Latest from Horse & Hound in Ruth-edge

Farewell to ‘eccentric genius’ and five-star winner who put rider ‘on the map’

Becky Murray — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 18:13:00 +0000

Two Thyme, the five-star winner who Ruth Edge credits for “putting her on the map”, has been put down in retirement aged 29.

Today (10 January) Ruth announced that during the Christmas period they had “sadly let Two Thyme (Jasper) go run wild in the field in the sky”.

“He was the grand old age of 29 and had been retired with his bessie mate Nick of Thyme,” said Ruth.

Ruth took on the ride of Maureen and Phil Smith’s Jasper as a seven-year-old in 2001. The next year they won the British intermediate championship at Gatcombe, and in 2004 and 2009 were crowned the British open champions.

The pair made their five-star debut at Badminton in 2007, where they jumped clear across country and finished 11th. The following year they won Luhmühlen five-star, and were named reserves for the Beijing Olympic Games.

“I had ridden Phil and Maureen’s other horse Big Time, so it was decided that I would have a go at Jasper and see if I could persuade him that he wanted to be an event horse. We knew all along how talented he was, but he was quite quirky,” Ruth told H&H.

“He was a very kind horse, and he loved people and other horses, but I would describe him as an eccentric genius. You had to persuade him to do things, you couldn’t tell him. We spent a lot of time trying to improve his confidence and it wasn’t always easy, but it was the making of him, and he learned to trust me.

“We had a real partnership together and he really believed that he could do these amazing things that he did. He certainly taught me a lot about horsemanship, because he was a tricky character, but on his day he could beat the best in the world. He was a horse that really put me on the map.”

Jasper retired sound in 2012, aged 18 and had a long and happy retirement.

“He was never ridden again because we felt he really settled into being out in the field with his friends. He wasn’t great at hacking, and he certainly wasn’t a schoolmaster, even in his older age he was still cheeky,” said Ruth.

“He stayed with me and Nick of Time until 2019 when I moved, and then the two of them went to Phil and Maureen’s. They had a fantastic retirement place for them with lots of friends, and he had a terrific time.”

Ruth thanked Jasper for “all the great times with Phil and Maureen Smith at events all over Europe”.

“I’m so grateful for all the opportunities you brought to me. Fly high up there doing whatever you please. RIP dear boy,” she added.

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(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Ruth Edge retires Two Thyme from eventing

Ruth Edge has decided it's time to retire double British open champion and four-star winner Two Thyme from competition

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Ruth Edge takes British open championship at Gatcombe

Ruth Edge’s decision to ride Two Thyme cross-country despite feeling sore after a fall yesterday paid off when she won

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

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#SundaySchool: How can I encourage my horse to lengthen his stride?

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 15:24:21 +0000

Eventer turned dressage rider Ruth Edge suggests some easy exercises to help develop your horse’s trot

Ruth Edge (pictured) began her equestrian career in eventing with many wins at the highest level, including the Luhmühlen CCI4* (now five-star) in 2007 with Two Thyme. She has always been passionate about dressage and since 2016 has made this her focus — she already has six national titles to her name and she trains competition horses and teaches.

Training the stars

I had a dressage horse, Zero, who had a very ordinary trot as a young horse, but I always had the feeling there was a “big trot” in him somewhere. Having developed in strength and suppleness, by the time he was seven he had a medium trot that had so much scope, he felt amazingly powerful and light.
One horse I evented, Carnaval Prince II, had a “pony trot”, not helped by the fact he was rather nervous in the arena. As he became more conﬁdent, he was able to show off his medium trot, producing consistently high-scoring percentages.

For a horse to be able to lengthen his stride, he needs to be engaged, supple, in front of the leg, straight and have a back-to-front connection maintained by being ridden between the hand and the leg.

Not many horses have an amazing trot by nature, so our job is to train them to be the best they can be. Try these exercises…

Tackling the issue…

1. Trot in a ﬁgure of eight with straight lines across the diagonal, ensuring the trot feels the same on the half-circle and diagonal. Often, the trot loses rhythm and cadence across the diagonal, so keep your leg on as you would on the circle and ensure you are completely straight.

Pick a point across the arena and head straight for it. Ride your horse from both legs into both reins, concentrate on what you are feeling under you and focus on the rhythm and balance of the trot. This will help with his self-carriage and straightness.

2. Ride a 20-metre circle or on the track. Begin in working trot, riding forwards into medium trot then back to working trot over short distances, using the transitions to help with the engagement.

Repeat this several times so he picks up the exercise, then let him have a walk break.

3. If your horse is further on in his training, a good exercise is to go from shoulder-fore (less angle than shoulder-in) into medium trot and back to shoulder-fore. This will help with the engagement in the transitions as well as the medium trot.

Make sure that you ride forwards into the downward transitions, you are straight for the medium trot and that your horse is supple and engaged in the shoulder-fore.

4. The ﬁnal exercise is to make small tempo changes within the trot. Aim for a transition every 10 strides. They do not have to be big differences within the trot — the feeling that there is more available energy is important.

Article continues below…

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Consider this…

The three most important things that people struggle with in these exercises are lack of engagement, suppleness and straightness.
Always ride forwards in each exercise, even when you bring your horse back to working trot from medium trot. You should feel he is working through from engaged hindquarters into a consistent contact and is connected between both legs and both reins. His hindleg should directly follow the footprints of the front leg. If you’re crooked in the working trot, the medium is going to be the same.
When transitioning up into medium trot, sit up — avoid losing the connection by leaning forwards, hoping your horse will come with you.

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.

#SundaySchool: How can I encourage my horse to lengthen his stride?

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 16:24:45 +0000

Ruth Edge began her equestrian career in eventing with many wins at the highest level, including the Luhmühlen CCI4* (now five-star) in 2007 with Two Thyme. She has always been passionate about dressage and since 2016 has made this her focus. With her sights firmly set on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she already has six national titles to her name. She is based at the Foston Stud, near Uttoxeter, where she trains competition horses and teaches. Here, the eventer turned dressage rider suggests some easy exercises to help develop your horse’s trot

Training the stars

I had a dressage horse, Zero, who had a very ordinary trot as a young horse, but I always had the feeling there was a “big trot” in him somewhere. Having developed in strength and suppleness, by the time he was seven he had a medium trot that had so much scope, he felt amazingly powerful and light.
One horse I evented, Carnaval Prince II, had a “pony trot”, not helped by the fact he was rather nervous in the arena. As he became more conﬁdent, he was able to show off his medium trot, producing consistently high-scoring percentages.

Not many horses have an amazing trot by nature, so our job is to train them to be the best they can be. Try these exercises…

Tackling the issue

2. Ride a 20-metre circle or on the track. Begin in working trot, riding forwards into medium trot then back to working trot over short distances, using the transitions to help with the engagement.

Repeat this several times so he picks up the exercise, then let him have a walk break.

Make sure that you ride forwards into the downward transitions, you are straight for the medium trot and that your horse is supple and engaged in the shoulder-fore.

Article continues below…

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(Image credit: TREVOR MEEKS)

#SundaySchool: perfecting pirouettes with Rebecca Hughes

The international dressage rider and young horse producer explains how walk pirouettes can improve engagement for medium trot

(Image credit: TREVOR MEEKS)

Consider this…

The three most important things that people struggle with in these exercises are lack of engagement, suppleness and straightness.
Always ride forwards in each exercise, even when you bring your horse back to working trot from medium trot. You should feel he is working through from engaged hindquarters into a consistent contact and is connected between both legs and both reins. His hindleg should directly follow the footprints of the front leg. If you’re crooked in the working trot, the medium is going to be the same.
When transitioning up into medium trot, sit up — avoid losing the connection by leaning forwards, hoping your horse will come with you.

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

How to create your dream stable yard: top rider’s guide to success

Catherine Austen — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 07:24:02 +0000

Dressage rider and coach Ruth Edge (pictured riding at home), who formerly competed at five-star level eventing, found her ideal stable yard in Derbyshire. It had huge potential, but was rather ramshackle, so piece by piece, inch by inch, she turned it into her perfect base.

Her top tip for developing a rundown stable yard into somewhere befitting top-class competition horses?

Marry an electrician who can plumb and “do mechanical stuff”.

Looking at photographs of how it looked when she bought it back in February 2012, it is hard to believe how much she has achieved.

If you’ve always dreamt of renovating a rundown yard to create your perfect set-up, take a look at the Edges’ eight top tips:

1. Do your research — how much land do you need? What facilities do you need? Remember it can be hard to buy land close to you once you have bought your base.

2. Plan a budget to the best of your knowledge. The more information you have, the better the idea you will have of the costings.

3. Once you have your budget, increase it by at least a third. This way you will be able to finish your project without having to go back to your lenders, cap in hand.

4. Get three quotes for all major projects and, if you’re not practically minded, get three quotes for minor works as well. This will give you a fair idea of costings.

5. Once you have agreed a price with a contractor or tradesman, try very hard not to change your mind — it will cost you.

6. Take your time. As our project developed, we had better ideas and also the ability to implement them.

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7. Stop every now and then to admire your work so far. Take a big glass of something and have a good look round. It will remind you of what a great place you have. Take pictures of the project as it develops, as it is easy to forget how much it has changed.

8. Try to use local tradesmen, as it’s far easier to call them back to remedy any faults — and you will also be helping your local economy.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, and in the latest issue, don’t miss our arenas special, out now (dated 6 June 2019)

Ruth Edge: How to ride the perfect 10m circle

Aimi Clark — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 12:25:25 +0000

Ruth Edge’s dressage for eventing masterclass is brought to you in association with Baileys Horse Feeds

Struggling to ride round circles, frustrated by a horse who is heavy in your hand or unable to ride a 10m circle accurately?

Mistakes such as this are expensive in a dressage test, and training to ride circles correctly starts at home.

In the video above, former Luhmühlen CCI4* winner Ruth Edge, who has seven national dressage titles to her name, explains how to practise 10m circles when you are schooling.

Continued below…

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1. Use your legs, not your hands

“When riding 10m circles it’s important that you’re able to steer with your legs, rather than using your inside rein to turn and using your outside rein to stop the circle getting too big,” says Ruth.

2. Have light hands

“It’s important the horse comes around your inside leg and goes into the outside rein to turn, but not through the outside rein [so that he feels heavy in your hand],” explains Ruth, adding that the outside leg is then slightly behind the girth to direct the rest of the horse’s body around the circle.

3. Let the outside leg do the work

“The horse should turn from the outside leg around the circle [while] keeping a supple contact down both reins,” adds Ruth. “Then you will find that the horse can stay supple and forward around the circle without losing balance, suppleness or rhythm through tension.”

4. Riding out of the circle is important, too

“Coming out of the circle you want to think that the horse is dead straight, with his shoulder fractionally in front and his neck straight, so that his whole body is straight.

“If you’re struggling with the straightness it’s best to ride on the inside track so that your horse isn’t leaning on the fence,” says Ruth.

Don’t miss the full dressage masterclass with Ruth in the current issue of Horse & Hound (17 December).

Tales from Stoneleigh: same drive, different focus

Storm Johnson — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 15:03:15 +0000

Ruth Edge may have competed at grand prix dressage already, but you’d still most likely hear her described as an eventer.

All that changed last month when Ruth announced she was “hanging up her eventing boots” to concentrate on dressage.

“I’d just lost my buzz, and I thought I might as well stop while I was doing well,” she says, fresh out of the prize-giving for the medium gold championship, where she finished second to Charlotte Dujardin.

“I’ve had a brilliant show. I’ve got two horses here, and they’ve both done the best they possibly could have,” she says, beaming.

“I was watching the Olympics, and I was so inspired. I thought I should put all my focus into one instead of splitting myself between the two. I have the same drive, but a different focus.”

That focus is the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Could Ruth be the first four-star winner to also pick up an Olympic medal for pure dressage?

“I have a few lovely horses at home, but I’d like a few more!” she admits.

An eventing background helps bring variety into the dressage horses’ lives.

“The fitness and conditioning is different, and they will go up the gallops — slowly! — for the hill work. If they enjoy it, I will do small jumps with them.”

She won’t be totally giving up eventing though – as a renowned coach, she will continue to teach a number of “fantastic clients”, focusing on her ethos of making sure the basics are well-established.

“I work each horse individually, focusing on the basics first and making sure those are in place, through consistent work to help the horses build strength,” she explains.

Her ride today, Lochwood (Jimmy), is a special horse for Ruth.

“I bought him two days after my dad died, hence his stable name. His show name is the village closest to where my dad’s ashes are,” she explains.

Jimmy will be leaving Ruth next week, however, as he has been sold to pony team medallist Rebecca Bell, who is over the moon with his success today.

“He has such a lovely brain, which is the most important thing as I’ve not been on horses for long. I know that absolutely no corners have been cut during his training,” Rebecca says as the family congratulates Jimmy and Ruth after their prize-giving.

Did she expect to buy her next horse from a four-star event rider?

“I don’t know really — my trainer Caron Roberts events as well so it seems to work for me for the dressage. I’m not in a rush with him so we’ll take it slowly. He’s one for the future, not immediately,” she continues.

“You can take the poster of Ruth off your wall now you’ve met her!” adds her mum.

‘Hanging up my eventing boots’: British four-star winner to focus on dressage career

Rachael Turner — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 05:55:26 +0000

British four-star winning rider Ruth Edge has retired from eventing.

South Derbyshire-based Ruth announced she was “hanging up her eventing boots” on Tuesday (23 August).

She will now be focusing on training and her dressage career.

“I have had some amazing highs in the sport and have been lucky enough to ride some fantastic horses, who along with fabulous owners have meant that “Team Edge” has had the chance to compete in some beautiful locations over the years,” said Ruth, whose last event was at Somerford Park (19 August).

“Having had the most wonderful ride on the Lawsons’ Drummer at one of my favourite events last weekend I feel it is time to call it a day on a high.

“He finished on his dressage score of 37.2 to finish fourth in the CIC* in an incredibly classy manner — what more could I ask for from a six-year-old?

“But I feel that, although I love being a part of the sport on a training front, my hunger for it on a personal front has dwindled and I get greater enjoyment from seeing my clients improve and the buzz they get from the sport.”

Ruth has completed many four-star competitions, with several top 10 placings and a win at Luhmühlen in 2007 with Two Thyme .

Two Thyme also won the British intermediate championships with Ruth in 2002 and the British open championships in 2004 and 2009, becoming the first horse to win both titles.

The pair were listed as reserves for the Beijing Olympics, but Two Thyme was injured and unable to compete.

Ruth has also been very successful in the dressage arena, with six national titles to her name.

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“The time has come to focus purely on the dressage horses and with the Tokyo Olympics four years away there is plenty of time to prepare,” she added.

“My coaching is a massive part of my life and something I am very passionate about — so how lucky am I to be able to pursue two ventures that I love and am dedicated to?

“Here’s to the next chapter in my career. First stop the national dressage championships.”

Ruth Edge: 5 simple steps to introducing pirouettes

Aimi Clark — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 17:25:50 +0000

Ruth Edge’s dressage for eventing masterclass is brought to you in association with Baileys Horse Feeds

Have you ever ridden a pirouette? Whether you’re a grassroots competitor or striving to get to the top level, incorporating walk pirouettes in your horse’s training provides useful skills for future success.

Pirouettes — which require the horse to turn the shoulders around the hind leg while keeping the hind leg active and the horse bending in the direction of the pirouette — may seem daunting, but they don’t have to be.

Ruth Edge, who won Luhmuhlen CCI4* in 2007 and has seven national dressage titles to her name, shares her five steps to successfully introducing pirouettes.

Continued below…

1. “First the horse needs to learn to step under its body with its outside hindleg,” says Ruth.

2. Make sure the horse is working actively forward and is schooled at a level at which he feels confident and is physically strong enough to engage the hindleg when you ask.

-Top tip: transitions are useful for ensuring a horse is working in front of your leg.

“The first step the horse takes should be the quality of pace you want rather than taking a couple of strides to get the quality you’re asking for,” advises Ruth.

3. Build up to a pirouette by riding travers — where the horse works with his hindquarters on the inside track while bending in the direction of travel — on a 10m circle.

Continued below…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Ruth Edge: How to ride the perfect 10m circle

Struggling to ride round circles, frustrated by a horse who is heavy in your hand or unable to ride a

4. “When you put your outside leg on, the horse’s hind leg needs to come underneath him rather than stepping out. If it isn’t engaged you will get a walk-round rather than a pirouette,” explains Ruth.

– Top tip: if the hindleg isn’t engaged enough the pirouette will get ‘stuck’ and the horse will lose the walk rhythm.

“For example, if you are doing a left pirouette and the inside hind leg steps left too much it’s a bit like trying to do half-pass with the quarters leading — you can never ride forward because the shoulder is left behind,” says Ruth.

5. Gradually make the circles smaller and turn the shoulder until you are doing a pirouette. This may take several sessions, depending on the age and experience of your horse.

– Top tip: the horse’s shoulder must be in front so that it turns first during a pirouette, but don’t have too much neck bend.

“If the shoulder doesn’t lead, the horse will get stuck and slow down. They can’t turn if the shoulder isn’t leading,” explains Ruth.

Don’t miss the full masterclass with Ruth Edge in the current issue (7 January 2016) of Horse & Hound, on sale now

Ruth Edge & Lucy Wiegersma: Reflecting on Burghley H&H VIP

Horse & Hound — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:25:31 +0000

Ruth Edge: five judges required

Over the past five or 10 years, the standard of eventing dressage has risen enormously.

You rarely see a poor halt now and the balance, flow and presentation is professional. I think now that the riders have upped their game, the facilities and rules need to catch up with them.

There’s a good case for saying that at four-stars and championships, there ought to be five dressage judges whose only job is to judge the dressage. The three-member ground jury would still have all their other current responsibilities, but the actual judging of the tests would be handed over to people for whom that is their sole job.

I also think that eventing ought to consider using a Judges’ Supervisory Panel like in pure dressage. Everybody is human and sometimes if you blink you miss something, but riders are so professional now and every tiny thing counts. It is not fair for a judge’s mistake — which is understandable and even inevitable — to influence the final result.

We were very fortunate this year that the ground conditions remained the same for all competitors, thanks in part to the excellent preparation by the Burghley team, but also to the luck that the weather was good. But this is becoming a rarity; bad weather can create an unlevel playing field for the dressage.

Again, because the standard of horse and rider is so much higher we would see an improvement at the very top events if they could perform on a surface. There is only so much you can produce on a grass arena, which may not be perfectly level and doesn’t give the horses the same security underfoot. It has been well proven that organisers can put an excellent temporary all-weather arena in — perhaps this is something to look into for the future.

The introduction of half-marks has been highly beneficial, as it gives judges so much more range.

Jung’s balance and flow

The best test I saw was from Michael Jung on FischerRocana FST. I liked the balance and the flow. It was beautifully presented and from start to finish it showed an elegance and lightness that I feel no one else achieved.

Rosalind Canter produced a mature test for her first four-star, as proved by her being the only Brit in the top 10 after dressage apart from William Fox-Pitt and Fernhill Pimms, and she is one to watch for the future.

The Australians, coached by Gareth Hughes, are all starting to produce personal bests, and you can see that in their presentation and the horses’ way of going. I enjoyed watching Paul Tapner and Kilronan; I felt Paul got every mark he could.

Happy Times looked fantastic for his age (16) and seemed to enjoy himself, which is a credit to Sam Griffiths.

Common faults included the extended walk to medium walk transition — it is obvious who manages to stay connected from the leg to the bit in the extended walk as this then follows through into the medium walk and in turn the halt and rein-back.

And the final halt — there were very few still in front of the leg at this point, which resulted in some rather abrupt, on-the-hand transitions.

Lucy Wiegersma: Vintage Burghley

For me this was vintage Burghley: a stellar field (albeit missing hot favourites Andrew Nicholson and Avebury), a retro feel cross-country with some big, mean-looking fences, and worthy champions in Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.

Reversing the course gave riders a completely different outlook on the track. Gone was the 2min 30sec of “free-wheeling” from the Cottesmore Leap back down to the water, and instead we had that long, uphill pull on what was also ground-wise the wettest part of the course.

No one expected to be up on their markers in the first four minutes, but I was surprised how difficult it was to claw back time towards the end of the track.

Burghley is always renowned as a big-jumping track, but this year the sheer size of some of the fences had riders squirming, which is exactly how it should be at four-star level.

I loved the idea of the hanging gate on to the mound at the DairyFarm — a proper hunting fence — although like most of the riders I was less in love with the idea when it came to actually running down to it!

Michael Jung went up even more in my estimation, riding with such class while nursing a clearly painful ankle from his fall on FischerRocana FST. As for Sam, well, surely there has never been a performer quite like him. What a horse.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 10 September 2015

Ruth Edge’s four-star horse Marsh Mayfly retired

Sophia Heath — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 08:00:23 +0000

Ruth Edge’s former four-star ride Marsh Mayfly has been retired.

The 17-year-old mare finished second at Luhmühlen in 2009 and 17th at Burghley in 2006. She also had numerous top 10 places at three-star and won Samur CCI3* in 2005.

“Flower” went onto to compete a two-star with Candida Crawford and Khia Cadney-Moon. Last season Flower was a schoolmaster for her owner Joanna Buckley competing at BE100.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Flower and I had a great season together last year but when she returned to work at the beginning of this season, she was beginning to feel her age,” Joanna told H&H.

“Having already had a foal by ProSet in 2008, and being an SHB (GB) graded mare, I’m delighted to confirm she is in foal to Jaguar Mail.

“Flower is very special having taught me so much in a short space of time. She will be thoroughly spoilt through her retirement.”

New eventing dressage record is set

Flora Watkins — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 10:00:26 +0000

A young rider has set a new record for the best one-day dressage mark at a British Eventing (BE) event, scoring 7.5 in a BE90 section at Drumclog in the Scottish Borders (31 August).

Jade Struthers, 20, and Broudein Roxanne achieved the mark — the equivalent of 92.5% — on what was only the mare’s third affiliated BE outing. The pair compete at prix st georges level in pure dressage.

It is the best one-day mark recorded by BE since 1998, when it began digitizing its records.

“It felt nice and accurate, so I knew it was a good test — but I never expected to get 7.5,” said Jade.

“We only started jumping Roxy in April. She’d done dressage her whole life and I thought she needed a bit of excitement. “She loves it and her dressage has improved as a result — she is much more forward.”

However, a “green stop” and a rail down in the showjumping, plus cross-country time-faults, meant that Jade came second in the class to her boss, event rider Jo Luton. She completed on her dressage score of 19.5.

Jade’s score beats the previous record of 10, set by Ruth Edge and Larkshill Sovereign in a five-year-old class at Skipton last month (3 August).

A spokesman for BE said the closest anyone had come to that score was Tim Cheffings on a 10.5 in 2010.

“There were quite a few people in the past decade with scores of 11 and 12 as well,” she said.

Record dressage score for eventer Ruth Edge

Flora Watkins — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:00:39 +0000

Ruth Edge has set a new record for the best one-day dressage mark at a British Eventing (BE) event — scoring an extraordinary 10 in a five-year-old class at Skipton on 3 August.

Her mark — the equivalent of 90% in pure dressage — was achieved on one of her most promising youngsters, Pauline Fletcher’s Larkshill Sovereign.

It is the best one day mark recorded by BE since 1998, when they began digitising their records.

“Everything just flowed really easily,” Ruth told H&H.

“He’s rhythmical in his trot and has a lovely walk. It’s not a case of having to kick and shove; you put him in his balance and he just stays there.

“He got four 10s [from the judges]. Two of them were for his walk,” she added.

The Trakehener gelding, who stands nearly 17hh, has been campaigned lightly due to his size. His win at Skipton means he has qualified for the KBIS Young Horse Championships at Osberton at the end of the season (3-6 October).

“We’re really excited about him,” said Ruth.

“He’s easy to ride to a fence, he’s brave and nothing seems to phase him.”

Ruth is well-known for her prowess in dressage and competes separately in the pure discipline. She has won four national titles and plans to bring Shadowfax out at grand prix later this year.

A spokesman for BE said the closest anyone had come to Ruth’s score of 10 was Tim Cheffings on a 10.5 in 2010.

“There were quite a few people in the last decade with scores of 11 and 12 as well,” she added.

And Estelle Eccleston, 18, posted a score of 13.5 in a BE100 section at Eland Lodge (29 June) on the mare Top It’s Ambitious.

Ruth Edge leads after first day of dressage at Burghley Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:51:26 +0000

Ruth Edge tops the leader board at the end of the first day of dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Ruth rode Susan Kerfoot’s home-bred 10-year-old Rogersdale with her customary professionalism and polish to pick up every possible mark, just losing points in the flying changes. She scored 45.5.

“I’m really pleased,” she said. “It was a shame he got a bit tired towards the end and couldn’t keep it together for the flying changes, but with strength and maturity that will change. He has a lovely rhythm and cadence, which makes my job easier.

“He’s a really kind horse, very genuine and generous. He’s easy to prepare and I trust him not to get lit up in the atmosphere. He doesn’t take long to warm-up, which makes my trainer Judy Harvey’s job easy too.”

The Welton Ambassador gelding was seventh in the CCI*** at Tattersalls in June and makes his four-star debut here.

Jock Paget is just 0.7 of a penalty behind on Lucy Allison and Frances Stead’s Clifton Lush, fifth here last year.

The horse was prepared for London as a reserve to Jock’s team bronze medallist Clifton Promise and has been kept ticking over by his stable jockey Hollie Swain and dressage rider Andrew Gould while Jock was away in New Zealand for the Olympic celebrations.

“I’m really happy with him today – he did what I thought was his best test yet,” said Jock.

Six-times Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt lies third on 46.5 with Catherine Witt’s Seacookie, who was second here in 2010 but was off for most of last year with an injury.

“We got him ready for Badminton in the spring, then when it was cancelled we decided not to take him to Luhm ¼hlen in view of having an autumn campaign,” said William.

“He’s managed to have some runs [despite the bad weather] and is in a good frame of mind. He was very controlled in the dressage and wasn’t spooky. That was probably the most settled he’s been.”

William said that the early part of Mark Phillips’ cross-country course from Discovery Valley (fences 6 and 7) to the Land Rover Dairy Farm (fence 19) is particularly testing.

“Once you’ve jumped the Dairy Farm there is a little less to think about apart from how your horse is feeling and how he’s going to come home [in terms of whether he is tiring],” said William.

“I think the cross-country will be demanding. The ground is superb at present, but it could get a bit soft.”

Today at Burghley was punctuated by sporadic rain showers, including a heavy one during the lunchbreak.

First-timer Emily Parker – who is keeping a daily diary from Burghley on the H&H website – excelled herself today to take fourth place on her former young rider European champion Treefers.

Another pair who have won individual young rider gold, Emily Llewellyn and Pardon Me II, are sixth, while Oliver Townend is fifth on ODT Sonas Rovatio.

The dressage kicks off again at 9.30am tomorrow with stars scattered throughout the day.

Follow every phase of Burghley as it happens using H&H Live, our interactive written commentary supported by Baileys Horse Feeds. Review today and join in tomorrow at www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley2012live.

Make sure you buy H&H next week (6 September) for our 10-page special Burghley report, with full analysis of every phase, comments from dressage expert Sally O’Connor and former winner Ginny Elliot and more.

H&H website editor’s blog about the day

LAND ROVER BURGHLEY RESULTS AFTER FIRST DAY OF DRESSAGE

1. Ruth Edge on Rogersdale (GBR) 45.5

2. Jock Paget on Clifton Lush (NZL) 46.2

3. William Fox-Pitt on Seacookie (GBR) 46.5

4. Emily Parker on Treefers (GBR) 48.2

5. Oliver Townend on ODT Sonas Rovatio (GBR) 48.3

6. Emily Llewellyn on Pardon Me II (GBR) 49

Ruth Edge retires Two Thyme from eventing

Pippa Roome — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 13:14:51 +0000

Ruth Edge’s former Luhm ¼hlen winner and double British open champion Two Thyme has been retired.

“At Tattersalls [31 May-3 June], there were just some little things that pointed to him getting older,” Ruth told H&H. “He was fantastic in the dressage and showjumping, but he didn’t feel as supple as he used to. It wasn’t anything you could see from the outside, but I know him so well.

“We set off across country and there was a forward two strides between a double of tables, which normally he would make easily, but I had to really ride for it, although I had a cracking shot in. Then when we got to the water, he’s normally so good about jumping into water, but he wasn’t sure about the drop.”

Ruth pulled up Two Thyme after problems at this fence and has now decided it’s the right time to call it a day. Phil and Maureen Smith’s 18-year-old by Broadsword will stay at her new base near Uttoxeter.

“I owe a lot to him,” she said. “He’s such a talented horse and has done so much for my career.

“He’s not a horse who could compete at the lower levels – it’s all or nothing with him. You couldn’t give him to someone to compete at BE90 as they wouldn’t be able to get him to the dressage, let alone anything else. He is happy in the field and we might ride him occasionally.”

“Jasper” joined Ruth as a seven-year-old and he won the British intermediate championships in 2002 and was British open champion in 2004 and 2009.

He led the dressage several times at four-star and although the pair had a few high-profile problems across country, it all came together when they triumphed at Luhm ¼hlen in 2007. He was also a reserve for the Olympic team in 2008 until he incurred an injury which ruled him out.

Two Thyme collected 1248 BE points during his career, winning 23 times in all.

“Phil and Maureen have been fantastic owners and I’m lucky they have other horses with me,” added Ruth.

The Smiths also own four-star horse Nick Of Thyme and Blacklaw Thymelord. The Smiths bought this six-year-old as a foal in Perthshire because his damsire is Broadsword (Two Thyme’s sire).

“He was already called Blacklaw Timelord, but the breeders agreed the spellling could be changed to Thymelord, so the Smiths have three horses with ‘Thyme’ in their names – it’s like it was meant to be,” said Ruth.

Ruth Edge to move to new yard in Staffordshire

Horse & Hound — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:19:39 +0000

Leading event and dressage rider Ruth Edge will be moving yards next month.

She has been based with longstanding owners and supporters Ann and Hugh Lawson in Cumbria for 11-and-a-half years. But Ruth is now in a position to buy her own place – 200 miles south, near Uttoxeter, Staffs.

“Ann and Hugh have been fantastic to us over the years and we owe them an awful lot,” she told H&H.

“We will be very sad to leave but it is really exciting that we can now have our own place.”

Ruth has only just got the keys for the new yard and plans to move the 15 horses after Bramham (7-10 June).

“Cumbria is a great place to live but it’s a long way from anywhere. It’s at the wrong end of the M6!” she said.

“A lot of work needs to be done to the yard but there is a lovely old courtyard with 11 stables. And we’ve put in a planning application to improve the facilities,” she added.

Ruth Edge sells Zero to Somerset rider Claire Poole

Horse & Hound — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:05:41 +0000

Ruth Edge’s seven-year-old gelding Zero has been sold to Somerset-based dressage rider Claire Poole.

Ruth said she “could not disclose” the fee, but it is rumoured to be a six-figure sum.

He was sold shortly after the Nationals (15-18 September) and is now in Somerset.

“He went really well in the prix st georges. So well that three people asked to buy him,” Ruth told H&H on Monday (12 December).

“I’ve heard that they are getting on very well. I orginally bought Zero and Shadowfax to sell on, but I loved them both so much I kept them!

“I will miss Zero a lot. He is probably my favourite horse I’ve ever had – he’s got such a fun personality, he’s so willing and talented and loves his job. He had everything for me, but life goes on. He’s got a lovely home with Claire and hopefully they will be really successful together.”

Ruth Edge leads after dressage at Badminton Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:53:27 +0000

Ruth Edge holds first place at the end of the dressage at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Ruth’s was the test many predicted would top yesterday’s leader, Laura Collett, and her score of 33.3 proved her ongoing skill in this phase with the 17-year-old Two Thyme.

“He was a little hot today, but that led to him producing some really good work,” she said. “He’s got to be nearly on edge to produce his best test.

“Because he’s an older horse, I haven’t worked him hard this week — he’s probably not had an hour’s dressage schooling all week. That kept him fresh and good in his body and though there were a couple of tense moments, it helped him produce the flamboyance of the rest of the test.”

Piggy French has taken second place on 36 with her ride from last year’s World Equestrian Games, Jakata. Piggy scored the only 10 of the competition, for her final centreline from ground jury president Anne-Mette Binder at C.

Badminton final scores

“I first realised when I heard the crowd gasp and clap again,” she said. “I had already given him a big pat and a hug and felt like I was about to cry, and then the tears streamed down my face. All the support and cheering makes you feel quite emotional.”

Yesterday’s leader, first-timer Laura Collett holds third place with her score of 36.5 on Rayef. She revealed today that she plans to take one long route on tomorrow’s cross-country.

“I think I will go long at the corners [HS1 Farmyard, fence 15] — so many horses misread them last year, plus he’s inexperienced after having 2010 off and it’s my first Badminton,” said Laura. “But I plan to go straight everywhere else.”

Mark Todd has taken fourth on four-star debutant NZB Land Vision, Emily Baldwin slotted Drivetime into fifth and yesterday’s runner-up Marina Kohncke (Calma Schelly) is sixth.

The other big story of today was the withdrawal of two high profile horses, Redesigned (Pippa Funnell) and Miners Frolic (Tina Cook).

The cross-country starts at 12 noon tomorrow with Andrew Nicholson and Avebury first on course.

With fast ground expected, there are likely to be quite a few rounds inside the optimum time, but the top 10 is full of inexperienced or unreliable combinations, so leader board changes are also likely. Eight of the top 11 horses are Badminton debutants — and the three horses which have been here before have all failed to complete on a previous visit here, although Drivetime and Two Thyme have both completed on another occasion.

Dressage results

Replay H&H’s live dressage coverage and set a reminder to join us tomorrow.

Don’t forget to buy Horse & Hound next week (28 April) for our 15-page special Badminton report including comments from Carl Hester and Mark Phillips, day-by-day analysis of all the action and more.

Ruth has the Edge at the BD Winter Championships

Horse & Hound — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:55:14 +0000

The British Dressage Winter Championships make rich pickings for eventer Ruth Edge. A winner here last year, Ruth added another to her tally taking the evening’s gala class, the Magic prix st georges freestyle to music championships.

Ruth had to endure a punishing schedule to ensure that Shadowfax was presented at his best in the arena. “With Badminton coming up, I’m also focused on that, so at home (near Carlisle) yesterday I rode all 12 horses, then went to Cheshire to teach two lessons. This morning we left at 3.45am with all three horses to get here in time for the 6.30am arena walk.”

Though a consistent competitor, Shadowfax doesn’t have experience of an atmosphere as spooky as the Hartpury arena with its abundant flowers and spectators: “This is way the most exciting thing he’s ever done,” said Ruth. “He was nervous today. I can normally show him off but tonight I had to look after him and give him a happy experience.”

20-year-old Dominic Wolfendale won his first national title with his own Danish-bred Lantinus, capturing the British Horse Feeds advanced medium restricted championship. Having headed the South-West regionals, Dominic was confident coming into the championships: “I said to myself that we’d win,” said Devon-based Dominic, who trains with Sarah Cheetham. “I’ve had a rough time with him though; we had trouble finding the right trainer but Sarah’s delicate and nurturing methods suit us.”

The Blue Chip novice open went to the new combination of Claire Abel and her own Rowan Magic. “I’ve only had him six months, but he’s amazing,” she explained. “I went to Holland to buy a prix st georges horse but came back with a six-year-old instead.

“He’s like a Labarador – he’d come in and watch TV with us if he could,” said Claire, who trains regularly with Stephen Moore and also goes to stay at Adam Kemp and Matt Frost’s yard for training.

The Equissage elementrary restricted music – the only freestyle to music class of the day – went to Donna Charisma and Mary-Anne Hart.

“She warmed up like a nutter,” said Mary-Anne of Lorna Davis’s Don Cardinale mare. “But when she went under the arch she seemed to take a deep breath.”

Lorna puts down the mare’s transformation from an unruly youngster to classical training. “Charisma used to get test sheets covered in twos and eights,” she said. “She’s now more settled and sparkles at a party.”

The floorplan, which was accompanied by a mix of jazz and funk music, was only finalised at the last minute. “Mary-Anne’s only ridden through this test once before,” she said. “We couldn’t practice it at home as we don’t have a long arena.”

adv med rest (H Bradley, A Darken, F Scott). 1, Lantinus (D Wolfendale) 68.51; 2, Furst Diamantino (E Corbett) 68.16; 3eq, Mr Mercury (A Schiessel) & Radboud (H Leighton) 67.89. elem rest fsm (G Leverett, A Bennie, S Lidsey). 1, Donna Charisma (M-A Hart) 76.39; 2, Richamans Manta (G Davis) 75.28; 3, Donnerdoni (J Milton) 72.29. nov open (A Fransen Iacobaeus, K Mepham, K Myhre). 1, Rowan Magic (C Abel) 71.43; 2, Sanantonio (K Cunningham) 70.24; 3, Donnergrollen (J Johnston) 70.24. psg fsm (K Myhre, A Fransen Iacobaeus, S Lidsey). 1, Shadowfax (R Edge) 69.75; 2, Washington 103 (E Harris) 69.25; 3, First Way (V Thompson-Winfield) 68.08.

Don’t miss H&H’s full report from the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, on sale Thursday 21 April, 2011

William Fox-Pitt on top at Pau Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:32:56 +0000

After a dramatic and incident-packed day of cross-country at Pau Horse Trials, William Fox-Pitt leads the CCI**** on Navigator (pictured right). Ninth after dressage, the pair now have a showjump in hand over second-placed Karin Donckers and Lamicell Charizard. William collected just 3.2 time-faults — the second-fastest round of the day — despite taking two long routes.

“He’s a lovely, genuine horse and a fantastic galloper,” said William.

Karin Donckers had shared the dressage lead with Ruth Edge, and was delighted with “Charlie”, who was tackling his first four-star, despite their 16.8 time-faults. Unfortunately, Ruth wasn’t so lucky — despite a terrific first two-thirds of the track, Two Thyme lost his concentration when asked to go the long route at the third and final water and stopped.

American rider Boyd Martin rose a place from fourth to third after cross-country on Remington XXV, whom he describes as “honest as a judge”. They also collected 16 time-faults round Pierre Michelet’s twisty, demanding track.

Andreas Dibowski, 11th after dressage on FRH Fantasia, was clear with 10 time-faults for fourth place overnight. Kai Ruder maintained his fifth place on Leprince Des Bois, who looked very strong across country and collected 17.2 time-penalties.

The only combination to go inside the time, Denmark’s highly experienced pair of Peter Flarup and Silver Ray, remain on their dressage score of 66 and have climbed 22 places to sixth.

Joe Meyer and Sanskrit have leapt from 16th to seventh on 67.8. Nearly five marks behind them is the first French rider, Gwendolen Fer (Leria Du Ter), while Ruth Edge is ninth despite her stop.

Karim Florent Laghouag is 10th on Havenir D’Azac on 76.5.

Both Oliver Townend (ODT Master Rose) and Andrew Nicholson (Mr Cruise Control) had refusals, as did Sharon Hunt and Tankers Town, third after dressage. Brits to go clear but slowly include Georgie Spence (Running Brook), Nick Gauntlett (Elektron) and Lauren Yallop (One More Step). Gemma Tattersall and Lucy Wiegersma both fell and were eliminated.

Paul Horse Trials results after cross-country

1 William Fox-Pitt (Navigator) 51.2

2 Karin Donckers (Lamicell Charizard) 58.6

3 Boyd Martin (Remington XXV) 59.2

4 Andreas Dibowski (FRH Fantasia)

5 Kai Ruder (Leprince Des Bois) 61.4

6 Peter Flarup (Silver Ray) 66

7 Joe Meyer (Sanskrit) 67.8

8 Gwendolen Fer (Leria Du Ter) 72.6

9 Ruth Edge (Two Thyme) 74.2

10 Karim Florent Laghouag (Havenir D’Azac) 76.5

Read H&H’s full report on all the action from Pau in next Thursday’s magazine, on sale 11 November, 2010

Ruth Edge shares the lead at Pau Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:12:18 +0000

Britain’s Ruth Edge is in her customary position after the dressage – in the lead – at the CCI**** in Pau, France. But she shares the top mark of 41.8 with Belgian rider Karin Donckers, another to excel in this phase.

Ruth is riding Two Thyme, with whom she also led the dressage at Burghley this year (see picture, right) before retiring across country. She was a little disappointed with her mark, saying: “We haven’t been in the 40s for a long time, and I thought he was better than at Burghley. The judge at C was very stingy!”

Karin Donckers, who was fourth individually at the World Equestrian Games last month, is competing the 10-year-old Lamicell Charizard in his first four-star. The pair were second in the World Cup event at Haras du Pin on their last outing.

Britain has a good grip on the top placings, with six riders in the top 10. Sharon Hunt lies third on her experienced Luhmuhlen winner Tankers Town, who scored 42.8, just ahead of American Boyd Martin, competing in Europe for the first time, on 43.2 with Remington XXV.

German rider Kai Ruder and Leprince Des Bois put up another good four-star score of 44.2 – not quite as good as their leading mark at Badminton this spring of 33.8, however. Sixth are Oliver Townend and ODT Master Rose on 45.8.

Lucy Wiegersma is seventh on 46.5 with Simon Porloe, another making a four-star debut. “There’s so much more to come from him,” said Lucy. “He’s lovely to ride – so well-balanced – and his canter is a joy to sit on.”

Emily Baldwin and Drivetime didn’t quite pull off the test they can do at this level, changing leads in the extended canter, and Emily looked disappointed with 46.7 and eighth place.

William Fox-Pitt was another to suggest that the dressage judges weren’t being exactly generous when he picked up 48 with Navigator, but said that the strong cross-country track meant it was unlikely to be a dressage competition.

Nick Gauntlett is 11th for Britain on Elektron, scoring 51, just behind the best-placed French rider, Pascal Leroy (Glenburny Du Leou).

Paul Horse Trials results after dressage

1= Ruth Edge (Two Thyme) 41.8

1= Karin Donckers (Lamicell Charizard) 41.8

3 Sharon Hunt (Tankers Town) 42.8

4 Boyd Martin (Remington XXV) 43.2

5 Kai Ruder (Leprince Des Bois) 44.2

6 Oliver Townend (ODT Master Rose) 45.8

7 Lucy Wiegersma (Simon Porloe) 46.5

8 Emily Baldwin (Drivetime) 46.7

9 William Fox-Pitt (Navigator) 48

10 Pascal Leroy (Glenburny Du Leou) 48.8

Read H&H’s full report on all the action from Pau in next Thursday’s magazine, on sale 11 November, 2010

William Fox-Pitt in pole position after cross-country at Blenheim

Horse & Hound — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 19:06:28 +0000

William Fox-Pitt has cruised into the lead after cross-country at the Fidelity Blenheim International Horse Trials.

With Catherine Witt’s Parklane Hawk, William was one of only seven riders to beat the clock around Blenheim’s undulating terrain and finish under the 10min 56sec optimum.

“He’s a New Zealand thoroughbred with a really good gallop, but I’d never ridden him at this level before, so I didn’t quite know what to expect,” said William.

Dressage leaders Ruth Edge and Carnaval Prince II jumped a class round, but their 3.2 time penalties proved costly and dropped them just below William on 45.6.

“This is the longest course he’s done and he was fabulous. Next time I’ll know what I have to do to get the time,” said Ruth, who had been backwards and forwards to the Dressage Deluxe National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh today, where both her horses finished in the top 10 in the medium open championship.

Piggy French and Chase The Moon retain their third place overnight, also finishing under the optimum.

Scores are packed tightly at the top — just one showjump separates the top four going into the final phase.

Neil Spratt and Upleadon are within a rail in fourth, while Piggy’s other ride, Flying Machine, added just 0.8 of a penalty across the country to lie fifth.

Problems were well spread around Eric Winter’s 29-fence cross-country course. There were 53 clears from 83 starters and only one horse fall – for Jolyse Clancey and On Springs at the influential Ariat Dewpond at fence 6.

Eight and nine-year-olds

Ruth Edge jumped an immaculate clear with Applejack II to retain her position at the top of the eight- and nine-year-old CIC*** leaderboard. Brook Staples (DHI Vitesse) and Mark Todd (NZB Land Vision) occupy second and third places respectively. Sam Griffiths and Real Dancer, who went into the showjumping in second place, lowered two rails and dropped to seventh.

Results after cross-country: CCI***

1st William Fox-Pitt on Parklane Hawk 44

2nd Ruth Edge on Carnaval Prince II 45.6

3rd Piggy French on Chase The Moon 46.2

4th Neil Spratt on Upleadon 47.2

5th Piggy French on Flying Machine 48.4

6th Aoife Clark on Master Crusoe 48.6

Results after showjumping: CIC***

1st Ruth Edge on Applejack II 42

2nd Brook Staples on DHI Vitesse 44

3rd Mark Todd on NZB Land Vision 45

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report on all the Blenheim action, on sale next Thursday

Ruth Edge leads the dressage at Blenheim Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:08:46 +0000

Ruth Edge has taken up her customary position at the top of the dressage leaderboard at the Fidelity Blenheim International Horse Trials. She not only heads the CCI*** with Hugh Lawson’s Carnaval Prince II, but she also tops the table in the eight- and nine-year-old CIC*** class with the three-star debutant Applejack II.

“This was the best test he’s done,” said Ruth of Carnaval Prince. “He can sometimes come down the centre line, halt and then get tense. Today he felt very relaxed.”

Ruth will make a fleeting visit to Stoneleigh at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning where she is competing Charlesfield Dante and Zero in the medium open class at the Dressage Deluxe National Dressage Championships.

“It’s going to be a race against time to ge back here for cross-country, but I’ve made contingency plans — if the traffic is bad I’ve got my bike,” said Ruth.

William Fox-Pitt is second in the CCI*** with Catherine Witt’s Parklane Hawk, while Piggy French has two horses in the top 10. Her first day dressage leader, Michael Underwood and Wall French’s Chase The Moon, now lies third on a score of 46.2, while her other ride, Flying Machine, who won the inaugural eight- and nine-year-old CIC*** here last year, is handily placed in eighth on 47.6.

Eric Winter’s cross-country course has reverted back to its original direction and runs anti-clockwise around the park.

“There are plenty of technical questions and interesting lines, but the course looks fantastic and the going is as good as it gets,” said Ruth.

Sam Griffiths and Real Dancer, who finished third at Houghton’s CCI** this year, lie in second place behind Ruth in the CIC***, while Brook Staples and the 2008 British Novice Champion DHI Vitesse are in third.

The first of the 85 CCI*** dressage starters will set out on the cross-country at 10am, while showjumping for the CIC*** will take place at 4pm.

Results after dressage

CCI***

1st Ruth Edge on Carnaval Prince II (GB) 42.4

2nd William Fox-Pitt on Parkland Hawk (GB) 44

3rd Piggy French on Chase The Moon (GB) 46.2

4th Neil Spratt on Upleadon (NZ) 46.4

5th Peter Thomsen on Cayenne (GER) 46.6

=6th Matt Ryan on Maybee IV (AUS) 47.2

=6th Lucinda Fredericks on Prada (AUS) 47.2

CIC*** 8/9yo

1st Ruth Edge on Applejack II (GB) 42

2nd Sam Griffiths on Real Dancer (AUS) 43.2

3rd Brook Staples on DHI Vitesse (AUS) 44

Ruth Edge leads after dressage at Burghley Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:14:30 +0000

Ruth Edge (pictured) holds the lead at the end of two days of dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Riding her 16-year-old 2007 Luhmühlen winner Two Thyme, Ruth scored 38.3 with a test which was only marred by a slight lack of concentration in the rein-back.

“Something took his eye slightly in the rein-back,” said Ruth. “But a lot of his trotwork was better than at Badminton [where he was second after dressage this year], he did good shoulder-in and half-pass, he liked the going and did good extensions. He was also really good in the canter, apart from the third change, which was my fault. He can be a bit sharp off the leg and I just sat too quiet.”

Caroline Powell was the first rider to break the 40 barrier today, scoring 38.7 on the 17-year-old Lenamore. The grey was on his best behaviour after being naughty at Blair last week, and he performed a smooth, mistake-free test to score in the 30s for the first time ever at this level.

“I walked straight from the stables to the arena, which took 16min, and didn’t work him at all,” said Caroline. “He was a joy to ride and I can’t believe I’m saying that.”

Last year’s winning pair, Oliver Townend and Carousel Quest, lie third.

“He’s not the most flamboyant horse in his trot, but his canter makes up for it,” said Oliver. “Everyone knows he’s a fragile horse and it’s an achievement for the team at home that he won last year and to get him back here looking as good as he does.”

This morning’s sensation was the youngest rider of the competition, 19-year-old Swede Christoffer Forsberg, who took the lead on his grey 18-year-old young rider team horse Grafman. He lies fifth overnight, a place behind the last runner, William Fox-Pitt (Seacookie), and one ahead of Thursday’s leader Mary King (Apache Sauce).

Ruth said of the cross-country course: “The going is second to none and it gives the horses every chance, but the jumps don’t get any smaller. It’s certainly four-star, every jump is huge and there are lots of places to make mistakes.”

There was good news for the sport at Burghley today, with Anthony Bradbury, marketing director of Land Rover UK, announcing that the company is extending its title sponsorship to 2013.

Don’t forget to buy H&H next week for a full 10-page report from Burghley, including comment from cross-country designer Mark Phillips.

Replay H&H’s live coverage of the dressage with comment on every test from 2007 British dressage team member Anna Ross Davies.

RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE

1.Ruth Edge on Two Thyme (GB) 38.3

2.Caroline Powell on Lenamore (NZL) 38.7

3.Oliver Townend on Carousel Quest (GB) 39.2

4.William Fox-Pitt on Seacookie (GB) 40.3

5.Christoffer Forsberg on Grafman (SWE) 44.3

6.Mary King on Apache Sauce (GB) 44.8

Full results and times from Burghley

Oliver Townend is novice champion at Festival of British Eventing

Catherine Austen — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:43:37 +0000

Oliver Townend and Jeepers Creepers win the Dodson & Horrell Novice Championship at Gatcombe, while Mary King leads the Open Championship and Ruth Edge the intermediate, reports Catherine Austen

Dodson & Horrell Novice Championship

Oliver Townend won the Dodson & Horrell Novice Championship at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe today on Olivia Tappin’s Jeepers Creepers. Eighth after dressage, the pair added nothing to their score of 30.8 and finished 3.6pen ahead of Sharon Hunt and the seven-year-old Azeb.

Olivia evented the nine-year-old Jeepers Creepers herself until this time last year, when she handed the ride to Oliver.

“He’s not the easiest in his mouth, which can make him difficult to steer, but he’s a good mover and is very genuine to a fence,” said Oliver, for whom it was a second win in the novice championship after Best Of Spirits’ victory five years ago.

Listen to Oliver Townend’s interview

Jeepers Creepers jumped one of just nine clear showjumping rounds in the novice championship, which none of the first three after dressage — Lucinda Fredericks on Flying Finish and William Fox-Pitt on Fernhill Highlight and Bay My Hero — could emulate. Vicky Tuffs was the only other competitor to stay on her dressage score, rising from 31st to third on Sir Robert Hayman-Joyce’s Nothing Ventured.

Fourth was Angus Smales, riding the Puissance mare Chanterelle, who was unlucky to have the final fence down after jumping an excellent showjumping round. Ruth Edge and Master Zero were fifth, and Vittoria Panizzon (Borough Pennyz) was sixth.

Advanced

The two advanced sections went to Louise Skelton and Dan Jocelyn. Louise, on her trusty four-star campaigner Bit Of A Barney, capitalised on a clear round showjumping by racing round Gatcombe’s undulating track for the second fastest time of the day and a final score of 39.2.

“He’s my favourite horse!” said Louise who, along with her mother Jackie, bred the 15-year-old bay out of her Pony Club mare. “He’s quite nippy up and down hill because if you stop kicking him he stops going, which means he is easy to turn, much more than a hard-pulling horse.”

New Zealander Dan also won on a four-star regular, the Criminal Law-sired Special Advocate, who also jumped a rare double clear with just 8.4 time-faults. Dressage leader William Fox-Pitt didn’t rush Seacookie for 19.2 time-faults and second place.

“He’s always been a very strong horse, which is why I never had the balls to let him run — it could be quite frightening,” said Dan, who has dressage help from Laura Bechtolsheimer and was competing a horse she owns and rides in the novice championship. “But this year he’s been far better. It’s only taken until he was 16!”

Both Special Advocate and his full-brother, Special Attorney, who was 10th in the other advanced section, now head to Burghley.

British Eventing Open Championship & Smith & Williamson Intermediate Championship

Mary King leads the British Eventing Open Championship, lying first on Imperial Cavalier and second on Kings Temptress on 28.9 and 29.7 respectively. Oliver Townend and Ashdale Cruise Master are third, but Oliver doesn’t plan to run the grey across country. Paul Tapner’s two rides, Inonothing and Stormhill Michael, are fourth and sixth, split by Sam Griffith (Happy Times) on 31.9.

“Archie [Imperial Cavalier} did a beautiful test with just two little mistakes,” said Mary, “and Tessa [Kings Temptress] was faultless for her.”

Mary is hoping for more rain overnight after heavy showers today, but says that Mark Phillips has “tried very hard” with the ground.

Listen to Mary King’s interview

Ruth Edge and Applejack II are top in the Smith & Williamson Intermediate Championship with a mark of 26.9. Lucinda Fredericks nipped into second late in the day on Prada with the only other scores in the 20s — 29.4 — while Oliver Townend is third on ODT Sonas Roviato with 30.1, just ahead of Rodney Powell (Happy Go Lucky) on 30.6.

Stay in touch with all the action from Gatcombe on Horseandhound.co.uk throughout the weekend, and don’t miss H&H’s full report on all the action from the Festival of British Eventing, on sale Thursday 12 August

Kai Rüder leads Badminton Horse Trials dressage from Ruth Edge

Horse & Hound — Sat, 01 May 2010 17:44:14 +0000

Germany’s Kai Rüder has a 5.2pen lead going into tomorrow’s cross-country at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

But Tina Cook flew the flag for Britain today and holds third place, with yesterday’s dressage leader Ruth Edge hanging onto second.

Kai, 38, performed after the coffee break this morning, and produced a smooth test from Le Prince Des Bois to score 33.8 (pictured).

This is a first Badminton for both Kai and Le Prince Des Bois — the only stallion in the field. He is by Marie-Christine Duroy’s successful eventer Yarlands Summersong and his dam, Cscale Des Bois, evented at three-star. They were 10th at Burghley last year.

“I was sure he would do a nice test, and after Burghley I know how he reacts in this atmosphere,” said Kai. “He gets a bit excited and that actually makes it easy to present him in the right way. But I wasn’t expecting this result.”

Badminton final scores

Tina Cook was the first rider after lunch with her European champion Miners Frolic, and said she was pleased with him, although he showed some tension in the walk and rein-back. They scored 41.7.

“He’s a lovely horse and has the potential do to a really good test, but I get cross with myself when I don’t press the right buttons,” she said.

Listen to Tina Cook interview

Behind Kai, Ruth and Tina, New Zealand’s Neil Spratt is in fourth with last year’s Bramham CIC*** winner Upleadon and Britain’s Francis Whittington did his best ever test at this level on Sir Percival III to lie fifth. The last rider of the day, William Fox-Pitt, is sixth on Seacookie.

Watch leading dressage tests

Pouring rain

Heavy rain hit Badminton as the final riders of the day performed their dressage tests and there is much speculation on how this will affect the cross-country if it continues.

Kai Rüder said that Le Prince Des Bois is strong and it shouldn’t affect him too much, but Tina Cook said that although the organisers had provided perfect ground, it could get soft on the take-offs and landings at the narrow fences, where everyone has to jump from and land on the same patch of grass.

“The later you go, the more testing it is going to be,” she said, adding she is pleased to be riding a thoroughbred.

Tomorrow’s cross-country starts at 11am, and Dan Jocelyn is the pathfinder on Special Attorney.

RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE

1.Kai Rüder on Le Prince Des Bois (GER) 33.8

2.Ruth Edge on Two Thyme (GB) 39

3.Tina Cook on Miners Frolic (GB) 41.7

4.Neil Spratt on Upleadon (NZL) 41.8

5.Francis Whittington on Sir Percival III (GB) 42.2

6.William Fox-Pitt on Seacookie (GB) 42.7

Re-live our live dressage coverage from the past two days and read our lunchtime and end of day reports on cross-country tomorrow.

Don’t miss H&H’s 15-page special report in the issue dated 6 May, including day-by-day analysis, comments from Carl Hester and Mark Phillips and much more.

Buy Badminton 2010 daily coverage DVDs in the H&H Shop

Ruth Edge leads after first day of dressage at Badminton Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:45:09 +0000

Ruth Edge (pictured) leads a trio of British women heading the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials leader board after the first day of dressage.

Ruth scored 39 on Phil and Maureeen Smith’s British open winner Two Thyme, after an accurate, polished test.

Two Thyme has not done a three-day event since winning Luhmühlen four-star in 2008 and Ruth explained: “He had a little bit of leg trouble, and though he hasn’t had a season off, he keeps needing a little holiday. Last season his aim was Gatcombe — where he helped me keep my British open title — and this year it’s Badminton.”

Ruth, who competes successfully in pure dressage as well as eventing, trains with Judy Harvey and also had help from Bert Rutten in Holland last winter. She added that Two Thyme’s fitness regime involves swimming twice a week.

Listen to interview with Ruth after her test

Badminton final scores

Watch Ruth’s dressage test

Kitty King (née Boggis) made a late bid for the top of the leader board when she grabbed second place at the end of the day on New Zealand thoroughbred Boondoggle. They lie 5.3pen behind Ruth on 44.3.

Kitty said: “He’s getting better and better in the dressage — when I took over the ride [2008] he got a bit tight and upset, but we’ve worked a lot on his confidence and he’s really beginning to swing and sit.”

Listen to Kitty King interview

Mary King is in third on 44.8 with Imperial Cavalier, back in the limelight after missing his planned run at the European Championships last year with some inflammation of the hind suspensory ligament.

Mary said that “Archie” had been buzzed up by a loudspeaker crackling before her test started, and she was surprised to retain her high placing as the day went on.

German first-timer Simone Deitermann is fourth on Free Easy NRW, with William Fox-Pitt fifth on Macchiato and Clayton Fredericks sixth on The Frog.

Initial reactions to the course

Of Hugh Thomas’s cross-country course, Ruth Edge said: “The jumps look imposing and inviting and that makes you want to attack. It’s a clever course with the twists and turns, but without having to pull the horse about too much, and I think it will be very challenging for the level.”

Ruth said that how tight the time proves will depend on the weather and ground, and if it becomes wet — as forecast — she may be pleased to have an early draw on Sunday (cross-country day) after initial disappointment at being so early.

Mary King said that the two angled hedges at the Colt Pond (fence 16) look “quite awkward” and that she will be sitting up at the offset logs at the Rolex Crossing (fences 29 and 30) where she fell two years ago when in line for victory with Imperial Cavalier.

RESULTS AFTER FIRST DAY OF DRESSAGE

1.Ruth Edge on Two Thyme (GB) 39

2.Kitty King on Boondoggle (GB) 44.3

3.Mary King on Imperial Cavalier (GB) 44.8

4.Simone Deitermann on Free Easy NRW (GER) 45

5.William Fox-Pitt on Macchiato (GB) 45.8

6.Clayton Fredericks on The Frog (AUS) 46.5

Full results

Re-live H&H’s live written dressage coverage of today’s action.

Don’t miss H&H’s 15-page special report in the issue dated 6 May, including day-by-day analysis, comments from Carl Hester and Mark Phillips and much more.

Ruth Edge takes British open championship at Gatcombe

Horse & Hound — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:13:28 +0000

Ruth Edge won her third British open championship at Gatcombe this afternoon. She rode Two Thyme to successfully defend the title she won last year on Mayhem III.

Ruth (pictured) lay third after dressage in this class, which also incorporated the HSBC FEI World Cup qualifier, and held her place with a clear show jumping round. She then put in the third-fastest cross-country round of the day to clinch the victory.

Ruth revealed afterwards that her participation in the cross-country was touch-and-go, as she aggravated the broken ribs incurred eight weeks ago at Luhmühlen in a fall on the flat yesterday.

“I wasn’t feeling so good today and after I’d show jumped both horses [she also had Mayhem in the class] I couldn’t decide what to do,” she said. “I only had the strength to ride one and I felt Two Thyme was in with a good chance of doing well. He’s not too strong and he looked after me.”

Listen to interview with Ruth Edge

Joint leader Lucinda Fredericks withdrew Headley Britannia after the show jumping. Mary King looked set to take the title until she fell off when Imperial Cavalier ducked out at the second skinny of tyres at the Land Rover at the Folly fences.

Oliver Townend’s speedy cross-country round on his Badminton winner Flint Curtis secured second place. Australian Bill Levett was third on Hippolyte.

Ruth Edge is the third rider to successfully defend the title (after Mark Todd 1988/99 and Mary King 1990/91). Phil and Maureen Smith’s Two Thyme becomes the third horse to take the open championship twice, joining King William and Moon Man.

Ginny Howe’s ride in this class, Cavort, was put down after breaking a shoulder in a fall at the HSBC Corners at fence 13.

Smith & Williamson British intermediate championship

In the morning Polly Stockton took her first British intermediate title, riding Arthur Comyn’s eight-year-old Westwood Mariner.

“Arthur has had horses finish second and third in this class, so he was saying, ‘You’ve got to win it’,” said Polly. “It’s sad though because this horse was jointly owned by Joan Jermyn, who passed away just a couple of weeks ago.”

Her clear round show jumping elevated her from ninth after dressage to second going into the cross-country. When leader Paul Sims (User Friendly) faulted at the skinnies comprising the Land Rover at the Folly combination, she stormed ahead.

Listen to Polly Stockton’s interview

Piggy French was just denied her first Festival of British Eventing title, taking second by 0.1 of a penalty on Alvescot Prada. And Andrew Nicholson found a bright spot after some bad luck over the weekend when he finished third with Qwanza.

Don’t forget to buy H&H this Thursday for a full report from Gatcombe, including Tina Cook’s column.

BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

1. Ruth Edge on Two Thyme (GB)

2. Oliver Townend on Flint Curtis (GB)

3. Bill Levett on Hippolyte (AUS)

4. Polly Stockton on Westwood Poser (GB)

5. Caroline Powell on Lenamore (NZL)

6. Nicola Wilson on Opposition Buzz (GB)

BRITISH INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

1. Polly Stockton on Westwood Mariner (GB)

2. Piggy French on Alvescot Prada (GB)

3. Andrew Nicholson on Qwanza (NZL)

4. Lucy Wiegersma on Simon Porloe (GB)

5. Jo Chipperfield on On Your Marks (GB)

6. Sam Griffiths on Penton Raptor (AUS)

Full results from Gatcombe at www.bdwp.co.uk/gat

Riders chosen to join elite BEF programme

Horse & Hound — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:11:35 +0000

Event riders Nicola Wilson (pictured), Lucy Wiegersma and Ruth Edge, and para-equestrian dressage rider Sophie Wells are to be promoted from the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) World Class Development Programme to the World Class Performance Programme.

The lottery-funded World Class Performance Programme, which incorporates the Olympic sports of dressage, eventing and show jumping, and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage, provides Britain’s elite riders with the best preparation for international competition.

Will Connell, BEF World Class Performance director, said, “The promotion of these riders shows the depth of talent we have in this country. The standard of riding on the Performance Program continues to improve year on year.”

Nicola has enjoyed consistently good results since finishing 16th in her four-star debut at Badminton in 2007.

In 2008 she was placed in the top five in the British Open and Burghley, and to date has achieved top five finishes at Burgie, Bramham and Burnham Market.

Lucy Weigersma, who has ranked in British Eventing’s top ten for the last two years, came second at Badminton in 2008 and was selected to represent Great Britain in the 2008 Olympics with Shaabrak.

Although unable to compete in Beijing due to an injury, the pair are back on form, finishing 6th at Badminton this year.

Ruth Edge also has an impressive record, taking the title at the British Open Championships in 2004 and 2008, winning the Scottish Open Championships in 2006 and securing four-star victory at Luhmülen in 2004.

This year she achieved a top ten finish at Badminton, a second place at Luhmülen and a first and second place at Burnham Market.

Sophie Wells, at 19 the youngest rider on the World Class Performance Programme, became the first para rider to win an able-bodied international competition when she took the title of the Hickstead Under-21 International in 2008.

This year she has dominated the grade IV section of the Para Equestrian Dressage International competition at Hartpury, riding to victory in the individual, team and freestyle tests.

The BEF development programme is divided into start and potential squads across each discipline, and to be considered for the programme, riders must meet set minimum criteria, attend numerous ridden assessments and an interview.

Selection for the World Class Performance Programme is based on results combined with the potential of riders to contribute to team success at major championships. Following selection, riders’ performance is continuously assessed and reviewed.

Ruth Edge, British event rider

Horse & Hound — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:15:04 +0000

Read the latest Ruth Edge news

Ruth Edge (n ©e Friend) went clear across country at her first Badminton aged 18 in 1998 on the diminutive Ice Dancer II – one of the best results for teenagers at the event in the modern era.

Since then Ruth has enjoyed numerous good wins, including three British open championships. She won in 2004 on Two Thyme – who became the first horse to do the intermediate/open championship double having won the former in 2002 – and in 2008 on Mayhem III. She then won again in 2009 on Two Thyme, who became only the third horse to have won the title twice.

One of the best-known riders in the north of Britain, Ruth fulfilled a long-held ambition to win the Scottish open championships in 2006 on Marsh Mayfly. She has also taken top spot in the CCI*** (2003) and CCI** (1999) at Blair on Matthew II.

In 2007 Ruth scored her first win at four-star level, taking the honours at Luhm ¼hlen, Germany, on Two Thyme. But injury ruled the horse out of contention for the European Championships that year and for the following year’s Olympics.

Ruth is well known for her prowess in the dressage phase of eventing and also competes successfully in the pure discipline.

Born in 1979, Ruth is based near Uttoxeter, moving there in 2012 after many years in Cumbria. Her husband Peter is an electrician.

Ruth Edge videos

Ruth Edge leads Badminton Horse Trials cross-country at lunchtime

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2009 13:16:03 +0000

Ruth Edge (pictured) holds the lead at the half way point in the cross-country of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Ruth had to ride determinedly at times on last year’s British open champion Mayhem III — not least at the Lancer Village (fences 3, 4 and 5), where she did a great save after nearly falling off — but came home just four seconds over the optimum time.

“He’s never normally a strong horse, but he towed me to fence 3 and my stride disappeared,” she said on Radio Badminton. “I didn’t have the same control as I have in the past with him, but he was as honest as the day is long.”

Ruth is 6.4 penalties ahead of William Fox-Pitt, who lies second on last year’s Luhmühlen winner Macchiato, who went clear inside the time on his Badminton debut.

“He was foot perfect — that was probably the best four-star ride I’ve ever had,” said William.

Badminton final scores

Australian Sam Griffiths is third on last year’s Saumur winner Happy Times, who is only 10, while Irish first-timer Elizabeth Power is just behind him after a penalty-free round on Kilpatrick River.

“It was nice to have my first experience at Badminton on a blood horse — I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if I’d had time-penalties on him,” said Elizabeth.

As the riders predicted, the ground is riding fast and eight competitors have finished inside the optimum time so far.

Emily Baldwin is the highest profile casualty of the course so far. She was fourth after dressage, but in making sure Drivetime did not run out at the fence in the middle of The Lake — as he did last year — she lost impulsion and he ground to halt. Emily then retired.

Zara Phillips pulled up Ardfield Magic Star, who went lame on course.

Dressage leader Karin Donckers starts at 4.16pm on Gazelle De La Brasserie.

RESULTS AT 1.15pm

1. Ruth Edge on Mayhem III (GBR) 45.4

2. William Fox-Pitt on Macchiato (GBR) 51.8

3. Sam Griffiths on Happy Times (AUS) 53.3

4. Elizabeth Power on Kilpatrick River (IRL) 54

5. Daisy Dick on Spring Along (GBR) 57

5. Caroline Powell on Lenamore (NZL) 57.5

Log back on to www.horseandhound.co.uk later for an end of day update.

Don’t forget to buy H&H next week (14 May) — our 15-page Badminton report will include comments from Carl Hester, Mark Todd and Tina Cook, plus cross-country course analysis and plenty of colour photographs.

Carl Hester picks up another title at national dressage championships

Horse & Hound — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 22:57:32 +0000

A more relaxed Movistar followed yesterday’s prix st george championship win for Carl Hester at the Blue Waters National Dressage Championships by adding the Bates Intermediaire I Championship to his honours with a score of 71.85%.

Carl Hester said: “I felt there was more expression today, because he let go so was softer and more rideable.”

Charlotte Dujardin and 6-year-old Valegro scored 42.5% and became Shearwater Supreme Champions once again. Runners-up were Peter Storr and Royal Concert on 40.9%. The dark grey by Royal Diamond was Shearwater National 5-year-old champion at Addington recently. Peter said: “He gave me a fantastic ride today. He’s a little machine, quite hot to ride with lots of energy.”

Charlotte and Valegro went to head to head once again with Ruth Edge and Shadowfax, this time in the Stretch & Flex Elementary Open Championship. Valegro emerged the victor once again on 74.3%, ahead of Shadowfax on 74%.

Both riders drew praise from judge Maria Colliander. She said: “They are both really talented, but very different horses. Valero has fantastic power and Charlotte presents him very well. Ruth is a superbly elegant rider, but Shadowfax isn’t so strong yet.”

Christian Landolt and 6-year-old Wincent took the Dodson & Horrell Novice Open Championship with 70.5%. Christian said: “He is a bit of a gangly teenager and has only been out a handful of times as we needed to get him organised at home. Sandy Phillips, who has been helping me for the past 6 months, has been inspirational in helping me to deal with his huge movement.”

Today’s highest scoring para winner was Sophie Wells (Touchdown M) on 71.4% in the grade 4. Sophie said: “It was a bit hectic in the warm up today as he doesn’t like other horses but he gave me a solid test.”

Not far behind was Nicola Tustain with the Berkeley Group’s Rivaldo of Berkeley scoring 70% in the grade 2. Nicola said: “He did me proud today. There’s been a bit of a breakthrough. I have been going down to Kilbees Farm and Sarah Pidgley and Markus Gribbe have taught me to keep it relaxed and then build on it once the horse has settled.”

Ruth Edge leads after dressage at Blenheim Horse Trials

Pippa Roome — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:19:56 +0000

Ruth Edge (pictured) holds top spot after dressage at Blenheim Horse Trials after taking the lead late this afternoon.

Ruth scored 30.2 with British open winner Mayhem III, who seemed unaffected by the mud in the arena.

“He didn’t notice the mud, although it’s a while since I’ve ridden in those conditions,” said Ruth, who also led the first phase at Burghley last week, but went earlier in the order there before the worst rain came.

“You have to support the horses a bit more when it’s like that and use more leg to help them keep the rhythm and power. The only movement I didn’t really go for was the extended trot — when the centre line is covered in mud you don’t want them to miss a stride and end up with a four.”

Listen to Ruth’s interview

Blenheim first-timer Laura Collett, 19, slipped into second place with her 2006 junior European champion Fernhill Sox, scoring 36.9.

William Fox-Pitt lies third and was delighted to receive a mark of 37.1 for Bramham winner Navigator’s “best test ever”. His only mistakes were small skips in both his flying changes.

RESULTS AT THE END OF DRESSAGE

1. Mayhem III (Ruth Edge, GB) 30.2

2. Fernhill Sox (Laura Collett, GB) 36.9

3. Navigator (William Fox-Pitt, GB) 37.1

4=. Ballynoe Castle RM (Buck Davidson, USA) 39

4=. Avebury (Andrew Nicholson, NZL) 39

6. Arthur (Allison Springer, USA) 40.4

Keep logging onto www.horseandhound.co.uk for daily reports from Blenheim, and don’t forget to buy next week’s H&H (18 September) for a six-page report from the event, including Mark Phillips’s comment.

Ruth Edge takes the lead in dressage at Burghley Horse Trials

Pippa Roome — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:13:33 +0000

Ruth Edge (pictured) has established an 6.9 penalty lead at lunchtime on the second day of dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Ruth was first into the arena this morning — before the worst of the now persistent and heavy rain set in — and produced a consistent, expressive test with Mr Dumbledore. Her marks only dropped below a 7 on rare occasions, with many 8s and several 9s.

“He’s such a fab horse in the arena — he grows as he trots in,” said Ruth, who has been riding the 12-year-old since the end of last year. “I’ve been working on getting more movement and expression at home and that’s starting to come out in the test.

“I was hoping for a score in the 30s, but I didn’t really know what to expect as it’s the first time I’ve ridden him at this level.”

In fact, Ruth far exceeded her aim of breaking the 40 barrier, scoring 33.7.

She admitted tomorrow’s cross-country course will be the gelding’s biggest test to date. He started at Kentucky with former rider William Fox-Pitt in 2006, but was pulled up part of the way round, so is looking for his first four-star completion.

Listen to Ruth’s interview

Belgian rider Karin Donckers is now in second place on a score of 40.6 with the 12-year-old bay Rose’s Merlin, who completed Luhmühlen last year.

Australian Andrew Hoy scored 41.9 to take third at this point on Moon Fleet, but he was unhappy with his score and the discrepancies between judges’ marks which were shown on the live scoreboard — he was awarded a 4 and a 7 for the same movement, and a 5 and an 8 for another.

“In relation to the tests he’s done today and in the past, and the marks he’s got today and in the past, I find it difficult to find a correlation,” he said.

Listen to Andrew’s interview

Andrew is not the only rider to have received widely varying marks from the ground jury, which consists of America’s Brian Ross (president at C), Britain’s Jane Tolley (at E) and Ireland’s Jean Mitchell (at M).

RESULTS AT FRIDAY LUNCHTIME

1. Mr Dumbledore (Ruth Edge, GB) 33.7

2. Rose’s Merlin (Karin Donckers, BEL) 40.6

3. Moon Fleet (Andrew Hoy, AUS) 41.9

4. Bonza Puzzle (Matt Ryan, AUS) 44.3

5. Flint Curtis (Oliver Townend, GB) 45.4

6. Ballincoola (William Fox-Pitt, GB) 48.3

Keep logging onto www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley08 for updates, blogs and video from Burghley.

Don’t forget to buy Horse & Hound next Thursday (11 September) for a 12-page special report, colour photographs and William Fox-Pitt’s comment.

Ruth Edge cuts through the British Open pack at Gatcombe

Catherine Austen — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:30:14 +0000

RUTH Edge was a much-deserving and popular winner of the British Eventing Open Championship at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, leading from first to last on Mayhem III.

Carina Campbell’s son of Mayhill posted an impressive 27.1 in the dressage, jumped one of just two show jumping clears and went fast enough cross-country — with 7.2 time-faults — to win by six marks.

This is Ruth’s second win here — she took the title four years ago on Two Thyme, with whom she was short-listed for the Olympics in Hong Kong.

“He’s always been a reliable horse across country,” said Ruth, “but we’ve never managed to get both of the other phases right at the same time before.”

It was a dramatic end to the day — two of the top four failed to finish — although the overall quality of the class was depleted by the lack of Olympic riders and several withdrawals.

Buck Davidson, in second for America, was going brilliantly on Bally Noe Castle RM when he was stopped towards the end of the course. It turned out that he had jumped the wrong fence at fence four. And James Robinson, in third on Comanche, fell into the final water and retired.

Nicola Wilson scorched round on Opposition Buzz for second place, the fastest of the day with 1.6 time-faults. Oliver Townend finished third, on an equal score to Nicola (40.5), but slower across country on Flint Curtis.

Five marks behind Oliver was Piggy French on What A Performance. Fifth was Paul Tapner, riding Inonothing, while Lucy Wiegersma (Woodfalls Inigo Jones) was sixth and Tim Price finished seventh on Vortex.

Oliver Townend won the EHOA-Martin Collins Intermediate Championship for the second year running, this time on ODT Land Vision. A good dressage test of 30.8 left him in fifth, but less than a mark behind the leader, Andrew Nicholson on Avebury.

Oliver show jumped clear while Andrew had one fence down, and Land Vision absolutely flew across country to collect just 1.6 time-penalties, much the fastest of the section. This pushed him ahead of Ruth Edge, who led after show jumping on Zakarius III but wasn’t quite as quick across country.

Ruth Edge finished second on the 10-year-old Zakarius III, who has been lightly competed this year, six marks behind Oliver on 38.8. And Brook Staples, yesterday’s novice championship winner, picked up another cheque by taking third place on Staying Cool.

Andrew Nicholson and the talented grey Avebury dropped to fourth, just ahead of Lucy Wiegersma (French Leave), while Oliver was also sixth on ODT Master Rose.

Second after dressage, Polly Williamson got a ducking when Madame Follie Bergere left a leg at the fence in the water. View picture

Read H&H’s full report on the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe in Thursday’s special Olympics preview issue, on sale 7 August, ’08

Ruth Edge’s Two Thyme withdrawn from Olympic eventing reserves

Pippa Roome — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:05:04 +0000

Ruth Edge’s ride Two Thyme is no longer in contention for the British eventing team for this summer’s Olympics after incurring an injury.

“He was fine after Salperton, but galloped earlier this week and was lame the next day,” said Ruth (pictured). “It’s a new front leg injury which will put him out for the rest of the year.”

Two Thyme won an open intermediate section Salperton last Saturday (21 June) with an outstanding 15.9 dressage score.

Ruth was one of three riders expected to run at Barbury Castle next week (3-6 July) in the hope of being selected to fill the space on the eventing team left open by the withdrawal of Zara Phillips’s Toytown through injury.

The first reserves still in contention for that place are Tina Cook (Miners Frolic) and Daisy Dick (Spring Along and Hope Street). Oliver Townend was also on the first reserve list, but Flint Curtis has also been withdrawn.

Fleetwater Opposition progeny top Pavo four-year-olds

Pippa Roome — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:31:35 +0000

Ruth Edge took top spot in the four-year-old class at today’s Pavo British Eventing Breeding Championships, riding Elite Opposition.

Elite Opposition was bred by his owner, Pauline Fletcher, and is by Fleetwater Opposition (pictured), the Trakehner stallion who stood at the Landford Common Stud until he died in 2005.

Ruth had to do her dressage and show jumping in the worst of the very wet weather, but said: “It didn’t deter him at all – he’s a real show horse and knows he has to do the job.”

Landford Common Stud boss Johnny Johnston’s daughter, Kirsty, was second on another son of Fleetwater Opposition, Opposition Detective.

In the five-year-old class Sam Penn won on Pokeys Bally Milo, by the deceased Thoroughbred stallion More Pokey.

“He’s evil in the stable, but if you put a bridle on and bring him out he’s lovely,” said Sam.

Pippa Funnell was victorious in the six-year-old section on the chestnut Redesigned, who is by the Olympic show jumper Carnute and belongs to the Lincolns, who own Primmore’s Pride.

“He’s nice-natured, willing and obedient – he’s got an old head on young shoulders,” said Denise Lincoln.

Read a full report on the Breeding Championships, including more on these horses’ breeding and colour photographs, in next week’s Horse & Hound (18th October).

RESULTS

Four-year-olds

1. Elite Opposition (Ruth Edge)

2. Opposition Detective (Kirsty Johnston)

3. Shannondale Titan (Gemma Hall)

Five-year-olds

1. Pokeys Bally Milo (Sam Penn)

2. Para Ti (Caroline Smith)

3. Billy Landretti (Pippa Funnell)

Six-year-olds

1. Redesigned (Pippa Funnell)

2. Cool Diamond (Bumble Thomas)

3. Neuf Des Coeurs (William Fox-Pitt)

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)

Ruth Edge triumphs at Allerton Park Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:20:31 +0000

Ruth Edge (pictured) galloped round in the fastest time of the day to win the open intermediate at Allerton Park (16 September) on her new ride Mr Dumbledore.

Ruth added just 1.2 time-penalties to a dressage score of 24.8.

Primary school teacher Claire Garlick and Lowmoor Brooklyn moved up an impressive 26 places to head intermediate section H.

Dual pony European gold medal winner Libby Soley scored her first intermediate win riding her medal-winning pony Noble Springbok.

Read this report in full, plus a full report of all the eventing action from the European championships in Pratoni, in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (20 September, ’07)

For details of how to join the Event Horse Owners Association visit: www.ehoa.org

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

Ruth Edge wins Luhmühlen Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:47:19 +0000

Ruth Edge headed affairs at Luhmühlen on Two Thyme ahead of the Germany’s Dirk Schrade on Gadget De La Cere. British riders Georgie Davies (Fachoudette) and Jo May (Faere Vision) finished third and fourth.

Clayton Fredericks was always thereabouts on Nullabor, to finish fifth with a premium clear on Sunday, easing ahead of Belgium’s Karin Dockers on Gormley and Denmark’s Peter Flarup with Silver Raj.

Hard luck story of the dressage was Julie Tew (Sir Roselier), routinely scoring eights and even a nine until a costly mistake in the first canter serpentine ricocheted on to more movements. Even so, she was 10th on 45.8.

The most troublesome fence on the cross-country was fence 8a, the first of two narrow brushes on some hillocks. Six faulted here, including trailblazers Tristram Owers and Briarlands Blackberry.

Germany’s Julia Merstern and Schorsch 6 won the 51-starter two-star CIC. Andrew Hoy and Peaceful Consort led after the first two phases but fell on cross-country. Best of the British was young rider Danielle Jackson (Rookie), 17th.

View the results >>

Read this report in full, including fantastic photography, in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (21 June, ’07)

Belton Horse Trials

Horse & Hound — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:52:28 +0000

Vittoria Panizzon and Rock Model (pictured right) triumphed in Belton’s showcase class, the Grantham Cup, ahead of last year’s winner Ruth Edge riding Two Thyme. Cross-country leader Dominic Ruane, 22, finished third with two rails down on Hunter’s Legend.

A marathon 72-starter advanced section L saw a first advanced win for Heidi Woodhead (neé Simmons) on The Biz. She narrowly beat Rodney Powell riding Langarth Darcy into second place.

Junior European Champion Laura Collett, 17, rode Fernhill Sox to win the Horse Trials Support Group under-25 section — a first advanced outing for horse and rider — by 16.3pen. Lauren Shannon finished runner-up on Quixotic, ahead of Oliver Townend on Saxon Cross.

Read this report in full, including photos and further analysis, in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (5 April, ’07)

Lincolnshire one-day event

Horse & Hound — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:34:14 +0000

Ruth Edge and Two Thyme took the spoils for the second year running at Lincolnshire in open intermediate section K, ahead of Oliver Townend and Eldmire Foxy Lady. Oliver also took third place on Saxon Cross, while Ruth was fourth with Marsh Mayfly.

Piggy French and Chicago II won open intermediate section J ahead of Oliver Townend riding Roquefort.

Open intermediate section L went to Matthew Wright on Cermont. Second place went to Caroline Powell and Lenamore. Caroline followed up this result with a win in intermediate section N on The Ginger Fox, ahead of Mark Kyle and Step In Time II.

Lauren Shannon topped the leaderboard in the under-21 open intermediate on Quixotic. Second was 20-year-old Guy Herbert riding Fortunes Way.

Nick Turner and Boxter Bravo took the remaining intermediate, section M, ahead of Ronnie Durand and Clover Curtis.

The first pony trial of the season was won by Sarah Hutchings and Baydale Velvet. Lottie Kennedy and Darracks Tonto were runners-up.

Read this report in full, with photos and further analysis, in this Thursday’s Horse & Hound (22 March, ’07)

British riders take overnight lead

Horse & Hound — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 17:45:13 +0000

British riders dominate the leader board at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials as the first day of dressage draws to a close.

Brampton based Ruth Edge (nee Friend) is the current leader with the striking black gelding Muschamp Impala. The pair produced an accurate and consistent test to score 45.9pen. Edge was delighted with Muschamp Impala, who she co-owns with Ann Murray and has produced from scratch.

Olympic Gold medallist Leslie Law (pictured below) is the nearest contender on a score of 50.2pen. Law rode a calm and mistake-free test with Shear H20, on whom he was fifth at Burghley last year. Having withdrawn his second ride Shear L’Eau in view of the fact he is now running in the European Championships at Blenheim next weekend, Law is no longer involved in Friday’s dressage.

“I can relax now until Saturday,” he says, “then I can be sick!”.

Rodney Powell and Liquid Ice are lying close behind Law on a score of 50.6pen. The 17hh grey gelding, on whom Powell finished fifth at Barbury Castle in July, made an eye-catching picture in the dressage arena and impressed the judges with some strong lateral work. Another Brit, Sharon Hunt from Bury St Edmunds is currently in sixth position with her chestnut gelding Tankers Town. Hunt rode a calm, yet bold test, to score 53pen.

New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson and Australia’s Phillip Dutton are the only overseas riders to make the top six placings. Nicholson (Duddles) is lying in fourth position on a score of 52.4pen. The pair has been on excellent form recently, finishing ninth at Brockenhurst and fifth at Gatcombe last month. Dutton (The Foreman) is currently in sixth place with 53.1pen.

With only 7.2pen between the top six riders, and 33 still to ride, including British hopefuls Mary King (Call Again Cavalier) and William Fox-Pitt (Ballincoola), the second dressage day will no doubt alter the overnight leader board dramatically.

Results after dressage day one

1. MUSCHAMP IMPALA Ruth Edge

2. SHEAR H2O Leslie Law

3. LIQUID ICE Rodney Powell

4. DUDDLES Andrew Nicholson

5. TANKERS TOWN Sharon Hunt

6. THE FOREMAN Phillip Dutton

=7. MASTER MONARCH Andrew Hoy

=7. UTHER PENDRAGON II Abigail Walters

9. AUTUMN SKY Eddy Stibbe

10. PENNY ROYAL III Marie Ryan

11. LIMESTONE RISE Polly Jackson

12. RONGOTAI Nick Turner

13. SKIVER Nicola Tweddle

14. HEADWIND Kristina Cook

15. HALLO AGAIN Laura Fortune

16. EASE ON FIRE Joe Meyer

17. ARTHURS WORD Nick Gauntlett

18. BRIARLANDS BLACKBERRY Tristram Owers

19. FAIRFAX Rodolphe Scherer

20. GINGER CHARLIE Claire Phillips

21. SALINO 23 Hans-Heinrich Held

22. GOULTON STORM Carole Dennis

23. PRIVATE TREATY Buck Davidson

24. COOL KIWI Ann Hatton

25. FREETOWN Imtiaz Anees

26. YOUNG THOMAS Neil Fox

27. GOOD ENOUGH John-Paul Sheffield

28. HOWECOT PSAMMITE Julie Lawson

29. R J MAXI Sue Chadwick

* Images courtesy of Burghley Horse Trials

Latest from Horse & Hound in Ruth-edge

Farewell to ‘eccentric genius’ and five-star winner who put rider ‘on the map’

“He was the grand old age of 29 and had been retired with his bessie mate Nick of Thyme,” said Ruth.

“I had ridden Phil and Maureen’s other horse Big Time, so it was decided that I would have a go at Jasper and see if I could persuade him that he wanted to be an event horse. We knew all along how talented he was, but he was quite quirky,” Ruth told H&H.

“We had a real partnership together and he really believed that he could do these amazing things that he did. He certainly taught me a lot about horsemanship, because he was a tricky character, but on his day he could beat the best in the world. He was a horse that really put me on the map.”

Jasper retired sound in 2012, aged 18 and had a long and happy retirement.

“He was never ridden again because we felt he really settled into being out in the field with his friends. He wasn’t great at hacking, and he certainly wasn’t a schoolmaster, even in his older age he was still cheeky,” said Ruth.

“He stayed with me and Nick of Time until 2019 when I moved, and then the two of them went to Phil and Maureen’s. They had a fantastic retirement place for them with lots of friends, and he had a terrific time.”

Ruth thanked Jasper for “all the great times with Phil and Maureen Smith at events all over Europe”.

“I’m so grateful for all the opportunities you brought to me. Fly high up there doing whatever you please. RIP dear boy,” she added.

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Ruth Edge: 5 simple steps to introducing pirouettes

1. “First the horse needs to learn to step under its body with its outside hindleg,” says Ruth.

2. Make sure the horse is working actively forward and is schooled at a level at which he feels confident and is physically strong enough to engage the hindleg when you ask.

-Top tip: transitions are useful for ensuring a horse is working in front of your leg.

“The first step the horse takes should be the quality of pace you want rather than taking a couple of strides to get the quality you’re asking for,” advises Ruth.

3. Build up to a pirouette by riding travers — where the horse works with his hindquarters on the inside track while bending in the direction of travel — on a 10m circle.

Continued below…

Ruth Edge & Lucy Wiegersma: Reflecting on Burghley *H&H VIP*

Ruth Edge: five judges required

Jung’s balance and flow

Lucy Wiegersma: Vintage Burghley

Ruth Edge’s four-star horse Marsh Mayfly retired

New eventing dressage record is set

Record dressage score for eventer Ruth Edge

Ruth Edge leads after first day of dressage at Burghley Horse Trials

Ruth Edge retires Two Thyme from eventing

Ruth Edge to move to new yard in Staffordshire

Ruth Edge sells Zero to Somerset rider Claire Poole

Ruth Edge leads after dressage at Badminton Horse Trials

Badminton final scores

Ruth has the Edge at the BD Winter Championships

William Fox-Pitt on top at Pau Horse Trials

Ruth Edge shares the lead at Pau Horse Trials

William Fox-Pitt in pole position after cross-country at Blenheim

Ruth Edge leads the dressage at Blenheim Horse Trials

Ruth Edge leads after dressage at Burghley Horse Trials

Oliver Townend is novice champion at Festival of British Eventing

Kai Rüder leads Badminton Horse Trials dressage from Ruth Edge

Badminton final scores

Ruth Edge leads after first day of dressage at Badminton Horse Trials

Badminton final scores

Ruth Edge takes British open championship at Gatcombe

Riders chosen to join elite BEF programme

Ruth Edge, British event rider

Ruth Edge leads Badminton Horse Trials cross-country at lunchtime

Badminton final scores

Carl Hester picks up another title at national dressage championships

Ruth Edge leads after dressage at Blenheim Horse Trials

Ruth Edge takes the lead in dressage at Burghley Horse Trials

Ruth Edge cuts through the British Open pack at Gatcombe

Ruth Edge’s Two Thyme withdrawn from Olympic eventing reserves

Fleetwater Opposition progeny top Pavo four-year-olds

Ruth Edge triumphs at Allerton Park Horse Trials

Ruth Edge wins Luhmühlen Horse Trials

Belton Horse Trials

Lincolnshire one-day event

British riders take overnight lead

Ruth Edge & Lucy Wiegersma: Reflecting on Burghley H&H VIP