A puissance star, a special heavy horse and other things the horse world is talking about
Horse & Hound’s daily debrief, brought to you every weekday morning
1. Former Olympic eventer takes HOYS puissance
“It’s a fantastic feeling – and an absolute privilege to ride this horse,” said Commandant Geoff Curran, after he and Bishops Quarter landed their second Horse of the Year Show HOYS puissance on the trot. The Irish rider and the minister for defence’s Obos Quality 16-year-old were the only combination to jump clear in the final round, when the wall stood at 2.20m (7’2”), a centimetre higher than they jumped to secure the Ripon Select Foods title in 2022.
2. The shire who owned the arena at HOYS
Exactly 10 years since he won the SEIB Search For A Star series, Will Morton returned to the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) to take the top spot in The Barber Family British ridden heavy horse of the year championship. Will, who began the week aboard hunters, cemented his versatility when partnering Gemma McClorey’s eight-year-old Shire gelding Cotebrook Sgurr Alasdair (Big Al) to head the hugely competitive final.
Find out what the judges loved about this pair
3. An enviable equestrian property
Frankly we’d be very happy in the two bedroom cottage on this estate if it meant enjoying riding in these grounds, but those in the market for a 26-acre pad with wonderful equestrian facilities and a stunningly grand home should check out Weald Hall, which is in the London commuter belt being two miles from Brentwood in Essex.
You might also be interested in:
From dubious embryo to Olympic prospect: Charlotte Dujardin’s fantastic HOYS win
‘She’s real life, and my everything’: Charlotte Dujardin on how having her daughter has changed her
‘It’s a privilege to ride with him’: HOYS roof raised as John Whitaker and Shane Breen win 1.85m six-bar
‘She’s so beautiful’: girl power prevails in HOYS coloured horse and pony championship
‘She tries her heart out for me’: rider takes HOYS title on last outing with special mare
‘This is fantastic for racehorses’: ex-racer lifts HOYS riding horse championship
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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.