A rider who is just starting to return to the saddle after a long battle with fibromyalgia wants others in a similar situation to know “you are not alone”.

Brandon Lovely, who has showjumped internationally up to 1.40m level, had stopped riding completely last summer before his diagnosis with the condition, which causes pain all over the body.

The 22-year-old had been suffering since he was 16, but as doctors said he had a low risk of developing the condition, as he was young and male, it took a great deal of time and effort to get his diagnosis.

“I removed myself from riding to see if the pain would stop, or anything would change, but nothing did,” Brandon told H&H.

“It took so long to get the diagnosis; so many tests. It was awful; I was missing riding, and going through it all was horrendous.”

Brandon said the pain “feels like you’ve been run over. It’s literally all over, and that’s the only way to describe it”.

He said the pain was in different places in different times, and worse at some times than others – but he always managed to keep going.

“It’s just a love of riding – when I’m on a horse, I don’t feel the pain,” he said. “But I’ll ride, and then get off and be lying on the floor, everyone knows me for that.

“Everyone thought I was just overworking myself, but it turned out to be the fibromyalgia.”

The condition, which can also cause fatigue, concentration and memory issues and difficulty sleeping, is difficult to diagnose. Its exact cause is unknown but it is thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system processes pain messages. In many cases, it appears to be triggered by mental or physical stress.

Brandon said his diagnosis came as a huge relief, and that although there is no cure, he has learned to manage the condition.

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‘Never, ever give up’: rider overcomes cancer, broken back and missing finger

The rider lost her finger when her ring was caught in the rug strap of a horse who panicked and

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“I’ve completely changed my diet; I’ve cut out things I was intolerant to, which has definitely helped,” he said. “I make sure I do the correct exercises, to keep everything strong, and I know what causes my flare-ups.

“I’m definitely not in as much pain and knowing what it is helps the mental side of things too; the stress from not knowing really brought out my symptoms.

“I’ve just started riding again now at home; only a handful of horses but I’d like to find someone else to ride for and get started again this year.”

Brandon wants to raise awareness of the condition, and help anyone else suffering with it.

“If I hadn’t pushed to get it looked into in my little spare time, I may never have known I had this condition and could still be suffering more than I am,” he said.

“I want other riders with the same condition or other neurological issues to know they’re not alone. Don’t give up; keep at the doctors until you get the answers you need.”

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

A pony had a lucky escape after she was found “by total chance” stuck neck-deep in a muddy ditch.

The 11hh grey mare was spotted by a member of the public in a field off Marshfoot Road, Grays in Essex, on 19 January.

The RSPCA and Essex Fire & Rescue Service launched a rescue mission to free the pony, who was covered from head to toe in mud.

RSPCA Inspector Caroline Richardson said it is “amazing” that she was found.

“You could just see her ears, which were the only part of her still grey,” she said.

“It’s total chance that she was found and she was very lucky to have been spotted.

“She was freezing cold, shivering and clearly exhausted. We believe she may have been stuck in the ditch for days and, with the weather having turned so cold and wet, I don’t think she’d have survived much longer. She’s a very lucky little pony!”

After she was winched out of the ditch, the pony was taken to a local vet for a check-up and — importantly — a bath.

The mare, who has been named Puddles by staff at the charity, is not microchipped and the RSCPA is trying to trace her owner.

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“I’d like to say a big thank you to the fire crew who did a great job retrieving her from the mud and, although she was a little stiff and terrified, incredibly she came out unharmed,” Inspector Richardson added.

“She’s now having a well deserved-rest at the vets and will be cared for until we can trace her owners.

“We would love to find Puddles’ owner as she has clearly been on the run for quite some time. However, if no one comes forward to claim her then we’ll find her a loving new home.”

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

A horse owner is using a photograph of two barely-visible riders to urge others to wear high-visibility gear when riding on the roads.

The two riders were wearing dark clothing and on dark horses with no high-vis gear in Oxfordshire at 5.45pm on Monday (15 October).

Katie Drummond, who keeps her horse in the area, told H&H: “It was my husband and son who witnessed it and my son took the photograph. They were driving and saw the car in front brake hard and then realised there were horses there. You simply couldn’t see them.

“The riders were coming out of a 30mph road heading on to a 60mph. It’s a really fast bit of road and is really windy after the bend on the photograph – you would be on top of them before you see them.

“The light yesterday didn’t change much from the morning to the afternoon so it wouldn’t have mattered if it was lunchtime – they still wouldn’t have been seen.”

As Katie’s son passed the riders he told them they could not be seen easily, and that they should be wearing high-vis but he said they were dismissive of his concerns.

“My son gave me the photograph to share so people can see that as a motorist, you cannot see horses or riders without high-vis on,” Katie said. “It’s such an important message to get out there that riders need to be seen. High-vis is so cheap and you have options of bibs, rugs, bandages. Your horse is so precious, I don’t understand why you would risk putting them in danger.”

Katie said she no longer hacks on the roads as she has lost losing confidence following a friend’s accident.

“Around us for the past three days there has been accident after accident just involving cars – it’s even worse on smaller roads if people aren’t visible. You are not doing your due-diligence or looking after your horse by being invisible,” she said.

“Horse riders have to have the same courtesy as drivers and be seen to be safe. The message needs to go countrywide for people to realise they need to be seen at all times.”

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

The teenage sons of showjumpers Tina and Graham Fletcher are certainly making waves on the competition circuit and at the Royal County of Berkshire show at the weekend (15-16 September) the brothers claimed a victory apiece in the two major classes.

Will took Saturday’s area trial on Emmerton II, while Olli won the international stairway the following day on Temple Rebus.

“I think you’d have to go back to the days of John and Michael Whitaker to find a similar result for brothers at a county show,” said proud dad Graham.

Will, 19, set the ball rolling with a superb round to take the victory on the nine-year-old gelding.

Will Fletcher and Emmerton II

“I’ve had an incredible season,” said Will, who this year has bagged his first stairway success, represented his country at his first European Championships and won his first gold medal, and he will jump on his first senior team in next month’s four-star Nations Cup in Morocco.

Emmerton is a former eventer, who only competed in his first 1.20m class in May.

“He’s such a cool horse and has as much scope as anything I’ve sat on,” said Will. “He’s definitely one to watch.”

On Sunday, it was 15-year-old Olli’s turn to shine as he secured an impressive 1.5sec victory on the 11-year-old gelding. In doing so, Olli broke the record previously held by his brother for the youngest ever winner of a Stairway class.

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“He’s only beaten me by four years!” said Will.

“I’m so chuffed,” said Olli. “We knew he was a good horse when we bought him, but he wasn’t quite right and we gave him a year off in the field. It’s taken a while, but he was worth waiting for.”

Don’t miss the full report from the Royal County Of Berkshire show in this week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 20 September.

The director of Newmarket Elite Horseboxes has been described by a judge as a “crook” with “no moral fibre” after he and his wife defrauded buyers out of tens of thousands of pounds.

Daniel Trevelyan, 36, and 41-year-old Newmarket Elite Horseboxes salesman Sarah Trevelyan, both of Moat Lane, Audley, both pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, at Liverpool Crown Court.

Daniel also pleaded guilty to being concerned with the formation, management and running of a company as an undischarged bankrupt.

Sarah was, on paper, the director of the company, but the court was told the business was used as a front to allow Daniel to carry on trading despite the fact he was bankrupt.

He had been made bankrupt while trading as HSD Horseboxes.

The fraudsters claimed the horseboxes they sold had a specific weight capacity, but the load they could carry was well below that advertised.

Both the victims involved in this case ordered horseboxes having responded to advertisements and dealt with Daniel, who was described as the “manager” of the company.

The first spent £28,950 on a Renault Master stated as being specifically modified to carry three ponies. The victim was told the lorry’s payload was 1,200kg, although it was only 650kg and was supplied with two stalls rather than the three specified.

The second spent £39,600 on a Renault Master, promised to be brand-new and with a 1,180kg payload. The vehicle that arrived was second-hand, with a 490kg payload.

Both victims were told the vehicles had been inspected and approved by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which was a lie.

The court heard, in the victims’ statements, that they had felt “a cocktail of emotions and anxiety, periods of sleeplessness and loss of appetite”, and that one had “turned to drink to combat the stress that had taken over my life”; stress that forced the victim to give up work.

His Honour Judge Clement Goldstone QC, the recorder of Liverpool, told Daniel: “You are, or were and time remains to be told whether you continue to be, what might be termed in old fashion parlance, a crook.

“Your early refusal to cooperate in bankruptcy proceedings, your inability to accept what you did was wrong or criminal until you pleaded guilty and even then you have little remorse, indicates you are a man without moral fibre and you have no place in the running of a business.

“You didn’t think twice about flouting your statutory obligation or putting your wife up as a front for running the business. You didn’t think anything of the stress caused by your behaviour and your bullying tactics, but I shouldn’t be surprised because you have a record as a fraudster.”

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To Sarah, the recorder added: “You are in denial… You seek to blame everybody but yourself for being in the position you are. I have two words to say to you ‘get real’.”

Daniel Trevelyan was given a 16-month jail term, suspended for two years, and 300 hours of community service. Sarah was ordered to complete 300 hours of community service.

Ever wondered what Carl Hester looks for when he’s hunting for his next grand prix star? In his masterclass with Van Olst Horses at the Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show, Carl reveals six things to have on your list when you’re buying a horse for dressage — whatever the level.

1. Good natural balance and self-carriage

“There’s no point having a horse with a lovely trot and canter if they’re not in good balance,” says Carl, who uses young British grand prix rider Charlotte Fry and the five-year-old Inclusive (pictured above) as an excellent example of natural balance. “The importance of self-carriage applies across the levels — at any given moment you should be able to give and retake the reins and the horse stay on the bridle.”

2. A big walk — but not too big

“When buying a horse for dressage, or eventing, it has to have correct paces. Always buy a horse with a good walk, and avoid horses who ‘pace’ — when the left hindleg and the left front leg both move forward together,” says Carl. “The walk should be the easiest part of a test — it’s the bit you want for free! Look for an overtrack – that’s a good sign — but remember that too huge a walk often means it’s not easy to collect the horse in a good rhythm.”

3. Rhythm — the first scale of training

“You need a good basic working trot; the first thing in the scales of training is rhythm,” Carl points out. “Every step should be the same.”

4. The ‘look at me factor

“Not every horse has presence — that ‘look at me’ factor. Some horses are born with it, some learn to develop it, and some don’t,” says Carl, noting that Charlotte’s next demo ride, the grand prix breeding stallion Everdale, has presence in abundance.

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5. The pace that can rake in the marks

“I’m most interested in a horse’s walk and canter if I’m looking to buy. You want to see a definite moment of suspension,” reveals Carl, who also advises watching how a horse uses his shoulders, and how much he naturally comes off the floor in the canter. “There are so many points to be earned from canter in a grand prix test.”

6. A desire to go forward

“Being forward-thinking is so important and a horse must always have the desire to go forward,” says Carl. “If he doesn’t, it may be that he is not naturally forward-thinking, or that he has been trained using aids that are too strong. You should be able to ride a horse forward with looseness and lightness.”

Don’t miss our full report from Bolesworth in next week’s Horse & Hound, on sale on 21 June.

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

Training the stars

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

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

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

Tackling the issue

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

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

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

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

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#SundaySchool: the showjumping ‘gym’ with Holly Smith

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

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

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

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Consider this…

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

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

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

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

Training the stars

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

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

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

Tackling the issue

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

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

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

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#SundaySchool: perfecting pirouettes with Rebecca Hughes

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

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

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

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Consider this…

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

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

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

About David

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

Training the stars

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

Tackling the problem

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

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

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

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

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

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#SundaySchool: the showjumping ‘gym’ with Holly Smith

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

#SundaySchool: controlling the canter with Jessica Mendoza

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

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Consider this…

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

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

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

Aim

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

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

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

Exercise

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

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

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

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

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Tips and pitfalls

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

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