Latest from Horse & Hound in Showjumping

Top horses move to new rider as three-time Olympian bows out, aged 61

Becky Murray — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:49:03 +0000

Three-time Olympic showjumper Dirk Demeersman has announced his retirement from the sport, aged 61.

The Belgian rider’s career spans decades; he competed at the European Championships on ponies aged 10 in and rode at his first Olympics, the 1992 Barcelona Games, aged 28.

Dirk represented his country at the 2004 Athens Olympics, finishing fourth individually with Clinton, and in 2012 he rode at the London Games aboard Befureo Van Het Panishof. In 2006 he helped the Belgian team to seventh at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, and in 2010 he was part of the bronze medal-winning WEG team at Kentucky.

This week Dirk announced his top stallion Cote D’Or, whom he bred and owns with his wife Kelly Pieck under their business Cavallini Horses, will make his competition debut with Olivier Philippaerts at the Chantilly CSI4*. Dirk’s last international competition with him was the CSIO3* Martofte Nations Cup in May.

“After 10 years together, Dirk has decided to hand over the reins of Cote D’Or Z to Olivier Philippaerts. Although his passion for the sport remains as strong as ever, he feels that, in the horse’s best interest, this is the right moment for Cote D’Or Z to continue his sporting career with a rider who can help him reach his full international potential,” said a Cavallini Horses spokesperson.

“At the same time, our home-bred horses Carrasco Z and Little Fellow Z have also joined Team Philippaerts. With this decision, Dirk officially brings his sporting career to a close.”

The spokesperson added that Kelly and Dirk “made this decision together, with the horses’ best interests always at heart”.

“They firmly believe this is the right time for each of them to begin a new chapter and wish Team Philippaerts every success and happiness with these exceptional horses,” he said.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘The thirst for the sport is there’: hopes efforts to promote para showjumping will encourage more riders

Becky Murray — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:15:00 +0000

Efforts are being made to promote and grow para showjumping, as concerns are raised by riders that there has been a decline in opportunities since the pandemic.

British Showjumping (BS) said para showjumping has had “a significant boost this year with the introduction of a revised competition structure and dedicated calendar”. This includes five multi-day competitions, culminating in the BS national championships at Stoneleigh and a season finale at Arena UK in September.

Open sections have been introduced alongside existing graded classes. BS said this provides “greater flexibility” by enabling riders to compete within their grades – in which they accumulate points towards the para leagues – and in open sections at different heights.

A two-day camp was held last month at the national training centre in Leicestershire, aimed at introducing riders to the sport.

“The training provides a great opportunity for riders to get together socially as well as benefiting from training sessions and unmounted workshops on a variety of topics,” said coach Sarah Tubbs.

Para competitors have welcomed the opportunities and hope more riders will become involved – but have raised concerns over whether more can still be done.

Rider Claire Pope told H&H that since the pandemic there has been an overall decline in para showjumping opportunities.

“Since Covid some riders have stopped competing or have lost horses, and we’ve just not been able to get more people involved,” she said.

“We’ve lost shows like Bramham, which was a big showcase for us. We’ve asked for more shows and we understand that we’re a very small minority, but the communication needs to be better.”

Anna Hilton did not know about para showjumping until after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“I was trying to hammer myself around able-bodied classes, but it just wasn’t working because I don’t have the strength any more. I started Googling and that’s when I discovered para showjumping. I hadn’t seen it advertised anywhere, so I think that’s been the problem, that people just don’t know it’s an option,” she told H&H.

“Unfortunately, because there’s only a few of us in each class, some places don’t want to run para – and you can see it from their point of view. But we need more venues to get on board with putting the shows on and publicising it.

“We all joke that you have to be a little bonkers to jump with a disability, but we just love it – and that’s why we don’t want to lose it.”

Deena Webster once competed in para shows abroad through BS – but said in recent years opportunities have dropped off. She believes BS joining the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network, as British Dressage has, could be a way to get more riders involved. Dressage riders can wear a sunflower armband or lanyard, which aims to raise awareness that they have a non-visible disability.

“The thirst for the sport is there. I’m pleased to see there are more opportunities this year but I think the whole para structure needs looking at to give people more,” Deena told H&H.

BS national director of sport Stephanie Toogood told H&H para showjumping “continues to go from strength to strength with increasing opportunities for riders to train, compete and be part of a supportive community”.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Flying changes explained: what they are, how to ride one and how to teach your horse

Oscar Williams — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:43:24 +0000

Flying changes are unavoidably cool. I can still remember attempting my first – getting a friend to film me on their pixelated flip phone, beaming a stupid grin at the camera as my little pony leapt into her change and promptly bombed off. We’ll ignore, for now, that she was two strides late behind.

But there’s no doubt they can feel like a mystery until you get that “aha” moment where it finally clicks. And because every horse is different, there’s no single foolproof way to teach them.

The good news is there’s nothing magic about them. A flying change is a natural movement – your horse already does them loose in the field – and with the right foundations, most horses can learn to do them to order (making you look suitably cool in the process).

Here’s what a flying change actually is, how to ride one, and how to start teaching your horse – without flinging your entire bodyweight to one side as I did.

What is a flying change?

A flying change is when your horse switches their leading leg in canter, in one smooth motion, without breaking to trot or walk in between.

A quick step back, in case it’s useful: in canter, your horse leads with one front leg – it reaches further forward than the other, and you’ll feel that shoulder come through underneath you. On a left lead, the left foreleg leads; on a right lead, the right. Which lead you’re on matters for balance, especially on turns and circles, where you normally want the inside leg leading – so on the right rein, going clockwise, you’ll be on the right lead most of the time, and on the left rein, the left.

Canter has a three-beat rhythm, and after the third beat there’s a brief moment of suspension – a split second where all four feet are off the ground, and your horse is, fleetingly, airborne. A flying change happens in that instant. Your horse rearranges their legs mid-air and lands on the opposite lead, so instead of leading with the left foreleg, they’re now leading with the right. Done well, there’s no stumble and no change of rhythm – just a clean skip from one lead to the other, as if your horse has hopped across in the air.

You’ll come across flying changes in pretty much every discipline:

Dressage: they appear from advanced medium level upwards, ridden on straight lines and, higher up, in sequences down to one change every stride (tempi changes).
Showjumping: essential for jumping a course smoothly. A horse that lands on the correct lead – or changes to it – can balance through turns and meet the next fence in rhythm, without losing time or scrambling.
Eventing, showing, and general riding: anywhere you’re cantering, turning and needing your horse balanced, a change keeps things tidy and comfortable.

For a lower-level rider, it’s less about the wow factor – although that’s cool, too – and more about control. A horse that changes lead on request is one you can balance and steer through anything, whether that’s a jump-off turn, a dressage centre line, or just staying upright out hunting.

How to ride a flying change

Assuming your horse already knows how to change (see the next section for teaching it), here’s the sequence of aids. The key thing is that a change is prepared, not just thrown in – you set your horse up, then ask.

1. Establish a good canter first. Balanced, active and collected enough that you feel you could ride a few steps smaller at any moment. A flat, strung-out canter has nowhere to change from.

2. Prepare on the approach to the change. Sit tall, half-halt to gather and balance the canter, and make sure your horse is straight – not falling in or out through the shoulder.

3. Change your leg position. Say you’re on the left lead (left foreleg leading) and want to change to the right. Your left leg, which has been at the girth, moves back behind the girth, and your right leg comes to the girth. This new leg position tells your horse which lead you now want.

4. Change your weight and hips. As you swap your legs, allow your seat and hips to follow – so your weight shifts subtly to the new leading side. Keep it quiet; it’s just a rebalancing, not throwing yourself across the saddle.

5. Ask in that moment of suspension. Apply the new outside leg (the left, now behind the girth) with a clear but light aid, ideally timed to the moment your horse is about to spring into the next stride. That’s when your horse can swing their legs through to the new lead.

6. Keep riding forward. Ride positively out of the change on the new lead. The most common mistake is to ask and then freeze or pull back on the reins – we’ve all done it, but both stop your horse jumping through cleanly.

The rhythm to aim for is almost “prepare… now go!” A change asked for in one flat motion tends to come late or flat; a change that’s set up first has time to jump through the body.

How to teach a flying change

Before you teach the change itself, the foundations have to be solid – it’s not as exciting, but this is the most important part. Rushing to the change before these are in place is the single most common reason changes go wrong. Your horse should be able to:

Pick up either canter lead promptly, from a clear aid, on a straight line.
Ride balanced walk-to-canter and canter-to-walk transitions without falling onto the forehand. (“On the forehand” just means your horse is carrying too much weight on their front end, rather than pushing from behind. You’ll feel it as heaviness in your hands, your horse tipping downhill or leaning on the reins for balance. What you want instead is your horse staying light in front and stepping their hindlegs underneath themselves – think uphill, not downhill.)
Hold a counter-canter (cantering on the “outside” or “wrong” lead) in balance. This teaches your horse to stay on the lead you’ve asked for rather than swapping whenever they fancy.

Once those are established, here’s a simple and reliable way to introduce the change:

1. Use a change of direction. Ride a shallow loop, a figure-of-eight, or come across the diagonal – anywhere your horse is naturally changing bend and direction, so a change of lead makes sense to them.

2. Establish a clean canter, then rebalance. As you approach the point where you’ll change direction, half-halt and collect the canter, so your horse is balanced and listening.

3. Ask as you cross the line. At the moment you change direction, change your leg and seat position and apply the new aid. Because your horse is already changing direction, switching lead feels logical.

4. Reward the attempt. Even a scrappy first change – or one that’s “late behind” (the front legs change but the hind legs lag a stride) – is worth rewarding. You’re building understanding first; the cleanliness comes with practice and strength.

5. Keep it occasional at first. Ask for one, make a fuss of your horse, and move on. Drilling changes over and over tends to make horses tense or anticipatory. A few good attempts in a session are plenty.

If your horse finds it genuinely confusing, some riders use a raised pole or cavaletti on the change line to encourage your horse to jump through and swap behind – but I’d say use it sparingly at first, and only if plain riding isn’t getting there.

Above all, don’t panic if the first attempts are messy. Late, flat or over-excited changes are completely normal early on. They clean up as your horse’s balance and confidence improve – which, as any good trainer will tell you, is really where the whole thing lives.

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Heavy-hitting German showjumping team named for Aachen worlds with Olympic champion on reserve list

Becky Murray — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:28:41 +0000

The German showjumping team has been revealed for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen (11-23 August) – as the home side boldly states “the goal is clear: a team medal”.

The team includes current European champions Richard Vogel riding United Touch S and former European champions Andre Thieme with DSP Chakaria. Olympic and European medallist Daniel Deusser will ride Otello De Guldenbloom and 2025 European bronze medallist Sophie Hinners has been named with Iron Dames Singclair. Both Daniel and Sophie’s horses are making their championship debut.

Marcus Ehning and Coolio 42, who were part of the 2025 Europeans team alongside Richard and Sophie, are first reserves. Perhaps more notably, 2024 Olympic champions Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 are second reserve.

A German federation spokesperson said national showjumping coach Otto Becker, who has led the home side to 13 senior medals during his 17-year tenureship, selected a team experienced in championships – and that “the goal is clear: a team medal for Germany”. Of course, the Germans will also be eyeing one of the seven 2028 LA Olympic spots up for grabs.

The pressure will be on Germany to deliver in front of the home crowd. In the past 10 years individual medals have come thick and fast, but team gold has eluded them. They won bronze at the 2025 Europeans, 2018 World Equestrian Games and 2016 Rio Olympics – and silver at the 2021 home Europeans in Reisenbeck.

With this in mind, some fans might be left scratching their heads over the omission of legendary performer Marcus Ehning and reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk from the core team – but looking at current form across the six combinations shows just how enviable a position the German selectors were in.

In February the federation said that there was not a fixed selection for the showjumping team, “but rather an individually agreed-upon selection route” with Otto.

The record of Richard Vogel and 14-year-old super stallion United Touch S speaks for itself; the formidable European gold medal-winning pair won the Rolex grand prix at the Dutch Masters in March and the World Cup leg in Basel at the start of the year.

Another key factor is likely to be Aachen’s big grass arena. Richard and United Touch won the CSI5* Rolex grand prix of Aachen in May, and Sophie Hinners was third with 11-year-old Iron Dames Singclair – proving these pairs can deliver there.

They don’t have championship experience together, but last month Sophie and Singclair posted a double clear to help Germany to the runner-up spot in the La Baule Nations Cup leg. This was alongside Richard, Daniel and Andre – all on their Aachen rides – showing the four already work well as a team. They were beaten by France by just 2.55 penalties.

Andre Thieme and DSP Chakaria have shown they are still at the top of their game five years after they won individual gold at the 2021 Europeans. The mare, now 16, had eight months out after picking up an injury in the summer of 2023 – but returned to win the Rolex grand prix of Aachen in July 2024. This year, they helped Germany to first place at the Ocala leg of the Longines League of Nations (LLN) in March and in May they won the Longines grand prix of Hamburg, another big grass arena.

Olympic team bronze medallist Daniel Deusser and 12-year-old Otello De Guldenboom, might not have a championship under their belt, but the pair are consistent at the top level. Among their multiple top placings this year, they were second in the World Cup Final in Fort Worth in April, and part of the Nations Cup squad at La Baule.

This isn’t to say Marcus Ehning and 13-year-old Coolio 42 or Christian Kukuk and 16-year-old Checker 47 are out of touch. Just last month Marcus and the 13-year-old gelding won the Longines grand prix of Switzerland – even while being chased by a loose dog.

Christian and Checker were part of that winning team at the LLN Ocala alongside Richard and Andre in March, having posted a vital double clear, and they have two recent Global Champions League team victories under their belt as part of Reisenbeck International.

Should Otto need to call on a reserve, he has two strong contenders waiting in the wings, who importantly, will be able to withstand the high pressure of being called upon at the 11th hour, if needed.

Under the showjumping rules, each national federation may enter a maximum of five athletes and five horses. The team will consist of four combinations (or three, for those countries that do not have four).

The substitution rules vary between disciplines. For showjumping, in the event of accident or illness of a horse or rider confirmed by medical certification, a substitution can be made up to one hour before the first horse inspection on 17 August.

The fifth horse and rider combination – in Germany’s case this is currently Marcus and Coolio – may participate in the training session on 18 August. The first competition session is on 19 August.

Chef d’equipes must declare in writing the members of the team by 5.15pm on 18 August. In cases of substitutions after this declaration, in the event of accident or illness, a substitution may be made until one hour before the first competition – with medical certification and approval of the president of the ground jury.

At the 2015 European Championships in Aachen the German team won silver, and at the 2006 Aachen World Equestrian Games the team won bronze. Could 2026 be the year they bag a team gold in front of the Aachen crowd?

The German showjumping team for the 2026 World Championships (in alphabetical order of surname):

Daniel Deusser with 12-year-old stallion Otello De Guldenboom

Owner: Stephex Stables

Breeder: H Versnick

Breeding: by Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z, out of a mare by Caretino

Sophie Hinners with 11-year-old gelding Iron Dames Singclair

Owner: Pegase Equestrian BV

Breeder: J AB Wannius

Breeding: by Singular Ls La Silla, out of a mare by VDL Cardento 933

Andre Thieme with 16-year-old mare DSP Chakaria

Owner: Pferdemanagement & Marketing GmbH

Breeder: Martin Juergens

Breeding: by CHAP 47, out of a mare by Askari 173

Richard Vogel with 14-year-old stallion United Touch S

Owner: Julius-Peter Sinnack

Breeder: Owner

Breeding: by Untouched, out of a mare by Lux Z Z

Reserves:

Marcus Ehning with 13-year-old gelding Coolio 42 (first reserve)

Owner: rider and Elmrok BV

Breeder: M Wirtz

Breeding: by Casalito, out of a mare by Quidam De Revel

Christian Kukuk with 16-year-old gelding Checker 47

Owner: H & Partner Gbr and Madeleine Winter-Schulze

Breeder: Wolfgang Kipp

Breeding: by Comme Il Faut 5, out of a mare by Loro Piana Come On

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 showjumping teams are taking shape – including the complete list of nominated entries from 59 nations

Jennifer Donald — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:04:53 +0000

As the countdown to the FEI World Championships continues, we now have the complete list of nominated entries from which nations’ selectors will decide on their Aachen 2026 showjumping teams – and it’s long! If you want to keep up to date with all the FEI World Championships final squad announcements in one place, Horse & Hound is here to help.

Each nation can enter up to five horse and rider combinations, but only four will take part in both the team and individual competition. If a nation is unable to enter a team of three or four riders, they can enter one or two riders to compete at individuals. The fifth rider can jump the warm-up round on Tuesday 18 August, although they will not be able to compete in the championships unless they are swapped in as a last-minute replacement.

With a massive 59 nations having entered, the list of showjumping entries for the FEI World Championships currently stretches to 188 horse and rider combinations. I’ll be updating this page every time a nation announces their final team or individual riders – so check back for the latest updates.

Showjumping teams at Aachen 2026

Argentina

Nominated entries listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Luis Pedro Biraben and Vasco 109
Martin Dopazo and Chris
Jeronimo Gimenez Herrera and Con Ti Boy
José María (Jr) Larocca and Finn Lente
Matias Larocca and Patron Van De Dweerhoeve
Ignacio Maurin and Conchado
Leandro Moschini and Abril Iconthon
Juan Bautista Pidutti Hortas and Ninvaro Ps

Australia

Nominated entries listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Thaisa Erwin and Hialita B
Tom McDermott and Oaks Ventriloquist
Billy Raymont and Caprino
Billy Raymont and Blue Balou PS
Hilary Scott and Lola
Hilary Scott and Oaks Milky Way
Edwina Tops-Alexander and Caetlin VD Heffinck Z
Edwina Tops-Alexander and Cydello
Edwina Tops-Alexander and Fellow Castlefield
Rowan Willis and Handsome
Jamie Winning-Kermond and Tulara Wat Colblensky

Austria

Nominated entries listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Bianca Babanitz and Dakato
Bianca Babanitz and I Will Be Famous
Dominik Juffinger and Neugschwents Diamant
Fritz Kogelnig Jun. and Bg Rio Van De Groenhoeve
Felix Koller and Cossinelle
Max Kühner and Eic Cooley Jump The Q
Max Kühner and Eic Daloubet
Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P
Max Kühner and Greece 5
Christoph Obernauer and Kleons Renegade
Katharina Rhomberg and Colestus Cambridge
Katharina Rhomberg and Cuma 5
Josef Schwarz Jr and Lor Jdv

Belgium

Nominated entries listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Niels Bruynseels and Origi Vd Vosberg
Emilie Conter and Portobella Van De Fruitkorf
Pieter Devos and Casual Dv Z
Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga V/H Dingeshof
Abdel Said and Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z
Thibeau Spits and Impress-K Van’T Kattenheye Z
Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone
Roy Van Beek and Cavoiro-Hold
Annelies Vorsselmans and Trezeguet
Gregory Wathelet and Bond Jamesbond De Hay

Brazil

Selected riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Stephan Barcha with Dinozo Império Egípcio and Chevaux Primavera Império Egípcio
Luciana Diniz with Vertigo du Desert
Yuri Mansur with QH Alfons Santo Antonio
Marlon Modolo Zanotelli with Dorette Old and Ilex
Rodrigo Pessoa with Major Tom and Prins Van’t Eigenlo

Reserve riders

Eduardo Pereira de Menezes with H5 London Time
Pedro Muylaert with Gemme Villers

Canada

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Erynn Ballard with De Flor 111 Z Santa Rosa or Fave D’Authuit
Kyle King with Kayenne Z
Amy Millar with Gaiete D’Elle or Jagger HX
Chris Pratt with Ideaal ES or Lollypop
Kyle Timm with Casino Calvin or Glamour Du Chanu

Chile

Jorge Matte Capdevila riding Kinmar Bespoke or Levi Noesar or Winning Good

Colombia

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Ilan Bluman and Acajou
Rodrigo Diaz and Cochiloco PS
Rene Lopez Lizarazo and Casa Lady Love Ps Old
Rene Lopez Lizarazo and Kheros Van’T Hoogeinde
Rene Lopez Lizarazo and Londina
Roberto Teran Tafur and Dez’ Ooktoff

Croatia

Lea Djelmic riding Dukat

Cyprus

Alexa Stais and Cornflake CR

Czech Republic

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Nikola Bielikova and Carison
Ales Opatrny and Kapsones W.
Vaclav Stanek and Quintin
Sara Vingralkova and Rock’N Roll MXL

Denmark

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Rikke Belinda Barker and Tabalou PS
Laura Baaring Kjaergaard and Qarisma Van’T Roosakker
Zascha Nygaard and Charino PS
Zascha Nygaard and Com’On Drako De Maugre
Caroline Rehoff Pedersen and Polonis L
Soren Moeller Rohde and Evolution Ask DWB
Soren Moeller Rohde and Grace Ask
Andreas Schou and Billy Matador
Andreas Schou and Darc De Lux
Andreas Schou and Napoli Vh Nederassenthof
Andreas Schou and Uriga VA

Dominican Republic

Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso and J’Adore Flamenco

Egypt

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Ismail Osama El Borai and Lidante 2
Sameh El Dahan and Oscar-A
Ahmed Naser Elnaggar and Kennedy HX
Nayel Nassar and Esi Ali
Zain Shady Samir and Kardesh
Mouda Zeyada and If Looks Could Kill O.H.

Finland

Annina Nordström and Fuzhou

France

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Simon Delestre and Golden Boy DK
Marc Dilasser and Arioto Du Gevres
Julien Epaillard and Donatello D’Auge
Julien Epaillard and Fringan De Vesquerie
Julien Epaillard and Le Coultre De Muze
Antoine Ermann and Floyd Des Pres
Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie De Beaufour
Nina Mallevaey and Nikka Vd Bisschop
Megane Moissonnier and Crooner Tame
Olivier Perreau and Gl Events Dorai D’Aiguilly
Olivier Robert and Iglesias D.V.
Jeanne Sadran and Dexter De Kerglenn
Nicolas Sers and Eleven De Riverland
Kevin Staut and Exquis RB
Kevin Staut and Feline De Hus HDC

Germany

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Daniel Deußer and Otello de Guldenboom
Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair
André Thieme and DSP Chakaria
Richard Vogel and United Touch S

Reserve riders

First reserve: Marcus Ehning and Coolio
Second reserve: Christian Kukuk and Checker

For more insight, here’s what you need to know about the German showjumping team entered for Aachen.

Great Britain

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Scott Brash with Hello Folie
Scott Brash with Hello Jefferson
Scott Brash with Hello Mango
Harry Charles with Holst Freda
Sienna Charles with Chawton
Tim Gredley with Medoc de Toxandria
Jodie Hall McAteer with La Gupardie
Ben Maher with Catelly
Ben Maher with Enjeu De Grisien
Ben Maher with Point Break
Jessica Mendoza with Summerhouse
Matt Sampson with Un Secreto Z
Joe Stockdale with Ebanking
Jack Whitaker with Jack JL
Adrian Whiteway with Chacco Volo

For more insight, here’s what you need to know about the British showjumping team entered for Aachen.

Greece

Ioli Mytilineou with either L’Artiste De Toxandra or La Perla Vd Heffinck

Hong Kong

Patrick Lam and Lopez One

Hungary

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

András Jun. Kövy and Egano Van ‘T Wingerdhof Z
Tamás Mráz and Viva Cent
Anna Simicska and Kansas Vl
Ferenc Szentirmai and Quandro Blue Ps
Péter Szuhai and Corbluecenta
Gyula Szuhai Jr. and Lawisangos

Iran

Ali Aziznia and Aonia Domain

Ireland

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Bertram Allen and Qonquest De Rigo
Trevor Breen and Highland President
Daniel Coyle and Gisborne Vdl
Jordan Coyle and Chaccolino
Darragh Kenny and Eddy Blue
Denis Lynch and Vistogrand
Cian O’Connor and Chatolinue Ps
Cian O’Connor and Kentucky Tn
Conor Swail and Clonterm Obolensky
Shane Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z
Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz

Israel

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Daniel Bluman and Corbie V.V.
Mark Bluman and Genial De B’Neville
Mark Bluman and Landon De Nyze
Theodore Boris and Cazan Z
Vanessa Hood and Clitschko 17
Robin Muhr and Foud’Joie De Stel
Robin Muhr and Galaxy Hm
Isabella Russekoff and C Vier 2
Stella Wasserman and Precious Dwerse Hagen

Italy

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Fabio Brotto and Doha Delle Roane
Piergiorgio Bucci and Hantano
Piergiorgio Bucci and Pallieter Vd N.Ranch
Emanuele Camilli and Chacareno Ps
Emanuele Camilli and Chacco’S Girlstar
Giacomo Casadei and Marbella Du Chabli
Giampiero Garofalo and Querido Van’T Ruytershof
Emanuele Gaudiano and Chalou’S Love Ps
Giulia Martinengo Marquet and Delta Del’Isle
Riccardo Pisani and Chacco’S Lawito Ps
Roberto Previtali and Quirinus 27

Jordan

Ibrahim Barazi and Joie De Vigo R.T.
Ibrahim Hani Bisharat and either Happyness or Lesther

Japan

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Takashi Haase Shibayama and Karamell M & M
Koki Saito and Elliot De Gineau Jra
Eiken Sato and Campai 3 or Chadellano Jra
Taizo Sugitani and Quincy 194

Kyrgyzstan

Valeria Sokolova and Jackpot Tn

Kuwait

Ali Al Khorafi and Inshallah

Latvia

Kristaps Neretnieks and Corlansky-Pro or Valour

Lebanon

Roger Chammas and Glondon Di San Giovanni

Liechtenstein

Jennifer Hochstaedter and Golden Lady or Moeboetoe V/D Roshoeve or Winnetou De La Hamente Z
Vanessa-Joy Nagele and Codex S

Lithuania

Matas Petraitis and Nicko P

Luxembourg

Victor Bettendorf with Atchoum De La Roque Z or Doha De Riverland or Gibbs Un Prince or Qwando Van De Rispen

Morocco

Abdeslam Bennani Smires and Mister D’Eclipse
Abdelkebir Ouaddar and Larsino

Mexico

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Paola Amilibia and I’M A Star
Andres Azcarraga and Contendros 2
Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia and Con-Cor
Jose Antonio Chedraui Prom and H-Lucky Retto
Federico Fernandez and Romeo
Eugenio Garza Perez and Contago
Carlos Hank Guerreiro and H5 Origi Horta
Carlos Hank Guerreiro and H5 Shaq Attack
Fernando Martinez Sommer and High Five
Fernando Martinez Sommer and Joep
Arturo Parada Vallejo and Laretto
Patricio Pasquel and Chakkalou PS
Nicolas Pizarro and Pia Contra
Luis Alejandro Plascencia O. and Enzo BJX
Luis Alejandro Plascencia O. and Huberth B

North Macedonia

Luka Zaloznik and Stakkatol Blue PSZ

Monaco

Iñigo Lopez De La Osa Franco with Nacco Blue Dnl or Nascar Van ‘T Siamshof
Anastasia Nielsen with Action Man or Esi Rocky

Netherlands

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Roelof Bril and Iberico
Kim Emmen and Hellix Du Seigneur
Kim Emmen and Imagine N.O.P.
Michael Greeve and Denver
Willem Greve and Grandorado Tn N.O.P.
Willem Greve and Pretty Woman Van’T Paradijs N.O.P.
Roel Holthuizen and Carlson W3
Bas Moerings and Ipsthar
Bas Moerings and Kivinia
Lisa Nooren Garofalo and Scuderia 1918 Grand Prix
Harrie Smolders and Mr. Tac
Sanne Thijssen and Cupcake Z
Leopold Van Asten and Vdl Groep Nino Du Roton
Mathijs Van Asten and Cassina Dior
Maikel Van Der Vleuten and Quastor Vd Heffinck

Neutral Individual Athletes

Ksenia Khairulina and Zwarovski Z
Sergey Petrov and Nero Van’T Prinsenveld

Norway

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Geir Gulliksen and Island VG
Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen and Equine America Harwich VDL
Cecilie Hatteland and Que Pasa JW – LVM
Marit Haarr Skollerud and Nelson Van ‘T Roosakker

New Zealand

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Luke Dee and Gangster WW
Katie Laurie and Django 11
Uma O’Neill and Luigi D’Eclipse
Sophie Scott and Normandy GHP

Palestine

Egor Shchibrik and Crack HV

Poland

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Dawid Kubiak and Flash Blue B
Marek Lewicki and Quaid Casio
Hubert Polowczyk and M Blue’s Boy Z
Jaroslaw Skrzyczynski and Komboy
Michal Tyszko and Colinero
Wojciech Wojcianiec and Aliean Zin’Galeriani
Michal Ziebicki and Balou’s Batman

Portugal

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida and Karonia.L
Ricardo Benzinho Karle Da Costa and Kirocco
Mario Wilson Fernandes and Krachtpatser
Luis Sabino Gonçalves and Scoop De Septon Z
Rodrigo Sampaio Peixoto and Orion AS
Duarte Seabra and Dourados 2

Qatar

Faleh Suwead Al Ajami and Wathnan Quatro
Bassem Mohammed and Wathnan Issem or Wathnan Rocket Man

Saudi Arabia

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Ramzy Al Duhami and Cayadino or Untouchable 32
Khaled Almobty and Davenport Vdl or Diana Du Plevau Z
Abdulrahman Alrajhi and Heartbeat W or Lorenzo ES or Ventago
Abdullah Alsharbatly and Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior or Diriyah or Valentino

Slovakia

Dominika Gaalova and Quarz Du Coeur Des Collines
Radovan Sillo and Quadrosson Ask

Slovenia

Nina Jovovic and Diamant’s Dream

South Africa

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Charlie Bays and Ninety Stone Pullman
Ronnie Healy and Cornet’s Mandarino
Oliver Lazarus and Conbalthago PS
Tamara Rueda and Callaho Liantos
Alexandra Ruiz-Carter and Calvarole VG Z

Spain

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Julio Arias Cueva and Filou Du Manoir
Carlos Bosch Cebrian and Jolie Van Der Berghoeve Kar
Pilar Lucrecia Cordon and Actiongrace Ps
Pilar Lucrecia Cordon and Pica Pica Z
Manuel Fernandez Saro and Baloys Ps
Jesus Garmendia Echevarria and Caramel Blue Ps
Álvaro González De Zarate Fernandez and Conthargo-Blue
Francisco Goyoaga Mollet and Stakato Cornet
Carlos Lopez-Fanjul Tartiere and Jourdain Vdl
Alberto Marquez Galobardes and Kelly
Sira Martinez Cullell and Pipper Des Vergers Z
Imma Roquet Autonell and Irivola Del Maset
Laura Roquet Puignero and Nina Puigroq
Iván Serrano Sáez and Rain Man
Armando Trapote and Tornado Vs

Sweden

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Petronella Andersson and Odina Van Klapscheut
Petronella Andersson and Opaline De W&S
Carl-Walter Fox and Eka First Navy Jack
Jens Fredricson and Diarado’S Rose Elith
Peder Fredricson and Alcapone Des Carmille
Peder Fredricson and Sv Vroom De La Pomme Z
Amanda Landeblad and Springfield 21
Wilma Mcmahon and Cicci Bjn
Thomas Ryan and Jezebeau Bc
Henrik Von Eckermann and Minute Man
Henrik Von Eckermann and Qasirah Van De Reistenhoek
Angelie Von Essen and Voila Dk Z
Marcus Westergren and Airco De L Esprit Z

For more insight, here’s what you need to know about the Swedish showjumping team entered for Aachen.

Switzerland

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Martin Fuchs and Conner Jei
Martin Fuchs and Fortjump Du Beaumenil
Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei
Martin Fuchs and Lorde
Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte
Steve Guerdat and Dynamix De Belheme
Steve Guerdat and Venard De Cerisy
Gaëtan Joliat and Chelsea Z
Gaëtan Joliat and Just Special Vk
Alain Jufer and Chaccoo De L’Escant Mm
Alain Jufer and Dante Mm
Nadja Peter Steiner and Nice Van’T Zorgvliet
Barbara Schnieper and Canice
Jason Smith and Picobello Van’T Roosakker
Janika Sprunger and Orelie

Turkey

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Alessia Arrigo Zazadze and Dawson
Derin Demirsoy and Csf Whipper Snapper Vdl
Necmi Eren and Pss Levilensky
Hasan Senturk and No-Comment De Septon

United Arab Emirates

Nominated entries listed alphabetically by rider’s surname

Saeed Moh’d Al Maazmi and Passion Vd Donkhoeve
Abdullah Mohd Al Marri and Bbs Mcgregor
Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi and Chacco Bay
Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi and Enjoy De La Mure
Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi and Chacolu
Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi and Hudson De Vains
Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi and Foncetti Vd Heffinck
Shk. Ali Jmal Nasr Al Nuami and Cobalt Vd Bisschop Z
Salim Ahmed Al Suwaidi and Flonflon
Shaikha Latifah Ahmed Almaktoum and Cornet Xl

USA

Team riders listed in alphabetical order by rider’s surname.

Katie Dinan on Out of the Blue SCF
Lillie Keenan on Fasther
Laura Kraut on Bisquetta
Marilyn Little on La Contessa
McLain Ward on High Star Hero

Uzbekistan

Abdurakhmon Abdullaev and Caballone
Bekzod Kurbanov and Matts V.G.

Venezuela

Luis Fernando Larrazabal and Baroness

Zimbabwe

Charley Barford and Odiena Van Berimar

When are final team announcements for showjumping?

The deadline for definite entries – that is the final squads of up to five athletes per nation, bar injury or illness – is 27 July.

How are teams selected?

Each country follows its own selection process. The British selectors chose their showjumping team based on who is most likely to achieve the objectives; of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and winning as many medals as possible. Their selections take into account combination results, including in five-star Nations Cup and grands prix, this year and last.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from the World Championships and other major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘Enjoy your retirement, you wonderful horse’: Hickstead Derby hero bows out to spend golden years with his old friends

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:27:50 +0000

Robert Whitaker’s Hickstead Derby-winning hero Equine America Gentlemen VH Veldhof has retired aged 20 – to spend the rest of his life with old friends.

Robert, who triumphed with Caroline Blatchford’s superstar in 2025, paid tribute to his incredible career as it came to an end on a high.

“Gentlemen, thank you,” he said. “This special horse has done so many incredible things for so many people, including myself, Stephen and Caroline [Blatchford] – the highlight of those winning the 2025 Hickstead Derby.

“Gentlemen, you are a superstar and owe us nothing, go and enjoy your retirement, you wonderful horse.”

Robert took the ride on the Quite Easy stallion, previously ridden by Tim Gredley and with whom David Simpson won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, in late 2024.

“It sounds madness to buy a horse at 18!” Mrs Blatchford told H&H. “But Rob knew Gentlemen had been around the Derby before and done quite well. He said right at the beginning, ‘I think I could win the Derby on Gentlemen,’ and we all looked at him like he was a bit mad.”

Gent and Robert were flying from the start; winning a six-bar at their first show, and they went on to other wins and good placings at top level.

“They clicked immediately,” Mrs Blatchford said. “When we get a new horse, we don’t expect anything particularly for the first few months while they settle and get to know each other but that wasn’t the case with Gentlemen.”

Gentlemen VH Veldhof: that Derby win

Mrs Blatchford said it was “wonderful” to watch her horse win the Derby, and that it felt as if the whole crowd was willing he and Rob on.

“Then in the prize-giving they put that gorgeous wreath round the horse’s neck and the pair of them looked so proud. I’ve never seen Rob look happier.”

Mrs Blatchford said the decision was taken to retire Gent on a high and keep him on livery, but the first rider who competed him internationally, Belgian Koen de Waele, stepped up.

“Rob said he was Gentlemen’s biggest fan,” she said. “He immediately said, ‘I want him to come home.’ He’d been following him; every time he jumped within a couple of hours, he’d travel to see him.

“He’s made an impact on a lot of people and he’s going to live out his days in comfort.”

Koen told H&H he took Gentlemen VH Veldhof on as a six-year-old – and there were some challenges at first.

“Everything was there, but he was a handful; a lot of work,” Koen said. “He was a good jumper but spooky. Not at the fences, they could have been on fire and he’d jump them, but everything else. It took me more than a year and a half to hack him in the woods, I fell off 1,000 times!

“He’d spook, turn back and I’d fall off. He never ran away but some rides, I fell off five times. But at a show, in the ring, he never let me down, ever. He was an abnormal horse.”

Koen said it took years of work but “one day he clicked, then he did everything”.

Tim Gredley (GBR) riding Gentlemen VH Veldhof during the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby. (Image credit: Sport In Pictures/Alamy Live News)

“At eight, he jumped a grand prix, it was all so easy for him,” he said. “He was lucky when we sold him to go into good hands; first David Simpson then Tim Gredley.

“I have to thank Tim, who’s a real horseman, and he was such a gentleman to Robert when he let him have Gentlemen to back up Vermento. They did a great job with him, then with Robert, I don’t have to tell the story, and Robert took such good care of him too.”

Koen said Gent will spend most of his summer relaxing in the field, or in his stable if it gets too hot, then in winter he will enjoy outings to the beach, where Koen likes to ride his horses. He added that he said immediately he would like to have Gent back when he heard he was to retire.

“They didn’t over-use him; he’s retiring sound, which gives me a lot of satisfaction,” he said. “He came straight to my stable from the plane and if you didn’t know, he looked like a three-year-old, fit and sound. It was good to see him back like that and he knew the place, he knew his stable. It was like he’d never left.”

Koen added that Gent will live with his old friend, another of his former competition rides.

“I went to a show last week and he wanted to go; he was waiting by the gate, like ‘I want to go too’,” he said. “It’s not the plan but he still would be able to. Now he can be with his old buddy, who he grew up with. I’m very happy to keep him and have him retire at my place.”

Enjoyed reading this? For more expert training advice from top riders and coaches, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Showjumping hub

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:58:38 +0000

Whether you’re looking for the latest showjumping news, exclusive interviews with top riders or opinions from influential showjumping names, Horse & Hound’s showjumping hub is the place to be. You can also get expert training tips and browse the latest jumping kit and clothing.

‘I can’t be more grateful to have him’: young Whitaker lands fabulous grand prix

Becky Murray — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 20:31:22 +0000

Jack Whitaker stole the show when he topped the Bolesworth International (2-6 July) CSI4* Al Shira’aa grand prix with the superb 17-year-old stallion D&H Valmy De La Lande.

“I can’t put into words how happy I am for Valmy,” said 24-year-old Jack.

“He’s been in our stable since he was five years old. He’s been an absolute trooper for me and kept my career on the road for the last few years.

“I can’t be more grateful to have him. He just keeps surprising me and pulling it out of the bag every time I jump him.”

Rafael Suarez’s first-round track made use of colour, big bold oxers and delicate uprights to whittle 42 starters – including eight former winners – down to a 13-rider jump-off.

Jack was eighth to go against the clock, straight after his uncle John Whitaker and Equine America Unick Du Francport who had four faults when they tapped the top rail of a tall green upright – and with five still to go he left nothing on the table.

“I thought I had no chance. Even when I went into the lead I was completely shocked,” said Jack.

“I feel like I’m almost playing second fiddle sometimes. Last year I had the fastest time in the jump-off but had the second-last fence down; you always feel like you’re knocking on the door but never winning it. Thank God we could win it.”

Jack credited the Whitaker dynasty and his father Michael for his success.

“Obviously I’ve had an unbelievable start from my father, and an unbelievable leg up in the sport. If I wasn’t any good there would be a problem,” he joked.

“I’ve got to thank my family, I’m very lucky.”

Ireland’s David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve had to settle again for the runner-up spot, in a repeat of his result last year. As third to go in the jump-off David had a large task of keeping the next 10 combinations at bay, and a fast 42.55sec round was the time to beat, but it wasn’t to be.

“It’s a bit like ground hog day at the minute, every time I think I’m going to win something, a Whitaker appears!” said David, who was runner-up to Jack’s cousin William Whitaker in the Hickstead Derby a fortnight ago.

“I’ve owned Pjotr since he was a two-year-old. He’s a real soldier and a very, very quick horse. He and my team of horses are in amazing form; credit to the whole team at Breen Equestrian, the grooms and the guys at home. Without them, we’re not sitting here.”

Holly Smith concluded another brilliant week of Bolesworth results, landing a grand prix podium with Nike Van Het Singraven, who stopped the clock on 42.68sec for third.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘I was very nervous – you don’t get to ride that kind of horse every day’: the day Jack Whitaker rode dressage star Jagerbomb

Martha Terry — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 11:10:26 +0000

What happens when you pair a world-class showjumper with a top-flight dressage horse? Martha Terry finds out as Jack Whitaker picks up the reins on Jagerbomb

The Whitakers have ice in their veins. They’ll gallop at a 7ft wall, jump-off for their country in front of a 50,000-strong crowd and shimmy down the Hickstead bank. But when it came to the coveted offer of riding on Olympic dressage bronze medallist and reigning World Cup Final winner Jagerbomb – arguably the sweetest, kindest horse in the world – Jack Whitaker admits he was “nervous, very nervous”.

He was given the opportunity to “have a sit” on Jagerbomb as part of a demo at Sheffield Equine Clinic’s opening day. Jack was doing a showjumping session, Becky Moody a dressage display.

When Becky finishes showing off “Bomb’s” moves, she calls over to Jack: “Let’s do this!”

“I didn’t know I was going to be riding him until just before,” says Jack. “He’s such a famous dressage horse, he’s just won the World Cup Finals and suddenly I’m stood next to him and he’s so big! So impressive.

“I was very nervous,” Jack adds. “You don’t get to ride that kind of horse every day and it’s a completely different way of riding and feeling to what I’m used to – so I just didn’t want to mess him up. Luckily, Becky is so laid-back – I couldn’t believe it.”

Jack Whitaker riding Jagerbomb: “It’s a really cool feeling”

Jack is legged up into Becky’s Childéric dressage saddle, a very different sitting position to his usual CWD jump saddle. This proves the least of his concerns.

“The saddle actually felt a lot comfier – it’s a lot bigger,” he says. “Apart from when you set off and you’re doing sitting trot and then everything’s uncomfortable!”

Jack’s day-to-day training involves plenty of sitting trot, but Bomb’s movement presents an unfamiliar challenge.

“We’d do a lot of riding without stirrups as it’s just good training for everything,” he says. “But when I tried to sit to Bomb’s trot and then his extended trot, it was like riding a different animal – he gave a completely different feeling. Even though I’m used to doing sitting trot, I was feeling it after one lap round.”

Once Jack has trotted through a few changes of rein and checked out Bomb’s extended trot – with a big smile – Becky suggests he try passage, a movement that would not feature in a showjumper’s regular vocabulary. Within five minutes of being legged up, Jack is performing a pretty impressive passage.

“That thing where you go up and down on the spot?” Jack laughs. “That was the easiest! Bomb just did it. I kept half-halting with my leg on and he trotted on the spot and it felt seriously cool. That’s not something my horses can do.

“It feels like you’re floating, but hopping and floating. You don’t move, but everything happens underneath you – it’s a really cool feeling.”

Jack checks out passage. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Becky is impressed, too.

“Cracking passage, brilliant, way better than I was riding him,” she laughs. “I love watching other people ride Bomb. It does make me really proud of him – he’s such a diamond, such a legend and it’s good for people to see that.

“All my girls hack him out at home and if I want someone to feel a change or passage, it’s Bomb they get on because he’s very good for people to learn on.

“I try not to be too precious about my horses, which some people would say is mad, but it’s good for them. And sometimes I learn things about what I need to make better. It tells me how good my training is. If other people can get on and it’s easy, that tells me I’m doing a good job. If they can’t get that easy feeling, that tells me there’s still a missing link in that horse’s education and I need to keep working on it.”

Jack Whitaker: “It’s a different kind of power”

Passage nailed, Becky tells Jack to “play with the canter”.

“This is where you really see the crossover,” she says. “In dressage, we want the same adjustability in our horses as a showjumper does. Yes, you’re in a slightly different frame and balance, but when training any horse, it comes back to transitions, adjustability and rideability.

“It doesn’t matter whether Jack’s shortening or lengthening the pace to come into a jump, or I’m shortening for a pirouette, you still need your horse on the aid and listening. That’s cool.”

Bomb looks to be having a lovely time cantering freely down the long side and Becky shouts out, “shorten your reins! No chance of you ever being done for rollkur!”

Jack “plays with the canter” on Jagerbomb. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Says Jack: “The canter actually didn’t feel very different to what I’m used to. We ride very powerful animals, but it’s a different kind of power.

“The dressage horses have to be so strong in their core and body to move and hold themselves in the way they do, whereas our horses are probably lighter and more agile to be able to turn so quickly on the spot – less pure muscle and power.”

Jack’s next challenge is to tackle flying changes. This would be his bread-and-butter as a showjumper, but Bomb’s mighty movement complicates matters. It takes a few goes until they click into place.

“The hardest thing was the flying changes,” Jack says. “I felt like an idiot not to be able to do a flying change on a horse who’s a total professional, known for his changes! I didn’t think that would feel so different. If it’s not actually a different language, maybe it’s a different accent.”

For Becky, this is important insight.

“Jack’s incredibly experienced and monumentally skilled at what he does – but he found the changes one way much easier than the other, so that made me think, ‘OK, I need to work more on that alignment and straightness,’ even if I can get them both ways,” she says.

“There’s obviously something there that made it harder for him. It’s a learning curve for me as well.”

True horsemanship

The session is short albeit sweet, with Jack needing to wrap up before his showjumping demo, leaving us wondering how much more Bomb could teach him.

It highlights true horsemanship – both on Becky’s part in training her world-class champion to perform with a totally new rider, and Jack’s soft hands and natural seat translating instantly to whatever discipline he turns to.

Will more dressage be on the cards?

“Probably should do, after that performance!” he jokes. “Though at home we are mainly doing flatwork training at home; we don’t jump much at all. But although you’d call it dressage, it’s not that kind of dressage – it’s ‘showjumping dressage’.

“Bomb felt like riding a completely different animal to what I’m used to,” he adds. “You can feel the muscle he has. Even when he first set off in walk, I could feel every movement – right from that first step from behind, the power was incredible. It was an amazing feeling and I’m very thankful I got to have a go.”

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‘It was hot hot hot at Bolesworth,’ says Carmen Edwards, who thanks the show for their efforts to keep horses cool

Carmen Edwards — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:30:38 +0000

Successful British showjumper Carmen Edwards praises organisers of Bolesworth International for upping their game in the heatwave

The recent heatwave, which coincided with the start of week one of the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International, reminded us of the massive difference between what is required to run an agricultural show and an international horse show.

At the former, much of the livestock involved just needs a bit of shade, but at a dedicated horse show, you need a proper infrastructure.

Bolesworth’s organisation team did a really good job of accommodating for the heat. There were misting stations, large barrels of water available near the rings and the water pressure was decent, which is important when the first thing you want to be able to do is wash the horses off.

The stables were opened up early, so there was time to get things done out of the heat. Everyone had to bring their own fans but the show did everything they possibly could to optimise the horses’ welfare.

Bolesworth is a show that has continued to up its game and people’s confidence showed with only a small percentage changing their plans because of the extreme weather forecast.

Why back-to-back dates don’t work

If there is a downside to Bolesworth’s two-week tour, it’s that it runs back-to-back with another highlight of the summer calendar, Hickstead.

It’s not fair on competitors who have a horse to jump bigger classes, but can’t afford to go abroad, to compress the opportunity into three weeks. I don’t know why the dates can’t be allocated better.

Course-builders Colm Quinn and Raf Suarez did an excellent job with Sunday’s grand prix, it was a great watch. The two jumps that took the most jumping were the two that came down.

I was relaying information back to one of my best pals, Ollie Tuff, in the jump-off. I told him he needed to make sure he was careful jumping the double and the rollback – a lot of people were getting flat or dead shots off the turn to the vertical, and it was right in front of the crowd, so horses didn’t have their eye on the fence.

It was nice to see both Trevor and Shane Breen do so well, with Trevor taking the win and for him and for his brother to finish runner-up. It’s a position my brother Will and I would definitely like to be in!

A 1.35M puissance wall to start

I also watched the puissance at Bolesworth on Saturday night and thought the show did a good job encouraging entries. There weren’t many originally; it takes a certain type of horse and sometimes there’s a flurry of them, while in other years it’s quieter.

I don’t know if they needed to start the wall as low as they did – at 1.35m – but it worked out well. The puissance is always an opportunity for people to bring along their mum or dad or boyfriend or girlfriend who doesn’t understand the sport, and still be able to enjoy their evening.

I was watching the big classes from the sidelines this year as I don’t have a grand prix ride since selling Happy Valerie last year. I am building up a team of young horses at the moment and had three at the show. Like everyone, I’m working hard hoping that something like Val comes along again.

I have three of her babies at home – Happy Hour, Happy Valentino and Happy Valentina – so hopefully one of those will grow up to fill her shoes. With a bit of luck, one the magic number three will be our next superstar.

● Do you have any tips for dealing with your horses during soaring temperatures? Send your horsey hacks to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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$1m prize pot per show confirmed as new showjumping league gets FEI approval

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:43:24 +0000

More than $1m (£85.7m) prize money will be up for the winning at each Premier Jumping League (PJL) fixture, series organisers have confirmed, as the series has been approved to launch next year.

The PJL was granted series approval by the FEI at its board meeting this week (30 June-1 July), which organisers have hailed as a “major milestone in the league’s development”.

The approval formally sanctions the PJL format, rules, team structure, rider selection process and prize money.

PJL chief executive Neil Moffitt said: “This approval is a result of a collaborative and constructive dialogue with the FEI, and we are delighted with the outcome.

“The PJL is not seeking to reinvent jumping, nor to disrupt the existing ecosystem. Our objective is to present the sport in a way that protects its integrity, respects its heritage, and creates greater opportunities for everyone involved.”

H&H reported that the $300m series, due to launch next March, is the brainchild of and backed by Frank McCourt and McCourt Global. The first team was also sold this week, for $50m.

The PJL venues are yet to be confirmed but organisers have told H&H fixtures will not interfere with riders’ other events and that the series will follow their natural routes around the world to avoid extra travel. A major aim of the league is to celebrate human and equine athletes and attract new fans to showjumping.

“This is about positioning jumping alongside other elite sports – not as a niche pursuit, but as a premium international sporting product capable of attracting major audiences, sponsors, broadcasters and commercial partners,” Mr Moffitt said.

“I am incredibly proud of the professionalism and dedication shown by the entire PJL team throughout this process, and I would like to thank the FEI for its positive engagement. We are excited to begin the next chapter and deliver a competition series that benefits the sport for generations to come.”

PJL format: how it will work

Each PJL fixture will start with a “seeding” class on day one; individual results will be combined to determine team standings.

On day two, teams will compete based on these standings, in a “multi-round format designed to “maximise suspense and audience engagement”. All riders jump in the first round, then each combination will jump one of the next three, over a shortened course, and teams will progress through elimination rounds.

Day three will culminate in a 1.60m class with $700,000 in prize money.

“Importantly, 1.60m competition is reserved exclusively for day three, limiting repeated jumping at maximum height and reinforcing the league’s commitment to horse welfare by reducing the cumulative demands placed on horses throughout the event,” a PJL spokesperson said.

There will be 16 teams competing in the season; each will have five salaried riders, three to compete at each event. The season will conclude with a final at which 12 teams will compete.

An FEI spokesperson confirmed the series’ approval, which also confirms the PJL rules and regulations.

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‘Thank you for always fighting for me, my friend’: farewell to mare with ‘heart of gold’

Becky Murray — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:03:55 +0000

Irish showjumper Conor Swail has paid tribute to former top-level mare Flower, stating he has “yet to meet another horse like her”.

The Belgian warmblood Bon Ami daughter, who Conor bought with Vanessa Mannix in 2017, has died in retirement aged 22.

“It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to this special mare,” said Conor.

“Those who have been following me for some time will definitely remember this lady.”

Flower was produced up the ranks to five-star by her owner, Finnish rider Nina Fagerstrom. The pair had placings in 1.50m classes at venues including Wellington, Florida, and Spruce Meadows, Canada.

Conor bought Flower in January 2017 and the pair hit the ground running. They were runners-up in their first CSI5* 1.50m in Wellington, Florida, in February, and that summer they won a CSIO4* 1.60m class and a World Cup leg, both at Thunderbird Park in Vancouver, Canada.

Conor described Flower as an “absolute war horse” with a “heart of gold”.

“[It was] her way or no way – someone I could always count on,” he said.

A photo posted by on

In 2021 Ireland’s Jenny Rankin took over the reins for Flower’s last two years of competition.

Jenny said she was “grateful to have had the privilege” of competing Flower in her final shows, winning Jenny’s first ranking classes.

“To play a small part in your story was an honour,” she said.

“Thank you to Conor and Vanessa for allowing this special mare to have played a part in my career.”

Conor Swail said Flower “left a huge stamp on me and everyone who knew her, with so many great memories”.

“After a successful show career, Flower enjoyed her retirement in the fields of Ireland where she had two beautiful foals and was still stealing hearts at the age of 22,” he said.

“I have yet to meet another horse like her. Thank you for always fighting for me, my friend,”

Nina added that Flower was “one of the most challenging but also rewarding” horses she had worked with and that she loved following her career with Conor.

“Amazing mare and one definitely to remember forever,” she said.

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Racing driver backs showjumping league vision by buying first team for $50m

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:56:21 +0000

The first Premier Jumping League (PJL) team has been sold to Jason McCarthy for $50m (£37.7m) in what organisers describe as a “powerful endorsement of the PJL’s vision and the future potential of jumping”.

Trader, investor, and competitive racing driver Mr McCarthy said he is a firm believer in the vision of the PJL.

H&H reported that the showjumping league, which will involve 16 teams of top riders and a $300m prize pot, has been launched and will kick off next year, backed by McCourt Global and its executive chairman Frank McCourt.

“The milestone investment represents an unprecedented valuation for a team in a newly established sports competition and underscores the confidence that sophisticated investors are placing in the PJL,” a spokesperson for the league said.

New PJL team owner Jason McCarthy is the founder and manager of a trading firm, and owns equestrian properties in New York and Florida. His daughter Natalia is a showjumping rider who hopes to compete at the top level.

“Like Frank McCourt, our family’s journey into this sport began with my wife, Newsha, whose lifelong love of horses first introduced us to the equestrian world,” Mr McCarthy said.

“Through her passion, we became fans of jumping and developed a deep appreciation for the extraordinary partnership between horse and rider.

We believe strongly in the PJL’s vision – a league committed to the highest ethical standards, meritocracy, and elite competition, underpinned by a sustainable commercial model that attracts the world’s best riders and delivers fan experiences on par with the greatest global sporting competitions.

“We see enormous potential for the sport to grow its global audience while remaining true to the values that make it so special. We are confident the PJL will help realise that potential and drive meaningful growth for the sport we have come to love.”

H&H reported that the aim of the PJL is to feature the best riders competing against each other, with horse welfare at the forefront, to secure new audiences and help the sport thrive. The 16 teams are owned by the PJL but are for sale or lease, and team owners will select riders and pay them salaries.

Mr McCourt said: “This investment is a powerful endorsement of the PJL’s vision and the future potential of jumping. From the outset, our ambition has been to attract new capital and new growth opportunities to the sport. Jason and his family embody the values and ethos we aim to uphold within the league, and we are delighted to welcome McCarthy Jumping Team as the PJL’s first ownership group.”

Riders are due to be selected for the PJL teams in November, via a “multi-layered rider selection process where only the top 250 ranked riders are eligible”, a PJL spokesperson told H&H.

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Joe Stockdale shares a simple exercise for training your horse to stay straight over a fence

Martha Terry — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:00:06 +0000

In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, top British showjumper Joe Stockdale demonstrates a simple exercise with poles that he uses to teach his horses the leg aid can mean stay straight, not just go faster

Does your horse have a tendency to drift right or left over a fence? It’s a common problem, particularly with inexperienced horses that are still working out how best to use their body.

Joe Stockdale is riding Millfield Counterfeit (Cooper) for this jumping exercise. Cooper is a 12-year-old by Cooper VD Heffinck who is competing up to 1.50m classes. While Joe is demonstrating this exercise on a relatively experienced horse, he describes it as especially useful for young horses in teaching them what the leg aids mean in terms of keeping straight.

The setup consists of three canter poles 3.2m apart to an upright. On the take-off and landing side of the fence are “tramline” poles, creating a channel through which the horse must travel. He starts with the tramlines set at about two human strides apart, making it a narrower channel depending on the rideability of the horse.

Joe uses lightweight square poles for the tramlines: “If he did happen to jump left or right and step on a pole, they stay flat, it stops them rolling, so it’s a lot safer than using a round pole, particularly on the landing side, where there’s a chance they might step on it.”

Showjumping training for straightness with Joe Stockdale

How to set up the exercise. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“This is a simple exercise, especially for a young horse, to teach them the aids to keep them straight,” says Joe. “They must take off and land without jumping to either side. Most horses tend to jump a little to one side, which doesn’t matter at this height, but once the jumps get big or wide it can be problematic.”

Joe starts with the planks at about 90cm high, popping through a few times so that the horse understands the exercise, before increasing the height. While Cooper stays straight through the set-up, he initially cuts the corner afterwards, so next time Joe asks for a couple of extra strides in a straight line before turning.

Both the canter poles and the tramlines serve a purpose in this exercise that encourages the horse to stay straight without rushing.

The role of the canter poles

“The canter poles are to help the rhythm, because I want to use the leg for support to keep the horse in the middle of the jump,” says Joe. “The poles prevent them from thinking that the leg only means go faster.

Joe approaches the fence in a good rhythm over the canter poles. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“The poles stop them opening the stride, so they learn I’m supporting them to keep straight – not asking them to open up.”

Joe adds: “The line of poles makes it hard to fail. If it was an isolated fence, with the tramlines, when I put my leg on to support his straightness, the temptation for the horse would be just to go faster. The canter poles contain them.”

The role of the tramlines

“First I jump it with the tramlines nice and wide, making sure he’s confident, then slowly bring in the channel so he has to be really disciplined to stay straight,” Joe says.

At the start of the exercise, the tramlines are set wide on the landing side, but can gradually be brought closer together. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“Even though I have the tramlines to keep the horse straight visually, I’m giving instructions with my legs to back it up. The young horse will then learn what the aids mean. The answer’s there, I’m just showing him how to get there.”

Joe explains how his own position is paramount.

“I need to focus on my position, staying centred, tall and light. For straightness, the first thing that will make him go to one side is if I’m unbalanced, so my priority on the approach is to keep my body and head in the middle of the horse.”

The beauty of this exercise is in the mix of the two arrangements of poles.

“If I was to take this all away and put a load of right leg on to keep him from jumping right, that’s when he’d get quicker,” Joe explains. “But because we’ve got the canter poles and the tramlines, he’s naturally going to stay straight because he has to. On the approach to the tramline channel I’m going to give him the leg aid at the same time so he starts to associate my right leg with not jumping to the right, but staying straight instead.

“So it’s like I’m giving him the answer to the problem, and then showing the aid that I want to use.”

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What a squad! Medal-winning veterans and rising stars feature on British showjumping World Championship shortlist

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:00:40 +0000

Medal-winning veterans and some new up-and-coming stars feature on the British showjumping shortlist for the Aachen World Championships (11 to 23 August).

One combination from the team that won silver at last year’s European Championships – Scott Brash and Hello Folie – is included in the list of 11 riders and 15 horses from which the final squad will be confirmed. The final squad of five combinations must be submitted to the FEI by 23 July, following a final meeting on or around 16 July.

The selection panel comprises chef d’equipe Di Lampard and non-voting chair of selectors Sarah Rowell and the aim is to select those most likely to achieve the objectives; of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and winning as many medals as possible.

The selection will of course take into account combination results, including in five-star Nations Cup and grands prix, this year and last.

Scott and Ben Maher, currently third and fourth in the Longines world rankings, look certain to feature in the world championships squad and both have three rides on the British showjumping shortlist. As well as Folie, with whom he also won individual silver last year, Scott has his Paris 2024 team gold medal-winning Hello Jefferson and the rising star Hello Mango, all three owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham. Scott has been on flying form this year, winning five-star grands prix on all three horses.

Ben is named with his stalwarts Enjeu de Grisien and Point Break; he came fourth with the former in the Rolex Aachen grand prix this month and won the five-star grand prix in Rotterdam last week with the latter. He is also down with Catelly – owned as are the other two by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright – whom he has only been riding since May but with whom he was on the team that won the Longines League of Nations (LLN) in Rotterdam this month.

Harry Charles has with Scott and Ben been the backbone of recent British championship teams but has been rebuilding his string. He is named with another new ride; his own and wife Eve Jobs’ LT Holst Freda, whom he only started riding a month ago but with whom he jumped double clear in the Rotterdam LLN to help secure that British win, sealing the deal in a jump-off thriller.

Rising stars Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo have been impressing on Nations Cup teams and top-level shows since their CSI5* debut a year ago; they are also on the British showjumping shortlist for Aachen.

Joe Stockdale, who helped Britain to team bronze at the last World Championships is on the list, this time with Ebanking who has been competitive at five-star level this year. Jessica Mendoza, who shone as an individual at last year’s Europeans, is selected with Summerhouse, who was also on that winning team in Rotterdam. Matt Sampson is named with Un Secreto Z, the horse with whom he came fourth in his first five-star grand prix at Windsor last month, and won at the Hickstead Derby meeting – and whom Matt describes as the best in his string at the moment. Sienna Charles and home-bred Chawton were also on the winning team in Rotterdam, jumping clear to set up the jump-off.

Jack Whitaker, Jodie Hall McAteer and Tim Gredley are the riders who complete the British showjumping shortlist for Aachen – we will have to wait and see who makes the final cut.

Selection also takes into account results in other five-star and four-star competitions, as well as the standing of the competition, the quality of the field and reasons for any incomplete competition. Proof of ability to produce top performances on a given day and while under pressure are also important.

The British showjumping shortlist Aachen 2026:

Scott Brash with 11-year-old mare Hello Folie

Owners: Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham

Breeder: Claire Gouin

Breeding: By Luidam, out of a mare by Diamant De Semilly

Scott Brash with 17-year-old gelding Hello Jefferson

Owners: Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham

Breeder: Bernard Mols

Breeding: By Cooper van de Heffinck, out of a mare by Irco Mena

Scott Brash with 11-year-old mare Hello Mango

Owners: Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham

Breeder: HPH Vaessen

Breeding: By Untouchable 27, out of a mare by Numero Uno

Harry Charles with 12-year-old mare Holst Freda

Owners: Eve Jobs and rider

Breeder: E Mackintosh

Breeding: By Colman, out of a mare by Casall Ask

Sienna Charles with 12-year-old stallion Chawton

Owner: Peter Charles

Breeder: Peter Charles

Breeding: By Typhoon S, out of a mare by Caletto

Tim Gredley with 14-year-old gelding Medoc de Toxandria

Owners: Rachel Gredley, William Gredley and Unex Competition Yard Ltd

Breeder: Werner Dierckx

Breeding: By Der Senaat III, out of a mare by Kelvin De Sainte Hermelle

Jodie Hall McAteer with 10-year-old mare La Gupardie

Owner: Mandy Hall

Breeder: F van de Linden

Breeding: By Van Gogh, out of a mare by Carrera VDL

Ben Maher with 14-year-old gelding Catelly

Owners: Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright

Breeder: H. Wulf-Hinrich

Breeding: By Catalido, out of a mare by Ephebe For Ever La Silla

Ben Maher with 12-year-old gelding Enjeu De Grisien

Owners: Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright

Breeder: H. Elevage de Grisien SCEA

Breeding: By Toulon, out of a mare by Andiamo

Ben Maher with 12-year-old stallion Point Break

Owners: Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright

Breeder: Nya Äppelvikens Ridskola AB

Breeding: By Action-Breaker, out of a mare by Baloubet De Rouet

Jessica Mendoza with 11-year-old gelding Summerhouse

Owners: Pernilla Amman, Georgia Kipp, Kristi Mitchem and Melissa Skowlund and rider

Breeder: C Den Boer

Breeding: By Induparts Guidam Sohn, out of a mare by VDL Indoctro

Matt Sampson with 11-year-old stallion Un Secreto Z

Owner: Maplepark Farm

Breeder: Finca Horses BV

Breeding: By Ultra Boy, out of a mare by Arko III

Joe Stockdale with 12-year-old stallion Ebanking

Owners: Barbara Hester and Laura Stockdale

Breeder: E Vriend

Breeding: By Etoulon, out of a mare by Aranebel

Jack Whitaker with 12-year-old stallion Jack JL

Owner: Candice Reilly

Breeder: JE Lammerts-Weide

Breeding: By Bessemeind’s Quasimodo Z, out of a mare by Astrello

Adrian Whiteway with 13-year-old stallion Chacco Volo

Owner: Deborah Cox

Breeder: Gestut Lewitz

Breeding: By Chacco-Blue, out of a mare by Cathago

The grooms’ names are yet to be confirmed and selection decisions depend on horses and riders’ maintaining fitness and performance.

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Championship horse wins his first international grand prix: ‘He answered all the questions today’

Sarah Radford — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:29:05 +0000

The Irish always seem to perform on a supercharged level at Bolesworth International, and they underlined it once again when Breen brothers Trevor and Shane locked down a fabulous one-two in the CSI3* Al Shira’aa grand prix, both piloting home-breds.

It was Trevor Breen and his championship track jumper Highland President — certainly not the quickest jump-off horse on paper — who stole a surprise advantage from Shane and his prolific grand prix victor Scarteen to take the €17,100 (£14,700) first prize in the Bolesworth grand prix.

Course designer Colm Quinn created the conditions for an extraordinary jump-off, where all of the nine starters, except for Shane and Trevor, lodged four faults at one of two fences. Poles fell at either the oxer in, vertical out double, or because of the demanding turn back to the penultimate vertical.

Joe Whitaker’s opening round on his “best friend” and multiple international grand prix winner Hulahupe JR was the quickest of the class. Despite lowering the tricky vertical on the line home, they held the lead til midfield.

Shane then gave a masterclass in efficient jumping with Scarteen, delivering the first clean sheet, but at 2.36sec slower than Joe, he left the door ajar for a challenge.

How Trevor Breen won the Bolesworth grand prix

Trevor is not a fan of final draw with Highland President — “he’s not a notoriously fast horse and I’d rather do my own thing and see where I end up”, he said — but in this instance it played to his advantage, allowing him to nick 0.26sec from his brother’s target.

“I could just hear ‘four faults, four faults, four faults’ as I was warming up,” Trevor said. “Shane was pretty steady with his advice but he told me he was slow to the double. I thought I wouldn’t take a huge risk, but I’d take more risk there, and that’s where I pipped him really.

“The double was short in the first round and the second part had solid green poles, and they jump that a little worse than coloured poles, which may have been a factor in the faults there.”

It was a first ever international grand prix success for Highland President, owned and bred by Trevor’s in-laws Heather and Ian Black.

“He’s fast in first rounds but not in a jump-off when it’s twisty, he can be difficult to turn. Today he was fantastic though,” Trevor said. “He listened and answered all the questions.”

Shane said he was “delighted” for his younger brother to win the Bolesworth grand prix.

“I handed it to him and should probably have done nine strides to the last and I didn’t,” he said. “Scarteen will jump the four-star next week, which he won two years ago. He felt in great shape today, so I am looking forward to that.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hickstead Derby horses tackle Bolesworth puissance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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How to watch Bolesworth International Horse Show live from anywhere in the world

Georgia Guerin — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:09:09 +0000

Watch Bolesworth International Horse Show on TV this week and enjoy a spectacular mix of competition and entertainment.

Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International hosts a wealth of world-class showjumping across two long weekends in the grounds of Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire and the event attracts top riders from all over.

At a glance

Bolesworth International dates: 26 June – 5 July 2026 (breaking 30 June and 1 July)
Watch Bolesworth International on TV: ClipMyHorse.TV
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How to watch Bolesworth International on TV

There is no terrestrial TV coverage of Bolesworth International, and ClipMyHorse.TV will be the only place you can follow all the action live or on demand. ClipMyHorse.TV is showing every class in both the International and Castle Arenas throughout the competition.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Bolesworth International from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

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Brother and sister lead Great Britain to victory: ‘To walk into an atmosphere like that is so impressive’

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:38:53 +0000

Great Britain’s showjumpers triumphed in a hard-fought Longines League of Nations (LLN) at the CHIO Rotterdam.

After some fluctuating fortunes, a thrilling battle ensued between the British, the USA and the Netherlands, rumbling into a nail-biting jump-off. Less than half a second separated the three representatives against the clock, but it was Harry Charles, at just his third show with new ride, the 12-year-old mare LT Holst Freda, who secured victory by just 0.07sec. The 26-year-old rider topped the podium alongside his younger sister Sienna Charles riding the family home-bred Chawton, Ben Maher (Catelly) and Jessica Mendoza with Summerhouse.

“We have very cool, very focused riders,” said chef d’equipe Di Lampard. “Their life is dedicated to their horses and completely devoted to the job. We have had unbelievable consistency on the podium in these past few weeks and this win secures qualification to the LLN final.

“I’ve every confidence in this squad that we keep rotating and we’ve got a great team here. It was a wonderful day of sport and a fantastic course that was fair to the horses as well. To finish with three teams in the jump-off. Wow.”

Siblings Harry Charles and Sienna Charles lead the charge to glory

Ben Maher acted as the British team’s pathfinder as 10 teams tackled Bart Vonck’s course, just touching the tape of the water jump in round one with another relatively new ride, 14-year-old Catelly, owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright. Jessica Mendoza’s eight faults was the discard score as Sienna Charles posted just four faults on firm favourite Chawton. Anchor rider Harry Charles then produced a vital clear with the New Zealand-bred mare LT Holst Freda, who came to the Olympic gold medal-winning Brit after competing at the recent World Cup Final with Julie Davey.

“It was down to the Charles family to get us into round two and they did it admirably,” said Di after the team finished seventh at the halfway point.

Sienna Charles in action for Great Britain on family home-bred Chawton. (Image credit: FEI)

Having made the cut as one of the top eight teams to progress to the crucial second leg, with three riders per team and no drop score, Ben, Sienna and Harry shrugged off any pressure and delivered a hat-trick of clears to finish on a team score of eight. This forced the jump-off against Marilyn Little and La Contessa of USA, and Swiss rider Jason Smith (Picobello van’t Roosakker).

A masterful performance

“It was masterful how Harry rode the mare for the jump-off,” said Di Lampard. “Going first, he didn’t waste time anywhere; he threw down the gauntlet, riding beyond his years and his turn back to the vertical was pivotal. When we talked about it before the jump-off, we called it ‘a Bob rollback’,” she said; a nod to the late course-builder Bob Ellis’s trademark ingredient.

Harry Charles and new ride LT Holst Freda produce a triple clear on their team debut, helping Great Britain win the Rotterdam leg of the Longines League of Nations. (Image credit: FEI)

“Ben is still getting to know his horse, but he set up round two perfectly. Sienna rode amazingly, picking up where she left off last year after finishing fourth in the grand prix – this partnership loves this venue and it was a wonderful experience for her.

“It was a fantastic day and, to come back from seventh shows how close these Nations Cup competitions are. It was a big shock for France and Germany not to make the cut. The results can change completely. Everything goes with three counting riders in round two; the pressure is on.”

Harry Charles summed up: “That’s the great thing about this format – we were on the cut line after round one but everyone rallied together and we managed to get ourselves into a jump-off.

“All credit to my teammates and my incredible horse, Freda. To walk into an atmosphere like that is so impressive. I’m very proud of her and I’m so lucky to have her.”

After that penultimate qualifying leg of the LLN, the final chance for teams to qualify for the final in Barcelona rests in St Tropez- Gassin in September.

The British celebrations continued on Sunday when Ben Maher topped the grand prix riding Point Break.

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Meet the £1k purchase who won the 2026 Hickstead Derby against the odds: ‘He needs a book about all the ups and downs of his life’

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:13:47 +0000

When charismatic 18hh “gentle giant” showjumping horse Flamboyant III won the 2026 Al Shira’aa Derby at Hickstead with William Whitaker in the saddle, he captured our hearts once again. Not only has the puissance hero wowed the crowds with his high-jump antics, the 16-year-old gelding has now thrilled us all with a string of gallant Hickstead Derby efforts, twice finishing runner-up – in 2024 and 2025 – before finally landing the historic showpiece with a spectacular double clear.

“He deserved this win,” said William after the fairytale success.

But what a journey the brilliant “Banksy” has been on, particularly with owners Vicky Smith and her son Elliott, the gelding’s regular rider.

“We’re so proud of all he has achieved, but Elliott needs to write a book about all the ups and downs of his life story!” says Vicky Smith.

Flamboyant III: “Strong, difficult, a bit unmanageable”

Flamboyant III, a son of VDL Cardento 933 out of Amarenz (by Niveau) was bred in the Netherlands by Anrike Trip-van Ijzeren, who travelled from Holland to watch her home-bred win the Hickstead Derby this year. Anrike sold him at auction as a three-year-old for little over £1,000 before Vicky Smith and her then teenage son Elliott bought him as an unbroken youngster.

“When we viewed Flamboyant loose jumping as a three-year-old, he jumped a massive gate and we thought, ‘He’s going to be good!’” explains Elliott.

But, as Vicky explains, it certainly wasn’t all plain-sailing.

“We sent him to Sammie-Jo Coffin to back and she described him as one of the worst she’d ever had,” says Vicky. “He was strong, difficult, a bit unmanageable and was always shooting off. It turned out he had terrible kissing spines.

“He was operated on, but could barely put one foot in front of the other so I didn’t think he’d ever do anything again. It took two years of rehab, but we had so much belief in him.

“We’ve had to be very, very patient and spent many hours with him. He had to learn to realise that it didn’t hurt when he jumped anymore. He still takes a lot of patience and calming, he’s definitely unique!”

Why Flamboyant’s first puissance attempt was “an afterthought”

Elliott describes the early years with Banksy as “a learning curve”.

“We progressed together – when I was going through my teenage years, he was doing the same sort of thing – but we took things slowly to make sure he had longevity because he was always a horse we were going to keep,” he reveals.

“He’s big and strong, so he makes the distances a bit too easily – as a six-year-old at Addington, he put in one stride at a two-stride double, so that was something we had to work on. But he made up for it with his jump,” he says.

“We jumped our first puissance more as an afterthought. I’d never jumped higher than 1.80m and that was the wall’s starting height, but we went the full five rounds and cleared 2.20m, which was a shock! But it felt so easy.”

Elliott and Flamboyant had found their forté and finished equal first in the Bolesworth puissance in 2019, 2021 and 2024 and they were placed at both Horse of the Year Show and the London International in 2022.

Hickstead Derby dreams and downfalls

“I always had aspirations to jump in the Hickstead Derby,” says Elliott. “Then in 2022 I fell off him after crossing the finish line in the Derby trial, breaking my leg. Lizzie Bunn said, ‘You’ve qualified, so who would you like to ride him, William Whitaker or another rider?’

“William has always been a big idol to me, so it was the perfect match. I had surgery on my leg the following day, then watched them jump an amazing 12-fault round from my bed on Sunday. Flamboyant proved he suited Derby classes and we’ve never looked back.”

William Whitaker takes up the story, saying: “It was very unfortunate what happened to Elliott in the Derby trial, but I said I’d give the Derby a go! I popped a few fences and tried to get a feel for him. He’s such a big horse, but he’s really sensitive. His adrenaline gets going, he starts running with his big stride and everything gets a bit short.

“He had three down that first year, but he did a lot of things well. He came home with me and stayed until the following Derby while Elliott was off, but the past two years I’ve only ridden him at Hickstead. It’s just a question of trying to remember what buttons I pressed last time!”

William Whitaker produces the “fairytale finish” with Flamboyant III in the 2026 Hickstead Derby, jumping a spectacular double clear. (Image credit: Elli Birch)

All in the preparation

Flamboyant lives with the Smiths in Devon for the majority of the year.

“We do lots of hillwork to keep him fit,” says Elliott. “I get to jump some bigger classes with him, then William takes him for the Derby shows, so it works out well.”

William was back in the saddle for last month’s Hamburg Derby, jumping a super round but just falling victim to the tricky double of single poles to finish sixth.

“He was very unlucky not to jump clear with the effort he put in,” says William. “There’s not much to back them off the double of rails where he faulted, especially after you’ve jumped the big oxer before, and he has such a big stride that he almost jumped in too well and made up too much ground.

“But from the moment he trotted in the ring, I felt him take a breath and relax and I thought that’s a good start, because it’s so different on Derby day with all the photographers in the ring and thousands of spectators. Then I just got him in a lovely rhythm and tried to make it as easy as possible for him.

“But I was glad for the two qualifiers in Hamburg, I felt like I needed them! Sunday was the most relaxed he’d been all week, he had definitely settled a bit by then.

“His best attribute is that he could jump a house and the Derby obstacles don’t faze him,” continues William.

Flamboyant’s only flaw? “You can’t catch him!” says William of the “gentle giant”.

“The first time we turned him out, it took six hours to get him in – in the end, I rang Elliott and said, ‘How do you catch this bloody horse, because in a minute he’s going to be staying out for the night!’ Eventually, when it was on his terms, he decided to come in,” he says.

William Whitaker, son Oliver and groom Lewis Robert Shaw share a moment after winning the Hickstead Derby. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

A fairytale finish in this year’s Hickstead Derby

William finished second to his cousin Robert Whitaker (Getlemen VH Veldhof) after a three-way jump-off for last year’s Hickstead Derby, having jumped an elusive first clear in the opening round. The previous year he missed out to William Funnell and Dublon in a similar jump-off decider after three horses completed on four faults apiece.

This year, he went head-to-head with 2023 winners David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve in another epic jump-off after both jumped clear in round one.

“Having jumped clear last year and come so close to winning, you do feel Flamboyant deserved to have the Derby on his résumé,” says William, who watched past videos of Flamboyant’s Derby rounds in preparation “to look for anything in particular we need to work on”.

“My 2016 Hickstead Derby winner Max, Glenavadra Brilliant, was in a similar bracket – he deserved everything to come right for him on the day and eventually it did.”

Much of the credit for the final preparations go to William’s wife Elisabeth, who has been riding Flamboyant at home since the Hamburg Derby.

“I was lucky enough to get selected to go to St Gallen,” explains William. “Then I went to Poland for two weeks with Millfield Quickstep on Nations Cups, and Elisabeth said, because he’s a bit of a strong horse, ‘Who’s going to be riding Flamboyant?’ I said, ‘You are!’ You’ve done a fantastic job, love, well done.”

Vicky sums up: “William Whitaker, with his wealth of experience, manages Banksy brilliantly. Because he’s still a very tricky ride, he requires a lot of patience and calming, and the way William reads how to jump each fence on him is incredible. I can’t watch, though! I’m hiding.

“He’s taught Elliott so much about the journey of life – it’s not just about the winning, it’s the maintenance and the looking after and as long as he comes back safe, sound and happy, that’s all that matters. He’s the horse of a lifetime, we’re so lucky to have him.”

Congratulations to the whole team behind the magnificent Flamboyant III – the Hickstead fairytale finally happened.

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‘Keep the trophy well away from me this time!’ How William Whitaker’s previous Hickstead Derby win was ‘ear today, gone tomorrow’…

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:38:31 +0000

When Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn brought the famous Boomerang trophy to William Whitaker yesterday (21 June), he said: “Make sure you put a helmet on it this year!”

William and Vicky Smith’s fabulous Flamboyant III won the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby yesterday, in a jump-off with 2023 winners David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve, having come second in the class two years running.

And after his victory, William revealed things had not gone entirely to plan the first time he won the Derby, with Glenavadra Brilliant in 2016.

‘I forgot to say,” Hickstead director Edward Bunn said in the post-Derby press conference. “I checked the trophy and it’s got two ears.”

William explained the story, which most of those present would not have heard before.

“Last time I won the Derby with Glenavadra Brilliant, we had a big party, believe it or not, that evening,” he said. “When I woke up in the morning, I was at Daisy [Bunn’s] house, and I woke up with a great feeling.

“I walked into the kitchen and the trophy was there on the table. And I thought ‘that’s a bit like in a movie’, looking at the trophy. And I looked, and I looked again, and I thought, ‘Oh no’. One of the ears had been knocked off. I immediately went to Daisy and said ‘Who’s going to tell Lizzie [Bunn]?!’ But anyway, she took it very well.”

Commentator John Stokes said he thought Daisy was planning a party again that evening.

“But hopefully we’ll keep the trophy safe,” he said.

“Keep it well away from me, anyway!” William said.

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‘The horse deserved to win’: William Whitaker wins second Hickstead Derby – 10 years after his first

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 19:03:32 +0000

William Whitaker ended a 10-year wait for a second Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby title in fabulous style, with two perfect clear rounds – and joked that he hopes he won’t have to wait another 10 years to do it again.

William, who won the Boomerang trophy with Glenavadra Brilliant in 2016, and the mighty Flamboyant III, whom he first rode in the Derby as a catch ride four years ago, and has come second for the last two years, triumphed in a jump-off over 2023 winners David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve.

David had predicted a jump-off of five or six horses after he and Miriam Rohr’s 11-year-old won the Derby trial. But in the end it was just these two warriors who went head to head.

“When you’ve got a horse who’s come so close the last few years – before today, the horse deserved to win a Derby from the rounds he’d already jumped,” Will said.

“But obviously, you only get one shot a year, and you’re just hoping and praying that your preparation – not just me, [owners] Elliot Smith and his family do so much work as well with him – so to finally get it done is a huge relief. I’m absolutely delighted.”

There were 31 starters this year including some very strong competition, but one by one they fell by the wayside as the sun blazed over the International Arena. Hot contenders Stephan Dubsky held the lead briefly on four faults – heartbreakingly clipping the very last pole – and last year’s podium finishers Sammie-Jo Coffin and Chaccomo Blue scored the same, just lowering the rail after the bank.

Then David and his powerhouse stallion came in. They jumped a beautiful round, and carried their luck with them; they knocked a brick in the wall but not enough to dislodge it, then rattled the last element of the Devil’s Dyke so the pole bounced clear out of its cups – but landed safely back in them. They came home without another murmur, to a roar from the crowd.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

And as was the case in the previous day’s speed Derby, once one had a clear round, they all wanted one. Next in was William and the imposing 16-year-old gelding, who jumped what looked like an exhibition round, calm, composed and perfect to secure a jump-off.

Derek McCoppin came closest to joining the two clears; he and the fabulous Capital Levubu, who had gone clear in Friday’s trial, looked set to do the same, the big scopey grey jumping for fun to leave everything up – but a splash of blue as they jumped the water ended their dream.

“He’s just an amazing horse,” Derek said. “He loves it in there; he jumped everything, just maybe I was a bit steady and should have kept the tempo up. But he just gets better and better and is still feeling as fresh as a daisy. If you’d told me last week I’d go round for four, I’d have been absolutely delighted. We’ll be back next year.”

So the stage was set for the showdown, and David was in first. A quick pat, and off they went, moving up a gear. They jumped the second on a curve, and rode a beautiful curve to the privet hedge, and back on themselves to the dyke. But the luck that had been on their side in the first round deserted them, and this time it was the middle element that fell.

They flew the rest to finish in 86.26sec but the pressure was on Will, as if he and Flamboyant could just leave everything up, the title was theirs.

The silence was almost absolute as they cleared the Cornishman for the second time. Over the second, the black gate, the wall, the hedge and the dyke; coming out clear to a brief cheer, quickly shushed as they approached the water. Then the rails, round to the last line – and a mighty roar of approval from the crowd.

2026 Hickstead Derby winner

“Flamboyant felt great,” Will said. “He was a bit sharper than I would have liked in the collecting ring but actually went in and settled down and gave me a fantastic feeling all the way round. He just let me do what I needed to do to make it as easy as possible for him.”

Asked what he was thinking as he rode into the ring, Will said: “I had about 10 Whitakers in the chute on the way up to the ring, all giving me information and telling me what the plan was, and each one of them was saying a different thing.

“Steven said ‘You’ve got to go slow’, Michael said ‘You’ve got to go fast’. Robert said ‘You might as well just have a go, and if you have one down, you might still win’. I thought ‘Goodness me, I don’t know what to do now!’

“David’s is a naturally quicker horse so I thought I just had to do my round and if I had one down early, I’d have to just throw caution to the winds. That was the plan, and luckily I didn’t have to do the second part of it.”

David said that as Pjotr is the faster horse, he knew a clear round should be enough to win.

“I didn’t see him knocking out the middle element of the dyke, but the luck I had in the first round ran out for the jump-off,” he said. “He loves it here at Hickstead; I’m delighted with how he was today.

“Will’s a great pal of mine and one day he’s going to win, one day I’m going to win. You just go in, do your job, and whoever’s day it is, it’s their day.”

David said Pjotr felt “amazing”, but that jumping the Derby is all about the rhythm, and for some reason he couldn’t find one at first in his opening round.

“Until I jumped the wall, I couldn’t find one, and luckily he helped me,” he said.

“I actually wasn’t too happy, but then took the first distance to the hedge, and everything came together.

“And in the jump-off, even with the heat and everything, he actually felt better again. I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Credit to the home teams

Both riders paid tribute to their horses’ teams; the grooms, owners and all those at home, who “allow us to deliver these results”, David said.

Sammie-Jo said she was delighted with her 16-year-old superstar, whom she owns with Brian O’Malley, and who was clearly enjoying every second of his Derby trip.

“I had more control coming down the bank than last year!” she said. “He just touched it, he didn’t mean to, but he was amazing; to do that in the Derby. He was a little bit wild – he knows where he’s going now – but it was amazing.”

Six combinations shared sixth place on eight faults apiece: Jessica Hewett (Kann Be Lucky), Shane Breen (Eristov), Gemma Stevens (Envoy Merelsnest Z), Commandant Geoff Curran (Hawthornhill), Alex Bragg (Hegglelane Houston) and Guy Williams (BH Gringos Legacy).

The 2024 champions William Funnell and Dublon jumped the trial but retired, and an overreach ruled them out of the Derby. Mark Edwards and Dillinger NE were bidding to make history as the first combination to win the speed Derby and Derby in the same year but luck was not with them and they finished with 24 faults.

Hickstead director Edward Bunn paid tribute to all who had contributed to a “wonderful” week of sport at the 2026 Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby meeting.

“I think we’ve had the busiest equestrian participation, more than 2,000 horses have competed in showjumping this week, 4,800 competition rounds, and it’s been phenomenal,” he said.

“I’d just like to thank Al Shira’aa Stables, Al Shira’aa, Sheika Fatima and Sammy for the support they continue to show this meeting because without them and our other sponsors Agria and others, we wouldn’t be able to put these shows on. That’s from everybody, the Bunn family and our Hickstead family, which you are all a part of.”

“And what a Derby,” he added. “I think it was another classic Derby; they’re always classics. “There were lots and lots of good rounds and it shows that this class is still important, still special, to us, to Hickstead and to the world to produce fantastic sport like this.”

But the last word went to William, whose wife Elisabeth has been riding Flamboyant.

“We did the Hamburg Derby and then I was lucky enough to get selected to go to St Gallen, where Dave was as well,” he said. “Then I went to Poland for two weeks with Millfield Quickstep on Nations Cups, and Elisabeth said, because he’s a bit of a strong horse, ‘Who’s going to be riding Flamboyant?’ I said, ‘You are!’ You’ve done a fantastic job love, well done.”

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‘He loved it’: horse who saw his first Derby fences two days ago cruises to win Hickstead speed title

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 17:40:06 +0000

Mark Edwards’ superstar Dillinger NE had never seen a Derby fence before Thursday – but looked as though he’d been jumping them all his life as he cruised to win the 2026 Hickstead Speed Derby by over four seconds.

Mark and his father Martyn’s 11-year-old, who has excelled in every type of class, jumped clear in 97.43sec, ahead of Sammie-Jo Coffin and Big Star of Follyfoot Z and Georgina Ellis (Croisiere).

“Dillinger’s lovely,” said Mark. “This is the first weekend he’s jumped Derby fences and he’s taken to it like a duck to water.”

That was putting it mildly. When Mark and Dillinger came in, 18th of 25 starters, there had not been a clear round. Theirs was faultless; smooth and sure from the start. Their descent off the bank was faultless and without hesitation; every turn spot-on. It was deceptively fast too; Mark going with his horse, letting his natural speed and stride length take him to victory without taking a check.

It was all the more impressive as this Diarado gelding saw his first Derby fences in the trial two days ago, in which he and Mark finished ninth.

“We’ve got a couple of natural things at home, which we’ve done; walked down a couple of steep banks, and jumped a little dyke, and he’s just done really well,” Mark said. “He jumped the King’s Cup here last year and loved it so I thought he’d do really well.

“He’s got a massive stride, so I used that to our advantage, just kept in that same rhythm and every time we came off the corner, just stayed on that forward stride. He loved it, he’s a super horse.”

Clears were like buses in this class; once Mark and Dillinger had broken the duck, two more came straight afterwards; Georgina and her own 18-year-old finished on 102.23sec for third place and Sammie-Jo with Sally Jobson Scott’s eight-year-old crossed the line on 101.98sec to finish second.

Sammie-Jo said she made her decision to try the class a month ago when taking to three-time speed Derby winner Harriet Biddick at the Royal Bath & West.

2nd place. Sammie Jo Coffin (GBR) and Big Star of Follyfoot Z in THE BRITISH SPEED DERBY for the Liz Dudden Memorial Trophy at The Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby, Hickstead, Sussex. June 20th 2026 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676 (Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

“I’m absolutely delighted,” she said. “She’s only eight, so I didn’t really know how she’d react. We hadn’t done anything until Bath & West and talking to Harriet, who’s the fount of all knowledge, and she said about a place down the road that does cross-country. So we popped her on the lorry, and she absolutely thrived on it, loved it, so we thought we’d give it a go.”

Sammie-Jo’s round was another that looked almost effortless; the Big Star mare eating up the ground and turning tight and accurate. The only check Sammie-Jo took was to the gate and it paid off as the top section that caught out many others stayed up, setting them up for a gallop to the last line.

“There’s a lot I could have done differently,” Sammie-Jo said. “I lost my stirrup at fence three and didn’t get it back till I was on the bank so I was thinking ‘I need to keep going but I’d also quite like my stirrup back’! I was a little cautious every so often as I wanted her to stay confident. She was so careful and trying so hard, I just wanted her to have a nice trip round, and she loved it, so I’m hoping next year she might go one better.”

Gina has had good placings in the speed Derby; she and her own Harlequin Du Carel gelding came fifth last year so she was delighted to be on the podium after their faultless, fast and sure round. She also came 13th with her own Fireball.

“I’m very lucky to have two really good horses,” she said. “Showjumping isn’t really my main priority. I ride racehorses for a living, it’s just a bit of a hobby that’s got slightly out of control!”

Mark and Dillinger have also qualified for tomorrow’s Al Shira’aa Derby, and Mark said he had declared him to start.

“We’ll see how he comes out in the morning, and it’ll probably be more preparation for next year – but we’ll probably give it a go,” he said.

2026 Hickstead speed Derby: no Irish bank

This was the first Hickstead speed Derby to run without the Irish bank; a big brush oxer in the same location. Part of the rationale behind its removal was that it might encourage more riders to enter and at least one – Nicole Pavitt (Casque D’Or) – said it had influenced their decision to take on the class.

It rode well; only one horse had a fault there, and the top three riders all thought the change may mean the course record, 91.95sec as set by Guy Williams and Casper De Muze, could be broken before long.

“I only rode to it last year, and you’re never quite sure going to it, but I think with the new fence there, they’re going to get even faster,” Mark said. “But going six strides to the planks afterwards is probably very risky, so I think jump the brush and then going seven is the best option.”

Gina said the new fence is “a hell of a lot easier than the Irish bank”.

“I think that bank put a lot of people off doing the class, and it attracted more people to do it without it there,” she said. “For me, personally, I’d prefer it was still in, because I think it makes it more challenging.”

Sammie-Jo agreed, adding that she always enjoyed riding to the bank.

“I thought it always made a really good picture as well!” she said. “I think it will be faster because now you don’t have to think, really. Although you slid across the bank, I think it just slowed them down a bit. Now you can keep travelling, and they jumped it very easily.”

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‘My V-sign was the best publicity stunt Hickstead has ever had. It’s life, it happened and that’s what live television is all about – life’: quote of the day from Harvey Smith on that infamous moment in 1971

Martha Terry — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 15:30:19 +0000

Fifty-five years on, we are still talking about Harvey Smith’s V-sign during the 1971 Hickstead Derby at the All England Jumping Course.

For those who would benefit from a reminder of what happened, here’s an extract from the H&H report, published 20 August 1971, by Pamela Macgregor-Morris.

“There have only been a dozen clear rounds in the history of the competition, and this time there was none,” Pamela writes.

“First outstanding round was jumped by Stephen Hadley on Prospero, who came down the bank so fast that he had no chance at the post and rails at its foot and had a time-fault as well as three for a stop. But this held the lead until the last but one to jump, the defending champions, Harvey Smith and Mattie Brown, drew level to dispute the lead.

“Mattie Brown went on to win the barrage with eight faults to 12, and third place was shared by four eight-faulters.

“Harvey Smith was presented by Mr John Wilson, managing director of WD & HO Wills, with the golden horse (arrived from Yorkshire the previous day), and to all intents and purposes he and Mattie Brown had joined the other dual winners, Seamus Hayes with Goodbye and Nelson Pessoa with Gran Geste, in the British Derby’s annals.”

But this glorious double had a twist.

A box on the report adds: “Some hours after Harvey Smith had received the Wills Jumping Derby Trophy last Sunday, Mr Douglas Bunn, owner of Hickstead, sent him a telegram saying that ‘because of your disgusting gesture the directors and I have disqualified you’ and telling him that all prize money was forfeited.

“The ‘gesture’ referred to – a two-fingered one – was delivered, apparently towards the directors’ box, after Harvey had completed his winning round on Mattie Brown.

“The incident has now been referred to the stewards of the British Show Jumping Association (BSJA).”

The V-sign story, according to Harvey Smith

In 2022, Harvey shared his side of the story in a video interview with the Hickstead team.

He relates how, on returning to Hickstead the year after his 1970 Derby win on Mattie Brown, Douglas Bunn asked him if he’d brought back the trophy.

He hadn’t (although the H&H report implies that the trophy was recuperated from Yorkshire in time) but retorted: “It doesn’t matter, I’m going to win it again!”

There followed, according to Harvey, a good deal of negative banter about the wellbeing of his horse. When he knocked a fence down in the first round, he remembers huge cheers from the directors’ box. It clearly riled him.

“I thought, you bas***ds!”

When he ultimately did recapture the title, he stuck two fingers up at the directors.

“It’s life, it happened, it’s what live television is all about – life,” he says. “It’s the best publicity stunt that Hickstead has ever had.”

Reactions to the V-sign

While the tabloids lapped it up, the equestrian press weren’t so sure. Horse & Hound distanced themselves from the confusing situation of the disqualification, putting the Derby Trial winners Ann Moore and Psalm on the cover that week, rather than the more traditional British Derby winner.

The cover of H&H featured Ann Moore and Psalm, who won the Derby Trial, rather than the Derby winners – because Harvey Smith was temporarily disqualified. (Image credit: H&H Archives)

Dorian Williams – under the pen name “Observer” – wrote: “Though the commercially minded may well avow that any publicity is good publicity, I cannot help feeling that showjumping in general would have been better off without the spotlight glare attracted by last Sunday’s events at Hickstead.

“I cannot recall any incident in the history of the sport that has drawn so much public attention to it, in the National Press and on TV, as the dispute between Harvey Smith and the directors of Hickstead. And with all the discussion and arguments on the subject, only one thing seems to be certain: at 5.15pm last Sunday afternoon Harvey won the Jumping Derby on Mattie Brown without any shadow of doubt. For that I say, “Well done, Harvey!”

“For the rest, the ‘incident’ of the two-finger exercise is being referred to the stewards of the BSJA, who will shortly hear evidence from all parties concerned and any other witnesses. I doubt whether the stewards will consider it within their province to adjudicate on the destiny of the Derby prize money of £2,000.”

Clippings of the H&H news coverage of the event (Image credit: creditUnknown)

H&H also published a lawyer’s opinion on whether the disqualification should stand. The lawyer concluded that the rules of the competition did not apply to any “conduct of objectionable nature” that happened after Harvey had produced a winning round – because it did not relate to his “manner of riding while negotiating the course”.

As history relates, Harvey Smith and Mattie Brown were indeed reinstated after the infamous V-sign to confirm their second Derby victory. But when H&H went to press soon after Douglas Bunn’s telegram, the result was still in the balance.

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‘There’s nothing he can’t do’: emotional winning Hickstead comeback for ‘one of the best horses in the world’

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:19:18 +0000

The crowd was treated to a cracking jump-off in the ClipMyHorse.TV master’s trophy at the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby meeting – and it was “one of the best horses in the world” who came out the winner.

It was an emotional victory for Sean Monaghan, as Catherine O’Conner’s Toyger had been out of action with minor issues since October – but what a way to make a comeback.

Clear rounds were a rare commodity at first in the 11-strong jump-off but then they came thick and fast. Abdullah Mohd Al Marri (BBS McGregor) had just snatched the lead from his fellow Al Shira’aa Stables rider Humaid Al Muhairi (Foncetti VD Heffinck) when Sean and the powerhouse 14-year-old came in last to go.

Tight and fast, the big-striding super Catwalk gelding got a super turn to the last line and the perfect shot to the Uffington White Horse vertical, setting them up for a finish three tenths of a second in the lead.

“I knew I had arguably the best horse in the class and was last to go so if everything went right, I could pull it off,” Sean said. “He’s a phenomenal horse and I really enjoyed it; that was proper jumping. That’s my first win here; if I couldn’t win on that horse, I’d never win.”

Sean Monaghan: Toyger feels better than ever

Sean Monaghan bought Toyger from Shane Breen and the pair were on the Irish team that came second at the 2025 Longines League of Nations final.

“This is his first proper show since, so it’s an emotional win,” Sean said. “It was just a few little setbacks but we wanted to make sure he was fine, and he’s feeling better than ever.

It got a bit lonely in the warm-up, but jumping the last fence was a good feeling.”

“But he’s a funny horse,” Sean added. “At home, you’d never think he’s a good horse; he gives a very average feeling, like a weak four-year-old, and he’s the same in the warm-up. Then he goes in the ring and he’s like a lion.

“He’s a bit hard to steer; that’s his only fault, but when he’s right, he’s one of the best horses in the world. He was on Irish teams last year and hopefully will be again; there’s nothing that horse can’t do.”

Speed Derby tip

Sean is in action this afternoon as well, in the British Speed Derby, with Chef Of Flanders Fields Z.

“I’ve never done it before, and neither has the horse, but he’s a very fast horse.” he said. Watch this space…

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‘We might get a six-horse jump-off on Sunday’: stage set for fabulous Hickstead Derby after top trial

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:51:12 +0000

The stage has been set for a fabulous Al Shira’aa Derby on Sunday (21 June) as the Hickstead crowd was treated to a top afternoon’s sport in the Agria Derby trial, won by 2023 Derby champions David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve.

It is rare to have a jump-off in the Hickstead derby trial but this year an almost unheard-of six combinations went clear. Former Derby winners Guy Williams (BH Gringos Legacy) and William Whitaker (Flamboyant III) elected not to come back, which left event rider Alex Bragg (Hegglelane Houston), Derek McCoppin (Capital Levubu) and Stephan Dubsky (C The Stars) in the field with David and his own 11-year-old stallion.

“The horse is in great shape; but he’s been in great shape for the last couple of weeks,” David said. “He was unbelievable in Hamburg, and the week before last in St Gallen, so touch wood we can just maintain that for Sunday.”

First in for the jump-off, Stephan and his Derby specialist, owned by Miriam Rohr, were flying from the start to finish on 57.87sec, the fastest time, but clipping the Derby rails. Alex and his own 13-year-old, with whom he finished 12th in last year’s Derby, covered the ground in fine style, the super mare full of running and jumping, to cross the line clear in 64sec.

2nd place. Alex Bragg (GBR) and Heggelane Houston in THE AGRIA DERBY TRIAL for the Ben O'Meara Memorial Trophy at The Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby, Hickstead, Sussex. June 19th 2026 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676 (Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

It was a fantastic round but Alex did not hold the lead long, as in came David and Pjotr; smooth, balanced and making it look almost effortless as they cruised home clear on 58.24sec. Derek and Bronwyn Meredith dos Santos’ 15-year-old stallion were tight and accurate and economical, getting a great shot to the triple bar before the last line, but clipped the very last fence, to finish on four faults in 59.51sec.

It was an afternoon of top performances but as well as these six, there will be an array of strong contenders lining up on Sunday; five-time champion William Funnell and his 2024 winner Dublon had just one rail and retired, Shane Breen and Fanfan De Beaufour, who jumped clear but with time-faults last year, had two down.

A host of strong four-fault rounds also speak of good chances in the Derby; Ellen Whitaker and Cordessia Z, Hayley Webster (Cachento), Jenna Palmer Evans (Ilord), Christopher Franks (Irving VG), Morgan Shirley (Klaris Ride On), Commandant Geoff Curran (Hawthornhill) and Olivia Mae Davison (Mendel DN) only lowered one rail apiece.

“I honestly would not be shocked to see a five- or six-horse jump-off on Sunday,” David said.

It is thought the only combination to have won both the trial and the Derby itself in the same year is William Funnell and the great Mondriaan, nearly 20 years ago. So does David think he and Pjotr might join them in 2026?

“Let’s hope so,” he said. “The horse cannot feel any better, so I think it’s really down to me not messing up on Sunday, and we should be in with a shout.”

Alex said he enjoys jumping in the International Arena, and paid tribute to David, who let him jump Hegglelane Houston in his grass ring in preparation for this week.

“He was kind enough to say yes, so I did say that was the only reason I didn’t beat him – it was nothing to do with the six seconds he was ahead!” Alex said, adding that he has been preparing for Sunday since his debut in the class last year.

“I didn’t know anything about riding down the bank… so I came to the top gently, and just let the mare look,” he said. “The mare’s so great, she shot down, and my experience at the bank was over before it even began, and I was over the white rails in a mess.

“So I’m definitely going to get a little bit steadier at the top. The dyke is something I’d have liked to practise more as it’s so unique to this show, but we’ve put some little blinkers on her as the crowd was pushing her away.

“She was very sensitive with the atmosphere last year, so we’ve tried to do things to help her as well as practise for the course specifically. But other than that, you just need to try to ride well, give them a good opportunity to jump well, and you probably need a little bit of luck.”

2026 Hickstead Derby trial: more to watch

Other combinations to look out for include Andrew Hodgins and Shanaclough Luichew, who turned heads with their unique style when they came third in the London International puissance last year, and eventer Gemma Stevens (Envoy Merelsnest Z) who finished on eight faults today, but looked in fantastic form.

The Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby starts at 3pm on Sunday (21 June).

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Retiring with the sun on his back: British Speed Derby legend bows out to live with his friends after stellar career

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:52:01 +0000

Silver Lift, the most successful horse in British Speed Derby history, has bowed out aged 21 to enjoy a happy retirement with an old and dear friend.

The Irish-bred gelding, with whom Harriet Biddick won three Hickstead speed Derby titles and came second four times, had been jumping until last month with Harriet’s stable jockey Lily Wilson – and of course still winning.

“I wanted to retire him with the sun on his back; it seemed the right time,” Harriet told H&H. “He’s out with A Touch Imperious and a couple of four-year-olds, a nice group of them anyway, so it made sense. It’s been good to see him out with them and having a nice time in the good weather.”

Harriet said the family bought Silver Lift from Ireland as a four-year-old, as her younger sister Lucy’s first horse.

“He’d been hunting with an 11-year-old boy, at four years old, they loved him,” she said. “He was really dark, iron grey with a white mane and tail, so he looked stunning.”

Harriet started riding Silver Lift, then Lucy hunted him a bit and Harriet took him on as a six-year-old as Lucy was keener on hunting.

“The first year he did the speed Derby, he was only seven,” Harriet said. “He came 11th; he went clear but I took it slowly, and he’d not missed a year since.”

Harriet NUTTALL riding SILVER LIFT winner of the Science Supplements Speed Derby (Class 172) during The Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting held at The All England Jumping Course in Hickstead near Burgess Hill in West Sussex in the UK between 20-23rd June 2019 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Harriet said jumping a seven-year-old in the speed derby is not something she would do now – but this was clearly his class, and Silver Lift enjoyed it from the start.

“He’d been started so well, he was so safe and unspooky, an 11-year-old boy rode him,” she said. “And with the hunting, he was so well rounded and grown up, we didn’t do young horse classes, we just did the fun stuff.

“He always wanted to be competitive and thrived on going fast, and he was ready. It was the right thing for him to do, and he loved it.”

At that time, Harriet had Highland Cruiser, with whom she also was very successful in the speed Derby; she came third on him when she and Silver Lift won for the first time in 2016.

They won again in 2019, securing back-to-back titles in 2022, after the two previous years’ classes were lost to Covid. For a few years, Silver Lift was ridden most of the time by young rider Joss Phillipps, coming back to Harriet for Hickstead.

But, Harriet, added, “I’ve probably made every mistake in that class!” such as the year she went the wrong way in the speed derby qualifier.

“I never try to win that qualifier as he’s already a racy horse and doesn’t need to go fast,” she said. “So I gave him a nice school round and I think I was in such a dream, and he was jumping so well – I don’t know what I did.

“Lizzie [Bunn, Hickstead director] rang and said ‘You’re a past winner but you have to complete a class to qualify’, so I had to jump a 1.45m in the main ring the next day. I went round the first phase and retired, but that was a worrying weekend!”

“And then, of course, I lost my bridle,” she added.

Harriet and Silver Lift were on course for a record fourth win in 2023, when the bridle came off before the treble of Hickstead planks. They jumped through the combination regardless, but the final fence would have been a step too far.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“My biggest worry then, when I was cantering round, was ‘Who’s going to catch me?’!” she said. “He’s such a shy horse and independent, does what he wants to do and just has certain people he trusts.

“But I knew he’d never hurt me. I was pregnant with Ollie at the time but even though I had no bridle, I knew I was safe.”

Those at Hickstead that day will remember the collective feeling of “Might she still be able to jump the last fence?”

“I can’t believe people thought I could – but I think I thought I could!” she said. “I looked at it, and I was almost trying to push him over, and then I thought ‘What am I doing, I’ve got no bridle!’ I think then in my head was ‘No, that’s a silly idea, let’s make sure this ends in a happy way and be a bit more sensible. But I think if the hill wasn’t there, he might have got to the last.”

One thing that incident did show is Harriet’s horsemanship and the pair’s relationship.

“I trusted him so much in that moment; I knew he’d be fine,” she said.

“We had such a bond; even if I hadn’t ridden him for a while as he’d been with Joss, it was something – I’d known him from the start and if I breathed a certain way, or leaned left, he’d go left. I only had to use my bodyweight for him to know where to go.

“He was just so agile and clever, and listened, and just wanted to do it; he wanted to win as much as you did.”

Silver Lift retires with Derby hero

Harriet said she was very fortunate to have Silver Lift and her Derby hero A Touch Imperious at the same time.

“I had such a bond with them both; I was so lucky they were in the same era as they gave so much diversity to my riding,” she said. “I had the small little racehorse-type Silver Lift then the giant dinosaur! Both of them did absolutely everything for me and now, I go out in that field and A Touch Imperious comes over. He always gives the best cuddles, puts his head down and we have a little chat – but once Silver Lift’s out, I won’t get anywhere near him as he goes feral!”

Silver Lift’s last speed Derby was in 2024, when he and Harriet came second. And Harriet said he always knew exactly where he was.

“He’s never been a horse who would go in the arena and do his flatwork, he already went in a nice way,” Harriet said. “So you’d more likely just go on a little ride; he loved it, like a whizzy little pony, leaping around sideways, jogging the whole way home.

“He was like a 12.2hh pony but when he got to Hickstead every year, he changed. He knew where he was, he’d be jogging back and forth to the stable, he knew it was the place for him. He had his routine, doing the qualifier, then waiting for Saturday, the speed Derby.

“He’s kind, he’s always been driven to win, he’s thrived at Hickstead. He loved his job and was so smooth to ride; he had that thoroughbred in him that made him move so elegantly across the ground.

“You saw some horses getting a bit stressed or hot, or tire halfway round but he wouldn’t blow a candle out when he came out. He enjoyed it, and didn’t find it hard work. I think he really is a legend.”

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Shane Breen reveals how to tackle the iconic Hickstead Derby course, fence by fence

Jennifer Donald — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:34:58 +0000

The Hickstead Derby course remains the same year after year, and is much longer than your average showjumping course at 1,195m, with 21 jumping efforts.

Since the master of Hickstead Douglas Bunn held the first Hickstead Derby in 1961, the class has attracted a succession of the world’s leading athletes and horses ready to bravely tackle its notorious fences, from the fiendishly difficult Devil’s Dyke to the world renowned 10ft6in Bank.

Clear rounds are remarkably hard to achieve, so what does it take? Winner of the 2022 Hickstead Derby Shane Breen shares his insight.

“There’s nothing quite like trotting into the International Arena at Hickstead to compete in this special class,” says Shane, who won the Hickstead Derby with the sole clear that year on Can Ya Makan.

“Many of the experienced horses rise to the occasion, but when the crowd applauds it’s natural for them to get a bit anxious – they know it’s show time. From a rider’s point of view, you’re therefore trying to get them settled and relaxed before the bell rings for you to start.”

How to ride the Hickstead Derby course, fence by fence

The Cornishman eases riders in, but nothing should be taken for granted. (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Fence 1: The Cornishman

Height: 4ft 8in/1.42m

“Horses don’t normally spook at a fence like this; even Hickstead Derby newcomers will have jumped a similar brick wall. Never dismiss it though – one year John Ledingham and Kilbaha did a funny slip coming into it in the jump-off and knocked the rustic pole off the top. You can’t take anything for granted around the Hickstead Derby.”

Not particularly high, but very wide, the white oxer will catch out the underpaced. (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Fence 2: white oxer

Height: 4ft 3in/1.30m

Width: 6ft 6in/1.98m

“You have to steer around the Irish bank to get to this oxer of white poles, so the horses don’t see it until quite late. It’s not that high but it is very wide, so you can’t just waltz round the corner under-paced and expect them to clear it.

“Some horses can get a bit high over it because they’re not used to seeing Christmas trees in a jump like that, but again it’s Derby day so people have schooled and prepared – the course hasn’t changed for more than 60 years so you can do your homework.”

“You need to meet the first fence on a good stride with good pace so the second one comes easy.” (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Fence 3a and b: double of water ditches

Height: 5ft/1.52m (3a), 5ft 2in/1.57m (3b)

“These are all about straightness, the approach and good rhythm. The fences are very tall and if it’s a sunny day you can get glare off the water underneath, so with that, the blue of the water and the white rails, you do have to focus to see the poles. The ground is running downhill, so you need to keep your leg on but sit tall.

“You land and you’ve one stride before the second obstacle, which is exactly like the first but even bigger. They’re a bit like jumping two triple bars because from take-off to clearing the top rail is such a stretch. You need to meet the first fence on a good stride with good pace so the second one comes easy – miss it and the second one feels twice as big and wide!”

The black gate requires precision. (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Fence 4: black gate

Height: 5ft 3in/1.60m

“The Hickstead Derby’s time allowed is generous, but almost everyone turns inside the balustrade to get to the gate because you’re giving yourself a bit of extra time if you need to be patient later on, at the Bank, say. So you swing left, then you keep straight before you do a nice flying change to the right.

“The gate is maximum height and falls easily, so it takes precision, but it’s also placed beside the pond, which doesn’t seem to give the horses any problems but it’s down to the rider to get a nice rhythm, very balanced and a good stride. You rarely see gates in jumping tracks nowadays but it does jump well.”

At 1.60m, the wall is one of the tallest fences on the course. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5: wall

Height: 5ft 3in/1.60m

“Similarly the wall is one of the tallest on course, with an arch underneath, but very rarely do you see a horse take a brick off. The fence is lighter than years before when it was chunkier and wider.”

“There’s still a long way to go after fence six.” (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Fence 6: privet hedge oxer

Height: 4ft 11in/1.50m

Width: 6ft 6in/1.98m

“It’s wide and those poles are about 16 ft long, which is remarkable. You’re coming away from the in-gate, so again you need to make sure your rhythm is correct and you’re on a good stride to make it easy for the horse to clear it – there’s still a long way to go, so you don’t want them having to overexert themselves at this stage.”

The road fence involves jumping on and off raised ground. (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Fence 7a and b: road fence

Height: 5ft/1.52m (7a), 5ft 2in/1.57m (7b)

“You’re drawn here nicely on a line from the hedge and again the poles here are so long that every horse seems to hit it in the middle. You jump onto the higher ground, then there are three strides across the top before you jump out, and you can really feel the drop.”

Approaching the Hickstead Derby bank. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Fence 8: Derby bank

Rail height: 3ft 5in/1.04m

Drop: 10ft 6in/3.20m

“You’ve a bit of time now to fix your hat or give your horse a reassuring pat on the neck. You’re in your own little world, but you can feel the hush of the crowd waiting to see how you’ll execute the Bank. You canter up and ideally you just pop over the fence at the top to give you time to steady up before the drop – the fence is small in comparison with everything else, but it’s still big enough, especially situated up there, to warrant respect.

“Obviously you won’t have schooled over a bank with those kind of dimensions but everybody will have prepared down a bank of some description because you want your horse to be really confident so that when you’ve come to a standstill at the top, there’s no risk of them stepping back, or even putting too much pressure on and going down too quick.

Once you’ve ascended the bank and jumped the rail, it’s time to negotiate the drop. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“When he makes the initial descent with his front legs, he should know to gently follow on until halfway down before he pops off the side of it. I’ve ridden it the same way every year – pop the fence, steady up, talk to the horse, let them do their thing.”

The perfect descent allows you two strides to fence nine. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Fence 9: white rails

Height: 5ft 3in/1.60m

“It doesn’t always go smoothly, of course, but the perfect descent allows you two very nice normal strides to the rails, which are tall. If you’re clear over them, it’s a very welcome round of applause! But you have to block that out because this is where you need to steer your route carefully to the Devil’s Dyke.”

“Horses tend to drift right through the Dyke because of the camber.” (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Fence 10a, b and c: Devil’s Dyke

Height: 4ft 9in/1.45m (10a), 4ft 9in/1.45m (10b), 4ft 8in/1.42m (10c)

“Opinion is divided here, some go to the left of the road jump, some go to the right but keep away from the crowds, but in the last few years I’ve come to the right of the road jump and cantered all the way up along the rail. I try to go far enough along that when I come off the fence, I’ve four strides.

“Horses tend to drift right through the Dyke because of the camber, so I jump the opening fence slightly left of centre, so they’ll hit the B part in the middle, hoping they’ll only be slightly right of centre for the C element. It’s also quite a steep drop from take-off to landing over fence A, which catches the horse’s eye, taking their attention away from the pole and that’s when you can have a fault. It really is a combination like no other.”

“When you turn for the water, pick up the distance you want and kick on!” (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Fence 11: open water

Height: 15ft/5.6m wide

“By this point, horses have had two out-of-the-ordinary experiences with the Bank and Devil’s Dyke so it’s time for you both to take a deep breath, especially if you’re still clear. There’s a 3m rise in gradient from the bottom of the arena to the Master’s Box – you’re travelling uphill at this point so you don’t want to set off at the water too early.

“I find you’re better off to get up the hill, then when you turn for the water, pick up the distance you want and kick on! Water jumps can cause horses to spook and wobble in normal jumping classes, but interestingly in the Derby the water doesn’t seem to cause any trouble.”

Another maximum height fence at 12. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Fence 12: Derby rails

Height: 5ft 3in/1.60m

“After the water you have 10 or 11 strides to the very tall Derby rails – most people seem to jump it on the right hand side of its five sections because it’s then a tight enough turn back to the dry ditch.”

Fence 13 has a 6ft wide ditch. (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Fence 13: dry ditch

Height: 5ft 1in/1.55m

Ditch width: 6ft/1.8m

“Dimension-wise, this is quite similar to fence three, the double of water ditches – it’s quite a stretch but if the horses are confident about jumping the dry ditch, they normally clear it well.”

This fence normally jumps well. (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Fence 14: balustrades

Height: 5ft 3in/1.60m

“Seven or eight strides later – which is purely down to the rider’s discretion and I’ve done both, but eight strides is my preference as it keeps you more balanced – the balustrades normally jump well. However, you’re travelling downhill again and if the horses are getting a bit tired, they can land over the dry ditch on their forehand.”

While the first element of fence 15 is an upright, the second is 5ft 6in wide. (Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Fence 15a and b: double of gates

Height: 4ft 10in/1.47m (15a, 15b)

Width: 5ft 6in/1.68m (15b)

“You’re turning left-handed to go back up the arena, so you want to try to get a tired horse nicely collected, with good power in the hindlegs, to jump the first gate, then it’s one stride and a stretch over the second gate with a pole out the back. It’s wide, and horses tend to back off the gates, so it’s quite an effort for a horse who has made a lot of effort already in the last 85 seconds!”

“Keep your cool and ride it like it’s fence two, not like you’re about to win the Derby!” (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Fence 16: rustic oxer

Height: 4ft 10in/1.47m

Width: 6ft 6in/1.98m wide

“I wouldn’t go looking at the time here, but depending on your horse or whether you’ve had a delay earlier on, you might check it as you reach the home straight. It takes time to get to the final big, brown oxer with Christmas trees in the middle, because you’re coming round the water jump, making it easier to find your line.

“There are four sections and it’s quite long, which is good because it means you can ride at it a bit – but you also have to keep your cool and ride it like it’s fence two, not like you’re about to win the Derby! It ain’t over till the fat lady sings and that big oxer requires your full attention. Your horse has helped you over the previous 15 fences and you’re a partnership so don’t let your guard down here – it’s your turn to support him and help the horse jump it.

“Riders tend to pick one of the uprights to aim at because the poles are flush with the uprights, which encourages a horse to jump a bit higher. If you land and you’re clear, there’s a great cheer from the packed stands – there really is no better feeling.”

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‘We couldn’t have sold her if we’d tried!’ But quirky mare comes right in style to win at Hickstead

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:29:12 +0000

Had Joe Fernyhough tried to sell Calcourt Countdown as a youngster, he said, no one would have wanted to buy her.

But her early quirks have turned out to be a blessing, as the home-bred mare has now found her niche, loves her job – and won the opening international class of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby meeting.

Joe and the 10-year-old beat 90 other starters in the Stoner Jewellers Vase speed class, finishing ahead of speed demons Mark Edwards and Tinkers Touch, with long-term leaders Pippa Goddard and Tom Williams’ PDV Constanza third.

“I’m stabled next to Pippa, and have a lot of horses for Tom, and he said: ‘We’re supposed to be a team!’” Joe said. “I wasn’t that quick at the start but from about fence five, I just kept it really tight, and I think that’s where we won it.

“This is my first win at all at Hickstead; my dad [Olympic rider Rowland] won here a lot but I’d never really connected with it – until now.”

Joe said it had been a long journey with the Westpoint Quickfire mare, who was sent away as a five-year-old to an event rider.

“She was weak, and had attitude, and we wanted her to do some flatwork but the rider sent her back, because she was pretty dangerous,” he said. “So Jake Reynolds, who works for us, rode her as a six-year-old at local shows, low level, till she’d done a bit, and I took her on at seven.

“She did qualify for the grade C at Horse of the Year Show that year but wasn’t really ready, then as an eight-year-old, she went to the Sunshine Tour and won five classes.”

The mare has hit top form this year, winning the CSI2* grand prix at Balmoral in May and the Area Trial at the South of England this month, where they were also second in the grand prix.

“She’s really come to the fore, which is lovely,” Joe said. “Everything’s right with her and she’s been on really consistent form. She’s got a really good team; vets Spike Milligan and Lee Paul, who’s an expert in reproductive issues which she’s had, and our brilliant farrier Robbie Watson-Greaves.”

Joe said Calcourt Countdown still “wouldn’t be for a numpty”, but the hard work has paid off.

“At the start we couldn’t have sold her!” he said. “If she’d been nicer, someone probably would have bought her – but I feel we’ve got her right in the end.”

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‘I’m not completely sure it’s the right thing, but at least the FEI is making an effort,’ says William Funnell about changes to the five-year-old World Breeding Championships

William Funnell — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:28:18 +0000

Top British showjumper and UAE chef d’equipe William Funnell talks about the importance of aligning rules and pays tribute to “a fantastic human being”

It was with great sadness that we learnt last week that the great course-builder Bob Ellis had passed away. He brought on the art of course-building in this country in leaps and bounds, with his own style of loop-backs, and I know he was immensely proud of designing the courses for the London Olympics in 2012.

He was always there to help while we walked his courses and he was unfailingly constructive. What he did to help young course-designers was typical of the man – he was such a giver – and that next generation coming through is just a part of the huge legacy he leaves. He was a fantastic human being.

Back on grass

With the Hickstead Derby coming up this week and having been away on chef d’equipe duties for the UAE squad recently, I wanted to get some competition practice on grass. So it was lovely to find time to go to Suffolk County show.

It really brought to light just how great these shows are for educating young horses as well as providing an opportunity for crowds to watch our sport. We are the main ring entertainment, so British Showjumping (BS) needs to make sure these shows are better supported.

To do that, the classes need tweaking because the rules surrounding the height of the fences and the qualification of the horses in classes like the international stairway is proving too restrictive. The stairway started life as a route to being picked for a team and I’m not sure that’s the case anymore.

The ridiculous thing is that I’m preparing my horse for the international competitions at Hickstead this week, but I need to change its tack to compete in these national classes. This is because of some controversial and much-debated new BS rules regarding bitting, nosebands and certain rein attachments.

The FEI’s rules are all made with horse welfare as top priority, so there has to be a case for BS sticking to the same tack regulations as those in place for international competitors.

Helping with young horses

I brought up in a column last year what a disgrace the five-year-old championship jump-offs at the FEI WBFSH (World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses) Jumping World Breeding Championships have been over the past couple of years. Hopefully the introduction of an optimum time in Lanaken this year is a positive move.

I’m not completely sure it’s the right thing but the options are limited – style and performance can be controversial and tends to favour big, flashy horses on the day. So at least they’re making an effort and hopefully BS can implement the same FEI rules to the British young horse championships, which act as a selection for Lanaken.

All roads lead to Hickstead

I was in La Baule last week helping Joe Stockdale on the Nations Cup team that finished fourth. Britain’s chef d’equipe Di Lampard has done a great job trying to slot in a few new horses this season and it’s been super to see Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo doing so well ahead of the World Championships in Aachen in August.

Depending which horses Ben Maher and Scott Brash have available to them will make a massive difference to the strength of the British team, but once again we’re quite short of new up-and-coming partnerships.

I’m bringing the UAE riders to Hickstead this week as part of their build-up towards the Nations Cup there next month. With our young Billy Stud horses in action ahead of our summer auction on 23 June and preparing Dublon for another tilt at the Derby, it’s going to be busy!

● What classes would you like to see at county shows? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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How to watch the Hickstead Derby Meeting 2026 live from anywhere in the world

Georgia Guerin — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:57:03 +0000

Watch the Hickstead Derby Meeting on TV this week and enjoy a true jewel in the crown of British equestrian sport.

Hickstead hosts a wealth of showjumping and showing classes, but is best known for being the home of the world-famous Hickstead Derby, and this class is certainly not one to miss.

At a glance

Hickstead Derby Meeting dates: 18–21 June 2026
Watch Hickstead Derby on TV: ClipMyHorse.TV
Watch Hickstead Derby from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch Hickstead Derby on TV

There is no terrestrial TV coverage of the Hickstead Derby, and ClipMyHorse.TV will be the only place you can follow all the action live or on demand.

You can take advantage of a special Hickstead & RIHS membership offer with code “Hickstead2026”. This is valid 15 June – 15 August 2026 and provides 20% off an annual ClipMyHorse.TV premium membership – sign up here.

This offer can be used by new subscribers as well as past members, who will have to email the support team to access the discount code.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

What about HicksteadTV?

HicksteadTV will only be sharing a few winning rounds this year, so watching via ClipMyHorse.TV is the only option for live coverage.

What time is the Hickstead Derby?

The Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby will start at 2pm on Sunday 21 June.

Hickstead Derby TV schedule

ClipMyHorse.TV will be showing the following classes live at the times listed.

Thursday 18 June

Class	Time (BST)
The Hickstead Novice 1.10m Championship	10am
The Hickstead Annual Grade C Championship in memory of Sarah Davidson	11.05am
The Astore & Sons 1.35m Open Championship in memory of Tracy Astore	12.10pm
The Stoner Jewellers Vase	1.05pm
The ClipMyHorse.TV Derby Tankard	4pm

Friday 19 June

Class	Time (BST)
The KEP Italia 1.10m Amateur Championship	8.30am
The United Equine Products Ltd 1.25m Open Championship	10am
The Breen Equestrian Beethoven 7 & 8 Year Old Championship	10.55am
Presentation: The Cob Championship	12pm
Final Judging: The Hack Championship	12.15pm
The Agria Derby Trial for the Ben O’Meara Memorial Trophy	12.45pm
The Hickstead Derby Two Phase for the Tom Hudson Trophy	3.15pm

Saturday 20 June

Class	Time (BST)
The Billy Stud Auction British Five Year Old Jumping Championship	8.45am
The Billy Stud Auction British Six Year Old Jumping Championship	10.05am
The ClipMyHorse.TV Master’s Trophy	11.30am
The Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Driving Championship	2.30pm
Presentation: The Agria Hunter Championship	3pm
The British Speed Derby for the Liz Dudden Memorial Trophy	3.45pm
Pro Ponies Mini Major	6.30pm

Sunday 21 June

Class	Time (BST)
RedPost Senior Foxhunter Championship	8am
Public course walk for the Al Shira’aa Derby & The Romford Band of the Royal British Legion	10am
The Agria Coloured Horse Ridden Championship	11.10am
The Doney Championship	11.45am
Presentation: The Tattersalls RoR Amateur Ridden Show Series Championship	1.30pm
Presentation: The Tattersalls RoR Open Ridden Show Series Championship	1.35pm
The Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry	1.45pm
The Al Shira’aa Derby	2pm

How to watch the Hickstead Derby Meeting from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

NordVPN exclusive deal – 75% Off
– Up to 75% off two-year plans
– Just £2.59/monthView Deal

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What’s under the Derby bank, three types of grass, invading ducklings and other fascinating facts about Hickstead

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 13:59:14 +0000

Hickstead is one of the most famous showjumping venues in the world, and we’ve uncovered some facts about the course and arena that will interest, intrigue and impress any showjumping fan.

Hickstead directors Lizzie and Edward Bunn had an email recently from someone keen to know the dates of the 2027 Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting. The concerned spectator said her son had just confirmed his wedding date for next summer and she wanted to make sure there wasn’t a clash as “I have a horrible feeling I might have to miss the wedding”.

A fair point, but the good lady was reassured that she would indeed be able to enjoy a fabulous day – and also watch her son get married.

That’s how much the Derby means to people, and this year’s meeting is on the horizon; four days of top equestrian sport culminating in the main event on Sunday, 21 June. But of course preparations have been ongoing for the event since last summer specifically – and for decades. The International Arena may look like a nice grass ring but the work, and money, that goes into it is phenomenal.

Fascinating Hickstead facts

Here a few things you probably didn’t know about what goes on behind the scenes at the All England Jumping Course.

Underneath the grass of the International Arena lie 1,900 tonnes of shingle and 2,100 tonnes of sand. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

1. The International Arena is, Lizzie explains, “an all-weather arena with a grass top”. After some very wet summers, the Bunns took action, and spent almost £1m, in 2010. They dug about 18 inches down, across the whole ring, then put down 1,900 tonnes of shingle with drainage. A membrane went in on top, then the topsoil that had been taken out, 2,100 tonnes of drainage sand, and grass back on top. Last September, when it rained so much the back arenas were puddling, the going in the main ring was just about perfect.

Three types of grass seed are blended to create the surface on the famous course. (Image credit: Elli Birch/Boots And Hooves)

2. Three types of grass seed are blended to create the famous emerald sward; one for thickness, one for root depth and one for colour. Watering is of course key, and at the right times; the grass has to be a bit “thirsty” early on so the roots go deep enough. This root depth – about 12cm is perfect – is crucial as it is this depth that absorbs the weight of a half-tonne horse landing, releases it and springs back.

3. The Derby bank is the centrepiece of the arena. Used in only three classes each year – the Derby, the British Speed Derby and the Ashby Underwriting Eventers’ Challenge – it still needs more maintenance than probably everything else.

It’s built of a U-shaped blockwork wall, filled with rubble, covered in clay and turfed.

It spends most of the year tucked up in an astroturf jacket paid for by Netflix’s The Crown, which filmed at Hickstead some years ago; this comes off at Easter, then the old turf is stripped off and the face rebuilt if the old clay has gone brittle.

Then the bank’s checked daily. Grass doesn’t like growing on the side of a hill so it’s a tricky job; it has to be covered if the weather gets too wet, naked if it’s hot so the turf doesn’t sweat, kept moist enough for the grass to grow and dry enough to suit the clay – and an eye has to be kept for any ants that might feel like nesting in the turf.

The Bunn’s have spent £1m upgrading the International Arena. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

4. After the Derby meeting, there’s only four and a half weeks until the Royal International Horse Show, so there’s a huge amount more work to be done. The ring is fertilised before each show, so it kicks in straight afterwards, and the seed is left in hessian sacks to pre-germinate so it hits the ground growing. Then there’s watering, decompacting and vertidraining to do, and mowing, ensuring the grass is short enough to thicken but not so short that the root depth is lost.

5. There are tricky bits of the course to deal with; the Devil’s Dyke was returfed in mid-May, timed to perfection six weeks before the Derby. The road crossing had been regraded and scarified; removing the top layer of dead matter and reshaping and levelling the soil, then reseeded. Even the Cornishman, the 4ft8in wall that’s the first fence in the Derby, had had its modest turf topping renewed. It’s the original wall that’s featured in every Derby for the past six decades, and needs less maintenance than some areas – although there has probably been some repointing done.

6. Someone is out in the main ring every day, checking and assessing; not just the look and feel of the ground but to check for issues such as any enterprising badger who might have come in to dig for worms.

“It’s a haven for wildlife!” Lizzie says. “We used to have great crested newts in the water jump and because you’re not allowed to handle them, a man used to come out from the Sussex Amphibian and Reptile Group and rehome them. We had ducklings on the lake once in the Derby and had to stop the jumping while they crossed the ring.”

The water in the Devil’s Dyke is dyed. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

7. The water in the Devil’s Dyke ditches is dyed blue, to help horses judge it; the surface here is concrete, which is cleaned and repainted every year, then a new layer of rubber on top. The open water was renovated a few years ago; it was shortened to 15ft to comply with FEI rules.

“You used to be able to swim a width underwater,” Edward says. “It was three feet deep.”

Now it’s only inches deep, and lined with rubber matting, but it’s still, with its presentation and dressing, as imposing a fence as you’ll find.

Hickstead in numbers

1.8ha: the size of the International Arena

2m difference in gradient from left to right

60 acres of lorry parking and stabling

100,000 litres: the Hickstead water storing tanks’ capacity

5,484 horses competed at the All England Jumping Course in 2025

1,538 showjumping horses were at last year’s Derby meeting

Almost £2m: the cost of the new stable facilities

300 rolls of turf used annually in the International Arena

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Former winners to triumph, or a surprise result? Find out who’s taking on the 2026 Hickstead Derby

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 12:23:54 +0000

A former Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby champion heads those vying for the Boomerang trophy this year – and another may be joining him.

David Simpson and Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve, who triumphed in a three-way jump-off in 2023 when the stallion was eight, are lining up on excellent form, having won and come second in Hamburg Derby qualifiers last month.

David and Pjotr beat William Funnell in that jump-off, riding Equine America Billy Diamo and Dublon, with whom William came back to win a record fifth title in 2024. It is not certain whether William and Dublon will start next Sunday (21 June) but they are on the entries list.

“While those are the only winning partnerships due to return in this year’s class, there are a number of other former winning riders among the entries for the 65th Al Shira’aa Derby,” a Hickstead spokesperson said. “One of the strongest contenders for this year is the 2010 Hickstead champion Guy Williams, who has two potential Derby rides – Crumbgraft, who won last year’s Agria Derby trial, and BH Gringos Legacy, who was fifth in both the recent Al Shira’aa Hamburg Derby in Germany as well as last year’s Hickstead Derby.”

2026 Hickstead Derby entries

Shane Breen, who is based at Hickstead and won the 60th Derby with Can Ya Makan, will no doubt have his foot down this year; he jumped clear in 2025 with Fanfan De Beaufour but time-faults kept them out of the jump-off.

The 2026 Hickstead Derby entries do not include last year’s winners Robert Whitaker and Gentlemen VH Veldhof but the two combinations they beat in the jump-off, 2016 winner William Whitaker and Flamboyant III and Sammie-Jo Coffin with Chaccomo Blue, are among the favourites for 2026. Sammie-Jo would be the first lady winner since 2011, when Tina Fletcher lifted the trophy with Promised Land.

Five-star eventers Gemma Stevens and Alex Bragg, who have both been placed in the Al Shira’aa Derby are also on the list, as is Stephan Dubsky and Derby specialist C The Stars; and Commandant Geoff Curran, who was seventh in Hamburg with Hawthornhill.

“What a great line-up of horses and riders we have for this year’s Al Shira’aa Derby, with a number of former winners coming up against some other leading horses and riders with impressive Derby form,” said Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn.

“Former winners often have a good record in this class, but there have been plenty of surprise results too over the years, and that’s the best thing about the Derby. We’re looking forward to seeing who’ll lift the Boomerang trophy in this year’s class.”

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‘Fantastic opportunity’ as third arena means new national championship for amateur riders

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:22:21 +0000

Grassroots showjumpers have a new national final to aim for at the British Showjumping National Championships.

As a third surfaced arena has been created, the new national 95cm championship will be included at this year’s event, which runs at Stoneleigh Park from 4 to 9 August. This and the 1.05m and 1.25m championships, which were introduced two years ago, will run over three days including preliminary rounds and a championship or consolation final.

“We are always looking for ways to enhance the national championships experience for our members, and the addition of the additional arena has given us a fantastic opportunity to do just that,” said British Showjumping (BS) national director of sport Stephanie Toogood.

“Introducing the national 95cm championship allows us to welcome even more combinations to compete for a national title and provides another important stepping stone within our championship pathway.”

To qualify, combinations must have jumped four double clears at 90cm or above, between 1 January and 30 June this year. It is restricted to combinations who are eligible for the bronze league.

“The introduction of the national 95cm championship reflects British Showjumping’s continued commitment to creating opportunities for members at all levels of the sport, recognising the importance of grassroots competition and providing clear progression pathways for riders and horses,” a BS spokesperson said.

The teams and para championships will also run in the new arena, and the Andrews Bowen surfaces on the two existing rings has been refreshed.

Emma Williams, event director at championship organiser Grandstand Media, said: “As organisers, we are committed to improving the national championships experience and have made significant investments in the venue’s infrastructure.

“We’re proud to have introduced a third arena, creating opportunities to expand the programme. It’s fantastic to see this investment enable British Showjumping to launch the new national 95cm championship and welcome even more riders to compete for a national title.”

More details on issues including final qualification criteria and schedules will be announced in the near future.

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Olympic rider faces ‘long weeks’ out of the saddle after serious competition fall

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:31:06 +0000

Olympic showjumper Simon Delestre has undergone surgery for an injury that will put him out of action for some weeks.

The French rider, who has competed at three Olympics, two European and two World Championships, had a fall on Saturday (6 June), just over two months before the World Championships in Aachen. He was riding Gatsby Du Tillard in the five-star grand prix at the Cannes leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT).

“Fortunately, my horse is okay and unharmed,” Simon said. “Things are a bit more complicated for me.”

Simon was taken to hospital, where doctors diagnosed a dislocated collarbone and ligament damage, as well as head bruising.

“I had to have surgery on Monday and it went well,” he said. “The procedure stabilised my shoulder and [doctors] checked for no other damage to my collarbone.”

Simon Delestre said the injury means he will have to keep his left arm immobile for several weeks.

“I would like to thank everyone who is supporting me,” he said. “Your messages and calls are helping me through this rough and unexpected time.

“These are scenarios that can unfortunately be part of riding life but feeling surrounded and supported will get me through these long weeks without riding my horses.”

Simon and Gatsby, a 10-year-old French-bred gelding owned by Stal Naessens, had been on flying form. They won the grand prix at the Madrid LGCT leg in May and came fifth in the Shanghai leg grand prix two weeks beforehand, on top of good placings in five-star competitions all year.

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Tributes paid to London Olympics course-designer Bob Ellis who built top tracks around the world

Lucy Elder — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:20:46 +0000

Tributes have poured in for legendary showjumping course-designer Bob Ellis, who has died aged 79 following a short illness.

Bob’s crowning moment in his distinguished career was designing the London 2012 Olympic showjumping tracks.

He created courses across the UK’s major international and county shows, including London International Horse Show (LIHS) and Windsor where he was senior course-designer for many years. He also built at multiple international championships, from ponies to seniors, at World Cups and Nations Cups, and in 33 countries over a career that spanned decades.

Bob started as a rider and took his first steps into designing in his early 20s when working for Stephen Hadley, who had put in an indoor school and decided to have some shows. Bob would build a course on Wednesday evenings, then fetch a horse and see if it was jumpable.

In 1975, course-designer Alan Ball asked if Bob would go with him to Horse of the Year Show as an assistant. The following year, he went to the Royal International and his career took off. He spent more than four decades designing, including in Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa, and closer to home at Hickstead, Windsor, Olympia and the South of England, among many others.

He is also remembered for his mentorship of the next generation of course-builders and as a trainer, helping develop horses and riders.

In 2019, Bob announced he would step back from designing while staying in touch with the sport – and planned to spend more time with family and following his football team, the Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He told H&H at the time that his fondest memory of his career was Britain’s victory at the home Olympics in 2012.

“When Britain won the team gold in London I cried – we all cried – that was some moment,” he said.

Bob was awarded the Liz Dudden Trophy in 2012, for individuals for making a major contribution to equestrian sport, by the British Equestrian Writers Association (now British Equestrian Media Association). In 2019, he was presented with the Horse of the Year Show Equestrian of the Year Trophy, and also won the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tributes from major horse shows’ organisers

A tribute from Hickstead said the team is heartbroken.

“Bob Ellis enjoyed a long-standing association with Hickstead. He first came to the showground as a rider in 1969 and was later a member of the winning team at the inaugural team chase held here in 1972,” said the tribute.

“One of his proudest moments was watching Joe Turi and Vital win the Hickstead Derby in 1990, as Bob had originally bought, backed and produced the stallion.”

It added: “Bob began course building in the outer rings in the 1990s, under the mentorship of Jon Doney, and by 1993 he had stopped riding to concentrate on his course-building career.

“Later he became the senior international course-designer in the International Arena, where he worked with Kelvin Bywater for many years. He was one of a select group within the sport to hold the FEI’s O status, enabling him to design courses at some of the world’s major competitions.”

The tribute added that Bob’s courses at the London Olympics “showcased the very best of Great Britain to a global audience”.

“Bob will be remembered not only for his outstanding contribution to the sport, but also for his ready smile, infectious sense of humour, and lifelong passion for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family and friends.”

A spokesperson for HPower Group, which runs London International and Royal Windsor, said Bob was “held in high esteem by all who worked with him, as well as the riders who jumped his courses”.

“He was a great friend, much loved by all and will be greatly missed by all that knew him,” said the spokesperson.

“He was a huge support to HPower, serving as jumping advisor on the London International Horse Show committee from 2006 to 2021.

“Thanks to Bob’s popularity, and the respect in which he was held, LIHS had five-star level course-designers working as corner men. Bob launched many course-designers’ careers, and was always ready to put others before himself.

“On retirement, he continued to visit the shows for many years with his wife, Cal, and family. His cheery smile and sense of humour were omnipresent.

“‘Bob the Builder’ will never be forgotten.”

Bob Ellis: “He inspired generations”

A British Showjumping spokesperson said Bob’s “distinctive style, creativity and ability to challenge competitors while always prioritising horsemanship earned him international recognition and respect”.

“Throughout his career, Bob was admired not only for his professionalism, expertise and eye for detail, but also for his warmth, humour and unwavering passion for the sport. He inspired generations of riders, officials and fellow course-designers, many of whom benefited from his guidance and mentorship,” he said.

“Everyone at British Showjumping extends their sincere condolences to Bob’s family, friends and all those who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him.

“He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.”

A tribute to Bob Ellis from Horse of the Year Show added that his “knowledge, encouragement and generosity helped countless people throughout the sport, and his passion left a lasting impression on all who worked alongside him”.

“Our thoughts are with Bob’s family, friends and all those who had the privilege of knowing and working with him,” said the tribute. “Thank you, Bob, for everything.”

‘It feels like the start of something very exciting’: HOYS-bound showjumper on her first bridleless competition

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 15:35:30 +0000

A showjumper who competed, and went clear, over a 1.20m track at the first British Bridleless Competition told H&H this “feels like the start of something very exciting”.

Serena Kullich and Silas VTS, who have qualified for the Talent Seekers final at Horse of the Year Show 2026, were among the +20 combinations at the event organised by Mia Rodley of The Heart of Horsemanship at Merrist Wood on 31 May.

H&H reported that the event had had a huge and positive response, and Serena said she was delighted to be part of it.

“It was so exciting to see so many people competing bridleless,” she said. “I know quite a few of them and we play about bridleless, but actually to see everyone in a competition was just so inspiring.”

A photo posted by on

Serena said she had been fascinated with riding bridleless since she had childhood dreams of riding along the beach without one, but there were not the online resources available that there are now.

Then a few years ago, she was riding Benji at home, the horse with whom she has contested the prestigious London International Horse Show under-25s final.

“I was playing around and realised I could steer him quite well with my legs and back off with the neck rope, and that I could ride him bridleless, which was really exciting,” she said.

“Then I started doing it with Silas. At that point I knew Mia a tiny bit, but I now know her really well; a lot of this is down to her, she’s inspired me to do a lot of the things I’ve done.”

Many riders have said that riding bridleless has improved their horses’ way of going; not the riding itself but the fact that to get to a point at which riding without a bridle works, by definition the horse-human relationship is harmonious and working together.

Bridleless showjumping: the benefits

“What’s been interesting with Silas is that he’s a slightly tense, introverted horse,” she said. “He’s one of those who it’s easy to kind of tell them what to do, even if they’re not completely happy about it. His thing is that he doesn’t like the edges of the arena.”

Mia said with a bridle on, these fences were not a problem but without, she realised he was not as happy taking these on.

“I’ve spent more time getting him truly relaxed and confident,” she said. “I think it’s not been kind of one specific thing, it’s the whole connection I’ve now got with him, to be able to do everything I can do, has transferred to the jumping. He has always been a willing horse but now he really tries, he has he so much more trust in me.”

Serena said she rides some of her younger horses with bridles, some without, but she applies all she has learned from working without, to their benefit.

“I use all the principles that I use with Silas bridleless, like my steering from my seat, teaching them to have rhythm and relaxation on a long rein,” she said. “Teaching a four-year-old all that, I find, makes such a difference, because then when you jump them when they’re a bit older, they’ve got that foundation and are confident and relaxed.

“So many older showjumpers I get are hard in the mouth; I now go about teaching them the contact slowly and carefully. The fundamental of jumping round a course is that you need them with you and listening and if they’re just running off on their own, it’s not easy!”

Adjusting the stride

Serena and Silas’s round was foot-perfect; she explained that she has put a lot of work in without the bridle, on adjusting the canter stride on the flat, so she knows the gears are there on a course when she needs them.

“He always feels completely with me,” she said. “But then I wouldn’t jump round a course bridleless if I didn’t feel he was completely with me. So I’ve always set him up perfectly for success, whereas in a bridle you can slightly skip things. So with all my jumpers I try my best to always have that feeling of the bridleless, even when I’m riding with a bridle.”

Serena said her main goal is to show people what can be possible.

“It feels like the start of something very exciting,” she said. “The fact Mia’s looking to hold more shows, the reach it’s got across social media is exciting, and so many people are keen to do more of it.

“It’s that feeling of freedom. As well now for me, I love the preciseness, the collection and the ability to adjust a stride jumping but as a kid, it was that feeling of freedom I loved.”

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‘Long may she continue’: much-loved showjumping mare who retired aged 32 is still loving life with tiny rider

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:05:23 +0000

A showjumping legend who was still winning in the ring aged 32 has found her new niche, making a tiny rider’s dreams come true.

Grade A Karmijn, who with Suzanne Posnett triumphed at shows across Ireland, England and on the Continent, retired from showjumping in November 2024. Now aged 34, “Minnie” is passing her vast experience on to Suzanne’s daughter Ella.

“Minnie’s been part of the family for 21 years and it’s so nice to see,” Suzanne’s mother Pam told H&H. “She’s a lovely, lovely mare.”

The Posnetts bought Minnie at 13 and she and Suzanne went from strength to strength, winning more than 1,500 Showjumping Ireland points together.

“She’s just been one of those wee speed mares that everyone knew,” Pam said. “If she was in the class, they didn’t have much chance of winning!

“She always went in and did her best – she was very speedy – then the year before last, Suzanne decided it was just getting a bit much for her; Minnie didn’t like it if she didn’t win! People had kept saying ‘When are you going to retire her?’ but then they’d see her jump and say ‘No, she doesn’t want to retire’. She wasn’t ready, until the day we decided.

“Blue Grass Horse Feed, her sponsors, gave her a very fitting retirement ceremony at Portmore Equestrian Centre, and her reins were handed over to a very happy three-year-old Ella.”

Pam said Minnie is kept in the luxury she deserves, now with the added ministrations of her tiny jockey.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“She looks after Ella like a dream; she’s absolutely fantastic with her,” she said. “They went out schooling on Saturday and Minnie and Ella gave Suzanne a lead on a four-year-old, trotting around the arena.

“It’s lovely for Minnie to have another job, which she enjoys, and Ella spends hours grooming her and picking out her feet, doing her tail – it’s worked out beautifully and we’re still talking about her future, not just her past, which is lovely.”

Pam said Karmijn had never had any joints medicated; Cortaflex was “the only thing she was ever on” to support soundness.

“She’s just a brilliant mare, a lovely person,” she said. “She looks forward to her evening hacks up the lane and in the field, and it keeps her going. And Ella adores her and thinks she’s the greatest thing ever.

“She’s got a pony as well but she’s learning so much with Minnie that she can transfer to the pony, as Minnie doesn’t do anything silly, which the pony can! Once she lost her stirrup and Minnie waited for her to get it back, and off they went. It’s lovely to watch.”

Karmijn and Ella have even been showjumping together, taking on a cross-pole class at Christmas, but Pam said they will stick to flatwork now as Minnie is not used to trotting over small fences.

“But it’s lovely she has a job – and she knows how much she’s appreciated,” she said. “Long may she continue.”

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‘The horses looked as happy as Larry’: first British bridleless show inspires – and goes viral

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:27:59 +0000

The first fully bridleless show in the UK has been described as inspirational, emotional – and a big step towards change.

More than 20 people competed in showjumping and dressage at the British Bridleless Competition at Merrist Wood on 31 May – and some 500 came to watch. Organiser Mia Rodley, of The Heart of Horsemanship, told H&H they had to turn spectators away as they were at capacity.

“It’s huge,” Mia said. “People were in tears of happiness watching, which was lovely – and it’s just blown up.”

Horse & Country live-streamed the British Bridleless Competition, clips have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times and Mia has been overwhelmed with requests for training, displays and shows across the world. She has even been given donations – she paid thousands to put on the event – to back the cause and help fund future shows.

“We’re definitely going to do it again because it was so unbelievably successful,” Mia said. “We’ve had three videos hit a million views and I could do with a full-time person to reply to emails about it – I can’t tell you how big it’s got.

“It was amazing and such a great atmosphere. All the horses were so calm. People said they’d never seen a warm-up so relaxed, no aversive behaviours and the crowd was buzzing. Everyone’s said how inclusive it was, really supportive, great energy and atmosphere. For me, the idea was that if the governing bodies won’t let us compete bridleless, we’ll run competitions parallel to it.”

A photo posted by on

The British Bridleless Competition had dressage from intro to elementary – and one grand prix freestyle test – and jumping up to 1.20m. Competitors had to apply by sending videos to show they were competent and safe, all warmed up with a bridle and had time for arena familiarisation, and organisers had a final say on whether each was safe to compete.

Mia has always said bridleless riding is complementary to, and can enhance, traditional horsemanship; it is not one or the other and that it is the epitome of a harmonious horse-human relationship because “if you haven’t got the horse’s mind, you won’t have his body”.

“Serena Kullich, who jumped the 1.20m, has just qualified that horse for a 1.40m at Horse of the Year Show and she says his jumping and rideability is a million times better since getting him good at bridleless,” she said. “We had all types of horses there; anyone can do it and that’s what’s really taking off. It’s fantastic.”

List One judge is “totally inspired”

British Dressage List One judge Mary-anne Horn, who judged the dressage with natural horsemanship expert Lyla Cansfield, told H&H she was “totally inspired”.

“I had to think outside the box; obviously I couldn’t talk about the contact because there isn’t one, but I can talk about connection from the hindleg through the body,” she said. “I don’t know what I thought I expected, but there was no spooking, no tension. The horses were very relaxed and it certainly teaches people to ride, because they have to use the seat and back and leg and not rely on the reins.

“I was just amazed by the horses’ attitude. You often comment, ‘Needs to step more through, relax, let go in the back,’ and these horses did, because they were relaxed. So they let go in the backs, then the horse did step through with the hindleg. It was quite moving, to see the relationship between the rider and the horse. This is going to be a thing, I think.”

Ms Horn said she judges many horses and sees a lot of imperfect riding and people relying on rein aids.

“I can see this will appeal,” she said. “Someone said, ‘This is what classical dressage should be,’ and I don’t think you can really compare the two as they’d have to tweak the tests above medium. They can do changes and piaffe-passage, but anything that needs lateral bend might be tricky to judge.

“I’m trying to promote this in a good way, but not set one against the other. British Dressage should embrace and support it, as it has its place and people are so enthusiastic about it.”

Ms Horn said she also saw some of the jumping, which she thought was “incredible; the horses were putting themselves right”.

“Everybody had a lovely time and the horses looked happy as Larry,” she said. “Mia made it really inclusive; I’ll certainly have a debrief with her and see how we can move it forward.”

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Lynne Macleod, who rode the grand prix freestyle with her Lusitano Hermes, told H&H she competes in working equitation, which includes dressage and allows bitless, but only started bridleless riding last year.

“It felt amazing,” she said. “He’s the first horse I’ve ridden at grand prix and we’re quite new to it but I thought, ‘I think we could do that.’ I used to do it in a double but changed to a snaffle and the more I’ve gone less bit – the snaffle then taking the bridle off – the better his work.

“I’d have liked a bit more bend in the half-passes, as that’s where you can use a bit to influence the body in a positive way, but he did everything; one-time and two-time changes, they were straight and clean, and his pirouettes were small.”

Lynne added that all the feedback she has seen on the show has been positive.

“I still ride traditionally with bits, but there are certain things that can always be improved in everybody’s test and riding and if you can help that by doing things slightly differently, great,” she said. “And if it gets people talking and opens up other avenues – I’m not saying everyone should just whack their bridle off, but the feeling of being able to do that is incredible.

“And the atmosphere was incredible too, like everyone was willing you to do well. There was such positive energy about the whole thing.”

It is hoped that another British Bridleless Competition will be held this year.

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The race to Aachen World Championships is on! Which Brits are on song and what competitions are likely to be key in coming weeks?

Lucy Elder — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 06:40:53 +0000

The countdown to the FEI World Championships at Aachen (11 to 23 August) is continuing apace while the race for selection for British squads is set to draw to a head in the coming weeks.

Strong performances from Brits this spring, plus a clutch of significant fixtures still to come, make this point in the summer an intriguing time for followers of top-level sport.

Nominated entries meetings for Britain’s squads are set to happen around 22 to 24 June and the meetings for definite entries around 15 or 16 July.

H&H’s sport editors have shared their insight into who the movers and shakers look to be in the build-up to selection – and which competitions fans should be taking note of.

“In eventing, the selection race is really hotting up,” said H&H’s eventing and magazine editor Pippa Roome.

“There are a lot of different routes riders can take as they aim to be chosen, showing their colours at five-star, four-star long and four-star short – we’ve had Kentucky, Badminton and Royal Jump, plus fixtures such as Kronenberg, Belsay and Bicton. In the next few weeks we have Bramham and Luhmühlen.

“European champion Laura Collett (London 52), who has good four-star short form this spring, and Badminton winner Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo) are surely assured of their places, leaving two team and one individual place for everyone else to scrap over.”

Pippa added: “Tom McEwen (JL Dublin), last year’s individual European bronze medallist, needs to confirm his spot in the CCI4*-S at Bramham. Harry Meade (Annaghore Valoner) and David Doel (Galileo Nieuwmoed), Badminton and Kentucky podium finishers, can’t be ruled out and Gemma Stevens has laid her cards on the table with a win in the CCI4*-L at Royal Jump on Flash Cooley, who would be a championship debutant.

“Another grey, Its Cooley Time, defends his CCI4*-L title at Bramham for Bubby Upton as he tries to make amends for a fall at last year’s Europeans; it’s a similar position for Caroline Harris (D Day), who goes to Luhmühlen after elimination at the Europeans. Tom Jackson’s United 36 was super impressive at Badminton but perhaps needs a year’s more experience.

“It looks like time has run out for defending world champion Yasmin Ingham’s Banzai Du Loir – she needs a qualification at CCI4*-L or CCI5* before 6 July and, having withdrawn him from the final horse inspection at Royal Jump, she’d need a late entry at Bramham or Luhmühlen to achieve that. Yasmin’s Gypsie Du Loir, last year’s Bramham CCI4*-S winner, goes to Bramham again this time for the CCI4*-L and could be a wild card.”

“Competition is rife” in build up to World Championships selection

H&H’s showjumping editor Jennifer Donald reports on the landscape from the jumping scene.

“We’ve become used to the Olympic gold medal-winning trio of Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Harry Charles forming the core of Great Britain’s championship squads and the former two have an enviable string of horses to choose from this year,” she said.

“However Harry is currently rebuilding his string, meaning competition is rife for the remaining slots as the five-star Nations Cup/grand prix season hots up, with next week’s Longines League of Nations in Rotterdam (19 June) a key date.

“Among those building up for a big summer are Jessica Mendoza, Jack Whitaker and Joe Stockdale, while breakthrough stars Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo produced a standout performance in the Rome Nations Cup (29 May), jumping double clear for Britain.

“The Rolex grand prix at Aachen was the closest you can get to a championship ‘trial’ as the world’s top riders brought out their big guns for a prep run in the iconic arena and fourth-placed Ben Maher and Enjeu De Grisien were among the star performers.”

“Buckle up”

H&H’s dressage editor Oscar Williams said the “core trio from last summer’s European Championships is in fine form”.

“Lottie Fry’s 15-year-old Glamourdale has allayed any fears he might be past his best, recording successive grand prix scores of 80%+ on this winter’s World Cup circuit – the first time he’s broken that barrier since 2022, and a striking turnaround from his sub-76% grand prix at the Europeans,” he said.

“Carl Hester and Fame have looked as consistent as ever, while Becky Moody and Jagerbomb ascended to new heights. All three are shoo-ins. The drama is in the fourth spot.”

He added: “Charlotte Dujardin and Alive And Kicking would have been favourites, but the mare was sold in April. The considerable chasing pack are all averaging similar scores, but the battle looks to be between Charlotte with Brave Heart II and Fiona Bigwood with Donna Bella.

“Fiona looks the favourite, having edged out Charlotte in their head-to-head at Hickstead – but the battle between the two will go down to the last two home internationals, at Wellington (4 to 7 June) and Hartpury (3 to 5 July). Buckle up.”

Oscar said the race for spots on the para squad is “still in flux” but European medallists Jemima Green and rising star Fantabulous “look most assured for a team spot”.

“Mari Durward-Akhurst and 19-year-old Athene Lindebjerg have had just two outings since the Europeans, but with Paralympic qualification on the line, selectors should opt for the decorated mare’s experience – even if she might not make the LA team,” he said.

“Nicola Naylor and Humberto L have a strong case after a good run at Aachen in April. With Gabriella Blake’s Strong Beau retiring, another spot opens – likely to go to Sophie Wells (LJT Egebjerggaards Samoa or MSJ Gold Standard) and Erin Orford on LJT Nutbush.”

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‘We need better conversations and a riders’ committee,’ says showjumper Chris Smith

Sarah Radford — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:32:24 +0000

Chris Smith, an international showjumper as well as a producer of young horses and a highly respected coach, suggests some changes that could help British Showjumping keep riders on side

I was at Wales and West earlier this month and David Broome reminded me how, 49 years ago, he helped found the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC), which represents showjumpers’ interests to the FEI.

If there’s one thing I think British Showjumping (BS) would really benefit from at the moment, it’s a riders’ committee.

This year’s tack rule changes generated bad feeling because a lack of conversation and explanation gets people’s backs up.

Currently, we are told we can direct questions via the AGM, but those need to be submitted in advance, so it’s not what you would term a discussion.

It’s very easy to put half a dozen people in the same room via the internet, so there shouldn’t be too many barriers to setting up a committee. It would help us to work with each other, rather than against.

When you don’t understand the logic behind a rule change, it’s harder for everyone to interpret. Often, the only reason I know the rules is by breaking them and I don’t break them on purpose! They’re just not communicated clearly.

Where are the stewards?

I don’t believe there was a single steward at Wales and West and that’s not the show’s fault – they’re assigned by BS.

It was a busy bank holiday, with the international at Wellington as well as three county shows, but Wales had three Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers, so what would have happened if a rider had broken a tack rule by accident? Someone could have objected and a HOYS ticket might have been lost.

With so many new rules emerging, there should always be a steward at an important show to provide clarity and guidance.

Our HOYS qualifiers have been a regular subject of debate and at Wales the talent seekers, which incorporates the former seven-year-old final, definitely showed it needs review. There were 96 combinations entered and only six clears, and 22 retired. After walking it, I decided not to jump my seven-year-old, as it had the technicality of a rankings class.

Course-builder Raf Suarez took a bit of a hit for it, but what was he supposed to do? How do you build for seven-year-olds and more experienced horses with those numbers? It’s a class that doesn’t make sense. While it might attract fewer entries, would a seven- and eight-year-old handicap be a better idea?

How to avoid a big divide

It’s my belief that if we’re not careful, we’re heading for a big divide between our federation and riders. Riders are what keep the federation moving, from grassroots members who generate the bulk of the income, to professionals making a living from the sport.

You only have to look at the number of low-level weekday shows that are being cancelled, because of lack of entries, to see how BS is potentially missing the boat. While affiliated entries have fallen, the number of private training shows has increased dramatically.

These are often organised via WhatsApp groups and cost less money – maybe £15 for two rounds at 1.40m, compared to £50 BS – and they help you to produce a horse properly with no pressure and nothing going on its record.

When you’re trying to sell a horse, the first thing people do is type its name into ClipMyHorse and if they don’t understand why a horse has made a mistake, it can easily put them off. With training shows, a horse can learn without that risk.

Lier is a world-class facility and it runs two training shows every week, and they are absolutely rammed. You enter on Equipe and it’s their biggest earner, as there are no judges or overheads. Some people now are only doing training shows and internationals – it seems to be the way the sport is heading.

We definitely need to have much better conversations going forward. BS wouldn’t be a federation without show centres and competitors and at the end of the day, most of us want the same result: to produce horses to their best, enjoy good sport and earn a living.

● What changes would help keep riders engaged with BS? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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‘I was honoured to carry the British flag’: showjumper switches back nationality after five years

Becky Murray — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:54:27 +0000

Top level showjumper Sameh El Dahan, who has flown the British flag for the last five years, has switched nationality back to his home country Egypt.

During his time riding for Britain Sameh made two Nations Cup appearances, at Spruce Meadows in 2023 and 2024, and he has continued to be a regular on the CSI5* circuit, competing in grands prix around the world.

Sameh represented Egypt at the 2014 and 2018 World Equestrian Games but switched nationality to Great Britain in 2021 following a dispute with Egypt’s federation over selection for the Tokyo Olympics, after he helped his country qualify for the Games.

“Today I return back to represent my home country of Egypt,” said Sameh, on 2 June.

“Having seen the efforts the new administration of the Egyptian federation have been putting in place for the last few years, I feel now is the time to return and to do my part to help my team to return to the top of the international stage once again.

“I was honoured to carry the British flag for that stage of my career. Whilst it was a brief period, I’d like to think that it was a great one and I made all of you proud, especially my final bow for Team GB being a winning one, taking the CSI2* grand prix in Mullingar.”

Sameh said he has “so many precious memories that he will keep forever in his heart” and added “how much he was welcomed in my time of need by such a great country”.

“In saying that I’m also excited to see what’s next for us as a team and returning to ride and compete for Egypt is a feeling I have missed,” he said.

“I would like to thank all members of the British equestrian federation, chef d’equipe Di Lampard for all the opportunities and all my teammates in Team GB for their support.

“Thank you everyone for the continued support and following us on our journey and this new exciting part of it, [I’m] very grateful to have it.”

Sameh has achieved the required qualifying results for this summer’s World Championships in Aachen. As he did not represent Britain at a championships and has not jumped on a team competition since September 2024, he is eligible to represent Egypt at Aachen. National federations must submit their nominated entries to the FEI by 6 July.

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Extra changes to young horse World Championships to support welfare and ensure ‘age-appropriate competition’

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 30 May 2026 13:21:26 +0000

More changes have been made to the Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses, owing to “growing focus on horse welfare and the importance of ensuring our young horses are developed and competed in an age-appropriate way”.

H&H reported that the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) had announced changes to the final for five-year-olds at this year’s event; these will now be judged using an optimum time, after concerns were raised about “racing against the clock” in 2025. The federation has also introduced minimum eligibility requirements (MERs) to ensure horses are prepared for the championships.

Now the WBFSH has confirmed that five- and six-year-old horses will take on smaller tracks, in the qualifying rounds and finals of the championships. Courses for five-year-olds will be set at 1.20m, rather than 1.25m as previously, in the first two qualifiers, and 1.25m rather than 1.30m in both rounds of the final.

Six-year-olds will jump 1.30m in the first qualifier rather than 1.35m. The second qualifier stays at 1.35m but the final will also be at 1.35m, rather than 1.40m as previously.

Seven-year-old horses will jump 1.40m in both qualifiers and 1.45m in the final, as previously.

“These updates are the result of constructive discussions between the WBFSH, the FEI and stakeholders from across our sport,” WBFSH general manager Nadine Brandtner told H&H.

“As breeders, riders and organisations responsible for the future of sport horses, we recognise the growing focus on horse welfare and the importance of ensuring that our young horses are developed and competed in an age-appropriate way. The adjustments to the championship format and the introduction of MERs are intended to support the long-term development of young jumping horses, while maintaining the sporting quality and international relevance of the championships.

“We believe it is important that our sport continues to evolve, guided by both experience and responsibility towards the horses in our care.”

The full guidelines, including MERs, are available on the WBFSH website and the updated championship schedule will be published before entries open.

“These updates reflect the ongoing discussions between the WBFSH, FEI and stakeholders across the sport, initiated in response to increasing focus on age-appropriate demands, horse welfare, and greater clarity and consistency in the framework for young horse competitions,” the spokesperson said.

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‘I love every inch of him’: meet the 50p former Flat racehorse jumping internationally – after four-year passport battle

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 30 May 2026 11:53:01 +0000

The owner of a 50p former Flat racehorse who is now an international showjumper – after a four-year registration battle – said she hopes this shows exactly what thoroughbreds can do.

Jessie Welch and The Iron Factor contested their first CSI event at Wellington last weekend, jumping clear in a small tour and a big tour class and contesting the 1.25m big tour final, a few weeks after the FEI agreed to accept his Jockey Club US passport.

“It’s taken a few years but this has really been the biggest achievement of my time with him,” Jessie told H&H. “It was an incredible show, I’m very happy. He’s been a godsend to me.”

Jessie used to work in racing and heard through a friend that “Sexy” was looking for a new home.

“He only ran three times – bless him, he wasn’t very good!” she said. “I worked for a pre-trainer who was best friends with his owner, and they wanted a home for him.

“I was unfortunate enough that my horse had an injury, and Alan just said ‘Look, there’s a field of old horses there, four- and five-year-olds; pick one and take it home’. I thought ‘That one looks sweet’.

“I didn’t know his name, I knew nothing about him, I just picked him out of the field, thank you very much, and took him home. I paid 50p to have him and he’s been mine ever since. I didn’t have a clue what I had.”

Giving it a go

Jessie said she had enjoyed team chasing and following bloodhounds, and had no thought of showjumping.

“I think I just saw an advert somewhere, and thought, ‘I could have a go at this showjumping malarkey’,” she said. “I hadn’t jumped much at all but thought ‘We’ll give it a crack’.

“I took him to one his first lesson in a racing saddle and exercise sheet, and my trainer looked at me and said ‘Wow, this is a racehorse’, and I said yes; he’d never seen a fence in his life.

“I took him to his first show, a 30cm cross-pole class, and he took nine of the 12 fences down but I thought ‘We’ll keep trying’ and he got better and better, and he loved it.”

Jessie said she found a good trainer, and took the view of starting him in showjumping as she would any horse.

“I just thought ‘Treat him like a warmblood, working him like a warmblood as he’s no different’,” she said. “And it’s paid off.

“My first trainer said he was a thoroughbred and they’re not designed to jump and that was that. It wasn’t plain sailing – he had kissing spines surgery as a five-year-old – but when I brought him back I was training with Ben Bick, who didn’t ask what he was.

“He didn’t care that he was a thoroughbred, he just trained us like we were showjumpers and he said ‘You’ve got a really smart horse here, and you’ll have a lot of fun with him’.”

Huge support

Ben then moved away and Jessie came south to be based with showjumper Joe Clayton at Hascombe Equestrian.

“I ended up working full-time for Joe; I have my horses there, and he’s really put us through our paces,” she said. “It’s only really the last six months, but he’s had me jumping big tracks with him. He’s been a massive mentor and supporter to me.”

Four years ago, Sexy was jumping so well, Jessie tried to register him with the FEI to jump internationally, along with another horse she had. But Sexy’s passport didn’t arrive.

“They said his US passport wasn’t deemed legitimate by the FEI so he couldn’t be registered,” she said. “I thought it would be simple but there wasn’t a way round it. I couldn’t re-passport him as he was chipped and had a passport, and effectively he was one of the most traceable horses in the country as a racehorse. But no one would overstamp it.”

Jessie added that a major issue was the lack of a page in Sexy’s passport on which he could be signed out of the human food chain.

“Not a single passport company was happy to add the page,” she said. “I didn’t know what an issue it would be. I fought but never got anywhere.”

Sexy was then out for a few months with an injury, but when he came back into work, Jessie tried again.

“I thought ‘I’m going to fight for this now, this is ridiculous’,” she said. “‘I’m with a trainer who’s travelling around Europe at internationals, and I’ve got a horse who if I’m away two in every four weeks, I’m having to leave at home. This is stupid’.

Fighting the case

“My vet got in contact with a top vet at the FEI, and they had a woman called Jen Ancliff call me from British Equestrian, and she has fought my case for the last six months.”

Thanks to Ms Ancliff’s work, and after meetings with Defra, the FEI accepted Sexy in April.

“I was straight on the case, I think I cried when they emailed to say it was ok!” Jessie said. “They wanted a scanned copy of every page of his passport – I think I had 64 pages scanned within about three minutes. You could say it’s four years too late but to be able to go to his first international and jump what he’s jumped and how he’s jumped it, means more than anything to me.”

Jessie had not had as much time as would have been ideal to get Sexy fit so at Wellington she started with the 1.10m small tour class.

“He flew round and Joe said ‘Try him in the big tour’, then he flew that 1.20m on day two,” she said. “Then Joe said to try him in the 1.25m and we had two poles; rider error that I can improve on. To me, it was a big track, and he took me round with his ears pricked the whole way; ‘I’ve got this’.”

Jessie said that there are not many thoroughbreds jumping internationally and it is nice that Sexy can “fly the flag a bit” for his breed.

“A lot of people wouldn’t realise that a thoroughbred or ex-racehorse is capable of that,” she said. “I think there is a bit of ‘That’s an ex-racehorse, it’s not capable’ but unless you told someone he was a thoroughbred, they wouldn’t know.

Picture by Charlotte Bury Photography (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“He’s in these classes, and he’s competitive; we’re not bottom of the pack, or trying to push him to a level he’s struggling with, he’s getting better and better, and up there with the best of them. To me that means everything, because it’s shown what they can do.”

Jessie added that sometimes people do not have the right attitude to former racehorses.

“People might think they’re just a cheap thoroughbred and just do happy hacking without thinking they’ve got the ability,” she said. “This has taken us a while and we’ve had ups and downs but ultimately he’s gone from a horse who took every fence in a 30cm class to being competitive in a 1.25m.

“I’ve entered him for Bolesworth and that’s bigger again but my goal has always been to jump a 1.30m, and now I’d like to think maybe it’ll be a 1.30m international, there. That’s the ultimate goal.”

She added that Sexy loves his jumping, and plays up to a big atmosphere.

“He goes in there and properly struts his stuff,” she said. “He’s just a happy horse, always has his ears pricked and he’s the easiest animal to do anything with.

“He sleeps all day, he loves life, he’s spoilt rotten; does what he wants, when he wants, how he wants, and he pays me back every minute of the day. He’s an absolute darling. I adore every inch of him.”

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‘Thank you for the moments, my friend’: farewell to Olympic horse, aged 15

Becky Murray — Fri, 29 May 2026 15:11:42 +0000

Legend, the top grand prix horse and former Olympic ride of showjumper Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, has died aged 15.

The Belgian warmblood gelding competed at the highest level around the world and represented Spain at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2021 European Championships and Nations Cup Final.

“Some days ago we had to say goodbye to Legend,” said Eduardo, on 27 May.

“Thank you for all the moments, my friend. Rest in peace.”

Legend began his international career as an eight-year-old with Belgium’s Delphine Goemaere. Eduardo took over the reins in summer 2019 and they competed in the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona in October and the Global Champions League Prague Playoffs in November, where they were third in one of the opening rounds.

As their partnership developed, they competed in World Cup legs at venues including Amsterdam, Bordeaux and Verona, and Global Champions Tour legs in Doha, Paris and Monaco. They finished 31st individually at the Tokyo Olympics and were 16th at the 2021 Europeans, where the Spanish team finished seventh.

In the last two years Eduardo and Legend enjoyed top-10 placings in five-star competitions at Royal Windsor, La Baule, Doha and Cannes. They were third in a 1.50m in Paris last March and third in the 1.60m Shanghai GCT grand prix in May 2025.

Their last competition together was the Rabat leg of the GCT in Marrakech, where they were 10th in the Longines grand prix.

Asia Olsezweska, Eduardo’s groom, described Legend as her “soulmate”.

“You always were and will be more than anyone could ever imagine,” she said.

“I’ll miss you until we meet again somewhere.”

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‘Use some judgement and class’: Olympic rider calls out adults who made ‘atrocious’ comments about his young daughter’s success

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 27 May 2026 16:21:15 +0000

A top showjumper has spoken up after adults made “atrocious” comments on social media about his young daughter’s success.

The multiple Olympic medallist asked people to think twice before they make negative remarks about a young girl “with big dreams”, in response to comments on a video of her success at a show.

The rider said he tries to post and comment only positive messages on social media, such as gratitude to his horses and the people he is “very blessed to have around me and who support my team and my family”.

“I’m proud to congratulate those whom we work with on their accomplishments and at times I’ve weighed in on topics I feel strongly about,” he said.

“After a very rewarding week of competing for my daughter and our family, ClipMyHorse posted a very nice recap video of her success.

“The majority of the comments were kind and positive for my daughter but there were a handful of individuals that felt the need to be negative and diminish her success because she’s my daughter, or even more shocking, because she’s my father’s granddaughter, whom she never met.

“While I never defend myself from such commentary and feel confident that my legacy and how I am judged will be on my own deeds despite my own mistakes, the fact that grown adults feel the need to make such atrocious comments about a [young girl] is quite reprehensible.”

The young rider enjoyed a successful show, winning and being placed in a variety of jumping and flat classes with her ponies. And although most people praised her results, some chose not to.

“It’s a reflection of so much of what I see in our world today, instead of celebrating each other’s growth and success we choose to tear it down,” her father said.

“I’m an adult and to some small degree a public figure. I accept that criticism of myself may be public and I can handle your opinions but I ask before commenting negatively on a [young girl] who has big horse dreams, and who may stumble upon these comments that you use some judgement and class.”

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Childhood dream realised as European champions progress in Grand Slam – and pocket €500,000

Jennifer Donald — Tue, 26 May 2026 12:00:29 +0000

European champions Richard Vogel and United Touch S have further cemented their place in showjumping history by winning a second successive leg in the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping.

Three riders progressed to the third round of Aachen’s Rolex grand prix, and as the live Grand Slam contender, having won in Geneva in December, the stakes were high for Germany’s Richard Vogel and the 14-year-old Untouched stallion.

But, after watching his partner Sophie Hinners (Iron Dames Singclair) post a triple clear in 51.62sec, and brushing off the pressure as “a privilege”, he and United Touch opened up with breathtaking ease in the vast arena.

This mesmeric duo were significantly up on the clock by the third fence and could afford the luxury of a steadying approach to the final Rolex vertical on Frank Rothenberger’s demanding course, yet still stopped the timer more than six seconds faster.

The 57-year-old Argentine contender José María Larocca gave his all from last draw riding 16-year-old Finn Lente but could never match his German rival’s pace, coming home clear in 47.36sec.

“A childhood dream”

So the staggering €450,000 (£390,000) top prize, plus the €500,000 bonus for winning two successive legs of the Rolex Grand Slam, belonged to one of the sport’s greatest ever partnerships. Not only did Richard and United Touch S join Aachen’s pantheon of greats, they extended their outstanding record of having won every five-star jump-off they’ve jumped clear in.

“Winning Aachen is a childhood dream, but to do so with such a special horse, and to have his owner and breeder Julius-Peter Sinnack and my whole team here… I’m thrilled,” said Richard, who has contested three five-star shows this year with United Touch S and won a grand prix at each – the Basel World Cup, leg one of the Grand Slam at the Dutch Masters and now Aachen.

The world number three ranked rider revealed a moment of confusion before setting off on his jump-off round, unsure whether a Rolex oxer still standing from a previous round was actually part of the jump-off course and had to ask an official for clarification.

“After that, I got in the zone and tried to lay down a good jump-off round,” he said. “I knew I had to put everything on the line.”

Great Britain’s Ben Maher soared up the leaderboard from 16th after round one to finish fourth with Enjeu Du Grisien.

Sadly the much-anticipated jump-off showdown between United Touch S and Kent Farrington’s star mare Greya failed to materialise after the latter picked up four faults in round two.

Richard Vogel – Grand Slam quest continues

Richard’s quest to emulate Scott Brash and win the Grand Slam continues at Spruce Meadows in September, but there’s the small matter of the World Championships here in Aachen to target first.

As German riders filled three of the top six placings in Sunday’s grand prix, you’d put good money on the home side landing a medal in August.

Daniel Coyle, 18th in Sunday’s grand prix with Gisborne VDL, won Friday’s grand prix qualifier with 16-year-old Farrel.

“The best riders in the world are here and I was fortunate to come out on top,” said Daniel. “Farrel is like a best friend. When I need help, he is always there.”

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‘Loved till your last breath’: farewell to top grand prix horse aged 15 following accident

Becky Murray — Thu, 21 May 2026 15:50:40 +0000

Baloubet De Talma, a top ride of French Olympic showjumper Penelope Leprevost, has died following an accident, aged 15.

The Baloubet De Rouet son joined Penelope in January 2025 and competed in top-level grands prix and World Cup legs, including at London International and Hickstead.

“Balou” was bred by Haras De Talma in France and started his international career with Alexandra Francart in young horse classes, then was produced up the levels by Audrey Teixidor and Valentin Pacaud.

Penelope stepped Balou up to five-star in April 2025; they competed at major shows including Royal Windsor, St Gallen CSIO5*, and the Paris leg of the Global Champions Tour. Some of their top results included finishing 12th individually in the Hickstead Nations Cup, and fifth in the London International World Cup leg.

Penelope said Balou died following “an accident while loose” on Monday (18 May).

“Thank you for everything you gave to all those who were lucky enough to cross your path,” she said.

“Your fiery temperament in the arena, your generosity and courage, your gentleness and kindness every day made you an exceptional horse that we will never forget. Thank you for everything, Balou.”

A spokesperson for Haras De Talma said Balou’s temperament made him “truly unique” and that he had a “heart bigger than himself”.

“Your energy was often difficult to channel, you always wanted to give 150%. From a very young age you left a real mark on the minds of everyone you met,” he said.

The spokesperson said Balou was “extraordinary from a very young age” and he credited Audrey and Valentin for their success with him, before a “new love story” started between Balou, Penelope and her groom Amelie, which “propelled” him to top grands prix.

“Your meeting with Penelope allowed you to earn your place. A place among the greats,” he said.

“There wasn’t a competition where Penelope didn’t tell us about your achievements. If you made a mistake she would say: ‘It doesn’t matter, if you only knew how much I love him’.

“You received love until your very last breath. You leave a huge void in the hearts of everyone who knew you. Thank you a hundredfold for everything you gave us.”

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‘Being able to access shows like Royal Windsor from another route is a godsend,’ says British showjumper Adrian Whiteway

Sarah Radford — Thu, 21 May 2026 15:19:45 +0000

Somerset-based Adrian Whiteway is an international rider who is making his mark on British teams and made his debut in the CSI5* classes at Royal Windsor. He shares his thoughts on achieving the unachievable and exciting new pairs on the jumping circuit.

I made my debut jumping in the CSI5* classes at Royal Windsor Horse Show this year and what a great experience it has been.

Initially, I wasn’t sure if I would get into the show, but for the first time this year organisers have used the same system as they do for the London International. If entries are taken solely from the world rankings list, I wouldn’t be high enough, but they also admitted some of us who had jumped on Nations Cup teams for Great Britain.

For someone like me who only has two or three horses at this level, it’s impossible to go to shows week in, week out to collect rankings points. It’s unachievable to put yourself in the top 10 when there are riders with far more depth to their string, so being able to access shows like this from another route is a godsend.

I took two horses to Windsor and it was a fantastic experience for them. BP Baxter, the younger one at 11 years old, was fifth in the King’s Cup. My Nations Cup horse Chacco Volo was clear with time-faults in Friday’s 1.55m, although it didn’t go our way in Sunday’s Rolex grand prix.

It was our first major show since the London International in December, so it was a big ask. I jumped the first fence and didn’t get it quite right, and he had one down – he doesn’t like having a fence, so it then sent him a bit too careful.

But we’ll be off to try again next week, as we are anticipating some more Nations Cups call-ups.

“A unique experience”

I’ve had an incredible 12 months, which began with competing at my first five-star show in Aachen last summer. I jumped the Rolex grands prix there and again at Dublin Horse Show, so this was actually my third.

It’s amazing to be able to do a five-star in your home country as it feels even more special when you have friends and family there, too.

Windsor is a lovely town and to be invited up to Windsor Castle on Thursday night for drinks, with Prince Edward in attendance, is a unique experience.

You just can’t fault the show – the going was perfect and the stables are big and in a nice location. The organisers can’t do enough for you. Everyone is helpful, right down to the volunteers manning the walkways.

Brits on form

The British riders had an exceptional week and Ben Maher was unlucky not to be quick enough to win the Rolex grand prix, in which Luxembourg rider Victor Bettendorf just pipped him to the post.

Grand prix winners Victor Bettendorf and Qwando Van De Rispen soak up Royal Windsor’s unique atmosphere. (Image credit: Elli Birch/BootsandHooves)

Jack Whitaker has a couple of lovely new horses and Matt Sampson’s grand prix partner, Un Secreto Z is fantastic. Matt has been ticking away with him for the past year and now he’s really stepped up.

They could be a real asset to the British team and hopefully they’ll have some opportunities coming their way. Matt is a class rider who really deserves a good horse.

Hopefully we have some strong combinations for this summer’s World Championships in Aachen and chef d’equipe Di Lampard will have a few options to choose from.

● Who would be your dream team to represent Britain at this year’s World Championships? Let us know your picks at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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How to watch CHIO Aachen live from anywhere in the world

Georgia Guerin — Thu, 21 May 2026 14:53:18 +0000

Watch CHIO Aachen on TV this week and enjoy a feast for all equestrian enthusiasts. Due to Aachen hosting the FEI World Championships later this summer, this year’s CHIO Aachen, affectionately known as TSCHIO, is running earlier in the calendar.

The 2026 event will also only feature showjumping, whereas it would usually host showjumping, eventing, dressage, driving and vaulting. There is one combined showjumping and driving class on Saturday 23 May, however.

At a glance

CHIO Aachen date: 22–24 May 2026
Watch CHIO Aachen on TV: ClipMyHorse.TV
Watch CHIO Aachen from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch CHIO Aachen on TV

There is no terrestrial TV coverage of CHIO Aachen in the UK, and ClipMyHorse.TV will be the only place you can follow all the action live or on demand.

A free livestream is available for classes that are not being shown on German terrestrial TV. German residents will be able to watch some of the showjumping action, plus the Horse & Symphony concert, on WDR and ARD. For more information, visit chioaachen.de/en

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

What time is the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen?

The Rolex Grand Prix starts at 12.40pm CEST (11.40am BST) with the first round. The second round will begin at approximately 2.45pm CEST (1.45pm BST).

How to watch CHIO Aachen from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

NordVPN exclusive deal – 75% Off
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To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Argentina

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

Chile

Colombia

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Dominican Republic

Egypt

Finland

France

Germany

Great Britain

Greece

Hong Kong

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Israel

Italy

Jordan

Japan

Kyrgyzstan

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Latvia

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North Macedonia

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Portugal

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USA

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