It’s been a while since my last blog, and lots has happened in the meantime.

Our series of evening presentations, ‘The Horse Talks’, were kicked off by bitting expert, Gill Batt, and we’re looking forward to welcoming top performance psychologist, Charlie Unwin in a couple of week’s time. Our amazing new function room, ‘The Barn’, is perfect for these events, and it has also transformed our camps; it’s a great place for everyone to get together for meals and chats.

It was just over a fortnight ago that we ran our autumn three-day camp, where we hosted 15 riders and horses for a range of activities from jumping to farm hacks and mounted games. However, the main focus was on negotiating obstacles; from poles on the ground, to tarpaulins and bridges, with our water jump as the ‘finale’! Before we embarked on training our horses, I went through the processes that horses go through when they encounter a spooky object, and what the rider needs to do to ensure they don’t exacerbate the flight instinct, while encouraging the horse forward without resorting to bullying or force — the horse should always choose to do it, but it’s up to the rider to direct them towards the right choice. All the campers achieved more than they thought possible, with them all happily splashing about in the water by the end of the three days.

Helping a rider on our recent camp

It’s not just recreational riders that need help with these issues. I have been working with some lovely event horses that are having problems with ditches and water, and some dressage horses that baulk at ‘monsters’ in the arena. The processes are the same whatever level the rider and horse are working at, and all require the rider to be adaptable in their seat and rein contact, which can be difficult after years of cultivating the perfect dressage seat!

On the yard, we really have been spoilt this year by the quality of young horses that have been in for starting, but every now and again, one comes in that we all fall in love with. Pasha (pictured below) was bred by Classic Top Stud, and he was bought by Gemma, who has just had her first baby. Pasha was with us for our six-week starting programme, and he didn’t put a foot out of place for the grooms or for Hamish and I training him. He is the whole package with a great temperament, beautiful paces, a scopey, easy jump and stunning looks. Even though Gemma hadn’t ridden for a year, she felt totally at home on him during the handover process, and we can’t wait to follow their progress out eventing in the future.

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Usually at this time of year, we start to slow down a little, but looking ahead we have lots of events leading up to Christmas, and a full training yard of horses. I am due to demonstrate at The Horsemanship Showcase and Horses in Motion at the end of November, and we open our doors on 7 December for our Christmas coffee (or mulled wine!) morning, which is always a fun way to kick off the festive period. I have closed the yard for a couple of weeks over Christmas to recharge the batteries, but I’ll use the time to work with my own horses and my daughter and her new pony. In particular, I am looking forward to competing my own JJ (pictured top), who is now working at medium level, and bringing on my awesome young Australian Stock Horse stallion, Haydon Oracle; they’re like chalk and cheese, but both make me grin from ear to ear!

Jason

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

There is certainly more to a show pony than a blingy brow band and a big trot, as displayed by these nine gorgeous steeds who each reigned in the ring this show season.

But which one of these riding pony champions would you like to have in your yard?

1. Barkway Chit Chat

The heavenly 138cm campaigner stood show pony champion at Royal Cheshire County with Olivia Bennett.

2. Blakestones Moonlight Serenade

The novice tri-colours at the BSPS winter championships went to the Harker family’s home-produced 148cm contender ridden by Victoria Harker.

3. Drakemyre Puttin On The Ritz

India Till clinched the supreme pony accolade at the 2019 Royal International Horse Show with the impeccable six-year-old gelding, who had landed both riding pony and part-bred titles during the week.

4. Wilderness Early Bird

At Lincolnshire County the Team Ahern-produced 148cm trotted to the show pony championship with Mia Donaldson.

5. Meadowmarsh Cinderella

Claudia Groves and  her 128cm ride have had an exceptional season in the show ring and are pictured here qualifying for HOYS at New Forest and Hampshire county show.

6. Basford Black Prince

The striking black gelding and Poppy Carter were crowned RIHS open show pony champions at BSPS Area 2B back in May.

7. Whiteleaze Secret Charm

Eva Herring rode the late Ghita Jago’s 128cm mount to land the open honours at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

8. Jackets Destiny

The Parkhouse family’s home-produced gelding was on form to win at Kent county show.

9. Stretcholt New Dimension

Despite being a first season novice, the young 138cm was crowned riding pony of the year at HOYS in October with Louise Caulfield at the helm.

10. Small-land Dream Maker

Ellis Taverner-Burns piloted the extravagant grey to the top of the supreme show pony field at the BSPS summer championships.

An owner’s video of fireworks shooting over her stable yard, making it sound like a “war zone”, has gone viral.

Samantha Perkins of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, received a call on Saturday (2 October) evening from the landowner advising her to hurry to the yard where she keeps her eight horses.

NB: Please wait while the video loads below… if the video does not appear, click here to watch.

“I left the yard at 7pm and everything seemed quiet. It had been raining heavily and I thought no one was going to be having fireworks,” Samantha told H&H.

“I received a call at 7.45pm to say the horses were jumping around and circling their stables as fireworks shot over the stables. I jumped in the car and rushed back with my heart in my mouth.”

Samantha said the fireworks were being let off by a member of the public at a nearby play park.

“If the person had told me beforehand I could have done something like arranged a sedative and been there with them. They know we have horses,” she said.

“I gave the horses a calmer all week so I think that had helped a bit but I was worried for one of retired horses, William. He’s 30 and I’ve had him for 20 years; the last thing I want is to lose him to a heart attack.”

Samantha said the fireworks went on for around an hour.

“It was horrendous. It was like a disco in the stables with the lights and so loud it sounded like a war zone. The stables were shaking with the bangs,” she said.

“I had to put all the horses into coolers as they were sweating so much and their eyes were bulging. Some were pinned at the back of their stables terrified. It’s daunting because you need to stay calm and deal with them, but you don’t know if they’re going to try and jump over the stable door.”

Samantha’s horses were uninjured, but she said they have been on edge since.

“If fireworks took place just one night it would be bearable but it goes on for two weeks,” she said. “I’ve got sedative in case any more go off this evening and I’ll be there with a radio.”

Samantha posted a video of the fireworks online, which has received more than 1,500,000 views and 37,000 shares.

Article continued below…

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Harry’s owner said it is not known if the gelding will return to ridden work owing to the injury

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“Never in my wildest dreams did I think the video would go viral – it shows people need to be heard,” she said.

“Nobody wants to be a party pooper about fireworks, but it’s no longer about them being pretty like the ones you used to get, now it’s just about about how loud they can bang,” she said.

“I would like to see a ban on sales to the public and I think they should only be allowed to be set off on Bonfire Night and New Years Eve by a licensed person, in a controlled fenced-off area.”

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

The first fundraiser for the newly founded foundation to support injured show jumper Kevin Babington and other riders with spinal injuries has collected more than $87,000 (£67,500).

The US-based Irishman suffered a serious neck fracture in a fall at the Hampton Classic horse show in August, prompting an outpouring of support from the equestrian community.

The novel first official fundraiser for the Kevin Babington Foundation asked supporters to “buy” the rider they thought would win the Longines FEI jumping world cup grand prix of Lexington (2 November).

The highest bidder for the winning rider —18-year-old Brian Moggre riding MTM Vivre Le Reve — won a private lesson with each of five top international riders: Beezie Madden; Shane Sweetnam; Kent Farrington, McLain Ward and Margie Engle.

Each of the seven highest bidders across the startlist of 39 individual riders won a lesson from either Rodrigo Pessoa, Darragh Kenny, Missy Clark, Cian O’Connor, Tiffany Foster, Laura Kraut and Eric Lamaze. Riders who were unable to bring their own horse would even get the chance to ride one provided by Shane Sweetnam.

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The USA’s Kent Farrington was the top prediction to win the grand prix, attracting a bid of $10,000 (£7,757); while Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire “sold” for $700 (£544) and Ben Maher for $3,700 (£2,875). The winner of the five lessons secured them for a top bid on Brian Moggre of $1,100 (£855).

Equestrians have rallied to support 51-year-old Kevin’s cause, with an initial fundraiser to cover his ongoing medical costs securing more than $515,000 (£400,000).

He has received wide-spread international support for his recovery, with several venues hosting fundraising classes, while US helmet manufacturer IRH helmets agreed to donate a percentage of their proceeds to the Kevin Babington Foundation. A horse called Fairy Tale was also bought by a team of Kevin’s friends and then auctioned for $120,000 (£93,245) at The Ten sport horse sale, while additional donations on the night raised another $137,000 (£106,455).

There has also been solid support from the Tipperary native’s home country, with Team Ireland wearing gold wristbands at the FEI Nations Cup final in Barcelona to show their support.

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

Ah winter. Other people may rave about Christmas and crisp frosty mornings, but the reality for riders tends to be freezing in hacks, struggling to fit in rides with short daylight hours and battling with mud.

Because non-horsey colleagues need a helping hand, we’ve compiled this handy guide for your muggle co-workers to help them understand your winter lingo…

1. It’s really tricky to fit in a ride once the clocks change (translation: I’ll be leaving early at least three days a week until spring).

2. It’s so cold at the yard in the mornings now (translation: please forgive the fact I’ll be arriving at the office with 14 layers on, I’ll go and remove them as soon as I’ve had a coffee).

3. My indoor showjumping show went on until midnight last night (translation: I am quite tired today, please don’t ask me to do anything difficult).

4. There’s so much mud in the field gateway (translation: I forgot my office shoes, so I’ll either be tramping dirt through the office — jodhpurs boots are chic, right? — or padding around in socks today).

5.  I can’t wait for my local show centre’s Christmas show — I’ve been planning my outfit for weeks (translation: please don’t ask me to go away for work that week. I need to finish moulding my tinsel to the shape of my horse’s ears).

6. I am so excited to go to Olympia on the Tuesday night (translation: I’ll be hungover on that Wednesday because I will be spending all my money in the champagne bar).

7. I’m going on a beach holiday! I haven’t booked holiday for anything except for stayaway shows for five years! (translation: does anyone have a plug adaptor I can borrow? And I wonder where my passport is…)

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8. The heater doesn’t work in my car, so could we take yours for that long trip? (translation: my car is a mobile wardrobe and tackroom for muddy, hairy clothing, rugs and numnahs — please don’t embarrass me by asking to get in it).

9. I clipped Silver at the weekend (translation: please don’t worry if little white hairs keep flying out of my clothing today).

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

British showjumper Emily Moffitt has brought in renowned Irish rider and producer Cameron Hanley as her new trainer.

The 21-year-old Team GB rider has been trained by Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher since they first teamed up in 2016. However, with Ben’s heavy competition schedule, the Moffitt family have decided to recruit 46-year-old Cameron as a second rider and trainer to work alongside the world number five under the Poden Farms banner.

“I am very happy to have Cameron join the team,” said Neil Moffitt, Emily’s father and owner of Poden Farms.

“He has exemplary qualities that we have been looking for, not limited to his riding skills, but also his ability to assist in the training of my daughter Emily. We have a vast array of fantastic horses and look forward to what the future holds for all of us.”

A statement said: “Poden Farms has achieved great success with Ben Maher both as a rider and a trainer. Under his tutelage, Emily has accomplished incredible things, from the GB team win in Dublin to multiple wins for the London Knights [in the Global Champions League (GCL)]. Cameron will work closely with Ben to help Emily continue to achieve her goals for the 2020 season and to develop top grand prix horses for Poden Farms. We look forward to this new partnership and the expanding success of Poden Farms.”

Emily’s new partnership with Cameron, who is based in Germany, has already proved profitable as Emily won the CSI2* grand prix in Valencia, Spain, on Sunday (3 November) riding her “trusty steed”, the 14-year-old stallion Copain Du Perchet CH.

“I think even just in these few weeks, having Cameron here has made a big difference in my riding,” Emily told H&H from the Autumn Tour in Spain where she’s still competing.

“Ben’s really great at coming to shows with me, but he’s so busy so it’s hard for him to be with me all the time so now, between the two of them, we have a good system going.

“Obviously you need a fantastic team behind you to be able to achieve what I want to achieve,” added Emily, who was part of the Aga Khan-winning Nations Cup team in Dublin this year, rode for the title-winning London Knights squad on the GCL and has long had the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as her goal.

Continued below…

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Emily will continue to be based from her Worcestershire stables.

“Ben and Cameron are both quite amazing, I’m very lucky to have them,” she said.

Emily is spending another week competing in Valencia, where she has also been getting to know new ride Kasper Van Het Hellehof, one of a very exciting string of horses owned and produced by Poden Farms.

“I’m taking it easy with him as he’s quite big and chunky and he thinks I’m a little fly on him at the moment! He keeps asking ‘Where’s my rider?’” she said. “We just need to work together a bit more but he’s super talented.”

She then heads to the CSI5* World Cup show in Stuttgart, Germany, before returning to the familiar scarlet colours of the London Knights for the GC Prague Playoffs, where LGCT victor Ben is set to ride Poden Farms’ incredible gelding Explosion W, his European silver medal-winning ride.

Keep in touch with all the latest news, reports and exclusive features in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all well and have had a moment to breath if you have been eventing this season, now that 2019 has drawn to a close.

When the season finishes for competing it can often bring a mix bag of emotions. For some, it may have been the most amazing run, that only in your dreams could you think of pulling off (Piggy we salute you!). But for others, it may have been more up and down or just damn right challenging.

Whatever situation you are in, there is always a positive to be drawn and a way forwards for next season, if you have the commitment and willpower.

November time for me sees my coaching kick into full swing. I was really pleased (and a touched relieved) to gain my UKCC Level 3 training qualification earlier in the year, which has given me a greater depth of knowledge and further skill set in terms of teaching. I won’t lie, the exams were hard work, but really rewarding and if you are looking at the coaching route, I would highly recommend this pathway.

With significant time and energy put into gaining my Level 3, I have really tried to get myself out there as much as possible in terms of offering training days at various different training venues.

Recently I had a great session at West Wilts, where we all kept nice and dry in their indoor arena! I was teaching three talented students on lovely horses and it was a really positive session. During the lesson we did a good warm-up and then jumped around a course. Three important rules came up during our time, which I thought might be good to share in this blog too:

1. Engine — making sure you have quality in the canter (not necessarily faster)

2. Straightness — on approach and landings. Finishing the turn so the horse is on two tracks and not three.

3. Balance — nine times out of 10 if we balance ourselves, the horse becomes instantly more balanced. Using the focus of the eye being up not down really helps with this.

With the lesson being indoors, it also highlighted how quickly things can come up during a course when moving into those smaller spaces during the winter months. Preparation is key in these instances and always making sure you are looking ahead.

I am looking forward to going back to West Wilts on 2 December and 13 January, and I think it is really useful to have a practice indoors if you are thinking of doing some indoor winter showjumping.

I sadly had to cancel my Saracen Horse Feeds jumping clinic over the weekend as the great British weather certainly turned against us in a big way! However, we are already looking at finding a new date. This clinic is great as it allows me to team up with my long-term feed sponsors, who offer all participants a complimentary diet review and use of their weighbridge — which, when we are moving into the colder months, is a really useful exercise.

Article continues below…

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Away from coaching, I am also so happy to announce a new supporter. Harcour are now my official clothing sponsor and to say I am over the moon is an understatement. I have loved their kit for a long time and am so grateful for all the wonderful clothes they have sent me. I am not just saying this, but I have never worn such comfortable, stylish and long-lasting kit. I feel very lucky to be able to be able to wear it and look forward to showcasing their brand.

Overall, I think that is all from me for this time. I am looking forward to a busy couple of months training and look forward to sharing all my news with you all next time.

C x

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

Two equestrians are among the eight sports women to make the shortlist for the BT Sport Action Woman of the Year award 2019.

The prize, which is in its seventh year, celebrates stand-out performances from Britain’s female athletes and is decided by public vote.

This year, eventer Pippa Funnell MBE and jockey Bryony Frost have been nominated alongside competitors from the worlds of football, athletics, taekwondo, para-cycling and motorsport.

Fifty-year-old Pippa was put forward for the prize after her “return to winning ways” at this year’s Burghley, 14 years after her last four-star (now five-star) victory; while Bryony was nominated after becoming the first female jockey to win a Grade One race over fences at Cheltenham.

Bryony Frost with the Ryanair Chase trophy after she rode Frodon to victory in the Grade One at Cheltenham.

Other nominees include last year’s recipient sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, who broke British records this year while claiming a gold and two silvers in the world championships at 100m and 200m.

Voting is now open at btsport.com/actionwoman2019 and closes at 11.59pm on 1 December.

The shortlist was selected by a panel of judges including Clare Balding OBE, Rachel Brown-Finnis, Caroline Barker, Tammy Parlour MBE (co-founder of the Women’s Sport Trust), Jude Kelly CBE (director of the WOW Foundation), and Adam Sills (head of sport at The Telegraph).

Continued below…

Pippa Funnell takes second Burghley victory by 0.1 of a penalty: ‘it’s been an amazing journey’

Pippa Funnell has taken her second Burghley title, 16 years since her first win at the Lincolnshire CCI5*-L

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Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “It has been an incredible, record-breaking year for women’s sport, both for individuals and teams. From football and horse racing, to motorsport and martial arts, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our nominees and hope that their performances will inspire the next generation of athletes.

“We would encourage everyone to continue to show their appreciation and admiration by voting for their favourite sportswoman of 2019.”

The awards, hosted by Clare Balding, will be shown across multiple platforms, including BT Sport 1, on the BT Sport app, BTsport.com and on Twitter on Monday, 9 December from 7.30pm.

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

A Welsh section D mare with an enviable list of achievements under saddle topped the 2019 Brightwells’ Autumn Cob Sales (30 October-1 November).

Top lot was the flashy six-year-old dun Llanarth Fair Lady (Penlangrug Deio x Llanarth Pam Evans), owned by the Hughes family, who was sold for a trade topping £25,500 to the Alford family where she will continue her career under saddle. Her producer Katy Marriott-Payne rode the mare in the sale ring where she displayed her fabulous paces to the crowds.

Fair Lady was a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) finalist this season in both open Welsh cob and junior ranks. She took third place in the latter final. She was auctioned with her ticket to the mountain and moorland ridden final at Olympia, a qualification she picked up at the BSPS Heritage championships last month.

The £25,500 price tag is the second-highest price to have ever been reached at the sales with the record being set last year when the Welsh section C stallion Tyrllawn Rolls-Royce sold for £45,000.

The top young stock lot was Andrew Thomas’ filly foal Caederwen Miss Monroe (Waunoris Golden Boy x Caederwen Merch Euraidd), which was knocked down for £13,500. The striking palamino found a new home with Carol Prater of the Rhencullen stud.

Continued below…

The Welsh section D: the ‘native cobs’ with power, action and presence

While there is no maximum height requirement, it is desirable that the section D retains pony character and true Welsh

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Dun mares were certainly popular as Glyn Anderson’s five-year-old Welsh section C Tyntyla Catkin (Cadfach Who Dunnit x Tyntyla Catrin) scored an impressive price of £10,000.

Prices were high across the board as the sale averaged in excess of £1,400 per lot, a level which has not been achieved for some time.

Keep in touch and up to date with all the latest news, reports and exclusive features in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

This week, don’t miss our veteran special with tips and tricks to keep your golden oldie on the road, plus an insight into the competitions available to veterans across the disciplines.

What happened to sunny days of competing, picnic et al? Some have been suffering with the miserable weather recently and none more so than those trying to compete their beloved horses in less than favourable conditions. Here’s just a few problems we face while battling the elements on the competition circuit…

1. Brown mud + white breeches = disaster zone. You have considered taking out shares in Vanish.

2. It’s all fine if you have a lorry with a decent living, but a car and trailer combination is a great deal more labour-intensive. Trying to get changed in the trailer and make your horse look as beautiful as possible while it is tied to the outside standing in a quagmire is a fine art. And when you return to the trailer laden with wet tack and clothes there’s the million dollar question: where on earth do you put everything?

3. Spending the duration of Saturday washing, drying, re-washing and re-drying your horse, sawdusting white feathers, rugging and then re-rugging, getting up at 4am to get to the show on Sunday only to be completely immersed in mud as soon as you step off the lorry needs the stiffest of upper lips to survive.

4. The thought of a grass warm-up arena gives you clammy hands. To quote International Velvet, it’s like trying to perform Swan Lake in clogs.

5. You’re desperate to show off your horse’s wow-factor movement to the judges — but those bog-like conditions are something of a hindrance…

6. Plastic covers for your car seat are a waste of space — don’t kid yourself. Now is not the time to be a clean car person.

7. Quickly ‘nipping’ anywhere is a no-no. Spontaneous plans to go to a show? That will be an hour of bathing first. Dashing back to the tackroom across a flooded yard to pick up the girth you forgot? Welcome to mud-splashed brown-spotted breeches. Running to the secretary’s office to make a last-minute entry for the next class? Not unless you want to end up face-first in a puddle. Everything. Takes. So. Long

Continued below…

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8. Rain has an uncanny ability to make your perfectly-groomed horse’s coat go dull and flat, and for your horse to instantly tuck its belly up, flatten its ears and clamp its tail within minutes. Not the best picture…

9. The tack cleaning situation post-show looks as though you’ve had a full day of January hunting, only without the port…

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