Month: December 2022

Jockey Tom Buckley receives another ban

Suzanne Ashton
Tom Buckley pulls up Sindabella in Leicester Racing TV

Conditional Jockey, Tom Buckley (22), has received his second ban of the season after he rode the wrong track on horse, Sindabella at Leicester on Wednesday 28th December. Buckley’s first ban, of 14 days, came in September 2022 during the 2m1f novice hurdle at Newton Abbot, riding Watchoutitscookie, another Hawke trained horse. Based with Paul Nichols, Buckley had two lengths in hand on Wednesday during the 2n4c1/2f Handicap Hurdle, as he tuned to the home straight. However, despite the strong start, the pair rode forward taking the chase track side…

Read More

Dinja and Hermes lead Dutch domination at Mechelen

Suzanne Ashton
The Netherlands’ Dinja van Liere and Hermes NOP clinched victory in today’s sixth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League in Mechelen, Belgium. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

FEI Dressage World Cup 2022/2023 Western European League – Written by Louise Parkes There was a real show of strength from the Dutch contingent at the sixth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League at Mechelen in Belgium today where they filled five of the top seven places in the competition won by Dinja van Liere and Hermes NOP. Van Liere and her 10-year-old stallion, who clinched bronze in both the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle at the ECCO FEI World Championships 2022 in Herning, Denmark this…

Read More

Trainer Talk: Amber Jackson-Fennell

Suzanne Ashton
20-year-old Amber Jackson-Fennell

Written by Jake Exelby 20-year-old Amber Jackson-Fennell is a relatively new face on the pointing scene, but is hoping to make a splash over the coming seasons. Originally from Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, she is now based near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, from where she trains – and rides – a small string of pointers (which she also owns herself) alongside her day job – as novice jockey for top pointing operation Station Yard Racing (Fran & Charlie Poste). Amber finished last season early to retain her novice status, got off the…

Read More

Cost-of-living crisis: Survey launched for horse owners

Suzanne Ashton
A group of equine charities are asking horse owners how they are affected by the cost of living crisis

A group of equine charities are asking horse owners how they are affected by the cost-of-living crisis The survey, which was launched on Wednesday 21st December will be used to gauge how people are coping this winter. Research is being undertaken on behalf of NEWC by Redwings Horse Sanctuary, World Horse Welfare, Blue Cross, The British Horse Society, Oak Tree Animal Sanctuary and the British Farrier and Blacksmith Association. The NEWC (National Equine Welfare Council C.I.C.) is a ‘not-for-profit’ membership organisation that was set up in 1977 and works to protect horses, ponies, donkeys and mules, by providing support, guidance and…

Read More

Trainer Talk: Myles Osborne

Suzanne Ashton

Written by Jake Exelby 21-year-old Myles Osborne enjoyed a fine season as a trainer last year, with six winners from just 12 runners – four coming from stable star Moratorium, on whom Myles enjoyed his first riding success at Larkhill in January, and two from Broomfields Cave, subsequently second in an Aintree bumper and sold to race under rules for Neil Mulholland. This year, Myles and his partner Celine de la Haye – who rides on the flat in her native Jersey – have expanded their string and moved to Bourton…

Read More

Hunt saboteur found guilty after video shows her assaulting pensioner

Suzanne Ashton
Hunt saboteur Alexandra Dennis was fined £959, for the violent incident which took place on a country lane near to the village of Holnest in Dorset on the 18th December last year.

A hunt saboteur has been found guilty of assault by beating an 81-year-old man after a trial at Weymouth Magistrates Court. Alexandra Dennis, the saboteur, was fined £959, for the violent incident which took place on a country lane near to the village of Holnest in Dorset on the 18th December last year. The Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt had been out trail hunting that day when they were set upon by a group of camouflage wearing hunt saboteurs.  A video taken of the shocking assault shows Dennis striking an elderly…

Read More

In the Spotlight: Nomi Bontegard, Singer and Star Stable Game Developer

Suzanne Ashton

Interview by Suzanne Ashton Here we interview Nomi Bontegard, one of the biggest talents behind the largest teen horse adventure video game, Star Stable. Hailing from Axvall in Sweden, Nomi Bontegard was discovered by the Star Stable Music record label, which is part of Star Stable Entertainment (which boasts over 25 million registered users across 180 countries), where she works as a 3D game artist and animator modelling, designing, and creating assets for the game. At the beginning of December 2022, Nomi performed at the Sweden International Horse Show in…

Read More

London International: And that’s a wrap!

Suzanne Ashton
Matthew Sampson London International Horse Show

The final day of The London International Horse Show featured some of the world’s best equestrian athletes, including seven of the top ten show jumpers in action. With the Turkish Airlines London Grand Prix, with a whopping prize fund of €125,000 up for grabs, The Markel Jockeys Jumping in aid of The Injured Jockeys Fund, The Mistletoe Stakes AND The LeMieux Six Bar, there was certainly no shortage of action to conclude this five-day spectacular. Home win for Sampson The 2022 London International Horse Show drew to a close with…

Read More

Pivo Pod Active Review: Equestrian Edition

Suzanne Ashton
Pivo Pod Active

We provide a thorough review of the Pivo Pod Active from an equestrian perspective. We assess the device from both a mechanical and functional standpoint by producing a video of its use, a list of pros and cons, and a summative conclusion. About the Pivo Pod Active for Equestrians The Pivo Pod Equestrian Edition is a bundle containing all the essential accessories to record your riding performance and daily progress or even join remote video training sessions. The new edition, released since this review started, now includes a wireless mic to enable conversations…

Read More

The Benefits of Horseback Riding

Suzanne Ashton
horseback riding through a field

Is Horseback Riding Good Exercise? Horseback riding is a popular recreational activity that has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is an enjoyable activity that can provide numerous physical and mental benefits, but is it really a good exercise? Horseback riding requires strength, balance, and coordination and can be a great cardiovascular workout. It is suitable for people of all ages and levels of physical fitness and can help improve posture and coordination. Additionally, horseback riding can have a calming, meditative effect, allowing riders to escape the stresses of…

Read More

London International: Brash Brings it Home for Britain

Suzanne Ashton
Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson

Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson win Longines FEI Jumping World Cup class at London international Horse Show The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup saw 38 starters from 14 different nations go head-to-head as they vied for FEI World Cup points to qualify for the Final in Omaha in April 2023. Renowned Portuguese course designer, Bernardo Costa Cabral, described the highly challenging 13 fence track as the “perfect recipe”, complete with twists, tight turns, and a testing but achievable first round time allowed of 68 seconds. With faults accumulated throughout the course, just seven…

Read More

Horse breeding history

Suzanne Ashton
Horse breeding and breeds

Horse breeding originated in ancient times and has become an important part of history. Historically, many famous works of art and literature relied on horses to transport people and materials for transport. In addition to transportation, horses have many uses in different parts of the world. They are used for riding, pulling, as livestock, for hunting and for herding livestock. Over time, horses have become an integral part of our daily lives, due to their dedicated and loving nature, resiliance and strength. There are hundreds of different horse types, this article…

Read More

London International: Exell’ing in London Day 3

Suzanne Ashton
Boyd Exell at London International Horse Show 2022

Boyd Exell continued his winning form yesterday at The London International Horse Show. With a host of feature classes and plenty of fast and furious action, you can find out more on how day 3 unfolded below. Much to the surprise of John Whitaker, the stalwart of showjumping was awarded the British Equestrian Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award during the afternoon’s performance. “I was a bit taken aback, I got tricked nobody told me”, laughed John “It’s nice to be appreciated as long as you don’t think I’m going to…

Read More

How Much Does It Cost To Buy a Horse in the US?

Suzanne Ashton
How Much Does It Cost To Buy a Horse?

How much does it cost to buy a horse? The expense of purchasing a horse, not only in the US but worldwide, too, extends beyond only the purchase price itself. In the US horse market, numerous factors can affect the purchasing price. We have outlined a few elements that impact horse prices in our article below. Produced in partnership with the World Animal Foundation. Factors affecting horse cost on purchase Given below is a list of all the factors that may affect the costs of buying a horse in the…

Read More

London International: World Champs Hit the Ground Running on Day 2

Suzanne Ashton
London International Day 2 Lottie Fry and Glamourdale

World Champions hit the ground running on day 2 of the London International Horse Show 2022. Eager to find out who rose and prospered under the glittering lights of the ExCel arena? Read on to find out more. A double delight for Lottie Great Britain’s double world championship winning combination, Lottie Fry and the 11-year-old black stallion Glamourdale completed another double, winning the FEI Dressage World Cup Freestyle supported by Horse & Hound, to follow up on her Grand Prix victory last night. Their score of 90.995%, the best FEI World Cup…

Read More

London International: World Champions Excel on Day 1

Suzanne Ashton
Harry Charles London International Day 1

And just like that, Day 1 of the London International Horse Show was complete, and what a day it was! The famous LeMieux Puissance wall took centre stage at ExCeL London on the opening day of the 2022 event, with Guy Williams and Joseph Trunkfield jumping 2.15m to win. Earlier in the day, Harry Charles started off the 2022 edition of the London International Horse Show in style, with a victory in the Voltaire Design Under 25 British Championship with his mount Chavira.  The Afternoon Performance saw world individual double gold medallists Lottie…

Read More

Paradise Wildlife Park feed Dengie Alfa-A Original

Lucy Bennion

Dengie Alfa-A has been showing off its versatility in style by being the feed of choice for various zoo animals (ok, keepers) for 15 years! Hertfordshire-based Paradise Wildlife park have been feeding the popular Dengie feed to their zoo animals for over 15 years. The different species that have been enjoying the high-spec forage include the lowland Topir, Plain Zebra Bactrian Camels and Red Deer “At Paradise Wildlife Park we have used Dengie’s Alfa-A Original for many years now across various species.” Explains James Cork, head keeper. “We mix the…

Read More

How to Enjoy a Day at the Races in Style

Suzanne Ashton
How to enjoy a day at the races

Horse lovers come in all different varieties. Some love nothing more than plaiting up and strutting their stuff in the dressage arena, others love bombing across country, the wind in their hair, and some don’t feel the need to ride the horse at all but would rather watch as a mass of thoroughbreds’ gallops around a track, feeling the thunder of hooves echoing in their chest.  If you’ve never experienced the latter before then we’ve got a guide to enjoying your first-ever day at the races. In this article, we…

Read More

Hippotherapy versus Equine Therapy

Suzanne Ashton
Hippotherapy versus Equine Therapy

Hippotherapy versus Equine Therapy: Benefits and Differences Both hippotherapy and equine therapy use the horse to carry out activities with people and obtain different benefits. Anyone who has been in contact with horses knows the enormous benefits these animals can bring us; these two disciplines have managed to professionalize this work to obtain results impossible to imagine with other therapies. Let’s learn more about how horses can help us to repair numerous and very different ailments. Hippotherapy versus Equine Therapy In this article, we will look at the difference between…

Read More

Finalists revealed for The Jockey Club RoR Horse of the Year 2022

Suzanne Ashton
Skipper Robin jumping cross country

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) has announced the amazing contenders for The Jockey Club RoR Horse of the Year Award 2022. This year’s three finalists were voted on by the public from a shortlist of 12 horses chosen from over 150 nominations received by RoR as contenders for The Jockey Club sponsored award. With nearly 3,000 votes received, RoR confirm the three horses that captured the highest number of public votes online are: The overall winner from these three finalists will now be chosen by sports broadcaster, horse lover and RoR Patron…

Read More

Fancy Horseback Falconry in Southern England for 2023?

Suzanne Ashton
Horseback Falconry

Horseback Falconry in Southern England, an experience like no other! Many people when talking about falconry from horseback will say they’d love to go to Mongolia to see horses and eagles being used together. But now, with the help of Cavago, the online web and app booking platform, you can see these magnificent birds flying at their best, from as close as Devon! Dartmoor Hawking is the only facility in the UK where you can combine the two ancient arts of falconry and riding. ‘Falconry from Horses’ is great fun with lots of…

Read More

Lameness with no heat, swelling or obvious injury

Suzanne Ashton
Lameness with no heat or swelling

Lameness with no heat or swelling? This type of lameness can have a number of causes, and could be a symptom of an underlying condition. In this article, we consider reasons why lameness can occur, including what to do, from an expert in his field, Alex Mould. So, you go to get your horse in from the field when you notice lameness without any heat, swelling or obvious injury. You tentatively walk the horse back to the stable where you can have a closer look, but what do you do…

Read More

Mare and Foal Sanctuary launch Christmas appeal

Suzanne Ashton

The Mare and Foal Sanctuary has launched its Christmas appeal to highlight what a challenging time it is not just at the sanctuary, but for the wider equine community too as the cost-of-living crisis continues to have an impact. The charity is experiencing an increase in the number of calls for help from horse owners who are finding it hard to cope and from members of the public worried about horses in their area. Their Welfare Outreach team has been involved with 61 new welfare cases so far this year…

Read More

BBC to broadcast London International Horse Show

Suzanne Ashton
BBC to broadcast London International Horse Show The London International Horse Show, which returns to ExCeL London this week, from 15-19 December, is set to deliver five-days of world-class international equestrian competition and spectacular

The BBC is to broadcast London International Horse Show with extensive TV and online streaming schedule The London International Horse Show, which returns to ExCeL London this week, from 15-19 December, is set to deliver five-days of world-class international equestrian competition and spectacular display acts. However, for those unable to attend, there is an extensive TV and online streaming schedule to facilitate viewing by both national and international audiences. Over 10 hours of live action will be available to UK viewers via the BBC, on BBC 2 and across its…

Read More

Brand new weekend format for LGCT & GCL to launch in 2023

Suzanne Ashton
Brand new weekend format for LGCT & GCL to launch in 2023

2023 brings an exciting new weekend format for the Longines Global Champions Tour show schedules. The 16-event series is committed to developing the sport in the modern era by continuing rapid and exciting growth for LGCT and GCL and attracting new audiences to show jumping. The biggest change will see Round 1 and Round 2 of the GCL team series now take place on the same day instead of across two days as previously seen.  In addition, each weekend in the 2023 series will see the top 40 riders qualify…

Read More