Britain’s Tom McEwen and Brookfield Danny De Muze clinched the prestigious seven-year-old World Championship in the Le Lion d’Angers results last week (15-19 October), while the six-year-old class was awarded to Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Tara Van Het Leliehof.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Tom was in second place after the cross-country with Chloe and John Perry and Alison Swinburn’s Irish Sports Horse by I’m Special De Muze. A clear showjumping round elevated them into first place after a rail cost long-time leaders Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Helios the win – and the Belgian rider a double victory.

“I felt we made a few mistakes on Thursday in the dressage, but he was brilliant yesterday and jumped foot-perfect today. He’s a very modern-day sport horse. He’s got a great gallop and a fantastic jump so for me he’s the full package,” said Tom.

Lara and the Belgian warmblood Tara Van Het Leliehof were second after the dressage in the six-year-old Le Lion d’Angers results. They rose to pole position after producing a clear cross-country and first-phase leaders Julia Krajewski and Ajana fell two fences from home.

The pair added just 0.4 of a time-penalty in the showjumping to triumph. It was Lara’s first victory at Le Lion after almost 20 appearances at these championships.

“It’s incredible – you work so hard for that. I knew the horse was exceptional, but there’s a difference between knowing it and doing it. It’s the judges liking your horse, a bit of luck on the course, and so many things you can’t control. It’s a sweet victory and I think she’s a superstar for the future,” said Lara.

Another competitor to enjoy a successful weekend was Ireland’s Ian Cassells who finished second with Rutland Flamenco in the six-year-old class and third with Noa W in the seven-year-old class.

US rider Hallie Coon and Tykillen Tango rounded out the six-year-old podium, while best of the Brits in this class were Max Warburton and Monbeg Condor, who rose from 18th after dressage to finish fourth.

Le Lion d’Angers results

Seven-year-olds

• Tom McEwen and Brookfield Danny De Muze (GBR)
• Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Helios (BEL)
• Ian Cassells and Noa W (IRL)

Six-year-olds

• Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Tara Van Het Leliehof (BEL)
• Ian Cassells and Rutland Flamenco (IRL)
• Hallie Coon and Tykillen Tango (USA)
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Not many horses have jumped round Badminton and Burghley then gone on to achieve grade A status as a showjumper. But 17-year-old superstar Drumbilla Metro is breaking the mould and at Hickstead’s forthcoming Al Shira’aa Derby meeting (20-23 June), the “barely 15hh” gelding and regular rider Simon Grieve will be making their debut in the show’s iconic speed Derby.

The Irish-bred son of Metropole, out of a Touchdown mare, has been owned by Merna Merrett since she bought him as a four-year-old and she describes “Splash” as a “very special little horse”. He is one of two “horses of a lifetime” she’s been fortunate enough to own, the other being five-star showjumper Lammy Beach who has been a star performer for Holly Smith, William and Jim Whitaker and now Isabel Saywell, but was originally produced by Di Lampard.

“Dreaming of going to Badminton and Burghley was enough but then to go to Horse of the Year Show and win a class, then to London Olympia and win were just beyond what I ever imagined,” Merna tells H&H.

Both hugely successful horses were sourced by Vere Phillipps.

Badminton final scores

“We’ve had several horses from Vere,” Merna continues. “Splash was four and Vere had not had him for very long and his wife Clea had been riding him. She said when she got off him, she was always very surprised when she hit the ground because he felt much bigger than he really was, which is literally just over 15hh – he’s tiny.”

Drumbilla Metro: “I don’t think any of us dreamt he’d go as far as he did”

Merna originally purchased the prospective eventer for her daughter Catherine, who Merna describes as having “a very good eye” having also picked out Lammy Beach.

“I don’t think any of us dreamt he’d go as far as he did though,” says Suffolk-based Merna, who met Simon Grieve through local coach Debbie Edmundson, who had completed one novice event on Splash before spotting his potential and suggesting Simon took over producing the exciting youngster.

The duo were selected for Le Lion d’Angers young horse championships in 2014 when Splash was seven, where the likes of Tom McEwen’s double Olympic medallist Toledo De Kerser finished on the podium.

“He’s just gone on from there really,” says Merna. “He did a lot of three-stars – as they were in those days [now four-star] – and didn’t have cross-country penalties, that’s just not what he did, and he was always a very good showjumper, which is understandable given his breeding.”

From Badminton and Burghley to grade A status

After moving up to four-star level, they narrowly missed out on Badminton qualification at their first attempt, but made their debut at the sport’s premier event in 2018, also adding Burghley to their illustrious CV.

“Simon was absolutely beside himself to ride there,” says Merna, who takes immense pride and joy watching her horses compete. “Then we went to Badminton again the next year and he just wasn’t quite right so Simon pulled him up, sensibly. He never really wanted to go eventing after that, but the good news is that he has another job now that he absolutely loves and he’s now a grade A showjumper.

“He’s quite a grumpy little soul – Simon has a wonderful groom called Maggie, who Splash adores, but he’s not always keen on other people! But he and Simon have such a lovely understanding,” says Merna.

As well as their recent successes in the showjumping world, Leicestershire-based Simon and Drumbilla Metro have also contested Hickstead’s eventers’ challenge twice and after some warm-up classes on grass at Bramham this weekend (8-9 June), Hickstead’s speed Derby is the next big goal for this remarkable team.

“Simon has always wanted to do the speed Derby,” says Merna, who revealed some expert tips from Michael Whitaker have helped Simon and Splash increase their speed over the poles. “I’ll certainly be going to Hickstead to watch.

“He’s a lovely little horse and because he’s so small, he loves running on any ground. He loves Hickstead – he just has to go a bit faster!”

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Top British event rider Piggy March on the ups and downs of her trip to the young horse World Championships in France

I’ve just returned from the young horse World Championships at Le Lion d’Angers, which has long been a favourite event of mine. This year was no exception with brilliant owners out there and a couple of lovely horses who are exciting for the future.

It was the first time I’ve made the trip abroad off my own back rather than with the British team since Brexit. The unknown aspect contributed to the stress – the French end is so badly signed, we spent an extra 90 minutes driving around – which wouldn’t be an issue for experienced travellers. But the fact so much time is wasted isn’t good for anyone and is detrimental to horse welfare.

If horses must wait for three hours for a cursory vet check and the stamping of a carnet, there needs to be a safe area where they can leave the lorry and walk around, which isn’t currently allowed.

Overall, the new rules added five or six hours to travel time, which is so frustrating. I hope it’s a work in progress and can improve – to go abroad is always such an exciting adventure. I also hope Britain can keep putting on educational events for young horses, so the need for foreign trips isn’t too great.

The other aspect of Le Lion which was disappointing was that the dressage judging felt uneven between Thursday and Friday; the competitors were all talking about it.

Andrew Bennie, president of the seven-year-old ground jury, is one of the best eventing ground jury members, with a positive approach and a realistic understanding of event horses. He will reward potential and a correctly trained and ridden horse, which keeps athletic horses with the necessary blood for five-star in the mix beside more dressage types.

He had my two horses 2% apart, which I felt was correct, but the other judges were more negative about my horse on Thursday. Discrepancies included a 5.5 and a nine for a 10m circle. They were giving low marks for poorer work, which by the end of Friday they were forgiving.

I’d certainly find it hard to be a judge and I’m not usually one to make a fuss about this, but five of the top 10 horses came from the second half of Friday, which feels unbalanced. There used to be a lot of discussion about the emotion of Friday afternoon sending marks up, but this has largely disappeared recently. I hope this was a one-off and judges can continue to hold a standard. It was still a great event and the young horses gain valuable experience with the big crowds.

It was the first time I’ve been at Le Lion since the dressage and showjumping have been on a surface, which makes it fairer when it’s wet, rather than the later horses performing on cut-up grass. It used to be that showjumping clear at Le Lion moved you up at least five places but my two moved up one and three. Either we had a field of very strong jumpers or being on the surface played a part there.

Congratulations to the Prices

A huge well done to Tim Price not only for winning Maryland five-star, but for all his autumn success, and to his wife Jonelle on her Pau win. That they are numbers one and two in the world is a testament to them – they’re unbelievable competitors and fantastic people. Both are at the top of their game as riders and achieving success on a range of horses.

Jonelle must have felt a little flat having given Tim the ride on Maryland winner Coup De Coeur Dudevin, but we have to go with gut feeling on those decisions and what a boost that she was on top again at Pau.

Time out

It’s refreshing to get to the end of the year and step off the hamster wheel of constant travel. I enjoy looking for new, young horses and being able to produce the horses without the pressure of an event.

It’s a real focus of mine to be aware of what can make your horse a better eventer. I don’t hunt every season for the love of it – I spend so much time on a horse that I don’t particularly want to get muddy and wet for hours on the hunting field – but it can make a massive difference to horses, hardening them up, educating them, improving their footwork, balance and mindset as you cross unprepared country.

● What do you enjoy about winter? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 3 November

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FEI WBFSH World Breeding Eventing Championship for Young Horses, Le Lion d’Angers, France, 15–18 October

Germany’s riders showcased their potential, landing both the six- and seven-year-old titles. Le Lion is renowned as a Petri dish for future Olympians, with the best of this year’s cohort set to return to France for Paris 2024.

Sophie Leube isn’t yet a star on the formidable German team, but she showed her mettle here with peerless performances in each phase to triumph in the seven-year-old CCI3*-L on Sweetwaters Ziethen TSF on 27.6.

The Abendtanz-sired Trakehner stallion, owned by Sweetwater Stud in Bulgaria, was unlucky not to be among last year’s medals – he slipped on atrocious going in the showjumping. However, an assured round on the new sand surface ensured a copybook performance this time.

“He didn’t want to touch a thing – he knew what he had to do and he did it,” said Sophie, 33. “I’ve had him since he was four and he’s never jumped a fence with another rider. He’s a stallion who wants to show off, yet he’s always relaxed and listening – he’s a lot of fun.”

The silver and bronze flip-flopped on the final day between two Frenchmen, Donatien Schauly (Dgin Du Pestel Mili) and Nicolas Touzaint, who dropped to third when Diabolo Menthe lowered a pole. But the most striking charge through the jumping phases came from Briton Alex Bragg, who was 16th and nearly eight penalties adrift in the dressage on the Nuttalls’ Ardeo Premier. He was one of only three to finish on his dressage score, securing overall fourth.

“My horse is as green as grass, he moved up to intermediate only two months ago,” said Alex. “It’s not that he can’t do the fancy dressage moves, but he’s off the pace because he’s immature and we’ve taken him slowly. I felt confident he’d jump double clear.”

Britain’s six runners enjoyed mixed fortunes. Two caught the eye in the dressage – Laura Collett (Moonlight Charmer), sixth on 31.4; and Ros Canter, seventh on Izilot DHI on 31.5. The latter, last year’s national six-year-old champion, bounced out of the startbox with his usual panache, but incurred three refusals at different skinnies due to greenness. His time will surely come. Moonlight Charmer breezed round to hold fourth overnight.

“He started green over all the undulations but finished confidently – he’s very honest,” said Laura – but their medal hopes evaporated when the horse was sadly spun the next day. Alex endured a nervous moment when the Irish-bred Ardeo Premier was also held at the inspection, but survived to jump an impeccable clear in the showjumping. Cross-county problems were spread out, with the offset hedges at 17ab proving influential as well as the twisty combinations at the first water (7abc) and ditches to corner (10abc). A third of the field failed to complete, but a quarter posted a clean sheet.

Klimke’s fourth Le Lion winner

Long-time leader Tom McEwen narrowly failed to frank his brilliant displays in the first two phases of the six-year-old CCI2*-L, lowering two fences in the latter part of the showjumping to slip from first to sixth on the Barkers’ MHS Brown Jack. Instead, Germany’s Le Lion specialist Ingrid Klimke, who lay 0.8 of a penalty behind Tom throughout, snatched victory with a double clear on Cascamara.

But it wasn’t all downhill for the Brits; Oliver Townend moved up from fifth after dressage to land silver on a clean sheet with Paul Ridgeon’s dapple-grey, Cooley Rosalent. Dutch rider Merel Blom and her Holstein mare Corminta Vom Gwick took bronze.

This was Ingrid’s fourth gold at Le Lion, following Sleep Late, Weisse Duene and Asha P.

“In July Cascamara was so green, I couldn’t have Le Lion as an aim,” said Ingrid of the Cascadello II mare. “But she did so well at her first two-star, we decided to go just for experience. This victory shows her quality and she was a pleasure in all three disciplines.”

The British trio was on form in phase one, with Kitty King (Monbeg Hendricks) joining Tom and Oliver in the top 10. Although Kitty ran out late on the cross-country, both men stormed home inside the 8min 58sec time.

“Jack really learnt as he went round,” Tom said of his 17hh partner. “He started to feel it at seven minutes but kept going. Anything that was big or complicated, he threw in a lovely jump.”

Oliver was dreaming of further glory with Cooley Rosalent after she fulfilled his expectations.

“I thought beforehand she was one for the future and she showed she has enough blood for the top level,” said Oliver, who’s notched three wins with the Valent x Roselier mare this season. “We came here for education; the result is a bonus. It was the biggest test she’s had, and when I gave her a squeeze she sped up with her ears pricked.”

Crowds – support jor distraction?

In a normal year, 60,000 spectators flock to Le Lion. Enthusiastic crowds flanking the cross-country track create a serious buzz for these young horses. For many, their performance is as much down to how they deal with their first experience of this type of atmosphere as the obstacles themselves. Some horses thrive on that excitement, for others the muted setting proved a bonus this year.

“It was good for [six-year-old champion] Cascamara there were no spectators because she was spooky,” said Ingrid Klimke. “A huge crowd would have taken her focus off the jumps. But now she is prepared for next year with spectators.”

Alex Bragg said the colourful, well-dressed fences meant horses knew it was a big occasion, but that crowds would have been influential.

“No spectators meant one less challenge to contend with, but as it’s my first Le Lion I don’t feel I’ve had the full experience,” he said. “I’ll have to come back!”

“He tries so hard”

“In two years he’ll be a top horse, watch this space,” said Alex Bragg, fourth in the seven-year-olds on Ardeo Premier. “He’s such a good jumper and tries so hard that we’ve saved him and we’ve been rewarded. He galloped with ease and found another gear when I asked him at the end. I’d be confident about doing a four-star in the spring.”

The bay was sent to the holding box at both inspections, and Alex says he’ll be “practising trotting up”.

“He doesn’t get lit up, which shows a great temperament, but it would help to show some spark instead of ambling along; it feels like I’m dragging a child to school!”

Ref Horse & Hound; 22 October 2020

This week, the best six- and seven-year-olds in eventing from around the world converge on Le Lion d’Angers in France to fight it out for the prestigious young horse World Championship titles.

These championships often throw up serious horses to watch in the future, such as these previous winners…

The wonderful grey Darien Powers (above) was a winner at Le Lion in 1994 and went on to scale the heights of eventing with Australia’s Andrew Hoy. He won Olympic team gold medals in 1996 and 2000 and claimed the British open title in 1997 at Gatcombe.

Oslo won the six-year-old class at Le Lion in 2008 with William Fox-Pitt. The French-bred horse went on to claim a four-star (now five-star) title at Pau in 2011 when he was just nine, as well as winning the CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) at Tattersalls and the eight- and nine-year-old class at Blenheim in the same year.

Ingrid Klimke’s ride Sleep Late won at Le Lion in 1998. He went on to win an individual bronze medal at the 2005 European Championships at Blenheim and contest the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics for Germany. He was also a team gold medal winner at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen.

FischerRocana FST took the six-year-old title at Le Lion in 2011 with Michael Jung. Since then, she has won the premier US event at Kentucky three times and been a team gold and individual silver medallist at the 2014 WEG in Caen, as well as taking individual silver at the 2017 European Championships in Strzegom.

The great grey Galan De Sauvagère is one of Le Lion’s greatest success stories. He won both the six- (2000) and seven-year-old (2001) classes with Nicolas Touzaint and went on to win the individual European gold medal twice, in 2003 at Punchestown and 2007 at Pratoni. He was also a team gold medallist at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

2000 was a vintage year for Le Lion. Not only did the six-year-old class launch Galan De Sauvagere’s career, but Primmore’s Pride won the seven-year-old class. With Pippa Funnell, he went on to win Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley — the only horse to achieve a career grand slam in the roads and tracks and steeplechase days — and take a team silver and individual bronze at the 2004 Olympics.

Mister Pooh, the 2006 six-year-old Le Lion winner, was a perennial championship campaigner for Sweden with Niklas Lindbäck. He ran at the 2009 Fontainebleau Europeans, the 2010 WEG in Kentucky, the 2012 London Olympics and crowned his career with team silver at the 2013 Malmö Europeans. He was also fifth at Badminton 2011. It’s worth noting, too, that the runner-up to him at Le Lion was none other than the double Olympic champion La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, who was also second in the seven-year-old championship a year later.

Sara Algotsson-Ostholt’s Mrs Medicott — later renamed Reality 39 — took Le Lion’s six-year-old class in 2010. She too was a great championship horse for Sweden, with team silvers at the Europeans at Malmo (2013) and Strzegom (2017) and runs at the Blair European Championships in 2015 and the Rio Olympics in 2016.

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France’s Nicolas Touzaint piloted Hildago De L’Ile to take the seven-year-old title at Le Lion in 2002. The pair went on to win the first Pau CCI4* (now CCI5*) in 2007 and Badminton 2008. He collected team silver at the Blenheim Europeans in 2005 and contested the 2006 WEG and the 2012 Olympics.

Full report from this year’s Le Lion in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine (dated 22 October). 

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

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The horses who will represent Britain in the 2020 FEI World Breeding Federation Eventing Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers, France (15-18 October) have been announced.

This hugely prestigious competition for six- and seven-year-olds is often a pointer to future stars in the sport. Britain will field the maximum number of horses — three six-year-olds and 12 seven-year-olds. Let’s meet them…

Six-year-olds selected to represent Britain at Le Lion d’Angers

Monbeg Hendricks (Harlequin Du Carel x Puissance) (pictured above)

Rider: Kitty King

Owner: Adrian Sweet

Best results: first CCI2*-S Burgham 2020; seventh CCI2*-S Wellington 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Kitty has had plenty of top 10 results here and won twice — Zidante, who was later successful at three-star (now four-star) before her career was cut short by injury, took the seven-year-old title in 2011 and Cristal Fontaine the six-year-old gold in 2018.

MHS Brown Jack (OBOS Quality 004 x Cavalier Royale)

Rider: Tom McEwen

Owners Fred and Penny Barker

Best results: first Wellington CCI2*-S 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Tom has had four rides here, with his best result being second in the seven-year-olds in 2014 on Toledo De Kerser, who has since been a world gold medallist and won Pau CCI5*. He was third in the seven-year-olds last year on Brookfield Benjamin Bounce.

Cooley Rosalent (OBOS Quality 004 x unlisted)

Rider: Oliver Townend

Owner: Paul Ridgeon

Best results: first Burgham CCI2*-S 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Le Lion hasn’t been such a happy hunting ground as many events for Oliver. His best result is ninth in the seven-year-olds in 2014 on Cooley SRS, with whom he went on to finish second at Badminton before the horse was sold to Australia and renamed Willingapark Cooley

Seven-year-olds selected to represent Britain at Le Lion d’Angers

(Note some of these horses are still seeking a final minimum eligibility result to confirm their selection)

Ardeo Premier (Hold Up Premier x unlisted)

Rider: Alex Bragg

Owners: Debbie and Neill Nuttall

Best results: 10th CCI2*-L Hartpury 2019; 10th CCI3*-S Wellington 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Alex makes his Le Lion debut.

Izilot DHI (Zavall VDL X Marlon (Zucchero))

Rider: Ros Canter

Owners: Alex Moody and Ros Canter

Best results: first British six-year-old championships CCI2*-S Osberton 2019; first Burgham CCI2*-L 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Ros has had three rides at Le Lion and finished second in the six-year-olds in 2011 on Aprobanta, who has since won four international classes with Connie Copestake.

Moonlight Charmer (OBOS Quality 004 x Good Thyne xx)

Rider: Laura Collett

Owners: Teresa Stopford Sackville and Charlotte Heber Percy

Best results: eighth CCI2*-S Lignières 2019; second CCI2*-L Burgham 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Laura has had three top-four finishes here, including a win in the seven-year-olds in 2015 on Mr Bass, who has since been second in the CCI4* (now five-star) at Luhmühlen and won at three-star (now four-star) level.

Forthright (Frankfort Boy x unlisted)

Rider: Matthew Glentworth

Owners: Margaret Silver and Barbara Hervey

Best results: 11th British six-year-old championships CCI2*-S Osberton 2019; 15th Burgham CCI2*-L 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Matthew makes his Le Lion debut.

Igor B (Vittorio x Carabas Van De Wateringhoeve)

Rider and owner: Kristina Hall-Jackson

Best results: fifth Burgham CCI2*-L 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Kristina makes her Le Lion debut.

Fools in Love (Harlequin Du Carel x Cruising)

Rider: Hayden Hankey

Owners: Philippa Heler and Hayden Hankey

Best results: sixth Chatsworth CCI2*-S 2019; ninth Blair CCI2*-L 2019

Rider’s Le Lion record: Hayden has had three spins round Le Lion, with two top-12 placings.

Cooley Lancer (Coeur De Nobless M x Ogano Sitte)

Rider: Piggy March

Owner: The Lancer Stud

Best results: five top-10 placings in international classes, including first Le Lion six-year-old championships 2019

Rider’s Le Lion record: Cooley Lancer’s win last year was Piggy’s second triumph here as she also took the seven-year-old laurels in 2007 on Cast Away II, who went on to be placed at three-star (now four-star) level with Chloe Newton. Piggy has had plenty of other top-10 placings here too.

I Diablo Joe (Solaris Amoureux x unlisted)

Rider: Piggy March

Owners: Geoffrey Burton

Best results: sixth CCI2*-L Burgham 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: as above, Piggy has won twice here.

Irene Leva (Everglade VDL x Amethist)

Rider: Rhian Smith

Owners: Kim Franklin, Kerry Smith and Rhian Smith

Best results: sixth Bicton CCI2*-S 2019

Rider’s Le Lion record: Rhian makes her Le Lion debut.

Ballingowan Leia (Future Trend x Master Imp)

Rider: Polly Stockton

Owners: Susan Goodall 

Best results: seventh CCI2*-L Burgham 2020; sixth Wellington CCI3*-S 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Polly was sixth here in 2006 on Westwood Joker and fourth in 2008 on Westwood Mariner, both times in the seven-year-old championship. Westwood Mariner went on to compete at four-star (now five-star) with Polly and Piggy March.

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Darcy De La Rose (Quite Easy x Corrado I)

Rider: Georgie Strang

Owners: Wendy and Johnnie Watherston

Best results: third Burgham CCI2*-L 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Georgie makes her Le Lion debut.

Briarlands Sweetango (Jumbo x unlisted)

Rider: Izzy Taylor

Owner: Guy Avis, who also bred her out of five-star mare Briarlands Matilda

Best results: ninth Burgham CCI2*-L 2020

Rider’s Le Lion record: Izzy’s three top-three placings here include a win in the six-year-olds in 2017 on Monkeying Around, who is now competing at four-star.

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There are certain events every fan of the Olympic equestrian sports should go to at least once in their lives — and here in Britain, we’re lucky that several of them are just a short journey away.

Save your pennies, grab your passport, book a flight, a ferry or a train and we promise you won’t regret a trip to any of these destinations…

1. Aachen

It’s worth going to the German mega centre just to walk around the showground — filled with statues, fountains and perfectly manicured hedges, it’s like taking a stroll round an upmarket garden centre. Dressage, showjumping and eventing all take place here and much more besides. Make sure you find the hall of fame, with legendary horses’ shoes set into the paving stones, and watch the concluding grand prix in the huge grass arena (pictured). The city is charming too, with lots of lovely restaurants and a historic cathedral.

2. Le Lion d’Angers

The French venue hosts the eventing young horse World Championships, so you can see stars of tomorrow competing. Le Lion boasts perhaps the most beautifully decorated cross-country course in the world, with spiders and violins among past features.

Continued below…

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3. Dublin

The hallowed turf of Irish horse sport, Dublin Horse Show is steeped in history, with the crème de la crème of showjumping and showing coming together. Friday’s Nations Cup — for the Aga Khan Trophy — is conducted with plenty of pomp and ceremony, including stewards in full morning dress, and has been fought over since 1926. Every Irish child who has ever sat on a pony wants to win here — last year’s winner Shane Breen said: “For me, this is as good as a medal — it means everything.”

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Last week (18-21 October), some of the world’s best six- and seven-year-old event horses went head-to-head at the FEI World Breeding Federation Eventing Championships for Young Horses in Lion d’Angers, France.

Britain’s Kitty King took the six-year-old title with Alex Wakeley’s Cristal Fontaine, while Piggy French was second with Tom March’s Emerald Jonny. The USA’s Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Moonshine finished third.

Ingrid Klimke headed the seven-year-old Championship with the mare Asha P, while British contender Tom Jackson was runner-up with Milly Simmie, Patricia Davenport and Sarah Webb’s Capels Hollow Drift.

The cross-country courses, designed by Pierre Michelet, for the two classes are renowned for being works of art, and this year was no exception. Here, we take a look at some of the most eye-catching fences combinations tackled…

Fence 2 in both classes: Le jardin de la ville du Lion d’Angers

Fence 4 (seven-year-olds): Les escargots [meaning snails] de l’Isle Briand

Le violon du Credit Mutuel, which was jumped in both classes

Fence 10 (six-year-olds) and fence 12 (seven-year-olds): La ferme extraordinaire de l’Anjou

Decoration at the above fence

Fence 16 (six-year-olds) and 18 (seven-year-olds): Le félin Devoucoux

Not in the course: an immaculate schooling fence

Fence 19 (six-year-olds) and 22 (seven-year-olds): L’échiquier de l’Atoll

Fence 17 (six-year-olds) and 19/20 (seven-year-olds): La mine Equithème

An incredible sculptured obstacle at fence six

The owl hole, which was not jumped through this year

A maize-themed open ditch early in the course

Fence one makes an impression…

…As does the final fence: Le coeur Mécénat chirugie cardia

Read the full report from Le Lion d’Angers in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out on Thursday 25 October

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Next week (18-21 October), some of the world’s best young event horses will do battle at Le Lion D’Angers in France in the FEI World Breeding Federation Eventing Championships for Young Horses. On Tuesday (9 October), the British selectors revealed which British combinations would be going for glory in the six- and seven-year-old championships. Here’s who they are and the key info you need to know about each of them…

Six-year-olds

Universal Cooley

Owned by Ellie Guy, this 16.3hh grey mare by VDL Arkansas, out of a Maltstriker mare, was originally produced by Khia Cadney-Moon. She was purchased for Millie Dumas to ride in July 2017. Since then she has won four of her six novice starts, won the CIC* at Somerford Park in August 2018 and most recently finished ninth in the British Eventing six-year-old championship. The worst dressage score she has recorded is 29.5 and from her 12 total starts, she has never faulted across country.

Emerald Jonny

This 16hh gelding is owned by rider Piggy French’s fiancé, Tom March. Emerald Jonny is by Waldo Van Dungen out of a mare by the dressage stallion Rubels. He is another horse with a faultless cross-country record, spanning a total of 20 starts. This season he has clocked some strong results including second in the CIC* at Rockingham in May, first place in the CIC* at Burgham (thanks in part to a 17.9 dressage — this equates to 82.1%) and second in the British Eventing six-year-old championship.

Cristal Fontaine

Ridden by Kitty King, this 16.2hh gelding is owned by Alex Wakeley. This Selle Francais is by the Holstein, Chef Rouge. He won his first novice as a five-year-old and has since gone on to win the CIC* at Bicton in April, has finished first, second and third in his three intermediate starts and most recently finished seventh at the British Eventing six-year-old championship.

Seven-year-olds

Corouet

This 15.2hh gelding, who is owned by Brett and Sarah Bullimore (Sarah also has the ride), is bred in the pink by the jumping stallion Balou Du Rouet and is out of Sarah’s former four-star mare, Lily Corinne. Corouet most recently won the British Eventing seven-year-old championship and among other top 10 finishes, was also sixth in the world six-year-old championship at Le Lion last year.

Rehy Royal Diamond

Ridden by current World champion Ros Canter and owned by Christopher Makin, Rehy Royal Diamond is by Ars Vivendi, out of a Diamond Lad mare. He has enjoyed several top 10 placings at novice and intermediate level, and he finished sixth in the CCI* at Houghton in May.

J Adore Salsa

This British-bred horse is owned by Karen and Graham Brooks, and is ridden by Tyler Cassells. The 17hh mare is by Je T’Aime Flamenco and is out of a Corrado II mare. She has some very strong cross-country form and has jumped round three CIC2*s this season.

Calmaro

This grey gelding is ridden by Laura Collett, who has great form in this class — she won it in 2015 with Mr Bass and was fourth last year with Sir Papillon. Calmaro, who is owned by Margie Gibb and Karen Bartlett, is German-bred by Carpalano. This season he won the CCI* at Tattersalls, was second in the CIC2* at Barbury and most recently finished runner-up in the British Eventing seven-year-old championship.

Rebeliant

This Polish-bred horse brings Tina Cook back to Le Lion D’Angers for the first time since 2014 when she rode her 2018 World Equestrian Games mount, Billy The Red. Rebeliant is owned by Neil and Madelaine Woodford and was initially produced to novice level by Lucy Loughton. With Tina, he has enjoyed plenty of top 10 placings at novice and intermediate level, and jumped a double clear around both Tattersalls CCI* and Barbury CIC2*.

Carnival March

A second horse for Piggy French at Le Lion, Carnival March is by Cavalier Carnival (who is by Cavalier Royale). This 16.2hh gelding is owned by Susie Wood, Susan Wrighton and James Midgley and was produced as a five-year-old by Piggy’s stable jockey Susie Berry and sister Nini French. He won his first intermediate with Piggy this March, was eighth in the CCI* at Tattersalls and has clocked three cross-country clears at CIC2* level.

You’ve Got The Lux

Owned and ridden by Hayden Hankey, this 16hh mare is by Lux Z and out of a Carrolls Flight mare. She was only out of the top 10 twice last season from her 12 starts, culminating in 10th place in the world six-year-old championships at Le Lion D’Angers. This season she has jumped clear across country around four CIC2*s.

Capels Hollow Drift

Owned by Milly Simmie, Patricia Davenport and Sarah Webb, Capels Hollow Drift is by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyyvan and is out of a Lucky Gift mare. This grey gelding was produced by Georgie Strang as a youngster and has recorded some strong international form with current rider Tom Jackson this season. Notable results include third in the CIC2* at Burgham, 10th in the CCI* at Le Pin au Haras, 10th in the CIC2* at Gatcombe and fourth in the British Eventing seven-year-old championship.

Lance A Little

This striking gelding is owned by Emily Couldwell and ridden by Toby Pigott. Lance A Little is by Lancelot and is out of a Rame Z mare. He has shown form at intermediate level and was also sixth in the CIC2* at Gatcombe in September, before finishing ninth in the British Eventing seven-year-old championship.

G Star van de Klinkenberg

This KWPN gelding, by the dressage stallion Furst Romancer and out of a mare by a dressage stallion (Zarino), is owned by Sharon Bayston and ridden by Paul Sims. He was third in the CCI* at Blair in August and has followed this up with two CIC2* cross-country clears.

Continued below…

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9 smart young event horses we’d like to take home, please

We assume their riders want to keep hold of these beautiful stars of the future, but we’d be willing to

Monkeying Around

Owned by rider Izzy Taylor and Charlie Sands, this Hannoverian gelding won the world six-year-old championship at Le Lion D’Angers last year. He is by the dressage stallion Bertoli W and is out of a Donnerhall mare. Monkeying Around has some brilliant form including winning the CIC2* at Floors Castle in May this year, plus fourth place in the advanced at Wellington in August and most recently was eighth in the British Eventing seven-year-old championship.

JL Dublin

Nicola Wilson rides this gelding owned by Deirdre Johnston, James Lambert OBE and Jo Lambert. He is a Holstein by the jumping stallion Diarado and is out of a mare by another jumping stallion, Cantano. JL Dublin has won three of his five intermediate starts this season and was second in the CCI* at Blair Castle.

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Opinion

I travelled to Le Lion d’Angers with Mary and Emily King, plus Mary’s 81-year-old lorry-driving mother Jill Thomson. It’s a lovely event, with huge crowds and an end-of-season feel, and we had a really fun week.

As usual, there was a high-class field of the best six- and seven-year-olds in the world.

It was, though, disappointing that the seven-year-olds didn’t have to jump a single ditch across country.

This omission is a shame in terms of preparing these horses to go up the levels and it seems odd to award a title of such gravitas without testing that skill. Being able to jump a ditch is fundamental to an event horse crossing the country — a course without one is like a dressage test without any canter!

Early draws, please

Le Lion is among the Continental events that don’t publish the drawn order until late, in this case after the trot-up on Wednesday afternoon.

This can be tough on horses’owners — they often either waste days off work and money on hotel nights if they arrive on Wednesday or Thursday and their horse is allocated a Friday dressage, or they miss their horse’s test if they gamble on a later draw with travel plans.

Badminton and Burghley do their draws nearly a month in advance. Events running lots of classes have a tougher logistical challenge, but a week’s notice would be preferable to a day.

There will always be ambiguity if your horse is in the middle of the field, but the first or last 40% know which day they will be on.

As a side point, knowing their dressage day allows riders to work their horses appropriately to produce the best possible result. If you have a Friday test you might hack or jump on Wednesday to avoid three days of dressage in a row. But most importantly the advanced draw is to benefit owners — we need eventing to be fun, easy and as accessible as possible for them.

Feedback for judges

Dressage judging will always be a point of discussion as it comes down to subjective opinions. But the biggest imperfection in our system is some judges’ subconscious tendency to become more generous as the two days roll on.

After Burghley last year data analytics experts EquiRatings showed that horses in the final judging block scored on average 3.6 marks better than their own average mark from their previous 2016 tests, while those in the first block scored 4.2 worse. The range of 7.8 penalties between Thursday morning and Friday afternoon is equivalent to two showjumping poles — a handicap too big to ignore.

We can’t blame judges for being human but we could improve feedback. After every international event each judge could be sent their average mark for each of the four half-day sessions so they could see whether they were trending progressively higher or lower.

This automated feedback would help judges remain level in the future by giving them an idea of their usual trend. Of course, this relies on there being a true draw so the best horses are not all running at the end.

A similar system could look at national bias, as occasionally judges over-reward their compatriots, or even become stricter in an attempt to remain fair. Each judge could be sent their average mark for their fellow countrymen versus other riders, alongside the other judges’ averages for those groups.

This would be private feedback to help judges remain impartial, rather than a public “name and shame” tool.

Ref Horse & Hound; 26 October 2017

As our ferry cruised into the French port of Caen, my groom Guy and I were standing in the foyer waiting to be invited back to our vehicle and horse. It was a slightly surreal moment because the foyer was swarming with a swathe of the eventing elite. Pippa Funnell, Jonelle Price, Izzy Taylor, Gemma Tattersall, Kitty King, Jesse Campbell, the list goes on, all accompanied by their support teams. It was a moment that hit home to me that the Mondial du Lion World Young Horse Eventing Championships in Le Lion D’Angers is a serious competition and it was pretty special to be rubbing shoulders with the world’s best.

I was lucky enough to be taking Jo Rutter’s The Rutman (aka Vinnie) to his first foray into overseas competition. Vinnie is a quirky soul, but his quirks are outweighed by his talent making it a very exciting venture.

We drove off the ferry and into the early morning darkness and it was only four hour’s drive before we were at the event and I was trying out my French vocabulary. I love the French, I find them so welcoming, particularly when you try to communicate in their own tongue and not simply expect them to speak English.

There’s a chap who is part of the Pau (France’s CCI4* competition) stable management team and ever since my first visit there in 2011. He always welcomes me like a long lost friend even though he doesn’t speak a word of English — it’s truly charming.

Back at Le Lion d’Angers and Vinnie was quite wild and so I put a fair amount of work into him before our Friday dressage. Pippa Funnell reminded me why I love the camaraderie of our sport when she was watching her colleague while I was working Vinnie. She lent over and said: “Simon, I know I shouldn’t interfere, but…” and proceeded to give me some inspiring gold nuggets of advice which I very happily put into practice. She really was a true ambassador for British Eventing throughout the week.

The atmosphere in the Lion main arena is palpable and I thought Vinnie did a super job despite this and the fact that his preparation had been sparse owing to my injury. He scored a very respectable 54 which we were all very pleased with.

The cross-country was tough, but jumpable and again I luckily happened to be walking it at the same time as Pippa who happily gave me some very useful advice at each fence (me pictured top at one of the beautiful cross-country fences). The crowds at Lion are huge and also close as it is tightly strung so it is a very intimidating situation for a young horse. Not only that, but I wondered how I would be mentally following my fall at my last international outing.

I needn’t have worried about it though — Vinnie jumped out of the start box and settled into the most lovely rhythm jumping fence after fence with ease and not taking any notice of the crowd and I was riding with huge confidence from the outset.

Continued below…

Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:

Simon Grieve’s eventing blog: I shed a tear on my way back to the lorry

Simon Grieve’s eventing blog: ‘Fate has dealt its hand and it wasn’t to be’

Simon Grieve’s eventing blog: I am incredibly lucky to still be here at all

As we approached fence 11 a trakhener, followed by three strides on a curving line to a skinny fence, he was feeling incredibly classy and jumped the first part beautifully. I pre-warned him of the turn to the skinny in mid-air and he locked onto the skinny happily. As he turned, on the second stride his back end slipped from under him, nearly falling and he simply couldn’t push off to jump the second part. It was such a shame and he simply didn’t deserve it to happen to him. I turned and jumped it the second time to encouraging French cheers, but the damage was done, we were out of the running. However, we continued and he felt incredible, jumping all the straight routes and feeling exceptional the whole way. He completed with a few time-faults and that frustrating 20 penalties to add, but we still celebrated with some bubbly as he is a hugely exciting prospect for the future. It wasn’t his fault, mine or that of our equipment, just good old fashioned bad luck.

The following day he trotted up well and jumped nicely to complete the world championships; how exciting. Some may think I shouldn’t have gone to such a high profile competition so soon after my accident, but I’m thrilled I went — it was incredibly inspiring and on the drive home I found myself making exciting plans for next season with all my horses off the back of it. So here’s to a fantastic 2017.

Grievesy

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William Fox-Pitt remains in hospital in France with a head trauma following a serious fall on Saturday (17 October).

The Olympic eventer fell at fence 20, an owl hole, on the cross-country at Le Lion d’Angers with Reinstated.

The pair were competing in the seven-year-old CCI2* class at the FEI/WBFSH world championships for young eventing horses.

The horse, whom William first competed in May 2014 at Chatsworth, was not injured in the fall.

The course was held for more than an hour while William received medical assistance before being transferred to Angers hospital.

“William has suffered a head trauma, but is otherwise fine. He is comfortable and stable under sedation and will be under constant observation,” read a statement on Saturday.

This morning (Monday, 19 October) a spokesman for British Eventing told H&H there was “no change” in William’s condition and that he remains “under observation”.

“William had a good night and remained stable and under sedation; he will undergo further tests later today,” the spokesman added.

“On behalf of the Fox-Pitt family and their support team at home, William’s wife Alice Fox-Pitt would like to express her thanks to everyone for their support and well wishes, it means a tremendous amount to them all that everyone is thinking of William.”

Alice has travelled to France to be with him.

Willliam, who currently stands at number three in the world eventing rankings, had already completed the course successfully on his first ride, The Soapdodger.

His last win was at the CIC3* at Hartpury in August with Bay My Hero.

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Would you like to see eventing’s next equine stars competing this year?

Check out four horse trials where you will see fantastic young horses in 2015 — and see if you can pick medallists for the 2016 Olympics, 2017 European Championships and beyond…

1. Dassett Eventing eight- and nine-year-old advanced class at Horsezone Aston-le-Walls (3)

County: Northamptonshire

Date: 24-26 July

What is it? A special advanced section for eight- and nine-year-old horses at this popular Aston-le-Walls fixture. The class was conceived by sponsors Dassett Eventing to showcase young horses and as a suitable pre-run for Blenheim’s eight- and nine-year-old CIC3*.

More info: British Eventing or www.aston-le-walls.co.uk

2014 winner: Shearwater Insurance’s Shearwater Touchingwood, ridden by Oliver Townend

Famous alumni: none yet, as this class has only been running a couple of years

2. Eight- and nine-year-old CIC3* at Blenheim

County: Oxfordshire

Date: 17-20 September

What is it? Now in its seventh year, this class is effectively Britain’s championship for this age category and a fantastic pointer to horses who should be exciting four-star prospects in the next few years. Blenheim celebrates its 25th birthday in 2015 and is a beautiful event for spectators to enjoy

More info: www.blenheimhorse.co.uk

2014 winner: Trisha Rickards’ and Jacky Green’s Faerie Dianimo, ridden by Jonelle Price

Famous alumni: NZB Land Vision, ridden by Mark Todd (2010 winner, 2011 Badminton CCI4* winner); Oslo, ridden by William Fox-Pitt (2011 winner, 2011 Pau CCI4* winner); Quimbo, ridden by Andrew Nicholson (2012 winner, 2013 Kentucky CCI4* winner)

3. KBIS British Eventing Young Horse Championships at Osberton

County: Nottinghamshire

Date: 1-4 October

What is it? Championships classes for four- and five-year-olds (which they qualify for through the year), plus a six-year-old CIC* and seven-year-old CIC2*. The championship ran at Tweseldown until moving to Osberton in 2010, which was also when the sections for older horses started running as international classes

More info: British Eventing or www.bede-events.co.uk/osberton

2014 winners: Susan Grindal’s Jolie Lark, ridden by Ginny Turnbull, and Ballycanu, owned and ridden by Sophie Jenman (four-year-old); Camilla Harries’ Emirati Nightsky, ridden by Emily Llewellyn (five-year-old); the Hon Teresa Stopford Sackville and Catherine Butler’s Reinstated, ridden by William Fox-Pitt (six-year-old); Jacqueline Owen, Diana Bown and Samantha Wilson’s Ceylor LAN, ridden by Kitty King (seven-year-old).

Famous alumni: Redesigned (pictured), ridden by Pippa Funnell (2007 six-year-old winner, Bramham CCI3* winner and fifth World Equestrian Games 2010); Borough Pennyz, ridden by Vittoria Panizzon (2010 seven-year-old winner, 11th 2012 Olympics, seventh Badminton and eighth European Championships 2013)

4. Le Lion d’Angers young event horse World Championships

Country: France

Date: 15-18 October

What is it? If you fancy a French trip in the autumn, this is the place to go. The best young horses in the world — or at least in Europe — gather here each year to take the prestigious six- and seven-year-old titles and numerous future championship horses have passed through Le Lion

More info: www.mondialdulion.com

2014 winners: Tenareze (seven-year-old), ridden by Thomas Carlile, since sold for Harry Meade to ride; Star Connection (six-year-old), ridden by Michael Jung

Famous alumni: Sleep Late, ridden by Ingrid Klimke (1998 seven-year-old winner, 2005 European individual bronze medallist, second at Badminton and world team gold medallist 2006); Primmore’s Pride, ridden by Pippa Funnell (2000 seven-year-old winner, triple four-star winner, individual bronze and team silver medallist 2004 Olympics); Galan De Sauvagère, ridden by Nicolas Touzaint (2000 six-year-old and 2001 seven-year-old winner, double European champion); Hildago De L’Ile (2002 seven-year-old winner, 2007 Pau CCI4* winner, 2008 Badminton CCI4* winner); Mister Pooh, ridden by Niklas Lindback (2006 six-year-old winner, 2013 European team silver medallist); Oslo, ridden by William Fox-Pitt (2008 six-year-old winner, 2011 Pau CCI4* winner); Mrs Medicott, later renamed Reality 69, ridden by Sara Algotsson-Ostholt (2010 six-year-old winner, 2013 European team silver medallist); Rocana FST, ridden by Michael Jung (2011 six-year-old winner, world individual silver medallist 2014); Sirocco Du Gers, ridden by Thomas Carlile (2013 seven-year-old winner, Boekelo CCI3* winner 2014)

Read more about the British-ridden horses who finished on the podium at Le Lion in 2014 in the February issue of Eventing magazine, out Saturday, 24 January.

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H&H speaks to the people behind eventer Parkfield Quintessential to find out why he looks set to excel in 2015

Name: Parkfield Quintessential

Foaled: 2008

Breeding: by Quicksilber and out of Carino Biene SZ (Carino Son)

Breeder: Sharon Bishop

Rider: Zoe Wilkinson

Parkfield Quintessential (Quinty) shot into the spotlight when he won both the four and five-year-old Burghley young event horse finals, becoming only the third horse to achieve the double. In 2014, as a six-year-old, he was sixth at the world breeding championship at Le Lion d’Angers, and achieved two CIC* wins.

It’s been a whirlwind journey for breeders Sharon, Nigel and Holly Bishop, who only intended to breed one horse, and a showjumper at that.

“Quinty came about due to me being hugely emotional about [daughter] Holly’s showjumper, Carino Biene SZ (Ethel),” Sharon says.

“Holly had started work and I couldn’t bear to part with Ethel. So we put her in foal — she was nicely bred, as well as being a proven showjumper. She is an old-fashioned warmblood, so we wanted a modern stallion and set off to the Schockemöhle stud in Germany — it was like going into a sweet shop. We saw a really smart Quattro B son called Quicksilber, but thought he was unproven, so decided to go with his father.

“Then we got a phone call to say the Quattro B semen wasn’t available and would we like Quicksilber. I thought it was meant to be.

“Eleven months later, an exquisite foal popped out. He was graded elite in both dressage and showjumping at Futurity, but it wasn’t until his mother came back into work and Holly had her on livery at Paul Tapner’s yard that eventing came into the picture. Quinty was two and needed backing, so we sent him to Zoe Wilkinson, who worked at Paul’s yard. The rest is history.”

Because of Quinty, Parkfield Breeding has grown into more than Sharon ever imagined.

“When Quinty won the young event horse final aged four, I thought they’d called him in 10th. I’ll never forget that day — I thought things like that didn’t happen to unknown people. Our breeding operation has since become serious — I want to have a horse at the Olympics.

“Breeding is expensive — the covering costs are the least of your costs, so it’s vital not to scrimp on that. You must be brutal about evaluating your own mare and be mindful about how big a role the mare plays.”

Zoe feels privileged to have ridden Quinty from the start and thinks he has what it takes to reach the top.

“He’s got a very good brain and attitude,” she says. “He has a lot of physical talent, so that combination makes him consistent.

“The big aim for 2015 is to return to Le Lion for the seven-year-old championship. I want to get a few more intermediates under his belt and step him up to two-star.”

Sharon thinks Quinty’s character will help him go far.

“He was a cheeky chappy,” she says. “He would kick a football around the field with us as a baby — he was more like a child than a horse.

“He’s a kind, happy horse, but also a serious competitor: he digs deep and gives his all.”

This article was first published in the Best of British special issue of Horse & Hound magazine (8 January 2015)

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Tom McEwen led the British eventers’ successful effort in the World Young Horse Championships at Le Lion d’Angers, France, at the weekend (16-19 October).

The 23-year-old finished second riding Frank and Jane Inns’ Toledo De Kerser (pictured), by Diamant De Semilly.

The pair moved up from third after dressage by staying on their dressage score of 43.7.

“It was a hot day and he got a bit tired from the heat, but the course really flowed,” said Tom. “For the first few minutes he was backing off the spectators, but it’s brilliant having them here with it being a young horse World Championships.

“By the fourth or fifth minute he was used to the people and looking like a Badminton horse rather than a seven-year-old.”

Pamero 4, the horse bought for Laura Collett by Kauto Star’s owner Clive Smith, capped his fantastic season by finishing third. He moved up from 11th after cross-country by virtue of his showjumping clear.

The class was won by France’s Thomas Carlile — who also won Boekelo the week before — on the Jaguar Mail son Tenareze, who took the six-year-old championship here last year.

Tenareze also led the Anglo Arabs to a win in the studbook competition, which covers both the six- and seven-year-old championships.

Piggy French rode Irish sport horse Cooley Dream Extreme, by Cruising, to third place in the six-year-old class for Britain. He lay fifth after dressage on 47.1 and kept a clean sheet. The horse ran under Sara Fowler and Kate Walls’ names, but has just been sold to Piggy’s father Wally French and Michael Underwood.

Germany’s Michael Jung topped this class on Star Connection, with Britain-based Australian Christopher Burton second on Dutch Man Retro.

Piggy French was also in the money in the seven-year-olds, taking fifth on Carpe Diem IV. Oliver Townend took ninth in this class on Cooley SRS, with Kitty King 10th on Ceylor LAN.

Zoe Wilkinson also claimed sixth for Britain in the six-year-olds on Parkfield Quintessential.

Full report in H&H next week, out Thursday, 30 October.

Video interviews and highlights of action

Full results

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The FEI Eventing Championships for Young Horses in Le Lion d’Angers has been abandoned after dressage due to “exceptional” weather conditions.

The decision will come as no surprise to those who have seen photos on Twitter (pictured, posted by Kitty King), showing that the cross-country course had become one giant water jump.

In a statement on the event’s website, the organisers wrote: “Because of exceptional weather conditions, and after considering all alternatives [that would] preserve the safety of horses, riders and the public, no satisfactory solution has been found.

“As a result, the organisers, in agreement with officials of the International Equestrian Federation are sorry to announce the cancellation of the 27th Mondial du Lion.”

Riders that made the journey to Le Lion from the UK include Gemma Tattersall, Kitty King, William Fox-Pitt and Lucinda Fredericks.

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Cast Away II won the seven-year-old World Breeding Trophy at Le Lion d’Angers (18-21 October) on his dressage score to crown a brilliant season with Piggy French.

Michael Jung finished second with La Biosthetique Sam and Lucinda Fredericks was third on Prada. Andrew Nicholson maintained his original fourth place with Avebury. Mary King and Kings Temptress rose from 13th after cross-country to finish fifth with one of the few clear rounds in the final phase.

In the six-year-old championship, glory went to Germany’s Frank Ostholt on his home-bred mare Quite Easy. Second was Newton De La Love, ridden by British-based Dutch rider Andrew Heffernan.

France’s Camille Piat ended up third with the Selle Français New De La Berchere. Andrew Nicholson and Mr Cruise Control were close behind in fourth.

Sarah Cohen and Trequite moved up from 14th place overnight into sixth place with one of the few show jumping clear rounds. Selina Elliot was just behind in seventh, riding Orlando.

Read this report in full, plus reports from Little Downham and Aldon, in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (25 October, ’07)

• For details of how to join the Event Horse Owners Association visit: www.ehoa.orgThe EHOA will be holding it’s annual dinner and awards night at the Inner Temple central London on Thursday 1 November. The guest speaker this year is Richard Waygood. For tickets contact Monika Hunt (tel: 07802 498786) or email: monika@monikahunt.co.uk

Download your free 12-page sample of Eventing magazine (September issue)

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Gatcombe Horse Trials will run the first CIC* in Britain at its autumn fixture (15-16 September), which will be sponsored by the Network Group for the second year running.

The CIC* has been put on chiefly as a selection trial and qualification opportunity for horses aiming for the six-year-old CCI* at the young horse World Championships at Le Lion d’Angers in France (18-20 October).

Last year, Le Lion’s organisers enforced the rule requiring six-year-olds to have done a CIC* (or a CCI*), which meant that most of the British entries were unqualified.

There was also controversy over late changes to the number of places accolated to each country. This year, every country — except France, which as host has more places — has three places in the six-year-old CCI* and five in the seven-year-old CCI**.

For full details on the selection policy visit: www.britisheventing.co.uk

• This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (8 February, ’07)

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The world’s best young event horses came head-to-head this weekend at the Annual World Breeding Championships at Le Lion d’Angers, France.

Eleven British riders headed across the channel to partake in the showcase event for six- and seven-year-old horses which have shown successful form throughout the year.

Britain, France and Germany dominated the leader board, filling the top three places in both sections. Nicholas Touzaint had an excellent weekend on home ground, maintaining an early lead in the CCI** seven-year old class on Tatchou, to finish just 1.2pen ahead of Britain’s Tina Cook and Miner’s Frolic.

The Frenchman went on to finish second in the CCI* six-year old class on Lesbos behind German amateur rider Janet Wiesner (Libero). British rider Angela Tucker finished in third place on Irish Jester who was recently placed fifth in the PAVO British Breeding Championships at Tweseldown (Oct 11th).

Clare Lewis and Cruisalier finished fifth in the CCI** seven-year old section with seasoned campaigner Mary King (pictured) taking eight position on Kings Fancy, a Rock King progeny. The gelding is competing at advanced level and has already amassed 76 BE points.

Fleetwater Opposition was well represented by his progeny with Isabelle Taylor finishing 10th on Opposition Herecles and 22nd on Sparkling Opposition. Wiltshire based Louisa Lockwood and the beautiful 7-year-old mare, Lucia di Lammermoor took 15th place ahead of Mary King’s second ride, Mayhill sired Top Cat II.

Results:

CCI** 7 year olds

1. Nicholas Touzaint (FRA) Tatchou

2. Tina Cook (GB) Miners Frolic

3. Frank Osholt (GER) Little Paint

CCI** 6 year olds

1. Janet Wiesner (GER) Libero

2. Nicholas Touzaint (FRA) Lesbos

3. Angela Tucker (GB) Irish Jester

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