Author: Katie Gilmour

Carl Hester, who will ride in his seventh Olympic Games this year in Paris, is getting the biopic treatment. “Carl Hester’s journey has done for dressage what ‘Billy Elliot’ did for ballet,” says Drew Curtis, co-producer of the Carl Hester biopic, Stride. Hester will work with veteran producers Drew Curtis (Ironclad, The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson) and Richard Conway (The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson, Sexy Beast) to produce Stride, a feature set to tell the story of his remarkable career from humble beginnings on the tiny channel island of Sark to triumph…

After losing the top spot in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings nine months ago, Ros Canter has reclaimed the number one position. She replaces Olympic gold medallist and compatriot Oliver Townend, who has held the top spot since October 2023.

 Sitting in third last month, Canter’s made an impressive ascent. As the reigning European Champion, she stands out as the only athlete to surpass the 500-point mark, boasting 519 points. Townend follows in second place with 492 points, while fellow Brit Tom McEwen secures third with 454 points. “I…

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have undertaken a project that seeks to improve the understanding of retraining and rehoming former racehorses, and they are calling for owners and ex-owners of retrained racehorses to help! Owners are invited to take part in an online survey to divulge their experiences of taking on a former racehorse, with researchers aiming to secure at least 500 respondents over the course of the next month. The Life After Racing project survey forms part of the RVC’s wider ‘Life After Racing’ project, which outlines the the…

His Majesty King Charles III has taken on a number of horse focussed patronages, following the example of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. King Charles has been confirmed as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) new Royal Patron, taking on the role previously held by his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.The role was confirmed by Buckingham Palace last month as part of a recent review of royal patronages, a role that helps to highlight, promote and recognise the work of the many charities and organisations supported by a…

The junior team for Great Britain jumped into second place at the Junior Nations Cup of Zuidwolde at the Youth Meeting in De Wolden, The Netherlands, only one fence between them and the first place. 14 strong teams came forward to compete over Henk Landers course, that consisted of a 12-fence 1.40m track. Two teams emerged at the top of the leaderboard by the halfway stage – host country The Netherlands and Belgium.  Great Britain was tied in third place on four faults but rose to second further in the competition.…

Exploring the future of veterinary procedures in the age of AI. Learn about the discussions around how AI can enhance positive outcomes and minimize risks in the veterinary sector. With the world drawing ever closer to the use of robots and artificial intelligence, a round table was held last week to discuss how the veterinary professions might flourish in the midst of exponential technological change. The event, hosted by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), discussed how AI use in the veterinary sector might best be regulated to optimise…

In a survey of more than 1,600 riders, it was discovered that one in three female riders stop riding totally or temporarily when they hit the perimenopause and menopause. The research by Level 4 UKCC dressage coach and saddle fitter Stephanie Bradley won the first prize at last week’s Alltech Hartpury Conference for the oral presentation of her study Effects of the perimenopause and menopause on female riders, and the research will now feature in a scientific journal. Stephanie’s research forms part of her Masters degree that she is undertaking at…

The British Horse Society is urging riders to saddle up to protect over 78,000 miles of off-road riding in a ‘use it or lose it’ campaign to raise money to ensure routes are available in the future. The initiative encourages riders to undertake a distance of 25km or more over the month of July and gain sponsorship for its completion. The challenge has four goals, and riders can choose which they prefer: 25km, 50km, 75km and 100+km, and riders can create a Just Giving page associated with the campaign. Money…

With the rise of ill mental health in riders, Riders Minds has announced that their helplines are being taken in-house, and expanded with additional mental health and well-being services that includes help for those experiencing bullying and confidence issues.  “When we set up Riders Minds, we always wanted to be able to support all equestrian people in any time of need,” said Victoria Wright, Founder and Chair of Riders Minds. “Having our services available 24/7 was very important to us. This is a service that we’ve always outsourced whilst we…

Researchers in the UK have introduced a straightforward questionnaire to help horse owners identify and monitor signs of osteoarthritis pain in their horses. The development aims to enable earlier and more effective treatment to enhance quality of life and improve athletic function. Led by researchers at the Royal Veterinary College and University of Edingburgh, the questionnaire is modelled on the Brief Pain Inventory used to evaluate pain severity and its impact on functioning. The team consisted of Dr. Janny de Grauw, Senior Lecturer at The Royal Veterinary College in the…

In a move that could set an interesting precedent, the FEI have announced that in the case of Chaman Ginn, ridden by Juan Benitez Gallardo to success at the CCI4*-S in Quillota, who tested positive for O-Desmethylvenlafaxine, that there were other causes at play and Gallardo was not negligent in his handling of the horse. It transpires that the banned substance entered the horse’s system by eating contaminated hay after a member of staff urinated in his stall while on medication. While the rider will not incur fines or a…

With equestrian sports very much in the spotlight as welfare claims are pitted against top trainers, news of the BEF’s Charter for the Horse is welcomed. The federation, its 19 member bodies and associated industry leaders have all committed to endorse the highest standards of equine welfare, wellbeing and ethics under a new ‘Charter for the Horse’, launched today.  The Charter for the Horse is to be adopted across the equestrian industry in every facet. Under the six headings of empathy, care, respect, consideration, ethics and learning, the Charter outlines…

In celebration of their centenary, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has launched its 2024 photo competition to highlight the work that animal health and welfare providers are carrying out around the world. The competition has been running for six years, and this year’s theme is ‘Animal health and welfare: looking to the past, embracing the future’. The competition seeks to champion the World Organisation for Animal Health’s major mission: Improving animal health and welfare, ‘A good life for animals’ and ‘Health and Happiness’. The World Organisation for Animal…

The National Steeplechase Association has given prestigious approval to an innovative new horseshoe, designed with horse welfare at its very heart. Equishox is a composite rubber-coated aluminium horseshoe designed especially for racehorses that provides shock absorption and reduces the impact on horses’ legs. The innovative shoes are said to reduce the risk of slipping and encourage horses to stride “with newfound confidence.” “We are honoured to have received the endorsement of the National Steeplechase Association,” said former jockey and co-founder Robert ‘Choc” Thornton. “This recognition is a testament to the…

The National Equine Forum (NEF) takes place on 7th March 2024 and a very limited number of face-to-face or live stream tickets are still available, and you can get your voice heard. The event takes place in London and is available on a livestream. The programme and full speaker details are available to view now on the NEF website. Q&A opportunities have been built in at the end of all the main sessions to give the audience and the livestream viewers a chance to engage with the discussions. The BEVA…

Rob Burrow, the rugby league legend, has become a patron of a horse racing initiative which raises money for motor neurone disease (MND) charities. A club has been formed in the name of the ex-Leeds Rhinos star in association with The Good Racing Company, which fundraises by selling memberships to the Rob Burrow Racing Club. Burrow, who was diagnosed with MND in 2019, was also presented with two cheques, each worth £7,777 in tribute to the number seven Burrow wore in his playing days. Standing at just 5 feet 5…

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is encouraging equestrians to track their rides in a bid to understand more about how illnesses travel and infect horses. The research project, which is being run in partnership with the Equine Register, encourages horse owners to track where they take their horses using a Digital Stable app. The recorded data then creates a record that will allow scientists to gain valuable insight. Experts are hoping this initiative helps uncover the transmission and spread of infectious diseases by analysing patterns of data. After signing, owners…

Four riders and their horses will be wearing the Union flag of Great Britain at the CSIO4* Nations Cup in Sharjah, UAE, at the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club between 25 and 28 January 2024. Di Lampard’s team consists of Skye Higgin, Joe Stockdale, Donald Whitaker and Jack Whitaker. Skye Higgin is based in France and will travel with Bernadette Lejeune’s 11-year-old mare, Djordania du Tillard. Northampton based Joe Stockdale will compete either Joy Conklin and Laura Stockdale’s 13-year-old mare Equine America Cacharel, or Barbara Hester and Laura Stockdale’s 10-year-old…