A rider plans to make history and raise money for charity by swimming the English Channel.

Heather Clatworthy, British Horse Society (BHS) senior executive of access and rights of way, hopes to raise £20,000 for the society when she takes on the challenge in June 2020. If successful Heather will be the first woman from Northern Ireland to complete the challenge.

Heather told H&H swimming the Channel was always on her bucket list.

“I don’t have a horse at the minute because I have two young children who are my priority,” she said. “I spent many years breaking in youngsters and spent a lot of time on the hunting field so I’m temporarily filling my competitive streak and adrenaline junkie side by swimming.

“The money I raise will go towards the different BHS campaigns and work. Every day I see how the work we do impacts people and it’s really rewarding being in a job where we help equestrians across the UK and Ireland.”

In 2016 Heather became the first person since 1929 to swim across a 13-mile stretch of sea between Inishowen and Portstewart in Ireland.

“At the time I didn’t know if could do it but it gave me confidence that I have it in me to do the Channel swim,” she said.

“I’m having to do an incredible amount of training. I’m a working professional as well as a mum but the way I see it is if you want to achieve something in your life, there’s always a way to do it.”

Heather, who will take on the challenge wearing a swimming costume, cap and goggles as set out in the official Channel Swimming Association rules, said the biggest challenge she faces is the cold water.

“When I started this journey I assumed the main thing I would need to work on to swim to France is fitness – It’s a massive factor, but it’s the ability to withstand the cold for long periods of time that’s the most challenging. I swim in open water all year round and train in rivers because I live quite far from the sea. In the winter it can be gruelling, it’s like stepping into a freezer, but the training makes a huge difference,” she said.

Article continued below…

Equestrian TV stars take on 340-mile challenge

‘I’ve only ever ridden horses and motorbikes in the past seven years!’

Blisters, hills and floods will not stop determined animal lover on 300-mile challenge to help horses

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“On the day there will be a crew on a fishing boat alongside me with an observer officiating the event. They make sure you’re ok and not suffering from exhaustion or becoming hypothermic, and you rely on the pilots of the boat to navigate you across because the English Channel is the busiest shipping lane in the world and you don’t want to run into tankers.”

Heather, who is offering free motivational talks ‘Believe in yourself and achieve anything’ to riding clubs and community groups for donations towards her fundraising, said to make history would be “incredible”.

“I want to be the best role model I can be for my children and I hope to inspire others to get involved in new sports. I’m not an elite athlete, I’m a working mum. I’ve no idea if I will make it or not but if I do I think it will be amazing for someone from Portstewart to achieve,” 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.

Showjumper David Simpson shares an exercise to ensure your horse meets a fence on the perfect stride

About David

Showjumper David Simpson has represented Ireland in pony, junior, young rider and senior teams. He is based in West Sussex at DLS Showjumping, which he runs with his wife Louise. In 2016 David won both The Queen’s Cup and the Derby trial at Hickstead, as well as the Oliva Nova grand prix.

Training the stars

I took on the ride of Team 55’s Jenson and have used this exercise to help form a great partnership with him in a short space of time. I find it keeps his stride level and stops him rushing at his fences. It’s made a big difference and he is now being placed in 1.40m and ranking classes.

Tackling the problem

1. Build a vertical fence in the middle of your arena, then place a pole three-and-a-half steps away on each side, and a cavaletti fence 16 steps on from each of these. From either cavaletti to the first pole should be a normal four canter strides, so adjust the distance if you need to. I would start with the vertical in the centre at about 80cm but with very green horses just place a pole on the ground.

2. Ride over the first cavaletti and pole and halt your horse before the vertical, rein him back and give him a pat, then ride away and do the exercise again. Do this so your horse learns to respect your aids and doesn’t charge at what’s in front of him.

3. Once you get the feeling that the horse is waiting for you, carry on down the line and proceed over the vertical and the final cavaletti.

4. Similar to the four strides on your approach, your four strides to the final cavaletti are important, and you need to get the same feeling of control. If you need to, stop and rein back in this section also. After doing this, I let them walk for a moment to catch their breath and take in what you’re telling them.

5. Once you feel completely in control you can make the vertical bigger, or change it to an oxer. I wouldn’t go bigger than 1.30m, as they are working harder than you think.

Article continues below…

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#SundaySchool: the showjumping ‘gym’ with Holly Smith

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#SundaySchool: controlling the canter with Jessica Mendoza

The international showjumper uses a canter-on-a-circle exercise to help develop balance and control, which can be used in the ring

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Consider this…

• Always put your leg on over the pole before the fence, because this trains your horse to put effort into take-off without rushing.
• The most important thing when doing any exercise is to stay relaxed. Horses will make mistakes, so try not to get annoyed, just keep repeating it until they understand what you’re asking them.
• I build this exercise in the centre of the school so it can be done off both reins and in both directions. Horses are stronger on one side, so keep it equal and do it the same amount on both reins.
• Striding is one of the basic elements of showjumping and it is something that a lot of people struggle with. No two horses are the same, but I find this exercise can improve the issue in most situations, and it is very straightforward to do. I use it with all our horses, from the green four-year-olds up to grand prix.

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

Dressage rider Alice Oppenheimer explains how to keep a horse energetic and forward, even when slowing down

Alice rides and trains the successful Headmore horses bred at her family’s stud. She was a member of the 2009 young rider European Championships team, has trained four horses to grand prix and ridden internationally at grand prix level.

Training the stars

During a test, Headmore Davina (pictured, who is currently winning at prix st georges and inter I) used to back off and consequently get behind my leg at the first halt. Now, however, I almost have her too sharp in the warm-up so that, when she goes into the ring, she’s still forward enough even if she does back off a little.

Both rider and horse must think forward when making a downward transition. Keeping impulsion is a vital part of schooling a young horse as it teaches him to bring his hindlegs under himself and lift his shoulders. This will help with balance and is necessary preparation when teaching and training collection.

If you have a horse who tends to slow down before the transition — or even slams on the brakes — try these exercises…

Tackling the issue

1. If your horse anticipates a downward transition as soon as you go from rising trot to sitting, do the preparation but don’t ask for the transition. Instead, activate him and send him forward. Make sure he maintains the impulsion, then ask for walk. You can do the same exercise from canter to trot and canter to walk. This teaches the horse to listen to what you are actually asking for, rather than making the decision for himself.

2. When teaching a young horse the trot-to-walk transition, let him jog for a few steps in the transition. This teaches him to bring his hindquarters underneath him and produce a more forward transition. Gradually reduce the number of jog steps until you don’t need them any more and the transitions are balanced and forward.

3. Ride canter-to-trot transitions on a circle. While asking for the transition, use your inside leg to push him forward and a little sideways. This makes sure you keep your leg on in the transition, so you still ride forwards even though you are going down a gear.

Article continues below…

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#SundaySchool: perfecting pirouettes with Rebecca Hughes

The international dressage rider and young horse producer explains how walk pirouettes can improve engagement for medium trot

#SundaySchool: ultimate suppleness and engagement with a top dressage rider

Sarah Millis (pictured), an international dressage rider, explains how you can improve the quality and rhythm of the trot by

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Consider this…

• When training, abide by the ethos that every transition must be a good one.
• Ensure you are using your seat to push forward in the transitions rather than pulling back on the reins.
• Ride with enough leg to keep the forward momentum going, even into the halt.
• A dropping poll is a sign that your horse’s hindleg is not coming under enough.

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

New Zealand event rider Jesse Campbell moved to the UK in 2009 to train with Mark Todd. At 21, he became the youngest UK-based rider to be selected for the New Zealand eventing squad. Jesse runs his own yard in Marlborough and has competed on Nations Cup and in the Event Rider Masters series.

Training the stars

I was at Kelsall Hill with an experienced horse of mine, Amsterdam II (pictured at a different event), and he had a look at the decent drop they had on the intermediate track, which was purely through lack of recent exposure to this type of fence. I took him home and we spent some time practising drop fences and he’s been fine ever since.

In recent years there haven’t been as many drop fences appearing on courses but, when they do, they can take a horse by surprise. For this reason, it is vital to keep practising drop obstacles between events, even when you are progressing through the levels.

Successfully encouraging your horse to be confident with drop fences is down to preparation. When introducing him to one for the first time, find an inviting, low step and practise it to build up his confidence and gain his trust.

Tackling the issue

1. Start by approaching at a walk on a long rein. Your horse should be straight and in front of your leg. He should stay relaxed and in a rhythm. Once this is established you can progress to larger steps, and approach in faster gaits.

2. Allow your horse to use his neck by slipping your reins so you don’t catch him in the mouth. This will give him the freedom to use himself. If this is something you’re not used to, practise letting the reins run through your fingers and collecting them back up.

3. As you progress to riding drops at canter, make sure your horse is listening, but still in front of your leg. You need to allow him time to take in the drop fence, and going too fast can hinder this. Establishing a strong, rhythmical canter is key.

4. A good rider position will instil confidence in your horse to come off the drop and encourage him to tackle this type of obstacle again. Remember to sit up, keep your shoulders back and your lower leg secure. Always keep your eyes up and don’t look down. This is also vital when you have another fence to jump after the drop — your eyes need to be focused on this. While jumping down, keep your hands wide and soft as this will help you to get the contact back more quickly.

Continued below…

#SundaySchool: the showjumping ‘gym’ with Holly Smith

The international showjumper talks us through this multi-fence workout which she uses with both her younger and more experienced horses

#SundaySchool: Ben Way on improving a horse’s focus and rideability

Riding a grid of fences teaches a horse to land on the right leg and makes the rider aware of

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Consider this…

• Avoid letting your horse launch himself off the top of a drop through lack of confidence, as this can give him a fright and make jumping a related element much harder
• If you ever have an issue with a drop, always go back to walking down an easy drop fence on a long rein. By re-establishing the basics, you can rebuild your horse’s confidence
• Always get your horse’s back and tack checked to rule out a physical issue that may be causing issues with jumping off banks

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

Follow grand prix dressage rider Anna Ross’ (pictured) tips for improving the medium trot in our new regular Sunday evening training feature

Aim

A good medium trot should be uphill and the hindlegs should come under the body to give impulsion.

For horses’ balance and development, it’s essential for them to learn to take the weight back on to the hindlegs.

This exercise uses the half walk pirouette to balance the horse and encourage him to “sit” and flex his hock joints in preparation for medium trot. This is a 180 ̊ turn in which the horse’s hindlegs lift up and down in a small circle. When your horse is learning, you can make the circle larger and half-pass back to the track if necessary, keeping the bend and the engagement.

Exercise

Step 1. Start on the track of the long side, approaching the corner at either the A or C end. As you go past the marker nearest the corner, collect the walk and keep it active. Start the walk pirouette before you reach the corner.

Step 2. Start the walk pirouette in shoulder-fore position, with your
weight slightly to the inside. Keep your outside leg on just behind the girth and encourage the horse to step forwards and sideways. At the start, think of riding a half-pass, and as the horse turns back towards the track, ride travers.

Step 3. When you get back to the track, move up into rising trot and then ask the horse to lengthen into medium trot, for no more than the length of two markers.

Step 4. Quietly bring the horse back to walk before the corner marker and then repeat the walk pirouette the other way.

Step 5. Repeat several times. If the horse is executing a balanced medium trot, then trot around the short side and try without the pirouette.

Article continues below…

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Jennie Loriston-Clarke: how to achieve a more balanced canter

The dressage trainer shares her exercise using loops to improve the canter

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Pitfalls

• In the pirouette, maintain the impulsion so the horse turns with even steps.
• Don’t allow the quarters to drift to the outside — keep the outside leg on and your shoulders following the movement.
• Don’t push the horse out of its rhythm and balance in the medium trot. If he starts to run, bring him back into the walk pirouette.

For more great dressage content, don’t miss the current issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out now (dated 7 February 2019), which features our dressage special

The top event rider’s exercise hones jumping with contained power

Aim

Simple exercises are often the most effective. This one involves building two fences — a vertical and a parallel — on a four- or five- stride (20-24m) related distance, ideally down the centre line of the school. The horse is circled in between the two fences.

Many of the horse’s attributes will be tested, from his suppleness and balance to his ability to bend and maintain a rhythm.

The ultimate aim is to achieve greater engagement, impulsion, control, rhythm and smoothness. The horse learns about patience, cantering in different gears and how to jump with contained power rather than speed. For the rider the exercise is all about sitting still, communicating with clarity and thinking ahead.

Exercise

1. Approach the vertical in “first gear” — a controlled, collected canter. Ride as small a circle as possible — ideally 10-12m — in the same collected canter after the vertical. While riding the circle, the rider must maintain the horse’s balance through the hand. They also need to be active with their leg to get the horse’s hindleg underneath it. Focus too on looking ahead and controlling the horse’s shoulder.

2. On completion of the circle, allow the horse to move up to “third gear” and lengthen his stride. The rider’s hand should move forward and soften to “release the beast” as the horse opens up his frame over the parallel.

3. Reverse the process and jump the spread first — a different exercise requiring more control. Start with an open stride for the parallel. On landing, ride a circle in a collected, balanced canter, with the horse bent around the inside leg. Maintain this pace to the vertical, allowing the fence to come to the horse.

4. If you lack room, build the fences against a wall or the side of the school. This makes the exercise harder in that the rider has to be more proactive in ensuring that the horse lands on the correct lead.

Article continues below…

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#SundaySchool: the showjumping ‘gym’ with Holly Smith

The international showjumper talks us through this multi-fence workout which she uses with both her younger and more experienced horses

#SundaySchool: how to improve your horse’s medium trot

Follow grand prix dressage rider Anna Ross’ tips for improving the medium trot in our new regular Sunday evening training

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Tips and pitfalls

• The rider may not always be thinking ahead. It is important to remain proactive throughout to be able to show the horse what to do.
• The horse must be on the aids and listening to the rider or he will be tempted to rush the fences.
• On the circle, the rider needs to keep active with their leg because it is all too easy for the horse to fall into “tranter” (trot/canter). If the horse drops behind the leg, he may stop at the parallel as he comes off the circle.
• If starting the exercise with the parallel, don’t over-ride it or the horse will be unable to perform the circle.
• Resist performing the exercise too often. For a youngster, six times twice a week is probably ideal.

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

Take a look at this simple exercise, as explained by dressage rider Amy Stovold, to help improve any horse’s counter-canter

Aim

At least some counter-canter is found in most British Dressage tests from novice level upwards, and is used to demonstrate the horse’s balance, suppleness and straightness while still maintaining the natural quality of the canter.

Counter-canter helps to develop a horse’s canter rhythm, improve his balance and ability to carry the weight behind, and is a great exercise to use before starting flying changes. It is also really good for improving a horse’s suppleness.

Using the correct aids and maintaining a straight, central position in the saddle are very important in the counter- canter to ensure that the horse stays balanced.

I teach a horse counter-canter as soon as his canter is balanced and he is carrying the weight on the hindleg.

For this exercise, the horse should be established in canter and the walk-to-canter transition, and be able to stay balanced in counter-canter.

The exercise

1. Start in canter at M on the left rein and turn down the centre line at C.

2. Start heading towards the three-quarter line in the direction of B before making a shallow loop right. Start with fairly shallow loops so that the horse understands what you are asking of him. You can then build up the difficulty by making the loops steeper until you are riding a serpentine in counter-canter.

3 Counter-canter across the diagonal from B to K, then continue in true, left-rein canter. Your aids should always stay the same throughout counter-canter, so on the left rein, your right leg will be behind the girth and your left leg will be by it. Your outside leg will support and maintain the counter-canter. With a younger horse, you may need to support them a bit more with your outside leg and inside rein. There can be a slight neck bend over the leading leg, particularly with young horses, to help them balance. As the horse progresses, the neck should be as straight as possible. The hindquarters should remain straight so the horse is able to push through from behind efficiently. If there is too much swing in or out from the hindquarters, the horse won’t be able to sit and push as well as if it is straight.

4. You can then change the rein and perform the exercise on the right rein. It’s important to ensure that you perform the same exercises on both reins to keep the horse equal and straight through his body.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

#SundaySchool: perfecting pirouettes with Rebecca Hughes

The international dressage rider and young horse producer explains how walk pirouettes can improve engagement for medium trot

#SundaySchool: how to improve your horse’s medium trot

Follow grand prix dressage rider Anna Ross’ tips for improving the medium trot in our new regular Sunday evening training

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Tips and pitfalls

• Breaking into trot, changing the canter lead and swinging the quarters in or out are all signs that the horse isn’t balanced, so consider a shallower loop or revisiting the exercise when the horse’s balance is more established.
• Always keep the loops shallow to begin with and build up the difficulty gradually as the horse progresses.
• The horse should remain up in the poll and straight through their body in the counter-canter.

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

The international showjumper uses a canter-on-a-circle exercise to help develop balance and control, which can be used in the ring

Aim

I do this canter exercise regularly, with horses of all ages and abilities. The older and more experienced the horse, the more difficult you can make it. With younger horses, it can be quite a demanding exercise as they might not have developed any brakes yet. For a green horse, I might start off with two poles, one at three o’clock and one at nine o’clock, then add in the third and fourth when they are ready.

It’s a good way of teaching the horse to be soft and carry himself, while being responsive to the control you are asking for.

This exercise also helps riders with their ring rhythm, which is important because they go from forwards to backwards strides frequently. It also teaches the rider to see a stride while not overjumping their horse.

Exercise

1. Lay out four poles, one at each quarter of a 20-30m circle. Don’t make the circle too small because you don’t want to make it too difficult for the horse. For young or inexperienced horses, start with one pole at a quarter of the circle and build up to four poles.

2. Next, canter six strides between each pole on the circle. Aim to make the strides between the poles exactly the same, in a consistent rhythm. You want the horse engaged, listening and remaining on the same line. It’s also important that you stay in the centre of each pole and don’t cut across, and that the horse is straight through his body.

3. Then start to change the strides between the poles, so do five between one set and six between the next, so that you are riding five, six, five, six. When asking for longer or shorter strides, you need to be smooth and gradual. For longer strides, use your leg and hand to keep the horse soft, then add a gradual leg aid and allow with the hand. To come back to a working stride, lean back and apply a little pressure with your legs, rather than forcing with the hand.

4. Then ride five strides between each pole, and then six between each pole around the entire circle.

Continued below…

Tips and pitfalls

• Always have a plan in your head of what you’re going to do before you do it.
• If your horse jumps to the left or right over the poles, it will affect the distance to the next pole, so be consistent in where you land after each pole. Having the horse straight means you can set yourself up nicely for the next pole.
• Horses can become disunited, so if this happens bring them back to trot and re-canter.
• Build the exercise up gradually so that your horse learns what you want.

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

Ahead of International Helmet Awareness Day (18-19 August), when riders can get discounts when purchasing a new riding hat from the retailers taking part, Riders4Helmets’ spoke to some of the top helmet manufacturers around the globe to share some of their key components when making helmets…

Gone are the days of simple hard plastic with a velveteen outer layer. Nowadays, helmets are held to a much higher standard of safety testing. They’re more aerodynamic and better padded, without adding extra weight, and they are stylish so riders will want to wear them. The safety of every ride is the main goal for each helmet manufacturer as they strive year after year to develop the safest helmet they can, while keeping it comfortable, attractive, and easy to wear.

The outer shell

Each component of the helmet is equally important, but it’s the outer shell that gets the most attention because it’s easily seen. The outer shell needs to be made of something that can prevent penetration from an object such as a sharp rock or a horse’s hoof. Manufacturers these days work to find the most stylish design that’s lightweight, yet functional.

Ovation helmets, the Troxel Spirit helmet, and Back On Track’s Trauma Void helmets all have an outer shell that is made out of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastic. What is ABS thermoplastic? It is an engineering plastic that is easy to make and fabricate, and is a proven material for structural applications when impact resistance, strength and stiffness are required, such as a helmet.

The Gatehouse helmet is also constructed from a thermoplastic, with the additional of carbon fibre or aramid additional reinforcement.

The middle layer

The middle layer of the helmet is what should absorb the majority of the impact from a fall or accident. Liners can be made from expanded polystyrene — which is a very lightweight product made of expanded polystyrene beads — made of more than 95% air and only about 5% foam. Expanded polystyrene, like that found in Gatehouse and Troxel helmets, has strong shock absorbing properties and is compression resistant.

KEP Italia helmets feature a polycarbonate and carbon fibre combination. Polycarbonate is a pliable material commonly used in eyeglasses, greenhouses, digital discs and so on. The impact strength of polycarbonate rates towards the top for impact strength, but can be susceptible to scratching.

The inner layer

The inner layer of the helmet provides comfort for the wearer — if you had to wear something rigid day in and day out, you most likely wouldn’t be compelled to wear it, right? So helmet manufacturers may add a thin liner to the inside of the helmet for a softer feel, while also protecting the shock absorbing layer from the inside.

These inner layers can include a mesh comfort liner to help wick away the rider’s sweat, as well as some extra foam for the comfort and ability to make the fit a little more custom. One K’s Air helmet even includes inflatable air pockets in the liner, which allows for the riders to adjust the helmet for comfort and fit.

Retention straps

No helmet is effective if the retention, or chin, straps do not exist. The retention system, often referred to as straps and buckle, keep the helmet on the rider’s head during a fall when fitted and used correctly.

Most retention straps are made from a nylon webbing and plastic buckle. Some may include soft fabric covers that can cover the underside, being held together with Velcro. Some, like Gatehouse, might also be made of suede or leather.

Passing the test

Did you know that wearing a helmet could reduce the risk of riding-related head injury by an estimated 50%, as well as the risk of death due to head injury by a whopping 70-80%? To ensure a helmet can accomplish these tasks, it must pass a series of tests. There are several different tests based on where you are located around the world. For instance, in the United States the standard is the ASTM/SEI (American Society for Testing and Materials/Safety Equipment Institute), which includes three main tests: the impact test, the side distortion test, and the penetration test.

The impact test measures the helmet’s ability to absorb a blunt force impact should a rider fall on their head, say onto pavement while trail riding.

The side distortion test simulates what could happen if 1,200 pounds of horse happens to land on your head during a fall. It measures the ability of the helmet to resist distortion, should that scary accident happen to you.

The penetration test measures the resistance the helmet offers to a pointed object into the ventilation area. It uses an equestrian hazard anvil, designed to approximate the angle of a horseshoe or a jump standard edge, to ensure there is no penetration by a sharp object while wearing your helmet.

Other testing certifications include the PAS 015 (British standard), and the AS/NZS 3838 and ARB HS 2012 (Australian standards).

Time for a change?

It is recommended that all helmets be replaced after an impact, even if you don’t see much physical damage to the helmet with your naked eye. General wear and tear of a helmet not only shows its age perhaps on the outer layer, but the materials that soften the impact can degrade within three to five years.

“Longevity depends on how frequently the hat is used, the conditions of use and how the helmet is stored and even transported,” says Paul Varnsverry, technical and safety product advisor for Gatehouse Hats.

All manufacturers recommend equestrians check their helmets regularly for any obvious signs of wear to the lining and retention straps, any cracks in the structure of the middle layer and the outer layer, and finally the operation and security of the buckle.

“Irrespective of any signs of deterioration, it is recommended to replace the helmet after five years because the protective capacity diminishes over time due to the ageing of materials,” explains Silvia Fantoni with KEP Italia SRL.

Continues below…

Working together

There is no single most important material, or part of a helmet because the manufacturers and safety experts believe these materials must work together to protect the rider.

The equestrian helmet covers more of a person’s head than does a bicycle helmet, fitting lower on the head, particularly at the back of the skull, and has protection distributed evenly around the head, rather than concentrated in the front and top, which is why careful attention is taken by the world’s top brands.

For more information on the Riders4Helmets campaign and more information on rider safety, visit www.riders4helmets.com. To find out which retailers near you are taking part in International Helmet Awareness day, visit the website.

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

The family of a young rider who took his own life are campaigning for an end to bullying.

Bradley John, 14, died on 14 September, having been being bullied at school.

His family is sharing Bradley’s story to raise awareness of the devastating impact bullying can have. They hope their campaign will help prevent anything like it from happening again.

The family is calling for people to be kind to each other and for anyone who is contemplating suicide to seek help and talk to someone about how they are feeling.

Bradley shared a love of horses and the outdoors with his family. He was whipper-in at the Three Counties Bloodhounds, of which his father, Byron John, and step-mother Kate Pickard are founder masters.

Friends and members of the hunting community have been remembering Bradley and showing their support for his family and the anti-bullying campaign through videos of them blowing a hunting horn, with the hashtag #blowforbradley.

The support for #blowforbradley has grown rapidly across the wider equestrian world and the general public, with hundreds pledging their support to the family’s campaign.

Family members were joined by hundreds of people at the David Broome Event Centre in Caldicot on Saturday (22 September) to remember the teenager and to see a bench in his memory placed in the main derby arena.

Commentator Bryan Mcaliece remembered Bradley as someone who was “always smiling” and “chatted to everybody”.

“Bradley was always full of it, whether he was competing, out with hounds, practicing for inter-hunt competitions, or practicing at home over a big gate that David Broome had given him,” he said.

“The outpouring of grief we have seen from all over the country shows how loved this young man was.”

The bench will remain under the tree in show centre’s derby ring, which he had dreamt of riding in, with a plaque inscribed with the words: “In loving memory of Bradley John. Broomes was his happy place”.

Kate and Byron joined Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on ITV’s This Morning on Monday (24 September) and encouraged any child who is affected by bullying to talk to someone about what is happening and to realise they are not the one at fault.

If you need support and want someone to talk to, the Samaritans helpline is open 24-hours on 116 123, or visit their website at www.samaritans.org. BullyingUK is another charity offering advice and support, on 0808 800 2222 or www.bullying.co.uk

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