Major British show cancelled, a legend bows out, and more things the horse world is talking about
Horse & Hound’s daily debrief, brought to you every weekday morning
1. British international show cancelled
Lack of ticket sales and rising costs have forced the cancellation of the Bloomfield Horseboxes CDI3* international dressage show at Bolesworth (24 to 26 June). This was the first time dressage was set to run as a standalone show, rather than alongside showjumping, but organisers have been forced to pull the plug for “commercial viability” reasons. “Our plan for this year was to replicate our successful showjumping shows for dressage, but sadly, with the rising costs of staging world-class events, current circumstances have resulted in reduced numbers that affect the commercial viability of the show and, consequently, we have little choice but to cancel,” said a statement from the Bolesworth team.
Discover the reasons why Bolesworth had to cancel
2. A legend retires
Ingrid Klimke has confirmed that her great team horse SAP Hale Bob OLD will be retired from competition after sustaining a tendon injury at the eventing World Championships test event in Pratoni del Vivaro. The 18-year-old represented Germany at a senior championship every year between 2015 and 2021. His greatest achievements included double individual European gold, individual world bronze, Pau 2014 victory and second place at Badminton Horse Trials in 2015.
Find out more about SAP Hale Bob OLD’s remarkable career
3. Top rider on the mend after breaking her neck
National Hunt jockey Bridget Andrews discovered she had broken her neck two weeks after a fall. Bridget, 28, is on the path to recovery following the tumble at Warwick on 21 April. The fractures did not show up on the MRI or X-ray, and she later went for a CT scan in the hope she would receive the all-clear to return to race-riding. “It was only when I had that CT scan that they picked up the injury – it turns out the MRIs and X-rays had missed it,” said Bridget, who was told she’d broken her neck in three places – “two fractures to the C2, the C6 into C7, as well as the C5”.
You might also be interested in:
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
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
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.