The superstar showjumping stallion and sire Je T’aime Flamenco has been put down aged 24 after a happy retirement from competition.

Stallion AI Services, where “Doug” had stood since 2006, said he “passed away peacefully” on Thursday (27 June) after a short illness.

A spokesperson for Stallion AI said it had been an “emotional goodbye” to the “loveable stallion with cheeky charm”.

The son of Flamenco De Semilly was bred in Belgium by Michel Spaas and imported by Pennie Cornish as a five-year-old. He was bought for Irish Olympic rider Billy Twomey by the late Eddie and Sue Davies, and became a star.

“He was always extremely talented; even when I first tried him, I thought he was a grand prix horse in the making,” Billy told H&H. “From the moment I got off, I was thinking he could be something special.”

The pair were placed in the six- and seven-year-old championships at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), and won the HOYS grand prix when Doug was eight – Billy described him as a “clear round machine”, who went on to win seven international grands prix before his retirement in 2013.

“He had all the attributes; he was careful, scopey and very fast,” Billy said. “He was extremely brave; not a horse who started spooky or looking at the water, he was very straightforward. He had a tendency sometimes to jump too much forward but that was the only thing that needed to be improved. In the ring – indoor or outdoor, grass or sand – he was always the same.”

Billy said Doug was always a pleasure to deal with on the ground; never difficult, and a horse whom anyone could handle.

Doug’s host of top-class offspring includes horses who have jumped in Nations Cups and on the Global Champions Tour. His sons Kimba Flamenco won the Liverpool grand prix with Billy, and Fellow Castlefield helped Australia qualify for the Paris Olympics.

“Being such an easy horse, he frequently starred as the demo stallion in Stallion AI Services’ famous webinars and was the first stallion to ever be shown doing a collection live on Facebook streaming,” a spokesperson for Stallion AI Services said. “He was a loveable stallion with a cheeky charm and was known to pop his head around the door of the office for a sneaky treat on his way to the paddock.

“Our thoughts are with his owner Janette Chinn and the amazing people who have loved and cared for him throughout his life.”

Stallion AI managing director Tullis Matson said: “Stallions come and go, but there is no doubt about it, Je T’aime Flamenco is a name that is here to stay, and it’s been an honour to have him with us and be part of his journey.”

Billy paid tribute to the life Doug had at Stallion AI, adding: “He enjoyed his time there.”

You might also be interested in:

Je T’Aime Flamenco – a world-class stallion for breeders on a budget *H&H Plus*

Why Olympic shortlisted showjumper Kimba Flamenco is one to watch *H&H Plus*

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

When Shane Breen won last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Royal International with the stunning grey mare Haya, we were instantly smitten. But now she’s proved she’s competitive at the highest level, finishing second in her five-star grand prix debut – to the mighty combination of Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, no less.

Closer to home, there was an emotional victory for Billy Twomey and the “freakishly” talented stallion Chat Botte ED, who was owned by the late Sue Davis, in the CSI3* grand prix at Bolesworth International. Read on for all this week’s international showjumping news and results.

‘It took the best combination in the world to beat us!’

The €480,000 Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix of Stockholm was won by home hero Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, but chasing them home just 0.06sec slower was Shane Breen riding his 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Haya, who was making her five-star grand prix debut. Marcus Ehning and Stargold finished third.

Shane described the stunning grey mare as having “The heart of a lion, the mind of a professor”.

“I’ve been riding her a lot in speed classes, so I knew she was pretty quick,” said Shane. “But I thought to get on the podium would be amazing, to win would just be another dream. To come second, I am absolutely over the moon.

“It took the best combination in the world to beat us!”

Scott Brash and Hello Mr President also secured a win at the five-star show.

• LGCT Stockholm results

British victory at Spruce Meadows

Team GB rider Amanda Derbyshire landed the 1.50m RBC Capital Markets Cup 1.50m class at Spruce Meadows riding the stallion Otto BG.

“It’s a whole different ball game out there in the international ring,” said Amanda. “It very much reminds me of Aachen and Hickstead – big famous rings – and it’s very special to ride in them.”

Second-placed Conor Swail also secured a 1.45m win of his own with Gamble, who has a 42% top-10 strike rate in 1.40m-plus classes, while his countryman Darragh Kenny braved the rain to win with Chic Chic, as well as the CSI2* grand prix on Vancouver Dreams.

“It was a great day, I haven’t been to Spruce Meadows in probably four or five years and it’s a fantastic facility,” said Darragh. “The rainy weather didn’t bother me.”

• Spruce Meadows results

Nations Cup thriller

The defending champions in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup series, Belgium, won in Sopot, Poland, just beating first-round leaders Argentina, who are bidding for Olympic qualification, by one point. Germany and Switzerland finished third and fourth, separated only by time.

“The most nervous of all today was me,” said chef d’equipe Peter Weinburg. “They kept their nerve and produced brilliant round after another and that’s how we won.”

• Sopot results

Showjumping news: ‘Luck was on my side’

Shane Sweetnam won the $100,000 CSI3* 1.50m Lugano Diamonds grand prix on the Split Rock Jumping Tour with the fastest of only two double clears round Alan Wade’s track with new ride Gilona AO.

“Today, luck was on my side, so I knew what I had to do and I was able to execute it,” said Shane.

A poignant Bolesworth victory

Ireland’s Billy Twomey won the CSI3* Cavago grand prix at the Bolesworth International with the “freakishly” talented 15-year-old stallion Chat Botte ED, owned by the late Sue Davies.

“He is an outstanding jumper who’s always been freakish over a fence,” said Billy of his breeding stallion, who finished ahead of countryman Jonathan Smyth on Mulvin Lui, with Guy Williams third on Ernie Of Greenhill Z for Great Britain.

“It’s an emotional win. Bolesworth is only 20 minutes from Pewit Hall, where Sue used to live. I sometimes pick up my phone and have to stop myself from trying to call her, as I always called her after a win. She was a huge supporter of mine for 22 years, which is almost unheard of in our sport.”

• Bolesworth results

You can read all the showjumping news, including the full report from Bolesworth International, in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 22 June.

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

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

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

From the moment Billy Twomey and the “freakishly” talented Chat Botte ED delivered their effortless first round, Cavago’s £16,500-to-the-winner CSI3* grand prix at the Bolesworth International (14-18 June) looked like a foregone conclusion.

The 15-year-old stallion’s complete package of startling scope and natural ground speed gives him every advantage – and it was apparent that in the absence of a mistake, nothing was going to catch him.

The smart money was on the on-form Irish in this finale, three of whom had made the top 25% to go through to the jump-off. Joining Billy were the quick Richard Howley with Consulent De Prelet Z and the show’s breakthrough star Jonathan Smyth, who had won his first rankings class with the lovely Mulvin Lui earlier in the week.

Of the 13 riders to make the cut, three carried through time-faults from the first round, the rest on clean sheets. The game was on when first of the clears Yazmin Davis delivered a competitive round on Zanbowa Z.

Predictions soon began to play out when Richard Howley smashed the time target, scything more than five seconds of Yazmin’s lead, but losing the gamble to a pole at the final fence. It was Guy Williams who put in a redeeming bid for the home side with Ernie Of Greenhill Z, taking over the lead with 0.35sec in hand. But the Irish fought back, as 25-year-old Jonathan found an extra second with his game 13-year-old gelding.

“My horse is a little bit slow and I thought Billy would probably win it. I don’t know who invites the Irish, that’s all I can say!” Guy said.

Bolesworth International: ‘An emotional win’

Having earned himself the closing slot with the fastest first round, Billy had the advantage of both tactics and horsepower. The spectacular stallion gave the fences inches to spare, and Billy came home as the quickest clear, and fourth fastest time of the class, to overturn Jonathan’s lead by 1.35sec.

“I knew I just had to be a little bit tighter than Jonathan to win it as Chat Botte’s a fast horse over the ground,” Billy said. “He is an outstanding jumper who’s always been freakish over a fence.”

Jonathan said he’d have “been happy with second place” before the class started.

“My horse has jumped fantastically all week – he’s done two classes and won one and been second in the other,” he said.

Billy’s Chat Botte was bought by his long-term owner Sue Davies, who died this year, from Johnny Pals five years ago, when he was already jumping grands prix. The pair have had success up to five-star, including a recent good run in the UAE, where they were placed in every grand prix they jumped.

“It’s an emotional win,” said Billy. “Bolesworth is only 20 minutes from Pewit Hall, where Sue used to live. I sometimes pick up my phone and have to stop myself from trying to call her, as I always called her after a win.

“She was a huge supporter of mine for 22 years, which is almost unheard of in our sport.”

The win was a return to the ring for Chat Botte (Casall x Darco), who has had a break while he’s been used for stud duties.

“He hasn’t done a lot recently. This is his first big show back,” Billy said. “He’s popular as a stallion. His offspring are beautiful, he really stamps them.”

You can read the full report from Bolesworth International Horse Show in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops on Thursday 22 June.

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

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

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

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifiers are coming thick and fast, with Irish showjumper Conor Swail and Frenchman Julien Epaillard claiming victories on either side of the Atlantic this week. The latter’s win in Lyon marked an astounding seventh consecutive five-star success for the world number three. Meanwhile Great Britain finished on the podium in the CSIO3* Nations Cup in Spain, where Tim Gredley returned to team duties for the first time in many years and Robert Murphy made a sterling debut.

Here is H&H’s weekly round-up of just some of the international action from the world of showjumping over the past week, plus showjumping results.

Coyle brothers share puissance spoils: ‘When the helmet goes on, you become competitors’

Irish brothers Daniel and Jordan Coyle, and US rider McLain Ward, all cleared 2.10m (6ft 10in) to share the $25,000 Defender puissance spoils at the Washington International Horse Show. This was the 10th time McLain has won or tied in the puissance at the show and he returned with his 15hh speed specialist Catoki, who tied for victory last year as well.

“I knew he was always brave, but he’s barely bigger than a pony,” he said. “He did the speed class [at this show] and was brilliant, almost won that. It’s incredible. I have barely any spur and the horse pulls you down there like a lion and I think he enjoys it. He’s an incredible winner.”

Daniel Coyle, who won the opening class at this year’s show with the great mare Legacy, was also a co-winner of last year’s puissance and entered the 14-year-old Oak Grove’s Carlyle, owned by Ariel Grange, “to give him a bit of heart” after a slow start to the week.

“He jumped great every round,” said Daniel. “That’s him; he’s one or the other, he’s either frantic or he just goes and does it very simply.”

Daniel’s older brother Jordan completed the trio of Washington’s puissance winners with Eristov (main image), a 13-year-old KWPN gelding with whom he finished fifth in the Hickstead Derby.

“He was my first big-time horse,” he said. “I’m thankful for everything he’s done for me. We gave him a break, planning to wind down and retire him, but he didn’t love that so much.

“By the end of tonight [puissance] it felt like I could have jumped anything.”

Daniel said of competing against his brother: “We’ve competed our whole lives together. We’re brothers, but when the helmet goes on, you become a competitor and that’s how it is. It’s great, we’ve learned a lot from each other over the years and it’s great now to be at the top of the sport together.”

WIHS puissance results

Epaillard’s spectacular seven-timer

French star Julien Epaillard (pictured above) continued his superb run of form when landing a staggering four five-star classes in Lyon, France, including the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier and the Longines Grand Prix with the 10-year-old mare Caracole De La Roque. His remaining wins came with Donatello D’Auge, in the Equita Masters on Saturday and the opening two-phase

“You can never expect a weekend as good as this one,” said the 45-year-old, who had landed a hat-trick at St Lo the previous week, meaning that he has won all seven of the last five-star classes he’s entered. This also marked his 69th international win this year.

“I am lucky enough to ride outstanding horses, but there is always an element of luck involved too. You have to enjoy it while it’s there.”

Longines Equita Lyon showjumping results

‘We’ve gone through the roof’

Conor Swail landed his second World Cup qualifier in a row, this time riding Count Me In, and now holds a commanding lead at the top of the North American League.

His victory at the Washington International Horse Show presented by Mars Equestrian in Upper Marlboro, USA, came after a nine-way jump-off on the 15-year-old Count Grannus gelding, owned by Mannon Farm and Sandy Lupton, and known at home as Crosby, on whom he finished eighth in last season’s World Cup Final. It followed Conor’s success in the opening leg in Sacramento with Vital Chance De La Roque.

“This is his first five-star grand prix win with me and I’m just so thrilled for him,” said the Irishman, who triumphed with a slick clear in 35.76sec, just ahead of runner-up Daniel Bluman riding Gemma W. Barely a second separated the top four riders and third went to US rider Brian Moggre on his long-time partner MTM Vivre Le Reve.

“Count Me In has really changed my career,” said Conor, who just needs to win one more leg of the World Cup to match his record hat-trick from last season as we head towards the 2023 final in Omaha. “He’s brought me to a lot of places I’d never been and has been successful doing it. This year, I know he’s capable and [returning to the World Cup Finals] is something that I’m looking forward to doing with him.

“Since I got these two horses, Count Me In and Vital Chance De La Roque, we really hit it off and we’ve gone through the roof.”

WIHS World Cup qualifier results

Showjumping results: bronze for British team in Spain

Great Britain claimed third in the CSIO3* Nations Cup of Vejer De La Frontera, Spain, where the hosts were victorious, with Colombia taking the runner-up spot. Ireland finished on equal faults with Great Britain but were three seconds slower, placing them fourth. The squad consisted of pathfinder Robert Murphy, making his senior debut with How Easy, Joe Fernyhough and Calcourt Particle, Tim Gredley riding Medoc De Toxandria and Skye Higgin with the nine-year-old Djordania Du Tillard.

“They all worked very well together and the experience they gained here will stand them in good stead going forward,” said chef d’equipe Di Lampard. “It was a great result from 15 teams. Robert was on his first senior Nations Cup and jumped solid rounds, Joe, on his second Nations Cup after being on the winning team in Gorla Minore, Italy, put in good rounds. We needed clear rounds and Tim, on his first Nations Cup for many years, and Skye, who also jumped for clear and four in Prague, both handled the pressure extremely well and delivered.”

Nations Cup showjumping results

Irish success on the Andalucia Champions Tour

Niamh McEvoy and Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick landed the 1.55m CSIO3* grand prix on the Andalucia October Tour at Vejer De La Frontera, Spain, while Billy Twomey and Lady Lou took the two-star equivalent.

Niamh has racked up numerous victories and placings on the tour and sealed it with a superb grand prix performance on Sunday, beating countryman Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny.

“My mare has jumped phenomenally,” she said. “She was very strong in the first round, there were some very difficult lines, especially at the beginning of the test, but she put her heart into it as always and she succeeded.”

Andalucia October Tour showjumping results

‘The cupcakes are why I wanted to win here!’

US rider Laura Kraut landed Friday’s feature class, the $75,000 speed final, at the 2022 Washington International Horse Show riding Eugenie Angot’s and Stars And Stripes’ Calgary Tame (pictured above).

“He’s a new horse for me this year,” said Laura of the 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Old Chap Tame x Kashmir Van’t Schuttershof. “He’s been a fantastic horse for me so far, but this is the first class I’ve won with him, so I’m excited. The funny thing about this horse is that I’ve had a bit of steering issues along the way. Tonight you definitely needed all of your power steering. I thought, ‘I have nothing to lose and I’m going to have to give it a go. He’s super brave and he was just right on it for me.”

But the best prize of all for Laura?

“I’m dying for these Georgetown cupcakes; it’s why I wanted to win here!” joke Laura, who won the show’s leading lady rider award and tied for the international jumper championship.

WIHS results

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

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

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

We find out more about Je T’Aime Flamenco, the world-class showjumping stallion whose stud fee is unlikely to make your eyes water...

“WHEN I went to try him, I left thinking, ‘I have to buy that horse.’ Je T’Aime Flamenco was an outstanding jumper and already a beautiful-looking horse, with real breeding stallion potential.”

Ask Billy Twomey about his first memories of this special horse and this is the Irish Olympian’s response, drawn from trying the then six-year-old at Pennie Cornish’s yard.

Fast forward 15 years and the Belgian warmblood is one of the most popular stallions standing at Stallion AI Services – he has covered more than 100 mares in the past year – after a hugely successful showjumping career.

Pennie first saw Je T’Aime Flamenco – or “Doug” – when he was a three-year-old.

“I was in Belgium looking for some horses and saw him. He was too expensive for me, so I didn’t buy him,” she reveals.

But the horse Pennie bought didn’t work out and she ended up swapping him for Doug.

“He was the one I wanted anyway, though I got him in a bit of a roundabout way,” she says. “I always loved him. I liked the fact he wasn’t overly flash, but he was light and quick off the floor. He always made a good shape with his front feet really up.”

Pennie says that Doug was easy to break in, but that he went through “a really naughty phase” as a four-year-old.

“He came through it and was just so consistent,” she says, adding that Doug was somewhat overshadowed by Talan, who is the same age and was also produced by Pennie, and who went on to be a championship horse for Britain’s Robert Smith and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal Al Shalan.

“Talan was very, very flash. Peoplewouldn’t take much notice of Doug because he wasn’t flash, but I always preferred Doug because he was naturally more athletic. He came off the floor like a coiled spring.”

Pennie sold Doug to Sue Davies and her husband Eddie, who died in 2018, for Billy to ride.

“It’s always tempting to keep them, but it’s never the right decision,” says Pennie. “If you do so, something happens to them and they are never quite as good. I can’t afford to keep them, but I have a lot of nice young horses and there is always something else coming through.

“It’s nice to see the horses go to people like the Davies and Billy, who you know are going to get the best out of them and will jump them at world-class shows.”

Successful from the start

JE T’AIME FLAMENCO was successful from the start with Billy, finishing third in the six- and seven-year-old classes at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and winning the seven-year-old national championships.

“He was a clear-round machine and very careful,” says Billy. “He was mature in his head and never spooky – nothing really fazed him.”

By the time he was eight, Je T’Aime Flamenco had won the grand prix at HOYS.

“He was a little tricky to train at home as he got worked up, but he had fantastic technique so there was nothing really to train,” says Billy. “When I knew at home wasn’t really his place to work, I used just to keep him in condition at home and jump him loose or on the lunge, then take him straight to shows. He did his job in the ring and didn’t need me to remind him.”

Over the four years he was in his prime, Doug won seven international grands prix, three of them at five-star level. Billy’s favourite memory is winning in Amsterdam in 2009, a victory the pair repeated the following year.

“The jump-off was super fast and the Italian rider Gianni Govoni had gone so fast no one thought anyone could beat him,” he remembers. “We managed to shave a proportion of a second off and win.”

Owner Sue Davies enjoyed watching Doug compete, too.

“He was a pleasure to have as a working showjumper – he’s just been so good,” she says. “I still love to see him at the stallion parades – he shows off and he looks so good for his age.”

Living the high life at Stallion AI

JE T’AIME FLAMENCO retired from competing in 2013 and now lives at Stallion AI’s Shropshire base all year round. He goes out most mornings in a paddock by the car park, where he enjoys seeing all the visitors.

“We’re just about to get him fit ready for the stud season starting at the end of March,” explains Stallion AI’s Sarah Wilkes when we talk in January. “He’ll be fully clipped out and work on the water treadmill. He’s 21 and it’s key there’s no muscle tightness before semen collections, so he’ll go on the horse walker and under heat lamps, plus he has regular physio.”

Doug’s excellent temperament means he has been the demo horse for the centre’s webinars over the past year.

“Temperament is key,” says Sarah. “We deal with some clients who want to breed an Olympic horse, but 80% are hobby breeders or breed commercially for people to bring on for bigger riders to buy. Doug passes on his trainability and temperament.

“Because of his type, ability and excellent performance record, he seems to be the choice for everybody who wants a serious jumping horse. He’s also very versatile and a good match for most mares.”

Doug is available by fresh, chilled or frozen semen at a stud fee of £900+VAT. His semen quality is excellent, such that the centre can offer sexed semen from him.

“A lot of people say that’s a low fee for a stallion of that calibre – when you compare what he and others have produced he’s easily a £1,500 stallion – but his owners wanted to make him accessible to everybody,” says Sarah.

Among the Je T’Aime Flamenco offspring Pennie has bred is Roma IV, who has jumped Nations Cups and was eighth in the five-star grand prix at Gijon in 2018 with Alison Barton.

“Most of the progeny I’ve known are bigger than Doug – Roma is quite a big mare – and he certainly throws jumpers,” says Pennie.

Billy Twomey’s ride Kimba Flamenco, winner of three grands prix, is another flagbearer for the stallion. He is out of a Heartbreaker mare.

“I see similarities to Doug in Kimba Flamenco. They’re horses you need to meet halfway, not horses you could bully or force to do anything. In one way, they are super straightforward; it seems they just want to be treated the correct way and then they’ll do anything for you,” says Billy. “But I have a very good eight-year-old who’s quite different, so they’re not all like that.”

This pair are backed up by the likes of WKD Aimez Moi, who jumped at the 2019 Nations Cup Final with Egypt’s Sameh El Dahan, and Fellow Castlefield, who was fourth in the Dublin grand prix and in the top 12 at two young rider Europeans with Ireland’s Susan Fitzpatrick, and who is now with Greece’s Athina Onassis.

With over 55% thoroughbred blood, Doug also appeals to the eventing market, says Sarah. In this sphere, his progeny include the four-star mare J’Adore Salsa, ridden by Tyler Cassells, and three-star horses such as Hilton Cooley with Wills Oakden.

Billy’s instincts were right when he first saw the young Je T’Aime Flamenco – he was indeed an outstanding jumper and he continues to prove his worth as a stallion, with the best yet to come from many of his progeny.

Je T’Aime Flamenco’s breeding

JE T’AIME FLAMENCO was bred in Belgium by Michel Spaas. His sire, Flamenco De Semilly jumped successfully, and counts among his progeny Wonderboy III, who jumped at London 2012 and the 2010 World Equestrian Games with Syria’s Ahmed Saber Hamcho.

Flamenco De Semilly is by the young rider team gold-medal winner Le Tot De Semilly, whose progeny include Cevo Itot Du Chateau, who jumped at two Olympics with Edwina Tops-Alexander, and the world team gold medallist and prolific sire Diamant De Semilly.

Je T’Aime Flamenco’s dam Quansie Van De Halhoeve competed and won at 1.50m level in Belgium, and she is by Landetto, a son of the super-sire Landgraf.

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This exclusive feature is also available in H&H magazine, on sale Thursday 18 March, 2021

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An interesting case brought before the FEI Tribunal has once again given rise to concerns that the current blood rules are not “fit for purpose”. H&H finds out more...

New calls have been made for a review of the blood rules in showjumping over concerns they are not “fit for purpose”.

The topic is under the spotlight again after Irish Olympian Billy Twomey lost his appeal against the FEI’s decision to eliminate him when blood was found on the flank of Lady Lou at the boot and bandage control check after his grand prix-winning round in Wellington, Florida, on 15 March.

The ground jury eliminated Billy for veterinary reasons, namely blood on the mare’s left flank owing to the use of spurs.

At an FEI Tribunal hearing Billy said there was no blood after they completed their jump-off, providing a still from a video as evidence, and said he believed the blood was the result of the mare’s bumping herself on leaving the arena. He disagreed he was eliminated for veterinary reasons, as there was no indication the decision was a veterinary matter, and the FEI officials’ report did not mention veterinary reasons, or identify any interaction with a vet.

The FEI said the ground jury was clear that as the elimination was for veterinary reasons, there was no possibility of protest or appeal. Under FEI rules, field-of-play ground jury decisions, which are final, include decisions on elimination or disqualification for veterinary reasons.

Billy believed the FEI blood protocol was not followed; he said when he was told blood could be seen, no pictures were taken at the time. He had been allowed to walk the mare off and 20 to 30 minutes after his round, the glove test was conducted. It was a hot day, and a vet confirmed the gloves could have induced the bleeding. The FEI said Billy could have lodged a protest within 30 minutes of being notified but did not. The FEI added it is riders’ responsibility to know the rules.

The FEI jumping stewards manual states that a steward must inform the athlete if there is an issue with blood on the horse’s flank, take a photo of the affected area and of the spurs, and inform the chief steward. The chief steward will conduct a glove test, and inform the ground jury. Under FEI veterinary rules, stewards and official vets have the authority to examine horses, so the decision to eliminate for veterinary reasons does not require the “exclusive involvement” of a vet.

The Tribunal ruled that as the appeal was against the ground jury decision in relation to elimination for veterinary reasons, the appeal was not admissible.

Billy told H&H appealing was important to him as in his view, the blood rules need “further thought” and changes to form and implementation, if they are to serve their intended function.

“I do not doubt the correctness of the principle behind the rules, where the welfare of horses in our sport is mine and my fellow riders’ and owners’ foremost consideration. But I question the utility of the rule in its current form and the manner in which it is implemented,” he said.

Billy added “inevitably” there would be occasions of marks caused by spurs in jumping.

“We are jumping 1.60m tracks and managing our own weight and the movement of the horse. In the case of Lady Lou, the mark on her flank was a superficial graze no bigger than a fingernail, and it occurred after my round when I was leaving the ring. The FEI did not conduct any veterinary examination and Lady Lou was always in fine health,” he said.

“Unless spurs are to be outlawed, the outcome of their use has to be addressed in a more considered manner. My jump-off was perhaps 40 seconds in duration. The FEI examined Lady Lou before I started both rounds. There was no question raised about whether she was fit to start. No one suggested any modifications to my tack or spurs. No one considered I rode inappropriately.

“If riders and owners are to lose competitions in which they were permitted to start, surely a more considered approach is required for the regulations to be fit for purpose.”

An FEI spokesman told H&H the FEI has a duty, which it “does not take lightly”, to establish appropriate rules and guidelines to ensure horse welfare. He said rules relating to blood are discipline-specific, adding amendments to rules to “enhance harmonisation” across disciplines were voted through the 2017 FEI general assembly.

Prior to 2018, blood found on a horse in jumping resulted in disqualification. Under the amended rules since January 2018, there are two separate provisions. If blood is found on a flank it means elimination, but if marks indicate excessive use of spurs (or whip) the combination will be disqualified.

“The rules and protocols are continuously assessed and, where necessary, updated to ensure our rules on tack are fit for purpose, and new research is factored into that,” said the spokesman.

Appropriate sanctions

A spokesman for the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC), which raised concerns about the blood rules in 2017 and called for officials to be able to use discretion when dealing with cases (news, 16 February 2017), told H&H the IJRC believes blood cases must be sanctioned but there should be different kinds of sanctions for whether it was an accidental or minor or major violation.

“Currently this is not taken into account, leading to sanctions which are not proportionate to the violation,” he said. “Without wishing to enter into the merits of Billy Twomey’s case, we must reiterate that the norm is flawed and should be reviewed in order to better respect the principle of rights recognised, among others, by the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS]. These include the proportionality of sanctions, voluntary or involuntary infractions leading to aggravating or mitigating circumstances, and whether or not it was a first offence, as well the need to provide an accurate consideration of the implied consequences – just as in an ordinary courtroom.

“Not considering these principles in sporting law creates sentences that are sometimes regarded by athletes, managers and the public as the result of a sporting injustice.”

Billy had 21 days from the Tribunal’s decision on 18 June to appeal the decision to CAS. A CAS spokesman told H&H it had not received an appeal.

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

The Irish Olympic showjumper explains how he has got the best out of some of the tricky, yet extremely talented, mares he has ridden during his career so far in an exclusive interview on this week’s episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast...

Top Irish showjumper Billy Twomey has enjoyed success at the highest level with a number of mares during his career, including his London Olympics ride Tinka’s Serenade, who he describes in this week’s episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast as “probably the best horse I ever had”.

“The mares have been very successful for me. I seem to have a good rapport with them, especially maybe the trickier mares,” says Billy.

As well as giving Billy some of his most successful rides, including winning the Top 10 final in Paris 2011 and finishing 10th in the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, Tinka’s Serenade was the horse that started a long and successful business relationship between the Irish rider and British breeder Kim Barzilay.

“We started with Tinka’s Serenade some years ago now. She’d already been really successful with [Kim’s rider] Emma-Jo Slater and Kim wanted the horse to go to the next level. She asked would I be interested in riding the mare for her and taking her to some international shows. She ended up having a super career. She’s probably the best horse I ever had.”

Next came another chestnut mare, Lizziemary.

“Lizziemary was a very successful mare who went on to win the King George at Hickstead and was sold to Dani Goldstein, who has had a lot of success with her.”

And earlier in his career came Anastasia, who Billy describes as “a little difficult horse, but in the end she finished by being very, very successful”.

So what does Billy put his success with mares down to?

“I think patience is the right word for these mares. You’ve got to be patient with them – it doesn’t have to happen immediately. If you know you’ve got the goods underneath you, you know in time it will come your way, so give them the time to show you what they’ve got.

“Tinka’s Serenade was not the easiest mare in the world, but she had an unbelievable career and finished jumping at the age of 19, which is nearly unheard of, so she stayed healthy and competitive for such a long period.”

Continued below…

The Horse & Hound Podcast: episode six – Billy Twomey interview | Vet advice: infection testing | News round-up

Irish Olympic showjumper Billy Twomey offers advice on ways to get the best out of talented but tricky mares

‘She has been an unbelievable horse for me’: top Irish showjumper retired at 19

Billy Twomey has paid credit to his Olympic partner Tinka's Serenade

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Billy believes there is “quite a lot of truth” in the old adage that you can tell a gelding, but you have to ask a mare…

“[The key] is managing them in the correct way. All horses are different. Anastasia was ridiculously careful and she needed to build up confidence to get to a situation where she was sure she could jump the biggest classes so she took time to produce. Tinka’s Serenade was a bit special – she could be naughty at times so she needed encouragement in the right way, but when she got to a certain age the naughtiness disappeared and she just got on with her job.”

And Billy’s successful relationships with mares look set to continue as among his current string he has Anastasia’s daughter Pewit Nono, by his great stallion Luidam, who Billy has high hopes for in the future, and Lady Lou, who he was jumping in Florida over the winter.

“I like to think I can deal with the difficult mares and I can meet them half way and try to get the best out of them, but that’s what you try with every horse – stallion, gelding or mare,” says Billy.

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

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

Tokyo may be on hold, but Jennifer Donald can’t wait for the return of Billy Twomey’s Olympic shortlisted gelding, described by his owner as a “studious librarian”

Kimba Flamenco

Age: 11

Breeding: AES, by Je T’Aime Flamenco out of Uttah Van Het Indihof (Heartbreaker)

Owner/breeder: Kim Barzilay

Producer: Emma-Jo Slater

Rider: Billy Twomey

Greatest achievements: won the CSI4* grand prix at Liverpool (2019), the CSIO5* Longines Falsterbo grand prix in Sweden (2018), the CSI4* grand prix on the Spanish Sunshine Tour (2018) and the national grade C championship (2016)

Owner/breeder Kim Barzilay

“When my rider Emma-Jo Slater was pregnant, it seemed a good time to put our great mare Uttah Van Het Indihof in foal and Billy Twomey suggested Je T’Aime Flamenco. He gets his name from being born at my Kimba Farm Stud, by Flamenco, and at home he’s known as Codi, from FlamenCO and InDI.

“Emma does a fantastic job teaching the young horses the ropes and we knew Codi was special from his first couple of shows – he didn’t want to touch any fences. He’s a bit like a librarian – he always seems quite studious, so if he thought he’d done something wrong in the ring, he’d probably go home and Google it to see how he could have done it better.

“Billy had already had his London 2012 ride Tinka’s Serenade and King George V Gold Cup winner Lizziemary from me and he got in touch to say, ‘I hear your horse is going well!’ The idea was possibly that he would be sold, but we were enjoying ourselves so much I decided we should actually do the VIP bit at these nice shows and it’s been wonderful.

“Of course, there are days when he has a pole or a time-fault and you think, ‘Why am I doing this? This horse is worth a lot of money and probably ought to be sold,’ but seeing him win the Falsterbo grand prix was the proudest moment.

“Receiving the letter in January that we’d been shortlisted for the Olympics with our home-bred was a dream come true – who knows whether he’ll actually go, but that was the start of the dream.”

Rider Billy Twomey

“Kim and I have a 15 to 20 year connection, starting with Tinka’s Serenade, then Lizziemary, so anything special she has, she tends to earmark for me. Codi had been winning with Emma-Jo up to 1.30m/1.40m as a seven-year-old so there was obviously potential there and he was always winning – his results were excellent.

“He’s a super-careful horse, who doesn’t want to knock down the fences and when you’re clear in a grand prix, you know you have a good chance of winning because he’s so competitive and naturally very quick. He is completely easy just like his sire, who I also rode, but in another way he’s very sensitive to handle – the nicer you are to him, the nicer he is to you.

“He’s always been super-brave – he grows into himself in the big grass rings and he’s never been bothered by water jumps or any other unusual fences, so it’s just been about giving him experience at the higher level. We’re in funny old times, but the Olympics is still the ultimate goal.”

Producer Emma-Jo Slater

“I felt so proud to watch Billy ride Codi to second place in the five-star grand prix in Wellington, Florida, before lockdown. It was so exciting – I had goosebumps. Billy’s polished him up a bit of course, but he still looked like the same old Codi.

“He’s always been such an easy horse – he was good to break-in and all through his novice classes, he just seemed to jump double clears so easily. With some horses you feel a bit worried about stepping up a level, but never with him.

“The only thing he didn’t like was being clipped – he’s a bit sensitive just like his mum, you couldn’t use a hard brush on her at all.

“Qualifying for the Foxhunter final at HOYS in 2016 was a real stand-out moment.”

Ref Horse & Hound; 9 July 2020

Welcome to the sixth weekly episode of The Horse & Hound podcast, in which we chat to top showjumper Billy Twomey on a range of topics including ways to get the best out of mares; our news team discuss the key stories of the week including the latest developments in the return of equestrian sport at all levels and the impact that a break in Riding for the Disabled services has had; and vet Ricky Farr talks about choosing the right tests to help diagnose and monitor a sick horse

Episode six of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our exciting new audio service available exclusively every Thursday morning for our H&H Plus subscribers, is now live. We would love to hear your feedback on this week’s episode, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

In an exciting development, we have decided, for a limited time, to make each episode available for all H&H fans to listen to, 24hrs after its early release to our H&H Plus members. Search for “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your prefered podcast app and click subscribe to be notified about each new episode. This will allow more listeners to make The Horse & Hound Podcast an essential part of their week on Friday morning.

In episode six, our magazine editor Pippa Roome chats to Irish Olympic showjumper Billy Twomey about his career to date, how he felt about competing at the London Olympics, whether he prefers mares, geldings or stallions, his interest in breeding and how he has got the best out of some of the extremely talented mares he has ridden during his career so far.

Our Editor-in-Chief Sarah Jenkins joins our podcast host H&H’s magazine editor Pippa Roome and senior news writer Lucy Elder to chat about this week’s top stories including what’s happening as UK equestrian sport gets underway, H&H’s plans for reporting the earliest competitions, and how charities have been affecting by the coronavirus lockdown.

We also hear from equine vet Ricky Farr MRCVS of Farr & Pursey Equine, who this week is talking about ways to monitor a sick horse, including a clever mobile test that can be used in the field or stable yard to track levels of infection.

We hope you will enjoy it.

H&H Plus podcast: episode six

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What did you think of this week’s podcast? Let us know by emailing pippa.roome@futurenet.com

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Irish showjumper Billy Twomey has won some of the highest accolades in the sport, from the Rolex Top Ten Final to a hat-trick of grands prix wins at CSI4* Liverpool. But none of this success came without a phenomenal string of horses and in a recent webinar for British Breeding in association with Stallion AI Services, Billy picked out just a few of his all-time greats.

When it comes to sourcing future talent he says: “I look for all the raw materials – they need to have a good temperament and be careful — they need to be almost scared of the fences, they need to be that careful these days — and obviously if they have the scope to get over the big jumps, that’s important too. But a lot of horses can develop that with the right training and the right production — as long as they’re fighters for you in the ring.”

1. Anastasia: the mare who ended up really successful

A chestnut mare by Argentinus with whom Billy won some good classes including the CSI3* in St Tropez in 2007 and on the Spanish Sunshine Tour in 2006.

“I worked for Michael Whitaker for four years, then I met my long-time owners Sue and Eddie Davies and I eventually moved to Cheshire with them,” says Billy. “There I managed to get some really good horses in Conquest and Anastasia. Anastasia was the first of the Davies’ purchases for me and she ended up really successful.”

2. Tinka’s Serenade: the mare who won and won

Now aged 23 and producing some tremendous offspring, this chestnut daughter of Tinka’s Boy x African Drum took Billy to two championships, major grands prix wins and to success on Nations Cup teams.

“On the back of those two horses, Sue and Eddie purchased Luidam then Tinka’s Serenade,” says Billy. “She took me to the Olympics in London then WEG in Kentucky where she finished 10th. But honestly she took some time to get going in the beginning – I think it was about a year it took for me to find the key to her, as it were. But when I got her, she won and won and won. She was hugely successful, winning grands prix all over the world, and was consistent in a lot of championships.”

3. Luidam: the clear round machine

The Guidam stallion, who died three years ago at the age of 24, won the CSI5* grand prix in La Baule and was part of the winning Irish Nations Cup team in Aachen in 2010.

“Luidam was my first special, special horse the Davieses had bought for me,” says Billy. “He was a horse you could count on – he was a clear round machine. Again he was very successful, he won the grands prix in La Baule, he won Nations Cup in Aachen, St Gallen and Dublin. He had a super temperament as well. He’s left a legacy in his youngstock and he really stamps his stock – that bouncing and bucking when he lands.

“It wasn’t all plain sailing though — the day after he arrived at the Davies’ farm, I told the groom Robbie Jennings to build a course in the sand arena, but he hadn’t measured the distance of the double correctly, so I came into this one-stride double and instead of it being 7.5m, it was about 5m, so he bounced it and ended up getting confused and had a bit of a crash and driving me head first into the sand. I remember Robbie coming running over to me and asking me if I was alright and I said ‘Don’t mind me, just get the horse, quick!’ I was far more concerned about the horse!”

4. Je T’Aime Flamenco: the stallion with mind-blowing talent

The 20-year-old Belgian-bred stallion enjoyed outstanding career with Billy, winning seven grands prix and competing in the European Championships. He now stands with Stallion AI Services in Cheshire and Tullis Matson remembers Billy saying to him seven or eight years ago: “This is a stallion for the future.”

“He was super talented,” says Billy. “I bought him when he was five years of age and I remember the day I tried him, it was just mind-blowing how talented he was that day. He won a lot – the Belfast grand prix, Horse of the Year Show grand prix – he won everywhere. He was really prolific for me. The horse I ride now, Kimba Flamenco, is by Je T’Aime and is a real star. He won his first grand prix when he was eight years of age, so quite early. He was very mature, he wasn’t a spooky horse or a difficult horse.”

Continued below…

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5. Chat Botte ED: a beautiful, mega-talented stallion

This striking chestnut 11-year-old stallion (Casall x Darco) came from Dutch rider Jonny Pals in 2018 and has some good five-star wins under his belt with Billy. He is known as Eddie at home.

“He’s a beautiful looking stallion, as are his youngstock actually – talk about stamping stock, I saw 10 or 15 of his foals and yearlings and they look really like him and they all get this little bit of white everywhere just like him,” says Billy. “He’s a mega-talented horse, a little tricky to ride but I think he’s coming my way and hopefully he can go from strength to strength when we get back competing. But he’s already had very good results — he was second in Ascona five-star grand prix, he won in Dinard and had a good result in Gijon in the Nations Cup. He’s getting there with me, we’re just trying to build a relationship with him. It depends how Covid works out, but I’ll be getting him up to speed and finding out where the shows will be.”

> With thanks to British Breeding and to Stallion AI for the webinar.

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

Ireland’s Billy Twomey claimed the TheraPlate UK Grand Prix on New Year’s Eve at the TheraPlate UK Liverpool International Horse Show for the third time in the five-year history of the show.

Having won Liverpool’s premier class in 2015 and 2016 aboard Diaghilev, the Irish rider rode Kim Barzilay’s Kimba Flamenco this time.

The pair jumped one of only five first-round clears over Alan Wade’s track, which featured tall, airy verticals and some tight striding.

Billy and the 10-year-old son of Je T’Aime Flamenco were fifth to go in the jump-off, which also included the three fastest four-faulters. Jack Whitaker preceded him on Elucar VE, posting an immaculate clear, but his time of 42.87 seconds looked beatable.

Billy and Kimba Flamenco touched the oxer that formed the first part of the double, but it stayed in the cups and they raced home in 40.93 seconds.

Holly Smith and her World Equestrian Games partner Heart’s Destiny were faster, in 39.61 seconds, but they weren’t so lucky with that oxer and it fell.

Italy’s Emanuele Camilli and Jakko had two down, and it was left to Guy Williams to beat Billy. He started at the gallop, but an incredibly tight turn on Cicero II to the red “postbox” vertical was too much and down it went, leaving Billy as the winner.

“He’s a horse who’s always with you and is very fast, so you can set off and give it a go,” said Billy. “I felt I put it up to the riders who were after me in the best way I could.”

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Kimba Flamenco, who has won at CSI5* level, including the Falsterbo grand prix in 2018, was produced by Emma-Jo Slater until he was seven, when Billy took on the ride.

“He’s a very easy horse to train, and is always super-careful,” said Billy, who has a strong team of horses to aim at selection for the Irish team for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Jack Whitaker, 18, finished second, while Holly Smith took third.

Look out for the Liverpool International Horse Show report in the issue of Horse & Hound magazine dated 9 January. 

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

The Irish showjumper on his flexible six-jump course exercise, designed to improve the control of the horse

Aim

I use this training for all of my own horses every week and it has proved to be a useful tool for coaching. This flexible six-jump course exercise can be used in numerous ways and at any level, and is an excellent introduction to jumping a course of fences. The exercise also helps with improving the control of a horse, change of lead, bends and also in particular, preparation for jump-offs.

Every fence in this course is designed to be approached from both sides, each vertical has two poles on cups and two ground lines. Each oxer is square (front and back poles equal height) with ground lines either side and has two poles on cups.

The exercise options

The warm-up

This is a very good introduction to jumping at angles or a sound way to improve jumping at angles. Canter down the left- hand side of the arena towards C. Approach fence four at a nice angle, continuing a figure of eight loop to jump eight on an angle as well (see diagram, right). Change rein and repeat the exercise until you can ride smoothly through all angles.

Course A: 1-8

This training exercise is a solid introduction to jumping a course of fences — it encourages good control and correct riding through bends in particular. Canter to number one with a nice four strides to number two, canter through the bend on the left rein and over number three down the distance, bend on the right rein over the number four two-stride double, then over the number five oxer and six vertical.

Ride the tighter bend over vertical number seven, then canter the distance on the left rein nice and straight over the number eight double.

Course B: 1,2,3,6,7,2,8

This exercise can follow on from the warm-up for more experienced horses, or be a helpful introduction to jump-offs. Canter to jump vertical number one, then a nice four strides down to number two.

Concentrate on jumping with good control down the dog-leg line from three to six and straight onto a second dog-leg line seven to two and finishing over the number eight double.

Young horse exercise

For young horses, you can utilise jumps three and seven in both directions (making sure they have a groundline on each side).

Jump the fences on both reins and approaching from both sides, increasing the height incrementally.

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Tips and pitfalls

• It is really important to keep your horse under control on the approach to the fence and vital to jump in the middle of the fence in these exercises, otherwise it will be harder to alter your distances successfully in preparation for the upcoming fence.
• Do not be tempted to build a massive course for this exercise. Large fences are not necessary — this exercise is all about improving control and learning to ride nicely through bends.
• It is crucial that the set-up of this course of fences is correct — all oxers must be square and there must be groundlines on both sides to allow you to jump the fence from either direction in order to train your horse equally on each rein.

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

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Top showjumping stallion Luidam has died aged 24.

Luidam represented Ireland with Billy Twomeny on numerous occasions, with highlights including forming part of the winning team at three Nations Cups — Dublin 2004, Aachen 2003 and St Gallen 2003.

They also competed at the 2003 European Championships in Donaueschingen and the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen and were shortlisted for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Luidam has also sired many successful progeny on the international circuit.

Billy paid tribute to a “dream horse”.

“Luidam was a horse of a lifetime for me,” he said.

“He made many of my dreams come true.

“I am eternally grateful to Luidam, [and owners] Sue and Eddie [Davies] for the chance to ride such a dream horse.

“I am forever indebted to all three who have played such a major part in my career to date.”

The KWPN stallion, by Guidam, was produced in Britain by John Popely and won the Foxhunter final at the Horse of the Year Show in 1999.

He was bought by the Davies in 2002 and moved to Billy’s yard.

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Billy and Luidam also won the La Baule grand prix in 2003 and came second in the grand prix at the RDS Dublin Horse Show in 2004.

“Luidam – Tiger to us – was a very special boy and we had many happy memories that he was key to,” said Sue.

“My fondest memory is the day at Dublin in 2004 when he jumped double clear in the Nations Cup and was part of the team who retained the Aga Kahn Trophy.

“His progeny will prove how good a horse he was. He will be sadly missed.”

Luidam’s offspring include Kent Farrington’s multiple CSI5*-winning mare Blue Angel, Evli Luikka, currently partnered by Finland’s Marina Ehrnrooth, and rising star Ginger Pop.

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

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British-based Irishman Billy Twomey and Diaghilev produced a breath-taking round to win the Equestrian.com grand prix at the Equestrian.com Liverpool International Horse Show for the second year running.

“My horse brought some decent form to the show; he’s very competitive and always looks for the next fence. He was sharp everywhere tonight, particularly to the third fence,” said Billy.

With a high class 10-strong field contesting the jump-off, and three major turns to pull off, it was always going to be a case of who dares wins. Billy was spot on everywhere, with a full on gallop to the last securing a 1.5sec winning margin over William Whitaker and Utamaro D Ecaussines (Uta).

Interestingly, after Diaghilev lowered two fences in the speed class on the first day, Billy entered him in the puissance a few hours later, where the Vangelis S 13-year-old easily soared over 1.9m (6’3”) before calling it a day.

“I gave him a day off yesterday and he’s repaid me with a super performance tonight,” concluded Billy.

William Whitaker was equally delighted with Uta, who was a former Nations Cup and championship ride for Joe Clee.

“He’s a fairly new horse for me. This was our first major outing and he didn’t lower a rail in his five rounds.

“He knows what he’s doing and we just got stuck in,” said William.

Speed king is show’s leading rider

With two wins in speed classes already to his credit at the show riding SL Brazonado and Cayenne WZ, German rider Felix Hassmann became the undisputed speed king and leading rider of the show as SL Brazonado registered a second victory in the 1.45m competition on the final afternoon.

The Munster rider only had to crouch forward and drop his inside hand and his Brazilian-bred neat jumping 12-year-old grey curled round to make some very acute turns.

“When I tried him in Brazil six years ago he was then already sharp and unbelievably careful and he loves to jump going forward,” said Felix, who was delighted to register his first winning hat trick at a ranking show.

Continued below…

#Throwback to when… AP McCoy jumped Olympic gold-medallist Big Star

The killer turn that won the H&H Foxhunter Championship at HOYS

William Funnell: Where are our riders for future Olympic Games? *VIP*

The pace was ramped up still further in a thrilling knockout competition where the victors last time Chloe Aston and Amigo T successfully defended their title by outpacing Guy Williams riding Casper De Muze.

“That was so nerve wracking,” said Chloe.

For a full report on the rest of the show, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 5 January

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

Yesterday’s (25 October) launch of the Equestrian.com Liverpool International Horse Show (31 December-2 January 2017) wasn’t short of the celebrity factor. Grand National-winning jockey Bob Champion led a parade of arond 50 riders, including showjumpers Billy Twomey, Laura Renwick and Geoff Billington, through the city centre ending up at the Echo Arena, where the show will be held at the end of the year. Check out some of the day’s highlights…

The show’s president Nina Barbour sets off with showjumper Billy Twomey, winner of the first Liverpool International Grand Prix on Diaghilev

Parade participants came in all shapes and sizes…

Grand National-winning hero Neptunes Collonge takes centre stage

A bird’s eye view of the action

Excitement builds outside the show’s Liverpool venue

1981 Grand National winner Bob Champion returns to Liverpool, where 35 years ago he won the National on Aldaniti

Representing the British Horse Society…

Nina Barbour’s mount is smartly groomed for the occasion

Geoff Billington gets into the spirit of it…

Geoff Billington

Hacking round Liverpool with Bob Champion, as you do , on a Tuesday morning ?

Pony Club members pose for a photo with Bob Champion

Last year’s show was a huge success, with riders and spectators in agreement about how enjoyable the New Year show was. Find out more about this year’s show >>

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

Billy Twomey topped off a successful 2016 Royal International Horse Show with a win in today’s Longines King George V Gold Cup (31 July).

Last to go of the 13 riders who made it through to the final jump-off, the Irishman and the 10-year-old mare, Lizziemary, produced a clear in a speedy 39.46 seconds to take home the €66,000 (£55,764) purse.

“I’m delighted with her performance, I’ve always felt like she has been knocking at the door but not quite delivered so I’m pleased she has now won this class,” said Billy, who enjoyed a fruitful show and also won Saturday’s Speed Classic title.

“She’s a real chestnut mare and that’s why it has taken a bit longer to get things going with her — it’s nice to have finally got her over the line,” he said of Kim Barzilay’s mare by Cabri D’Elle.

It was Lizziemary’s first time in Hickstead’s international ring and she was totally unfazed by the experience.

“She likes big rings — she’s a big rangey horse and covers the ground well,” Billy added.

The mare was previously ridden by Emma-Jo Slater, who produced both Lizziemary and also Billy’s former top horse Tinka’s Serenade.

Billy’s round wasn’t the fastest of the class however — this was captured by fellow Irish rider Shane Breen (Golden Hawk), who came home in 38.84 seconds but agonisingly had the white gate down.

British hopes in the final round were pinned on both Tom Stockdale and Anna Power (née Edwards).

Tim partnered Marjorie and Clark Glasgow’s Fleur De L’Aube — the horse with whom Tim was longlisted for the Rio Olympics — to finish eventual fifth. They set the pace with a time of 41.91 seconds before Ireland’s Bertram Allen and his experienced grey mare Molly Malone V topped this by 1.66 seconds.

The young Irishman finished fourth behind the USA’s Lillie Keenan (Super Sox) in third and Dutch rider Jan-Wout Van Der Schans (Capetown) in second.

Anna Power and her own 10-year-old gelding Blazer B produced two foot-perfect rounds to finish eventual eighth.

Ben Maher’s ride Diva II picked up an uncharacteristic 16 faults in the first round to put them out of contention, while Guy Williams and Titus also racked up the penalties with 17 first-round faults.

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Olympic showjumper Tinka’s Serenade has been retired.

The 19-year-old mare, ridden by Irish showjumper Billy Twomey, represented Ireland at London 2012.

Billy and Tinka’s extensive list of career highlights includes wins in the Basel grand prix and the Rolex grand prix in Zurich, 2011. They took the leading showjumper of the year at Horse of the Year Show in 2013 and were victorious in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in Paris, France, in 2011.

The combination jumped for their country many times in Nations Cup competitions, in the World Equestrian Games in 2010, the European championships in Madrid in 2011 and they competed as individuals at the London Olympics in 2012.

“She has been an unbelievable horse for me since 2009,” Billy said. “I am very lucky to have had her, and I am very grateful for what she has done for me. Over the years, she just improved and improved.

“She was very head-strong when we first got her, spinning around and doing all sorts of naughty things, but she eventually relaxed and really got into her job the older she got.”

Last year the British-bred daughter of Tinka’s Boy returned to top flight international competition at the age of 18, after taking some time out for breeding via embryo transfer.

The round of embryo transfer failed to take in the recipient mare, but Tinka’s Serenade already had a colt foal, also via embryo transfer, taken straight after the London Olympics. The resulting foal “Delboy”, by Luidam, was born in 2013.

“She is a born fighter, a horse that really rose to the occasion,” added Billy.

“The more atmosphere, noise and things that were going on, the better she was. It really used to lift her. She was very good when the job had to be done, especially in Nations Cups. She jumped a lot of important clear rounds for Ireland, which we are very proud of.

“The Top 10 final is probably the most memorable. It’s the best of the best on that day and she had been in really good form around that time. To win it was really special.”

The likely plan for Tinka’s Serenade now is to do some more embryo transfers during the Spring at the Davies’ Pewit Stud in Cheshire, before spending the majority of her time based with Billy.

Related articles:

• Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos make history
• Billy Twomey is top showjumper at Horse of the Year Show
• What you didn’t know about Tinka’s Serenade

“She jumped clear in the Amsterdam grand prix three weeks ago, and in modern-day showjumping it is pretty unheard of for a horse of that age to still be competing at five-star level competitively,” Billy added.

“She was still winning at 19, and I just thought maybe it was time to not go on any more and finish at the very top with the horse still in really good shape and at the top of her game.

“I want to thank all the people that have helped me with her along the way, the vets, farriers, physios and everyone that has been associated with her, especially the two grooms — Alana Gamble and Kerry Finch — who have looked after her throughout her career.

“Most of all, I would like to thank Sue Davies, my long-term owner, for making it all possible. She has been truly outstanding in giving me the freedom to enable me to do what I wanted to with the mare, and wonderfully supportive in all our ventures together.”

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

An elite showjumping stallion, who made several Nations Cup appearances and came second in the Hickstead Derby, has been put down aged 23.

Give Me Remus, by Grannus and out of Edisa, won more than £55,000 during his showjumping career.

Irish Olympic rider Billy Twomey, and top British team showjumpers Michael Whitaker and Ben Maher all enjoyed international successes riding the 16.2hh dark bay.

Nick Wyatt has owned the stallion, known as Rem at home, since his retirement to stud in 2007. Rem spent his final years with Nick at Woodfalls Stud in Rudgwick, West Sussex.

He was put down last week (23 October) after having had liver failure.

“He was a very special horse,” Nick told H&H. “He has left a big hole and will be missed.

“He was ridden by myself and my daughter after his retirement from competition. We could have jumped him in 1.10 and 1.20s but we decided to retire him on a high — he was in a different league.

“We have a couple of youngsters of his that we’ve kept. He has a nice three-year-old filly who has now been turned away and she should be exciting.

“We also have a five-year-old gelding of his who will start to do some work in the spring.”

Rem’s career highlights include helping the British team secure second place in the Rotterdam Nations Cup under Michael Whitaker in 2001. That year he was also placed second in the Hickstead Derby with Billy Twomey.

Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher began riding Rem in 2005 and the pair won and were placed at several international events. The combination were selected to represent Britain in the Super League at La Baule and Lucerne in 2006.

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

Billy Twomey’s sole clear in a 12-strong jump off earned him the Horse of the Year Show’s leading showjumper of the year title.

It was the second time in three years the Irishman has claimed the £13,200 grand prix, this time partnering Terry Payne’s 12-year-old Diaghilev. Billy was a favourite for the finale, having proved his form throughout the week, winning the five fence challenge on the Vangelis S gelding and also taking the Naylors Equestrian accumulator with Tin Tin.

“The week’s gone brilliant, the horses have performed really well and it’s nice to top it off with a grand prix win,” said Billy. “The horses have come back into form now for whatever reason and hopefully I can continue to kick on with this result. It would be nice to get some World Cup points and perhaps qualify for the World Cup finals. If I can get back into the top 30, then maybe I’ll do some Global Champions Tour shows – that would be my aim.” Billy and his team now head to shows in Oslo and Helsinki for the next few weeks.

The grand prix saw a technical jump-off track from Kelvin Bywater, and Billy was economical throughout to set a midfield lead. The boldest challenge came from last year’s victors Julien Epaillard and Cristallo ALM, who put in the fastest time of the class but at the expense of a rail. Yazmin Pinchen finished best of the Brits in third place, as her Bolesworth grand prix winner Van De Vivaldi laid down the third quickest round with four faults to add.

Billy was previously a victor partnering stallion Je T’Aime Flamenco in 2008 and his mare Tinka’s Serenade in 2013. “HOYS is one of my favourite shows,” Billy added, “It’s an educated crowd and they really get behind the riders.”

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

Billy Twomey’s 2012 Olympic ride Tinka’s Serenade has returned to top flight international competition at the age of 18.

The British-bred chestnut mare by Tinka’s Boy last competed internationally in Hamburg, Germany, in May 2014 before taking some time out for breeding via embryo transfer.

She recently returned to national competition with Billy’s stable jockey Beth Vernon and the World Cup show in Bordeaux, France (6-8 February) marked her return to five-star level where she competed in two of the warm-up classes with the Irishman.

“She’s 18 now so we’ll just have to see how she goes back at this level,” Billy told H&H. “She’s been off for a while now and this was her first real international show back, so we’re taking it easy, but she felt good and jumped alright with just a time-fault in the first class.

“But at this age, if for whatever reason she’s not happy doing it at this level, I expect the owners [Sue and Ed Davies] will decide she’ll retire for breeding.”

Unfortunately this latest round of embryo transfer failed to take in the recipient mare, but Tinka’s Serenade already has a colt foal, also via embryo transfer, taken straight after the London Olympics. The resulting foal “Delboy”, by Luidam, was born in 2013.

Billy and Tinka’s extensive list of career highlights includes wins in the Basel grand prix and the Rolex grand prix in Zurich, 2011, they took the leading showjumper of the year at Horse of the Year Show in 2013 and were victorious in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in Paris, France, in 2011. The combination have represented Ireland many times in Nations Cup competition, in the world championships in 2010, the European championships in Madrid in 2011 and they competed as individuals at the London Olympics in 2012.

Don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (out 12 February) for the full report from the World Cup show in Bordeaux, where Billy’s fellow Irishman Bertram Allen won his second qualifier of the season.

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

A plane-load of elite showjumping horses arrived at Shanghai airport earlier today (Tuesday 3 June) in a historic moment for equestrian sport. This is the first time that foreign horses have been allowed to compete in mainland China after strict quarantine restrictions were lifted.

The horses landed ahead of the inaugural Longines Global Champions Tour (GCT) in China this weekend (6-8 June) and more than 100 local journalists waited through the night to greet the equine arrivals.

China has a growing international showjumping circuit but, until now, foreign riders have had to compete on borrowed horses. Last year, the European Commission and Chinese authorities signed off legislation that allowed for the temporary importation of horses to Shanghai. 

Riders taking part in this leg of the GCT include Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker, Ireland’s Billy Twomey, Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and France’s Kevin Staut. They will compete for a record $2million in prize-money, with a substantial $363,000 going to the winner of the grand prix.

Read all about how the landmark event unfolded in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine (out 12 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

THE Blue Chip Winter Championships is a popular show at a fantastic venue. It runs like clockwork and there is something for everyone.

The grand prix was good and spectators could watch great riders such as Michael Whitaker, Billy Twomey and Tina Fletcher, as well as younger riders coming through. Unfortunately, we older ones got left behind!

The course was technical, especially the last dog-leg double of verticals to an oxer and an upright to finish. I told Michael Whitaker five strides then four, but he reckoned six and five. Afterwards he said he’d gone on my strides. It didn’t help him — he got a time-fault — but I’d better accompany him on an all-expenses paid trip to the World Cup final in France as adviser.

Riders were honoured to have our Olympic course-designer Bob Ellis building here. He did a fantastic job in London. The best team, Britain, won under pressure. But they only had to concentrate on themselves and each other and Bob had to consider everyone — from the world’s best to the less experienced.

I stood by him when the last horse jumped the last fence and I welled up, I could see the relief on his face. He got the right results without destroying any horse or rider. Our riders were rightly honoured at the Palace, but Bob deserved a knighthood, too.

I did the masterclass during Friday’s Gala night. Every other year Kelvin [Bywater, show director] makes the perfect choice — me! I never plan it and do it off the cuff. Although I have ideas, I prefer to play it by ear. And this year, they were a good crowd, listening and taking it all in.

A masterclass has to be show business and I like to ad-lib. Fortunately, I have a degree in bullshit!

Following his leading showjumper win at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) last October, we visited Billy Twomey at his Nottinghamshire home to see how a normal day pans out for the popular Irish rider. Here are some of the behind-the-scenes pictures that we took on the day.

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

Ireland’s Billy Twomey claimed the Horse of The Year Show (HOYS) leading showjumper of the year title with Tinka’s Serenade on Sunday evening.

The 16-year-old mare, who has had many successes for Billy and owner Sue Davies, jumped the fastest of 2 double clears to take the £13,200 winner’s purse.

The 6 combinations with the lowest first round faults progressed into the jump off, with Daniel Neilson (Varo M) coming forward to jump 1st as the fastest 4-faulter.

Both Ellen Whitaker (Arena UK Lando) and young rider rankings leader Chloe Aston (Quiet Easy 4) carried 1 time fault with them into the 2nd phase.

Cian O’Connor (IRE) with Cooper; Frenchman Julien Epaillard (Qarat De La Loge) and Billy Twomey had all produced clears, with Billy winning the advantage of last draw having jumped 4sec inside the optimum time.

The jump off came down to a battle of the Irish. Daniel Nielson held the lead after jumping a quick clear, but with the 4 faults remaining on his sheet. Ellen and Chloe both faulted, leading Cian to opt for a steady clear.

Frenchman Julien Epaillard took all the short cuts, but got too close on a turn back to the Horse of the Year Show vertical to finish on a very quick 4 faults.

“Cian played it safe so I made sure I was clear but a little faster,” said Billy, who was nearly 6sec quicker than his team mate. “I did one turn and I was then careful round the rest of the course.”

It was the 2nd time Billy has won this title, having taken it in 2008 with Je T’aime Flamenco.

“Tinka jumped a clear for the team in Barcelona 2 or 3 weeks ago, so she’s been hitting some form lately,” said Billy

Don’t miss H&H magazine’s special report on all the action from HOYS, on sale Thursday 17 October.

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

Irish showjumper Anthony Condon is moving yards.

After seven years based at Eddie and Sue Davies’ Pewit Hall in Cheshire, where he was stable jockey to Billy Twomey and then ran his own business, he will now ride for Henry and Edna Harding’s Colour Supplies team in Whitchurch, Shropshire.

Anthony said: “My role at Pewit has always been to produce the young horses which would eventually be passed to Billy for him to compete at the highest level. This meant I always had tremendous horses to ride but I was never really going to break into the highest levels of the sport.

“Colour Supplies Showjumping Team have a great breeding program in place, which has meant they have some world class youngsters coming through alongside their established team of international horses. It’s a very exciting opportunity for me and my partner Laura Johnson, who is going to bring on the young horses.

“I have had the best few years of my life at Pewit Hall. I will always be indebted to the team there and would like to thank Eddie and Sue Davies and [their daughter] Janette Chin from the bottom of my heart.”

Anthony plans to continue to train with Billy.

Several of the horses he currently competes for other owners will be making the move with Anthony, including those belonging to Paul and Debs Strafford, Kat Taylor, Nigel Tabour and John and Pat Hales.

Among the horses he is looking forward to riding for the Hardings – who also owned the four-star event horse Ashdale Cruise Master – are Ashdale Luxara and Ashdale Luison.

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

Irish showjumper Billy Twomey has returned to competing after fracturing his back in a “freak accident”.

Billy, who kept the incident quiet until now, had just been cleared to start riding after back surgery to deal with slipped discs last October, when he fell from a youngster.

“The week before my first show back, in a freak accident at home, one of the young horses spooked,” he said on his website today (25 March).

“In what would have nine times out of 10 been a simple spill, I fractured a vertebra in my back, which put me back on the injured list.”

Billy, who “quietly slipped off” to the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour at Oliva Nova last weekend to make his comeback, says that his back “feels brand new” and he is now looking forward to week two of the competition.

Although he usually keeps fans up to date with the latest news on his website, Billy had remained quiet since January as he had “not been sure of how the recovery would go”.

For the full report from Oliva Nova, see this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (28 March 2013)

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

Irish showjumper Billy Twomey is to have surgery for a painful back problem.

Billy, 35, has been suffering with a slipped disc in his lower back.

On his website, Billy said: “I have been maintaining it with injections and have been guided by a number of different specialists including the team at Bolton Wanderers who look after the footballers.

“The time has come to get it sorted once and for all; the operation will happen in Germany and I will be in hospital for about a week and then an intense period of physio will be needed.”

His operation is scheduled for the second week in November. The Nottinghamshire-based rider will be out of action for several weeks after the surgery, but hopes to be back just before Christmas.

Stable jockey Anthony Condon will keep Billy’s horses — including his London 2012 Olympics mount, Tinka’s Serenade — ticking over, he added.

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Irish showjumper Billy Twomey talks to H&H about his feisty London 2012 ride.

Fact file

Stable name: Tinka

Age: 15

Height: 16.2hh

Breed: Anglo European Studbook (AES) mare

Sire: Tinka’s Boy

Dam: Serenade (by Carnaval Drum)

Discipline: showjumping

Rider: Billy Twomey

Owners: Sue & Eddie Davies

Groom: Alana Gamble

Best ever result: Rolex Top Ten champion, Gucci Masters, Paris, 2011

Five things you didn’t know…

1 She’s a fussy eater. One day she will eat mix but not nuts and then the next day vice versa, depending on her mood.

2 Tinka loves being turned out, but will jump out of the field if she’s on her own. She has to be with Charlie B – Billy’s daughter Evie’s pony.

3 She is very sensitive to noise in the warm-up and becomes lit up at public speaker announcements or music, but forgets as soon as she is in the ring.

4 She finished in the top 15 individually at both the last European Championships (Madrid 2011, 15th) and World Equestrian Games (Kentucky 2010, 13th).

5 Tinka was a late developer. It wasn’t until she reached the age of 12 that she started to relax and win the classes Billy always knew she could.

To read the full interview with Billy Twomey about Tinka’s Serenade see 10 August issue of H&H

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Billy Twomey and Denis Lynch will represent Ireland in showjumping at the 2012 London Olympics.

Team manager Robert Splaine and Horse Sport Ireland announced the news this afternoon.

Billy will ride Edwin and Sue Davies’s mare Tinka’s Serenade, while Denis will take Thomas Straumann’s gelding Abbervail van het Dingeshof.

Ireland did not qualify a showjumping team for London but two individual slots were secured by Twomey and Lynch from the Olympic rider rankings.

And their names have now been forwarded to the Olympic Council of Ireland.

Watch the Olympic selection interviews:

Billy Twomey

Denis Lynch

Robert Splaine

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Ireland will be able to field an eventing team at the 2012 Olympics this summer in London after qualifying for three places through the rider rankings.

Camilla Speirs, Mark Kyle and Michael Ryan’s results at the “last-chance event” at Ballindenisk – one of three horse trials running last weekend to give riders an opportunity to win points before the 1 March deadline – secured Ireland’s spaces. Their places were confirmed today by horsesport’s international governing body, the FEI.

The spots are for the nation, not the individual rider, so can actually be given to any individually qualified rider.

In addition Ireland holds first and third position on the reserve rankings – courtesy of Jayne Doherty and Geoff Curran – so has a strong chance of getting a fourth and perhaps a fifth rider into the Games.

If other nations cannot take up their places, their allocation goes to the reserves – for example, Argentina qualified a team for the Olympics at the two-star Pan American Games, but does not yet have a single rider individually qualified for this four-star championship (17 June is the deadline for individual qualification).

Olympic eventing teams consist of three to five riders, with three scores to count – so with only three riders, Ireland would have no score to discard.

Australia (five riders) and the Netherlands (three riders) are the other nations to have qualified an eventing team through the rider rankings.

In showjumping, it has been confirmed that Ireland has two Olympic places for individuals after Denis Lynch and Billy Twomey finished first and second in the rankings.

And in dressage, Britain will be able to field a fourth rider as an individual – alongside our team of three – thanks to the efforts of Richard Davison, who has been hunting down rankings points with Hiscox Artemis.

Ireland is also second on the dressage reserve list through Italian-based Anna Merveldt and Coryolano.

In all, 41 nations have qualified riders for the 2012 Olympic Games. Seven countries – Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the USA – will field full teams in all three disciplines.

FEI press release: full list of nations qualified and links to qualification processes and rankings

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Top Irish showjumper Billy Twomey has received a boost in horsepower ahead of next year’s Olympics, despite being knocked back by Ireland’s Army Equitation School.

The nine-year-old gelding Tin Tin, who was formerly competing with Graham Lovegrove, has been bought by Billy’s long-term owner Sue Davies.

“He’s settling in nicely,” Billy told H&H. “He’s another string to my bow in the run-up to 2012.”

Billy has also recently aquired Special Lux and Wings Sublieme.

Last month the Irish Army rejected a request from team manager Robert Splaine to loan Billy a horse to boost his chances of Olympic qualification.

Ireland failed to qualify a team for 2012, but have a chance of taking two of the three individual places that remain up for grabs until the end of February.

“We fully support the team in its quest for Olympic qualification. But we are unable to supply horses to gain world ranking points, as no suitable ones are available,” an army spokesman told H&H.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (22 December, 2011)

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Top Irish showjumper Billy Twomey have won the Rolex IRJC top 10 final at the Gucci Masters in Paris (2-4 December).

Billy and Tinka’s Serenade, owned by Ed and Sue Davies, became the the Rolex Top Ten Champions.

The competition has the top ten riders in the world go head-to-head over two rounds. The second round is against the clock and all faults count.

“It was a great win, she jumped really well,” said Billy, who is based in Nottingham.

Billy was fault-free in the second round against the clock and won the €58,000 prize ( £49,600). Eric Lamaze was second and Ludger Beerbaum third.

Billy added: “Tinka’s Serenade is good at rollbacks anyway so I knew that was the place to win it – whereas Eric’s horse has got the natural pace.

“It was over quite quickly after that as [last-drawn] Rolf-Goran Bengtsson had the second fence down. I think I was jumping up and down on the podium!

“It’s good to have a different class like that – I was surprised how much interest there was in it. The riders all took it very seriously – it seemed that this was the one they all wanted to win.

“I’m delighted with how my mare performed. It’s a great win for me and everyone involved so I’m very happy.”

Also at the Gucci Masters Hertfordshire based Ben Maher won the CSI***** Prix Le Figaro on Friday (2 December) with 9-year-old gelding Tripple X III

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The tension is mounting here in Madrid. We may still be in the midst of the team competition in the European Showjumping Championships but, from a British and Irish perspective at least, eyes are starting to turn towards the individual competition where Billy Twomey (Tinka’s Serenade) and Nick Skelton (Carlo) currently sit second and third behind leader Carsten-Otto Nagel of Germany with the wonderful grey mare Corradina.

But, tempting as it is to daydream at this early stage — the individual final is on Sunday — there’s still plenty at stake in the team contest, the riders’ first priority.

The first round of the Nations Cup on Thursday caused seismic shifts on the leader board as the riders faced a 40degree furnace in the Club De Campo. The water jump at fence nine caused almost 50% of the 67 combinations to fault. Discussions are being held between the course-designer and the technical delegate as to whether they can change the colour of the take-off board (currently white, sitting on a light-coloured surface) for tomorrow’s second round over the same track.

While the French team dominated in the first leg of the competition yesterday, three forceful clear rounds from the Dutch riders have spun them straight to the top of the standings.

“As the first to go for the team, it was very important I had a clear round today,” said the Netherlands’ senior team member Eric van der Vleuten, whose 23-year-old son Mikael is also on the team.

Germany now lies second with the French cascading down the rankings to third – with overnight leader Olivier Guillon (Lord De Theize) down to ninth – while Great Britain, tantalisingly, is within snapping distance of a medal in fourth place after some solid results today.

The 10-year-old Contender gelding Carlo has yet to touch a pole for Nick Skelton in Madrid.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with him,” said Nick. “It was a big course, not overly-technical, but it’s hot and he’s a nervy horse. He’s jumped well all year.”

But Ben Maher (Tripple X III) and John Whitaker (Peppermill) both made a splash at the water in otherwise impeccable rounds.

“There’s not a lot to the boards so the horses are not getting a lot of height – usually Tripple X is a great water jumper,” said Ben.

At least the wall, through which John and Peppermill crashed yesterday, held no problems this time around for the Yorkshireman. A disappointed Guy Williams described his 12 faults with Titus as “a disaster”.

“We’re dropping back a little bit now, but we still believe we can win,” said a positive Ben.

Ireland is back in seventh, although the mood there remains equally upbeat.

“We’re still in the hunt but need to improve tomorrow — it’s all about the team at the moment,” said Billy Twomey. “I’m feeling the pressure a bit, but my horse is jumping so well and I just hope to keep jumping the clear rounds.”

Tomorrow, the top 10 teams return for the final round of the team competition and medals will be decided. Stay tuned for the final outcome…

Top 10 team standings:

1, Netherlands (7.42); 2, Germany (10.41); 3, France (15.95); 4, Great Britain (17.46); 5, Belgium (17.78); 6, Sweden (18.74); 7, Ireland (30.12); 8, Switzerland (31.66); 9, Spain (33.53); 10, Portugal (36.21).

Top 10 individual standings:

1, Carsten-Otto Nagel (Corradina), GER; 2, Billy Twomey (Tinka’s Serenade), IRL; 3, Nick Skelton (Carlo), GB; 4, Gregory Wathelet (Copin Van De Broy), BEL; 5, Gerco Schroder (Eurocommerce New Orleans), NED; 6, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (Ninja La Silla), BEL; 7, Jeroen Dubbeldam (BMC Van Grunsven Simon), NED; 8, Janne-Friederike Meyer (Cellagon Lambrasco), GER; 9, Olivier Guillon (Lord De Theize), FRA; 10, Luciana Diniz (Winningmood), POR.

Don’t miss full reports, comments and pictures in next week’s Horse & Hound, out 22 September.

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Irish showjumpers Billy Twomey and Denis Lynch, and French rider Simon Delestre were all disqualified from the penultimate leg of the Global Champions Tour in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday following hypersensitivity tests on their horses’ legs.

Following tests, which include veterinary examinations and the use of a thermographic camera, all three riders’ horses — Twomey’s Romanov, Lynch’s All Inclusive NRW and Delestre’s Vancouver DML — were deemed unfit to compete.

In a statement the International Equestrian Federation stated that although the horses had been disqualified there was “no indication of malpractice”.

• What is hypersensitivity?

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Billy Twomey is currently enjoying great success on the international showjumping circuit with a clutch of grade prix victories.

Find out why H&H showjumping editor Jennifer Donald believes he is being so successful.

Don’t miss H&H’s exclusive interview with Billy Twomey in the current issue of H&H magazine (2 June, 2011)

Ireland’s Billy Twomey won his first Global Champions Tour grand prix on Saturday with Je T’Aime Flamenco.

Competing in Valencia, Spain, 34-year-old Billy was the fastest of three treble clears to claim the 92,000euro first prize with Sue Davies’ 11-year-old bay stallion.

“The horse was just fantastic, he seemed to go better in each round,” said Billy. “I’ve been to a lot of these Global Champions Tours and it’s nice to finally get one in the bag. I’m absolutely delighted.”

Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum finished less than a second behind in second with Gotha FRH and the Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten in third with VDL Groep Verdi.

Ireland’s Denis Lynch finished fifth with Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof after picking up a time-fault in an otherwise clear second round.

Britain’s Guy Williams withdrew Depardieu Van’t Kiezelhof when the eight-year-old gelding picked up a very small over-reach injury before the class.

Results:

• Je T’Aime Flamenco (B Twomey), IRL
• Gotha FRH (L Beerbaum), GER
• VDL Groep Verdi (M van der Vleuten), NED
• Cedric (L Kraut), USA
• Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof (D Lynch), IRL
• Sabrina 327 (M Ehning), GER

See next week’s H&H for full reports.

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The final qualifier for the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final was won by Ireland’s Denis Lynch, thus earning him a place in the prestigious final in Leipzig, Germany, next month.

Competing in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, in the last round of the Western European League series, Denis and the 11-year-old gelding Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof produced a determined round to head a formidable 17-horse jump-off.

“It’s my very first World Cup win — I’ve been trying to do this for the past 15 years and I’ve been placed plenty of times but I’ve never come out on top, so it feels really good,” said Denis.

Following Sunday’s competition, the top 18 qualifiers from the Western European League were confirmed and included one British rider (Michael Whitaker) and two Irishmen (Billy Twomey and Denis Lynch):

• Kevin Staut (FRA)
• Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER)
• Rolf Goran Bengtsson (SWE)
• Billy Twomey (IRL)
• Ludger Beerbaum (GER)
• Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP)
• Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED)
• Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE)
• Simon Delestre (FRA)
• Philipp Weishaupt (GER)
• Christian Ahlmann (GER)
• Luciana Diniz (POR)
• Denis Lynch (IRL)
• Lars Nieberg (GER)
• Harrie Smolders (NED)
• Pius Schwizer (SUI)
• Marco Kutscher (GER)
• Michael Whitaker (GB)

Two extra riders, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Edwina Alexander (AUS) have also qualified, while defending champion Marcus Ehning (GER) will also compete.

Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound (out 7 April) for the full report.

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Ben Maher and Robin Hood W showed they were back to their best when finishing second in the World Cup qualifier in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sunday.

The 13-year-old gelding had been out of action for five months and had only recently returned to international competition with Ben, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Sunday.

“Today’s course was one of the biggest grand prix tracks I’ve seen for a long while and it played to my horse’s advantage because that’s the way he likes it,” said Ben.

Last to go in the seven-horse jump-off, Ben and Robin Hood W, who he owns in partnership with Mike and Emma Phillips, finished 2sec outside Germany’s Marcus Ehning’s (Noltes Kuchengirl) winning time.

“We decided to give him a longer break and he’s come back in flying form now.

“His eyes were on stalks a bit in the grand prix on Friday and I think ‘surprised’ is the best way to describe how he felt!” a delighted Ben told H&H. “But it’s very exciting for me — it’s great to have Robin back.”

It was also a superb show for Ireland’s Billy Twomey. Riding his brilliant mare Tinka’s Serenade, he won Friday’s grand prix and a two-phase on Saturday.

See full report in next week’s H&H (10 February).

Picture by Katya Stuppia/FEI

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Irish showjumper Billy Twomey has broken into the world’s top 10 showjumpers for the first time.

Billy appears at number nine in the official Rolex World Jumping Rankings.

He joins fellow Irish jumper Denis Lynch, who is at number seven.

“I have a couple of very capable horses at the moment, and of course this is also the reason why I have been able to win enough points for my first top ten position,” said Billy.

“I’d like to thank all the people who have helped me — my owners, sponsors and supporters, I’d also like to thank the Irish chef d’equipe Robert Splaine for giving me the opportunity to compete at top class shows.”

Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Walsh added: “This is a significant achievement by Billy. For such a small country to now have two riders in the world’s top 10 is amazing.”

France’s Kevin Staut currently leads the individual Rolex World Rankings.

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More than 750 people visited Towerlands Park in Braintree, Essex on Tuesday (17 November) to watch two of the world’s top show jumpers share their expertise at a British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) training event.

The crowds were treated to demonstrations from the former European show jumping champion and 2009 Team GBR rider, Peter Charles, and Billy Twomey who is one of Ireland’s leading international riders.

The day gave spectators an insight into their personal training techniques, working with seven of Britain’s most notable talents — Dan Neilson, Tim Page, Joe Davison, Graham Lovegrove, Nicole Pavitt, Paul Barker and James Billington.

BSJA chairman of training Katrina Moore said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people supporting the event and taking such an active interest in our training programmes.

“We look forward to building on this event for next year, and would like to thank everybody who made it possible, especially Peter and Billy.”

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Billly Twomey claimed a grand prix win for Ireland on the final night of the diamond jubilee Horse of the Year Show.

Six of the 23 starters went clear to go forward to the jump-off, five Brits and Irish rider Billy.

Ben Maher went clear on his opener with Robin Hood W, only to have his time beaten immediately by Michael Whitaker (Wonami Van Den Aard). Billy came next and went 0.23sec faster again with his own eight-year-old stallion J’Taime Flamenco. The following three riders – Robert Smith (Kalusha), Laura Renwick (Limelight De Breve) and Tim Stockdale (Fresh Direct Corlato) – all collected four faults each, handing the win to Billy.

“He’s only young and will get handier as he gets more experience,” said Billy, who was recording his fourth win at the show. “Because of his age, I’m not planning on doing too many World Cup qualifiers with him this winter.”

Ellen Whitaker, who had thrilled the crowd the previous evening by finishing second in the puissance, claimed the Zinc Management speed horse of the year title with Kanselier, beating Laura Renwick and Beluga by over 1sec.

Paul Barker won the day’s first international class, the two-phase Grandstand classic, with Elegant C.

The last national championship of the show was won by Phillip Miller, who produced the only double clear of the grade C final with Di and Pennie Cornish’s Univeau, from Laura Renwick and Roller Coaster II.

The now 17-year-old New York Spritzer proved he’s lost none of his winning style by partnering Roberta Roe to victory in the myhorseclub.com leading junior show jumper of the year final.

Don’t miss H&H’s special report from HOYS, on sale Thursday 16 October

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Cheshire-based Irish show jumper Billy Twomey has returned home after suffering a horrific fall at Grobbendonk CSI*** in Belgium on 25 April, which resulted in his promising ride Pikap being destroyed.

Unconfirmed reports say it appears the eight-year-old stallion broke a bone in his leg on taking off over a jump and then fell on top of his rider.

Billy, 31, is thought to have been unconscious for around 40min and underwent a series of tests before being released from hospital on Sunday.

Pikap, a son of Kannan, was owned by Sue Davies and was a finalist in the 2007 Horse of the Year Show seven-year-old final.

He had been making his mark on the international circuit and was one of the horses Billy rode at the British Open championships in April.

Billy’s stable jockey Anthony Condon said: “Billy has been released from hospital and has not broken any bones. He is, however, very upset about the loss of this very special horse.”

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Hard as the home contingent tried, Ireland again ruled the roost on the penultimate day of the Unex Masters.

The spectators who packed Towerlands were already in festive mood after the Shetland Grand National and a demonstration by Geoff Billington. And when four of the seven starters reached the fifth round of the Masters and jumped off for £3,900, the atmosphere in this winner-takes-all class was superb.

Cian O’Connor jumped a great round on Complete, but his fellow Irishman Billy Twomey was quicker at the start and sneaked ahead with the British-bred mare, Tinka’s Serenade. This proved enough when Tim Gredley (Toklund) and crowd favourite Vicky Tulloch (Soliegette) both hit the second part of an enormous double.

Billy may have been on numerous Irish teams, but this was his first senior Masters victory. He was delighted with Tinka’s Serenade, who was bought from Kim Barzilay just before the Horse of the Year Show.

“This is a seriously good horse. She never touched a fence,” he said.

The home contingent had better luck earlier in the day. Nicole Pavitt started the ball rolling with her second win of the show, this time in a speed class on Amaryllis Van De Heffinck.

“She’s the best horse I’ve ever sat on,” said the Sussex-based teenager.

Then Ben Maher repeated his 2006 topscore win with a fabulous round on a relatively new ride, Pablo V. This grey never looked like faulting en route to a score that put him well clear of his rivals.

The riders who travelled to the show from continental Europe had performed well but without success until today’s jump-off class. Only eight could go clear over a tough first-round course and Dutch visitor Joost Martens then produced an untouchable round — he and his mare Presly won by a cool 5sec.

“She is quite quick,” said Joost, with masterly understatement.

The day’s other two classes were both open to amateur riders. Tony Pearson and Tender Moment were much too quick for their rivals in the speed class and it was only the final fence in the grand prix that spoiled the Buckinghamshire-based rider’s chance of a double.

The honours went to Kent after Charlotte Foreman flew round on her new ride, Kor II, to take the £600 prize. Charlotte, who makes her living through selling horses, intends to keep this 14-year-old.

“I haven’t had him long, so these classes were ideal for getting to know him, but I’m hoping to try bigger things next year,” she said.

Read the full results

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Helen Tredwell won the closing grand prix at Addington’s Premier Show on her little mare Opportunity B in front of a full house with commentary provided by Nick Brooks-Ward.

Twelve of the 55 starters provided a thrilling jump-off, with the opening round from Simon Davies on Rolette setting the standard. Charlotte Platt edged Paulien into a brief lead, but they had to concede to Helen and 11-year-old “Oppy”.

Billy Twomey was celebrating after taking the winter B and C Hickstead qualifier on Allegro, while his stable jockey Anthony Condon headed the BEF Young Riders class on Killy Jones. The second RIHS ticket went to John Renwick on Twister X.

Geoff Luckett headed both the dynamic B and C (Dottie Z) and winter Grade C qualifiers (Sinault). Kent-based Charlotte Foreman brought Alimo to the fore in the Blue Chip Performance qualifier, while Sophie Tobin captured the accumulator on Top Tack Unicento.

Read this report in full with photos, plus reports from Bordeaux World Cup, Arena UK, Patchetts EC, Blewbury, Cresswellshawe, Longwood, Quob Stables, ExeterEC, Solihull and The Hand EC in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (15 February, ’07) – the first of three show special issues

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