are currently based at Warendorf.

Lucinda’s husband, Clayton, who won Kentucky on Ben Along Time in 2007, is present to advise his wife about the cross-country phase, about which she commented; “It’s big and fair and I think it will suit Brit (Headley Britannia). I’ve got to try not to take too many pulls, because it’s going to be fast going and I’m a bit of a naughty one for taking a pull. But I’m feeling a lot better about it having made the decision to take the long route at the Sunken Road.”

Lucinda scored 32.3 on Headley Britannia who, at 15.2hh is the smallest in the field.

Buck Davidson, third on My Boy Bobby (39 penalties), also has the weight of family expectation on his shoulders. His father Bruce, who is also competing at Kentucky, is the most successful rider here, winning the 1978 World Championships and numerous other three-day prizes.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen across country because this is my horse’s first time at this level, and he’s not a full Thoroughbred, but he’s pretty fit and he’s been consistent this year.”

Buck got the ride on My Boy Bobby, an attractive Irish-bred liver chestnut found by Clare Ryan, last year. He was quick to credit training with Bettina Hoy last year for his improved dressage performance. “She’s changed the way I ride, and it feels amazing to be sitting up here with these two greats.”

Tim Lips, hero of the first day, is now fourth, ahead of best British rider Lucy Wiegersma, fifth with a well-ridden test on Woodfalls Inigo Jones, 43.2 penalties. William Fox-Pitt is sixth on Seacookie (43.5) and ninth on Navigator (46.7), and Oli Townend is now eighth on his new ride Carousel Quest, fourth at Burghley with Cressie Clague-Reading in 2006.

Nicola Wilson is 26th on Opposition Buzz (54.7) after an unsettled test, but the bold, galloping nature of Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross-country course should be just her handwriting.

Nicolas Touzaint, making his first visit to Kentucky, is seventh on his Badminton winner Hildago de l’Ile and Kentucky’s defending champions Phillip Dutton and Connaught are 10th on 47.

The cross-country phase starts at 10am Kentucky time (3pm British), with Buck Davidson first out on the course on Ballynoe Castle RM.

Full results on www.rk3de.org and video viewing on FEI.tv (www.fei.org)

Don’t miss H&H’s full report on all the action from Rolex Kentucky three-day event, on sale Thursday 30 April, ’09

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Eventer Louise Skelton has a dressage one-to-one with Olympic medallist Bettina Hoy in this week’s Horse & Hound.

Louise, 31, won Blair Castle in 2005 and completed Badminton for the first time in 2007.

Bettina helps Louise with increasing the suppleness of her horse Evamore and working on her position.

Bettina says: “In dressage it’s vital to have a critical eye on the ground. With all the great dressage successes there are three elements — the horse, the rider and the trainer.”

Also in this week’s installment:

• Louise Skelton discusses shared kit with the saddler and going easy on the starch with the equine nutritionist

Show jumper Michael Potter:

• discusses expectations with the sports psychologist
• talks about being one-sided with the human physiotherapist
• gets the loriner’s tips on fitting a curb chain correctly

Dressage rider Matt Hicks:

• has his horse’s gait analysed
• talks suppleness with the equine osteopath

To read the second part of Getting the “Winning Edge” don’t miss Horse & Hound on sale Thursday 22 November

The German team holds its customary gold medal position after the dressage phase of the European Eventing Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. German individual rider Bettina Hoy tops the leaderboard.

Bettina has been left out of the team this time because she and Ringwood Cockatoo have missed several runs this summer, but her 27.1 score was the best she has had with the grey 16-year-old.

“I’m so proud of him — we were lucky even to get into the arena because he slipped over outside the stable this morning and has cuts on his bottom and hocks,” she said. “He was really on my side and trying hard.”

With three team riders in the top 10 — Ingrid Klimke is fourth on 31.5, Frank Ostholt is fifth on 33.1 and Hinrich Romeike is eighth on 37.7 — the Germans sit on 102.3, 6.3pen ahead of the British.

Zara Phillips heads Team GB in third place individually after riding a lovely test on Toytown with just one mistake early on. They earned a score of 29.8, 0.4pen behind second-placed Nicolas Touzaint, last to go for France with his stunning 2003 European champion, Galan De Sauvagere.

All Britain’s squad produced good tests. Mary King was very pleased with Call Again Cavalier, who performed a correct, elegant test for 36.5 and seventh place.

“I was concerned he would be nervous of the crowd, but he did one of his best tests,” she said.

Daisy Dick and Oliver Townend, who did their tests on Thursday, lie 12th and 14th, while Britain’s individuals, Georgie Davies and Rodney Powell, are 17th and 19th. Squad debutante Georgie was a little disappointed with Fachoudette, who started brilliantly but broke into canter in the first extended trot.

“Most of it was nice, but there were a couple of big mistakes we could have done without,” said the 24-year-old.

Rodney said: “This is only Langarth Darcy’s second three-day event with me and second CCI***, and he showed his greenness a little. But the cross-country is why we are here.”

The German team were also determined to look forward. Ingrid Klimke summed up their feelings, saying: “The dressage is history now, and we are looking forward to tomorrow.”

Nicolas Touzaint said: “There will be changes [in the order] at the end of tomorrow — there are some very difficult combinations and the time will be hard to get.”

The French team are in third place at the moment on 121.9 — as well as Nicolas, former world champion Jean Teulere is in the top 10 (9th) on Espoir De La Mare. And the Belgians are fourth — Karin Donckers was thrilled to receive a mark of 33.5 for fifth place on Gazelle De La Brasserie, and Joris Van Springel (Bold Action) is 10th.

European Eventing Championships Friday dressage results

1. Bettina Hoy (Ringwood Cockatoo, GER) 27.9

2. Nicolas Touzaint (Galan De Sauvagere, FRA) 29.4

3. Zara Phillips (Toytown, GB) 29.8

4. Ingrid Klimke (FRH Butts Abraxxas, GER) 31.5

5. Frank Ostholt (Air Jordan, GER) 33.1

6. Karin Donckers (Gazelle De La Brasserie CH, BEL) 33.5

7. Mary King (Call Again Cavalier, GB) 36.5

8. Hinrich Romeike (Marius Voigt-Logistik, GER) 37.7

9. Jean Teulere (Espoir De La Mare, FRA) 41.3

10. Joris Van Springel (Bold Action) 41.5

Teams

1. Germany 102.3

2. Great Britain 108.6

3. France 121.9

4. Belgium 127.9

5. Italy 142.3

6. Denmark 147.7

7. Switzerland 149.9

8. Ireland 158.6

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report from the European Eventing Championships, including stunning photographs, in next week’s issue (20 September, ’07)

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Bettina Hoy led from the start with a foot-perfect run on Ringwood Cockatoo to win a competitive advanced intermediate section at Highclere on Bank Holiday Monday (27 August).

New Zealander Bruce Haskell thought he had the section nailed with a double clear on Sky Sport, but although Bettina added a show jump down to her leading score of 26.5, she flew around Eric Winter’s inviting cross-country to stay ahead by 1.8pen.

Sweden’s Dag Albert was third on Whos Blitz, ahead of William Fox-Pitt with Monarch’s Aristocrat.

Tina Cook took the other advanced intermediate victory on the classy Miners Frolic. British squad members Georgie Davies (Fachoudette) and Rodney Powell (Langarth Darcy) looked terrific across country, finishing second and third, with Rodney also fourth on Zinzan ll.

Zara led the dressage on Toytown, who put in arguably his best performance this year. They had a show jump down and, in a steady cross-country, whacked the second rolltop element of the water complex to finish 11th.

Andrew Nicholson had a brilliant open intermediate win on Avebury and finished second on Mr Cruise Control to clinch top spot in the Stately Homes Challenge, which covers Longleat, Wilton and Highclere, to receive a year’s use of a Mitsubishi.

Read the full results >>

Read this report in full in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (6 September, ’07)

Get your free 12-page sample of the September issue of Eventing magazine plus a fantastic subscription offer here

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Germany’s top event rider and trainer Horst Karsten and Bettina Hoy’s equine partner Watermill Stream (pictured) are the newest entrants to the Event Riders’ Association Hall of Fame.

The ERA Hall of Fame was launched at Badminton and had its first airing in Germany at Luhmühlen’s 50th anniversary event.

Horst, 71, was German champion five times from 1964 and rode on 14 teams, winning nine medals before training compatriots to further success.

Horst also mentored Watermill Stream and Bettina Hoy — the first pairing to win an individual title for Germany (1997) since 1936.

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Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo are leading in Luhmühlen four-star after scoring an impressive 37.4 pen.

The competition is the most important performance trial for the World Equestrian Games taking place in August. Hoy, 43, lies more than 10 points ahead of Australia’s Lucinda Fredericks with German young talent Dirk Schrade in third position on a score of 51.9 pen.

But all could change today as the second batch of riders complete their tests. Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Birthday Night are set to do their test this afternoon, along with Simon Lawrence (Watch It), Sarah Cohen (Tom Cruise II) and Lawrence Hunt (Proud Ginger 2). Badminton 2006 winner, Australia’s Andrew Hoy will also be giving is wife Bettina a run for her money, aboard Classy Touch.

German national trainer, Hans Melzer, said: “It could be possible for certain riders to come very close to Bettina`s final dressage score.”

The four-star cross-country phase is planned to begin at 2.15 pm on Saturday and the organisers are delighted with the turn out. “The big names are here,” said Julia Otto, managing director of the Luhmühlen Horse Trials.

Unfortunately the cross-country course has been shortened, due to bad weather conditions, meaning that 1000 metres have been removed from the course. Captain Mark Phillips, course designer, Rüdiger Schwarz, technical delegate of the FEI and Ms Otto, made the decision on Wednesday morning after an area of the course became waterlogged.

“This was a very difficult decision to make. We’ve invested a considerable amount of time, work and money in this part of the course in order to bring new elements into the competition,” said Mark Phillips. “However, the safety of the horses and riders must be given priority. The fields are simply under water and it would be just too dangerous to allow riders and horses to participate on this section of the course.”

He explained that the time limit has been shortened accordingly: “In fact, the spectators can expect a little more suspense due to the reduction in distance between the obstacles and speed needed to ride around the course.”

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