Suffolk-based Debbi Cox had a highly successful day in the 80cm class of the H&H Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS.

The BHSII instructor posted not one, but two great clear rounds across country to sit in first and fourth place.

Holding top spot is nine-year-old mare Molly, owned by Sue Thompson. Debbi and Molly stormed around the cross-country to finish inside the optimum time and go into tomorrow’s showjumping on their dressage mark of 29.25.

“Molly was so good today,” said Debbi, who has taught Sue on this horse for the past five years. “She only started eventing this year so this is a big achievement for her.”

Debbi explained that when Molly first walked into her life she came with a reputation of being awkward and quirky.

“When Sue came to me with Molly the first time, the mare had Sue off twice in the first 10 minutes,” said Debbi. “She was so cold backed and I said to Sue that Molly needed re-backing and starting again.”

Debbi was full of thanks for Sue and her fourth-placed ride’s owner, Tracey Cutting.

“They are both so supportive and we’ve had a great time this weekend.”

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Debbi is pragmatic about her chances of holding onto top spot in tomorrow’s showjumping phase.

“Molly is renowned for having fences down, but we’re so proud of her, we’ll both give it everything and even if she has every fence down, it doesn’t matter.”

Beccy Belcher and Sugar IV hold second place on a score of 31 and just 6.3 penalties separate the top 10.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

Equine vet Katie Brickman and Black Jack V defied the odds to return from serious injuries and take the lead in Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing’s 70cm class.

The pair performed a polished test in Keysoe’s main arena to score of 25.75, putting them at the head of the 39-strong section at the Bedfordshire event (26-28 May).

This is the horse’s first event since tearing his middle patella ligament inside his stifle in a field accident l8 months ago.

The eight-year-old gelding had been having time off while Katie recovered from a life-threatening injury at work.

The Malton-based rider, who leads Minster Equine Veterinary was carrying a bottle of antibiotics at work, when she fell and the glass smashed into her left hand, severing the main artery in her wrist and tendons in her hand.

Now the pair are both back in action and have a one penalty lead ahead of second placed Georgie Siggers and Roy The Rascal, with Sally Pidsey and Tranwheal Tineth Moon in third 28.25.

“He was absolutely fantastic, really good today,” said a delighted Katie.

“He was a bit fresh in the warm-up but as soon as we got into the arena he was switched on, listening and knew what he was doing so we were smiling all the way round.

“We were given a really guarded prognosis for him ever to come back to being ridden again [after the accident] let alone to event, so he has had a long time in the stable and we’ve brought him back into exercise very gradually.

“He has come back even better than he was before.”

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Medics told Katie that she may never regain full strength in her hand again due to the extent of her injuries.

“We both had a bit of a terrible year last year, but I think the fact we were both off has made us come back together — I feel like we have come back stronger and he feels the best he ever has to me.”

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

Chloe Nixon and her eye-catching Lipizzaner, Anna, are the overnight leaders in the 80cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing in association with KBIS (26-28 May).

The pair, both aged 18, produced an impressive score of 28 during the first day of action at Keysoe in Bedfordshire.

The flashy 15.2hh mare caught the eye of the judges in the 38-strong class.

“I’ve ridden her for five years since she was a 13-year-old,” said Chloe. “She can be a proper mare — some days she will do anything for you and some days she won’t.”

The pair, who have also affiliated in dressage and eventing, head in to tomorrow’s cross-country day a mere 0.75 of a mark ahead of Jo Rowan and Grey Romeo, with Penny Herring (Vondel L) sitting in third on a mark of 29.

The student was surprised to ride into the top spot overnight, even though dressage is the pair’s strongest phase.

“I love my dressage, but I was shocked to be leading afterwards — I cried! There were some really nice horses and ponies in my class,” said Chloe.

The young rider, who is based near Manchester, is finishing college this summer and hopes to go on and study law at university.

“I have my heart set on Liverpool University, because then I can carry on riding and go in each day,” explained Chloe, who is looking forward to cross-country day tomorrow (Sunday, 27 May).

“The course looks good, although it will be the longest track we have done together,” she added.

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

The full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound will be in this week’s issue of the magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

A winter of dressage paid off for Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing’s overnight 100cm leaders Sophie Wall and Primitive Pronto.

The pair performed a smooth test for a mark of 29, including eights for their centre lines, and were one of just three combinations in the section to perform sub-30 tests on the first day of the three-day-event (26-28 May), run in association with KBIS.

Sophie, a student at Northumbia University, has been competing in British Dressage Team Quest competitions over the winter.

Sophie said she was “very chuffed” with her horse and didn’t expect to be leading after the first phase.

“He isn’t a spooky horse and he just listens when he gets into the arena,” said Sophie, adding while he was surprised to see so many people, the atmosphere didn’t phase her “gentle giant”.

“It was boiling in the warm-up, so I only did 10 minutes and took him for a walk up the lane.”

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Sophie has had the 16.3hh 11-year-old gelding, by Primitive Proposal, for five years and enjoyed success at British Eventing 100 and novice level.

There is no room for error on Keysoe’s cross-country course tomorrow, with three penalties separating the top-10.

Close on Sophie’s heels is Zara Harrison and Ballynacarrick Rebel Lad , on 29.5, with Kelsey Love and Castle House Gem in third on 29.75.

Angus Smales’ 3,055m course features 23 jumping efforts, with an optimum time of 6 minutes 26 seconds.

“There is a lot of galloping, so it will be a fitness test,” said Sophie, adding she hopes the course will suit Primitive Pronto.

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

The full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound will be in this week’s issue of the magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

At the age of just 13, Honor Gordon is one of the youngest riders at this year’s H&H Festival of Eventing in association with KBIS (26-28 May).

However, she fended off her older rivals in the 90cm class during day one of the action at Keysoe in Bedfordshire.

Having produced a very smart 27.25 dressage score aboard her pony, Made Of Gold, Honor heads into tomorrow’s cross-country just 0.75 of a mark ahead of overnight runners-up Hannah Parr and Tinkers Boy, while Celia Bellamy occupies third with Toptime Taliesin on 28.25.

Therefore, the scores at the top of the leaderboard in this section are particularly tight with a mere one mark separating the top three combinations.

“My pony is 16 years old — I’ve ridden her for two years and done a lot of Pony Club competitions,” said Honor, who is based near Bishop’s Stortford and is an active member of the Essex Hunt North branch of the Pony Club.

The pair finished sixth at last year’s H&H Festival of Eventing in the 80cm class. They have stepped up to 90cm for this year and very much hope to improve on their good result in 2017.

The youngster’s mother had to tell a “little white lie” to Honor’s school to allow the schoolgirl to compete at the three-day unaffiliated event, which saw competitors arriving yesterday (Friday, 25 May).

“Mum said that I had fainted and wasn’t feeling very well,” Honor said with a smile.

The young rider is trained on the flat by dressage rider Alex Hardwick and had a lesson the Thursday before the event in preparation — which clearly paid off.

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

The full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound will be in this week’s issue of the magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk.

Such a sweet story.  Perfect for a Sunday…

Click here to watch video.

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She looks much better!

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Spillers’ equine nutritionist Clare Barfoot provides one H&H forum user with some helpful advice on how whether adding salt to feed is necessary and why table salt is preferable to electrolytes as a source of sodium

Q: “Should I add salt to feed? I was reading an article the other day that was recommending adding salt to feed even if horses have a salt lick. So I’m wondering if people do and if any improvements are seen? Both of my horses have free access Himalayan salt licks, and they use them. One of them can get through a 4kg one in a matter of weeks (two weeks was her record) and the other isn’t far behind her. With them being such enthusiastic consumers I’m not sure if adding salt to their feeds is the way to go for us. What are the benefits and drawbacks of feeding salt and do I need to add more into my horse’s feeds? Thanks.”

A: Firstly although everyone knows feeding salt is something to do with hydration, its role is often misunderstood. In basic terms, salt is the most common source of electrolytes, comprising sodium and chloride which alongside magnesium, potassium and calcium, are responsible for maintaining water balance within the body and play a vital role in nerve and muscle function.

When a horse sweats they obviously lose water from their body, but also a considerable amount of electrolyte. This is why you need to replace them in the diet. However for most horses in light work, providing a salt lick either in the stable or field is sufficient to meet their sodium requirements. The other main electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium and calcium will be supplied from their diet.

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• H&H forum: find out what H&H readers suggested
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• Read more expert feeding advice

For your horses there is no need to add salt into their feed as they have a salt block. Although consuming 4kg in two weeks is a little excessive — that’s more than 10 times their daily requirement, so this is worth keeping an eye on especially if they start drinking excessively. Some horses can become addicted to eating salt blocks and if this is the case, you may need to remove them and add a small amount ½-1 tbsp per day into their feed. For horses in harder work who are sweating regularly and/or travelling, adding in 1-3 tbsp of salt should cover typical electrolyte losses.

Although, there are many electrolyte products on the market, a lot of them don’t include sufficient levels of sodium making table salt the best option. In addition, many commercial electrolyte products contain other ingredients such as sugar and trace elements which are unnecessary.

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A word of warning if you choose to use an electrolyte syringe — make sure your horse has plenty of access to fresh water or you could end up inadvertently dehydrating them even more as this will cause large fluid shifts into the gut. Electrolytes themselves do not hydrate your horse — they are always needed in conjunction with water.

So there you see, it doesn’t have to be so complicated. If you would like any further advice on electrolyte supplementation please call the SPILLERS Careline on 01908 22 66 26.

It is almost time for the Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing to kick off, and today we meet the final rider in this series that is taking part, and find out her story…

Find out all you need to know about the H&H Festival of Eventing >>

Frankie Fox with Rookie

Name: Frankie Fox

Horse’s name: Rookie

Class entered: 70cm

What’s the story?

“I am 11-years-old and I’ve had my 13hh pony, Rookie, for the past three-and-a-half years. He is 20 now and is an amazing all-rounder — he’s a pro at everything. I usually only manage to ride him Friday to Sunday as we live in London during the week and he is kept in Oxfordshire. I’m so excited about the H&H Festival of Eventing”

Why have you decided to enter the H&H Festival of Eventing?

“This will be my last big event on Rookie as he will then be for loan as I have outgrown him. I’ve never done a three-day event and I thought this competition would be a good grand finale for us.”

What are you most looking forward to about the H&H Festival of Eventing?

“We have done a lot of dressage and showjumping but only a handful of one-day events, so I’m really looking forward to getting the opportunity to go around the cross-country course.”

Do you have a secret weapon?

“I have a lucky pair of socks that I won at my first proper competition — they seem to bring us good luck, so I never compete without wearing them.”

Tell us a fun fact about your horse

“Rookie has a big personality and although he is very sweet, he can also be quite cheeky. He can undo zips on coats and we have to double knot his lead rope when we tie him up, otherwise the next thing you know, he has undone it!”

Don’t miss all of the news and reports from the H&H Festival of Eventing this weekend — keep up-to-speed on the action via the Horse & Hound website and don’t miss full reports in the 7 June issue of the magazine

Opinion

Riding at home daily can never cut the mustard for competing. So, as a trainer needing a reminder about the pressure of competition riding, I’m on a comeback campaign. OK, it’s a mini comeback, but it fits my mantra: teaching better, riding better and learning something new each day.

How hard it is to grow up; and harder still to grow old. Heaving myself into a tail coat, it’s clear that some bits of me are thinner, but lots of me is fatter — and it’s all met around my middle.

“Why are you competing, Pammy?” I was asked on arrival at our local venue. I’d rushed to Hunters having left the roast on the go — family comes first.

I want to do this, I’d convinced myself… until I spied three top team members I was sure wouldn’t be there.

There was almost an accident in my squeezed middle department. I can’t tell you how frightened I was, but Charlotte Dujardin couldn’t have been more helpful.

I was doing this to remind myself how sick with nerves one feels while warming up, how hard it is to remember the test, how easy it is to get rattled because the photographer moved, how challenging those piaffe/passage transitions are and how mentally and physically fit riders must be.

The judge was Jane Kidd, someone I truly respect, so her remark, “Great to see the older generation making a good job of this ultimate test” is one to treasure, as were most of the marks.

I so enjoyed my outing. At least no one can accuse me of being a keyboard warrior or armchair critic! Bring on the next one.

Nearing a Premier League show, I very nearly changed the bit and the saddle. Oh, don’t be stupid; how nerves can make one question one’s judgement. At this rate, it’s the rider who may need changing.

Well, 65% wasn’t as good as I’d hoped for. More “teeth and tits” are required, according to my daughter, Pippa.

But doing five tests in one week gave me a massive wake-up call and a whole pile of constructive advice from list one and international judges.

I’ve always said I’ll retire when I can’t ride because, for me, “feel” is the most important word in the language of equitation.

‘I was delighted to be proved wrong’

It was a much-discussed Badminton. On the subject of horsemanship, I unashamedly picked out Tom McEwen for looking after his horses so well, in and out of the saddle, and Harry Meade for preferring to go cross-country with feel rather than a stopwatch.

Some questioned whether Badminton needs an all-weather arena. But hang on, these are event horses. So let’s roll the going in breaks, please, and keep old-fashioned horsemanship alive. Maybe fewer horses would break down if they spent more time on the surface on which they gallop?

My Badminton ended with pride in a pupil who completed, despite me having declared some time ago: “If you qualify for Badminton, I’ll eat my hat because this horse has no walk, trot or canter.”

Months of training later, I was delighted to be proved wrong. How wonderful that sheer hard work can still pay off.

Badminton also gave me the chance to highlight today’s litigious atmosphere that makes it nearly impossible to teach riding without stirrups.

There I was in the main arena, having a no-pedals lesson from David Trott. If I can do it, everyone can. And there’s no better way to work on a better seat.

Ref Horse & Hound; 24 May 2018

How nice would it be if all it took to transform from your hat-haired, post-yard self to a clean and polished member of non-horsey society was two flicks of your fairy godmother’s wand?

On reflection, Cinderella’s transformation was pretty easy. A few swift magic waves and there she was, ball-ready, plus no farrier required to replace her lost shoe.

Anyone who had horses will know that there are never enough hours in the day.

Trying to fit in jobs, families and a social life requires planning skills of the best PA, with extra time factored in for errant equines and becoming presentable enough for non-horsey society.

While Cinderella’s fairy godmother (sadly) is just a fairytale, a new equestrian store has come up with a way to help riders speed up their magical transformations.

Pointers Equine & Country founders Emma Grellis and Emily Purvis have set up The Muddy Nail Bar at their Forest Green store in Surrey, where riders can have their rugged hands sorted out while picking up essentials for the tack room.

No more apologising for your eau de horse, goodbye to surreptitiously pulling stray bits of hay out of your hair, all is welcome here.

“We decided to combine my nail technician skills within the shop as we know horsey people generally have pretty unloved hands so it’s nice to give them a bit of a pampering,” said Emma.

“It’s great as people can come straight from the yard and not have to think about ‘dehorseying’ beforehand.

“We all fork out for new shoes for our horses every month so why not treat ourselves?”

The pair took over the store in November and completely gutted the space, reopening on 1 December and also have an online shop and booking system.

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Clients even sit on a specially designed saddle stool — created by Emily — while their hands are treated.

“Emily is really creative and took the idea and ran with it, my face must have been a picture when she started to butcher a stool and an old saddle we bought on eBay to make the saddle stool,” added Emma.

“It has been a massive success both in store and online with 10 bookings in the first week of being open.

“Gel nails have been the most popular treatment so far as they are perfect for making nails look nice and to make them stronger with no damage to the natural nail.

“I’m even brave enough to tackle feet so with this flip-flop weather you can be sure to have as nice hooves as your horse!”

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 edition, out on 24 May, don’t miss our “cob special”, including how to find the perfect cob, meet champion cob Our Cashel Blue and more.