Equestrian talent and the hunger to be the best certainly appears to runs through the McCoy family’s genes – 15-year-old Eve McCoy demonstrated that when winning the Stoner Jewellers 1.20m open championship, riding her famous father’s 11-year-old gelding Cocktail D’Azur, on Sunday (3 September), the last day of the first week of the All England September Tour. Eve joked that her father AP “wants to keep me as far away from racehorses as possible”, hence the focus on showjumping instead. This might be the young McCoy’s first Hickstead championship, but we certainly wouldn’t bet on it being her last.
2. Barbury remains off the British Eventing calendar
Mollie Summerland and Charly Van Ter Heiden pictured at Barbury in 2019.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Hopes that Barbury Castle International Horse Trials would return to the British Eventing calendar for the 2024/2025 season have been dashed by the news that the CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S 2024/2025 fixtures have been allocated to Aston-le-Walls. Director of Barbury organisers Musketeer Event Management, Alec Lochore, said that the decision was “extremely disappointing” and told H&H that BE had not given them a reason why they lost the fixture. However the venue still plans to host eventing, albeit at lower levels: “We will continue to run the Cotswold Cup, so we will still have eventing at this great venue – it’s just not going to be international eventing at four-star level, which I think is quite sad.”
Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep at the 2023 European Dressage Championships trot-up.
(Image credit: BENJAMIN CLARK)
The action at the European Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany, is under way with the first day of para dressage competition. We wish everyone competing the very best of luck. All the British horses have passed the trot-up and H&H’s team of reporters are on hand to bring you all the news as it happens from both the dressage and para dressage championships through the week, so you don’t need to miss a thing.
Horse & Hound is delighted to welcome Absorbine as a sponsor for the Horse & Hound Awards 2023, which are once again being held in partnership with NAF. Nominations for this year’s awards celebrating the stars of equestrianism – both household names and unsung heroes – are now open.
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Rachael Holdsworth, European marketing manager for Absorbine, said: “Grooms stand at the core of the equestrian world; their skills and unwavering commitment to their horses is truly exceptional. This is precisely why Absorbine is delighted to sponsor this award. Many grooms in the industry trust and use our grooming and horse care products, making it all the more exciting to give back and acknowledge their well-deserved recognition for their dedication to the sport.”
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Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.
