Author: Abby Dickinson

World’s most expensive foal sold at auction The world’s most expensive foal has sold at auction. Colt foal, Especially for Fun Z, sold at Zangersheide Quality Auction for a massive €160,000.  An auction night that will ‘go down in history’, the world record-breaking price knocked the previous record out of the park. Sold to a German buyer, the foal is out of Portuguese rider Luciana Diniz’s Olympic ride. Diniz’s took 17-year-old mare, Fit For Fun 13, to the Rio Olympic’s in 2016. The Hannoverian chestnut mare has also made many Nations Cup team…

New Wearable Tech Set To Improve Rider Safety ICE-Scan is the new wearable tech, set to improve rider safety when hacking. A modern solution for an age old dilemma, ICE-scan allows riders to securely save and store medical and personal information for referral in the event of an emergency. As paramedics and clinicians often testify, saving time in an emergency can save lives. However, access to that critical medical information can and does save lives too. So how does ICE-scan provide this crucial information? The wearable technology allows the first…

Two-year-old girl dies at Bedale Hunt Meet A two-year-old girl dies at Bedale Hunt Meet in North Yorkshire, after falling from her pony. The incident occurred when the toddler was riding out with other members of the Bedale Hunt. Riding on land in a village near Northallerton, the young-girl fell from her pony on the Wednesday (15th September) morning hunt. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance confirmed it had attended the incident but did not provide further details. However, North Yorkshire police later confirmed that the girl later died in the early…

New Guide to Prevent Spread of Equine Diseases Launched A new guide to prevent the spread of equine diseases has been launched. The British Equestrian’s Equine Infections Disease Action Group (EIDAG) has released a new, comprehensive guide aimed at mitigating the risk of equine disease transmission. Aimed at governing bodies and event organisers, the new publication condenses vital information on 12 common equine disease into 69 pages. Outlining the diseases, pillars of responsibility the industry has to horse welfare, as well as example codes of conduct and report forms, the…

Trailer Test Changes Mean More Riders Can Tow Their Horses Trailer test changes mean more riders can tow their horses without taking an additional qualification. The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced changes to the trailer test requirements, although the date has not been confirmed. It means that drivers who passed their car test after 1 January 1997 will no longer have to sit a test in order to tow a trailer or caravan. The maximum authorised mass (MAM) will be 3,500kg, the weight normally required when towing…

Olympic Modern Pentathlon Coach and Rider Receive Disciplinary Action from UIPM An olympic modern pentathlon coach and rider receive disciplinary action after shocking scenes witnessed at the Tokyo 2020 Games. On Monday (6 Sept), the UIPM Disciplinary Panel announced it has completed its review of events from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Specifically focusing on the situation which occurred during the Women’s Modern Pentathlon Riding competition, the review has been long awaited. At the Games, Germany’s modern pentathlon coach, Kim Raisner, punched her athlete’s horse, horse, Saint Boy. Attempting to help…

Equine Therapy Helpful for PTSD in Veterans, New Study Finds Equine therapy is helpful for PTSD in veterans, a new study finds. Veterans have high rates of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). With poor treatment outcomes, alternative treatments have began to gain traction, such as equine assisted therapy. In a new study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the use of equine assisted therapy for PTSD was investigated. PTSD is only one part of ailments that can effect service staff on a long term basis. Resources such as the VA…

Three Medals for Team GB at Tokyo Paralympic Dressage Freestyle It was three medals for Team GB at the Tokyo Paralympic Dressage Freestyle competition. After a team gold for the seventh consecutive Games the day before, all eyes were on Team GB as they took to the freestyle stage. Team GB’s dressage rider’s took to their respective grades, lighting up the Paralympic Equestrian Park. Sophie Wells & Don Cara M The Grade V competition was the first freestyle competition to commence. This meant British combination, Sophie Wells and Don Cara M…

Team GB Win Paralympic Team Dressage Gold For Seventh Consecutive Games! Team GB win Paralympic Team Dressage Gold for the seventh consecutive games! After three performance over two days of team test action, it was a nervous wait for the Team GB trio. With Sir Lee Pearson, Natasha Baker, and Sophie Wells, all taking to the Paralympic stage once again, only time would tell if they could retain their title. Lee Pearson & Breezer First up were the grade two rider, with Sir Lee Pearson taking the stage for Team…

Natasha Baker scoops Silver in the Tokyo Paralympic Dressage Grade III Natasha Baker scoops Silver in the Tokyo Paralympic Dressage grade III. On the hunt for her sixth Paralympic title, Natasha fell slightly short as she scooped a respectable silver medal from this year’s Paralympic Games. Taking on grade III competition, the British rider was a grade II champion in London and Rio on horse, Cabral. However, now stepping up to grade III, she also arrived in Tokyo with limited experience on current horse, Keystone Dawn Chorus. She only began riding…

Sophie Wells Scoops Silver in Grade V Para Dressage at Tokyo Sophie Wells scoops silver in the Grade V para dressage at Tokyo. Adding a third Para dressage medal to British equestrian team’s growing collection, Sophie took 2nd place during the first day of equestrian Paralympic competition. Sophie scored 74.4%, claiming her podium place between her long-time grade V rivals. Belgium’s Michele George, riding Best Of 8, took gold. Meanwhile, the Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar aboard Alphaville snatched bronze. Sophie was riding the up-and-coming Don Cara M. Taking on his first…

Fundraiser launched after four horses die in tragic road accident A fundraiser is launched after four horses die in a tragic road accident. On Tuesday (24 August), top international eventer, Nick Gauntlett, announced a tragic road incident had resulted in the death of four horses. Travelling to the Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials, the eventer’s horse box had unfortunately broken down just 30 minutes from the site. As the team waited recovery outside the vehicle, the horses remained on the horsebox. However, whilst waiting, another HGV ploughed into vehicle.…

Team GB Paralympic Dressage Team claim Gold and Bronze at Tokyo 2020 The Team GB Paralympic Dressage Team claim Gold and Bronze at Tokyo 2020. As the first day of equestrian action got under way at the Tokyo Paralympics, two Team GB members took to the stage. Six-time Paralympian, Sir Lee Pearson and Paralympian debutant Georgia Wilson both were competing in the Grade II competition. Grade II competition is for those with great-moderate impairment, impacting their ability to ride. Lee has arthrogryposis, which meant the muscles in his arms and…

Top Eventer Loses 4 Horses in Tragic Road Traffic Accident A top eventer loses four horses in a tragic road traffic accident. Yesterday evening (24 August), international event rider, Nick Gauntlett announced that he had lost four horses in a freak road traffic accident. Travelling to competition at the Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials, the eventer’s horse box had unfortunately broken down just 30 minutes from the site. Following highway protocol, all team members were out of the box and the horses left inside. However, whilst waiting for…

Horse Riding Tops Para Sport Opportunities in the UK Horse riding is one of the top para sport opportunities in the UK, a new study finds. According the leading disability charity, Leonard Cheshire, horse riding is the most accessible para sport opportunity in the UK. Approximately 16% of the 3146 sport clubs listed on the Parasport website are related to equestrian sport. Meanwhile, less than 1% of clubs sourced through the website offered relevant athletic opportunities. With 497 clubs nationwide offering riding, driving, and other equestrian-related activities to disabled adults…

BBC Highlights Urban Equestrian Communities In One-Off Programme The BBC highlights urban equestrian communities in a one-off programme. Following the urban equestrian community of Swansea, the BBC spotlight the highs and lows of equestrian life in the city in their new series of Our Lives. This episode, The City of Horses, takes a closer look into how horses impact lives across Swansea. Diving deep into the lifestyles of those who still keep horses amongst the urban jungle, it’s a truly insightful programme into an often overlooked equestrian community. With over 600 horses…

Team GB Paralympic Dressage Horse Change A Team GB Paralympic Dressage horse swap has been made, as the squad get ready to fly to Tokyo. The horse change comes for Team GB’s Sophie Wells. Set to make her third Paralympic appearance with C Fatal Attraction (Jorge), Sophie will now partner with Don Cara M at Tokyo. C Fatal Attraction has been ruled out of contention due to a ‘fitness issue’. However, as Sophie’s direct reserve and in equal training for the Olympics, Don Cara M will now step up to perform. On…

Change To Team GB Paralympic Dressage Team A change to the Team GB Paralympic dressage team has been announced. The British Paralympic Association, in conjunction with the British Dressage Para Selectors and Performance Manager, Georgina Sharples, have made a change to the Team GB quartet. The team change comes with less than two weeks until the Games begin in Tokyo (24 August – 5 September). Eight-time Paralympic dressage champion, Sophie Christiansen has withdrawn from selection. This comes after her ride, Innuendo III (Louie), which she also owns, suffers from a…

UIPM Respond To Calls For Modern Pentathlon Changes The UIPM respond to calls for Modern Pentathlon changes after uproar from Tokyo 2020. After the Tokyo Olympics saw German rider, Annika Schleu and her coach, Kim Raisner, play part in distressing scenes, the sport has been put under the limelight for horse welfare. In the international televised event, Annika Schleu was witnessed in tears aboard her allocated ride, Saint Boy. Going into the showjumping phase of the Olympic-level competition, Schleu had just 20 minutes to get to know the horse as…

Modern Pentathlon Horse Welfare Petition Launched A modern pentathlon horse welfare petition has been launched. In response to distressing scenes witnessed at this year’s Olympic Games, equestrians call for horse welfare regulations to be improved in Modern Pentathlon events. A sport consisting of five phases, a showjumping phase see competitors ride a horse they have only known for 20 minutes prior to competition. At Tokyo 2020, this lead to horse and rider distress on course when Team Germany’s Annika Schleu stepped up with ride, Saint Boy. Going into the round…