Author: Jan Hughes

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

Puissance: Guy Williams and Mr Blue Sky Fly High at London International Guy Williams and Mr Blue Sky win the 2.10m Le Mieux Puissance at London International Horse Show 2021 The grand finale on the opening night of the London International Horse show welcomed the LeMieux Puissance wall. Spectators and fans alike were treated to a spellbinding finish which saw Guy Williams and prolific winner, Mr Blue Sky, take victory where the wall reached 2.10m. Williams and his mount were the only pair to jump without fault, with French riders Mathieu Billot and Daniel Delsart, both finishing on four faults

“Pass Slow and Wide” signs NOT needed in Lincolnshire say Council Lincolnshire council dismisses the need for new horse safety signs, whilst Oxfordshire County Council embraces the signs as part of a joint safety initiative. Lincolnshire Country Council has rejected plans to erect road signs to alert drivers to ‘pass slow and wide’, saying that it would be “counter-productive”. The British Horse Society (BHS) has requested that signs be installed as part of an awareness campaign that is already successfully running in other parts of the country. BHS are even funding the road signs, so there would be no cost

Request for a Restraining Order on Bob Baffert Over Medina Spirit’s Death and Baffert’s Records of Deaths and Violations Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert, has been avoiding public comment since the tragic death of racehorse, Medina Spirit, winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby. 68-year-old Baffert, is responsible for training around 40 horses at Santa Anita, according to the track, and about 50 horses at Los Alamitos Race Course, another track in Southern California. Art Sherman, trainer of 2014 Kentucky Derby champion California Chrome, acknowledges that Baffert is going through a “hard time” presently but has doubts whether Medina Spirit’s

Tylicki versus Gibbons: Judge hopes to deliver verdict before Christmas in case that left Jockey with catastrophic injuries. The £6million damages claim being heard in the High Court between Jockeys Frederik Tylicki and Graham Gibbons closed on Friday 3rd December with the Judge Karen Waldon-Smith to make the final verdict before Christmas break, beginning on 21st December. Tylicki claims that Gibbons’ mount was approximately 1 to 2 horse widths away from the inner rail and Gibbons must have known there that there was room for another horse to enter that gap; also that Gibbons knew, or ought to have known,

Paralysed Jockey Freddy Tylicki is suing Jockey Graham Gibbons for £6m in respect of his life-changing injuries resulting from a collision at Kempton Park on 2016. Jockey Jim Crowley has given evidence in the High Court that Graham Gibbons’  breath smelled of alcohol in the training room on the day of Freddie Tylicki’s collision which left him partially paralysed and a permanent wheelchair user. However, when questioned, Crowley said that Gibbons did not appear ‘under the influence’ of alcohol. Gibbons counteracted this allegation stating that it was “one person’s opinion” and added that none of the other riders in the