The international showjumper (pictured) talks us through this multi-fence workout which she uses with both her younger and more experienced horses to help them jump a flowing round
The aim
The three main things I consider when riding a showjumping course are time, attention and care. This exercise enables you to practise pushing horses on between lines and bringing them back, getting them to focus. Mistakes are made when horses run on and you no longer have their full concentration, so this helps prevent that.
I call it a “gym layout”, which combines a variety of trotting poles, cavaletti, cross-pole oxers and narrow fillers with guide poles arranged into grids.
It’s a workout I find especially useful with my top horses when I feel they need to leave the floor, but I don’t want to jump them over big fences and put unnecessary strain on their tendons and ligaments.
It’s also something I introduce early on with the youngsters — I make it really easy and just start with poles on the ground. It’s a big help with the canter, particularly as some horses don’t initially have the confidence to canter over fences.
The exercise
It is based around grids, incorporating placing poles, cavaletti and fences on both bounces and longer distances. You can mix and match to suit each horse and I usually introduce a new challenge to a line at least once during the session.
1. To start, set up three or four lines of different fence combinations, one of which might just be trotting poles raised at alternate ends.
2. I start out gently to make sure the horse is understanding the
question. Cavaletti and poles should be falling in the centre of the arc of the horse’s stride or jump. Once the horse is jumping each line correctly, I start to come up with some “gym circuits”.
3. Some of the trickier elements — such as a skinny filler with guide
poles — I might introduce individually, and then add into a grid later on. I like to “skinny train” my showjumpers, as course builders can throw in some surprises.
4. I usually put a cross-pole over at the end of a line or in the middle of a grid, as this help with straightness. V-poles, guide rails and poles as “tunnels” on the floor all help to stop any drifting.
5. I will introduce a bigger fence into a line — at a max of 1.10m — to help keep their concentration.
6. Between lines you can also introduce some exercises on the flat. I like to do a canter to walk transition and then ask the horses to move their hindquarters around 180°, while keeping their shoulders still (turn on the forehand), before going back into canter. It teaches them balance and gets them stepping under. As you move out of the exercise, it emphasises turning from the outside rein.
Tips and pitfalls
Make sure to give plenty of rests as injuries are most likely to occur when a horse is tired.
There will often be lots of long lines and tight turns in an arena set-up, so it’s important to keep control of the horse’s outside shoulder.
If a horse isn’t paying attention, introduce V-poles on the sides of the fences to help.
For much more great content, don’t miss the current issue of Horse & Hound magazine, on sale now (dated 21 February 2019), which features our showjumping special
This simple exercise, courtesy of top event rider Francis Whittington (pictured), provides a solid foundation for skinnies and arrowheads
Aim
If the horse understands that he must stay straight, no matter what he is presented with, then you can jump anything. There’s no need to practise repeatedly over arrowheads and skinnies. The trick is to create an angle over a basic fence so the horse develops balance through his shoulder. By teaching him to be straight and even into the contact, you can both work on the precision needed for these more technical fences using a very straightforward jump — without scaring yourselves.
Exercise
1. Set up a simple fence on the centre line of your schooling area, something small and upright but wide. It should be easy, so the horse can work well within his comfort zone and you can both concentrate on staying straight and accurate. Canter down the centre line and over the fence in each direction, aiming for the middle spot each time.
2. Gradually increase the angle of the approach, still aiming for the centre of the fence and controlling the horse’s outside shoulder with your leg. His job is to stay straight in the direction you ride him, so make this clear.
3. With this established, you can begin to ask more questions. Continue to increase the approach angle by increments until you are almost coming across the arena on the diagonal. With practice, you’ll both develop an eye for jumping the fence on an angle.
4. Now aim to start jumping towards the outer edge of the fence. This will give the horse the opportunity to run out, but he should by now understand the requirement to jump.
5. Once you’ve mastered the exercise in the arena, try it over a basic fence when you’re cross-country schooling. It’s something you can practise on your own, without a trainer, and should provide a solid foundation when you do move on to the more demanding technical fences.
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Tips and pitfalls
A run-out in the early stages means going back to square one, so take things steady and don’t be tempted to rush the process. Increase the approach angle over a number of sessions.
Be positive, but aim for accuracy rather than pace.
Stay balanced in the saddle and be confident about jumping straight at your chosen angle, leaving your horse sure which way to go.
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday
It’s a month today since Irish Olympic event rider Jonty Evans suffered a serious brain injury when he had a fall at Tattersalls riding Cooley Rorkes Drift (Art) — the horse he secured through crowd-funding. With Jonty still unconscious, four-star rider Alice Dunsdon had the idea of riders and connections wearing green — Jonty’s cross-country colours — to show their support for him and so, with website Eventing Worldwide leading the campaign, #WearGreenForJonty was born.
Riders, friends, parents and people connected to equestrianism in every way got into the green spirit last weekend. Here are some of your photos of #WearGreenForJonty…
Linda Robertson’s daughter, Flossie, stencilled green stars on her pony, Ricky
Dot Dot Dash competing with Alison Cartwright at Eland Lodge
Stasi Grosvenor sent in these pictures of her nieces in Australia. On the left is 11-year-old Seanna New at her weekly lesson, while on the right is Shaye Peters, 16, and Grumby the Brumby. Stasi says: “Shaye has autism and only wears purple. I told her the story of Jonty and at her weekly lesson and at pony camp this month in Young Australia she joined in with #WearGreenForJonty”
Andrea Moxey watches her daughter Maddie at Area 9 Horse Trials at West Wilts
Brenda Gallacher’s Cinnamon. Brenda says: “From a good Scots lad to a good Irish lad. We want to see these Irish eyes smiling again”
Eleanor Lunn and Galahad join in the spirit while schooling at home. Eleanor says she’ll definitely be wearing green next time she competes
Emilie Lyons riding Varo Two Chips (Coco)
Pippa Dixon and Barnadarrig Boy competing in the CIC* at Great Witchingham. Picture by Peter Nixon
Emma Wallace rides at Glaslough, Ireland, with a borrowed green numnah
Estelle Turner and Archie enjoy the sun in Frodsham, Cheshire
Frankie Zatouroff on Foxi at Holkham Beach, with her sister, Ella, sporting her Willberry Wonder Pony T-shirt in the background on Pebbles
#WearGreenForJonty details — Nicola Watson’s nails, done by The Beauty Lodge, Julia McQuigg’s shamrock, Janice Hawes’ shirt, Cathy Tapp’s pony, made by a friend, and Alison Coldicott’s wristband
Grania Haigh shows her support with a green T-shirt
Hayley Ward trades pink for green riding a young ex-racehorse at home in Hitchin
Indie Vaughan-Jones and Arrrowmands Diamond on the way to sixth in the CIC* at Great Witchingham. Picture by Peter Nixon
The start team at Offchurch Bury: Janice Hawes, Sue Trim and Jean Jennedy
Jessica Leroy and her Irish thoroughbred Baz at Priory Court Farm taking part in jump cross
Zoe Harris and Fudge head out cross-country schooling
Natalie O’Donnell, 12, sent us this picture of Team Quest team The Island Fling wearing green for Jonty in Stornoway, in the Isle of Lewis
Julia Whittle and Kobito contest the BE80(T) at Offchurch Bury
Katie Barber and Diamond Mine on the way to 10th in the CIC* at Great Witchingham
Thomas Goffe giving Sedgemoor Crispin a kiss before the start of their first one-day event together, Near Dursley in Gloucestershire. Plus here are Rosie Goffe, Thomas Goffe and Daisy Johnson Jones all aboard Stan the Man in Warwickshire
Anna White, 12, at Glaslough Horse Trials in Ireland on Jimmy. “Her contribution to the crowdfunding for Art was Anna’s 12th birthday present, and he is her absolute hero,” says Anna’s mother Lisa
Dom Watson, Albie and mum Lorene Watson at Pony Club Area 13 dressage qualifiers at Eashing, Surrey
Hints of green with team colours at a riding club area qualifier for Louiz Hughes
Lucy Turner says: “Get Ready Freddy (Fred to his friends!) looking distinctly not ready, having a snooze in the shade prior to the BE105 cross-country at Offchurch Bury Horse Trials. But he does have a little green bow to support his buddies Jonty and Art!”
Event rider Clare Chamberlayne is “off games” at the moment, but she took my green painted fingernails to Sparsholt Dressage Festival, where she was acting as dressage commentator for the first time. She was also delighted that her youngest pupil — whose mother lent her the nail polish — not only won her first ever championship but also picked up a green sash!
Marcia Fairless and Melanie Watson fence judging at Chepstow
Nicki Robinson and Gartsherrie before their clear cross-country round in the BE100 at Brightling
Phil Howell and Fence Judgeberry score collecting at West Wilts
Ricki Wischmann and her pony Keira about to go out on a hack in the forest in the the USA. “Jonty is one of my favorite event riders — I wish for his recovery every day,” says Ricki
Samantha Hobbs sports a green headband at Great Witchingham. Picture by Peter Nixon
Sarah Apt Cavalier and her youngster Hugo at Hopetoun in Scotland. Sarah says: “I love the campaign and it’s bringing to light how caring the eventing community really is!I usually wear burgundy so swapped for white with a green hat silk.” Picture by Dave Cameron Photography
Helpers at Chepstow Horse Trials get into the spirit: Elin Stenberg, the pole team, Berry ponies at the fence judge briefing, Jennie Smith, Kevin and Harvey, plus Jack Myszkowski
Sarah Godwin’s family ready for stewarding at the Beaufort branch of the Pony Club mini one-day event
Jemima Gray wearing her signature lime green
Clare Kavanagh in her green cross-country colours
Tory Robbins and Silver Skywalker at Offchurch Bury, competing in their first BE105
Sofia Guarnieri rides Bally Lennon Lola. “Jonty wished me luck for my first one-day event on the Facebook page for Art’s Amazing Family the day he had the accident,” says Sofia.
Susan Williams sent in this picture, saying: “My son was on the Pony Club Talent Pathway Camp at Solihull Riding Club at the weekend and they asked everyone to wear green for Jonty.”
Jonty’s goddaughter Bibi Zijlmans and her family, at showjumping at Moores Farm
Natalie Ireland and her mother Jackie Ireland out on Jackie’s first ever fun ride. Jackie rides 22-year-old Cherokee Brave (number 43), who events and, says Natalie, “donated his four-leaf clover that we found to Jonty and Art last year at Kelsall Hill where they were second in the open intermediate”. Natalie is on her five-year-old Clearbeck Elgar, who was also at his first fun ride
Tamsin Miall and Gloria III head to a cross-country clear inside the time in the CIC* at Great Witchingham. Picture by Peter Nixon
Una Morris and her horse Guiness from Dublin, Ireland. “He is 18 years old, I’ve owned him for 14 of those. Needless to say he will stay with me for the rest of his life too, says Una. “Guin is my Art, that special horse you come across once in your life.”
Aisling Hayes 17, riding John Steadman’s four-year-old Loughehoe Starboy in his first cross-country at Fernhill Sport Horses Kilguilkey International Horse Trials in Co Cork, Ireland. “He doesn’t much like dressage but he completed a test for the first time and was a total rock star over his fences,” says Una Hayes.
Jackie Harvey-Knight, Stephanie Knight and five-year-0ld Elle Harvey-Knight (complete with green hair) at Chepstow
Emma Golding and Lilly in Co Kildare, Ireland. “We’ll be Team Ireland’s representatives at the para World Championships in August,” says Emma. “I met Jonty’s mum Maggie at Cirencester last year when she and Jonty’s stepfather Arthur were there with the Griff tradestand. It was my first British Championships and she was so lovely asking how we got on after each phase. I’m thinking of the whole family.”
Finally, Jonty’s daughter Mia sent us this picture of her and her father — his original green cross-country colours the inspiration for the #WearGreenForJonty campaign. Picture by Lucy Hall
If you’ve decided to give your horse or pony a well-earned holiday in the field this winter, you might find yourself as a loose end for three or four months.
Here are 17 things horse owners who are currently horseless might attempt over winter…
1. Online dating
While you’ve always considered your horse to be the love of your life, the abundance of free time you now have in the evenings means you could possibly start looking for a two-legged individual to join your life. Requirements; tall, handsome and must not be allergic to animal hair.
2. Buy a new horse
How do you replace the horse-shaped void in your life? Drain your entire life savings on a similarly shaped replacement as a winter project.
3. Join a gym
If your horse is out at grass, the lack of mucking out, daily yard chores and riding, coupled with the wealth of food on offer at this time of year might not be the best for your waist line. With your horse losing some fitness over winter, if both of you are flagging in the new year, getting ready for next season might be more of a challenge.
4. Take up a sport
If the gym life isn’t for you, maybe joining a new sports team could be the answer to maintaining your fitness levels. The ‘team’ part might throw you off at first, as your used to the ‘every man for himself ’ philosophy of equestrian competition.
5. Meet up with other horse owners
Who’s up for a weekly meet up where we pine after long weekend hacks, horse shows and the smell of haylage?
6. Ride someone else’s horse
Not everyone chooses to give their horse some time off work, so take advantage of this and steal a few rides on an alternative mount so you’re not as rusty when your horse is brought back in to work. Especially as he’s likely to be feeling slightly fresh after some R&R…
7. Buy a third horse
Wealthy people with substantial acreage and stabling, see point 2.
8. Take a holiday
If you compete during the summer, chances are any spare funds are spent on entries, so get away for some sun or snow and experience what normal people call ‘a holiday.’
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9. Get a part-time job
More to spend on achieving next season’s goals. Work now, play later.
10. Get married/have a baby
It’s likely that these momentous occasions were put in motion well before winter came along, but hardcore equestrians might schedule them around the competition calendar to ensure they don’t miss out on any of the ‘biggies’ which land on the same dates each season. Organisation is key.
11. Redecorate
With no time for anything domestic all year, the winter can provide the ideal opportunity for a home refurb.
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday
Charlotte Dujardin has beaten Isabell Werth to win the grand prix at this week’s World Cup qualifier in Lyon, France.
Charlotte rode Emma Blundell’s nine-year-old Mount St John Freestyle to score a shade under 80% and win the class by a comfortable margin, with every judge having her at the top of the leaderboard.
“I was really pleased with the whole test — it was pretty much a clear round, and Freestyle tried really hard. It’s not often I watch my test back and I’m pleased with it but I am today,” Charlotte, who earned 79.98% with the Fidermark mare, told H&H.
“This is her first time doing the indoor season and we didn’t even do an arena walk as it was so late last night, but Freestyle wasn’t spooky at all.”
Her scoresheet featured plenty of nines, for movements including the extended trot and canter, half-passes, both sets of tempi changes and the right pirouette.
Germany’s triple world and European gold medallist Isabell Werth posted 77.83% to finish second on the 13-year-old Ehrenpreis gelding she has won here with for the past two years, Emilio 107. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Zaire-E took third on 76.44%, also for Germany.
This is Charlotte’s first time seriously contesting the World Cup series since she won back-to-back titles with Valegro in 2014 and 2015.
The 14.3hh breeding stallion won the open grand prix freestyle championship at the US Dressage Finals in Kentucky, USA
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It was also her first international appearance since she and Freestyle were eliminated following their grand prix test at the European Championships in August, after blood was found on the mare’s flank, but Charlotte said that the events in Rotterdam were not on her mind here.
“I felt no apprehension at all — I didn’t have any of that in my head,” said Charlotte. “I just wanted to go in and have another good crack at the test.”
The pair will contest the grand prix freestyle tomorrow, which forms the World Cup qualifier. They will ride at 6.20pm (5.20pm UK time) to their new music, which they debuted at Hartpury in July with over 86%, but have not had the chance to ride to since.
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
We love the summer, with longer days and better weather – but we’re pleased to see winter too. Here’s why…
1. We can wave goodbye to summer problems, such as sweet itch, constant flies and sunburn.
2. Indoor competitions start up again — no more hard ground!
3. Did we mention the flies?
4. Riding on a cold, crisp winter’s morning, when it’s just cold enough to make your cheeks glow and there’s a cup of hot chocolate with your name on it for when you get back, is one of life’s very special pleasures.
5. A clipped, rugged horse can often be easier to keep clean in the winter than a naked one in the summer.
6. You can’t be disappointed by the weather, only pleasantly surprised.
7. Summer kit is all very well, but you’re always secretly pleased to see your proper coats, breeches, thick socks and gloves again. Plus, you’ve now got a good excuse for a new pair of boots.
8. A long ride, followed by comfort food. Toast and jam. Soup. Jacket potatoes. Need we say more? Also, you’ve heard that you burn more calories in cold weather which obviously completely cancels out any extra biscuits.
9. Leaving your horse tucked up with rugs and hay, and heading home to pyjamas, furry throws, a log fire and a box set.
10. Final release from the frizzy hair that’s plagued you all summer. ‘Hat hair’ is generally much better in winter, too.
11. Coming home from the yard on a dark winter’s night and having time to take a long, hot bath as it’s only 6.30pm.
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12. Christmas! What other time of year do you get to cover your horse in tinsel and dress up as an elf to go or a hack, without anyone raising an eyebrow?
13. The January sales. It’s a well-known fact that it’s actually impossible to have too many outdoor rugs/winter coats.
14. We’re not sure whether we remembered to mention it, but the lack of flies. In fact, the lovely, lovely lack of all things buzzing, biting and stinging, and no longer having to spend what feels like £20 a week on fly spray.
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday
British Eventing (BE) membership prices, entry and start fees, prize money and abandonment insurance are all set to increase next season – as the organisation looks at “revamping its membership offerings”.
BE has contacted members to tell them the cost of full, owner, syndicate and corporate memberships is to rise by £5 – the first increase since 2014.
Entry fees and the upper limit of start fees are to go up by 1.98%, with prize money going up by the same amount, while abandonment insurance is also to go up, “as a result of high levels of claims and a reduced number of underwriters willing to insure against the weather”.
Day pass and supporter membership, rider and horse day passes and horse season tickets will remain the same price, and there will no longer be a £15 fee for new horse registrations.
BE CEO Jude Matthews said BE and the British Event Organisers Association (BEOA), had agreed a formula for calculating any increase in entry fees, which was “designed to reflect the increasing costs an organiser incurs year on year”.
“BE had asked the BEOA to consider a freeze on entry fees for 2020, but the BEOA felt it was not possible to maintain the high standards of event that BE requires and support a freeze in entry fees,” she said.
“We are committed to providing the membership with top quality, safe, and fun competition opportunities, but we know members find the costs of competing high, and we are committed to looking at ways that this can be managed. We will continue to work with our organisers to ensure that we provide great sporting opportunity for members, whilst maintaining viability for organisers to run.”
Ms Matthews said that in the 10 years since abandonment insurance was launched, claims had totalled £5.4m, with an extra £633,000 this year.
She said members had asked about making the cover optional but if this were the case, premiums would increase as only events with higher risk of abandonment would insure.
“It would also become increasingly difficult to find an underwriter prepared to accept the risk of higher levels of abandonment,” she said.
“The BE team works hard to manage the insurance premiums, including monitoring levels of abandonment at each event, and structuring the calendar such that the events in the earlier and latter part of the year are more weather tolerant,” she added.
As social media has continued to grow in popularity, so have keyboard warriors. But what can you do about them?
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“There is a strict process in place when events abandon, which helps to reassure our insurers and therefore manage the premiums levels.”
The insurance cover is rising by between £2 and £3 for BE80(T) to novice, £3.70 at intermediate level and £5.03 at advanced.
Ms Matthews said some members may believe the increase is to fund BE’s IT project but that this is not the case, this has been funded from reserves, and that BE has “worked hard to keep the increase to an absolute minimum”.
She added that BE is looking into revamping its membership options for 2021.
“It will be focussed on offering a range of memberships that are more targeted to each of our membership groups, and we will be working with our stakeholders on this exercise over the coming months,” 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.
Khadijah Mellah with Haverland after winning the Magnolia Cup.
A documentary charting the story the Peckham teenager Khadijah Mellah, who made history at this summer’s Glorious Goodwood, will air on ITV the weekend.
Khadijah, 18, stormed into the history books when she won the Magnolia Cup at the Sussex racecourse on 1 August.
She first sat on a racehorse just four months previously and the Magnolia Cup marked the first time a person had raced in a hijab on a British racecourse, with her victory making her the first British Muslim woman to ride a winner on UK soil.
Riding A Dream, produced by UnVeil Arts, will be shown on ITV at 11.45am on Saturday (2 November) — directly after the Rugby World Cup final.
“A big part of my life has been proving people wrong,” said Khadijah, who won the charity race aboard the Charlie Fellows-trained Haverland.
“I am thrilled that I am part of a shift in social understanding of what women can achieve and what they can be good at. There’s quite a stereotype around Muslim girls and them ‘not being able to follow their sporting dreams’. I want to be a role model to anyone who wants to do something that they wouldn’t initially believe was in their comfort zone and allow people to follow their aspirations and dreams.”
Article continues below…
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Khadijah Mellah with Haverland after winning the Magnolia Cup.
Credit: EMPICS Entertainment
‘This is the story of how [Sir] Henry in his autumn years fought failure and illness to make Frankel the
The documentary follows Khadijah’s journey from Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, where she learnt to ride, through the challenges she faced while preparing for the race — including fasting during Ramadan, preparing for her A-levels and making the jump from riding in a school to galloping racehorses.
“Growing up in Peckham with no real connection to horses before she started riding at Ebony Horse Club, Khadijah’s fairytale story broke down barriers and stereotypes and proved that there are no limits to what you can achieve when you put your mind to it,” states the synopsis from ITV.
“Hers is a story that not only impressed a nation but also inspired the world.”
For a full interview with Khadijah, don’t miss today’s issue of Horse & Hound (7 November).
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday
An equine photographer with some “tricks up her sleeve” got into the Halloween spirit with the assistance of some helping hands and hooves.
Amy Lathrope-Reid, owner of Indy Equine Photography, teamed up with rider Sophie Seymour and her 16-year-old Danish warmblood Odin, for the photoshoot on 21 October in Old Sodbury, Bristol, after Amy had a cancellation.
“I didn’t want to waste the day so I thought maybe I could squeeze in a shoot and Sophie said she was up for it,” self-taught photographer Amy told H&H.
“I put a post on Facebook to try and find a dressmaker in the area. Someone tagged Hoof Hearted Embroidery, which is based at a venue I photograph at all the time but I had no idea they did dressmaking, I couldn’t believe it. I had all these ideas but in my head but I didn’t know if I was going to pull it off in a week but they saw my vision and the dress was made in four days.”
Amy roped in the assistance of Sophie’s groom, Caroline Pederick, who painted Odin for the photoshoot.
“When I told Sophie I wanted Odin painted she said Caroline is an artist. She had never painted a horse before,” said Amy.
“I made a crown for Sophie to wear using wooden skewers and spray-painted old Christmas decorations with the help of YouTube tutorials.”
The photoshoot was due to take place on the Saturday (19 October) but disaster struck when it was rained off.
“Monday was the last day I had available and thankfully Sophie and Caroline were free and we had the help of Leah Wren, who assisted me on the day. I couldn’t get a make-up artist so between Sophie and I we did her make-up with the help of online videos,” said Amy.
“It felt very touch and go whether it would all come together in time. It took three hours to paint Odin and everything took so long that we only had an hour of light left to do the actual shoot but it went incredibly. Odin really is the most beautiful horse to photograph with. He reared on command for some of the shots – we had no idea he would do it, it was pure chance and he was happy to help.”
Amy said she has some useful “tricks up her sleeve” when it comes to photographing horses.
“I have an odd ability of making realistic horse noises with my own voice and can do random sounds like car alarms and dolphins. I sometimes have horses whinny back to me – it’s so funny. The noise I can make is quite high-pitched and sounds like a little pony; if there are ever horses nearby in a yard or something I’ll often have ponies whinnying back too,” she said.
“I’ve also found using sheep noises help get their attention or I’ll have an assistant hold a reflector which will make the horse look in the direction I need them to.”
Amy said her Facebook page “exploded” after she posted some of the pictures from the photoshoot.
“The amount of comments we’ve had has been amazing – I can’t believe how many people liked the pictures. This has to be one of my top shoots,” she said.
“I really wanted to pull it off and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make it come together, I’m ecstatic.”
Forget trick-or-treating — dressing your horse up as a ghost/joker/skeleton/Grim Reaper is the way to celebrate Halloween in style
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Amy launched her own photography workshops this year, for which Sophie models, and has more planned for 2020.
“Sophie is so brilliant to work with. She’s a great rider and does a lot of team-chasing and eventing; she is happy to do things like ride bareback or without a bridle – it’s a great partnership,” said Amy.
“I’ve had some ideas I need to hone in on for an exciting Christmas shoot I’m hoping to do so we’re looking forward to that.”
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
Trainer Henry Cecil (left) with Jockey Tom Queally (centre) and horse Frankel after winning the Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes.
Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons will play Sir Henry Cecil in a film about Frankel’s extraordinary career.
The British film star won the 1991 Academy Award for best actor in a leading role for his portrayal of Claus von Bulow in Reversal of Fortune.
Jeremy Irons. Credit: GTRES/PA Images
Frankel, produced by Eclipse Films, will chart the career of the unbeaten superstar. It will also focus on the bond between the horse and his late trainer.
“This is the story of how [Sir] Henry in his autumn years fought failure and illness to make Frankel the greatest champion racehorse of all time,” states the film’s synopsis.
“Unbeaten in all 14 starts, winning all the honours and bowing out with an emotional victory in front of a capacity crowd at Ascot. The connection between Henry and Frankel was almost spiritual.
“They had a bond and connection: it was as if Frankel seemed to understand everything that [Sir] Henry was telling him to do, and [Sir] Henry credits Frankel for pulling him through some of his darkest moments… Frankel was his second lease of life and they made history together.”
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A bronze statue of Frankel was unveiled by The Queen on the opening day of Royal Ascot
The film is produced by Eclipse Films, directed by Ron Scalpello and produced by John Sachs, Andrew Berg, Jeremy Irons and Kimberley Sachs. The script is written by Jim Piddock, who is also the executive producer.
Andrew Berg and John Sacs told screendaily.com that Jeremy was the “first choice” to play Sir Henry and that he has a “genuine love of horses”.
Sir Henry saddled 25 British Classic winners in his career, including Frankel, and also had a record 75 Royal Ascot wins.
The film’s release date and the actor who will play Frankel’s jockey, Tom Queally, are yet to be revealed.
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