1. Farewell to a much-loved event rider
Vicky Collins, the five-star event rider, breeder, producer and mother of five-star rider Felicity, died on 1 January following complications from an illness, aged 69. Vicky was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on 15 October 1954. She was the youngest of three children, and grew up in East Malling, Kent, where she attended Maidstone Girls’ Grammar School. Vicky’s family was not particularly horsey, but she begged her mother for lessons at the local riding school, where her love of horses began. Every day after school she would walk to the riding school, excitedly checking the lesson board to find out which pony she would be riding.
2. High praise for ex-racehorses
The owner of a former racehorse who was “a bit useless” on the track but has completed Badminton grassroots three times and excelled in showjumping, dressage and showing has urged others not to discount thoroughbreds. Claire Lewis told H&H she had only had “what I’d call normal riding club horses” before Master Wickham came into her life eight years ago. She said “Darsi” has shattered her previous perceptions of former racehorses, and that he is a “shining example” of what they can achieve with amateur riders.
Find out more about this ex-racer’s success
Claire Lewis wants others to consider great ex-racehorses like Master Wickham.
3. Two of Helgstrand’s top rides move to new riders
Top dressage horses Queenparks Wendy and Jovian will be campaigned by Germany’s Isabell Werth and Sweden’s Patrik Kittel, while Andreas Helgstrand is excluded from team competition during 2024.
On 12 January a spokesman for Helgstrand Dressage announced that the stable, in collaboration with Queenparks Wendy’s owner Bolettte Wandt of Château de Fontaine, has entered into a partnership with Isabell and Isabell’s sponsor Madeleine Winter-Schulze for the 10-year-old mare to join Isabell. A partnership has been formed between Helgstrand Dressage and Patrik for 10-year-old stallion Jovian. Both horses’ nationalities have been updated on the FEI database, ahead of the 15 January Olympic transfer deadline.
More on why these horses have moved
Andreas Helgstrand and Jovian pictured at the 2023 European Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck.
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The Horse & Hound Podcast 136: Badminton-bound Felicity Collins | Feeding good-doers
£700 former racehorse who ran 25 times storms into four-star lead
New £50,000 competition for former racehorses to ‘showcase their talent’
‘His bar bill was extortionate!’ Sad farewell to 38-year-old ex-racehorse who enjoyed a Guinness a day
Helgstrand Dressage to record all horse training – in the ‘wake of poor riding’
Andreas Helgstrand to miss Paris 2024 – as three Helgstrand Dressage instructors reprimanded
Rollkur, draw reins, and bleeding mouths, in second part of undercover documentary at Helgstrand Dressage
Uproar over ‘appalling’ footage shown in undercover documentary – as top rider excluded from national team
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