H&H columnist Graham Fletcher shares his thoughts on whip rules in this week’s issue (12 December), following a trip to Stockholm International Horse Show. He mentions that Sweden’s national whip rules are “much more proscriptive than the FEI ones” and that any rider using the stick “in a forceful manner would be asked to go home”. “So, do I think the Swedes have got this one right? Yes, I definitely do,” says Graham.
Equine welfare charity the Mare and Foal Sanctuary is counting the cost of Storm Darragh, which left a trail of destruction in its wake. Field shelters and trees were ripped from the ground and a Christmas visitor event was cancelled as a result of the bad weather. The total bill to repair the damage is estimated to cost the charity £10,000. A spokesperson for the charity said that it is grateful no horses, ponies or people were hurt, which they added is largely owing to “careful planning and regular daily maintenance of its land and buildings”.
Top showjumper Martin Fuchs has raised concerns about keeping the industry relevant and what the sport can do to change. “I believe we should work on making showjumping more accessible to a wider audience,” he says. “Not necessarily the competitive showjumping itself, but the structure – such as the calendar, the types of shows, and the various series – can be challenging for someone outside the sport to understand. For example, there is the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping, the Rolex Series, the FEI Jumping World Cup, and the FEI League of Nations. To someone who doesn’t know the sport, distinguishing between these can be confusing, particularly when trying to grasp the differences between the Rolex events, which feature the best riders and highest-level competition, and other series that offer significant prize money but are less prestigious.”
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
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
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.
