European showjumping champions DSP Chakaria and Andre Thieme will not defend their title as the mare has sustained a “slight injury”. The pair claimed individual gold and helped Germany to team silver at the 2021 Europeans. They had been due to compete on the German side at the 2023 championships next week (29 August to 3 September). Andre said the withdrawal is “purely a precautionary measure”.
A farrier who hit a horse nine times with a hammer in a “barbaric attack” has lost his appeal against his sentence. H&H reported in March that Scott Manson, 34, had been sentenced at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court, having pleaded guilty to animal cruelty. Manson, of Whitecross Cottages, Bridstow, Ross on Wye, was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence and a 10-year animal ban, including working with animals. He appealed his sentence, specifically the all-animal disqualification, and this was dismissed by Gloucester Crown Court on 18 August.
Carl Hester looks ahead to next month’s European Dressage Championships (4 to 10 September) in his exclusive H&H column this week. “This year’s team of Charlotte Dujardin, Lottie Fry, Gareth Hughes and myself gel very well as we’ve been in this situation together before. If we’re all on form, I predict this could be one of the most exciting teams since the Valegro days,” says Carl. “Gareth’s record is full of top-10 placings and he’s a cool rider with great technique, Charlotte was second in Aachen recently with Imhotep, Lottie of course is the reigning world champion and Fame and I haven’t scored under 75%.”
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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.
