Author: Jan Hughes

Equestrian product specialist, LeMieux, is to be put up for sale with a price tag of £150m, however, founder members British former Olympic eventer Robert Lemieux and his wife Lisa intend to continue to play ‘an active role’ in the brand they started almost 20 years ago. Since its inception, the brand has impressively increased its annual revenue from £10m in 2018 to £50m.   Robert and Lisa started Horse Health in 2003, expanding upon the business until they were able to launch the celebrated LeMieux brand in 2006, beginning with their own brand of saddle pads which they intended to

A star-studded cast of athletes will line up for round 2 of the inaugural Longines League of Nations ™ in Ocala, USA in two weeks. This will include 8 of the top 10 and 15 of the top 20 riders in the latest world ranking. With the 2024 Paris looming, this leg will provide the teams with extreme testing of their horse and rider combinations whilst seriously competing for selection. The field will comprise top-class, world-ranking victors and promises to provide a spectacular celebration of equestrian sport. This brand new, four leg series will see the top 10 ranked countries

This heartbreaking story is one that all riders of Great Britain will no doubt admit is their greatest fear when they take to the roads on their treasured horses. It is the story of Katie, a beloved Welsh pony owned by Laura Grant, a resident of Carmarthenshire, South Wales, and the terrible accident that could have been avoided but instead led to Katie’s untimely death. On 2nd April 2023, Laura and her young friend, Ellie, decided to take a carriage ride with Katie the Welsh Pony and her good companion, Billy the Cob. Laura was driving the carriage pulled by

Pick up after your horse signs to be removed as local councillor declares them fake! Sophisticated signs bearing Edinburgh’s local authority logo have been screwed to trees along the Water of Leith walkway which clearly display the wording “Please pick up after your horse”. Locals believed that the signs had been attached to the trees by Edinburgh City Council, however, it has been confirmed by a local councillor that it appears to be the work of a local individual(s) trying to take matters into their own hands. Councillor Scott Arthur, convenor of the local transport and environmental committee posted on

Measures have been taken by the FEI, in consultation with respective National Federations and Organising Committees, following the confirmed cases of EHV-1 in Mainland Europe in the latter part of February in respect of the confirmed outbreak currently affecting mainland Europe.  Presently there are nine horses at the University Equine Hospital in Valencia (CEU) for close monitoring, eight of which have, unfortunately, displayed neurological signs. As a preventive measure and to ensure enough treating space, the FEI has ordered 12 temporary boxes to be set up at the hospital grounds in case more horses are brought in.   This leaves 103

Mediterranean Equestrian Tour (Spring MET II, 7 to 26 February) in Oliva Nova, Spain, has seen the second half of the event cancelled after four horses returned positive tests for Equine Herpes Virus – EHV-1.  

Harold’s Park Farm (affectionately known as HPF) situated in Nazeing, Essex is a financially viable equestrian venue that is, for no apparent reason, being shut down by the UK’s largest landowner, The Church of England. The C of E attempts to obtain the property from the current tenants commenced upon the death of the late George Mackie, son of The Right Honorable Lord John Mackie, who entrusted the farm through sale to the Church of England CBF fund’s trustees LTD. It was Mackie’s intention for the Church to safeguard the farm and livery yard for generations to come.  Harold’s Park Farm

An administrative judge has upheld the suspension of the veterinary license of Dr Jeff Blea who is the Equine Medical Director (EMD) of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB). The same administrative judge, Nana Chin, has upheld her previous suspension of Blea’s license made during in an emergency hearing on December 24th, 2021. This latest ruling followed a hearing on Jan. 21 with a determination issued on Friday 28th January 2022. It was made public this Wednesday on the Department of Consumer Affairs website. There is yet to be a date set for a hearing into the charges and, under

“This is the death of an innocent horse” Beloved family horse put to sleep in tragic circumstances A 21-year-old horse has been put to sleep after he panicked when approximately 40 Essex and Suffolk Hunt hounds raced onto private land where he was situated. Horse, Barney, lived on the Grove Estate, Wormingford, and had been owned and loved by Lisa Line since he was just four months old. Barney bolted in fear and ran straight through a closed gate on the land, resulting in him sustaining a broken leg. His family then faced the heartbreaking decision, as Barney lay in

Two major road incidents involving horses in one week Two major road incidents involving horses have been reported in one week. Friday 7th January: Emergency services rush to scene of road collision: Two horses die and riders ‘seriously injured’ after crash in Waltham Abbey Two riders were rushed to hospital following a serious collision with a motor vehicle and, tragically, their horses have had to put to sleep due the injuries they sustained at the crash. The collision happened in Woodgreen Road, Waltham Abbey on Friday (7 Jan) and emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 11.20am whereupon

Judge rules in favour of Former Jockey, Freddie Tylicki in his negligence claim against Graham Gibbons Former Jockey Freddie Tylicki, who has been left paralysed after a serious fall at Kempton, has won in his personal injury claim against fellow Flat Jockey, Graham Gibbons. Gibbons was found guilty of ‘reckless disregard’ for his role in there fall where Tylicki was trampled by his own mount, Nellie Deen, after falling from her during the 3.20pm race at Kempton Park on 31st October 2016. Tylicki, who has been left a permanent wheelchair user, sued Gibbons in a bid to hold him liable for

John Sillett, renowned Olympic Showjumping Coach, charged with rape and sexual assault of underage girl Winchester Crown Court has heard that a former Olympic showjumping coach, John Sillett, sexually abused and raped a teenage girl over a period of seven years. Sillett, 55, faces five charges of rape, five counts of assault by penetration and two sexual assaults report the Mirror. It is alleged that the assaults started when the girl was between 12 and 13 years old a prosecutor told the court. Sillett, who lives in Farley Hill, Wokingham, trained riders for the 2016 Rio Olympics and was based