Eventers Matthew Wright and Niall Fergusson have produced a video openly discussing mental health issues in aid of 2019’s Time to Talk Day (7 February).

Both riders say they have “suffered badly” from depression in the past and invited their supporters to send in questions about their own mental health concerns.

“We have both been at the point where we considered taking our own life. We can talk very openly about this together now and it helps,” H&H blogger Matt said. “We want to encourage others to speak out too about their own experiences with mental illness, to help others see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

NB: Please wait for the video below to load. If it doesn’t appear, click here to watch

In support of the initiative from Time to Change — an organisation campaigning to end mental health stigma and discrimination — Matt invited members of his Facebook page to email him questions that he and Niall could discuss.

“I thought it was better to discuss our own experiences based on people’s questions as it would lead to a much broader discussion on different subjects,” he said. “We both found it very emotional reading people’s questions, it was a very brave thing for them to do.”

Matt noted that depression has affected many people within the equestrian industry.

“It’s so easy to look normal on the outside, but be dying inside. To other people looking in, they think that person has a great life so they don’t understand the problem or reason behind it and would never suspect anything,” he said.

“I think if more people talk about it, without judging anybody, then more people will feel there’s always somebody to talk to. Together we have to try to reduce suicide rates and tackle mental illness.”

Continues below…

Matthew Wright’s eventing blog: ‘for me failure is not an option, but in this case I was defeated’

Matthew admits that he’s had a pretty rubbish past couple of weeks

#GoRacingGreen: how horses have helped tackle mental health issues

Debbie Matthews’ #GoRacingGreen idea to welcome all people to racing and equestrian events has received much support

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“Nobody should suffer in silence,” he added. “We want to encourage other riders to speak out about their own insecurities, confidence issues or any other battles they’ve had and how they’ve overcome it. If we make something seem normal, it will make people feel much more secure in talking about it.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Life’ a daily struggle for riders — sometimes it just doesn’t feel like everyone else on the road is speaking our language…

1. Oh look, there’s a piebald car. Yes, I genuinely had this thought last week when I spotted a car which had one dark panel while the rest of it was white.

2. That car’s numberplate is WHP — I wonder if there’s a working hunter pony on board?

3. Why are you halting on the outside track? This arena is busy enough without having to dodge round you. (Translation: why can’t you move out of the outside lane if you want to drive at 55mph?)

4. Why aren’t we passing left to left? Surely that’s going to lead to a crash?

5. This car in front is jolly slow. Why doesn’t the rider give it a kick or a tap with the whip?

6. This horsebox feels very stiff around corners. Maybe some suppling exercises or gridwork would help?

7. This warm-up ring is very crowded. (Translation: it’s rush hour.)

8. I wonder if my car is going to shy at that paper bag in the hedge? I’d better start using my inside leg and turning his head to keep him on his line…

9. That person in front is a terrible driver. I bet they never passed their riding and road safety test.

10. This car behind me keeps getting too close. Does she want to get kicked? Maybe I should tie a red ribbon to my tow bar.

11. Can I tie my car up here? There are no yellow lines — but there doesn’t seem to be any baler twine attached to the fence…

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12. Someone tall has been riding this car — I need to shorten my stirrups. (Translation: I need to move my seat nearer to the pedals.)

13. I’m going to be late because I took a wrong turning — but hey, at least I wasn’t eliminated…

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

In this week’s showing special, H&H visits producer, breeder, judge and all-round show ring legend Jerome Harforth and his team at the Stanley Grange Stud in the picturesque North Yorkshire countryside.

Founded in 1975, the Stanley Grange prefix has produced a multitude of show ring champions which have won titles at all major championship shows.

Turn to page 28 of the 28 March 2019 issue for a full behind-the-scenes look at the Stanley Grange stud, but in the meantime, here are a few things you might not know about Jerome and the team:

1. Jerome got his first pony aged two. On Christmas morning, Jerome was taken out to the cow byre by his uncle Arthur and on the end of a line of 11 cows was a little black pony, which had come from the local riding school.

2. His first show pony was grey 14.2hh called Pinchinthorpe Midnight. After a couple of successful seasons, the pony injured his knee so was retired from the show ring and began a dressage career. They competed at the riding club championships at Stoneleigh together. Jerome competed up to medium level in the dressage arena.

3. Jerome is a keen baker. It is customary for anyone who visits Stanley Grange to have one of Jerome’s famous scones.

4. The first pony the team qualified for the in-hand final at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) was Sally Coles’ Connemara mare Ballydonagh Misterina. She was placed third at the final (then the Lloyds final) and holds the equal record for the highest placed of her breed to date. The Stanley Grange show team has since taken dozens of ponies to the final both in-hand and under saddle, winning on several occasions.

5. The last time they won the Cuddy in-hand championship was in 2018 with Mark Buckley’s broodmare Crafton Blithe Spirit. Jerome led this grey broodmare to victory who was shown with her foal at foot.

6. Jerome last rode in the ring at Ponies UK spring show (held at Gleneagles) where he took the ride on the coloured Merrigan in the supreme.  Usual jockey Simon Charlesworth was due to ride a novice. Jerome had to borrow some boots and a jacket for the occasion.

7. Stanley Grange is often dubbed the ‘groom’s academy’ on the show circuit, as several successful showing stock — including Simon Charlesworth, Ian Boylan, Lucinda Elliott, Craig Elenor and James Crockford — have began their careers there.

8. Jerome has judged all over the world at shows including Melbourne Royal, South Africa HOYS and the National Pony and Hunter show in Australia.

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9. Despite having 10 resident stallions at present — of all types and sizes — stud manager David Dixon says that eventing sire Up With The Lark rules the roost.

10. Current show horse rider Myles Cooper, 18, got his first HOYS championship with a Stanley Grange-produced pony in 2009 with the first ridden Cosford Chartreasuse. 10 years later in 2019 and Myles continues to ride for Jerome in the horse ranks.

11. David, who is the current chairman of SHB (GB), also breeds and shows dogs and was placed second at Crufts last year with a Lakeland terrier.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

A young rider who rides the “naughtiest pony on the circuit” is hoping to sit out the bucks to qualify for the top shows this summer.

Isabel Fortune Davies came seventh in the grand prix at the Pony of the Year Show (POYS) last weekend, on her 128cm Innovation IV (Boot), whom her mother Alison Rebecca de Roeck described as “an absolute pig”, having sat it out as he tried to buck her off in the first round.

“He’s bucked her off at every showground in the country – but we still love him,” Alison told H&H. “We’ve had him since she was six – and he’s taught her to ride, put it that way!”

Alison said she had “absolutely no idea what he was like” when she bought the American saddlebred pony.

“So it was a bit of a shock the first morning I turned him out and he unceremoniously dragged me everywhere,” she added.

“He was our first 12.2hh and I thought ‘this can’t be happening, he is only 12.2hh. I’ve learned since.”

Alison said the family then enjoyed a “honeymoon period”, when Boot did not put a foot wrong, then at Isabel’s first British Showjumping show, things changed, when the pony planted in the ring.

“Whenever Isabel goes into the ring now, I say to her: ‘Brace’,” Alison said. “We were at England team training and the trainer said: ‘What sort of instruction is that to give a child?’ I thought: ‘I hope you never find out’!

“He jumps like a stag; he’ll jump 1.20m no problem, it’s the bits in between. He’ll stop dead, then buck and buck – he goes vertical.”

Alison said everything possible has been checked, including Boot’s back, saddle, teeth and even his hormones, to check there is no physical root to his issues.

“It can happen anywhere,” she said. “At POYS, he jumped a line, slammed the brakes on and bucked, and she had to turn from nothing to the next fence. Even the commentator said it was quick thinking and well ridden.

“Everyone was rooting for her; everyone loves a rogue, and his fan club was screaming for him.

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“I’ve always said that if she doesn’t want to ride him, she doesn’t have to but she’s a tough cookie and it just makes her more determined.”

Alison said Boot has also taken her older, nervous, daughter round at 40cm, and “looks after her up to a point – he’s only bucked her off once”, and that he and Isabel will be touring the circuit of Horse of the Year Show and Olympic qualifiers this summer.

“He’s a little star,” she said.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

A group of riders from a Scottish livery yard have become “Calendar Girls” to raise money for a local hospice.

The mostly middle-aged equestrians from Tannoch Stables near Cumbernauld have rallied the local community to support the project, which has already raised more than £4,000 to date.

“We’ve never seen a fundraising calendar made up here before, and as we are a group of ladies — and a couple of men — mostly more mature in years, we wanted to do something a bit different to grab people’s interest,” said Annette MacDonald, who was the calendar’s Miss January. “There is no nipples or suspenders, it’s all very discreet and tasteful!”

The idea for a fundraiser came from livery Claire McColl, who lost her mum to cancer and had always wanted to give back to Strathcarron Hospice, where she was cared for.

“They provided the most beautiful and tender palliative care. They support everyone within the Lanarkshire region who is dying, if they choose to end their lives in a hospice, and it’s a truly beautiful place and very well known,” Annette said.

“There’s more than 60 horses at Tannoch and the owner has had the yard for nearly 30 years, so there is always some kind of activity going on to support one charity or the other and plenty of people willing to join in.”

Professional photographer Fiona Brims provided her time free for the season-themed shoots, as did trainee make-up artists from the local college.

“We had no idea if it would be a success or not, so we contacted local companies to see if they would sponsor a page for £100 and they did, which we thought was good news as they put their money in not knowing whether their promotional piece would even be seen,” Annette said.

Continues below…

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“Since then we’ve already been back to the printers several times to ask if more calendars could be made. We’ve even had the local Asda and Tesco say we can set up stalls to sell them.”

The seasonal themes included a snow queen for January, skeleton horse and handler for October and a cheeky jester “who looks like he’s having his nether regions nibbled off by a horse but it is actually carrots!” for April.

The calendars are on sale for £10, with an official pre-Christmas launch taking place at the yard on November 2. They can also be bought by deposit £10 against sort code 804671 and account  11171164 (Claire Mccoll and Louise Day).  Email postal details to pipsylass@yahoo.co.uk.  All contributions go direct to Strathcarron Hospice.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

A rider who sustained extensive injuries in a fall just five months ago has returned to competition with victory in her first affiliated dressage test.

Nicola King-Salter was competing at a British Showjumping event in May with her nine-year-old Lauriston mare Lilly Langtrey when a misjudged jump near the end of the British novice course ended in disaster.

“My face took all the impact and I bit my tongue clean in half,” said Nicola, who suffered a partial ‘de-gloving’ of her lower face, as well as fracturing her neck, back and six ribs, and puncturing a lung.

“We didn’t realise how bad my injuries were — I got up and walked to the ambulance. But when I got to the local hospital they took one look at me and said it was a lot worse than we thought.”

Nicola, 48, spent a week in the major trauma unit at Stoke Hospital, praising the care she received there.

“I had to wear a neck brace for six weeks — even in the shower! But I remained quite chipper throughout,” she told H&H.

“I had a full facial tear; the lower half of my face was de-gloved and my lip was torn down to my chin. My tongue had to be stitched back together, but unfortunately my facial injuries have not healed correctly,” added Nicola, who will undergo further surgery next week, as she is still having trouble eating, drinking and speaking.

But on 12 September, Nicola made her return to the ring, winning a prelim at Radfords Equestian, Shropshire, on her British Dressage (BD) debut with Lilly, who was uninjured in the accident.

“Never in a million years did I think this would happen,” said Nicola. “After the accident, my trainer Sarah Warner suggested that I join BD. Dressage has always been my weakest phase and I was very intimidated by the whole thing.

“But through Sarah I met Georgie Hodson, who also suffered a terrible facial injury while eventing nine years ago. That was a wonderful thing to come out of the accident, and she has really helped me — having a facial injury like this is quite unusual and a very personal thing.

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“After the fall, I considered giving up, but only for one minute. I have to put what happened down to bad luck, although it’s the sort of thing you never think will happen to you.

“My husband Henry has been so supportive — we both work for the local police force, but I needed 24-hour care when I first came home from hospital. The only thing he has said is that I need to wear a body protector and air jacket while riding,” added Nicola, who is now looking forward to eventing next season and continuing with dressage following her surgery.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

ITV racing presenter Chris Hughes and Flat jockey Kieran Shoemark have spoken about their struggles to encourage others to do the same.

The pair have teamed up with Movember, the first official charity partner of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot (19 October), to raise awareness of men’s health issues.

Kieran, who has served a suspension from racing following a failed drugs test nearly a year ago, explained how opening up was the turning point for getting his life back.

“I certainly struggled to open up, I kind of didn’t know how to,” he said.

“I spoke to many people because I was forced to. They knew something was up and I didn’t really know myself. Sometimes you can’t even recognise it yourself and other people spot it before you.

“Since I asked for help, I can’t stress how drastically my life has changed beyond mine and anyone’s recognition.”

Chris and Kieran were talking in the Movember Man Van, which will be at Ascot on Saturday offering men’s health advice, free haircuts and shoe shines.

“Kieran and I have had quite different experiences but we both found that opening up and talking about what we were going through was the best thing we could have done,” said Chris, who did a stint on Love Island and is now a presenter on ITV Racing.

“As men we do sometimes feel like we can’t be honest or show our vulnerability but the sooner you open up, the better. Hopefully by sharing our stories we can encourage other men to seek the help they might need.”

Article continues below…

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Movember is a charity that aims to challenge the way men’s health is approached and supported.
Prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention are among the areas the charity is addressing.

Since 2003, it has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects globally and is aiming to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25% by 2030.

“We’re proud to have Movember as the official charity partner of QIPCO British Champions Series and for the Movember Man Van to be on course for QIPCO British Champions Day, helping to raise awareness about the vital work they do tackling the biggest health issues facing men,” said British Champions Series chief executive Rod Street.

“With free haircuts and much more on offer, I hope everyone is able to stop by to enrich what will already be a fantastic day.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

The 2018 Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Heart Awards saw 24 former racehorses, from over 300 nominations, reach the shortlist. Over 3,000 online public votes were counted to pick this year’s 12 finalists in the four categories.

Here are the winners…

Native Caption

This versatile 23-year-old (aka Donald) was triumphant in the 2018 RoR Healthy Heart category for owner Karen Harrison — an award given to the best all-rounder.

Native Caption was trained by Tom Tate, running unsuccessfully in hurdles under Rules before going point-to-pointing.

Cheshire-based Karen was diagnosed with cancer 12 months ago and she describes Donald as her rock, who made her treatment more bearable. Karen has had Donald for 16 years and together they have successfully competed in British Eventing (BE), winning 15 times and placed a further 38 times.

Donald also has British Dressage (BD) points and British Showjumping (BS) prize money under his belt. He has also taught Karen’s partner to ride.

“During my chemotherapy, I felt so ill and was completely bald. My treat before each session was a ride on Donald around the local farm,” said Karen. “He was so good with me, my balance and strength was at an all time low and he always behaved perfectly. I don’t think I will ever find such a versatile horse again — he is my horse of a lifetime.”

Elsie’s Star

The 10-year-old is owned by County Durham-based Helen Corner and was crowned the 2018 RoR Biggest Heart Award winner, which is awarded to the horse that has shown the best temperament.

Elsie’s Star raced once on the Flat in 2010 for trainer Tim Easterby.

Following a riding accident earlier in the year, Helen credits the mare’s calm and trusting nature for rebuilding her confidence in the saddle.

The pair went on to win at the NAF Riding Club national showjumping championships, described as a “dream come true” by Helen.

“Elsie’s Star is loved by everyone who knows her — she lets my 11-year-old daughter ride her,” said Helen. “She has excelled in showjumping, dressage and cross-country and brings home the ribbons. I honestly can’t put into words what she has done for my confidence, I wouldn’t have jumped 70cm before.”

Stilo Blue Native

The eye-catching dappled grey topped the 2018 RoR Heartthrob category for owner Samantha Osborne.

The 10-year-old ran under Rules for trainer Rebecca Menzies and only finished his racing career in summer 2017. His retraining started in 2018 and he qualified for the Aintree novice final at Doncaster on his first outing. He followed this up with multiple red rosettes, including three wins at NCPA Pony of the Year Show (POYS) Championships.

He has become a heartthrob on social media and with the judges, earning him the name “Blunicorn.”

“He has blossomed in the past 12 months going from a severely lean and distant 16.2hh frame to a loving tank, who adores cuddles, grooming and friendship,”said Samantha. “He is beautiful both inside and out, and I couldn’t imagine life without him.”

Danish Blues

The 15-year-old won the 2018 RoR Heart Stopper award, which is given to a horse that has overcome adversity.

“Blue” was brought from a field five years ago and has slowly been nurtured back to full health thanks to his rider Stacey Barr, who loans him.

Described as underweight with abscesses and rain scald, Stacey took time to build and gain his trust before working on his confidence under saddle.

Five years on, Blue and Stacey have qualified for area festivals, the BD Championships, the Thoroughbred Championships and RoR Championships. This year, Blue achieved a second and third at the RoR Championships for both prelim and novice level.

“Blue has grown from rescue to reserve champion — he is an amazing horse with lots of grit,”said Stacey. “He constantly raises the bar to new heights with each new challenge.  He really is a diamond in the rough.”

In his new book, Red Rag To A Bull, author Jamie Blackett arrives home from the Army to take over a small family estate on the Solway Firth in Dumfries and Galloway, and finds a rapidly changing countryside.

In a humorous and occasionally moving tale, he describes the return of the native to grapple with the intricacies of farming, conservation and estate management, telling the story of founding a pack of foxhounds and a herd of pedigree beef cattle. Part childhood memoir, part biopic of rural life, readers are transported to a remote and beautiful part of Scotland and acquainted with its wildlife, its people and its customs.

Set over the first two decades of the 21st Century, through the Scottish independence referendum, Brexit and the hunting ban, the result is an enlightened review of the challenges threatening a vulnerable way of life and an emerging philosophy about the directions Scotland, farming and the countryside might take in the brave new world of Brexit.

In this book extract, Jamie is keenly following his pack of hounds on a day’s hunting, when suddenly, disaster strikes…:

Then from the depths of the wood there comes a single, deep, excited note, and then another. Then a breathless pause and several more as other hounds hit on the scent.

‘They’ve found.’ The field goes quiet as we all strain our ears. Paddy is dancing on his toes now, waiting for the off. We edge closer to Piet, the Field Master, so that we can get away in the first echelon.

The scent must be as good as we dared hope. The woods now echo with a riot of noise that goes first this way then that, as it hurtles around the covert like an express train.

Moments later we see hounds tumbling clumsily out of the wood and then back in again. They appear to be heading uphill onto a long bracken bank.

‘Come on, we’ll get round the other side,’ says Piet, as he kicks his horse into action and we speed towards a gap in the wire fence where there is a solid timber hunt jump. Paddy takes it in his stride and I let him have his head, so that he flattens out rhythmically into a fast canter across the springy turf, and I stand in the stirrups, crouched forward to keep my weight off his back. Above us, still in cover, hound music soars and crashes like the 1812 Overture.

Next comes a wall – a tall, solid, unforgiving Galloway dyke made of granite boulders. I check Paddy so that his hocks come underneath him, and we bounce twice before I let him go two strides out. He clears it by a foot and at the top of our flight, in a burst of exuberance, kicks his hind legs up behind him like Nureyev, so that I am nearly pitched out of the saddle. Our blood is up now, as we race away downhill towards the next fence, a low rail down onto a steep bank of bracken and whins.

We need to do a small, neat jump here, so that we can immediately turn right-handed onto a sheep track that runs along the top of the bank. Battling with Paddy on the run in, I shift my weight from side to side to unbalance him and slow him down, but we are still going too fast. I should circle him away from the jump and come back in at a trot, but I hold him, seemingly motionless, as he pauses, then jumps.

We take off like the 11.30 New York flight from Heathrow and go up, and up. Below us the ground falls away with alarming rapidity. Then we are coming down again and I feel him stumble on landing; his head seems to disappear from in front of me, and I am being scraped over the pommel of the saddle and down his neck. The ground rushes up towards me.

‘Oh God, this is going to hurt.’

Darkness.

‘Is he dead?’

‘I don’t like the look of it, he’s not moving.’

‘Has someone gone to catch the horse?’

‘Yes, Malc’s gone.’

Fragments of conversation come and go as if overheard in the street.

‘He’s got a pulse anyway.’

‘Don’t move him, in case he’s broken his back.’

I can’t tell whether this is a dream or whether it is real, and I just can’t wake up.

‘Can you hear me, my love?’ An angelic voice. ‘Can you open your eyes for me.’

I open my eyes and promptly close them again; the world seems confusing and I want to go back to sleep.

‘Listen, Jamie, I want you to wiggle your toes. Can you do that for me?’

Good idea. I wiggle my toes and nod. Thank God, I am not paralysed.

Gradually I come to and my rescuer, fortuitously an off-duty nurse, says, ‘Just lie still, poppet, the ambulance is on its way.’

Soon Malc appears with Paddy. I start scrambling to my feet.

‘No, you are not getting back on, you were out cold for several minutes. You are going straight to hospital,’ says my rescuer.

‘Well, I might as well ride Paddy then,’ ventures Malc, ‘so at least he doesn’t miss out. Can you pass me his hat?’

I told you the Bells are descended from horse thieves.

‘Might as well pass me his flask as well. They will only confiscate it in hospital. And better have his car keys.’

Shameless! Malc and Paddy set off and I go back to sleep again.

The ambulance crew want to know where my hat is.

‘We would have cut the straps on it if you had it, so that you couldn’t wear it again.’

I nod and think of my mother. In the vanity of youth, I had always hunted in a top hat until I got married and then Mum and Sheri had ganged up and forced me to buy a jockey’s crash hat. Maternal instinct is a wonderful thing; I would be dead had they not done so.

When we arrive at the Dumfries Royal Infirmary, the ward sister wants to know what I have had to eat and drink.

I rack my brains.

‘Porridge at about eight, then a few sausage rolls and a slice of fruitcake at elevenish.’

She nods, ‘And to drink?’

‘A couple of glasses of port at about eleven.’ A slight frown plays across her features. ‘Then just the odd swig after that: bramble whisky, cherry brandy, damson vodka, maybe some sloe gin, that sort of thing.’ She looks concerned and scribbles something down on a clipboard.

I have my brain scanned and then I am put to bed and sleep like the dead. Hours later, Malc comes to pick me up. The same ward sister discharges me.

‘Now you are to go straight home and have a good night’s sleep.’ Then her eyes seem to moisten and a gooey maternal look comes over her. ‘And do try and stay off the alcohol, if you can, dear.’

Price: Red Rag To A Bull can be purchased for £20 from Quiller Publishing. It is also available to buy via Amazon.
Published by: Quiller Publishing, 2018

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine out every Thursday

Bespoke hats were stolen from tradestands while the shop owners were sleeping just metres away.

The thefts took place overnight on 21 to 22 June at Dressage at Hickstead’s premier league and dressage masters championships (19-23 June).

Flying Changes Bespoke Jackets & Tailcoats and Tidy Tack Rooms were both targeted.

“It’s very frustrating and disappointing,” said Sarah Cheetham, owner of Flying Changes.

“[The thieves] were very foolish, they’ve taken 20 unique, bespoke hats that are exclusive to us, made up with our own fabrics to match our jackets and tailcoats.”

She added this means they are instantly recognisable if they appear for sale or are worn in competition.

While the dressage competition runs at the same time as the Hickstead Derby meeting, it is at a separate part of the showground and is not under the same organisation or security management as Hickstead Ltd, the All England Jumping Course.

Sarah was sleeping in the lorry behind the trade tent when the crooks cut open the marquee and took the hats.

Among the stolen Charles Owen helmets is the Charlotte Dujardin display hat, which has her Flying Changes tailcoat fabric running through the middle and features red and white piping.

A grey hat with rows of pink crystals on each side of the piping is also among the 20 stolen helmets.

She added the team at Dressage at Hickstead have been “very supportive” and the crime has highlighted a weakness in the security, which they are reviewing.

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Cassie Capsey, owner of Tidy Tackrooms, was also asleep in a tent when thieves cut along the zipper tapes of the marquee to steal 10 Scharf UK helmets from her stand.

“They didn’t touch anything else on the stand,” she told H&H. “They took the protective packaging off the hats and left the boxes.”

She added the hats will not be covered by warranty and all have unique serial numbers on them.

Both marquees were locked at the time of the thefts and the store owners are hoping to raise awareness to make the goods “too hot to handle”.

Dane Rawlins, Dressage at Hickstead organiser, told H&H security will be reviewed.

“We will do our best to do whatever we can,” he said.

He added the team will be looking at improving the CCTV and making changes to the number of patrols on site.

In this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out on Thursday 28 June 2018, don’t miss our full report from the Hickstead Derby meeting, including all the showjumping and showing action, plus don’t miss our six-page report from Royal Ascot.

We also have a feature on the much discussed whip rules across the disciplines and in this week’s ‘Vet clinic’ we find out how to spot the signs of sand colic.