Horse & Hound picks out the young stars of the showjumping world to look out for this season

1. Spencer Roe, British (pictured, above)

Age: 22

Base: Lincolnshire

Top ride: Wonder Why, a 12-year-old gelding he’s produced himself.

Best results to date: having been a part of the winning Nations Cups team in St Gallen

in May 2014, he has helped the team to further good results thanks to his reliable clear rounds.

What’s on the cards for 2015? Expect him to be a key member of British teams under

the new leadership of Di Lampard. Could he make his second championship appearance at the Europeans in August?

What gives him the edge? Spencer enjoyed a hugely beneficial stint as stable jockey to William Funnell before setting up hism own yard. He has the same ice cool persona that has helped Scott Brash to become the world’s leading rider. But don’t let his laidback exterior fool you — he’s ultra-competitive and able to strike up a strong partnership with the horses he produces.

2. Bertram Allen, Irish

Age: 19

Base: Munster, Germany

Top ride: Molly Malone V, an 11-year-old British-bred Kannan mare.

Best results to date: the only rider to win two World Cup qualifiers in this 2014-15 season; landed the Dublin grand prix in 2014 and finished seventh individually at the World Equestrian Games later that year. Bertram is currently ranked number 14 in the world.

What’s on the cards for 2015? He’ll be making his debut in the World Cup final in Las Vegas in April and expect him to be on the Irish team at the European championshipsthis summer (19-23 August).

What gives him the edge? Mentored by Billy Twomey and Marcus Ehning, he’s the coolest teenager in the sport and remains a formidable opponent under great pressure.

3. Kerry Brennan, British

Age: 22

Base: Derbyshire

Top ride: Wellington M, 12-year-old gelding by Quidam De Revel, who she’s produced since

a four-year-old.

Best results to date: winning the under-23 British Championship at Olympia 2014. Kerry earned her first invitation to HOYS in 2014 having topped the new gold showjumping league last season.

What’s on the cards for 2015? Kerry is aiming for area trials, the new-look International Stairway series and to qualify for HOYS — plus a stint competing abroad.

What gives her the edge? Despite being a young mum to baby Oscar, Kerry is on the path to top-level success. She receives training from her BS-accredited mum, Liane Smith, and has around 40 horses, from foals upwards, at home.

4. Alfie Bradstock, British

Age: 20Base: with Graham and Tina Fletcher in Oxfordshire.Top ride: Caicos, a former three-star event horse with Paul Tapner.Best results to date: he was eventing pony and junior European gold medallist before focusing on a showjumping career. Alfie was runner-up in the young rider championship at HOYS 2014, following up with the second spot again in the under-23 British Championship at Olympia 2014.What’s on the cards for 2015? Now sponsored by KBIS, Alfie will have a crack at young rider teams and perhaps senior Nations Cups. He’ll campaign Area Trials and International Stairways on the county circuit — with a wildcard for HOYS and the young rider championship at Olympia the ultimate aim.What gives him the edge? Grandson of the late Lord Oaksey and son of National Hunttrainer Mark Bradstock, Alfie’s competitive instincts — refined in the fields of racing and eventing — are coming to great use in the showjumping arena. When he’s not jumping, he’s been schooling the family’s Cheltenham Festival fancy Conegree over fences.

Continued below…

7 exciting young event riders to take note of this season

H&H picks out the under-25s to take note of this season

5. Jessica Mendoza, British

Age:18

Base: Eindhoven, Holland

Top ride: Spirit T, a 14-year-old Tornado mare.

Best results to date: dual team European gold medallist in a phenomenal career on ponies, team gold and individual bronze at the junior Europeans in 2014, plus a ninth-place finish in her first World Cup qualifier last month.

What’s on the cards for 2015? Jessica hopes to remain competitive at top international shows and has her eye on Nations Cup team selection.

What gives her the edge? A demon against the clock who is currently benefiting from being based in central Europe.

6. Constant Van Paesschen, Belgian

Age: 20

Base: near Brussels, Belgium

Top ride: Citizenguard Toscan De SainteHermelle, 12-year-old grey stallion.

Best results to date: Constant has won the Belgian schools, junior and young rider championships and team silver and individual bronze medalist at the children’s European

championships in 2006, as well as third in the Global Champions Tour (GCT) grand prix of Antwerp.

What’s on the cards for 2015? He’ll be back on the GCT circuit and bidding for a

place in the Belgian team for the European championships.

What gives him the edge? Bring the son of Olympic showjumper Stanny van Paesschen, he’s been in the saddle all his life. Like many riders on the European circuit, he’s moved into the senior ranks at an early age and this is proving a great education as his successes become more high profile.

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There is a distinct possibility that Britain will never again hold dual Olympic and European team gold medals.

Two years of unsurpassed success also saw Scott Brash and Ben Maher ranked world number one and two. Yet nobody could have forecast the demise that came about in 2014.

This year, we even looked like dropping out of the Nations Cup “super league”. Only a gritty performance and double clear from young Spencer Roe on the last leg in Dublin kept us in. Worse was to come with a humiliating 18th place at the World Equestrian Games (WEG).

Now Rob Hoekstra, the team manager who presided over those famous victories, has stepped down, two years before his contract was due to end after the Rio Games.

So why was it all going so well, only to end so disappointingly? It’s a question I’ve been asked repeatedly.

My wife Tina rode on many British teams during the “Rob years”. I came to respect his work ethic and the fact that he gave many combinations the chance to prove themselves. Rob’s single-mindedness and toughness were admired and disliked by some riders in equal measure.

So what was the catalyst for those gold medals and can it be revived? To me, it was the enthusiasm and optimism surrounding the London Olympics. At the mere mention of “2012”, owners were involved, riders became determined to keep their top horses and the media got behind us.

And what a difference those loyal owners make. Lord Harris and Lord Kirkham had a burning desire to win a gold medal in London, but they didn’t go out and buy a string of ready-made horses. Hello Sanctos, found by Rob Hoekstra and David Broome, was the only one they acquired from abroad.

We produced Hello Sailor from a novice to be the fifth team member in London, and Ursula — who competed in super leagues with Tina before becoming the world number one showjumper with Scott — I bought from Mary Turnbull in Scotland.

These horses are just three examples of the impact enthusiastic owners can have on a nation’s results.

Likewise Nick Skelton’s owners, the Widdowsons, stayed loyal with Big Star and Carlo, Olga White stood by Peter Charles and his horses, as did Beatrice Mertens, who owns Michael Whitaker’s ride Amai.

William Funnell produced top horses in Billy Angelo and Billy Congo, yet to him and his business partner Donal Barnwell, London 2012 outweighed getting top dollar for them. It was decades since I’d seen so many top combinations from which to pick an Olympic team.

Looking forward

So what of the future? More prize-money on the Global Champions Tour will mean our top riders will hardly be available for super league and team duties. Another nail in GB’s coffin, some will claim — but I see it as a chance to give more up-and-coming riders and horses a shot.

But what we must do is provide more challenging courses nationally to get the production line going and more horses coming through. We can neither expect nor afford to keep using foreign shows to “make” horses. That’s why this season’s best thing was Nina Barbour’s new international show at Bolesworth.

The accusations and recriminations of this last year must stop. We need to recapture the enthusiasm of the pre-London era.

Many believe top riders to be money-grabbing individuals out to maximise the price of their horses. But I’ve never met one who’s been pleased to have sold their best horse. Of course, yards cost an exorbitant amount to run and that big cheque sits well in your bank account; but riders go into the sport for the sport’s sake and to strive for the top.

One of the best up-and-coming horses I saw this season was Judge N Jury, ridden by William Funnell.

Recently I heard that the careful, scopey eight-year-old had been sold to American rider McLain Ward, so I asked William a hypothetical question: “If you’d had the horse pre-London, would you have sold him?” William thought for a minute and said: “No, I’d have moved heaven and earth to get someone to invest in him.” The defence rests.

This column was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (13 November 2014).

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Royal Salute Scotch Whisky has announced a new partnership with polo lifestyle brand, La Martina, to create a limited edition collection of polo clothing and equipment to be worn by Royal Salute team members at a series of Royal Salute sponsored polo events around the world.

Malcolm Borwick, polo ambassador to both Royal Salute and La Martina, said: “This is the perfect partnership. Royal Salute embodies style, quality and excellence, mirroring the values of La Martina.”

South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) will be continuing as the title sponsor of the British Showjumping Winter Novice Championships.

This announcement marks SEIB’s second year of involvement with the series and the championship final will be held during the Longines Royal International Horse Show (28 July – 2 August 2015).

Nicolina MacKenzie, marketing manager at SEIB, said “We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of these superb championships which give riders something to aim for through the winter months with their novice horses and the excitement of competing in the main ring at Hickstead in the summer.”

TREC GB has appointed the RS-tor rider safety aid as the sponsor of its winter series of indoor TREC competitions.

The winter league will run nationwide from 1 October until 31 March 2015.

RS-tor’s inventor George Gorman said: “The RS-tor is designed as a fall prevention aid and to boost rider confidence on an unpredictable or spooky horse, it is ideal for TREC enthusiasts, and may be used at all levels of the discipline.”

Cam Hardie is the latest jockey to join the stable of Al Basti Equiworld.

Cam, who won the first ever race to be staged in the UK on Good Friday this year, joins Richard Hughes, Ryan Moore, Pat Dobbs and Pat Smullen as a brand ambassador for the UAE distributor of horse feeds, nutritional supplements and equine veterinary products.

Cam said: “I am thrilled to have been chosen to represent Al Basti Equiworld and to have secured an important sponsorship so early in my career.”

Mirrors for Training is now sponsoring 2014 Badminton Horse Trials winner, Sam Griffiths.

“We’re delighted to be working with Sam,” said Andrea Miles from Mirrors for Training. “We can’t wait to see how Sam and his team perform throughout the rest of the season and hope that our mirrors will help Sam stay at the top of his game for many seasons to come.”

Childéric Saddles UK will continue to support Little Downham Horse Trials (4-8 October) at the Ely Eventing Centre in Cambridgeshire.

Tricia Bracegirdle of Childéric UK said: “We are delighted to be involved with Downham once again and visibility at this event means that Childéric UK is seen by riders of all levels, from grass roots up through to top international event riders, encompassing our Childéric clientele’

Cheltenham Racecourse has announced that Glenfarclas has renewed its association with Cross Country racing at the venue for a further three years.

John Grant, chairman of Glenfarclas, said: “We are delighted to renew our contract to sponsor the three Cross Country races at Cheltenham.

“We have been sponsoring these races now for six years and the results have been very gratifying.

“Hopefully, by the end of the nine years, we will have finally persuaded people to refer to ‘The Glenfarclas’ as they do with other longstanding race sponsorships.”

Plevin, manufacturers of equestrian bedding, has signed a 12 month deal to support eventer Angus Smales. Angus’ string of horses will now be stabled on Snowflake Supreme wood shavings bedding.

Angus said, “I’m delighted to be partnering with Plevin. When running a stable of competition horses it is essential to find a bedding which is warm, comfortable and absorbent. Plevin’s Snowflake Supreme has ticked all the boxes and is proving very easy for my team and I to manage”.

International showjumper Spencer Roe is the latest member to join Team HorseHage and his string of horses will be supported with HorseHage dust-free bagged forage.

Chris Tar of HorseHage said: “We are very pleased to be able to sponsor Spencer – he is a young rider, rising fast in the BSJA rankings, and we hope that this exciting partnership will be a great success.”

Endurance rider Catriona Moon is a new brand ambassador for Dengie.

We couldn’t find a more perfect endorsement for our products,” said Dengie marketing manager Lisa Wilson.

“Endurance is a demanding discipline and it is essential that the horse is really firing on all cylinders, with a healthy digestive system and enough energy to complete long rides over challenging terrains.”

“Catriona is an extremely talented rider and completely switched on to the importance of nutrition. We are delighted to have her on board!”

Dodson & Horrell is to support American rider Lauren Hough. Lauren has represented Team USA at both Olympic and World Equestrian Games (WEG), is a Pan American gold medal winner and is currently ranked in the World Top 50.

Sam Horrell, marketing director for Dodson & Horrell said: “This is an exciting new arena for Dodson & Horrell. We aim to establish our brand around the globe and the association with Lauren will enable us to reach the international market through showjumping”.

The five showjumpers who will represent Britain in the final of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in Barcelona next month (9-12 October) have been selected.

Spencer Roe (Wonder Why), Joe Clee (Utamaro d’Ecaussines) and Michael Whitaker (Elie van de Kolmen or Cassionato), who all rode at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) earlier this month have been chosen.

William Whitaker (Fandango) and his cousin Robert Whitaker (Catwalk IV) make up the squad.

After uncertain approach to the final, Britain scraped through to qualify at the last opportunity — at Dublin in August.

The final of the series takes place at the Real Polo Club de Barcelona and will see 18 teams from nine countries battle it out.

The final will consist of three competitions. The top eight teams from the opening class will go to the third and final competition, while the remainder will compete in the Challenge Cup, which will be held before the final competition.

Last year, despite Scott Brash earning a bumper €100,000 jackpot when jumping a double clear, Great Britain only finished 8th of 18.

This year the final clashes with the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham (8-12 October).

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Great Britain’s hope for world championship glory has come to an end as the squad failed to reach the final 10 of the team jumping at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Thirty-two teams jumped in Wednesday’s round and the British squad of Michael Whitaker (Viking), Joe Clee (Utamaro D’Ecaussines), Spencer Roe (Wonder Why) and Scott Brash (Hello Sanctos) finished 18^th. Michael and Joe produced 12-fault rounds, 21-year-old Spencer added eight and anchorman Scott finished with four faults.

“These things go in cycles and we had a fantastic cycle with the Europeans [2011], Olympics [2012], Europeans [2013] in the other part of the cycle and the same thing has happened to Germany,” said Great Britain’s performance manager Rob Hoekstra. “It’s disappointing, but there are also some real positives — Spencer rode fantastically and Joe’s horse is a bit inexperienced, but finished up really well.

“It was disappointing for Michael, things really didn’t work out. But people know we’ve lost a lot of our top horses over the last few months — it just shows we have a small team of championship horses to choose from.”

Only the top 10 teams progress to the next round on Thursday and the Netherlands have moved up to the gold medal position with USA in silver and Germany third. Ireland go through in eighth.

Individually, Frenchman Patrice Delaveau holds the lead, with Beezie Madden (USA) in second and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson third. The top 50 individual riders continue after today and only Scott Brash makes the cut for Great Britain, in 36^th position.

Don’t miss the full report from the WEG showjumping and the full reaction from the British team in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out 11 September.

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Irish teenager Bertram Allen, the youngest rider competing in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games showjumping, won the opening speed leg riding Molly Malone V.

The 19-year-old’s winning round helped put the Irish squad into seventh place, behind first day leaders France.

“It’s a bit unexpected — to end up winning the class is a big bonus,” said Bertram. “I had a smooth, good round and the plan was to give her a good run today.”

Lying second individually is Patrice Delaveau for France with Orient Express HDC with Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet third riding Conrad De Hus.

In the team standings, Sweden currently hold the silver medal position with USA in bronze, ahead of Germany, the Netherlands and Canada.

Great Britain complete the first day in 11th

after clear rounds from Michael Whitaker (Viking), Joe Clee (Utamaro D’Eccaussines), Spencer Roe (Wonder Why) and a 4sec penalty for Scott Brash (pictured right), who has been suffering from a bad bout of food poisoning, left the team in a “solid position”. There are two more days of jumping ahead before the team medals are decided. Michael Whitaker is the best British rider in the individual standings, in 42nd.

“It’s unbelievable to do a clear round at my first World Games,” said 21-year-old Spencer. “If you’d told me a year ago I would be doing this, I wouldn’t believe you! The first two guys did brilliantly — I couldn’t ask for better teammates.”

“It nearly went to plan today,” said Great Britain’s performance manager Rob Hoekstra. “We wanted three solid rounds, then Scott could have a go, and it nearly worked — till he knocked that jump down! But he was still pretty quick.

“Spencer rode a super round — we made a plan for him, what to do and what kind of speed to go at, and he did exactly that and I think that horse will come back tomorrow and jump a really good round.

“We would have liked to be a bit closer to the leaders — we wanted to be within a jump of them and we’re two jumps behind — so it’s OK. but a bit further behind than we’d like to be.”

Team standings after day one:

• FRA (2.08)
• SWE (3.01)
• USA (4.72)
• GER (4.82)
• NED (4.83)
• CAN (6.00)
• IRL (6.51)
• BEL (9.53)
• COL (9.86)
• QAT (11.01)
• GBR (12.39)

Individual standings after day one:

1. Bertram Allen (Molly Malone V) IRL

2. Patrice Delaveau (Orient Express HDC) FRA

3. Gregory Wathelet (Conrad De Hus) BEL

42. Michael Whitaker (Viking) GBR

43. Scott Brash (Hello Sanctos) GBR

48. Joe Clee (Utamaro D’Ecaussines) GBR

65. Spencer Roe (Wonder Why) GBR

The competition continues tomorrow (Wednesday, 3 September) – follow us on twitter @horseandhound and via the website for all the news and updates.

The full report appears in next week’s issue of H&H magazine, out Thursday 11 September.

WEG showjumping: Scott Brash talks to H&H [VIDEO]

H&H caught up with British showjumper Scott Brash after the speed competition at the World Equestrian Games (WEG)

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Bertram Allen of Ireland holds the lead at the half-way point in Tuesday’s (2 September) opening leg of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) showjumping in France.

The 19-year-old rode the British-bred Kannan mare Molly Malone V to the fastest time of the morning (77.01sec) in this first round against the clock in which both individual and team riders compete.

“It all went according to the plan, which was to get a sound round,” said Bertram, a recent winner of the grand prix in Dublin. “Molly Malone just took everything in her stride. We had some tight turns, but she can handle it and we got the measure right today.”

Bertram is based in Germany with Marcus Ehning, who currently sits in 12th place with Cornado NRW. He added: “My student is in the lead, so it’s special.”

75 of the 153 riders have jumped so far and France’s Penelope Leprevost (Flora De Mariposa) holds second place in 77.82sec with Peder Fredricson of Sweden third on H&M Sibon (78.96sec).

The course has resulted in a surprising number of problems with eight eliminations including Brazil’s pathfinder Doda De Miranda, who fell when AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno refused at a vertical.

Team GB’s Michael Whitaker (Viking) is best of the British, lying 18th, with Joe Clee (Utamaro D’Ecaussines) in 21st position individually.

“I’m very proud to be here,” said Joe, who produced a great clear in 85.49sec with the “fresh” but slightly spooky 10-year-old stallion.

Michael added: “It was a solid start. My horse did everything I wanted him to do so it’s been good for the team.”

Spencer Roe (Wonder Why) and anchorman Scott Brash (Hello Sanctos) jump for the team later this afternoon.

Don’t miss the full report on all the showjumping action from WEG in H&H next week, out Thursday, 11 September.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Team GB’s newest recruit to the showjumping team heading for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy later this month hasn’t always been as stylish in the saddle as he is now.

Spencer Roe, 21, recently admitted in an interview for H&H (14 August 2014) that he used to have a rather novel approach to riding into his fences. Ten years ago the ‘ugly’ pony ‘Inky’ took Spencer to the Pony of the Year show where the 11 year-old’s unique technique nicknamed ‘the wiggle’ seemed to do the trick!

According to Spencer: “I thought I was kicking, coming into fences, but for some reason I actually just got this wiggle on. I never knew I was doing it!”

Read the full interview with Spencer in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (14 August)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now