Miners Frolic, who won six medals for Britain in eventing with Tina Cook, was put down on 26 May aged 24. “Arthritis had taken over and it was the right thing to do, but he will be greatly missed,” said Sarah Pelham, Miners Frolic’s co-owner who looked after “Henry” in all his holidays and throughout his retirement. The horse’s life story has all the makings of a film script, he having very nearly died at one point during his career but instead coming back for more top level success. He was a true legend of the sport.
2. New option for cost conscious but keen eventers
British Eventing (BE) is introducing a new competition format that will be more accessible – without the need to shell out for membership fees. The GO BE classes will be run over affiliated courses but with no record of results, no prize money and no qualifications or minimum eligibility results (MERs) available. With some riders querying the benefits of going affiliated when they can ride unaffiliated at the same venues, here seemingly is the middle ground. The notion should appeal to those with young horses or those who want to compete but without the horse’s affiliated record being affected, too.
Alan Davies - Oaklebrook Mill, Malswick, Newent, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom - 20 March 2020
(Image credit: Jon Stroud Media)
3. Valegro and Uthopia living a dream retirement
We always want to know that those horses we’ve followed in top level competition, the heroes of their sports who do so much for their riders’ and adoring public, go on to enjoy a wonderful and well-deserved retirement. That’s certainly the case for London 2012 Olympic dressage heroes Valegro and Uthopia, who enjoy most of groom Alan Davies’ attention at Carl Hester’s Gloucestershire yard. Alan hacks out both and pampers them daily, and is most protective of who gets to ride them – even if it’s Carl and Charlotte Dujardin asking. Life as it should be then.
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Sarah has worked at an equestrian journalist and editor since 2004 and has held the position of Horse & Hound Editor-in-Chief since 2014. She has reported for Horse & Hound from major championships including Europeans and World Equestrian Games. She has co-written books on horses and horse sport including The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. She has owned and ridden horses since 1993, and worked for and trained with Olympic gold medallist event rider Leslie Law prior to going to university. While studying for a BSc at London School of Economics Sarah also worked for top British dressage rider Louise Spate.
