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July 2016

The Longines Royal International

Horse Show, Hickstead26 – 31 July 2016

South of England Show, Ardingly 2016Stephanie Dewitt and Julian Portch remind us of the highlights of this year’s show

BATTLING RAGWORT Weed control in paddocks by Michelle Pearce

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FRONT COVER : William Whitaker on the Derby Bank, Hickstead. © Julian Portch

Tel: NagMag on 01273 962 069 or email: [email protected] July 2016 NagMag ❘ 03

PAGE 04 ....................................SEIB Search for a Star – Farnham rider qualifies for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2016 PAGE 06 ....................................Wocket Woy & Batch – Jump jockeys Mattie Batchelor & Marc Goldstein at HicksteadPAGE 07 ....................................Society of Master Saddlers – What to Look for in Your SaddlePAGE 08 ....................................Spotlight on RoR Showing – By Michelle PearcePAGE 14 ....................................South of England Show – Courtesy of Julian Portch and Stephanie DewittPAGE 16 ....................................Road to Rio – Meet team GBPAGE 20 .................................... Sunshine Tour Championship 2016 – Rider Profiles and Show ReportsPAGE 20 ....................................The Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting – Images from Julian Portch and written by Stephanie DewittPAGE 26 ....................................Fashion – Equestrian accessoriesPAGE 28 ....................................Weed control in paddocks – By Michelle PearcePAGE 37 ....................................Raife Tansey – This month’s blogPAGE 39 ....................................World Horse Welfare News – Tarzan is doing well!PAGE 40 ....................................Tried & Tested – British Eventing Ladies Polo Shirt by Rachel Dorrell

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G eorgie Patrick, 50, from Farnham, qualified for

the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at the

SEIB Insurance Broker’s Search for a Star 2016

qualifier held at Stretcholt Equestrian Centre in Somerset,

on 12th June. Georgie placed second in a competitive

division aboard Carolyn Elwes’ Harry Duke.

Carolyn bought the 9-year-old dappled grey 18

months ago. He had hunted in Ireland and Dorset before

coming to Surrey.

“He’s very strong, and Carolyn asked me to school

him and do some jumping,” explained Georgie, who met

Carolyn through the hunting community. “I used to event,

but I have two young children, and so I don’t anymore.”

Instead, the pair have been focusing on dressage to music

and working hunter classes. “I last did working hunter

classes 35 years ago!” laughed Georgie.

The pair have qualified for the regional dressage to

music finals and plan to do more showing.

“We did amateur workers at Bath & West, but I was

very nervous – this is much nicer!” said a delighted

Georgie, who runs her own private yard. “Carolyn will

continue to hunt him, while I aim to continue his showing

and dressage,” she added.


The SEIB Search for a Star series has been created

by SEIB to encourage amateur riders to produce their

horses to a high standard in the show ring and giving

them the opportunity to compete at the prestigious finals

at the Horse of The Year Show (HOYS). Each qualifying

competition follows the same format, with classes for

Working Hunters, Riding Club Show Horses, Show Hunters,

Show Ponies & Show Hunter Ponies, Riding Horse/Hacks

and Cobs.

“The Search For A Star Championship series is a way

to give amateur riders the chance to achieve their dream

of riding at The Horse Of The Year Show. The standard

increases every year and we are delighted to give so many

riders this opportunity”, said Nicolina MacKenzie, Marketing

Manager at South Essex Insurance Brokers

Georgie will compete at the SEIB Insurance Brokers

Search for a Star Championship finals at the Horse of The

Year Show, 5th – 9th October 2016, at the Birmingham

NEC. NM

SEIB Search for a Star at HOYS

Farnham rider qualifies for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2016

Georgie Patrick & Harry Duke

CONTACT DETAILS More information on the Search for a Star series is available at www.search4astar.org.uk

© SM

R Photos

T he history…. We all know them as Batch and the Pwoducer, but where did it all begin? Jump jockeys Mattie Batchelor & Marc Goldstein

both came to riding quite late in life. At 16, Marc or ‘The Pwoducer’ was quite a good footballer and didn’t initially want to follow in the family footsteps of racing. Now one of the top jockeys often seen around local track Plumpton, his notable rides include riding the last ever winner at Folkestone and recently riding over the big fences at Aintree.

It was a pony ride on a family holiday to Ireland at aged 15 that got Mattie hooked. A few jumping lessons and many years of experience later and Mattie is a leading name in jump racing with his biggest win in the Hennessey


Gold Cup and notable wins at the Cheltenham Festival.

Friends for 12 years, Mattie and Marc begun working

together at Sheena West Racing in 2014. Messing about

at work on their phones, Mattie loved being in front of the

camera and with Marc’s creative ideas and their natural

chemistry together, the pair have become household

names in the equestrian world.

Many of you may have seen Wocket Woy scaring

himself witless in the Celebrity Scurry at the Equestrian.

com Hickstead Derby this year. NM

Wocket Woy

Hello Evwyone!It all started with two professional jump jockeys riding out on wet and cold mornings

on the South Downs, messing about in front of the video camera, Wocket Woy & Batch, the internet sensation, was born.

The Arundel Equine Hospital

Caring for and about horsesFor further information please contact the practice on 01903 883050 or click on www.arundelhorsevets.co.uk

STUD SERVICES

GENERAL SERVICESRCVS accredited Tier 3 Hospital Full surgical facilities Bone scan

Mobile and hospital based full digital diagnostics On site lab Referrals taken Pre-purchase examinations Sport Horse poor performance investigations

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Mares can be boarded and taken in from all over south of England Specialised foal care Stallion sub-fertility assessments 24 hour dedicated stud vet emergency call out and hospital care

CONTACT DETAILS For more information visit www.wocketwoy.co.uk

© jp

@ju

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T here are now so many types and styles of

saddles on the market from the most luxurious

leather money can buy to those made from

synthetic materials.

Here the Society of Master Saddlers considers the

options and gives readers food for thought.

First of all think about the purpose of the saddle, if

you are going to be showing or competing at a high level,

leather may be the look you decide to go for with judges

favouring a traditional look.

Leather saddles have the potential to last a lifetime if

they are well looked after and are made from good, top

quality leather. However regular maintenance is a must as

sweat, rain and poor storage conditions will destroy the

leather if it is not regularly cleaned and dressed.

A leather saddle can offer a feel second to none

and moulds very well between the rider and the horse

especially if a natural wool flocking is used. The suppleness

of well-cared for leather means they tend to have more

flexibility in them as well as good ‘stickability’ providing grip

and security.

Leather saddles also absorb heat and sweat, whereas

synthetics saddles don’t so this may be a swaying point if

you are planning to event your horse.

Synthetic saddles used to be seen as a very short term

solution and they wouldn’t last as long as a well-cared for

leather saddle, but they have developed extensively since.

Nowadays it can be very hard to distinguish a synthetic

saddle from a leather one and although they do last a lot

longer these days their life span doesn’t quite match the

longevity of leather.

Other advantages to buying a synthetic saddle are

their durability, light weight, easy to maintain and their

reasonable price. You can buy a brand new synthetic

saddle for nearly the same price you would pay for a good

quality second hand leather saddle.

In addition, synthetic saddles tend to be very versatile

and will often be able to accommodate hard to fit horses

with adjustable gullets.

Whichever you decide on, we recommend that you

use a Society of Master Saddlers’ Registered Qualified

Saddle Fitter to come out and fit your saddle and if any

adjustments need to be made this can also be done to

either types of saddle.

Remember if a rider feels good in the saddle they

will ride better, and if the horse feels comfortable he will

perform better. Whether you feel more comfortable in a

leather saddle or synthetic one, it is very much your own

personal choice. NM

Society of Master Saddlers

CONTACT DETAILS To find your local Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter and for more information visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or contact The Society of Master Saddlers on 01449 711642.

What to Look for in Your Saddle

I ’ll be the first to admit that, until I started delving

into the fascinating world of RoR showing, I didn’t

know much about this highly competitive sport. Until

then, my only experience was dragging my daughter’s

little Welsh mare out of the field on an inhospitable

March morning and hacking her several miles to the local

showing show. Needless to say it was raining and she was

covered in mud.

You can imagine our horror when, as we frantically

sponged her stained legs, we saw the proper show ponies

being carefully un-wrapped beside their smart trailers and

lorries. Need I say more. Daughter bucked off in Mountain

and Moorland class as little mare took flamboyant shine

to the stunning stallion in the ring, and then was placed

beneath a diminutive little tot who couldn’t do rising trot in

Best Rider Class. When I questioned the judge about this

she said Best Rider was about the pony. Oh dear. I had

everything to learn.

Now I have an ex-racer my interest in showing has

been re-ignited. I am fascinated how, in the right hands,

these strung-out speed-machines can be transformed into

the other-worldly creatures of the show ring. And as I’ve

got older I really am partial to a spot of serious grooming.

Family at home starving. House a mess. Washing hanging

in the rain. Me happily polishing said horse as darkness

falls…. You know the scene.

As soon as I bought him I registered Zuwaar with RoR

and was delighted that affiliating with this amazing charity,

funded in part by some of the great names of the racing

fraternity itself, only cost me a tenner. There aren’t many

bargains in the horse-world – a friend of mine once said

that having horses was like standing on top of a muck heap

tearing up £50 notes – but this RoR certainly seemed to

be value for money. And all for a good cause as well.

RoR is Britain’s official charity for the welfare of horses

who have retired from racing with over 13,000 members.

It was launched in 2000 as Rehabilitation of Racehorses,

but was renamed in 2003 to Re-training of Racehorse,

to better reflect the capacity for many ex-racehorses not


only to have positive futures beyond the track, but in many

cases exceptional new careers.

RoR also offers training days and regional events to its

members, as well as an impressive series of competitions

across all the main equestrian disciplines, including the

Tattersall’s Show Series with its Championship show at

the legendary Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting in

June.

RoR qualifying show – Heathfield & District Agricultural Show May 2016I needed to find out more about this elusive world of RoR

showing, so whilst my husband went off drooling over

sheep and pigs (small holding dreams etc) I clung to the

ropes and watched the competitors at The Heathfield &

District Show, to see if I could pick the winners.

The ex-racers were all incredibly beautiful, incredibly

well presented, they were all dealing with the busy

Racehorse to Riding Horse Showing ❘ By Michelle Pearce

ABOUT MICHELLE PEARCEMichelle Pearce is a freelance writer and a rider

who was brought up in Hong Kong in the 1970s

riding polo ponies and ex-racehorses. She runs

Honeys Green Osteopathic Clinic, in Sussex, with

her husband Michael, has three growing-up

children, dog, horse, pony and too many rabbits

and a new venture Life Stories – personal

compilations of memories and photographs.

Please e-mail or pm via Facebook to find out

more. [email protected].

Spotlight on RoR Showing

Imperial Ruby and Southerly Roberts winning the Ror /TBA Retrained Racehorse Challenge at the Heathfield and District Show where they qualified for Hickstead 2016.

By Michelle Pearce©

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showground and the crowds with amazing equanimity.

And yet a few stood out – they stood calmly in the line.

Their conformation and way of going looked flawless. Their

individual show was executed with precision and flair.

In the RoR/TBA Retrained Racehorse Challenge, where

competitors jump a course of rustic fences and then do

an individual show, Imperial Ruby ridden by Southerly

Roberts, was an easy winner to pick. If only we were still

at the races I would have been off to the bookies the

moment she rode into the ring. She scooped first in the

RoR TBA Challenge Qualifier and the RoR Jockey Club

Show Series Qualifier, and came second behind Hero

Worship in the RoR Tattersall Show Series Qualifier which

landed her a place at the Hickstead Championships.

Another Outstanding horse for me at Heathfield was

Hero Worship, who won both the RoR Tattersalls Show

Series Qualifier and the RoR TARRA Ridden Show Series

Qualifier. Ridden by owner Abi Sole this 13-year-old bay

gelding has already enjoyed great success in the RoR show

ring, but the lure of Hickstead and HOYS is strong – “When

I got him I did not know what I wanted to do,” Abi told me,

“Then I started showing and all I wanted to do was qualify

for Hickstead, now all I want to do is win it!”

The Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting RoR Tattersalls Thoroughbred Show Horse ChampionshipAnd so feeling a slightly maternal bias towards the horses

and riders I had met at Heathfield, and armed with press

pass, pen and a bit of folded A4 (call me old-school), I

headed for the infamous Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby

Meeting to see how they got on.

First stop press office – not the terrifyingly cliquey

menagerie of Hacks I had been fearing, but a quiet friendly

place where a few journalists clicked away on laptops and

photographers wrestled with more impressive looking kit

along one wall. There was a ransacked tray of doughnuts

too, but I didn’t need those. I was Press and I had a

lunch voucher. I shoved it in my back pocket and headed

over to the Equi-Treck Ring 5 where the RoR Tattersalls

Thoroughbred National Hunt class was underway.

On the way I stopped at the warm-up area. The

ex-racers were easy to spot. Elegant gleaming beasts,

floating over the sand on ballerina-legs. What horses! Here

I was privileged to chat to Jeannette Stayt, riding her own

beautiful dark bay 14-year-old Chief Exec.

Chief retired from the track four years ago after a long

and successful racing career, and is now kept at home with

her other ex-racer. With a history of showing and working

with Point to Point horses, Jeanette bought and brought

By Michelle Pearce ❘ Racehorse to Riding Horse Showing

Chief Exec with owner Jeanette Stayt

Her

o W

orsh

ip Abigail Sole and Hero Worship

Vital Stats – 13-year-old bay gelding, 157cms, owned and ridden by Abigail Sole.

Track Record – Raced 3 times as a 3-year-old, winning twice and coming second once before retiring.

How did you meet? – Through the Darley re-homing scheme “He chose me, really. He could have had three legs and no ears and I still would have loved him.”

Particular challenges on your journey to showing? Building muscle and learning show craft.

Greatest Success – Supreme RoR Novice Show Horse Champion 2014

Future ambition – To win the RoR Show Horse Championship at Hickstead and qualify for the Racehorse class at The Horse of the Year Show.

Top Tips for the RoR show ring? – “keep at it and seek support.”

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on a few ex-racers before coming across Chief Exec – “I

just knew this was my horse,” she told me. Jeanette

does most her schooling in the field at home which just

goes to show that time, dedication and ultimately love

can go just as far as fabulous facilities when creating

show horses from race horses.

The RoR Tattersalls Thoroughbred Flat Class started

soon after in the Irish Horse Gateway Ring 3 so I

happily hopped my morning away between the two. On

the way I was lucky enough to bump into Di Arbuthnot,

Chief Executive of RoR, and asked her just what the

judges are looking for in RoR classes. She emphasised

that the Elite Series are of an incredibly high standard


these days, that “racing blemishes are not ignored”

and that the horses are judged under Riding Horse

standards.

Torie and Barbara Joyce who’s horse Regal Approval

was also in the Flat Class, emphasised how “Different

judges look for different things, some put conformation

first and others look for a good ride, but basically they

are looking for the whole package, well mannered, good

ride, nice movement and well put together, no scars or

bumps,”.

The conditions in the show ring were tough –

competitors walked, trotted then cantered around the

ring as a group, showing their best on both reins and

maintaining their equilibrium with the utmost dignity

in spite of the muddy ground. There were incredibly

few displays of racehorse nerves or excitement – these

horses appeared to have been retrained in mind as well

as body – and by the time the judge pulled the horses

in they had all settled.


Hero Worship (left) and Valentine Jack waiting for the RoR flat class

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Victoria Joyce and Regal Approval

Vital Stats – Stable name Charlie, 8-year-old, 15.3hh bay geldingTrack Record – Solid on the track but retired as a 4-year-oldTorie Joyce – Started riding and showing as a toddler, worked with racehorses, had lots of success showing natives then “decided to combine my two passions racehorses and showing…. Ex-racers are a lot more challenging, that’s what I enjoy.”How did you meet? – Through Jim Boyles ex-racers “I saw him advertised and I liked the look of him.”Particular challenges on your journey to showing? – Charlie can get stressed travelling so now he travels with a Shetland for company and avoids overnight stays

Greatest Success – Second in huge class at Kent County show to qualify for HicksteadFuture ambition – “He’s done what we wanted [but] we never part with our horses, [so] he will take on a new career and do dressage mainly and maybe a few small shows for a day out.”Top Tips for the RoR show ring? – Judges are looking for “the whole package, well mannered, good ride, nice movement and well put-together, no scars or bumps.”

Judging the RoR National Hunt class – notice the grooms busy in the background!


Now followed the business of judge ride and trot-up in

hand. In came the grooms clutching baskets and brushes,

stripping off the tack, rubbing mud from fetlocks – oh

it’s hard work this showing business. Then back on again

and round the ring for final judging and placings, the

top six from each ring qualifying for final judging in the

international arena shortly before the Equestrian.com

Derby itself.

RESULTS OF FLAT CLASS

1st Mumtaz Begum Owner Susie Flook Exhibitor Lucinda Sims

2nd Perfect Choice Owner and Exhibitor Angela Lance

3rd Valentine Jack Owner and Exhibitor Donna Barmonte

4th Imperial Ruby Owner Sar Cassidy-Hill Exhibitor Southerly Roberts

5th Hero Worship Owner and Exhibitor Abigail Sole

6th She Knows too Much Owner Carol Beer Exhibitor Stephanie Beer


A perfect parade from 20-year-old Perfect Choice and owner Angela Lance second in flat class and winner of Veteran ribbon

Winners of the flat class with Chief Exec just off the frame pulled in 7th. Notice the challenging ground

Mum

taz

Begu

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Vital Stats – 10-year-old, 168cm chestnut mareTrack Record – Ten starts on the track over 7-10 furlongs but unplaced and retiredSusie Flook – rode as a child and returned to the saddle about 12 years ago, sometimes side-ways!How did you meet? – Purchased her from Virginia Rider last SeptemberParticular challenges on your journey to showing? – None – Mumtaz Begum is a super-star and can turn her hoof to a variety of disciplines including showing, dressage, side-saddle, and also enjoys a spot of hunting!

Greatest Success – Mumtaz Begum has a huge number of successes under her girth, most recently Champion RoR at Royal Bath show and now Reserve Champion at Hickstead with Aintree RoR Champs coming next in AugustAspirations for the future – “Keep going! Keep Winning!”

© julianportch@

hotmail.com


Now it was top-hat time. The atmosphere of

excitement was building in the International Arena as the

start of Hickstead’s centre-piece event – The Equestrian.

com Derby itself – drew near. But first the glory moment

for those splendid RoR’s – the culmination of hours of

preparation and years of re-training for the parade of the

final 12 in front of the cheering crowd.

This year the coveted Champion RoR Tattersall’s

Thoroughbred show horse was the stunning 12 year

old ex-National Hunt horse, Beware Chalk Pit, ridden

by Rebecca Court. Reserve Champion went to Mumtaz

Begum owned by Susie Flook and ridden by Lucinda Sims.

And so Hickstead, that place of dreams – mud or no

mud – was over for these competitors for another year.

But the journey isn’t over for the Champion and Reserve

Champion. Along with other winners form the RoR Elite

showing series, they will be taking part in the RoR National

Thoroughbred Show Horse Championships held at Aintree

on Sunday 28th August this year.

It’s quite a journey, this RoR, from the track, to

retraining, to RoR qualifiers to Hickstead and then back to

the track at Aintree, for the very best of them at the RoR

National Championships. In the coming issues we will take

a closer look at the horses and people involved in the

re-training and re-homing process of ex-racehorses, from

those who will enjoy quiet retirement in the field to those

who have the aptitude for retraining to the highest level.

And for those like me, at the very beginning of the

showing journey, there are more and more classes for ex-


RESULTS OF NATIONAL HUNT CLASS

1st Beware Chalk Pit Owner A. Leafley and R. Court. Rider Rebecca Court

2nd Amalric Owner S Thorman Rider Sarah Gwilliam

3rd Eight Palms Owner M Mcgivrn Rider Matt Mcgivern

4th Indiana Gold Owner Mairi Wilson Rider Mairi Wilson

5th Ard Maddy Owner K&J Marsden Rider Edith Pender-cudlip

6th Bridgham Owner Sofia Scott Rider Sofia Scott

Top hat time! Parade of winning ex racehorses in front of the clapping crowds

Beware Chalk Pit 2016 RoR Tatersalls Thoroughbred Show Horse Champion


racehorses at local shows. These can be a fabulous way to

learn more about the discipline of showing itself, sizing up

the competition and giving your horse experience of the

show environment.

Zuwaar and I did fairly well in our first ex-racehorse

class in May – coming third out of a field of what I would

call ‘Proper Posh Show Horses’. He tucked his head down

for the whole time and was an impeccably behaved

riding horse. He kept going for me even though he was

exhausted after his Working Hunter class (2nd!) and prelim

dressage (6th – points lost by me – brain freeze after

too much showing and forgot where we were going!),

and I loved him for that. The judges must have seen his

obedience too – and his pretty face and ballerina-legs of

course!

We went back for more local showing last week, this

time determined to swipe the red rosette. It wasn’t to be,

however. The field was tiny, and again he was nice and

calm, but our individual show was awful – “He still has

his racehorse head,” was the Judge’s kind comment –

yes, those who read last month’s feature on Zuwaar will

remember that giraffe habit of his….

But I’ll take heart from words of wisdom of highly

successful owner of super-star Hero Worship, Abi Sole –

“Showing is so competitive you have to just stick at it and

learn from every experience you have.”

But that’s for the future. This weekend it’s time for an

ODE– still local, still small, but Zuwaar was placed 1st and

4th on his first two outings, picking up a ‘best dressage’

rosette to boot, so I can’t help myself seeing that red

ribbon fluttering again before my hopeful, slightly love-

struck eyes. Come on racehorse! We can do it! Wish me

luck. NM


The ins and outs of RoR Showing where to start and the heights

you might attain

RoR/TARRA (Thoroughbred and Retired Racehorse Association) sponsors the in-hand and ridden show series for amateur riders and for all thoroughbreds, including those who have never raced. This is a great starting place for those looking to gain experience for themselves and their horse. In these classes racing blemishes will be ignored.

RoR TBA (Thoroughbred Breeders Association) Retrained Racehorse Challenge. A showing class which works along similar lines to working hunter classes where competitors jump a course of rustic fences and then perform a show, not exceeding a minute and half. Fences are 2ft6 – 3ft in the qualifying shows but can be up to 3ft6 in the Championship class held at The Royal Windsor Show in May 2017. In these classes racing blemishes will be ignored.

RoR Jockey Club novice show series – in hand and ridden. This series is for ex-race horses who have never won an open class or any showing class, with the finals at the RoR National Championships at Aintree in August 2016. In these classes racing blemishes will not be ignored.

RoR Tattersalls Elite Show series. Tattersalls is one of the oldest bloodstock auctioneers in the world, and has sponsored the RoR/Tattersalls Elite show series for over 10 years. It is a good example of how the giants of the racing industry have pledged support for the retraining of racehorses. Qualifiers are held throughout the country with the Championships being held at the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting, from which the Champion and the Reserve Champion progress to the Elite Series Final, held at Aintree on 28th August 2016. In these classes racing blemishes will not be ignored.

Also…

…For those who dream of riding at Horse of the Year Show there is the SEIB Racehorse to Ridinghorse Competition. This is open to both amateur and professional riders on Weatherby’s registered thoroughbreds mare or gelding four years old and over, which have previously raced under rules. Again there are qualifiers around the country with the Championships held at HOYS between 5th and 9th October 2016.Useful contacts and to find out morewww.ror.org.ukwww.racehorse2ridinghorse.co.uk

© pdg-photography.co.uk


South of England Show ❘ Images courtesy of Julian Portch

By Stephanie Dewitt

South of England Show Ardingly, 9 – 11 June 2016

F or the second year running

it was Phillip Miller who took

top honours in the Dinnage’s

Grand Prix, this time riding Shirley

Light’s homebred Unbelievable Lady,

as well as being placed fourth on last

year’s winner Caritiar Z, owned by Di

Cornish. South-east riders also in the

line-up were Nicole Pavitt on Shahenaz

(2nd), Tracy Priest with Caristo VDL

(3rd) and Lucy Bunn on the 8-year-old

Billy Buckingham (5th).

“Shirley gave me some advice

before my jump-off round,” said Phillip,

“telling me to be quick away from

fence three and just do my best. She’s

my best friend and our partnership

works very well. I’ve ridden Brendon

Stud’s Unbelievable Lady for two years

now and she topped the BS Gold

League last year. She’s what I call a

proper, polite horse. We’ll be resting

till Hickstead now!”

Phillip also commented that the

ground at Ardingly was incredible this

year, just right for all the events held

in the main arena. The Sussex Life

Area Trial was won by Robert Whitaker

on Catwalk with Darren Wise coming

a creditable 3rd on his own Calaero.

Second in the Area Trial, Robert Bevis

and Courtney Z also took the lead in

the International Stairway.

Yet again it was Esther Rostron

who won the Side-Saddle Concours

d’Elegance riding her chestnut gelding


Penstrumbly our Abram, while Mrs Jane Townshend’s 15

year-old brood mare, Raritat, qualified for the Horse of the

Year Show in the Cuddy Supreme In-hand Championship.

Likewise, Mrs Katrina Hirst took both Champion and

Reserve in the Cuddy Working Hunter of the Year with her

chestnut geldings Dartans Barrack and Lislan Defi in the

heavyweight and lightweight sections respectively.

Mark Bycroft of the Old Surrey, Burstow and West

Kent Hunt got the crowd going during the display of

hounds in the main arena while, on the third day of thrilling

competition, Julia Caffyn’s team from the Southdown and

Eridge Hunt emerged victorious in the annual Inter-Hunt

Relay. NM

Images courtesy of Julian Portch ❘ South of England Show

T he British Olympic Association has announced

the 12 athletes that will compete for Team

GB across the three equestrian disciplines of

eventing, dressage and jumping at the Rio 2016 Olympic

Games.

Three-time Olympic medallist William Fox-Pitt with

Chilli Morning will feature in the eventing team along

with Kitty King riding Ceylor L A N and Izzy Taylor on

Allercombe Ellie. Gemma Tattersall rounds off the team

on Chico Bella P or Quicklook V, with all three athletes

receiving their first Olympic call-up.

In the dressage team, reigning World, European and

Olympic Champion Charlotte Dujardin will compete on

Valegro joined by fellow 2012 Olympic team gold medallist

Carl Hester with Nip Tuck.


The dressage team will be completed by 2015

European team silver medallist Fiona Bigwood on

Atterupgaards Orthilia and Spencer Wilton on Super Nova

II – both of whom make their Olympic Games debuts.

There is also plenty of Olympic Games pedigree in

the jumping team, with London 2012 gold medallists

Nick Skelton and Ben Maher returning on Big Star and

Tic Tac respectively – Rio 2016 being Skelton’s seventh

Games, and his second on Big Star.

Los Angeles 1984 jumping team silver medallist

John Whitaker, who’s set to feature in his sixth Olympic

Games, will compete on Ornellaia while younger brother

Michael, who heads to his fifth Olympic Games – who

also won silver at LA 1984 – will compete aboard

Cassionato.

Road to Rio

Meet the team: 12 equestrian riders selected for Rio 2016


Road to Rio

EVENTING:

William Fox-Pitt, age 47, based

Dorset, with Christopher Stone’s

Chilli Morning

Kitty King, age 33, based

Wiltshire, with Diana Bown,

Jacqueline Owen and Samantha

Wilson’s Ceylor L A N

Gemma Tattersall, age 31,

based West Sussex, with either

Christopher Stone’s Chico Bella

P or The Pebbles Syndicate’s

Quicklook V

Isabelle (Izzy) Taylor, age 33,

based Oxfordshire, with Susan

Holroyd and Frances Carter’s

Allercombe Ellie

Travelling Reserve: Pippa Funnell MBE, age 47, based Surrey, with

the late Carol Toliver’s Billy The Biz

JUMPING:

Ben Maher MBE, age 33, based

Hertfordshire, with Jane Forbes

Clark and his own Tic Tac

Nick Skelton OBE, age 58,

based Warwickshire, with

Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star

John Whitaker MBE, age 60,

based West Yorkshire, with Team

Harmony Management Co Ltd’s

Ornellaia

Michael Whitaker, age 56,

based Nottinghamshire, with

Beverley Widdowson’s Cassionato

Travelling reserve: Jessica Mendoza, age 20, hometown

Wiltshire, with Sarah Mendoza’s

Spirit

DRESSAGE:

Fiona Bigwood, age 40, based West Sussex, with Penny Bigwood and Neils and Lis Dahl’s Atterupgaards Orthilia

Charlotte Dujardin OBE, age 30, based Gloucestershire, with Rowena Luard, Anne Barrott and Carl Hester’s Valegro

Carl Hester MBE, age 49, based Gloucestershire, with Jane De La Mare and his own Nip Tuck

Spencer Wilton, age 43, based Reading, with Jennifer Goodman and his own Super Nova II

Travelling Reserve: Lara Griffith, age 27, based Gloucestershire, with Dr Wilfried and Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin Al Asad

The announcement brings the number of selected athletes to 246 from 20 sports. The selected athletes are:

See more at: https://www.teamgb.com/news/meet-the-team-12-equestrian-riders-selected-for-rio-2016#sthash.AHJNvToz.dpuf

T eam Hester and iconic country clothing brand

Lansdown are delighted to announce the

forthcoming launch of the Valegro clothing range

which will be available from the beginning of July 2016 to

coincide with the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Equine superstar Valegro, who is expected to represent

Equestrian Team GB in the team and individual dressage

competition already has various ranges produced under

licence but this is the first comprehensive men’s, women’s

and children’s clothing collection that has been designed

and manufactured by Lansdown in association with Carl

Hester and his team.

To help bring a touch of style and glamour to the

launch, Carl Hester enlisted the modelling services of

top young dressage riders Chloe Vell and Erin Williams.

Williams and Vell, both only 18yrs old have represented the

UK on medal winning pony teams and are now shortlisted

for young rider teams. They are both professional models

represented by top London agencies and in Hester’s words

“These two girls are future Olympic team contenders so

what better way to launch this collection than to have


current and potential medal prospects to model this

fantastic range of clothing!”

The collection features the hallmark Blueberry shade

in a range of T Shirts, Polo and rugby shirts and hooded

sweat tops. Design details are integral to this collection

with hidden trims, placement embroidery and applique,

subtle union flag emblems and the unmistakeable Gold

medal that signifies official Valegro merchandise. The

Brazilian flag has also been introduced into the design to

celebrate the forthcoming 2016 Olympics. The items are

all high quality cotton pique and jersey with retail prices

starting from £25.

The collection is available now for pre-order from

the Lansdown website, and customers can also expect

to view the whole collection on the Lansdown trade

stand at various equestrian events around the UK.

Enquiries from trade customers are also welcomed as a

2017 wholesale collection is scheduled for launch in the

autumn.

To view the collection visit http://www.

lansdowncountry.co.uk/collections/valegro

Road to Rio

Lansdown Country Launches Valegro Clothing Collection

Team Hester and iconic country clothing brand Lansdown are delighted to announce the forthcoming launch of the Valegro clothing range, which is available now, to coincide with the 2016 Rio Olympics.


Road to Rio

Valegro is quite simply a phenomenon. He is the best

dressage horse the world has ever seen, and possibly

the best horse. With his young rider he has won

Olympic, World and European Gold medals, the World

Cup twice and holds all three world records in dressage.

He is the only horse ever to hold all these medals and

records at the same time and not surprisingly is ranked

number one in the world. Valegro is due to compete for

Great Britain at this year’s Olympics in Rio and we hope

will do as well as at London 2012, where he won team

and individual gold medals for Great Britain.

The combination of Valegro, his young rider and

their trainer is outstanding and charted as one of the

most successful in the world of sport and equestrianism

– ever. Behind this success is a truly outstanding trainer,

mentor, horse-owner and friend – Carl Hester - who

gave up the ride on the best horse in the world to

his pupil so Great Britain could have a chance at an

unprecedented Olympic team Gold Medal knowing he

could ride his other team horse (Uthopia) to achieve a

high score too.

This, book one of ‘The Blueberry Stories’ starts the

tale of the trials, tribulations, adventures and characters

Valegro meets along the way to success in a child-

friendly fictional format. Carl Hester has told these

stories to Janet Rising and has included a learning and

technical aspect to pass on some equestrian knowledge

to youngsters in a fun and friendly way. The books have

been edited to Key Stage 2 so are suitable for use in

schools.

The stories are real, the setting is real and the

animals are real. Set at Carl’s picturesque home and

stable yard this rags-to-riches story of a small horse

rising from humble beginnings to become the best

the world has seen is unique, heart-warming and

compelling. The books will appeal to all young readers

as well as equestrian fans.

CARL HESTER FBHS MBE is one of the world’s

greatest equestrians and has competed in four

Olympics, which culminated in leading Great Britain

to gold medal victory at London 2012. He will be

competing in his fifth Olympics at Rio in August.

VALEGRO – THE LITTLE HORSE WITH THE BIG DREAMThe Blueberry Stories: Book OneCarl Hester MBE with Janet Rising

The first in a series for children that tells the real-life story of Valegro, stable name Blueberry

JANET RISING has always been obsessed by equines.

For two decades she edited PONY Magazine and her

previous books include ‘The Pony Whisperer’ series.

Helena Öhmark (front cover and paperback

illustrations) has worked part time as an illustrator for

twenty years, mostly for equestrian magazines aimed at

pony-mad children and teenagers and illustrated “The Big

book of Drawing Horses and Ponies”.

Available to pre-order now:

Ebook priced at £3.99 from 8th July 2016

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/valegro-little-horse-big-dream/id1126720636?mt=11

Paperback with illustrations priced at £6.99 available 22nd August 2016 from http://www.troubador.co.uk/book_info.asp?bookid=4204

Official publication date: 28th November 2016.


Sunshine Tour 2016 ❘ Rider Profiles

From first time novices to ‘riding all their lives’, we caught up with a range of competitors who are already looking forward to the championships and maybe

getting into the winners’ enclosure at Hickstead

The Final FurlongIn the ‘race’ to get to The All England Showground,

Hickstead for the 2016 Sunshine Tour

Championships, we’re getting close to the end of

the qualification period. You have until 14th August to

secure your chance of joining in at the best unaffiliated

championships of the year! So gallop along to a qualifier

centre, or if you don’t have many near to you then get a

personal qualifier card to take along to your local shows.

Then trot along to www.sunshinetour.co.uk where you can

register and enter online. Never heard of the Sunshine

Tour? Then check out the website for all the information

that you need to get on the road to Hickstead – and giddy

up, it’s not long before the flag goes down on the chance

to enter (16th August).

Gai

l Jef

frey

Gail Jeffrey with Billy Rwanda85cm Show Jumping at Topthorn Arena, Suffolk

Gail started off life completely immersed in the horsey world as her mother owned a riding school. After spending her childhood helping at the stables and riding as a keen member of the local Pony Club and Riding Club, Gail spread her wings and went to work in the horse industry. With some great experience behind her working as a travelling groom, Gail settled down to a job in the car industry 16 years ago. Gail told us about her current horse, Billy Rwanda “I’m a keen amateur I’ve been riding my whole life, I had an amazing time working as travelling groom and now I work as a Yard Manager at Manheim Car Auctions. I juggle this with looking after and competing my horses, this entails early mornings late nights but it is all worth it. I did compete my horse ‘Phoenix’ in affiliated show jumping competitions, but at 15 years old he had to retire from jumping and is now happy hacking out a couple of times a week and enjoying keeping the youngsters company in the field.”

“Now I have a 5-year-old mare Astral Little Gem, known as ‘Alanya’ who I am slowly bringing on, but I was missing going out competing and jumping so when a friend advertised her horse, I brought Billy Rwanda. His sire is Billy Congo and he was bred at the Billy stud, he’s 7 years old and a bit of a tricky and nervous horse. He struggles in the collecting ring around other horses but we are starting to get together and work as a great partnership. I plan to affiliate Billy after the Sunshine Tour.”

“With Billy and Alanya I am very excited about the future. I am really pleased we managed to qualify for these championships and I’m really looking forward to going, I think it’s a great opportunity for people like myself.”

Ivie

may

Tow

ler

Iviemay Towler with The Black Star Show Jumping, Lead Rein & 30cm at Rayleigh & District Riding Club, Essex

A brand new partnership, ‘Blackie’ and 8-year-old Iviemay Towler had only been together for 5 weeks when they qualified for the Sunshine Tour Championships at her local Riding Club show. Mum Jenny told us about the pair “She had only been riding for 9 months on a loan pony once a week when we acquired our smart little 12hh ‘Blackie’ and at the time of qualifications we had only owned Blackie for five weeks!”

“On our first outing to Rayleigh & District Riding Club, Iviemay qualified in the Lead Rein Jumping and the Beginners 30cm class. Just to prove she could really do it, she qualified again on her second outing. We are really looking forward to coming to Hickstead with the other girls from our yard that have qualified.”


Rider Profiles ❘ Sunshine Tour 2016Li

lly D

avie

s

Lilly Davies with Teddy Intro Dressage at Brook Farm Training Centre, Essex

Jenny Davies didn’t really mean to buy her pony for her then 3-year-old daughter,

but 10hh black Shetland, Teddy popped up on Facebook and she fell in love! “He looked like an absolute gem so I called the owner and just fell in love with him over the phone, he sounded perfect. We trundled over to see him, tried him and adored him straight away. Having really enjoyed Pony Club with him, the lovely family who owned him were very sad to have outgrown him and agreed to let us buy him if we kept in touch with them. So Teddy came home with Lilly and I and we have never looked back!”

“We’ve joined the local Pony Club and have great fun competing, we won a lead rein dressage competition and despite having sworn that I’d never do showing, we tried our hand in a few classes and we love it and are doing really well!! We had no clue what to do or what to wear and the organisers and other competitors have been so helpful.”

“Teddy is an angel and its precious mum and daughter time for Lilly and I as I’m so busy normally. We’ve qualified for the both Hickstead Sunshine Tour and The Chiltern and Thames championships and after doing so well I decided to see if I could also register Teddy with the

Shetland Society. We found out through a bit of investigation with the previous owners that he had been an RSPCA rescue case. We have no idea of the circumstances of his rescue and we are certain that we will never find his parentage to register him but we love him and are enjoying our first season ever of showing. He’s a little chap that fills a big part of our hearts and we wouldn’t be without him.”

Alis

on C

oom

bes

Alison Coombes with Ashdene Primrose Veteran Showing at Rayleigh & District Riding Club, Essex

The Coombes’ 16-year-old New Forest Pony, Ashdene Primrose is genuinely a family pony and has made them proud by qualifying for the Sunshine Tour. Alison told us about her family pony that is everything but a boring old pony “I qualified for the Sunshine Tour at our local show held by Rayleigh and District Riding Club. Primrose is now 16 years old and she has turned her hoof from a hunting and jumping pony to dressage, pony club, gymkhanas and most recently showing.”

“She has taught my three children to ride and is a real character of a pony and keeps me on my toes. She frequently takes me for a high speed lap of a field when she’s supposed to be walking or ‘forgets’ to tell me she’s going to stop and turn on a sixpence! Winning her Veteran showing class and qualifying for the

Tour has made us all so proud of her as she is a genuinely special pony and we all can’t wait to bring her along to Hickstead in September.”

Jen

Wal

ker

Jen Walker with DimitriIntro and Prelim Dressage at Pyrford Saddle Club, Surrey

29-year-old Jen works full time in London, so for her getting out the city to see her horse is the best thing in the world! “Dimitri is a 16.1hh, 10-year-old Thoroughbred x Friesian who I’ve had for five years. We only just started competing in Dressage in April of this year, so I’m really happy to have qualified and am excited to be competing at the Championship in September at Hickstead!”


Sunshine Tour 2016 ❘ Rider Profiles

Amy

Yapp

Amy Yapp with Stevies Royal Pride Prelim and Novice Dressage at Snowball Farm, Berkshire

Having just finished her A-levels, 17-year-old Amy heard about The Sunshine Tour and thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to compete at the prestigious Hickstead. She’s owned 16.1hh piebald mare Stevies Royal Pride, stable name ‘Tazz’ for two years.

“I cracked on with some qualifiers and luckily I managed to qualify for the prelim and novice dressage first time out. When we first bought her I spent time show jumping but now we focus on dressage, which we only started competing in properly in 2016. I am overwhelmed to be going to Hickstead. I am looking to qualify

for some other classes so when we get there we have an action packed couple of days and up our chances of coming home with a few rosettes!”

Beck

y Ki

ngsw

ell

Becky Kingswell with Dinky 70cm Eventers Challenge at Kingate Equestrian, Isle of Wight

A foal who turned out unexpectedly small and couldn’t be sold to the intended owner, ended up as a super star horse for Becky. “Dinky Doo was bred by Roy Trigg, who I had worked for previously. She is a Shire X Thoroughbred and was intended for my husband who wanted a big horse to ride! But, fortunately for me she ended only making 15.2hh and turned out much more Thoroughbred than Shire.”

“She is now 16 years old and is great fun but a bit excitable, and although we’ve missed some years due to money being tight and a fetlock injury, we’re doing really well now. I competed at Hickstead some 27 years ago, so I’m really looking forward to going back!”

Sunshine Tour UK are sponsored by:• Horse Monkey • Beewear • SBM Photographic • Saracen Horse Feeds • • The Showing Register • Team Holder Showing • Maxima Equestrian •

• Equisupplies • Rokers Tack Shop • Mayes & Scrine Equine Veterinary Practice •

Nic

ole

Wor

thin

gton

Nicole Worthington with Miss TillyShowing in Coloureds, Newcomer and Top Turnout at South-East Essex Driving & Riding Club, Essex

30 years after giving up riding, a year and a half ago Nicole bought a very ‘green’ 14.2hh, skewbald mare Tilly. It took them a while to get into the swing of riding for various reason, first of which was gastric ulcers. “She was diagnosed with grade 3 – 4 ulcers, so I was unable to do anything for four months. During that period, I spent a lot of time on the ground with Tilly getting to know her and although she’s not been the easiest of horses, with the help of my instructor and some lovely girls at the yard my

confidence has grown. They encouraged me to enter some local shows and after taking the plunge, Tilly and I won our Novice Riders class and in-hand Coloureds and 2nd in Best Condition. I’m really excited to be able to take part in the Sunshine Tour. You’re never too old to give it a go and having Tilly has been the best thing ever.”


Rider Profiles ❘ Sunshine Tour 2016Ka

tie R

uben

Katie Ruben with Pepsi Cola 70cm & 75cm Show Jumping at Coombelands Equestrian, West Sussex

Katie from East Sussex has been riding most of her life, but only at riding schools until eight months ago when she got the opportunity to take on a rescue pony, 15hh bay gelding called Pepsi.

“We don’t know his history, he was broken in at the rescue centre and then sent to a few homes as a companion but he always ending up back until I took him on. With help from my instructor, we got going, but little did I imagine when I got him that we would ever qualify for The Sunshine Tour.”

“I started taking him to small show jumping shows and as he behaved very well, I have been taking him to shows more frequently and at a show jumping event at Coombelands, West Sussex we unexpectedly got a 4th place in the 70cm and were handed a yellow ticket. We have now managed to get placed 1st in 75cm show jumping which means we have qualified for two championships! And to add to our achievements we have now also qualified for Prelim dressage as we came 1st and 3rd last weekend.”

“I cannot wait to be able to compete at the Sunshine Tour at Hickstead, it is something that I never thought I would be able to do with Pepsi.”

Georgina Leavold with Jimmie Prelim and Novice Dressage at Vectis Dressage Festival, Isle of Wight

“Happy hack, confidence giver and all round lovely pony” is how Georgina describes the 13.3hh gelding that was actually bought for her mum to return to riding after a fall. Sad circumstances of losing her own competitive ride, led Georgina to ride Jimmie a few times and found that he is much more than just a happy hacker.

“Jimmie makes me smile every time I ride him, he’s the straightest pony I’ve ever ridden. I didn’t think at the age of 32 I would be back riding ponies! But he’s honestly fantastic and having ridden him more over the past few months I’ve taken a real shine to his big personality and kind soul - small in body but huge in heart!”

“I’ve recently registered him BD and in his last few outings qualified for Prelim Area Festivals at the end of the year. When he first arrived he wouldn’t jump a 2ft fence now he’s boldly jumping a 70cm course and I’ve taken him cross country schooling, with him showing he has a heart of a lion, even taking on a few of the 1m fences. My aim is to qualify him for the jumping classes at the Sunshine Tour as well as dressage, hopefully around 70 / 80cm and maybe have a go at a BE80(T) by the end of the season. He’s taken my mum from a rider who was petrified to get on by herself to one who is ready to do her first Intro test and frequently hacks out on her own. All in the space of eight months! I would love for her to qualify for the Sunshine Tour in the Intro dressage, I would be so proud of them both.”

Katie

Rub

en

CONTACT DETAILS To find out more about the championships see www.sunshinetour.co.uk where you can find out how to take part in qualifying competitions, see the list of qualifying venues and dates, or apply for a personal qualifier card to use anywhere, and you can find us on Facebook at Sunshine Tour UK. See you soon!

D espite dampness, downpours and deluges, this

year’s Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting

went on as usual with the ground in the arenas

holding up remarkably well.

William Whitaker was the third member of the

showjumping family to add his name to the Boomerang

Trophy, jumping a steady clear on Glenavadra Brilliant

but incurring one time fault. Three horses and riders

tied for second place with four faults apiece: Ireland’s

Richard Howley, first to jump the infamous Derby course

on Chinook, and Billy Twomey with Diaghilev along with

Harriet Nuttall from Somerset riding A Touch Imperious.


“Having come second last year and second in other

European Derbies, I’m so pleased to win with this horse,”

said William. “The more times you ride a course, the better

you get! I knew I was a bit slow but, for a big horse, he’s a

bit hot, so I took time to steady him on the course.”

Harriet Nuttall took the top two places in the Speed

Derby with Silver Lift and Highland Cruiser II, Guy Williams

having been stripped of second place because his two-

time winner, Casper de Muze, was seen to have a spot of

blood on his flanks at the end of their round. However,

Guy and the 14 year-old Casper retained their title in the

Bunn Leisure Master’s Challenge, leaving all the ascending

white gates standing in the fastest time of 44.85 seconds.

Hickstead’s Shane Breen took the Beethoven 7 & 8

Year-old Championship riding the 8 year-old Silbermond

while there were two wins for Tracy Priest from Surrey on

the first day of international competition: first place in the

Bunn Leisure Derby Tankard on Penny Priest’s grey gelding

Caristo VDL and in the Hickstead Novice Championship

riding her own Caruso Deres Z.

David Simpson partnered with Gotti van Paemal won

The Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting ❘ June 2016

By Stephanie Dewitt

Images ©Julian Portch

The Show Goes On!The Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting, 23 – 26 June 2016

Having come second last year and second in other

European Derbies, I’m so pleased to win with this horse


June 2016 ❘ The Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting

the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial, beating Surrey-based William

Funnell on Billy Onslow and Shane Breen with Acoustik

Solo du Baloubet in the jump-off with the only double

clear. David shares a yard near Horsham with fiancée

Louise Pavitt who won the Stoner Jewellers Vase speed

class on Fiona vh Lemmenshof. The couple plan to marry

next month.

Hopefully the sun will shine for them and the Royal

International Horse Show at Hickstead at the end of July!

NM

Taking a moment: Harriet Nuttall

and Silver Lift just before starting the

Speed Derby

David Simpson with Charlie Bunn


Fashion

Mitch and Gabriella Crowned DOTY 2016!

On a cloudy Sunday at the end of May, Derriere Equestrian hosted it’s annual search for the next face of their global specialist clothing brand.

The Annual Derriere of the year competition – DOTY is the chance for riders to become the face of the Derriere Equestrian brand.

Mitch and Gabriella faced strong competition and were both delighted to be crowned winners. Gabriella, no stranger to the limelight had just the previous evening been crowned Miss Sportswoman Dorset was nevertheless, over the moon.

“I could never have dreamed I would be representing such a fantastic equestrian company whilst achieving my own dreams of becoming a model all at once. When my mum (also a rider) purchased her pair of padded underwear some months ago I didn’t hear the end of her “comfortable enjoyable ride” she now has, I just knew I had to apply to be doty2016! I can’t wait for the future with the amazing derrière team.”

Mitch has since been signed to top London model agency Models Plus Ltd from where he hopes to launch his modelling career “Proud to be announced the winner of DOTY 2016 and feel it’s a kick start to a modelling career”

CONTACT DETAILS For more information please visit www.derriereequestrian.com

Claire Galer was overwhelmed by the number of entrants this year and she had these words to say to Mitch and Gabriella. “The hugest of congratulations to Gabriella and Mitch becoming crowned as DOTY Winners 2016, as the competition was so strong.


Fashion

The coat comes in a range of sizes from 14” to 26”Rrp £24.99

Equestrian.com has the answer offering the British Eventing waterproof dog coat.

Lined with quality fleece and the outer shell made of 600D will allow your dog to be protected against the rain and

wind. The Velcro belly wrap strap makes the coat secure but comfortable for your companion. Navy check, navy and red

are the choice of colours and each are embroidered with the British Eventing logo. Machine washable.

For further information visit www.equestrian.com

Noble Outfitters Perfect Fit Cool Mesh Gloves Vivacious. Available in sizes 6, 7 and 8 www.thehorsediva.co.uk Rrp £17.50

Lace Topped Socks by Grace & Lace. One size only (Fits Sizes 6 -9) Colours: Ecru. Available from www.thespanishbootcompany.co.ukRrp £21.00

Eskadron Fly Veil – Classis S/S 2016 in Navy, Mint, Mango, Fresh Berry and Sky Blue – Full size only available www.dressagedeluxe.co.uk Rrp £22

“T here is that plant in the field,” the old

owner of our home looked rather wide-

eyed and startled as she showed us the

paddock last summer. “The one that’s bad for horses.”

“Ragwort,” I replied looking out over the waving June

grass, dotted with jolly yellow crowns and towering purple

thistles. I glanced at my husband. He had a far-away look in

his eyes. No use to me, he was in love. Or heaven. Or both.

“Don’t worry, we’ll just pull it out.” I said, noting how

attractively the long pasture sloped away from the house

to the deep shadows of the trees. I briefly painted my two

horses into the idyllic scene. Even the ragwort looked rather

lovely. Then I came back to my senses, “The field is just

perfect,” I told the owner, “But could you please cut down

the ragwort before it seeds?”

“Of course.”


When we took on our paddock this February there

wasn’t a bit of ragwort to be seen, just the odd dead stalk

with empty brown umbels. Ah, so she hadn’t cut it down

after all. My husband did a hasty home-style topping

on the ride-on mower – his ‘tractor’ bless him – and by

the time our fence went up at the end of April the green

ragwort rosettes were fattening up like cabbages amongst

the new spring grass. Hundreds of them.

I knew it was deadly to horses. I knew it spread like

wildfire. I knew it was a skin-irritant and I knew it was

increasingly visible across our countryside. I knew I had to

act quickly if my horses were going to have safe grazing.

I also knew I didn’t know enough about this pernicious

plant, so I asked some experts, did some research and

started my battle with the seminal ragwort issue – do I pull

or do I poison? NM

Weed control in paddocks ❘ By Michelle Pearce

The second in the five-part series by Michelle Pearce – The reality of getting a field of your own and how to get it ready for your horse

PART 2Battling Ragwortto pull or to poison that is the question


CAUTION: When using any herbicide READ THE LABEL thoroughly and adhere to all instructions, restrictions and safety requirements.

There are several herbicides on

the market specifically designed to

control ragwort, but many of the

most effective carry legal restrictions.

You may often be able to purchase

the products but not to use them

without a special license, even if you

only wish to spot-spray a few plants.

For larger areas spraying is often

done by contractors, and in both

cases livestock must be kept off the

land for several weeks afterwards.

Herbicides tends to be most

effective when ragwort is in its

rosette stage of active growth –

normally in the spring when the

grass starts growing. As long as the

By Michelle Pearce ❘ Weed control in paddocks

whole plant is covered by the spray,

the leaves should wither, brown

and die within a couple of hours. As

the herbicides travel down to the

roots, these too should be killed, so

minimizing any re-growth from that

plant in years to come. Bonus!

However even if you spray,

plants must be pulled and then

Ragwort – some factsRagwort – Jacobaea vulgaris / Senecio jacobaea – is a native Eurpoean plant which has gained a whole host of folk names through history, including stinking willy, cushag and mare’s fart, names which speak volumes about its reputation as a pernicious, unpleasant-smelling, weed which is particularly poisonous to horses.

The great plus of ragwort is that it is easily identifiable, with its deeply grooved, highly pungent leaves, which form rosettes in spring before the stem reaches skyward to heights of 30cm to 2 metres, culminating in bright yellow flowers from June to October.

Ragwort in the UK is normally biennial, meaning that it flowers every two years after which the plant dies. However, if a paddock is regularly mown, or woe-betide the ragwort is grazed, it can exhibit perennial properties and enter a cycle of annual flowering with multiple heads, year after year.

Each plant can produce a huge 75,000 to 120,000 seeds. Thankfully not all of these will

germinate, and neither will they tend to travel a great distance from the parent plant. This is why mature and maturing plants are often found in clusters around the field rather than more broadly dispersed. Even so ragwort can easily spread onto your land from neighbouring paddocks or verges, and ridding a field of ragwort is hard work and can take years.

UK Law on Ragwort is somewhat obscure. It is listed as an injurious weed in The UK 1959 Weeds Act, however it is

not illegal to grow. Rather if complaints about infestations are made to the Secretary of State for DEFRA, the landowners concerned are obligated to do something about it. If ragwort is rife near your grazing contact you local council to prevent it spreading.

The flip-side of the ragwort debate is the wide range of species – notably bees, butterflies, moths, flies and other insects – which gather nectar from its flowers. Understandably this makes it a darling of some environmentalists, who see it as “a vital part of our natural native flora”. Source http://urbanbutterflygarden.co.uk/common-ragwort-senecio-jacobaea Those studying UK populations of the Cinnabar moth, are particularly keen on ragwort as it is a vital larval food for this “rapidly declining” species. (Butterfly Conservation 2007. The United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan – moths). Some areas even use these insects for biological control of the plant Sourcehttp://www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/PP0698.pdf – an ecologically sound approach but doubtless not direct enough for horse owners like me.

And so to herbicides…

Spraying with herbicides

Rogue ragwort continuing to grow

once bagged up

either burnt or taken to

the dump for “professional”

composting. Whilst the dead leaves

lose their bitter taste and become

palatable to horses, they still

contain their poisonous alkaloids

and can easily be eaten along

with the surrounding grass, with

potentially fatal consequences.

There is debate about whether

the alkaloids themselves cause

horses to become ill and on

occasion die from eating ragwort,

or the effects of these chemicals

on the liver. During their breakdown

by the liver a by-product is

produced which can damage DNA

and cause a slow and lingering

demise. In most cases ragwort

poisoning is cumulative. Horses



are unlikely to eat the 3 – 7% of

body weight of ragwort reputed to

cause instant death, but if allowed

to graze unsuitable pasture over

long periods of time they can

unknowingly ingest fatal doses of

ragwort.

Unfortunately there is often

no sign of any problem until

ragwort poisoning has done

irreparable damage. Symptoms

of ragwort ingestion appear to be

the same as poisoning from other

sources, include yellow mucus,

depression, lack of co-ordination,

photosensitization, weight-loss

even with normal eating, blindness,

staggering, and in some cases

sudden death. http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Ragwort

Spraying is best done in spring when the whole plant can be covered and the roots killed as well

The all too familiar sight of ragwort in full flower running wild

A welcome rest from the back-breaking task


When you are pulling ragwort it is vital that EVERY SINGLE LEAF is picked up so horses do not accidentally eat them. Bearing in mind that there is often long grass around ragwort, of if you are really lucky, like me, hosts of lovely thistles as well, it is all too easy to miss dropped leaves as you religiously pull the plants.

This put me in absolute terror when I started pulling

the plants in my field. What if I left a leaf and the horses

ate it? What if I left more than one? Hundreds perhaps?

I stopped pulling for a while, did more research and

watched the rosettes begin to gather altitude. No, I had

to get back out there and resume pulling. I had to trust

myself to pick up every leaf. And so I returned to the vigil

of carefully forking out and pulling, starting with the largest

plants which looked set to flower this year and vowing to

return to the smaller ones as soon as the biggies had been

eradicated.


Pulling ragwort in the long summer evenings

can be a real joy

A host of ragwort seedlings colonising

a patch of bare paddock

I have come to rather love pulling ragwort. I tend to save it for the long summer evenings, ideally following rain, when the soil is soft enough to release the roots in a complete fist, and yet not so soggy that my rag-fork gets clogged up with mud. I sometimes take a G and T with me, the dog normally comes to watch. I take my time. I am sometimes still pulling as the late summer darkness gathers and the lights are starting to go on in the house. The traffic on the road along the field edge has quietened. There are birds in the hedge and rabbits begin to emerge from the bank. The grass

And so onto Pulling

A mature multi-headed ragwort plant (that has previously been mown) ready to pull

NB – Every Leaf Matters!

If spraying is best done in spring when the rosettes are in their most active stage of growth, pulling is best done in the summer when the flower heads are forming but the seeds haven’t yet set. Pulling after rain is ideal, when the ground is damp but not water-logged.

At the flowering stage the roots seem to have a

weaker hold in the soil, so are much less likely to break

when pulled. In addition as most of the plant’s energy is

occupied with the business of flowering and setting seed,

any left fragments are less likely to re-grow. The draw-back


It has become my meditation, this business of pulling

ragwort. I slow down. I cannot rush I need to pick up

every leaf, remember? I trade thoughts for this satisfying

mechanical task. If I thought about it I might despair –

there is a lot of ragwort in my field, left alone for many

years to flower and seed as it pleased, and the top bit was

diligently mowed by the old owners so, yes, you guessed

it – multiple ragwort heads on plants which flower annually

– brilliant.

Yet there is a lot of good grass as well, and I am

sustained by my dream of a beautifully groomed paddock

in the years ahead. I have vowed that, even though I may

not be able to pull every plant before the mud of autumn

returns, followed by the general inhospitibility of winter, not

a single flower will seed on my land this year.

I have estimated that it will take two or three years

for my paddock to be totally ragwort-free. Maybe more.

But what I do know is that I am absolutely committed

to clearing this weed from my land and I am prepared

to speak to my neighbouring small-holders, with their

rather enchanting herd of alpacas, if any should rear its

jolly yellow head in their paddocks. I’ll even speak to the

council if necessary. In the nicest possible way of course.

is long and puffs of pollen cloud into the air as I brush through it. Low golden sunlight. This gentle bending, forking, twisting, gripping and pulling is a peaceful workout at the end of a busy day. A chance to be with the land, the sky and to watch the horses mooching around, swishing tails, ambling, munching, kicking away the midges and the last flies.


Ragwort-pulling kit list

Ragfork – a tool designed for the job – my early attempts with garden fork saw a spoke through a finger and a lot of unnecessarily disturbed ground and left roots galore.

Marigolds plus stout builder’s-gloves on top

Wheel barrow

Bags for taking dug plants to the dump – old feed sacks are ideal but no holes in the bottom for those evil weeds to fall out of

and / or…

Hot fire ready to burn plants – again be careful not to drop any and check all are burnt before going inside

Good boots

Long sleeves

Long trousers

Mask – if plants are flowering or running to seed

Paper or plastic bags to contain seed heads if pulling / topping when in seed

A barrow of ragwort crowns ready for the fire – note the stout

builder’s glove for protection

Please note!DO NOT LEAVE PULLED RAGWORT IN YOUR FIELD EITHER IN A HEAP, YOUR BARROW, A SACK OR BURNING ON THE FIRE. YOUR HORSES MIGHT GET BORED AND NOSEY

AND HAVE A NIBBLE ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE USING OLD FEED SACKS FOR CARRYING RAGWORT TO THE DUMP.

When to pull



Dig the fork in as close to the stem of the plant as you can

Fleshy white roots lifting from the soil in the trusty prongs of a tool made for the job

of waiting until summer to pull is that some plants can

become rather triffid-like, and there can be a lot of plant to

dispose of.

My top-tip from the hours I have spent grubbing up

this plant is pull when you have time – and maybe even

a G and T. If you haven’t got too much ragwort put a

bin bag in your barrow and combine with poo picking.

Otherwise find a separate time in your routine. Summer

evenings work for me and I aim to do a barrow at a time,

and sometimes I even allow myself the luxury of a second

barrow if the evening is particularly beautiful and the

silence of the field especially enchanting.

Invest in the correct tools for the job – see opposite. A rag-fork is essential and can be used for docks, thistles and a host of other weeds as well, so it is a brilliant investment. Maybe even buy two if there’s the chance of a helping hand

1. Double check you are properly protected from any skin contact with the plant – see kit list opposite.

2. Choose a medium sized plant. Save the bigger ones until you’ve got the hang of your rag-fork

3. Bag up any late flowering / seeding heads, tying tightly around the stem and being careful not to knock any seeds out as you do it.

4. Dig your fork in as close to the plant stem as you can. Lever backwards on the handle gently then put your fork in again at a different point on the plant, again as close to the stem as possible. You will see the fleshy white roots begin to lift.

5. Fork 2 – 4 times around the plant gently lifting the roots each time

6. When you feel all the roots are loosened pull the plant.

7. If the plant does not come up easily use the fork again where it feels stuck. Vigilance at this point could save roots breaking and another plant growing in this spot next year.

8. Once the plant is up, put it straight in barrow or bag being sure not to drop roots or leaves

9. Check the hole for remaining roots and pull them by hand if you can.

10. Check surrounding ground / grass for broken leaves and fragments and remove

11. Stamp in any lifted grass or soil

12. Scatter a little grass seed if area is bare to deter new ragwort seeds from setting.

How to pull

O nce you have pulled up

your ragwort, it is really

important to dispose of it

with awareness. If you leave mature

plants lying around in their sacks

they can quietly flower and seed

without you knowing.

Be vigilant and remove sacks

immediately from the field, out of

reach of nosey ponies or hungry

horses. Be prepared for repeated

visits to your local dump for safe

composting – a muck heap or

garden bin will not get hot enough to

kill the plants or seeds.

Otherwise get your bonfire

roaring, and ensure that every part

of every plant is fed to the flames

or you may be inviting a new crop

of ragwort around your bonfire site.

If your bonfire is in your horses’

field, you must make sure none is

dropped. It will wither and brown

and they may well ferret it out when

the grass has thinned and they are

bored or looking for something to eat

in autumn or winter.

So, yes, it is an onerous

responsibility for the horse-owner,

this ragwort, but it is one which

needs to be tackled head-on if we

are to safeguard our horses and do


rnzih.org.nz/pages/PP0698.pdf, nosing up roots, eating them and

turning them into lovely manure.

Whilst gently treading down the

divots left by horses, eating thatch

and stale patches and helping break

the worm cycle. Sounds too good to

be true. Definitely one for the future.

Once your field is clear

of ragwort, good paddock

management will help keep it at

bay. Re-seeding bare patches in

spring and autumn and maintaining

a vigorous, dense pasture helps

reduce the incidence of ragwort

invasion. If you are considering

sheep as are we, ragwort can

apparently be controlled by grazing

at three stock units per hectare or

mob stocking of sheep four times

between spring and autumn http://www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/PP0698.pdf

But for me that’s a dream for

the future. Now its time to switch

off the computer and get out there.

The summer sky is high and blue.

It rained buckets over the last few

days. The breeze at the window is

gentle. Perfect growing conditions

for ragwort. Perfect pulling

conditions for me. Time for a little

workout and meditation in the field.

Time to see what the horses are up

to. Time to pull some ragwort. I can’t

wait. See you out there.

our bit for the wider landscape. If

your field is clear of ragwort but it is

growing on land nearby, or along the

roads and lanes you ride or drive,

let the landowner, National Park

Authority or council know so that it

can be dealt with effectively.

Build ragwort management

into your routine, whether spraying

becomes part of your annual

maintenance package from your local

contractor, or whether like me you

choose to get out there with your

trusty fork, barrow (and G and T!) on

these beautiful summer evenings for

a little quality time with the land, the

sky, your horses and your silence.

Whether you choose to pull

or poison (and, sorry, to pull even

so!), remember that vigilance and

perseverance will see your paddock

clear in the end. I am pulling this

year, but I am aware that I may need

to spray next spring as well if too

many plants reappear from roots I

have left behind. I will wait and see.

And I will also be continuing my

research into sheep.

Yes, sheep. Apparently “Sheep

eat ragwort without ill–effect unless

continually exposed to the plant over

a number of seasons.” http://www.


Disposing of the beast

A Ragwort free paddock


Farmers tend to be an honourable breed. In most cases they have years if not generations of experience behind them and all will know that their hay meadows must not contain any ragwort if it is to be sold as forage for horses.

However vigilance is still advised

and if you have recently moved

area or are buying hay from a new

supplier it is really worth checking

where it has come from and, if you

can, to go and see the fields before

they are cut to re-assure yourself that

no ragwort is going to make its way

into your bales.

Likewise if you have ragwort in

your field you cannot chance cutting

hay for your horse. Even when the

tall yellow flowering plants have been

removed you could have any number

of seedlings hiding in the grass. They

might be small but they are potent

and if their leaves get mixed up in

your horses winter haynet headache

could become heartache. It’s really

not worth the risk.


Future articles in the Field of Dreams series:3. Pesky problems – dealing with rabbits and moles

4. Planning your dreams – how to go about getting stables and arenas on your land

5. The Muck issue – year-round paddock maintenance and the question of sheep

Small ragwort plants hiding in long grass could cause heartache if they end up in your winter haynet

A note on Hay

A final word on the environmental question – Cinnabar Moths et al – Perhaps the poet Josephine Kermode (1852–1937) had found the right balance between ecology and good pasture management when she wrote the following poem about the Cushag – (local name for Ragwort):

Now, the Cushag, we know,

Must never grow,

Where the farmer’s work is done.

But along the rills,

In the heart of the hills,

The Cushag may shine like the sun.

Where the golden flowers,

Have fairy powers,

To gladden our hearts with their grace.

And in Vannin Veg Veen,

In the valleys green,

The Cushags have still a place.

(Vannin Veg Veen is local dialect for The Isle of Man)

Field of dreams. A healthy hay meadow in high summer with diversity of wild flowers and grasses and no ragwort in sight


FORTHCOMING EQUESTRIAN EVENTS IN YOUR AREA – MAY 2016

Showtime

If you have some news about forthcoming horse events then email us with your stories and photos. Also, if you would like to promote your event in the magazine or on our website please email details to: [email protected] or alternatively

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Duckhurst Farm Show Centre

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Felbridge Show Centre

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Petley Wood Equestrian Centre

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Plumpton College

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Sands Farm Equitation Centre

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Wellington Riding

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WPSportHorses

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J une was full of lots of training

under the watchfull eye of

Derek McCoppin. I have learnt

so much during my time at

StudUK Euro, but have decided

to come back to West Sussex, as

it really is a great central position

for some amazing show venues;

Coombelands, Pyecombe, Felbridge

and of course Hickstead.

I will miss all my new friends up

in Canterbury and would like to take

this opportunity to thank everyone at

StudUK Euro for the last few months.

At the beginning of June I

took the day off and went up to

Bolesworth International with my

Mum to watch the showjumping.

We had a fantastic day; despite

the worst mud I have ever seen

anywhere. To the point that they

closed the showground to the public,

however, we were lucky enough to

get in. We met up with my amazing

sponsor, Lauren from Chillout

Horsewear, who kindly gave

me some great new gear,

love being a Chillout Rider.

Although we were

booked for the Hickstead

Derby we in fact went up to

Weston Lawns instead. We

had a great few days there,

and despite an involuntary

dismount on our last day in the

1.15 speed class, which ended with

me strapped to a board in A and E,

before that, I came 6th with Sienna

on my first day, and my amazing

Spyder man was placed every

day in every class we entered. My

awesome horse just seems to be

getting better every day.

So, we will be at the Hickstead

International at the end of the

month and really looking forward

to that, as we were so sorry to

have missed the Derby Meet this

year.

Fingers crossed July will be

filled with lots more competing.

NM

By Raife Tansey ❘ Raife Tansey: Showjumper

Welcome Home , RaifeThis month, Raife chats about moving back to West Sussex and his day at

Bolesworth International

CONTACT DETAILS To follow Raife Tansey Showjumper, please find me on FB at www.facebook.com/RaifetTanseyShowjumper/

Raife on the Chillout Horsewear stand at

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Raife’s and Lauren from Chillout Horsewear

Raife’s on his last day at Weston Lawns

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World Horse Welfare News

I n the few months that Tarzan

has been cared for at World

Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm

Rescue and Rehoming Centre,

he has made excellent progress

and gained some much needed

condition.

Tarzan was rescued by World

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was found in a terrible state with

a condition score of one, meaning

he was severely underweight. With

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With the help of his caring

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him, which has helped bring out his

arrived in is quite amazing.”

Given the opportunity to

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As Tarzan’s rehabilitation

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The Lifeforce Range of all-natural,

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animals. NM

summer coat.

When Tarzan arrived at Penny

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patience and kindness of Katie and

the whole team he can now be lead

calmly to and from the fields which

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rebuilding his faith in people, as part

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Katie said: “Tarzan loves being

groomed and having a good scratch

on his neck. He has been doing

some desensitisation work in the

indoor arena and he has not really

been fazed by much. The difference

now from the poor terrified state he

Leading animal nutrition company Alltech are delighted with the progress of Tarzan, the abandoned yearling, now in the care of World Horse Welfare that they have

been helping to support.

Tarzan Makes Good Progress

CONTACT DETAILS For further information visit www.lifeforcehorse.co.uk or telephone 01780 764512

Tarzan – displaying his improved condition


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nagmag magazine july 16

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