OPINION

While browsing through my Facebook feed, from time to time I come across a post that reads something along the lines of…

“I’m devastated to be writing this, but my much loved horse is looking for a new family. Sadly is no longer able to be ridden, but would make an ideal companion. Change in circumstances means I can no longer keep him. Free to good home.”

So this ‘much loved’ horse has done the job you wanted him for, but now, whether through medical reasons or old age, can no longer be ridden. And so rather than taking responsibility for this animal at every stage in its life, including when he leaves this world, you’re going to give him away into the care of a third party and an unknown future.

I ask you a hard question: Is this really in the best interests of your horse, or are you simply passing on your problem to someone else?

Now I know lives can change in a heartbeat, and I accept that while you may have hoped to be in a position to provide your wonderful horse with a long and happy retirement, you may find it’s not possible.

But in reality, the majority of cases like this are where an owner CAN still afford to keep a horse – but only ONE horse. So when the current horse is no longer able to work, they want to replace him with another that they can ride.

I personally don’t have a problem with that. If you are in this situation, to me your options are:

A: you find the money to continue to provide the retired horse with the basic care that is required to ensure their ongoing welfare, and get a new horse you can ride, whether that is a new purchase or on loan;

B: you accept that you can only afford one horse and so continue to care for your retired horse and enjoy occasional rides on other people’s horses when they come up (you may be surprised how many people will be grateful for help keeping their horse(s) exercised, particularly during the winter);

C: (and I know this will be unpalatable to some), you have the horse you can no longer ride humanely euthanised and you get a new one you can ride.

What, in my humble opinion, you should NOT do is pass your retired horse on to a third party, who may or may not have their best interests at heart.

We’ve all heard the stories of horses that are unfit for work being taken on by individuals promising that they will have a long and happy retirement, only for the horse to be filled with bute and sold on to an unwitting buyer, or being stuck in a sale ring to make a quick buck a matter of days after being collected from their former loving homes. Do you want to run the risk of finding out that has happened to your horse?

If you are genuinely in the position where you can no longer afford to keep the horse, then I would still ask whether giving the horse away, into the care of a third party and an unknown future, is really a responsible thing to do?

Whether a horse is age five or 25, there are worse things than being humanely dispatched from this earth in surroundings that the horse knows and with the people who have provided him with many lovely experiences in the past. Yes it’s incredibly hard for the owner to make that decision, but surely that is better than the alternative described above?

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And for everyone who is saying, ‘but surely there is a charity somewhere that would take the horse’, I’m afraid you are deluding yourselves. The charity centres are fit to bursting with real welfare cases. They do NOT have space to take on any horses that do not fit that description.

It’s really hard when you find yourself in this position. I know, I’ve been there, more than once. Only you can decide what’s best for you, and your horse. Personally, I’ve chosen A, B and C at different times in different circumstances. But every time I’ve found peace with the decision I made because every time I’ve put the horse first, and that includes the time I chose option C.

If you would like to share your views on this topic for potential publication in Horse & Hound magazine then email hhletters@ti-media.com including your name and location

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A distinguished police horse who served in the May Day riots, led the New Year’s Day parade, attended state openings of parliament and was the chosen ride of the Duke of Kent has died at the age of 31.

Long-serving Irish draught Trident began his career in the force at the age of five at Wandsworth but served most of his time in central London at Great Scotland Yard.

Although the 16.3hh grey went into official retirement with mounted police head girl Jen Hutchinson and her husband Kevin in 2008, he was still called upon for occasional duties.

“He was a little git when he was younger but he mellowed and turned into a really good ceremonial horse,” said Kevin. “Although he retired at 21, his last job was in 2012 when he was an escort horse at William and Kate’s wedding.”

Trident was also the favoured mount of the Duke of Kent, who traditionally rode a police horse for the Trooping of the Colour.

Trident, second right, with the Duke of Kent

“That was the main role he kept returning for,” said Kevin. “He tried Trident one year and the two of them got along like a house on fire.

“The year we decided it was best if Trident didn’t have to go back into central London, the duke tried another horse but wouldn’t ride him on parade. He called it a day and said that if he couldn’t have his old boy Trident back, he would go by carriage instead.”

The big grey had an impressive CV, combining policing demonstrations, football matches and pop concerts with a string of ceremonial roles. These included the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, state visits, the Lord Mayor’s procession, the changing of the guard, the state opening of Parliament and escorting the cavalry change.

His more unusual jobs featured a stint as “living art” in the Tate Modern and he also turned his hoof to showjumping, winning the service jumping at Richmond Show.

Trident continued to hack at home in Essex with Kevin and Jen until last year.

“Before that he was still going out two or three times a week and enjoying life,” Kevin said. “He was certainly a character — he refused to go out with the geldings in the field and had to go out with a mare. He also liked to stop and search everyone on their way to and from the feed room.”

Trident spent his retirement at Gina Bruce’s livery yard in Essex. She also paid tribute to the “gentle giant”, adding: “We cannot put into words how much he will be missed”.

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“Our thoughts are with owners Jen and Kev who absolutely cherished him. Jen worked alongside Trident in the Metropolitan Police Force and we truly loved hearing the stories of him in his rogue days, bolting and overtaking double decker buses on Oxford Street and stamping on tourists wearing flip-flops. It’s hard to believe such a gentle giant could be such a thug!

“He made us smile every single day and we felt privileged to look after him,” she added. “He was a horse in a lifetime and so, so special. Run free over the Rainbow Bridge, big man.”

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

A “revolutionary” app offers users rewards in exchange for riding.

The Huufe app, founded by Charlie Trietline and Richard Philips, has teamed up with equestrian retailers to offer discounts to users.

Riders can create personal profiles, along with profiles for their horses, on which they can post videos and photographs and share with friends who also have the app.

Key features include the “HuufeCoin” rewards programme, which allows riders to earn “coins” for riding, which can be exchanged in the HuufeCoin marketplace. Half an hour’s riding equates to one HuufeCoin with a maximum of three available per day. Current offers available in the marketplace include 35% off retailers Derby House and Ride-away and 50% off gold membership of the Harry Hall One Club.

Users can track their rides and record vaccinations, worming and farrier visits in their horses’ profiles.

Richard Philips said: “Our aim is to give the riding community the app they deserve. One that makes riding more fun, safer, easier to manage and definitely more rewarding. We have built features that riders have asked for, such as: ride tracking (with photo and video capture), horse profiles, rider profiles, and horse/stable management.

“To capture your rides, you simply download the app, add your horse‘s name, put your phone back in your pocket and ride. The GPS in your phone then captures your location and speed, which is saved for you to keep and share it you want. You can see where you have been and keep this as a record for ever. You can also automatically add pictures and videos of your ride.”

An additional feature available on the app for £1.50 is a safety package.

Charlie Trietline said: “The safety feature ‘SafeRide’ uses motion sensors in the phone to detect when a rider falls and is not moving. It then alerts nominated contacts that an incident has occurred. The exact location is given with directions to the fallen rider. The second safety feature ‘LiveRide’ allows nominated people track a rider’s location in real time.

“The safety package is proving very popular, especially as it costs less than a cup of McDonalds coffee.”

Owners can appoint administrators and riders on the app to help with their horse’s management and allow them to see when their horse has been exercised. The app also has a group facility that allows riding schools and clubs to create a collaborative area to share news and events.

Huufe, which generates revenue through commission on sales made at retailer websites, is free to download and available on Apple and android devices.

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

A pony has been used for the first time in a survey by UK archaeologists to unearth a medieval site.

Experts had identified a diamond shaped feature in a field at East Boldre in the New Forest and wanted to investigate further.

The site thought to be that of a medieval hunting lodge had originally been spotted using Lidar, an airborne laser scanning technique.

Such surveys are usually carried out by a magnetometry cart pulled by a vehicle, but due to the sensitivity of the site a pony was considered less intrusive.

The New Forest National Park Authority and Bournmouth University called on the services of Jerry, a pony lent by the New Forest Driving Society.

“This innovative approach to surveying is meant to overcome some of the issues we have to juggle when surveying archaeology in the fragile habitats of the National Park,” said Lawrence Shaw, New Forest National Park Authority archaeological officer

“By utilising traditional Forest skills and knowledge such as pony driving and the latest research from the university, we can look to improve our knowledge and understanding of the Forest’s rich heritage without impacting on the land itself,” he added.

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Dr Derek Pitman of Bournemouth University said “the ability to combine pony power and cutting edge geophysical survey allowed us to far better understand the New Forest’s rich cultural history than ever before.”

The survey is the result of a partnership between the National Park Authority and Bournemouth University to improve understanding of usual lumps and bumps through the LocATE (Local Archaeologicial Training and Equipment) project.

Geogphysical equipment has been provided to local interest groups within the New Forest to help undertake detailed surveys of buried archaeological sites. Within the New Forest, the scheme has helped map Neolithic long barrows, Iron Age hill forts and Roman pottery kiln sites.

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

A new facility for services and information on “end of life decision making” has been piloted in Scotland.

The Equine End of Life Service, created by the National Fallen Stock Company, a not-for-profit organisation, is a website offering information on different options for euthanasia, removal and disposal.

National Fallen Stock Company chairman Michael Seals said: “End of life decision-making for any horse owner is emotional and challenging, and we hope that our simple and straightforward information service and facility will help.

“Our intention is to provide a smooth, sympathetic and stress-free service to horse owners and their vets at a most difficult and stressful time. The staff in the office are horse owners and understand the sensitivity. We’re very conscious of the fact its not like dealing with farm animals, and there is a very strong tie to these pets.

“Our strap line is ‘Respectful to the end’ because that’s what we strongly believe in – we want to give owners, horses, and everyone involved respect. It gives a more human approach to it rather then a clinical collection and disposal of an animal”.

The service offers access to “experience, skilled and sympathetic” euthanasia and collection professionals by using a network of independent, licensed collectors that the company works with.

“They abide to the highest welfare standards, and biosecurity levels are strictly upheld at all times. The website platform also acts as a postcode-based quote generating service, with staff helping with the logistics and payment for the chosen service,” said a spokesman for the National Fallen Stock Company.

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Charities are “fully behind” the service including the British Horse Society, Blue Cross, The Horse Trust, World Horse Welfare and the Donkey Sanctuary.

Scotland’s chief veterinary officer, Sheila Voas, said the concept and website are “really good” and she is “delighted” the pilot is running in Scotland.

The company aims to roll out the service to the resk of the UK in summer. Further information can be found at www.equine-endoflife.co.uk.

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

A pub has cancelled its annual firework display and plans to work with livery yards to hold an animal-friendly event next year.

The management team at the Ship Eighton Banks in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, announced on Wednesday (16 October) that the display would not be going ahead.

Event manager Jacob Carr told H&H: “Over the years the pub has always held a Bonfire Night display but we became aware of how many livery yards are nearby as well as a dog shelter and we made the decision to protect animals in the area.

“We’ve had a look online and there are silent fireworks available. They come with more of a cost than normal fireworks which we couldn’t fund immediately so we’ve decided to look at that for next year.”

Jacob said the pub plans to make an animal-friendly display the focus in future.

“We have people from the livery yards, farms and the dog shelter come into the bar and we want their input on what they deem suitable for the protection of animal welfare. I hope we can help get the message out there and it will be a helpful tool in educating people,” he said.

“Our post has been shared a lot online – it’s been brilliant. It shows people want change. Some people can be a bit naïve about fireworks as it’s easy to forget the impact they can have, especially on horses and dogs. It’s not that people don’t care, but there’s a lack of education. Through no fault of their own they might not understand the impact fireworks have on animals.”

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Jacob said the pub will hold an event on 5 November without fireworks.

“In essence we could be missing out as a business by not having the display, it’s a spectacle and people like to take their children, but that’s why we’re going to do a bonfire quiz and some outdoor grilled food and show we are offering something else instead of fireworks,” he said.

“We are going to give everyone a sparkler and take a picture in the dark for social media and show the support we’ve gained from the decision.”

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

Additional reporting by Selene Scarsi

Isabell Werth’s 2014 World Equestrian Games ride Bella Rose has made her long-awaited return to competition, after almost four years out. The chestnut mare, whom Isabell referred to in 2017 as “the best horse of my life”, won the grand prix for special with 77.52% at the Fritzens-Schindlof CDI4* in Austria, before topping the special with 80.17%.

The elegant Belissimo M daughter, now aged 14, was last seen in action in November 2014, having been withdrawn from the 2014 WEG in Caen after scoring 81.53% for Germany in the grand prix, finishing second behind Valegro. Details were released stating that Bella Rose developed signs of an acute inflammation in the sole of her hoof.

She and Isabell returned to competition later that year, delivering an 81.94% grand prix special in Stuttgart, but it was to be the last time the mare was seen in action, as she sustained a knee injury.

“This was one of the most beautiful days of my horsey life,” Isabell told H&H after her highly emotional grand prix performance. “It was a dream come true that she came back [from injury]. It wasn’t perfect, but it was very good already so I’m very very happy.”

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It was an excellent weekend for Britain’s Emile Faurie and Hayley Watson-Greaves, too. Emile’s 11-year-old gelding Dono Di Maggio (below) scored two international personal bests of 74.02% and 75.6% to finish third in the grand prix for special and second in the special behind Isabell and Bella Rose. Emile has long tipped the Dimaggio son as the best of his current grand prix string, and is aiming him for WEG selection this year.

Hayley and her 14-year-old Rubin Royal son Rubins Nite had a disappointing grand prix, finishing seventh, but were back on top form for the freestyle, scoring 75.75% to fill third place behind Isabell Werth and Emilio and Dorothee Schneider with Rock N Rose.

Don’t miss this week’s issue of H&H for the full report from Fritzens, on sale Thursday 5 July.

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

The owner of a pony whose weight dropped to 260kg as she nursed him through grass sickness said she never thought he would return to the show ring.

Amber Smalley’s now-eight-year-old 14hh cob Joey was diagnosed with the disease in May 2018.

“Joey had a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and I was asked if I wanted him put down but I said no. He was my first horse and I didn’t want to let him go without trying,” Amber told H&H.

“He spent a week in hospital and when I got him home he had to be fed every hour by syringe. I was going to the yard four times a day, as well as friends going to help feed him.”

Over six months Joey’s condition improved and by November his weight had increased to 345kg.

“He was doing well but after new year, he got an infection and became very poorly again; discharge was coming out of his nose and he had a high temperature. We aren’t sure what caused it but he was given a course of antibiotics and after a few weeks he improved.

“I started riding him again in February and it was the best feeling I could ever have. When he was diagnosed I’d packed all my tack away and never expected to take it out again.”

Amber spent the summer working on Joey’s fitness and on 18 August they returned to competition at a Rochdale & District Riding Club show.

“I didn’t think we would be out again,” she said. “We did ridden cob, novice show cob and in-hand cob which he was fourth in. We weren’t placed in the ridden class but the judge said in six months’ time he’ll be winning classes.

“On 20 October we did the annual North West Championships show and made it through to the evening performance of the traditional ridden cob class. I’m so proud of him, I never thought we’d be doing anything like this again.”

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Amber said Joey will need six-monthly vet check-ups but she is looking forward to a full show season next year and hopes to compete in dressage in the future.

“He is still quite lean and the vet said he might always look a bit underweight after what he went through. He needs to have sloppy feeds as he still struggles with swallowing but he is back to his cheeky self,” she said.

“During his illness I had times where I didn’t think he would make it but it feels like we’ve been given a fresh start. Nursing wasn’t an easy route and you’ve got to make sure it’s the right decision for the horse but I’m so glad we got through it. I hadn’t heard of grass sickness before he was diagnosed so I’m hoping to raise some more awareness of the disease and do some charity rides in the future for the Equine Grass Sickness fund.”

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

An event horse whose limit was thought to be intermediate, but went clear inside the time round Badminton’s cross-country, has been put down aged 20 after a happy retirement.

Hannah Bate completed Badminton and Burghley twice each on Finbury Hill, as well as finishing in the top 10 at Blair, Bramham and Chatworth three-stars (now four-stars).

He retired in 2016 to live with his owner Susie Guild.

“Susie bought him as a four-year-old, from Vere Phillipps, and he came to me to sell aged 11 as they thought he was no more than an intermediate horse,” Hannah told H&H.

Hannah said she jumped the two-star (now three-star) at Weston Park soon after she took on the ride.

“He absolutely flew round and I thought ‘let’s have a crack at Bramham next year’,” she said. “He finished on his dressage score then, and at Blenheim, and at Badminton went clear, inside the time.

“He had the biggest heart in the world – what he lacked in ability, his heart made up for; he was an absolute little superstar.”

Hannah described “Finn” as “a funny little horse”.

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“He had unknown breeding on his dam’s side but we’re sure there was some pony in there,” she said. “He had a whinny like a pony and a face like a pony.

“He wasn’t quirky either; you often feel like the top ones have to be but he wasn’t. He wasn’t a natural mover or jumper, but he was a natural galloper who was super-brilliant cross-country; he always found a fifth leg.”

Hannah became pregnant with her son Billy and hoped to compete Finn, who was “really straight and easy; good to do in all ways” at Tattersalls 2016, after she gave birth but he sustained an injury and was retired.

He went to live with Ms Guild, keeping a homebred company, but succumbed to age-related issues.

“He looked incredible but he was struggling,” Hannah 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 trio of ponies who were captured in a public tennis court are seeking new homes.

Andre Agassi, Pancho Gonzales and Rafael Nadal — as they have been fondly named — were abandoned in December.

They were left to run loose in a Bishop Auckland park for more than a week, until some nearby residents tempted them into some tennis courts and closed the gates.

One of the rescuers called the RSPCA and a British Horse Society welfare officer provided more hay, water and a padlock for the gate to secure the ponies for the night so arrangements could be made for a more permanent solution.

The “tennis court trio” were then taken in by the RSPCA and no owners came forward to claim them.

With Wimbledon under way, the charity is hoping the ponies will find “their perfect game, set and match”.

“The boys are around one year old, and will be approximately 13hh when they are fully grown so potentially could make really smart children’s riding ponies,” said RSPCA equine rehoming officer Jacqui Wilson, adding the trio do not need to be rehomed together.

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“Andre, Pancho and Rafael are really friendly young colts who — like their namesakes — have a glittering future ahead of them.

“We would ideally like someone to foster them for a time until they are old enough for us to castrate them, then if they have fallen in love, they would be able to apply to fully adopt them.

“It’s really common for us to be called about abandoned horses, but particularly colts.

“Our 24-hour emergency line received more than 80 calls a day about horses last year and we also took in 980 horses — the highest number in four years — which shows just how sad the situation is.

“Unfortunately young horses like these are irresponsibly bred and have little or no value.”

Visit: www.rspca.org.uk/findapet/rehomeahorse for more information.

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.