Carl Hester feels confident the future of dressage is in safe hands following the recent election of the FEI dressage committee

MARIBEL ALONSO’S election to the chair of the FEI dressage committee with an overwhelming majority of votes cast by national federations is great news for our sport. A five-star judge, technical delegate and veteran of many championships; trainer, owner, sponsor, rider (although not competitively) and businesswoman, Maribel is a great communicator in all of the four languages she speaks.

I was glad to have the chance to hear her vision. With welfare at the forefront of her manifesto, one of her key aims is to communicate proactively “the benevolence of dressage”.

She said: “I want to serve the sport regardless of difference of opinions and viewpoints. Challenges and opportunities are interconnected and require real teamwork, collaboration and openness to technology and innovation. I will aim for a better communication and transparency, but everyone has to show willingness to engage through principles of trust and cooperation.

“The involvement of riders, trainers, officials, owners, sponsors, breeders, volunteers, grooms, media and organisers to promote the beauty of our discipline is vital. Sustainability, welfare of the horses and an integral vision to pass on the torch to the next generations have to be embraced with even more energy.”

Britain’s own Peter Storr has been elected to serve as judges’ representative on the committee, replacing Andrew Gardner who has given many years of service to the sport, for which we owe him our thanks.

Peter’s background as an international rider and trainer has always informed his judging career, and his main reason for standing for election was that “to get things done you’ve got to get involved, and to put something back into the sport I’ve had a lot out of over the years”.

Peter too is committed to finding the right way for our sport in an open and honest manner. As judges’ rep he’s looking forward to supporting judges and helping the dialogue between riders, judges and all stakeholders with the aim of promoting consistent judging through training, management and bringing up new judges in the right way. He will also be keeping a close eye on how the code of points develops.

It is very encouraging and positive to see such a wealth of experience on the FEI dressage committee, and these two, along with Monica Theodorescu (Germany), Patrik Kittel (Sweden), Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (Spain) and Russian five-star judge Irina Maknami, offer a good spread of nations.

I wish them all the very best and look forward to seeing positive development.

Leaving a legacy

FOLLOWING the tragic loss of the stallion Party Trick, along with Sophie Hulme’s three rides, in a collision while the horses were en route to Blair Horse Trials, the fundraiser set up afterwards has been renamed The Party Trick Legacy. Its aim is to breed a few sons or daughters of the late stallion which might be good enough to get to major championships.

Party Trick’s rider Nick Gauntlett tells me they have been offered the use of some proven world-class mares, and dams of world-class horses, to be put in foal using frozen semen from the horse Nick says was the best he’d ever ridden. The progeny Party Trick has produced so far appear to have inherited his best qualities.

This campaign isn’t just about asking for money, it’s about being part of the next generation of horses and probably different riders at top level, so I thought it worth reminding people about the project [which you can support here if you wish].

Let’s hope something good, extraordinary even, might come of such a terrible accident which could, alarmingly, have happened to any of us.

● What changes would you like to see in dressage? Tell us at hhletters@futurenet.com

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A fundraising campaign has been launched aiming to create “a lasting memorial” for the four event horses killed in a road collision.

The Archie Legacy, founded by Pammy Hutton and Islay Auty, with support from eventer Nick Gauntlett, will raise funds towards an ongoing breeding project using frozen semen from Nick’s stallion Party Trick, who died in the accident on the way to Blair Castle International Horse Trials on 24 August, along with Sophie Hulme’s Ice Cool Cooley, Charisma TH and Farytale Cooley. The aim is to breed a son or daughter of Party Trick, a Sports Horse Breeding (GB) champion stallion by Chilli Morning, who could go on to compete at future Olympic Games.

Nick explained the idea is to use some of Party Trick’s limited amount of frozen semen to put some of the best and proven mares in foal, using embryo transfer and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a lab-based technique where a single sperm cell is injected into a matured oocyte. The resulting foal will be owned by Nick.

“Pammy, who has been a huge part of my career, said to me, ‘You’ve worked so hard with this horse – he was your comeback horse and he was the horse that was going to put you back on the map. There needs to be a legacy,’” Nick told H&H.

“Without a doubt Party Trick was the best horse I’ve ever ridden, and he was more than that – he was passing great qualities to the next generation. The more I’ve thought about the legacy, it’s allowing him the opportunity to be great as a sire when he didn’t get the chance to be great in his own right. It would be amazing to have a son or daughter at the Olympics or winning a big competition.”

Islay told H&H the legacy is about keeping Party Trick’s name alive and supporting both Nick and Sophie.

“People, not just from the equestrian world, have asked if there is a fund they can support. We wanted to create something people would want to support not just because of Nick, but because they are supporting the future of the line, and the development of good stock. If we get a large pot of money it will be used with great judgement and care with regard to the development of the sport we all love,” she said.

Nick added that the support he has received since the accident had been “incredible”.

“Everybody has been very kind. The horse world is an unbelievable family, and while I’m not saying it takes something like this to show that, when something like this does happen, it really does,” he said.

A Gofundme page set up by Sarah Ettridge, a friend of Nick and his wife Amanda, after the collision will be used for the fundraising. Donations can be made by visiting the Gofundme page here.

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The equestrian community has been rocked by the deaths of four event horses in a road traffic collision.

Nick Gauntlett’s Party Trick and Sophie Hulme’s Charisma TH, Farytale Cooley and Ice Cool Cooley were travelling to the Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials yesterday afternoon (24 August) when the horsebox broke down on the A9. A lorry on the road collided with the horsebox, resulting in the death of all four horses on board. Two men from the lorry were taken to hospital.

Party Trick was the nine-year-old stallion son of Badminton winner Chilli Morning and had competed at four-star level with Nick.

“My amazing family are fine and that is definitely the main thing,” Nick said in a statement. “But today we lost Party Trick having broken down just 30 minutes from Blair Castle. We sat on the grass verge and watched a lorry… plough into our truck. You don’t need the details but we lost all four horses on board.

“We are obviously all heartbroken. Lucy Morgan and Asha Riches-Wood, the emergency services, vets and people generally were amazing. Thank you everyone for your words of support and offers of help. The eventing world yet again proving what an amazing family it is.”

In a statement Sophie said she was at Blair when the collision happened.

“Three of my lovely horses, my precious babies are gone. Taken far too soon from this world. My beautiful Charisma and Feyre are gone and my lovely Fintan as well. I’m so sorry for Nick and [his wife] Amanda and for their loss,” it read.

“The world can be such a cruel place. My world is completely upside down at the moment. Thank you to everyone who has messaged and reached out to me. I am slowly working my way through all the messages. It’s going to be hard for a while and it’s going to be tough, but the best we can do is soldier on. Everyone please give your horses an extra hug and kiss from me as you never know what might happen.”

A Police Scotland spokesman told H&H officers were called to a report of a crash involving two lorries on the A9 at Cairney Brae, near Perth.

“Police, fire and ambulance attended and two men from one of the lorries were taken by Ninewells Hospital in Dundee,” he said.

“We can confirm that two of the horses died and two had to be euthanised by vets. The road was closed until around 9.30pm.”

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Following this morning’s sad news (25 August) that eventing stallion Chilli Morning has died, aged 20, we take a look back at highlights of his competition career.

Chilli Morning was the greatest eventing stallion in the history of the sport. From his 45 international eventing starts, he finished in the top 10 no less then 23 times and is one of only two stallions to win a five-star event.

Owned by Chris Stone and his wife Lisa, Chris had been enjoying hacking Chilli out during the stallion’s retirement, and even took part in some in-house dressage competitions from their base in West Sussex.

“He had his own turnout paddock, which he was in this morning when he just collapsed and died instantly. It was very quick and he didn’t suffer,” Chris told H&H’s eventing editor Pippa Roome.

Chilli started his competitive life with Nick Gauntlett, who produced the horse up to four-star level with great success.

Nick’s notable results with Chilli included:

• Winning Longleat CCI3*-S in 2008
• Fourth in the CCI3*-S at Barbury in 2008
• Winner of the CCI3*-L at Weston Park in 2008
• 10th at Blenheim CCI4*-L in 2009
• Winner of the CCI4*-S at Houghton Hall in 2010
• Jumped clear across country at Burghley in 2011

Chilli then went on to spend a short time with Mary King before the ride was passed onto William Fox-Pitt as Mary found him too strong. William and Chilli became one of the great partnerships of the sport and Britain’s best performers at the annual senior championship on every occasion they were on the team — in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

William’s notable results with Chilli included:

• Winner Badminton Horse Trials in 2015
• Winner of the CCI4*-L at Bramham in 2012 and 2013
• Fifth in the CCI5* at Pau in 2012
• European individual bronze medallist in 2013
• Winner of the CCI4*-S at Bramham in 2014
• World individual bronze and team silver medallist in 2014
• 12th at the Rio Olympics

Highlights of eventing stallion Chilli Morning’s career

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Running a top yard and juggling small children sounds like a logistical nightmare — unless you are savvy enough to familarise your brood with a wheelbarrow, broom, paperwork and boot polish.

The next generation of eventers, jockeys, trainers and showjumpers are hard at work. And at the rate they’re going, we can guess who is going to be picking up the best kept tack, best kept stable and best turned out accolades at the Pony Club camps of the future. Watch this space…

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It’s all go at eventer Sam Watson’s base in Ireland, as sons Toby and Archie get to work with making the place look tidy… until something else looks a lot more interesting.

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Gloucestershire-based eventer Nick Gauntlett’s son Henry might be able to fit in his dad’s Ariat boots, but he’s doing his best to get them shiny.

And Henry’s not afraid to get his hands dirty with some poo-picking in the school too.

Continued below…

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Lily Meade knows how to keep out of the way when she’s accompanying her dad Harry to events…

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Jockey Choc Thornton’s son William is kitted out to deal with the hosepipe.

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National Hunt trainer Ben Pauling’s daughter Tilia doesn’t seem too bothered about where her pram is…

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Mary King has decided to give up the ride on the four-star stallion Chilli Morning.

Chris Stone’s Chilli Morning was produced by Nick Gauntlett and Mary took on the chestnut at the start of this season.

Last year’s world number one led the dressage in advanced section N at Belton Horse Trials last weekend on Chilli Morning, but was eliminated for three refusals across country (they are pictured at Belton before their elimination).

“He’s a top-class horse, but he’s not the right horse for me,” Mary told H&H. “I’m not strong enough to ride him without a stronger bit, but he’s used to a soft bit and a strong man and he doesn’t like a stronger bit. That’s what went wrong at Belton.

“Even showjumping I find it really hard to stay in balance on him – I feel like a novice flopping all over the place.

“From the horse’s point of view, he needs someone else on him because he is a really good horse. It’s the first time I’ve given up the ride on a top-class horse, but I can’t do him justice.”

The decision leaves Mary with just one Badminton ride, the white-faced chestnut Apache Sauce, as she has decided not to take her two London Olympic front-runners Imperial Cavalier and Kings Temptress to a four-star this spring.

[Update: 4 April 2012, 1:45pm]

William Fox-Pitt has taken over the ride on Chilli Morning.

Full report from Belton in H&H out tomorrow, 5 April.

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Four-star event stallion Chill Morning has moved to a new rider, Mary King.

Chris Stone’s 12-year-old by Phantomic has been produced by Nick Gauntlett throughout his eventing career, which started with a win at pre-novice in 2006.

The horse joined the rare group of stallions who have completed a four-star when he finished 42nd at Burghley last year with a clear jumping round across country.

Owner Chris Stone explained his decision to move the horse to Mary’s yard to H&H.

“Nick and I set off on the dream of the London Olympics together on the day that we were awarded the games, and he did a great job in finding and producing the horses to give both them, and him, a shot at selection,” he said.

“That dream has unfortunately come to an end, as it is clear that none of my horses are high enough in an extremely strong UK line-up to have a realistic chance of selection. This has led to my wife [Lisa] and I discussing what we would like to do next, which included possibly selling Chilli, and although we had a couple of offers, we decided that we would see what might happen with a different rider.

“We were thrilled when Mary told us that she thought she might have room to ride him this year. Obviously, he is a long way behind Mary’s world-class horses in terms of potential team selection, so it was actually a relief to take that pressure out of the equation.”

Chris added: “Nick has a good string of horses and a very loyal support team around him, and I am sure that he will do very well this season. On a non-horsey topic, my wife and I wish him and Amanda the very best of luck for their married life!”

Nick proposed to girlfriend Amanda Eaton on Christmas Day.

A statement on Nick’s website dated 12 January said: “Following Saturday night’s prestigious British Breeding awards dinner where Chilli and his son topped their respective sections, Chilli’s owners Chris and Lisa Stone telephoned to tell me they wanted Mary King to take the ride! Chilli is an amazing horse with whom I have enjoyed some great times and some notable successes.

“After nearly six years together, our final competition was at Burghley (pictured) where we jumped clear round the biggest four-star I have seen; Chilli jumped brilliantly but due to returning from a long lay off with a tendon injury, we collected some time-faults.

“I think Burghley has set Chilli up for a very competitive run at Badminton this spring and I wish Mary every success with him.”

Chilli Morning’s good results with Nick include finishing second in the six-year-old section of the Pavo British Eventing Breeding Championships in 2006, winning Longleat CIC** and Weston Park CCI** in 2008 and victory at Houghton CIC*** in 2009.

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Event rider Nick Gauntlett has taken part in a real-life TV show about arranged marriages, to be shown on BBC2 on Thursday (22 November).

Nick took part in a TV match-making programme, Arrange Me A Marriage, that aims to discover whether the traditional Muslim marriage can work in a western culture.

Nick was matched up with London-based Lexi Proud five months ago, and the couple have been together ever since.

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Nick Gauntlett and Woodside Alcatraz claimed victory in the open intermediate section, preventing Oliver Townend’s clean sweep at Oasby on 28 September.

Nick and Julia Zorab’s 10-year-old added nothing to their dressage score to emerge victorious by 1.5 penalties.

Oli finished second with Roquefort. They led the dressage on a score of 26.2, before adding four penalties in the show jumping and 1.2 cross-country time-penalties. Nicola Wilson and the consistent Mr Nickleby were third.

Despite collecting eight faults in the show jumping arena, Oli Townend finished first in intermediate section C on Tribal Leader, ahead of Rachael Lupton and The Chenko Artist.

The remaining intermediate section also went to Oli, this time with ODT Tivoli. Oli’s stable jockey Angus Smales followed with Quartz De Bournival, just over a penalty in arrears. Hannah Brown and Quite Primitive filled third place .

Read this report in full in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (4 October, ’07)

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Tina Cook claimed the main advanced intermediate class aboard Miners Frolic at a sun-drenched South of England Horse Trials. Ireland’s Pip Peters and Upward Trend finished second, leaving Tina third with First Flight II.

Nick Gauntlett and Calibre won the 30-strong open intermediate, pipping Belarus rider Viachaslau Poita and Energiya to the post by a mere 0.5pen.

Camilla Earnshaw, 17, and Bishops Law pulled off their first affiliated win when capturing a strong under-21 open intermediate section. Second was Fergus Payne with Secret Avalanche, with Harry Dzenis (Spider VI) in third.

The first of two intermediate sections went to Eventing magazine’s assistant editor Ellie Hughes on Spread The Word, ahead of runners-up Sam Penn and On A Par.

Japan’s Takeaki Tsuchiya took the spoils in intermediate section K with his Irish-bred Jackabee.

Read this report in full, with further analysis and stunning photography, in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (19 April ’07)

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Oliver Townend (pictured right) and Lucy Wiegersma are among a line-up of potential Olympic event riders hosting a masterclass at Belton Horse Trials (31 March 7:30pm).

The class will offer advice on training for dressage, show jumping and cross-country, using up-and-coming riders as guinea pigs.

Piggy French, Tristram Owers, Nick Gauntlett and Polly Jackson will be teaching alongside Townend and Wiegersma. The class, which is run in conjunction with Belton Horse Trials (31 March – 1 April), is being held in support of the Event Riders’ Association.

Tickets are available priced at £20 for adults and £17 for children under 16. Pony Club members £15. Attendees to the masterclass can also benefit from a preferential entry rate of £5 to Belton Horse Trials.

Ticket application details and further information can be found at www.hoylandevent.co.uk or by contacting Hoyland Event & Marketing Services (tel: 01777 872298) or email: info@hoylandevent.co.uk

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