The aim of the trot-up is to allow the observer a clear view of the horse moving in a straight line and in balance, so that the gait can be assessed.

Horses are trotted up primarily to check for soundness. The trot is an even gait, with legs moving in diagonal pairs, so it is the easiest in which to spot lameness or uneven loading of the limbs. A horse may also be trotted up in-hand as part of a sale, to show off his movement.

FEI competitions for all disciplines will include a trot-up (otherwise known as the horse inspection) to check the horses are fit to compete. At three-day events, an initial trot-up takes place prior to competition. A second trot-up the morning after cross-country then follows to check the horses have recovered and are fit to continue to the final showjumping phase.

A trot-up in a straight line as part of a lameness examination allows the vet to make an initial assessment of the horse’s soundness. Further tests, such as flexion tests, lungeing and a ridden exam, may be necessary for the vet to gain more information.

At a pre-purchase exam, the vet is making a full assessment of the horse on behalf of a client. A trot-up is part of the examination, to identify any lameness issues that may prevent the horse being suitable for the buyer’s needs.

In all cases, a good, level surface that is not too loose, slippery or stony will help the horse trot confidently and offer the truest indication of his soundness.

A closer look

It is useful to know what the vet is looking for in these different trot-up circumstances.

As a spectator at a competition trot-up, it may be puzzling as to why some horses pass the trot-up while others are sent to an area called the holding box and occasionally eliminated.

The ground jury and veterinary delegate will assess each horse visually as he stands in front of them, before seeing him trot to evaluate his soundness. Any horse they have concerns about will be sent to the holding box for further assessment.

The vet in the holding box will be able to do a more thorough examination, including palpation and assessment of the horse’s limbs, to help identify any injuries — such as tendon or ligament injuries — which would prevent him from continuing in the competition.

A horse who has sustained a small overreach during the cross-country, for example, or who has pulled a shoe off, may appear slightly unlevel. After veterinary assessment, however, he may be deemed fit to complete a round of showjumping.

There may be horses competing that are poor movers, without having any specific injury that would be exacerbated by competition. At the second trot-up, on the final day, the ground jury will have benefited from seeing competitors at the first trot-up and in the dressage, so will have a clearer view of how each horse normally moves.

Taking the lead

Trotting up a horse correctly is an important skill to learn. The horse should be wearing a bridle for control and be led from the left side. Start by standing him up square so the vet or ground jury can examine him from all sides.

At an event trot-up, you will be expected to walk the horse for a few steps before trotting him away and then back towards the vet and ground jury. When examining a lame horse, or a horse for purchase, I ask to see him walked away and back and then trotted away and back. There is value in seeing the horse moving away and back towards you in both gaits.

The horse needs to be able to move his head freely without being held on a tight rein. The aim is to keep him moving in a straight line and at an even pace.

Stay by his shoulder and walk in a straight line by looking ahead, not at the horse. In trot, it is best to set off at a steady run with an even rhythm — remaining at his shoulder. If you run ahead or turn around to look at him, he may well back off and drag behind you.

It is important to keep the horse’s head and neck straight. If he curls towards you, this can make the gait look uneven and the right hindquarter can swing out and appear to drop away.

Experienced riders will have different ways of presenting a horse well, but I advise people to hold the reins in the right hand, as if you were riding one-handed, with your palm downwards and the reins separated by your hand. You can then place your arm across the horse’s chest so your hand is central, directly below the base of the neck.

With the reins in this position, you can encourage the horse to relax and take a contact with the bridle. He should then drop his head and lift over his shoulders and back, trotting with an even, powerful hindlimb gait.

If you are holding the reins together, in a fist, it is difficult to have much influence on a horse who sticks his head in the air and swings about. You can only apply downward force and he may react against this by putting his head up and hollowing through his back and neck, compromising the way he uses his body and hindlegs.

The horse needs to be able to trot in his own balance and rhythm, so find the pace or speed that suits him — which may mean adjusting your running speed. Don’t worry about your footsteps being in time with his. It’s great if they do match, but you may trip if your legs aren’t the same length as the horse’s and you try too hard.

Return to walk a few strides before the end of the straight and turn the horse away from you by moving his shoulder. This avoids being trodden on or tripped up, which can happen if you turn him towards you.

It is worth practising at home so both horse and rider learn to trot correctly. A horse who is poorly presented may look uneven, even if he isn’t.

Ref Horse & Hound; 17 October 2019

Imagine the reaction if the top three horses at Burghley were all penalised with 15 penalties for missing a flag across country — and so lost their places — especially if all three were considered by the eventing community to have jumped the respective fences sufficiently, albeit at odds with the requirements of the current controversial rule.

This is what happened at Fair Hill, the biggest autumn international in the USA, and understandably the public were outraged. The officials have been put in an impossible position, implementing a rule that, as a body — the International Eventing Officials Club (IEOC) — they oppose.

The FEI eventing committee has made changes to the wording for 2020, but these will not avert a repetition of Fair Hill; their rule still does not allow a horse’s outside front leg to displace a flag.

The FEI eventing committee is made up of six people, one of whom is a rider representative. A couple of years ago, after unanimous discontent over another important decision made without consultation, the committee asked the rider rep to set up a working group of experienced riders to provide feedback on proposals. I was asked to chair this group.

Over the past 14 months I have had over 200 hours of meetings with officials, riders, national federations, fence judges and broadcasters over the 15-penalty rule.

Do we judge style?

The rider group, in conjunction with the Eventing Riders Association, the IEOC and, crucially, 15 national federations, have written to the FEI explicitly supporting an alternative rule that tolerates the outside forelimb displacing the flag. Despite this and our attempts to work with the FEI, the key part of it has so far been rejected by the committee.

At the heart at the issue is whether “style” should be judged across country. The committee have indicated that a jump that is further within the flags should be rewarded over one that is closer to the edge, even when both are “clear” in the traditional sense.

Another difference is that the FEI rule relies on a retrospective video review involving drawing lines on screens, whereas the stakeholders’ proposal is clearer to the fence judge, rider and spectator in real time — if the outside forelimb makes contact with the flag, then all is OK, as long as the back end has jumped the height of the fence.

In other sports, reviews are only workable if the action can be stopped while a decision is made — imagine the outcome of a rugby match being reversed as the crowd are leaving because a try was retrospectively overturned. Under the FEI’s flag wording, the leaderboard often changes after the last horse has crossed the line, which damages the presentation of the sport to the public — a key FEI priority.

Public thinking and the FEI are totally out of sync. If we continue with the FEI rule, ground juries will either refuse to enforce it or we will see decisions which create a public outcry as big prizes are wrongly awarded.

The dramatic alteration to the Fair Hill podium proves how much we need to fix this before the Olympics next year. The rule, in whatever form, will be written into stone at the FEI General Assembly in two weeks’ time. Let’s hope they don’t ram through an unwanted and unworkable rule against the advice of the national federations.

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

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A novel treatment using extracted bone marrow has given new hope to a sport pony with a ligament injury, as Matt Smith MRCVS explains

The sesamoidean ligaments form part of the suspensory apparatus. Two bones at the back of the fetlock, known as the sesamoid bones, act as an anchor. Above them runs the suspensory ligament, from fetlock to hock/knee, and below them sit the distal sesamoidean ligaments.

The anatomy of the sesamoidean ligaments is complex. There are four ligaments in each leg, with fibres running in different directions and with different attachment points. Together, they act as a relatively tough and elastic “sling” that provides support to the fetlock and pastern region.

Due to their function, most injuries to these ligaments are thought to be caused by over-extension of the fetlock joint. While the specific event may be unknown, this type of acute injury is most likely the result of a one-off bad step or a steep landing over a fence, for example.

Injuries can also occur as a result of chronic repetitive strain, from regular work. Other factors are then relevant, including the horse’s conformation and genetics, the type of work he undertakes and the surface used. Horses with straight hocks and overextended fetlocks appear predisposed.

Since there are rarely any external signs, such as swelling or heat, diagnosis can be difficult. Nerve blocks may be required to localise the source of lameness. One clue is a positive response to a fetlock flexion test, but this is not specific to sesamoidean ligament injuries.

Diagnosis is generally confirmed by ultrasound, although the ligaments can be difficult to image — particularly in thick-skinned, cob-type horses. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be necessary.

Stimulating repair

Treatment is largely based around a period of rest and controlled exercise, in the form of a graduated walking programme, much like any other tendon or ligament injury. Success rates have typically been poor, however, which has led to the creation of new techniques aimed at stimulating repair.

One such treatment is shockwave therapy. While useful for proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD), the response with sesamoidean ligament injuries has been less positive.

Sport pony Cherryhills Arctic Kiss (known as Callie) had developed a hole in a hind sesamoidean ligament, an injury that does not tend to heal well. Callie had not come right with a few months of rest, so we knew that giving her more time was not the answer.

We decided to treat the injury with a form of stem cell therapy called bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC). Still relatively untested for sesamoidean ligament injuries, BMAC offers a number of potential therapeutic benefits.

Unlike the more widely known stem cell treatments, where the cells are sent to a laboratory to be “cultured” to produce many millions more, those in BMAC remain unmanipulated. Not only can the bone marrow be aspirated (extracted) from the horse and administered back into the injury site shortly afterwards, but it is thought that the unmanipulated cells retain more of their potential therapeutic qualities.

The horse is given local anaesthetic so the bone marrow can be extracted from his sternum using a large needle. The aspirate is then placed in a centrifuge for 15 minutes. This concentrates the stem cells and growth factors naturally found in the marrow. It also filters out white cells and other tiny particles known as bone spicules.

The sample is then ready to be injected into the injured tissue. This is performed under ultrasound guidance and either standing sedation or general anaesthesia, depending on the location of the injury. Because the sesamoid ligaments are difficult to access and situated close to structures such as the tendon sheath, Callie was anaesthetised for the whole procedure.

What’s the prognosis?

Previously, it was suggested that stem cells regenerated injured tissue by forming new tendon, ligament or cartilage. We know now that they orchestrate healing by exerting a “paracrine effect”, secreting factors that signal the horse’s own cells to change their behaviour.

Whereas we would once inject as many stem cells as possible, the aim of BMAC is to guide healing of cells already there. In addition, the growth factors from the bone marrow combine to stimulate better-quality repair than the proliferation of new tendon or ligament fibres generated by the regenerative therapy platelet rich plasma (PRP).

The prognosis for sesamoidean ligament injuries remains guarded, however, and will relate to the cause — greater success is seen with acute rather than chronic injuries. A treatment such as BMAC is generally more effective the sooner it is given after the injury.

Most tendon and ligament injuries will heal, in a fashion, but the question is whether the repair will stand up to work. Follow-up scans revealed Callie’s injury had filled in significantly, so she was able to undergo a careful rehab programme and resume exercise.

Stem cell therapies are a tool we can reach for with tendon and ligament injuries in an attempt to bring about a good outcome. While refinements will no doubt be made to these techniques, they are a step forward in the treatment of these often challenging injuries.

The owner’s view

Hannah Freer describes the onset of Callie’s sesamoidean ligament injury in late 2017 as “insidious”.

“She has always had plenty of power, but when I was schooling her she felt sluggish — as if there was no engine,” says Hannah of the 14hh home-bred mare, now 11. “My vet looked at her and couldn’t see any mechanical lameness, but I felt that Callie wasn’t quite right.

“After a few weeks’ box rest, some new gait analysis software at the clinic revealed she was lame on her left hind,” continues Hannah, an accident and emergency nurse. “She seemed to react positively to a proximal suspensory nerve block and underwent a course of shock-wave therapy, but things still didn’t seem right.

“In January 2018, I took Callie to see Matt Smith at the Newmarket Equine Hospital. He went over her with a fine-tooth comb and finally discovered a hole in a sesamoidean ligament. It was awful news. Matt explained the injury probably hadn’t been caused by one incident, rather a combination of things.

“We discussed treatment options. An injection of steroids into the hole might just trigger a healing action, while PRP treatment offered a 50/50 chance of success. We felt that BMAC, while more expensive and relatively untried, was our best bet.

“Callie was in hospital for a couple of days for the treatment. Back home, my dad and I followed the rehab programme to the letter. We were out walking her around the arena that winter in wind, rain, snow and hail, not finishing a session until the timer went ‘beep’. I was back on her in March, hacking her in straight lines, before moving on to gentle hillwork. By June, she could start cantering.

“I haven’t really jumped Callie yet, as I’m frightened of undoing all the work, but this year she earned her first British Dressage points and qualified for the Area Festivals in four outings. I was so lucky to get my horse back.”

Matt Smith MRCVS is a surgeon and partner at Newmarket Equine Hospital. This purpose-built referral hospital is one of the largest in Europe, treating horses from throughout the UK ranging from leisure animals to elite athletes. Matt is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) specialist in equine surgery and has a particular interest in orthopaedic problems.

Ref Horse & Hound; 24 October 2019

Now that the dust has settled after the 2019 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), I have noticed some derogatory comments on social media about how professionals win everything. I really didn’t see this as the case this year. Yes, we saw some record-breaking results, but we also saw a lot of home-produced triumphs — I counted 14 — which is fantastic. However, we must not take away from the record breakers.

The show pony Rotherwood Rainmaker recorded his sixth win, admirably retiring at the top, as did Michelle Cuerden’s dual HOYS winner and 2019 coloured champion Del Boy, who was ridden by Vikki Smith.

Vikki’s sister Amy and her pony Laburnum Richard also recorded their third HOYS win. Lead-rein pony Thistledown Van-Der-Vaart won his fifth mini mountain and moorland title, 153cm worker Cashel Bay JJ made it a sixth win and the riding horse Casino III gained a fourth small section victory.

It is not a fluke for an animal to win HOYS this many times. We are talking about animals making history here and this should be celebrated. We’ve been lucky enough to produce animals that have won twice, three, four and six times. I look back and think just how lucky we were to have them — they are few and far between.

HOYS does, however, often spring up surprises and there are always classes that don’t follow form. These are some of the most spectacular wins for those involved. Jasean Spraggett winning the lightweight hunters proved you should always go in to win, despite qualifying on a fifth placing. How wonderful.

Silent heroes

Jayne Ross recorded her seventh supreme win after tallying four championships in the week, but it’s often the unsung heroes behind the scenes that are forgotten.

Groom Jo Powell from Team Ross walked 80 miles according to her Fitbit from Tuesday to Sunday. The amount of work and pressure is immense and this often goes unnoticed by the spectator. Therefore, when derogatory comments are posted, it can be disheartening for the teams that work so hard, not just that week, but throughout the whole season, trawling the country for their clients. Producing is not as easy and glamorous as people think.

‘Change is progress’

As wonderful as HOYS is, I wish they would alter the gate opening times. We seem to say it every year. With the new restricted exercise times, it is near on impossible to get through vet check before 5am, collect passes, bridle numbers and complete a 5am to 5.20am exercise slot, especially with more than one animal. A lot of people were not in favour of the new exercise restrictions, and I think this needs altering.

A great suggestion was to see the pony ring run from 9am until 9pm with evening performances. It was sad that some competitors were forced to buy £85 competitor wristbands for their families to spectate, as general admission is not open for the first classes. I’m sure HOYS will welcome these suggestions as change is progress.

Ref Horse & Hound; 24 October 2019

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This year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) was one of the best for entertainment. There were some exciting classes and Lorenzo is the best act of all time.

There’s no doubting the show’s significance to the circuit and show centres appreciate the importance of being awarded HOYS qualifiers and the resulting extra revenue.

The enthusiasm of British Showjumping (BS) members to compete at this prestigious event remains undimmed. It’s a unique experience to compete in front of such large crowds in an atmosphere whipped up by excellent commentators, lights and music.

This year’s crowds were receptive, as we found when my wife Tina and I did a demonstration. Sons Will and Olli were riding and Rory Bremner was compère, with his brilliant wit and impressions. But nothing’s perfect and the talent seekers, with its HOYS final, is a case in point. Finding the best seven-year-old among a start list of horses of all ages doesn’t work.

Having five pony classes yet not one young rider class can’t be right either. And I’d still say the same when my lads are out of the category. But these are minor points in the bigger picture. And talking of bigger, how the British and Irish crowds love to see horses jump big fences.

Puissance competitions have all but died out in Europe, but “big red wall” night on HOYS’ Saturday is always a sell-out. The crowds were also on their feet for the last round of the five-fence challenge over some massive jumps. On this one, we’re poles apart from our neighbours.

Farewell Bob

Looking back over the decades with course-designer Bob Ellis, he became somewhat teary-eyed about this being his last HOYS.

Bob never built to the extremes of big, gutsy courses. You would sometimes walk his tracks and think “there will be a lot of clears over this”, but there never were. And that’s where his genius lay. He built for precision, accuracy and athleticism.

Bob’s equestrian of the year award was richly deserved. He’s not just the best course-designer, but he’s a top-class human being, too.

Fresh perspective

It’s always interesting to get an opinion from someone relatively new to our sport. Sir Tony McCoy got me thinking about pony classes as we chatted after his daughter Eve competed in the 128cm HOYS final. “AP” pointed out that although competitors can ride three ponies in this class, it would open it up to more people if they could only ride one. He’s right, because the top of the pony jumping pyramid is starting to be elitist. With fewer kids riding ponies, there are fewer ponies being produced, fewer ponies available to buy, and so on.

Meanwhile, the children-on-horses category continues to grow in popularity, perhaps because it’s more accessible. When Olli was competing in children-on-horses four years ago, there were many pony teams at the European Championships. This year, there were 23 children-on-horses teams compared with just 10 pony teams. Pony jumping is due for a review or, as I predicted then, this trend will continue.

Ref Horse & Hound; 24 October 2019

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Since my last column, my husband and I have managed to get away on a four-day mini break — no horses, no children. This is a rarity for a cross-discipline horsey couple. In fact, I had a few cheeky comments on my Instagram surprised to see that Mark really exists, as he does not feature as much as the horses do on my social media.

I still haven’t nailed hashtags nor how or why to share “couply” pictures with lots of people. I am quite a private person really, but I suppose its all about moving with the times.

This brings me on to the newly revived topic of a shortened grand prix, again to be trialled at Olympia. I believe it’s a great idea in theory to have a test that challenges the top-level combinations enough, but that still allows for a bit more “show” and post-test banter.

I just hope it works a lot better than last year’s attempt did in practice and that, as Carl Hester promised, it “will still flow”.

I am not sure about the argument it will put less wear and tear on the horses. They are worked the same in preparation and in all of their training at home — where the majority of the repetitive strain injuries happen — whether it’s a five-minute or a seven-minute test.

I do, however, agree that short and sweet can be more appealing in terms of broadcasting and the crowd appeal. It will also lead to a slight dilemma for selectors as they have to compare results from different grand prix tests, but again, if we want to stay relevant as a sport, we need to be open to trying new things. Let’s watch this space.

Homework time

While soaking up the last of the European summer sun, I started thinking about the winter months to come, when it’s easy to lose motivation.

I shouldn’t complain as I start to take shelter in my indoor school while my eventing friends spend many months feeling like drowned rats. Still, the darkness, the hacking in the rain and the muddy horses after paddock time is definitely not quite as appealing as the months just gone by, even for us spoilt dressage riders.

However, I always see the winter as my prep time. It’s a valuable opportunity to do homework, focusing on the things that I learnt about my horses during the summer show season. Where did they score well and where did they drop marks? What types of arena did they struggle more with? Asking self-critical questions is the key to moving forwards.

This winter I will be taking my up-and-coming horses to smaller practice shows, especially as my season was cut short by the arrival of my third child. I use the national shows to practise between bigger international competitions.

I have catching up to do with some and consolidating to do with others. I set myself goals for each horse. What do I want each one to have achieved or be ready to achieve come next spring? This gives me the motivation to kick on through the winter, even if it’s starting to get darker and wetter.

Make sure you have some breeches one size bigger than your usual, so that you can fit that extra layer underneath. And always make sure the kitchen cupboard is stocked with hot chocolate and marshmallows for the really rubbish days.

Ref Horse & Hound; 24 October 2019

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We have known for nearly three years that the 2020 Olympic eventing will run on a three-to-a-team, all-scores-to-count format, but with Boekelo running the Nations Cup in this format, fans and riders have started to take in how it works.

Having worked through the format to write a guide for the H&H website, I believe one of the most confusing parts is that in some cases of elimination, a rider can continue in the subsequent phase(s) or be substituted. In other cases, the team must carry non-completion penalties in the next phase(s) as well as in the one the rider was actually eliminated in. Knowing which elimination is which is crucial.

The competition will be more confusing than the traditional drop-score format.

At Boekelo, the only teams who used the substitution rule were well down the leaderboard. But that won’t necessarily be the case in Tokyo. It doesn’t sit comfortably for any team bringing in a substitute rider — or one who showjumps despite not completing the cross-country — to receive a medal.

We are stuck with this format for Tokyo, so complaints are pointless. Instead, becoming an expert will impress during tack-room gossip next summer.

Washout October

I planned to write about Dauntsey and Tweseldown in this column, with Sunday runs planned at both fixtures, but both events had to abandon.

I was climbing into the car by the time Dauntsey pulled the plug, but having walked the course at Tweseldown on Saturday, I thought it was probably even odds whether the event would run, so the 5.20am text wasn’t a surprise.

While it’s disappointing for everyone — and financially devastating for organisers — we are lucky to have swift, multi-platform communication when events cancel. Riders appreciate the fact that Tweseldown, Calmsden and Weston Park all abandoned before 5.45am.

I thought the BE90 course at Tweseldown walked strong, particularly in the wet conditions, and Saturday’s results bore this out. It’s rare to have a turn or skinny fence out of water at this level, and both at Tweseldown had a curving line and an accuracy question.

The final three-part combination on a curving line was also demanding, but wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow on perfect ground.

All credit to British Eventing (BE) and Nigel Taylor at Aston-le-Walls for trying to provide extra competition opportunities with the new fixture on 25-26 October, including a rescheduled BE90 regional final from Dauntsey. The opportunity to qualify for Badminton means so much to grassroots riders. While not everyone will be able to reroute, there were already 64 in this class and 325 entries in total less than a week after entries opened.

Ref Horse & Hound; 24 October 2019

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I’m writing this the day after Team Ireland’s incredible victory in the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, and the meaning of it all is just starting to sink in. What a feeling!

Our performance as a group personified the meaning of grit, determination and perhaps something that has eluded us as a unit on other occasions — team spirit. The big question from everyone in the past has been — why do the Irish perform so well individually, but can’t seem to get it right on the team days?

My theory is that the jumping calendar is action-packed with so many competitions on a weekly basis that the old days of building towards a huge goal are no longer, as people have a goal every week.

It felt different in Barcelona. Every one of us knew we had a job to do and the expectations were high. The weight of the country was on our shoulders.

It was nice to see that so many Irish people travelled to Barcelona to support the team in our quest for Olympic qualification. Not only did we qualify for Tokyo but we won the competition outright, which itself is a major feat as 18 countries lined up on day one, with eight making the cut for the final.

‘The pressure is off’

Paul O’Shea, Peter Moloney, Darragh Kenny and I are thrilled to have secured an Irish team place for Tokyo 2020, and it somewhat takes the pressure off for a few months, then we can all plan our campaigns to peak at the right time next summer. Indeed, it offers hope and opportunity to other Irish riders who may have a horse coming through that could possibly aim for these Olympics.

The strength in depth of the Irish talent is the envy of the equestrian world, and now we need to capitalise on that at home through investment in infrastructure and facilities in order to have the best training grounds for the next generation of horse and rider.

The Olympics is something that has consumed my life for over 20 years. When I started, I somewhat cockily put on the side of my truck, “Working towards the summer Olympics 2004”. We went to that Olympic Games and we won it.

History tells what happened next and it was a tough period in my life, but I battled to get to the London Olympics in 2012 and I won a bronze medal there, something I will have forever.

Since then, we’ve struggled to qualify for the Games, so obviously it’s very emotional to be part of this great squad and to now have a chance to go to Tokyo.

It gives a great impetus to other people to get behind the team, to get behind the Irish riders, to look for horses before the end of the year and possibly support them for the Olympics.

The Olympics are the place to be and now we must start to plan how Team Ireland can win Olympic gold in Japan.

Ref Horse & Hound; 17 October 2019

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For many years now, I have been noticing how few boys are getting involved in dressage at a younger age. It concerns and frustrates me that there are many talented young male riders out there who are not pursuing the sport, and it’s made me wonder why this is and what we can do about it.

Perhaps it’s just that boys are attracted to faster, adrenalin-fuelled disciplines; after all, like many boys, I started with eventing, hunting and polo. But then I realised that I enjoyed the detail and discipline required for dressage.

At school, the sports I was strongest in were diving, swimming and athletics — I liked individual sports where I took responsibility for my own actions, and in dressage I am out there performing on my own with the horse.

A lot of the time it comes down to image, and an idea that dressage — despite its roots in the military, is a “girlie” sport. I got some stick at school when some friends saw me hacking — although it didn’t stop me, often that isn’t the case and it puts off younger male riders.

Dressage is both thrilling and rewarding, and it rattles me if people say it’s for “wimps”. You need to be quick and brave to ride and train a dressage horse with so much power and the attitude that often comes with it.

But perhaps it’s that many men seek more instant gratification than dressage tends to provide — you have to stick at it in order to reap the rewards, and could it be that many young males are less inclined to put in the commitment needed?

Better marketing

In countries such as Spain and Germany, dressage is a much more male-orientated sport, and I have just returned from visiting the Spanish Riding School in Vienna where, ironically, female riders have only been accepted in the past 10 years. This is great for equality, but what are we doing in Britain to make our sport attractive to all? There are several men among our very top riders, but at the lower levels it’s a different story, and I fear there will be fewer men making it through to the top.

Much of it comes down to the marketing of our sport. I recently saw a poster for dressage in my local region, which featured lots of smiling young faces — all of them female. I think this can be improved, so we are portraying the idea that dressage is for all.

Recruiting males

I think there should be more emphasis placed on the opportunities available within the children-on-horses division, too. The world of competitive pony dressage is short and pressurised, which perhaps some boys find off-putting.

Many boys also shoot up in height between the ages of 12 and 14, and look ridiculous on ponies — I know I did, so I rode horses from an early age. Boys and girls competing in children on horses can build partnerships that will take them through juniors, young riders and, sometimes, even to under-25 grand prix.

We need to find better ways to recruit male riders and give them a taster of dressage, which could help change their perceptions of the sport. Could schools work with local riding schools to help provide more opportunities for pupils to ride? It could help us find the next Carl Hester.

Ref Horse & Hound; 17 October 2019

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The end of the European season draws near with just the young horses in Le Lion d’Angers and Pau left to go.

The evolution of the sport into the modern era has produced unbelievable excitement and entertainment, but having spent two days watching FEI TV from Boekelo, I find the Olympic format for next year impossible to follow.

This is not something that the International Olympic Committee, national federations or the FEI eventing committee want — it has been imposed on us by higher authority within the FEI, in an attempt to get one format for all disciplines. Not even the commentators on FEI TV could make head or tail of it.

This is not the sport I’ve grown up with over the past 50 years. We had riders showjumping, having fallen and not finished the day before.

We had substitutions with a team penalty of 20 faults, so commentators had no idea if the standings after cross-country would be the same the next day or whether there were going to be tactical or veterinary substitutions.

Anyone trying to convince me that this format is easier to understand is pushing water up hill. I cannot come to terms with the possibility of someone winning a medal having not even started the cross-country — and why go to the expense of flying a reserve horse to Tokyo and then not running it?

Having said that, three in a team and three to count, while completely impractical for eventing — as opposed to dressage and showjumping — puts unbelievable pressure on riders and ups the excitement. One glance-off or fall can spell total disaster for medal chances.

Meanwhile the FEI say they want more flags at the Olympic Games. Yet in Boekelo, Switzerland grabbed the last straightforward team qualification over Belgium and the Netherlands, both of whom have many riders capable of representing eventing in a good light at an Olympics.

There are so many rider from around the world who could help the FEI with their declared “more flags” policy. Yet the FEI continue with an antiquated zone-based qualification system that precludes those who don’t get the chance to compete enough to be well-ranked, and which qualifies nations at three-star level, not knowing whether those riders can even get a certificate of capability for a four star Olympic Games.

Hopefully it is not too much to hope that some common sense is applied, beyond political agenda, before the Olympics in Paris in 2024.

Ditcham does good

I was thrilled to see Adrian Ditcham make success of his inaugural CCI4*-L course-design in Boekelo. I wanted his undoubted talent to succeed me at Luhmühlen, but he did not think it was the right moment for him. He had Sue Benson as course advisor, with her experience of designing under the cloud of Dutch politics, but hopefully this will kick off a long career at the higher levels.

On a personal level I was thrilled to see my daughter Zara come to terms with how she has to ride Class Affair to get a top-10 finish, after glance-offs at Burghley and Blenheim.

Similarly, Laura Collett’s victory on London 52 was an excellent performance, totally unrecognisable from her ride at the Europeans.

Ref Horse & Hound; 17 October 2019

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Modern medicines licensed for equine use have undergone rigorous testing before they become available for your vet to prescribe. All drugs, from antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to wormers and pain-relief medications, will have been thoroughly evaluated before being allowed on to the market.

One of the frustrations for vets is that there are limited numbers of effective drugs licensed for use in horses, as the costs and procedures required to license any new treatment can be prohibitive. Inevitably, even with the best treatment options, there are drawbacks — especially where a treatment is misused.

A course of antibiotics that is not completed, for instance, or something prescribed for one horse that is given to another, may do more harm than good. If a standard treatment at a dose appropriate for a large, adult horse is used in a young foal or a small pony, the result can be catastrophic.

Certainly, some drugs are safer than others, with a minimal chance of things going wrong even if an overdose is administered. Other medicines have much narrower margins of safety and need to be given exactly as directed to avoid complications.

So many factors can influence how effective a drug treatment is and whether it may cause unwelcome side-effects.

These include the age of the horse, his general health, other treatments he is receiving and the dosage.

Many treatments are not recommended for use in the pregnant mare, because of the possible harmful effects. In many cases the risk is simply unknown, so the recommendation is to err on the side of caution — especially in the early stages of pregnancy.

As an equine vet, it can be sometimes surprising to observe the reaction of owners to potential side-effects. Some are seriously worried about certain medications, but not at all about others. The level of concern may be totally disproportionate to the degree of risk.

Such fears are usually unfounded, but it can be hard to reassure when there is always a small chance that something will go wrong. The benefits of a licensed medication will always outweigh the risks; this is part of the authorisation process.

Dangerous doses

Phenylbutazone, sometimes referred to as bute, is one of the medications most commonly prescribed for horses.

There is a lot of research on the benefits and administration of such painkilling medications in horses. Even so, it seems that they are sometimes given randomly by owners, without any diagnosis, or in much larger doses than recommended.

Like all effective drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) — particularly the widely used phenylbutazone — can occasionally cause unwanted side-effects. The two most widely-recognised complications are gastrointestinal ulceration, which can affect the mouth, stomach or intestines, and also kidney damage, particularly in a dehydrated horse.

Some horses receiving phenylbutazone or similar drugs can develop low blood protein levels in association with ulceration. Rarely, some will develop the extreme adverse reaction of right dorsal colitis — a severe form of inflammatory bowel disease. Adverse events are more likely in horses that are off their feed, dehydrated, already have some form of gastrointestinal disease or are otherwise ill, so careful monitoring including blood testing, where necessary, is important.

It can be challenging to know whether an unexpected response to a treatment is a true side-effect or adverse reaction, or just an unfortunate coincidence. After all, a horse is prescribed medication because he is already unwell, so there may be a deterioration despite — and not because of — the prescribed treatment.

Laminitis is a common condition, with many horses and ponies developing the condition frequently. Some animals that develop laminitis will have been prescribed corticosteroids (often termed steroids), yet this does not necessarily indicate cause and effect. In fact, an increasing body of evidence suggests there is no definite link between steroid usage and laminitis.

Many of the anecdotal cases where horses given steroids then developed the condition were reported before the actual causes of laminitis were as clearly understood as they are now.

We now know that metabolic dysfunction as a result of obesity or pituitary dysfunction is the key reason for the development of laminitis. Although there are, theoretically, reasons why steroids might exacerbate equine metabolic dysfunction, they cannot be blamed entirely.

Scientific evidence includes an electronic search of more than 70,000 clinical records, covering a 26-year period, which showed that apparent links between laminitis and steroids disappeared when such large numbers were studied. There is so much else to consider — the type and amount of steroids used, for instance, as well as the patient’s overall health.

There is some work demonstrating that steroid therapy represents a lower risk than routine anti-infective therapy. It is therefore unreasonable for many owners to be so wary of steroids.

Granted, steroids are a double-edged sword that can slow healing, yet they can also be a life-saving treatment — especially a one-off injection of a short-acting steroid, or tablets that can be stopped if complications ensue.

Reporting concerns

When one reflects on the risks of a treatment, the multitude of factors involved makes scientific studies hard to interpret.

The way any substance is used is crucial. If, or when, there is any adverse reaction or recognised side-effect, this should be properly documented to provide definite data. There is a robust official system, so report your concerns to protect horses in the future.

For every effective medical treatment prescribed, there may be a downside. Yet while it makes sense to consider the possible side-effects, there is no need to avoid using a useful therapy option because of anecdotal reports of problems.

It is far better to rely on scientific evidence, as well as doing an appropriate risk assessment with your vet. Proper proof is more important than remembering one case that might have gone wrong, when the circumstances of each horse under treatment may be entirely different.

Ref Horse & Hound; 10 October 2019

Harry Meade has scored his first win at four-star level — riding a horse he has had for just two weeks.

The British rider claimed the CCI4*-L at Strzegom, Poland, last week (10-13 October) riding Superstition, who won Millstreet Event Rider Masters in September with his former rider, New Zealand’s Lucy Jackson.

The 10-year-old bay gelding, who belonged to Lucy and Gillian Greenlees, has been bought for Harry by his long-term owner Mandy Gray.

Lucy told H&H: “My sister Sophie Lane broke ‘Stinky’ in and took him to the Burghley young event horse final, where he came fifth. I then bought him, strongly encouraged by Mum who was his biggest fan.

“When he was a six-year-old, the Greenlees joined me in owning him — they have been owners with me for 12 years and are almost like family. They deserved their shot at a brilliant horse and were really excited to be involved.

“It’s no exaggeration to say Tokyo has been a bit of a goal and it wasn’t our intention to sell, but he had caught a lot of people’s attention in a positive way. He wasn’t on the market, but if someone makes a significant offer, you have to be realistic — horses are my living, We’ve got a two-and-a-half-year-old child, rent to pay and new businesses to get involved in.”

Harry added: “Lucy is a good friend and it wasn’t on my radar at all, but when Mandy and I saw him in passing at Millstreet, I said that he’s a lovely horse and after following him there she asked if he might be for sale.

“I’ve ridden for Mandy for seven years — I started off riding a tricky horse for her that she’d bought to ride herself, as a favour, and we got on really well. She’s been involved in the sport for a long time, but I didn’t know she’d be in the market to buy a horse of that calibre so it was a really welcome surprise.”

Mandy also currently owns Monbeg Medlar with Harry, who they bought as a five-year-old and is now at three-star level.

Lucy was aiming Superstition at Blenheim, but she didn’t feel she could take the horse there not knowing if he was being sold.

“Once the conversation had started, I was keen to know one way or the other and it happened quickly,” she said. “It was a huge honour to be back on a New Zealand [training] squad after Bramham and I felt horrific telling the federation, but they were very supportive, if very sad.

“I am relieved and delighted he is going to such a good rider where he will be looked after beautifully. Harry and I are good friends, so the line of communication is open and all the things it’s taken me seven or eight years to learn — his likes and dislikes — I can pass on.

“I’m now definitely on the hunt for his replacement — I’m aware they are big shoes to fill, but he has only whetted my appetite for success at the big time.”

Harry added that he and Lucy had spoken every day since he took over the horse on 26 September –

“It’s been a real team effort and we’re having a lot of fun working together,” he said.

The pair’s first competition together was Kelsall Hill open intermediate two days later. Superstition then went to Osberton, where Harry was competing other horses, so he could continue getting to know him. Harry arrived back at midnight on the Sunday night after Osberton and the pair set off for Strzegom in the early hours of Monday morning.

“We could have gone down the easier path of getting to know each other over the winter, but horses are different at events and we’d come out next March still not really knowing each other,” said Harry. “I was aware it was risky and it might not come off, but now it feels like we’ve been together six months. We’ve learnt a lot about each other and now he can have a break. We can then come out next season as a partnership, rather than still introducing ourselves.”

Harry and Superstition were second after dressage at Strzegom on a score of 28 — to fellow Brits Kylie Roddy and Carden Earl Grey — but they put in one of only two clears inside the time across country to move up to first place. One show jump down and two time-faults secured their win, four marks ahead of Andrew Hoy and his top horse Vassily De Lassos in second, the other pair to make the time across country.

“He’s a little horse, athletic and flamboyant. He’s dead keen as well, and a bright, intelligent horse. Lucy had done the most lovely job on him — she has a really good old-fashioned way of producing her young horses, building their confidence and strength. I feel very lucky to be taking him on,” said Harry.

“I was mindful that cross-country we would be learning about each other en route and I needed to adjust and adapt as we went to suit him, but you also can’t be too passive – horses stay confident from your confidence as a rider, so I was conscious I needed to adapt to him, but also be positive and let him adapt to me too.”

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Harry’s result this weekend means he is halfway to being individually qualified for Tokyo with Superstition, but he stressed that was not the reason for going to Strzegom.

“The reason for coming here was to get to know each other; Tokyo is a long way away and if we were in the running I’d grab it with both hands, but there’s lots to do between now and then,” he said.

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There has been a bit of furore at the news that British Dressage (BD) is to close the online members’ forum. I say a “bit of”, as only about 200 of 17,000 BD members are active on it, and while I appreciate the value of a member-to member chat area, I totally understand the decision.

It can’t be the best use of time for a governing body’s staff to be doing the labour-intensive job of monitoring a forum — but it does need to be monitored, as part of the governing body’s website — nor can it be the best use of funds, at £16-24,000, to build one as part of the new website.

It’s worth noting that neither British Eventing (BE) nor British Showjumping currently have a forum, and that in the BD survey sent out earlier this year the forum scored quite low in importance to members. BD is looking at a whole host of other interactive platforms for members — for example a running noticeboard with updates on popular subjects, an “ask the experts” on Facebook live chat and Q&A sessions on Twitter. The advantage of opening up so many new avenues is that hopefully all members will find one they like, and that BD communications staff can get on with communicating to the outside world.

A question of harmonisation

Another subject of vociferous discussion among some has been the vaccination rule, which makes six monthly boosters against equine flu mandatory. I’m afraid as professionals we see this as a matter of course; we have to comply with FEI requirements, so in fact it’s a question of harmonisation and I for one applaud BD for leading the way on this, along with BE.

Sometimes horses do get sore after a jab but you just have to factor that in when planning, and allow for a few days of easy work or time off.

Similarly, it’s a brave step to update the rules on hyperflexion and blood, making clear that the former is neither permitted nor tolerated, and updating the wording on the latter to reflect FEI rules.

I applaud BD in tackling both these issues head-on with action and process. We’re all agreed that horse welfare comes first and the fact that rollkur is mentioned in the rule book, along with the consequences if judges or stewards see it, is good in terms of transparency.

A great experience

I’m not getting excited about Christmas just yet, but I am looking forward to being one of the presenters of the Olympia masterclass extravaganza, to be held before the grand prix. This, together with other initiatives to liven up the grand prix — interviews and music, building on last year — will make for a fabulous spectator experience.

During a positive session in Germany attended by Isabell Werth, Monica Theodorescu and Olympia’s dressage technical consultant Richard Davison, among others, a good five-minute grand prix test was agreed on. This will cut the risk of wear and tear on horses during the indoor season — the main reason behind shortening the grand prix — yet will still flow. So let’s hope this test gets approval from the FEI for use in Olympia’s pilot class this year. It will be challenging to ride, and great to watch.

Ref Horse & Hound; 10 October 2019

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The Osberton organisers did a really great job to keep the show on the road last week. They made the best decisions possible to preserve the ground — they didn’t let anyone onto the site until Wednesday, cancelling all the dressage on Wednesday and moving it to Thursday and Friday. And, when the weather forecast showed that Saturday night was going to be very wet, they changed Sunday’s timetable to allow the ground time to dry out. They also cancelled all arena familiarisation.

All of these actions meant the ground didn’t get trashed. We are so fortunate in Britain to be able to compete at wonderful venues, and the fact that everything was done to avoid destroying the land should help keep the venue in the calendar.

The going was unbelievably good, considering the weather, and I think the cross-country courses were the best I have seen from Stuart Buntine.

They were very strong, and caused a lot of problems, but they were right for the level. All the questions were fair, including the troublesome rail-ditch-rail, which caught plenty of people out, including me on two of my rides.

The problem lay not in the fence itself but in the fact that courses at national one-day events don’t consistently serve to prepare horses properly for these internationals. Burghley was the prime example, but it filters down through all the levels. I think there is a lack of variety in questions and a lack of tougher questions at “normal” events; riders are able to find soft qualifying routes which then leave them and their horses underprepared at the three-days.

I know cost is probably a big factor, but there seems to be something of a “one fence fits all” theme at many one days. Giving riders a tough direct route and a longer, easier option would mean young horses can be jumped round without being intimidated, but those on the upgrade can gain experience and be tested.

What a pair

Piggy French and Ros Canter, winners of all four CCI classes between them, are a remarkable pair.

Piggy is one of the best ambassadors for the sport we have. She and her husband Tom March are an amazing team — he plays a very significant role in her success behind the scenes. She has now beaten Michael Jung’s record of 13 international wins in a season.

It’s incredible to see Ros come back with such a bang after having her baby — that’s three international classes she has won in two weeks. Ros is such a down-to-earth, hard-working woman who trains her horses so well and so correctly.

Moving on up

For my part, it has been a difficult year, but a move to a new, purpose-built yard near Rutland Water is very exciting. It should be a fantastic place from which to train horses and compete.

The sport moves on every year, and the best get better. Horsepower plays a huge part in that. I have been lucky enough to get some new horses and owners as the season has gone on to add to the loyal support of the existing team. I will be working hard with them throughout the winter to be ready to be as competitive as possible next season, and to improve the depth of my string further.

Ref Horse & Hound; 10 October 2019

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The summer is now behind us, and with the crops harvested, hunting has started. By now everyone will have got going and will be enjoying the sound of hounds early in the morning.

As a huntsman, this is a truly selfish time. You are fully entitled to indulge yourself in your hounds with the knowledge that this is their time and not that of providing entertainment for an expectant field. The hounds need time to settle back into hunting mode. For the young hounds this will be a time of learning; some will relish this new chapter, while for others it will all be a little confusing for a while.

Over the years I have often found that those young hounds that have been such a handful during summer exercise are often the slowest to get going. Those quieter ones that simply do as they are asked just disappear into the pack and get on with it.

Patience is not normally one of my strong points, but when it comes to hounds you have to be patient. Very often hounds which did not enter well the previous year will show why it was worth persevering with them and will be among the best as time goes on.

What a special time this is for the new huntsman as he or she assesses his or her hounds in the hunting field.

Mistakes will be inevitably made and, no doubt, they will be pointed out by the hunt hierarchy. This is not to say the advice should not be gratefully received.

Every huntsman hunts hounds in a slightly different way. This will have something to do with the type of country they are hunting, the country that they have previously been used to or simply who they have been trained by.

It is, though, important to adapt accordingly. The hounds that you take over will not be the same as the ones that you have left behind, so may well need handling in a different way. This is a challenge that the new huntsman should relish. It is far easier to ruin a pack of hounds than to make one.

There should be no pressure for the new huntsman to perform miracles; they should be supported and nurtured and allowed the time to get to know their hounds properly.

Teamwork

We have some fantastic field masters but, with a few twists of fate, we need some new additions to the team. How hard can it be to get someone to take up the challenge?

Firstly, you need someone who crosses the country well and has the horsepower to do so. It is essential they get to know their “patch” as well as they possibly can. Land changes hands regularly, as do farming practices, so there is always something new to learn. This will involve hours of walking the country before a day’s hunting.

A good memory for names, places and people is helpful, alongside a sense of direction. They need to know where they can go and can’t go; this knowledge will be essential for retaining good will and access.

On the day they will be doing their best to entertain the field and stay in touch with the hounds without getting in their way. In time, confidence and understanding will grow between field master and huntsman.

It is not an easy task and all of this must be carried out with a firm but fair command of the field, but with the knowledge that everyone behind them is there to have fun.

Good luck to all those of you who are kind enough to take up the challenge.

Ref Horse & Hound; 10 October 2019

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This year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) had its ups and downs for me, but it was an amazing experience — people dream of jumping at HOYS and I hope I have a chance to compete in the international classes again.

I had some strange luck this weekend but the horses all jumped really well.

Galway Bay Jed, who won on the first day, was just incredible and did nothing wrong all week — not even on Sunday when I fell off in the grand prix.

I got to the combination on a completely different stride to everyone else and I think he was a victim of just jumping the previous fence too well. I can’t fault him at all.

The Andrews Bowen surface was great in the main arena, the horses had a lot of spring off it and that’s probably part of the reason there were so many clears in the grand prix, because the track wasn’t soft at all.

David Simpson was first to go in the first round and he made it look so easy. He’s really found some form on Gentlemen VH Veldhof and works so hard for it. It’s nice to see him have a good win.

It did seem that HOYS was missing some of its faster foreign riders this year, but the ones who were there had a very good show and loved the crowd. It’s not an atmosphere you find everywhere.

We lost some riders, such as Laura Renwick, to shows like Vilamoura this week, where you can jump four rankings classes in a weekend.

The prize-money at HOYS does seem to have dropped, and people don’t want to be pushing it in a 1.45m if there are no ranking points and you win £3,000, when you can win twice that elsewhere. Considering the entertainment the showjumpers give, it would be lovely if HOYS could offer a bit more.

Ref Horse & Hound; 10 October 2019

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Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) is unique. It’s the one every competitor really wants to win, as the results are the most remembered.

When I enjoyed my first taste of success there in 1972, it was a far cry from what exhibitors experience today with so many extra classes. The preliminary judging took place outside on a black cinders surface, on the site of the Wembley Conference Centre. The conformation phase was judged on the adjacent Wembley Stadium car park and the concrete would certainly test the soundness of the animals.

The top eight from each class went forward to the afternoon final judging and presentation inside the Empire Pool Arena. Then, the results were revealed in the privacy of the collecting ring as the competitors’ numbers were read out in the order you entered the ring, led by the winner.

These days, even though the early judging times and evening exercise slots are not ideal, we must look at the bigger picture and appreciate how lucky we are that this wonderful grand finale still takes place when other institutions, such as Thomas Cook, have fallen by the wayside in these uncertain times.

Set to test

Show ponies are a high priority of mine at HOYS. Performance judge Tom Barron was looking for accuracy in his set show that tested the jockeys and simultaneously entertained the spectators. It was incredulous that one simple element — a five-second halt from trot, half-way through the change of rein — could have so much influence on the outcome.

I thought some exhibits during the week, including several winners, were too plump. In fact, Tom’s co-judge Christine Pearsall told me that she deducted marks when the ponies were “too well covered”.

A special mention must be made of Rotherwood Rainmaker’s incredible record-breaking sixth HOYS 128cm win.

However, the championship fell to a new face on the circuit this season. Stretcholt New Dimension was simply outstanding, on only his seventh show ring appearance.

Shift in focus

Has the ridden part-bred pony class — which was introduced five years ago also to showcase part-bred natives — been high-jacked by part-bred Arab show ponies? Looking at the list of previous winners and including this year’s champion Drakemyre Puttin On The Ritz, it would appear so.

Consequently, would it not be better to make this into a more familiar part-bred/Anglo-Arab class or section to include the larger height category, particularly with the demise of the Cherif championship final?

In my capacity as British Show Horse Association chairman, I had the pleasure of presenting the rosettes in the ladies’ show horse final won by Francoise Babington.

Apart from winning the HOYS working hunter pony championship with Young Dragonara back in 1996, Francoise also headed the 128cm show pony class twice (1989 and 1990) with Covenham Sensation. Interestingly, the 2019 working hunter victor Hayden Hankey won the show pony championship on Sensation a year later, becoming the second boy to take the title. Here’s to another 70 years!

Ref Horse & Hound; 10 October 2019

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New York has been a great venue for the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) final. I expected it to be a little more difficult to get around, but it worked out to be really simple using the ferries. The views were amazing, the ring and warm-up were a really good size and there was plenty of space for the horses to walk around.

The arena surface was a little loose on the first day, but the team worked hard on it and it improved every day. This is typical of the LGCT — Jan Tops is at every show checking everything and if something isn’t right, he gets it fixed. I don’t know how he has the energy, but it means the tour steps up every year. The standard and the level of prize money is always increasing.

The final has previously been later in the year, in Doha, but the new date means horses can go to New York, then have a good break before the GC Playoffs in Prague.

With the Nations Cup final in Barcelona just a week after New York, riders had to prioritise as horses couldn’t do both. The likes of Pieter Devos and Ben Maher — who were in with a shout of the overall title — chose to bring their best horses to New York, while I am taking my top horse — Ann Thompson’s Balou Du Reventon — to Barcelona, because it’s Ireland’s final chance to earn a ticket to the Olympics.

The Irish team all know we need to get this done — we didn’t do well enough at the Europeans and we have to put everything into trying to qualify for Tokyo.

On to Prague

I haven’t done that many LGCT shows this year, but I’ve had an incredible tour, with four top-four grand prix placings, including a win in Chantilly.

It’s usually older horses who do well at Globals because they are experienced in smaller rings, but I’m particularly excited about the horse I own with Ann, Classic Dream, a nine-year-old who was incredible in London and would have been clear in the grand prix at Saint Tropez, too, had I not made a stupid mistake.

Our Global Champions League (GCL) team, the Paris Panthers, was unlucky — Yuri Mansur should have been a major part of the campaign but some of his horses suffered injuries, although we still had some decent results.

The strongest teams are those with on-form, consistent riders, on horses they know well. London Knights, for example, have been a solid team for three years, with the same riders and experienced horses.

I did a stint commentating at the LGCT in Rome, which was fun although I’d rather be in the ring! My co-commentator Steve Hadley knows so much about the sport so it was interesting to talk through the classes with him. As a rider you tend only to concentrate on a few top riders or the horses who go like yours, whereas watching in detail I could clearly see where and why faults came.

This will be my first year jumping the super grand prix in Prague. Last year it was such a fun show — the venue is class, the showjumping was intense and Balou feels in very good form, so it should be really enjoyable to do it this year.

Ref Horse & Hound; 3 October 2019

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Hooray for the new Area Festival format! It’s easy to follow, and will now be twice a year — what’s not to like?

This is a real boost to the British Dressage (BD) calendar, but it does leave us with two silver national champions at some levels.

The old restricted section was dominated by “stable jockeys” and the silver seems to have attracted the same. Would it be better to leave the silver section at Area Festivals, and just have one class at nationals at novice, elementary, medium and advanced medium?

Or maybe it’s better to have two silver sections, so stable jockeys who wish to ride in silver can compete at regionals and Area Festivals can return to being a championship for grassroots riders — albeit very good ones!

A ‘people’s champs’

The inter II has been dropped for this new format and as the grand prix is still the smallest class at the national championships I’m hoping that there are plans afoot for riders who have reached the higher levels. Often these riders have been strong supporters of BD, attending many shows and training sessions on their journey up the grades, so it’s important they have an incentive to continue and don’t feel disregarded.

The timing of the national championships in September has been discussed time and time again and doesn’t look like changing. Perhaps it’s better to accept that the very top combinations won’t be there as they will have just competed at a major championship, and make it more of a “people’s championship”, with a bigger grand prix class as the pinnacle of the season.

An exciting class

It was interesting to watch Philip Hess as the young horse ride judge at the nationals. He has a different riding style to the rider of the past two years, Eva Möller. Philip rides very naturally, whereas Eva “presented” them in a young horse show style. Under Philip, any tendency towards a slow hind leg was quickly discovered as he let each horse go in its own way.

Having foreign judges who have not come across these horses before is great. It will be interesting to see which of those horses get to grand prix; I wonder how many horses in the grand prix once competed in the young horse classes.

Time for a new-look nationals

There was a high-quality entry but a few overexcited horses in the inter I music championship, and Sophie Wells looked as though she was really going to give Charlotte a run for her money until a line of beautiful, but unneeded, one-tempis scuppered her chances.

I agree with Spencer Wilton that a plan should be put in place so that outbursts of applause don’t occur during tests at the new venue. To perform at the top level horses do have to be able to cope with atmospheres, but it’s a shame to see tests spoiled and it’s hard to prepare for as it doesn’t happen at other shows.

It’s definitely time for a new-look nationals and I’m excited for next year. Although they were kept beautifully clean, the HS2 train line can’t go through those Stoneleigh toilets quickly enough for my liking!

Ref Horse & Hound; 3 October 2019

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I buy and sell a lot of horses so I see the process from both sides. Last week, I tried to buy six horses. Two came through their vettings perfectly, while two I quickly dismissed.

The others showed mild radiograph abnormalities. I got several opinions on the images and they were all completely contrasting. In the end, I couldn’t take the risk — not that the horses would go lame, but that I’d be unable to sell them.

Last year we spent over £20,000 on “failed” vettings. These costs must be funded by the horses we do buy. I leave 45% of horses I have vetted, but frequently see some of them successfully competing at the top level years later.

H&H’s fascinating article on X-rays revealed many horses are working with a range of radiographic abnormalities which don’t result in lameness. This raises one issue; understandably, buyers don’t want to take the risk as we all assume a “clean set” of X-rays are required for a horse to remain sound. Therefore, my buying power is limited to what I can sell, rather than what is actually acceptable.

My second issue is vets interpreting the same X-rays totally differently. These major discrepancies can ruin my business. One vet can dismiss a horse on a set of X-rays, while another viewing the same set won’t raise a single issue. Many super partnerships have been lost due to this bizarre problem and it causes me great confusion when buying and selling.

There is no easy fix. I’d like to see more research into what abnormalities actually cause problems. However, I assume the findings will be complicated by multiple factors, such as conformation and core strength.

Finally, vets need protection so purchasers can’t pursue them legally. Vets are under too much pressure to predict soundness way into the future and can become wary of standing behind their genuine opinion as a consequence.

A long-term future

Our business is selling horses but we treat them as if we’ll have them forever. Young horse classes are a brilliant bench mark for rising stars and test them against their peers, but not all young superstars conform to the programme.

We have five-year-olds competing at novice, while some have just done their first event.

In producing eventers, our job is to train them to be safe, competitive — and enthusiastic. Many horses cut out mentally before they reach the top level. Sometimes we look for physical findings; it’s often a combination of the mental and physical that inhibits performance.

When a young horse is growing they are prone to soreness and are often unbalanced, so a rider is always correcting them. This must be deflating for a horse, especially if they are already feeling a bit rubbish physically.

Through my agency work, I see many horses pushed through these crucial years in a misconceived attempt to gain the maximum profit. I hope sellers and buyers can appreciate the significance of younger horses being allowed to dictate the rate of training and this increasing their value, alongside results. In my experience, it makes little competitive difference by the time the horse is eight years old anyway.

Ref Horse & Hound; 3 October 2019

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Unlike the heart, or other muscles, equine lung function does not improve with training. This means that a horse’s breathing — his respiratory system — is always a limiting factor in his performance.

Equine asthma (EA), in a mild to moderate form, can compromise lung function and, in turn, affect athletic capacity.

The condition causes airway inflammation and mucus accumulation, which increases the resistance to airflow in the horse’s lungs. As a result, less air is inhaled with each breath and more energy is used to move the muscles of the chest. This impairs the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide — meaning that less oxygen-rich blood is delivered to the muscles to power the body during hard or fast exercise.

The more severe the airway inflammation, the greater the reduction in performance. Its significance will also depend on activity, because muscles demand less oxygen for lower intensity exercise.

Up to 80% of thoroughbred racehorses have airway cytology (the study of cells) evidence of mild-moderate EA, with increasing inflammatory cell numbers associated with reduced racing speed. The number of stabled sport horses affected may be even higher, although the association with athletic function is less clear and more individual.

As many as three-quarters of horses presented for high-speed treadmill investigation of poor performance have EA in its mild-moderate form.

Subtle signs

Aside from performance issues, there may be little obvious evidence of mild-moderate EA.

Most of the increased mucus transported up the trachea (windpipe) is swallowed, so only a small amount may be coughed up or appear as nasal discharge. Fewer than half of horses affected display a chronic intermittent cough, which is more common at the beginning of exercise.

Any signs of increased respiratory effort at rest would suggest the presence of severe EA. An exaggerated breathing effort during exercise may be apparent, however, or a prolonged increased breathing rate afterwards.

One prominent feature of mild-moderate EA is airway hyper-responsiveness — the development of bronchoconstriction (narrowed airways) and a cough during exposure to an allergenic environment, which in a normal horse would have no effect. The condition most commonly occurs in a stable setting, although a summer version also exists.

Typically, clinical signs will have been present for at least four weeks. A more variable history can also occur, however, with spontaneous improvement and worsening that reflects variation in environmental stimuli. Physical examination and bloodwork should be carried out to exclude any evidence of systemic infection.

The main diagnostic test for human asthma is forced exhalation — known as peak flow. After taking a deep breath in, you blow as fast as you can into a peak flow meter. This is repeated frequently and the results are interpreted based upon your age, gender and height.

With horses, it is impossible to confirm a diagnosis of mild-moderate EA using peak flow measurement outside of a research environment. Instead, a two-stage approach is used: airway endoscopy, to visualise and grade tracheal mucus, followed by fluid sampling from the trachea (a tracheal wash) or the lower airways (bronchoalveolar lavage).

Healthy horses have either no visible mucus and are graded 0/5, or only a few isolated specks and are graded 1/5. Poor performance can occur with a tracheal mucus score of 2/5 in racehorses and 3/5 in sport horses.

The fluid from the tracheal wash or bronchoalveolar lavage is then analysed for specific inflammatory cells, namely neutrophils, eosinophils and mast cells. In mild-moderate EA, bronchoalveolar lavage is the recommended sample: a neutrophil percentage of more than 6% in racehorses or 10% in sport horses is sufficient to affect performance.

Positive prognosis

Medical treatment revolves around control of airway inflammation using corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Alongside this, environmental modification is essential. Giving the horse corticosteroid therapy while keeping him in a dusty atmosphere will lead to improved clinical signs and lung function, but airway inflammation will persist and clinical disease will recur at the end of treatment.

In mild-moderate EA there is little bronchoconstriction at rest, so the routine use of bronchodilators (medicines to make breathing easier) is typically not necessary — although they may contribute to improved exercise tolerance during the early stages of corticosteroid treatment.

The most suitable treatment will be based upon clinical signs, exercise tolerance and the results of airway endoscopy and airway fluid sampling. The efficacy of this plan should be monitored by repeat airway fluid sampling, at a suitable interval.

The prognosis is excellent with appropriate treatment and a low-dust environment, since airway remodelling (structural change) does not seem to be a component of the condition. Mild moderate asthma is a reversible condition, but can recur if exposure to allergens recurs. However, progression to severe EA has not been shown.

Ref Horse & Hound; 26 September 2019

Having recently attended the Northern Counties Ponies Association (NCPA) Pony of the Year show, I was particularly impressed with the format used to judge the golden ticket supreme.

Competitors had to have qualified at select shows over the summer organised by the NCPA’s 10 branches. They were then split into four sections according to type and went into a preliminary judging that adopted a regular class format.

The top three from each section continued to a second phase where four new judges were appointed. Each combination was given a mark out of 10 using an ice-skating mark system, where marks are displayed at the end of each performance. This made the championship far more spectator-friendly — and the eventual champion had to impress five judges to bag the £500 cash prize.

I think there would be great scope for this system to be used more widely, as there are benefits for exhibitors and spectators.

I’ve always been a great advocate of the skating mark system, for two reasons. Firstly, you tend to get a more accurate reflection of the performance given on the day, perhaps due to judges being more mindful when they have to hold up a mark for all to see. Secondly, the system allows and encourages riders to push the boundaries a little and they tend to deviate away from a “safe” performance and step it up a notch.

Unacceptable mistakes

With Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) just around the corner, many of us are busy stressing over our horses’ or ponies’ coats, making last-minute preparations and ensuring we are fit enough to endure all the walking involved on the big day. However, I’m disappointed to have seen several incidents this season where incorrect marks or administrative errors have resulted in a more than acceptable number of combinations having sought-after HOYS tickets taken away from them.

I appreciate that anyone can make a mistake and that the qualification isn’t technically awarded until verified by post, but I would like to think that in this day and age, we would have a far more robust system to ensure that these mistakes can’t happen.

I struggle to see how in cases where a pony has won by a considerable margin, these errors can go unnoticed during the presentations. This reinforces the sentiments of Stuart Hollings who rightly stated in his recent column that communication between two judges in the ring is vital.

If judges were to communicate better it would not only reduce the risk of these mistakes being made, but would go a long way to spare the heartache for all involved when such a situation arises. If both judges have marked a horse or pony down as the winner then surely if it was to be called out in second or third place due to an error then it could be rectified before the rosettes are even awarded.

Finally, good luck to all those heading to HOYS. It’s an achievement to get there and anything else is a bonus.

Ref Horse & Hound; 26 September 2019

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It’s a great achievement for Britain to have qualified for the Olympics at the European Championships and it takes the pressure off at the Nations Cup final in Barcelona next week.

The team heads there with some loss of form since winning team bronze in Rotterdam and is missing Ben Maher’s superstar Explosion W. He is without doubt the next Big Star, and although he didn’t win individual gold at the Europeans, pound for pound he’s the best in the world. His percentage rate of jumping clears over 1.60m tracks is unreal.

Instead, Ben will be riding F One USA while Scott Brash has pulled out and has been replaced by Ellen Whitaker.

Great Britain’s best performer is likely to be Holly Smith and Hearts Destiny, who has looked fresh and well since an enforced rest when Holly broke her collarbone.

While the qualifying pressure is off, we need to put a serious plan together for next year. Britain is still not invited to compete in the Nations Cups of Aachen and Calgary and, when you consider they are the two richest shows in the world, we need to be at that table. The four best riders will identify themselves and it will be up to the riders involved to show current form and not rely on past performances.

No disasters please

Looking ahead to next year’s Olympics, there will be a new format in place that the Olympic committee and FEI have put together without much consultation with the International Jumping Riders Club or other rider voices. Let’s hope it doesn’t turn into a complete disaster.

Previously, it took one individual qualifier and two team rounds before reaching the individual final, but now it will go straight to an individual qualifier against the clock, with the top 35 going through.

What kind of course can you build for a speed class but one that is being jumped by championship horses who are not built for speed? The individual final is traditionally built bigger, so how will it affect the less-experienced nations if they are straight in to the toughest tracks?

It’s interesting as riders such as Nick Skelton and Ludger Beerbaum would not have won their medals under this format. It took Nick three rounds in Rio to get into the top 35 and in Barcelona Ludger fell off but ended up Olympic champion. I don’t think it will influence team selection but it will affect the outcome as a lot of horses “grow into” a championship. You could also see a lot of lesser nations torn apart before the team competition even starts.

This is also abuse

Another change coming in is the new whip rule, and you can’t say that a cushioned whip, similar to those used in racing, is a bad idea at all.

I do wonder though whether we should really be addressing riding standards instead. There are some amateurs who would certainly benefit from better education and training, and perhaps some sort of proficiency test would be a more effective move for horse welfare. Missing and crashing on back rails or hanging off horses’ mouths is also abuse, and probably more damaging, too.

Ref Horse & Hound: 26 September 2019

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To many, managing horses is now all about the science. Of course, sensors that measure under-rug temperature and remote training devices can help us no end. But working with another living being is never an exact science.

That’s why apprentices to the horse world need to work on watching, listening, feeling and developing gut instinct. Honing equine sensitivity takes time, common sense and, sometimes, thinking outside the box.

The late, great racehorse trainer Henry Cecil also owned dressage horses. And I once asked him if, when he had two equally good horses entered for the Derby, he could tell which would win?

Yes, he told me. Every morning at silly o’clock when the yard was still quiet, he would creep round his stables watching his horses. Currently, Henry confided at the time, he had a two-year-old called Frankel. Nobody knew it yet, but that horse would be the biggest winner he’d ever had.

I wish I’d placed that bet.

Defying the odds

Some horses need minimal work and more hacks, some need to jump, some need seven days’ riding, some need holidays. And it’s up to us to work it out.

One of my horses, Belmondo, had the following written on his veterinary notes: “Have told the owner to put down and she won’t.” Well, several years of competing and international placings later, he retires this year sound, to teaching. How? No shoes, no boots or bandages, but time in the field with regular work.

I’m a firm believer that with some horses you can work them sound. Riding a horse straight, level and with an even contact, thus working the muscles correctly, can act as a type of physiotherapy.

It can also work with people. When he saw the results of a bad break in my back and a crooked spine, a doctor prescribed no more riding and a disabled car sticker. I was left with a choice; to give up or to try harder not to. So I unretired, doubled my exercise and lowered my blood pressure. My should-be-dead horse and I have loved this season, however unscientifically.

 ‘A valuable lesson’

Another scientific intervention I dislike is results predicted by computerised statistical analysis. Where’s the fun in watching tests with commentators telling us, “This pair is predicted to get 80%”?

Gareth Hughes’ European Championships performance defied those statistics. Gareth, you blew them out the water! Carl Hester, too, is a genius, and Lottie Fry was a superstar.

I hope Charlotte Dujardin will take away a valuable lesson from Rotterdam. Many years ago, I too marked a horse with a spur; it happens and I lost that owner. I learnt my lesson — to move forward, one has to accept with humility the damage done.

We should never hurt horses in any way, and to remain mainstream media friendly, equestrian sport cannot afford horses to have any blood on show. Airbrushing incidents is not the correct approach to take. Racing and now showjumping have air-cushioned whips; is it time spurs were reinvented?

I’ve been asked which is the greater sin, rollkur or blood on the horse’s side. The answer, in my opinion, is both.

Ref Horse & Hound; 26 September 2019

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My season is now over, as I am about to have further treatment for my neck, but it has been a gripping few weeks in which I have been glued to my laptop following the non-stop action.

First, David and I paid our first visit to Millstreet in Ireland to watch Emily compete Brookleigh successfully in the Event Rider Masters.

We were bowled over by all the arenas and the expansive cross-country course with its natural features — the organisers were unlucky that bad weather precluded the use of some interesting fences on low-lying ground — as well as the typical Irish welcome in which they couldn’t do enough for you, and the wild scenery on our drive from Cork airport.

I wish the Duggan family well with their bid to hold the eventing World Championships there in 2022 — it would certainly be a natural home for it.

Then it was the Europeans in Luhmühlen, where Ingrid Klimke and Michael Jung were in a class of their own. Ingrid is so at one with “Bobby” that it’s a delight — every time I see them, they seem to have improved and be more secure — and we should all sit up and listen when Michi says FischerChipmunk FRH is the most naturally talented horse he’s ever had.

However, when they face the rest of the world in Tokyo, the pair may need more back-up if they’re to win team gold.

I was also impressed by the individual bronze medallist, Ireland’s Cathal Daniels, who has not only proved himself to be a great cross-country rider, but who now seems to have gone up a gear in the other phases, and I was pleased for British individual Kitty King, who at last had the chance to shine.

Adrenalin rush

Pippa Funnell is riding on a high; she is making it happen, the results are following and it’s heartwarming to see. Her Burghley win was the stuff of fairytales, but her performance on Billy Walk On at Blenheim was really special — this is a potentially outstanding partnership.

Pippa has had interesting things to say about current attitudes to cross-country riding and I have written before that not enough people are tackling the challenging courses, such as Gatcombe. This showed at Burghley when there were several first-timers who were simply not prepared to a high enough standard.

Learning to ride by the seat of your pants and developing natural reactions will only come from experience, but it is surely not right to qualify for the major events by dodging the more testing courses; for quite a while now, it’s been possible to qualify for five-star by not doing anything too difficult and, sadly, that showed at Burghley.

At Blenheim, David Evans had designed some good “rider” fences. Everything was on an open, forward distance and, for those who tried to add strides, it didn’t come off. I got it wrong at the coffin, which was frustrating as until then I felt King Robert and I were benefiting from the help we’ve had from Chris Burton, whose cross-country riding I greatly admire.

It’s made me realise that, although I’ve also been glued to another sport — the progress of “my” boat in the round-the-world Clipper race, which I will be joining in South Africa in November — it still has nothing on the adrenalin rush of a cross-country morning.

Ref Horse & Hound; 26 September 2019

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Biosecurity may be a buzzword in veterinary circles, but what does it mean for the horse owner in practical terms?

Put simply, biosecurity refers to the good hygiene practices that prevent the transmission of infectious disease. Looking back at the outbreaks of equine flu and strangles that have ravaged the equestrian population this year, causing sickness and yard closures, the need for better protection is clear.

“Infections are constantly circulating, so the threat is always there,” says Fleur Whitlock MRCVS, who stresses that biosecurity is our first line of defence. “By adopting everyday yard hygiene habits, we can work to ensure that our horses stay healthy and infection-free.”

Protect your premises with some simple steps…

Understand the risks

“Biosecurity is applicable to the whole horse population,” says Fleur, emphasising that it’s not just the big, busy yards that need to worry. “It’s important to remember that infectious disease can be spread through direct and indirect contact.

“Infection is more obviously shared through direct horse-to-horse contact, occurring over the stable door or in the field, or at a show or event,” she explains. “But those stay-at-home horses are at risk, too, as we can spread infection on our hands as we touch or handle different animals or move between yards.”

Identify the essentials

The “gold standard” yard biosecurity measures are outlined in the Horserace Betting Levy Board codes of practice (codes.hblb.org.uk). Is it practical to implement all the recommendations, on a regular basis?

“There are many hygiene and management habits that should be undertaken daily,” says Fleur, who highlights examples such as disinfecting feed and water buckets, and cleaning your hands between touching different animals. “While the real benefits are gained when habits are carried out at all times, some may need to be adapted to your individual situation and escalated at times of increased risk. It takes time to make change, but persevere so that good hygiene becomes second nature.”

Draw up a plan

If you haven’t done so already, set out your yard biosecurity plan.

“Discuss your approach with everyone involved, including grooms and liveries, making sure that everyone knows the plan and sticks to it,” says Fleur. “This includes yard visitors, such as vets, farriers and clients.”

Keep things clean

Washing hands — even between horses on the same yard — will help halt the spread of infection, says Fleur. Another option is to use antibacterial hand gel placed at strategic points around the yard, such as the entrance gate and outside stables.

“Disinfect your hands and ideally change into clean clothes when dealing with groups of horses that would not normally have any contact,” she adds. “Designate horses to certain groups and keep these the same at turnout time and when stabling. Each horse should have his own equipment, such as headcollar, grooming kit and buckets, clearly labelled.”

Isolate new arrivals

“A new horse is a common cause of an infection outbreak,” says Fleur, who recommends a 21-day isolation period — even if the newcomer appears outwardly healthy. “Ensure that he is vaccinated against equine flu, but remember that he will only have protection from two weeks after the second vaccine in a primary course,” she adds. “Ask your vet about any tests for infectious disease, such as the blood test that can identify carriers of strangles.”

Be alert for signs

Reduced appetite? Runny nose? Not quite himself? These are all signs that a horse may be ill.

“Additional signs that suggest he has an infection could include lethargy, coughing, swollen lymph nodes in the throat area and a temperature of 38.5°C or above,” explains Fleur. “Taking and recording a horse’s rectal temperature daily is advisable, especially at times of high risk such as after attending a show or if another horse at the yard has been diagnosed with an infection.

“If you suspect infection, isolate the individual immediately and call your vet.”

Keep jabs current

“Flu vaccination is extremely important. It does not always prevent all clinical signs, but will reduce their severity — limiting the amount of virus a horse can spread and the length of time he spreads it for,” says Fleur, explaining that vaccination on a yard-wide basis is most effective. “Ask your vet about appropriate vaccines for other contagious diseases, such as equine herpes virus [EHV].”

Show common sense

Mixing horses that do not normally have contact ramps up the risk.

“Avoid horse-to-horse or -human contact at shows or events,” says Fleur, who also advises steering clear of communal equipment, grazing areas and water troughs. “Clean and disinfect temporary stabling before use and make sure that neighbouring horses can’t touch each other. Once home, disinfect vehicles and equipment — and monitor your horse for signs of illness over the coming weeks.

“Cancel any forthcoming travel plans if infection is suspected, or diagnosed at the yard.”

Comminicate

Should the worst happen, what next?

“Infection can occur, despite the best efforts,” says Fleur. “Outbreaks can be stressful for all involved, but it’s important to be open and honest with other owners and surrounding yards. Close monitoring of all horses and immediate isolation of infected animals will help to contain disease.”

Ref Horse & Hound; 19 September 2019

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To ’gram or not to ’gram, that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the tweets and hashtags of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against the internet. And by opposing, end it. It may be the question but like it or not, the all-pervading internet — with all that it entails, good, bad and ugly — is here to stay.

During several puppy show speeches in recent years, I and the congregation have been cautioned to be wary of social media or “avoid it” altogether. This, I would suggest, is not only rather silly, but for anyone under 50, entirely unrealistic. While email is still anathema to some oldies, it is now old hat to most and the various forms of instant messaging have long since taken over.

Mobile phones are, brace yourself, not only for making telephone calls. Indeed, even I have an Instagram account (@belvoirhuntsman) with which I try to demonstrate some of the enjoyment experienced in kennels and while hunting.

I receive queries and questions from people all over the globe and try to answer them all; a time-consuming but, I hope, worthwhile thing. I also have a Twitter account in which I’m inclined to be a little more opinionated

Learn to deal with it

Video is recorded and posted or, in actuality, broadcast live, from wherever and whenever. The BBC and ITN are becoming redundant. One result of this phenomenon, I think, is that the traditional news broadcasts are becoming more sensationalist to compete.

As mentioned in previous dispatches, the Daily Mail’s website MailOnline is a classic example. Carefully edited videos and statements from animal rights extremists are frequently hastily posted verbatim, without any attempt to corroborate facts. I suppose news journalists are struggling to be relevant in an era when everyone has become one.

The point is that social media is unstoppable, so we have to learn to deal with it.

At the coalface — you and me — we need to understand how our actions can be misinterpreted and act accordingly. One can be very easily drawn into discussion, or more likely arguments, with our opponents, but it’s much better to avoid this, to ignore them and move on.

It is your legal right to defend yourself but never forget that you, the courts and the Daily Mail will never see the full video, only the bits that make you look foolish and in the wrong. Having made mistakes myself, I speak from experience. Hunt saboteurs, in their silly paramilitary outfits, already do a fabulous job of making themselves look like criminals and thugs — they require no assistance.

New job anyone?

As advertised in Horse & Hound recently, there are three important full-time vacancies to fill at the Hunting Office, and Simon Hart has stepped down as chairman of the Countryside Alliance to take on a ministerial role.

While age and experience always remain most valuable assets, is it too much to hope that at least one of these openings goes to a youthful candidate experienced in the dark side of media operations?

The prime minister’s “special adviser” Dominic Cummings might be free come Halloween…

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The debate over adults working in ponies seems to be raging on. The sooner The Showing Council and societies reach some common ground over the weight ratio, the better.

While I understand the ruling specifying no one over the age of 16 can ride 122cm ponies anywhere on a showground has been brought in with the best of intentions, it doesn’t make sense that an appropriately sized 17-year-old cannot work in a pony of this height — yet a full-grown man or woman can ride a Welsh section A in the ring in the open mountain and moorland classes.

In the horse classes, it is considered acceptable for professionals to work in animals for adult riders. This may be for a variety of reasons, including time, riding ability and confidence, but most probably because a professional is more experienced at preparing the animal ready for the ring, setting up its way of going so the non-professional can then get the best tune out of the horse in the arena.

The situation with children’s ponies should be no different and many people believe it is even more important for it to be permitted.

Ironing out any problems

I don’t for one minute expect a six-year-old child to have as much technical riding ability as my riding staff. So if, for example, a pony begins its warm-up in an overbent shape and doesn’t want to go forward and straight, it is necessary for a more experienced jockey to iron out these problems by schooling the pony.

You cannot expect small riders to be able to do it themselves. It would be unreasonable to expect the child to break in the pony themselves, so why then would we expect them to have the knowledge, experience, understanding and physical ability to be responsible for the schooling?

By establishing a correct way of going in these ponies, then ultimately you teach the children to develop good feel. This only comes from feeling what it’s like to ride a pony who is going correctly. Hopefully, they can then develop their riding and perhaps one day set up ponies for the next generation.

Correct preparation

With regard to lungeing, horses and ponies all have different temperaments.

Show animals are not trained police horses and therefore we cannot expect them all to deal similarly with differing showground atmospheres.

If they come off the wagon and are sharp, then it is safer all round to lunge them and lose some excess energy naturally before riding them in to prepare them for the ring.

Correct exercising in this way for an appropriate length of time is not harmful to an animal. Showing is no different to other equestrian disciplines where lungeing is simply a part of getting a horse or pony ready for competition.

At the end of the day, the safety of our riders should be paramount, and so, ultimately, the correct preparation of the animal is hugely important.

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After the euphoria of my wife Pippa winning Burghley, we experienced the other end of the emotional scale days later when I lost my old friend Mondriaan.

We made the tough decision to have him put down at the age of 25. As much as he was happy in himself, he was struggling with his legs and on painkillers, so I owed it to him to make sure he wasn’t in pain any more.

I’ve been lucky that Denise Stamp, who has been a great supporter, has looked after him for the past 4½ years in his retirement — I owe Denise and her family a huge thank you for all they have done with him.

So I went over to her Hampshire farm and held him while he was put to sleep. It was all very peaceful and he is now buried under a tree there.

‘He was so genuine’

Mondriaan became a huge part of our lives and I expect I’ll always be remembered for the career I had with him.

“Danny” came to me as a five-year-old and together we won three Hickstead Derbies, as well as those at Falsterbo and Eindhoven, the Foxhunter final, the Cock O’ The North, jumped in numerous Nations Cup and the European Championships.

He was so genuine and I don’t think he ever thought of doing anything other than what you asked of him. That’s why he was such a great Derby horse — if you asked him to go down the Bank, he’d say, “Well, if you think it’s alright, I will”.

Horses like Mondriaan become friends. We run a commercial stud, but we do it because of what we get back from these amazing animals. So while this is a sad time, I count myself lucky when we can keep these horses to the end.

He will be a friend who’s much missed.

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As I write from Tryon in the USA, Burghley seems like a world away, as I’ve already laid out courses at Kelsall Hill in England and Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, since the British five-star. But I still feel battered and bruised after a really rough cross-country day at Burghley.

Many people have already written about why only 50% finished and why thankfully all were able to walk back to the stables under their own steam. However, like so many things in life, nothing is just a simple black and white. There was no one reason and many contributing factors.

Yes, there was a weakened field, but that is no excuse. Burghley has always been Burghley, at least over the past 30 years of my time there. It is the ultimate five-star test, not just because of the size of the fences but also because of the terrain, which makes the time so difficult to get.

Everybody should take note — this is not the place for your first five-star examination. Cut your teeth at Luhmühlen, Kentucky or Pau and then move on to Burghley.

One more year

The trick of riding at five-star is being able to control the shape of your jump, which gives you a better chance of solving the puzzle at the next elements. I always think of it like golf — I only want to get that little white ball from tee to green. The professional will hit it right then left to get the uphill putt. Riding at five-star needs the same sort of detailed planning, something that too often seemed lacking.

All the riders I talked to on the Sunday, including Tim Price, replied to my comment of, “Bad luck yesterday” with, “It wasn’t bad luck, I made a mistake and at the five-star level you pay a price.” That was honesty personified, which is why the top riders are at the top. They look in the mirror and admit when they make a mistake — and learn from it.

Having said that, I need to look in the mirror too. We saw all the fences jumped perfectly as they were all big, but also fair. But was the collective too much? Arguably yes. Do I need to reduce some of the intensity in the middle section? Again, arguably yes.

Luckily I have time to mull over plans for next year and I’m just glad I have one more year designing at Burghley and 2019 was not my last. However, I’m equally determined not to make next year a soft touch, a risk suggested by Harry Meade in a recent H&H column.

For the most part Burghley was a great weekend for “frangible technology”, which fed into there being no serious injuries to horse or riders. However, it did not work at the gates at Land Rover at The Lake, despite using all the latest engineering skills. Any sort of frangible is better than no frangible, but the sport has so much to learn to make frangible fences better and fairer.

There will be the odd hard luck story — the horse who chips a back rail with the back legs and receives 11 penalties for breaking the frangible. But as a sport, we are better with a couple of bad luck stories than one serious injury in hospital. Ultimately, it is the riders’ responsibility to jump the fences clear and the designer’s responsibility to make the questions fair to horse and rider.

I may be 70 years old, but I’m happy to say my learning curve is still a steep one as we strive for a better and safer sport.

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Over the past couple of decades, the things I’ve heard the most complaints about with regard to the national championships are the weather and the stabling. This year though, someone answered our prayers. The weather couldn’t have been better and the fresh mornings turned into balmy afternoons, which set the tone for a vintage nationals.

The temporary stables, too, had a huge upgrade and were more spacious and up-to-date, something that was hugely appreciated by many.

Ironically though, it seems this was our last nationals to be held at the Stoneleigh Park venue due to the HS2 project. Although the project has been delayed, British Dressage (BD) has made the decision to crack on and move the championships to a new venue for 2020.

Let’s hope the new venue has the scope and infrastructure to allow our wonderful showpiece event to develop and grow. The nationals need a revamp and the timing is perfect; these are exciting times.

‘Having a fair fighting chance’

Every year I have witnessed combinations who have been affected badly by applause from the neighbouring arena at Stoneleigh, and this year was no different.

I feel a huge sense of disappointment for all involved in these scenarios, not just the rider and the startled horse, but also the support team watching on tenterhooks from the sidelines. Some may try to justify this by arguing that we are trying to produce competition horses that are to compete internationally, and so they need to be able to cope with all sorts of distractions. That is true, but our sport is about encouraging riders and horses of all levels to celebrate their journey. For a lot of riders, the national championships is not just the pinnacle of their year, but the pinnacle of their competitive career.

So BD, when you are deciding the new layout, please try to give every combination a fair fighting chance.

Also on my personal nationals wish list would be super speedy scoring — online and on site — so everyone can keep up with what’s going on, as well as real-time electronic scoring, so the marks are shown per movement during each test. It gives so much more meaning to tests for the spectators.

Finally, I’d like to see the event being livestreamed. It wouldn’t stop people attending. Think of all the shows livestreamed all over the world. Those venues are always crammed with people.

Nip Tuck, a legend

Finally, what a joy to watch the evergreen Nip Tuck winning the grand prix and national title, looking so happy and enjoying his work so much in the masterful hands of Mr Hester. This horse has done his country, rider, support team and owner, Jane de la Mare, proud — he is a true legend.

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It came as no surprise that Charlotte Dujardin walked away with the Cavalor inter II title at the National Dressage Championships last week (12-15 September), but nonetheless, spectators were left wowed by her winning partner, Gio, who earned 78.34% — believed to be the highest score ever achieved in this class.

The eight-year-old chestnut gelding, who is known as Pumpkin at home, had only done one inter II test before coming to these championships — his only other test this year!

But he pulled out a mature, polished performance with impressively accomplished piaffe-passage work to top the leader board for each of the five judges.

“He is just phenomenal — the bravest little horse and so genuine,” says Charlotte of the compact Apache x Tango gelding.

“Wherever you take him, he is the same and literally does not change.

“At home, I don’t put all the work together like I do for a test because he is still only eight, so I keep it loose and play with it. Then he goes in there like he has done it all his life.”

Charlotte spotted Pumpkin while he was being ridden by Amelie Kovac at a clinic in the USA in autumn 2016.

“As soon as he came in I thought, ‘Oh my god I love that horse’,” she said at the time. “Then I saw him trot and canter and I thought, ‘Oh my god, I really love that horse’.

Continued below…

6 of Charlotte Dujardin’s Stoneleigh stars (they are something special)

We take a closer look at some of Charlotte’s lesser known stars of the future

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Charlotte Dujardin reveals next plans for Mount St John Freestyle *H&H VIP*

Charlotte Dujardin changes her plans for Mount St John Freestyle after her elimination at the European Championships

After requesting to ride him in a demo the following day, Charlotte asked if he was for sale, and Pumpkin arrived at Carl Hester’s Gloucestershire base shortly afterwards — around Halloween, hence the stable name. On his arrival, both Carl and Charlotte were taken aback by how small he was — he stands just 16hh — but he makes up for it with his natural scope and power.

The plan for the gelding now is to for him to enjoy a holiday, then step up to grand prix.

“He would definitely be a Toyko contender because why not? He isn’t fazed by anything,” says Charlotte.

Don’t miss 19 September issue of Horse&Hound magazine for the full report from the National Dressage Championships.

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It’s been a summer with so many highlights. I enjoyed judging the Grove and Rufford, Kimblewick and Puckeridge puppy shows, and it was a pleasure to judge the doghounds at Honiton with Andrew Osborne.

Ardingly seems a long time ago now, my favourite show made all the more special as the showground sits in our hunt country. Thursday is the foxhound show, and the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent (OSB&WK) normally make up the numbers. This year, however, we won the local championship with Racecard, a hound we have had high hopes for all season.

Hunting is a team game and our kennel-huntsman Tim Staines shows hounds so well, having learnt from Sage Thomson over numerous seasons. He was ably supported by our countryman and kennel-man Ed Moss.

A rare success at Ardingly could not have prepared us for what was to come at Peterborough. I still can’t quite believe it.

In the very first class Racecard won the unentered restricted doghound prize; our first win at Peterborough since our amalgamation in 1999. He is a lovely, correct dog but we never imagined we would win. The crowd were so generous with their applause that it sent a tingle down the spine.

Racecard had a setback the night before the show and it was far from certain that he would even be able to show. Tim Staines and our former huntsman Mark Bycroft worked hard throughout the night to get him right.

Being on a high from our win from the morning meant the bitch classes in the afternoon were just to be enjoyed and we didn’t expect any more miracles. But when there were only four left in the first class and one of them was Racecard’s sister Ragtime, we dared to dream. Picking up the microphone the announcer said “first … (long pause) the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent’s Ragtime.” Cue more applause and whooping.

By the time Bedtime (mother of Racecard and Ragtime) and her sister Beehive appeared for the couples class we were “in a different place” and we watched on speechless as they won, also going on to be reserve in the open class. They were both walked by Liz Wallice and whelped by her, too.

A special mention for Blackbird, mother of Bedtime and Beehive and grandmother to Racecard and Ragtime — she is exceptional in her work.

It doesn’t get any better than four very knowledgeable judges placing your hounds first at Peterborough. Thank you to all our supporters who made the journey and thank you to all those other packs who seemed genuinely pleased for us.

What a position of strength we have to build upon, and what a legacy we have forged. In 20 seasons from now, some may ask, “Do you remember Peterborough 2019?” And I hope I am still around to say, “Yes I do, the OSB&WK won three classes.”

Standing together

The next six months may bring Brexit, no Brexit, a general election, no general election. The only certainty is that our opponents will continue to use high-handed methods to try and stop us hunting within the law in the south-east.

Every community linked with our own must stand together and fight for the right to continue to do what we love and what we believe in. Those involved in shooting, fishing and farming must all see beyond any doubt that a minority of people are running the agenda and have all our communities firmly on their radar.

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I thoroughly enjoyed judging the show ponies at what is considered to be the best outdoor gig of the season — the Royal International (RIHS) — when show animals are at their peak and a big arena allows the good movers to perform at their best.

My co-judge Debbie Gregson and I were in deep conversation throughout the go-round, so that when selecting the initial line-up, we were singing from the same hymn sheet. This is crucial and meant that we could trust each other’s judgement when we went our separate ways. No dialogue and a random pull-in are not for me!

Even though none of the ponies with my highest conformation scores won, the results were satisfactory, proving that the marks system does work.

In line with my brother Nigel’s sentiments in last month’s Sunday Telegraph, that judges are fully aware of and actively discouraging obesity in the show ring, I made a point of marking down ponies that were too round for this time of year.

Frustratingly below-par in-hand shows were penalised, too. Some riders down the line actually asked where to stand their ponies up! Presumably they had been watching the ridden shows for inspiration, so why not those displays in the conformation phase, which also carry 50% of the marks?

‘Masterpiece of ringcraft’

Our champion and reserve came from the middle height section (138cm) and were real ‘London ponies’ that you could envisage trotting down the centre, under lights and in front of a crowd in the capital. Many ponies entered the ring without a smile, either through overpreparation or sometimes, I suspect, resenting their earplugs.

Our champion, Drakemyre Puttin On The Ritz, lived up to his name and his jockey India Till later gave a display worthy of the supreme title, well choreographed by their trainer Katy Carter. It was a masterpiece of ringcraft in that awkward main ring space. They didn’t disappear behind the jumps or into the distance, but performed in front of the judges.

H&H’s RIHS preview issue highlighted suggestions from the experts on how to execute something memorable in a supreme scenario. I don’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved that a rider wasn’t brave or stupid enough to incorporate the water jump — where the judges were — as a prop!

Rewarding great turnout

Judging the Ronnie Marmont championship (open to show hunter pony ponies exceeding 143cm and intermediate show hunters, and judged on turnout, condition and presentation) at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) summer championships came with added responsibility.

Ronnie was the doyen of turnout in his day and, on a personal note, contributed an expert opinion passage in my Successful Showing book, published in 1989.

The remit was to choose the rider most correctly turned out, aboard a well-presented hunter type, and this task was made easier when I spied that there were only two competitors whose garter strap buckles were in the correct place.

Tabitha Green was the lucky recipient of the Schweppes trophy, which Ronnie won outright when the RIHS was held at White City.

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It’s been a while since I’ve followed the county show circuit, but this summer I found myself without a top horse but with a couple of nice up-and-coming new ones, so I decided to educate them at home. Not only is it cheaper to stay in this country, the county shows are a fantastic place to move them up a level and get them used to jumping the bigger fences.

County shows have lost out to the lure of bigger prize money and ranking points available abroad, losing the big names they used to attract. In the 1970s they were the making of me and they still offer that opportunity to our national riders.

Great Yorkshire was a massive turning point in my career. In 1975 I’d been going pretty well around the smaller shows, so I thought, “Let’s try the big one against the top riders,” who were jumping at these shows from week to week.

I was jumping in front of family, friends and neighbours, so I felt as though I had to do well, and on the first day I made a right mess of it. I was totally disillusioned by the whole thing.

That night I said to my father, ‘I think we’re out of our depth here, I’m not sure I should go back.’ But he pointed out we’d paid the entry fee and couldn’t lose that, so I was persuaded to return and try again.

I won both classes the following day and went on to win the Cock o’ the North with Ryan’s Son. That was a massive boost to my career. I made the national headlines and for the rest of the year I enjoyed being announced in to the ring at every show as the Cock o’ the North winner — it was a fantastic title to have, almost like being Olympic champion.

So this season I paid my second-ever visit to Kent County — around 40 years after my debut there! I then returned to the Great Yorkshire — I’m probably a bit biased but it’s still one of the best shows we have in this country with its flagship class, the Cock o’ the North, packed crowds cheering on the riders and a brilliant atmosphere.

It must be one of the few shows that hasn’t had to change with the times because it was fantastic 30 years ago and remains as good as ever — you could hold an international show in its outstanding arena. It’s very special.

We took in Royal Lancashire after that, where the Mustoe family always put on a tremendous show with nice classes and good money.

I’ve really enjoyed going back to my roots and my horses have learnt a huge amount this summer. These county shows — there’s a whole host of other good venues including Suffolk and Norfolk — try so hard, the ground is immaculate, they offer decent prize money and deserve more support than they get.

Many of our national riders are missing a trick by heading overseas instead of cutting their teeth here.

Tokyo bound

Congratulations to the British team for a great result at the European Championships. They weren’t far off winning and Ben Maher was exceptional — just so unlucky with one small mistake not to win gold.

It just goes to show what can be achieved when you have the best riders available to you — the chef d’equipe can only pick from what she has, but when she has the top riders to pick from, it does make a difference.

The turnaround came in Dublin and they enjoyed a good couple of weeks, qualifying for the Olympics too. So I’ve bought some new boots, just in case!

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A recent post on Facebook revealed a lot of disquiet among some competitors having to travel several hours to get to a show centre offering a test at their level. Of course, when the prize money is often dire, this is a bone of contention.

We really need to think, however, about the reasons why show centres have closed. It can simply be lack of funding and not making enough money to make the show viable, or the lure of selling off for development.

Two people I consider to know very well have both run show centres and say there is not enough money in it to make it workable. Organisers very often have to start the day at 4am prepping arenas, sorting times, making sure everyone gets to the right place at the right time.

During the show, there are continuous chores, with the amount of horse droppings trampled into arenas, the wear and tear, the litter, the people that have reversed into the post-and-rail fencing — rendering the showground into a bombsite.

Then the show organisers and volunteers are out late at night clearing up — if not, an arena surface has a short life span and will cost tens of thousands to replace.

So although it may seem unfair, there is very little prize money. It really does boil down to the fact that we do it for love of the sport, not for financial reward. All our shows need our support to keep open.

In the USA, all competitors are now encouraged to fill out a feedback questionnaire at shows. If we had this in the UK, these could be handed in to each region’s regional development officer to ensure any complaints are dealt with and maybe a rating introduced to ensure standards stay high.

This could be combined with the opportunity to praise the good. Volunteers, don’t forget, need our respect.

A last hurrah?

The nationals start today. Will this really be the last hurrah at Stoneleigh, now HS2 — which is set to cut through the park — has been postponed?

With four days of top-class dressage ahead, one of the highlights could be Christoph Hess’ son as test rider for the young horse classes. This will be really interesting if he’s anything like his father.

A reminder for all those competing — do check out the sponsors of your classes. You don’t have to be the winner to send an email or letter of thanks, and showing appreciation could make the difference in ensuring continued support for our sport.

I’ll be contesting the LeMieux grand prix with my former team horse Nip Tuck. Having missed out last year, I’m looking forward to riding at the nationals again. These days Nip Tuck enjoys a varied life. Having taken up jumping, this and hacking ensures his mind stays active and fit, as well as his body. Although he has jumping bloodlines, we definitely made the right choice of dressage for him as a career!

With the Europeans behind us, I don’t need to go on about what might have been, but who’d have thought that scores of 78, 76 and 74% would not have brought home a medal? Our horses’ performances were still very strong, and we can look forward to next year’s Olympics.

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A mark of a true sporting great is longevity of top-level success. Pippa Funnell dominated eventing in the early 2000s and to win Burghley a decade and a half later underlines her achievement.

Her performance in the unfamiliar role of team pathfinder at the Europeans will have been an important shot in the arm ahead of Burghley, which was an imposing five-star course with a tight time. It’s no secret that Pippa’s had to overcome crises of confidence, and the way she won will be remembered as a great moment in Burghley’s rich history.

Meticulous prep

There was a greater than ever disparity in the standard of the field; the top few riders looked world class, as did others, including some first-timers, but there was an uncomfortably large gulf between these and the rest. Worryingly, the poor displays went beyond one or two individuals.

So often the course-designer becomes the undeserving scapegoat, which isn’t entirely fair; the course at Burghley was a good five-star test.

There were multiple cases where riders looked like they never had a clear plan. It shouldn’t be underestimated how much meticulous preparation goes into walking five-star courses — identifying the potential pitfalls and optimal plan for each fence.

Were some riders punching above their weight in not understanding the theoretical questions, let alone having the skill to put into practice the right answer? Everyone can make mistakes, but there were some elementary ones from riders who looked out of their depth.

Frangible fences

The sport hasn’t changed overnight, but the track did have a lot of wide, gappy oxers and corners using frangible technology. Although most rode well, designers try not to design and place a frangible fence that they wouldn’t have set before the technology became available; similarly, riders mustn’t ride them any differently to other fences.

The siting and transparency of the oxer before the descent into the Trout Hatchery meant it didn’t always get horses up in the air, but drew some down before they reached the back rail.

Too many events?

The year following a weak field, a course-designer’s natural reaction is to soften the course. This invariably then leads to a spate of barely-appropriate pairs entering the event the next year, so the cycle continues, creating a long-term crisis.

It’s important we uphold the standard of five-star courses, and address the quality of entrants.

The best rounds stood out as wonderful displays of horsemanship, but there were only a handful of them. We were lacking about 16 top-class combinations for one reason or another (Michael Jung, Andrew Nicholson, Sam Griffiths, Chris Burton, Nicola Wilson, Tina Cook and so on). Had we had these, the balance of the day would have felt different.

The number of true five-star pairs has always been limited and as a sport we should look at how many five-stars we run.

Next year, there is due to be a new five-star at Fair Hill in the USA, which would be likely to draw the 11 US combinations who were at Burghley plus some European-based horses. The pool of elite horses and riders — and that’s who five-star is for, the elite — is simply too small to support more than two major autumn events and yet with a championship, Burghley, Pau and Fair Hill we have four in the northern hemisphere.

“Good pictures” and safety are priorities for the sport, but the biggest threat to both is a dilution of quality through too many top flight events.

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Overall, the standard was quite varied in the dressage at Burghley. We had some really super tests that were bravely and correctly ridden, with riders often demonstrating a clear difference within the paces. Even if they made a mistake, many were able to pick up the marks quickly again.

The audience could see the judge’s mark for each individual movement on the scoreboard, and also that sometimes marks varied from judge to judge, depending on our different vantage points. This is quite normal. We are not aiming to give the same marks for each exercise or we might as well all sit together and decide!

For example, the lateral work looks very different from the side and front views. Judging from C, I could assess straightness of the entry, the transitions and the halts on the centre line, but not necessarily how square the halt was, which the judge sitting at E could see well. It’s important we judge what we can see, in accordance with the scales of training.

Only a few riders earned high marks in the canter exercise of stretching on a circle. This movement requires a lot of relaxation — we want to see horses lowering and stretching forward to the contact, rather than loose reins or only an indication of stretching.

An equal chance

The Burghley arena is similar to an international dressage arena in terms of the spectators, supporters and cameras. Some horses lift in the atmosphere, but others coped less well.

As we had 67 starters this year, we gave horses eight minutes between tests — which can be done in seven-minute intervals — allowing each rider a little more time to ride round the arena before the bell rang at their start time. We hoped this allowed horses to settle.

We wanted to give everyone an equal opportunity to do their best.

The dressage stars

Pippa Funnell’s leader MGH Grafton Street showed a really fluent, balanced test, with good relaxation in the walk and clear range in the paces. Oliver Townend’s ride Ballaghmor Class demonstrates such scope and power. If he hadn’t rested a hind leg in the halt before the rein back, he may have got a couple of points closer to Pippa.

Izzy Taylor’s Springpower has a lot of ability, but there were some moments of tension. With more maturity they could easily be a winning combination at top level in this phase.

There were three US riders in the top 10. Hannah Sue Burnett’s Harbour Pilot showed particularly good canter work and a lovely, elastic contact. Lauren Kieffer produced a solid performance from Vermiculus and a really correct way going.

Deniro Z and Liz Halliday-Sharp went very well and would have been much higher up the order but for problems executing the flying changes.

Jonelle Price rode a very tactful test on the super-talented Faerie Dianimo — the mare was spectacular in some movements and had tension in others. Relaxation will be the key to high marks throughout.

Further down the scores, I particularly liked the quality of Zara Tindall’s Class Affair. He just needs a little more confidence and experience to iron out their couple of mistakes. Will Furlong’s Collien P 2 is also a super mover, and with further development and no mistakes in the flying changes will no doubt be able to climb the leaderboard.

Ref Horse & Hound; 12 September 2019

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After patiently waiting to meet your home-bred foal through an 11-month gestation period, it is natural to want the very best for his wellbeing.

His dam provides comfort, nutrition and education at the start of his life. There comes a time, however, when the foal has to be weaned. This separation allows the foal to be readied for activities without his dam and ensures that the maternal bond is broken before he starts his education.

Under natural conditions, foals suck from their dams until they are approaching a year in age, at which point the dam is preparing to foal again. The offspring stay with their mothers within the herd until they reach reproductive maturity, when they join a new group.

Most domesticated horses are weaned suddenly, and much earlier than this — at between four and six months of age. A horse’s temperament is thought to be affected by environmental stimuli until he reaches eight months of age, however, which prompts the suggestion that we are weaning our foals too young.

Whatever the time-frame chosen, the separation process should be as stress-free as possible for the future health of both mare and foal.

Keeping mum

At weaning, metabolic and hormonal changes are observed as a physical separation breaks the maternal provision of emotional, physical and nutritional support. To reduce the negative impact, familiarisation to this separation is beneficial — starting between four and six weeks before mare and foal part company for good.

Progressive weaning is ideally performed in groups, so the offspring are with familiar individuals of a similar age. The foals are separated from their dams for increasing amounts of time each day, on the other side of a physical barrier such as a fence. This prevents the foal from suckling but allows olfactory and tactile contact as he can still see, smell and nuzzle his dam.

Foals are more confident, easier to handle and more inclined to explore in the first few months post-weaning if they have undergone this gradual introduction to separation.

When a foal is weaned under stressful circumstances, resulting in a premature and complete separation, his personality can be affected into adulthood. Behavioural changes can be associated with a decrease in food intake, resulting in loss of condition and a reduced growth rate — which can have a significant effect on the foal’s commercial value.

An increase in cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, can also result in a decrease in the activity of osteoblast cells, which create new bone, resulting in poor bone mineralisation and an increased risk of developmental bone disease. Weaning at a minimum of four and a half months of age will minimise the possibility of such problems.

Mare’s milk alone does not provide enough energy for the demands of a four-month-old foal. Introducing creep feed alongside quality forage prior to weaning ensures the foal’s nutritional requirements are met for optimal growth. This also reduces some stress of weaning, as he is already familiar with the feedstuff.

While the amount of feed required varies according to the manufacturer’s advice, a daily allowance of 0.45kg per month of age is a rough guide. A foal’s gastrointestinal tract will develop to become more efficient between six and 12 months of age, thought to be due to the increased energy demand associated with growth.

The mare is most prone to mastitis during the immediate post-weaning period, as her teats remain open but the mammary glands are not being physically flushed out as the foal nurses. Feeding her fewer concentrates in the week leading up to weaning will reduce her milk production, in preparation. Monitor her mammary glands in the initial post-weaning period for signs of pain and inflammation, and seek veterinary advice if this is evident.

Buddying up

Prior to complete weaning, the youngster should be paired up with a buddy of similar age and size and the same sex. The two foals can then be kept, along with their dams, in a secure stable or paddock.

Once the management routine has been standardised for several days, the mares are taken away to pasture or stabling — out of sight and sound of the foals. The mares should also be in familiar pairs or groups, to reduce the anxiety involved with the separation.

The foal pair can then be turned out in a group with other pairs. Introducing new, same-age individuals will heighten social tension and increase stress levels. Ideally, these introductions are made before the weaning process so bonds can be formed.

It has been demonstrated that unfamiliar, unrelated adult horses can provide social support to newly weaned foals. Retired horses used as “nannies” can have a calming influence.

Behavioural changes in both the dams and their offspring may be evident, however, including an increased frequency of vocalisation, reduced time resting and, in the weanlings, a greater wariness of humans and novel stimuli.

Cortisol has been shown to rise at weaning and stay elevated for a month after. This is often coupled with suppression of the immune system as white blood cell values alter and display a stress response.

Studies have demonstrated that the cortisol levels of both dams and foals rise — irrespective of the weaning method — but that the increase is lower in those that have been progressively weaned than those suddenly separated. Behaviour differences between the groups were still evident three months after weaning, with the suddenly weaned foals remaining more fearful and less predictable.

Because of the immune function impairment, avoid stress-associated procedures such as regrouping, castration, vaccination or de-worming within a month either side of weaning. Influenza and tetanus vaccinations should be started from five months old, however, so consider timing carefully. Vaccinating a foal at the point of weaning can heighten the risk of a snotty nose and enlarged lymph nodes.

While progressive weaning may not be an easy option due to the time and additional labour, it should be implemented where possible. The benefits will last through the foal’s adolescence and beyond, potentially shaping his personality for life.

Ref Horse & Hound; 5 September 2019

As we get to that time in the season where many are still on the merry-go-round of trying to qualify for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), it’s nice to look back at a great summer of showing. Fixtures such as the Royal International (RIHS), Great Yorkshire and Dublin have been well-supported with five rows of spectators at some.

This year’s RIHS took me back to the days of Ponies (UK) (PUK) some 20 years ago. We’d always go — not just for the quality ponies but also the social aspect. People would take a week off work to head off on their summer holiday and would catch up with friends, also enjoying a party or two.

Due to cost, my father didn’t register my ponies, so I started going to PUK with a friend and I loved it. Showing can be a lonely sport and it can be a regime for us, and especially for our children; getting up at the crack of dawn, travelling for hours and then perhaps not having the best day in the ring. Shows like PUK keep their enthusiasm up so they want to go to another show the following weekend.

Dublin is one we never, ever miss. It’s the one time of year we get to see the breeders of some of our horses and look out for future stars. The breeders take such pride in producing a young horse good enough to compete at Dublin.

This year, an experience in the grandstand put showing into perspective. I was sitting watching the small hunters and next to me was a support group of a competitor in the class. She was called out about 15th in the line-up and she received the biggest cheer of the day.

It was a reality check, as most of us are dampened when we don’t even win. This rider was smiling and was evidently just happy that her horse had behaved himself, given the judge a good ride and that she was there competing at her national show.

Still a show horse

It’s interesting to see the shift in focus in horse classes in recent years, particularly in workers. Years ago, you could go to a big show and watch the quality weight horses which had competed on the flat go round the worker track. But today, it seems the courses aren’t as inviting, so are more suited to the showjumper types.

The round is often decidedby the course-builders who design tight, technical tracks, meaning clear rounds are more elusive. Gone are the days when the judges had several clears to assess in the flat portion of a class.

We must remember that a working hunter is still a show horse, and conformation should still be carefully assessed and considered. We all know a showjumper can come into the ring and jump a clear round, but it might not have the best style or the limbs or type for the job. The judges still have to award 20/20 for both ride and conformation, meaning a four-faulter could still easily come up to stand at the top of a class.

A few weeks ago, I went to an initial meeting for a new “producers group”. The aim of this group is to give riders a voice and possibly a seat at the table in the Showing Council, so societies can become more in line.

This will hopefully make rules and regulations more workable and easy to follow.

It’s early days, but I think it’s a positive step in making our sport more enjoyable and accessible by putting riders with experience on a governing panel.

Ref Horse & Hound; 5 September 2019

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There has been a fair amount of venue bashing recently on social media, with people griping about the cost of competing and stabling at shows. I can only speak for Hickstead, but our outgoings are around £4m every year and we have to try to generate that amount to just break even.

Essentially, we have five income streams — ticket sales, trade stands, entry and stabling fees, sponsorship, and showground hire and events. We recently invested £500,000 in a fourth all-weather arena, firstly to give us weather resilience, but also to create a new all-weather cross country schooling facility, which will be open between October and May. Diversification is the key to spreading the annual overheads.

I believe that show centres should be applauded for their contribution to the sport. We’ve just had our best ever season at Hickstead and the family keeps on going because it’s what we were bred for. We’d probably be a lot better off if we did something else, but it’s our father’s legacy and we love it.

Ref Horse & Hound; 5 September 2019

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The recent European Championships brought us insight into an exciting Tokyo Olympics with many outstanding performances.

But the protest during Dutch showjumper Marc Houtzager’s round, when animal activists invaded the showjumping arena and ran around waving “stop horse slavery” placards was also a salutary warning of the shape of things to come. Ethical questions are being raised worldwide over the justification of the use of animals for sport on the world stage.

At the Olympics we are the flag-bearers for the relationship between horse and man, and performances will be held up and scrutinised as such. The public perception of horse sport is vital to its longevity, and we need to succinctly articulate our reasons for using horses for sport in a way the general public can understand.

It’s easy to alienate ourselves from the protesters, but we are all animal lovers and we all abhor animal abuse so there is common ground.

In sport we learn how to care for horses at their very best and we have immense resources to do so. The “trickle down” effect of the science and research used to create the healthiest and most high-performing sport animals benefits the entire equine population. Keeping horses in the headlines for sport serves to highlight the plight of some working and abused horses and thus provides information and education to promote welfare. Many of the top riders use their high profiles to work with equine charities.

A poorer life without horses

The benefits of interaction with horses for humans are inumerable. How right Winston Churchill was when he said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”

If we did not ride horses at all there would be no Riding for the Disabled Association, no Pony Club, no riding therapy. Outdoor activities among nature have proven benefits for mental health and physical fitness, and through horses we have an example of how to be our best selves. What better anti-bullying message could there be than a huge animal that could squash us flat in a heartbeat choosing to co-operate with us?

Our sport can also be proud of its diversity. Men against women; old against young; disabled and able bodied riders competing together through partnership with animals is an inspirational example of the Olympic ethos of inclusivity.

The bond between man and horse goes back for thousands of years, and horses enjoy interacting and co operating with people. Our young horses at Elite Dressage live very naturally in herds and are minimally handled as youngsters. This is deliberate — we want them to have a childhood with their friends and choose to come to us and build trust over time.

There is mutual respect from day one. When we visit the herds, even the most nervous youngsters’ natural curiosity overwhelms them and we are soon surrounded by the group, who want our attention.

Horses are happy when they are relaxed — it shows they are content. If a horse can remain calm performing in a big stadium he is secure and content in himself and has trust in his rider.

Horses and riders have been partners for centuries. The way Marc’s horse Sterrehof’s Calimero just ignored the protesters and kept working with his rider in such a focused and relaxed way answered all the questions without words about where and with whom the horse felt safe and content.

We have every reason to be proud and to celebrate our historic relationship with horses and should work together to articulate the message.

Ref Horse & Hound; 5 September 2019

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With my British selector hat on, I enjoyed being at the European Championships, where the tension was unbelievable. Taking away the co-efficient in the dressage was supposed to make the dressage less influential, but an unintended consequence is the showjumping is now so nail-biting, with it being common that four faults cost 10 places.

Germany deserved gold. If Kai Rüder hadn’t been over 40 seconds late leaving the start box, their winning margin would have been even greater.

Ingrid Klimke was so unlucky not to win the World Championships last year when she had the last fence down, but there was no mistake this time and justice was finally done.

The Brits tried to give away team silver in the showjumping just scraping home in front of Sweden by less than one point. With the margins in championships now so tight, we will not be able to afford such largesse next year.

On the brighter side, Oliver Townend rode fantastically to get the team monkey off his back. He will be a serious player in championships to come.

Piggy French was also outstanding, but received a yellow card for use of the whip in the cross-country. She said she gave the horse a couple of reminders when he backed off “in order to ensure his safety and mine”. I agree the horse needed that reminder, but it’s not acceptable to mark him when doing so — as a sport, we need to look at how we use the whip, so it is definitely a tool of safety and encouragement, not a tool of admonishment or speed.

In racing the rules are about to change; we too need to get ahead of the game before the critics of horse sport prevent us from enjoying what we love.

It was great to see Pippa Funnell back to her best. Kitty King rode fantastically for the first eight minutes across the country. Nobody will be more aware than her that the five seconds she lost in the next two minutes cost her the bronze.

Tina Cook will be disappointed with her glance-off and her time, and similarly Laura Collett with her early bath. British team trainer Chris Bartle and performance manager Dickie Waygood have many positives to take away from Luhmühlen, but will know we have to be better in Tokyo.

The right time

This week is Burghley, my most stressful week of the year. The fact we are lacking some of the top cross country riders in Mark Todd, William Fox-Pitt, Andrew Nicholson, Nicola Wilson and Harry Meade, all absent for well-documented personal or equine reasons, makes it more traumatic and it feels like a depleted field.

Nonetheless, the course this year is big — Burghley always is — so let’s hope many first-timers step up to the plate.

The FEI 70-year-old age limit for course-designers has finally disappeared. The uncertainty has caused stress for me and many organisers I work for, including Burghley.

Next year’s event seemed like the right time to stop designing at Burghley, though, with Derek di Grazia able to give it his full attention the year after Tokyo. I’ve always believed in trying to step down while still at the top of my game, whether it be rider, coach or course-designer. I continue to design in many places and want to do more consulting in my role as course-adviser, to help bring on the next generation of designers.

Ref Horse & Hound; 5 September 2019

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The standard was high in the dressage at the eventing European Championships — even those riders ranking 50-60th scored over 60%. And the top couple almost reached 80%. Although we lost the multiplying factor of 1.5 in eventing dressage last year, this result shows it’s still so important to do a good dressage test to win a medal.

We saw lots of horses with really good movement, while in years past many eventers had quite an ordinary trot and a canter that wasn’t expressive. Now, we see horses who can show extended trot like dressage horses and well-balanced collected canters.

Of course, with event horses you still often see a bit of tension because they are trained for cross-country, but it’s just a slight tightness or a short neck — there were no dramas. And most riders managed to get their horses under control and supple again.

The organisers were generous with allowing time for familiarisation in the arena, which is easier to do with an all-weather surface than on grass, when it’s necessary to protect the ground. This meant horses were generally quite relaxed in their tests.

Areas of weakness

I was a little surprised that some riders still had issues with the flying changes, which are now usually quite correct at five-star.

The walk half-pirouettes are also a weakness. It’s important riders show a clear transition into collected walk before the pirouette — many didn’t prepare properly. Then horses must keep a clear four-beat rhythm on a small turn and riders maintain absolutely regular contact, bend and flexion. This is a movement every horse can learn to do.

When training flying changes and half-pirouettes, riders need experienced eyes on the ground to tell them what’s going on. Both are movements where riders may not feel if something is wrong.

A happy horse

Michael Jung’s test stood out because he just had one mistake, in extended walk — without that, he would have topped 80%. FischerChipmunk FRH showed a great outline, was very well balanced, supple and through in his body, with good basic paces. He fulfilled the scales of training perfectly. From first to last salute, Chipmunk showed how horses should be trained — a happy horse in good balance, with a closed but chewing mouth.

A little further down the leaderboard, I felt Kitty King’s Vendredi Biats had great potential, as did German individual Nadine Marzahl’s Valentine 18. Ludwig Svennerstål’s El Kazir SP lacked suppleness over the back, but he’s a nice horse for the future. Elmo Jankari’s Duchess Desiree was tense, but she’s a very good mover.

We judges were generally well aligned in our scores. Laura Collett had the most disparity in the top echelons, with Anne-Mette Binder giving her 22.1 and me awarding 28.3. Both Peter Shaw, who gave her 26, and I thought London 52 had a slightly short neck and should step more towards the bit, which accounts for our lower marks.

From the long side, where Peter sat, it’s often easier to see the outline and if there are any contact or tongue issues than when on the short side.

Ref Horse & Hound; 5 September 2019

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Should you still buy a horse if pre-purchase X-ray exams reveal issues? The answer may not be black and white, as Patrick Pollock FRCVS explains

It’s a story we’ve all heard. A new horse is found; he suits the rider, has a track record of competitive success and has passed the five-stage veterinary pre-purchase exam (PPE). All that remains is to run some optional radiographs (X-rays) to check nothing is amiss.

All too often, this is the step that ends the process. Perhaps there is evidence of osteoarthritis in a fetlock, a developmental abnormality or kissing spines. Whatever the issue, the findings are enough to cast doubt on the future soundness of the horse. The sale is off.

This sounds black and white, but is it really that simple? Surely the horse either has a problem, or he doesn’t?

The reality is that there is a poor association between radiographic changes — sometimes termed X-ray findings — and the clinical signs that a vet may identify upon examination.

What this means in practice is that a proportion of horses performing well can be expected to have radiographic changes. These changes could even be moderately severe, and have perhaps been present for a considerable period of time.

This fact is the basis of the veterinary approach to the lame horse. Methodical examination, where the lame leg is subject to nerve blocks, is the only accurate means of localising the site of lameness. An owner may request that we simply X-ray, yet a diagnosis based on radiographic findings alone may well be wrong and can lead to unnecessary and perhaps detrimental treatment.

The take-home message is that there are horses working from the lowest to the highest levels with a range of radiographic abnormalities that are of no significance — and do not result in lameness.

Joint account

So why would we X-ray an apparently sound horse?

Breed societies, insurance companies or individual purchasers may ask for different areas of the horse to be imaged, or for a range of radiographic projections of the same area but from different angles.

The more images obtained, the larger the cost to the client and the greater the dose of radiation for the veterinary personnel — the risk to the horse is minimal, as most horses are only radiographed occasionally in their lifetime.

With a lame horse, a series of projections of the affected area is obtained, based on evidence from scientific study, so that the entire region can be reviewed. Pre-purchase radiographs are typically fewer in number, further complicating the interpretation of any abnormalities.

It is often noted that more emphasis is placed on radiographic changes found in horses due to be exported to other parts of Europe or North America. This may be because the risk is perceived to be higher, as the horse is less likely to have been viewed and the purchaser may not know the examining vet. Changes to the dorsal spinous processes seem to be of particular concern to some American purchasers.

Pre-purchase radiographs may reveal radiographic changes that are very important and have a high probability of resulting in lameness in the immediate or distant future. When interpreting these images, it is useful to correlate findings to the clinical exam.

Consider, too, the horse’s work history, his current activity and his intended use, as certain equestrian disciplines can be more — or less — forgiving of a particular radiographic abnormality.

In some cases, the same radiographic findings may cause lameness in one horse but not another. The developmental disease osteochondrosis, for example, causes the formation of bone and cartilage fragments within a joint in early life. These fragments can stick to the joint surface and remain clinically silent, causing no issues, but may lead to effusion (joint swelling) that ultimately results in arthritis and lameness.

If a horse has been in work for some time and has no clinical signs, the view of most specialists would be that the fragments are of little significance and do not merit removal.

We are often asked to remove a fragment from a joint because of the potential for arthritic change and future lameness, despite the horse being sound and performing effectively.

There is a risk in these cases of treating the image, rather than the horse. Inevitably, the client wants a “clean X-ray” that will enhance the horse’s resale potential and value.

The veterinary world now operates a system of evidence-based medicine, where intervention and treatment are based on the results of rigorous scientific study involving large numbers of animals affected with the same problem.

This system is gradually being applied to our interpretation of X-rays. The ideal would be to study 2,000 horses, each sold with a 3mm bone chip in the front of a fetlock joint as a result of the developmental disease osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), as they enter training and throughout their careers.

If it is found that none, or very few, of these horses suffer lameness that can be localised to that joint, then it could be concluded that such developmental abnormalities are unlikely to be a significant cause of lameness.

If, on the other hand, a large proportion go on to develop arthritis of the fetlock, the opposite may be true — and evidence would support the removal of these chip fragments early in life.

The bigger picture

Any discussion on the merits of pre-purchase radiography inevitably generates more questions than answers.

Is there a value to obtaining radiographs before buying? In many cases, yes, because important abnormalities may be identified. It is important to appreciate, however, that some of the potential changes identified will have been present for a long time and carry little or no risk for the development of lameness in the future. Equally, perfect radiographs are no guarantee of future soundness.

Consider any radiographic changes alongside the results of the vetting procedure and take into account the horse’s competition record, his current level of work and what you plan to do with him. Remember that X-ray findings form just part of the picture — and that ultimately you are buying a horse, not a set of radiographs.

Ref Horse & Hound; 29 August 2019

Piggy French has been given a yellow card because there was a visible mark on Quarrycrest Echo’s side where she used her whip during the cross-country at last week’s Longines FEI European Eventing Championships in Luhmühlen, Germany (29 August-1 September).

The FEI eventing rules state: “If a horse’s skin is broken or has visible marks the use of whip will always be deemed to be excessive.”

Additionally, they say that: “All cases of excessive use of whip, as defined above, shall automatically be sanctioned with a yellow warning card or by stronger sanction(s).”

British team rider Piggy said: “I feel really sad because this overshadows how amazing my horse was on Saturday. I felt he backed off through the tough water complex [the Meßmer Teich at fence 12abc] so, in order to ensure his safety and mine, my reaction was to give him a couple of reminders.

“Of course I accept the yellow card, but the welfare of my horse is always my top priority and I would be deeply upset if anyone thought I’d ever do anything that wasn’t fair or in his best interests. I know him extremely well and he’s my friend in all this.”

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More news from the European Championships:

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The European Eventing Championships cross-country: how the course affected the result

We take a look at which fences on the course caused issues for horses and riders and how achievable the

Britain takes silver at European Eventing Championships with Kitty King best Brit in seventh

It was a rollercoaster ride in the showjumping today at the European Eventing Championships as Team GBR bounced down and

Piggy finished the cross-country course clear inside the 10min 10sec optimum time with Jayne McGivern’s 12-year-old chestnut Quarrycrest Echo, after a dressage score of 29.8.

She went on to have the second part of the double at fence four down in the final showjumping on Sunday, finishing on a score of 33.8 for 15th place individually and providing a counting mark towards the British team’s silver medal.

Full report from the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships in Luhmühlen, Germany, in Horse & Hound magazine this week (dated 5 September), including exclusive columns from Mark Phillips and ground jury president Martin Plewa.

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A good horse is a good horse no matter how it’s bred, but we all have our favourite recipes for success. Mine has always been a mixture of Irish Draught and thoroughbred blood, so it was great to see so many lovely animals at the Irish Draught Horse Society (GB) championship show (17-18 August).

The in-hand classes were enormous and it was encouraging to see so many promising youngsters. I’d love to see more of them at county shows; I know the costs of fuel and entry fees may be limiting factors, but it’s disappointing when there are only one or two forward. These shows are a great showcase and shop window for breeders.

Youngstock classes offer a fantastic foundation. A youngster who has been to a few shows as a two- and three-year-old is much easier and happier when he starts his ridden showing career, because he’s seen all the sights and sounds. While it’s important not to over-show youngsters — or to put too much weight on them in the mistaken impression that judges want them to look extra mature — letting them see showground sights, such as ringside barriers, gives them a head start when they begin under saddle.

Some people complain that three-year-olds shouldn’t be shown in double bridles, something that was prohibited for a while under Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain rules and then allowed again. I don’t think there’s a right or a wrong way, because it all depends on how well the bridle and bits are fitted, and how skilful the handler is. Good hands are as essential when showing in-hand as when riding.

As long as the handler runs the horse off the bradoon (snaffle) and doesn’t apply a strong curb rein, I can’t see a problem. The proviso is that the horse should be accustomed to two bits before being shown and that they and the bridle should be adjusted correctly.

Recently, a young handler complained that her horse was pulling his tongue back. The reason was that the bits were too high. I like a horse to be able to mouth his bits and be comfortable with them, not struggle against them because they are pulled too tightly into the corners of his mouth.

More than bad behaviour

When fitting any bit, don’t just count wrinkles at the corners of the mouth. Look also at how the bits rest inside the mouth as well as the adjustment of the curb chain, and assess your horse’s reactions.

If he resists, he isn’t being naughty. He’s uncomfortable, and this is either because of dental issues, because the bit fit needs adjusting, the mouthpieces don’t suit his mouth conformation or any combination of issues.

I’ve recently been training members of the English team for the National Pony Society (NPS) International Tri-Nations Challenge, an annual event between Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand featuring teams of young riders. I was delighted to see the home team win the British leg of the championships at the NPS championships, as this initiative covers everything from ridden and in-hand ability to knowledge of horse welfare.

Good luck to all those who will be travelling to Australia next year.

Ref Horse & Hound; 29 August 2019

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Blair was at its best for its 30th anniversary this year, with excellent ground and balmy temperatures on Sunday. Everyone there felt rather smug not to be at Millstreet, which was less fortunate in its weather.

This was the first time in four years Blair had not hosted an Event Riders Masters (ERM) leg, which has attracted top names and boosted the other classes as riders bring extra horses. The date clash with Millstreet is catastrophic for entries, but director Alec Lochore reports that Blair cannot move for reasons such as trade stands, which are tied into a circuit beyond horse trials.

Blair’s CCI2*-L was still huge — it’s such a destination event at that level — and the CCI3*-L and CCI4*-S had decent fields. The CCI4*-L (previously CCI3*) has always struggled for entries, although 25 last year was the best line-up since 2012. With just nine this year, Alec admits it is “financial suicide” to run the class and the team will look at whether its worth continuing.

Emilie Chandler, who won the CCI4*-L this time, can take heart from the fact the title has been claimed by some excellent horses, including Wesko, Cool Mountain and Macchiato, who all went on to win at four-star (now five-star).

Ready to leap

Only just over half the starters jumped clear across country in Blair’s CCI2*-L.

Three accuracy questions accounted for most of the faults. But a lot of horses also looked uncertain at the first water, where the first entry had a log on top of the step in and the second was a jump into the pond.

I wonder how many national novice tracks require horses to jump anything other than a step down into water? Perhaps it’s a gap riders need to plug in training before a CCI2*-L, particularly now that horses can qualify for the level at novice and are not required to do an intermediate or novice two-day.

Blood conundrum

The dressage, jumping and para Europeans were eventful. I feel so sorry for Lottie Fry and Gareth Hughes, who deserved the first senior medal they lost after Charlotte Dujardin’s elimination.

I can’t decide where I stand on the rule that automatically eliminates dressage riders (and showjumpers) if any fresh blood is found on the horse’s flank. Of course no one wants to see horses marked or to hide such incidents, but in most cases the scratches are miniscule and horses not in any way distressed. The outcry over a supposed welfare atrocity does horse sport more harm than good in the eyes of the general public.

But to let officials decide the sanction based on the severity of the mark would put huge pressure on volunteers or minimally paid officials. It’s a difficult one to solve.

On another note, I disagree with limiting each nation to three riders in the dressage freestyle. I know we want the maximum possible countries at championships, but riders should line up for this final test on merit and no one with a suitable score should miss a chance to fight for individual medals, as happened to the fourth German, Sönke Rothenberger, this time.

Let’s hope Team GBR can add to the medal haul at the eventing European Championships this week.

Ref Horse & Hound; 29 August 2019

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Sunday’s individual final at the showjumping European Championships was a double-edged sword for Ben Maher. All week I’d been convinced that this was his year and that he would come home with a gold medal round his neck; we were all rooting for him. So to win silver instead was so unlucky. But that’s showjumping. It was just so disappointing for him.

But it was really special to see how much the medals meant to both Martin Fuchs and Jos Verlooy. Jos is only 23 but he and Igor put in a fantastic performance all week; they did a brilliant job.

I came away from Rotterdam having also been really impressed with two outsiders — António Matos Almeida of Portugal and Luka Zaloznik of Macedonia, who finished 11th and 20th individually. They were really consistent and will have taken so much away from these championships.

An important result

The Belgian team pulling together as they did to win gold was amazing. But the result for the Brits meant a lot. Going into the championships, the whole team was confident we could win a medal. As Olympic qualification came part and parcel with that, we put thoughts of Tokyo to one side and focused instead on trying to win — or at least do as best we could.

I’m sure that Ben’s horse, Explosion W, is one that everyone would want to have on their team and for Ben to go out first of the four riders certainly took the pressure off everyone else — it meant they could concentrate on their own plans and not worry too much, because Ben had already set the bar, giving the whole team such a good start.

I knew shortly before I travelled to Rotterdam that I would be the team’s fifth rider. It was a bit of a hard pill to swallow, but I was thrilled to be there as part of the team and obviously anything could have happened between getting to the venue and starting the competition, so there was still a chance I could have jumped.

Throughout the three days of team jumping, I wanted to support and help the other four riders as much as I could — just to be another set of eyes and be part of it all. It was a very good experience, but any fifth rider will tell you they’d rather be riding! So if I could change anything about the championships, it would be to scrap the supporting CSI2* classes, which weren’t much to write home about, and I’d let all the fifth riders jump as individuals.

But without a doubt the experience has spurred me on towards making Tokyo a serious goal. There’s a lot to look forward to.

Ref Horse & Hound; 29 August 2019

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Eventer Gemma Tattersall says she was devastated to be given a yellow card during the cross-country at the Millstreet Event Rider Masters (ERM) leg.

Gemma was given the sanction by FEI officials for “excessive use of the whip” on Quicklook V on Saturday (24 August).

The 14-year-old mare had already knocked a flag at one fence and Gemma told H&H she had been running through the bridle towards a corner, where she again knocked the flag, so she “tapped her on the shoulder” on landing.

“That’s what I got the card for,” Gemma said. “I didn’t hit her hard, I wasn’t cross, there was no malice in it and no mark on her.

“It was just a ‘come on, stay on your game, concentrate and don’t run through the flags’.

“I’d never, ever dream of hurting any of my horses in a million years; I adore her.”

Gemma said that she respects and accepts the rules, but was very upset to be given this sanction.

“I was correcting her,” she said. “I was trying to ride with sympathy; I felt she didn’t like the mud and didn’t want to gallop in it so I didn’t push her on to try to win some of the ERM prize money, I looked after her. I backed off, gave her a pat and said ‘we’ll go at this pace’. She had a lovely ride.

Continues below…

British Olympic pair win Bramham CCI4*-S

Burghley Horse Trials 2019 draw revealed: former winners run at the end

The draw has been done for this year’s Burghley Horse Trials, with Tim Price the pathfinder on Bango, as well

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Gemma said: “It’s the most horrendous feeling [to be given the yellow card]. I accept the rules and don’t want to break them and I’ll do my best in the future not to.”

FEI eventing rules state that the whip may not be used more than twice per “incident”.

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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