Charlotte Dujardin (pictured, top) made a victorious return to competition following her baby break by claiming a convincing win in the Defender grand prix at Royal Windsor Horse Show yesterday (10 May). Charlotte got back in the saddle three weeks ago, after giving birth to her daughter, Isabella, in early March. She posted 77.26% with her 2022 World Dressage Championships team silver medal-winning ride Imhotep, owned by Carl Hester and Coral Ingham, to secure the top spot.
Mark Phillips reflects on cross-country day at Badminton Horse Trials and asks where eventing goes now in his latest exclusive H&H column. “The FEI is going headlong down the avenue of frangible technology, ground lines and anything else that could help stop horse falls, but the success of this policy is questionable,” he says. “Nothing is being done to make riders more responsible for helping their horses jump every fence. From the lower levels up, the general standard of riding and horsemanship is in decline, so it’s difficult to see how things will improve. The top echelon of riders are the obvious exception, but I don’t think anybody can argue that the skill of riding a tiring horse is anything but on the wane. At Badminton, Ros Canter, William Fox-Pitt, Tim Price and Tom Jackson stood out as examples of how to ride forward across country on soft ground.”
Fresh details on the cross-country course, grooms’ accommodation, stabling and testing plans for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games were revealed at the FEI Sports Forum (24 to 25 April). The spectacular grounds of the palace of Versailles will host the equestrian events next year. In a new move for the 2024 Games, horses will be stabled by discipline, rather than nationality. The historic venue and Paris’s pledge to slash carbon emissions by 50%, compared to previous runnings of the Games, also bring a unique set of logistical challenges for organisers. Testing will mainly take place at Fontainebleau, while testing of the footing on the cross-country course will have to happen at Versailles. Details on the new eco-hostel for the grooms, plus arrivals and departures logistics, have also been shared.
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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.
