Dear diary,

My name is Hovis and I am holy. Well my hoof is. I am Sir Hovis of the Holey Hoof; with a name sake to bread and a foot resembling Swiss cheese all I need is some pickle and I’m the quintessential British sandwich. Mind you, since mother is always in a pickle and to many viewed as a sandwich short of a picnic then maybe we’re already there?!

So, what has caused me to have a newly religious foot? Well Cool New Shoes Man came to visit at the beginning of the week and isn’t happy still with my foot — you must remember the abscess was so deep and the excavation so cavernous that potholers kept arriving to have a look. He’s convinced that the abscess itself is healing but my foot is still a bit yucky and he’s loathe to cover it up lest my foot sweat, rot and then fall off. Which would, to be fair, induce a day of national mourning of the like only seen when Wrong Direction went their separate ways…

So, in a fit of cunning brilliance (or drug induced madness) he’s put a breathing hole in my hoof: sort of the podiatry equivalent of a whale’s blow hole. Mum looked somewhat aghast while I, personally, do have concerns that mice may view this as the height of luxury accommodation and move in. He assures mother this was in fact a stroke of genius and that no he hasn’t been sniffing the Kevin Bacon again. And by that I do mean the hoof ointment and not the actual Kevin Bacon; although to be fair, with CNSM you can never be entirely sure…

The new foot hole means I can get back to work and crack on with operation get fit and ready for THE call. Which still hasn’t come. To be honest, while I keep up my show of nervous anticipation, I am now resigning myself to the fact that it’s not going to happen. Hope is fading faster than mother’s faculties and I am facing the harsh reality that I’m just too much power for any of them to cope with. With hindsight I should have trotted slowly and with the appearance of a yard brush rammed up my derriere rather than power housing down the long side with the wonderful Mary King doing an admirable job of trying to get me under control while my wafting feathers paid homage to the power of my stride. I should have cantered with the boring slow collectedness of Tortilla Chip himself rather than sticking my head between my legs and demonstrating that I can do both a handstand and a Mexican wave — at the same time… The following day I should have kept the demonstration of lateral work to the speed of Charlotte-thingie-in-a-garden and Viagra rather than showing that I can do lateral at the speed of Seabiscuit.

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I know now that I made a massive mistake in hinting at the pure power that sits under this unassuming athlete’s body. I’ve scared them, haven’t I? That’s what this is: fear. I sensed it in the other horses in the warm-up ring — Andrew Nicholson’s steed looked like it had swallowed not just the wormer but the syringe too when Mary and I were warming up — and now it’s infected the riders too. I get it, I really do but I thought the Brits were made of sterner stuff than this…

So, I’m off to avoid house hunting mice, my whip wielding mother and to cry (manfully of course) for the likely loss of an eventing career that would have put British Eventing on the map.

Laters,

Heartbroken Hovis

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.

An owner was left speechless when her miniature Shetland gave birth to a very unusual foal last week (16 May).

Scotland-based Lauren Mosgrove only discovered her mare, Peaches, was in foal when she was grooming her stomach and felt a kick.

Her vet confirmed the 12-year-old was pregnant and Lauren assumed the sire was her Shetland colt, who had escaped into Peaches’ field last year.

But when Peaches gave birth five weeks later, Lauren realised the father was in fact her three-year-old donkey, Baby Donk.

Lauren had not considered that 7.2hh Peaches and 13.1hh Donk would breed due to their size difference.

“It was a huge surprise,” said Lauren. “As soon as I saw her head I knew the foal was the donkey’s.

“She was up within five minutes. Peaches loves her and is just fine, there was no damage done, which was a really huge relief.”

The mule foal, believed to be the first miniature Shetland-donkey cross, has been named Katie.

Peaches and Katie are progressing well and the foal is almost as tall as Peaches.

Lauren hopes to back Katie when she matures.

“I think she’s going to grow to about 14hh; she’s the first of her kind in the world,” said Lauren.

“Katie is very cheeky — she thinks she’s a miniature racehorse.

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“She’s been making tiny little noises, we’re not sure if she sounds like a donkey or a horse yet.”

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.

Opinion

Good grooms who are willing to work and who really care about horses have become like unicorns. What has caused this worldwide shortage of grooms, across the disciplines?

One factor is that competitions have popped up all over the world so one week horses need to be in Hong Kong, the next they need to be in Calgary. It’s impossible for one groom to be in all these places, so with the demanding show schedule of some top riders, there has been an ever-increasing demand for freelance grooms to help accommodate their horses’ needs as they follow the tours.

They get paid a hefty daily rate, travel to many chic destinations, then don’t need to work a good part of the year so take some downtime. They have half the amount of work but get paid the same. Who wouldn’t want to do that?

We also have a growing number of wealthy amateurs in showjumping who offer high-paid grooming positions but less work than most professional working stables. Experienced grooms who have paid their dues certainly deserve to get paid well, having put a lot of sweat and hours into the job, but not all grooms deserve these high-end jobs.

The younger generation of grooms seem to think they deserve these high-paying jobs without putting in the time. Unfortunately, these particular jobs have raised the base salary in normal working stables. There are unqualified grooms wanting to work for above their pay grade, but employers don’t want to pay for a service they don’t get.

Escalating problem

Times are changing and the economics of many countries are improving, giving opportunities in new industries to many people. Life as a groom can be exciting because of the opportunity to travel, but it is tough physical labour. Younger generations with better opportunities simply take different paths rather than groom horses.

Over the years, small family breeding operations have fallen by the wayside because costs have increased above their means. These types of places throughout the world were full of kids who were born and raised around horses — they were true horse people. These families were a great source of grooms, but we are losing that.

With economies improving, there are also more people who can afford horses. This then adds to a higher demand for grooms and therefore the problem escalates.

Teach the fundamentals

Our sport has been so commercialised that we haven’t spent enough time teaching the younger generations enough about proper horsemanship. Many grooms once rode as kids, but perhaps weren’t talented enough as riders, so the one way for them to stay with horses was to become a groom.

Trainers simply don’t take the time to teach the fundamentals of proper horsecare any more, they only teach riding. I see it over and over again with young grooms who can ride pretty well, but have no idea how to make a horse look good because they were never taught.

What we need urgently is qualified grooms who are willing to put in the necessary hours to make the money they deserve.

Ref Horse & Hound; 24 May 2018

Take a virtual walk around the 90cm cross-country course at the 2018 H&H Festival of Eventing.

The cross-country of this three-day unaffiliated event takes place on Sunday (27 May).

Fence 1 (orange numbers)

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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.

If you’re on the lookout for a horse to teach you the ropes, take a look at these schoolmaster horses for sale on the Horse & Hound website this week.

1. ‘Safe and smart’

Height: 16hh

Age: 14

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “‘Hilton’ is a safe, talented, honest and fun all-rounder who has evented up to British Eventing (BE) novice level and is currently competing at BE90/100. He has successfully competed in British Dressage (BD) up to elementary and has also showjumped up to newcomers. He is currently in full competition work and has been placed at his first and only outing so far. Last season he was placed every time out eventing too. Hilton knows and enjoys his job and is a real confidence giver that has transformed his current owner from dressage diva to an eventer — he always brings you home safe and smiling. He is easy to do and does not need to be ridden every day.”

View the advert

2. ‘Amazing’

Height: 16.2hh

Age: 15

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This wonderful horse is very easy and sensible to ride. He isn’t strong or fizzy and is snaffle mouthed at all times. He is very laid back and an absolute sweetheart to handle. He can be ridden by the most novice of riders in the school and has done everything. He has jumped up to 1.30m in Ireland and has a very good record. He loves to be fussed and is good to do in all ways. He would suit someone who is nervous and doesn’t want anything sharp or too forward going. He is a real kick-on type of ride and schoolmasters like him rarely come onto the market. He has a wealth of experience in all fields and could teach someone a huge amount.”

View the advert

3. ‘Total all-rounder’

Height: 16.2hh

Age: 12

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This horse hacks alone and in company and has been ridden by both a tall man and teenage girl. He is an honest chap that is scopey and keen to a fence but not silly or spooky. He doesn’t have an affiliated record but he would easily go eventing.”

View the advert

4. ‘An absolute pleasure’

Height: 15.3hh

Age: nine

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This horse is an absolute pleasure. He works well on the flat and has beautiful paces — his canter is to die for. He jumps a course of fences and has cross-country schooled. He has done lots of pleasure rides where he has always behaved impeccably. He hacks alone or in company and is very good in all traffic. He is fantastic to clip, box, shoe and catch. He is a dream to have on the yard and is one of those horses that brightens your day. We all argue over who is going to ride him in the morning and he makes us all smile. He has shown up to county level in his previous home and he deserves only the best.”

View the advert

5. ‘Quality horse’

Height: 16.2hh

Age: 10

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This is an exciting one-star/novice event horse that would suit a competitive rider. He has four BE points and 30 BE foundation points and has previously showjumped in age classes in Belgium. He is big moving with a scopey jump and is very brave and honest. He isn’t spooky and knows his job. He hacks alone or in company and travels well, happily standing on the lorry all day at competitions. He is a straight forward horse to do and is always laid back. He is currently fit and out competing at novice/CIC* level and is an excellent schoolmaster to take a rider up through the levels.”

View the advert

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6. ‘Super’

Height: 15hh

Age: nine

Gender: mare

Selling points: “‘Sugar’ has been working in our riding school for the past four years. She has been used for lessons, hacking, cross-country, showjumping and hunting. She has been ridden safely by riders of all abilities and is well schooled. Sugar goes in a lovely soft outline and responds to the leg. She is a great jumper, a confidence builder across country and a super safe hunter — she is snaffle mouthed for all activities. Sugar would be perfect in a riding club or Pony Club home where she can have fun.”

View the advert

View more horses for sale on horseandhound.co.uk

NB: Horse & Hound has not checked the accuracy of the claims made in these adverts and cannot be held liable if the information included above is inaccurate in any way

Take a virtual walk around the 100cm cross-country course at the 2018 H&H Festival of Eventing.

The cross-country of this three-day unaffiliated event takes place on Sunday (27 May).

Fence 1 (pink numbers)

Fence 2

Fence 3

Fence 4a

Fence 4b

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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.

A seven-year-old part-Warmblood, part-Dartmoor pony who was conceived by accident in the field is heading for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) after winning his first even SEIB Search For A Star (SFAS) working show horse qualifier at Stretcholt.

Melissa Northwood and her partner bought the 15hh gelding Mendip Voyage (Barney) from his breeder Sandra Partridge when he was a four-year-old.

“I was looking for a bigger horse to event and actually had one I was going to buy, but was let down at the last minute,” said Melissa. “I saw him on the internet and thought he’d make a good project so went to see him — he was only 14.2hh.”

It was not until after she’d bought him that Melissa, who works as a saddle fitter and also teaches dressage and eventing students, found out how he came about.

“He was a complete accident. His mother is a 16.1hh eventer by the stallion Tallents Asa and his sire is a naughty Dartmoor pony who escaped into her field,” she said. “No one knew she was in foal.

“He has a big jump but is also very nimble and quick, which is where the pony is evident.”

After a a couple of seasons eventing, Melissa made the decision to hit the show ring and in four shows, the pair have had four victories. “He was looking so well and had matured so much, mentally and physically, that I thought we’d give working hunter a go.”

Although she has successfully competed in British Show Pony Society classes and rode for the Hunnables as a young girl, Melissa will be making her Birmingham debut.

“HOYS is the one thing that has always eluded me,” she said. “So I’m excited to get the chance to compete there after a lot of near misses when I was younger.”

Even though the duo beat 20 other competitors to win their SFAS qualifier, Barney and Melissa’s pre-Stretcholt training did not quite go as planned, as the gelding suffered an injury over winter.

“We’d only jumped twice before going to the show,” she added. “But on the day he jumped a beautiful round. One of the judges said he was a lovely chap.”

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Barney will be aimed at competing at Bath and West show and Melissa also has hopes of trying some elementary dressage with him this summer.

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.

When my friend ‘A’ announced we were off to Shropshire for another weekend of trail riding, my heart missed a beat.

“Oh that’s great,” I said, feigning excitement, when in reality my old bones were creaking in advance protest at the thought of 12 hours in the saddle. Was this really a good idea? Surely we were too old for such capers.

But A is a forceful woman and I knew better than to protest so, like a dutiful friend, I agreed with a smile and rushed out to the local saddlers with just two hours to spare for a new pair of lightweight jods. After trying on some strange new-fangled riding tights which made me look like I was about to do a shotput event, I plumped for a looser pair — not as lightweight as I had hoped, but extremely comfortable all the same.

The temperature for the weekend was set to get hotter than Barcelona and the thought of sweltering in thick clothes, long boots and a hat didn’t appeal. So armed with sun cream, wine, painkillers and my new purchase, we set off with our latest recruit ‘C’ in the driving seat.

Now for anyone who hasn’t been, Shropshire is a beautiful county with superb riding through stunning countryside. There are quiet country lanes, miles of off-road tracks and a number of wide, sweeping paths cut around the edges of farmers’ fields for horses and riders to use. The pubs even offer tie-up areas and turn out fields for horses while riders nip inside for a quick drink or spot of lunch. Perfect. It really is riding country and our destination, Country Treks, was situated in the lovely village of Stottesdon, just a few miles from Bridgnorth. The only problem was that each time we had been before, we struggled to find it.

Like some enchanted Brigadoon, rising out of the Scottish mist once every 100 years, Stottesdon always seems to be three miles away. No matter which route we follow, my old road atlas, is quite unable to take me there. We have spent literally hours circling the same few miles until finally we stumble across it, exhausted and irritable, vowing to throw the old map away and invest in a sat nav.

But this trip was different. C was driving and she had an in-car navigation system that looked sophisticated enough to land planes at the airport. Rather than our usual inept efforts, with A and I bumbling around like a pair of short-sighted day trippers, we drove straight to the door without incident. The pub beckoned but the Knackered Riders Club lived up to its name and it wasn’t long before we scurried home, moaning that the music from the live band was too loud.

The next morning, after enough breakfast to sink a battleship, it was down to the yard and we were given our horses. Mine was a 16.3hh coloured mare called Puzzle who looked strong enough to carry me, with my scrambled eggs, toast and all. So with the help of the mounting block, I got on. Much taller than I was used to, she felt very comfortable indeed. C was given a pretty grey mare called Willow, while A snaffled her favourite, Lucky, a New Forest type that she had ridden before.

Led by our instructor Chloe, we set off through the village, heading for the Clee Hills. On our way to Brown Clee, we took in tracks and fields, with plenty of canters and before I knew it, my face was fixed in a permanent smile. There really is something about breathing in the clean country air and being on horseback that makes you feel so joyful that everything else pales into oblivion.

The hedges were cloaked in swathes of creamy hawthorn blossom with delicate fronds of cow parsley and clumps of pink campion wild flowers beneath. Cantering up a sloping field, a deer appeared at the top, watching us as we approached, then popped smartly over a fence to disappear into the woods just at the last moment. As we dropped back down to the lane, a brown hare sunbathed at the edge of the field while a hawk hovered overhead, effortlessly floating on the breeze. A herd of wild ponies trotted over to us, their eyes alert, their nostrils blowing as we rode past.

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The second day was equally spellbinding. My back was starting to stiffen up by now and my legs were aching but there was no way I was going to miss a single moment of our wonderful trip. Sadly as all good things must come to an end, so did our trip to Shropshire.

“We must come again next year,” I said, as we packed the car. “Don’t be silly, that’s far too long to wait — I’ve already been into the office and booked to come back this summer,” replied A. I smiled. There’s no point arguing with a woman on a mission.

Diane

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.

A few years ago, I wrote about the Mongolian horses.  You can read that post here.

Now, there is a new documentary about The Mongolian Eagle Hunters as well a gorgeous video.

Click here to view the stunning photographs.

Click here to watch the video.

Below are some stills from the video.  This is really worth the watch.  Breathtaking.

All credits:  Jimmy Nelson.

KAZAKH EAGLE HUNTERS by Jimmy Nelson.

Gorgeous

They walk across ice like it was nothing.

That is COLD!

Gorgeous!

Look how high up they are – yikes!!!

These horses come in many colors.

Not the greatest form… but they can ride.

A new equestrian game? Class?

They ride starting at very young ages. The number of horses outnumber the number of humans in Mongolia.

Amazing footage.  Amazing history.

The post THE HORSES OF THE MONGOLIAN EAGLE HUNTERS. Amazing video. appeared first on Horse and Man.

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A director is producing a “dramatic and haunting” film about horse and rider safety on the UK’s roads.

Film-maker Danielle Scott is currently working on the “hard-hitting” short film, which she hopes will make viewers sit up and take note.

“Unlike other films of similar themes currently out there, this won’t be an infomercial,” she told H&H.

Storyboard image

“We are applying our film-making experiences and skill to hit the same dramatic level as the ‘don’t drink and drive’ adverts which really make a difference with a haunting message.”

The footage will be shot in North Ayrshire, Scotland, but the film’s message will apply to all UK viewers.

Filming will take place at the end of June and the finished project will premiere online this summer.

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Ms Scott is a rider and horse owner herself and has had near-misses on the road.

She enjoys attending local shows and hacking with her 20-year-old Anglo Arab mare Bailey.

“We do a lot of hacking and always ride with a camera,” said Ms Scott.

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“We’ve had numerous incidents of people driving too close and honking their horns.”

Ms Scott is working on the project alongside Paul Gilmour with the support of Police Scotland, Think! and North Ayrshire Council.

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“Despite this support we do not have any financial contributions,” said Ms Scott, who has set up a GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/respect-the-ride) to help fund the project.

“We are trying to raise £1,000 and need lots of help to make this film possible. We are non-profit.

“Money raised will be covering the costs of equipment hire, cast/crew costs and location fees.”

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

This week’s edition (17 May) features a full report from Royal Windsor Horse Show, including all the showing, showjumping and dressage action. We go behind the scenes with the Household Cavalry as they prepare for the royal wedding, plus check out our interview with Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy.