Category: horse News

Duke of Beaufort Dies Peacefully at Home The Duke of Beaufort has passed away peacefully at home yesterday (16/08/2017), at the age of 89. David Somerset was the 11th Duke of Beaufort. The owner of the 59,000-acre estate that is  Badminton House, has reportedly left a fortune of £315 million. He left behind widow, Miranda, and his four children from a former marriage. Badminton House is fondly recognised throughout the equestrian community as home to The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. A statement from Badminton House has been released: “David,…

BEF Renews Key Partnerships to Tokyo 2020 The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) can confirm it has agreed new four-year deals, through to Tokyo 2020, with official equine nutrition supplier Dodson & Horrell and air jacket supplier Point Two Air Vests. Performance Director, Gordon Burton comments; “We are delighted to be continuing to work with both Dodson & Horrell and Point Two to ensure that our athletes are the best prepared and supported throughout the Tokyo cycle. “The World Class Programme and British teams have received fantastic nutritional expertise and logistical…

European Para-Dressage Team Call for Substitute Horse and Rider Sweet Caledonia was not declared fully fit following the final routine veterinary assessment yesterday (14 August). Regrettably, ‘Cally’, owned by Yvonne Bennett and Natasha Adkinson, and ridden by Natasha, has had to be withdrawn from competition and has not travelled to this year’s European Para-Dressage Championships in Gothenburg. The British Dressage selectors have decided that the combination will be replaced by Erin Orford (28, from Buckinghamshire) with Annabel Whittet’s Dior, who will represent Great Britain alongside Suzanna Hext (Abira), Julie Payne…

A dozen lucky rescue ponies find new homes at Equifest At their first visit to a horse show since being saved, 12 ponies rescued by the RSPCA were adopted by visitors at Equifest this weekend. (12 and 13th August) Visitors and competitors at the famous Peterborough horse event flocked to the RSPCA’s stand to learn about the charity’s work and meet the rescue horses, with some people being so taken with the ponies, they reserved them on the spot! Six year-old Amelia James fell in love with rescue pony Billy…

Bransby Horses Invests in Intensive Care Unit One of the UK’s leading equine rescue and welfare charities, Bransby Horses, has invested in a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU), largely funded by legacies and donations from an appeal. The ICU is situated on the charity’s quarantine yard which prevents the spread of disease and enables staff to maintain the strict biosecurity procedures which are in place. Bransby Horses rescues equines in desperate need of help, many of which require intensive medical care and help to stand as they are so weak.…

War Horse is coming to the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials War Horse, the smash-hit play that became a blockbuster movie, is coming to the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (13th-17th September). “Joey”, the extraordinarily realistic hero of War Horse, will be the highlight of the Oxfordshire horse trials’ Attractions Arena programme on the Saturday of the event (16th September). The Attractions Arena at the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is celebrating its 10th year at the 2017 event with its most exciting selection of displays and…

Horse of the Year Show International Wild Card Qualifier Inc the British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway Final HOYS Wild Card Qualifier results – After an incredible array of talent over the six days of the British Showjumping National Championships, it came down to the nail-biting final leg of the HOYS International Wild Card Series which incorporated the British Showjumping Business Partnership International Stairway Final. The course was up to height and proved difficult for the 49 competitors who entered the class. There were just four riders clear after the…

KBIS Insurance Senior British Novice Championship The second class of the day at the British Showjumping National Championships, was the KBIS Insurance Senior British Novice Championship. This year’s winner was Emma Jo Slater from Buckinghamshire riding eight year old Kings of Leon owned by Kim Barzilay.   With a total of 52 entries it was a closely contested class but the winning pair demonstrated an excellent round. Speaking to owner Kim, she commented: “He [Kings of Leon] injured himself at Hickstead and had to go on box rest so it…

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) today, 11 August 2017, invites expressions of interest from organisations or individuals who might take over the programme currently run in support of the identification of British-bred equine talent and the promotion of British success. This programme includes the Futurity; the Equine Bridge; the British Breeder magazine and the British Stallion Event. Futurity (run by British Breeding*, and supported by BEF) identifies talented young horses and ponies from foals to three-year-olds and has evaluated up to 900 horses per year at numerous regional venues, with…

Yasmin Davis wins the Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter Masters The competition proved tough in the Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter Masters at the British showjumping National Championships. With 10 through to the jump off it was Yasmin Davis from Dorset who jumped into the lead to take the win with Alison Davis’ eight year old bay gelding, Zanbowa Z. With both Yasmin and second placed rider Joe Clayton riding El Wee Widge having already picked up their HOYS qualifiers, the HOYS tickets passed down to the following riders: Emma Crawford with…

Nicole Pavitt wins the Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Masters Nicole Pavitt took the Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Masters on day five of the British Showjumping National Championships, held at the NAEC Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. Aboard Xena 16 owned by Sandra Pavitt, Nicole was last to go in the jump off of 19 riders so the pressure was high. Unphased, the pair flew down the line to the last fence to take the lead in a time of 41.18 seconds. “Xena is naturally fast and careful so I didn’t…

A hat-trick for Lauren Roach as she takes the Pony British Novice Championship for the third year in a row There were a vast amount of entries in the Pony British Novice Championship Final at the British Showjumping National Championships this week. With 96 starters and just 29 who made it through to the jump off, the pressure was high for these young riders. The course proved challenging for many but it was 15 year old Lauren Roach from Maidenhead who held her nerve and flew around the jump off…

FEI Tribunal issues Final Decision on banned substance case The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision on a banned substance case under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs). Samples taken on 21 January 2017 from the horse Luke Skywalker 46 (FEI ID 103XB94/USA), ridden by Paige Johnson (FEI ID USA/10013411) at the CSI2* in Wellington (USA), tested positive for the local anaesthetic Pramoxine. The FEI Tribunal has imposed a one-year suspension. As the athlete had been provisionally suspended from 5 April 2017 for three months, she…

Nicole Lockhead Anderson takes the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Masters Nicole Lockhead Anderson made a nine-hour road journey from Aberdeen spectacularly worthwhile as she was crowned the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Masters on the first day of the British Showjumping National Championships which takes place at the NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. 15 year old Nicole has already had some spectacular wins under her belt, making this the fourth consecutive year to have qualified for Horse of the Year Show at the NEC in October. Speaking of her win with Gangnam Style…

1.10m Just for Schools Championship – British Showjumping National Championships St Margret’s School, from Aberdeen, took the 1.10m Just for Schools Championship concluding what was an exciting first day of competition at the British Showjumping National Championships. The team consisted of Charley Hamilton, younger sister Natasha and Jessica Fox. Proud runners up were Kings of Wessex Academy from Somerset, who themselves had not had a disappointing day of competition. The youngest member of the St Margret’s School team, Natasha, aged 12, commented: “It was meant to take us 9 hours…

Less than 8% of convicted animal abusers are sent to prison, as RSPCA calls for tougher sentences Call comes as new report lifts lid on link between animal cruelty and other crime The RSPCA is calling for tougher sentencing for animal abusers as our new figures reveal that less than 8% of people convicted under the Animal Welfare Act received a prison sentence. It comes as the Centre for Crime Prevention releases a shocking report exposing the worrying links between animal cruelty and other crimes. And figures from the RSPCA…

Equithème Support Scottish Riding Club Championships Leading French label Equithème is supporting this year’s Saddle Up International Scottish Riding Club Championships. The Championships which is open to all Riding Club Members in Scotland takes place at Auchlishie Eventing Centre on September 30 to October 1 where competitors will take part in dressage, show jumping and cross country. The title sponsor Saddle Up International, who have sponsored the event since 2015 specialise in supplying quality equestrian horse and rider wear, as well as equipment from around the world. Area 22 Training…

Gemma Tattersall Dominates 2017 Event Rider Masters Former racehorse delivers masterful win for Tattersall at Leg 5 of the Event Rider Masters Great Britain’s Gemma Tattersall stamped her dominance on the 2017 Event Rider Master series last weekend, by winning the fifth leg at Gatcombe Park. Riding the Soul Syndicate’s former racehorse, Arctic Soul, Tattersall produced a masterclass, with a very quick cross country round. She  jumped clear and added just 1.2 time penalties to finish on a winning score of 53.7.  Arctic Soul’s former career on the racecourse was…

Horse Empire – Samina builds a business empire Entrepreneur Samina Malik’s Horse Empire business, set up to supply the equestrian trade with stylish, high-quality products, continues to grow following her début earlier this year at BETA International. It was then when she captured the attention of retailers, wholesalers and distributors. Samina established Horse Empire back in 2014 but kept a low profile as she developed the product lines and began to build the brand. Three years later, she was ready to unveil it in front of the industry’s most discerning…

Queen’s Favourite Horse Retires at 22 Daniel, the Queens favourite carriage horse, has been retired this week. Free to gallop the fields at the 200 acre Horse Trust, where he will spend the rest of his retirement days, the Royal Mews member was not only presented on a postage stamp in 2014, but was also included in the line-up of horses responsible for pulling the Queen’s carriage, for 15 years. The 22-year-old grey gelding, was head of the carriage pulling team for William and Kate’s wedding in 2011. Living life…

Gatcombe Park Hosts Leg 5 of the Event Rider Masters this Weekend #EverythingHorse #ERMeventing This weekend a mouth-watering line up of the world’s best horses and riders will descend upon the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park to compete in the fifth leg of the Event Rider Masters (ERM). There is £50,000 up for grabs and with the 2017 series now over its half way point there is everything to play for. Competitors will be hungry for a coveted ERM podium finish and score valuable points on the leaderboard,…

BETA hat safety scheme rolled out at Pony Club BETA Hat Safety The BETA Helmet Bounty Scheme, set up to promote rider safety, has been extended to the Pony Club Championships and Nationals. As part of the initiative, all riders concussed while competing will receive a voucher worth £100 towards the cost of a replacement hat when bought from a BETA member retailer. To be included, all riders must first agree to their hat being returned to BETA, with the Pony Club passing on details of the injury. “The Helmet Bounty…