Category: horse News

With Barbury International wrapped for another year, the ‘King of Barbury’, Andrew Nicholson (NZL), regained his crown making it the sixth time he has won this event at CCI4* S level. It was, however, the first win at the event for the Swallo Springs, who is owned by Paul and Dizy Ridgeon. Andrew, who lives just over the hill from Barbury, at Lockeridge, said: I love coming here. I like to support my local event and I’ve brought a lot of my nice novice horses this weekend. Swallow Springs has…

The new Equitop Bolesworth Young Horse Championship Show looks set to provide a feast of sporting action and entertainment. With a host of high-class show jumping and equestrian sport over the five days – August 14 to 18 in the stunning grounds of Bolesworth Castle – the event will provide a fantastic day out for equestrian sport enthusiasts Tickets are now on sale at just £5 with free parking, when booked in advance online, giving event-goers the chance to watch superb competition in an iconic setting. Bolesworth have teamed up with TheraPlate UK, to…

Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Take A Chance On Me Z stormed to victory in front of the world famous Eiffel Tower in a blazing LGCT Grand Prix of Paris only days after the birth of his new baby girl. The German champion displayed all his class and experience piloting his 10-year-old home bred stallion to victory and was rewarded with a respectful standing ovation in the evening sunlight. Christian Ahmann is now the latest rider to qualify for the star-studded LGCT Super Grand Prix at the GC Playoffs in Prague…

Olympia, The London International Horse Show has announced that The Tim Stockdale Foundation has been chosen as its official charity for the 2019 edition of the event, which will be held from 16-22 December 2019. The Tim Stockdale Foundation, which was founded by his family after his death from cancer last year, aims to continue the legacy of the Show Jumping star’s remarkable life. Led by his wife, Laura, and two sons, Joseph and Mark, the Foundation focuses on increasing greater participation in sports, such as equestrianism, golf and cricket,…

Spencer Roe :: July’s Feature Interview Here we talk to HorseHage-sponsored show-jumper, Spencer Roe, about his background, horses and life on the international show-jumping circuit. When did your career in the saddle begin and have you always had your sights set on show jumping?  I started riding when I was eight and I really wasn’t that bothered about it, to be honest and didn’t really like it, so I gave up for a few years, but then I got a really good pony who I could win on and then…

Following a UK search and with hundreds of entries to choose from, the winner of the TopSpec £3,000 sponsorship search is dressage rider Jessica McConkey. Fifteen-year-old Jessica had her breakthrough last year with the Dutch Warmblood, Lady Gaga, a stunning 17-year-old, 16.2hh bay mare. Said Jessica: To join the TopSpec team of sponsored riders and ultimately cement a partnership with TopSpec is not only something I am very proud of but I am also very grateful for. Although we are not a professional yard, I rely on an amazing team.…

Cotswold businesswoman Tara Best, of Tara Punter PR, has been named as one of the 30 under 30 shining stars of Gloucestershire business in 2019. The inaugural award, sponsored by the University of Gloucestershire and announced at the very end of June, aims to highlight the people who are driving the future of business in the county. Tara’s recognition represents an incredible achievement given that her company was set up just two and a half years ago. Since then, Tara has won both national and international clients, expanded to include…

To celebrate the launch of its sponsorship of the British Riding Clubs Intermediate Winter Championships 2020, HorseHage & Mollichaff is searching for a brand ambassador. Said Chris Tar of HorseHage: We are looking for an amateur rider to support with some of our product. The chosen person would receive £500 worth of HorseHage & Mollichaff products along with a branded saddlecloth, rug and training jacket. The person we are looking for would need to be an active member of British Riding Clubs (BRC) and can be any age, competing at…

Olympic gold medallists Nick Skelton and Laura Kraut are among the equestrians who’ll be switching riding boots for running shoes at Hickstead later this month. The pair are among the entrants for the first ever #10forTim run, an event taking place on the Saturday night of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain meeting (24-28 July). This charity run is being held in memory of showjumper Tim Stockdale, who sadly died last November at the age of 54, just one month after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. It…

History is made as Israel pips Poland to Tokyo 2020 Ticket  by Louise Parkes In a cliff-hanger of competition, Team Israel made history when snatching the single spot on offer at the Olympic Jumping Qualifier at Maxima Park in Moscow (RUS). This was the second of two special qualifiers for countries in Group C, the first staged in Budapest (HUN) two days ago where Ukraine came out on top.’ said Amichai Alperovich, team sports manager: We were optimistic but there was a lot of pressure this afternoon. But these guys,…

Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) sent pulses racing with a formidable F1-style victory on Beauville Z in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco presented by Tennor on the 10th leg of the International circuit. Barely a second separated the top four riders in a breathtakingly fast 10-way jump-off where Bassem Mohammed (QAT) and Gunder stepped up on the podium as the runner-up. The lightning-quick combination of Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Usual Suspect d’Auge took a third-place finish. A thrilled van der Vleuten said: It’s incredible…

Martin Fuchs (SUI) took his first win aboard new horse The Sinner in a perfect prelude to Saturday’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco presented by Tennor. In the spectacular harbour-side setting, Fuchs added the Trophy Casino de Monte-Carlo win to his accolades, the on-form Swiss rider clearly building a formidable partnership with the 11 year old bay gelding. Martin said, It’s a great win, it’s a new horse for me, but it’s our first win together so I’m very happy. Henrik was fast, but I was…

Image for illustration purposes: Image credit Daisy Jackson Dressage www.djdressage.co.uk   The British Dressage Under 21 Selectors Judy Harvey, Leanne Wall and Nikki Herbert have unveiled their final selected riders for the Team NAF Junior and Young Rider squads at the upcoming FEI European Championships in St Giovanni, Italy, 24 – 28 July 2019. Juniors Two riders will travel to Italy and compete as individuals at the Championships: Jessica McConkey (17) from Oxfordshire with her own Lady Gaga (dark bay, mare, 10yrs, 16.2hh, Quarterback x Solos Landwind). Charlotte McDowall (17)…

Dr Jeremy Mantell has been appointed Welfare Consultant to Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), British horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of horses who have retired from racing. A past President of the British Equine Veterinary Association, Jeremy Mantell will succeed Brigadier Paul Jepson in the role of RoR Welfare Consultant, following the latter’s retirement in July after five years in the post. Mantell’s new job will take effect from Monday 8th July. He brings to the role over forty years of experience as an equine veterinary surgeon. He was previously Managing Partner at…

Where can you find national acting treasure John Nettles, Bollywood dancing, falconry on horseback and duck herding displays – all in one field? Staff at the Mare and Foal Sanctuary, the South West’s largest horse and pony welfare charity, are busy preparing for hundreds of visitors next weekend – July 6th and 7th – as they hold the biggest fundraising event the charity has ever held. This year, for the first time, the charity is throwing open its stable doors for an entire weekend – with Saturday’s Well Horse, Well…

The Perfect Summer Riding Accessory A common sight in any warm up arena is horse’s wearing fly veils. Otherwise known as ear bonnets or ‘hats’ to the less well-versed onlooker, this riding accessory is not just a fashion statement. It could just be the perfect summer riding accessory for the summer sun! Working to muffle sounds, fly veils reduce sudden, sharp noises which can often result in a ‘spook’. Therefore, fly veils are great for not only competition, but when hacking to provide extra safety on top of hi-vis and reduce…

Irish rider Michael Pender won the Al Shira’aa Derby at Hickstead on Sunday (23 June), becoming the youngest ever winner in the 59-year history of this famous showjumping class. Marion Mould (1967 winner) and Michael Whitaker (1980) were both 20 years old when they won the Hickstead Derby, with Marion just a few months younger when she took the title, but teenager Michael is still three months shy of his 20th birthday. Pender also followed in Michael Whitaker’s footsteps by winning the Al Shira’aa Derby at his first attempt, something that…

Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Chaplin pulled off an astonishing Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win in Cascais, Estoril beating his London Knights teammate Ben Maher (GBR) only hours after they won the GCL together earlier in the evening. The Swiss star earned a standing ovation from a packed house in the beautiful grass arena where every seat and every space was taken by fans not wanting to miss a moment of the high adrenaline world class 1.60m competition. The win was a repeat performance of Madrid where London Knights…

The London Knights have catapulted themselves into the overall GCL ranking lead after a phenomenal win from Ben Maher and Explosion W and Martin Fuchs with Chaplin at GCL Cascais, Estoril. After their sublimely quick combined time, the Knights heaped the pressure on the teams to follow, storming to an untouchable win after playing to their team’s strengths. In a dramatic turn of fortunes, the Knights have charged to the top of the leaderboard, with a score of 172 points overall. But the Shanghai Swans will undoubtedly be looking for…

Harriet Nuttall saw off reigning champion Matthew Sampson to win the Science Supplements Speed Derby at Hickstead today (Saturday 22 June). Below: Highlights video from the day’s action Matt had been aiming for a third consecutive win with Topflight True Carlo, while Harriet was aiming to add a second win with Silver Lift, following their last victory in 2016. The crowd at Hickstead was treated to an excellent display of sport, with the leaderboard changing frequently as the class progressed. Last year’s runner up Paul Crago (Valentino IX) delivered another…

In the perfect prelude to the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cascais, Estoril, Olivier Robert (FRA) and his ten year old grey stallion Vangog du Mas Garnier triumphed in an electrifying jump-off. An emotional Olivier said: My horse was super tonight. He’s had a rest and he’s just perfect for the big show. He’ll jump the big class in Monaco next week. He’s so smart, I let him go – he’s intelligent, I love this horse! I never win anytime, so I’m so happy tonight!” The Frenchman took…

Ireland’s Shane Breen came out on top of the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial for the second year in a row – albeit with a different horse. Twelve months ago Shane took the title with Can Ya Makan, but this year it was Golden Hawk who swept to victory in style, with ease. Kelvin Bywater’s track took its toll today, with Shane and Graham Gillespie delivering the only clear rounds of 43 starters. When Graham opted not to come back to jump off against the clock, Shane merely had to complete…

Catch all the Action from the Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show on Horse & Country Want to catch up on this year’s Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show? Horse & Country is showcasing three fantastic competitions from the prestigious Cheshire venue. Highlights of the Equerry Grand Prix with its £90,000 total prize fund will be aired on Wednesday, June 26 at 7pm. The Theraplate UK CDI 3* Dressage Grand Prix, won by the legendary Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Freestyle, is a must watch on Thursday, June 27 at 7pm. And the Horse…