Death of a tiny superstar, the greatness of Olive Nicholls, plus other things the horse world is talking about

1. Farewell to a tiny superstar

Catherston Stud has paid tribute to tiny superstar Littledale Bright Star, who has been put down aged 26. The 12.2hh Catherston Nightsafe stallion had been at Catherston since he was a weanling, siring about 100 progeny in the UK, US, New Zealand and Australia. He is the only pony stallion to have achieved elite status owing to the international achievements of his offspring in all three Olympic disciplines.

Young star Olive Nicholls scored an impressive double, as well as her first win as a trainer, at Hursely Hambledon point-to-point at Larkhill in Wiltshire last weekend (26 November). Olive, 17, kicked off her day with a neat victory in the ladies’ open, riding her champion trainer father Paul Nicholls’, and John Bolton’s Viroflay, a horse she now trains herself, having previously been in the care of her mother Georgina Nicholls.

He was passionate about showjumping, initially as a rider then, following a back injury, as a breeder. During the 1950s and ’60s he was a regular on the northern British Showjumping (BS) circuit, competing alongside Harvey Smith, the Fletchers and the Barkers to name just a few. The highlight of his showjumping career came in 1960 when he competed in two jumping classes at Horse of the Year Show on the home-produced horse King Pin (Manilla).

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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.

Death of a tiny superstar, the greatness of Olive Nicholls, plus other things the horse world is talking about

1. Farewell to a tiny superstar

3. Olive Nicholls’ first win as a trainer

3. Loss of a proud Yorkshire horseman

Roy Robinson, a proud Yorkshireman with a passion for horses, died on 12 November, aged 91. Roy was whipper-in for the Derwent for eight seasons and continued as a lifelong follower, on horseback and then in a car, until he was 90.

You might also be interested in:

‘He gets quite excited!’ Super 128cm pony’s unscheduled trip up Hickstead Derby bank

In full flight: tiny pony and rider take mighty mountain leap

‘I’m very lucky’: meet young jockey Olive Nicholls, who is following in the footsteps of her famous family

‘We’ll be gallivanting around the moors!’: Frodon to retire to Bryony Frost at the end of this season

1. Farewell to a tiny superstar

3. Olive Nicholls’ first win as a trainer

3. Loss of a proud Yorkshire horseman

Roy Robinson, a proud Yorkshireman with a passion for horses, died on 12 November, aged 91. Roy was whipper-in for the Derwent for eight seasons and continued as a lifelong follower, on horseback and then in a car, until he was 90.

You might also be interested in:

‘He gets quite excited!’ Super 128cm pony’s unscheduled trip up Hickstead Derby bank

In full flight: tiny pony and rider take mighty mountain leap

‘I’m very lucky’: meet young jockey Olive Nicholls, who is following in the footsteps of her famous family

‘We’ll be gallivanting around the moors!’: Frodon to retire to Bryony Frost at the end of this season

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