South African showjumper Ronnie Lawrence has died aged 65. Ronnie started his career aged 16, and in 1984 he took a South African-bred ex-racehorse to England to prepare for the Los Angeles Olympics. He jumped clear in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hickstead and after this went to America to train with George Morris and competed on the winter circuit in Florida, and Spruce Meadows in Canada. Having been diagnosed with cancer in January 2020, Ronnie suffered a major heart attack resulting in triple bypass surgery. He still competed in a Derby and World Cup legs throughout this time.
Event riders have made a “personal appeal” to the FEI after the organisation backtracked on a replacement class for those lost to the wet spring. On Wednesday (17 May) Bicton International was given permission by the FEI to run a CCI2*-S at its event on 25-28 May. But a statement from Bicton yesterday (18 May) said that approval “has been suddenly revoked by the FEI today (18 May)”. The Event Riders Association (ERA) has urged the FEI to reconsider. “This position has left athletes and owners short of venues for vital minimum eligibility requirements to progress both horse and riders or begin their FEI careers,” said Bruce Haskell, ERA chairman.
Vicky Smith and Royal Illusion in the Riding Horse Championship during Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10 - 14th May 2023
(Image credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show / Peter)
It’s been a week since the Royal Windsor Horse Show, where the some of the country’s best show horses and ponies descended on the private grounds of Windsor Castle. We’ve rounded up a gallery of the winners from the four days. Among those are champion cob Red Rock III, the overall working hunter champion Noble Gladiator, and ex-racehorse Imperial Ruby.
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
