Harry Charles’s calls for change have been backed by hundreds of other riders, after the Olympic gold medallist had a bad fall in competition. The experienced horse Harry was riding took off after one stride in a two-stride vertical-oxer double, in a 1.45m national class in the US. Both Harry and the horse avoided serious injury but Harry said they were lucky. “I didn’t realise how big a problem the vertical-oxer two-stride double was until I posted about it and I’ve had over 400 people reach out with stories of broken backs, necks and horses dying,” he told H&H. “A lot of riders here, top-level riders, agree that this combination is dangerous.”
Major racing owner and breeder the Aga Khan has died aged 88. The 49th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims took on the racing and breeding operations founded by his grandfather when he was 23, in 1960. Arguably the most famous of the horses he owned was the Derby winner Shergar, who was stolen from one of the Aga Khan’s studs in Ireland, and never found.
The RSPCA is appealing for any information that could help trace those responsible for dumping a dead horse in East Sussex. The emaciated body of a one-eyed cob mare was found near Battle last week; it was tied to a ratchet strap attached to a telegraph pole, which the RSPCA believes was used to drag it off a vehicle. “This poor horse was in a very bad condition and she had been severely neglected before being dumped at this location,” said RSPCA animal rescue officer Claire Thomas.
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
