Latest from Horse & Hound in Puissance

Six in a row! Puissance master Rachel Proudley continues winning ways with new ride in four-way tie at Bolesworth

Sarah Radford — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 13:47:03 +0000

Rachel Proudley claimed her sixth consecutive major puissance victory in the UK when she shared the spoils with three other riders in the Equiyd puissance at Bolesworth International on Saturday night (27 June).

Rachel won all five of her previous titles with her established performer Easy Boy De Laubry Z, but brought forward a new ride to tackle the bricks — Niall Mullins’ 11-year-old French Connection, who was making his puissance debut.

She split victory with Morgan Shirley, jumping her first Bolesworth puissance with nine-year-old mare Klaris Ride On, Paul Sims with nine-year-old Marshmallow and David Simpson with Kolman VDP.

The four combinations who cleared 1.95m in the fourth round of the Bolesworth puissance all lowered bricks in the fifth and final round , where the wall loomed at 2.10m (6’9”), to split the £6,700 winners’ pot.

“I started riding him two or three months ago,” said Rachel, who turns 21 in July. “He jumped the 1.50m here on Friday and then we thought we might try him in the puissance. He’s never jumped it before on his life, he had no practice or test run, that was his first ever go. We only decided to enter him today.”

The combination arguably jumped it the best of those in the final round, just nudging out a couple of bricks in front.

“To be fair, he was very unlucky not to clear it. It felt easy to him and I was very pleased with him,” she said.

Rachel, who is based in Yorkshire as a rider for Richard Howley, has firmly honed the knack for jumping the big wall. She took her first win at London International with Easy Boy De Laubry Z in 2024, going on to win at Bolesworth last year, followed by Dublin — where she broke a 61-year-old record — then Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), and London again.

“I think it is about keeping your cool!” said Rachel, who makes the towering bricks look like a normal fence. “I just try and keep it the same in every round and not go to early or too quick.”

With entries originally a little thin, the decision was made to start the wall lower than usual in the first round, at just 1.35m. This helped bump at the start list to 11 hopefuls, with several first timers, including Morgan Shirley, encouraged into the mix.

Hickstead Derby horses tackle Bolesworth puissance

Morgan, along with David Simpson, was one of two riders to be jumping their Hickstead Derby horses from last week in the class.

“It was surreal, it was 100% not on my radar at the start of the year that I’d be jumping the Derby and then a puissance,” said Morgan, who has a special relationship with the Brendon Stud’s mare, who she backed.

“I said to Shirley [Light] ‘I can’t see over it, I don’t know what to look at’ and she said ‘Just look at the top!’”

“‘Kali’ gave me a lot of confidence. She’s always been so willing and so kind, I feel like I could jump the moon on her. It’s been a whirlwind week.”

Last year, Shirley decided to keep Kali, who is by Don VHP Z out of her 1.60m mare Sussex Caretino, to be her hunter and team chaser, after she failed the vet.

“She has her mum’s guts and spirit and that extra bit of scope from her father,” Shirley said.

“We heard they were a bit short of entries for the puissance and were starting low, so I said to Morgan ‘This is our chance’.”

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‘As mad as it looks, there’s a strategy to it’: the story behind unorthodox puissance hero Luichew, who captivated the London crowd

Jennifer Donald — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 09:16:52 +0000

Andrew Hodgins and Shanaclough Luichew may not have been names you were familiar with before this year’s London International Horse Show. But after wowing the crowds with their courageous – and at times heartstopping – attempts at jumping the big, red wall in Thursday night’s puissance, the brilliant nine-year-old chestnut Luichew is now a horse that everyone is talking about.

Andrew’s unorthodox approach of turning up short to each fence and coming to a near-halt in each corner is something we’ve rarely seen before, but it resulted in a third-placed finish behind victor Rachel Proudley, much to the delight of the crowd.

So what’s the story of this electric duo? We caught up with the Irish rider to hear the remarkable story of a “near-unrideable” young horse who found his ideal human, learnt to trust him and has been taking the showjumping world by storm ever since.

Shanaclough Luichew: from “nearly unrideable” young eventer to puissance hero – a partnership built on trust and reassurance

Now nine, Irish Sport Horse Shanaclough Luichew was bred in Ireland by Jill Twomey. He is by the great stallion Luidam, out of Cailin Leathsli, a daughter of Coolcronan Wood. The gelding was destined for an early career in eventing before Andrew took the reins.

“I was told he was too careful for eventing and I think they made the right decision,” says Andrew. “In his five-year-old year, he went showjumping and he was in a number of yards before he came to me. They all added value, but they weren’t building the partnership he needed.

“I wouldn’t say he was completely unrideable at that stage, but he just used to jam up with people and it was a real issue – he wasn’t at all straightforward and that’s largely the reason I got him. A mutual friend recommended me to the owners John and Anne Glynn and I won’t give it the fairytale finish just yet, but it’s been pretty good since! We’ve been productive every year and he’s got way more rideable.

“I made a few alterations in terms of tack when I first got him – he was just so sensitive in the mouth. But essentially it all came down to him learning to trust me, which has been hugely rewarding. He’s just a sensitive horse and once he trusts you, I think you could do anything with him. So trust was the big thing we had to work on and thankfully things got much easier.

“I know Luichew inside out now – I can preempt anything that’s going to upset him and if he does get upset I know the dos and the don’ts of how to deal with it,” continues Andrew. “But every horse has an individual personality and he is very sensitive – you just have to be kind and caring to him and reassure him that it’s all ok. Then he’s very willing. We have a great bond now and he gives me the sensation that he thinks ‘If Andrew says it’s OK, we’ll do it’.”

An almost accidental first puissance attempt

Andrew Hodgins and Shanaclough Luichew were soon stepping up the levels in the ring and he’s developed into a “hugely consistent showjumping horse in any type of class”.

“He’s happily jumping 1.35m/1.45m now and we’re hoping to move up to 1.50m next year,” says Andrew.

Their first attempt at a puissance came about almost by accident while Andrew was making entries for a county show in Ireland.

“I always knew Luichew was extremely athletic and scope wasn’t a problem and I looked to see if there were any other classes other than the grand prix at this show,” says Andrew. “I had four minutes left to enter online, I spotted the puissance with very few entered and I thought, worst case scenario, we’ll get placed and we’ll have done something different! But before I knew it, he had finished second in his first ever puissance.”

Still unsure whether that was just “a one-off, a bit of beginners’ luck”, Andrew then entered him in a puissance at Cavan, where they again finished second.

“I knew then he had all the talent,” says Andrew.

Unfortunately Andrew picked up an injury earlier this year, but in August they returned to puissance action, making their five-star debut at Dublin Horse Show where they finished equal third – again behind victors Rachel Proudley with Easy Boy De Laubry Z. But that competition was a “massive learning curve” says Andrew as the “headstrong” Luichew launched full pelt towards the triple bar and straight on to the puissance wall in Dublin’s huge turf arena.

“I was really disappointed in myself that day – I felt I could have done more,” reflects Andrew. “When you take the long approach to the fence and you have any bit of pace, Luichew takes over and tries to get there too early, so you have very little say. Fortunately he got a half decent stride to the wall, but it could have been an unpleasant sight if he’d met it long and wrong.

“After talking with a few friends of mine and getting their opinions, I changed my strategy. The deal was that if Luichew didn’t fully know where the fence was or where he was going, he couldn’t attack it from a long way back. So the idea was to start turning him up shorter, not to let him get his eye on the fence, and stopping in the corners. It just gives you a bit more chance to get the striding right. I’m sure it looks like madness to spectators but there’s a strategy to it – it’s the key to getting Luichew there in a controlled manner.

“When you meet the wall right, he’ll put in 100% effort every time. Whatever outcome we get, it’s never going to be short of effort anyway. Cavan, where he won, was the first puissance we did after that change of strategy and it felt like it really worked.

“The long rein and the style I ride in where I sit back in the saddle, that’s what feels comfortable for me. It might not be the prettiest but I like to think it’s effective.”

“Luichew is very sensitive – you just have to be kind and caring to him and reassure him that it’s all ok. Then he’s very willing,” says Andrew Hodgins, pictured at the London International. (Image credit: elli birch)

Next stop, the London International Horse Show for Andrew Hodgins and Shanaclough Luichew

After winning the puissance at Cavan earlier this year, a friend of Andrew’s suggested he might have qualified to compete in the puissance at the CSI5* show in London.

“I rang HSI and they said that actually, although that used to be the case, it wasn’t a qualifier this year,” says Andrew. “Somebody very kindly said, ‘Why don’t you make an application anyway?’ Luichew was on a break back at his owners’ farm when I got the call up on 16 November, I picked him up on the 17th and we just got going from there.

“I’ve been showjumping since I was 14 when I just fell in love with the sport and competing in London was a real childhood dream from watching the show as a kid. It never dawned on me that I’d get to go as a rider, though. To ride in the beautiful arena, with the crowd right next to you, it’s proper stadium jumping.”

Luichew had remained relaxed in the warm-up during Thursday night’s contest, but as soon as he saw the wall, the adrenaline started pumping.

“In the second round, he went to do the same thing as in Dublin and charged at the triple bar, so I circled and thought ‘OK we need to to turn up as tight as we can’,” explains Andrew.

“Puissance jumping is a difficult job for most horses and he does get aware that this isn’t a grand prix, that we’re doing a different job today. He gets pumped up by the atmosphere but trust me, when you’re approaching the fence, he’s an absolute demon – it’s such a good feeling.”

The higher Andrew and Luichew jumped, the more the crowd got behind this dazzling duo, giving their full support to these unexpected heroes on a thrilling evening in London.

“I could hear the roars for every rider that was in there – was it any different for me? I couldn’t tell you, but the reception I got in there was very impressive, people really seemed to appreciate the efforts that Luichew and I gave – as they did for everyone else in the class,” says Andrew, who ended up jumping 2.10m on the night.

Andrew Hodgins and Shanaclough Luichew after finishing third in the puissance at the London International – he’s also an exceptional Derby horse, who can turn his hand to anything. (Image credit: Elli Birch)

“I’d love the opportunity to jump at Hickstead”

Andrew assures us that Shanaclough Luichew is much calmer when it comes to jumping coloured poles.

“He’s unique in that I think he could do nearly anything – he’s extremely fast if you want him to and he’s a very good grand prix horse. He jumped his first 1.45m in Millstreet this year for just one fence down. The owner is really supportive and gives me the green light to do whatever I want,” he says. “Luichew is also proven in Derbies – I think that would actually be his best class, he’s exceptional. I did my first Derby on him last year and I was very lucky to have a win that day.”

Andrew’s ultimate goal would be to jump at Hickstead, in either the speed Derby or the Hickstead Derby itself.

“I don’t want to get too ahead of myself, but a couple of goals I’ve set for myself for next year are more puissances, naturally enough, then away from that the only class I’d really love to do if they’ll give me the invite is Hickstead. I’d love the opportunity to jump there. I believe Luichew could be competitive in either the speed Derby or the Derby.

“He is such a fighter and he’s 100% committed so, with a bit of luck, I really believe he could well pull it out the bag.

“London was my first show abroad, so, having been such a positive experience, hopefully more opportunities will present themselves to me,” says Andrew Hodgins, who is married to Aoife and runs Thornhill Sport Horses from his base in Tipperary, breeding, producing and dealing showjumping horses.

“We have a lot more horses of Luichew’s standard coming to me now but hopefully we can continue to build to better things. I can’t thank everyone enough who helps me in the background – my wife, Aoife, my mum and dad who work with me every day and the owners who do so much for me; so many people pull together to make moments like this happen and I’m so grateful to all of them, as well as the brilliant Luichew.”

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Reigning champion and puissance queen share 2.2m HOYS victory: ‘There are no words to describe it’

Lucy Elder — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 23:49:03 +0000

Defending champion Joe Trunkfield and puissance queen Rachel Proudley shared victory over the big red wall in a top-class edition of this iconic HOYS showpiece tonight (11 October).

The 2025 Ripon Select Food Puissance went to five rounds, the joint winners clearing 2.20m (7’3”) to share the spoils.

A knowledgeable crowd packed the stands, testament to the draw this historic class continues to have. And what a puissance it was. The start list brimmed with stories and star power, but it was the performance of these riders and their magnificent horses that brought the script to life.

The 14 starters were whittled down to three by the fifth and final round – Joe, Rachel and puissance titan Guy Williams.

Rachel was the first of the final trio to jump. Her game partner Easy Boy De Laubry Z, so comfortable in his scope and his ability, grew with each round and soared over the towering final wall with room to spare. The silence that filled the NEC on their approach was replaced by a mighty roar from the stands on landing, as Rachel punched the air.

Rachel Proudly and Eady Boy De Laubry Z. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“He’s called Easy Boy and honestly, he finds it so easy – the bigger, the better for him,” said Rachel, who adds the HOYS puissance title to the London, Bolesworth and Dublin crowns she has won with Graham Ward’s 11-year-old gelding in the last 12 months.

“The nerves weren’t too bad. I trust him all the way, which really helps and makes my life easy.

“There are no words to describe it. With a packed crowd and atmosphere like that, it really just is incredible – and to be here on home turf as well makes it even better. It’s just great to be here, and thank you all for having us.

“I’m absolutely over the moon. Congratulations to Joe as well. He put in an amazing performance, it’s been a great night.”

Joe and Locomotion, dubbed by commentator Steve Wilde as “the best Locomotion since Kylie Minogue”, followed Rachel and ensured they kept hold of the title they won a year ago with a superb shot over the final wall.

“I’m so pleased with the horse and for his owner, Tracy Fletcher. She does everything with him at home. I’m just privileged to ride him at shows. He’s an unbelievable horse,” said Joe, adding that the nine-year-old gelding does it all “with a smile on his face”.

“The first time I came here in 2021 [with Senators Rhondaigo ] you’re doing it, because it’s great to be able to come, and we were lucky to win.

“Then I won last year, and now it’s getting to the stage where it’s nearly half expected. The pressure’s on – as they say, pressure is a privilege, and I really enjoy it.

“It’s the wildest atmosphere of the whole week in there – it’s a sell-out event and the crowd is amazing.

“The first round is never great, it’s nearly the worst round of all because you don’t want to knock one of the jumps down, or go out so early. But I think you kind of have to focus on the fact that it’s the last rounds that matter and to just get yourself there, and then do what you can.

“He’s a great horse. Tracy goes and has fun around the local shows with him and wins classes, left, right and centre, then he can come here to a big show and does this.

“He came to me to sell for Joe Stockdale, and luckily he found Tracy and found us, and we’re having some real fun with him.

“I’m delighted for Rachel as well, she’s such a talented young rider with an equally amazing horse. To share the win with her is great.”

Guy Williams and Cordessia Z were game rivals, just tapping a brick off the final wall to finish third behind the winning pair.

Guy’s 19-year-old daughter Maisie (Dalton D’Hoyo) put in an impressive performance to get to the penultimate round (2.13m) and share fourth with puissance debutant Olli Fletcher (Quintine Van D’abdijhoeve) and Nathan Bull (Casaltonia).

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‘She made the puissance look like a garden fence’: how Rachel Proudley scaled London’s big wall – and can she do it again?

Briony Reed — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 20:48:26 +0000

“She has ridden down to a 6ft 11in wall and made it look like the garden fence!” So observed the commentary team as Rachel Proudley won the puissance class in London last December.

The then 19-year-old rider and Easy Boy De Laubry Z had, indeed, made clearing the imposing red bricks look easy. Riding quietly and in beautiful balance, Rachel showed no sign of nerves as she and “Boy” hit the ideal spot and flowed over the giant obstacle.

When Jack Whitaker and Equine America Q Paravatti N nudged the top row of bricks out of place a couple of minutes later, Rachel had claimed the crowd-pleaser class and a rising home talent had earned herself an expanding following.

“Everything about that was amazing,” Rachel says. “To win on home turf in front of everyone, with the crowd behind you – it was a full house – makes it even more special. I would never have dreamt it would happen! It was a really good competition.

“My phone went mad after that win,” she muses, reflecting on her suddenly magnified exposure to the wider equestrian audience. But her level-headedness and self-assurance are reflected in recognition of the fact that reality returns with a bump. “Afterwards, though, you just carry on as normal – yes, that was a very good result, but the next day I had Quality Street jumping in the under-25. You just get on with it.”

Rachel made it look almost straightforward.

“To be fair, it’s a big fence,” she says, with a healthy dose of Yorkshire understatement. “You’ve got to have full concentration, but I suppose when you’re in the zone, you don’t really feel anything. You’re just focusing on one thing and one thing only.”

She acknowledges the part played by Easy Boy’s courage, which is honed in the hunting field, in their pre-Christmas triumph.

“When you’re sat on a brave horse, you don’t really feel it, and he’s very, very brave. We hunt him quite a bit, which helps with the bravery. My dad trail-hunts him during the week and then we go to shows at the weekends with him.

“He’s just a lovely horse – a big gentle giant really.”

Her fondness for him is clear. And it turns out that Easy Boy is, like Rachel, also a naturally talented prodigy. Graham Ward’s 11-year-old gelding by Elvis De Putte had not tackled a wall until last autumn.

“He had never actually jumped a wall before until just before Horse of the Year Show [HOYS] last year,” says Rachel – Easy Boy had, until then, largely competed in national 1.30m classes. “We just thought we would try him and gave it a go down at HK Horses – over some shavings bales! We made a wall out of bales and just kept going higher and higher – and he seemed to be very, very good.

“That was the only time we tried it before going to Birmingham, so the next time he saw a big fence was at HOYS. We did a little practice before London and that was it. So he hasn’t had much experience at puissance, but he just seemed very good at it.”

He certainly does – he cleared 2.10m at HOYS for third and 2.12m in London to win in his first two tilts at the big wall. In his two attempts this summer, at Bolesworth and Dublin, he’s also finished first.

Rachel Proudley: “Mum and Dad weren’t horsey at all”

Given the young age at which Rachel is reaching the top level of the sport, one might assume that she has had all the benefits of growing up in a ready-made equestrian environment. Not a bit of it; it’s all down to talent and hard work.

“My mum and dad were not horsey at all,” she says – although with her father now trail-hunting her top horse, it does seem that her enthusiasm is contagious and talent is latent in the family. “I don’t really know how I got into it to be honest, but I was always obsessed with horses when I was younger. I went on and on about wanting a pony so much, eventually I got my first, who was given to me by a friend of my next-door neighbour.

“My first proper jumping pony, a coloured cob called Painted Lady, was a Christmas present from my parents, and it went from there. She’s about 24 now and I still have her. She won about everything going. She has her quirks – she would buck in every round, every time and all the time. Her trademark, I guess! But she taught me so much.”

Rachel and her super pony Painted Lady at Olympia in 2017 – “She won everything going.” (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Fast forward to 2025, and Rachel partners a string of top-class mounts. Alongside Easy Boy, the big hitters for her this year were John Chadwick’s Petitfour VD Wareslage, a 10-year-old gelding by Corydon Van T&L, with whom she claimed the speed horse of the year crown at HOYS last year. And then there was Obos Quality 004 daughter Quality Street, with whom Rachel won individual gold and team bronze at this year’s young rider European Showjumping Championships, and who has since been sold to Qatar.

Clearly Rachel can handle fast tracks and meaty courses as well as puissance heights.

“We have a good string of top horses who are jumping in international classes,” reports Rachel. “They’re all very different, with strengths in different classes.”

“They all have good personalities, too,” she adds. “They are easy to work with, which is very nice for me!”

Many of Rachel’s horses are owned by Richard Howley and Morgan Kent’s HK Horses, who play a significant part in Rachel’s set-up. She is based with them in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, and trains with Richard. But, as with any top rider, the foundations of success are laid on many people’s shoulders.

“It’s a massive team,” says Rachel. “Owners, trainers, grooms, my parents – everyone. There are so many people you can’t do without. It’s hard to name everyone, but alongside Richard, my mum Angie and dad Paul have been a huge support. Toby Parsons, too – he’s head groom at HK Horses and is a very big influence behind the team.

How Rachel Proudley trains for elite success

“The time in the ring is almost the smallest part. All the training done at home and everyone looking after the horses – that’s the most important bit.”

Day-to-day life for Rachel involves a variety of horses and riding.

“When I’m down at HK, I ride all day – jumping, on the flat; general training and gymnastic work,” she says. “The schedule varies depending on which horses are in the stables at the time and which need what work. Plus Richard has a collection of up-and-coming youngsters, who also join the roster.

“I do think it’s good to vary the work. Easy Boy does a lot of hacking at home and goes hunting quite a bit – it’s good for them to have a bit of downtime to relax and enjoy it a bit, so it’s not too much intense training all the time.

“They have a gallop and a canter track around the woods at HK and it’s good for the young horses to do a bit of cross-country schooling, to let them see and experience something different. It keeps them interested. And it’s good for me, too – I find the variety refreshing as well.”

“All the training done at home and everyone looking after the horses – that’s the most important bit,” says Rachel. (Image credit: Events Through A Lens)

Onwards and upwards feels set to be Rachel’s trajectory.

There is plenty of discussion currently about encouraging greater and more equitable participation in equestrian sport – Rachel Proudley’s story is an inspiring one for hopeful riders and for the sport in general, and she surely has a bright future ahead of her.

She has scaled the heights of the puissance; next up, the giddy heights of the top leagues of the sport.

“Would that be something?” ran the commentary on Rachel’s potential win as she prepared to jump at ExCeL.

Yes, it was, and this young rider is herself quite something. We look forward to seeing where she goes from here.

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British gold medallist, 20, is first woman in 61 years to win Dublin puissance: ‘He’s an unbelievable horse’

Pippa Roome — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:08:46 +0000

Britain’s Rachel Proudley became the first woman in 61 years to win the Dublin Horse Show puissance; her fourth victory in this type of class in nine months with Graham Ward’s Easy Boy De Laubry Z.

The 20-year-old, who was recently crowned young rider European champion, won over the wall at the London Horse Show last year, then shared victory at Bolesworth and won Mullingar, where the aim was to qualify for this Dublin debut. The combination made their puissance debut at Horse of the Year Show last year, having practised over a wall made from bales of shavings.

Fourteen went to post over the 1.80m starter wall in the Defender Dublin Horse Show puissance, but only two cleared the 2.10m third-round challenge. Paddy O’Connell’s dapple grey Kilcorig Elysium hooked up his back legs on the wall at this height and somehow got away without bringing down a brick, although the Irishman nearly fell off.

Paddy sensibly elected not to jump again, which meant Rachel could have won by simply going through the start in the fourth round and then retiring, but she sportingly gave the crowd a show and it never looked in doubt that Easy Boy De Laubry Z would clear 2.15m.

“I was quietly confident and he jumped very good in the last few rounds, but the last round was his best,” said Rachel. “He’s so brave and has such a good attitude. He gets a little bit excited in the atmosphere, but he’s an unbelievable horse and you can trust him all the way. He loves his job.”

The rider described the 11-year-old as “very chilled out” at home and she doesn’t practise over a wall; hacking and hunting is his main preparation. He paraded hounds at the Great Yorkshire Show last month with Rachel’s boyfriend, Hurworth huntsman Stevie Cook, and was out hunting on Boxing Day with her father Paul after winning at London.

The last time a female rider won this class was 1964, when Britain’s Pat Moss-Carlsson, sister of Formula 1 driver Stirling Moss and a successful rally driver herself, shared victory with Johnny Kidd.

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Teenager clears the biggest fence of her life at 7ft 3in to share Bolesworth puissance spoils: ‘I’m lost for words’

Jennifer Donald — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 06:00:13 +0000

British teenager Rachel Proudley set a new personal best by clearing 7ft 3in to tie for top honours with Ireland’s Brendan Murphy in the LeMieux puissance at the CSI3* Bolesworth International presented by Al Shira’aa on Saturday evening (28 June).

A field of three intrepid combinations remained for the fifth and final round, where the big red wall towered to 2.20m (7ft 3in) in the centre of Bolesworth’s iconic main arena.

First to go of the final trio was Jack Whitaker and D&H Q Paravatti N, who was fresh from an appearance in the Hickstead Derby with Jack’s father Michael Whitaker, but the mare just nudged out the top bricks to finish on four faults.

One week short of her 20th birthday, 19-year-old Rachel Proudly was one of the youngest riders in the field and still a relative newcomer to high jumping, but already a London International puissance winner with Graham Ward’s 11-year-old Easy Boy De Laubry Z.

The fearless duo tackled the wall with typical gusto, Rachel punching the air with delight as they surpassed their previous personal best of clearing a 2.12m puissance wall set at London in December.

Brendan shrugged off any pressure as last to enter the arena and pitched his approach perfectly with Hugh Fitzpatrick’s 12-year-old Erne Riverrun. The pair soared clear over the top bricks, ensuring there would be a two-way lap of honour for these worthy puissance winners.

Bolesworth puissance winner: “I’m lost for words”

“I’m quite lost for words. It’s an amazing feeling, Easy Boy was great today,” said Rachel. “We didn’t really have high expectations, but he got better with every round. He’s so brave and you can trust him all the way – it really helps. He’s incredible.”

Brendan Murphy riding Hugh Fitzpatrick’s Erne Riverrun share top spot in the Bolesworth puissance on Saturday night. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Brendan and the Irish-bred Erne Riverrun finished third in the puissance here at Bolewsorth at his first attempt in 2023.

“We only came over to Bolesworth with the one horse, so to pull off a win is amazing,” he said.

Finishing in joint fourth were William Fletcher riding Alison Walton’s Quintine Van d’Abdijhoeve and Maisy Williams, who turned 19 last month, riding Dalton D’Hoyo.

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‘He’s such a dude!’ 19-year-old rider and horse who trail-hunts with her dad win superb London puissance

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:17:14 +0000

A nineteen-year-old rider who only jumped her first big red wall two months ago has cleared 2.12m to top the London International Horse Show LeMieux Puissance with Easy Boy de Laubry Z – who was fresh from trail-hunting with Rachel’s father.

Rachel Proudley and Graham Ward’s 10-year-old, who contested their first puissance at Horse of the Year Show in October – having been practising over a wall made from bales of shavings – were the only ones to jump clear in the fourth and final round.

“There isn’t a word that can describe the feeling,” Rachel said. “And to do it on home turf, in front of a home crowd in an atmosphere like that – it’s unbelievable.

“I’ve been out in Florida so Toby Parsons at home, at HK Horses, has been keeping him going, so a big thank you to him.”

A high-class field had come forward to contest the class, including puissance specialists Sebastian Hughes and Colorado Volo, and previous HOYS puissance winners Commandant Geoff Curran and Bishops Quarter, and after the third round, there were still five clear.

But when first-timer Phillipp Schulze Topphoff withdrew the nine-year-old Vivantas, and Daniel Coyle the aptly named Incredible, and Paul Sims and Kingfisher took the wall down, suddenly only Rachel and Easy Boy, and Jack Whitaker and Equine America Q Paravatti N, were left in the running.

Showing no sign of nerves, Rachel rode to the wall as if she had been doing it all her life; sitting quietly and riding beautifully, she found the perfect spot and they cleared it effortlessly.

She knew she had at least jointly won the title but when Jack and his father Michael’s 10-year-old brought the top row of bricks down, she had secured it alone.

Asked what she would have thought had someone suggested beforehand that she would win, Rachel said: “No chance! I would never have dreamed it.

“He’s got so much scope and is so brave, I can just trust him all the way, that he’s going to keep going. He was brilliant.

“In the third round there seemed to be quite a few in it, then only three in round four and when Paul had the wall, there were only two of us left. So there was a bit of pressure on but I knew I could trust him and it paid off. I’m just trying to get my head round it – he was hunting with my dad on Tuesday! He’s such a dude.”

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An Olympic eventer, a talented teenager and GB’s gold medallists: who is competing at this year’s London International?

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:39:51 +0000

While children are counting down the days until Father Christmas arrives, horse fans will be eagerly awaiting the start of the annual equestrian extravaganza that is the London International Horse Show (18-22 December) and what a feast we’re in for this year!

For showjumping fans, it’s a chance to see many of the world’s leading riders in action on home soil. So who will be lining up among the list of entries for this year’s London International at the ExCeL London?

The five-star jumping action begins on Wednesday with the opening night’s evening performance concluding with the ever-popular LeMieux puissance competition. Of course this glittering occasion won’t be the same without the late great Mr Blue Sky UK this year, but an intriguing field of nine entries comes forward to tackle the big red wall.

Home riders lead the way with Carmen Edwards (Happy Valerie), Seb Hughes and Colorado Volo, relative puissance newcomers Rachel Proudley (Easy Boy De Laubry Z), Paul Sims (Kingfisher), teenage sensation and London International puissance debutante Maisy Williams (Dalton D’Hoyo) and Olympic eventer Gemma Stevens (Envoy Merelsnest Z) staking their claim on the silverware.

They will be joined by Irish representatives Geoff Curran on Bishops Quarter and Jason Foley with Dantino B, while Daniel Delsart flies the flag for France with new ride Major Delacour.

London International five-star entries

British riders will be out in force in the five-star classes, led by two of the three riders who won team gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics – Scott Brash and Ben Maher.

Harry Charles, who has enjoyed huge success at the London International in recent years but who has been competing in USA in recent weeks, will be attending the show but won’t be competing.

The trio of Olympic heroes will also take part in the Team GB medal parade on Wednesday night.

Tim Gredley arrives at the London International with top horses Imperial HBF, Medoc De Toxandria and rising star Kolman VDP, while crowd favourite Matt Sampson lines up with Daniel and Ebolensky.

Also arriving in London as Great Britain’s entries are Joe Stockdale, Donald Whitaker, Jack Whitaker, John Whitaker and his son Robert Whitaker, all of whom will also be hoping to give the home crowd plenty to cheer about.

Ireland’s entries and other top showjumpers to look out for

For Ireland, Daniel Coyle and Darragh Kenny will be contesting the festive five-star classes. Other top names to look out for include Max Kuhner of Austria, Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet and twins Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts, in-form French showjumpers Julien Anquetin, Julien Epaillard and Kevin Staut.

It wouldn’t be the London International without the antics of legendary German rider Marcus Ehning and Norway’s Geir Gulliksen, while Swedish heavyweight and world number one Henrik von Eckermann, and Switzerland’s superstars Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat always ensure superb sport.

The five-star showjumping action begins on Wednesday 18 December and concludes on Sunday 22 December with the Longines FEI World Cup presented by Agria.

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‘I wouldn’t change a thing’: farewell to puissance winner who represented Britain

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 19:51:03 +0000

A horse who won puissances, was placed in the Hickstead Derby and represented Great Britain – and who “didn’t have a bad bone in his body” – has been put down after a long and happy retirement.

Owner Julie McClelland and producer Fiona Burgoyne had to make the call for 24-year-old Volcano (Max) as his age was catching up with him. Max and Douglas Duffin won the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) puissance, clearing 7’3”, outright in 2013 and jointly in 2011 with Joe Clayton and Leonardo. They were placed three times in the Derby, and jumped on a Nations Cup team in Prague.

He retired about seven years ago and had been living with Fiona, next door to Julie, near Edinburgh.

“He had a very good friend, a mare called Wise Talk who Fiona used to jump, and it was the right time, “ Julie told H&H. “They went together, which made it extra hard, but they went very peacefully. Sometimes it’s just their time.

Max, front, and Wise Talk together (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“I’d owned him since he was four – 20 years. He’s been part of the family.”

Julie bought Max from the Gillespies, his breeders, where Fiona had spotted him.

“We thought he’d be a good showjumper; we had no idea as to how far he’d go,” Julie said. “Fiona just really liked the stamp of him.”

Fiona and Max were successful together with wins and top placings, including winning the grade C at Blair Castle International Horse Trials. Max then competed with Tracey Newman for a few months, and Douglas took the reins in 2008.

“Douglas and Max got on like a house on fire,” Julie said. “Their puissance in 2011 and was their first one and you could see Max figuring it out. There’s a video of him touching the wall and doing a double flick of his back legs, it was fascinating.

“He absolutely loved a crowd and rose to the occasion; I’ll always remember standing behind the curtain with him at HOYS and he was just solid; head up, listening to the noise and the music. It really made him come out at his best.

“The year he came third in the Derby [2010] he was drawn first and beforehand, they’d had the big parade with the brass band and he just came to life, he loved it.”

Max retired before he tried a fourth Derby as he had sustained a minor injury; Julie had thought she might jump him at lower levels.

“But he’d had a wind operation as a youngster and the rest made the muscles a bit weaker so it made him cough and I said ‘We’re not doing this’,” Julie said. “He’s been too good for us.

“So he retired; he was a great ‘granddad’, keeping an eye on the youngsters, although when he got bored, he’d just jump the fence and come back in!

“He was such a gentle giant, a kind and friendly horse, with a lovely, lovely nature. There wasn’t a bad bone in his body.”

Julie and Fiona travelled to watch Max at all the triumphs of his career.

“He just always made the two of us so proud,” she said. “I remember, when he was nine or 10, I was offered quite a lot of money for him but I said no. A horse like that is irreplaceable and he took us places we would otherwise never have been. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

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‘He’s unbelievable’: eight-year-old horse – in lucky tendon boots — clears 2.15m to win puissance thriller

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 22:20:46 +0000

Joe Trunkfield was the subject of a “bit of banter” for his white tendon boots – “but they’ll all want a pair now,” he joked, after he, they and Locomotion cleared 2.15m (7’1”) to win the Horse of the Year Show Ripon Select Foods puissance.

Joe and Tracey Fletcher’s eight-year-old were the only combination to clear the wall five times, with Paul Sims and Kingfisher in second place as the only others to make the last round.

“He’s an incredible horse,” said Joe, who added that it was only last week that he got the email to say he was in the class. “I nearly didn’t get in – I’m very glad I did!”

The 10 starters had been whittled down to four in the fourth round, also including the 2022 and 2023 winners Commandant Geoff Curran and Bishops Quarter, and first-timers Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z. The wall was by then hard to see over but Locomotion showed his incredible scope and athleticism to leave all the bricks up – and he looked as if he could have gone higher.

This time last week, he and Tracey had contested a 1.15m national class and a Foxhunter, coming fourth and first respectively.

“He found me in a way,” said Joe. “Tracey invested in him, for me and for her to have fun on; she’s done all the work and has been winning local classes. We sold Cruze and were looking for one to replace him, and knew he had a big jump.

Joseph TRUNKFIELD riding LOCOMOTION winners of International Showjumping - Ripon Select Foods Puissance CSI3* - during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 9 - 13 th October 2024 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“He’s an unbelievable horse, and the brilliant thing is that he naturally goes up and is so careful. It’s a great feeling.”

Joe said there is “always that moment”, of clearing the wall, which lasts a long time.

“You’re waiting to hear the plonk, or something hitting the sand,” he said. “But he gave it his all and it’s a great feeling when it goes right. We’ll be having a celebration now!”

And Joe added that Tracey put her own white boots, of a type not so often seen these days, on Locomotion.

“There was a bit of banter with the lads: ‘You’ve got your white boots on’ – but they’ll all be buying a pair next week!” he said.

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A tick off the bucket list: meet the puissance first-timers who have been practising over a shavings wall

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 19:55:11 +0000

Meet puissance first-timers Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z, a 19-year-old rider and a horse who loves his hunting, is as brave as a lion – and has been showing off his scope over a wall made of shavings bales.

The pair are among the entries for the Ripon Select Foods puissance at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) this evening, and will be fourth of 10 combinations to tackle the wall.

“I’m looking forward to it; I’m really excited,” Rachel said. “It’s my first one, and the horse’s first one, so we’ll see how it goes but he’s very brave and scopey, and he’s been hunting so has jumped a few good things.”

Rachel, who has had a good summer jumping internationally in Britain and Europe, said riding in a puissance had been on her bucket list, and that she and Graham Ward, who owns “Boy”, came to a joint decision to give it a go at HOYS.

“No one knew what the horse would do so we had a practice over red shavings bales!” Rachel said. “We didn’t measure it but it was pretty big.

“He’s a lovely horse, so laid-back and a gentleman, easy to ride and so brave. It’ll just be about getting a good canter and ride as confidently as possible. I’m looking forward to it.”

Rachel has had a good HOYS, in her first year in the international classes, including coming third in today’s NAEC Stoneleigh Cup with Quality Street, owned by HK Horses.

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‘She could have gone another 10cm’: 16hh puissance first-timer clears 6ft 11in to win

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 13:26:07 +0000

British showjumper Carmen Edwards and 12-year-old mare Happy Valerie won the puissance at the ALX Horseboxes Major Showjumping Championships (16-22 September) at Arena UK, Grantham, Lincs, as the only combination to clear 6ft 11in (2.10m).

They and fellow puissance first-timers Ryan O’Sullivan and Kilroy V, along with Paul Sims (Kingfisher) and Joe Trunkfield (Locomotion) all made the fifth and final round but only true all-rounder “Val”, who stands a little over 16hh, negotiated the towering set of bricks clear.

“She’s a brave old girl isn’t she?” said Carmen, who has produced the Verdi x Dutchboy mare for the past nine years.

Val has won a CSI3* grand prix in the Netherlands and jumped on three-star Nations Cups teams with her rider but was entered into Friday’s Dodson & Horrell-sponsored puissance as Carmen said “she felt like she needed to jump something a bit different”.

“I had a couple of fences down in the qualifiers for the grand prix [at Arena UK] and I thought she felt a bit stale,” said Carmen of the mare who is co-owned by his father Carl Edwards and Ian Kellett.

“I was staying at Michael Whitaker’s house and he and my dad had a chat the night before and said it might be a good idea to jump the puissance.”

Thirteen intrepid competitors came forward for round one, and six were still in contention for the penultimate round. But with the bricks closing in on the 7ft marker for the final round, just Happy Valerie cleared the wall in fine style, earning the £1,500 top prize. Ryan, Paul and Joe shared the runner-up spot, taking home £700 each.

“It was a class where we didn’t feel any pressure and could just enjoy it,” revealed Carmen. “She felt like she could have gone another 10cm.”

The pair went on to jump clear in the grand prix won by Emma Crawford on Dukes Of Hazzard, just having an early rub on an oxer in the jump-off.

You can read the full report from the ALX Horseboxes Major Showjumping Championships in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, in the shops Thursday 26 September.

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‘He was a one-off’: heartbroken farewell to one of the world’s best puissance horses aged 15

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 10:51:13 +0000

The heartbroken owner of the hugely popular Mr Blue Sky UK has confirmed the puissance legend has died at the age of 15.

Elaine Annis, who bought Blue early this year, told H&H she had had “six months of bliss” with the eye-catching grey superstar, who had to be put down this week after he broke a leg in a freak field accident.

“It was an incredible honour to own him, work with him and be with him,” Elaine said. “The best ones are always robbed from us too early.”

Blue and Guy Williams were probably the most prolific puissance combination of all time; they won 11 times over the big wall, including a record four times at the London International Horse Show. Their last victory came at Bolesworth this summer, when they and Eliott Smith and Flamboyant III set a new record for the show, clearing 7’3”.

“He was a one-off,” Elaine said. “I’ve had a lot of horses and there will never be another one like him.”

Elaine said Blue had been “loving life” for the last six months, including trips to the beach and the forest. The plan had been for Blue to have another year or two of competing, then “when he was 17 or 18, I’d just enjoy him as a general horse”.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Elaine also owns Noctambule Courcelle (Nigel) who won the London puissance in 2012 with Ben Maher, and competed in it with Guy in 2014.

“I always said I’d never have another puissance horse but when I heard he might be available and went to see him, it was love at first sight. I knew I was going to have him. And I think he’s done that to a lot of people; he was well and truly loved.”

Elaine said she spent hours every day with Blue.

“It was an honour to serve him, in a way,” she said. “I wouldn’t let anyone else muck him out because I wanted to spend the time with him, I loved him that much. I can’t describe his character; his stable was right next to the feed room and he’d tap for his food – not kick or bang – at the door when I was in the feed room. He was more human than horse; if I was working in the garden, he’d come to the hedge and watch, and if I walked the dogs, he’d follow me along the track.

“When it happened, I spent all night with his head in my lap, and he’s been buried at home. It wasn’t long enough but if someone told me I’d pay all that money and have him six months, I’d do it all again. I’ve never known a horse like him.”

Guy Williams riding Mr Blue Sky UK joint winners of The LeMieux PUISSANCE during The London International Horse Show at ExCel in London on the 15 December 2022 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Guy told H&H, as he has said before, that Blue was a “family horse”; his young children could lead him around, and his daughter Maisy was jumping him in two-star grands prix when she was 16.

“She couldn’t even hold him but he was like that; the smaller you were, the gentler he was,” Guy said. “He was a big gentle giant, a really nice horse.

“He’s probably one of the best puissance horses there’s ever been; there aren’t many you can remember but some horses stand out and he’ll be one that does.”

Caroline Phillips of Stud UK Euro, bought Blue as a five-year-old and owned him until he was sold to Elaine.

She told H&H that when she first saw him, his jump was so big she could only see the blue sky above, hence his name.

“He was a wonderful horse,” she said. “The last LIHS [puissance] was one of the best nights of my life with horses; it was incredible. It was an amazing performance and this wonderful lady was trying to get me on the microphone but I had to say ‘I’m really sorry but I’ve got to go and pat my horse!’”

Caroline remembered Guy ringing her after a Horse of the Year Show puissance to say he had known they would win when Sweet Caroline was played.

“At Bolesworth once, he didn’t ring me till 10.30pm; he said ‘I couldn’t get away as every yard, another kid would come up asking for a photo with Mr Blue Sky’, and that made me smile. He was a favourite, wasn’t he?

“There will never be another one like him; a true legend. We were lucky to have had him.”

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‘Half winging it!’ – combination reunited days before joint puissance win

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:47:38 +0000

Joe Trunkfield made his brief reunion with Cruze a successful one as he jumped to a joint win in the Dublin Horse Show Defender puissance, sharing the spoils with Mikey Pender and Hearton Du Bois Halleux.

Joe said he was “half winging it” on the big grey 13-year-old, who was sold last autumn and he only rode again on the Friday before the puissance. He had ridden the Crusador stallion in puissances for former owner and rider James Ingham but he was sold after Horse of the Year Show last year to Gracie Johnson.

“It was lovely to get back on Cruze and all the buttons were in the same place,” said Joe. “The atmosphere throughout was incredible, and the warm-up was electric!”

There were eight starters in the puissance and three made it to round four, also including Elliott Smith and Flamboyant III, who bowed out at that point. Joe had already had a dramatic moment when Cruze pulled off a shoe as he landed in the second round, but they and the 2019 Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby winners went in to face the wall at 2.20m in the last round. Jumping clear would have meant Joe and Cruze won outright but Joe said it was nice to share with Mikey and “Harold”, who was retired straight afterwards.

“It all worked out in the end,” said Joe. “It was a big old jump at 2.20m and great to win alongside a combination like Mikey and Harold, and it was a lovely touch being in the prize-giving for his announcement of retiring him.

“When the invite came through for Dublin, knowing he was based in Ireland I thought I’d try my luck and luckily, Gracie was game and brought him to the show on Thursday, while I flew out with James on Friday and had my first sit on him.

“You could say it was an Irish way of doing it, I was half winging it, but he’d been going well with Gracie all week and he obviously knows what he’s doing with the wall.

“It was the first time I’ve jumped a puissance on grass, but he definitely got a good bounce off the Irish turf! All credit to Gracie and I’m grateful she was on board to do the show.

“I’ll leave it in her hands, but if Gracie’s game for another one to come, I’ll just hop on at the show!”

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Puissance specialists set a new record, clearing 7ft 3in: ‘I didn’t expect this’

Sarah Radford — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:35:53 +0000

Two puissance specialists set a new Bolesworth record by clearing the red wall at 2.21m (7ft 3in) in the fifth and final round.

Guy Williams and Elaine Annis’s Mr Blue Sky UK — probably the most prolific puissance combination of all time — and Elliott Smith and Flamboyant III, a previous joint-victor, both stayed faultless to share the €5,565 (£4,706) first prize at the Bolesworth International Equestrian Summer Festival, presented by Al Shira’aa.

A bumper field of 12 combinations — including several first timers — had come forward to brave the red bricks and the horses were jumping so impressively that eight were still in to contest the fourth heat.

But the wall at 2.15m (7ft 1in) proved key, and only three went forward into the final round.

First to jump was Guy’s 18-year-old daughter Maisy Williams, whose eye for a stride had been enviable as she rode the versatile Dalton D’Hoyo on flawless trips to the wall in each round.

But the 15-year-old gelding, with whom she won the puissance at Arena UK last year, over 2.05m, didn’t quite make the height and nudged out a white brick.

Guy had said in earlier rounds that Mr Blue Sky was fresh and strong and he had been struggling to keep hold of the 15-year-old grey. He approached the wall with the horse’s head slightly to one side but a few strides out, he lost momentum and it briefly appeared as if they might bail on the attempt.

But that would be an underestimation of Guy’s skill and this horse’s scope, as somehow, from a near-standstill, he just popped over 7ft 3in.

“He’s been a bit difficult tonight,” said Guy, who won this class for the third year and whose record with the horse was clearing 2.24m in Rouen. “He hasn’t done much for a while and he was trying to jump it too well. He finds it so easy.”

“I was hoping for a family win!”

Guy was also impressed with his daughter’s performance.

“I’m very proud of Maisy,” he said. “I was hoping Elliott would knock it down so we could have had a family win!”

Elliott Smith and Flamboyat III after sharing the Bolesworth puissance spoils. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The focus was all on Elliott to see if he could make it a draw. He’d also had to be tactful in his approach, and brought the horse back to walk before picking up canter a few strides away.